From valuation to moving day: Your complete selling journey timeline

Maurice Allan from Lindsays shares some top tips on ensuring selling your home goes as smoothly as possible

Selling a property can feel like a daunting prospect – particularly if you’re doing so for the first time - but with the right advice and some forward planning, the process can be smoother than you might imagine.

Here are the steps:

1. Appoint your solicitor estate agent

A phone call or an email to a reputable solicitor estate agent a few weeks before you intend to sell is a simple first step to begin the process. ESPC’s member firms will have an Estate Agency department as well as a Residential Conveyancing team who will handle the legal aspects of the sale.

Arrange an appointment with the Estate Agency team to come to your property. They will assess the property and estimate its current value. This value is the figure at which they would expect a Chartered Surveyor to value the property when the Home Report is produced.

They will also discuss the timing of the sale, market conditions and provide you with a written quotation which will include the fees and outlays for the marketing and sale of the property. They will explain the process of obtaining a Home Report as well as explaining presentation, photography, floor plans, video tours and more.

2. Purchase

If you are intending to purchase a new property whilst selling your current one, then the solicitor agent will quote for this aspect of the move and discuss the merits of selling or buying first.

3. Documentation

Your agent will require all those named on the Title Deeds to provide identification and proof of address as part of the onboarding process. They will also require you to sign a Letter of Engagement which is the formal instruction to them to act on your behalf in the sale.

A call to your mortgage provider or a discussion with an independent Financial Advisor is also sensible at this point so there’s a clear understanding about whether you’re going to incur any early repayment or other charges when you move.

4. Timing

A timeline will be put in place with a launch date being agreed. In advance of that launch date, the agent will ensure that the Home Report and marketing materials are in place. This is also a good time to be obtaining quotes from a Removal Company and making a list of all those that you need to notify when you move (school, utility companies, GP Practice, employer, etc.)

5. De-clutter!

Before the photographer arrives you will need to have the property looking it’s very best. Most buyers will find your property online and will decide to view based on the images that they see. Encouraging as many potential buyers to see the property as possible will help with the success of the sale.

6. Viewings

Keep the property as tidy and well-presented as possible throughout the period that the property is on the market. It is vital to ensure that kitchens and bathrooms in particular are spotlessly clean. Discuss the viewing arrangements with your agent as there are a variety of options available.

7. Offers

Your agent will report all offers to you and advise of the relative merits of each offer. Once an offer is accepted, it’s passed to the solicitor who will deal with the legal aspects. Your solicitor estate agent will discuss the various clauses within the offer and will advise on how to respond. Letters (Missives) will be exchanged between your solicitor and the purchasing solicitor until both are happy with the proposed contract. At this point, the Missives are concluded meaning that you have a binding contract to sell the house for an agreed sum and to vacate on an agreed date.

8. Moving

You now have a confirmed exit date so can finalise the details of the move. Keys will need to be lodged with your solicitor to hand over when your funds have been received from the buyers solicitor. The solicitor will handle all the financial transfers for the sale/purchase and will deal with post-settlement matters on your behalf.

9. Unpack and enjoy your new home!

Once you have completed all these steps, the only thing left to do is unpack and enjoy your new home!