27 July 2023
Selling a house can be an overwhelming process, requiring careful planning and consideration to ensure a smooth and legally compliant transaction. There are specific laws and regulations that homeowners must adhere to when selling their property.
Jane Hannaway, Partner and Head of Residential Property, outlines the key things to consider when selling your house, to help you navigate through the process successfully.
Prepare your property for viewings
First impressions matter when selling your house. Make sure your property is well-maintained, tidy, and presentable for viewings. Consider de-cluttering and staging your home to showcase its best features. Being flexible with viewing arrangements to accommodate potential buyers’ schedules can increase the likelihood of attracting serious buyers.
Obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Before you put your property on the market, in the majority of cases, you must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This certificate rates your property’s energy efficiency on a scale from A to G, with A being the most efficient. A certificate is valid for 10 years and you can check if yours is still valid via the EPC register. If you need a new EPC you can either ask your estate agent to arrange an EPC or arrange one directly with a provider. It is a legal requirement to have a valid EPC when selling a property and failing to provide one can lead to delays in the selling process.
Choose an estate agent
It is often useful to get at least two or three estate agents to value your home. Pricing your property appropriately is crucial to attract potential buyers and increases the chances of a successful sale. Personal recommendations are often valuable as to which estate agents to invite to potentially sell your home. Ask questions as to market trends and recent sales in your area – you are about to ask them to help you with the sale of a valuable asset, so it is important to ensure that you feel confident and comfortable with the agency that you instruct.
Prepare the necessary documentation
Gathering all relevant documents related to your property, including title deeds, planning permission documents, building regulations certificates, service records and guarantees for any work done. Having these documents readily available will assist with completing the paperwork for the conveyancing process.
Appoint a solicitor as early as possible
Navigating the legal aspects of selling a property can feel daunting. We would highly recommend engaging a property solicitor as soon as possible once you have decided to market the property. You will then have time to complete the necessary paperwork so that your solicitor can ensure that they then have everything they need to prepare and issue the contract documentation as soon as you do accept an offer. Issuing a comprehensive contract pack in the first instance often leads to fewer enquiries and a faster transaction overall.
How Blaser Mills Law can help
At Blaser Mills Law we have wide experience in all aspects of residential property work. We understand the importance of working proactively to complete transactions as quickly as possible, taking away the stress from what is supposed to be an exciting time in your life. We pride ourselves on our service levels and the communication that we have with our clients, and agents, so that the sale can be as smooth as possible.
To speak to one of our expert property solicitors, contact Jane Hannaway on jeh@blasermills.co.uk.