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Sell And Buy A House: How Do I Do It?

Sell And Buy A House: How Do I Do It?

Looking at how you can buy and sell a house at the same time, whether it is better to sell a property first or you should buy a house first and how an estate agent can help.

Alexandra Ventress

Alexandra Ventress ★ Digital Content Writer

Table of Contents

Buying or selling a house can be a difficult business when done individually, let alone if you find yourself in the position of buying and selling a house at the same time. The process involves paperwork, estate agents, solicitors, and more, and it can be easy to find yourself feeling overwhelmed fast. 

 

In this blog post, we are going to be looking at what it means to be both a buyer and a seller on the open market, the advantages, and disadvantages of selling or buying first, and how you can give yourself the best chance at a stress-free sale. 

What are buyers categorised as?

When it comes to selling your house, chances are you will be categorised in one of four ways by any potential estate agents. 

If you have already sold your property and have moved in with family or friends, or to a rental property then you will be in a great position as a buyer. As you have already sold you will know exactly what property you can afford to purchase, there will be no property chain involved with you and you can proceed with the sale immediately. 

If you are classed as under offer when looking for a new house, then you will also know exactly what your budget is. Whilst deals can still go under during this stage of the process of selling, it is still a good position to be in. 

If you have a property to sell on the market this means that whilst you don’t have any offers yet, you are still ready to get the ball rolling. You may not be taken quite as seriously as they may take those who have no property to sell, or who are under offer, but you will still be viewed as a motivated buyer. 

 

Estate agents may take into consideration the following: 

 

  • How hot or cold the market is at the minute 
  • If you have set a realistic asking price 
  • The length of time you have been on the market 

Often regarded as the weakest position a buyer can be in, being classed as having a property to sell will mean that your home is not yet on the market, but you have the intention to sell. If you were to make an offer on a property at this stage of the selling process, many estate agents would advise their clients to reject your offer altogether due to the fact that you will have no idea about your true buying price at this point.

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Advantages of selling a house first

  • Easier to secure a mortgage – If mortgage brokers do not have to service your old mortgage, they will be more likely to offer you a new one. Once you have sold your old property, it is a much simpler process to apply for a new mortgage, rather than waiting for your old one to run over. 

  • Not sale dependent – If you find the net home you want to buy, but another buyer shows interest as well, having sold your old property first can go in your favour. Sellers will mark you as “non-sale dependent” and will be more likely to sell to you as you won’t be stuck in a property chain and do not need to sell your current property to purchase your next one. 

  • Less stress – As you will have already sold your first property, you will only have to focus on the house purchase, rather than dealing with the very stressful situation of selling your old home whilst buying your new one. 

  • More time – When you sell first, you allow yourself more time to find the best property that you can. Because you are not having to worry about selling within a certain time frame or worrying about getting the asking price you want, you can focus fully on finding the perfect home for you. 

  • Maximum bid – Once you have sold your current home, you will know the exact budget that you can afford for your next home. You won’t have to worry about being able to afford the property as you will have the amount you can afford in the bank and will know exactly how much you can bid. 

  • No onward chain – If you are planning on buying a new one after selling your present property then that means that you don’t have to waste time stuck in a chain, waiting for the next sale to go through before you can start yours. 

Disadvantages of selling a house first

  • Offer acceptance – Because you are in no rush to find your new home, it means that when it comes to accepting offers you can find yourself taking your time, looking for the best one. Whilst this is all well and good in theory, it can mean that you find yourself stuck in limbo, not leaving the offer stage for quite some time. 

  • Rising market prices – Another downside that you will need to consider when selling your house first before buying is that the market is volatile and prone to change. You may find yourself having to settle if the perfect property does not crop up in time due to rising values. 

  • Finding accommodation – The biggest downside to selling your property before buying is that you will be left without accommodation after the sale has been completed. You will need to find somewhere to stay whilst you look for your new property. This can mean staying with family, friends, or maybe renting somewhere. But it is worth bearing in mind that you could find yourself displaced for quite some time and the minimum rental contract is usually around six months.

Problems that can occur when buying and selling a house

As with any house-buying adventure, when it comes to buying a property and selling your old home at the same time, problems can occur. Chances are you will be in a housing chain, which means you will be reliant on someone else in the chain buying another property in order for you to buy yours. 

 

Some of the most common issues that can arise in this situation include: 

When you decide to buy your new property and sell at the same time, you will need to factor in mortgage applications and how complicated they can become as they can often take longer than expected.  

Survey findings can have a large impact on buying a new home and selling at the same time. If an issue is discovered with the property, it can cause delays or even the collapse of a housing chain. 

The most common issue that can occur when it comes to buying and selling a home at the same time is that people get cold feet and want to back out of the sale. When this occurs it is extremely frustrating, as it means you will not be able to buy your new home until the sale of your current property has been completed.  

As given away by the name, all the properties in the chain are linked to each other. Meaning even the smallest ripples at the bottom of the chain can be felt all the way to the top. When taking part in any property purchase you can expect to experience delays when it comes to your completion day. 

A surprising number of selling and buying issues stem from bidding. The amount of power your own bid holds depends entirely upon sale dependency, onward chain after offers, or you are outbid while someone has a bud on in your home. 

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The selling and buying a house process

If you have decided to start the process of selling and buying at the same time it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and out of your depth. Whilst it is easier said than done, it is important not to panic, as the good news is that it is fairly commonplace, and selling a home and buying a property at the same time is the route that most homeowners choose.  

 

To help you start your selling and buying journey, we have created our handy guide to help you through the process: 

1. Value your property

As you are selling and buying at the same time, you will need to get an idea of how much your home is worth so you will be able to find a property within your price range. The best place to start is by using free online valuation tools. To do this you will need to enter basic information about your property such as the postcode, size, condition, and how many rooms it has. From there you should be able to receive a basic valuation for how much your property is worth. 

 

The next step you can take is inviting three local estate agents round to your property to give you their valuations to sell your home. They will be able to assess your property and give you a personal valuation. Once you have received all three valuations you will be able to work out the average price of your property and go from there. 

 

It is worth bearing in mind that some estate agents will overvalue properties in the hopes of winning business, so consider all three valuations carefully and avoid starting your selling journey with a high asking price that you will have to reduce in a few weeks. 

2. Sort out your finances

One key aspect of selling your home before buying property is working out your finances. By having a proper handle on your finances, you are putting yourself in the best position to get the most out of your current home and new house. You will need to work out how much you can afford to spend on your next house and how much equity you have in your current property. 

 

You will then need to consider the property chain. When you find the next property, you want to buy, you will need a deposit when you exchange contracts. It is always a good idea to exchange on the same day as your buyer does, as you will be able to use the deposit that they pay to you to pay your deposit on the property you are buying. 

 

However, if you want to purchase a new home that is more expensive than your current house, then you may end up paying more for your deposit than you receive. If this is the case, then your solicitor may be able to agree with the seller’s solicitor that a smaller deposit will be enough, but if this cannot be done then you will need to find the extra cash. Before you start this process, it is a good idea to work out whether you will be able to afford this. 

3. Mortgage Broker

When you are selling your house and buying a new property alongside each other, a mortgage broker is someone who can help guide you through the process. They will be able to advise you about whether you should remortgage or port your mortgage. 

 

They will also be able to warn you of any early repayment charges you might have to pay if you take out a new mortgage before you have paid back your original mortgage. 

4. Find your EPC and prepare your main documents

One of the first things you will need to do when you decide to sell your property is to find your Energy Performance Certificate or EPC. An EPC is a document that ranks your property on energy efficiency from a scale from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least. Before you can put your property on the market, you will need to ensure that you own an EPC or that you have had a new one commissioned as it must be available to show any prospective buyers. 

 

EPCs last 10 years so if you have bought your property within the last decade, you will not have to buy another. It may end up costing you more, but most people go through their estate agents to get a new EPC. You can also get an EPC independently by going through local Energy Assessors in your area.  

 

If you are looking for a quick house sale or purchase, then it is critical that you have your main documents to hand and ready to go. By having these documents ready from the get-go, you can help to avoid any delays. 

5. Prepare your home for sale

If you want to sell your property quickly, it is important that you prepare your home for sale.  By correctly preparing your home, you can help to achieve the best price possible and a quick sale. In order to generate interest in your property and get a buyer to buy your home, you will need to make some small changes to your property. 

 

Simple tasks such as: 

 

  • Decluttering your property and moving any furniture that makes your room look small
  • Lightening your room with a fresh coat of paint in a neutral colour 
  • Boosting your kerb appeal by mowing the lawn, planting fresh flowers, cleaning the patio, and repainting any tired looking fences

6. Choose your estate agent

Now that you are ready to put your home on the market, it is time to choose your estate agent. You should be looking at how often the estate agent achieves the asking price, how quickly they sell and check out any Trustpilot or Google reviews that they have. In order to find the best estate agent, it is important to shop around and carefully consider your options, weighing up all your different quotes. 

7. Choose your conveyancer

A crucial step in the selling and buying process is sorting out your conveyancer. Whilst it may feel early to start looking for conveyancers, it will mean that when the time comes to instruct you will be ready to go. Be sure to shop around for quotes, read reviews, and don’t rush into the decision. 

8. Agree on a sale

When you are selling a property on the open market, there is no set time for how long it will take to find a buyer. The time between listing your property and receiving an offer will depend upon location, size, condition, and price amongst other factors. According to the HomeOwners Alliance, it takes an average of 10 weeks from listing to accepting an offer. 

 

Should you be in the position of receiving more than one offer, you will need to carefully weigh up your options. Not only will you need to consider the sale price you are being offered, but you will also need to consider your buyer’s circumstances. Are they motivated? Are they reliable, or are they likely to walk away?

9. Begin your property hunt

Once you have accepted an offer, it is time to start the property search for your next property! Online property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla, and OnTheMarket are a good place to start, as they will allow you to see what properties are available in your desired area. 

10. Make an offer

Now that you have found the property that you are looking for, you are ready to start the process of purchasing. The first port of call should be to revisit your finances once again and to make sure that your new house price will fit into the budget. Does your new home require any work that will eat away at the budget? Have you factored in potential extra costs such as EPR, arrangement fees, and stamp duty?

 

Once you are happy with the prices you are ready to make an offer. As we have already discussed if you are under offer then you will be in a stronger position than someone who is still looking to sell their property. 

11. Formalise your mortgage

Congratulations! At this stage in the process of buying a home and selling at the same time, you will have had your offer accepted! However, before you start to celebrate you will need to go back to your mortgage broker and ask them to proceed with your full mortgage application. 

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12. Reach out to your conveyancing solicitor

This stage of the process can be the lengthiest so it is a good idea to get in touch with your conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor as soon as you can in order to avoid delays. Your conveyancer will want to conduct local searches before contracts are exchanged. 

 

While it can be a drawn-out process, it should all run smoothly. If you are unhappy with the lack of communication from your conveyancer, then get in touch, and if things still don’t improve you should consider asking for a new case handler. 

 

Some areas that you will want information about include: 

 

  • If the property has any boundary issues 
  • If the property has undergone building works 
  • If there are any certificates relating to work the property may have done, such as the installation of windows or bifold doors

13. Get a survey

The next step in the process is to get a mortgage valuation for your mortgage lender. A mortgage valuation is a check to make sure the property is worth putting money against. You will be unlikely to see it as it is just a superficial check for the lender to do for their own security. If you want reassurance about the condition of the property you are purchasing, you will need to pay to have a survey performed. 

 

By getting a survey performed you are alerting yourself to any problems that otherwise would be left undiscovered until much further down the line. There are different types of surveys that you can get done that range in thoroughness and price. Should the survey uncover anything that devalues the property, you will be able to renegotiate price, ask the seller to correct the issue before you complete, or you can pull out of the sale altogether. 

14. Take charge

Communication is the key to a successful house sale, whether you are buying, selling, or doing both at the same time. Whenever your solicitor sends you documents it is critical that you read them, sign them, and return them immediately. If you read anything that confuses you, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask. 

15. Involve your estate agent

If you feel that the process is progressing at a slower-than-expected rate but don’t have the time to chase up your conveyancer yourself, then now is the time that you can get your estate agent involved. The Property Ombudsman Code Of Practice for estate agents states that they are obligated to monitor progress, assist you where they can, and report information deemed helpful to bringing the transaction to fruition. 

 

16. Choose your completion date

Once you have chased solicitors, signed off on any issues, and gotten your survey results back, you are ready to set your completion date and contracts can be exchanged. It is crucial that a completion date that works for everyone is chosen as this will make the whole process a lot easier. 

17. Organise your move

When you are buying a house and selling one at the same time, it is important that you make arrangements for the supply of electricity, water, gas, and telephone services. You will need to make sure that all your utilities are still working up until you move out. By planning your move ahead of time, you will be able to avoid any hiccups further down the road. You should also look at removal companies and decide how you will move from one house to the new one. 

18. Completion day

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a brand-new house! All the prep and hard work of the last few months has gone into this day, as today you will be selling a house and buying one. When completion day rolls around, money is moved between the solicitors, and they confirm the keys can be released to the new owners. The conveyancers will then register the transfers of land ownership with the Land Registry. 

Other costs involved with buying and selling a house at the same time

When it comes to selling your home before buying another property, there are extra costs that you will need to factor in when checking your final budget. One such cost is stamp duty. The good news is unless you are a cash buyer, you should be able to absorb the cost of this into your mortgage borrowing. 

 

You will also need to factor in the cost of estate agent fees and conveyancing fees.  Whilst these are necessary costs in the journey that you will need to pay, they can be easy to forget about.  It is also a wise idea to factor in some extra cash in the budget for any hiccups you may experience, rather than pushing your budget to the max.

How we can help sell your house

Here at The Property Selling company, we believe that a house sale should be three things: fast, effortless, and free.

 

We offer you a full online estate agent service, without the fees – because it’s our mission to change the way you sell houses.

 

We will be working alongside you every step of the house-selling process, covering everything, so you won’t have to. The days of expensive solicitor fees and legal work are over, and our team of property experts will continue to be there, even after the process is complete.

 

We will market your property on popular property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla, organise viewings, cover legal fees, and negotiate better deals all for free!

 

If you are ready to sell your home in as little as 28 days, then get in touch today and fill out one of our fast, free, no-obligation forms for your house valuation today!

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Property Raffle: Is It A Good Way To Sell My House?

Raffle tickets

Property raffle: Is it a good way to sell my house?

In this article we will be exploring if a property raffle is a good way to sell your house, if a house raffle is legal and what alternatives there are.

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WRITTEN BY: tom condon ★ Digital Content Writer

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Property raffle: Is it a good way to sell my house?

In this article we will be exploring if a property raffle is a good way to sell your house, if a house raffle is legal and what alternatives there are.

Sell your house in 28 days

WRITTEN BY: Tom condon ★ Digital Content Writer

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Table of Contents

Property Raffle: Is It A Good Way To Sell My House?

A property raffle or house competition, have taken social media by storm over the past ten years, with the chance of winning perfect houses for as little as £1 – or even free. For the homeowner, it can seem like a hassle-free, simple way to make more than the value of your house quickly. 

 

But the reality is; that most house raffles always fail to sell enough tickets to make a profit on the property and gain on top of marketing, conveyancing and legal fees.

What Are Property Raffles?

A property raffle is a draw or chance to win a house which a person enters by purchasing a ticket for free, £2 or whatever you wish to set the ticket price at. The one lucky winner is selected randomly on a specified date and given the house as the prize. 

 

It can seem very attractive to many, as most properties put up for raffles are expensive houses and well outside their regular budget. 

 

If you get it wrong, involvement in a house raffle can be a slippery slope of legal problems.

Are Property Raffles Illegal?

Although property raffles are legal, they should be walked with caution as, in most cases, they are unsuccessful and may lead you to legal trouble.

 

A failed house raffle may mean that you cannot cover the cost of the marketing spend you spent trying to raise tickets, or even the increased amount doesn’t cover the cost of your house. 

 

In some use cases, unsuccessful property raffles have meant the property owners had to put the house on the open market for below market value to pay off the original bidders’ raffle tickets. 

What Are The Legal Guidelines For Property Raffles?

In the UK, if you want to carry out a property raffle and receive the profits for private gain, you must adhere to the Gambling Laws to avoid being penalised:

  • Straight house raffles are illegal, so if you wanted to host a property raffle, you would need to add a ‘competition element’.
  • Competition elements mean that not all participants will pass the initial test.
  • The competition elements might mean that any participants would need to take part in a skills-based question or quiz before they can purchase a ticket or win the house.
  • Any house raffle that does not include a competition element is classified as a lottery, and lotteries cannot be hosted for private gain or for selling property.

 

Alternatively:

 

  • According to the Gambling Commission, if you wish to reap the profits of the property raffle and instead donate the profits to charity, then you do not need to adhere to the competition element. 
  • You could also ensure that the raffle tickets were free and that there would be no monetary gain. 

You will also need to be careful not to slip into the realm of money laundering and redress rules while marketing your house raffle. 

 

As the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) may constitute your house raffle as misleading advertising that goes against the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) code, and you will be reported to the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT).

Do You Need A Licence For A House Raffle?

If you adhere to the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) legal guidelines, you do not need a licence for a house raffle, as the Gambling Commission does not regulate prize competitions. 

 

However, if you wish to carry out a property raffle and receive the profits for private gain while not adding a competition element, you must apply for a licence from the UKGC.

Is A Property Raffle A Good Way To Sell My House?

If your property raffle is successful, it may be a great way to gain a profit on your house, especially if you have been unable to sell it on the open market due to several reasons:

Because property raffles usually involve large, expensive, dream homes, which often take far longer to sell on the open market than average homes, raffles are a great way to sell your property in a fraction of the time.

Properties deemed problematic (structural issues, unusual or strange ownership history) on the open market can be quickly sold in a house raffle because people will only buy a raffle ticket at a fraction of the price they usually would — the risk for them is lessened.

If the market is slow or the economy is struggling, like during a recession, then a house raffle can be a great way to sell your home effortlessly as the risk is lessened for the ticket buyers.

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Why Is A Property Raffle A Bad Way To Sell My House?

Although there may be benefits to selling a house via a raffle, there are many risks involved with this house-selling process:

Most house raffles end up being cut short, either because the UKGC has shut them down or because they need to sell more tickets sales required to cover the cost of the house, resulting in cash prizes being offered instead.

 

If you do not follow the legal guidelines, then you may be found to be violating the gambling and advertising legislation — even worse, this could happen before you manage to hit your target ticket sales figure.

 

If you are forced to offer a cash prize instead of the property, you will most likely have spent hundreds if not thousands of pounds on marketing your raffle, which may lead to you incurring significant losses and still having the unsold property. 

 

If you are in this situation, we can buy your property in as little as 28 days, pay for all your fees associated with selling your property and handle everything for you.

You can expect to spend a lot of money on advertising and marketing when selling a house via a raffle. You will need to utilise social media marketing and property raffle sites (that advertise for a fee) to engage an audience of potential buyers — all of which costs money.

 

You will also need to ensure you have a legal professional or solicitor on hand to ensure that you are not breaking any of the Gambling Laws and to handle the completion stage of house selling. 

 

A house raffle is exceptionally complicated and creates severe administrative work, from completing paperwork to following GDPR and protecting the entrant’s data. You will likely outsource this work to a third party which will also cost a significant amount.

How To Raffle A House

Most house raffles are undertaken privately by the homeowner; however, some raffle companies will advertise your home for a fee. If you want to raffle your house legally, you will need to follow these steps:

  1. Register your house raffle with the lottery duty and pay 12% of the proceeds from ticket sales.
  2. Hire a solicitor or conveyancer to write terms and conditions and ensure the property raffle is legally compliant.
  3. Set a scheduled deadline for your target ticket sales and the number of sales.
  4. Work out the number of tickets you need to sell to achieve your target. Ideally, it would help to plan for contingencies like a cash prize instead. 
  5. Hold a raffle draw which can either be done over social media or a website.
  6. Once you have picked a winner of your house, you must instruct a solicitor to transfer the property ownership or give the cash prize if you do not reach your desired target.

Is A House Raffle A Good Way To Make Money?

If you want to host a property raffle, it is quite an attractive way to make money. But, we warn you to be cautious as not only is a property raffle legally problematic, but it is also not the easiest way to sell your house.

 

If you sell with us, you will benefit from a hassle-free process, with all your solicitor fees paid on your behalf. We can sell your property in as little as 28 days, and you won’t have to worry about marketing costs — we’ll cover those too!

Can You Win A House At Raffle?

According to the house raffle platform, Winmydreamhome.com, only 19% of property raffles end up with a house being awarded to a winner. That means that not even a fifth of all raffles are successful. 

 

Omaze is the best-known UK-based house raffle company that offers homeowners a website to advertise their properties for a fee. 

 

The company claims that someone will always win the house, but if the owner does not sell the right amount of tickets, no one will win the house, and the winning ticket holder will be given a cash prize or fixed sum instead.

Why Can Raffles Create A Nightmare For The Winner?

Although a property raffle may go viral on social media and create quite a stir for you, as people become closer to winning their dream home, winning a large and expensive home may become a nightmare for the winner.

 

The winner may not be from an affluent background and therefore be unable to keep up with the costs of maintaining and repairing their new home, let alone pay the stamp duty on the property.

Should You Do A Property Raffle Or Use A Modern Estate Agent?

House raffles can be a precarious way to sell expensive or unusual houses, even if they occasionally end in high rewards. 

 

If you do not want to risk your property in such a high-risk scenario, why not sell with us?

 

The Property Selling Company is a modern estate agency which prides itself on ensuring a house sale is fast, effortless and free. We offer you a complete online estate agent service without the fees – our mission is to change how you sell houses.

 

We will work alongside you every step of the house-selling process, handling everything so you won’t have to. The days of expensive solicitor fees and legal work are over, and our team of property experts will continue to be there even after the process is complete.

 

We will market your property on popular property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla, organise viewings, cover legal fees, and negotiate better deals, all for free!

 

If you are ready to sell your home in 28 days, get in touch today and fill out one of our fast, free, no-obligation forms for your house valuation today!

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Tips for Your House Viewing

Tips for Your House Viewing

Looking at our top tips for getting your home ready for a property viewing, what buyers will look for when viewing your home, as well as our house viewing checklist.

Alexandra Ventress

Alexandra Ventress ★ Digital Content Writer

Table of Contents

When it comes to putting your house on the open market, an aspect that can often be overlooked amongst house hunting, mortgage applications, finding a conveyancer, and estate agent fees, is the house viewing itself. Whilst it may seem like a fairly insignificant aspect compared to the rest of the process,  a successful property viewing is one of the keys to a fast sale. 

 

But how can you get your home house viewing ready, what difference will it make to the sale, and what will you need to do? 

 

In this blog post, we will be looking at our house viewing checklist, the questions that buyers may ask you, and how to stage your home correctly. 

What is a property viewing? 

Before we get into our tips for your house viewing, we will first look at what a house viewing is. This is when prospective buyers have a look around your home to get a feel for it and decide whether or not they wish to purchase it. This involves a brief tour of the home, answering any questions the prospective buyers may have, and the opportunity for buyers to wander the house individually. Here they will be judging the condition of the property and how it will fit the potential buyer’s needs. Potential buyers may wish to do two or three house viewing and will often request them at different times of day, so they can get a sense of the property you’re selling. 

Who will organise a house viewing?

Whilst each house sale and estate agency is different, as a general rule of thumb house viewings are organsied by the estate agent. They will check what dates and times you are available and other them to any interested buyers, and if the time suits both parties then that is when the viewing will take place. 

Will I need an EPC to sell my home?

In order to sell your home, you will need an energy performance certificate, also known as an EPC. An EPC is a document that you will need to have ready to provide to potential buyers which informs them on how energy efficient the property is. It is a legal requirement for selling and will rate the property on a scale from A to G. A property with a score of A is the most energy efficient it can be and a property with a score of G is the least. 

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What questions might buyers ask? 

When it comes to questions to ask, buyers will leave nothing off the table. As they will be the ones who are potentially buying a house, they will want to know about every aspect of it, so you will need to be ready for anything. Some of the most common questions sellers get asked by buyers include: 

 

  • Why are you moving?
  • What is the neighbourhood like?
  • Have you had much interest?
  • How long have you been on the market?
  • Are you willing to take offers?
  • What are the neighbours like?
  • Have you had any work/renovations done to the property?
  • What are the schools/shops/ pub /green spaces/amenities in the area like?
  • What are the transport links like?
  • How much have other properties been selling for?
  • How much are the property’s bills?
  • Is there any building work planned nearby?
  • What direction does the garden face?
  • What is the size of the garden?
  • Is it a leasehold or freehold property?

If you are unsure about any of the questions, you should ask the estate agent who will be able to advise you on what to say. 

What do buyers look for when viewing a house?

When it comes to viewing a property, buyers will be checking every aspect of your home. Whilst this can sound intimidating, it is good to know what your buyers will be looking for so you can make sure your property is up to scratch. 

 

Here is the typical buyers checklist of things to look for in a house viewing: 

  • Why are you moving?

  • How much storage space is available 

  • If there are any structural issues 

  • Which way does the house face

  • Any mould or damp issues the property may have 

  • Are the rooms big enough?

  • If there are any hairline cracks in the walls

  • The condition of the roof/ are there any loose tiles on the roof? 

  • How is the plumbing? 

  • What’s the attic like?

  • How old is the boiler?

What is home staging? 

Home staging and property viewing go hand in hand, although not every home seller knows this. Home staging is the act of decorating your home in a certain way so that it will appeal to more buyers and help you surpass your asking price. A well-staged home can be the difference between getting the sale price you want, and the sale price you will settle for.  Home staging includes simple things, such as making sure rooms are clutter-free, painted in neutral colours, smelling fresh, and looking clean. 

 

According to research from Homesandgardens.com, a home that has been staged will sell three times faster than a house that has not been staged. The same research also revealed that 70% of estate agents stated that staging your home can help to increase the offer value on a house by up to 10%.

 

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Home staging tips 

Whilst home staging can sound overwhelming, you don’t need to go overboard in order to stage your home professionally. Below are some of our top tips to help you get your property ready for a showing: 

One of the least glamorous but most cost-effective ways you can prepare your home for viewing is to deep clean. This means you should make any tiles are scrubbed and cleaned within an inch of their life, making sure taps are polished, any mouldy areas are eradicated, walls are freshly painted, carpets cleaned and all surfaces are spotless. 

 

While it may sound like a chore, having a clean and tidy house can help you to increase viewings and help potential buyers envision themselves in their dream home. Professionally deep cleaning your property can work out to be a little expensive, however, it can be the way forward when it comes to staging your home for a fast sale. 

The key to a successful house viewing is to help the buyer to try to get a sense of your home. You want them to know that this is a house that is well cared for and loved, and one that they want to live in. In order to help your buyer to see this vision of your home, you will need to make any general repairs around the house that need fixing. 

 

Buyers will be checking for areas of the home that may need improvement, so be sure to tackle any unfinished DIY projects,  fix any door handles that need replacing, and oil any cupboard doors that need silencing.  

 

If you are looking to secure a fast sale, then you are going to have to break out the toolbox as buyers will knock money off their offer for every problem they see in the home that needs fixing. You will be able to save yourself time and money in the long run by spending a little now and making any repairs that are necessary. 

The next step in the house staging checklist is to declutter your property. This means it is time to throw out things you don’t use anymore and to bring a sense of order to your home. It will also help to keep your home in pristine condition during house viewings. 

 

One of the biggest advantages that decluttering your property brings is that it will make moving easier as you will have already thrown away anything you didn’t plan on taking with you. In order to make sure that you have decluttered enough, your cupboards and storage options should all be around 75% full. 

When it comes to buying a home, it is important to keep things looking fresh. An inexpensive way you can breathe new life into your rooms is by giving them a fresh coat of paint. Whilst it may seem like a simple task, it is important not to underestimate the power of paint. It can a room from drab to fab within minutes. 

 

Another way you can give your home a new look in preparation for showings is by taking a critical look at each room, looking at the furniture within each room, and deciding whether or not it fits the room. You should remove any furniture that does not match the aesthetic of your home or any furniture that makes your rooms look small and cramped. 

 

One thing that can put buyers off from purchasing your home is smells. Before you host any property showings, make sure you eradicate the following odors from your home: 

 

  • Smoking
  • Cooking
  • Pet smells
  • Damp
  • Bins
  • Blocked drains 

 

You can do this by making sure to take out any bins before a showing, deep cleaning, and by using fresh flowers, a scented candle, reed diffusers, or even air fresheners. 

As a homeowner, you can make the interior of your home as clean and as organised as you want, but you mustn’t forget that first impressions matter! And whilst it can be easy to get distracted by work that needs doing inside of the house, you can’t forget the exterior of the property. Whilst the idea of giving your garden a makeover can sound daunting, there’s no need to panic, simple tasks such as planting flower beds, repainting tired-looking fences, mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, and cleaning the patio can all make the world of difference to your property. 

When buyers are looking to buy a property, they want to be able to imagine themselves one day living in the house. In order for them to do this and to help your property reach its full potential, it is a wise idea to neutralise your home before any viewings. This means removing any personal items from the sight of your buyers. 


Some personal items that are commonly forgotten about by homeowners include: 


  • Trophies and certificates
  • Family photos
  • Children’s artwork
  • Collectible items 
  • Holiday souvenirs 

The idea is to make your home look like a new build showhome so that your buyer’s imaginations can truly run wild. 

House Viewing Checklist

It can be overwhelming knowing what areas you will need to cover when it comes to preparing for house viewings. Below we have compiled our house viewing tips that will help you prepare for your house showings: 

 

  • Be sure to tidy the garden (mow the lawn, weed the garden, add garden furniture where necessary)
  • Make sure the front of the house looks tidy (make sure windows are clean, door handle polished, front door is freshly painted etc) 
  • Deep clean and declutter each room in the house 
  • Put anything that is not being used in the staging of your home in storage or tidied away out of sight
  • Make sure to remove any personal items like family photos, souvenirs, children’s artwork, etc from the house 
  • Clean and polish every surface 
  • Have a copy of your EPC ready to show any buyers who come to the viewings 
  • Make a plan of which order you wish to show buyers around your home, decide where will you start the tour and where will you end it? 
  • Be prepared to answer any questions your potential buyers may have

The Property Selling Company

Here at The Property Selling company, we believe that a house sale should be three things; fast, effortless, and free.
 

We offer you a full online estate agent service, without the fees – because it’s our mission to change the way you sell houses.

 

We will be working alongside you every step of the house selling process, covering everything, so you won’t have to. The days of expensive solicitor fees and legal work are over, and our team of property experts will continue to be there, even after the process is complete.

 

We will market your property on popular property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla, organise viewings, cover legal fees, and negotiate better deals all for free!

 

If you are ready to sell your home in as little as 28 days, then get in touch today and fill out one of our fast, free, no-obligation forms for your house valuation today!

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How Long Does It Take To Buy A House UK?

How Long Does It Take To Buy A House UK?

Looking at exactly how long it takes to purchase a house, the timeline of the buying process, and how we can make the process easier.

Alexandra Ventress

Alexandra Ventress ★ Digital Content Writer

Table of Contents

Purchasing a house is one of the most stressful experiences you can go through, from finding the property you wish to buy, to negotiating asking prices and sorting out conveyancers. So, it is only natural to find yourself wondering ‘how long does it take to buy a house UK?’

 

In this blog post, we will be looking at exactly how long it takes to purchase a house, the timeline of the buying process and how we can make the process easier.

How long does it take to buy a house UK?

There is no one size fits all answer for this question, but according to research by The Post Office, it takes on average around 6 months to buy a house in the UK in 2022. However, the reality that some house purchases may take longer, or may be shorter than. If you are part of a housing chain, then the purchase will take longer than if you were a chain free buyer.

Timeline for buying a house

As we have mentioned above, the average time it takes to buy a house from start to finish is 6 months. But how exactly is that broken down? This is our timeline, talking you through the various stages and guiding you through the process of buying a house.

Mortgage in principle - 24 hours, once you have approached the lender

The first step is to apply for a mortgage in principle, also known as an agreement in principle. This is an indication of the type of mortgage you may be able to secure when you apply. It is based upon information you provide the lender and is usually valid for anywhere between 30 and 90 days. The time it takes to get a mortgage in principle varies from lender to lender, with some being able to supply you with one in 24 hours. However, in order to do this, you will need to have all of the relevant paperwork handy.

 

Whilst it may seem early, this is also the time to begin searching for a solicitor as you will need to instruct them as soon as you make an offer on a property. It is always a good idea to make sure that your conveyancer is approved by your mortgage lender to avoid problems further down the line.

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Finding the right property and making an offer - a few weeks to a few months

The next step in the process of buying a home is to start looking for the property you wish to purchase. By having your mortgage in principle, you will have an idea of the price range that you will be able to afford. Unfortunately, there is no exact answer for how long you may be looking for a new property. The type of property you are looking for, budget and the wider property market will all have an effect on your search. A house purchase is not a decision to rush into, so it is important to give yourself plenty of time to mull over any decisions.

 

Once you find a property that you are happy with, it is time to make an offer. You should talk to your conveyancing solicitor about the offer you want to make. Do you want to go above. below or match the asking price? You will need to consider a number of factors when making your offer, such as the time the property has spent on the market, the state of the market and whether there will be other interested buyers.

 

In order to make your offer, either you or your conveyancer to contact the current owner’s estate agent.

Offer accepted and pre-contract work - 4 to 12 weeks

Congratulations! Your offer has been accepted and now you can really get the ball rolling on your house purchase! During the pre-contract stage of the house buying process, there will be several different things going at once in order for your purchase to progress.

 

The first will be that you will now be able to turn the mortgage in principle that you obtained earlier on into the process into a real mortgage. Send in the details of the mortgage in principle to your lender, who will then conduct their own valuations on the home to make sure you are paying the right amount and will then send you a concrete mortgage offer within a few weeks.

 

This is also the stage when the conveyancing process can really begin. Whilst you will have already instructed your conveyancer in order to make an offer, this is when the work really ramps up. Your conveyancer will begin to draft up your contracts along with your seller, their conveyancer, and the Land Registry. It can take anywhere between one week to five in order to make sure your contract is clear and through.

 

It is also the role of your conveyancer to oversee the property searches and surveys. These surveys are conducted by surveyors and the aim is to find out as much about the property as you can before you buy. These searches will cover whether or not the current owner can legally sell, where the property boundaries are located, planning limitations and environmental risks. Once you are happy with the results of the survey you are ready to move onto the next stage.

Exchange contracts to completion day - 12 weeks

This is one of the most important parts of the house buying process. Once the contracts for your new home have all been drafted, the property searches have all been conducted, and you have secured your mortgage offer you can exchange contracts. This step in the home buying process takes around 20-30 days.

During the exchange of contracts, the buyer and seller’s conveyancing solicitors will swap signed contracts and you will send over your deposit to the solicitor. After the signed contracts have been swapped, the property purchase becomes legally binding.

 

When you buy a home, as part of the exchanging, a completion day will be set. When the completion date occurs is down to the buyer and seller. It can be anywhere from a few days to a few months away. This is the date when funds will be transferred, and keys handed over.

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What happens between exchange and completion?

Whilst the finish line for your house sale is on the horizon, there are still few more steps you will need to do before you can move into your new home. Now that you have exchanged contracts and are legally committed to buying the property, you should look into building insurance. Whilst it is not mandatory to take out building insurance, it helps to protect your property, even if you have not yet moved in.

 

In the days before completion, you may also need to sign a few more documents. Your conveyancer may need you to sign the transfer deed or completion statement depending on the complexities of your property sale.

 

The final step you will need to take before completion is to withdraw the funds. Your conveyancer will withdraw the funds from your mortgage lender, ready for the seller on completion day.

Completion date and beyond - 2 weeks

Congratulations! Completion day is finally here! This is the day when the dream becomes a reality, and you can finally move into your new home. In preparation for the big day your solicitor will have transferred the funds and will have they keys to your new home ready and waiting for you.

 

However, it is not all celebrating. Now that completion day has rolled around, there are still a couple more steps you will need to take before you can fully settle in.

 

The first thing you will need to do is to pay stamp duty. Stamp duty is a tax that you pay on all property purchases above £250,000. Your conveyancer will be able to inform you of whether or not you have to pay, as well as how much you will owe. Once completion day has passed you will have a limited timescale to pay, so usually your conveyancer will ensure it is paid through them before it is overdue.

 

The next step will be to ensure that you have registered new ownership with HM Land Registry. Your conveyancer will arrange this for you, but it is worth bearing in mind that depending on the housing arrangement you may have to pay a fee to do this.

 

After you have registered new ownership of your new property you will need to obtain the title deeds. Once the registration has gone through with the land registry, your conveyancer will have new copies of the title deeds sent over for both you and your mortgage lender.

 

After this is complete you are good to go! The home-buying process will be over, and you will be the proud owner of a new property.

Completion date and beyond - 2 weeks

Frustrated by long it takes to buy a house? Don’t want to wait 6 months to move into your new home? Then look no further as we have the soloution for you!

 

When it comes to buying your home, we are a little different to your traditional estate agents. Here at The Property Selling Company, we want to change the way that people buy and sell their homes, providing a less complicated option. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking for your next home, we pride ourselves on making the process faster and effortless. When you buy a property through us, you will benefit from our transparent and honest customer service.

 

Our dedicated team of property experts can help you buy a house in as little as 28 days, from start to completion. We have hundreds of beautiful properties on our website, all of which can be filtered by property size, type, and location. If you can’t find a property that strikes you, feel free to get in touch and contact us. One of our expert consultants would be more than happy to find the right property for you.

 

When you buy a home through us, we take the weight off your shoulders. We will support you with every step of the process, from finding a property to viewings, to negotiating and solicitors, we are by your side. And as an extra thank you for buying through us, we will cover all fees associated with buying a house, such as solicitors fees.

 

So, if you are ready to say goodbye to stress and get your next house purchase underway, get in touch with us today!

Buy your house through us 

  • You will benefit from honest and transparent customer service
  • Our dedicated team of property experts will be by your side from start to finish
  • As a special thank you for buying through us, we will cover your solicitors fees!
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How To Sell A House Privately

Orange door on a beach

How To Sell A House Privately

Wondering if selling a house privately is for you? Read below as we delve into all things private house sales…

Tom Condon
Tom Condon ★ Digital Content Writer

Table of Contents

Selling a house privately can be attractive to many people, especially if you are downsizing, the children have moved out, or you are retired. Private sales can bypass estate agent fees but make the entire process much more complicated if you don’t have experience selling privately.

In this article, we will cover what selling a house privately actually means, how to sell a house privately, if selling a home privately is for you, and the alternatives to selling privately. 

What Does Selling A House Privately Mean?

If you want to sell your house but don’t use an estate agent or auction house, this is known as selling your house privately. Most people avoid selling their homes privately because they would rather spend extra fees than wait for extensive amounts to sell their homes.

When you sell your house with an estate agent, it can take anywhere from four to six months to sell on average, and an auction house may take around three months to complete. On average, selling your home privately may take anywhere from six to twelve months, more than double the time of an estate agent.

But, if you have the time, patience and dedication to sell a home and carry out all the necessary stops – it can be an inexpensive route to selling a home. You will need to arrange all the advertising and negotiations with buyers and organise viewings.

It’s important to note that one of the advantages estate agents, cash buyers and auction houses have is they have access to the Rightmove and Zoopla property portals – they do not allow access to the general public to list houses, so you would be missing out on a critical marketing stream.

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How To Sell A House Privately

When you sell a house privately, you are undertaking a massive project, and there are many things you will need to balance. You first need to make sure that selling privately is the route you want to take. You could use an online estate agent (like ourselves) who will offer to pay all your fees, negotiate with potential buyers and advertise your property all for free.

Once you begin to sell your house privately, you should make your property presentable and repair any quick fixes. You should clear your property of any clutter and mess to ensure potential buyers can imagine themselves in each room. 

 

If you are selling your house without an estate agent, you could highlight favoured spaces in the home with features or a new paint lick; we recommend redecorating with neutral tones. You should deep clean your property and consider hiring cleaners to clean all carpets, bathrooms and kitchens thoroughly. 

 

If you have any damages that a tradesperson can quickly repair, like electrical fittings, cracked tiles or leaky mixers, you should hire professionals to fix them or do it yourself (carefully). It’s worth spending a little bit of extra cash on a tradesperson here as buyers will be able to notice minor damages that you have lived with for years — and you do not want to make anything worse by doing it yourself. 

 

Your garden, drive and patio should all be spruced up to increase the curb appeal; this will include mowing your lawn, making sure all your plants are hydrated, and you remove any unnecessary weeds.

You could set an asking price yourself, but we recommend against it. If you decide to do it yourself, you should factor in the following:

 

  • Market trends of the local area – available on Zoopla or Rightmove; look at previous sold prices.
  • Property trends – check property-based news websites for up-to-date information on the housing market.
  • The age of your property.
  • The number of bedrooms.
  • Size and shape of your garden.
  • Parking spaces available.
  • Location and proximity to amenities.

 

If you decide to contact high-street estate agents for a valuation, you should aim to have three different agencies value your property and then create an average overall. This is because estate agents may try to overvalue your property to win your business, and making an average will give you a more balanced point of view.

 

When selling a house privately, you should establish a fair and evidence-based asking price. Some online estate agents offer no-obligation house valuations, which often cost less, and you do not need to carry on with your service. These evaluations will help you create a realistic asking price.

It is highly recommended that you refrain from carrying out DIY conveyancing if you sell your home privately. You will have to balance the house sale and the lengthy legal side, which can be the most complex part of a house sale.

 

Instructing a solicitor or conveyancer early on in the private sale process is essential to ensure that the solicitor can process any legal bumps smoothly. It would help if you choose a solicitor that is highly experienced, rated and is a specialist in private house sales.

Once you have prepared your property for sale, instructed solicitors and set a realistic asking price, it’s time to advertise your property. 

 

The first thing you should do when selling your property privately is to take high-resolution photographs of your property; we recommend using a DSLR. You should take photos on a sunny day as the natural light will make your pictures look more spacious. You could hire a professional photographer as they are trained to take interior photographs.

 

As mentioned previously, you will not have access to the Rightmove and Zoopla property listing portals, but you will be able to list on other smaller listing websites. But, the easiest way to sell your property is by putting advertisements in your local newspapers, social media, local forums or community noticeboards. Word-of-mouth marketing will work wonders in selling your property without an estate agent. 

 

In the advertisement, you should include documents that remove any hesitations from potential buyers, like a floor plan, room-by-room guide or Electric Performance Certificate.

Before you have any viewings on your property, you should organise a plan to tour your prospective buyers around the property, showing off the best features of the property and have a list of questions that you think the buyers will ask:

 

  • Have you had any other interest in the property?
  • What fixtures and fittings are included in the sale?
  • Why are you moving?
  • How much is the council tax?
  • What are the best local schools?

 

When selling your home privately without an estate agent, you should stay professional and friendly and not rush the buyers around the property. They will be trying to imagine themselves in the space, so it’s essential that you give them ample time to react to each room. 

 

If you cannot attend a viewing, you should have someone else jump in to take the viewing, as rescheduling can annoy and push away potential buyers. It would help if you also thought about having someone else in the house as you conduct viewings for security reasons.

Once you find a buyer, the buyer may start putting in offers for your home. If you set a fair asking price at the start of the process, you will attract more buyers than if you overvalued your home. It would help if you came up with a minimum amount you are willing to accept, as some buyers will go below your asking price.

 

Negotiations can be stressful, emotional and challenging as you want the best price for a home you’ve probably spent years living in. But the buyer will want to pay the minimum possible for the house so they can start their new life. It’s essential to try to find a middle ground when negotiating. 

 

If you decide to turn down an offer, you should do it politely, as the buyer may put in for a counteroffer later in the process. But it would be best if you were willing to negotiate with a buyer about how much you are ready to accept and how much they are willing to pay for your property.

 

The process is legally binding once you exchange the contracts so that you can entertain multiple offers from buyers before the exchange.

When you have an offer you are happy with, and you decide to accept, it’s essential to ask them for confirmation in writing along with any terms you have agreed, which could include:

 

  • The price.
  • How long to exchange.
  • How long to complete.
  • List anything agreed within the sale.
  • List anything agreed to purchase over and above the sale price.

If you instructed a solicitor or conveyancer earlier in the process, by this stage, they should be ready to go as soon as you accept an offer. Conveyancing can be one of the longest stages of a house sale, so it’s essential that you stay in clear communication with your solicitor and the buyer’s solicitor. 

 

If you want to avoid dealing with solicitors, house viewings and advertisements, sell to us! We will handle all aspects of the sale and can sell your home within 28 days. This is only a fraction of the time it would take to sell your property privately.

Is Selling A Property Privately For You?

When choosing the best route to sell your property, there are numerous factors to consider. It would be best to balance the advantages and disadvantages of selling a house privately without an estate agent.

If you need to sell your house fast, selling privately will not achieve this. We will buy your home in as little as 28 days, pay all of your legal fees and be able to help you with any onward purchases.

We will sell any property in any location, whether it’s unmortgageable, a bunker or Big Ben. Our team are specialists in the property industry and will be able to help you with any problematic properties you wish to sell. Selling a problematic property privately can be very hard, and you may need a lot of luck to sell in the market.

You will find the process a lot easier to sell in a market where the demand for property outweighs the supply for a property. Online estate agents (like ourselves) have strategies to sell houses when the market is outside our favour.

If you are already juggling full-time jobs, children or home renovations, you will need to seriously weigh up if you have time to sell and market a house. You can do it, but it will take a significant amount of your life and cause much stress.

It would be best if you didn’t let estate agents ruin the house-selling process for you forever. We are an online estate agent whom hundreds of customers have trusted to sell their homes. We have an excellent rating on Trustpilot. We are also members of the National Association of Property Buyers and The Property Ombudsman — which means that we follow a strict set of rules that ensure we treat you fairly throughout the process.

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What Can Go Wrong; Selling A Property Privately?

No matter which routes to selling a property you take, there will be a high chance of something cropping up and going awry. The possibilities are maximised during a private house sale as you need the expert guidance of an estate agent to guide you through the process. Here are a few examples of what can go wrong:

 

  • You may receive a lot of attention for your property but only a few offers because people are just window shopping or are potential sellers looking to see what they need to do to prepare their homes for sale.
  • Anything information you advertise about your property should be as accurate as humanly possible. This is because if it’s not, legal issues can arise from potential buyers looking to get a property for cheap. You do not want to misrepresent the value of your home in any way.
  • There is very little you can do in vetting people looking around your property; you should be wary of invasive questions about your property’s security and make sure there is always someone else in the house as you conduct viewings.

What Is The Best Alternative To Selling A House Privately?

If you are on edge about selling your property privately, there are several alternatives — you don’t have to go it alone. You can choose to use a traditional estate agent, an auction house, a cash buyer or an online agent. 

 

The best alternative to selling a house privately is through an online estate agent like us. We provide a fast, effortless and free service for all our customers — promoting a hassle-free selling process wherever your property is in the United Kingdom. 

 

We are different from any other online or traditional estate agent on the market; with our transparent and honest customer service, we make the goal of your making your time with us as effortless as possible. We have access to Rightmove and Zoopla, which will market your house to over 98% of all potential buyers.

 

By selling with us, you will save on estate agent fees just like you would selling privately, but we will cover all your legal costs and take the hassle out of all negotiations. We will always value your property honestly and give you an accurate starting price.

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Solicitors Fees For House Sale

Solicitors Fees For House Sale

In this blog post we will be looking at the solicitors fees involved with selling your home, how much they are, and if there is a way to avoid them. 

Alexandra Ventress

Alexandra Ventress ★ Digital Content Writer

Table of Contents

When it comes to selling a house, it feels like all you seem to do is pay fees and bills. Forking out for EPCs, removals costs, and mortgage charges, to name but a few.

 

And just when you think you are finished with paying for fees, you have to pay the conveyancing solicitors fees. But how much are conveyancing fees? How much do solicitors fees for selling typically cost? And is there a way to avoid paying them?

 

In this blog post, we will be looking at conveyancing fees when you sell your home, how much they can affect your total profit, and how they compare to estate agency fees.

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What is a conveyancing solicitor?

Before we get into the solicitors fees for selling a house, we will first look at what a conveyancing solicitor is and what their role involves. Whether you are selling or buying a house, chances are you will need a conveyancer or a conveyancing solicitor. Once you have found a buyer for your home, you begin the legal process of selling your house. This process is also known as conveyancing and this is where conveyancers and solicitors become involved.

 

Whether you use a solicitor or a conveyancer to progress your house sale, the role they play will be pretty much identical, as it is their job legally progress and undertake all legal aspects of your house sale. The main difference between solicitors and conveyancers is the knowledge that they hold. A licensed conveyancer has specialised, in depth knowledge of property but is not well versed in other aspects of the law. On the other hand conveyancing solicitors have a wide range of knowledge on lots of different aspects of the law and can tackle complex legal issues.

What are the average solicitors fees for house sale?

When it comes to conveyancing fees, there is no straight answer. There are many different types of solicitors, from no win to fee, to online, fixed fee and high street.

 

The average conveyancing fees for a typical house in 2022 were £1046. According to data from SOLD, these are what the average cost for conveyancing fees in 2022 look like, depending on house value, and excluding disbursements:

Property Value Average Solicitor Fee FreeholdAverage Solicitor Fee Leasehold
Up to £100,000£820£990
£100,001-£200,000£880£1050
£201,000-£3000,000£1000£1170
£301,000-£400,000£1090£1260
£401,000-£500,000£1160£1340
£501,000-£600,000£1390£1550
£601,000-£700,000£1600£1770

Whilst it can be tempting to go with the solicitor with the cheapest conveyancing fees, this does not always guarantee quality. Similarly just because a conveyancer has more expensive fees is also not a guarantee of quality. The best way to ensure you are getting good value for money is to shop around and ask for different quotes from various firms as well as reading reviews from multiple sources to ensure you are getting a well rounded opinion.

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How are legal fees calculated when selling a house?

A good rule of thumb for calculating how much you should expect to pay in solicitors fees is to look your property sale. Is it a fairly straightforward transaction or are there bumps in the road? The more complicated your house sale will be, the more you can expect to pay. Properties with an easy ownership structure with straight forward buyers will require very little additional costs and so therefore will be cheaper.

 

Whilst both solicitors and conveyancers can handle the legal progression of your house sale, it is typically cheaper to use a conveyancer as they only handle land transfers. However, should you be selling because of a divorce, probate or bankruptcy then you may be better off using a solicitor as they are trained in all aspects of the law.

What is the difference between legal fees and disbursements?

When you get your bill from the conveyancer, you will see the conveyancing costs will be divided into two sections, legal fees and disbursements. Legal work is the standard rate that conveyancers and solicitors will charge for progressing your house sale. Conveyancing disbursements are third party costs that cover services such as searches.

What do conveyancing solicitors do?

Now we know how much you would need to pay your solicitor for conveyancing process, we will take a look at what it actually involves. As we have already discussed, the legal fees will cover the standard rate whereas disbursements cover the third party work.

 

These disbursements are work that your solicitor may undertake, including:

 

  • Anti money laundering checks
  • Drafting contracts
  • Responding to enquiries
  • Liaising with the land registry to ensure your property is properly registered
  • Approve deed of transfer
  • Organising property searches
  • Transfer ownership
  • Communicate with buyers solicitor
  • Conduct the bank transfer fee
  • Should you still have a mortgage, your solicitor will liaise with your lender on your behalf

 

There are extra legal fees that you may need to be wary of, which we have listed below: 

DisbursementAverage Cost
Title deeds£25
Property fraud fee£10
Transferring of ownership£200 - £500
Money laundering checks £8
CHAPS fee£20 - £30

What is fixed fee conveyancing?

A no sale no fee conveyancer is another alternative from your standard conveyancer. With a ‘no sale no fee conveyancer, you don’t risk having to pay hundred in legal fees if your house sale falls through. The conveyancer will also not be paid until they complete the sale so it gives them extra motivation to complete. However you will need to be aware that there can be extra fees involved with this method of conveyancing. These additional fees are in the form of deposits and other hidden costs that will be charged regardless of whether or not the sale goes through. Another disadvantage is not all conveyancers offer a ‘no sale no fee option.

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What happens if I don't pay the solicitors fee for selling a home?

If you do not feel as though you received the level of service that you agreed to, then you are within your rights to complain and request a reduction or a refund. However you need to bare in mind that this can be a bit of a grey area in the world of property as once you have moved house, it is often viewed that the job of the solicitor is done. Once you have received your conveyancing bill, you have one year to register any complaints that you may have.

 

If you have forgotten to pay your bill or have been putting it off due to money issues then you may find yourself in trouble. If you owe a solicitor or a conveyancing firm money then they will contact you requesting settlement. If you still do not pay you can find yourself being given a County Court Judgement (CCJ). This will negatively impact your credit and will mean additional costs such as interest and additional charges.

 

If your conveyancer or solicitor does chase you for payment, you will receive a letter that includes a statement laying out what is owed, including interest charges. There will also be an information sheet which must be filled out and completed within 30 days. On this form you will be given the option to either accept or contest the debt. If you accept, then you may be able to agree a payment plan with your solicitor but if you contest you may end up in court.

 

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When do I pay conveyancing solicitors fees?

As with an estate agent, you pay the conveyancing solicitors fees when the house sale is complete. However, there may be a basic fee that you may have to pay at the start of the process. Typically, payment is due the day before completion, however, every conveyancer is different and it is always worth checking. The upfront fees you might expect to pay are usually between £190-£300 with the rest of the payment due once the sale of your house is complete.

Can you avoid legal fees for selling?

There are a couple of ways that you can avoid costly solicitor fees when selling a property. The first is by progressing the sale by yourself. This is called diy conveyancing and is not recommended. Whilst it is not a legal requirement to use a conveyancer it may be within your best interest to use one. You would need to have a good understanding of the legal side of the house sale as well as feeling confident to liaise with your lender and undertake all of the other tasks that a conveyancer would. And if there was an issue with the conveyancing you put the house sale at jeopardy and risk financial loss.

 

If you don’t fancy having to fork out for pricey solicitor’s fees for selling your home, but don’t want to progress the sale yourself then there is no need to worry! There is a way to avoid those all consuming solicitor fees!

 

Here at The Property Selling Company we believe that a house sale should be three things; fast, effortless, and free. Because its our mission to change the ways you sell houses, we will cover all of the fees involved with selling a house for you- even the solicitors fees!

 

We will be working alongside you every step of the house selling process, covering everything, so you won’t have to. The days of expensive solicitor fees and legal work are over, and our team of property experts will continue to be there, even after the process is complete.

 

 We will market your property on popular property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla, organise viewings, negotiate better deals all for free!

 

If you are ready to sell your home home in as little as 28 days, then get in touch today and fill out one of our fast, free, no obligation forms for your house valuation today!

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  • You will benefit from honest and transparent customer service
  • Our dedicated team of property experts will be with you from start to finish
  • We will cover all your fees - even legal ones!
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