Without a doubt selling your home can be a stressful process. Some of this stress stems from a lack of knowledge for sellers about the process. This is understandable as most of us will only be in the position of selling their homes a few times over the course of their lives. However once the process has been outlined and broken down into manageable chunks selling a house seems very doable! Our handy guide outlines the 12 steps involved to get your house sold.
Sell the SMART way
Contact Smart and one of our agents will be happy to carry out a free valuation for you. With our vast knowledge of your area combined with our specialist valuation software tools we will give you the true market value of your property. Our extensive marketing strategy will ensure you achieve this price.
Remember first impressions count!
It is important you bring your property to a level where it is a clean, clutter free blank canvas. Clear out clutter (which will also serve you well for when the time comes to move!), clean and spruce up the place as much as possible. If your budget allows maybe tidy up some paint work and do those minor repairs you had been putting off. Dress the property in neutral tones which will ensure not to put off any viewer with strong colours. Spruce up the outside of the property as well and have any gardens trimmed back and tidy. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to present your property in the best possible light!
Appoint a solicitor as soon as you decide you are selling
The legal formalities associated with selling your property is called conveyancing. Solicitors have different charging structures so shop around for a good deal.
Know your energy rating!
It is a legal requirement to have a Buildings Energy Rating (BER) Certificate for your property prior to bringing it to the market. Appoint a BER assessor to carry out an appraisal of the property and they will ascertain its energy rating. The assessor will submit the results to Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland who will issue a BER Cert and Advisory Report. This is a quick and easy process – depending on the size of the property it can be completed in a matter of hours and the Certificate issued within days.
Happy days – a sale has been agreed!
When you have decided with your agent’s advice to accept an offer, the purchaser will pay a deposit to the agency. This initial deposit is fully refundable if they decide not to proceed before contracts are signed.
The Deed is done!
Your solicitor will draw up contracts and send them to your buyer’s solicitor for signing. When received back you counter-sign with your solicitor. A second deposit is paid which is the balance of 10% of the sale agreed price. This deposit is non refundable.
Well done – you have sold your property!
When the legal documents are all signed a suitable closing date is agreed. On that date the remainder of the money for the sale will be transferred to your solicitor’s account and they keys are handed to your buyers.