Thinking of Selling – Smart Property, Dublin, Ireland

Why Not Sell Your Property the SMART Way

SMART Property

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.

1. Property Valuation

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.

2. Getting your property ready

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!

3. Choose your solicitor

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.

4. Get a BER Certificate for your property

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.

5. Property Launch & Viewings

Be as accommodating and flexible as possible with viewings for your potential buyers. It will pay off!

When your property is launched to the market here at Smart we recommend holding a number of Open Viewings if possible to get large numbers of interested parties through the property, ascertain the real level of interest in the property by speaking to these viewers, and to get to know who the serious buyers are. Viewers are qualified and private viewings are then held for serious buyers.

6. Receiving offers and the negotiation process

Always ensure your buyer is in a position to proceed!

Always know what your bottom line is and don’t go below this if at all possible. This of course depends on your circumstances. When you start receiving offers from buyers it is imperative to ensure they are in a position to proceed e.g.

Are they cash buyers or mortgage approved?

Have they a property to sell on which buying yours is dependent?

If they are in the process of selling their own have they signed contracts?

Whilst it’s great to receive offers they aren’t …much use… if the bidders don’t have the funds to back up the offer.

6. Receiving offers and the negotiation process

Always ensure your buyer is in a position to proceed!

Are they cash buyers or mortgage approved?

Have they a property to sell on which buying yours is dependent?

If they are in the process of selling their own have they signed contracts?

Whilst it’s great to receive offers they aren’t …much use… if the bidders don’t have the funds to back up the offer.

7. Agree a Sale

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.

8. Structural survey of the property & Bank Valuation

Two boxes to be ticked!

Two procedures to possibly carried out by your buyer are a structural survey and a mortgage lender valuation. It is the norm for a survey to be carried out to ensure there are no major structural problems with the property. If the buyer is mortgage approve their lending institution will arrange an independent valuation of the property to ensure they agree with the sale agreed price…

8. Structural survey of the property & Bank Valuation

Two boxes to be ticked!

9. Exchange of Contracts

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.

10. Sale is Completed

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.