As we all know, moving home is one of life’s biggest upheavals ranking alongside divorce and death in terms of the stress that it can bring into someone’s life. However, it can also open the door to a new home which could mean a better way of life. There will always be an element of stress involved of course, but moving and selling doesn’t have to be a pressured and stressful experience!
If you’re selling your home
1. Avoid selling in a rush
If you have found another property you need to move into, or you’re moving for work, try to give yourself as much time as possible to go through the process so that you don’t have to make snap decisions.
Did you know? In the UK it takes an average of 10 weeks to accept an offer and the total time from a property first going on the market to sale completion is 6 months.
Be realistic about timescales and make sure things don't rely on you securing an optimistically fast sale.
2. Be prepared
Is your home ready to be viewed by someone who might be interested in buying it? Cluttered surfaces, dirty carpets, stained walls and an untidy garden can all be off-putting so make sure you're ready to present your home in the best possible light.
3. Don’t immediately dismiss below asking price offers
Many sellers can fall into the trap of pricing a home too high and dismissing the first offer that falls below the asking price. If the first offer you receive is below the asking price it still deserves consideration.
In a largely stagnant market, It’s all too common for a below-asking-price offer to be the only offer received, so its worth thinking about it objectively before deciding and remember, a serious buyer is very likely to make a cheeky first offer, so don't be afraid to play hard ball when it comes to negotiating and inviting a potential buyer to come back to you with a "nearer to asking price" offer is standard.
4. Make an effort for the viewings
Buyers don’t expect a show home but equally, it doesn’t pay to make them feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. If you have viewings going on then make time for them so buyers have the opportunity to wander around unflustered by family life, pets or too much mess.
5. Make sure you're well-rested
Don't underestimate the power of sleep! Whether you're buying or selling, the process can pile on the stress which can lead to all kinds of problems, including sleepless nights tossing and turning in your bed!
The more well-rested you are the more able you'll be to operate effectively and make good decisions, so to help manage your stress levels, make sure you're getting enough sleep!
If you’re buying a home
1. Get all the right surveys
It’s just not worth skimping on the property surveys, even if you know the seller or they’ve lived there for years. There are so many things that could affect the value of the home in the future and surveys are the fastest and most efficient way of ensuring you have full disclosure from the start.
2. Sort out your finances in advance
Ensure you're in a position to make an offer on a property you find by getting your financing in place as far in advance as possible. Lenders will readily provide you with a mortgage offer in principle which will give you a far clearer idea of what you can afford.
Decide how you’re going to manage the process too, engage your conveyancer or solicitor and be prepared to move quickly once you find the right place!
3. Give yourself some distance between exchange and completion
It’s just too much of a rush to exchange and complete on the same day so if you want a stress-free experience then make sure these are spaced some time apart.
There will be a lot to organise between exchange and actually getting the keys to the property, from moving out of your current address, to lining up utility providers at the new place and transferring money to the right accounts to ensure that all the payments go through on time.
We can help you move home faster!
Whether sale and purchase, purchase only, or sale only you can get an online conveyancing quote now! Alternatively, you can also get a fast, free online home valuation.