Chard London Selling Agents - Information for vendors
Top tips for vendors
De-clutter to emphasise size and light.
It's amazing how many people don't. With some properties in Kensington, Holland Park and other prime areas selling at close to £2000 per square foot, every little helps! If limited storage space is a consideration, renting a storage unit nearby can be a pragmatic and cost effective solution.
Make your home available for viewings
To fit in with buyers' crowded schedules we show properties from early mornings until late into the evening. Give your property maximum exposure by allowing it to be shown to as many pre-qualified applicants as possible.
Leave your agent keys to facilitate viewings.
Resist the temptation to follow buyers around
We've all done it. "This is the kitchen...", but buyers can find this unsettling. Leave your buyer and agent to view at their own pace, or even better, leave them to it completely. Leave doors from hallways propped open. It adds to the feeling of space in a property.
Sort out obvious defects
Water stains on the ceiling and damp or musty smells usually have a straightforward cause - and remedy. Repairing obvious defects before you market the property will make it a much better proposition for buyers. Chard Home Services can help.
Contact Chard Property Maintenance & Refurbishment here or simply call 0845 203 2506
The price is right
Valuations should be based on fact, and backed up with comparables and knowledge of local supply and demand. Beware of agents over valuing your home to impress you (and secure their sole agency), then allowing it to stagnate on the market whilst they pester you to drop the price. Although lucrative for some agents, it's seldom in the interest of the seller.
Important information for vendors
Be prepared
Early preparation makes a difference. By reducing delays on your part you will help ensure the sale of your property progresses swiftly - and also help identify non performing buyers quickly so they can be discarded.
Your mortgage
If you have a mortgage on your property, it's sensible to know how much it will cost to redeem on completion of the sale. You do not want to be taken by surprise after you have contracted to sell, should you discover you must pay several thousand pounds more than you had anticipated. Your mortgage company should be able to give you an accurate redemption figure, taking into account early redemption penalties and other service charges levied by your mortgage lender.
Your solicitor
You will almost certainly benefit from engaging a knowledgeable, responsive and well organised solicitor when selling your property in London. Chard can help with recommendations for solicitors we have found to be helpful, reliable and efficient when buying or selling property in London.
Whilst the information below may seem long winded and tedious, we recommend you familiarise yourself with the procedure. It will certainly assist the sales process if you have everything conveniently available and to hand.
At this point you may want to make a cup of tea before reading further.
Get your solicitor ready early
Your solicitor will tell you what they require, however they must do several things before they can start acting for you in the sale of your property. You can often save a fortnight by instructing your solicitor as soon as your property is marketed for sale. Don't leave it until you have a buyer.
Should send you a 'client care' letter. This sets out the terms of your contract with the solicitor. Law Society regulations mean that your solicitor cannot charge for work undertaken on your behalf untill you have signed and returned the letter.
They are therefore very unlikely, and at best very reluctant, to risk working for you for nothing. It's therefore essential that you formally engage the solicitor by signing your agreement at the earliest opportunity.
Must check the originals of your personal and address identification. The Money Laundering Regulations make this an absolutely essential process for your solicitor. Usually you will be required to produce your passport and a recent (less than three months old) utility bill, Council Tax demand, or similar document, usually also including a Water Rate demand, which serves as proof of your name and current address.
Your solicitor needs to check the originals of your personal and address identification. The Money Laundering Regulations make this an absolutely essential process for your solicitor. Usually you will be required to produce your passport and a recent (less than three months old) utility bill, Council Tax demand, or similar document, usually also including a Water Rate demand, which serves as proof of your name and current address.
The solicitor will want to send off for searches and enquiries for which he must pay fees. Local authority fees vary from Borough to Borough generally from around £150 and upalthough sometimes to £250 or more. Drainage searches cost between £35 and £50 or more. Land Registry fees are usually relatively nominal. For leasehold properties, managing agents often charge anything from £150 to much more for answering routine enquiries or providing copies of documents. Your solicitor will require money on account - often up to £500 - to cover those fees before he incurs them. Under Law Society Rules, he cannot draw on uncleared cheques (which can take at least 5 and theoretically 12 days to clear), so the sooner he ha s your cheque for clearance (if that is how you are paying) the better. If you use internet banking, tell your solicitor when you pay him: solicitors' accounts are complex and many entries are made each day, so his accounts department might be unaware of the credit, who it is from, or what it is for.
Your solicitor will send you questionnaires about the property; a Property Information Form giving information about the property generally; (if leasehold) a Leasehold Information Form; and a Fixtures Fittings & Contents List. They are part of a Law Society system and, because they have important legal consequences, must be signed and dated by you personally. They will be included with the papers he sends to the purchaser, so the sooner he gets them out to you and you get them back to him, the sooner he will be ready.
Some documents might be with you. The Leasehold Information Form will ask for copies of the last 3 years' service charge accounts and, if there is a management company of which you are a member, the last 3 years' company accounts. If you have them, or any guarantees, service contracts or similar, give them to your solicitor. If you have had any work done to windows since 2002 the purchaser will probably insist on a FENSA certificate. If you have made a Planning Consent or Building Regulation applications the results should be sent to your solicitor.
Try to remember that your solicitor's job is reading and drafting a great many complex documents for many other clients as well as you, all of which require careful undistracted attention. Telephone calls, however brief, will usually only distract and disrupt him, so the fewer you make the better he can do his job. If it's urgent or important, your message will probably be better handled if you do it by e-mail or fax.
They are part of a Law Society system and, because they have important legal consequences, must be signed and dated by you personally. They will be included with the papers he sends to the purchaser, so the sooner he gets them out to you and you get them back to him, the sooner he will be ready.
Some documents might be with you. The Leasehold Information Form will ask for copies of the last 3 years' service charge accounts and, if there is a management company of which you are a member, the last 3 years' company accounts. If you have them, or any guarantees, service contracts or similar, give them to your solicitor. If you have had any work done to windows since 2002 the purchaser will probably insist on a FENSA certificate. If you have made a Planning Consent or Building Regulation applications the results should be sent to your solicitor.
Try to remember that your solicitor's job is reading and drafting a great many complex documents for many other clients as well as you, all of which require careful undistracted attention. Telephone calls, however brief, will usually only distract and disrupt him, so the fewer you make the better he can do his job. If it's urgent or important, your message will probably be better handled if you do it by e-mail or fax.
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