How to speed up the process of selling and buying a home – top 10 tips.

Are you looking to sell or buy a property, but feeling overwhelmed by the process? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be so stressful. In this blog, we offer 10 tips on what you can do as a home-owner or house hunter before and during the process of buying and selling.

We also outline specific aspects that we do here at Hills to help our sellers and buyers achieve the most success in the quickest time frame. Contrary to what you might hear, it’s not just a case of leaving it with the conveyancer and biding your time; there are several things that can and should be done to help speed up the process of selling and buying property in the UK.

10 tips to help sellers and buyers speed up the process:

1. Do your property market research.

Before you start the process, make sure you have a good understanding of the housing market in your area and a good handle on local house prices. The main property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla are good places to start, as well as the websites of established, reputable estate agents like Hills.

2. Find a good, reputable estate agent.

A trusted local estate agent like Hills can help you navigate the process of buying and selling and make sure everything is done correctly. If you are searching for a property to buy in Salford and Greater Manchester, Hills can also help you search for properties with a completed chain, or a reduced chain, as this will speed up the process of buying. 

3. Understand the value of your property.

If you are selling property, a good estate agent will provide you with an accurate and realistic valuation of your home based on recent sale prices and the current market condition. This will help you market and sell your home in the quickest time. Do not be tempted to put your property on the market at an inflated price; this can actually delay the selling process. An accurately and realistically priced property is likely to sell more quickly. 

4. Prepare your home for sale 

If you are selling, clean and declutter the home to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Make necessary repairs to ensure the home is safe and in good condition, and ‘stage’ your home with furniture and decor that is as modern, neutral and attractive as possible. 

5. Show off your home at its best

Make sure your estate agent offers high quality photography, virtual tours, floor plans and property videos that will present your home at its best. Many buyers will ‘visit’ a property online before actually setting foot inside the property, so make sure their virtual viewing experience is optimum. This will encourage more viewings, which means a quicker sale. 

6. Extensive property marketing

Your estate agent should offer extensive marketing to capture the largest possible buyer audience. Check that your property will be advertised on major UK property portals as well as social media and the agent’s own website which should have a good property search facility. Again, this will help you reach more buyers to encourage more interest and offers, and a quicker sale.

7. Prepare your finances when buying

If you are buying a property and you need a mortgage, get a handle on how much you can borrow. This will help determine your budget for the onward purchase. Hills offers full mortgage and financial services with three full time Independent Financial Advisors. It’s a good idea to shop around for the best mortgage deal to suit your needs, and our advisors will help you do that with access to the whole market and deals that you may not be able to secure if you go directly to the lender. We provide a lenders agreement in principle which puts buyers in the best position to secure their dream home, and it can also help to speed up the buying process.

Our financial advisors attend our morning meetings with the whole team, which means they follow movements of all ongoing property sales and their associated property chains, so they can make sure financials are prepped and ready at the right time for our buyers.

8. Become’ buyer-ready’

When you’re ready to make an offer on a property to buy, you’ll need to have all your paperwork in order. This includes proof of income, credit score, and other documents. Instruct a recommended solicitor to carry out the conveyancing as soon as possible – don’t delay. Hills can recommend tried and tested solicitors who will start to prepare your contracts. 

As soon as an offer has been accepted on your chosen property, instruct your solicitor to carry out the required searches. These are a legal requirement when buying property in the UK and your solicitor will work with the local authority, and other organisations, as part of the home-buying process. They use these to find out any information about the property and any local development plans that may affect the home you plan to purchase.

9. Become ‘sale-ready’

If you are selling, you will need to prepare the necessary selling documents including the title deeds.  Ask your estate agent about the property chain and, if you have several offers from different buyers, consider choosing a buyer with the shorter chain, this should reduce the time it takes to complete the property sale. As a seller, you also need to instruct a solicitor to carry out the conveyancing process – get your chosen firm lined up as early as possible.

10. Choose an agent with a proficient Sales Progression team

Your estate agent should offer a dedicated team to handle the sale of your home. Often called a Sales Progressor, a member of the team will have the sole responsibility to move your sale forwards and keep an eye on the property chain. They will communicate with all parties throughout, including solicitors, and keep you informed at every stage.

At Hills, we are very proud of our exceptional Sales Progression team and know for a fact that this in-house facility has helped both sellers and buyers reduce the time it takes to get their property transaction through. It also reduces the chances of a property sale falling through, a stressful outcome we work hard to avoid. If your sale is left in the hands of the solicitor without anyone prompting things along, the sale or purchase is likely to take longer so it’s definitely worth checking with your estate agent that they have dedicated staff to handle this critical part of the selling process.

To discuss ways to speed up your property sale or purchase in Salford, Eccles and Greater Manchester, speak to our friendly and knowledgeable team. 

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