Selling your house can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be a smooth and rewarding process. Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, or relocating, this guide will walk you through the essential steps to successfully sell your home in the UK.
If you ask yourself, ‘How can I sell my house?’ you are not alone. According to Rightmove, it takes 150 days for a house to go under offer and then another 3 months for conveyancing.
In this article, we will explore reasons why your house is not selling and what you can do to address them.
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What should I do if my house isn't selling?
Consider adjusting the price, improving marketing efforts, or enhancing the property’s appeal. For a hassle-free selling experience, consider reaching out to Property Saviour. We offer expert advice and services tailored to your needs, ensuring a smooth transaction from start to finish. Contact us today to explore your options and start your selling journey with confidence.
Step 1: Determine Your Home's Value
Before you list your property, it’s crucial to know its market value. You can do this by:
- Getting a Professional Valuation: Hire a local estate agent or an independent valuer for an accurate assessment.
- Online Valuation Tools: Use online calculators to get a rough estimate based on recent sales in your area.
Step 2: Prepare Your Home for Sale
First impressions matter. Enhance your home’s appeal with these tips:
- Boost Kerb Appeal: Tidy up the garden, paint the front door, and ensure the exterior is welcoming.
- Declutter and Depersonalise: Create a neutral space where potential buyers can envision themselves living.
- Make Necessary Repairs: Fix any obvious issues like leaky taps or cracked tiles.
Step 3: Choose the Right Selling Method
Decide how you want to sell your house:
- Traditional Estate Agent: Offers professional marketing and negotiation services but comes with fees.
- Online Estate Agent: Generally cheaper, providing a digital platform for listing your property.
- Private Sale: Handle the sale yourself to save on fees, but be prepared for a more hands-on approach.
Step 4: Market Your Property
Effective marketing can significantly impact your sale:
- Professional Photography: High-quality images attract more interest.
- Compelling Description: Highlight key features and recent upgrades.
- List on Major Portals: Ensure your property is visible on sites like Rightmove and Zoopla.
Step 5: Negotiate Offers
When offers start coming in:
- Assess Each Offer Carefully: Consider not just the price, but the buyer’s situation (e.g., chain-free, mortgage pre-approval).
- Negotiate Terms: Be prepared to negotiate on price and completion dates.
Step 6: Complete the Sale
Once an offer is accepted:
- Hire a Conveyancer: A legal professional will handle the transfer of ownership.
- Finalise Paperwork: Ensure all documents are in order to avoid delays.
My House Isn’t selling; What should I do?
Make first impressions count. Your house may not be selling because it lacks kerb appeal. Buyers make up their minds about a house within minutes.
If the outside of your home isn’t looking its best, you could be losing out on potential buyers.
Online Property Listings
Make sure your estate lists your property in popular sites. Listing your property online can significantly increase its visibility. Websites like Rightmove and Zoopla attract millions of potential buyers, providing a broader audience than traditional methods.
Home Staging Tips
Staging your home can make a significant difference. Simple touches like decluttering, adding fresh flowers, and ensuring the house is clean and well-lit can make it more appealing to buyers.an traditional methods.
Improving Kerb Appeal
First impressions matter. Enhancing your home’s exterior with a fresh coat of paint, well-maintained gardens, and clean pathways can attract more buyers.
Pricing Strategies
Research similar properties in your area and consider getting a professional valuation to ensure your property is competitively priced.
Open House Events
Hosting open house events can attract multiple buyers at once, creating a sense of urgency and competition. It allows potential buyers to view the property in a relaxed setting.
Social Media Marketing
Using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to market your property can reach a vast audience. Share high-quality photos and engaging descriptions to capture interest.
Virtual Tours
Offering virtual tours can attract buyers who cannot visit in person. It provides a comprehensive view of the property, making it easier for buyers to make a decision.
Negotiation Tactics
Be prepared to negotiate with potential buyers. Understand your bottom line and be willing to compromise on certain terms to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
Timing the Market
Research the best times to sell your property. Typically, spring and early autumn are peak times in the property market, but this can vary depending on your location.
Don't overlook neglected repairs
Consider making minor improvements to increase your property’s value. This could include updating the kitchen or bathroom, adding energy-efficient features, or enhancing the garden.
Selling a Property Isn’t Always Easy.
Whether you are a first-time seller or have inherited a house to sell, it takes time, patience, and skill to sell.
When we asked sellers how they chose their estate agent, often you hear, “Another house on the same street is up for sale with them, so I gave them mine,” or “They were the cheapest,” and “I really liked their boards!”
Our first recommendation is to check on Rightmove to see who sells the most properties in your area.
Go with an estate agent who has sold most properties in your area. Incentivise your estate agent and pay them a higher fee based on performance to sell your house within a fixed timeframe on a no-sale no, no-fee basis.
How much does it cost to sell a house?
Costs can vary but typically include estate agent fees, conveyancing fees, and potential improvements or repairs.
Can I sell my house without an estate agent?
Yes, selling privately is an option, though it requires more effort in marketing and negotiation.
Why Is My House Not Selling?
One reason why your house isn’t selling is because of the high asking price. Your asking price may be too high if you aren’t getting viewing requests.
Being ambitious with your asking price makes an estate agent win more business. “You cannot increase a price, but you can always reduce it” is the advice.
Or vendors say, “We are not in a rush to sell!” Selling a house brings a lot of uncertainty and stress. If you don’t need to sell, please don’t sell.
If your price is unrealistic, potential buyers will not bother looking at it. Your house will not sell in the desired timeframe. Psychologically, other buyers will think, “What is wrong with this house?”
With higher interest rates, house prices have become price-sensitive due to strict affordability criteria.
Price your house realistically, and it will sell.
Putting it at a sensible asking price can work wonders. Let’s say that your house is worth £200,000. Rather than putting it up at £220,000 and reducing it over a year, why not put in ‘offers over £180,000’ and let two or more buyers put in their full and final offers?
You may achieve £190,000, which would be a great result.
My House Is Not Selling; What Can I do?
1 in 3 property sales collapse; don’t let it be yours.
Have you considered selling to a cash house buyers? You won’t get full market value, but you will get certainty of a sale.
When you agree on a sale on the open market, do all you can to keep it on track for completion.
“OK. Mrs. Jones, we have sold your property!” says an excited estate agent. “You should instruct solicitors today!”.
You instruct your solicitors only to discover that the buyer can’t get a mortgage! You may find that out after 2 months of wasted time and expensive abortive solicitors fees.
Always financially qualify your buyer:
- Do they have a mortgage offer in principle?
- Have you seen their deposit?
- Have they instructed and paid their solicitors’ fees?
- Do not instruct your solicitor until your buyer has completed a satisfactory mortgage survey & they are in receipt of a firm mortgage offer.
Getting a buyer to spend their money shows commitment. It is not a sign that the sale will go through. It is a good indicator of their motivation level.
My House Isn’t Selling Because Of The Area
Do you live in an economically deprived area?
Tenants move in because of low and affordable rents but soon realise it’s not suitable for them and move out. Alternatively, the local council promptly evicts tenants engaged in anti-social behaviour and criminal activities.
You can try to sell your house to a local housing association or your council. However, it would be challenging to do so since most councils are practically bankrupt.
Even if you convince a council or housing association to buy, they are likely to offer only up to 50% of the property’s value.
How Can I Sell My House?
If you have tried all the above suggestions and still your house isn’t selling, contact us.
- Real Cash Buyers: We buy properties with our own funds, ensuring a quick and reliable transaction.
- No Estate Agents: Avoid the hassle of estate agents; we handle everything directly.
- No Surveys: Save time and money with no surveys required.
- Fast Cash Offer: Receive a cash offer within 10 days or a timescale that suits you.
- Price Honoured: We always honour the agreed price, with no last-minute reductions.
- Legal Fees Contribution: We contribute at least £1,500 towards your legal fees.
- Grant of Probate Assistance: We expedite the Grant of Probate process if needed.
- Real Seller Reviews: All our reviews are from genuine sellers like you.
Empty homes are much harder to sell. On an empty property, there are hidden costs.
These include mortgage payments, council tax, standing utility charges and extra insurance for an unoccupied property. This can add up to thousands of pounds in extra bills.
Empty properties can become harder to sell once squatters have vandalised and moved in. Your home could become a drug den for the local addicts and have all its copper pipes stolen. Or worse, the organised criminal gangs convert it into a cannabis factory.
We will buy any house for cash, enabling you to sell your house quickly and confidently.
Sell in just 10 days. We’ll pay your legal fees of £1,500. Get your solicitor to send our solicitors the contract.
Sell with certainty & speed
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
