If this is the first time you have sold a property or you haven't moved in some time, below is a guide to the key stages in the selling process.
Make Mortgage Arrangements
Before starting your property search speak to a mortgage advisor to confirm what your budget is. They will assess your financial circumstances and commitments and suggest the most suitable mortgage options. You can then obtain a mortgage agreement in principle and start your property search
Putting Your House On The Market
You will need to agree on the marketing price of your property and sign our agency agreement. We will then take photos and measurements of your property ready to begin marketing. An EPC (Energy performance certificate) is a certificate that shows in detail the energy performance of a building. It is a legal requirement if you are selling or letting your home to have an EPC.
Confirm Sales Particulars
You will receive draft sales particulars of your home. Due to the Property Misdescriptions Act, you must make any amendments to these, then sign and date and return them to us.
Advertising and Marketing
Diamonds will advertise your property extensively. As soon as the details are put on the system we will match them to prospective buyers on our database and generate viewings. Marketing procedures includes your property being advertised on www.rightmove.co.uk, www.diamonds-salesandlettings.co.uk, for sale board erected at the property, property details displayed in both branches (Talbot Green and Caerphilly). Illuminated office window displays.
Instruct a Solicitor
It is advisable to enquire into conveyancing services and instruct a solicitor as early as possible so that when you accept an offer everything is in place, speeding up the whole process.
Preparing Your Home For Viewings
There are many ways to increase the saleability of your home. See our information section below on making your property saleable for detailed advice.
Viewings
Prospective buyers will view your property, by appointment through Diamonds. Ensure your home is presentable before every viewing. First impressions really do count, with most buyers forming an opinion within the first 15 seconds on entering a property.
Receiving Offers
We will communicate all offers made by telephone and in writing. We will work to negotiate between you and the buyer to arrive at a sale price that you both agree to. Consider all offers and accept the one you are happy with.
Confirmation of Sale
Once an offer is agreed we will prepare a Memorandum of Sale which provides details of the property, agreed sale price, name and address of yourself and the buyer and your solicitors. This is then sent to everyone concerned.
Legal Work
On receipt of the Memorandum of Sale a draft contract will be prepared by your solicitor and sent to the buyer's solicitor who will make preliminary enquiries and conduct local and land registry searches. If no further enquiries are needed the buyer's solicitor will approve the contract. We will run sales progression in our office, making regular contact with all parties so that queries are dealt with quickly and customers are kept fully up to date.
Exchange of Contracts
When all the legal paperwork is prepared and a formal mortgage offer has been received the contract is signed by both buyer and seller and a deposit is paid. This is a formal binding contract committing you to buy the property. At this stage a date for completion will be suggested.
Completion
This is when your sale is completed and all set of keys to be handed in to our office to be passed to the purchaser(s).
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC's)
If you are selling your property, you must commission an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). We will be happy to organize this for you. An EPC tells you and the prospective buyer how energy efficient your property is; the impact the property has on the environment and includes recommendations on ways to improve the property's energy efficiency. You can start marketing your property before the EPC is ready, but it must be made available and added to all marketing material within 28 days. It normally takes two to three days for an EPC to be delivered once you've placed the order.
EPCs can only be produced by accredited Domestic Energy Assessors.
Ensure your property has the best chance to sell
The way a property is presented is a key contributing factor to achieving a prompt sale at market price. Good first impressions are vital, as is the need to appeal to the broadest range of buyers as possible. Below are some tips for ensuring your property is presented in a way that gives it the best possible chance sell.
Pre-marketing stage
Listen to our advice on a realistic marketing price. You may have in mind what you think your property is worth but your property should be valued based on condition and comparable evidence of actual property sales not properties on the market. Properties that are pitched either too high or too low may limit viewing interest.
