Consider using a purchase property company in London
This is the fastest way to sell your property anywhere in the country but they are gaining ground fast in London too. Basically, they buy any property – a bit like ‘we buy any car’ but for houses. Usually, in order for them to make a profit they’ll offer below market value (though they won’t tell you this) so make sure you get a couple of valuations on your property first so you know what it’s worth. You can get local agents, an independent surveyor or a myproeprtyadvice.com specialist so provide you with a rough valuation.
Go multi-agency
There are If you prefer to go the traditional route, get your property listed with multiple local agents so each of them is vying for the business and you access every buyer in the area. There are so many estate agents in London you won’t be short of choice but it’s important to find agents that are right for you.
Don’t always be drawn to the big names, some have high churn of agents or have better forming branches elsewhere. Ask people in the area who have moved recently what they thought about who was best for them. Sometimes it’s best to get a mixture of big chain agents and a local independent agent because they are just hyper-focused on one area so they know it like a local.
Use all the portals based in London
Most agents only use one or two of the main property portals; Rightmove, Zoopla, OntheMarket and Primelocation so ask each agent which they list with so you can ensure your house is on every one.
We advise that you don’t allow more than 2-3 agents to list the property on each site because it can make you look desperate for a sale and either put buyers off – thinking somethings wrong with it – or make them think they can drop the price. Other agents can advertise internally, through their offline sources anyway so you still get those buyers.
Speak to your neighbours
This is such an easy fix and it completely passes most people by! You’d be really surprised how many people want to stay local but are looking for a bit of an up or downsize on their current property. If you live in a block of flats then one of your neighbours might own more than one property and be looking to expand their portfolio. Investors like to stick to what they know if it works so you might be able to make a really quick sale without all the faff of agents!
If you don’t use an estate agent, we do recommend you have someone guiding you through the process, especially if you haven’t sold before. Often solicitors are too busy, or not interested, in helping you to find your way through the sale easily. If you’d like to know more about how this would work or if you’d like one of our experts to help you – use the form at the bottom of this page to register your interest and we can talk you through how it works.
Have a sale board
This seems so basic but you’d be surprised how many people ask agents not to put boards outside. Exactly as your neighbours might be interested in buying your property, house hunters frequently peruse the area so might see a board for a house they haven’t seen the property online.
We know they aren’t the most sightly things but this is a really simple and easy way to get your property noticed by people who are already interested and invested in the area so we highly recommend it. Agents are always happy to provide boards to new vendors so just ask! If you are using a multi-agency then only have two to three boards maximum as otherwise, as above, it can look as if you’re really desperate to sell the property and will work against you when buyers are bidding.
Get the asking price right
Agents might be inclined to push prices down for a quick sale but this can actually work against you. Have a look on the property portals to see what the increments are that people can choose to search within and make sure your house is in the right band. We offer free desktop valuations (this means we don’t actually visit your property to work out the price) so if you’d like a second opinion get in touch!
If you have multiple agents selling your home then make sure they are all aligned with the price and that it’s the same on every listing across the portal sites. They’re all competing for the fee so might be cheeky and list for a bit less than a competitor to drive more calls to their office. Run a quick search to make sure they’re doing what they promise!
Consider a Virtual Tour
These are a really great way to encourage overseas or distant buyers’ interest in your property, but in this pandemic era, they are almost a necessity. If you live in the property you’re selling, you might not want to have a parade of potential buyers coming through the door each day, and they might not want to visit a range of houses. Having a virtual tour allows buyers to have what is essentially a first viewing without leaving the house!
If your agents don’t want to stump up for this extra service, and you really want to sell quickly, then it could be worth investing in yourself. Always push the estate agent to get one done but the extra few hundred pounds out of your pocket could mean the difference between a sale this month or next.
Think about the fixtures
Sometimes a buyer falls in love with the place exactly as is so be prepared to include white goods and any fixtures and fittings such as lights. The best way to do this is, if you’re particularly looking for a quick sale, don’t bring it up with a buyer unless they ask but have a number already in mind for them all to be included. If they’re trying to push the price down you can throw them in as a sweetener or if they ask you already know what they’re worth to you so you don’t have to wait a moment before getting back to them.
Sort out our paperwork
The biggest thing that slows down any sale is the admin. Even if a buyer and seller are ready and raring to go, if the paperwork isn’t there it can take months sometimes to get it over the line. If you need to move fast then making sure all your documentation is done can really speed up the process.
- Make sure all your finances are in order
- Get a solicitor – a good solicitor really can make or break a deal so this is an area we recommend you don’t scrimp on. In order to get you ready they will need:
- Proof of identity – passport or driving licence
- Proof of address – bank statement or bill
- Property title deeds
- Fittings contents
- Property information – such as boundaries and any live disputes
- Leasehold or share of/freehold documents
- EPC certificate
If you can get these all sorted as soon as you put your house on the market, you’ll be in a really strong position to move quickly when the right buyer comes along.
Sort out the leasehold
If your house or flat is a leasehold, make sure there is enough time left on it so as not to put off prospective buyers. Short leases – anything under 99 years – can be thought of as expensive and time consuming to extend so buyers will ask for a significant chunk off the asking price or not bother to purchase at all.
If you don’t have time to extend it then speak to the freeholder to find out how much and how long it will take so you can inform the buyer. If they know it’s actually quite a quick fix and won’t put them out of pocket then all this information can give them peace of mind that the purchase is right for them.
Avoid chains
Chains are one of the biggest issues when it comes to the speed of a property sale. If your buyer is waiting for you to find and buy a property as well, it can slow the whole process down. If you need somewhere to move to either buy it before you sell or prepare an alternative situation.
Speak to friends and family to see if you can stay with them while you’re between places or find a short term rental or cheap hotel to live in after you’ve sold. Find your storage unit and even start packing up your belongings before viewings start so you’re really ahead of the game. Below we talk about reducing clutter so this has a double bonus for promoting a quick sale.
Dress it
Especially if you’re getting a virtual tour but we always recommend dressing your house for sale. This means decluttering all the extra nicknacks and personal belongings out of view when the photos are being taken. The house should feel lived in and homely but prospective buyers want to be able to project their own ideas and imagine themselves there so try to reduce the amount of personal stuff in the photos.
Think about how the furniture is laid out too. The way you use the house might be the most practical but it might not be the most beautiful so, if you can, move out some excess furniture and place the items you have in a more universally recognizable. Take a look at popular Pinterest trends and styling tips to see if there are any easy wins to give the place an uplift.
You shouldn’t need to do any major work but if you have particularly bright or bold colours in the property or the decoration was last done several years ago – a quick lick of paint can completely change the look and feel of a room. If you are in doubt, you can send our experts a couple of pictures and we can let you know what we think can be done to improve the look.
Fresh flowers and nice scents can all add a lovely and welcoming touch to a house viewing, plus it’s nice for you while you still live there so definitely worth doing!
Think “Kerb Appeal”
The way a house looks from the outside is more important than you realise! Even in a block of flats, considering the walk up to your door can make all the difference. First impressions can make or break a sale so consider what the buyer will see when they get to your door.
Here are some of our favourite front door styles at the moment! If it’s old or has peeling paint then a quick refresh or change of door furniture can really help. Pull up any weeds in the front garden and plant some colourful flowers. Make sure the bin area is tidy. If your neighbours are known to leave dog poo or litter on the street then we highly recommend having a quick clean up of the immediate surroundings just to make sure your buyers get the best impression possible.
If you live in a block of flats then think about the walk from the main door to your front door. Is there a funny smell? Could an incense stick help make the place feel more appealing? If there are major stains on the carpets and the tenants are dragging their feet about getting them cleaned, stumping up for a professional clean could really boost your prospects.
Clean!
Before each viewing, do a quick run around the house and make sure there aren’t any cobwebs in the corners or overflowing bins. Again, the buyer wants to imagine themselves there so try to remove any mess each time someone is coming to take a look.
Add mirrors
Even if your house is beautiful and light, including additional mirrors in key spots, can reduce shadows and dark corners. Mirrors also provide perspective and help to bring additional dimensions to rooms.
Brag about the broadband!
This may seem a bit petty but broadband is serious business in this work-from-home era. If you have super-fast fibre broadband, make sure it’s included in the property description and the agent mentions it on viewings. Broadband is so dependent on the area rather than the provider, it can have a big impact on a sale these days. Even if you haven’t splashed out on the highest megabyte offering, just knowing what the maximum level is for your road can really help the savvy modern buyer to make a decision and can help your house sell fast in London.