Selling your house

Don’t panic just yet, here are the key things you should do to ensure a quick and easy sale.

Choosing the right estate agent

The easiest way to sell your house is by placing it in the hands of an estate agent. Going for the best estate agent in your area could mean a faster sale and a bigger profit, but it can be difficult to know which agent is the right one.

First of all, you should take advice from friends and family because their recommendations are always good, but another way to find out if your estate agent is a good one is by testing their local knowledge.

Ask them what they think about selling the house at auction, accepting closed bids or whether you should just stick to the regular way of selling. If they are good, they will know the local area and what has worked for sellers in the past.

Make sure you investigate what other properties are for sale, or have recently been sold, in your area. This will give you an idea of how good your estate agent’s valuation is. For example, if there is another property close by on the market for £300k, a good agent should advise you to advertise your house for £295 in a bid to tempt buyers.

A good agent knows what buyers are looking for right now so don’t be afraid to pick their brains. Find out what is sought for and how you can make small changes to get the best price. Listen carefully because this is a prime opportunity for a devious agent to flatter you just to get your business, choose the agent that gives you the facts, even if some things are not what you want to hear.

Finally, double check that your chosen agent is a member of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), as this is a good sign that they will adhere to industry rules and regulations.

Next: What type of agreement should I have?