How To Sell Your Property Cheaply

Copyright (c) 2011 Antony Wheble

How to sell my property privately

Quite simply, the answer to this question is 'yes'.

Did you realise that by selling your house privately - in other words, by cutting the traditional estate agent out of the transaction - you could save a lot of money? Even if you get a great deal from an agent, like 1% + VAT, selling your house for £300,000 will still land you with a price tag of £3,600. It stands to reason, however many people remain hesitant to sell property privately, assuming that estate agents are the only experts who can do this. This isn't always so.

The market has changed. The route to market has changed. These days you can forego the ad in the agent's window and still achieve a quick, cheap house sale by promoting your property online, where you will reach a vast market - estate agent or no estate agent.

The idea of selling property privately may seem daunting, not least because of the amounts of money at stake, but if we break down the services provided by a typical agent, as we will below, you will see that there is nothing you can't do yourself - saving you the hefty price tag at a time when you have plenty of other things to pay out for.

Estate Agency Services and How You Can Do them Yourself (Far More Cheaply!)

Valuation of the Property Estate agents base the valuation of your property on local and national market trends; with a bit of research you can do this just as professionally and list at a realistic value that will sell your house quickly.

• Look on websites like Findaproperty and Primelocation to find other houses in your area with similar features and see what they are valued at
• Look at Land Registry data for your area to find out how much houses actually sold for. When selling your house privately this is the most accurate way to determine its worth
• Consider the economy both locally and nationally. The condition of market will make a big difference to current value

Remember that only a chartered surveyor is qualified to provide a survey that banks will accept as the basis for a mortgage. When deciding on an initial listing value, your estimation is as good as that of an agent.

Property and Local Area Details You know your property, your area and the unique selling points of both better than anybody else so you are in the best possible position to prepare a description for sale.

Remember, you must be honest rather than sentimental. The more accurate and honest the description, the more likely it is that viewings will lead to a sale.

• Make a list of the features of your home
• Take measurements of your rooms so that you can provide accurate information
• Detail local amenities like schools, nursery's and high streets etc using upmystreet.com to help

Showcasing with Quality Images
City & Suburbia provides a digital upload system that allows you to upload images of your property at any time, meaning that you can photograph the property yourself. However, not everybody is a photographer, rooms can be awkward to photograph depending on their size and shape and you must remember that photographs of the property are going to be key to achieving a quick, cheap house sale. So if you have a go and you don't think the results do your home justice, or if you'd like to hand this task to the professionals from the start, City & Suburbia can provide a photographer from our specially selected list of professionals.

Marketing and Promotion
The internet is the main way that over 80% of UK home buyers search for property, so that is where you need to be. This is where City & Suburbia will prove invaluable. We have a vast marketing network so signing up with us when selling your property privately will ensure mass market exposure.

Though the internet will be your main sales tool, proximity marketing is also important. If a potential purchaser checks out your area you want them to know instantly that your house is on the market. You can buy a 'for sale' board from City & Suburbia for £35.00 pounds which can either display your own contact number, or the City & Suburbia enquiry line or both.

Arrangements and Negotiations
If you choose to sell your house privately, these are the areas where you will benefit from greatest control.

Potential buyers can contact you directly to arrange viewings, if you wish. If you prefer this to be taken care of for you then City & Suburbia will arrange your viewings. Either way it's your choice.

Whilst liaising with solicitors and chasing information with regard to property chains etc are elements that vendor's often prefer to be in control of - picking up the phone and getting first-hand information with no waiting.

City & Suburbia will equip you with all the tools to take your property to market and sell your house quickly. Choose from our packages for various levels of support.


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Antony Wheble is the Landlord contact for City & Suburbia and is helping 100's of people sell their home privately. If you would like to know how to sell your property privately please visit City & Suburbia