Selling Guide
Selling a property is a significant and emotional commitment. Therefore, choosing the right agent to represent you and your family for the sale is crucial. Below is a summary of the key steps involved in the selling process:
Establish the market value of your property
Establish the market value of your property
Determining the market value of your property is a crucial step in the selling process. At Bonners & Babingtons, we prioritise setting a realistic price rather than inflating it to win your business. Overpricing can deter potential buyers and harm the final sale value, as it may lead to the property stagnating on the market.
Utilising our extensive knowledge and experience in property sales across Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire, along with detailed analysis of local market performance, we ensure your property is valued accurately from the outset. This approach maximises your property’s potential sale price.
Our experienced valuer will meet you at your property at a time convenient for you, even accommodating out-of-hours meetings. During this meeting, we prioritise getting to know you and understanding your specific needs. We believe in taking care of our customers as much as achieving the best price for your property. We’ll discuss any specific requirements relevant to your situation and tailor our services to meet your desired outcome.
Feel free to ask any questions or share concerns you may have about the sales process. We’re here to address them and put your mind at ease.
Choose an agent that you feel comfortable working with
Choose an agent that you feel comfortable working with
Now that you have an idea of your property’s market value, it’s time to choose an agent to represent you. Selecting an agent you trust and feel comfortable with is crucial for a smooth and stress-free sales process. Trust your instincts in this decision-making process.
A successful and reputable agency will have thoroughly explained their comprehensive marketing strategy and sales methodology. They will also demonstrate that their staff are professionally qualified, courteous, and honest.
At Bonners & Babingtons, our staff operate with integrity, dignity, and respect, providing service of the highest standards at all times. If you choose Bonners & Babingtons as your agent, you can expect a dedicated team of property professionals who take pride and care in everything they do on your behalf. We are members of Propertymark, formally The National Association of Estate Agents, the professional body for the property sector.
Commission is paid upon sale completion, and we never fail to deliver on our promises of service excellence and achieving the maximum sale price for your property.
Preparation of your property
Preparation of your property
This stage of the process is crucial for achieving the best price for your property and maximising its saleability. With most home searches now taking place online via internet property portals, how your property is visually portrayed in listings is imperative as first impressions count. Potential buyers typically make viewing requests within a short window of attention, so we ensure every second counts.
Preparing your home for photography, virtual tour and home video is vital. Our photographers ensure each picture best represents your property, prioritising making it feel like a home to potential buyers.
Our property consultant carefully assesses each room to determine the most effective layout of furnishings. Once everything is in place, your property is captured visually in both still photographic form and 3D virtual reality. Measurements are taken throughout to produce an accurate floorplan, linked to the virtual tour. We are now ready to attract your buyer.
Your property is now brought to the market
Your property is now brought to the market
At Bonners & Babingtons, we excel in thinking outside the box when bringing your property to market. In addition to promoting your home on popular platforms like On the Market, Rightmove, Zoopla and Prime Location, where your property is prominently featured, we tailor a bespoke advertising campaign across Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks to our extensive database of registered buyers, we often secure sales before formally listing properties.
Digital marketing provides real-time feedback on your property’s reception. Unlike traditional print media, our approach ensures your property reaches those actively seeking a new home or investment.
We take pride in converting potential buyers into actual buyers by showcasing their dream home, even if they didn’t realise it existed.
Our ability to present live performance data allows us to continuously optimise our marketing strategy for your property. By leveraging various digital platforms, we provide prospective buyers with the fastest and easiest route to booking a viewing.
Converting a ‘click’ into a viewing request is central to our mission at Bonners & Babingtons.
Viewings
Viewings
Once your tailor-made marketing strategy is in full swing and viewings are being requested, we’ll collaborate with you to determine the best times for presenting your property to interested parties. We strive to accommodate your schedule, with early morning or late-night viewings not being a problem.
Prior to viewing, all prospective purchasers undergo thorough vetting. We never bring anyone into your home without knowing their full name, home address, telephone number, market position, property size requirement, budget, and financial standing.
During viewings, prospective purchasers are accompanied and supervised at all times. If we sense any breach of your privacy, we politely ask the interested party to leave immediately. At Bonners & Babingtons, we treat your property as if it were our own, ensuring the utmost care and respect throughout the entire process.
Negotiating the sale
Negotiating the sale
Once an offer is made by a prospective purchaser, we promptly present it to you verbally and provide written confirmation within 24 hours. We ensure the prospective purchaser provides evidence of their ability to proceed with the purchase, respecting the significance of your time and decision-making process.
Our staff are skilled in negotiation tactics and understand the importance of seizing opportunities to maximize the sale value. When presenting an offer, we advise you on negotiation strategies while always prioritising your best interests. We will never accept an offer you’re not completely satisfied with.
Upon accepting an offer, we verify the purchaser’s status by contacting their broker or mortgage lender and the estate agent handling the sale of their property. The purchaser must also provide details of their conveyancer/solicitor.
Your property is listed as ‘sold subject to contract’ only once all information provided by the purchaser has been verified by all parties involved.
You have the discretion to choose your conveyancer, but if needed, we can recommend a reputable firm. Details of our recommended conveyancers are available upon request.
Sales Progression
Sales Progression
This phase of the sales process is where Bonners & Babingtons staff invest significant time and energy. Maintaining constant communication with conveyancers/solicitors, yourself, and the purchaser is crucial to ensure a smooth progression of the sale. Establishing communication channels and facilitating feedback between all parties is essential for keeping the sale moving towards completion.
Once the Memorandum of Sale has been released to your and the purchaser’s solicitor/conveyancer, we can inform you of any chain implications and provide an estimate of the likely timescale for the transaction.
Given the complexity of the buying process, it’s important to recognize that there are various moving parts within the transaction chain, and obstacles may arise along the way. However, we proactively work to anticipate and resolve issues before they escalate.
If the purchaser is using a mortgage to buy your property, their lender will commission a survey to confirm the agreed sale price. If necessary, a secondary survey, such as a Home Buyers survey, may be commissioned for a more detailed assessment of your property’s condition. We liaise with the surveyor(s) to provide information before and after the survey, supporting the agreed sale price and addressing any queries they may have.
We maintain regular communication with all legal parties from the moment you accept an offer for your property. Bonners & Babingtons staff are dedicated to progressing your property sale and strive to keep you informed of progress in a timely manner.
Sales Completion
To complete the sale of your property, contracts will be drawn up by conveyancers representing both you and your purchaser. Your conveyancer/solicitor will guide you through this process, ensuring that all parties are satisfied before the contracts are agreed. Conveyancing ensures payment for your property and the proper transfer of the legal title to your purchaser.
Here’s a step-by-step summary of the legal process involved in exchanging and completing contracts with your purchaser:
- Agreement on the sale price between you and your purchaser.
- Selection of conveyancers/solicitors by both parties.
- Your conveyancer/solicitor obtains your property’s title deed and prepares the draft Contract for the purchaser’s conveyancer/solicitor to review.
- The draft Contract, along with relevant documentation, is received by the purchaser’s conveyancer/solicitor.
- The purchaser’s conveyancer/solicitor reviews the terms of the draft Contract and conducts searches for crucial property information.
- After reviewing search results and confirming mortgage offers and dependent sales, contracts are signed and exchanged, and a Completion Date is agreed.
- The purchaser’s conveyancer/solicitor prepares the Transfer Deed, which is approved by your conveyancer/solicitor.
- Purchase funds are obtained from the purchaser, either directly or through the sale of their previous property and sent to your conveyancer/solicitor on the agreed Completion Date.
- The Bonners & Babingtons office managing the process is notified of the receipt of purchase funds, marking the completion of the purchase, and the purchaser can legally take occupation.
- The purchaser collects the keys from the selected Bonners & Babingtons office.
- The purchaser’s conveyancer/solicitor pays any Land Transaction Tax due and registers the purchaser as the new legal owner of the property at the Land Registry.
The entire process typically takes around twelve to fourteen weeks, though this timeline can vary. To expedite the process and ensure readiness for the sale, it’s recommended to instruct a conveyancer/solicitor upon listing your property. This allows legal progress to be made in advance, freeing up time once a purchaser is found.
While the sale process may seem complex, Bonners & Babingtons will take complete control from the moment you instruct us until the day your sale completes. You are our main priority, and we understand that estate agency is about ‘people’ as much as it is about ‘property’.
How can we help you?
Our specialist teams across our offices are on hand to help in all aspects of your property move.