Paperwork Before Paint: Get Sale-Ready Before You Find a Buyer
Getting your home ready to sell isn’t just about fresh paint and tidy rooms. Having the right paperwork organised before you find a buyer could help avoid unnecessary delays once your sale is agreed. Here’s what sellers should start gathering before putting their property on the market.
If you're thinking of selling your home, your first instinct might be to reach for the paintbrush, tackle the garden or finally clear out that spare room.
All useful jobs. But there's another bit of preparation that could prove even more valuable once a buyer comes along: getting your paperwork in order.
Accepting an offer is exciting, but it's only the start of the sales process. Government figures published as part of its home buying and selling reform plans suggest it currently takes around 120 days on average to complete a transaction after an offer is accepted, with around one in three transactions falling through.
Not every delay is caused by a major problem. Sometimes it's simply a document that can't be found, information that hasn't been requested or a question that could have been dealt with weeks earlier.
So, if you're considering selling your Reading property this autumn, now is a very good time to get sale-ready.
Start building your property paperwork
You don't need to create an enormous filing system, but start gathering together documents relating to your home and any work you've carried out.
These might include:
- Planning permission or Building Regulations approval for extensions, conversions or alterations
- Guarantees or warranties for work such as roofing, damp treatment or replacement windows
- Electrical or heating documentation
- Boiler information and servicing records
- Documents relating to solar panels or other renewable energy installations
- Your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Don't panic if something is missing. Finding that out now is far better than discovering it several weeks into a sale when a buyer's solicitor asks for it.
Your estate agent and solicitor can help identify what is likely to be relevant to your particular property.
Selling a leasehold property?
If you're selling a flat or another leasehold property, there can be more information to assemble.
Your buyer is likely to need details relating to the lease, service charges, ground rent, building insurance and any planned major works, as well as information from the managing agent or freeholder.
Some of this can take time to obtain, so getting the ball rolling early can help avoid an unnecessary hold-up later.
Choose your solicitor early
You don't have to wait until you've accepted an offer to instruct a solicitor or conveyancer.
Choosing one when your property goes onto the market means they can begin their identification checks, review the title and flag anything that may need further investigation.
This can be particularly useful if your property has something slightly less straightforward - perhaps an old extension, shared driveway, unusual boundary, solar panels, private drainage or a restriction on the title.
None of these necessarily means there is a problem. But the earlier you know what information will be required, the easier it is to deal with.
Decide what's staying - and what's coming with you
Fixtures and fittings have caused more than a few disagreements during property sales!
Before you get too far into the process, think about what you're intending to leave.
- Are the fitted appliances staying?
- What about the freestanding fridge, curtains and blinds, light fittings, garden shed or greenhouse?
You don't need to make every decision before your first viewing, but having a clear idea avoids confusion later - particularly if a buyer has fallen in love with something you were planning to take with you.
Think about your next move too
Being ready to sell isn't only about the property.
What happens when someone makes you an offer?
If you're buying another home, have you started looking? Would you consider breaking the chain and moving into temporary accommodation? Are there dates or commitments that could affect your moving timescale?
It's also worth checking your existing mortgage. There may be early repayment charges to consider, or you may be able to transfer - or 'port' - your current mortgage deal to another property. A mortgage adviser can talk you through the options available to you.
Understanding your own position makes it much easier to assess an offer based on more than simply the figure on the table.
A little preparation can make a big difference
You can't control every part of a property transaction. Buyers can change their minds, mortgage offers can take time and chains don't always behave themselves.
But you can make sure you're as prepared as possible.
So before you spend another weekend deciding whether the hallway needs repainting, spend an hour looking for the paperwork.
It won't make your Rightmove photographs look any better - but when the right buyer comes along, you may be very glad you did.
Thinking about selling your home in Reading?
WhiteKnights can help you understand the current value of your property, what buyers are looking for and the steps you can take now to get ready for the market.
Arrange your free, no-obligation property valuation and start planning your move with our local team.