Selling Process
- Property Valuation
- Instruction of the agent/property details
- Marketing
- Sales Progression
- Seller's Checklist
PROPERTY VALUATION
Here at Oyster Properties we can offer you a free, no obligation, accurate appraisal of the current market value of your home. Our experienced Property Consultants will provide you with a valuation based not only on their in depth knowledge of the local area, but also utilising our extensive database of recent properties sold or are on the market.
To arrange a free valuation of your property please book a valuation online or feel free to drop into one of our offices.
INSTRUCTION OF THE AGENT/PROPERTY DETAILS
Having received your instruction to sell the property, and provided that you are satisfied with the valuation, we will then proceed to prepare your full property particulars. Bearing in mind the importance of presentation, we will ensure that your sales details highlight the vitally important aspects of your property and ensure that your home is shown to its best possible advantage with the aid of full colour photographs and floor plans.
From 1st October 2008 it's a legal requirement for all Vendors to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for their property before as sale can be agreed. Please read our EPC guide for further information. A valid EPC will last for 10 years and can be used for multiple tenancies within that period.
Oyster Properties is able to arrange for an EPC to be carried out on your behalf in order to avoid any delays in letting your property. Please see our EPC guide.
Your property is now ready to market and we offer the following:
MARKETING
Using state of the art technology we will match your home against our vast applicant database then send, email or text them the details of your property. We are a very proactive team and have a ‘call first’ policy rather than waiting for the phone to ring for a viewing and we will already have a hot buyer list lined up even before you formally instruct us.
FOR SALE BOARD - Our prominent and very distinctive boards are a fantastic and vital way of generating high quality enquiries, literally inviting buyers looking for properties in particular roads or areas. Their unique design specifically complements our marketing and branding strategy.
OFFICE AND WINDOW DISPLAY - Photographs will be prominently displayed both internally and externally in both of our premises in order to optimise exposure to the market place.
EMAIL - Within 24 hours of receiving your instruction, all prospective purchasers that have provided us with email addresses will be called and emailed in order to ensure that they are notified of any new properties as soon as possible.
MAILING LIST - We are very careful to ensure that we fully understand our buyer’s requirements in order to help them find exactly the right home. Any new registered purchasers will be sent the sales particulars ASAP.
BRANCH NETWORK - Over the past few years we have invested in our offices and have sales teams specifically hand picked to work in these locations. The offices are computer linked, allowing us to work closely together and to market your home through our entire network, maximising and exploiting every sales opportunity available.
WEBSITE - This is updated on a daily basis and full colour details of your home are placed on our website within 24 hours of being placed on the market. Oyster Properties is also affiliated with some of the UK's largest and most popular property portals which will feature your home: rightmove.co.uk, primelocation.co.uk, findaproperty.co.uk, aol.co.uk, msn.com, Yahoo.co.uk, Timesonline.co.uk, upmystreet.co.uk, zoopla.co.uk, primelocation.co.uk
OPENING HOURS - We are open six days a week Monday to Saturday and in certain circumstances we can accommodate out of hours appointments.
SALES PROGRESSION
At Oyster Properties, we pride ourselves on our sales management. Once a sale has been agreed our fully trained 'Sales Progressors' will give you regular updates on the sale of your property right through to completion and liaise with your purchaser, the legal representatives, surveyors and mortgage lenders in order to ensure that your sale moves through to completion as smoothly and as stress-free as possible.
OFFERS - Any offers we receive are dealt with promptly. The Vendor is verbally notified and then this is followed up in writing. We treat every offer seriously and they are dealt with by a senior member of our sales team.
We will inform you of the position of the buyers and liaise with you until an accepted offer has been agreed.
Should you require your sale to be completed by a certain date, this is when you would notify us and we will endeavour to satisfy your request wherever possible.
CONVEYANCING - We recommend local solicitors who are able to offer competitive rates. If possible this should be done before a sale is agreed as this will assist us in exchanging and completing the sale sooner rather than later. Please ask a member of staff for further details.
WHAT DOES A CONVEYANCING SOLICITOR DO? - Once the sale is agreed the deeds to the property will be obtained by the sellers solicitor, who will then send a draft contract and supporting papers to the buyer's solicitor, they will then confirm current ownership of the property and check if there are any outstanding issues, obtain copies of any existing guarantees and planning consents, etc.
During this process the buyer will be instructing a surveyor to conduct a survey of the property. The agreed sale is usually subject to the contract and any survey.
The seller will be asked to answer questions about their property and to complete a fixtures and fittings list of items to be included in the sale. Once the conveyancing aspect of the sale is completed, both conveyancers will agree the deposit amount and a mutually convenient moving date then proceed to the EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS. Once contracts have been exchanged and the transfer deed effected, the sale is legally binding.
EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS - at this point the transaction becomes legally binding on both parties, a completion date is usually agreed at this time.
Oyster Properties are also able to assist with removal arrangements and can recommend some local firms should you require it.
COMPLETION - This is when the transaction is finalised – the day you actually move. It can generally take place between 7 to 28 days from the point of exchange, depending on the requirements of the chain and their respective conveyancers/solicitors.
SELLERS CHECKLIST
- Signed agency agreement and approved property details.
- Solicitor to have your mortgage account number (if applicable) and obtained title deeds from the lender. Check with the lender in case you need to give them notice.
- Check the estate agent and solicitor have all of your contact details.
- Meet with a financial adviser regarding mortgage requirements (if applicable)
- Inform the solicitor that the sale has been agreed
- Make sure you get a memorandum of sale from the estate agent and check the details of the sale are accurate.
- Agree with your solicitor the amount of deposit to be received from your purchaser upon exchange of contract.
- Make sure you have agreed fixtures and fittings.
- Make sure a survey has been carried out within two weeks of the sale being agreed.
- Inform all utilities of your moving i.e. gas, electric and water companies and make sure all meters are read on day of completion.
