How to Sell Your Home
Whether you’re relocating for work, upgrading to a larger property or downsizing, you’re probably wondering: how do you sell your home successfully? With the right preparation and strategy, the process doesn’t have to be stressful.
Our comprehensive guide provides everything you need to know about the home-selling process, from how to get your home ready to sell to what offer you should accept.
Preparing to sell
Before you begin the process, there are several important steps you can take to prepare.
Why do you want to sell?
Understanding your motivation for selling helps shape your entire strategy. Your reason affects everything from your timeline to how flexible you can be on price, so it’s worth being clear about your priorities from the start. There are plenty of reasons people sell their homes, including:
- Financial reasons – some people sell to downsize and cut costs, while others move to a bigger home when their finances improve.
- Life changes – this includes major shifts like marriage, divorce, growing families or empty nests.
- Job relocation – a new job may require moving to a different city or country.
- Market timing – taking advantage of favourable market conditions.
What can you afford to buy?
Before deciding to sell, work out your financial position for your next purchase. Start by getting a professional valuation from a local estate agent, then contact your mortgage lender to confirm your outstanding balance.
Remember to factor in all selling costs, like Stamp Duty, when calculating your available funds, and ensure you budget for temporary accommodation if there’s a gap between selling and buying.
How much does it cost to sell a house?
Selling a house in the UK comes with several costs. Here are the main expenses:
- Estate agent fees typically cost between 1% and 3.5% of your home’s sold price.
- Conveyancing fees vary, but they usually cost £800-£1,800.
- Removal costs range from £400-£1,800.
- Remortgaging fees vary from £300-£500, but they can cost more.
- Paperwork expenses, like Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), which usually cost between £60-£120.
What documents do you need to sell a house?
Ensure you have these documents ready when selling your home:
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- FENSA Certificate for windows and doors
- Boiler Safety Certificate
- Gas Safety Certificate
- Electrical Installation Certificate
- Building regulations certificates for extensions or major works
- Property deeds and title documents
Choosing professionals
The right professionals will make the selling process much easier and less stressful.
Do I need an estate agent?
Getting an estate agent is up to you. Selling your home yourself may cut costs, but an estate agent will offer useful insights into the property market. They bring market expertise, professional photography, access to major property websites, and handle negotiations and viewings. This saves you time and often achieves better results, even after paying their fees.
How do I choose an estate agent?
You shouldn’t always pick the agent who gives the highest valuation of your home or charges the lowest fees. There are various factors to consider when choosing your estate agent, including:
- Local expertise – choose estate agents who know your area well and can show recent sales examples.
- Track record – ask about their average selling times and success rates.
- Marketing approach – ensure they use quality photos and list on major property sites.
- Communication – choose someone responsive who keeps you updated.
- Fees and contract terms – understand exactly what you’re paying for and any tie-in periods.
Do I need a solicitor?
It’s recommended to have professional help when selling property. You can choose between a solicitor, a qualified lawyer who handles complex issues and can provide broader legal advice, or a conveyancer, a property specialist who focuses on transactions.
Conveyancers are best for straightforward sales, while solicitors are better suited to more complex situations like boundary disputes, divorce sales or unusual property types. Both handle contracts, searches, money transfers and will liaise with the buyer’s legal team.
Pricing and marketing
Getting your pricing and marketing strategy right is fundamental to a successful home sale. The right approach will attract serious buyers while ensuring you don’t leave money on the table.
How much should you sell for?
If you set your price too high, you may struggle to attract buyers, but if you set it too low, you may miss out on potential profit. Start with professional valuations from qualified surveyors or estate agents. Many estate agents offer free valuations as part of their service. Getting multiple opinions can help you establish a realistic price range.
Research comparable properties in your area that have sold recently and factor in your property’s unique selling points and any recent improvements you’ve made. Conversely, be realistic about any work that needs to be done and how this might affect your asking price.
When should I put my house on the market?
Timing can significantly impact how quickly your home sells and the price you achieve. Spring (February to June) is often the best time of year to sell a home. Families prefer to move during school holidays, and the better weather makes properties look more appealing. However, this increased activity also means more competition from other sellers.
Autumn (September to October) is another strong selling period. Buyers who’ve been searching through the summer are motivated to secure a property before the end of the year, and there’s typically less competition than in spring.
How long does it take to sell a house?
The average timeline is 25 weeks, though this varies significantly based on location, property type and market conditions. Here’s an estimated timeline of the process:
- Listing the property (1 to 3 days) – estate agents take photos, write descriptions and market your home.
- Finding a buyer and receiving an offer (between 1 to 14 weeks) – buyers search, view and negotiate. Competitive pricing and high-demand locations can shorten this phase, but slower markets extend it.
- Conveyancing and the financing process (from 8 to 16 weeks) – your solicitor will handle the legal paperwork, conduct property checks and verify ownership. Delays can occur if surveys reveal issues or if buyers experience difficulties securing a mortgage.
- Exchanging contracts (1 to 2 weeks) – once both parties agree, contracts are exchanged, making the sale legally binding. Any last-minute legal adjustments or financing problems could extend this step.
- Completion and moving (1 to 4 weeks) – you’ll receive the funds for your home, and ownership officially transfers to the buyer. Moving logistics and chain dependencies can slow down this process.
Managing offers
Once your property starts attracting interest, you’ll need to navigate the offer process carefully to secure the best outcome.
What offer should I accept?
Choosing which offer to accept involves more than just looking at the highest figure. While price is undoubtedly important, several other factors should influence your decision, including:
- The buyer’s financial position – a cash buyer can often complete more quickly, with less risk of the sale falling through due to mortgage delays.
- Timeline – if you need to move quickly, a buyer who can complete in four weeks might be more attractive than one offering slightly more money but needing three months to complete.
- Chain complexity – buyers with nothing to sell, like first time buyers, represent less risk than those in long chains.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate. You could counter-offer with a different price, ask buyers to improve their terms, or request that they remove certain conditions. A skilled estate agent can help you navigate these negotiations effectively.
What happens after I accept an offer?
Once you’ve accepted an offer, the formal sale process begins:
- The conveyancing process – you and the buyer each appoint a solicitor to handle the legal aspects. Your solicitor will draft the sale contract and provide essential documents to the buyer’s solicitor.
- Property surveys and checks – the buyer may arrange a survey to assess the condition of the home. If serious issues arise, like structural damage, the buyer could renegotiate or withdraw.
- Mortgage approval (if applicable) – if the buyer is using a mortgage, their lender will conduct valuation checks to ensure the property aligns with the loan amount.
- Legal searches and queries – the buyer’s solicitor conducts searches, including land registry checks, local authority searches and environmental reports, to ensure there are no outstanding legal issues.
- Exchange contracts – once both solicitors finalise the contract and both parties agree on all terms, contracts are exchanged, making the sale legally binding. The buyer will typically pay a deposit at this point.
Following this, on completion day, the buyer’s funds are transferred, and ownership officially passes to them. You’ll receive payment, and the estate agent will hand over the keys.
Top tips for selling your home
From how to get your home ready for viewings to planning ahead, here are our top tips for selling homes.
Plan ahead
Start preparing your home for sale at least 2-3 months before you intend to put it on the market, giving you plenty of time to complete necessary repairs, improvements or paperwork without rushing.
Create a timeline working backwards from your desired listing date. Include tasks like decluttering, deep cleaning, minor repairs, gathering necessary documents and researching estate agents.
Give your home a new lease of life
Small improvements make a dramatic difference to how potential buyers perceive your property. Consider the following:
- A fresh lick of paint – choose neutral colours that make the space feel light and spacious.
- Maintenance issues – fix any problems, including leaky taps, squeaky doors or cracked tiles.
- Kerb appeal – ensure your garden is tidy and any exterior paintwork is in good condition.
- Professional cleaning – a spotlessly clean home suggests good maintenance, so it might be worth hiring professional cleaners to help with this.
Find a good estate agent and solicitor
Finding a reputable estate agent and solicitor can help speed up the process. Ensure you research your options thoroughly by getting multiple quotes.
Accept the right offer
You don’t have to settle for the first or highest offer. You can reject it or negotiate with the buyer. When considering your offers, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the offer fair?
- Is the offer enough for you to afford to buy your next property?
- How quickly do you need to sell?
- How long has the property been on the market?
- Have you already reduced your asking price?
- What is the buyer’s situation?
- Are there any other buyers interested in buying your home?
Selling Your Home FAQs
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The first step is to assess your home’s condition and consider any necessary repairs or improvements you could make that would enhance its appeal. Following this, get a valuation to determine your market price. Once you have this number, you’ll need to choose an estate agent to sell the property or consider selling it privately.
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It’s recommended to hire a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the legal aspects of the sale, including legal paperwork, property searches and managing completion.
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These are the main fees you’ll need to pay when selling your home:
- Estate agent fees
- Solicitor/conveyancing fees
- Stamp Duty Land Tax
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- Removal costs
Browse our range of brand-new homes across the UK and discover our fantastic offers.
Contact or visit our Sales Advisers today to start your homebuying journey today.
explore our range of schemes
Help to Sell
If you’re looking to start your next adventure, but are worried about the hassle of moving, we have a range of schemes available to help you sell your existing home.
Armed Forces Deposit Contribution
We're offering Britain's military servicemen and women a 5% deposit contribution to help them buy a brand-new home.
Key Worker Deposit Contribution
As a thank you for the support provided to our communities, we are offering key workers a contribution of £1,000 for every £20,000 up to £25,000.
Own New - Rate Reducer
Own New - Rate Reducer is a brand-new scheme available on new build homes that could mean lower mortgage rates and reduced monthly payments.
Low Deposit Offers
If you have a low deposit, we have a variety of schemes available to help make moving more affordable. Learn more here.
Part Exchange
We could be your guaranteed buyer, so no stress or fuss, just an easy move for you and your family.
Parent Power
If you’re getting financial support from your family or friends to help you get on the property ladder, we could match it, up to a maximum of 5% of the purchase price.
