First Time seller? Tips to minimise the stress.

I’m looking at selling my first property - can you give me some tips on how to go about it with minimal stress?

Choosing the right agent is the best place to start. Don’t automatically go for the one who values your home highest as they could just be trying to buy your business or the one who quotes the lowest fees as in most things, cheap rarely equals quality.   Our team of experts is highly trained and each person has been hired as an expert so you can be assured that whatever stage your sale or purchase is at, we have exactly the right person in our team to make sure your sale or purchase goes through to completion. In fact, we are so good at managing this process that our ‘fall-through’ rate is less than a quarter of the national average and among the lowest of all agents in Somerset.

You want an agent who knows the local market and will give you reliable, professional advice and a quality service at all times. Personal recommendation is always good but failing that, your best bet is to go for a well-established, owner-operated local agent like Orchards Estates– one whose whole business depends on delivering quality service, rather than hitting targets set by a head office. If you really want to keep stress levels to the minimum, it would also help to choose an agent who can offer a complete service, including things like conveyancing and finance.

Our 24/7 service also means that we’re also here to assist your potential buyers, making us one of the most accessible estate agents for both buyers and sellers. We will arrange accompanied viewings when your potential buyers want them, thus increasing the opportunity and likelihood of a sale for you without you trying to fit in appointments and calls during your working day.

Your asking price is obviously hugely important in determining how quickly and smoothly your sale proceeds. You naturally want the highest possible price, but you don’t want to scare away any potential buyers so my best advice here is to listen to your agent – we are the experts after all!  For a realistic guide-price use our valuation tool but remember there is more to establishing the value of your home, and until our experts have visited you, we will be unable to list your property.

You yourself can make a difference by ensuring that your home is presented in the best, most saleable condition and take the time to gather together any planning consents, building regulation approvals and relevant guarantee certificates for things like gas and electrical installations, woodworm, damp-proofing, double glazing and so on – it’s much less stressful to do it in advance than in a last-minute panic! 

If you would like to sell your first property, contact us for expert advice without all the jargon!   Just one of the many reasons we are officially the UK’s Best Estate Agency 2018.