Selling

SELLING

Selling your home can be stressful.  It is important to choose an agent you can trust who will make this process run as smoothly as possible.  At Hawkins & Smith we aim to eliminate the stress by supporting you every step of the way. 

WHAT TO DO NEXT - When selling a home, you will require a valuation.  Please contact us for advice or to book a valuation.

PRIVATE BUYERS WARNING - As we live in a very sought-after location, property owners are frequently approached by potential buyers either directly or indirectly by property finders.  At Hawkins & Smith we offer you advertising with full market exposure; fundamental in achieving the highest possible price more than covering our fee.  Remember, property finders act for the buyer not you.  Using Hawkins & Smith not only removes the stress with your sale; and fully marketing your property will level the playing field putting you in control.
Here are a few guidelines :

VALUATION - Firstly, if you are selling, you will require a valuation.  At Hawkins & Smith we can offer you a free no obligation factual and accurate appraisal of the current market value of your home. Our experienced property valuator, Sally Smith will provide you with a valuation based not only on Sally's 30 years in depth knowledge, but also utilising our extensive database of recently sold properties.

INSTRUCTION OF THE AGENT/PROPERTY DETAILS - Having received your valuation, and provided that you are satisfied, we will then proceed to prepare full sales details of your property.  Bearing in mind the importance of presentation, we will ensure that your sales details highlight the most important features of your property and ensure that your home is shown to its best possible advantage with the aid of professional photographs.  If desired, we can also set up a computerised 360 degree/virtual tour.
GOING TO MARKET - Once your property details are approved, your property is ready to market and we can then start to book viewings with prospective buyers.  We will contact you to confirm in advance before booking viewing appointments.  We accompany all viewings and will provide regular constructive feedback.
FOR SALE BOARDS – Boards are sometimes dismissed out of course without consideration.  Boards are a very powerful way of advertising your property.  When it comes to marketing its important to use every tool available.  Boards are an effective simple and proven tool that works 24 hours a day. A board sends a very positive message to buyers by confirming that the seller is committed.  It also  helps buyers to locate and identify the property when they come to view, making their experience an immediately positive one.

OFFICE WINDOW DISPLAY – External and internal photographs will be prominently displayed in our premises to optimise exposure to High Street foot traffic and village visitors.

OUR WEBSITE – This is updated in real time.  Full colour details of your home are placed on our website.  Applicants can then view your property and download full details and contact us to arrange viewings. 

PROPERTY PORTALS – We will upload your property to the major property Internet portal Rightmove.  This will stimulate a one off automatic property alert with the portals, matching their applicants to your property.  

EMAIL – Wherever possible, all prospective buyers who register with us are asked to provide email addresses in order to ensure that they are notified of any new properties as soon as possible within 24 hours of receiving your instruction.

MAIL SHOTS and telesales -  We will contact registered prospective buyers as soon as possible after receiving your instruction.  Your details will be forwarded to any new registered buyers immediately.

OFFERS – We will promptly notify you of any offers we receive and then follow them up in writing. We will negotiate between you and the prospective applicants in order to achieve the strongest possible buyer at the highest price.  We fully financially qualify your buyer and inform you of their position.  We continually liaise with you until an acceptable offer has been agreed.  Should you require your sale to be completed by a certain date, this is when you should notify us and we will endeavour to satisfy your request wherever possible.

AGREED SALE – At this point you will need to instruct a Solicitor.  Should you require assistance, we can recommend local firms.

UPDATING ON YOUR SALE – We pride ourselves on our sales progression management.  We aim to keep you regularly updated on your sales process right through to completion.  We will liaise with your purchaser, legal representatives, surveyors and mortgage lenders in order to ensure that your sale is progressed as smoothly and as stress-free as possible.

MEMORANDUM OF SALE - We then publish a Memorandum of sale.  This is a document that is drawn up by us after the sale is agreed. The purpose is to confirm the essential details of a property transaction.  It is then forwarded to both your Solicitor and the Solicitor representing your buyer, together with copies given to you and your potential purchaser.

CONVEYANCING - The Solicitors will then write to all parties.   The buyer’s may then instruct a Surveyor to conduct a survey of your property.  Most sales are agreed subject to contract and survey.  A buyer’s mortgage offer (if required) will also be subject to the results of a lender’s valuation survey.  The seller’s Solicitor will request the Title Deeds from your Solicitor.  You will be required to complete a fixtures and fittings form at this stage.  Your Solicitor will draw up the draft contract and send it to the buyer’s Solicitor, together with all relevant documents.  The Title Deeds and Lease (if applicable) will be checked, and local searches carried out.  Enquiries will then be raised.  Once the draft contracts have been approved, it can be signed by both parties.

EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS – Before an exchange can take place, the seller’s Solicitor must be in receipt of a cleared funds deposit.  If a mortgage is required by your purchaser, your buyer’s Solicitor must be in receipt of a mortgage offer from your purchaser’s lender.  At this point, a mutual completion date can be agreed upon.  Only when this date is agreed, can exchange of contracts take place.  At exchange you need to take out buildings insurance, as you are responsible for the property you are now contracted to buy.  The completion date which is your actual move date, will normally be between 7 to 28 days after exchange and will be agreed at the point of exchange.  This can depend on the respective Solicitors, buyers, buyers’ chain and whether or not mortgages are involved.

REMOVALS - This is now the time to pay a deposit with your removal companies if applicable.  Do not be tempted to pay a deposit before you exchange as the dates can frequently move.  Once you have exchanged, the date is set in stone.  I would like to make the recommendation you do not move yourself.  A removal company is essential to this stage, and asking a removal company to pack for you is money well spent.   The stress associated with physically moving yourself all on one day is frequently underestimated. 

COMPLETION – On the day of completion, the funds are transferred from your buyer’s Solicitor’s account into your Solicitor’s account.  Your Solicitor will then contact us confirming that they have received funds and we can release the keys to your purchaser.  If you are forward purchasing another property, these funds or part of these funds are moved up the chain.  As an indication, 1:00 o'clock is a target time for this to take place, but in reality this can happen anytime from 10:00 to no later than 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon.