Selling your Home in London: Top 10 FAQs

It has to be when you are ready. Traditionally, however, the most popular seasons tend to be Autumn and late Spring, as there are no major holidays during this period, the weather is usually milder and the evenings slightly longer.

Your property should at least be on the market - this really is a minimum. If you fall in love with a house or flat for sale in North West London and want to proceed, most agents will prioritise offers from those who are cash buyers, chain free or at least have their current home under offer. Some buyers pre-empt this by selling their current property first and moving into a rented home for a short period before looking at properties for sale, thus making themselves equity rich, chain free and more attractive to vendors.

We recommend a reputable estate agent in the area in which you live. At London Residential we have strict in-house codes of conduct and are members of NALS, SAFEAgent and The Property Ombudsman to ensure our service is always first-class. We also work within the NAEA’s qualification framework to provide further professional standards to our clients. Life is chaotic enough without the added stress of managing a property sale all by yourself.

This depends on the individual property and we are happy to advise after we have visited the property you intend to sell. Our experience allows us to make judgement calls about decor, furniture and aesthetic appeal based on feedback given to us from a multitude of viewings. Believe us; we know what purchasers love and what puts them off. Find out more in this Guide to Selling Property.

London Residential lives and breathes property so our valuations are accurate and designed to generate immediate interest. If time is on your side, however, we will try for a slightly higher figure. We never forget that each property and vendor is unique and therefore create a tailored strategy for every property we sell.

It depends on the strategy we are going for but you can’t go wrong with a tidy, clean, freshly decorated property and a neat garden. Always keep in mind that first appearances really do count.

The second most important part of selling your home is choosing the right solicitor. They can make or break a deal and help with everything from the point you accept an offer and all the legal in-betweens, to exchange and completion. Without a solicitor it is almost impossible to sell a property as it is a legal transaction. Over the years we have worked with some great solicitors who specialise in property conveyancing and ensure completion is reached as quickly as possible – if you’d like a recommendation, please ask.

Sometimes it doesn’t just come down to the highest offer. The speed at which the sale concludes is an important factor for many. A cash purchaser or first-time buyer means there is a smaller chain, leading to a quicker completion. Other sellers want the reassurance that their buyer has a mortgage offer in place or has instructed a solicitor. At London Residential, we qualify each and every potential buyer and present their circumstances to you along with the pros and cons.

An EPC is now a legal requirement before you can market your home or at least for the assessment of the property to have been put in place. You can read more about how the energy rating of your home can affect its price here.

There shouldn’t be. It’s always important that when you are looking to appoint a London estate agent, you ask to see all the fees upfront and clarify whether floor plans, photos, premium-grade online listings and pull-out clauses are included in the fee or are charged in addition. It’s also worth asking if there’s a ‘no sale, no fee’ policy.