Selling a house is never a stress-free experience but being prepared can help you to complete a sale as efficiently as possible.

While many homeowners love the idea of moving to a nice new property, the move itself is often hindered by the sale of their current home. So how do you ensure that the house-selling process goes as smoothly as possible?

How to sell your house

There are several methods that allow you to sell a house:

• High street estate agents are the most common method used by sellers but as many can attest, the likelihood of a fast house sale is entirely dependent on the experience and professionalism of the chosen agent. High street agents are also known to be quite expensive, often with many additional fees.
• Online estate agents are growing in popularity due to their fixed rate pricing and their ability to reach a wider audience of potential buyers. However, there have been many cases in recent years where the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have found that companies such as Purplebricks, Housesimple, Hatched, and eMoov have misled customers, as they have often applied additional charges during the selling a house process that they initially fail to mention.
• If you believe that you have the ability to sell your home privately, then you can avoid the fees often associated with estate agents. Unfortunately, many who choose this route find that the stress involved is unsustainable, and eventually decide to refer the sale to a professional.
• If you need to sell your house fast, you can contact house-buying companies such as National Homebuyers who will value your home by providing a no-obligation quote, allowing you to decide whether to proceed or not. The benefit of using a company such as National Homebuyers is that sales are often completed in as little as two weeks, regardless of the location or condition of the property.

What do you need to know to sell your house?

When you sell your home, it is always a good idea to familiarise yourself with the house selling process:

• Make sure you only deal with reputable agents or companies who have a proven track-record of house sales in your area.
• Find out the sold house prices for homes similar to your own in nearby locations as a guide when deciding upon your asking price.
• Research customer reviews for local solicitors before making your choice. Many individuals have had a house sale held up, or even fallen through as a result of paperwork delays.
• Remember that when you are selling your house, it must be immaculate in order to gain interest from prospective buyers. This means tidying up, a little renovation, a lot of cleaning, and a willingness to keep it at showroom quality throughout the entire house selling process.
• If you decide to use National Homebuyers to sell your home, we will be available to provide independent, honest advice every step of the way – helping you to avoid the pitfalls and legal issues most commonly associated with a house sale.

What documents do you need to sell a house?

The documents needed to sell a house are as follows:

• Proof of identity
• Details of your current mortgage.
• The Title Deed to the property, a copy of which is likely to held by your mortgage provider or solicitor.
• An Energy Performance Certificate which states the efficiency rating for the house based on its CO2 impact and insulative properties.
• The Fittings and Contents Form (TA10) which details exactly what items will be included in the sale of the property.
• The Property Information Form (TA6) which includes an in-depth examination of every detail of the house, including service, utilities, insurance costs, boundaries, neighbour disputes and much more.
• Shared freehold / leasehold documents that state whether the property retains a share of the freehold, or whether it is leasehold.
• A Management Information Pack which provides details of any service or leasehold charges that need to be paid by the owner.
• An Acceptance of Offer Form once you have agreed a price with the buyer.

What are the costs of selling a house?

There are numerous costs to legally sell a home, many of which can shock vendors. There are, however, always numerous options available:

• Estate agent fees vary, but tend to be around 1.3% of the total sold house price. This can be avoided if you choose to sell your home privately.
• An Energy Performance Certificate is necessary if it has been more than ten years since the last certificate was issued, or if you have made changes to the property that could affect its energy rating. The average cost for an EPC is between £50 to £120 depending on the Domestic Energy Assessor used.
• Conveyancing fees will always apply as they need to be processed by either a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. These fees cover the legal aspects of the house sale and can range from £500 to £1500, depending on the value of the property.
• Removal fees will also be necessary unless you are happy to hire a van and are lucky enough to have a few friends to help. If you hire a removal firm, however, expect to pay anywhere between £400 to £1500.

Of course, there are ways to avoid a large portion of the fees associated with selling a house, and this is by using National Homebuyers.

When National Homebuyers purchase a house, there is only a small service fee necessary, and this is fully refunded once the sale is complete. National Homebuyers will even cover up to £1000 of your conveyancing fees, helping you save money, and sell your home with minimum stress.

Looking for a quick way to sell your house? Why not ask National Homebuyers for advice, as we buy any house. Call 08000 443 911 or request a call back to find out how much you could get for your property.