Now that you’ve decided to sell and move home, you’re no doubt wishing for a stress-free move?
Whilst we can’t promise that, we can give you some invaluable advice to try and speed up the process.
Getting your house in order before you even accept an offer will speed up the sale process and hopefully reduce the stress associated with selling your home.
The average property completion takes 84 days
According to statistics from the National Association of Estate Agents, the average length of time between an offer being accepted and legal contracts exchanging is 84 days!
That’s almost three months with the dreaded ‘window of uncertainty’ being wide open, sleepless nights, far too many bottles of wine and general shredding of nerves.
But why does it take so long and what can you do to speed up the process?
One of the biggest causes of delays is the “to-ing and fro-ing” between you and your solicitor and your solicitor and your buyer’s solicitors, to create and approve the Contract Pack.
So, what is in a typical Contract Pack?
The Contract Pack includes the documents you need to sell and buy a property.
A Contract Pack includes the sale contract itself, detailing the particulars of both buyers and sellers and the full property address and the Land Registry File Number.
There are also standard protocol forms produced by the Law Society which need to be completed by the sellers of the property.
These include the Fixtures and Fittings Form where you outline what is included/excluded in the sale or available by separate negotiations.
The Property Information Form, which the seller must complete to provide information on things such as boundaries, alterations/extensions, service contracts etc.
Your solicitor will also need any guarantees for improvement works you may have carried out, including things such as double glazing FENSA certificates and Building Control approval forms. If these have been lost, you will need to source copies which can take time.
Leasehold properties will also need a completed Leasehold Information Form, which gives the buyer’s solicitor details relating to the management and future maintenance of the property.
This information is provided by the Freeholder or the Freeholder’s Management Company and again, can take some time to collate.
Get ahead by getting organised
A good estate agent like Sims Williams will tell the seller what information is needed and what forms need to be completed before your property even goes on the market – so, why leave it until you have found a buyer?
Let’s face it, once a buyer has been found for your property, your immediate thoughts will naturally turn to finding and securing somewhere to move to and all the excitement that brings.
At Sims Williams, we advise clients selling their property to engage the services of a solicitor at the earliest opportunity.
By completing the various forms and instructing your solicitor to prepare a contract at the start will save time, and an awful lot of unnecessary stress.
Here’s how you could speed up the house buying process
If Sims Williams estate agents finds you a buyer on Day 1 and you have been wise enough to complete the Contract Pack in advance, your solicitor can send the Contract Pack to your buyer’s solicitors on Day 2!
This keeps the momentum of the sale going and lets your buyer know you are truly motivated to move.
How Sims Williams can help you move quickly
We keep copies of all the Law Society Forms you need in each of our branch offices – in Chichester, Arundel and Walberton.
We are always happy to obtain competitive, no obligation quotes from trusted local solicitors who will prepare your contract ready for Sims Williams to find you a buyer.
Most importantly – Sims Williams will find you a buyer quickly!
We’ve been helping our clients to sell, buy and rent their homes since 1981 and our professional team have unbeatable local knowledge and experience.
For advice on any aspect of buying, selling, renting or letting your property, please drop us a line walbertonsales@simswilliams.co.uk call or visit your nearest Sims Williams office and “Let’s get moving.”