Ed Tranmer from Wharfedale estate agents Tranmer White advises on the key steps to take when selling your first property and how to minimise the headaches that come with it.

Earlier this year my wife and I sold our first home and a comment she made has always stuck with me – ‘Why does this feel so much harder than when we bought it?’

As a First Time Buyer, the process is relatively straight forward. Daunting yes, but not complicated. Typically, first-time buyers are either living with parents or renting. The physical move is a fairly basic exercise – an uncle with a van helping to haul the very limited amount of furniture you’ve cobbled together for your next exciting chapter.

First-time sellers however are often caught off guard by the massively more stressful process of selling your first home and buying the next, which inevitably involves a greater degree of risk as you become part of a ‘chain’.

Life has typically advanced by this stage, with more responsibilities at work and the arrival of children often complicating matters further.

With the average UK property transaction now taking four months to progress from offer acceptance to completion, it’s increasingly important for first-time sellers to be prepared before they place their property on the market.

Appointing a solicitor well in advance of accepting an offer or making an offer on your next property is crucial. Solicitors now require reams of documentation before a transaction can begin and completing this in good time will ensure your sale and purchase get off to a promising start.

Put together a file with all of the paperwork you hold relating to your current home, almost like a car service history. A copy of the latest boiler service certificate, FENSA certificates for the windows you replaced last year, the invoice for the new gutters and warranties for any appliances are all items that a buyer’s solicitor will request at some point. Having these immediately to hand (and in the hands of your solicitor) not only helps to keep your sale moving but also demonstrates to your buyer that yours is a home that has been well cared for.

In terms of your onward purchase, appointing a mortgage broker before you enter into any negotiations is a must. It’s also wise to have an idea of which surveyor you will be appointing before you secure your next home. Appearing to be an unprepared buyer, even innocently, can immediately give a seller the impression that you’re going to be a ‘difficult customer’.

There are many hurdles for first-time sellers, but by taking the simple aforementioned steps, you’ll minimise the stress of what should be an exciting time as you move up the property ladder.

139 Bolling Road, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley LS29 8PN
W: tranmerwhite.co.uk
T: 01943 661141