How to Sell Your Home

• Our Help to Sell offering makes moving into your new Redrow home easier than ever - we’ll assist in the process of getting your existing property on the market, and be with you every step of the way.
• Another option for existing homeowners is our Part Exchange incentive - swap your existing older property for part of the value of your dream Redrow new home!

First things first, you’ll want to get maximum value for the house you’re selling. To do this make sure it’s in tip-top condition, especially if you’re selling a property online. Alysha Ali, from Redrow’s interior design team, says that there are lots of small additions that can make a difference. "Little extras that can make a big difference include adding a large mirror to bounce light around a small space and make it look bigger and brighter. It’s a particularly welcome feature in a hallway,”

Jon Bryan, a valuations manager for home sale specialists Property Perspective has some helpful advice: “Internet portals like Rightmove, Zoopla, etc., are simply like a dating website for properties and buyers. You only have a few seconds to secure a potential buyer’s interest before they ‘swipe left’ and move on to the next property.”

Redrow's top tips:

• Declutter and tidy up – no one wants to see rooms with too much furniture or overloaded with belongings.
• Tidy the garden – cut the lawn, wash the deck/patio and remove untidy garden furniture or toys.
• DIY and painting – a fresh coat of emulsion to remove any marks goes a long way to present the property at its best. Neutral palettes have the widest appeal and completing DIY projects shows that you are taking care of the property.
• Clean up – vacuum everywhere, wash the windows and clean the kitchen and bathroom. Make the effort for every viewing, it will be worth it.

Get a clear idea of what your home is worth. There are lots of online tools you can use to get a valuation of your home, but it’s also worth researching what else is on the market locally and how much for. Make sure you’re comparing like for like in terms of property size, layout, age, condition, special features and location.

Then, get at least three local estate agents for valuations, to help you decide a realistic asking price. Here at Redrow, for Help to Sell, we use independent, outsourced property relocation experts. We work closely with them – and the local estate agents they entrust – to achieve a quick sale on your behalf. We usually appoint two agents as the combined efforts mean we are able to secure the best possible price for a customer’s home.

Our team’s top tip for this part of the journey is to make sure that you have all the paperwork to hand that you might need further down the line. These can include an up-to-date Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and any other certificates, guarantees and warranties. For example, FENSA certificates for windows and confirmation of planning permissions and/or building regulations.

You’ll also need to consider some of the costs and fees associated with selling property ahead of time, to make sure you’ve budgeted for them. Also make sure to take the costs involved with actually moving home into consideration too.

Estate agent fee

One of the biggest costs when selling your house is generally the estate agent's fee. This may be a percentage of the selling price or a fixed fee. The average charge for a sole agency contract is between 1% and 2% of your home’s value (plus VAT). Of course, if you’re taking advantage of an incentive like Redrow’s Help to Sell, you may have some or all of your agent’s fees covered.

Mortgage fees

You'll also need to budget for mortgage arrangement fees, conveyancing costs and removals. Typical solicitor fees for selling a home are between £550 and £1,000. Make sure you look into the different deals available and choose the right mortgage for you  and your requirements.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

If you don’t have one already, you will need to pay for an energy performance certificate (EPC). This is now a legal requirement when selling a property.

Potentially costing up to £150 + VAT, the EPC certificate contains information about how energy-efficient your property is. If you’re buying a new Redrow home you’ll be pleased to hear that almost all our homes are already classified as band B as standard. This is thanks to in-built energy efficiency  features such as proper insulation, double-glazed windows and efficient boilers and radiators.