How to Sell a House in Wales

If you’re looking to move house in North Wales, you might be wondering if the time is right. As a leading estate agent in Llangefni, Bangor, Caergybi, Gwynedd and Anglesey we’re asked a lot of questions about this. People wonder if houses are selling in Wales right now and, more to the point if they are selling fast.

It’s true that higher interest rates have put a squeeze on mortgages, meaning that buying a home is less affordable for some purchasers, reducing demand and house prices.

However, buyers are still out there, and if you need to move for more space, a job or a school, there is no reason why you shouldn’t achieve a sale.

The key to making a quick sale for the optimum price is presenting your home in the best way while getting the right advice from your estate agent team and being organised at every stage. To help you, we go through the sales process with tips for each step.

1 Prepare your home for sale

Start getting your home ready to sell as soon as possible. Be thorough and ruthless – you need to depersonalise the space so people can see themselves living there. The better your home looks, the more likely you are to get a quick sale:

• Sort out any outstanding repair jobs.
• Give it a lick of paint in light, neutral colours.
• Declutter, removing as much as possible from all surfaces.
• Put excessive furniture in storage to create more space.

2 Find out how much your home is worth

You need to know the likely selling price so you can work out how much you can afford if you are stepping up to a new home:

• Use an instant valuation tool like this one on tppuk.com.
• Better still, invite a qualified and experienced local agent like Williams & Goodwin to give you a market appraisal for a more accurate view.
• Read more about valuations and appraisals on our blog.

3 Decide how you want to sell your home

Decide how you are going to sell your home – this will depend on your priorities – i.e. achieving the highest price vs securing a quick sale:

• Most people go down the high street estate agent route, which gives you the support of a local firm, ideally with good knowledge of the market in your area. You usually will be charged commission as a percentage of the sale price.
• Online agents are an option, but they may charge you a flat fee upfront regardless of whether the home sells. You will need to do more of the work yourself, including conducting viewings.
• Ocsiwn might be the answer for quick sales and homes that are difficult to sell, but you need to understand how these work. For more help with this method, contact our All Wales Auction team on 01248753939.
• If you’re desperate to move, house buying companies will offer to buy your home quickly. If you go down this route, shop around, read the small print carefully and get proper advice as often they may expect to buy at a heavy discount.
• You don’t have to use an agent at all, but without one, you won’t be able to list your home on the property portals such as Rightmove and On The Market or, of course, tppuk.com, the leading property website for North Wales.

Get an Energy Performance Certificate

Every home on the market needs an energy performance certificate (EPC) to show its energy efficiency on a scale of A to G (with A being the most efficient). You don’t need a new one if your home has been sold within the past 10 years. However, if you’ve added energy efficient improvements, such as double glazing or insulation, it might be worth repeating the inspection to demonstrate your home’s credentials.

Put your house on the market

When your home is ready, it’s time to choose your estate agent. Don’t necessarily go for the highest valuation or cheapest fees. Instead, look at their track record of selling in the area.

Think carefully about pricing in the current market. Over-pricing your home could mean it lingers on the books for too long – get advice from your agent.

Check that your home’s marketing materials do it justice, with great photos and blurb that picks out all the key benefits, such as good schools and transport.

Get your viewings right – you only have one chance, so make sure the home is pristine. If your agent is conducting viewings, respond quickly with answers to any queries.

Hire a conveyancing solicitor

Conveyancing is the legal work associated with buying and selling. You will need to factor in conveyancing fees. Look for recommendations, good reviews and someone you can work with – don’t just go for the cheapest.

Accept an offer

When the offers come in, think about your priorities. Not all offers are the same, and a cash buyer in a strong position to move has more going for them than someone tied up in a long property sale.

Exchange of contracts

Your solicitor will agree on a date to exchange contracts with your buyer’s team. On the exchange date, your buyer will pay the deposit on the home, and the sale becomes legally binding for you both.

Move out and complete the sale

The completion date is usually around two to four weeks after the exchange. It’s the day when ownership of the property changes from seller to buyer, so you need to be ready to hand over the keys and move out. If you’re part of a chain, all transactions will conclude at that time. Congratulations, your sale is complete!

If you are considering selling your property in North Wales, we can help. Our experienced team have helped many people move, some in complex situations. Almost half of our business comes from recommendations, demonstrating people trust us with their property. Get in touch today.