Guide to Selling in St Albans
Selling Your Property in St Albans: A Comprehensive Guide
Discover all you need to know about selling your property in St Albans.
Whether it’s your first time or you’re already a seasoned seller – there’s a long list of things to do. Thus, our detailed selling guide prepares you for a smooth selling journey with Daniels Estate agents.
Financial planning is paramount to your success
When you sell your home with us, you want to maximise the sale value as much as possible. Therefore, to ensure you get the best price and cover some of the costs of selling your property you need to plan your finances.
- Aim to cover all the sales costs: Calculate all the expenses that may arise during the sales process, including conveyancing charges, stamp duty, energy performance certificate (EPC), removal costs, and estate agent fees. The amount you pay usually varies from situation to situation, depending on the requirements, but research should give you an estimate of how much you may have to pay in total.
- Potential Hidden Expenses: All costs vary, but some research can provide an estimate. Don’t forget to check for ‘porting’ fees for transferring your mortgage to a new property or incur early repayment charges. To avoid surprises, it’s essential to check this with your mortgage lender before proceeding.
- Initial Property Valuation: Investigate properties in your local area to get pricing insights. You can also use the government websiteto check sale prices based on your address.
Prepare for selling in the St Albans Conservation Area: all you need to know
When selling a property in a conservation area like St Albans, the area’s historical and architectural significance adds a unique layer to the sales process. Here’s what you need to be aware of:
- Historical significance enhances your property value: Properties within conservation areas often possess historical and architectural charm, which can be a selling point and might enhance property value.
- Property alterations & renovations have restrictions and need permits: Conservation area status often brings stricter development controls. This means that potential buyers may face limitations on extending or altering the property. Specific property changes or upgrades, even minor ones like changing windows or cutting down trees, will most likely require Conservation Area Consent.
- Unique selling point: Emphasising the property’s location in the conservation area serves as a unique selling point. Many buyers value the preserved historical character and the stability of the area, as it’s less likely to undergo significant change.
- Transparency and detailed documentation: Be prepared with all necessary documents detailing any renovations, permissions obtained, and restrictions about the conservation area. Buyers will likely want clarity on what can and cannot be done with the property.
- Weigh in the potential delays: Selling within a conservation area may require extra checks, potentially extending the sales process. Ensuring all paperwork is in order can help expedite the process.
- Heritage and character as a marketing angle: When marketing your property, highlight its origin and the benefits of living in a preserved and historically rich environment.
Have your property valuation
The next stage is to receive a property valuation from an estate agent so you can assess the sale price you will advertise to potential buyers. At Daniels Estates, we offer:
- An accurate, up-to-date, free property valuation by our St Albans property experts.
- Insights into the best possible selling price and a recommended listing price.
- Expertise in setting the right price and assessing market interest.
Who buys new-build homes in St Albans?
While, in many cases, they are purchased by first-time buyers and couples in the latter stages of life looking to downsize, new-build properties are purchased by every kind of buyer. New-build properties are a good option for families looking to set up a home for the first time.
If you want to buy a new build flat or house using a government scheme, we recommend that you get familiar with the details in advance of your property search, as you might only be eligible for some of them.
Prepare your property for viewings
Before people start viewing your property, you want to make sure it will make the right impression. That means making it look eye-catching enough for potential buyers so you can receive some initial bids.
If you have a front garden, give your home some kerb appeal by removing any clutter and giving the front door a new coat of paint. It’s also a good idea to replace any old or tired-looking door knockers, letterboxes, or door numbers. Of course, back gardens are a great selling feature too, so do the same there, removing weeds, clearing paths and fixing any broken sheds or fences that may be there.
Buyers want to imagine what living in the property would be like, and it helps to have neutral décor where possible. For example, white or cream walls are more appealing than bright colours, which can be off-putting.
Declutter the property as much as possible, so buyers can see the space more clearly when they visit. Repair any broken fixtures or fittings – light switches, door handles etc. – and fill in any cracks or holes in walls before painting them over.
Legal considerations: hire a conveyance or solicitor
A conveyancer or solicitor has to be hired to oversee the legal details of any sale. Before a sale is closed, it’s a good idea to have one ready so you can immediately instruct them to organise various legal aspects of the deal.
They will manage things like the property and land searches, sale completion, deposits and transfer of ownership, ensuring everything is in order with the contract. Most arrangements are based on a ‘no sale, no fee’ policy, which incentivises them to ensure the sale procedure doesn’t drag on.
Daniels Estate Agents work with several reputable and efficient local solicitors and are happy to recommend one if you are still looking for a suitable one.
What to lookout for when handling offers
When the offers start to come in, you need to know which are good and which are not. Lookout for the following:
- Buyers not in a property chain and with no mortgage, as this means they’re not waiting on others to buy their property which can slow things down.
- First-time buyers are also good, as are buy-to-let investors, as neither will be tied into an existing property and can complete the process faster.
- Buyers who have completed their existing sale and have put in a bid should be close to the top of the list.
- Buyers who have sold subject to contract and are waiting to exchange after arranging a sale are a good option, especially if they can pay in cash.
At Daniels, we help you determine which offers are serious and worth pursuing, offering guidance on negotiations. Of course, you will always have the final say, as it is your property, but making an informed decision based on our expertise and knowledge is always better and is advisable.
Seal the deal
- Post Offer: While legalities are underway, start hunting for your next home. Inform estate agents that your property is under offer for better buying positions. It’s good to let estate agents know that your current home is sold subject to contract.
- Contract Exchange: While the conveyancer/solicitor deals with the contracts, maintain communication with the buyer to ensure nothing changes on their end. Once both parties have agreed and approved the contracts, they can be signed and exchanged – that’s when the deal becomes legally binding.
- Final Steps: After agreeing on a completion date, your conveyancer handles fund transfers, updates the Land Registry, and finalizes property deeds.
Looking to sell your St Albans property?
If you’re considering selling a flat or house in St Albans, contact our friendly team today. We can discuss your property in more detail and explain how our sales services can help you.