Property owners and preparing for sale

With inflation down and an expectation that the Bank of England will soon make a base rate cut, there are signs of a revival in the housing market. For property owners considering a sale, now may be a good time to start preparing.

Instruct a solicitor early

One of the best things you can do to speed up the selling process is to instruct a conveyancing solicitor early, even before your property goes on the market. Your solicitor can begin preparing the legal pack, which includes the title documents, property information forms, and any relevant certificates and guarantees.

Gather your documents

Having key documents to hand will help avoid delays. These include your title deeds, any planning permissions or building regulations certificates, guarantees for work carried out on the property, and details of any alterations or improvements.

Consider an energy performance certificate

You are legally required to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before marketing your property. If your current EPC has expired or you do not have one, arrange for this to be carried out in good time.

Address any known issues

If there are any known issues with the property, such as boundary disputes, outstanding building work, or problems with the title, it is better to address these before putting the property on the market rather than having them emerge during the conveyancing process.

If you would like advice on preparing to sell your property, please contact our conveyancing team.

This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.