Advertising the Property
UK home sellers have a number of options when choosing how their home will be marketed. Traditionally the majority of property sales are made via estate agents with as much as 90% of all homes being sold in this way. Using an estate agent can be advantageous as they commonly offer a full range of services including setting a valuation, marketing the property and arranging viewings. For these services estate agents will charge a fee. In many cases the fee charged will be set at a percentage of the selling price of the property usually amounting to 1-3%. There is however a different type of agent known as fixed fee estate agents who charge a set fee regardless of the value of the home. Selling a property with a fixed fee estate agent can mean significant savings.
Some home owners choose not to use estate agents and instead prefer to try to sell their house privately. There are a number of property sites that will enable people to advertise their home for sale online. This can be a good way to sell property as research has shown that many people searching for a new home to buy will look on the internet.
A third option for home sellers is to make the home available at a property auction. Property auctions can be a good way to ensure a quick sale however it is generally homes that have been repossessed or are in need of a great deal of repair that are sold in this way.
Home Information Packs
Home Information Packs (HIPs) were first introduced into UK property sales in August 2007. It is now compulsory for all home sellers to make a Home Information Pack available to potential buyers of their property. Every HIP contains a number of documents relating to important aspects of the property being sold along with information about its energy efficiency.
People selling their home should have a HIP prepared as soon as they put the property on the market. There are now many organisations offering to prepare Home Information Packs. These organisations range from estate agents and solicitors to specialist HIP providers. When choosing a HIP provider home sellers need to consider both price and more importantly quality. Research has shown that some Home Information Pack providers are producing packs which contain inaccuracies or are incomplete. So that their money isn’t wasted it is important that people selling their home choose a reputable organisation for their HIP.
WOW Property are a nationwide group of online property agents. Visit our website to search for homes for sale in the UK and to advertise your house online.
