A Guide to Selling Property
Our Guide to selling Property covers step by step the process involved in getting your property on the market and sold.
It is a bible for sellers , that ensures you are prepared at every stage of the selling process
- What is my home worth?
Book a free Market Appraisal with Sherry FitzGerald O’Meara Athlone and we will advise you on the current market value for your property. We generally advise people that in order to get a feel for the market, it’s a really good idea to keep an eye on similar properties for sale in your area, go along to viewings and check on the property register to compare final prices achieved.
- Agree method of sale
You have more options than you might think in terms of how we can sell your property:
Private Treaty – most people opt to sell their house by private treaty which simply means the normal route of putting your house on the market with an estate agent at an agreed asking price.
Auction – certainly not for everyone but can suit very distinctive or rare to market properties where competitive bidding is likely.
Off Market – a discreet sales approach allowing sellers to test the market without fully committing to selling.
- Maximising Exposure
The Sherry Fitz Way of selling a property is about maximising value – not just in terms of the price achieved – but in the exposure your property gets throughout the sale.
Tailored Positioning – With access to all major property portals, we give considered thought to where your property is showcased, specifically targeting the right audience for your home.
Reaching further afield – As Ireland’s largest advertiser of property, when it comes to getting the best advertising positions in newspapers, our buying clout is unrivalled.
No stone unturned– Our database is unequalled. We email our buyers on a weekly basis, so they don’t miss out on properties that are on view that weekend.
Fully Mobilised – Our website design is fully responsive, meaning it adapts to the device you are using to access it – desktops, tablets and mobiles.
Be Seen by More Buyers – Our national network of offices is the largest in Ireland
Make a Statement – Our high quality brochures are available in branches, at viewings and are emailed/posted to interested parties.
Eye-catching – Never underestimate how effective our hard-hitting, iconic For Sale boards are at grabbing the attention of passers-by.
Strike a Pose – Our professional photography and floor plans show your property off at its best. .
- Dress to Impress
We say when you’re selling your house, first impressions really count.
If a person is inspired when they visit your property, they’re far more likely to have a higher opinion of its value. The smallest of changes can make a huge difference – and maximise its impact. And they needn’t cost a fortune.
Of course, when you appoint us as your agent, we can offer personalized and tailored advice to give your property the edge. But meanwhile, here are dozens of tips, starting before your potential buyers even get to your door. Dress to impress
- Look after the legals
Bring in the experts and appoint a solicitor to look after all the legal formalities associated with the sale of a property (known as conveyancing). Don’t forget that their fee may be calculated as a percentage of the asking price, or as a flat fee, so allow funds for this. There are also some legal formalities to address with your estate agent, such as anti-money laundering documentation.
- Energy Rating Certificate (BER)
You are now required by law to have a Buildings Energy Rating (BER) Certificate for your property when it comes to the market. The aim is to make the energy performance of a building transparent and available to potential purchasers or tenants. This process will involve a BER assessor completing an appraisal of the property. The assessor will then submit all the relevant data to Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) who issue a certificate similar to the energy ratings on domestic electrical appliances, i.e. The range is from A to G depending on energy efficiency.
- Agree to sell
When you agree to accept a buyer’s offer you will also need to agree on all of the items that are to be included in the sale and on a date for completion. The buyer will pay a deposit (typically 2.5%) at this stage as a sign of good faith, which is refundable if they decide to pull out of the sale before the contract signing phase. At this point the buyer may also arrange for a structural survey. Their lending institution will also arrange for a valuation.
- Consider your offers
When buyers start making offers you can either accept one or stand firm and wait for higher ones. The Sherry Fitz Way of sales negotiation is to fight hard on our sellers’ behalf. We’ve created a culture through our values system, training and processes in which our negotiators work relentlessly and are determined to maximise value for you.
- Contracts Signed & Exchanged
Your solicitor will invite you to sign unconditional contracts. The signed contract is firstly signed by the buyer and then sent back to your solicitor for counter-signing by you. The balance of the 10% deposit is paid by the buyer at this point.
- Completion
This is when all the legal documents between purchaser and vendor have been signed and full ownership and occupation has been legally transferred to the purchaser. Your solicitor will arrange the completion date to suit your personal requirements and the remainder of the money from the sale (usually 90%) is transferred into your solicitor’s account.
Congratulations – you have now successfully sold your property!
