Selling your London property: Top 10 tips for a quick sale

Property sellers in London have a better chance to get their asking price when the market sees more buyer activity owing to favourable buying conditions such as interest rate cuts and moderate levels of inflation. However, to make the most of this opportunity and sell their property quickly, sellers need to be mindful of a few things, like not overpricing the property or keeping it in an unpresentable state.

To help sellers with a successful sale, here are a few tips they should follow

1. Getting the right valuation

Valuing a property fairly and accurately will directly impact the interest shown by prospective buyers. While the motivation to make a profit is a major driving force, you don’t want your property to receive little or no interest from buyers. Properties that remain listed unsold on marketplaces for a long time eventually sell at a reduced price. At Benham & Reeves, we offer a free valuation service to help sellers get the most accurate asking price for their homes.

2. Thorough market research

While agents and consultants can help appraise your home, researching the local property market will provide a fair idea of the going prices in the area and ideas to maximise value. You should also research the fees and services provided by estate agents, solicitors and other property staging professionals, as you may need their expertise to achieve a quick sale.

3. Creating a good first impression

For a potential buyer to envision living in your property or the attractive returns they could make from letting it, the overall look and feel will play a crucial role. Whether it’s some important repairs, a fresh coat of paint or just general tidying up with well-maintained interiors and exteriors, ensure your home is well-presented during property viewings.

4. Declutter to enhance floor space

For a property to sell fast, it is crucial to let potential buyers get an assessment of the entire floor space without too many objects coming in the way. Changing the orientation of furniture and removing some personal items can give the impression of a more usable space appealing to buyer preferences.

5. Enhancing kerb appeal

In a buyer’s market, the onus is on sellers to make their properties stand out from the competition and kerb appeal can go a long way. Whether it is a spacious garden or a small balcony, adding some potted plants with vibrant flowers and some front door decor can give your home a warm and welcoming feel.

6. Marketing with relevant information

When listing your property online, add information about the nearest schools, hospitals and shopping centres, as it may be relevant to buyers looking for such services around a property. Additional information about upcoming transport upgrades and public infrastructure could also create more interest in the potential long-term benefits of investing in the property.

7. Getting all the paperwork ready

Buying or selling a property in London is subject to many legal processes, and conveyancing alone can take months. As a seller, you can speed up things at your end by applying for local authority searches and Land Registry data. Collecting information about legal matters such as outstanding payments and building restrictions will eventually help the buyer expedite their conveyancing process.

8. Flexibility with scheduling viewings

Having a vacant property to sell is easier for buyers to examine closely and carefully as they need not worry about intruding on someone’s privacy. Additionally, many homebuyers and investors juggle between tight schedules, leaving them with little time to view properties. Being flexible in arranging virtual tours and video walkthroughs of your property can help reach a larger audience of remote buyers.

9. Opt for cash buyers / smaller mortgages

If you are trying to sell your property quickly, working with a cash buyer is advisable, as they can bypass a few mandatory obligations put forth by lenders to sanction a mortgage. With fewer processes, the chances of a sale falling through are also comparatively less.

10. Work with a reliable and reputed estate agent

While there are several things you can do to accelerate the sale of your property, engaging and working with an experienced estate agent should be your top priority as they can help with the best advice and resources for a quick sale.

With 21 branches across London and an extensive database of overseas property buyers, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners successfully sell their London properties. If you have a property to sell, contact us and we can help you with a quick and efficient sale.