The Sales Process

Step 1 - Accurate valuation

One of our expert valuers will visit your property to discuss our marketing plan, recommend a pricing strategy for your property and suggest any recommendations that can improve or add value to your property to achieve the best price.

Our Valuations are free without obligation.

Call us on 01702 462 455 or complete the property valuation request form.

Step 2 - Selecting an estate agent

When choosing an agent consider their opening hours, when they will be available to conduct viewings, their local presence and what kind of marketing your property will receive. These are critical to obtaining the maximum exposure and price for your property.

Another important thing to consider when selecting an agent is their period of sole agency. There is no doubt that a sole agency is far preferable to asking lots of agents to market your property, particularly in terms of accountability. But some agents insist on a sole agency tie-in period of 8, 12, or even 16 weeks! Our question is... why? Read about our freedom contracts here.

Step 3 - Presenting your home

You only get one chance to make a first impression! When it comes to selling your home, attention to detail could be pivotal in securing an early sale at the best possible price. See presenting your home for our advice and tips!

Once you are ready we will arrange professional photos free of charge, carry out a detailed floorplan and prepare a professional sales brochure.

Step 4 - Marketing your home

To find the right buyer at the right price you need to give your property maximum exposure across a wide range of media.

When you instruct Blackshaws your property will be promoted by:

• Extensive Online advertising including Rightmove and Zoopla
• Full Colour Newspaper Adverts
• 24-hour marketing via LED screens
• Eye catching for Sale boards
• Highly motivated staff
• Our extensive database of buyers
• Our network of 300 Relocation agents
• Our London Mayfair Office
• Prominent office window displays
• Direct mail campaigns

Extensive online and local advertising is effective up to a point. However, the skill of a good agent is match the right buyers to the right property which is both a skill and an art. The vast majority of our sales would not happen without our investment in effective sales staff working with our pre-registered database of buyers.

Step 5 - Accompanied Viewings

Individual or block Viewings are arranged in agreement with you, at a mutually convenient time. Showing a buyer round a property is a specific skill our sales team excel at.

Step 6 - Receiving an offer

At Blackshaws all offers are dealt with by one of our senior members of staff, usually the director himself. Before we present an offer to you, we gather the following information:

• Does the buyer have a mortgage in principle?
• Does the buyer have a property to sell?
• Is your buyer in a chain?
• If so, how many people are involved?
• What is their moving timescale?

Knowing all the facts about the position of your buyer is very important. We will locate a genuine buyer for your property saving you time and stress.

Step 7 - Agreeing a sale

Once you accept an offer we will do the following:

• Write to all parties to confirm the agreed price
• Ask you to confirm your solicitor's details
• Ask your buyer to confirm solicitor's details
• Upon receipt of the above we will prepare a memorandum of sale

Step 8 - Legal Process begins

Once you have instructed your solicitor to proceed with the sale they will:

• Send out a draft contract to the buyer's solicitors
• Ask you to confirm the fixtures and fittings included in the sale
• Obtain the leasehold management pack from the freeholder, if leasehold
• Reviews enquiries raised by the buyer's solicitors and responds
• Respond to any additional enquiries following the buyers survey/valuation and local search results

Step 9 - Exchange of Contracts

Once the buyer's solicitors are satisfied with all replies to enquires, have evidence of good title and has receipt of the buyers' mortgage offer they are ready to exchange contracts where the following happens

• Completion date set by mutual agreements
• Both parties sign contracts
• Buyer pays deposit to your solicitors (usually 10% of sale price)
• Contracts are exchanged!

Step 10

Completion happens when the remaining moneys (usually 90%) are transferred from the buyer's solicitor to your solicitors account.

We will release the keys once your solicitor confirms money has cleared in their account.

Congratulations you have sold your property!