CHECKLIST FOR SELLERS

1. DE-PERSONALISE

If your walls are covered with photos, postcards and pictures, remove some to them to allow other people to imagine themselves living in your property.

2. DE-CROWD

Pack away any clothes that you don't wear into boxes. Make cupboards look empty. If you're moving because you need more space, don't make it obvious.

3. DE-CLUTTER

Get rid of any dust gatherers. Be very disciplined. If you know you're untidy, phone your tidiest friend and get them to come round and be brutal! The same applies to outside areas - don't neglect your garden.

4. FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT

Remember the 11 second rule - most people have made up their mind whether or not they like a property within the first 11 seconds of arriving. You can make a difference to this crucial few seconds. Tidy around the entrance to your property. Don't forget the hallways and make sure any bins look neat. You could even give your front door a lick of paint.

5. SHOW WILLING

If you know of a potential problem like a damp patch or an old roof, don't try to hide it - get a quote to demonstrate to purchasers the likely cost or even better, get it fixed.

6. HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR AGENT

Visit Estate Agents offices - are they helpful to buyers and sellers? Find out about their fees. Are they negotiable? How do they advertise and promote your property?
 
What the solicitor does when you move house
There are three main stages involved in any conveyance transaction and we have set out below a summary of what each solicitor does at each stage.

First Stage: Sale Agreed
Sellers solicitor
· Applies for your title deeds and asks you to fill in enquiry forms
· Prepares a contract and sends this out with a legal information pack
· Answers any additional enquiries buyers solicitor may have
· Negotiates the moving (completion) date

Buyers solicitor
· Asks you for money on account of expenses
· Receives contract and other papers from sellers solicitor and
  asks additional enquiries if necessary
· Carries out local authority search
· Receives mortgage offer
· Reports to you with contract for signature and requests deposit
 (or uses deposit from sale - if any)
 
 
 
Second Stage: Exchange of Contracts 
Sellers solicitor
· Receives the buyer's deposit
· Obtains a settlement figure for your mortgage
· Approves the transfer deed and arranges for you to sign it

Buyers solicitor
· Sends contract and deposit to seller's solicitor
· Prepares transfer and mortgage deed and sends them to you to sign
· Arranges final searches
· Prepares final accounts and requests any monies required from you 
 
 
 
Third Stage: Completion 
Sellers solicitor
· Receives balance of purchase price
· Pays off the mortgage
· Hands over the deeds
· Sends you the balance or uses this towards purchase (if any)

Buyers solicitor
· Sends balance to sellers solicitor and collects deeds
· Pays stamp duty (if any)
· Registers purchase at Land Registry
· Sends deeds to Bank or Building Society (if any)