Sellers Guide

Step by Step Guide to Selling a Property

Why choose DBK to Sell your Property?

  • We are a long established independent Sales and Lettings agency since 1982 with offices in Hounslow, Heston and Southall.
  • A trusted community agency with a proven track record of successful selling and buying within the borough.
  • Awarded Best Sales and Lettings Branch 2023 for all branches and recognised by Best Estate Agent Guide 2022 - 2020, meaning we are in the top 3% of estate agents in the UK.
  • We offer personable and unrivalled customer service, which is reinforced by many returning customers and client testimonials – see Selling Reviews and our Awards page for more.
  • We successfully sell properties within short time frames.
  • We provide free no-obligation and in-person market appraisals.
  • We provide wide coverage across all major property portals – enabling the best exposure for your property.

Selling your property is what we are here for, and we aim to make the process as easy as possible. Hence here is our quick step by step guide to successfully selling your property with DBK:

1. What’s your property worth?

Your property is one of your most important assets, which is why we send a real person to value your property. So the first step is to arrange your free no-obligation property valuation

2. Getting your property ready for the market

  • Make your property as presentable as possible by decluttering, as this creates space thus making it visually pleasing.
  • The front of your property should be tidy as this is the viewers first impression and provides kerb appeal.
  • Ensure the front garden and rear gardens are well maintained and free from rubbish
  • A fresh coat of paint can give your property a new lease of life
  • Fix any cracks in walls or ceilings, plus anything else that could impact the final price or put off potential buyers
  • Fragrances, candles and airing out the property creates a fresh and inviting atmosphere for viewers

3. Choosing your Estate Agent

Now that your property is ready, it’s time to choose a trusted and experienced agent with a proven track record. DBK offer personable and unrivalled customer service, which is reinforced by many returning customers and client testimonials. If you are looking for a genuine agency to assist you, you are in the right place.

4. Placing your property on the market

We provide wide coverage across all major property portals, our website, office window displays and print – enabling the best exposure for your property. Upon instructing DBK to sell your property, the following steps will take place:

  • Photography: We will arrange for professional photography to market your property.
  • Floor Plan: We always ensure that each property we list includes a proficient floor plan.
  • EPC: You will need a valid Energy Performance Certificate, if you haven’t already obtained one, DBK can arrange for this (standard fees apply). Certificates are valid for ten years.
  • Your Property Brochure: Our specialist team will then put together a customised brochure including all the above, along with a detailed description.
  • Your Approval: Before making the property live, we will provide you with a draft brochure for you to approve.

We are now ready to showcase your property and commence viewings!

5. Choosing your Solicitor:

It is imperative that you appoint a proactive and reputable solicitor as this can impact the successful sale of your property. DBK can assist you with recommendations as we have.

6. Receiving an Offer:

Any offer made on your property will be immediately communicated to you verbally and in writing. Due diligence is carried out on all potential buyers prior to accepting an offer in order to establish their financial situation and to assist your decision to accept.

  • Rejecting an Offer: If you find the offer unacceptable, we will then liaise with the all parties to come up with a revised figure.
  • Accepting an Offer: Once you have accepted an offer, the appointed solicitors will begin the conveyance process.

7. Exchange of Contracts:

Once the buyer’s solicitor is satisfied with all responses to raised enquiries, and all financial arrangements are in place, both parties will sign contracts, the buyer will pay their solicitor a deposit. Then both parties will come to a mutual agreement on a completion date. Now’s the time to make arrangements for any removal companies if required, as the property will need to be ready to hand over on completion day.

8. Completion:

Congratulations, it’s moving day and time to open the bubbly as this is the final step where the balance of the monies are transferred from the buyer’s solicitor to your solicitor, and the keys are released to the new homeowner.

 

Energy Performance Certificates

EPC

What is an EPC?

An EPC provides information on the estimated energy efficiency of a property and rates this on an alphabetical scale A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).

When is an EPC required?

  • It is legally required whether you are buying, selling or letting out a house / flat or another residential property.
  • It is needed before a Seller or Landlord markets their property to sell or rent.

What are the benefits of having an EPC?

  • An EPC can be a very useful selling point for new or recently updated properties in particular, as they are more likely to have new boilers, loft insulation or solar panels perhaps. This makes the property cheaper to run.
  • If you have made changes to a property resulting in substantial improvements to it’s energy consumption, it’s worth getting a new EPC particularly if you are thinking of selling.
  • You will receive recommendations on how you can improve your property’s energy efficiency and an indication on how much money can typically be saved.

Note that properties with low ratings such as F, G are going to be a lot more expensive to run, and would indicate that there is hardly any insulation, windows are likely to be single glazed etc. Making the recommended changes are going to add value to the property.

Rental properties

From April 2018, new legislation states that rental properties much have a rating of E or above to attract new tenants, before the property is marketed to let. From 1st April 2020, the new minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) will also affect continuing residential leases – so as well as prohibiting new leases below the EPC baseline of E, leases already in progress will have to comply with the regulation too from this date. Failure to comply could lead to fines of up to £5,000.

How long is an EPC valid for?

  • It is valid for 10 years and can be used for multiple tenancies within that period.

Who conducts the EPC assessment?

  • Only an accredited assessor can assess your property and provide an EPC. DBK can arrange this on your behalf to avoid delays letting your property. The cost of an EPC will be £85 excluding VAT (£102 including VAT).

For more information on how we can arrange your EPC immediately, please contact your local DBK office.

Selling Reviews

Mo

Mr Gurveer Sandhu has shown extreme professionalism in his management in the entire process of my house sale from the initial evaluation stage right through to exchange and completion of the sale. He has always kept me well informed of the progress at every stage of the process both by phone calls and emails and made positive recommendations and suggestions where appropriate. I am pleased to have entrusted him with the responsibility and management of this crucial role. Also, the coordination and timings of the client viewings was well managed by Kuljeet Grewal who was very prompt and accurate in her responses and arrangements of this. Jazz was involved in the initial stages of my home sale survey and photography that he carried out professionally. Although Gurveer played the main role in the house sale, Jazz was always there to assist and advise during his absence and an excellent person to work with. Overall Jazz, Gurveer along with Kuljeet displayed good team work.

Anne

Great service and customer experience despite a difficult sale process. We were kept informed along the whole process and any queries dealt with quickly. Gurveer was our main contact and always made sure we had feedback after any viewings.

Ritika

Great service and customer experience despite a difficult sale process. We were kept informed along the whole process and any queries dealt with quickly. Gurveer was our main contact and always made sure we had feedback after any viewings.

Denise

I recently sold my family home through DBK and can thoroughly recommend them. Jazz was a great help to me every step of the way. The property was well marketed with plenty of viewings, and within two weeks of going on the market it was under offer. Jazz provided excellent customer service and was always able to help with my many questions. I would not hesitate to use the same agent in the future.

Rightmove On The Market Zoopla Primelocation Property Redress Scheme Deposit protection service Information Commissioners Office DPS