By Alison Kent, Associate/Valuer, GFW.
Agreeing a house sale and finding a suitable new home can be exciting and stressful all at the same time. However, when you find yourself in a chain, it really is just the start of the process.
In an ideal world house buyers and sellers would avoid entering into a chain, but often it’s an inevitable outcome, particularly if you are not a first-time buyer or selling an empty home.
Buyers and sellers often find the process of being involved in a chain frustrating. There are so many external elements that can have a huge impact on whether you make it through to moving day. To name but a few examples, mortgage approvals, surveys, title anomalies and conflicting timeframes can all create delays. To make matters even more complicated, one delay within the process can have a knock-on effect for the rest of the chain.
Our advice to anyone in a chain is that flexibility and good communication are key to the overall process running smoothy. It is important to remember that everyone in the chain wants to move and has spent a significant amount of money in doing so.
If you are a buyer or a seller, try to be proactive in the process. Respond to emails and deal with requests from your solicitors, including legal documentation, as quickly as possible.
Try not to think too far ahead in the process. When there are so many different parties involved, putting unachievable timeframes on a chain only causes unnecessary stress. For example, only look to book removals when your solicitor has started discussing signing contract papers and is requesting dates from you.
Your chosen agent is the absolute linchpin of the process. Their job is to keep everyone informed and to manage appropriate timeframes not just for the client but for everyone involved. A good estate agent will not only market your property effectively but also help manage the selling process, communicating with all parties involved.
Everyone involved has the same goal, to make sure you move house! Things don’t always run smoothly, there may well be bumps along the road, but transparency, communication and flexibility are the key to handing those keys over on completion day.
For advice on buying or selling your home, call GFW’s team of experts on 0333 920 2220 or visit gfwllp.co.uk