Blog
Doing your homework
Monday, September 18, 2017
When it comes to selling houses, it pays to do your homework to avoid wasting time and money. Low cost options abound in the current property market but what appears to be a money saving option could well turn out to be a gamble that doesn’t pay off. No frills airlines have become an integral part of today’s tourist industry but consider whether you would pay between £500 and £1000 for a ticket in the knowledge that the plane may never take off? You then wait six months but end up no closer to your destination and have no chance of a refund. Would you be prepared to take that risk? This analogy reflects what is happening in the property industry with the advent of agents with a purely online offering and no high street presence. Most “online only” agents require payment of an upfront fee of between £500 and £1000 with no guarantee of selling your house and no refund if you don’t.
Next, imagine you board that plane and find that there are no cabin crew, no one to take you through the safety guidelines, close the doors or steer you to the nearest exit if there was a problem. And what if you then had to pay extra to use your seatbelt or go to the toilet? The lack of service and cost of added extras might make you think twice about using a low cost self-service airline again.
When it comes to selling your home, your most valuable asset, you may well consider that it’s worth paying a full service, high street agent who will work tirelessly on your behalf, with no hidden extras and who will not charge you a penny until your sale has been completed at the best possible price for you, within your chosen timeframe, even if that takes over six months!
It may be a traditional way of doing business but then the Frost name in property goes back to 1906 when the first Frost office opened. In those 111 years, we have continually adapted our business using leading edge technology and forward thinking to ensure that we look after people and property, meeting their needs in ever changing market conditions.
In the past it might have been enough to just advertise a property and if it were marketed at the right price it would sell. The current property market is somewhat more demanding. It’s about ensuring the move becomes a reality, not just about finding a buyer, although we do all in our power to achieve that with quality photography, floorplans, virtual tours, accompanied viewings and a comprehensive marketing programme that goes way beyond Rightmove.
The Frost Partnership puts your property firmly in the spotlight using our 15 local office database of active purchasers, national network connections, websites, press and social media, to make sure your property is seen by millions. And we keep it in the spotlight, at no charge to you, until it is sold.
Buying or selling a property can be a real challenge with many obstacles along the way. At a national level, approximately 30% of UK house sales fall through prior to completion often incurring costs for both parties. Whilst the hitches may be unavoidable, a skilled negotiator can often find a solution, working with those responsible for the conveyancing or financing of a sale. So if you’re thinking of selling, it’s worth instructing a reputable agent who will work hard on your behalf and smooth the way to completion.
As part of our service we qualify the financial status and position of potential buyers before an offer is made ensuring that they are in a position to progress that offer once it is accepted. And from there on, we are in your corner every step of the way to completion.
Conveyancing is the administrative and legal side of buying or selling a property, when solicitors prepare title deeds and confirm ownership. We can introduce you to one of our preferred solicitors who will act on your behalf. A seller’s solicitor will obtain title deeds from the Land Registry, find out how much is outstanding on the existing mortgage, draft the contract and send to the buyer’s solicitor together with supporting documentation, answers queries raised by the buyer’s solicitor, negotiate any points raised and report to the seller that contracts are ready to be exchanged. We work with you and your chosen financial advisers and solicitors to keep everything on track, keeping you in the loop every step of the way with clear, honest communication that you can rely on.
At Frosts, this is reflected in the number of positive testimonials we receive from happy clients, both buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants on completion. Our local property experts are exactly that; truly local. Many of our staff have lived and worked in the area all their lives and have knowledge of the local property market to match. Based in a local high street office our experienced teams are on hand, accompanying viewings, providing feedback, answering queries and handling negotiations to make sure that you receive the maximum price for your property. And no, you won’t be charged any extra for those services.
Our 15 office network across Middlesex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, has the expertise to get you moving this autumn. We’re expanding but we’re still an independent, family owned business, in the heart of your community. If you’re considering selling, do your homework. Look at all the options on offer and weigh up the value of expertise and exceptional service. It’s worth demanding that “extra-mile” attention to detail that can make all the difference. Contact your local Frost office and ask for more; more expert advice, more pre-qualified potential buyers and more chance of realising the true value of your property.
