In order to establish a value for your property, Christopher Rawlinson & Co will visit to perform what is technically called a ‘competitive market analysis.’ This takes into account factors such as the desirability of the area, local and national market trends, and any improvements carried out to the property (such as loft conversions) to calculate the ‘estimated market value’ of your property.

We then use this figure to arrive at your asking price. There is no charge for a valuation.

To request a free market appraisal from Christopher Rawlinson & Co you can either:

Visit our office, call us on 020 8904 7733, email us [email protected]

When selling your home the key task for your estate agent is to tell as many people about your property, as quickly as possible. A good estate agent will earn their fee by accurately valuing your property and promoting it at its best market value. They will reach more potential buyers and be on hand to field enquiries and vet the time wasters from the serious applicants. A good estate agent will also help with negotiations – should they be necessary – and be available to give advice and bring the sale to completion speedily and professionally. In essence, a good estate agent will pay for itself in the energy they put into your sale, and the time they will save you, and of course if they do not sell your property then they do not receive a fee!

When choosing an estate agent to market your property, it is a good idea to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Think about first impressions and whether you would want to buy from them.

If you have obtained several valuations on your property, it is advisable to ask the agents for details of other properties which they have recently sold, in order to substantiate the higher valuations. This will help you to verify that the agent is being realistic and not giving false hope in order to obtain your marketing instructions.

Remember that a first impression is very important to the marketing process and it is not ideal to see your home languishing on the market for weeks or months, being reduced in price time and again in order to secure a buyer.

Does this agency have a regulated body over-seeing them?

Christopher Rawlinson & Co are members of the:

 

The Property Ombudsman

NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents)

ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents)

    

We understand that it is important for our clients to know we are qualified, so you can be sure you are dealing with a professional agent who adheres to the highest standards in the industry. We chose to become members of both the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)and the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) and follow the codes of practise and rules of conduct laid down by these professional bodies. We have the knowledge and experience to guide our clients through a property transaction as smoothly and painlessly as possible. Under the regulations, we are required to protect and promote our client’s interests while at all times acting in a fair and proper manner. We are also covered by a Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme and we have Professional Indemnity Insurance. For more information about either professional body you can visit www.naea.co.uk or www.arla.co.uk.

We are governed by The Property Ombudsman, previously the Ombudsman for Estate Agents. In dealing with a member of The Property Ombudsman, our clients can be confident about our approach in our dealings with actual and potential buyers and sellers. We have agreed to follow the TPO Code of Practice for Residential Estate Agents, approved by the OFT under its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. We are therefore providing additional consumer protection that goes beyond that which is required by law.

Once we have received confirmation of your instructions to place your property on the market with us, we will arrange to take photographs of your property. The photographs are then used in our extensive marketing activities on our website (www.christopherrawlinson.co.uk), various property portals on the internet, brochures and mail drops.

Christopher Rawlinson & Co are an independent agency whose foundation is based in customer service and communication. We provide an accurate appraisal, resulting from long experience, local knowledge and marketing expertise. We have a dedicated marketing team, which demonstrates our commitment to this integral part of the selling process.

It is important for us to have a strong working partnership with the vendor to significantly improve the speed and success of a sale. We stand out from other agents by promoting a first class accurate and informative presentation of each property in the most attention – websites and clear eye catching window displays (conforming to Estate Agents and Property Misdescriptions Acts).

You may well have seen our distinctive boards in your area. Boards are a valuable way of generating high quality enquiries, and complement the marketing effort, directly attracting buyers looking for property in specific roads or areas.

Christopher Rawlinson & Co online: www.christopherrawlinson.co.uk

 

Our office is prominently located close to Preston Road Station. Our office window will also promote your property.

First impressions are lasting and good presentation can dramatically increase the prospect of a sale.

Here are some simple steps for ensuring that your home is ready to show:

• Check Your Kerb Appeal. Make sure your front door is clean, well maintained and welcoming – a fresh coat of paint will immediately give a positive first impression of your home
• De-clutter. A tidy property suggests that storage space is not a problem, so clear away any unnecessary clothes, toys, magazines etc
• Have the carpets professionally cleaned and bring paintwork back to life with touch-ups or a fresh coat
• Replace any discoloured grouting and sealant in the kitchen and bathroom
• Consider updating low cost items such as cupboard door handles for a fresh look
• Make sure all the lights work and the house is well-lit – even during the day
• Keep the windows sparkling clean, inside and out to maximise the impression of light
• Ensure front and back gardens are tidy, and paths and driveways well swept
• Add welcoming touches, such as fresh flowers
• Neutralise animal smells, get someone to take the pets out during viewings

The most successful sales tend to be ones where the seller and the agent work hand in hand during the marketing process. At Christopher Rawlinson & Co we share your objectives – to achieve the fastest sale at the highest possible price with minimum disruption to your lifestyle.

What you can expect from Christopher Rawlinson & Co if you appoint us as your agent:

• We are the Longest established Estate Agent in Preston Road.
• We are a professional and independent firm with extensive and unrivalled knowledge of the local property market.
• We take our reputation very seriously, and are proud that the majority of our sales and lettings result from referrals and repeat business
• We provide a professional, friendly and enthusiastic service with honest advice and a personal touch.
• Is our office ideally located to serve all aspects of the property market with prominent high street location offering a No Sale / Letting – No Fee basis
• Competitive commission rates.
• Commitment to our vendors.
• Communication and honesty. We prioritise feedback, ensuring vendors are kept informed of all developments in the sale of their property.
• Promotion of your property presenting every single property at its very best
• Comprehensive property details which are emailed and posted to buyers, and loaded to the websites and our office window
• A tailored marketing programme with extensive, premium position advertising and a website, updated constantly and linked to all of the major property portals
• Constructive advice about how to prepare your home for sale
• Accompanied viewings if requested at all times during our working hours
• Quote a realistic asking price from day one, rather than an inflated one that is subsequently reduced
• Left to their own devices many sales do not go through. Using our skills and knowledge, we nurture every sale through to exchange of contracts then on to completion

Our aim is to give every person who walks through our door the same level of commitment and service, whether they are ready to move right now, or are just having a ponder. We always have time to chat about your circumstances over a cup of tea or coffee, we are in no rush, we shall be here for you when the time is right. We aim to give our customers a remarkable experience, ensuring that we act with honesty and integrity at every contact point, truly, nothing is too much trouble!

• Arrange for us to have access to the property at all reasonable times (preferably with a Key)
• Ensure that we are informed about which fixtures and fittings will be staying and which will be going
• Be open with us about any problems with the property. Most problems can be solved with an experienced agent to guide the sale
• On the rare occasion of an unaccompanied viewing, let us know immediately how the viewing went, so that we can follow up appropriately
• A tough one to ask, but do aim to keep the house and garden clean and tidy at all times – you never know when you might get a short-notice viewing

Up until the time that we exchange contracts on the sale of your property, you will incur no fees other than the cost of an Energy Performance Certificate.  Fees are only paid on completion.  If you decide on sole agency then your fees will be lower than multi agency.

Energy Performance Certificate’s (EPC) have become mandatory in England & Wales for all residential property. Therefore an estate agent will not be allowed to legally market a property for sale or rent until one is in place. Your EPC is then valid for 10 years.

Christopher Rawlinson & Co work closely with many solicitors in the local area and are always happy to recommend a solicitor. It can definitely be an advantage to use a solicitor that has a good working relationship with your Estate agent.

Remember that you will need to produce documents such as guarantees for work done on your property, and planning and buildings regulations approval for applicable work.

We will confirm verbally and in writing we have received an offer on your property.  If you have received an acceptable offer you need to make a decision as to whether or not to continue to market your property . If you decide to continue marketing you could undermine your buyer’s confidence and result in their pulling out.  However, the buyer may wish to renegotiate or pull out following the survey or local authority search, leaving you vulnerable.  These problems can be offset by arranging a verbal or written undertaking to take the property off the market after an agreed period, while the survey and local authority search are being completed.  We can advise you on this. There is always the possibility that you will receive multiple offers.

It is also possible that you might receive several identical offers and need to decide between buyers. We can help in a number of ways in these circumstances to bring this situation to a satisfactory conclusion.

Open bids (“Dutch auction”): The agent negotiates with each buyer until they drop out, one by one, and the highest offer is left on the table. This method can achieve a high final offer from the buyers in the best position to proceed.

Sealed bids: Buyers are invited to submit their final offers in writing, and the sealed bids are opened at a pre-agreed date and time. The highest offer wins. This method is seen to be fair to all buyers. As people are casting their offers blind and have only one chance, they are encouraged to put down the maximum they can afford. However this system does not necessarily take into account which buyer is in the best position to proceed.

Once an offer has been accepted the following details need to be agreed:

• Date for exchange of contracts.
• Date for completion.
• Details of any fixtures and fittings to be included or excluded in the sale of your property

Your solicitor will forward a draft contract of sale and a copy of the title deeds (or copy of the lease if appropriate) to the buyer’s solicitor who will verify all the documentation. Your solicitor will require you to fill our a ‘vendor’s questionnaire’ therefore it is worth considering the following factors in advance such as:

• Restrictions/boundaries.
• Owner’s understanding of rights of access
• Any disputes over the above.
• Guarantees/insurance policies e.g. NHBC.
• Utility services at property.
• Planning.
• Lists of fixtures and fittings
• Service charge accounts

Whilst preparing your contract of sale your solicitor will require the following documents:

Freehold property
• Title documents (from you or your Bank/Building Society).
• Evidence of payment of last Council Tax (last 12 months).
• Paid utility bills.
• Guarantees and warranties related to damp proofing, etc.
• Gas safety check certificates.
• NHBC certificates.
• Planning and Building Regulations approvals for extensions etc

Leasehold property
• Leasehold title deeds will replace title documents.
• A history of service charge payments.
• A history of ground rent payments

Once all the queries have been satisfied, the buyer’s solicitor will obtain a local authority search and a copy of a mortgage offer. The buyer’s solicitor sends a signed contract and a deposit cheque to the vendor’s solicitor and exchange of contracts takes place, making the sale legally binding

Completion will then take place 2-4 weeks after exchange of contracts. The outstanding money required for the purchase of the purchase money is transferred to your solicitor. They pay any mortgage, deduct their legal fees, pay the estate agents fees and forward you the balance.

There’s nothing worse than not knowing what’s happening and how far advanced you are. Here is a helpful guide for you to monitor how your sale is proceeding

Arrange market valuations
Put your property on the market
Consider all offers and accept the one your are happy with
We will confirm the sale is agreed subject to contract
Instruct Conveyancer to proceed
A survey of the property should be carried out on the buyer’s behalf
Title Deeds obtained and passed to Buyer’s Solicitor
Draft Contracts signed and provided to Buyer’s Solicitor
Enquiries received from Buyer’s Solicitor Response made on enquiries from Buyer’s Solicitor
Response made on enquiries from Buyer’s Solicitor
Get quotes from removal companies
Agree a date for exchange of contracts and completion
Contracts should be signed, deposit received and funds cleared
Contracts exchanged
Completion of the sale and Key Released to the buyer

If you are thinking of selling and would like to arrange a market appraisal of your property, without obligation, please contact us on 020 8904 7733 and we would be delighted to provide you with this service.

Unless you’re lucky enough to be able to buy your home outright, you’ll need a mortgage to finance your purchase.

At Christopher Rawlinson & Co we work closely with a Market Wide Independent Mortgage Broker who we are always happy to recommend.  The Mortgage Broker will advise you what the Mortgage Lender will need and the percentage of the property value they are prepared to lend.

If you are new to the area visit before arranging viewings. Often people fall in love with a property however after researching the area / doing a test run to work/ looking into local schools they decide it is not right for them. This then leaves the purchaser and vendor disappointed which could have been avoided.

However long you take looking around each property and taking in every last detail by the time you get home and have a chance to have a good think about them you will have forgotten which one is which.

Hold a second viewing at a different time of day. If you decided to second view a property it is a good idea to view at a different day and time to your first viewing. This will give you more of an idea on the traffic passing the property and how light the property is at different times etc. View as many properties as possible.

The more properties you see you get an idea of value for money and when you do see the property that is right for you, you will have others to compare it with and again can make an informed decision.

View properties above and below your price range. You may have a set figure of which you would like to spend on a property but it is worth expanding that and looking slightly below and above. You should not rule out a property because it is under your price range as it is very rare that work cannot be done to a property, if it be just modernising, or a double storey extension.

Do not wait to see property particulars before arranging a viewing. A good agent will call out a property as soon as it comes onto the market – sometimes before pictures have been taken and floorplans have been done. If the property fits a good applicant’s criteria they will view straight away and may get to your dream property before you.

Once you’ve found your home and had an offer accepted, you will need to arrange a survey. If you are buying with a mortgage, your lender will arrange a mortgage valuation.

There are several different types of survey. The type of survey you should choose depends on the age and condition of the property.

Christopher Rawlinson & Co have a list of local surveyors though if you prefer to find your own please visit http://www.ricsfirms.com

Christopher Rawlinson & Co work closely with many solicitors in the local area and are always happy to recommend a solicitor. It can definitely be an advantage to use a solicitor that has a good working relationship with your Estate agent.

Your solicitor will prepare the contract, which will be exchanged with your seller and work through the contract negotiations.

When your solicitor is ready to proceed to an Exchange of Contracts, you will be asked for funds to be used as the deposit.  The deposit will usually be a percentage of the agreed purchase price, say 10% but it can vary.  You could also be asked for any other fees and expenses due in relation to the purchase.

When you complete the rest of the money will need to be transferred from your solicitor to the Sellers Solicitor.

Once the Sellers Solicitor has received the monies, they will let Christopher Rawlinson & Co know.

We will then call you and let you know you can collect the keys from our office.