So, you’ve decided to sell your house—congratulations! If you’ve been out of the property market for a while, or you’re unsure of the latest processes, what should you do next?
The main priority is to commission a Home Report. In a nutshell, a Home Report is the key marketing guide to your house and covers a range of elements, including a general survey, data on household energy consumption and information on additional costs, such as council tax bands, freehold or maintenance charges.
Parts of the report are completed by surveyors or energy experts. There is also a Property Questionnaire, which focuses on additional charges and must be completed by you, the seller.
When should I get the report done?
As soon as you decide you want to move, it is time to get the report done. In fact, you cannot sell your house until you have the report, so this should be your first action. You must be able to produce a copy of your report to prospective buyers within nine days of them asking, so it is crucial that you are prepared.
When your house goes on the market, your report should be no more than 12 weeks old and contain the most up-to-date information about your property. If your report is older than this, it is possible that a lender may require a refreshed mortgage valuation.
In an unpredictable property market—or depending on whether you are seeking a quick sale—your Home Report is a key sales and marketing tool. If there are any quick or meaningful repairs that may affect your sale, it is worth considering getting them completed before the Home Report. After all, we all want to showcase our homes in the best possible light.
How long will the report stay valid?
Once the report has been completed and gone live, there is no fixed expiry date. However, if your house stays on the market for a while, you may want to commission another report to give interested parties additional peace of mind.
If you decide not to do this, it is worth noting that a potential buyer may want a new report carried out before making their decision. In this case, it is up to the buyer and seller to agree who will pay for the report.
It is also worth noting that you can take your house off the market for up to four weeks and then put it back on the market without having to commission a new report. Anything longer than that means you will need to start the commissioning process again.
Why use an independent report provider?
If you are selling your house through an estate agent, you can have the report carried out by its preferred surveyors or Home Report provider. However, they may charge a fixed fee regardless of the value of your property.
An independent online report provider has fewer overheads and therefore has greater flexibility to charge on a sliding scale. With more people choosing to sell their homes online through commission-free estate agents—or even taking the do-it-yourself route—an independent report gives you the freedom to choose how and where you want to sell your house.
Additionally, an independent provider is more likely to offer a complete report, from the general survey and energy assessment through to marketing additions such as floor plans and professional photographs. An affiliated provider may charge extra for these services.
What do I need to prepare for the report?
As mentioned earlier, home improvements that can be completed quickly and effectively are always worth considering. It is also important to ensure that you have all relevant documentation available for the report and for potential buyers.
For example, if you have had building work completed on your home, such as an extension or loft conversion, make sure you have the correct building permissions and building-control paperwork. You should also ensure that your insurance, certificates for treatments such as damp and other important policies are current and valid.
This may feel like a lot of work, but a good Home Report provider will guide you through the process to ensure that you get the best report for your home, as well as a property that is marketed effectively and, most importantly, sells quickly.