-Words by Watts and Morgan Estate Agent, Tomos Gould

Autumn is fast approaching and soon the nights will be drawing in and the leaves on the trees will turn a vibrant amber and red. Autumn provides the last ‘hurrah’ for buyers to be in their new home just in time for Christmas. So if you’re looking to buy or sell, Watts & Morgan are here to help!

Despite Brexit continuing to be a major source of uncertainty, the property market remains strong. According to the latest Gov.UK House Price Index, average house prices in the UK saw an annual rise of 1.2% (to April 2019). This was encouraged by Hometrack UK Cities House Price Index latest report which cited that Edinburgh (+5.1%) registered the highest level of year-on-year house price growth, closely followed by Liverpool (+4.9%) and Cardiff (+4.7%).

September and October typically herald a post-summer boom in activity and with Penarth’s idyllic seaside location and charming tree lined streets, it is no surprise that many buyers see it as an extremely desirable proposition.

At Watts & Morgan we appreciate that the idea of selling your home can be a daunting process – so here is a step-by-step guide to take you through the selling process and how we can help:

The Valuation: a realistic valuation is vital to selling your property for the best price, within the desired timescale and with the least amount of stress possible. To achieve this, we use our expert knowledge of the local market and our buyer database to give you an honest valuation and assess how it would be positioned in the market alongside comparable properties. This will assist in maximising prospective viewing activity and the level of offers received.

The Right Estate Agent – selling a property can be a complex and overwhelming task which is why Watts & Morgan are here to help. With 162 years’ experience, Watts & Morgan are one of the oldest firms of estate agents in The Vale of Glamorgan. Our ethos is built on traditional values with a modern, pro-active approach to ensure successful results for our clients. Our reputation and knowledge of the local housing market ensures you can trust us to guide you through the buying and selling process.

Marketing Your Property – In order to find the perfect buyer, it is vital that your property receives maximum exposure through multiple marketing channels. To achieve this, Watts & Morgan utilise a bespoke marketing strategy:

• Our recognisable ‘For Sale’ signs promote your property 24/7.
• Professional photographs, floorplans and detailed descriptions highlighting key selling points of your property. These are presented in stylish brochures for prospective purchasers and wall displays in our newly refurbished office.
• A strong online presence and interaction on social media as well as promotion on the following website portals; wattsandmorgan.wales, Rightmove.co.uk and OnTheMarket.com.
• Advertisements in key local publications such as ‘Penarth View’, ‘Vale Life’ and ‘The Western Mail’.
• Nationwide exposure through our Mayfair Office, Thayer Street, London providing valuable editorial space in National Media publications such as ‘The Times’.
• Watts & Morgan are a selected member of the ‘Relocation Agent Network’ (RAN). This means we receive buyer referrals from over 650 RAN members across Britain. Exposure that no other Penarth agent can offer! 

Viewings: Accompanied viewings by an agent who is knowledgeable of the local area and highly trained to highlight your property’s unique features and other qualities that will appeal to a prospective buyer(s). Watts & Morgan guarantee detailed feedback from the viewing within twenty-four hours. We also offer staging advice to maximise your property’s appeal.

Offers: As your agent, Watts & Morgan will handle all negotiations between you and the buyer. We offer experienced advice to achieve the best possible price while taking into account market conditions, interest from other parties and recent comparable sales. We will verify the buyers’ financial position and flexibility as these details may impact on timescales.

Sale Agreed: Upon accepting an offer you will need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor. Your solicitor will send the buyer’s solicitor a draft contract setting out the particulars of the sale. At this stage you should inform your conveyancer of what fixtures and fittings (if any) are included and provide documents of any guarantees/certificates for works you have carried out on your property.

Watts & Morgan’s sales progression team will work tirelessly to ensure your sale completes as smoothly as possible. We will guide you through this process and keep in constant communication to update you on the buyer’s mortgage application, survey dates and outcomes, status of the legal process and where relevant, provide updates on the chain.

Exchange of Contracts: Exchange of contracts can occur once the buyer’s mortgage offer is received, all responses to enquiries raised are deemed satisfactory and all parties agree a date for completion. Both the buyer and seller then sign the contract with the buyer paying a non-refundable deposit, usually 10% of the purchase price. Once contracts are exchanged the transaction becomes legally binding.

Completion: On the day of completion any outstanding monies from the buyer will be transferred to your conveyancer, who in turn will transfer the remaining balance to you once any fees and outstanding mortgage amounts have been deducted. Your solicitor will call you when the money has cleared and will inform your agent to release the keys to the buyer – Congratulations your property has now been sold!

Do not forget to take meter readings and redirect your post. It’s a nice touch to leave a note for the new owner(s) explaining how things work as well as where to find essentials such as the fuse board.

Watts & Morgan – helping to make a house your home!

We have a number of serious buyers registered who are looking for properties in the local area. We would love to assist in the sale of your home. Please contact us if you are interested in discussing the marketing of your property. We would be delighted to meet with you.

T: 02920 712266

E: penarth@wattsandmorgan.wales

or/

E: tomos.gould@wattsandmorgan.wales

Words by Watts & Morgan, Penarth, Head of Residential Sales, Tomos Gould