How to sell your house online

If you're thinking about selling your house or flat, the ideal buyer is out there somewhere. The trick is to figure out how they are thinking.

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If you're thinking about selling your house or flat, the ideal buyer is out there somewhere. The trick is to figure out how they are thinking.

Today, you can bet that the ideal buyer for your home will start their property search online – in fact, we know that 95% of house-hunters now begin looking for their new home on the internet.

In this guide, we’ll explore the different ways you can sell your home, and how you can target house-hunters online. We will also look at some of the top tips for selling your house fast.

The different ways to sell your house

In the past, people were very limited when it came to selling their home, but the internet has upended the whole process. The good news is that gives more power to you, the seller. Let’s look at some of the most common ways to sell your house below:

  1. Privately

    Selling your house privately means you don’t pay any fees. You take care of advertising and pricing your property, taking photos and arranging viewings yourself. This is a good option if you already know someone who is interested in buying your home.

  2. Through a traditional estate agent

    If you can find a good estate agent near you, they can take the stress of the sale out of your hands. The downside is that you will pay anywhere between 0.75-3% of the final sale price in commission. Given that today’s buyers now scour the web for thousands of homes, banking on a single estate agent can limit your chances of a successful sale.

  3. Through an online estate agent

    Going online makes selling your home very easy. Online estate agents list your property on literally hundreds of listings websites. As they don’t have to pay for a high street presence, they tend to be a lot cheaper.

  4. At auction

    Property auctions are becoming increasingly popular, as they can cut out a lot of the hassle that comes with selling your house. As soon as the hammer falls, the buyer is legally obliged to pay up. Of course, the downside is that this is a risky approach – your house could sell for a lot less than what you are hoping for.

  5. To a specialist cash buyer

    There are a range of specialist cash buyer businesses online. These sites offer to buy your home outright, cutting out the dreaded property chain. Of course, they may offer you less than your home's market value.

When is the best time to
sell your house?

Spring is the best time of year to sell your home, as this is when the market is most competitive. Annual bonuses have been received, grand plans are being for the year ahead, and well-prepared parents are starting to think about getting their kids into the right catchment area ahead of the cut-off date in January.

Summer is slower for house sales, before the market picks up again in autumn, as people are generally more interested in where to go on holiday. The winter months – especially December – are usually the worst for selling a house. People are planning for Christmas and have less desire to house-hunt in the cold.

How long does it take to sell a house?

The average time to sell your house in the UK is around eight weeks, although this varies significantly between regions, with properties in London and the South-East selling quickest and sales in the North-East dragging on longer than anywhere else.

Some houses sell in days, others sit on the market for years, often for no reason other than luck. Using an online estate agent like Housesimple can speed up the process because it cuts out the middleman.

  1. 1

    Book a local assessor to photograph so we can value your property.

  2. 2

    Run through the process with tailored support from an expert.

  3. 3

    Review your listing on hundreds of websites including Rightmove and Zoopla.

  4. 4

    Get viewings, feedback and offers instantly.

  5. 5

    Complete the sale with the help of your qualified expert.

Tips for selling your home

Whether you sell your house online or use a more traditional method, it is essential to give potential buyers a great first impression both in your property listing and during a viewing. Beyond repairing and re-decorating, here are some things you can do to help sell your home:

  • Make the property bright and airy

    Arrange viewings during the daytime, and open the windows to let in fresh air.

  • Tidy away any clutter

    Clear the surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom. Relocate any shoes or coats clogging up the entrance to your home.

  • Time the sale right

    Houses tend to sell better in autumn or spring than summer or winter.

  • Paint the walls in a light, neutral tone

    This can create spaciousness and means there is less chance that the buyer will want to re-decorate.

  • Promote the local area

    Growing families want to know about schools, whereas young professionals are interested in restaurants, bars, gyms and transport links.

  • Remove any sign of pets

    Some buyers will be put off claw marks, litter trays or any signs of animal activity.

Selling your house fast

If you’re keen to move home quickly, there are several additional things you can do to help sell your house as quickly as possible. These include:

  • Get professional photos taken

    Remember that anything that does not look great on a photograph can be magnified online.

  • Advertise on as many websites as possible

    Housesimple advertises with Rightmove and Zoopla, which attract 110 million viewers combined.

  • Set a fair asking
    price

    Have your home professionally valued – better still, consult a couple of agents.

  • Arrange viewings early in the process

    Clear out your calendar and make yourself available to show people around your home.

  • Look for buyers who don’t have a chain

    This includes wealthy investors, first-time buyers or someone looking for a second home.

  • Start conveyancing
    early

    Ask a solicitor to draft up a control and apply for title deeds early on in the process.

The cost of selling a house

What will selling a house cost you? The following table will give you a rough idea of the fees involved with selling your home:

Fees What would it cost?
Conveyancing Anywhere between a couple of hundred pounds online to over £1,000
Estate agent fees 0.75-3% of the final sale price (online estate agents usually charge a lower flat fee)
Energy Performance Certificate £50-£120
Removals £400-£1,500
Capital gains tax Free below £11,100 or 18-28% on higher profits

Why sell your home
with Housesimple?

Our customers have saved an average of thousands in fees. They are more likely to land a successful sale, because our specialists are the very best in the industry. What's more, everything is made much easier by our online portal, which you can access 24/7 and use to contact potential buyers directly.

Today, house buyers are looking online to find their new home. With Housesimple, you know you’ll be there when they come looking.

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