So, there you are minding your own business quite happily trundling along in life. Then all of a sudden, BAM, the unexpected happens - partner files for divorce, you lose your job/made redundant, serious accident resulting in prolonged time off work, your business goes belly-up or other life-changing and personally devastating event. These situations usually mean that at some point you will have to sell your home fast, either to downsize to something more appropriate or to raise cash quickly to cover personal or business debts.What are the options for anyone looking to sell their property?

• Traditional Estate Agent route - expensive and VERY slow
• Online Estate Agent - less expensive but still slow
• Property auction - fast but price not guaranteed to reach reserve, still have to pay auction house fees and VAT
• Sell to a buyer who specializes in purchasing property for cash - slightly below market value but VERY fast
• DIY private house sale - a fast option that could save you £000s

So, how do you go about selling your house privately?This might sound like a scary alternative but with the advent of the Internet it really is a viable alternative to the snail-like High Street option and is gathering popularity amongst house-sellers fed up of being charged £000s for selling their properties. We often forget that Estate Agents are unregulated salesmen with no professional valuation training other than an inside knowledge of what other properties on their books have sold for. The only true professionals involved in the house buying and selling process are the surveyor and conveyancing solicitor.There are just 4 easy steps to making a private house sale:

1. PRICING. There are websites available where you can check the actual selling prices of properties in your area (rather than the over-inflated estimates dreamt up by untrained agents). These will give you a much more accurate idea of what your property is worth. Depending on how quickly you wish to sell should influence how much above or below this figure you are willing to set your price at. Bear in mind that a potential buyer may wish to negotiate you down on the advertised price so don’t pitch it at your absolute minimum, as this will leave you no room for manoeuvre.
2. ADVERTISING. Online advertising fees are much more reasonable than those of commission-based Estate Agents and websites that advertise your property have clear itemised lists of added extras you can purchase if you so desire but these are not always necessary.
3. HIP. Any property sold on the open market must have a Home Information Pack, which will cost around £350 and can be commissioned independently.
4. DETAILS. All you need is a digital camera and a reasonable eye for a good photo. You need around 6-10 decent pictures of the front of the house, garden and key rooms plus accurate internal measurements. For a small additional cost, online property advertising sites will also provide a customised For Sale sign, as these are great for generating interest from local buyers. You can get your property details online in a fraction of the time it takes an Estate Agent to start advertising.

If you really don’t feel up to trying this alternative why not consider a quick cash sale to a company that specializes in this market. They can complete within 4 weeks of your initial enquiry and provide the peace of mind of a guaranteed property sale (no pulling out at the last moment and no broken chains). When you consider that Estate Agents over-value properties by between 5%-15% and you may have to reduce your price to slightly below the surveyors valuation to secure a quick sale this option doesn’t sound quite as bad as you might first imagine. If you also factor in the benefits of a free valuation by an independent surveyor, free legal fees and no requirement for a Home Information Pack plus completion in around 4 weeks Sell-My-House-Fast could beTHE quick and economical solution to your current financial difficulties.

Selling your home is never an easy proposition. Should you spend a bit of money tidying up the property, giving it a lick of paint; maybe sort out those nagging problems that you’ve never quite got round to doing? Then there’s the question of which estate agent to use. If there’s only one horse in town then there probably isn’t much of an alternative unless there is another in a nearby town. However, if you have more than one estate agent reasonably close then how do you choose which to hire? What are your options?

Firstly you should get each of them to come and give your property the once over. They will then give you a valuation on what they think the property is likely to sell for in the current market. Now comes the tricky bit. Do you believe them? Chances are if you get 3 different valuations done you will get 2 vaguely similar prices and one that is a lot higher.

Why is this? Do they know something that the others don’t? Do they recognise quality housing when they see it and the others just have awful taste? Sorry, but neither of these is likely to be the case. What they are banking on is basic human nature, i.e. greed. After all, why wouldn’t you choose an estate agent that thinks they can sell your property for 5%-15% more than the other agents? You’d have to be a simpleton to go with the lower valuations, wouldn’t you? The answer is usually “No”.

What estate agents do, and this does vary wildly from area to area, is provide an estimated value that your property will sell for. Note the word “estimated”. It is quite common practice for estate agents, particularly in areas where competition is fierce, to over value properties just to secure your signature. After 2-3 months of either no viewings or lots of viewings and no offers the estate agent will gently take you to one side and suggest that you drop your price to try to generate more interest - usually because “The market is being a little sluggish at the moment” or “Houses in this area aren’t selling as quickly as they used to.” By this time sellers are starting to get rather edgy and more than willing to do as the “experts” recommend. No great loss for them, just a little longer until they get their cut of the house sale, but for you it is months of anxiety and trying to keep the house spotless for potential viewings - no mean feat if you have a family.

Choosing the right estate agent in the first place should ensure your house sells reasonably quickly and for a good price. So, when the estate agents are valuing your property, how do you choose which one to sign with?

Ask if there is anything you can do to make the property more attractive to potential buyers (inside and out).
The British are incredibly coy talking about money but it has to be done. Ask what properties in the area have been selling for (similar size and condition).

Find out how much commission they will receive.

What will they do to promote your house to potential buyers, i.e. newspapers, Internet?

How long will it take to get the details prepared?

Are they prepared to show buyers around the house if you don’t think you will do your property justice?

How long do they think it will take to get sold at the price they are recommending?

Remember, they are providing a service for you and have to earn their commission. Don’t be afraid to grill them on exactly what they will do for you. Once you have signed with your chosen agent, keep in contact and keep up the pressure to make sure they are working hard for you.

Choosing an estate agent is not just about how much they say you can sell the property for and how little you will have to pay them for the service. Your estate agent must advise you if your property exterior needs to be cleaned or tidied up.

Similarly if your house needs to be de-cluttered they need to gently point you in the right direction. Kerb appeal is very important to potential buyers and a house stuffed to the brim with all your personal bits & pieces will divert attention from the room proportions and any architectural features; quite probably sending a subliminal message that the house won’t be big enough for them and all their clutter.

Even with all these things done it can still take between 3-12 months to sell your home. For many this is an interminable wait, especially in cases of divorce, financial difficulty or similar situations where it is imperative to sell quickly. In these instances there is an alternative. Companies like Sell-My-House-Fast can buy your property in around 4 weeks!! Yes, that is weeks, not months. Choosing this option will not get you the best possible price but when you consider all the factors it isn’t usually very far off what you would eventually get if your property were sold on the open market once you’ve deducted the valuation fee, estate agent fees, Home Information Pack, legal fees and probably having to drop your initial asking price by between 5%-15% - not to mention all the stress and worry over when you will get a buyer and if they are going to pull out (delaying the process still further). Sell-My-House-Fast will pay your legal and valuation fees, there’s no need for a HIP and the sale is guaranteed with completion on a date convenient for you. What more could you ask for?

Each type of house buyer has a different set of criteria that will affect just how quickly they sell an existing property and purchase their next one. Whether they are a first-time buyer, property developer, buy-to-let investor or a couple downsizing.

First-time house buyers and those house-sharing will often over-stretch themselves in their desperation just to get on the property ladder. Lenders have in the last few years been encouraging this by offering larger mortgages than borrowers can realistically afford to repay. The awful truth of just how much it costs to run a home can come to light several years after they have bought their first home. The temptation to buy everything new and to want everything “just right” will eventually dawn once the credit card bills have reached their limit. Young people have a greater “live for today” attitude and the thought of putting money aside to cover contingencies just doesn’t occur to them. So, when the boiler breaks, they lose their job or have an accident there is nothing in reserve. Admittedly they are likely to earn the least and have less spare cash to put aside but it reflects their general air of invincibility. These are also likely to be the house buyers who do not have contents insurance and only the most basic buildings insurance cover to satisfy their mortgage lender. When reality does finally hit home what are the options? Seek help from the parental piggy bank, sell on the open market or sell and rent back from a company specialising in buying property fast. Potential first-time buyers should think long and hard about whether having the responsibility of looking after a property is something that is right for them at this point in time.

Buy-to-let investors fall mainly into 2 camps - those who are serious about running it as a business and those who dabble at it to try to shore up their dwindling pension plans. Those who don’t fully understand the buy-to-let market can come seriously unstuck; often having invested heavily from financial reserves or even re-mortgaged their family home to start up. Problems can arise if the market takes a sudden dive, if they need to access cash quickly or if tenants don’t prove to be as reliable as they had envisaged. There are companies who will buy your investment property even if it currently has problem tenants.

In a similar predicament are inexperienced property developers who can make the mistake of under-estimating the amount of work and cost involved in a project, especially if they have bought at auction and failed to have a survey (yes it does happen). It is all too easy for unforeseen problems to arise that will seriously affect the profitability of a renovation, particularly if you have to buy in skills. The best solution in this situation is to try to find an experienced developer or property buyer who can take that money pit off your hands and allow you to start afresh with another project.

Expanding families and those down-sizing are at the mercy of very fragile property chains. There are ways of ensuring that you don’t lose that perfect house just because your property won’t sell or your buyer has pulled out. The stress involved in a protracted house sale can aggravate many health issues so if your property just isn’t shifting you could try selling it to a company that buys properties for cash. That way you can complete in around 4 weeks and exchange on a date of your choosing.

Emigrating or relocating to another area is a logistical nightmare as there are 1001 things that need to be done. By selling your property for cash you can ensure that you have at least one less problem to worry about. Some companies will even allow you to remain as a tenant until the day you emigrate/relocate. No upheaval whilst moving into rented accommodation and trying to ensure everyone knows your temporary contact details or worrying about not receiving important letters. A very simple solution to an otherwise stressful problem.

If you want to find out how much you could get for your property just complete our quick quote and we will get back to you.

Good question. People have diverse reasons for selling their homes. Not all sellers require a fast house sale, but for some the thought of waiting 3-12 months in anunhappy situation is simply too long. If your property is struggling to sell on the open market or you just want a quick no-fuss house sale and are prepared to pay a bit less than the over-inflated valuations of estate agents then you should consider using a company that specialises in buying properties for cash.

Most house buyers have the luxury of lots of time to pick and choose exactly which property they want to buy, particularly true in the current economic climate when house prices are falling and house buyers are keen to pay the lowest possible price. This is fine if you don’t need to sell your home fast and can just wait until the next link in the chain is able to move or prices stabilize. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case. The chain may collapse and you lose the house you are trying to buy; leaving you stranded for another 3-12 months. So, if you need to sell your house fast there are companies who can help.How does it work? Easy, most sites buying properties for cash have an online quick quote or application form - you just fill in your details to get things underway. They then research your specific area and contact you with an offer (subject to survey) based on a range of factors. If this is roughly in the range you require then an independent surveyor will come and value your property. As long as there are no major issues affecting the valuation the whole process can be completed in 3-5 weeks.The normal estate agent route can take between 3-12 months to sell, depending on the buoyancy of the market in your area. To ensure that you sign with them, rather than Joe Bloggs down the road, estate agents will often over-inflate their estimate of how much your property will sell for and then get you to drop your price after a couple of months with no offers.

This might not be the right solution for your situation but it is worth considering all your options if you need to sell your home fast.

The credit crunch, which started in the USA, is affecting many things around the world, most notably for us is the effect it is having on the UK property market. In fact, the number of mortgage approvals has not recovered as many had hoped they would after falling drastically in October and November 2007.

Mortgage equity withdrawals have also suffered because of the credit crunch. This is because housing prices in the UK are falling and falling fast. Lending institutions are, therefore, becoming wary of lending money to homeowners whose homes are currently depreciating in value. For lenders it does not make financial sense and so homeowners looking for a mortgage equity withdrawal are often out of luck.

Forecast for 2008
The UK property market forecast for 2008 appears pretty bleak because buyers are unwilling to pay over the odds when prices are falling and are therefore biding their time until house prices have stabilized. The number of completed sales is anticipated to continue falling throughout the year simply because of this uncertainty and financial institutions tightening up on their lending criteria. As the demand falls so will house prices; with sellers becoming ever more desperate to attract offers. Their main options are to either wait it out in the hope that prices will start to rise again or to lower their asking prices in order to sell for whatever possible. Those individuals who aren’t in a position to wait for 6-12 months for the market to improve would benefit most from a Quick House Sale where they can sell their home quickly and easily, usually 3-5 weeks. Although selling properties for cash inevitably means it is sold at below market value, it would at least provide the cash required and the house is off their hands in no time.

House buyers, particularly first-time buyers, will benefit from these low property prices the most - that is if there are any house buyers who can actually get approved for a mortgage. Any property investor with cash available could also make some great deals on house purchases. However, since the market is tempestuous investors who have not fully researched the area in which they are purchasing should proceed conservatively to see where the market is heading.

Having seen massive rises in property prices over recent years because of the general lack of confidence that pensions will deliver the return on investment required for a comfortable retirement, the rapid contraction in funds available for mortgages just might make prices settle at more realistic levels. The volatility in the UK property market could create some major economic problems in sectors not directly associated with property simply through lack of confidence and a general contraction in the money markets. House prices could correct themselves sharply in the near future but only if lenders are willing to provide the funds at reasonable rates. For now everyone will have to take a wait and see approach but for the moment things do not look good.

People find themselves in financial trouble for many reasons.  It could be the loss of a job, illness, divorce or another life-changing event.  When these events occur they can significantly alter an individual’s ability to make their mortgage payments.  However, what individuals need most during times of uncertainty is the one thing that is certain and comforting - their home.  So, how can people overcome their financial problems and still remain in their home?  The answer is to sale and rent back.

What is Sale and Rent Back?

If you find yourself in this position you are probably wrestling with the serious problem of not being able to continue making mortgage payments whilst desperate to remain in your home.  It is also very likely you have thought, “I need to sell my house fast“, on numerous occasions.  Well, that is exactly what sale and rent back is all about.

This process involves you selling your home to a company that specializes in sale and rent back.  Then, the company will rent your home back to you, thus allowing you to stay in your home and avoid all the cost and upheaval of moving your family and belongings to another area or town altogether.  This really is the best option for many people because they can remain in their home and get the cash they need very quickly.  In addition, many people choose sale and rent back because it allows them to buy their home back in a certain period of time if their situation improves or else to rent indefinitely.  So, for those who need cash fast yet who don’t want to move then sale and rent back is the best option available.Perhaps the best aspect of the sale and rent back process is that it is completely confidential.  Your private affairs should remain private and when you take advantage of a sale and rent back offer your personal situation will stay that way unless you choose otherwise.

If you find yourself in a personal crisis and in need of cash then the sale and rent back solution is one that should be considered.  It may not be right for everyone, but it is a wonderful option to have.Want to find out how much Sell-My-House-Fast  would offer for your home?   If you want to find out if Sale & Rent Back is right for your current situation, why not complete the simple online quick quote form to see how we can provide you with the security you need.