First time seller - please help!

SkintMonkey

We've never sold before, but will be putting our house on the market in the next few weeks and are a tad nervous. I'm hoping that my friends at MSE will be able to assist with some of our (probably really daft) questions:

1. What do you say to potential buyers when they ask you why you are selling up and moving (we are doing so because our house is tiny and we want to start a family soon and also we want to live in a better area)?
2. When do we need to engage a solicitor (we've not found anywhere we like yet)?
3. Is it possible to get the estate agents to do all the viewings (but is this impractical because I imagine some people will want to view after their work in the evening)?
4. Should we secure an offer on our house before we do so on a property to buy?

Thanks everyone.

flutterby_3

In my experience, also as a first time seller:

1. I'd say that you're planning to have children soon and you are moving to a bigger house. Then really say how great your house has been until now - fab first home for a couple, ideal for a single professional etc. Say how much you have enjoyed living in it - plug things like good transport links, local amenities and the area in general . If you've got good neighbours, tell the viewers!

2. We've got quotes from solicitors and have decided who to go with. I think we actually engage them when we accept an offer on our property as even if you've not found somewhere, they can be sorting things out with your buyer's solicitor.

3. Estate agents can do all viewings but they tend to be 9-5 mon to Fri, and 9-3 on sats - my experience anyway!! I'd make sure that it is actually an agent who does the viewings though. We have viewed numerous properties with an 'accompanied viewer' - usually an old bloke who knows nothing about the property and is just there to open the doors! Yesterday, the one we saw didn't even know how to open the back door so we couldn't see the garden!!

4. I think that;s the ideal arrangement. You are in a much better position to negotiate and proceed with an offer on your property. You can offer earlier, but the vendor might want to carry on marketing the property as it could be weeks before you can proceed. You could end up setting your heart on somewhere only to lose it to someone in a position to proceed. We are looking around and have a shortlist of properties we will view again when we get an offer. If they go before then, never mind!

hth - doing it the first time myself!
Angela