The first step after deciding to sell your property is to invite an estate agent to value your home. This provides clarity about what you can ask for in the local property market and helps you decide which agency you want to work with.

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Questions to ask the agent:

What are your fees? – this is usually a percentage of the asking price.

How will you market my home? Are there any additional costs for different marketing packages?

Do they have a list of buyers already interested in properties like yours?

Property information

Once you have instructed the estate agent, they will need to collect the property description. This will involve:

• Measurements of each room to create a floor plan.
• Making notes for room descriptions.
• Photographing the exterior and interior of your property.

You will be asked to approve a description of your property before the property is marketed. Feel free to ask for changes/additions if something in the description has been missed that will attract potential buyers or if you are unhappy with one or more photographs. For advice from Stonehouse Estate Agents, contact www.tgres.co.uk/office-locations/stonehouse-estate-agents/

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It’s essential to be aware of some of the fees and costs of selling a home that you’ll want to consider when budgeting.

Here are six costs to look out for:

1. Estate Agency Fees

These include advertising your property and liaising with the other parties involved to get the sale through to completion.

2. Mortgage exit fees

Check if there is a penalty for leaving your mortgage early. You might be liable for an exit fee or early repayment fees.

3. EPC

In England and Wales, the seller must provide an EPC for a property to potential buyers. This document regulates the energy efficiency of homes, with scores from A to G. EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate.

4. Home Reports

These essential searches can reveal information about a property that could influence whether it’s a good investment. There are different types of reports, so it might be worth asking a professional to sort these out for you.

5. Conveyancing

Conveyancing solicitors will deal with the legal aspects of selling your property; this is called conveyancing. The cost will depend on the sale value of your property, but much lower than the costs involved when buying a property.

6. Removal costs

If you move to a new home, consider moving costs. Costs will vary depending on how much you own and how far you move. Get two or three quotes and see customer reviews to select the most suitable removal company.