Please take a look through our step-by-step guides to selling and renting.
Selling a property can be far less stressful when you understand the process.
Arrange a a Valuation - Find out how much your property is worth online via www.hbe.co.uk or call 01275 810030
Step 1. Accurate valuation
Your aim should be to sell your property at the best possible price in the shortest possible time. Our expert valuers have carried out thousands of valuations, giving us intimate and unparalleled knowledge of property values in the area. This is why we consistently achieve within 98% of the asking price across all our clients' properties. Call us on 01275 810030
Step 2. Selecting an estate agent
When choosing an estate agent, consider their opening hours, when they will be available to conduct viewings, their High Street presence and what kind of marketing your property will receive. These factors are critical to obtaining the maximum exposure and price for your property. You should also check if your agent will organise your government-required Energy Performance Certificate on your behalf or if you need to arrange this yourself? Hensons can arrange this for you. You must have commissioned an EPC before your property can be marketed.
Also ensure that the estate agent is a member The Property Ombudsman for Sales and Lettings scheme, Hensons are members but some estate agents still avoid joining and in some cases they may be trading illegally. In addition, we are the only local estate agents who have solely been approved by the Hometrack Network recognising the top 10% of estate agents in the country.
Step 3. Instructing a solicitor
The successful sale of your property can be reliant on the instruction of an efficient and experienced solicitor or property lawyer. It is a good idea to do some research and make a decision before you put your property on the market as this will help to avoid delays. We can offer recommendations and exclusive, very competitive quotations if required.
Step 4. Presenting your property
First impressions count making the presentation of your property critical to a successful sale and at the best price. Consider addressing any DIY jobs you have been meaning to get done, add a fresh coat of paint where necessary and try to declutter to make rooms appear larger. Hensons ' team of dedicated professionals will then take photographs, produce floor plans and write comprehensive property descriptions, all in just one visit.
Step 5. Marketing your property
To find your perfect buyer you need to give your property maximum exposure across a wide range of media. When you instruct Hensons to sell your property you will automatically benefit from our unrivalled, comprehensive marketing package, including: exposure on our award winning website and via the very best national and international property web sites such as Rightmove, full colour property brochures that will also be available on line, inclusion in key property titles, email and SMS alerts, specialist property PR and having the property publicised by every office in our 37 office network all across the region including offices in Bristol, Bath and Taunton.
Step 6. Accompanied viewings
Our longer opening hours are essential to maximise viewing opportunities for your property - in fact over 40% of our viewings are carried out after work and at weekends. Accompanied viewings carried out by experienced professionals also means we can use our expertise to help sell your property. Our offices are open 9am-6pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am-5pm Saturdays, with viewings available on Sundays and Bank Holidays. In addition, our phone lines are open 7 days a week.
Step 7. Receiving an offer
As soon as an offer is received we will notify you both verbally and in writing per our OFT approved code of practice. Any special conditions of the offer will also be stated in writing and we will check the buyer's ability to proceed before you decide whether to accept the offer.
Step 8. Offer agreed
Once you accept an offer we will do the following: Prepare a memorandum of sale setting out the heads of terms of the sale. Write to all parties to confirm the agreed price. Ask you to confirm your solicitor's details. Your solicitor will send out a draft contract to the buyer's solicitor who will then carry out preliminary enquiries. At this stage you will also be able to agree on provisional dates for the survey on your property, exchange of contracts and proposed date for completion. We will advise you and negotiate on your behalf throughout this process, keeping you informed every step of the way. There are no legal obligations until contracts are signed.
Step 9. Exchange of contracts
Exchange of binding contracts occurs when the following have been confirmed and agreed: Preliminary enquiries following receipt of the draft contract. Evidence of a good title. Specific issues highlighted in the Lease, if applicable. Local search queries. Fixtures and fittings to be included in the sale. The buyer's mortgage offer. Once the contract has been signed by both parties the deposit (traditionally 10% of the purchase price but often less) will be telegraphically transferred or paid in the form of a banker's draft by the buyer's solicitor to your solicitor. The completion date is then set by mutual agreement.
Step 10. Completion
Completion is the day that your new property becomes yours. When the residual monies are transferred from the buyer's solicitor to your solicitor's account. Your solicitor will call you when the money has cleared in your account and will inform us to release the keys.
Congratulations, your property is now sold!
If you want more information, please call 01275 810030 for our FREE detailed guide about selling a property. We have created a comprehensive checklist to guide you through the selling process.
Aletrnatively, arrange a Free home visit, just Call us on 01275 810030 or complete the property valuation form on our web site www.hbe.co.uk
Letting your property
Having an empty property can be stressful. Maximise the return on your investment by acting fast to find a reliable tenant who will pay the best price. That has always been our guiding principle.
Step 1. Accurate valuation
Your aim should be to let your property at the best possible price in the shortest possible time. Our expert Valuers have carried out thousands of valuations giving us an intimate and unparalleled knowledge of property values in the area.
This is why we consistently achieve the asking price for our clients' rental properties.
Call us on 01275 810030 or find out how much your property is worth online via www.hbe.co.uk or call 01275 810030 Step 2. Selecting an estate agent
When choosing a letting agent consider their level of experience, incidentally we having been Letting and Managing clients' properties since 1980. Also consider opening hours, when they will be available to conduct viewings, their high street presence and what kind of marketing your property will receive. These are critical to obtaining the maximum rental value for your property and in terms of experience ensuring that the ongoing Let is working for you.
You should also check if your agent will organize your government-required Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on your behalf or if you need to arrange this yourself? You are responsible for making this document available to prospective and future tenants. Hensons will arrange the EPC for you unless you prefer us not to. Please also ensure that the estate agent is a member The Property Ombudsman for Sales and Lettings scheme, Hensons are full members but some estate agents still manage to avoid joining the scheme and in some cases they may be trading illegally.
Step 3. Considering a short let?
Letting your property as a short let (for a period of up to six months) can be an ideal solution as you will benefit from the following: high returns on your property, rent paid in advance, flexibility of commitment, minimum void periods, Property Management and often high quality corporate tenants.
Step 4. Benefits of our Corporate Services
Hensons are continually assisting many household names including Shell, BT, Rio Tinto, GE and a number of Government agencies. These companies and organisations are seeking properties to rent for their employees and our contacts also include most of the top insurers, banks, technology and communication companies, oil companies and public sector departments. We are also local fully authority approved and recommended.
We can always offer you the benefit of a wide variety of applicants from reputable companies, willing to pay a premium for high levels of service and peace of mind.
Step 5. Consider Property Management
Property Management can be the key to reaping maximum rental returns on your property. Many tenants insist on renting managed properties and are often prepared to pay a premium for this.
Instructing Hensons to manage your property gives you peace of mind that both your property and tenant will be cared for 24/7. Your dedicated Property Manager will look after the general day-to-day management and more complex issues such as emergency repairs, collection of rent, transfer of utilities and much more. Uniquely, we offer two levels of management service and we will be happy to discuss the details with you.
Step 6. Presenting your property
First impressions count, making the presentation of your property critical to a successful let.
We will advise you of any simple improvements to decorations and so on. Adding a fresh coat of paint where necessary works wonders and try to declutter to make rooms appear larger. The rule of thumb here is better presentation attracts the better tenants.
Hensons team of dedicated professionals will then take photographs, produce floor plans and write comprehensive property descriptions, usually all in just one visit.
Step 7. Preparing your property for tenancy
Before you let your property for the first time you must obtain a professional and comprehensive inventory. This will record the condition and contents of the property. Hensons will carry out a professional inventory on your behalf and usually at no additional charge. Again uniquely we have our own, in house, full time Inventory Clerks - Letting Surveyors with years of experience. We do not use outside agencies to perform this vital task ensuring full accountability.
Long term tenancies (6 months or more)
You are responsible for checking that the tenants have set up accounts with utility companies and council tax.
Short term tenancies (up to 6 months)
You may retain responsibility for the utility accounts, council tax and TV licence as these costs can be included in the rent, subject to the terms of the agreement that we prepare for you. The tenant will be responsible for any telecommunication services.
Step 8. Marketing your property
To find your perfect tenant you need to give your property maximum exposure across a wide range of media. When you instruct Hensons to sell your property you will automatically benefit from our unrivalled, comprehensive marketing package, including: exposure on our award winning website and via the very best national and international property web sites such as Rightmove, full colour property brochures that will also be available on line, inclusion in key property titles, email and SMS alerts, specialist property PR and having the property publicised by every office in our 37 office network all across the region including offices in Bristol, Bath and Taunton.
Step 9. Accompanied viewings
Our longer opening hours are essential to maximise viewing opportunities for your property - in fact over 40% of our viewings are carried out after work and at weekends. Accompanied viewings also mean we can use our expertise to let your property at the best price.
Our offices are open 9am-6pm (viewings to 7pm) Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm Saturdays. Viewing appointments also available on Sundays and Bank Holidays. In addition, our phone lines are open 7 days a week.
Step 10. Receiving an offer
As soon as an offer is received we will contact you to communicate full details of the offer along with any special conditions to help you decide whether or not to accept.
Step 11. Offer agreed
Once you accept an offer from the prospective tenant we will do the following, regardless of whether your property is managed:
- Collect extensive, underwritten references from the tenants and where applicable arrange rent guarantee insurance.
- Ensure that all required safety testing is carried out.
- Prepare and arrange signing of your bespoke Tenancy Agreement.
- Collect moving-in payment (rent + deposit/bonds).
- Set up standing order mandates.
- Register the deposit within the appropriate Government approved scheme.
- Carry out inventoryand check-in.
- Carry out quarterly inspections and report to you in writing excepting when we are only introducing the tenant.
- Serve statutory notices and carry out final inspections.
- Negotiate any deductions from the deposit to see that the house is vacated in good acccepetable condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
Beyond these basic elements, our Premium Letting and Management Services are designed to fit with your specific requirements.
Please telephone 01275 810030 for further information about these enhanced services.
For your added peace of mind, where applicable we will hold the deposit, register the deposit in the deposit protection scheme to ensure that your tenancy agreement is valid and legally binding.
This ensures that you are compliant with the relevant legislation avoiding court imposed penalties and results in a faster and more efficient deposit release process at the end of the tenancy, again fully conforming with the Deposit Protection Legislation, part of the 2004 Housing Act.
Step 12. Completion
Upon completion, legally known as execution of the tenancy, keys will be released by our inventory clerk to the tenant on moving-in day.
For managed properties we will provide the tenant with contact details of their dedicated Property Manager.
Congratulations, your property is now Let!
This guide only begins to indicate the services that we can provide so, for more information and to specifically discuss your needs please telephone 01275 810030 and ask for the rental team or email kristina@hbe.co.uk
We will be pleased to visit you and carry out a Free Valuation (click here) and talk through all your questions about Letting your property.