The Selling Process

Once you've made the decision to sell your house and have made any necessary improvements, it's time to put it on the market. You will need to think about the best time to put it on, bearing in mind the state of the property market and the time of year.

The next decision you need to make is whether you will market your house yourself, or sell through an agent. Whichever route you go, make sure you are aware of the issues involved in the legal contracts that selling entails, and if you sell through an agent, choose carefully.

If you're selling a house that is a second home or a rental property, you will probably have to pay Capital Gains Tax on the profit you have made, so you will need to take that into account in any estimation of selling costs.

Do remember that when selling a house there are certain things that you must disclose by law. You must disclose any history of flooding, and any problems that aren't apparent, such as a long-running dispute with a neighbour. If you've made any changes without obtaining planning permission, you must also inform a potential buyer, although a survey would bring to light any illegal alterations.