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Guide To Selling

Property Sellers Guide

The London property market has historically favoured sellers, with prices generally rising year on year, ensuring strong capital growth for homeowners. However, with thousands of properties listed for sale each week, making your home stand out is essential—, especially if you want to sell quickly and achieve the best price.

Whether you’re selling a house in Waterloo, a Canary Wharf apartment, or a warehouse property in Bermondsey, understanding the London sales process can help you maximise your return.

This guide provides key insights into selling your property, from preparing your home for viewings to navigating offers and negotiations.

Request a Free Property Valuation

A Free Property Valuation from Local Specialists

When you're ready to put your property on the market, an accurate valuation is the first step to a successful sale. Our senior valuers provide in-depth market assessments based on decades of local knowledge, recent sales, and current demand. If you're searching for reputable estate agents to value and sell your home, our experienced teams in our London Bridge , Shad Thames , and Rotherhithe branches are here to help.

With many years of experience in the Central London property market, we offer tailored advice and marketing strategies to ensure your property reaches the right local or international buyers. Contact us today to arrange your free valuation.

It’s a legal requirement to provide an Energy Performance Certificate [EPC] when you sell your property. This document details the average hot water, heating, and lighting costs and assesses your property’s energy efficiency rating. It needs to be carried out by a certified assessor.

You’ll also need to work with a solicitor or conveyancer, who will take charge of all the legal aspects of the sale. Solicitor’s fees for property sales are generally cheaper than for purchases and are usually set according to the price band your property comes under.

These are the fees we will charge for selling your property. Contact us directly to understand how these will work for your property.

Wherever possible, provide us with useful documents about your property, such as electrical and gas certificate checks. Any further documents or property information you can provide, like council tax band information or insurance costs for buildings and contents, will also be helpful, as many buyers like access to this information before purchasing.

Likewise, if you have had any work done on the property, such as an extension or significant renovation, remember to provide us with the building regulations certification to prove that the work was carried out in compliance with the law.

Although the property market is buoyant in London, it can be competitive, so ensuring your house stands out from the rest is vital. Properties in London Bridge, Shad Thames, Rotherhithe, and the surrounding areas can sell in as little as four weeks on average, so to make sure your house also sells quickly, consider making the following improvements:

  • Declutter. Clear your home as much as possible by storing belongings in the attic or cupboards. If you have several bulky items, put them into temporary storage or even sell what you don’t need.
  • Repaint. Fresh paint instantly brightens your room. Remember to paint skirting boards and ceilings, too, if they’re looking scuffed or in need of freshening up.
  • Fix Damp Problems. If your property suffers from damp, try to resolve the problem before putting the property on the market.
  • Clean The Windows. Properties generally sell better when they look lighter and brighter; cleaning the windows will instantly allow more sunlight into your property.
  • Fix Leaks. If you have a leaky pipe, repair it before putting your property up for sale. The smell of damp is likely to deter buyers.
  • Tidy Up Your Garden. If you are fortunate enough to have outdoor space, make sure it looks presentable. Gardens are highly valued in London, and attractive outside areas will increase the value of your property.

To get the best possible price for your property, you must know your target audience and how to tailor your house to appeal to them.

As is the case with lots of central London properties, there is a possibility that your home may be of interest to foreign investors, particularly if it’s a sizeable property in a desirable location.

Likewise, properties in areas near transport links [e.g., an underground, Crossrail, or overground station] are popular with commuters, particularly young professionals. As a result, you may want to present your property in a way that appeals to younger buyers.

Alternatively, you could target the buy-to-let market instead and appeal to prospective landlords. Another consideration is if your property is near a good school; this could make it more attractive to families, especially if you’ve got three or more bedrooms and outdoor space. Presenting your property so your target market can see themselves living in the space is crucial for making a lasting impression. By carefully staging and highlighting key features, you create an environment that resonates with potential buyers, allowing them to see the property as their future home.

As with any property sale in the UK, selling your London home will incur variety of fees. It’s essential to determine the costs before you put your property on the market to ensure you make a good enough return after selling.

  • Selling Fees. These are the fees we will charge for selling your property. Contact us directly to get an idea of how these will work for your property.
  • Solicitor’s Fees. You’ll also need to work with a solicitor or conveyancer, who will take charge of all the legal aspects of the sale. Solicitor’s fees for property sales are generally cheaper than for purchases and are usually set according to the price band your property comes under.
  • EPCs. It’s a legal requirement to provide an Energy Performance Certificate [EPC] when you sell your home. This document details average hot water, heating, and lighting costs, plus assesses your property’s energy efficiency. It needs to be carried out by a certified assessor

Firstly, getting an accurate idea of what your property is worth in today’s London property market is important. Several factors will affect the value of your house, including:

  • Location
  • Condition / décor
  • Number of bedrooms
  • Room configuration
  • Parking / garage
  • Outdoor space
  • Age
  • Proximity to schools, transport links, etc.

Demand will also play a role in determining the value of your property. For example, if you are selling an attractive period property in a location where original features are scarce, this may push the price of your house up. Likewise, if the area is being regenerated or improved in any way, this will also affect its value.

Arrange a Free Valuation

When selling your property, it’s imperative to work with an experienced and trusted local agent. Understanding the London property market and working with an agent who has an established reputation means that, as a seller, you get expertise and advice, professional property marketing, and access to buyers already looking for a property in the area.

Hastings International has operated within Central London with offices strategically positioned for decades. We have an excellent reputation and access to the best the local property marketplace can offer.

You can get in touch for a chat with one of our friendly, knowledgeable team members.

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