Selling your home has a funny way of creeping up on you.  One minute you are watching something on Netflix, tea in hand and the next thing you hear the saying ‘Sale Agreed’, and everything you need to do, starts floating around like that Sunday night homework dread.  
Paperwork mixed with processes and unfamiliar acronyms can feel overwhelming to many, but the truth is, it is not as frightening as people make it out to be.

At DNG, we really believe that with the right guidance, most of it is far more straightforward than expected, and a lot of it runs side by side, rather than landing on you all at once.
Here is a clear jargon free-guide to what you actually need to sell your home, and why you don’t need to panic.

Breathe. 
Our agents are already doing the heavy lifting.  If you are reading this the chances are you’ve already taken the first step with us.  This matters more than you might realise. We don’t just pop a board outside your house; we guide the process, manage expectations and explain what’s coming before it is stressful.  We know the order of things, and we help you to keep it moving.

BER Certificate (Building Energy Rating).
You will need this before your property goes on the market.  This rates your home’s energy efficiency and is a legal requirement.
If you don’t have one, we can help organise it.  The assessor visits your home, takes measurements and calculates your home’s energy performance.  It is not invasive and not a test that you can fail.  It is simply information for buyers.

Title Deeds.  
This is where your solicitor comes in.  Your title deeds prove ownership of the property. If there is a mortgage on the house, the deeds are usually held by the lender.  If not, your solicitor may already have them on file.
People often feel intimidated, but remember that it is very much a process.  Your solicitor checks the deeds and prepares what’s needed next for sale.  You are not expected to understand the legal wording, just appoint someone who does.
 

Planning Permission Compliance.
If your home has been extended, converted or altered, your solicitor will need to confirm that everything complies with planning regulation.  This isn’t negative, it just means paperwork.  In most cases, permission has been granted, but if documents are missing, there are established solutions and this scenario is far more common that most sellers realise.
The crucial thing to remember here is that these are just normal queries, not red flags.

NPR, LPT and Household Charges.
You will need to show that any relevant Local Property Tax (LPT) and historic household charges are up to date.  This is usually a matter of printing confirmations from Revenue or your solicitor requesting certificates.
It always sounds much more dramatic than it is.  Most sellers have this in order without even realising it.

Management Company Documents (If applicable).
If you are selling a property in a managed development, additional documents are required from the management company.  These include details on service charges, insurance and house rules.
Your solicitor handles these requests.  They can take time, but the only part you play is authorising the request.   It can be lengthy, and slightly frustrating, but just routine.  Buckets of patience are key!

The Sales Advice – What buyers actually ask.
Once your property is launched, buyers may raise queries about boundaries, utilities, parking or other items that haven’t entered your head in years.  
This is all totally normal.  It is not suspicion, just due diligence.  Most questions are answered very easily and each DNG agent will act as a buffer and answer everything for you.

Sale Agreed.
This is the bit where everyone feels that they are at the finish line, but really it is the midway point.  From here solicitors exchange contracts, answer queries and agree dates.
This is often the quiet stage for sellers as no forms need to be filled and you are waiting on the professionals to do their job.  It is good to remember that silence doesn’t mean there is a problem, it just means that it is moving as well as it should.

Completion, Keys, Dates and Moving On.