Choosing your estate agent is a difficult decision. You are entrusting your most valuable possession to the hands of a company with whom you may have had only a brief meeting.
At John Hollingsworth we never lose sight of this important point. We realise that moving house can be immensely stressful so our directors, managers and negotiators are here to help and assist you. By remaining cool and analytical they will maximise the factors over which they have some control to and give you confidence that your interests are always taken into consideration

Our role is to:

1. Carefully value your property to compete with similar properties that buyers will view. With competition for buyers as fierce as it is, there is a temptation for agents to overvalue to win the instruction. At John Hollingsworth we absolutely refuse to do this. Your best chance of finding d buyer is during the first month of putting the property on the market, so to overvalue misleads you as a vendor and wastes valuable time. Buyers educate themselves in the value of properties through their own research and their experience of viewing. If the property is overvalued in the current market they will recognise it. At worst they will just walk away, at best they might make a pointlessly ‘low offer’ in order to challenge the over-valuation. This often makes reaching a mutually satisfactory price for sale all the more difficult for the vendor. Many agents employ employees to value and ‘take on’ properties separately to the negotiators employed to sell the property. There is thus little to stop one side over-valuing ‘taken-on’ properties and very little of the experience gained from the day-to-day showing of properties for sale gets fed back to the valuer. Being specialists in the area, we know the values; and when transaction volumes are low the knowledge that an active agent such as John Hollingsworth can offer is critical. The valuer you meet from John Hollingsworth will be the manager leading the team selling your property and will be accountable to you throughout that process
2. Attract serious buyers with the appropriate criteria to view your property. We get to know our applicants, what they are looking for and also what they don't like so we have a good idea of their requirements and what area they prefer
3. Market your property efficiently. As 70% of our buyers come through the internet, John Hollingsworth has paid particular attention to developing a website that is easy to use and features with all the most important property portals. It provides as much information as possible with photographs, floor plans and maps available for all our properties at all times. Magazine advertising is becoming a thing of the past, due to the long lead times. It is out of date by the time of publication though we do sometimes advertise our website where any reader can receive up to the minute information on all our properties. Still most applicants come to us through our company presence, the high sales board profile in the area, and the prominent location of our 8 offices throughout London (Don’t forget that properties listed with John Hollingsworth receive exposure through our three prominent Square Mile City and Docklands offices at the heart of the financial service community)
4. Negotiate the best possible terms for you once an acceptable offer has been made, having assessed the buyer and their ability to purchase. It is important that any particular purchaser is fully aware of all relevant facts that are known about a property before coming across a possible defect late in the proceedings that may throw the entire transaction and even a whole chain into jeopardy. Many estate agents are also trying to gain a financial services commission via a tied mortgage broker. This can compromise the advice that the agent gives as to which offer is the best. John Hollingsworth has a relationship with mortgage broker John Charcol but is not so tied
5. Assist and negotiate through and around the many obstacles that can arise. Being well-established in the area, we know the problems that can arise and we try to anticipate them, guiding a safe safely to exchange of contracts and completion. Should you require it, we can also help you in a new purchase by liaising with the agent through whom you are buying. We want to sell your property and see you safely in to your new one. Of vital assistance to this is recommending a suitable solicitor if the client does not already have an established relationship with one. Our market presence in the area enables us to make such recommendations with the conviction of experience. Unlike other agents we do not take commissions for solicitors for recommending them.

HAVE YOU PREPARED YOUR HOME FOR SALE?

If you are placing your home on the market, preparing your home for sale will make it sell more quickly at the best price. Here are some tips to create the right first impression:

1. For sale boards maximise enquiries
2. Make entrances uncluttered and welcoming. Pathways to your door should be tidy. Front doors should be well painted with shiny fittings
3. Remember kerb appeal. The outside of the house usually reflects the state of the inside. If you have a board outside, you want to maximise enquiries
4. Clean up. Kitchen and bathrooms especially need to be gleaming. Make sure your home is dust free, smells fresh and your windows are clean
5. Repair where necessary. Do all those odd jobs that need doing. If your home looks neglected the buyer will think there is too much to do
6. Clear the clutter. Start the moving process early and put away what you really don't need. This will improve the sense of space in your home
7. Every room should have a clear function and purpose. Maximise the potential of your home to the buyer
8. Outside space sells too. Make sure your garden is looking tidy and inviting
9. Keep pets under control. Don't let your pets distract the buyer. Hide any litter trays and food bowls
10. Neutral colours appeal to a wider audience. Think about re-decorating a strong coloured room
11. Add some fresh flowers. Not only do they smell fresh but they add colour and life

SPEEDING UP THE SALE

The most stressful time in any sale is the time between the acceptance of an offer by the vendor and the exchange of contracts. In order to reduce this time we have some suggestions to consider:

1. Find and instruct a solicitor as soon as you put your property on the market - so that when a buyer is found your solicitor can send as much information as possible immediately
2. Give the details of the bank or building society that holds the deeds to the property (if you have a mortgage) to your solicitor. The lender will have to supply the deeds to your solicitor and this can take up to four weeks and cost valuable time particularly if you require a fast exchange of contracts
3. If you own a leasehold property, contact your managing agent and make sure you have up to date receipts and accounts relating to the payment of any ground rent, service charge and any one-off maintenance costs. If you don't already have them, request details of the buildings insurance. Pass all these details onto your solicitor
4. Request that your solicitor sends you fixtures and fittings form so that you can complete it, detailing those items that are to be included in the sale. Once completed, return the form to your solicitor
5. If you are selling a tenanted property plan how you are going to obtain vacant possession to facilitate the sale. This may require the co-operation of the tenants
6. Any guarantees relating to woodworm, rising damp, roofing etc will no doubt be requested so if they are available pass them on to your solicitor
7. If possible it is always helpful to provide a service history for your central heating system

By addressing these points at the outset, you can make your sale go that much more smoothly and quickly.

The above points are not exhaustive and are not intended to be a substitute for advice from your solicitor at the time of sale – you are strongly advised to take professional advice before entering into any contract for sale.