Blog - Barry Home Buyers

09/05/2018 By property

How Long Does it Take to Sell a House in the UK?

hour glass filled with red sand

Choosing to sell a house can be for many reasons and the situations that lead people to that point are very varied. But there are a few things that are the same no matter why you are selling your home and they are the common questions everyone asks.

How long will my house take to sell?
When is the best time to sell a house?
How long will my house be on the market?
Is there a faster way to sell my house?
Will I get the market value for my house?

These questions are common across nearly all house sales and for good reason. No one wants to spend the next 2 years showing people around their house hoping that each time will be the time they get the offer they want. At the same time everyone wants to know when the best time to sell is so they can get the very best offer possible.

The big question is undoubtedly “how long will my house take to sell?” though. The bottom line here is that there is no definitive answer. It depends on a number of factors; some of which you can control and some you cannot. Below are some of the factors involved in the time it takes to sell a home in the UK:

Areas – in some areas the demand for property is higher than others and this has a huge effect on the speed of a sale.
Condition – if the house is in good condition then it is likely to generate offers faster and after the surveys it should still sell well.
Price – an obvious point but if you put your house on for a price you think it’s worth without doing your research you may be waiting a long time.

Average Property Sale Times in the UK

According to research done in 2016 the average time it takes to sell a home in the UK is 91 days. The research was done by Post Office Money Mortgages. Although an average time was found it also showed the location had a huge effect on the speed a property sells.

One of the areas that has the lowest average house sale time is Bristol with just 51 days, Edinburgh is close with 53 days. Popular areas like Brighton saw an average of 71 days with London coming in at the lower end of the spectrum with 89 days. Liverpool sat at the bottom of the table with an average time of 108 days to sell a property. While average property prices in the areas differ there was no clear pattern between average price and speed of sale.

City	Avg. Time to Sell (90 days to 15/09/16)	Median time on the market, % change YOY (09/16)	Avg. House Price, June 2016
Bristol	51	+17.5%	£252,107
Edinburgh	53	-25%	£240,978
Glasgow	56	-24.1%	£117,795
Southend	65	0%	£249,141
Portsmouth	67	-4.5%	£190,579
Derby	69	-1.3%	£144,543
Sheffield	71	+2.5%	£148,551
Brighton	72	+23.6%	£342,959
Norwich	72	+3.1%	£190,883
Nottingham	74	-12.8%	£122,772
Manchester	77	-22.7%	£149,722
Leicester	79	-5.6%	£147,914
Stoke-on-Trent	79	+1.2%	£102,877
Leeds	80	-5%	£166,303
Birmingham	80	-15.5%	£159,732
Plymouth	80	+7.9%	£165,442
Cardiff	87	-3.4%	£189,419
London	89	+20.3%	£472,204
Newcastle	96	-0.9%	£154,477
Belfast	96	+3.9%	£118,894
Hull	98	-12%	£102,079
Swansea	100	-8.7%	£133,458
Liverpool	108	-10.7%	£119,933

The Answer?

Well there is no clear answer for your area but nationally 91 days is the average from 2016. Of course 2018 may well show very different stats but it is likely to follow a similar pattern.

Time

If time is the main factor in the sale of the house then using a home buying service like ours offers the perfect solution. We are able to remove the whole issue of how long it will take to sell by agreeing to buy it from you right away. This leaves you with the money you need to move forward be it with another purchase or moving into rented accommodation and the flexibility that affords.

If you would like to discuss your property with us then please get in touch today, our friendly team will be happy to talk you through the process and take away the worry about how long it will take your home to sell.

18/03/2016 By property

5 top tips to get your home sold quickly

house with sold label Are you in a situation where you need to sell your home quickly? Property sales are notoriously unpredictable and sometimes it can takes weeks and months for the right buyer to come along. If you are in a hurry to sell your property fast, for whatever reason, you may not have the luxury of playing the long game.

Luckily, there are tried and trusted ways that you can speed up the process of selling your house sensibly and intelligently. We’ve put together our 5 top tips to help you to realise a quick sale, enabling you to move on with your life without undue delay.

Set the right price

If you want a quick sale, you need to price your property competitively, it’s as simple as that. Too low and you’re selling yourself short, too high and the punters won’t be biting. Establishing the true market value of a property is a job for professionals with plenty of experience in the local market.

Ask a local estate agent, surveyor or other property expert for their professional opinion – and get a second or even third opinion to arrive at the right figure for your home. Don’t forget to tell them that you are looking to sell quickly. The property needs to be ‘priced to sell’ – meaning that you are prepared to accept a slightly lower price in return for achieving a quick sale.

Maximise kerb appeal

download (3) You know what they say: You never get a second change to make a first impression. Make sure your property is presented in the best possible way so that a potential buyer will want to come inside and see more. It all starts with the front of the house, the drive, the front garden, your front door. Does it look inviting or is in need of some TLC? Take a good look, or better still, ask a friend to give you honest feedback.

Tidy up the front, pressure wash the drive, fix the fence, mow the lawn, give your front door a new lick of paint if necessary, and add some fresh planting or hanging baskets. Don’t put off all those little jobs – they may well make all the difference between a yes and a no for anyone coming to view your property. A well-kept exterior is key to achieving a quick sale.

Declutter and depersonalise

Once your potential buyer has made it through the front door, you want to keep up the good work. Make sure there’s nothing distracting or off-putting in your house – a clean, welcoming blank canvas that any buyer can visually paint their own dreams into is your goal. A show home, if you like.

Finish any DIY jobs and decorations. Put away quirky art collections, knick-knacks and everyday clutter, so that your visitors can really appreciate the space. Take down family photos and replace them with neutral artwork. Tone down vibrant colour schemes and create a calm, friendly space that allows potential buyers to visualise their own family and lifestyle in the property. Make it easy for them!

Dress the house

If you want to sell your home quickly, you need the first viewing to make a real impact, and that’s where the right ambience can make all the difference.

BMV The aim of the game here is to create a peaceful, harmonious atmosphere. First, find a temporary home for your pets and small children if a viewing is imminent – they may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Then, make the viewing a pleasant experience that appeals to all the senses. Fresh flowers, just baked bread, the breeze of a warm summer’s day, soft music in the background, scented candles or mood lighting…it may be clichéd but it works! If you have a woodburner, why not show it off? Some people find the smell of bacon sizzling irresistible. Others are seduced by the delicate scent of lavender, or fresh linen. See what works for you.

Get professional assistance

It is of course possible to go it alone, but selling houses can be a tricky business best left to professionals. Particularly if you are in a rush to sell your home, it is wise to enlist the help of a property expert to make sure everything happens as it should. Estate agents can be invaluable and well worth their commission – but even they may not fully appreciate the full sense of urgency.

Barry Home Buyers are different: we specialise in fast property sales. We will work with your particular situation and buy your property quickly, whatever your reason for sale and whatever the condition of your home. In fact, we guarantee to make you a genuine offer on your home and complete the transaction as quickly as possible, solving your property problem with maximum speed and professionalism. Contact us today on 01446 349 001 to find out how we can help to sell your home quickly.

29/01/2016 By property

Sell my home faster

. Many people find themselves with their home on the market for months at a time before any interest at all. Then when something seems promising it often doesn’t transpire. This makes you feel downhearted and anxious. However in many cases, it is simple things that can prevent you from getting a quick house sale or even managing to get prospective buyers through the door to view your home. From décor to the environment or outstanding repairs, there are many things can easily put buyers off and delay a quick sale of your home.

Evaluating your home and making changes to make your property more attractive, can be the difference between your property remaining on the market for months or achieving your full asking price. This allows you to move forward and potentially make a profit. Depending on your reasons for selling your home, it may seem pointless spending money on repairs or making your home look attractive to buyers as you’re leaving anyway. You could of course choose to sell your home as it is; but this is likely to take much longer and result in much less monetary value. You can first contact your local estate agents: mainly, to find out what the maximum potential value is of your home. The value will give you an idea of what you could achieve.

It is needless to spend thousands of pounds on your property and start building extensions. However, you can certainly make a huge difference with a relatively little effort. Begin by ensuring the exterior is inviting. That is, grass and shrubs are tidy, paintwork is fresh and windows are clean. Never turn up a property that is overgrown with the curtains drawn. It’s all about opening up your home and making it bright and welcoming. When it comes to the interior of your home, make sure small repairs are done, it is clean and tidy. Consider giving everywhere a lick of paint, and remove any clutter or excess furniture which will help to open up your home and make it appear spacious and inviting. Moreover, think about when to put your home on the market as certain times of the year are better than others. Often selling a property in spring happens faster than during winter. When you do get viewings booked, ensure the property is free of pets, there are no odd smells and everything is clean and tidy. It is also a good idea to get advice from friends or neighbours who can help point out anything that can be done to improve the appeal of your home. Before you know it you will have offers pouring in!

26/01/2016 By property

Handling empty homes

Being in charge of empty homes could be challenging. At times it costs thousands of pounds in repair bills; need a keep up with energy and utility bills, mortgage payments and much more. Occasionally, a property can remain empty for lengthy periods of time, owing to a number of reasons. Landlords may be struggling to find tenants, a property owner may have passed away or perhaps a property is in a bad state of repair and is too dangerous for anybody to reside in it unless major work is carried out to restore it. Whatever the reasons are, it is a good idea to try and bring it back to its original state particularly as there is such a housing shortage within the UK. So whether you look to invest in developing the property or aim to get a quick house sale, it is important to deal with your empty property as soon as possible to avoid further on-going costs.

Firstly, you will need to investigate the problems the property may have. Whether you are aware of existing problems or you have just inherited a property, a home survey is a good start which can help to identify any underlying issues that need resolving. This is a good idea whether you choose to live in the property yourself, rent it out or put your home on the market. If you are on a tight budget, there may be help you can get from government schemes as well as asking friends to help with general maintenance. If you own the property outright, it may be worth considering getting a re-mortgage to help pay for any major repairs, which in the long run may help to avoid making a loss due to the state of the property. Otherwise you could opt to get a secured loan, or enlist volunteers to help with heavier work. If you are unsure or need advice, you can contact your local council or speak with an independent property or financial advisor who can help advise you with regards to budgeting or any help that may be available to you. While your property is empty you may be entitled to a discount on your council tax, so it is also worth checking as this could be economical.

Once your property is in a good state of repair you can then opt to rent it out which can help to recover some of the cost of repairs through rental income or put your home on the market. You could also consider marketing the property yourself in order to get a fast house sale which could also help to avoid fees from estate agents. However if you feel you are unable to carry out any repairs at all, you can still opt to sell the property in the state it is in. You may obviously make less money but you can then invest that money into a savings scheme and begin earning interest on it rather than having your property stood empty for any length of time. Often, you could sell property quick within a matter of weeks.

22/01/2016 By property

Primary Steps to Sort out Repossession

With the recent adjustments in house pricing and the economy, many people have been faced with the possibility of repossession in the last few years. This owes to the inability to keep up repayments on property mortgage. With the rising cost of energy bills and many people struggling with increased mortgage payments, it has resorted to many homeowners falling behind with their mortgage payments. If you find yourself in this position, the mortgage companies will try and come to alternative arrangements before resorting to repossession but this doesn’t make the situation any easier as it can be incredibly stressful and cause many problems in other aspects of your life.

When facing financial problems, it is important to communicate with your mortgage lender immediately. Early communication and making them aware of your situation can help to avert a possibility of losing your home, through reaching a payment agreement. Several factors can lead to financial problems other than house prices or changes in the economy. The two main factors among them, being a broken up relationship or loss of a job leading to repossession. A sudden change of some factors can mean that what was once manageable suddenly becomes unaffordable.

When people take out their first mortgage, they often tend to opt for a fixed rate deal within a limited span of time. The deal serves as security for a short time span. However, once it has elapsed you will find yourself faced with a large rise in the monthly mortgage payment, specifically if the base rate increases. Luckily, this isn’t a problem lately as Standard Variable Rates have seen a continuous reduction due to the drop in the Bank of England base rate.

There are varied options to try when avoiding repossession or at least avoiding the various negative consequences of repossession. This can be done through re-mortgaging or even considering a quick house sale which will allow you to sell your home quickly and possibly downsize to save money. You can communicate to your bank or mortgage lender about deals on re-mortgaging or other options that may be available to you. You will be expected to provide financial details in order to help negotiate repayments. If you cannot come to terms with your mortgage provider or they refuse any offers you have put forward, you will be in a better position legally as long as you proof a communicated urge to effectively resolve the situation while in court.

Lastly, it is also important to get professional advice. There are lots of companies such as Citizens Advice or National Debt line that offer free information and advice for anyone struggling financially or on the verge of losing their home. Nevertheless, you can as well speak to a solicitor who can help to iron out a repayment plan or settlement as well as help negotiate with your bank or mortgage provider. You will have to incur some legal fees involved with instructing a solicitor to help however.