Updated 16 September 2026 · 10 min read
Selling well comes down to accurate pricing, honest information and being easy to reach. This guide covers both selling through an agent and selling privately, and the legal duties that apply either way.
Price on evidence, not hope
Look at what comparable properties in your street or postcode actually sold for, not just what they were advertised at. Land Registry and Registers of Scotland publish sold prices. Adjust for condition, floor area, outside space and tenure, then set a figure you can defend when a buyer's surveyor looks at it.
Prepare the property and the paperwork
- A valid Energy Performance Certificate is required before you market a property in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland you need a Home Report, which includes the energy report.
- Gather title documents, any lease and service charge statements, building control approvals, warranties, and gas and electrical certificates.
- List clearly what is included and excluded from the sale.
- Fix the small things — a sticking door or dripping tap invites suspicion about the bigger things.
Write an advertisement people trust
Describe the property accurately, including its drawbacks. Under consumer protection rules it is unlawful to mislead a buyer by what you say, by what you leave out, or by the overall impression you create. Photographs should be current, in daylight, and of the property as it actually is.
Selling privately: what you take on yourself
- Advertising, enquiry handling and arranging your own viewings.
- Checking that a prospective buyer can actually proceed — ask about their mortgage position and whether they have a property to sell.
- Negotiating directly, and confirming any agreement in writing.
- Instructing a solicitor or licensed conveyancer as soon as you have a buyer.
- Personal safety: never conduct a viewing alone, verify who you are letting in, and keep valuables out of sight.
Handling offers
Ask for offers in writing, with the buyer's funding position and chain. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland nothing is binding until contracts are exchanged. In Scotland, offers go through solicitors and become binding once missives are concluded, so take advice before you accept anything.
Through to completion
Answer your solicitor's enquiries promptly and truthfully — the property information forms you sign are relied on by the buyer. Agree a completion or entry date that works for your onward move, read the meters, leave keys and manuals, and keep copies of everything.