Things to do before selling and moving house

If you’re thinking of moving house, it can feel like a daunting process and it’s not always easy to know where to start. Don’t worry – we’re here to help! Here are some things to consider before selling, packing up and moving home. 

Checklist for selling a house and moving​

Spruce up your house

Before you even think about listing a property, take the time to view it from a potential buyer’s perspective. Is there a lot of clutter disguising the space available and blocking entryways? Better get decluttering! Does your house lack curb appeal because of a messy garden or peeling window paint? It’s worth spending a little time, and possibly money, to get the property looking its best before calling the photographer around or hosting viewings. Even low-budget improvements can add value to your home and help it to sell faster.

Christen your home

There are plenty of little tips and tricks that could help a house sell more quickly and for a better price. One such gem is to name (or rename) your home. A pretty cottage called “22 Periwinkle Cottage” is likely to be much more appealing to potential buyers than “22, The Lane”.  The difference this small change can make to the sale price can be quite staggering, yet it costs the seller as little as £40. To get started, contact Royal Mail’s “Address Maintenance Unit” department.

Set a fair asking price

Invite several estate agents to value your house, and don’t be tempted to go with the agent recommending the highest figure. A recent Which? report found setting an asking price that is too high is the number one reason a property fails to sell. Do your own research as well as asking the professionals. Compare recently sold properties similar to yours (in size, location, neighbourhood, condition etc.) to get an idea of a fair asking price that will lead to a quick sale. Also, look at similar properties that have been on the market for some time — there’s a good chance they are priced too high.

Choose an agent or go it alone

Choose an estate agent you trust and have confidence in to do a good job. Word-of-mouth recommendations are often a good place to start but also consider the type of properties the agent sells, how established they are and the service on offer (opening hours, number of agents). Alternatively, save yourself the agency fees and go it alone. Many people believe they must use an estate agent to sell a house, but an increasing number of people choose to sell without an agent. Another option if you don’t want to shell out for estate agency fees is to sell through a home buying company such as the House Buyer Bureau; this is often one of the fastest ways to sell your home.

Market the property

If you’re using an estate agent to sell a property, they should manage all the marketing for you — including taking photographs and placing ads locally. If you’re managing the sale yourself, it’s worth investing in some professional pictures to show the property in its best light, as well as a potential video walk-through, to increase the number of viewings booked. Advertise in local publications aimed at your ideal buyer such as local papers or specialist home magazines. For sellers using a house-buying service, you can skip this step altogether!

Tap into current buying trends

It pays to know what sellers are looking for so you can market your property’s best features.  A recent Which survey highlights having a garden and off street parking as being two of the most sought after features.  Proximity to local amenities, good transport links and lower running costs are also in demand.  If your property has any of these features to offer, make the most of them by presenting them well, taking clear and professional photographs and emphasising these highlights in your marketing.

Hire a solicitor

Once the property is on the market, start looking for a local solicitor to manage the legal aspects of the sale. There’s no need to hire anyone until an offer is accepted, but it can be less stressful to have someone lined up well ahead of time. Ask friends and family for recommendations and choose a professional who specialises in conveyancing.

Compare offers and negotiate

Sellers who are lucky enough to receive multiple offers will need to compare these and choose the best one – or reject them all and keep the property on the market in hopes of a better offer. Don’t focus solely on the offer amount. While this is important, other factors may sway your decision. For example, a first-time buyer or a cash buyer will have no chain, so the risk of the sale falling through may be lower than for someone in a long chain. Selling to a cash buyer means there is no risk of a failed sale due to a broken chain. If time is of the essence and a guaranteed deal is of paramount importance, fill in our 60-second form and one of our friendly expert advisors will be in touch with a cash offer that can be completed in as little as 7 days.

Agree to the sale

Whether you’re selling on the open market via an estate agent, going it alone or using a house buying service, you’ll need to formally accept an offer to start the sales process. At the point of exchange, the buyer can no longer back out of the sale. Until this point — which can take months to reach — there’s no guarantee of purchase. 

A house buying service will ensure the sale goes ahead once the valuation is complete and a formal offer is made. The funds can be in the homeowner’s account in as little as seven days after the offer has been accepted. Homeowners selling on the open market will have to wait for completion day to receive the proceeds of the sale. It takes an average of 12 weeks from acceptance of an offer to completion — if the sale does not fall through, as happens in around a third of all house sales at the beginning of 2026.

Plan your move

Once the sale is agreed, start planning your move as early as possible. There is a lot to organise and starting early will avoid delays and stress later on. Declutter your house, start packing and labelling boxes, book a removal company and consider enlisting professional help to make things run smoothly — a sitter for the children and daycare for the dog on moving day, or a premium packing service will make moving day a dream. It’s also a good idea to start a list of all the companies and people you’ll need to give your new address to early on, so you can add to it as you remember more – the list can end up being quite long!

What if I want to sell my home quickly?

If you’re looking for ways to make your move as simple and hassle-free as possible, why not speak to us about selling your house fast ? We can buy your home in as little as 7 days. There’s no need for viewings and you’ll avoid all estate agents and legal fees.

Chris

Chris

Chris has worked in property all his career, first as a successful estate agent before spotting a gap in the market for buying property directly from people looking for a simple, quick sale.

He has a passion for property and as an experienced valuer, has looked at well over 50,000 properties so far at HBB. He has extensive experience in property buying and regularly comments in the press on property matters, trends and promotes ways to simplify and speed up the selling process.

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