How to make selling your house less stressful than getting married or divorced – expert advice

Ad Feature by House Buyer Bureau
Published 13th Jun 2023, 07:00 BST
There is no hard sell, no contract tie-in and no estate agent fees if you choose the hassle-free option to sell to a property buying companyThere is no hard sell, no contract tie-in and no estate agent fees if you choose the hassle-free option to sell to a property buying company
There is no hard sell, no contract tie-in and no estate agent fees if you choose the hassle-free option to sell to a property buying company
On average we only sell a house once every 10 years, so it is easy to forget what a major decision it is and the stress that comes with it – which is ranked higher than getting married or divorced. So we asked property buying expert Chris Hodgkinson for help

A Legal & General study in 2022 found that 57% of people found selling their house more stressful than getting married or divorced, and Moneybox reported a list of the 50 things people found most stressful. The most common themes were the amount of uncertainty involved in the process and the amount of time and effort it can take to get a sale through.

So what is it that makes it so stressful, and how can you better manage your stress? We asked property buying expert Chris Hodgkinson from House Buyer Bureau for his advice.

Chris says: “There are several points in the house selling process that can get very stressful, and many of them are out of your control.”

Here are his tips to help you keep you cool and not get frustrated:

The valuation

Always get several local agents to value your house. Don’t be tempted to just take the highest valuation, as the agent is likely to value your property high to win your business. But in four weeks’ time, they’ll just tell you to drop the price in order to find a buyer.

Make sure you ask lots of questions and push the agent to explain why they think your property will sell at their valuation.

The marketing

Most people don’t realise that even after you’ve picked your agent, it takes a couple of weeks to get photos done and a new listing sorted. So if you’re in a hurry, you might want to explore other ways to sell your house fast.

Chris adds: “Once you’re up and running, you must be prepared to open your home up to strangers and that means keeping it tidy and being ready to answer their questions. You’re the best salesperson for your property, so don’t leave it all to the estate agent!”

The negotiation

Chris says: “This is where the agent should earn their money. Remember that they work for you, not the buyer. But you must be prepared to be flexible on your price if you want to agree a quick sale – particularly if it is to a cash buyer with no chain!”

The chain

This is where it can get tricky. If there are multiple house sales dependent on each other then the chances of something getting delayed or falling through are significantly higher.

Chris says: “Sadly, as many as one in three sales can be likely to fall through, so make sure your agent is being proactive and keeping you informed regularly. If it looks like a chain may break then work out your ‘plan B’ with the agent and don’t panic!”

The conveyancing

Chris says: “Finding a buyer is often the least stressful part of selling a house. The survey, searches and legal paperwork involved can add months to a sale. There are so many places where things can trip you up that it is vital that you use a solicitor who has a track record in property sales – one who will keep you informed, be proactive and persistent.”

If you’re looking to sell your house without having to deal with all the hassle and stress, then one option is to sell a property buying company. They offer a guaranteed, cash sale that can be done and dusted in weeks, not months. You will get less for your property than selling on the open market, but you’ll also get less stress, less hassle and less delay.

You can contact House Buyer Bureau for a free, no obligation offer today or call 0800 880 3232 for more information. There is no hard sell, no contract tie-in and no estate agent fees.