Be prepared so your sale can progress speedily

PROPERTY expert Jonathan Rolande, founder of House Buy, has overseen thousands of home sales during a two-decade career in the property industry. Here are his tips for speeding up a sale.

Make sure you have an energy performance certificate.

This is vital. If you are unsure, check on the government’s online database which lists every EPC in the UK.

If your property doesn’t have an EPC, you are legally obliged to get one before you put it on the market.

Have your property title deeds to prove that you are the rightful owner of the property.

Your solicitor should have sent them when you purchased your home or they may be kept with the solicitor or mortgage provider.

All property should be registered with the Land Registry. If you can’t find your title deeds, you can request a copy for just £3.

If your property is leasehold:

Then you will need to provide that lease as any prospective buyer will need to know how long it has left.

If you’ve made any changes to your home: You’ll need to show evidence this was done with the proper consent. Make sure you have planning permission documents, building regulation approvals and completion certificates. If you didn’t get any of this, you will need to provide information on any building or alteration work you did.

The fittings and contents form:

This allows the seller to identify what’s included and excluded from the sale price. It’s not mandatory but it helps to prevent confusion and disputes.

First impressions count:

So make sure your home looks good, is spotlessly clean and make sure you tidy up and that includes children’s toys*.