Market Appraisal brochure

OUR AGENCY SERVICE

Thank you for inviting us to provide a market appraisal of your home.

Our estate agency service covers the complete range of property, from premium town houses and country cottages to the finest sporting estates, and from single fields to working farms, across the North of England. Our agents are committed to providing a great service from the initial market appraisal of your home through to completion of the sale.

Our clients agree and tell us the quality of our advice, communication and marketing are why they rate us 4.7 out of 5 for service.

SIMPLY GREAT SERVICE

We are proud of our reputation for service quality which is underpinned by consistently providing clients with:

1. Expert advice

Our team of agents, many of whom are National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) qualified, have the local knowledge, industry expertise and broad-based experience in property sales to ensure your sale runs smoothly and the best possible price is achieved. With in-house valuers, planning experts, farm and land managers, and environmental consultants at hand for specialist support and guidance where required, we offer expert advice that you can rely on, and other local agents simply cannot offer.

2. Bespoke property marketing

We believe that every home deserves great marketing. Professional photography and/ or videography are combined with engaging property details and communicated through a bespoke mix of marketing channels which includes industry property portals (the GSC Grays website, Rightmove, OnTheMarket, as well as specialist portals if appropriate), social media, PR and print advertising to ensure your home receives exposure to the right audience.

3. Proactive communication

We operate with integrity and provide honest and proactive communication with our clients throughout the sales process. We also work closely with our team of Sales Progressors who are dedicated to keeping your sale moving throughout the conveyancing process through to completion.

GETTING READY TO SELL

Setting the right price

Our agents will recommend a guide price based on the appraisal of your home and our knowledge of the local property market. This will also take historical evidence and wider projections which may impact your future sale into consideration. We will price with honesty and integrity and will be happy to explain the reasoning behind our recommendations. It is important to remember that the highest price isn’t always the best option.

Should you decide to instruct us to sell your property, the next stage is to prepare your home for sale. Creating the right first impression is key to piquing the interest of potential buyers and helping them to imagine themselves living in your home.

Presenting your home for maximum appeal

It is important for your home to look at its best whether that’s for the photography / videography used to market your home, or for potential buyer viewings. Our agents will advise you on how to stage your home so that it appeals to as many people as possible and secure the best price. Some things for you to consider doing in preparation:

· Clean and freshen your rooms whether by a fresh coat of paint, or by cleaning or replacing tired carpets and furnishings.

· Declutter everywhere and put non-essential furniture into storage.

· Dress your garden so it looks like a great space for relaxing or entertaining and lawns should be freshly cut.

· Improve kerb appeal by making sure your garden and drive are tidy and weed free.

· Make sure that your front door is clean and smart, and outdoor lights are working.

Floor plans

Colour floor plans which provide objective information on the layout and dimensions your home are created using specialist software. This information will help potential buyers start to envisage how it could work for them and make an informed decision as to whether to progress to a viewing.

Professional photography / videography

We commission professional photography and/or videography using state of the art technology to ensure your home is presented to the highest standards.

We ensure that photography is sharp, well-lit, and thoughtfully framed to help your home stand out from the crowd and create a positive first impression. Videography combines cinematic movement and gentle sounds that will capture the attention of potential buyers, but also allow them the time to really imagine themselves in the space.

Impressive or character features are captured both internally and externally, and drone footage is used to show scale where relevant, which help viewers make an informed decision as to whether they will view your home.

ON THE MARKET

Once your home is ready for sale it will be launched to market on industry property portals (GSC Grays website, Rightmove, OnTheMarket and specialist portals where relevant) and work will begin to generate viewings with potential buyers.

Database marketing

In the first instance, our agents will call ‘hot’ contacts on our database of active buyers whose requirements match your home. Your property details will also be emailed to other matched contacts before any further agreed marketing activity (PR, advertising, and social media) gets underway.

PR

We have established good relationships with many publications in our area for both residential and farm agency properties, regularly securing editorial coverage for our clients. Properties which tend to do well from a PR perspective include those of historical or ‘local’ interest, properties that are exceptionally pretty, grand, or have unique features, or those that are rarely available on the open market.

Advertising

If paid advertising will be beneficial for your home, we will recommend relevant publications and provide costs for your approval before any space is booked. Our marketing department is regularly approached by publications wishing to run editorial features on our properties for sale and can fulfil journalist requests at short notice to maximise such opportunities for our clients.

Social media

Social media has an increasing role to play in property marketing. Our estate agency has a dedicated presence on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, each with growing numbers of followers/subscribers. Organic and sponsored posts promote properties for sale, increasing brand awareness, driving traffic to our website and registrations to our buyer database.

Preparing for viewings

You’ve done the hard work preparing your home for marketing, but it is important to keep this going when it comes to viewings and creating the right impression with your potential buyers:

· Keep your parking space free for your viewers.

· Make sure your home and garden/driveway are clean and tidy.

· Keep entrances and hallways clear.

· Air the house and make sure your windows are clean.

· Turn on lights and light the fire (if you have one) to make your home warm and inviting.

· Keep pets out of the way and tidy away feeding bowls, bedding and litter trays.

We will arrange all viewing appointments on your behalf. You have the option of conducting viewings yourself, or request accompanied viewings which are carried out by our dedicated viewing assistants who offer greater availability at peak viewing times such as evenings and weekends. We will also keep you informed of any feedback received during viewing appointments.

Get conveyancing ready now

Don’t wait until you have accepted an offer to think about the legal process. One of the main reasons for a house sale to fall through is time. The longer the conveyancing process takes, the more likely it is that your buyers have second thoughts or a change of circumstance and start to look elsewhere. However, there are some positive steps that you can take now, that will pay dividends when you agree your sale.

Scan the QR code for top tips on how to get ahead of the conveyancing game.

OFFERS RECEIVED

All offers received will be put forward to you in writing. It is worth taking the time to consider offers properly before making any decisions on how to progress. Our agents are experienced in sales negotiation and are ready to help you.

Choosing the best buyer

Sometimes the buyer offering the highest price isn’t always the best choice. Our agents will seek to understand a potential buyer’s ability to proceed. Do they need a mortgage or are they a cash buyer? Do they have proof of funds? What are their timescales for moving? Are they involved in a chain? This will help you to make an informed decision as to whether to accept or decline the offer.

SALE AGREED

Keeping the sale moving

Our job does not stop once a sale has been agreed. Our experienced Sales Progressors are dedicated to keeping your sale, and you, moving. They will communicate with everyone involved in the chain – including your solicitor, your buyers and their solicitors, surveyors, mortgage advisers and contractors – to drive your sale through to exchange of contracts and completion. This dedicated resource sets us apart from the competition and is crucial for getting difficult sales across the line.

VALUATIONS

Understanding the value of an asset is crucial to making an informed decision on any land and property matters. Our team of experienced RICS Registered Valuers undertake formal RICS Red Book valuations for residential, commercial, agricultural and rural property, working closely with other professional advisors as well as our teams of in-house specialists.

We offer a bespoke, client-led service delivered by a team with an in-depth knowledge of the local areas in which we work and underpinned by our comprehensive database of transactional evidence and market knowledge. All reports are peer reviewed to ensure our clients receive comprehensive, accurate and holistic advice delivered in line with strict regulatory standards.

PROPERTY LETTINGS & MANAGEMENT

If you are considering letting your property but do not have the time or expertise to do so, our residential lettings services may be the answer.

Our dedicated residential lettings team manage a substantial portfolio of properties across the North of England. We understand the importance of securing the right tenant and will provide expert advice on preparing your property for the rental market, along with setting rents that will achieve the best return on your investment and minimise void periods. Our services range from finding a tenant for your property to a full management package. Licensed and regulated members of The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and governed by The Property Ombudsman, you can be assured you will receive expert advice and the highest standards of service.

OUR OFFICE NETWORK

ALNWICK

alnwick@gscgrays.co.uk 01665 568310

BARNARD CASTLE

barnardcastle@gscgrays.co.uk 01833 637000

BOROUGHBRIDGE

boroughbridge@gscgrays.co.uk 01423 590500

CHESTER-LE-STREET

chesterlestreet@gscgrays.co.uk 0191 303 9540

COLBURN

colburn@gscgrays.co.uk 01748 897630

DRIFFIELD

driffield@gscgrays.co.uk

01377 337180

HEXHAM

hexham@gscgrays.co.uk

01434 611565

KIRKBY LONSDALE

kirkbylonsdale@gscgrays.co.uk 01524 880320

PENRITH

penrith@gscgrays.co.uk 01768 597005

CARLISLE

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

“Sometimes, house sales are not straightforward, through no fault of the house, the seller, the agent. I can only applaud the perseverance, support, good communication and empathy that I received and I would not hesitate to recommend GSC Grays.”

- C GOODMAN

“I dealt with GSC Grays as a purchaser on this occasion. All staff excelled in keeping in touch. Dealing with any queries with understanding and professionalism.”

- O MURPHY

“The service we received was exceptional from start to finish, very helpful and kept us updated with all that was happening. I can’t praise them more highly.”

- D SCOTT

“Having had frustrating experiences with other agents in the past, I can confidently recommend GSC Grays. What could have been a stressful experience was made easier. Thank you.”

- A KIRBY

“I never thought I’d be recommending an estate agent but I do recommend GSC Grays. Very proactive, got lots of viewings, good photos on website, made sensible suggestions which proved correct, kept everyone informed throughout and helped ensure sale completed despite potential late hitch.”

- C ATKINS

“A friendly and approachable team whose knowledge of the local property market was helpful.”

- C & A WEBB