Apartment hunting

[spinabifidamom]

I’m currently trying to sell my apartment.
I’m completely clueless as to what questions I should be asking. Is it a good idea to check out local prices on properties in the area or not? How many viewings did you go to? I have two baby children. Ideally the apartment will be near the shops and restaurants.
What steps are involved with the process? How much paperwork is there? Did you have a survey that was done by a qualified professional or not? How much did you have to pay for it? What are the local schools like? Did you use a estate agent or not?
Is it a good idea to advertise in the paper? How long does it take?

Sorry, are looking to buy or sell or both? Your post is called one thing and talks about another.

We’re selling the apartment sorry for confusion!!

So it’s usual to instruct an estate agent. Get three local agents to come round and they’ll discuss the price you could achieve, the state of the local market, and thrir approach to marketing. Select the one you think will be the most proactive, offers a reasonable fee and that you think you could work with.

You might want to also consider Purple Bricks etc who are online agents. Personally o wouldn’t use them but their fees are much lower.

How much cheaper are they? Do they have a website or not? Again thank you.

Given you don’t seem to know much about the process I would recommend using a traditional EA not an online one as they will hold your hand.

If you google you’ll find their website. But as above I’d recommend using a face to face estate agent as your questions are about the basics of the process. How did you buy your apartment?

My mom bought me the apartment for my 18th birthday but I was involved in the process.

Is this apartment in the Uk? Your use of mom and apartment are making me think you’re in the US, in which case scrap everything we’ve said.

Ideally the apartment will be near the shops and restaurants.
What steps are involved with the process? How much paperwork is there? Did you have a survey that was done by a qualified professional or not? How much did you have to pay for it? What are the local schools like? Did you use a estate agent or not?

I'm confused. You are selling your apartment, why would you ask someone else if it is near shops and restaurants, and about schools?
In the UK, buyers can choose to have a survey but they pay for it. As a seller, you pay your solicitor and your estate agent.

Apologies my partner wrote it and he’s American. I’ll try and clear up your confusion as much as possible. We are in the UK. Thanks for the information. Agreed he could have worded it better been more helpful sorry.

If you get a high street estate agent they do the photos and advert; you'll need to ask them where they advertise, it's usually their own website, Rightmove, maybe some other online listings and they might do a newspaper advertising, although it's mostly online now. They may also have potential buyers registered with them who they send details of new listings to. They may do the viewings or may expect you to do this You need to ask the estate agent about what they offer and what their commission is.
Estate agents should deal with buyers communication, pass on any offers to you, and chase up buyers and solicitors as a sale progresses.
Your freeholder (presuming it is leasehold as a flat) will need to complete paperwork and so will you, but your solicitor will explain this all to you.

The estate agents will give you valuations but I also looked at sold prices on Rightmove so I already had a good idea of what similar local properties had sold for in the last year.

Check recent sold prices - not asking prices - of anything similar in the area on e.g. nethouseprices. If you're in the London area you need to be aware that prices have come down a bit from a year or so ago.

Check on Rightmove/Zoopla for local asking prices for similar - and look on Zoopla for how long they've been on the market and whether they've been reduced - Zoopla is easiest for checking reductions.

If you're going with a High St agent - probably best if you're unsure - I'd pick one who's very active in the area. And personally I'd never use one whose online blurbs are littered with grammar/spelling mistakes - to me it = sloppy and unprofessional.
Get 3 different valuations, and personally I'd ask them to be honest and not just say what they think you want to hear re price. It's a common ploy to over-value in order to get the business, and tell you later after little interest that the price needs to come down.
Do be aware that it's usually possible to negotiate re EA's commission!

Thank you.

Just a quick update- we have seen one we like so far. I’ll keep you updated.