Freeman Brothers was first established as a funeral director in Horsham, West Sussex, in 1855. The company now has a further three offices – in Billingshurst, Crawley, and Hurstpierpoint – and benefits from a wealth of local knowledge. We recently learned about specialist estate agency, Turners Oak, and are grateful to feature a guest blog from Founder, Susan Gregory. Turners Oak specialises in supporting older homeowners and their loved ones to navigate the sale of a home. Here she talks us through things to consider when selling a property following the death of a loved one…

Preparing a property for sale after the death of a loved one can feel daunting, especially if you have an emotional connection to it yourself, there are lots of personal possessions to organise, plus you have other commitments that need your attention.

Whilst every situation is different, my top tips would be:

• Remember that preparing a property for marketing is not the same as having it ready to be sold. For marketing, it’s best to find a balance between retaining homely touches such as having some pictures and belongings on display whilst removing very personal items and clutter. You don’t need to have organised everything at this stage (especially considering the timescales shared below).
• Consider what the selling features of the property might be. For example, if it’s a family home being sold for the first time in many years (and that hasn’t been recently updated) the likelihood is your buyer will be looking at the potential of the home rather than its current aesthetics. In these circumstances what you’re selling are the foundations of the property such as the proportions of the rooms, character features, the space on offer and the potential to extend/modernise; whether you give a bedroom a lick of paint really won’t make any difference. I will also add here that whilst the cost of modernisation needs to be taken into account with your asking price, these properties shouldn’t be sold cheaply due to their condition; their condition is one of their selling features.
• First impressions count so tidying up a front garden or adding some pots and plants will be a welcoming first impression. If the property feels a bit dated you can add colour and modernise the feel of rooms with throws, cushions and covers.
• Furnished properties make it easier for a buyer to visualise the space on offer. You can go so far as staging a property if it is unfurnished or you can use CGIs (computer generated images) to virtually furnish the rooms. Whilst staging a property can have significant cost implications, research does show that for certain properties it adds significant value as well.
• Don’t forget about outside space. If there is a garden but it’s become a bit overgrown it could be worth clearing it. If there’s a small balcony or terrace it’s worth putting a table and chairs out so people can visualise it as a usable outside space.

Other things to consider during the sales process vary, but often include the following:

Vacant properties
Check the insurance policy for a property if it is empty. There may be conditions that need to be met in order to keep the insurance valid and you may need to change the name of the policy holder. Also consider whether you are going to keep the water and heating on and perhaps put lights on a timer.

Legal preparation
As well as thinking about how to prepare the property itself for sale, it’s important to prepare legally. Things to consider include:

• Is the property registered with the Land Registry? If it hasn’t been sold for +40 years it may not be. This can delay the sales process so it’s worth checking.
• Instruct a conveyancing solicitor early in the process. They will need to conduct their own due diligence and provide you with forms to complete about the property. You may not know this information off hand so give yourself some time to complete these forms before a sale is agreed. I would urge caution if a conveyancing firm is recommended to you by an estate agent; often they are large firms which pay the agent a significant referral fee and they have huge volumes of sales to deal with at a time – meaning you can struggle to communicate with them and be passed from pillar to post.
• You will need an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) before the property goes on the market, as well as knowing some of the basic information such as whether it is leasehold or freehold and any associated charges.

Timescales
At present the average time from a property being marketed to a sale legally completing is five months. Factors that can influence this include whether the legal preparation has been completed in advance of the sale and the position of the buyer you sell to.

Whilst you can’t exchange (legally sell) a property until a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration have been issued, you can market a property, agree a sale and begin the legal process whilst waiting for probate.

This is worth being aware of if you are using the proceeds of the sale of a property to pay inheritance tax as inheritance tax becomes due 6 months after the date of death.

Personal attachment
If you are selling a property on behalf of a loved one the chances are that the property may hold memories for you too. It’s worth taking the time to acknowledge this and saying your own goodbye. You may also be juggling your own family life, work and grieving process whilst having to administer your loved ones estate so don’t overburden yourself and get support where you can.

For further advice and support, you can contact our advice line at Turners Oak. We also have some free resources on our website. If you would like support with decluttering a home either before marketing or before a sale completes then have a look at the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers. If the proceeds of the sale are needed to fund care for you or a loved one, or you want to make future financial plans, then speak to a financial adviser who is part of The Society of Later Life Advisers.