Putting your home on the market is a complicated journey but an experienced estate agent will demystify the process and guide you through each of the five key stages. 

The first step is a market appraisal. 

At Sherry FitzGerald, with over 100 branches across the country, the process begins when a client makes contact with our local branch. You can request a valuation on our website, phone your local office, or even walk in off the street, as many people still prefer to meet us in person! Once you get in touch, we’ll arrange an initial appointment for one of our experienced estate agents to review your property comprehensively. This first step, known as a market appraisal, is crucial as it allows us to get to know you and understand what’s important to you. During the visit, we’ll discuss the method of sale, provide an overview of the sales process, and give you an indication of the current market value of your home.

There are several methods of selling your property, and it’s essential to choose the one that best suits your needs. In the majority of cases, properties are sold by private treaty, where we list your property on the open market and work actively to generate interest and secure offers. Another option is an off-market sale, a private approach where we contact pre-qualified buyers without publicly listing your property, offering a more discreet sales process. Properties can also be sold at auction, though this method is relatively rare in Ireland.

Next, you’ll need to appoint a solicitor. A property solicitor with knowledge and experience will play a crucial role in the process of putting your home on the market and will look after your legal interests throughout. Their jobs included getting your title deeds from the bank, drawing up the relevant contracts in a timely manner, and making sure they come back signed. Your estate agent will ask for your solicitor’s contact details and together they will form your team.

The third step is to agree a plan of action. This plan is decided by you and your estate agent and it’s an important part of the sales process. At this point we’ll ensure that that all your documentation is in order. You’ll be required to sign a ‘terms of engagement’ contract containing standard terms from the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PRSA). Basically, this is about proving your identity and address. You may also need certificates of compliance for any works you’ve done on the house or land registry maps, if the boundaries are unclear. These are legal documents. If they’re required, your solicitor will assist. We’ll also agree on your overall marketing strategy before your house goes on the market. 

The fourth step is to prepare your property, first for photography and then for showing to potential buyers. This may take place through conventional viewings or an open viewing. It’s crucial that your home is clean, clear, fully functional, and in good repair. This may just involve a lick of paint, but some properties need a complete overhaul. Your estate agent will help you ensure your home is presented in the most appealing way for potential buyers.

The final step is advertising your property. This is one of our areas of expertise. Once the property has been refreshed and revitalised, it’s ready to be professionally photographed. We’ll arrange the photographer and also the type of photographs they take. In some cases, an aerial photograph can show off the property to its best advantage. Then, we’ll put your marketing strategy to work. A high quality brochure, backed up by a comprehensive online and offline campaign, will help you connect with your buyer.

All being well, your agent will soon be in touch with the offer you’re looking for.

Ready to start your property journey? Visit us at sherryfitz.ie or contact your local Sherry FitzGerald office today to get started!

Auction is a traditional method of selling goods and chattels including land and property. In the past, properties put on the market for sale by public auction were more lik ely to have been of a unique style or perhaps be period homes for which there is high demand and a shortage in supply. However, recently, due in the main to the rising market particularly in Dublin and an increase in competition for properties, a much wider range of properties are now sold by this method.

Selling by auction tends to maximise the price available through increased exposure to the market over an intensive three or four week sales campaign. An auction campaign also gives interested purchasers a definite timescale to work within and at the auction itself they are in a position to opt out of the process at any time should the bidding go beyond their expectations.

The guideline is a figure which is invariably lower than the price expected to be achieved at the auction, and is offered as a guide only, by the auctioneer.

The guideline is a price, which is approximately 10% less than the anticipated reserve and is set by both the auctioneer and the vendor. In other words, if the reserve price on a house is likely to be €600,000 the guideline will be €540,000. In addition, the IAVI policy is that guidelines should be within 10% of the anticipated reserve. Therefore, purchasers should generally expect that the reserve price on a property will be not more than 10% higher than the guideline.

Yes, if there is a high level of interest in the property or other similar properties which have sold for exceptional prices during the campaign the guideline can be revised upwards. Prospective purchasers with a strong interest in the property should be advised to keep in touch with the auctioneer during the campaign.

 The reserve is the actual figure a vendor will sell at. This figure is normally agreed between the vendor and the auctioneer on the day of the auction. Ultimately, it is up to the vendor to decide on the reserve as it is their property. Once the reserve has been reached the property will be sold to the highest bidder.

When bidding has exceeded the reserve the auctioneer declares the property to be ‘on the market’, indicating to bidders that the highest bid from that point will secure the property.

Should a property fail to reach the reserve the property is withdrawn at the auction. At this point, it is Sherry FitzGerald’s policy to negotiate exclusively with the highest bidder in an effort to achieve a price level acceptable to both the vendor and purchaser. In this case the prospective purchaser has a tactical advantage because they know that they have no competition in the market for the property. However, if the negotiations are conducted professionally the outcome can be a ‘win – win’ situation for both vendor and purchaser.

Possibly. If you find yourself in this position you should indicate your desire to negotiate to the auctioneer. In the event of negotiations breaking down with the highest bidder you may then get the opportunity to negotiate for the property.

Once you make the decision to pursue a property that is for auction you should arrange through the auctioneer to have the property surveyed; put your financial arrangements in place; consult your solicitor in good time so that all legal issues are clarified and, finally, decide what the property is worth to you and at what level you are prepared to lose it!

At the auction itself, try to get in a good position in the auction room so that you can see what is happening around you. Ideally you should be accompanied by your solicitor or advisor who is authorised to bid on your behalf.

This is generally covered by the Conditions of Sale, a legal document which is available prior to the auction for examination by purchasers solicitors so that they can be satisfied with title, the procedures to be followed after the auction and so on. In general, the purchaser and the vendor sign a binding contract setting out a closing date immediately after an auction and a 10% deposit is paid there and then.