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FOOL SCHOOL
If you're selling your home to buy another, you will have additional expenses, the main one being estate agents' fees. These will usually be between 1% and 2% of the value of your home for the costs of advertising it and showing people round the property. You can sign up with more than one estate agent if you want to but you'll probably be charged a higher fee. People looking to buy a house usually contact as many estate agents as possible so it's probably best to opt for just one agent who deals with the kind of property that you've got to sell. Just look at what's posted in their shop windows to see what their market is. Although most prospective buyers will go to the local estate agents when househunting, don't forget that it is now possible to sell your home yourself on the Internet. It's cheaper too -- so if you're prepared to show people round your home yourself, and you think you'll reach a wide enough market, then why not have a go? Your solicitor's fees will also be slightly higher because there are two properties to deal with - the one you're selling and the one you're buying. You will probably have heard a lot of talk about a Home Information Pack recently as well. From 2007 onwards people selling their homes will be obliged by law to put together detailed information about their homes before putting them on the market. The intention is to reduce the length of time it takes to sell a property and lessen the risk of another buyer coming in and "gazumping" a previous offer. As with buying a home, if you want the whole process to go more quickly (and therefore less stressfully) avoiding a long "chain" of buyers and sellers is also a good idea. Of course you may not always have that option. Bear in mind the points made here regarding presentation of your home. Buyers are not always attracted to grubbiness so make sure your home is clean and tidy. Splash a bit of paint in areas that need touching up, and pack up or put away anything that might make your house look cluttered. Your aim is to sell the house, so let the buyer see the house and not your stuff. Less is more in this situation. Find out more in our Homeowning centre.