How to Keep a House Chain Progressing Smoothly
Mon 31 May 2021
Buying and selling a property can be a super stressful time, we've got seven tips to keep your house chain progressing smoothly. And Williams and Donovan's experienced sales progression team make it as smooth as possible to keep you moving forward.
So perhaps you’re ready to move, but the people buying your house need their buyers to get up to speed. And those buyers also need their buyers to press the pedal down on the transaction!
Before you know it, suddenly you’re getting into a long old property chain, and we know that sometimes chains can break, taking with them your hopes of a move into a dream property.
This can be absolutely heartbreaking.
Consumer body Which? surveyed 2,000 home movers, and discovered “around three in 10 (28%) people have experienced a property purchase falling through”.
There are several reasons why a property chain breaks. However, the good news is, you can do something about it and play your part in making sure the chain keeps moving.
Top seven tips to keep your house chain moving forward
1. Choose a Chain-Free Buyer
This sounds so simple, doesn’t it? You may get a few offers on your house, but only one may not be part of a chain.
This means they don’t need to rely on something else happening in order to move. So, if you are lucky enough to get two or three people offering on your property (and the price is right), choose the one who you think will cause the least trouble!
Top Tip: This is where you can rely on Williams and Donovan, (trusted and locally loved!) to do our job and find out more about your potential buyers.
2. Set Goals
When you are right at the beginning of the process with a potential buyer, make sure you stipulate, through your estate agent, your preferred timescales. Things may not always stick to plan, but if you are all aware of a date you are working towards, it will focus minds.
Top Tip: Be realistic. You may want your move to progress at lightning speed, but selling your home can be a complex process and take so much longer than you anticipate. Lynn and Paul have over 30 years in sales progression and are vastly experienced in negotiating offers and progressing difficult sales through to completion.
3. Be Prepared
When you’re thinking about property chains, it’s easy to think about what all the other parties are doing and focus on how they can stop your chain from breaking. But don’t forget, you’re part of the chain too, so don’t be the one who holds things up! Make sure your paperwork is in order, finances organised and mortgage offers are on the table.
Top Tip: Make sure your paperwork is to hand to refer to, whether you’re at home or in the office. If a query arises there won’t be a delay in you responding.
4. Respond Well
Keeping the chain moving takes good communication from all parties, and that includes you. Your conveyancer may need information quickly or an email response before close of business on a particular day. Be accessible, and make sure everyone has the correct contact details for you.
Top Tip: Respond to any queries promptly to avoid delays in clarification. If you need to seek out information that you don’t have to hand, don’t put it off!
5. Use Experienced Professionals
You’re selling your house – probably your biggest asset – so you should ensure that you have professionals doing the job for you. Choose your estate agent, not necessarily on their fees, but on their experience and ability to keep things moving. You want them to be progressing and chasing where necessary, and making the calls and sending the emails.
Top Tip: Draw up your shortlist of reputable, local estate agents and speak with each of them. You need a good relationship with your agent so making sure you are on the same wavelength and you get a good vibe is important. Remember, how they act with you is also how they will act with potential buyers!
6. Think Outside the Chain
If there’s a problem with the house chain further up, consider selling your property and renting somewhere to live until the right property comes up for you rather than risk losing your own buyer. This might not work, of course, if you’ve got your heart set on somewhere in particular, but it could be an option.
Top Tip: Renting doesn’t have to be forever. You can usually enter into a short-term tenancy agreement which will give you time to look around and find somewhere new to call your own home.
7. Be Agile
Should a property chain break, and you lose the property you were going to buy, make sure you can move quickly when it comes to other alternative properties. Is it possible for the chain to discuss the issues and come to an agreement, perhaps to negotiate on prices?
Top Tip: If you’re ready for all eventualities, then a broken chain may not lead to your heartbreaking too. It really doesn’t have to be a dead-end.
That's it! And a lot is also about choosing the right estate agent. Also, you might be interested in this blog all about how long it takes to exchange contracts on a house.
Are you looking to sell your home or are you looking to buy a new property? Contact Williams and Donovan for a free valuation or a friendly helpful chat about your property needs.
Benfleet office 01268 755252 or email lloyd@wdbenfleet.com
Hockley office 01702 200666 contact james@wdhockley.com
Williams and Donovan - established in 1999 are trustworthy respected and local property experts in South East Essex with offices in Hockley and Benfleet.