Selling a home involves more than choosing a price and arranging viewings. A little preparation can help you answer questions accurately and keep the transaction organised. The right checklist depends on the property and where it is located; this guide follows the GOV.UK process for England and Wales, and the steps differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Get your paperwork together
Collect documents you already have, such as title information, details of whether the home is freehold or leasehold, planning and building-control approvals, guarantees, window certificates, survey reports and electrical records. If you live in a flat, gather relevant fire-safety information and lease documents. Tell your conveyancer about any missing records rather than guessing what they say.
Check the Energy Performance Certificate. If there is no valid certificate already, it must be commissioned before marketing. The official rules allow time for it to be obtained after marketing begins, so check the current GOV.UK guidance for the deadlines that apply. An existing EPC may be reused for up to 10 years if it remains valid and the property has not changed in a way that affects its rating. Check the official register and ask an accredited assessor or your adviser if you are unsure whether an exemption applies.
Decide who will help
Compare estate agents by asking what service they provide, how they handle viewings and offers, and what fees and contract terms apply. A valuation is an estimate, not a promise of the eventual sale price. You can look at recent local sold-price information and seek more than one professional view before deciding how to market the home. If you have a mortgage, ask your lender for the current redemption figure and whether early-repayment charges may apply.
Prepare the property honestly
Deal with urgent safety or water-ingress issues first. Make a simple list of repairs, cleaning and optional improvements, and obtain advice before committing to substantial work. Cosmetic changes do not guarantee a higher offer or quicker sale. Keep receipts and certificates for work you have completed, and be ready to explain known issues clearly to your agent and conveyancer.
Before viewings, make access straightforward, secure valuables and personal documents, and agree how keys, pets and occupied rooms will be managed. Avoid hiding defects or making claims about alterations, boundaries or services that you cannot support. Your conveyancer can explain what information must be disclosed and how enquiries should be answered.
Keep the process organised
Once an offer is accepted, your legal representative prepares the contract and deals with the buyer’s conveyancer. Keep a dated record of offers, agreed fixtures and fittings, certificates, questions and replies. Exchange of contracts is the point at which the sale normally becomes legally binding, so obtain independent legal advice before signing or agreeing changes.
Further reading: GOV.UK, How to sell a home and Preparing to sell (England and Wales): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-sell-a-home/how-to-sell-a-home and https://www.gov.uk/selling-a-home/preparing-to-sell. Checked 26 October 2026.