What do I need to do when I decide to sell my house?

Your Solicitor will need to know the whereabouts of your deeds, are they with your lending institution? If so an authority will be need to take them up. Are they kept by the Solicitor for safe keeping if no mortgage is on the property? It can take up to 6 weeks to take the deeds up from your lending institution and they should be obtained by your Solicitor before the property is placed on the market so as to avoid any delays when a purchaser is found.

I have carried out an extension to my property since I purchased same. What information do I need when selling my property regarding this extension?

If so it may be necessary to engage the services of an engineer to certify the works carried out and obtain a copy of the planning permission for same or it may be necessary to obtain retention permission if works were carried out that needed planning permission.

What happens when contracts are issued?

Your solicitor will issue contacts to the purchasers Solicitor who will usually respond with any pre-contract queries about matters on title. Following the successful resolution of any queries the Purchasers Solicitor will present the contract to the purchasers for signature and the balance of the 5% deposit (10% total deposit) is then paid.

When the deposit is paid and the contracts are signed can I get the deposit straight away?

The balance of the deposit (5%) is paid to the Purchasers Solicitors by the purchasers on the signing of the contracts and then transferred to the Sellers Solicitors client account where it is held until the sale is closed. It cannot be released until the full purchase monies have been paid. In the purchase of some new houses the deposit may be released to the Sellers but this is only in exceptional cases and in the majority of sales the deposit is only released on the closing of the sale.

What information should I give my Solicitor?

You should advise your Solicitor what auctioneer you have retained to sell the property. The Auctioneer may need to see a copy of the maps of the property and same can be obtained and provided. Your Solicitor will also need your Local Property Tax details to your Property ID number and PIN number and your Local Property tax will have to be paid up to date. You should also supply your Solicitor with your Tax number (PPS Number), details and certificates regarding your marital situation and details regarding any NPPR (Non principle private residence) this is a tax that may have been paid on a rental property between the years 2009 - 2013. You will also have to organise a BER ( Building Energy Rating) certificate. It is a legal requirement for your property to have a BER certificate before the property is placed on the market. Your Solicitor will also require anti-money laundering documentation. You will need to provide photographic ID in the form of passport or drivers licence and proof of address within the last 6 months.

When the purchaser pays a booking deposit is he/she bound in to purchase my property?

No, the purchaser is not bound into purchase the property on the paying of the booking deposit. The paying of booking deposit (5% of purchase price) by the Purchasers allows the Sellers Solicitor to furnish the contracts to the Purchasers Solicitors. The purchasers will have provided the Auctioneer with their Solicitors details on the paying of booking deposit. On closing the Auctioneer will be advised by the Sellers Solicitor that the sale is closed, the Auctioneers will deduct their fees from the Booking deposit held and release the balance to the Sellers Solicitors. The booking deposit is fully refundable up until contracts are exchanged.

When I agree to sell my property when do I need to move out?

Your solicitor will discuss this with you when drafting the contracts. The closing date usually takes place 6 to 8 weeks after the contacts are signed by the purchaser but the Seller can arrange the date to suit their circumstances. On the closing date the balance 90% of purchase money is paid. The Sellers Solicitor then arrange to discharge any mortgage on the property and the keys are then released by the Auctioneer to the Purchaser. The Sellers Solicitors then arrange to pay any equity on the sale, less Solicitors fees and outlays, to the Seller and you have successfully completed the sale of your home.