How can sellers minimise the risk of their property sale falling through?  Here are some tips for keeping your sale on track.

What exactly is a fall-through?

A fall-through is a situation where typically a buyer has agreed to buy your home but pulls out before the sale becomes final.

Why do fall-throughs happen?

Sometimes, buyers change their minds, or there is a shift in their circumstances. On other occasions, there can be issues with surveys or mortgages that mean the buyer can't buy your home.

Chains – where several property transactions need to go through at the same time in order for any of them to proceed – can also cause a fall-through.

What you can do to minimise fall-throughs

Get the asking price right

Setting the right asking price is an important first step. This will not only give your sale the best chance of completing successfully, but it will also help attract the right buyer in the first place.

Get your home ready for sale

Make sure your property looks its best so buyers will be eager to make it their home.

Sort out any snags - such as a dodgy roof, leaking gutters or unsightly damp patches - that could hold things up later.

Prepare your paperwork

Compile all the information a prospective buyer might want to know. For example, details of where your boundaries are or any alterations or improvements you've made, such as an extension, or new boiler or windows.

If your property is leasehold, ensure you have details of the lease and ground rent or any service charges you pay.

You'll be asked for this information during the conveyancing process anyway. Getting it ready now should also help speed things up later.

Pick the best buyer

If you receive several offers for your home, pick the buyer who is best placed to go through with the transaction and the most committed.

There can be advantages in selling to first-time buyers, cash buyers or buyers who aren't in a chain. Otherwise, choose a buyer who has already sold their home, or at least has it on the market. 

Choose the right conveyancer

The quicker your sale completes, the less opportunity there is for it to fall through. Try to use a solicitor or conveyancer with a reputation for working efficiently.

Rather than select a solicitor or conveyancer on price alone, read their reviews. Also, consider how quickly they deal with your initial enquiry. If they're slow to respond, it doesn't bode well.

Answer queries accurately

At some point during the selling process, your solicitor will have questions and queries about both you and your property. (Many of these will be raised by the buyer's solicitor and directed through your solicitor.) There could also be queries from other parties like your mortgage lender.

Answer these queries as accurately (and quickly) as you can.

Ask questions

If you sense that your sale could be running into problems don't be afraid to try to find out why.

There may be something simple you can do to rescue the situation and avoid a fall-through.

Don't be the reason for the fall-through

Although fall-throughs are often thought to be a buyer's fault, the issue can sometimes lie with the seller.

Good tips here are to make sure you really want to move. Know where you want to move to and what you want to buy next (if you do). 

Know what price you could achieve for your home, what you are able and willing to accept for it, and what your budget is for your next home.

How estate agents can help 

Minimising the risk of fall-throughs starts at the beginning of the home selling process – with choosing the best estate agent to market the property.

A good estate agent can advise on pricing and finding the best potential buyers.

They will not only find a buyer but also take sales progression seriously and help smooth the process at every stage.

To get advice about the best way to market your Low Fell home – and for a free market valuation and appraisal – please contact us today.

We hope you've found this insight useful. If you know someone who is thinking of moving, please share it with them.