GUIDE TO SELLING
We know that selling your property is a very big decision for many people and if you have never sold a property in Ireland, you may have limited knowledge of the process. Part of our role as your Selling Agent, is to make sure that you understand this process and that you are completely comfortable with the decisions you will need to make. We’ve set out the main steps involved which should let you know what to expect along the way.
Whatever your reason for selling DNG Maxwell Heaslip & Leonard will be able to assist you with advice on when and how to sell your property. Our professional and experienced agents know that selling is always a big decision and they will be able to give you sound and helpful information to make sure you make the right decision. Our team includes 6 fully licenced and experienced agents with a wealth of experience that allows them to give you the best recommendations on timing, values and how to prepare for your sale.
One of the first things you will need to do when considering selling, is to understand the market value of your property. While not the only factor in a seller’s decision-making process the value of the property does tend to be the most important and an early step in making any decision to sell.
In order for us to give you an accurate and detailed valuation of your property one of our experienced agents will visit the property to carry out an appraisal. This free, no-obligation appointment allows our agent to confirm, in person, the details of your property and will allow us to provide you with a detailed valuation and sales proposal. Our appraisal appointments generally take less than an hour and will include a physical inspection of the property and its grounds along with a one-on-one conversation with you about the property and the sale process. Following our visit to your property, the agent will send you a detailed sales proposal document that will outline the expected value of your property along with the service you will receive from DNG Maxwell Heaslip & Leonard should you decide to sell with us.
Before we start advertising your property for sale, there is some simple paperwork we need to complete.
- Your agent will ask that you provide us with some information, which is legally required, before we proceed. You will be asked to provide proof of identity documents and will invite you to sign a property services agreement which empowers us to bring your property to the market for sale and outlines our agreed fees and expected achievable sale price.
- You will need to appoint a solicitor to handle the sale for you. If you have already appointed a solicitor you should at this stage instruct them to immediately draft contracts for sale so that they are ready once you have accepted an offer. Your agent will be able to recommend a solicitor who specialises in property sales if you do not already have one.
- Obtain the Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate for the property. It is a legal requirement that all properties sold in the state have this certificate (with some exceptions for listed buildings). We can assist in arranging one for your property if you do not already have one.
Once the paperwork has been completed we can move forward and prepare your property for sale
While every property is unique it is important to remember that most buyers are looking for a property that is presented at its best and will be encouraged to pursue a property that makes a good first impression. Generally, the first time a buyer will see your property is when they view the advertising that your agent has arranged. Our advertising campaigns include top-quality photography, digital walkthrough tours, and professional videos which will showcase your entire property to the buying public. Your selling agent will give you detailed advice specific to your property on how to prepare it for sale but in general, the following tips will help you have your home ready for sale:
- Look Through a Buyers Eyes – We are so accustomed to our own homes that we frequently don’t see what other people will see on their first visit to a house. Spend a little time browsing other houses for sale online. Take note of what catches your eye in a good way and a bad way and then look around your own home with the same mentality. You might be surprised at what you see with fresh eyes!
- Bright and Airy – not all properties are blessed with an abundance of natural light. Try and maximize the light in your property by ensuring all windows are clean and that all window blinds are functioning properly. To overcome an absence of natural light be sure that all lightbulbs are working and that ceiling lights have matching bulbs.
- Freshen Up – A fresh coat of neutral paint will bring a new lease of life to any room. Keep it simple and ensure your property has a neutral color palette so that it to appeal to the widest range of potential buyers.
- A Place For Everything – having a clear and decluttered property allows buyers to see the space on offer and imagine themselves living in the property. Tuck away any clutter into wardrobes and storage areas and consider short-term storage if you have an abundance of furniture or contents.
- Don’t Forget about Outside – Your front door and driveway/garden are the first things buyers will see when they come to your house. Make sure your front door looks fresh and clean and make sure your doorbell works! If you have a rear garden, it is now seen as an additional room, so be sure to make your garden feel like a great space for entertaining and relaxing. Make sure to mow your lawn, patios and balconies should be power-washed to freshen them up, sheds and garages should be tidy and accessible, and most importantly driveways and parking areas clean and empty to allow viewers to see the space on offer.
Your selling agent will discuss the options with you regarding photography. We can organise quality digital photography in-house or you may wish to engage one of our professional photographers, who we work with on a regular basis, to photograph your property. Our team will also organise a full 3-D virtual tour of your property and draft top quality digital floor plans. Along with measurements and room descriptions, your agent will use all of this information to create an industry-leading marketing campaign for your property.
At DNG we pride ourselves on our advertising campaigns and once you have signed off on our proposed advertising we can use all of the tools at our disposal to showcase your property to the buying public. We use the latest innovations to market your property along with tried and tested methods that we have been using since our very first sale to make sure that the largest number of potential buyers are made aware of your property.
What will follow will be physical viewings, bidding, negotiations, and finally a recommendation from your agent to accept the best offer achievable for your property. At all times during the process, your agent will keep you up to date on progress and will work with you to ensure scheduled viewings take place at a time and day that suits you and that all feedback and relevant information is brought to you.
Once your agent feels they have achieved the best possible price for your property they will make a reasoned recommendation to you to accept it. It is your choice to accept or reject an offer, however, our agents will advise you based on market insights and extensive research to ensure you make a well informed decision.
Once an offer is accepted your property will go sale agreed and your agent will cease all viewings and request a booking deposit from the buyer. Under Irish law the initial booking deposit is fully refundable until contracts are unconditionally exchanged but we will hold the deposit in trust for you until the sale is completed.
Once the sale has been agreed you will receive a copy of a Sales Advice Notice (SAN) from your agent which will outline the agreed purchase price, the details of the purchaser and their solicitor, and the details of your own solicitor who will receive an identical copy. At this stage, your solicitor should be in a position to issue contracts to the purchaser’s solicitor and the buyer may wish to arrange a structural survey and/or a bank valuation for the bank (if they are drawing down a mortgage). We will arrange access for the buyer with your approval and ensure that things move forward at a timely pace. It is very important that you keep in regular contact with your solicitor, as will your agent, to ensure the sale is kept on track.
The final steps to closing your sale occur once the sale has been agreed and usually takes 8 to 12 weeks from the day you first accept the offer and go sale agreed. An executor sale can take a longer time to close depending on the status of the Probate application. Your solicitor and the buyer’s solicitor will communicate regarding any queries on contracts and following the successful resolution of any queries, the buyer’s solicitor will present the contract to them to be signed and 10% of the purchase price (inclusive of the initial booking deposit) will be paid to your solicitor.
Throughout this period it is a good idea to keep in regular contact with your solicitor to ensure any queries are being handled efficiently. Once the purchaser has signed contracts they will then be sent back to your solicitor and you will be invited to sign.
The solicitors will usually agree on a mutually suitable date to close the sale. On the day of closing, the remaining 90% of funds will be transferred to your solicitor, who will pass the payment on to you. Your solicitor will email DNG confirmation that the sale as close and authorise us to release the keys to the buyer, who can now collect the keys to their new home.
REQUEST A VALUATION
REQUEST A VALUATION

"*" indicates required fields