Selling a home is straightforward once you know the steps. This guide covers the timeline, the costs, and the decisions you'll need to make. Last reviewed: 22 October 2026.
Buying and selling work differently in Scotland. A Scottish seller must have a Home Report (survey, valuation, property questionnaire and energy report) before marketing (s.98, Housing (Scotland) Act 2006), offers are made in writing through solicitors, and the deal becomes legally binding once the missives (the formal letters between the solicitors) are concluded, and the purchase tax is LBTT rather than stamp duty. Wales charges Land Transaction Tax. This guide describes the process in England; check your nation's guidance if you are buying or selling elsewhere.
1. Decide your sale route
You have three options:
- List with an estate agent - they handle marketing, viewings, and negotiation. Fees vary, so compare quotes.
- List privately - you keep the full sale price. You handle viewings and offers. Domovita's private listing option is free.
- Online-only agents - fixed-fee marketing, you do the viewings. Usually an upfront fee - compare quotes.
2. Get your house ready
You don't need to renovate, but small fixes matter. Properties present better when:
- Decluttered (rent storage if needed)
- Cleaned thoroughly, especially kitchens and bathrooms
- Repainted in neutral tones where bold colours dominate
- Garden tidied, lawn cut
- Minor repairs done (leaky tap, scuffed walls, loose handles)
3. Get a valuation
A free valuation from a local agent is the standard starting point - they'll tell you what they'd realistically sell it for. Get 2-3 different valuations and look for the median, not the highest. An overpriced listing sits on the market.
Domovita's valuation panel connects you with up to three local agents in one form. A person at Domovita reviews each agent's application before they join the panel, and we run due diligence on the business, including a Companies House check.
4. Get an EPC
A valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a legal requirement before you market the property. EPCs last 10 years - check yours at gov.uk. If yours has expired, get a new one from an accredited assessor - prices vary, so compare quotes.
5. Take great photos
Photos are the single biggest driver of viewing requests. If you're listing with an agent, they'll arrange a photographer. If you're listing privately, take photos on a bright day, with curtains open, lights on, and rooms staged. Wide-angle lens helps but isn't essential.
Domovita listings support up to 40 photos per property plus virtual tour and video embeds.
6. Write the description
Lead with the standout features (large garden, parking, recent kitchen, school catchment). State the basics clearly: bedrooms, bathrooms, reception rooms, floor area, garden, parking, EPC rating, council tax band. Avoid puffery like "must be seen" - buyers ignore it.
7. Manage viewings
If you're listing through an agent they handle this. If you're private, offer flexible viewing slots and let viewers walk the property at their own pace. A short factsheet (rates, school distance, garden direction, recent works done) at the door is appreciated.
8. Negotiate offers
Don't accept the first offer reflexively unless it's at or above asking. A counteroffer is normal. Ask about the buyer's position: chain-free, cash, mortgage agreed in principle? A clean chain with mortgage AIP is worth more than a higher offer in a long chain.
9. Conveyancing
Instruct a solicitor to handle the legal sale. They'll prepare contracts, respond to enquiries from the buyer's solicitor, and manage exchange and completion. Fees vary, so get a few quotes.
10. Exchange and completion
Same as buying: exchange is when contracts sign, completion is the keys-handover day. Move out before completion morning - the buyer expects an empty property by then.
11. Tax
If the property is your main home, you usually pay no Capital Gains Tax on the sale. If it's a second home, buy-to-let, or you've let part of it out, CGT may apply on the gain. Check gov.uk or speak to your accountant.
Tools to help you
- List your property - private or via an agent
- Free valuation - up to 3 local agents in one form
- Recent sold prices - benchmark your asking price
Go deeper: selling guides
- How to sell your home privately: a step-by-step guide
- What it costs to sell a home in England
- Material information: what to disclose when selling
- The TA6 property information form, explained for sellers
- Do you need an EPC to sell your house?
- Handling your own viewings and offers when selling privately
- List your home on Domovita - free for private sellers