Frequently Asked Questions
Buying a home is exciting
We know it can also raise plenty of questions. Whether you're buying for the first time or have moved many times before, our team is here to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Below, we've answered some of the questions we're most frequently asked by buyers.
FAQs
1. What happens when I ask Furnell Residential to value my property?
In most cases, Ben Furnell will personally visit your property. The appointment isn't simply about deciding on an asking price. Ben will take time to understand the property, what you like about living there, your circumstances, why you're considering moving and what you hope to achieve. That understanding helps shape the advice and eventual marketing strategy.
2. Why will Ben ask about my reasons for moving?
Because no two sellers are the same. Someone who has already found their next home may require a very different strategy from somebody who is downsizing but has no particular timescale. Understanding your motivation allows Ben to tailor his advice around your objectives, rather than treating the appointment as simply another valuation.
3. Who will visit my property initially?
Ben carries out the majority of Furnell Residential's initial market appraisal appointments personally. As the owner of the business and a qualified Building Surveyor, this gives sellers direct access to someone with considerable property experience from the outset. It also means Ben remains familiar with the property if he later becomes involved in negotiations or an issue arises during the transaction.
4. How do you decide what my property is worth?
Ben will consider comparable sales, competing properties, current buyer demand, location, condition, presentation and the individual characteristics of your home. But he'll also discuss how the property should be positioned within the market, rather than concentrating solely on producing a valuation figure.
5. Should I choose the estate agent who gives me the highest valuation?
Not necessarily. We completely understand why valuation is important - it's your home and often your largest financial asset. But the highest suggested asking price doesn't automatically result in the highest eventual selling price.
Ben will explain the reasoning behind his recommendation and, just as importantly, how Furnell intends to market the property to achieve the best possible result. We believe the quality of the strategy after the valuation appointment is every bit as important as the figure discussed during it.
Ben will explain the reasoning behind his recommendation and, just as importantly, how Furnell intends to market the property to achieve the best possible result. We believe the quality of the strategy after the valuation appointment is every bit as important as the figure discussed during it.
6. Is the asking price the most important part of selling my home?
No, although it is an important part of the overall strategy. Ben's view is that successful marketing comes from getting a combination of things right; positioning, presentation, photography, description, launch, buyer targeting, viewings, follow up and negotiation.
A valuation is ultimately an informed opinion. The market determines what a property will sell for; our job is to present and position it in a way that gives it the best opportunity to perform.
A valuation is ultimately an informed opinion. The market determines what a property will sell for; our job is to present and position it in a way that gives it the best opportunity to perform.
7. What happens once I instruct Furnell Residential?
Once instructed, we begin preparing your property for launch. Professional photography and other appropriate marketing material are arranged, your property particulars are carefully written and the overall presentation and launch strategy are prepared.
But before we begin speaking to buyers about your home, we want our team to know what they're selling.
8. Will the whole Furnell Residential team see my property?
Yes, and this is something that's particularly important to us. Once the marketing has been prepared, our team visits the property so they can experience it for themselves. Photographs and floorplans are important, but they don't always convey how a house feels, how rooms connect, the outlook from a particular window, the quality of a finish or the things an owner has loved about living there. It means that when a potential buyer calls our office, they're speaking to somebody who genuinely knows the property, not somebody simply reading its description from a computer screen.
9. How will Furnell Residential market my property?
We will discuss the proposed marketing strategy with you from the outset. Depending upon the property, this can include professional photography, video, carefully written particulars, enhanced portal marketing, our registered applicant database, direct buyer contact and digital/social marketing. The objective isn't simply to put your home on Rightmove. It's to create interest in it.
10. How do you decide when and how to launch my property?
Ben and the team will consider the property, likely buyer profile, current competition and anticipated level of demand before deciding upon the most appropriate launch. Some properties benefit from an immediate launch; others may benefit from contacting selected registered buyers beforehand or arranging structured viewing periods. The launch should be planned, not simply the moment somebody presses 'upload'.
11. Who will conduct viewings of my property?
Viewings are undertaken by members of the Furnell team who have had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with your property. That means we can do considerably more than unlock the door. We can talk confidently about the house, point out features a buyer may otherwise overlook and answer many of the questions that naturally arise during a viewing.
12. Who negotiates offers on my property?
Offers are handled by the sales team, with Ben remaining closely involved where appropriate, particularly where there are multiple offers or more complex negotiations. We'll establish each buyer's circumstances before discussing the offer with you. Price is obviously important, but so are chain position, funding, timescale and the likelihood of the buyer being able to proceed successfully.
13. What happens if several people want to buy my property?
Ben and the team will discuss the options with you rather than automatically accepting the first or highest offer. Depending upon the circumstances, this might include further negotiation or inviting interested buyers to submit their best and final offers. We'll explain each buyer's position so that you can make an informed decision about which offer best suits your circumstances.
14. What happens once I accept an offer?
Once a sale has been agreed, the emphasis moves from finding a buyer to getting the transaction successfully completed. At this point, Emma, our dedicated Sales Progressor, becomes a key point of contact. Emma liaises with you, your buyer, solicitors, mortgage advisers and other estate agents within the chain, actively monitoring progress and identifying anything that may be causing a delay.
Ben and the sales team don't disappear at this stage either. If a commercial issue arises - perhaps following a survey or valuation - we'll become involved again where appropriate, while Emma continues to oversee the progression of the transaction.
Ben and the sales team don't disappear at this stage either. If a commercial issue arises - perhaps following a survey or valuation - we'll become involved again where appropriate, while Emma continues to oversee the progression of the transaction.
15. What happens if my property isn't attracting the interest we expected?
Ben and the team will review the evidence with you. That doesn't automatically mean recommending a price reduction. We'll look at enquiries, viewings, buyer feedback, online performance, competing properties, presentation and changes within the market.
If we recommend changing the price, we'll explain why. If we think something else needs changing first, we'll tell you that too.
If we recommend changing the price, we'll explain why. If we think something else needs changing first, we'll tell you that too.
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