How to Find a Buyer for a House in Rochdale 

If you’re thinking about a house move in Greater Manchester right now, you probably have a few questions. What is the state of the market? Will rising interest rates put people off? How long will it take to sell my home? And, crucially, how will I find a buyer for my house in what increasingly seems like a buyers’ market?

Key things to note about the current Greater Manchester market are that homes are selling. However, you may need to wait longer than during the more intense, high demand market of a year ago. Figures from property website home.uk show that houses are taking around 30% longer to sell than in summer 2022 – though for flats it’s about the same. When it comes to houses, there is also more supply in the market than a year ago when demand was at its height.

If you have to sell for a job move, school place, new baby, or other pressing need for space, demand for the right properties is still out there in Greater Manchester. The key to ensuring you find a buyer for your property is giving yourself every advantage as a seller. We’ve pulled together a checklist for sellers which covers the most important things to consider before you list your home for sale.

1 Understand your options

One thing that will give you the edge over other sellers when you’re wondering how to find a buyer is offering your property chain-free. Homes with no onward chain generally mean simpler and quicker transactions, making them more appealing to most buyers, particularly those looking for a quick sale. This may not be an option for you, but think about whether you could be flexible. For example, you might be able to sell now and move into rented accommodation or with family while you look for a place to buy. Or you could invest the capital from your sale while you consider your future options.

2 Get your home sale-ready

With less demand in the market, you need to make sure your property stands out from the crowd if you’re looking to find a buyer quickly. First impressions count, and if you can help your potential buyer imagine themselves in the property, you are halfway there. Key things to focus on are:

• Kerb appeal – make sure the exterior is spruced up with a tidy garden, clean windows, and a new lick of paint to the front door.
• Decluttering – get rid of any unnecessary items from surfaces, remove bulky furniture that crowds the space and take down personal effects such as photos and children’s drawings, making sure everywhere is clear and tidy.
• Clean the home until it shines, including windows and carpets.
• Mend anything that is broken, chipped or wonky and replace bathroom sealant.
• Consider repainting the home in light neutral shades – cover dark or unusual colours and paint over scuff marks or peeling paintwork.
• Carve out an office space – a place for home working is a must.

3 Take your EPC seriously

Act quickly to get an energy performance certificate (EPC) for the home. If it contains recommendations that could boost your rating, considering making improvements. A better home energy efficiency score means cheaper bills for buyers.

4 Choose the right estate agent

Which agent you choose really can make a difference to your chance of selling the home, so draw up a shortlist. Get recommendations, read reviews and ask plenty of questions to understand their local knowledge and track record on selling in the area. Online agents are cheaper but are likely to need you to do more of the legwork such as conducting viewings. Get at least three quotes and valuations but avoid the temptation to go with the cheapest fees and highest valuation – they may be overpricing your home to get the business. Make sure that whoever you choose will list your home on the main property portals – Rightmove and Zoopla.

5 Be realistic on price

According to many experts, homes are selling right now, in spite of rising mortgage costs, however, sellers need to be realistic about pricing. If you price the home too highly, you may put buyers off. It could also mean your home doesn’t appear in property portal searches by your target buyers. Getting pricing right is down to your strategy and making sure you have the right advice from the right agent.

6 Be selective when it comes to offers

How to find a buyer for your property isn’t just about attracting interest from anyone. It is also about finding the right buyer to ensure the sale goes ahead without a hitch. For that reason, it is a good idea to prioritize people in a position to move – so, ideally, cash buyers, those without a place to sell, and those with a mortgage approval in principle – even if that means accepting a slightly lower offer. Again, the right agent can help you sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to offers.

7 Beware of house buying companies

If you are really keen to make your house move happen, it is tempting to consider home buying companies that promise a quick sale. Don’t jump to this option too quickly. You are unlikely to get anything like the full market value for your home and some house buying companies have been accused of unfair practices. If you do want to explore this route, get plenty of advice first.

If you are looking to sell in the Rochdale area, talk to us at Cowell Norford. We’d love to chat to you about your home and give you a no-obligation market appraisal. We understand the Greater Manchester market well and have an enviable success record when it comes to marketing properties in Rochdale that other agents haven’t sold.

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