FREQUENTLY ASKED Questions
The process of selling and buying a home is one of the biggest financial transactions of our lives. Navigating the journey is not a walk in the park. Here are Jacob's answers to the most frequently asked questions.
What's a Personal Estate Agent in Islington?
A personal estate agent is with you from the very first meeting to the completion of your sale. They handle the process without delegating, ensuring a highly structured and strategic estate agency service. They are your single point of contact, with a mission to secure the best deal.
What does an estate agent do in Islington?
An estate agent handles the marketing and selling of your home. The best agents plan a launch campaign, film a property video tour, utilise a pricing strategy, with a clear plan for your selling success. A personal estate agent is different from the estate agents typically found along the high street.
How do I sell my house in Islington?
To sell your Islington house for the best price with the least hassle, you must begin with presenting it to its finest. This means cleaning, decluttering, and removing personal and religious items. Minor touch-ups, like adding a fresh coat of paint, do wonders for that ever important first impression.
How do I select an estate agent in Islington?
First of all, it's a good idea to check their reviews. Secondly, you invite a few agents to your house for a listing appointment/valuation. Then you ask the right questions, found in the Islington Seller's Guide (free download). It's of importance that the agency genuinely cares about your onward.
What could my Islington house sell for?
A property is only worth what the best buyer in the current market is willing to pay for it. That's the classic saying. However, there is another player involved too: the mortgage lender, as they will only lend what they believe the property is worth based on comparable sales in the neighbourhood.
How do I prepare my Islington home for sale?
You start with a consultation with your personal estate agent. They will assess your property and give advice on how to maximise its appeal. Often, it will begin with decluttering and cleaning, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms. In addition, it's vital to remove too personal and religious items.
What to think of when selling my Islington home?
You must let your motivation to move be your guiding star. It's not a walk in the park to sell your Islington home. Your personal estate agent is there to guide and remind you of why you want to move, in what might be a tricky journey. What is your motivation, what is your next dream home?
When should I sell my Islington home?
The busiest times of the year in Islington are in the Spring (March to April) as well as after the Summer (September to October), as indicated by the number of new homes coming onto the Islington property market. In addition, many people tend to browse property listings around Christmas and in January, with more sales being agreed in the months after.
How much is my Islington house worth?
Contrary to the headlines, they current national average house prices don't really matter. The national market is just a mere indication, while your house is located in a completely different micro-market with its own trajectories. Therefore, it's a good idea to consult with your personal estate agent.
Why should I use an estate agent to sell my Islington home?
Selling your home is likely to be the biggest financial transaction of your life. Meanwhile, your life is happening: your job, your relationships, and your hobbies. Your personal estate agent, with their dedication and expertise, will sell your home for more money, with way less hassle, than you ever could.
Where are homes for sale in Islington?
Homes for sale in Islington are usually publicly advertised on the property portals, such as Rightmove and Zoopla. However, there are a vast number of homes across London selling off-market, often roughly 25% of all sales. Your dream home could be invisible without a personal estate agent by your side.
How do I contact an Islington estate agent?
Many homeowners and buyers have traditionally strolled down their high street and registered their interest or booked a meeting with estate agents. Nowadays, most people lurk the property portals for too long. The best is to book a meeting with Jacob Littorin, your personal estate agent in Islington.
How do I sell my home in Islington?
Avoid the fault many homeowners make: thinking for months about selling, then on a Monday inviting estate agents only to select one and have them put their property up for sale the next day. That's not how to successfully sell your home. You can afford to prepare more for outstanding marketing.
Why can't I put my home for sale the next day?
If you've been thinking for many months to sell, you will likely have time to put real effort into the presentation of your home. It means committing to cleaning, decluttering, and even doing some minor touch-ups like repainting a wall, or doing gardening. It's all about enhancing the appeal of your home.
How do I buy a home in Islington?
To successfully buy a home in Islington, with the least hassle, you have to be a qualified buyer, to be favourably viewed by the seller of your dream home. It involves clarifying your motivation, wants, and needs, along with keeping proof of funds, or receiving a decision in principle for a mortgage.
Where should I buy a home in Islington?
Islington has many beautiful pockets, such as Canonbury Square. Many people start their search by selecting areas based on how their past experiences, which is understandable. However, before anything, you must consider the job commute, catchment area (if wanted) along with amenities.
Why should I buy a home in Islington?
The borough of Islington is on average more affordable than the adjacent borough of Camden. This is based on average selling prices on the Land Registry, where Camden is more expensive than Islington across every property type. Meanwhile, Islington has a better sense of community, with its parks, tree-lined streets, terraces, and Upper Street's range of amenities.
How do I view a property for sale in Islington?
To view a home for sale in Islington, you make sure it matches your wants and needs. Then you schedule a viewing with the estate agent. Then, you show up. You're not arriving very late, you're not making up excuses, and you're not ghosting the agent - they might not allow you to view ever again.
How do I best view a home for sale in Islington?
You enter the viewing with a poker face. The estate agent works for the seller, with a mission to fetch the highest price possible. If you're viewing the home and expressing how much you love the kitchen, the garden, and how it's just perfect, you're giving negotiation leverage to the estate agent.
How do I submit an offer to an estate agent in Islington?
If the home you have viewed ticks all the boxes, feels right, and is right, it's wise to submit an offer sooner than later. Many buyers miss out on their dream home due to hesitation and indecision. However, you can be fairly certain that your first offer will be rejected, unless it's full asking price.
What do I say to the estate agent when making an offer in Islington?
You do not reveal your cards, what you could pay, or what your ceiling is. You tell them a reasonable number that doesn't put off the seller. The estate agent must then forward your offer. However, I understand, this is hard, which is why buyers really shouldn't try to negotiate the deal at all.
What do I do when there are other interested buyers in Islington?
When there are other buyers competing with you about your dream home, you must act creatively to make your offer attractive for the seller. It could be that you're willing to offer more if you get the curtains, or that your mortgage offer is more reliable. Swift communication with their agent is key.
How do I handle a bidding on an Islington home for sale?
If the estate agent notifies you that there will be a bidding, you'll be invited to submit your best and final offer in a sealed envelope by a certain time and date. The estate agent will then allow the homeowner to select the best offer. However, there's a possibility that it sells to someone else.
How do I negotiate the price for an Islington home?
There are endless of books covering the art of negotiation, and that's because it is hard. Negotiating the price for your home is what many buyers across the UK do, although they shouldn't. Your emotion will often get in the way and that's why you should use a Buyer's Agent to negotiate for you.
How do I know if I pay the right price for a property in Islington?
You should always check the comparable sales in the neighbourhood. You can also use Jacob's Islington Uncovered to check out other similar listings, past and present. Ultimately, you pay what you think it's worth, however, the price will have to be supported by the comparable sales and listings.
What's the conveyancing process when buying an Islington home?
The conveyancing process when buying an Islington home covers the stages after the sale has been agreed. Up until the contracts are exchanged, the seller's and buyer's solicitors will check the property title and do searches. When contracts have been exchanged, the legal property transfer begins.
What do I do if my offer is accepted for an Islington home?
Congratulations, your offer is accepted. However, the sale is not certain until contracts are exchanged. It's vital that both solicitors work proactively to complete the property searches. In addition, many sales collapse because the seller or buyer went nervous in the run up to exchange of contracts.
What do I do if my offer is declined for an Islington home?
If your offer is declined, and another buyer's was accepted, it's not the end of the world. However, you can reflect over if you were the best buyer in the bidding. Qualified buyers are those who can complete a purchase, favoured by the seller, in contrast to someone who is just shopping for property.
What do I do if I lose a bidding on an Islington property for sale?
Biddings can feel out of your control. Usually, both parties are negotiating until an eventual deal is reached. When a bidding occurs, and offers are sent by a certain date and time, the seller will decide. If your offer isn't taken, it's good to keep in contact with the estate agent should the sale fall through.
What's a Freehold Islington home?
Land can be owned as either Freehold, Leasehold, or Commonhold. Freehold means that you own the property and the land it sits on. It's the most desirable form of ownership. The property itself can be grade-II listed, like many in Islington, and sit within a conservation area, limiting development.
What's a Leasehold Islington home?
Land can be owned as either Freehold, Leasehold, or Commonhold. Leasehold means that you own the lease of the premises, as outlaid in the lease plan, from the Freehold owner. The owned lease has a duration, normally between 70 and 999 years, ticking down for every year.
What's a Share of Freehold Islington home?
Share of Freehold is a marketing term for Leasehold. However, it often means that you also buy shares in the management company of the building. Many maisonettes across Islington are owned as share of freehold, with the terraced building having two or three individuals sharing the freehold.
Where should I buy a home in Islington?
Islington has many pockets each with their own sense of community. Tranquility is the common theme across Islington's neighbourhoods. However, before you select an area, you must consider your job commute, and if relevant, the catchment area of the desirable school.
Is it a good time to sell my Islington home right now?
It's popular to list a property for sale in September to October, as well as in March to April. However, your property can sell all year around if your estate agent is smart about it. Your marketing needs to be spot on, and the work of constantly following up with enquiries and potential buyers is vital.
How do I know if it's a good time to sell my Islington home?
You consult with your personal estate agent. The thing is, if you're not a property market analyst, you need unbiased advice. The news headlines cover the market across the UK, while Islington is its own micro-market. National house prices and averages have little meaning across Islington.
How do I interview estate agents to sell my Islington home?
It's essential that you get a view of different estate agents. That's why you should invite at least three agents for a marketing consultation (what many just call a free valuation). However, it's not a valuation, as it's the negotiation and deal between the seller and buyer that determines the selling price.
How do I know if the Islington estate agent is the right fit for my home?
It's highly recommended that you are prepared for the appointment with the estate agent. That's why you should download the Islington Seller's Guide. It will tell you the exact questions to ask and guide you through the process. Asking the right questions will allow you to make the best decision.
How do I know if there are many active buyers for my home?
The most common marketing message among estate agents in the UK is that they have buyers actively searching for a home just like yours. However, if that estate agent doesn't have processes in place or the work ethic to find that buyer in their systems, the hundreds of active buyers don't matter.
What if my Islington home doesn't sell?
Take it easy, you just need a change of strategy. More often than not, it means switching estate agents. However, you can't instruct another agent who will just use similar strategies as your first agent. You need someone who can launch your home with a splash and work hard to sell it.
How much is my house worth in Islington?
Your home is only worth what the best buyer available in the current market is willing to pay for it. That's why you must nail the first impression your home makes. You must clean, declutter, and even add a fresh coat of paint if it helps. The photography and video must look exquisite to attract interest.
Is now a good time to sell a property in Islington?
It's always a good time; you just need the right strategy to achieve that goal. There are many estate agents out there that won't use much strategy at all, merely listing it on the portals and waiting for the phone to ring. That's why, across the UK, there are many unsold homes when buyers become cautious.
What are Islington house prices forecast for 2025?
Price growth is right now limited due to the decade-high number of homes available for sale. There are more sales being agreed than in last year. However, buyers are price-sensitive and empowered by the current buyer's market, resulting in sellers adjusting their asking prices to achieve a sale.
How do I prepare my home for sale in Islington?
You must see it from the buyer's perspective. What's the first impression? Is it clean and decluttered? How are the kitchen and bathrooms? Is the garden looking great, and are there walls that could do with new paint? Is the air fresh? Download the Islington Seller's Guide to learn more.
Should I renovate before selling my house in Islington?
Not necessarily, however, your house is not worth a certain price just because it exists. The buyer will pay what they think it's worth. If you can renovate certain aspects, before marketing begins, the difference in selling price might even be more than the renovation costed you.
What taxes do I pay when I sell a property in the UK?
You will likely not have to pay anything. If the property has been your primary residence, you will be exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) because of Private Residence Relief. If the property has been a second home, rental, or investment property, you will likely pay 18% on the profit made.
Do I need an EPC to sell my house in Islington?
Yes, it's a legal requirement that a property for sale has an EPC rating. In fact, marketing of the property cannot begin until an EPC rating is available. The rating is valid for 10 years, so you must check if yours is valid. However, if you've carried out insulation works, it's a great idea to order a new EPC.
How long does it take to sell a house in Islington right now?
It can take roughly between thirty to sixty days to achieve a sale agreed, if your property is priced right from the outset. Then it can take another 60 to 100 days for the conveyancing period to start and complete. Freehold sales are quicker, as leasehold sales require extensive searches by the solicitors.
What are the best estate agents in Islington for selling?
There are many estate agents in Islington and the surrounding areas. You must consider their reviews, and what value they provide. Who is doing property market updates? Who is doing property tours on YouTube? Who is active on social media, to truly showcase to you that they sell homes?
What fees do estate agents in Islington charge?
Fees can range from 3% or above to less than 1%. Whatever you do, never, ever instruct an agent on a fee lower than 1.5%. The thing is, if they are paid so little, why should they then work hard to sell your home? To attract ideal buyers? To get you the highest price and smoothest conveyancing process?
What documents do I need to sell my house in Islington?
You need to prove that you own the property. This can be done by proof of mortgage or utility bills. Your ID and anti-money laundering checks will be carried out by the estate agent as legally required. If you have developed your home, you need the building permission and FENSA-certificate.
Can I sell my house in Islington without an estate agent?
Yes, probably, but not if you want an insecure journey like a roller coaster. Your sale is highly likely to fall through due to non-existent expertise, strategy, and skill. You won't be able successfully defend your asking price, as you're not negotiating on homes on a daily basis as estate agents do.
How much are solicitor/conveyancing fees in Islington?
Solicitors typically charge different fees depending on if your property is owned freehold or leasehold. The conveyancing and searches for a leasehold property are way more extensive than those on a freehold property. They will usually charge an up-front fee, plus a fee for unexpected extra work.
What's the difference between sole agency and multi-agency?
Sole agency means that you instruct one estate agent to sell your home. If the agent finds a buyer, they will be due the agreed fee, even if the buyer completes the sale after the agency agreement has expired. Multi-agency means that many agents are instructed, and will compete to sell your home.
How do I choose the right buyer for my home in Islington?
You must consider many aspects of the buyer and their offer, should you have the luxury to select between offers. The biggest aspect is the details of their chain. The best buyer might not pay the most, but are chain-free, meaning they can proceed without having to sell their current home first.
What are common reasons house sales fall through in Islington?
The most common reason to why house sales fall through in Islington are buyers and sellers getting nervous and backs out or changes their mind about the agreed price. Neither party is bound to the sale until the exchange of contracts, and until then, the deal can be renegotiated or disagreed.
How do I stage my home for viewings in Islington?
Staging your home means to either fully or partly adapt the interior to a contemporary style. A staged home attracts more contemporary buyers, and ultimately, it will allow them to truly envision themselves living in the space. Staged homes tend to sell for more money, with a more motivated buyer.
Do I need to pay capital gains tax when I sell my Islington home?
When you sell your Islington home, you only need to pay capital gains tax (CGT), on the profit made, if the property has been used as a second home, rental, or investment property. If it was your primary residence, you will be exempt from capital gains tax because of Private Residence Relief.
What's the average time to completion after accepting an offer?
The conveyancing stage after the sale has been agreed can be divided in to. The first is the contract stage, with solicitor's extensive property searches. The second is the conveyancing, the transfer of the property. On average, it takes 160 days across the UK, with less time for freehold properties.
Can I sell my Islington house if I haven't paid off the mortgage yet?
Yes, you can sell your Islington house even if you haven't paid off the mortgage yet. What is left is termed equity. The equity in your property is the amount of money you're left with after the mortgage and any other debts secured against the property have been paid off.
What's the average house price in Islington today?
The average asking price is in the 800,000s however it depends on how many bedrooms your property has. At the end of the day, average asking prices are just that: an average. Instead, it's vital that you consult with your personal estate agent on how you can maximise the sale price of your home.
Will house prices in Islington go up or down in 2025?
Prices across Islington are not growing. In fact, they are pretty stagnant. Your home will likely sell for more if you care about the presentation of it, if you enhance that vital first impression, and if you bother doing the work to truly clean, declutter, and remove an excess of personal and religious items.
How do I find the best estate agent to sell my house in Islington?
You must check their reviews, and you must compare at least three estate agents. The best estate agent is not the one with the most listings. It's always the one who has sold the most, for the most money, where they won the client money and didn't reduce the price a ton to reach a sale.