When selling, time can be of the essence. How to speed up the sale of your property

In a property market packed with opportunity, there is no time to waste on unnecessary disputes and contractual breaches. Sellers can avoid these by ensuring that they are ready to sell including ensuring the property is compliant and having the necessary documents at hand.

Sellers can do a lot of groundwork so that transactions can be finalised without delays. Being ready to sell means the transaction can be executed as smoothly and expeditiously as possible and avoid the potential of costly contract breaches.

If well attended to, being ready will add value to the transaction and can entice buyers.

Ensure your property is compliant

Ensuring your property is compliant will offer potential purchasers' peace of mind and can avoid costly implications if not addressed at an early stage.

Sellers often make the mistake of waiting until they have an offer, and then as a matter of urgency need to address issues to make the property compliant. Rather, get the property sellable by undertaking the necessary repairs and neatening the property up with a coat of paint and good interior and garden clean up.

Next, get an inspection done and obtain current compliance certificates for aspects such as the plumbing and electricity as well as any additional needs such as a beetle certificate, swimming pool and electric fence. Compliance certificates must be provided to the purchaser and is also required by the banks when a mortgage loan is needed.

Sellers can either facilitate these directly with their own suppliers or make use of an inspection company to get the necessary repairs done and compliance certificates issued.

Approved building plans

Approved plans are often another cause for delay. When the submission of the plan becomes a condition of the sale of the property, or a pre-registration condition of the prospective purchaser's bank, and potential irregularities are detected, this could either delay or even result in cancellation of a transaction.

Especially when there appear to have been renovations or major improvements is advisable for the seller to ensure they have updated plans and that the property is compliant with the plans. Any discrepancies must be rectified before the property goes onto the market to avoid unnecessary delays and avoid the risk of contract breach.

Seller's documentation

Sellers should also have all the necessary identification, approval (where necessary) and property documentation ready upfront. These include the title deed if the property is owned outright and certified copies of identity documents and proof of residence of the property owners as well as any approval of sale if required. If the property is registered in the name of a legal entity such as a company or trust, certified copies of the company or trust documents as well as the necessary resolution will also be required.

By having all the necessary documents in place, the seller can put their property on the market with confidence. It means that once an offer to purchase is accepted, the transaction can move forward quite quickly without unnecessary delays.