How to Sell Your Property
Your home is likely one of your most valuable assets — and when it comes to selling it, experience and local knowledge are everything. At Dreams Estate Agency, we combine over 25 years of industry expertise with an in-depth understanding of the Herne Bay, Whitstable, and wider Kent market.
We’re committed to making your move as smooth, straightforward, and successful as possible — all at a fair, competitive commission rate and on a no sale, no fee basis.
🏠 What’s My Property Worth?
If you’re thinking about selling, your first question is likely: how much is my property worth?
Simply fill in our online form, or call our team, and we’ll arrange a free, no-obligation valuation at a time that suits you.
The Selling Process – Step by Step
📍 1. Market Valuation
One of our experienced sales professionals will visit your property to assess its market value, explain our services, and agree on a tailored marketing strategy.
🛠 2. Prepare Your Property for Viewings
Presentation matters. We’ll offer guidance on how to get your home “buyer ready” — from kerb appeal tips to decluttering and staging rooms. First impressions count, and small improvements can make a big difference to the final sale price.
📸 3. Marketing Your Home
Once your property is ready, we’ll create high-quality marketing materials, including professional photography, 360° virtual tours, and an engaging listing.
Your home will be featured:
On our website
On leading property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla
Across our Facebook, Instagram & TikTok channels
To our active database of registered buyers
In local press and targeted outreach campaigns
⚡ 4. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
You must have an EPC before your property can be actively marketed.
We can arrange this for you through an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor.
Your EPC must be available and displayed on all marketing materials within 28 days of your property going live.
👀 5. Viewings
We offer accompanied viewings at times that work for both you and potential buyers — including evenings and weekends. If you prefer to conduct your own viewings, we’re happy to support that too.
💬 6. Receiving & Negotiating Offers
All offers are communicated to you promptly, both verbally and in writing. We’ll negotiate on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome and guide you through the decision-making process.
📑 7. Instructing a Solicitor
Once a sale is agreed, you’ll need to appoint a licensed conveyancer or solicitor to handle the legal work. If you don’t already have one, we can recommend trusted professionals.
⚖️ 8. Legal Process & Sales Progression
We prepare and issue a Memorandum of Sale, confirming the agreed terms to all parties.
Your solicitor will draft the contract of sale, respond to the buyer’s enquiries, and manage searches.
Throughout, we stay in close contact with all sides to keep the process moving and avoid unnecessary delays.
✍️ 9. Exchange of Contracts
Once both parties are ready and the buyer’s mortgage offer is confirmed, contracts are signed and exchanged.
The buyer pays a deposit (typically 10%), and a completion date is agreed.
🔑 10. Completion Day
The sale is completed when the balance of funds is received.
Ownership legally transfers to the buyer, and we’ll arrange for keys to be handed over — often from our office in Mortimer Street.
Preparing Your Property for Sale – Tips for Success
🌿 Outside
Keep gardens, driveways, and pathways tidy
Remove bins, clutter, and weeds
Park elsewhere during viewings to maximise space
Add a splash of colour with plants or hanging baskets
🛋 Interior
Repair minor issues like scuffed paint or leaky taps
Use neutral décor to appeal to more buyers
Clean thoroughly — especially kitchens and bathrooms
Let in light and fresh air before viewings
Create space by storing away personal items and excess furniture
Consider subtle scents — coffee, fresh linen, or a light fragrance
🐾 Pets
We love them too — but not everyone does! Arrange for pets to be out of the house during viewings when possible.
Viewings & Feedback
Make sure your home is warm, well-lit, and welcoming.
If you’re hosting the viewing, don’t rush — let the buyers explore and picture themselves living there.
We’ll always follow up with viewer feedback to keep you informed and suggest any changes that could help improve results.
📞 Thinking about selling? Call us today on 01227 467 650 or visit our Herne Bay office. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
The Selling Process
For your information, below is our brief guide to the selling process. We will be delighted to provide more detailed information if required.
Market valuation
If you’re thinking of selling (or letting) your property, your main interest is likely to be what it’s worth. To find out, simply fill in and send us the quick form here, and we will be in touch shortly to arrange an appointment. One of our sales team will visit your property to determine its market value, discuss a marketing strategy, and explain our fees and terms of business.
Prepare your property for viewings
Presenting your property in its best possible condition will assist greatly in achieving a speedy sale at a market price. Good first impressions are all important. Further down this page we provide some guidance and tips on preparing and presenting your property in the best possible way.
Marketing the property
Once we have obtained relevant details and taken pictures of your property, we will prepare marketing material and request your approval. We would usually then market your property on our website, on property portal sites, in the local press, and by telephone and mail to suitable waiting purchasers on our books.
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Before marketing a property for sale, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be commissioned. Please see below for more information.
The viewings
Ordinarily a member of our sales team would meet prospective purchasers at your property and show them around. However where the owner prefers to carry out the viewing, this would be fine by us.
Receiving offers
All offers received will be notified to you both by telephone and in writing. As part of our service we will if necessary negotiate between yourself and the purchaser to arrive at a mutually agreed sale price.
Instruct a solicitor
It is at this point that you should instruct your solicitor or conveyancer to act for you and liaise with the purchaser’s solicitor.
Legal work
We will prepare a memorandum of sale, and send it to all parties concerned. Upon receipt your solicitor will prepare a draft contract and send it to the purchaser’s solicitor, who will then make preliminary enquiries, conduct local and land registry searches, and once enquiries are complete, approve the draft contract.
Progressing the sale
As part of our service, during these processes we will keep in regular contact with all parties, ensure that any queries are ironed out, and generally work towards keeping the wheels turning towards a smooth completion.
Exchange of Contracts
Once the legal preliminaries are completed and paperwork prepared, and the purchaser has the necessary finance offer in place, contracts of sale are signed and exchanged, and a deposit usually 10% of the sale price is paid by the purchaser. At this point a date for completion will be agreed.
Completion of sale
Completion takes place when the balance of the purchase price is received, and ownership of the property is transferred. Keys will be handed in to our office, and then passed on the the happy purchaser.
Energy Performance Certificates For Sale Properties (EPCs)
Before marketing a property for sale, you must commission an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC tells you and the prospective buyer how energy efficient your property is, the impact the property has on the environment, and includes recommendations on ways to improve the property’s energy efficiency. You can start marketing your property before the EPC is ready, but it must be made available and added to all marketing material within 28 days. It normally takes two to three days for an EPC to be delivered once you’ve placed the order. EPCs can only be produced by accredited Domestic Energy Assessors.