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10 Most Frequently Asked Questions by Home Sellers
November, 2025

10 Most Frequently Asked Questions by Home Sellers

Selling your home is a big step, and whether it’s your first sale or your fifth, you’re bound to have a few questions along the way. At Shinerocks, we’ve helped countless homeowners in Purley, Croydon, and across Greater London move successfully, and we’ve noticed the same key questions come up time and again.

Here are the ten most common, with straight, practical answers from our team.

1. How do I determine the right price for my home?

Pricing your home correctly is one of the most important parts of selling. Go too high, and you risk sitting on the market; too low, and you could leave money on the table. At Shinerocks, we provide a detailed, no-obligation valuation that looks at:

Recent comparable sales in your local area

Current buyer demand

Seasonal market trends

The individual features and condition of your property

We combine on-the-ground experience with local data to give you a realistic price that attracts interest and delivers the best outcome.

2. Should I make repairs before selling?

Definitely. Buyers tend to judge a home within seconds, so small issues can make a big difference. Focus on repairs that improve first impressions:

Fix leaks, cracked tiles, or peeling paint

Replace worn carpets or broken fittings

Freshen up paintwork in neutral tones

You don’t need a full renovation - just a well-presented, well-maintained home that signals “ready to move into.”

3. How long will it take to sell my home?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some properties for sale in Purley, Croydon and Greater London sell within weeks, while others take longer. Factors that affect your timeline include:

Location and price bracket

Market activity in your area

How your home is presented

The time of year you go to market

We’ll always give you a realistic idea based on current conditions and your property’s unique appeal.

4. What’s the best time to sell?

Traditionally, spring and early summer are popular times to sell - gardens look their best, and buyers are actively searching. However, with our strong marketing and year-round demand, good properties sell in any season. The “right” time often depends on your personal plans and what’s happening locally. If you’re thinking of selling, call us on 020 8660 2010 and we’ll give you an honest opinion based on real-time market insights.

5. Do I really need an estate agent?

Selling privately might seem tempting, but most homeowners underestimate the work involved - from marketing and viewings to negotiation and legal checks. With Shinerocks, you get:

Expert pricing and marketing

Qualified buyer vetting

Professional negotiation to secure the best offer

Guidance from start to finish

Our clients often tell us that having us in their corner takes the stress out of selling - and achieves a stronger result.

6. How should I prepare my home for viewings?

Think of it as setting the stage for buyers to imagine their future there. Start with:

Decluttering rooms and storing personal items

Giving everything a deep clean

Adding fresh flowers or soft lighting for warmth

Tidying outdoor spaces - driveways, gardens, and paths matter

Small touches create a lasting impression, and we can offer specific styling tips to help your home stand out.

7. What are the costs involved in selling?

Budgeting ahead keeps surprises at bay. Typical costs include:

Estate agent fees (we’ll be upfront about ours)

Conveyancing or solicitor fees

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Mortgage redemption or exit fees (if applicable)

Removals or storage costs

Our team can help you plan for these so you have a clear picture from the outset.

8. Should I accept the first offer?

It depends. A first offer can be the best, or just the starting point. We’ll advise you based on:

How the offer compares to market value

Buyer circumstances (for example, cash buyers or chain-free)

Competing interest from other viewers

We handle all negotiations to make sure you don’t miss out on a strong opportunity.

9. What legal paperwork do I need to sell my home?

The legal process, known as conveyancing, requires several documents:

EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)

Property title deeds

TA6 Property Information Form (detailing utilities, boundaries, and fixtures)

TA10 Fixtures & Fittings Form

We’ll help you get everything organised early, so your sale progresses smoothly once you accept an offer.

10. How can I make my home more appealing to buyers?

Presentation sells. Bright, neutral décor, modern lighting, and tidy outdoor spaces can lift your property instantly. Other simple tricks include:

Adding mirrors to increase natural light

Replacing outdated hardware (door handles, taps)

Styling key rooms - kitchens and bathrooms in particular - to feel clean and fresh

If you’d like tailored advice, we’re happy to walk you through what buyers in your area are currently looking for.

What Next?

Selling your property in Purley, Croydon, or Greater London is a major decision, but with the right guidance, it doesn’t need to be daunting. At Shinerocks, we bring decades of local expertise, honest advice, and a personal approach that makes all the difference. If you’re thinking of selling or simply want to know what your home could be worth, call us on 020 8660 2010 or email enquiries@shinerocks.co.uk. Let us help you move forward with confidence.

 

Have any questions?

Use the form to send us your questions and we'll respond as quickly as possible.

You can also call us on 020 8660 2010, or email enquiries@shinerocks.co.uk.


 

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Purley, Croydon & Surrey

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Recent Testimonials

Dear Paul and the ShineRocks team, Thank you! We are delighted that we successfully completed on the sale of The Garth, 12 Welcomes Road on Friday, and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, Claire and the team for all your excellent work on our behalf. We really appreciated your proactivity, frankness, responsiveness and good...

Mr & Mrs F

Very professional, responsive and delivered on promises to the tee

Mr G

Worked hard to find possible buyers. Very professional and friendly staff. Drove the completion by liaising with all parties when things threatened to go pear-shaped. Very satisfied customer

Mrs H-W

Having tried a couple estate agents to sell our house, with no result, we tried ShineRocks. Paul Shinerock was realistic in his valuation, which others had not been and we had a number of viewings. A Christmas present was accepting a very good offer. Unfortunately, the buyer dragged his heels and then at the point of exchange decided to...

Mr P

A great service offered by both Paul and Claire. Sometimes the best thing an agent can do is to convince you to accept an offer and to encourage you to pay more to get the house of your dreams. Had Paul not convinced me to accept the offer on mine I would not have moved. Claire moved heaven and earth to enable me to purchase a property through...

Mr & Mrs W

Very helpful, pleasure to work with, and they offer a great service

Mr L

My house purchase was very complicated, ShineRocks handled it very professionally

Mr H

Claire was our estate agent and she was incredibly professional, always available and kept us completely up to date. A pleasure to buy and sell with

Mrs P

Exceptionally professional and helpful and very knowledgeable. Would highly recommend ShineRocks

Mr P

Excellent service over a period of several months. Always at hand to offer advice and their expertise. Highly Recommend Shinerocks and thank you for all your help

Mr A

I was very pleased with the service - professional yet caring

Mrs L

Very professional and excellent service in a complicated situation which resulted in a positive result. We have purchased 2 homes from Paul in the last 14 years. Claire is remarkable and kept us fully up to speed

Mr P

Very friendly. After a slow start we got on very well and achieved our objective. Particular thanks to Claire

Dr L

Hi Caire, Can you say a massive 'thank you' to Paul for coming to see me. He really gave me some things to think about that had just not crossed my mind. Swapping the bathroom and middle bedroom and adding a bathroom to the main bed room made so much sense, I've got Alan coming over on Saturday to cost it up! I'll definitely...

D

We have recently purchased a property through shinerocks and can honestly say the service we received from Claire was exceptional. She kept us updated regularly and liaised tirelessly between solicitors, vendors and the other agents in what became a difficult and frustrating chain. She was both professional and personable, and we always felt...

M & C

Claire, You're an absolute star! Thank you so much.

Mr and Mrs W

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for your assistance and facilitation of the purchase of our property, and I would relish the opportunity to work with you again in future endeavours.

CT

Just want to say a big thank you for all your help and support.  I know you were not our estate agent but we really felt supported and coached through the whole process and I can't thank you enough. 

M, J &A

Paul, Claire and all the team at ShineRocks have always acted with the utmost professionalism and in my experience have been the best estate agency I have ever encountered.  

Mr D

Dear Claire, Thank you so much for making our dream home come true.  Invitation to the house warming is guaranteed! Much Love

R & N

Hi the ShineRocks Team Would like to say thank you for a great service in completing on our house.  We are totally blessed, we feel so lucky.  Your team with friendly voices were very proactive in updating us.  Paul you have a good team around and to say the least, you have some charm. You are a very nice bunch of people to...

L M

We would like to also comment upon the superb level of professionalism shown by the staff at ShineRocks. Having been to other block bookings we must say that this one was handled to so well. Additionally the advice given regarding parking was most helpful. We will certainly keep an eye out for other properties marketed by you. Kindest...

Mr and Mrs H

Dear Paul How very happy I am to be the lucky chap that has been given the privilege to buy and live in the elegant property. Thank you again for the excellent service provided by ShineRocks. Yours sincerely 

Mr R

Thanks for all your attention - I am impressed with your service and will recommend you to friends. Kind regards 

Mrs A

Dear Paul This is amazing! Thank you and your team very much. Whatever happens now, I know that you all did a fantastic job in achieving this - its unbelievable. Many thanks Kindest regards 

Mrs D

Terrific news. Thank you Paul. With all thanks for your support and help during this process. All best wishes 

Mr H

Thank you so much for all your help with our house move. We appreciate the hard work you put in to finally get us to an exchange date. Your calm approach and sense of humour throughout really helped. Thanks again, 

Mr and Mrs G

Thank you so much for all your work on selling our home. It is much appreciated. Best wishes 

Mr and Mrs R

Thanks again for everything that you have done to get our new home. God bless you. 

Mr and Mrs P

Dear Claire and the 'team' at ShineRocks for all of your help and patience with our purchase.  Best wishes

K and L

Dear Mr Shinerock, thank you so very much for valued advice last Saturday; your remarks and suggestions have certainly got us thinking of the best way to turn! Best wishes

V and K

Dear Paul We are at last beginning to see some order in our new home and have time to catch breath. The move was challenging to say the least as we were downsizing dramatically and had too much to fit in prior to having an extension to create two more rooms and allow us to convert an existing one into a utility room. We would like to take...

G and S S

Good morning Claire, I have been meaning to e mail you since Monday just to say thank you! Mum and I are extremely grateful for all the time you have given us and we really do value your advice and guidance.  We have been in contact with a lot of agents, in fact probably all of the main estate agents around the area and ShineRocks...

S and M

Dear Paul, Well, we got there in the end! Although it was long, complicated and at times, a very stressful journey, we appreciate the help of you and all your team in finally getting us over the finishing line. Best regards

B

Thank you for everything you've done. I couldn't have got through this without you. Putting up with every difficult situation in such a kind way. Thank you so much. 

Mrs P

Paul, Claire and all the team at ShineRocks have always acted with the utmost professionalism and in my experience have been the best estate agency I have ever encountered.

Mr H