Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re looking to buy or sell a property in, you’ll need to go through three main stages: valuation, marketing, and negotiation.

Firstly, one of our property experts will value your home based on its location, size, and condition. Marshall Tonks will then work to market your property to potential buyers.

When a buyer is found, one of our team will negotiate the sale on your behalf, ensuring all legal details are taken care of. This can be a lengthy and complex process, but rest assured we are here to guide you through each milestone.

When looking to buy or sell a property in Flintshire, it’s crucial to stay on top of the current market conditions. The Flintshire, Chester, and Denbighshire property markets are constantly evolving, and factors such as decreased supply, increased interest rates, and fluctuations within the economy can all impact market conditions and the value of your next transaction.

As a buyer or seller, you’ll want to know how these conditions might affect your transaction. Keep yourself informed and feel free to reach out to your local friendly estate (wink wink) who can advise you on the latest market trends in your area.

If you’re wondering how much your property is worth, we often remind customers that there are a variety of factors to consider.

The location, size, and condition of your home, as well as recent sale prices of similar properties in the area, all come into play.

Marshall Tonks can provide a thorough valuation and market appraisal, using our knowledge of the local Flintshire market to give you an accurate assessment.

Trust our expertise, and get a second opinion if you need one – but be sure you get the best possible value for your property by doing your research and gathering as many comparables as possible.

When buying or selling a property, it’s essential to prepare the right documents as quickly as possible to ensure a smooth sale process.

Here are some key ones to consider:

• Buyers should provide two forms of ID, proof of funds, and ideally have a mortgage offer in principle already lined up.
• Sellers need to provide property deeds and other legal documents to ensure they have the rights to sell.

Of course, Marshall Tonks can guide you through the process and ensure you have all the necessary paperwork in order. Trust our expertise to make sure you don’t miss anything crucial!

If you’re buying OR selling a property, the conveyancing process is an important step that’s often overlooked – especially for first-time buyers.

Here’s what you can expect from a typical transaction from Marshall Tonks:

• Conveyancing, simply put, is the legal transfer of ownership of a property from one person to another.
• Conveyancing involves stages such as searches, surveys, and the exchange of contracts.
• A knowledgeable estate agent such as Marshall Tonks can provide support and guidance, working alongside your conveyancer or solicitor.

Stay informed throughout the process and work closely with us to ensure a smooth transaction. Trust your estate agent to guide you every step of the way.

As a property seller, it’s only natural to want to know how long it will take to find a buyer!

But don’t let the fear of a slow sale put you off – there are many factors that influence the process, and with the right strategy, backed by the right team, you can achieve your goals.

Facets such as market demand, the chosen marketing strategy, and various lengthy legal processes can all impact the timeline of a property sale. However, with an experienced estate agent on your side, you can navigate these challenges with confidence.

Marshall Tonks will work with you to develop a marketing strategy that reaches the right buyers and showcases your property’s best features – every time. We’ll also help you stay on top of legal processes, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently without blockers on either side.

While the time it takes to sell a property can vary, trust in your estate agent’s expertise to give you a more accurate idea of the timeline. Remember, selling a property is an exciting opportunity to move onto a new chapter in your life! It’s important to stay positive, stay focused, and trust Marshall Tonks, your local estate agent, to help you achieve your property goals.

If you’re looking to buy or sell a property in Chester, it’s important to consider the various fees involved in the process. This can include legal fees, survey fees, and of course, our estate agent commission for the sale of your property.

When it comes to estate agent fees in Chester, the most common structure is a percentage of the sale price, typically ranging from 1% to 3%. For example, if you sell your property for £300,000 with Marshall Tonks, you will commonly pay a commission rate of 2%, and you would pay £6,000 in fees.

In certain circumstances, we will charge a fee as low as 1.3% – however, your formal fee offer and pricing structure will be broken clearly to you during our initial onboarding.

Remember! It’s important to note that while many estate agent fees and commissions may seem significant, they cover a range of valuable services such as printed, physical and digital marketing, contract negotiation, and legal support. A skilled agent like Marshall Tonks in Chester can help you navigate the complexities of the property market and achieve the best possible outcome for your transaction.

If you’re starting the process of applying for a mortgage, it’s important to be familiar with the key terms you’ll come across – often customers are met with a minefield of new terms to digest and understand.

Here’s a simple guide to help you understand!

1. Completion date: This is the exciting day when you’ll officially become the legal owner of your new property and receive the keys to move in!
2. Conveyancing: This refers to the legal process of buying a house, and it’s important to work with an experienced conveyancer or solicitor to ensure everything goes smoothly. We can recommend some amazing law firms in Chester, Flintshire, and the surrounding areas.
3. Deposit: This is the money you’ll need to put down to secure your mortgage, typically between 5% and 10% of the property’s value (some lenders may ask for more depending on your circumstances).
4. Exchange of contracts: This is the moment when the buyer and seller both sign contracts agreeing to the sale of the property, and it’s when both parties become legally committed to completing the transaction.
5. LTV ratio: This stands for “loan to value ratio” and represents the percentage of your total mortgage loan compared to the value of the property.
6. Mortgage term: This is the length of time over which you’ll repay your mortgage.
7. Mortgage equity: This is the amount of the property’s value that you own, calculated by subtracting the remaining mortgage balance from the property’s value.
8. Offset mortgages: With an offset mortgage, your savings are linked to your mortgage, which means you’ll only pay interest on your mortgage balance minus the total of your savings.
9. Remortgaging: This is when you transfer your current mortgage to a new deal, often with a different lender, once your initial fixed term ends.
10. SVR: This stands for “Standard Variable Rate” and represents the standard interest rate offered by lenders after your initial mortgage deal expires (keep an eye on this!).
11. Survey: It’s recommended to get a survey carried out on any property you’re considering buying, to identify any repairs or maintenance that may need to be done.
12. Valuation: This is a check carried out by a lender to ensure that the value of the property matches the mortgage amount that’s been offered in the mortgage Agreement in Principle.

Mortgage Deed – A mortgage deed is a legal document that gives the lender a secured interest in the property until the mortgage is fully paid off. You’ll sign this document just before the exchange of contracts when you become a new homeowner.

Mortgage Underwriter – A mortgage underwriter is responsible for assessing mortgage applications. They’ll review your financial situation to ensure you meet all of the lender’s requirements. They use information like bank statements, credit reports, and financial history to evaluate your application. If they determine there’s too much risk that you won’t be able to repay the mortgage, your application may be declined.

A mortgage survey, A.K.A a mortgage valuation, is an assessment of the property’s value before lending. Most mortgage lenders require a mortgage valuation survey to be completed before approving your application.

This particular type of survey is not as in-depth as a house survey, which covers the building’s structural risks and a condition report. Some firms can even use online automated valuations, so make sure you know what kind of survey you need to get the deal done.

Once you’ve gone through the full mortgage application process and the lender has completed their checks, you may receive a Mortgage Offer.

This confirms the lender will provide you with the mortgage for the property at the amount requested. This differs from a Mortgage Agreement in Principle, which is only a guide to what you may be able to borrow before making your full application.