How to speed up your property sale

Cooper Adams are always striving to speed up and smooth out the property buying and selling process.

We've looked at the current system and want to improve it. Our goal is to reduce the time it takes and provide more information upfront to a potential buyer, resulting in fewer sales falling through.

Preparing information before a sale is agreed shaves many weeks off the sale time. A potential buyer reading all the information about the property means nothing is hidden that could put them off at a later date. Transparency is much smarter for all.

What is a 'Buyer Information Pack'

Usually, after a sale is agreed, it's panic stations. A seller and buyer are asked to source a solicitor and instruct them. Then there’s a load of paperwork and ID checks to go through before things could officially get moving on the property sale/purchase. Waiting on these necessary forms and documents hold up a sale and add weeks on to the process.

Instead of waiting until an offer has been agreed, we offer a unique service to help our sellers go through all the necessary paperwork right at the beginning, before we start to market their property. The documents we help prepare include:

Property information form (TA6)
Leasehold information form (TA7) if applicable
Fixtures and fittings form (TA10)

The Government and National Trading Standards require that more material information needs to be provided to potential buyers upfront. Cooper Adams has always been one step ahead and has always provided as much information as possible, far outweighing any requirements.

Getting this ‘buyer information pack’ ready right at the start means that we are prepped to share it with our seller’s solicitor and reduce any potential delays.

We still recommend a seller instructs their solicitor early to open up the file and do the ID checks. The solicitor won't need to obtain Title TA6, TA7, or TA10 as we can email them the link which will also contain other documents relating to the property. This pack is available to the seller, the buyer and their respective solicitors.

What does a 'Buyer Information Pack' contain?

Our (Law Society Approved) Buyer Information Pack is packed with information on the property that will help secure a serious and committed buyer. Here’s what it contains:

Marketing Information

Property Brochure (including photos, property description, square footage, £ per sq foot, whole plot size, local authority, council tax band and cost, tenure, estate fees, if lease the length, ground rent, maintenance fees and what's included) - supplied by Cooper Adams
Floor plan - supplied by Cooper Adams
Location map - supplied by Cooper Adams
Walk around video - supplied by Cooper Adams
Our general FAQ sheet about the property including things like rental value, rental yield, year built, distance to shops and park, meters, services, boiler, loft etc - supplied by Cooper Adams
A report on -[Local sold prices, Title plan, Local mobile & broadband speeds, Planning history, Plot size & floor area, Pounds per square foot, Flood risk, Conservation areas, Local school reports, Leasehold info, Council tax, Energy Performance Certificate, Transport links and Transaction history.] - supplied by Cooper Adams and their partners 'Sprift'.
Any Private estate fees and information ie. most recent invoices and share certificates.

The legal bits

Title Deeds - Office copy entries - Register - Title deeds are the legal documents that record the ownership of a property and any accompanying land with plans. - supplied by Cooper Adams and their partners 'Gazeal'
Title Plans - Office Copy Entries
EPC - The energy performance certificate
The legal TA6 - Sellers Property Information form - Current Law Society edition - 16 pages of legally binding information on the property. - collated by Cooper Adams and their partners 'Gazeal'
The legal TA7 Leasehold Information form - Current Law Society edition - 10 sections of legally binding information on the lease with all costs, if applicable. We also suggest copies of the following, if applicable, (a) recent correspondence and invoices from the managing agents. (b) Share certificate in the management company. (c) Any consents from the Freeholder to matters such as the installation of double glazing which may well be required under the terms of the Lease. - collated by Cooper Adams and their partners 'Gazeal'
The legal TA10 - Fixtures and contents form - Current Law Society edition - A full list of what is included in the sale.- collated by Cooper Adams and their partners 'Gazeal'
We have a Supplemental Enquiries Questionnaire - this form answers most of the questions that come up during enquiries including parts on Conservatories and drainage.

Additional information

Traditionally solicitors 'raise enquiries' when they get a normal draft contract pack. We've looked at the majority of enquiries and added them to the pack. Again speeding up the process. Of course, if there are ambiguities there will need to be some enquiries raised. We also suggest the seller's get their solicitors to check the pack for any gaps or enquiries that would need answering.

We also look to include lots of other information that will crop up such as:

FENSA window certificates for windows installed after 1 April 2002;
Wall or loft Insulation paperwork;
Gas safe certificates;
Electrical work certificates;
Any building insurance claims and information;
Shared driveway or private road contributions;
Warranties, guarantees or receipts for any fixtures fittings or works done on the property, including kitchens and bathrooms;
Details on any extra land included;
Details on works done if a Listed building;
Boiler or heating documents or servicing records;
Solar panel / battery documents with proof of ownership and feed-in tariffs;
Info on extensions and conservatories with planning and building regulation info or council documents to say not needed, and as much info as possible;
Conservatory information - we have a form in our SUPPLEMENTAL ENQUIRIES QUESTIONNAIRE
Non-mains drainage and Septic tank documents including servicing;
NHBC or new build paperwork if under 10 years old;
Burglar alarm documents and service history
If Leasehold: (a) Any recent correspondence and invoices from the managing agents. (b) Share certificate in the management company. (c) Any consents from the Freeholder to matters such as the installation of double glazing which may well be required under the terms of the Lease.
Swimming pool and heating apparatus service history

We are consistently looking at other enquiries that are raised by a buyer's solicitor and add these documents to our lists. Cooper Adams will help our sellers with each item on the list and any form filling, providing our experienced advice at all times.

This process speeds up transaction times by multiple weeks.

Who can see the Buyer Information Pack?

Some of this information is publicly available on our website on each property, some of it we can email a potential buyer as it could be more private information. Security is paramount for us.

The pack is also available by invitation to potential buyers and their solicitors before they offer. An educated buyer is more secure knowing all the ins and outs of a property before any offer is accepted.

How much does a Buyer Information Pack cost?

There is no charge for Cooper Adams to organise this pack and securely store it electronically.

If you have any questions about our Buyer Information Packs please contact the team or phone 01903 791 727.

Want to reduce the risk of a fall through even further? Take a look at our Reservation Agreements.