Buying your first home was probably pretty daunting, but now it's time to sell your property. So what do you need to know?

You can find other guides on specific areas, but here is are some top tips to help you move up the property ladder swiftly and with ease.

From costs to clutter, this is an overview of the process, helping you to prepare for the selling process:

• Estate agent fees. Before you instruct an agent, do your homework and find out about the costs involved.
• Sellers and landlords are required to provide an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) for the property in question. Properties are rated from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). They are valid for 10 years. These are provided by a Domestic Energy Assessor, who will visit your property and inspect key items, including loft insulation, boilers and windows. This must be in place before an estate agent markets your property for you. For more information, take a look at the gov.uk site.
  
• Conveyancing fees should also be factored into your calculations.
• While the experience of your first purchase will help you to search for your next home, selling your first home is an entirely new process and one that requires careful guidance.
• Enlisting the help of an estate agent can be invaluable in guiding you along the way, ensuring the process runs smoothly.
• Once you have chosen an estate agent, it is a good idea to discuss with them exactly what you hope to achieve from your sale. Whether you’re looking for the best possible price or a quick sale, they will be able to advise on the best strategy for success from the initial valuation and to the timing of marketing your property, to negotiating and securing the deal.
• This will help the agent to tailor their service to your specific needs and achieve the desired results for your home.
• As a first-time seller, you are typically in a strong position as your home is likely to be sought-after by a large pool of buyers trying to secure their first step on the property ladder.

• This target market of first-time buyers tend to look for properties they can move straight into, which will work with their busy schedules. So it’s important to give your home a once-over and ensure you present it at its best. If your home hasn’t been decorated in a few years, then give it a fresh lick of paint. It is also a good idea to declutter and move your furniture into symmetrical positions for that simple yet classic look which is attractive to a wide range of buyers.
• A starting point is to remember what attracted you to your home in the first place and make the most of those strengths. Doing this before any professional photographs are taken will ensure your home looks at its best on your estate agent’s website and the property search portals.
• When it comes to viewings, using an estate agent is a real benefit. It is likely that you are too busy with work and other commitments to provide the flexibility that many buyers require for viewings. Handing this task over to the estate agent also encourages buyers to give an honest opinion of how they perceive your home. Your agent can then discuss this with you, giving you the opportunity to make amendments for the next viewing.
• Once you have a buyer in place, shop around for the right conveyancer or solicitor to handle your sale. Their unparalleled knowledge is the key to finalising a sale and they will manage the final proceedings, taking the stress out of your hands.
  

For a free no-obligation valuation, click here to get in touch with your local Guild agent.