Relocating in uncertain times

Recent global events can give feelings of anxiety and stress, especially when you are looking to relocate; a time in your life for big changes. With the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit taking place, there’s been big impacts in the stock, property and job markets. It’s especially uncomfortable when you have dreams of career progression and change. You might even be looking to move soon, in just a few months.

You could be moving due to a new job opportunity, or sticking with your current company and occupation, but you require a change of environment due to other reasons, such as the seeking of personal growth, re-energising your life or to be closer to loved ones.

Rest assured, Vivo Property Buyers can help you. We’ll inform you of the factors to be aware of when it comes to relocating, and the best way for you to sell your home to make this a smooth and efficient process.

The 4 key factors in a relocation house sale

There’s a lot to keep track of when you’re looking to move home. For example, if you’re thinking about relocating abroad, the gov.uk website provides information regarding new Brexit rules (concerning European business and travel), and lists of actions for you and your family if applicable.

However, when it comes to selling your house for relocation, there are four key factors that you need to keep in mind:

1. Tight schedules – Relocating involves a lot of deadlines and good time management. So make sure to factor in new job start dates/visas/travel rules to understand how much time you have to sell your house.

2. Flexibility – Unfortunately, selling a house isn’t always a straightforward process, which means you may need to rely on a buyer or third parties to complete your sale. Staying flexible and being open to alternative options can be key to having an efficient house sale.

3. Wasted spend – Coordinating house moves is always complicated and nobody wants to pay a mortgage for a house they are not living in. Waiting for the ‘highest bidder’ for your home may not save you money in the long-run if it takes several months to attract interest.

4. Uncertainty – After hours of planning, the last thing you need is for your house sale to fall through! Think about the people you are relying on and remove all doubt when so much could be on the line financially. Keep on reading to see how Vivo can help you with each one of these factors whether you’re looking to move within the UK or abroad.

Your relocation options

Now that we've covered items to consider concerning selling a house due to relocation, let's look at the next steps:
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Option 1: Selling your house on the open market

Homeowners seeking relocation typically favour selling their homes outright rather than renting out their property. The traditional path of selling on the open market via an estate agent may be preferred, however, if you’re seeking a fast turnaround, this method can be slow and drawn-out.

It may be worth looking at other options if speed is important for you. For example, are selling your house for job relocation and therefore have a set date which you need to move by? The time-consuming nature of the open market route can also end up being costly as you await potential buyers to express interest whilst continuing to fork out on bills and expenses for both your new home and your old home that you no longer reside in.

Factoring in the potential need to travel to and from your old home to negotiate deals and house viewings, the open market path can end up taking a toll in terms of personal and financial stress. It should also be noted that the open market is notoriously unreliable as offers often fall through and break down at many stages in the property chain. This situation can end up being incredibly taxing especially when trying to move forward in your life.

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Option 2: Choosing to rent out your property

When time is not on your side, another option is to rent out your house temporarily. In recent years there have been a growing number of accidental landlords taking this approach due to the slow-moving nature of the UK’s housing market.

Our advice to you here at Vivo, if this is your preferred option, would be to make certain that you comprehensively meet the legal prerequisites for your mortgage and insurance. Once this is taken care of, there are many property apps available which will assist you in quickly finding tenants, however the supervision of the property and tenant concerns can prove to be stressful when you are relocating.

If you’d rather not find the tenants and manage the renting of your property in this way your other option is to use a property management company to oversee the daily operations, although this can be expensive and can eat into profits.

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Option 3: Vivo can buy your home

We’ve discussed the options available to you including some of their perks, but also their drawbacks. However the final option we suggest would be to use a fast property buyer like Vivo. Offering a fast and secure option, it can allow you to easily and efficiently release funds that will allow you to move on, literally and figuratively.

Vivo can buy your house in as little as 7 days and remove the uncertainty and unpredictability of an open-market house sale. With less time spent selling, it allows for a smoother relocation. This faster approach could also mean you won’t miss out on your ideal new home due to external circumstances.

If you’re in the middle of relocation and want a fast, secure sale, contact us now and get a free, no-obligation offer within 24 hours.

How the Vivo process works

Why you can trust Vivo

It’s important to note that we are a member of the National Association of Property Buyers, to provide you with extra assurance. We encourage you also to do your own valuation (three different estate agents is generally recommended) so that you can decide on if the difference in asking prices for your property is worth it to you for the expedited purchase of your home.

Also feel free to shop around and see what other quick house sale companies will offer you for your property, don’t commit too early in your process until you have all the information you need at hand to make a confident decision. Your property is what you’ve worked hard all your life for, we understand this at Vivo and don’t take this for granted. We want you to feel safe and comfortable in whatever it is you choose to do with your property as it relates to your relocation.

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What is a probate house sale?

When someone dies without a will, the sale of their property can then be sold in probate. Probate is a legal process where the court gives someone the legal right to manage the estate of the deceased.

When is probate required?

Probate is usually required before a house can be sold if the deceased was the sole owner of the property. A sale cannot be completed without a Grant of Probate being issued by the Probate Registry and being provided to a solicitor. However, you are still able to put the property on the market and accept offers before probate is granted.

Depending on how complicated the estate is, this can impact the time frame of which you should expect to receive a grant of probate, which can be anything between 3-6 months. It’s vital to begin the process of obtaining probate in the early stages of planning to sell the property to minimise the overall timescale.

How long does it take to sell a house through probate?

Once the seller has received their Grant of Probate, the process of selling a house through probate can takes months, or even years for complex probate house sales if you’re selling on the open market. However, by instructing a trusted fast property buying company such as Vivo, we could buy your home in as little as 7 days.

As we use our own funds, we are readily available to buy properties much faster than if you were to sell on the open market, allowing you and your family to focus on grieving while we deal with the sales process, as well as support with covering all legal fees. Selling a house is stressful enough, so adding the death of a loved one makes it an even more difficult process. We are committed to adapting to your situation and can be flexible with timeframes. All our sales are secure and private so you can rest assured knowing that you are in control of your sale.

Selling a house while in probate

Losing a loved one is hard, whether it’s a partner, friend or relative – and that’s before the complex bureaucratic and financial issues. Following a bereavement and amidst organising a funeral and sorting the will, a quick bereavement house sale might make this difficult time more bearable.

Selling a house after the death of a parent, or inheriting a property from a loved one requires an experienced and professional team who understand the sensitivities of the probate sale process.

Tips for dealing with a loved one’s possessions following bereavement

 

The pain of loss can be immense, that, combined with having to also sell the home you grew up in can lead to a feeling of overwhelmingness. The thought of having to go through your loved ones belongings can be enough to not want to deal with it at all. However, there are some ways you can make the process a little faster and easier to deal with:

1. Break down sorting through possessions into rooms and sessions, and set yourself milestones. Putting in place a schedule can help keep things moving along when you feel overwhelmed.

2. Speak to your friends and family to help you decide what you want to do with your loved one’s possessions, there are some amazingly creative options that can provide you with a priceless connection for a lifetime. For example, your grandad’s favourite shirt can be transformed into a cushion, helping you to keep their memory alive.

3. Decluttering a relative’s house can involve learning to deal with your own grieving process. By taking photos of the home before you begin de-cluttering, you can more easily distinguish between items that hold memories that you’d like to keep and items that have little to no value if you were to sell it but find hard letting go of.

General tips for dealing with bereavement and selling a house

Here at Vivo we understand that selling a house after the death of a parent or loved one is tough and we would like to share a few tips that will help ease the process for you…
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Secure the property

If the house is now unoccupied it is important that you secure the property accordingly to protect any of the previous owner’s possessions. It may be worth popping in every now and again just to check that all is intact. And, for an extra sense of security, you could set a timer on the lights to give the house a lived-in look to passers-by.

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Care for the pets

Pets are often left to others in a will, however, they’ll still need looking after during the time in-between. Ensure that they are fed and seen to appropriately or if you’re unable to take them into your own home, ask another relative or temporarily place them in care.

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Cancel subscriptions

In times of grief, sometimes the smallest of things such as recurring orders and subscriptions are overlooked. Make sure you cancel orders and services such as gardeners, cleaners and the milk to avoid any unexpected charges.

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Sell the house quickly

The property market is continually changing so it can be near impossible to know how quickly your house will sell. Furthermore, the longer the sales process is drawn out, the longer it’ll take to begin fully moving on with your life. We understand that a bereavement house sale is a tough and emotional process, that’s why we offer private house sales that are quick and flexible. After the sale is completed and the funds are received, we’re happy to let you stay in your property for a couple of weeks rent-free until you’ve found your feet. There is no rush once the exchanged has happened which may be useful in your situation.

Probate house sale process

We recognise that while grieving, the last thing you want to deal with is selling a property. Selling a house in probate can be long and complicated process that can also feel emotionally straining, stressful and time consuming.

At Vivo, we make selling your sold as seen private house sale fast and simple, so simple in fact you can do it in just a few steps.

 

Our stress-free and fast process to selling your house in probate

1. Apply for a Grant of Probate
Fill in the form to apply for a Grant of Probate and pay an application fee.

2. Pay Inheritance Tax
Before probate can be granted, the inheritance tax due on the late person’s estate must be paid.

3. Get in touch with Vivo to request a valuation
You will receive a full Offer Package within 24 hours. This includes prices, a timeline which suits you, and all that is included in our quick sale service.

4. Survey Time
We will then arrange for an independent RICS Surveyor to carry out a free valuation at your property complying social distancing measures

5. Get your formal offer
Once you have accepted the Formal Offer, the sale, the agreed price and timescales are locked in and secured and the appointed solicitors get to work.

6. Sale is now secured
You will now receive the full funds within the agreed timescales

Vivo is a fast option for probate house sales

We appreciate that the impact of losing a loved one may have changed the way you feel about selling your home. It’s not just about a quick sale, you need a buyer you can trust, who will listen to your circumstances, and can buy your right away with minimal disruption. Below, we’ve highlighted the differences of selling your home to Vivo versus the open market.

Vivo
Open Market
✓ Sale within your desired timescales (as fast as 1-3 weeks) ✘ Average sale - 3-6 months
✓ No viewings ✘ Average of 10 viewings
✓ Vivo covers all legal fees with no commissions ✘ Estate agent fees, solicitor fees, cosmetic repairs
✓ No-obligation offer in 24 hours ✘ Average of 2 months to accept an offer
✓ Private and discrete sale ✘ No privacy or discretion, FOR SALE board, block viewings.
✓ Accept our formal offer and your sale is secure ✘ One in four house sales in the UK fall through

Why choose Vivo?

Vivo can help

At Vivo, we understand that you might still be coping with bereavement and truly hope that the above advice answers some doubts you may have around what to do next with the house. We appreciate the complexities that come with selling a house in probate and that it is an emotionally straining and stressful time. With this in mind, you should opt for a company who buys houses outright and fast – eliminating the stress of waiting for the house to sell or the sale to go through.

We’re here to offer an alternative to an open market sale by offering a fast and guaranteed cash sold as seen private sale, while avoiding estate agents’ commissions and solicitors legal fees. By buying your property quickly and securely, we can help you move on to the next chapter of your life.

If you’re still unsure and have further questions on how our service works, check out our FAQs page where we answer many of our most frequently asked questions.

If you would like to know more, please call us on 0800 773 4922 or fill in our quick contact form.

Our customers come first

A very efficient property sale despite legal complexities arising out of probate. All achieved within the desired 4 week timescale enabling me to relocate on time. I would recommend Vivo to anyone that requires a quick transaction.

Andrew Russel September 2020

Happy Vivo customer

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There is nothing more frustrating than a house sale falling through at the last minute, especially if an unexpected issue arises in your property chain that causes it to break and collapse. With one out of five house sales failing due to property chain problems, it’s an issue many people face. You may be new to a property chain or stuck in a sluggish one, but as specialist fast house buyers, Vivo has helped many people sell their house quickly in this situation. Here, we explain property chain terminology and share how we offer a chain free house sale alternative to help you if you’re involved in a broken property chain.

What is a property chain?

The term ‘property chain’ is used to describe the link between a series of property buyers and sellers, all of which are connected by one another’s property.

The chain starts with someone who is only buying (for example a first-time buyer) and ends with someone who is only selling (and not looking to buy). When selling your home, the preferred scenario is to be in a chain-free property sale, meaning:

  • A house is being sold by an owner who is not needing to buy a new property to move into – often referred to as a no onward chain
  • A buyer who is not needing to sell in order to buy the house – this means the property chain has a defined endpoint

A chain free property sale carries a lot less risk or uncertainty and has a much higher chance of going ahead within a reasonable timescale. Unfortunately, only 10% of all property transactions in the UK are chain free, so selling on the open market can often be a frustrating experience.

Why may a property chain break?

When buying a house in a chain, as all transactions are linked together, everything needs to go smoothly for the property chain not to break. One of the reasons that selling a house is one of the most stressful life events is that issues in the notably volatile chain often slows things down or causes a house sale to fall through. It can be as simple as a party having a change of heart about their purchase or sale, or other factors such as family issues, illness, or redundancy. Other reasons that may cause the property chain to break are:

  • A survey unveils issues with the property such as structural problems or asbestos leading to the buyer or lender not wanting to proceed
  • A party failing to obtain a mortgage
  • A down-valuation by a lender resulting in a buyer not being able to be lent the full amount needed
  • A house seller is unable to find a property to buy and is therefore unable to continue the sale of their current house
  • Someone within the chain may simply not want to move
  • State of the marketing i.e Covid-19 may cause people to back out due to uncertainty
  • Legal paperwork has taken too long to be filled out by a legal firm and buyer loses interest
  • Change in personal circumstances i.e redundancy, illness, or divorce
  • A party being Gazumped: meaning a seller accepting a higher offer from a new buyer. In the UK, it is only after you have exchanged that an offer is legally binding, not at the negotiation stage. This detail makes Gazumping a regular occurrence
  • A party being Gazundered: meaning a buyer reduces their offer at the last minute, which may result in the seller being unable to accept and the chain breaking

What problems do broken property chains cause?

On average, it takes 3 to 4 months from a seller finding a buyer for their property to exchanging and finally completing the sale. Often a property chain breaks halfway down the line or very close to the planned exchange date. Consequently, the property must now be put back on the market, a new buyer needs to be found and the legal process needs to start from scratch with the hope that this time around all will proceed smoothly. As you can imagine, it can easily take a year or more to sell a property. However, for people either relocating for work, wanting to move to be within a catchment area of a school, or for a couple moving in together or divorcing, they need a greater degree of certainty and a clearer idea of when their sale will go through so they can plan their next move.

A break in the property chain can be costly

Furthermore, selling and buying a house can be costly over time. There are agent fees, solicitors’ costs and survey fees involved, together with the usual monthly running cost of the property (council tax, utility bills). Thus, a broken-down chain can, unfortunately, be pretty expensive and the longer your property is on the market the more it can harm your chances of finding a suitable buyer. This is because online property portals such as Rightmove share a ‘property’s history’ with their users. As a result, a property which has been advertised online for a lengthy period of time tends to be less desirable to buyers as they take the assumption that something must be wrong with the property.

Naturally a good amount of property sales, even with chains involved, do reach the finish successfully. But for those where issue arise, it can be a very stressful time.

Tips on avoiding a property chain collapse

  • If possible, try to avoid getting in a property chain in the first place, if you are a seller, consider a chain free property e.g. first time buyer or use a house buying company, this could be the fastest way to sell your home and provides a guaranteed sale once an offer is accepted.
  • Consider buying a new build. There is no upward chain with this type of property as the house is available to be bought or sold right away. You won’t need to rely on a homeowner buying a new house before closing the deal.
  • Be sure to employ experienced estate agents and conveyancing solicitors rather than using cheaper alternatives. It’s the job or the professionals to keep the chain moving, by using a well established company they will be familiar with the process and should be able to mitigate any issues that arise much quicker. Use online reviews platforms like Trustpilot to check out their digital reputation.
  • Stay on top of your finances ensuring everything is in place on your end, for example making sure your cash deposit is ready for when the time comes to exchange to assist in the process running smoothly.

 

How to fix property chain problems

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Constant Communication

By staying in regular contact with other people in the chain, you can manage these relationships effectively with progress checks on a regular basis and increase the chances of maintaining the property chain.

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Rented Accommodation

If your seller has pulled out, consider moving into short-term rented accommodation so you can still sell your house while renting until you find another property to buy.

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Bridging Loans

Bridging loans allow you to borrow money against your current property through short-term, high-interest loans and help to bridge the gap between the sale date and completion date in a chain.

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Sell your home to a Fast House Buying Company

If your buyer has pulled out, you have the option to sell to a fast house buying company at a discounted price, within a short time frame.

How can selling to Vivo help you?

If your sale has fallen through due to a broken property chain, or your sale is not showing any signs of progress due to other parties within the chain, get in touch with Vivo for a friendly chat and see if selling to chain free house buyers could work for you.

Selling to Vivo means you are selling chain-free. We break the chain by buying your property unconditionally with our own cash. Once you accept our offer, no third party such as lenders or investors can stand in the way of the transaction going through!

Here are other benefits of selling your property to Vivo:

  • Accept our offer and your sale is guaranteed
  • We’re flexible: you choose the timescales by which you wish to receive your money and move. It’s in your hands, you’re welcome to stay in your property rent-free for a few weeks after receiving the funds to help you find your feet
  • We’re fast: we can buy your home in as little as 5 days
  • We buy with our own cash: this means there are no delays due to lenders or investors being involved.
  • We’re available 24/7, and as we’re a small company you will always be able to speak to the same person, directly.
  • We pay all fees connected to the sale, such as legal fees and surveys
  • The price we offer is the full amount you will receive, no nasty, last-minute surprises
  • We offer 85% of the estimated current market value of the property in return for a very quick, easy and guaranteed sale.

We may be the right buyer for you but if we are not, we would tell you and advise you on your next steps and we are more than happy to give you impartial advice on your situation. By buying your property, we can help you move on to the next chapter of your life. We’re here to offer an alternative to an open market sale by offering a quick and guaranteed cash sale.

Feel free to fill in the short form below to receive a no-obligation offer within a day. Or contact us toll-free on 0800 773 4922 for a chat.

BEST RATED FAST PROPERTY BUYER ON TRUSTPILOT

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What are your next steps?

While most of our customers choose to sell their house fast to us for convenience and peace of mind, we have also recognised that we’re a great solution for those going through a difficult time, particularly when a property has been inherited.

We understand that selling an inherited house isn’t an easy thing to do and we’re very sensitive to this topic. At Vivo, we’re proud to offer a personal service where you get to talk directly to us (your home buyers). There are no frustrating and impersonal call centres and there isn’t a high pressure corporate “close a sale at all costs” culture with Vivo.

We’ve found previous clients enjoyed these benefits for selling their inherited property to Vivo rather than the open market.

  • Losing someone is hard enough as it is. Selling a property in any situation is a stressful thing in itself. A combination of those two is understandably very unwelcome. Many of our clients prefer it to be dealt with in good time without any hiccups.
  • Often inherited properties are not in the same area as our client’s hometown, making it difficult to find a good local agent and maintain the property whilst waiting for a buyer.
  • Most people don’t have the extra time available to deal with more admin work and maintenance work which a property brings along.
  • In many situations, a property has been inherited by several siblings or other family members. Issues such as who looks after the property, who deals with the financial side of things, who is in charge, can create a lot of friction which is a real shame. A quick sale is often desired to avoid all this.

We would encourage you to also seek out quality and impartial advice elsewhere online. Inheritance tax rules have changed over the years, so we would always suggest starting at the Citizens Advice which will direct you to the relevant and importantly, up to date Government pages and advice. The Money Advice Service also have a great guide on understanding inheritance tax and how to reduce your tax bill.

It’s unfortunate that rows over inheritance are becoming more common and we hope that’s something you’re not experiencing. It normally comes as a surprise, but nearly two-thirds of the UK population do not have a will. Every family and inheritance situation is different, but if you are currently selling an inherited property and feel like we can help, then feel free to call us on 0800 773 4922 for a no obligation friendly chat or complete a quick form below. If you’re still not sure, we even built a handy quiz which can help you decide if Vivo Property Buyers is right for you.

Whatever you decide, we wish you the best of luck.

 

For our latest piece of property advice, we look at the potential of downsizing, and why Vivo may work for you if you are looking to relocate to a cosier abode. But firstly:

What is downsizing?
In the property industry, ‘downsizing’ is the act of moving from a large property to a smaller home. Here we have outlined how downsizing your house doesn’t have to be difficult.

Why would I want to downsize?
Downsizing is a common, natural and logical move to make for most people in the UK, particularly when homeowners are nearing the age of retirement. Another motivation for downsizing is when homeowners’ children have ‘flown the nest’ leaving them with a large property or ‘empty nest’, one that no longer suits the needs of its occupants. Living in a property that is noticeably large can also be lonely and distinctly unhomely too. People often find themselves only living in certain areas of the house, leaving substantial sections of the home unused, such as additional bedrooms and large gardens. However, homeowners still have to pay for the areas of the house that they no longer use (such as general utility bills) and spend time maintaining the property which can be tiresome. Ultimately, you want your property to cater to what is important for you, and more often than not a smaller, cosier home reflects this, than a larger, family home.

7 benefits of downsizing your home include:

If you feel that selling your home to Vivo is the right choice for you, get in touch with us by filling in the short form below and we can make you an offer in under an hour. If you want some inspiration for really smaller properties, read our Tiny Houses Guide!

George wanted to downsize but didn’t feel comfortable having lots of people view his house. We made an offer George was happy with and once we were all agreed and our solicitors were instructed, George started looking for another, smaller property to buy. We agreed with George that he was welcome to stay in the house until his new purchase completed. This way, George had the guarantee of having enough money to buy the new place, and still had a place to live in the meantime. Once his new purchase was ready to complete, full funds were released and George moved into the new apartment.

Here’s what George had to say about selling his home to Vivo Property Buyers:

I am extremely pleased with the whole thing because the people I dealt with where honest & kind and made me feel comfortable in all aspects of the sale. Many thanks to them.

As a nation of proud homeowners, the prospect of house repossession is rather distressing. Getting onto the property ladder is hard work and often requires lots of planning, saving, and a bit of luck. Sometimes, however, events out of our control happen, such as suddenly being made redundant, meaning that you are no longer able to meet the mortgage repayments set by your mortgage lender. Consequently, this initiates the scenario of having your home repossessed. This means your mortgage lender starts the process of taking back ownership of your property, meaning that you may lose your home. This is a horrible and stressful situation but can sadly happen to anyone. The Ministry of Justice recently announced that between January and March 2016, 4,738 mortgage possession claims were recorded in county courts in the UK.

Therefore, if you feel that you will not be able to complete a mortgage repayment on time and find yourself threatened with eviction it is vital that you act quickly and find out all available options you can take to stop the house repossession from happening. Always contact your lender as soon as possible and be clear with them about your situation. By being upfront and honest, defining how much you owe, you can always renegotiate payment plans and work together to find a solution. Furthermore, try to educate yourself as much as possible about home repossessions scenarios, seek advice from organisations such as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and understand what you and your mortgage lenders’ rights are to ensure that everything in this process is legal and upstanding.

However, if you have exhausted all other options and it has come to the stage where house repossession is looking increasingly likely, the idea of selling your home will naturally arise. Quite often, rather than taking your home outright, mortgage lenders will seek to sell your home to a new buyer. Unfortunately, having your mortgage lender sell your home rather you selling it outright will not put you in a fantastic position as it will negatively affect your credit score. In testing times, you do not want a negative credit rating to add to your worries.

Can we help you?

If you’re new to the idea of selling your house to fast property buyers, here are our top tips and advice for when you make a decision.

If you are in need of help regarding house repossession, why not give us a quick call by free phoning 0800 773 4922 to see how Vivo can help you. If you want a bit more privacy, fill in the quick form below and we can give you an offer for your house in an hour.

What is a probate house sale?

When someone dies without a will, the sale of their property can then be sold in probate. Probate is a legal process where the court gives someone the legal right to manage the estate of the deceased.

When is probate required?

Probate is usually required before a house can be sold if the deceased was the sole owner of the property. A sale cannot be completed without a Grant of Probate being issued by the Probate Registry and being provided to a solicitor. However, you are still able to put the property on the market and accept offers before probate is granted.

Depending on how complicated the estate is, this can impact the time frame of which you should expect to receive a grant of probate, which can be anything between 3-6 months. It’s vital to begin the process of obtaining probate in the early stages of planning to sell the property to minimise the overall timescale.

How long does it take to sell a house through probate?

Once the seller has received their Grant of Probate, the process of selling a house through probate can takes months, or even years for complex probate house sales if you’re selling on the open market. However, by instructing a trusted fast property buying company such as Vivo, we could buy your home in as little as 7 days.

As we use our own funds, we are readily available to buy properties much faster than if you were to sell on the open market, allowing you and your family to focus on grieving while we deal with the sales process, as well as support with covering all legal fees. Selling a house is stressful enough, so adding the death of a loved one makes it an even more difficult process. We are committed to adapting to your situation and can be flexible with timeframes. All our sales are secure and private so you can rest assured knowing that you are in control of your sale.

Selling a house while in probate

Losing a loved one is hard, whether it’s a partner, friend or relative – and that’s before the complex bureaucratic and financial issues. Following a bereavement and amidst organising a funeral and sorting the will, a quick bereavement house sale might make this difficult time more bearable.

Selling a house after the death of a parent, or inheriting a property from a loved one requires an experienced and professional team who understand the sensitivities of the probate sale process.

Tips for dealing with a loved one’s possessions following bereavement

 

The pain of loss can be immense, that, combined with having to also sell the home you grew up in can lead to a feeling of overwhelmingness. The thought of having to go through your loved ones belongings can be enough to not want to deal with it at all. However, there are some ways you can make the process a little faster and easier to deal with:

1. Break down sorting through possessions into rooms and sessions, and set yourself milestones. Putting in place a schedule can help keep things moving along when you feel overwhelmed.

2. Speak to your friends and family to help you decide what you want to do with your loved one’s possessions, there are some amazingly creative options that can provide you with a priceless connection for a lifetime. For example, your grandad’s favourite shirt can be transformed into a cushion, helping you to keep their memory alive.

3. Decluttering a relative’s house can involve learning to deal with your own grieving process. By taking photos of the home before you begin de-cluttering, you can more easily distinguish between items that hold memories that you’d like to keep and items that have little to no value if you were to sell it but find hard letting go of.

General tips for dealing with bereavement and selling a house

Here at Vivo we understand that selling a house after the death of a parent or loved one is tough and we would like to share a few tips that will help ease the process for you…
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Secure the property

If the house is now unoccupied it is important that you secure the property accordingly to protect any of the previous owner’s possessions. It may be worth popping in every now and again just to check that all is intact. And, for an extra sense of security, you could set a timer on the lights to give the house a lived-in look to passers-by.

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Care for the pets

Pets are often left to others in a will, however, they’ll still need looking after during the time in-between. Ensure that they are fed and seen to appropriately or if you’re unable to take them into your own home, ask another relative or temporarily place them in care.

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Cancel subscriptions

In times of grief, sometimes the smallest of things such as recurring orders and subscriptions are overlooked. Make sure you cancel orders and services such as gardeners, cleaners and the milk to avoid any unexpected charges.

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Sell the house quickly

The property market is continually changing so it can be near impossible to know how quickly your house will sell. Furthermore, the longer the sales process is drawn out, the longer it’ll take to begin fully moving on with your life. We understand that a bereavement house sale is a tough and emotional process, that’s why we offer private house sales that are quick and flexible. After the sale is completed and the funds are received, we’re happy to let you stay in your property for a couple of weeks rent-free until you’ve found your feet. There is no rush once the exchanged has happened which may be useful in your situation.

Probate house sale process

We recognise that while grieving, the last thing you want to deal with is selling a property. Selling a house in probate can be long and complicated process that can also feel emotionally straining, stressful and time consuming.

At Vivo, we make selling your sold as seen private house sale fast and simple, so simple in fact you can do it in just a few steps.

 

Our stress-free and fast process to selling your house in probate

1. Apply for a Grant of Probate
Fill in the form to apply for a Grant of Probate and pay an application fee.

2. Pay Inheritance Tax
Before probate can be granted, the inheritance tax due on the late person’s estate must be paid.

3. Get in touch with Vivo to request a valuation
You will receive a full Offer Package within 24 hours. This includes prices, a timeline which suits you, and all that is included in our quick sale service.

4. Survey Time
We will then arrange for an independent RICS Surveyor to carry out a free valuation at your property complying social distancing measures

5. Get your formal offer
Once you have accepted the Formal Offer, the sale, the agreed price and timescales are locked in and secured and the appointed solicitors get to work.

6. Sale is now secured
You will now receive the full funds within the agreed timescales

Vivo is a fast option for probate house sales

We appreciate that the impact of losing a loved one may have changed the way you feel about selling your home. It’s not just about a quick sale, you need a buyer you can trust, who will listen to your circumstances, and can buy your right away with minimal disruption. Below, we’ve highlighted the differences of selling your home to Vivo versus the open market.

Vivo
Open Market
✓ Sale within your desired timescales (as fast as 1-3 weeks) ✘ Average sale - 3-6 months
✓ No viewings ✘ Average of 10 viewings
✓ Vivo covers all legal fees with no commissions ✘ Estate agent fees, solicitor fees, cosmetic repairs
✓ No-obligation offer in 24 hours ✘ Average of 2 months to accept an offer
✓ Private and discrete sale ✘ No privacy or discretion, FOR SALE board, block viewings.
✓ Accept our formal offer and your sale is secure ✘ One in four house sales in the UK fall through

Why choose Vivo?

Vivo can help

At Vivo, we understand that you might still be coping with bereavement and truly hope that the above advice answers some doubts you may have around what to do next with the house. We appreciate the complexities that come with selling a house in probate and that it is an emotionally straining and stressful time. With this in mind, you should opt for a company who buys houses outright and fast – eliminating the stress of waiting for the house to sell or the sale to go through.

We’re here to offer an alternative to an open market sale by offering a fast and guaranteed cash sold as seen private sale, while avoiding estate agents’ commissions and solicitors legal fees. By buying your property quickly and securely, we can help you move on to the next chapter of your life.

If you’re still unsure and have further questions on how our service works, check out our FAQs page where we answer many of our most frequently asked questions.

If you would like to know more, please call us on 0800 773 4922 or fill in our quick contact form.

Our customers come first

A very efficient property sale despite legal complexities arising out of probate. All achieved within the desired 4 week timescale enabling me to relocate on time. I would recommend Vivo to anyone that requires a quick transaction.

Andrew Russel September 2020

Happy Vivo customer

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Vivo Property Buyers is the trading name for Potrell London Ltd, The Ashridge Business Centre 121 High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 2DJ.

©2021 Vivo