After the paperwork is done

Believe it or not, as many of our clients will tell you, signing the offer to purchase agreement on a property is actually the beginning of a long process and not necessarily the end.

Yes, for sellers, this means the end of show days and the pressure to keep your home in tip top condition to give the best impression should anyone drop in for a last minute look. For buyers it means an end to viewing multiple options.

But, it is also the beginning of an administrative journey when you might feel bombarded by all the legalese and requests for documents and certificates. If there is anything that you are uncertain about, please contact your Tyson Properties agent who will either explain or find the answers for you. Also remember that Tyson Properties is on hand to give advice and assist when it comes to obtaining electricity or gas clearance certificates or even identifying the right removal service.

We're here to build relationships because we know that, if you trust us and feel that we have gone that extra mile and helped make the move as easy as possible, you will return to us if you want to buy or sell a property again. We invest in building relationships.

Over the years, I've also seen that the relationship between the seller and the buyer is important, so here are a few tips when it comes to handing over your much loved property to its new owner:

• Don't morph from the friendly seller who opened the door for a viewing with a smile to the grumpy seller who views any enquiries or visits as an intrusion. Rather view the process as a partnership and try to help the new owner as much as possible.
• Try to set up a meeting with your buyer just before the move and go through various features - irrigation systems, technical issues and features such as security systems and even ovens and appliances, pool pumps etc.
• Allow your buyer to measure for curtains or blinds ahead of their move.
• Provide your buyer with a list of service providers that you have used - the security company who looked after your property, garden and pool services, plumbers, electricians, the person who serviced your automated gates etc. Put them in touch with neighbours and neighbourhood security groups.
• Be practical - leave any globes that you might not be using in your new home, left over paint so that the new owner can patch walls or even buy more to match after an alteration. Leave behind spare tiles in case of cracks or repairs and instruction booklets for ovens, air conditioners and other appliances or systems.
• Remember that changing addresses is an arduous process - make sure you leave a forwarding address for any mail that might arrive or a number to let you know to collect it.
• Leave the house clean - nobody wants to spend days cleaning and shampooing carpets before they unpack. Remove big items ahead of moving out - don't hide that old canoe behind a bush in the garden and expect the new owner to dispose of it.
• Make sure that there's a key for every lock and tag all keys clearly, identifying which room they belong to and which gates they fit. Make sure that all remotes are operating and batteries aren't flat.
• Finally, you can even leave a welcoming note or gift for the new home owner.