General Questions
Why are your prices cheaper than traditional high street agents?
What’s the difference between Seven Keys and high street agents?
How does selling online compare to the high street?
Do I need an EPC to sell my property?
Can you provide me with a mortgage advisor?
Can you provide me with a conveyancing quote?
Why are your prices cheaper than traditional high street agents?
Seven Keys operates from our main head office and don’t have the large overheads like traditional high street agents of rent, etc. Basically, lower outgoings means more money in your pocket.
What’s the difference between Seven Keys and high street agents?
Apart from our prices, transparency and no hidden fees, we pride ourselves on customer service where a local Seven Keys Property Consultant will guide you from start to finish when selling your property.
How does selling online compare to the high street?
Current research shows that 98% of buyers look online. This is where we come in and market your property on the leading property portals.
Do I need an EPC to sell my property?
It is a legal requirement to have an EPC for your property. We are more than happy to acquire this for you and they last for 10 years.
Can you provide me with a mortgage advisor?
Of course. We can put you in touch with one of our mortgage advisors who will be happy to help you find the best mortgage to suit your needs.
Can you provide me with a conveyancing quote?
Of course. Seven Keys works alongside local conveyancers who can provide you with a quote for the sale of your house along with a quote if you are buying another property.
Can you provide me with a surveyor to help sell my property?
Here at Seven Keys we have links to cover your every need. We can provide you with an individual surveyor, however, if you have chosen to use our mortgage advisor they will normally arrange for a surveyor for you
What are the areas that you cover?
We are currently operating in the North East of England and operate across Tyne & Wear, County Durham and Teeside. However, feel free to ask us about selling in your area as you could be part of a revolution across the UK.
How much are your packages to sell my property?
Well I’m glad you asked. After all, that’s one of the main factors we pride ourselves on. We offer three packages. Our pay up-front packages are £299 and £399. We also offer a premium ‘Pay Later’ package for £499. Don’t forget, with all three packages there’s no commission
Is VAT included in all the prices?
ABSOLUTELY. There are no hidden fees, what you see is what you get.
How can I find out more about a property I’m interested in?
You can either e-mail us at info@sevenkeys.co.uk or alternatively you can give us a ring at our head office on 0191 497 1797 and we’ll be happy to help.
Can you tell me more about the 7 months free Life Insurance?
It’s so important these days to protect your health and the people around you. Once your property is sold you will receive a phone call from our sister company, Seven Bridges Life Insurance Ltd. They work with the UK’s leading insurance companies and will broker a deal that best suits you.
Can I sell my property on the property portals myself?
The short answer to this question is No. In order to sell your property on the leading property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and Prime Location you need to market your home through an estate agent. This is where we come in and maximise your sale-ability.
“My Property” Questions
How do I sell my property with Seven Keys?
It’s Simple. Here are our Seven Steps to selling your property with us:
- Choose your package
- Arrange a visit from a local Seven Keys Property Consultant
- Depending on your package. Take professional photos and draw up floor plans
- Market your property within 24-48 hours on the property portals
- Conduct viewings and negotiate offers
- Accept an offer and agree a sale
- Sit back and have a brew
What’s the difference between the £299 and £399 package?
Apart from £100, the basic £299 package means you provide the photos, floor plans and descriptions. With this option a ‘For Sale’ board is an extra £55. With the Standard £399 package we provide professional photos, professional floor plans and a professional Seven Keys ‘For Sale’ board. If you didn’t know, ‘For Sale’ boards increase property interest by up to 20%.
Do you take the photos and floor plans?
Professional photos and floor plans make all the difference when selling your property. They are the first thing that a potential buyer will look for. Remember, you never get a second chance at a first impression.
Do I get a home visit by a Seven Keys employee?
Yes, we would love to meet you. It is essential to selling your property that one of our employees will carry out a home visit. This is not just to value your property, but to get to know you and how you would like to market your property.
Where will my property be advertised?
We will advertise your property on all the main property websites to ensure you have the best exposure to potential buyers. These include Rightmove, Zoopla and Prime Location.
Will you negotiate on my behalf?
Once an offer has been submitted on your property, it is entirely up to you whether we negotiate it for you. If you are happy for us to do so, then of course we will.
Do I have to carry out my own viewings?
You know your property best and if you feel comfortable carrying out your own viewings then we actively advise it. However, we can offer to carry out the viewings for you by adding this on as additional feature for £199. It’s no problem!
How quickly can a completion date be arranged after an agreed sale?
Once you have a sale agreed on your house we will be in contact with solicitors from all parties, that way we can push for a quicker completion date that suits you.
What incentive do you have to sell my property if I’ve already paid an upfront fee?
Our business would never work if it wasn’t for you. We aim to push for the sale of your property from the very beginning and with our experience we know exactly how to market your property and get you the best price possible. Put simply, without you there would be no us.
Can I use other agencies to market and sell my property?
Why not? We see no problem if you would like to use more than one agency. However, if you choose our ‘Pay Later’ option we will only do so on a Sole Agency basis for the first 3 months.
Can I add on extras at a later date? I.e.: EPC, conducted viewings.
Of course. These can be added on at any time. Just get in touch with your Seven Keys Property Consultant and we’ll be happy to sort it out for you.
Can I change my advert at a later date?
No problem. At any point you can let us know if you would like any pictures replacing, swapping around or information updated.
Is re-listing free if the sale falls through?
No questions asked, we will re-list the property until sold.
What does it mean by premium/featured listing on Rightmove and Zoopla?
This is where your property is uploaded with extra design features to make it stand out from the crowd. This generates extra exposure as your advert can display more photos on its front page and will be placed at the top of a buyers search.
Is there a marketing period for my advert?
We have no reason to restrict the time your property could be on the market. We will advertise your property UNTIL SOLD.
Who can I contact to discuss enquiries etc.?
When you market you property with Seven Keys you will be provided with a local Seven Keys Property Consultant. They will be your point of contact and will be on hand whenever you need them.
Do you deal with the sales progression of my property?
This is a must for us. Your local Seven Keys property expert will be with you every step of the way and will liaise with all parties to ensure a quick and stress free sale.
What happens when an offer is made?
Once a potential buyer has made an offer we will relay this back to you and proceed as you wish. If you would like us to negotiate on your behalf then this is absolutely no problem.
How do I get feedback from potential buyers?
Everybody wants to get feedback, this way we know if there’s anything we can do to help the sale of your property. When a potential buyer has viewed your property we will get in contact with them and ask them their thoughts, this information will then be passed directly onto yourselves.
How quickly can you sell my property?
We plan on selling your property as quickly as possible. We will sit down and discuss your requirements in order to achieve a sale as fast as we can.
Landlord Questions
Do you charge tenant fees?
No – we do not charge tenants any admin fees related to applications or tenancy creation. However, this does not include the deposit.
Why don't you charge tenant fees?
The tenant fee ban came into effect on 1st June 2019 and landlords need to prepare for this, we have put together a range of services which help private landlords’ budget whilst also giving them a more comprehensive service to help make life simpler. You can choose to pay for reference checks as you need them or upfront.
What is included in your Basic Lettings Fee?
Our basic package includes advertising for your property with Rightmove, Zoopla & Primelocation. We will manage your tenant enquiries and match them to your requirements. When a tenant requests an appointment, we will arrange a viewing to suit your availability. When you have found a tenant, it is up to yourself to organise the tenancy agreement.
What is included in your Premium Lettings Fee?
Our premium package includes advertising for your property with Rightmove, Zoopla & Primelocation. We will manage your tenant enquiries and match them to your requirements. When a tenant requests an appointment, we will arrange a viewing to suit your availability. When you have found a tenant, we will draft the tenancy agreement, arrange for the registration of the deposit and collect the first months rent for you.
How much are your tenant reference checks?
Our tenant referencing package costs £75 and this includes ALL checks until a tenant is found.
How long does reference checking take?
On average these checks take around 3 working days to complete and you will be updated on progress throughout. Tenants are notified that they have 3 working days to provide all the required information and chase up their referees or risk the property being re offered to the market.
Do you have Client Money Protection?
YES – we hold client money protection with the UKALA government accredited scheme. More information can be found at https://www.ukala.org.uk/client-money-protection-cmp/
