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Properties Rental Valuation
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The Porter Building, 1 Brunel Way, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 1FQ

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Properties Rental Valuation
The nine stages

Selling process

The selling process, clearly mapped.

Nine stages. See what happens next, who handles it and what can slow the sale.

See the nine stagesTalk through my sale

Stage 01 — Stage 09

Nine stages. One clear route.

Work through the journey in order, or open “The nine stages” above to jump straight to the stage that matters now.

  1. A family spending time together in the garden of a British home.

    Stage 01 Decide

    Set your priorities

    Choose what leads the sale: price, timing or certainty. Agree it with every owner before anyone is instructed.

    You control: what a good outcome looks like.

    Review what to decideHide the detail
    Who handles it
    You. No professional can make this call for you.
    What can delay it
    Co-owners discovering at offer stage that they wanted different things.
    Next hand-off
    Get a grounded view of the likely value.
  2. Aerial view across London homes and the city at blue hour.

    Stage 02 Understand

    Understand the likely value

    Build a realistic view of what the property may achieve. A market appraisal is not a guaranteed sale price or a formal valuation.

    Bring: your mortgage redemption figure and any early-repayment charge.

    Review the valuation rolesHide the detail
    Who handles it
    An estate agent for the appraisal; a qualified valuer where a formal valuation is required.
    What can delay it
    Treating an optimistic appraisal as a promise.
    Next hand-off
    Prepare the property file before marketing.
  3. A refined British home interior lit by morning sun.

    Stage 03 Prepare

    Prepare documents and arrange the EPC

    Gather title, tenure, planning, building-regulation, guarantee and certificate records. A valid EPC must be available before marketing.

    Check now: EPCs normally remain valid for ten years.

    Review the preparation listHide the detail
    Who handles it
    You gather the file; an accredited assessor produces a new EPC where needed.
    What can delay it
    A missing lease, unregistered title or absent approval.
    Next hand-off
    Choose the route and instruct professionals.
  4. A couple walking and talking in a London riverside neighbourhood.

    Stage 04 Choose

    Choose the sale route and instruct professionals

    Choose an open-market sale or a direct investor introduction, then instruct your own solicitor or licensed conveyancer early.

    Your stage-one priority should drive this choice.

    Review who does whatHide the detail
    Who decides
    You choose the route; your conveyancer opens the legal file.
    What can delay it
    Waiting for an offer before choosing a conveyancer.
    Next hand-off
    Put the property in front of the right audience.
  5. A Dukes Estate Agency sale board outside the British home being marketed.

    Stage 05 Present

    Present the property or approach investors

    Open-market homes are advertised and viewed. On the direct route, Dukes introduces the property privately to investors.

    Important: Dukes is the introducer — not the buyer.

    Review what can stall interestHide the detail
    Prepare
    Present the property at its practical best and answer condition questions honestly.
    What can delay it
    Overpricing or incomplete condition information.
    Next hand-off
    Receive offers if the market or an investor responds.
  6. Three friends talking together in a bright British home.

    Stage 06 Compare

    Receive and compare offers

    Weigh price alongside funding, chain, buyer position and proposed timing. You remain free to negotiate, accept or decline.

    Ask for: evidence of funding before taking the property off the market.

    Review the offer checksHide the detail
    Who decides
    You decide; the agent or introducer negotiates on your instruction.
    What can delay it
    A high figure from a buyer who cannot evidence funding.
    Next hand-off
    Accept the offer that best fits your priorities.
  7. A British residential avenue in warm morning light.

    Stage 07 Progress

    Accept an offer and begin conveyancing

    Your conveyancer drafts the contract and answers enquiries. The buyer's side reviews title, orders searches and arranges any mortgage.

    Keep moving: return complete answers to enquiries quickly.

    Review the legal hand-offHide the detail
    Who handles it
    Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer acts for you alone.
    What can delay it
    Searches, enquiries, the buyer's mortgage and any chain.
    Next hand-off
    Exchange once both sides are ready.
  8. London homes and streets illuminated at night after rain.

    Stage 08 Commit

    Exchange contracts

    Both sides sign final contracts and their conveyancers exchange them. Before exchange either side can withdraw; after it, serious consequences apply.

    Fixed here: the completion date.

    Review the binding pointHide the detail
    Who handles it
    The two conveyancers exchange contracts on their clients' authority.
    What can delay it
    Any unresolved enquiry, funding issue or chain problem.
    Next hand-off
    Completion on the date in the contract.
  9. A contemporary English coastal home overlooking the sea.

    Stage 09 Complete

    Complete the sale

    The buyer's money reaches your conveyancer, the mortgage and agreed fees are paid, ownership passes and you hand over possession.

    Prepare: removals, meter readings and every agreed set of keys.

    Review completion dayHide the detail
    Who handles it
    The conveyancers and lenders move the money; you hand over possession.
    What can delay it
    Funds arriving late in the banking day.
    Keep
    Your completion statement and relevant tax records.

One journey, two routes

See one route clearly before meeting the other.

Start with the open market. Then compare the direct introduction against the same three decisions: reach, value and pace.

Prospective buyers arriving for a viewing at a British family home.

Route 01 · begin here

Open-market sale

Your property is launched publicly, viewed and tested against active buyer demand.

Reach
Portal advertising, enquiries and viewings.
Value
Aims for the best price the market is prepared to pay.
Pace
Demand, finance, the chain and legal work set the timing.
Explore an open-market valuation

Compare only after this A direct introduction trades public market exposure for a more controlled approach. It does not remove legal checks or guarantee completion.

A property adviser and investor assessing a British home ready for refurbishment.

Route 02 · the alternative

Direct investor introduction

Dukes introduces the property privately to investors rather than marketing it publicly.

Reach
A private introduction, without public advertising.
Value
Normally below potential open-market value, reflecting the trade-off.
Pace
About 28 days may be targeted when property, title and investor are ready.
Understand the direct-sale route

On either route, an offer binds no one until exchange. A buyer, acceptable offer or completion date cannot be guaranteed.

Homeowners talking naturally with an adviser at home.

Sales with extra steps

Tell your conveyancer what is unusual at the start.

A tenanted property, probate sale, joint ownership or power of attorney adds legal requirements. A previously let or investment property can also create tax questions; Dukes does not give tax advice.

  • Tenanted or previously let
  • Probate or power of attorney
  • Leasehold or unregistered title
  • Multiple owners

Useful next steps

Choose the help that moves your sale forward.

Start the conversationRequest a sales valuationGet a personal view of likely value, route and preparation.Request your valuationPrepare the fileOpen the Seller's GuideWork through paperwork and decisions before they become delays.Read the Seller's GuideNeed another route?Understand a direct saleSee the value trade-off and the 28-day target conditions.Review the direct route

Questions sellers ask

Short answers before the full detail.

General guidance for England and Wales. Your conveyancer advises on your transaction.

Is an accepted offer legally binding?No — not until exchange.Read answerClose answer

No. Before contracts are exchanged, either side can normally withdraw.

Do I need an EPC before marketing?A valid EPC must be available.Read answerClose answer

In most sales a valid Energy Performance Certificate must be commissioned or available before marketing.

Should I instruct a conveyancer before an offer?Early instruction can remove delay.Read answerClose answer

You can open the file and prepare the contract pack before an offer without committing to a buyer.

What can make a sale take longer?Chains, finance and missing records.Read answerClose answer

Common causes include a buyer's mortgage, slow searches, enquiries, a long chain and documents not gathered early.

Who decides whether to accept an offer?You do.Read answerClose answer

The seller accepts, negotiates or declines. An agent or introducer acts only on your instruction.

Proof behind the process

Use the record, not just the logo.

The process relies on official property records, your own legal adviser and checkable company credentials. These links open the source or complete document.

Official serviceFind an energy certificateCheck whether an EPC already exists before ordering another.Open the GOV.UK servicePublic company recordDUKES ESTATE AGENCY LTDCompany number 14082878. Check the legal entity on Companies House.Open the company record

Marketing distribution

A launch needs reach, presentation and follow-through.

Portal marks identify advertising destinations, not legal accreditation. The complete campaign also needs a strong property page, buyer follow-up and consistent launch material.

Property portal

RightmoveProperty portal
ZooplaProperty portal
PrimeLocationProperty portal
OnTheMarketProperty portal

The Dukes campaign

01Dukes property pagePhotography, description and a clear route to enquire.
02Buyer follow-upInterest needs active qualification, feedback and next actions.

Memberships & portals

Advertising reach and registered protection.

Advertising destinations and protection records answer different questions. The label on every plate makes that distinction clear; a portal mark is not an accreditation.

Advertising destinations Protection & registration
  1. LoopNetAdvertising portal
  2. ZooplaAdvertising portal
  3. RightmoveAdvertising portal
  4. OnTheMarketAdvertising portal
  5. PrimeLocationAdvertising portal
  6. Property Redress SchemeRedress scheme
  7. Client Money ProtectClient money protection
  8. HMRCAML supervision
  9. Information Commissioner's OfficeData protection
  10. Tenancy Deposit SchemeDeposit scheme

Where these claims come from

Every record here links to the document or register it came from. Nothing appears until it resolves to something a reader can open and check.

Dukes Assistant

Tell Dukes about your sale

Start with the selling route below, review your summary, then choose phone, WhatsApp or email. Nothing is sent automatically.

  1. I want help with a property sale

    A short selling brief covering your property, timing and preferred route, ready for you to review before contact.

    This route asks for:

    • Postcode
    • Property type
    • Bedrooms
    • Moving timeline
    • Name
    • Best time to reach you
  2. I have a property to let or manage

    A summary about your property, ready to send to Dukes.

    This route asks for:

    • Postcode
    • Property type
    • Bedrooms
    • Current situation
    • What you need handled
    • Start timing
    • Name
    • Best time to reach you
  3. I am looking for a property to rent

    A summary of what you are looking for, ready to send to Dukes.

    This route asks for:

    • Request
    • Property or area
    • Maximum monthly rent
    • Bedrooms
    • Move date
    • Name
  4. I am looking to buy

    A summary of your buying question, ready to send to Dukes.

    This route asks for:

    • Area
    • Home type
    • Bedrooms
    • Budget
    • Buying position
    • Name
  5. I need to report a repair

    A repair report with the details the property team needs, ready to send to Dukes.

    If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999. If you smell gas, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

    This route asks for:

    • Name
    • Address
    • Issue type
    • When it started
    • Property safe right now
    • Description

Every route below works without JavaScript.

The homepage film is supplied concept footage. Its location, authorship and licence are unconfirmed, it is not represented as Dukes property or Dukes-shot material, and it is not cleared for public release.

© 2026 DUKES ESTATE AGENCY LTD. Company number 14082878.

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