Selling in Devon: why accurate pricing and the right buyer matter more than ever

When you decide to sell, it is natural to focus on one question: what price can I achieve? It is an important starting point, but a successful sale depends on more than the number written on an offer. The asking price needs to attract the right audience, the buyer needs a realistic route to completion, and the sale needs attention long after the offer is accepted.

For homeowners in Devon, my approach is to look at those three things together.

Start with evidence, not the most flattering valuation

An asking price is a marketing decision. It should reflect the home, its location and the choices available to buyers, alongside evidence of comparable sales.

Two properties with the same bedroom count can appeal to very different audiences. Condition, layout, outside space, access and setting all influence how a buyer sees value. A national headline cannot tell you precisely what your particular home will achieve.

I would rather explain the evidence behind a suggested price than give an ambitious figure without a clear plan for achieving it. Asking prices on property portals show what sellers hope to receive. Completed-sale evidence helps establish what buyers have actually paid, although it can lag behind today's negotiations.

Good pricing is not about underselling. It is about giving your home a credible position in the market and making sure its strongest features support that position.

Read the response to your marketing

Online attention is useful, but it is not the same as buyer commitment.

If a property receives plenty of views but few viewing requests, I would review how the price, photographs and description work together. If viewings are happening but offers are not, the next step is to understand what buyers are saying and which alternatives they are considering.

That does not automatically mean reducing the price. Presentation, missing information or reaching the wrong audience can also be part of the problem. The important thing is to investigate rather than leave the property online and hope something changes.

Why mortgage affordability matters to sellers

Mortgage costs influence the budgets of buyers who need finance. The Bank of England explains that changes in Bank Rate can affect borrowing costs, although individual mortgage rates do not all move together or by the same amount.

For a seller, the practical question is whether the buyer has assessed the affordability of this purchase, rather than simply whether they like the house.

An agreement in principle is helpful, but it is not a guaranteed mortgage offer. The lender still needs to assess the full application and the property. Buyers should speak with their mortgage adviser about their circumstances, product costs and the steps still outstanding.

Assess the buyer as carefully as the offer

I would want to understand where the deposit is coming from, whether a property needs to be sold, how far any related sale has progressed and whether the proposed timescale is realistic.

A chain-free buyer may offer a simpler route, but that description alone does not establish their funding position. Equally, a buyer in a chain can be a strong prospect when the chain is understood and progressing.

Sometimes a slightly lower offer with a clearer route to completion deserves serious consideration alongside a higher offer with more unresolved conditions. It is a judgement about price, risk and your priorities, not a rule that the highest offer should be dismissed.

An agreed sale still needs managing

Once an offer is accepted, communication matters. Clear expectations, timely information and regular contact with the people involved help identify obstacles while there is still time to address them.

My approach is to remain calm, direct and personally involved. Buyers and sellers need to know what is happening, what is outstanding and who is responsible for the next step.

If you are considering a move in Devon, I would be happy to discuss your home, the evidence behind its pricing and the approach that best fits your plans.