Selling a rural home in Northumberland is different from selling a semi on a town estate. The views, the space and the quiet are what buyers fall for. But rural homes also come with systems that town houses do not: septic tanks, oil-fired heating, private water supplies, long shared tracks and broadband that varies from excellent to barely there. Those are the things that slow a rural sale down, usually weeks after an offer has been agreed.
The good news is that almost every one of these issues is easier to deal with before you go to market than after. Here is what Northumberland sellers should get ready.
Septic tanks and private drainage
Many homes in rural Northumberland are not on mains drainage, and drainage is one of the first questions a buyer's solicitor will ask about. In England, the General Binding Rules set out standards for small sewage systems, including septic tanks and treatment plants. A septic tank that discharges directly into a watercourse such as a stream or ditch does not meet the current rules and needs replacing or upgrading, and a sale is often the point where that comes to light.
Before you list, find out what system you have, where it discharges to, and when it was last emptied and serviced. Gather any installation paperwork and service records. If there is a question over compliance, it is far better to know now, when you can get quotes calmly, than to discover it midway through a sale when a buyer is nervous and a deadline is looming.
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Book a Selling Advice Meeting and Valuation with Our Agents. An honest figure for your home, a clear plan to sell it, and our complete selling package at £1,299.
Book a valuationOil tanks and heating
Oil-fired central heating is common off the gas network. Buyers and their surveyors will look at the age and condition of the oil tank, whether it is bunded, and how close it sits to the house, boundaries and watercourses. Have your boiler service records to hand and, if the tank is old, consider getting it inspected by an OFTEC-registered technician before you market the property. If you have an air source heat pump, biomass boiler or solar panels, gather the installation certificates and any feed-in or incentive paperwork too.
Private water supplies
Some rural homes, particularly in the uplands, draw water from a private supply such as a spring, well or borehole. Buyers will want to know where it comes from, who else shares it, how it is treated and whether it has been tested. Local councils have duties around private water supplies, so check what records exist for yours and keep any test results and maintenance details together.
Rural homes sell on the view. They stall on the paperwork nobody thought to find until the solicitor asked.
Access, rights of way and boundaries
A shared track, a right of way across a field or a boundary that follows an old wall can all raise questions. Check your title deeds for rights of access and who is responsible for maintaining shared roads. If a neighbour, farmer or walkers have a right to cross your land, say so up front. Clear, honest information here stops a buyer's solicitor raising enquiry after enquiry.
Broadband and mobile signal
Since hybrid working became normal, broadband is often a deal-breaker for rural buyers. Listings now need to include material information about utilities, broadband and mobile coverage, so find out your actual speeds and your provider, and mention any recent upgrades. A fast connection in a remote spot is a genuine selling point, so do not keep it quiet.
Presenting a rural home well
Rural buyers are often travelling some distance and are usually comparing several properties. Great photography, video of the setting and a clear description of how the house works day to day make a real difference. At Our Agents, every home gets professional photography, video and a managed open house launch, all within our complete selling package at £1,299. Our sellers move in an average of 14 days to sale agreed against a national average of 77 days.
We sell homes across the county, from Coquetdale and the Cheviot foothills to the Tyne Valley and the coast. If you own a rural home and are thinking about selling, book a Selling Advice Meeting and Valuation and we will help you get the paperwork in order before a buyer ever asks.
