Sell your property in West Cliff
Selling a West Cliff flat: the lease pack ready before the first viewing, photographs that show the view and the walk to the sand, and buyers who know what a cliff-top block costs to run.
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- Since 2018 letting in Bournemouth
Selling a West Cliff flat is selling a lease, a block and a view at the same time. Buyers compare yours with flats in the next building along, and the one that answers their questions about the service charge, the lift and the walk to the beach before they ask is the one that sells. This is the West Cliff detail of our sell your property service.
How West Cliff flats sell
The cliff top divides into three kinds of flat, each with its own buyer.
- Purpose-built blocks with lifts and parking sell to downsizers and older buyers, who will pay for level access and a bay of their own.
- Flats with a sea view or a balcony sell to second-home owners and to anyone who wants the bay from the sofa; the view carries the price.
- Flats in converted villas sell to first-time buyers and landlords, who look for space, character and a lease that allows letting.
Timing matters less than preparation. Spring and early summer bring the most second-home buyers, but downsizers move when their own house sells, which can be any month.
Leasehold and the management company
Before we list, we ask for the lease, the service charge accounts, the insurance schedule and any notice of major works, and we tell you what a buyer's solicitor will ask. If the lease is short, we explain the extension route so you can take advice before you set a price. A management company that answers quickly can shorten a sale by weeks. Our guides to selling a leasehold flat and conveyancing cover each step.
Presenting the flat
Photograph the view at the right time of day, show the route to the beach and the parking bay, and clear the balcony. Inside, buyers want light and storage; bring both forward. Our guide to preparing your home for sale has the checklist.
Our marketing
Professional photographs and a floor plan, a listing on the portals, the flat on our property for sale page, and an introduction to buyers who have registered with us. The Flexiestays group's guests on the West Cliff include people relocating who later buy, and landlords already letting with us who want another flat on the same roads.
Before you decide
A sales valuation, compared with a rental figure, shows whether selling or letting makes more sense: see property valuation in West Cliff. If you keep the flat, letting agents in West Cliff, property management in West Cliff, long term lets in West Cliff and winter lets in West Cliff explain the options. The West Cliff area page covers the neighbourhood, and selling your property in Bournemouth the wider town.
The West Cliff property market
The West Cliff is a market of flats between the BIC, Durley Chine and Westbourne: converted villas, purpose-built blocks and former hotels rebuilt as apartments. Tenants are professionals, couples and people relocating who want the beach and the town centre on foot; buyers are downsizers, second-home owners and landlords.
West Cliff homes sell as leasehold flats, and the buyers know it. Downsizers leaving family houses, second-home owners from London and the Home Counties, and landlords buying to let make up most of the market, with some first-time buyers for the smaller villa flats. Each group asks a different first question: the downsizer about the lift and the parking, the second-home owner about the view and the service charge, the landlord about whether the lease allows letting.
What slows a West Cliff sale is rarely the flat. It is a short lease, a management company that takes weeks to answer the buyer's solicitor, or major works on the roof or the lift that nobody mentioned. A seller who gathers the lease, the service charge accounts, the buildings insurance and any notices of planned works before listing saves weeks later.
Leases under about 80 years cost more to extend and put some lenders off, so check yours before you set a price.
Who rents and buys in West Cliff
- The BIC and the town centre. Conferences, exhibitions, concerts and Bournemouth University's graduation ceremonies at the BIC bring delegates and families all year. The same walk to work and to the Square is what professional tenants pay for.
- Relocations and contract work. People starting jobs in Bournemouth, project workers and households waiting for a purchase to complete want a furnished flat with parking near the centre for a few months. The group's West Cliff buildings exist for them.
- Downsizers and second homes. Buyers selling family houses inland or in London take West Cliff flats with a lift, a view of Poole Bay and the beach below. They are the main resale market for landlords who want to sell.
- The beach without the pier crowd. Durley Chine and West Cliff Beach are a short walk down, quieter than the sand by the pier. Couples and older tenants choose the cliff for that and stay for years.
Selling your home in West Cliff, step by step
A free sales valuation
We look at the home, the street, the lease if there is one and what buyers in the area want, and give you a price range with the evidence.
Prepare and market
EPC and paperwork, photographs and a floor plan, then the portals and our registered buyers. We arrange and accompany viewings.
Offers to completion
We qualify every offer, agree the sale and progress it with both solicitors through searches, survey and exchange to completion.
Selling your property in West Cliff: questions
Who buys flats on the West Cliff?
Mostly downsizers, second-home owners and landlords, with first-time buyers for smaller flats in converted villas. Downsizers look for a lift, parking and level access; second-home buyers for a view; landlords for a lease that allows letting and a block that is well run.
What documents should I gather before selling?
The lease, the latest service charge accounts and budget, the buildings insurance schedule, any notices of major works, ground rent demands, and the contact for the managing agent. Your solicitor will need a management pack from the block, which can take time, so order it early.
Does a short lease stop a West Cliff flat selling?
It makes it harder. Many lenders prefer leases well above 80 years, and the cost of extending rises as the lease shortens. Some sellers start the statutory lease extension before selling and pass it to the buyer. Take advice from a solicitor on your lease.
Can I sell a West Cliff flat with a tenant in it?
Yes, to a landlord buyer who takes on the tenancy. If you need vacant possession, the Renters' Rights Act sets a ground for selling with its own notice and conditions, so plan ahead and take legal advice. Selling with a tenant in place narrows the field to investors.
Do you have West Cliff flats for sale now?
Our sales listings are new, so buyers can register on our property for sale page and hear first when a West Cliff flat comes on. Sellers can book a free sales valuation now and we will set out how we would market the flat.
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Outstanding from start to finish
The apartment exceeded our expectations with its modern design and thoughtful touches throughout. Walking distance to both the seafront and shopping areas made it incredibly convenient. Clear instructions, responsive host. Would absolutely stay here again on our next visit to Bournemouth.
Modern, clean and superbly located
Lovely apartment in very close proximity to Bournemouth town centre and beach. Modern, very clean and well equipped. Onsite parking was a big plus, making it easy to explore the area. The host was very responsive and helpful throughout our stay.
Second stay, and we'll be back
Great apartment at a perfect location. Jack and the team were so easy to deal with. This is our second time at this apartment block and we'll definitely be returning. Clean, well-maintained, and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.
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Selling your property nearby
- Westbourne
- Alum Chine
- East Cliff
- Bournemouth
- Poole
- Christchurch
- Southbourne
- Boscombe
- Winton
- Charminster
- Moordown
- Kinson
- Selling your property: every area
Other services here: Letting agents in West Cliff, Long term lets in West Cliff, Property management in West Cliff, Property valuation in West Cliff, Winter lets in West Cliff
What is your property worth to let or to sell?
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