Andrew Dodds, Associate Partner and Farm Agent at Stags comments:
The one golden rule when it comes to selling a farm or land lot is this: take advice from professional advisors from an early stage.
Selling a farm or land lot is not a decision that is often taken without care and thought and whilst we cannot eliminate all risk from our lives, planning ahead will likely help to make the sale process smoother when the time comes to sell.
By working with a property agent such as Stags Farm Agency and building a relationship from an early stage, we would have a better understanding of what a particular client is looking to achieve, whether it is maximising the sale price or selling within a defined timescale.
Our first meeting with a potential client usually involves meeting all parties who are involved in the decision-making process and inspecting the farm or land to provide initial advice on guide price; whether there are opportunities to add value through planning or offering the farm or land for sale in lots; and whether there are any potential issues which can be dealt with prior to sale.
The final point is an important one as once a client has made the decision to sell their farm or land, we all want to make sure that their preferred outcome is achieved without any delays so it is worthwhile looking at the following:
Do the Land Registry plans correspond with the physical boundaries and if they do not, make sure this is rectified prior to sale.
If the farm or land is not registered with the Land Registry, you may wish to consider doing this prior to sale.
Are there any pre-emption conditions that need to be dealt with prior to marketing starting?
Are there any physical improvements, repairs or tidying that are worthwhile carrying out, for example clearing any old tyres or scrap so that the property presents as well as possible.
An early conversation with an accountant would also help those selling to understand any capital gains tax liability and minimise any tax exposure so that the next sale proceeds are maximised.
Stags Farm Agency are an experienced team who specialise in the sale of farms and land across the West Country. We have an unrivalled knowledge of the market for farms and land and work closely with our office network from Truro in the west up to Taunton, Yeovil and Bridport in the east.
Andrew Dodds, Associate Partner and Farm Agent at Stags comments: 
