Keeping you up to date in March

Steps to selling your home in spring

It's hard to ignore the fact that the days are growing a little longer and the temperatures are becoming a little warmer recently. With spring gradually revealing itself, now is an excellent time to sell your house, as buyers are more active in spring than at any other time of the year.

Follow our tips to take advantage of the changing seasons to sell your home...

Spring cleaning is essential

If you want to sell your property swiftly in the coming months, you should follow the long-standing tradition of a good spring clean. Washing all the windows and doors, inside and out, will leave a positive impression on potential buyers. Make sure your home is clean and bright to reflect the fresher spring months.

Don't overlook your outdoor areas

As the weather warms up, people naturally cast a more scrutinising eye on the outdoor spaces of the properties they are interested in. It's easy to leave your garden untidy after a long winter but running the lawnmower over it and tidying up those exterior places will make your home much more appealing.

Spring has sprung

Plant flowers at your front door to welcome the changing seasons - a planter full of bright colours will put potential buyers in a good frame of mind. Buyers will be happier if there are pops of colour around the home, making them more inclined to make an offer. Fresh flowers in the house will also make a big difference and create the perfect tone, so fill a few vases and distribute them about the house for a continual wow factor.

Accessorise to your heart’s content

A few items can make a big difference in the overall presentation of your home and matching them to the season is a great way to wow potential buyers. To brighten up your rooms, choose soft spring colours - blankets, pillows, towels, and bed linens are all easy to switch out to create the perfect ambience, and you can take them with you when you sell your home.

Smells like a good deal

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions are crucial, since research shows that buyers only take 8 minutes to decide whether they want to buy a property. A fresh-smelling property makes the best first impression, so make sure you've aired it out and there are no unpleasant odours. Putting some bread in the oven and creating a homey, welcome atmosphere is a sure-fire technique to infuse your home with a pleasant and appealing smell.

Keen to know more about how you can leave a lasting impression on your buyers? Get in touch today.

Number of homes on the market increases

The industry saw the busiest ever start to a year, and February proved to be even busier, with buyers and sellers determined to move ahead of the spring season.

The good news is, as valuations turn into instructions, more and more properties will come onto the market, giving buyers some fresh choice. In January, the seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, 88% more sellers put their homes on the market than in January 2021. The borough of High Peak in Derbyshire came in at a close second, with an 82% year-on-year increase in new sellers coming to the market, followed by the city of Chelmsford in Essex, with a 58% rise in new properties for sale versus the same time last year. *

Tim Bannister, director of a well-known property portal, advises: "The market has picked up pace and it’s a really encouraging sign to see more properties starting to come to market for sale. To put yourself in the best possible position, you should become a ‘power-buyer’ by making sure your current home is on the market, or preferably sold subject to contract first, before starting the search for your new home."

Find out how much your home is worth here, or get in touch today to book your free, no-obligation valuation.

*Property Reporter

Could your rental property deliver a higher yield in 2022?

According to recent data, the combination of high tenant demand and low numbers of available properties has caused average UK rents to rise at the fastest rate ever recorded. *

Rental demand has been reported as 32% higher, while the number of available rental properties is 51% lower than this time last year.

Flats have seen the highest increase in competition compared to last year (+132%), followed by terraced houses (+40%) and semi-detached homes (+30%).

Data collected from a popular property portal suggests that the average rental yield across the UK is now 5.5%, which is the highest since 2016. Industry experts are hopeful that rents will increase further this year, with a well-known portal director explaining, "Tenant demand continues to be high entering the new year, meaning the imbalance between supply and demand is set to continue until there is more property choice for tenants, which has led to our prediction of a further 5% increase in average asking rents in 2022."

To find out if you could increase the rental income from your property, get in touch today to book a free lettings valuation.

*Rightmove

What happens once your offer has been accepted?

Maybe you have discovered the home of your dreams and your offer has been accepted? Or, maybe you are intrigued to know what will happen when you reach this stage?

To get things moving, here are four things you should do after your offer has been accepted:

Confirmation of acceptance

Once your offer is accepted, your estate agent will almost certainly contact you to congratulate you, and they will likely want to confirm a few details with you, to finalise the offer.

Generally, you will be expected to send confirmation for the following:

• You have enough funds to make the purchase

• A copy of your mortgage agreement in principle

• You have a solicitor or are actively attempting to obtain one

Get in touch with your solicitor

Instructing your solicitor as soon as possible is likely to assist in speeding up your purchase. If you have not already found a solicitor, request a recommendation from your estate agent.

At this point, your solicitor will begin conducting property checks and searches. Depending on the solicitor, they may require payment in advance for some services.

Completion of your mortgage application

You will need to submit a full application for your mortgage once your offer has been accepted, to apply for the specific amount of money you need to purchase the house.

If you are working with a mortgage professional, they will walk you through this procedure and inform you of the information you will need to provide.

Arrange a property survey

While surveys are not mandatory when purchasing a new house, they are a wise investment. Surveys can assist you in determining any present or prospective difficulties with the property. To arrange a survey, ask your estate agent to schedule a time with the sellers.

If you're still on the lookout for a new property, we may have what you need!

Room upgrades to increase your home's value

Most people naturally think of major, expensive projects like a conservatory or an extra bedroom when it comes to increasing the value of their property.

While this will likely increase the value of your home, in some circumstances, repurposing an existing room rather than building a new one can be far more cost-effective.

Incorporate a kitchen island

A kitchen island might be worth its weight in gold if you have the space for one. It will not only provide more seating but also additional storage space for pots, pans, and appliances. You can never have enough cupboard space!

Include an en-suite bathroom

Even though en-suite bathrooms are more common than they used to be, they still have a sense of exclusivity. Even though they are one of the most expensive renovations, they may be a highly valuable investment when it comes to selling your home.

Include a walk-in wardrobe

If you have sufficient space, a walk-in wardrobe is a great way to add value to your main bedroom. It also gives your home a sense of elegance and individuality, which can help it stand out when it’s time to sell.

A loft conversion

This is likely the most expensive option on the list, but it could provide your home with the largest value bump. Repurposing an existing space to make it more useful will certainly increase the value of your home and converting the attic to make an extra room is a great example of this.

For more help on increasing your home’s value, contact our team.

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