Advice to help in your property journey!

Sales have been soaring at Holden Copley so first up this month we share our expertise on how you can achieve a speedy sale! If you have been thinking of making your next move its currently a great time to sell with plenty of potential buyers ready and waiting for their next property purchase. Get started with an instant online valuation on our website.

Elsewhere we share some of the key questions to ask when buying or selling, how your garden can add value to your property, and finally the changing landscape for office working. 

We hope you managed to make the most of the governments Eat Out To Help Out scheme last month. The great news is that there are some restaurants that are continuing to offer the discounts through-out September! We have shared a selection that are continuing to at the end of our newsletter.

We hope you enjoy this months edition!

Le Mistral 

Le Mistral are offering a "better version of the scheme" offering 50% off food with no limit, 

Monday – Wednesday throughout September.

Bookings are advised.

Click here to read Le Mistral .

Crafty Teller

A relaxed, modern craft beer bar kitchen situated in the heart of Sherwood, Nottingham. Offering 50% off food Monday - Wednesday with no cap!

Click here to read Crafty Teller.

Fothergills

Fothergills, a historic Nottingham venue, offers a unique, international, bistro-style fixed price menu, using ingredients from local producers, together with ales from local micro-breweries and a great selection of wines.

Click here to read Fothergills.

Are you asking these key questions when you buy or sell?

 

A recent study has revealed the 'most dreaded' and unusual questions buyers have asked about a property before putting in an offer.

With a small minority asking whether the pets come included in the sale, it’s fair to say that not all of the responses are winners.

However, the report by Hillarys has shed light on just how many Brits lack proper preparation during the home buying process.

Up to two-thirds will not plan their questions ahead of a house viewing, meaning they are not getting the full value out of the experience, as well as potentially wasting an opportunity to find out all of the property’s pros and cons earlier on.

 

The most dreaded questions from buyers:

 

Has it dropped in value?	54%
What local plans could affect us?	42%
What’s the lowest price we could get it for?	33%
Is the seller in a chain?	21%

 

 

To help you make the most of your viewings the next time you decide to buy or sell, we thought we'd share practical suggestions for you to consider.

 

 

What are some of the more serious questions you should be asking?

Whether you're instructing an agent or viewing a property, how prepared you are will determine how quickly you're able to move.

Are you asking these key questions:

1. Exactly what is included in the sale? Whilst it's safe to assume most sellers will want to keep their pets, it's important to outline what content might be included, such as fixtures, fittings and garden furniture.

2. How long has it been on the market and how many offers have they received so far?

3. When are the sellers looking to move out? Knowing whether they've already found another home or they're still in the midst of looking will help you to determine how long the process may take and how much room for uncertainty there is.

4. Have there been recent renovations or any difficulties with boilers, drains and guttering?

5. How did the agent decide on an asking price? Good agents will be able to provide justifications for the value of a property, so you'll know whether it's listed at the right amount or if it's overpriced.

 

 

What to ask when selling:

1. How will you market my property? Are they regularly contacting a database of suitable applicants to give you greater market exposure, or does their strategy start and end with a basic Rightmove listing?

2. What are your success metrics and how do they compare to other agents? In other words, what's their experience selling a home like yours at a price like yours?

3. How much will you charge? Choosing the agent who offers the lowest fees won't guarantee you reach asking price and you may lose time and money on the market, be savvy when you instruct representation for your property investments.

4. What are the contract terms? Before beginning any contractual relationship, know exactly what it is you should expect from them.

If you're thinking of selling and want to find out the value of your home, contact us.

 

 

 

 

How your garden can add value to your property

 

Since lockdown, there has been a massive shift in property priorities. Gardens and outside spaces have shot to the top of the list. But did you know that a well-kept garden can add as much as £2,000 to your property’s value?

 

If you are looking to sell, here are some of the best ways to make money on your garden.

 

Research revealed that the garden feature that adds the most value is a shed. In fact, 82% of property professionals claim a good-sized shed is the most recognised feature to boost value.

 

Next up is a good quality patio and paving area at 76%. Followed by secure fencing, walls or gates.

The garden feature, however, with the least value worth is artificial grass at 40%.

 

These statistics can be beneficial for when it comes to selling your house. The right garden can add anywhere between 5 to 20 per cent to a property’s value.

 

With 37% of Brits spending more time in their garden than they did five years ago, outdoor space is becoming more and more in demand.

 

We should also point out that a combination of these top garden features is much more beneficial than focusing on one alone.

 

Decent sized shed:	82%
Good quality paving/patio:	76%
Secure fencing/walls/gates:	72%
Adequate outdoor lighting:	66%
Sturdy decking:	62%
Water features:	58%
Well-designed garden furniture:	54%
Artificial grass/lawn:	40%

 

The takeaway from this research is that you do not have to throw a lot of money into garden revamps.

Make sure your space is maintained and well kept, showcasing its true potential to your possible buyers.

There are plenty of good garden re-vamp ideas on Instagram and Pinterest so get scrolling!

 

 

 

 

The changing landscape for city office spaces

 

Fewer than 8% of Brits had experience working remotely at the start of 2020.

Within a matter of weeks, this figure rose considerably as businesses scrambled to meet new demands and challenges, with 46.6% of the country’s professional workforce ‘clocking in’ from home across April and May – rising to 57% in London.

This month, the government will be encouraging more and more firms to return to their offices, addressing a very real concern about the economic toll remote working has had on city centres.

High streets up and down the UK are all but empty of foot traffic, meaning that small businesses will continue to struggle to stay in business over the coming months.

Whilst acknowledging the merits of home working, Dame Carolyn comments on the role the UK’s offices play as “vital drivers” of the economy, suggesting that:

"The costs of office closure are becoming clearer by the day. Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade.”

 

 

Is remote working here to stay?

It’s estimated that those working from home have racked up an extra 28 hours of monthly overtime during lockdown, which adds up to almost four days’ additional work.

The chief reason for this being that 86% feel it’s a necessity to prove their value to their employers and ultimately keep their jobs.

Although remote working has put a strain on the country’s commercial hubs, with employees equally feeling more workload pressure, there’s an evident shift in mindset amongst professional workers towards flexible opportunities.

Of those asked, only 7% would opt to work full time without any element of remote working.

Compared to 93% who would want at least one day a week from home.

Whether you’re in need of a new home with dedicated office space, or you’d like to find out what commercial properties are available, talk to us.

 

 

How to market your house correctly for a speedy, seasonal sale

 

 

The property market has continued to experience remarkable levels of activity.

In the first week of August, properties at SSTC (Sold Subject to Contract) were almost at double their number compared to figures from the same period in 2019. This indicates a significant release of pent-up demand due to lockdown.

If you, like a lot of homeowners right now, are considering putting your property on the market, here are some of the ways to market your house well to potential buyers.

 

 

Make sure your property images are professional

In order to get viewings, you need to reel them in with your property advert.

Make sure your photos are clear and focused. If it is a cloudy day, see if you can rearrange the shoot. There is nothing nicer than a clear blue sky!

 

 

Increase your kerb appeal

It takes just seven seconds for somebody to make their first impression of your property, so make sure your property’s exterior is the best it can be. You want them to walk down the drive feeling impressed and excited to go inside.

Some easy ways to do this is to give your front door or fencing a fresh lick of paint, put up some hanging baskets to add colour, pull out any weeds, move the bins out of sight and make sure the lawn is mowed.

 

 

De-clutter

The hallway is famous for housing plenty of clutter: shoes, coats, handbags. Make sure everything that can be put away is tucked out of sight to make it appear more spacious.

As some hallways can be dark and narrow, adding a mirror to a wall can give the illusion of space and can also brighten it up.

A kitchen is a big selling point, so make sure all desktops are wiped down and free of clutter.

 

 

Give your viewers space

Let your viewers freely wander around your home with the agent.

This will make them feel much more comfortable asking questions and it also means they might take their time in each room.

Be ready to answer any questions after the viewing. Also be sure to leave hand sanitiser dotted around your property, so not only you but also your viewers will feel comfortable.

 

 

Make the most of outdoor space

Since lockdown, we have noticed a real shift in property priorities.

Everybody is putting outdoor space at the top of their agendas, so make sure your garden is well showcased.

If this is an impromptu house viewing, you might not have time to lay a new flower bed, but make sure the lawn is freshly mown, trees and shrubs are cut back to create more space, weeds are removed, and outside furniture is laid out nicely.