Conducting viewings is no easy task, and this is partially because buyers often arrive with a long list of questions and queries. It’s always best to leave this part of the selling process to the experts, but if you’re curious about what your agent will be asked during viewings, here are some of the most common tricky questions:

How old is the roof?
A prudent buyer may ask how old the roof is. Replacing a roof is an expense that most prospective buyers will want to avoid for at least a few years. Depending on the materials, the typical lifespan of a roof is 15-20 years, so it’s important to be aware of how long it’s been standing before selling.

How much storage space is there?
Your home’s storage solutions could be a hot topic for buyers, especially if your demographic consists of first-time buyers or young families leaving behind the confines of rented accommodation. Having your home professionally staged to showcase its space-saving features is a great way to prepare your home for this question.

How long has the house been on the market for?
Prospective buyers may ask your agent how long your home has been on the market, but this shouldn’t be viewed as an attempt to catch you out. Finding out how long the home has been listed for sale might help the buyer gauge whether they need to act urgently. If the listing is new, this might encourage them to place their offer right away before another buyer comes in.

What’s the area like?
Committing to a home also means committing to new surroundings and a different community. Having an agent who is well-versed in the dynamics, conveniences and amenities of the local area is paramount in attracting the right buyer.

Is the property freehold or leasehold?
The property’s tenure largely dictates its future resale value, so this is an important question for buyers to ask. If your property is freehold, your agent will be able to utilise this as a key selling point. If there is a shorter lease attached to the home, you may consider extending it to attract a buyer and a higher sales price. However, if you don’t plan on extending your short lease, your agent will know which demographic to market to, such as buy-to-let investors.

What is included in the sale?
Certain fixtures and fittings may attract buyers to your home, so it’s important to clearly outline everything that is included in the sale price so that there is no room for confusion. Buyers may also be willing to offer a higher price to have certain fittings included in the sale, which leaves you in a strong position to negotiate.

Have any major renovations been made?
Finding out if any major reconstruction work has taken place allows the buyer to fully understand the property’s condition and value. As a seller, you will need to provide legal documents relating to any major work completed on the home, so it’s important to be prepared for this question from the offset.

Do you have planning permission?
Planning permission is a highly attractive feature for many buyers and applying for planning permission to add an extension or an extensive remodel only costs around £170 depending on your location. This is a small price to pay when you can add thousands to the value of your home if your application is granted.

What is the energy rating of the property?
The energy rating of a property is crucial to assessing the potential long-term costs of maintaining a comfortable living environment. When preparing your home for a sale, your agent will advise you on any areas of improvement which might help bump up your EPC rating.

Getting an agent on your side
House viewings are tricky business, but an expert agent who has experience in selling homes like yours will have all the right answers to difficult questions from buyers.

 

Contact us today if you want our expert team to sell your home at the right price

It’s come to the end of your current tenancy agreement, and your tenants are ready to move on, but are you? We’re here to supply you with a simplified checklist on how to get ready to place your property back on the rental market. 


Agreed-upon end date 

If you have tenants that have decided to leave or whose contract has ended for your rental property, then you need to ensure you have both confirmed an end date. This is extremely important to ensure that all parties involved are aware of this agreed-upon end date. This should be written down in a contract. This contract should include the signatures of all parties so it can be proven that you have both agreed on it. This will give you a small fraction of safety and protection in case the tenant does not leave the property by the agreed-upon end date. Having this date in the diary will also allow you to plan so you have a smaller gap between tenants. 


Inspect the property

Inspecting the property is one of the most important steps when it’s the end of a tenancy. This will allow you to identify if they have cared and maintained respect for you and your property. Once they have removed all their belongings from the property, you need to ensure you complete a thorough inspection. This inspection will allow you to confirm whether you return their deposit or not. As a landlord, you will need to provide a good reason with evidence to not return their deposit; otherwise, they could penalise you and involve the court. During this inspection, it is also important that you make sure the past tenants have removed all their items from the property.


Check previous payments

Finally, before exchanging the keys and returning the deposit for the property, we would recommend going through all your previous payments with them. This will allow you to guarantee that they have completed all their payments. We would also recommend checking if there are no outstanding council tax and utility bills under the address of the property before parting ways with the tenants. This will allow you to once again be certain they were good, respectful tenants before returning their deposit.
 

Deep clean 

Once you have completed the process with the previous tenants and you are happy, we advise deep cleaning your property in preparation for new tenants. This is not a required step, but if the past tenants have not returned the property to its original state, you can claim the deposit. This can be used to pay for a deep cleaning service and anything else you may have to fix within the property. 

Re-list your property 

Are you happy with your property? If so, the next step is to get it back on the market! After taking updated pictures of the property, it can then be listed and show encouraging new tenants for the future.

If you are an independent landlord or a new landlord entering the market for letting, we advise collaborating with an estate agent. This will reduce your involvement with clients and leave fewer tasks on your to-do list. Allowing you to rent out your properties stress-free.

Get in touch with us today if you are seeking advice

 

 

Buying a property can be a logistical minefield, and you may stumble across several industry terms that you aren’t familiar with. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a second stepper or a seasoned homeowner seeking new horizons, use this guide to equip you with all the essential homebuying jargon.

Agreement in principle (AIP)
An agreement in principle is an easy way to find out how much you can afford to borrow to buy a home. You should seek out an AIP before applying for a mortgage, as this will place you in a strong position as a buyer without having to undergo a full credit check.

Building survey
A building survey is an expert inspection of a property’s condition. These can identify any problems with the home to a prospective buyer using a detailed report. This ensures that the buyer won’t uncover any unwanted surprises after moving in.

Chain
A chain is formed when a group of buyers and sellers are linked together because their purchases are reliant on each other’s. If one sale falls through, this can cause a break in the chain, resulting in other sales collapsing subsequentially.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
An EPC measures a property’s energy efficiency by rating it from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). This certificate is valid for 10 years and an in-date copy is required when selling a home.

Equity
Equity is the amount of your property you own, calculated by the amount you’ve paid off your mortgage plus your deposit.

Fixtures and fittings
Although they sound similar, there is a key distinction between fixtures and fittings. Fixtures are items in a property that are attached or ‘fixed’ to the building. Fittings, however, are items that are not attached to the property, only by screw or nail. There should be an itemised list of what is included in the sale written into your contract, but there’s no harm in offering to pay extra for certain items that aren’t included.

Gazumping and gazundering
Gazumping is a problem for buyers, as this happens when the seller accepts the offer, but later accepts a higher offer from another buyer.

Gazundering occurs when a buyer withdraws their offer and makes a lower one right before completion. This leaves the seller in a difficult position as refusing the lower offer could mean that they need to restart the whole process again with a different buyer.

Land Registry
The Land Registry is a government database containing the registrations of the owners of all property and land in England and Wales. If any important documents regarding a property are missing, this database is usually where they can be recovered from.

Mortgage
A mortgage is a specialist loan used to purchase a property. This loan is paid back over time with interest to the lender. All mortgage repayments made will increase the equity you have in your home. There are varying types of mortgages, each suitable for a specific set of circumstances.

Title deeds
Title deeds are a series of documents which are used as evidence of legal ownership of the property and the history of its ownership. These are required during the conveyancing process so that the ownership of the home can be passed over to the buyer.

Valuation
A property valuation determines the home’s value based on its location, condition, and multiple other factors. Sellers have their property valued before deciding on an asking price, as this prevents overpricing or underselling.

 

Looking for your dream home? Contact us today

 

The longer, lighter, and warmer days of spring are perfect for preparing your home for summer. Whether you are moving, improving, or want to make the most of your home, there are lots of things you can do that, more often than not, add value to your home. With a 22%* uplift in the number of homes listed for sale compared to the beginning of last year, the market is moving to sunnier climbs.

 

Have a good spring clean

A great place to start and perhaps not the most exciting aspect of preparing your home for summer, a good deep clean is well worth the effort. De-cluttering will allow you to take in your home’s features and spaces, which may help inspire a few changes. Cleaning your home allows you to reconnect with it. As you store away accumulated unnecessary items, clean out closets, and dust those hard-to-reach places, you will more easily discover any blemishes or maintenance issues that need attention. If you don’t have hired help or loved ones to help you, play some tunes to energise you.

 

Take some pictures

Your phone is perfect for creating a to-do list. Take pictures of all those little issues that need addressing. Start at the front, then work your way around every room in the house to the garden. Add notes or record ideas you may have. For example, is the guttering in need of cleaning? Does the front of your home need painting? Are there scuff marks or patches of paintwork that need touching up? From grouting in your bathroom to weeds sneaking up between the patio, leave no stone uncovered. If your home looks a picture, it will be a nicer place to live and more appealing to buyers.

 

Improve your home’s outdoor spaces 

Whether you are adding a hot tub, a heated pool, a play area for the dogs, or simply painting the shed to make it look a few years younger, your garden and outdoor areas take centre stage during the summer. Adding new plants and making space for daffodils, cleaning the barbecue, or weeding will add vibrancy to your garden. If you are starting from scratch or making small improvements, defining your seating, dining, working, and entertaining areas will have a big impact. With wooden decking, stones, free-standing structures, grass, trees, and an eternal array of ideas, deciding what to do can be the hardest part.

Swap out winter themes for summer 

It’s unlikely you'll need the fire during the summer months, although the UK weather is uncertain. Instead of logs, add flowers to your hearth. Swap brightly coloured throws to replace wintry themes. Allow more sunlight to enter your rooms by replacing curtains and keep cool with thermal blinds. Rearranging your furniture and perhaps scaling back a bit will create more space. Bring the scent of summer to your home with candles, herbs, and plants. Adorning your hallway with seasonal flowers will set the tone from the moment you enter your home, and planting pots at the front will give you a summery welcome.

 

Capture the essence of summer  

Think about cooling and ventilation. Is it worth installing air conditioning or adding fans? Create spaces that capture those magical moments of summer. Strategically place your furniture outside and inside to capture the sunset and a special place in the shade for when it becomes too hot. Eggshell chairs and hammocks are ideal for this. Decide where you are putting the ice bucket, designate a place for sun cream, plan your barbeque area, and wash any soft furnishings for outdoor dining or sunbathing. Make your own outdoor pizza oven, build a bar, or hire a landscape gardener and start building the dream from scratch.

 

 

 

A better home could be around the corner so book a valuation today

 

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