Less is more when it comes to decorating your house for a quick sale. Everybody has their own unique style and taste, so the best solution is to keep things neutral and simple. This means that your potential buyers feel that without too much effort, your house can become the home they want to live in. More importantly, this creates the perception of a well-cared-for home that will not need too much work. A great starting point is a good deep clean to make your home as desirable as possible. 

Here are a few simple dos and don'ts to help you save money and move quickly. You can do these in any order you like, and the results could increase your home's value and make it quicker to sell. 

Remove the clutter and don’t spend more on furniture or appliances 

It may sound obvious, but before you give your home a good clean, clear out the clutter. Keep the worktops in the kitchen clear of pots and pans, clear the hallways of shoes and coats, and try to strip back some of your personal items like photographs and holiday trinkets. Clearing away some of the clutter will make your home appear bigger and more visually appealing, and buyers will be able to envision living there. 

Deep-clean each room 

Now that you have a bigger space to work with, it’s time to clean. The items you have cleared away have probably been hiding a few walls or surfaces requiring your attention; so clean the bathroom, the floors, walls, worktops, and the oven. 

First impressions last 

Your buyer’s decision-making process starts as soon as they see your home. Think about how the house looks as you approach it. Is the door clean? Does the front garden have any weeds? Has the grass been cut? Do you have a patio in the back garden? Does it need a brush? If it’s crying out to be replaced then use stones, which costs hundreds, rather than paying thousands for new paving. 

Forget the new extension or knocking down walls – add a fresh lick of paint! 

A fresh coat of paint can make such a difference in freshening up your home, but here’s what not to do: Don't just pick your favourite colour. Instead, stick to neutral colours that are bright, modern, and on-trend. Prioritise which walls, ceilings, or skirting boards need the most attention, and if they don’t need it, don’t waste your money. 

Make your house a home with some simple homely touches 

Adding some simple finishing touches, such as plants and some logs next to the fire, costs little and will have a greater impact than buying a new couch. You’re selling your home, not your furniture. A new lamp shade to replace the old one when it’s begging for replacement is worth it; in the right tone, it will put buyers in the mood for buying! 

Get it on the market 

If time is of the essence, all these things can be achieved quickly and easily, and most of them can be carried out without hiring tradespeople, saving costs and increasing your budget for your new home. 

Looking for a speedy sale? Arrange a valuation with us today. 

You have decided to rent your house out – or perhaps you have been a landlord for a while and simply need a few tips to help you keep your tenants happy and protect your investment. Whatever your situation, you know that substantial changes are costly and time consuming, and more time spent on preparing your property means less rent revenue for you!   

There is no need to break the bank when it comes to attracting tenants to your property. As with so much in life, it’s all about the detail. 

Here are some budget-friendly tips which will help you freshen up your rental property.  

Paint The Tiles 

Did you know that tiles can be painted? There is no need to tile the bathroom and spend thousands simply transform the bathroom by adding a nice coat of colour to the tiles. 

Bathroom Fixtures and Accessories  

A new toilet seat, a mirrored cabinet, a toilet roll holder that matches a soap dish, a heated chrome towel rail to replace an old radiator can be bought from around &40. Is the pull cord a little less vibrant than it used to be? Replace it for less than &3.  

Lighting And Light Fittings   

Good lighting affects the shades, shape and mood of all that lives in your home, not only your new tenants but all the inanimate objects too. A new light fitting is another cheap fix and is not a huge task to replace.  

Handles And Doorknobs 

Perhaps the cheapest of all the quick fixes are doorknobs and handles, consider all doors, kitchen cupboards, and bedside cabinets, not just the internal doors!  

Taps And Sink Plugs 

New taps can freshen up the kitchen and bathroom, and a new sink plug costing a few pence shows prospective tenants that no detail goes unforgotten.  

USB Sockets  

These just make life easier for your tenants when it comes to living a more stress-free life without the need for lots of unsightly charging plugs. It also tells potential tenants that the home is up-to-date and modern. 

Are You Letting Your House Furnished, Part Furnished Or Unfurnished? 

If you let your home furnished with lots of fixtures and fittings, beware that unless stated in a contract you may be called on to repair these items if they break due to ware and tare, so try to keep things minimal.  

Curtains And Blinds 

New blinds can be fitted easily and if replacing curtains will create an illusion of wider space and improve the light of every room in the house. This is also a great way to freshen up the room with a pop of colour or an interesting pattern! 

Flooring 

New carpets can be fitted quickly and easily, and there are some great deals to be had so it’s worth getting a quote if nothing else. A transformative improvement might not be as expensive as you think! There is a bit more to fitting laminate, but it will add a new lease of life to your rental, making your house more desirable, with new underlay needing to be fitted for either choice – your tenants will live better insulated against cold winter nights.      

Looking to Let your property? Contact us today for more information 

There is much to think about when investing in property. Whether you are a seasoned investor or letting for the first time, this checklist may throw up a few things you might not have thought of... 

The Right House at the Right Price 

It all starts with the right house, flat or property. You will not get a good ROI (Return On Investment) if you have paid over the odds for your property. Worse still, borrowing excessively so your letting yield does not cover the cost of the mortgage. Using this scenario as the worst-case example the principle is true at any level. Pay the right price for a good property.   

The Area 

A good house is made even better if it’s in the right area. That is not only is it a nice area but is there a good balanced mix of both let properties and private residential homes? This gives you options when it comes to selling and letting.    

How Will You Let Your Property 

There are many agents who will provide different levels of service for a relatively small fee. Everything from collecting rent to finding and vetting your potential tenants. Some will even pay you a rental income before they have placed tenants. Maintenance and guidance on legal obligations can also be taken care of or you can opt for a halfway house where the letting agent will take care of some of these things, while you take care of the rest.  

Tenants 

If you choose to find your own tenants then you will need to set up a bank account, arrange references, set aside some time to meet tenants, so it’s worth paying a good letting agent who will take care of this for you.  

Rental Income  

It is important to get the figures right. You want to let your house and hopefully make a profit on any potential borrowings you may owe on the house or any maintenance and repairs and what you charge your tenants. The best way to do this is to create a spreadsheet and break down all costs on a monthly basis.  

Potential Expenses 

While you are on your spreadsheet, think of expenses such as maintenance; boiler services, electric appliance testing and budget for the unexpected like repairs or potential appliance replacement if applicable. 

Remember Legal Obligations and Contracts  

Check out any legal obligations and make sure your property is up to scratch to avoid any unexpected expenditure, for example is your fuse box obsolete? Also, you will need a contract to protect your tenants and yourself legally.   

Development Potential  

Perhaps you have no intention of letting your house, you are simply going to restore it, or modernise it, then sell it. Perhaps you will improve your property, then let for a time then sell it. Whichever you choose, consider market conditions and if you can stick to your budget. Try and find a property with plenty of development potential so you can add value to your investment.  

Are you searching for a great investment? Browse our properties and become an investor today

Another New Year, a new beginning. If you've been thinking about renovating your home for a while, you can finally make your house dreams come true now that the festivities are behind you. 

Outdoor living 

Spring will soon arrive, and your garden and emphasis on outdoor living can finally begin to take shape. You want the best outdoor living space you can create; you've read all the magazines, watched all the programmes, and your mind is teeming with visions. Try adding an eating area, an outdoor working space, a pond, an orchard, and some sleepers, and see what else happens along the way! 

Working from home space 

If you would rather develop an indoor workspace, now is your time to get cracking. With more people working from home, inspiration for this trend can be found anywhere. Often, it’s about making it yours with individual touches while creating a comfortable place to work. 

Going green 

Perhaps you would like to increase the energy-efficiency of your home. Installing solar panels is a great way to do your part for the environment while saving some money. In some cases, you may even be able to sell the electricity you produce to your local energy supplier. This could mean your solar panels will pay for themselves, but typically the only cost after installation is for annual servicing. If you work from home, you might consider installing insulation to reduce your ever-increasing heating bills. 

Creating extra living space 

You could create another bedroom, a dwelling space for an elderly relative, or a new family. Alternatively, removing walls to modernise or create extra space is still challenging and will remain so in 2023, given the cost of raw materials and the shortage of good tradespeople available to carry out this work. So careful planning is essential, or it might not happen until next year! 

Bathrooms 

January is a great time to get an awesome deal on a new bathroom, despite the waiting lists to get it fitted with large, branded suppliers or individual bathroom fitters. There is nothing to stop you from buying and booking now, and with some luck, the design of your choice could become a reality in time for summer, or even spring! 

A new kitchen 

Buying a new kitchen in January leads to huge discounts and when completed, adds real value to the value of your home. As the central hub for any home, bright spaces and light colours are on-trend, as are natural material surfaces matched with metallics. Seamlessness and fluidity between rooms with open-plan living or blending outdoor areas with the heart of any home are still on the to-do list of many this year. 

An exciting year 

Whatever you decide to do in 2023, whether you are renovating then selling or buying a newly renovated property, there is no doubt that there are some interesting and exciting ideas waiting to be implemented and already in place in many homes. 

Searching for your perfect new home? Browse our properties today.