DRESS YOUR HOME TO IMPRESS YOUR BUYERS

When your house is for sale, it’s exciting to get a viewing booked. After all, that viewer could become a buyer!

It’s important then to make sure your house is looking its absolute best, and dressed to impress, so we’ve created a three-step guide to make it easy for you to get the important things right:

Step 1: Check your kerb appeal

If your viewer doesn’t love the look of your home from the front, they may never get past the front door!

·         How’s your front door looking? Smarten it up with a new coat of paint and make sure your handle and letterbox are relatively new.

·         Check your lights. If you’re showing your home in the evening, you need to make sure your buyer doesn’t trip on their way in! Make sure your outside lamps are working and clean.

·         Keep your path, driveway or steps swept of leaves, and free from rubbish. Park vehicles neatly and put away bikes and toys out of sight.

·         House name or number – is it straight and clean? Make sure your viewers can find your home easily, without stress.

·         Windows – keep them sparkling clean and make sure there’s no flaking paint or greying uPVC.

·         Green stuff – even if your front space is tiny, plant a creeper or buy plants in pots to add colour and interest. 

So now you have your outside looking wonderful, it’s time to move inside…

Step 2: Giving your interior the WOW factor 

Styling the interior of your home to make it more attractive for viewings doesn’t have to be expensive. We’ve put together a list of a few home styling accessories that will add some stylish polish your viewer will love:  

·         Cushions – a really easy way to instantly update that fading suite and add colour, texture and interest at the same time.

·         Rugs – a large, deep rug can transform a room, adding warmth and style.  You don’t have to spend a fortune on them; eBay shops are full of large fluffy rugs for less than you might think. Stick to neutral colours to add a sense of spaciousness.

·         Fruit – fill a big glass bowl or wide vase full of just one type of fruit for instant contemporary style. Oranges, green apples or lemons look wonderful. 

·         Flowers – long elegant Cala lilies look great on a large dining table, and little hand-tied posies are just right for a rustic kitchen.  Choose carefully for maximum impact

·         Toiletries – invest in luxury, and just keep them out for viewings.

·         New bedding – especially for the master bedroom, where it matters most to your buyers.  Go for plain, neutral designs, then add some cushions and a textured throw.  Voila! A hotel-style bedroom your viewers will adore.

·         Towels – used towels never quite look the same as brand new ones, so treat your home to some gorgeous new towels, and make sure that no one uses them – they’re just for show!  Whip them away and hide them after each viewing so they stay looking their best.

Step 3: A final check

Here’s a final checklist to make sure your viewers have the best possible experience of viewing your home:

·         Shut all your doors – let the viewers open them, so each room becomes a little ‘surprise’

·         Laundry – check radiators and put away clothes maidens to hide all signs of domestic chores

•        Pets – if you have a cat litter tray, put it outside or in the garage, out of sight. If you have a dog and you can persuade       someone to take it for a walk, it would save a viewer being distracted by sloppy licks – especially if they’re a non-dog lover. Also move Fido’s bed, food bowl or anything else out of the way.
   
• Open windows – unless it’s really cold, it’s nice to have some fresh air in the house.
  
  
• Is it warm enough? You may have been rushing around doing last minute tidying, but your viewers need a warm, welcoming home to look around, so err on the side of warmer is better.
  
  
• Put all toilet seats down – enough said!

So your home is looking wonderful – inside and out, and you’ve checked to make sure your viewers don’t see anything they shouldn’t. What’s next?

Atmosphere! That elusive element that can put your viewers at ease and relax them so that they enjoy viewing your home.  Light some lightly-scented candles and make sure your lamps are all lit to create a lovely warm glow. If you have a fire – real or otherwise – light it around half an hour before time. Playing some soft music in the background is a nice touch, and if it has a slow beat, it could even help persuade your viewers to linger – just long enough to fall in love with your home!

If you’re selling your home – or thinking of it, we’d love to have a chat with you. You can pop us an email at katie@sawdyeandharris.co.uk or call us on 01364 652652.  We also have lots more information about selling your home here www.sawdyeandharris.co.uk

First-time buyers now make up the majority of home purchases bought with a mortgage in the UK, figures show. The Halifax bank said the last time such a situation existed was 1995.

An average deposit of £32,841 is now required to get on the property ladder in the UK.

The Halifax First-Time Buyer Review is based on figures from industry group UK Finance, as well as its own house price database and Office for National Statistics earnings figures.
Halifax said first-time owners in 2018 accounted for just over half of all sales with a mortgage.

We have some amazing value homes for not only first time buyers but for all buyers in Ashburton, Chudleigh and Moretonhampstead so why not get in touch with us today - 01364 652652

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 came into force in England on 20th March 2019.  The Homes Act will make it so that landlords must ensure their property is fit for human habitation at the start of the tenancy, and then maintain this standard throughout the rest of the time the tenant lives in the property.

The legislation does not come into force for all tenancies at the same time however.

After March 20th 2019, any tenancies which are new, or renewed the legislation will apply from the start date of the new tenancy. This will include any statutory periodic tenancies that start after a fixed term comes to an end.

For tenancies which were already periodic tenancies, there is a 12-month grace period until March 20th 2020 before these tenancies are caught by the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act.

It is due to snow in some parts of the country this week, and now is a good time to make sure your properties are prepared for the winter weather.

Making sure you are prepared now could save you money in the long run on expensive repair work. Here are EIGHT top tips to get you started.

Talk to your tenants  - With cooler weather  on its way, ask your tenants if they are having problems with or have noticed anything the could be cause for concern at the property. Ask about dripping pipes and windows for example.

Minimize condensation - With temperatures dropping outside and people turning the heating on, there’s a good chance you may notice more condensation in your property. Together with damp, condensation is one of the main reasons that tenants complain to their local council, so its important you know how to reduce this. One of the ways you can do this is to keep surfaces warm.

Make sure you have sufficient outdoor lighting - Although it is getting a little lighter earlier in the meetings, the evenings are still quite dark, and it is worthwhile ensuring that your tenants feel safe on dark evenings. Ensure that your front paths are sufficiently lit, making it easier for them to get around. It is also a good idea to check that steps and handrails are in a good condition.

Check gutters are clear- It is the Landlords responsibility to keep the exterior of the property in good repair. Chances are, if there is something blocked in the gutter, your tenants may have told you already, for example they may notice animals in the gutter often. Other signs to look out for are if plants have started to grow in the gutter itself, or more obviously if water can be seen to be spilling over the side of the gutter. It is important to clear this up, as not only could the problem get worse the longer it is left, but you also want to avoid structural damage and damp. Blocked gutters can also freeze over if there is excess water, and cause dangerous patches of ice.

Coal fire or wood burning stove? Make sure the chimney is swept, and test your carbon monoxide alarm. The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 state PRS landlords must have a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance, eg a coal fire or wood burning stove – and these appliances are likely to be in use during colder weather.

Check tenants are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to- Cold weather can make life much more difficult for vulnerable tenants, such as the elderly and those with disabilities. It’s worthwhile checking that these people are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to, for example they may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment which could help them pay the fuel bills in the cooler weather.

Locate the stopcock - If this information isn’t already written down and known by your tenants, when the weather becomes cooler it’s recommended that you make sure your tenants know where the stopcock is as well as how to change the thermostat in the property.

Remember how important insurance is-  No matter how well you prepare, problems can and do occur as a result of bad weather so it is vital to make sure you have the appropriate cover for your home and contents.

For more top tips and advice on letting just give us a call 01364 652652

Source: RLA.org

The Guild of Property Professionals Member, Sawdye & Harris was presented with two prestigious accolades at The Guild Awards ceremony, which was held at QEII Centre in Westminster, London on 17 January 2019.

The Guild Awards were presented by British TV presenter, Rachel Riley and Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild, after a full day at The Guild Annual Conference, where new strategies, services and plans were revealed to keep Guild Members at the forefront of the industry. Estate agents also heard from motivational keynote speakers and property industry experts.

The Guild Awards were sponsored by The Telegraph, who commented: “As the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper, The Telegraph is looked to by its readers as a trusted source of expertise. It is therefore fitting that we are able to celebrate excellence in the property industry by sponsoring The Guild of Property Professionals Awards."

The Guild Awards 2019 were also presented in association with The ESTAS and the ceremony was sponsored by Reapit, a CRM and Client Accounting software provider specialising in the residential sector. The ESTAS are awarded based on customer surveys regarding the agent’s service – these scores contribute to the decision of The Guild Awards judging panel when selecting winners.

Sawdye & Harris were proud to be chosen to receive not one but two awards, which were collected by Katie Griffin and Jade Crouchen, on stage at the QEII Centre in front of nearly 500 estate agents.

“We are thrilled to be recognised for our hard work and dedication over the past year. This award is a culmination of our efforts throughout the last 12 months and a symbol of our commitment to excellence within the property industry,” said Katie Griffin, Owner of Sawdye & Harris, "All our hard work has paid off and with our clients providing testimonials and feedback, a bit like TripAdvisor, it has allowed us to really show what a professional and exceptional service we offer and why you should use a high street, Guild estate and letting agent" 

Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild of Property Professionals, said: “The Guild Awards is a much-anticipated fixture on our calendar, and this year’s event was another huge success. It was great to be able to get together and celebrate excellence within our network. Congratulations to all agents and offices that received awards this year, and all the best for 2019.”