Sales

Getting ready to sell your home usually involves clearing out, tidying away and sorting out. Surprisingly, the ancient art of feng shui closely mirrors the above and its principles can help you prepare your property for sale. We explore exactly what feng shui is and single out the best bits of advice for home sellers.

Traditionally, home improvements would encompass new bathrooms, new kitchens and replacing pebble dash exteriors for smooth render but the green agenda has seen our property ‘to do’ list undergo a makeover of its own.

Problems with Japanese knotweed are well documented, with this invasive species sometimes preventing buyers from getting a mortgage on an affected property. While home movers are busy keeping an eye out for Japanese knotweed, they may be overlooking a different horticultural threat.

Fed up of conventional flower beds? Looking for something more than a lawn? Why not try a revived garden trend – the stumpery?

Sellers? Commission a survey? It’s not as silly as it sounds. Issues identified in a buyer’s survey are some of the most common reasons why a sale collapses, asking prices are negotiated downwards and delays occur. Sometimes it pays to be forewarned and sellers can do this by ordering their own surveys. Here are some helpful Q&As for those concerned about the condition of their property or who want to avoid the unexpected.

Have you ever watched Homes Under The Hammer – the TV show that follows the fortunes of people who buy property and usually make a profit from it? Recently, there was one outcome so good that it made the online edition of a national newspaper.

When you invite people into your home – whether that’s someone coming to take marketing photographs, prospective buyers or even a surveyor – all eyes will be on the condition and décor.

Viewing a house or a flat is one of the most exciting – and important – aspects of moving home but how you approach the visit can differ, depending on whether you’re renting or buying. Unlike tenants, buyers will be responsible for every inch of the property, therefore any repairs will be their sole responsibility to fund and fix.

We’re at that time of year when it’s dark when we wake up, dark when we get home from work and pretty much dark from 4pm in the afternoon. While some are ready to embrace the Winter Solstice with candles, fairy lights and a dash of Danish hygge (to create a cosy environment protected from the outside world), many of us really struggle with the lack of daylight.

The pandemic, followed by the cost of living crisis, continues to shape our approach to living. A notable trend is for grown up children wanting to move back into the family home but are parents ready to receive their offspring once again?

Ignoring some of the most common cold weather maintenance tasks may cause your property to plummet in value. That’s the conclusion of a survey carried out by Aviva. The insurance specialist questioned 2,000 people regarding what maintenance issues would prompt a buyer to reduce an offer on a property they hoped to buy.

Whether you’re sitting on a cash lump sum, have equity in your property or have a good credit history, there are a number of ways to help a child save for a deposit. In this article we answer the most commonly asked questions about the Bank of Mum and Dad.