Sales

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.

We have become somewhat accustomed to rock bottom interest rates that barely nudge 0.25 percentage points either way for months. When the main interest rate rises, mortgage rates usually rise in tandem, so if you already have a mortgage or want to take out a home loan, now is a good time to seek professional advice.

Selling your property? It’s time to break out the paintbrush, as decorating the outside of your home will not only improve its viewing appeal and make it look more attractive in photos, it’s likely to add value too.

Gardens and balconies have never been in more demand so if you have one of these aspects and are thinking of selling, you’ll already have the upper hand and should be able to command a higher sale price. 

Like or loathe your current home, it’s not the opinion of the seller that counts. As soon as that ‘for sale’ sign is up, all that matters is what buyers think about the property and how much they’re willing to pay to make it theirs.

Improving a property so it produces less carbon and lower fuel bills makes perfect sense but what about the return on investment? Unless you stick to low-outlay changes, such as LED light bulbs and thermal curtains, there will be a significant spend involved in creating an energy efficient home.