Category Property

As spring gets closer, there is a surge of enthusiasm and new buyers in the real estate market. There’s no time like the present to start preparing for a home sale in 2023.

These days, house hunting is a lot like online dating. Potential purchasers may dismiss your listing with a quick browse or swipe if it doesn’t look appealing enough. In a competitive housing market, we hope these helpful hints will help you make your property stand out so you can sell it faster and for more money.

Look At It Objectively

There are three primary considerations when looking for a home: cost, proximity to amenities, and square footage. Even though you’re stuck with the space’s physical location and the price is set by market forces, you can influence how potential buyers perceive it.

Those errands around the house that you’ve been putting off should be done immediately. You should expect that potential buyers will judge your home harshly based on imperfections such as a broken kitchen door or peeling paint in the bathroom.

In order to attract buyers, you must take an unbiased look at your home and envision yourself in their shoes when house hunting. After all, you are likely a buyer yourself.

Examining comparable properties within a 10% price range will provide you insight into how other sellers have marketed their own homes. Potential buyers may pass over your home in favour of one that appears more presentable in online photos or during in-person showings if you haven’t made the necessary improvements, so you need to make your property stand out.

Tidy Up And Declutter

Some of us may be shocked by how much clutter may build up in our homes, so it’s best to get started on decluttering as soon as possible. After living in a home for a long time, you may become blind to flaws that potential purchasers may see immediately.

Keep in mind that you are not selling your belongings but rather the actual property itself, so make sure that everything has a designated spot. Ironing boards left out in the open, laundry hampers overflowing, shampoo bottles in the shower, and piles of mail on the kitchen counter all contribute to an untidy and unappealing appearance. This will make your property stand out, but not in the right way.

The same goes for family photos; it’s fine to show a few, but too many will make the room feel awkwardly intimate. Potential buyers may have trouble visualising themselves in the home as a result.

It’s a good idea to declutter and create a blank canvas in the primary areas, such as the living room and the kitchen, so that potential buyers can more readily visualise their own belongings there.

Be Flexible With Viewings

The key to successfully selling your home is often being as accommodating as possible during viewings. The sale of a home can be put in jeopardy if the seller insists on scheduling showings only when it is convenient for them.

If realtors are only allowed to schedule viewings within certain hours, you may have to wait longer to find a buyer. It’s also helpful if your estate agent has access to the property at all times, so they can show it to potential buyers whenever they want. Even though it may not be convenient for you, the majority of prospective buyers will want to visit properties after work or on the weekend. This will make your property stand out.

Plus, try not to be there when viewings take place. It can be awkward for the viewer and could put them off. 

A lot of people forget how important their front door really is. What do people see first when they walk up to your house? What can people see from the road when they drive by your property? What can people see when they look up your house on Google Street View? Your front door. This is really important. It is the physical barrier between the outside and the inside of your home. It is the part of your home that makes people feel welcome. Don’t you want to make a good impression on them? Don’t you want everyone who sees the outside of your house to think that the inside is just as nice? This is the effect a beautiful new front door can have. Here are some of the best reasons why you need a new front door.

Better Kerb Appeal

One of the best ways to update the look of your home is by installing brand-new windows and doors. In particular, installing an updated front door in lieu of your old one is an inexpensive, low-stakes replacement project that can have a significant impact. Changing out the entry door is a great method to modernise the look of your home and boost its value. See the difference that a stylish front door can make by comparing before and after photos of similarly-styled homes.

More Value

Boosting your home’s kerb appeal can potentially raise its value. A new front door provides a 68.8 percent ROI, as stated in the Cost vs. Value 2020 analysis by Remodeling Magazine. Your home’s kerb appeal can be improved with the installation of a new, high-quality front door. In addition to increasing your home’s marketability, it may also attract interested purchasers.

Make A Personal Statement With A New Front Door

Perhaps the most appealing feature of a changed front door is the opportunity it provides to make a unique fashion statement. Whether you decide to paint your new front door or go with a whole other style, it will completely change the look of your home’s outside. There is a wide selection of entry doors to choose from, so you can find one that fits the design of your home. Smooth, simple panels made of clear glass are an excellent choice for a modern or contemporary residence. For a more classic look, go for a door with decorative panels and either quarter-light glass or no glass at all. Grilles, crossbucks, clavos, ornate glass, dentil shelves, wrought iron, and other such embellishments can elevate your decor to the next level.

As much as the expense of living and high energy bills might seem like all everyone talks about these days, it’s impossible to deny its recent and dramatic effect on everyone’s life, including homeowners and people in the market to move. Many families have felt the strain of the country’s record-high energy prices.

However, the house you pick could have a major factor in your monthly energy bills. Home Builders Federation (HBF) produced a survey showing that new homeowners can expect to save an amazing £2,600 per year on their energy bills.

In addition, the survey highlighted that new-build buyers saved over £500 million on annual energy bills last year. This is because, compared to older homes, these newer ones only release around a third as much carbon, resulting in a reduction of about 500,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Here are a few considerations that suggest a newly constructed home could be the best option for you.

Everything Is New

Everything from the oven to the dishwasher in a brand-new home is brand-new and has been installed specifically for your arrival. It’s safe to assume that everything will function as it should when you move in. In addition, the fixtures and appliances included in your new home are covered for two years by the new house warranty. And they’ll be more energy efficient, so your energy bills will be lower.

A Blank Canvas

You can put your personal stamp on a brand-new house by decorating it any way you like. There is no need to remove stubborn wallpaper or paint over a bold statement because there have been no previous tenants. Put your unique imprint on your new home since you get to decide how it looks. It might not sound like much, but even this can be a saving on your energy bills.

Modern Living

All new homes are made with the way people live today in mind. They were built on purpose to have a lot of space and natural light. Also, new buildings are made with modern family life in mind and give people more options when it comes to home or hybrid working.

Plus, you’ll usually have much easier access to the outdoors, thanks to things like large patio doors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and communities with open green spaces for everyone to enjoy. You can also rest easy knowing that it was all built to the highest standards, since all new buildings must meet certain rules and regulations.

Money Saving On Your Energy Bills

As was said above, HBF recently reported how much money new homeowners can save each year. To explain what this means in more detail, the report goes on to say that newer homes use a lot less energy than older ones. The average new home uses about 100kWh per m2 per year, while older homes use an average of 259kWh per m2.

This means that if you live in a new house or apartment, you can save an average of £2,000. This is because the average annual costs to run these kinds of homes are around £1,500, while the average annual costs to run older homes are around £3,570. When only houses, not flats and bungalows, are compared, these savings go up to £2,600 a year.

Even though some people don’t have neighbours, or at least don’t see them very often because they live in the middle of nowhere, most people do have them. Most likely, you are one of them. People will live on both sides of you, across the street, and if you live in a flat, they may also live above and below you.

We don’t talk to these people very often. We might say hello or give a friendly wave when we see them, but we don’t take the time to get to know them. We’re all busy and just want to get on with our lives, so this is normal.

But getting to know your neighbours has a lot of benefits, so it might be worth your time to try. Find out what these benefits are by reading on.

Security

We should all put a lot of thought into making sure our homes are safe. Burglars are always looking for ways to break into houses and take what doesn’t belong to them. You should do everything you can to keep your property as safe as possible. This could include things like: motion detector lights, more locks, video doorbell, and keeping things clean and organised (so the house looks lived in).

You can also ask your neighbours for help, in addition to these ideas. You can ask them to check on things for you if you’re going to be gone for a long time or if you think you saw someone strange on the street. Then, if they leave, you can do the same for them. When neighbours know and can count on each other like this, the whole neighbourhood is a lot safer.

Friendships

Study after study has shown that having friends is good for our health. It keeps you from being alone, which can cause depression, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to (which relieves stress). When you have friends, you might also be more physically fit because you’ll have someone to go for walks or runs with or find a gym buddy.

It’s not always easy to make friends as an adult, but if you have neighbours, you might already have friends waiting for you. Of course, you won’t be able to hang out with all of your neighbours, but even if you make just one new friend by getting to know them, that’s a good thing.

Recommendations

It’s inevitable that everyone, no matter where they call home, will require assistance from others at some point. It could be that you require the services of a plumber, electrician, gardener, housekeeper, or any number of other professionals. It can be difficult to get reliable assistance because there are so many options out there, each with their own pros and cons.

You can trust the advice of your friends and neighbours on matters like this. You won’t get the contact information for someone who did a poor job from them.

The last thing you want is for your home to bring anything other than good into your life. This isn’t always the case, of course. In any case, it’s far from certainbecause of a number of common property problems. You’ll need to be aware of the hazards and threats that exist in every facet of life. If you’re aware of the threats, you’ll be better prepared to defend your property. In this post, we’ll go over some of the most prevalent risks faced by most homes, and we’ll also provide you with tips on how to defend yourself from them.

Photo by Pixabay

Other People 

Most people won’t be in any way dangerous to your home. But there will be some who are. Some places have more crime than others, but you should always remember that it can happen anywhere. Today, home security systems are pretty high-tech, which is good. If you have one of these, you will have done a lot to make sure that thieves can’t get into your house. You should also make sure that your house is entirely secure. For example, are there any obvious weaknesses or openings that a criminal could take advantage of? These are common property problems.

Mother Nature

Depending on where you live, mother nature could be a danger to your home. As a matter of fact, this is happening more and more often because of climate change. You can’t do much to stop nature from doing what it does. But you can make it less likely that it will damage your house. For example, if you live in an area that gets hurricanes, look for impact windows. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, make sure your gutters work well and that your roof is in good shape. Think about where you live and what the most obvious weather-related issues are, and make sure your property is protected as much as possible. 

Pests

Pests are another way that nature can make its way into your home. This happens more often in some places than in others, but it can happen anywhere. Pests won’t just mean you have to get rid of them. They also make your house look and feel bad as a whole. No one wants to feel like they live in a house with unwelcome guests. The best way to avoid this problem is to keep your house clean, potentially using expert end of tenancy cleaning services to help you, but if you think you might have pests, you should act right away and call in experts. They won’t just go away by themselves as they are common property problems.

Being Out Of Date 

Your home is mostly a place for you and your family to relax, have fun, and make good memories. It should also be a place where everyone feels comfortable. But it’s a long-term plan. You’ll eventually have to sell your house, and when you do, you’ll want to make sure you get as much money as possible for it. One of the more subtle ways your home could be damaged is if you let it get out of date. If you don’t keep your house up to date with modern standards, you’ll eventually find that the property’s value has gone down. Staying on top of these things is important.

Things change, and when we talk about mortgage terms, most of us are looking at at least a 15- to 30-year commitment. You can’t say for sure that you won’t have to move within that time frame. So, the answer to whether or not you can sell a house with a mortgage probably won’t come as much of a surprise.

Can I Sell A House With A Mortgage Before The Term Ends?

Yes, you definitely can sell a house with a mortgage before the term ends, as long as you can pay for it. This means that the amount you still owe on the loan must be less than what your home is worth. On top of that, you’ll also need to think about any charges for paying off the loan early and any fees you may have to pay to brokers or financial advisors you hire.

As always, it’s very important to do the maths before getting involved. Find your mortgage terms and see if you are still in a period where there are fees for paying off the loan early. Also, find out how much it will cost to pay off your mortgage in full. Keep in mind that this is different from the annual early repayment allowance that lenders give customers who want to overpay their mortgage. This is usually around 10% of the remaining balance each year.

If you are still within the terms of a deal, you may have to pay a fee of 3 to 5% of the amount you still owe to settle up in full.

Do I Need To Let My Lender Know?

Yes, without a doubt. Obviously, you won’t need to do this until you’re sure you want to sell your house with a mortgage, but this is still a call you need to make. Not only will they need to know that a sale may be coming up, but it will also give you a chance to talk about your options, like moving your mortgage (more on this in a bit).

What Happens To My Mortgage?

Most of the time, the money from your sale will be used to pay off (redeem) the loan and any fees you may have owed for paying it off early.

Your conveyancer will ask your mortgage company for a redemption statement and handle the settlement for you. This will end the mortgage deal, giving you the freedom to live without a mortgage or get a new one with the same lender or a different one.

But this isn’t the only way to do it. For some, it makes more sense to keep the mortgage they already have.

Can I Move My Existing Mortgage?

Yes, you can. This is called “porting.” Even though it doesn’t happen as often as redemption, it’s not that rare. Most mortgages can be moved from one house to another when selling a house with a mortgage, and if the conditions are right, you could save a lot of money by doing this.

Porting a mortgage isn’t as easy as just giving your lender a quick call and asking them to change your address. In reality, the process for porting a mortgage is very similar to the process for getting a new mortgage or switching lenders. You will have to reapply and have your finances reevaluated before being accepted. Your new home will also be given an appraisal (which you may have to pay for).

If you are accepted, however, you will keep the same terms as your current deal, including the interest rate you pay now. This can be a good idea, especially when times are uncertain or when interest rates are going up.

Have you ever thought about adding an extension on to your house? It’s one of those investments that makes sense no matter where you are in the process of owning a home. If you just bought a house, it can help you pay off your mortgage faster or help you sell another house faster. Read on to find out more.

More Floor Space

When purchasing a home, you first consider the house and the value it offers. Making a decision is simple if a home has plenty of space, proper insulation, and a new kitchen. The value of the outside area at the back of the house isn’t taken into account by everyone, though.

Although you spend most of your time in the house, the land it is built on has far higher value, so why not use the property to expand your family’s living space and make the house easier to sell? This is one of the main advantages of adding an extension.

Added Property Value

The property’s value rising is one of the additional primary justifications for adding an extension. Greater demand results in higher asking prices for houses with more square footage. One of the simplest methods to boost market value and more floor area is to install an extension.

Bespoke Designs

Custom designs for extensions let you pick out things like doors, windows, insulation, and more, making the process feel more like a DIY endeavour. This is crucial when building an addition onto a house so that the two spaces look cohesive.

If you decide to go with a prefabricated addition, you and the architect will plan out the details in advance. Your approval of the final product will be required before the plans are finalised. 

More Functionality

Adding an extension can serve a variety of purposes, from providing a peaceful place to work during the day to a lively gathering spot for friends and family after dark. The use of an addition is not limited to work or play; it can also be for reading, cooking, relaxing, and the like.

It’s not possible to make full use of the garden in colder areas, so adding an extension to the house is a great way to make the most of the garden and expand the home’s living space. You can kick up your feet and enjoy the changing of the seasons during the cooler months.

Recently, there has been a big change in the way people think about the environment and about how they’re living on this planet. The concept of a self-sustaining home, while not the norm as yet, is certainly becoming more popular because of this. And the idea of living ‘off-grid’ is something that many people are starting to consider. Although there will be plenty of challenges associated with this kind of lifestyle, the long-term positives do outweigh the negatives.

One thing that you would need to consider, of course, is the cost of creating a self-sustaining home. Read on to find out more about what this would cost you and how you can off-set those costs in the end.

Cost Of Land And Building

Assuming you want to buy a property from scratch for your self-sustaining home, you will need some land to build it on, and this will be the first cost to consider. How much you spend will depend entirely on how much land you need to buy and where you need to buy it – the same size piece of land up in the Scottish Highlands is going to cost a fraction of the cost of buying in the Kent countryside, for example. When you have a budget in mind, the best thing to do is to speak to a land expert who can source you the ideal plot.

Once you have the land, you’ll then need to build the property. Again, this will differ from place to place, but on average the cost of a self-build in the UK comes in at around £1,750 per square metre.

Cost To Run

A self-sustaining home is going to save you money in the long-term due to its sustainability factor – that’s one of the big benefits of building this kind of property in the first place, as well as the fact that it will help the planet hugely. However, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be other things to pay out for, at least initially.

Energy bills still need to be paid out until the house becomes entirely self-sustaining. It can take anything from months to years to become completely self-sufficient, so be aware that you might still need to ‘import’ electricity and water until you have enough for yourself. The same goes for your food. Don’t worry though; your vegan diet doesn’t have to wait until you are growing your own food; you can even buy vegan pizzas these days so you can start earlier if you want to.

Plus, you’ll need to spend money to ensure that the house is self-sustaining in the first place. This might mean installing solar panels or digging a well or creating a vegetable garden – or all of the above, plus more. Many people choose to take out a short term loan to cover these initial costs, knowing that the money they save overall will help them to pay it back more quickly.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that building a self-sustaining home is going to cost you money. From the land to the labour costs and materials to the fact that the self-sustainability doesn’t happen overnight, you could be spending many hundreds of thousands of pounds. Yet when you consider that you would have spent the same on a normal house but that normal house wouldn’t be good for the planet and wouldn’t eventually pay you back and allow you to live off-grid, you’ll see that it’s money well-spent.

Do you plan to invest in rental property? If that’s the case, you’re definitely not alone. It’s no secret that buying a rental property and managing it can be a lucrative business venture, so it’s no surprise that so many people are eager to get into it. However, finding a rental home and giving over your cash is not as easy as it sounds. Many factors should be thought through before making such a substantial investment. In this article, we’ll share some useful information that will make it easier for you to invest in a rental property. 

Get A Good Mortgage When Buying A Rental Property

The importance of securing a decent mortgage cannot be overstated when buying a rental property. If you need a loan to buy the house, this is of paramount importance. All mortgages are not the same, and there are several to choose from. You should look around and get a few quotes before deciding.

In addition, you should check your financial situation to ensure that you can comfortably pay the mortgage. This is especially important if you intend to be a hands-off landlord and instead work with a property management firm. Keep in mind that even though you will be receiving rent each month, you are still responsible for paying the mortgage each month.

Think About The Location

Location is an important factor to consider when investing in a rental property. After all, getting tenants is why you buy a rental property in the first place. Your property’s location is a major factor in determining whether or not renters will be interested in it. Tenants may be hard to come by and keep if you don’t fix these problems.

As a result, it is crucial to give careful consideration to the location of the rental property before making a final decision. Think about accessibility to public transit and nearby schools as well as the safety of the immediate area. It is easier to locate (and keep) tenants when you’re in a more desirable location.

Be Prepared For Unexpected Expenses

An further crucial consideration is the fact that when buying a rental property, unanticipated costs can and will arise. As a landlord, you’ll inevitably face situations like this. As a landlord, you risk losing money due to a variety of factors, such as maintenance and vacancy.

It’s crucial to have a contingency fund in case of such unforeseen costs. One strategy for doing this is to put money aside on a regular basis. You won’t have to take money from your emergency fund or any of your other sources of income to address any unforeseen costs that may arise.

It’s likely not news to you that a viewing is a crucial part of selling your home.  You can select a trustworthy estate or letting agent, but if they don’t conduct a viewing in a professional, educational, and enriching manner, you’re not going to get an offer, no matter how nice your home is.

A successful showing will highlight your home’s best qualities and encourage potential buyers to visualise themselves in your space. Here, we provide the most effective strategies for making your home more appealing to potential buyers and increasing the likelihood that they will make an offer before they leave.

How To Prepare Your House For A Viewing

Before you conduct a viewing, give your house a thorough cleaning and make sure everything is in working order. At this point, you should be thinking about your potential buyers and how they could envision living in your property. Keep reading to find out more. 

Give Your House Some Kerb Appeal

In the real estate market, the first impression is crucial. This is why you need to conduct a great viewing. Most buyers will have multiple houses scheduled for viewings and may have already viewed several before they see yours, making it difficult, if not impossible, to sway their opinion if they aren’t impressed upon first glance.

Make your house more presentable by cleaning up the outside. Consider this question: what will a viewer observe right away? Take the time to maintain your front garden by cutting the grass and trimming the bushes. Keep the driveway free of litter, and put your rubbish bins somewhere out of the way. You should clean the windows and maybe repaint the front door (just remember to steer clear of particularly garish colours).

Think About Your Pets

You can’t expect potential buyers to share your enthusiasm for beloved pets. Give your home a thorough airing and vacuum up any loose hairs from the carpets, rugs, and soft furniture before you conduct a viewing. The smell of a wet dog or litter tray is not going to make a favourable impression. Since you’ve probably grown accustomed to your pet’s aroma, a friend or neighbour with a more objective nose could be of great assistance here. If your pet gets overly excited when meeting new people, consider having someone else take care of it during the viewing.

Show Off Your Floor Space

British homes are increasingly smaller despite the popularity of open floor plans and light, airy interiors. Among British residences constructed after 1930, LABC Warranty found that the largest dwellings were constructed in the 1970s. Sizing has decreased since then. While newer homes have smaller living rooms than those built in the 1970s by around a third, the average number of bedrooms has decreased to just under three from 3.6 in the 1980s.

If your home is modern and on the smaller side, you may want to give the impression of more room than there actually is when you conduct a viewing. Make the most of the extra square footage your older home has to offer. You can accomplish either of these aims by getting rid of unnecessary items and old furniture, but don’t just stuff everything into the loft or the garage; viewers should want to look there if they are serious. 

Provide As Much Information As Possible

There will be a set of questions ready and waiting for each potential purchaser. Your estate agent will have less time to accomplish the crucial business of selling your house if they have to spend the entire viewing answering these queries. Therefore, give as much information as possible in advance of the viewing. Is off-street parking possible on your property? Do you know if there are any authentic era details? How wonderful is the garden, if there is one? However, don’t be too dismissive of problems either (we’ll go into this more later).

Be Honest

Earlier, we mentioned that you shouldn’t feel pressured to cover up any imperfections you could find in your house. Caveat emptor (“buyer beware”) has traditionally applied to sales of residential property, however deceiving potential buyers is exceedingly unlikely to result in a sale.

If you’re worried that the truth about your home might scare off potential buyers, the best thing you can do is make sure your estate agent or viewing expert knows everything there is to know about it. Pretending that everything is well with the neighbours when you’re actually in the middle of a heated disagreement over the fence or the volume of your music might seem like a small thing to embellish. The truth always emerges in these cases, and if you’ve already sold the house by then, the buyer will likely try to get some kind of compensation from you.

Leave It To The Experts

You could be tempted to conduct viewings yourself – after all, who knows your property better than you? We recommend, however, that you have an expert conduct a viewing instead. This could be your estate agent, but if they aren’t able to attend a viewing or you want to have a little more control – or you’ve opted for a less expensive package that means you conduct the viewings yourself – Looksy can be there for you. Since giving tours of homes is our day-to-day work, we are in the ideal position to point out the most noteworthy features, address any queries, and determine whether or not the prospective buyer is interested. Get in touch today if you want to know more.

Furthermore, potential buyers may not feel at ease touring a home with the current residents present, increasing the likelihood that they will be too polite to raise pertinent questions and thus delay making an offer. Keep in mind, maybe most crucially, that anyone viewing your home should feel like they could actually live there. That might be hard with the current owners there.