If you have made the decision to sell your home, chances are you will want to do it swiftly and as smoothly as possible. You probably have so many happy memories from each and every room in your house, yet already you are beginning to see your home in a different light. It’s important to look at your home as a house subjectively and see what you can do to get it sold.
Combined with this you need to be organised; you don’t want to be delayed – don’t neglect that silly little thing you forgot to do which delays everything by weeks!
So here is a checklist which you can use as a reminder and a few other things to consider which will help you achieve the best possible price for your home.
Check out the competition
Look at what other houses in your area are selling for. View online most recently sold properties in your post code to give you a good idea of an asking price.
Declutter Everyone has their own unique way of living whether it’s sitting by the fire and knitting or collecting unusual beers. Start decluttering by packing them away now and creating space. An emptier kitchen worktop will make the entire space look bigger and more appealing to potential buyers.
Clean
Have a good spring clean, everything from the fireplace to kitchen tiles and carpets. It all helps make your home more sellable.
Repairs
Are there are any small repairs that need doing or scuff marks that need a touch of paint? Perhaps you have some paint leftover in your shed. It will not cost you much, but it will make your home look better and become more resistant to silly offers!
The garden
Don’t forget the garden and the front of the house. Are there any bushes or trees that need trimming? Are the windows clean, has the grass been cut? The first thing your buyers will see is the front of the house and first impressions last.
Make an entrance
As you enter your home through the front door look at what will greet potential buyers. A nice, presentable, clean and in good condition hall or room or porch will welcome new owners not just viewers.
Paperwork
You don’t want to be delayed waiting for a gas safety certificate, or any other paperwork - perhaps from building control for any structural work you had carried out.
Solicitor
Don’t give your solicitors any excuses to delay you! Call them and double check if there is anything you need in terms of conveyancing and paperwork to get the ball rolling.
Photography/video tours
Check out your home’s profile once it goes live, check the pictures for accuracy. Once you have done all this your house should look as pretty as a picture and you will soon be on the move for the right price.
Do you want to enjoy a seamless and swift house move? Contact us
*aspc
We have all heard it before. “Moving is one of the most stressful things you can do.” Compared with many other more serious predicaments in life this is of course not true. Like flying to the moon or near-death experiences! However, it’s right up there with the big stuff like your career and relationships according to some experts.
It’s got everything, from hurting your back by lifting large furniture through narrow spaces to worrying about paperwork, and the emotional roller coaster ride of saying goodbye to friends and family you might not see for a while. Then the elation and excitement of a new home and maybe a new life. With all this going on it’s easy to get stressed. There is so much to think about. We have come up with a few tips to help you make the big move less stressful by breaking it down into manageable pieces.
The sooner you start the better
The longer you put things off the more they fester in your mind. Instead simply packing a few things earlier will stop you from becoming stressed thinking about the huge task ahead. Start with the little things. Stuff you don’t use often, an hour here and an hour there. Don’t make it a task. Then you are already ahead of the game.
Come up with a plan
Make a nice cup of coffee or tea, or something stronger! Sit down and relax, then scribble down a plan. Write a list to break each of your tasks into smaller chunks, perhaps using titles such as – the happy day, for when you move in. Breaking your tasks down like this will help you keep calm and gives you a plan to stick to while reducing the chances of the unexpected. Perhaps have a packing section, a pre-move checklist and a post-move checklist, to deal with the change of address!
Budget
It’s always a good idea to create a budget. Moving can be expensive and the more time you give yourself to plan the costs and see where you could save the better. If you are using a removal company, shop around, while they will make your life easier, if the cost is more than you can afford you may find yourself stressing over money.
Don’t forget yourself!
Your mind will be teeming with everything to do with your new home. Remember to look after yourself, plan breaks on the big day - a time to eat and a time to rest. When you get stressed, remember to breathe. When you move in, sort the bedrooms first. This process will take a few days and you will need to sleep well. Perhaps pack a self-care box, so you are not frantically looking for something that is essential to you.
Say your goodbyes
Remember to set aside some time to say goodbye. It’s important to do this and if you don't plan it you may find you are trying to do too much at once; packing, while saying goodbye. It could cause an emotional and stress overload!
Finally
There is no doubt following these steps will reduce your stress levels massively and with a bit of luck you will be able to enjoy the big move!
Can’t wait to move into your forever home or looking to make your first big move? Get in touch.
It’s important to love your home. Like any relationship it shouldn’t be one sided! The more love you show your home the more it will be reciprocated. Perhaps when you first laid eyes on your home it was love at first sight. As time has gone on things have become more complicated. You have discovered more things that need attention and work. The thought of addressing these things can be exhausting when you are struggling to find the time, in your busy life. You have even forgiven yourself for thinking of moving on!
Or perhaps you are obsessed with your home, and you spend a lot of your time thinking about how you can improve it. You love the natural character of your home and you have done much already to improve it and you simply need some inspiration.
The little things you can do
Show your home you care by cleaning and keeping it in tip-top shape. A fresh coat of paint, new lamp shades, some more collectables or accessories for the kitchen. Candles, flowers, plants, paintings, pictures and perhaps most importantly trying something new. To keep things really fresh and vibrant take a departure from your norms.
Try something different
Have you ever painted your furniture? Try it – the kitchen table and chairs or sideboard. It’s on trend right now and the results can be room altering. There is no such thing as right or wrong when it comes to interior design and decorating. It’s your home to make unmistakably yours. Restore furniture or find something a bit different, that tells the story of who you are.
Commitment – big renovations
Show how committed you are to making the most of your home by not putting off what you have wanted to do for ages. Your dream kitchen, a new bathroom, or both. If you need to borrow for one sometimes the smart thing to do is borrow a little more and take out a loan and give your house the complete makeover it deserves. This will add some serious value to your home.
Garden and outside
A great garden can truly become a magical place. The scope for ideas and to create your own unique world is endless. From decking, flowerbeds to ornate garden sculptures. Multilevel gardens with built-in seating. While it’s still wintry why not create a fire pit and plant some outdoor lights which will create a warm, romantic ambience outside.
A workspace
If like many people, you work remotely, why not create your perfect work from home space. If space is limited a balance between aesthetics and functionality can be difficult to achieve. Experiment with your set up, perhaps put your desk near a window, or hang some inspirational pictures, which will stop you becoming bored of the same four walls. The little things here make a big difference, even some flowers or plants. Keep things simple, a well organised compact desk that does not make a statement but is functional and uncluttered so you can concentrate on the tasks in hand.
Do you want to love the home you live in? Browse our properties and find your perfect place.
*thetwinteam
Getting a mortgage can be stressful and worrying. It’s not a complicated process, however, something as simple as not remembering to register to vote can bring the entire process to a halt. You could be left wondering why you were refused a mortgage when you seem to be such a safe bet for your bank!
It starts with the right mortgage provider
Each mortgage provider differs slightly in how they make lending decisions, but all will consider your deposit, income and employment status, credit history, outgoings and debts.
Credit report
Go online and take a look at your credit report and make sure all payments, past and present are on time. From your mobile phone contract to car finance, credit cards, overdrafts and any other borrowings. Then check your credit score, if you have always paid on time and your credit score is low, find out why.
Make sure you are on the electoral register
This takes two minutes to do online and without it you will not get a mortgage.
Balance your borrowing and available credit
If you have a credit card, with a high limit, even if you do not use it, this can dissuade a potential lender from offering you a mortgage because of the potential to run up a lot of debt. Yet it’s also worth remembering not to lower your limit to the balance as this looks like you have used all available credit.
Equally, it's as important to have some credit history to show your lender you can pay back debt. As a general rule, the fewer debts you have - the fewer outgoings you have, meaning you can borrow more.
Streamline accounts
The more history you have with your bank the better so don’t close or switch accounts. However, if you have several accounts, you do not use, shut them down. You don’t want the risk of fraud ruining your chances.
Don’t apply for credit
If you are applying for a mortgage ideally avoid applying for any other credit beforehand. If you get refused this will show on your credit report.
Take a look at your spending
Your lender typically will want to see your last three bank statements so beforehand look at your spending and reduce it where you can.
Gather your paperwork
Your most recent payslips and bank statements for the past three months, proof of deposit, ID –passport, and proof of address.
Mortgage calculator
At any point, you can go online and get a reasonably accurate idea of how much you could borrow using one of the high street bank’s mortgage calculators.
Agreement in principle
An agreement in principle, allows you to see if a potential mortgage provider will lend to you and is a soft search of your credit history. You do not necessarily have to be in a position to buy to get an agreement in principle, although to process your application further following the steps above will help secure a mortgage successfully.
Are you ready to buy or do you simply need some advice? Browse our properties.
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