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Whether you’re planning on moving or staying put this Easter, there are so many ways to celebrate at home. The market is now fresh like the spring, with properties appearing for sale on every corner. So here are a few tips to make the most of the holidays.

Indoor and outdoor Easter egg hunts
Just because you love chocolate, a great way to entertain your family this Easter is by arranging an Easter egg hunt. This will keep the children occupied while you catch up with friends and family who can offer a different perspective on your home move.

Cocktails outside
With many homes offering great outdoor living spaces, often heated, well-lit, and decked out, you can enjoy cocktails even if the weather is not as warm as you like. Perhaps you have given your garden a spring makeover to add to its value or simply because you wanted to make it the perfect outdoor space.

Preparing your dining room
The central hub after the kitchen, you can make your dining room as beautiful as you want. Candles, spring flowers, edible chocolate ornaments, and the little details that dress a table for entertaining can make great pictures when staging your home for a sale.

Spend a few hours in the kitchen
From making your chocolate eggs to preparing a traditional Sunday roast, inspiration for kitchen design is everywhere, and the possibilities to enjoy it are endless at this time of year. Maybe you prefer experimenting? You could try alfresco dining. Add a log burner and candles for a relaxing outdoor dining experience.

You entertain the idea of moving
Sometimes you just want more. No matter how much spring cleaning, preparation, decoration, or renovation you undertake, you know you want to move. Your current home will never meet all your expectations. And though you have made great memories, when you glimpse inside a beautiful property, you instantly envision a better way of living.

The housing market
April is a great time to sell up as market activity increases. The housing market becomes a hive of activity, and this year promises to be a good one. The average number of people contacting agents at the beginning of the year increased by 11% compared to the same period in 2019. Spring is a popular time for people to move home. Fresh properties arrive on the market, and many people who delayed buying in December are now eager to buy quickly. The market is stable, with prices remaining strong, bringing more choice and increasing your chances of finding the home you desire.*

Are you entertaining the idea of moving to a better home this spring? Browse some of our available properties.

 

Rightmove*

 

This time of year, has a lot going for it: Easter, lots of chocolate, spring flowers, warmer weather, and if you are on the move, April is the best time to sell your home. In fact, March, April, May, and June are the most popular months for making a swift move, with the average home taking less time to sell.

More people move in the spring
More UK property transactions are completed in the spring than at any other time of the year, and it’s a pattern that repeats itself year after year!

For example, in March 2022, the number of property transactions completed in the UK peaked at 111,680; in April, it was 107,100; and in May, the figure stood at 106,860.*

A good year
Conditions were a little bumpy towards the end of last year. The minibudget that caused an air of uncertainty has been replaced by a fresh spring breeze of stability. Sellers and buyers who delayed moving are returning to the market. More sellers mean more choice. Traditionally, the market warms up at this time of year, but with the added element of pent-up demand and a more calm and realistic market, it promises to be a good year.

Strong demand with a stable 2023 market
The average price of property coming to the market rose by just £14 (+0.0%) from January to February to £362,452.** This is a decent and stable figure, and with demand still very strong, the market is now conducting itself in a manner that is healthy and vibrant. However, you no longer need to race to your dream home and offer more than the asking price! If anything, there may be scope for a little negotiation.

Inspiring and beautiful homes
With wildlife coming on strong and flowers sprouting up to witness the longer evenings, spring lends itself well to moving. It’s easier weather for all the practical parts of moving, and homes with all this splendour going on just look better. Many will have enjoyed a good spring cleaning now that winter is over. Home improvements occupied many homeowners during the lockdown, so whether your budget is large or more modest, chances are you are in for inspiring viewings. Outdoor living spaces, work-from-home spaces, and interesting gardens are ripe for your ideas just in time for summer.

Summary: Springtime is the right time!
With so many beautiful homes looking good at this time of year and a buoyant market with some fresh pent-up demand, house prices are no longer rocketing out of control. Warmer, longer days and lighter evenings bring more homeowners out of hibernation, adding vibrancy and more choice to the property market. With no snow or cold to deal with while hopefully finishing in time to enjoy the summer. It’s little wonder that so many homeowners choose spring to move.

Perhaps we are no different from the returning spring wildlife. The season of change ushers us into a changing mood, but the motives, like many other natural laws, are highly practical and advantageous.

Spring your property move into life now!

Browse our available properties, then book a free valuation with one of our expert agents.

 

Office for National Statistics*
Rightmove**

 

A lot of things seem to be getting longer at this time of year – the evenings and the list of tenants looking for a property to rent. Tenants are renting for longer, which in turn brings longevity to the long-term investment prospects of the buy-to-let market! In the UK, 13 million people rent from a private landlord. This means the buy-to-let market is expanding all the time.*

Why are tenants renting for longer than ever?

Cost of living crisis
It’s taking longer for first-time buyers to save their deposits as energy bills, food prices, and rents increase.

Interest rates
Although many analysts believe that interest rates will never return to the ultra-low levels of the past, many people still believe they are too high. As a result, first-time buyers are delaying their decision to buy and rent for longer.

Lifestyle choice
A growing proportion of people now believe they will never get on the property ladder, choosing to invest in life experiences and preferring not to be tied to a mortgage. This opens yet more opportunities for landlords as the rental sector expands. Attitudes toward owning your own home are changing in the UK and, in many ways, becoming more European, where there is less emphasis on home ownership.

Waiting to see what happens!
Many buyers have delayed making their first move, unable to decide and wondering whether the market has settled. Others are confused and are waiting to see if house prices will rise or fall. As a result, they choose to rent rather than make a decision.

What are the benefits of longer tenancies?
Finding the right home is something that is important to people. When tenants find their happy place, they frequently choose to rent long-term.

Build trust
Typically, the longer your tenants rent from you, the better you get to know them. As time goes on, you may find that they are excellent tenants. This gives you a great track record to give you peace of mind for the future.

Long-term security
The rental market is in a great place. There are simply more tenants than available properties to rent. Therefore, whatever happens, your investment is secure. That said, longer tenancies mean that you do not have to spend time looking for new tenants and making the necessary checks and preparations. Not to mention building up trust again!

Better communication
If any issues arise, the channels of communication are often better in long-term tenancies. Good landlords tend to fix any maintenance issues quickly. As a result, your property is in the best possible hands. Minor problems that can turn into costly repairs get sorted quickly.

Tenants will invest in your property
Tenants tend to invest in your property when they are confident that they will be living there for a long time. Things like curtains, decoration, and furniture – not to mention cleanliness and tender love and care to help keep your home in tip-top shape.

Browse our properties today to find the ideal buy-to-let property for a profitable long-term investment.

 

Generation Rent*

 

The market is calm and stable, with huge long-term demand and with more people renting for longer, now is a great time to invest in property. Tenants are renting for longer as it takes a bit more time to get a footing on the property ladder. Being a landlord is very much a business. The most successful businesses adapt to the times. It’s true that many tenants are feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis. But for many savvy landlords, this is a great opportunity to grow and expand their property portfolio.

Increasing rents
The buy-to-let market can be highly lucrative and offer great returns on investment. Average rents increased in the 12 months from December 2022 by 12.1%.*

Supply is short
The shortfall in the supply of rental properties is still massive and will remain so for many years to come. Simply put, there are far more tenants than available properties.

The trend toward smaller homes
Smaller, more affordable homes are in demand. Flats and more modestly sized homes are appealing simply because they are cheaper to run. Tenants are a little more cost conscious with the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis.

Energy efficiency is easier
It’s not all about size. Modernising your rental property is now becoming more essential than ever. This is much easier to achieve in more modestly sized homes. Energy Performance Certificate rules will be more stringent in 2025, with new tenancy agreements having to meet an energy rating of C. If modifications need to be carried out to meet these demands, the smaller the property, the more likely it is that they will be cheaper.

Bigger can be smaller!
Developing larger properties and then letting them out room by room is also a great way to spread the risk of your property investment. Converting terrace homes into flats can double your rental income while helping to alleviate the chronic shortage of affordable homes.

Funding efficiency
Investing in multiple properties is a shrewd move when it comes to expanding your portfolio. Instead of having all your capital tied up in one property, investing in smaller properties means the funds you receive for one can help cover the costs of the other.

The opportunity to diversify
The more property you own, the more rental markets you can pursue. Invest in the student, professional, house, flat, or holiday home markets—the possibilities are endless.

The best of both worlds
If you are not sure whether you want to develop property to sell or let property, you can enjoy the best of both worlds and adapt your investment plan more easily.

Whether you are looking to expand or create a property portfolio from scratch, get in touch to see how we can help you today!

 

Zoopla*