The demand for your rental property is huge right now, with demand per available property spiking last year by 250% above the 5-year average, while the demand for rented homes remains 10% higher than this time last year.* Interestingly, many landlords who have reached retirement age are selling part or all of their portfolios, giving you the chance to rapidly expand your portfolio with rental-ready properties.

Rents are increasing
Your investment is secure. Rents have increased by 20% in the past three years, increasing by 11.1% in the past twelve months to March 2023.* This means you have the financial means to reinvest in your portfolio, finance improvements, and meet legislative changes. With such great returns on investment, you are a safe bet for banks.

New opportunities
Smaller, more energy-efficient homes are in demand; increasing numbers of students are looking for accommodation; and a widening demographic of people are renting for longer. With larger homes arriving on the market with good scope for negotiation and development, the opportunities are endless. It’s no secret that larger homes are selling a little more slowly than those in the first-time buyer market. The opportunity to buy a larger property and transform it into multiple lets is, provided you get the numbers right, a fantastic way to increase your rental yield.

More buy-to-let mortgage choice
There are over 2,400 different mortgage deals available if you are buying a property to let.* If you are buying an existing portfolio or an existing rental property, then you are far more bankable than starting from scratch. This will mean you can rapidly expand your portfolio without hesitation and established rental properties may have tenants living in them already.

Buy rental-ready properties
Some landlords who are retiring or have not done their research have been scared by legislative changes. Choosing to sell their rental-ready, buy-to-let properties gives you the opportunity to rapidly expand your portfolio. Every industry goes through big changes at some point. The Renters Reform Bill is currently passing through Parliament, and though it will not become law for some time, some less informed landlords are exiting the market, citing this and other legislative changes as the reason. The reality is that if you do your research, all these changes will protect your investment and create more opportunities for you to prosper.

Talk to your agent
Knowledge is the key to unlocking the secrets of success in the buy-to-let market. This is imperative in today’s reforming rental market. With so many changes taking place and so much to think about the right agent can guide you along the right road. A great investment starts with finding the right property, and that starts with the right agent. Managing your property and placing good tenants, which is becoming increasingly important, is something a good agent prides themselves on, not to mention local market knowledge and a vast database of buyers, sellers, and tenants.

Get in touch today to see how we can help take your property portfolio to the next level.

Zoopla*

 

Perhaps you have just moved, or maybe you are thinking about moving. It could be that you are decorating a recently acquired buy-to-let property. Whatever your reason for decorating, sometimes the hardest decision to make is deciding on colour schemes. There is an eternal spectrum to choose from, and matching and creating rooms that are visually what you were hoping for is no easy task.

Did you know?
Some research suggests that we associate certain colours of inanimate objects with certain emotions. Here are a few examples: orange: happiness or energy, yellow: cheerfulness, red: love, passion, or danger and blue: relaxation, to mention but a few.

Are you selling your home or letting your home?
If you are renting out your home, neutral, warm colours are the best. That way, you can play it safe and not run the risk of decorating to your tastes and alienating potential tenants or buyers. Paler, softer colours that encourage as much light as possible will make your home appear larger. While it is tempting to opt for two-tone effects, do so in a conservative manner, if at all.

Do what makes you happy
If you are decorating for your own home, then this is a different matter. When it’s time to sell up and move, the chances are that your buyer will have their own ideas and tastes when it comes to decorating. Instead, have faith in your own tastes. Learn to trust yourself while seeking the right advice. Experiment with colours, and don’t buy until you try. Use the samples you are provided with and paint until you are happy. If you are not happy, today any colour can be matched with some clever mixing technology. So, if you can’t find the right colour, you can have it made.

Soothing spaces
Bathrooms, bedrooms, and sitting rooms are often places where feelings of tranquilly are at the top of the pecking order of desired emotions. Shades of blue and green can be useful in creating such feelings. The softer the shades, the less impact they will have. A good way to make these themes work well is by adding the right complementary furniture. In the case of a bathroom, a contrasting suit will accentuate these emotions and may distract your eye from the intensity of large painted areas. A good tip is to break up walls with mirrors, plants, pictures, shelves, or tiles to create a greater sense of serenity.

Furniture and finishing touches
A great way to add colour to create your desired mood is by not paying too much attention to the walls and focusing more on your furniture, features, and finishing touches. Gone are the days when it was all about wallpaper and paint, with furniture being a simple afterthought.

Neutral and darker colours are great for a feeling of cosiness. Then, if you want to add a dash of colour with yet more cosiness built in, use mustard shades or whatever colour you love. Neutral colours work with everything, and when you get to the end of your decorating expedition, the impact of small plants on a simple, free-standing table can be pleasantly surprising. So, when it comes to creating the perfect mood for each room in the house, start with your furniture.

Browse our properties today to find a home that matches the life you want perfectly.

 

You are relaxing with a drink in the garden, and the summer scent of flowers and sweet grass mingles with whatever you are cooking on the barbeque. You take a long sigh and feel so happy that you have made the effort to move. Perhaps you have not experienced this feeling for a while. It could be that you are a first-time buyer and are eagerly awaiting this special and unique feeling. As the market stands, there is more than just nice weather and pretty houses to tempt you into moving.

Strong sales
With the UK housing market currently sitting at 500,000 sales, many analysts expect to see these figures rise to more than one million by the end of the year.* This is good news; it means that your home will sell quickly if you put it on the market. And is more proof that the property market is vibrant and far more resilient than the gloomy picture painted by the mainstream media.

The summer rush
Many people are hastily getting on the move in time for summer, not wanting to move during the colder months of winter. Summer is a beautiful time of year to move to your ideal home and is traditionally a busy time of year. For sale signs start appearing as quickly as summer flowers, giving you more choice. But it’s best not to wait for a sign to go up; keep in touch with your friendly agent, as homes can disappear from the market as quickly as they appear. Your agent will alert you the moment the right property for you becomes available.

Surging choice of homes
With 65% more choice in homes than this time last year.* The buying process today is far more enjoyable. You no longer have to worry about making offers over the asking price. From large and small energy-efficient homes that ooze character to new builds, and interesting period properties in a multitude of rural and urban locations, the choice on today’s market is more varied than ever. Homes across the market have undergone a massive amount of improvement during the home improvement boom of recent years. That said, there are plenty of projects waiting for you to put your mark on.

Summer is a great time of year to move
The kids are off school, the days are longer, the weather is not as harsh, and moving your belongings in more clement weather is a nicer experience. It’s also a great time to meet the new neighbours for a drink in the garden or a barbeque after you move in.

Good timing
Timing counts for a lot when it comes to selling your home, and right now the market is a hive of activity. A good agent will have their finger on the pulse and have a buyer waiting for your home to make its appearance on the market.

A vision of summer living
Bright and breezy rooms with seasonal flowers, drinks on the decking as the sun goes down, or the smell of something delicious cooking on the barbeque, or a simple, more compact space with a few candles and soft music soothing you after a hard day’s work are worth making the effort for.

Don’t waste any more time and make your move this summer?

Get in touch to see how we can help.

Zoopla*

 

You want your home to stand out, whether it’s first seen by your buyers in an image or from the kerb. That first glance is important. If the rest of your home is in great condition, the last thing you want to do is alienate potential buyers by neglecting the front of your home and creating the wrong impression.

The front door
If it’s wooden, give it a coat of paint and polish the metal work. If it’s really worn and damaged, consider replacing it. Sometimes darker colours will make your front door pop, so that when your home is viewed and welcomes potential buyers, they immediately feel good before entering your home.

The front lawn
Make sure the grass is green and trim. Use grass feed if there are any patches. Sweep and weed any paths or patio areas. If possible, use a jet wash to make your paving look like new again.

Clean your widows
Get your window cleaner to give your windows a good clean in time for viewings and pictures for your agent. Don’t forget your window frames; make the front of your house pop with the right colours; and repair any blemishes.

Add some paint
The front of your home will benefit from a coat of good paint. Check the pointing. Perhaps your home does not need any paint; don’t forget gates, fences, walls, and guttering. The little things all add up to make a big impact.

Flowers and plants
At this time of year, adding some vibrancy with a dash of colour will really help your home stand out. Less is more, and not everyone is passionate about the same flowers and plants, so be subtle and keep what you have in pristine order.

Furniture
Even if you have a small, terraced house with little space out the front, a small seating area can add to its appeal. For larger homes, create a vision of outdoor living that is just a taste of the splendour that will later appear, perhaps in the outdoor living space located at the rear of your property.

Conceal wiring or utility boxes
If possible, don’t allow all your hard work to be affected by unsightly wiring or an electrical, gas, or rusty mailbox. Get in touch with your energy supplier if it needs replacing, or simply give it a good cleaning.

Summer symmetry
Some things work best in pairs, and when it comes to making an entrance, a pair of ornamental flowerpots on each side of the door can do the trick. Lighting can also have the same effect as flower boxes.

Finishing touches
Hanging a summer wreath can really add some colour and show your new buyers that you love your home.

Will all of this add value to your home?
Yes. Anything that makes your home appear cared for and loved will help other people fall in love with it. While it will not drastically increase the value of your home, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Contact us today so we can guide you to the front door of your happy place.