Sales

It’s amazing how quickly we amass personal possessions, paperwork, clothes and collectables. Before long, our homes can overflow with things we have got used to seeing and items we can’t bear to part with but too much of anything, however, can be a seller’s worst enemy.

It’s true that the property market cools slightly during July and August but if you’re looking to sell your home for a higher price, look no further than a summer sale, as a new survey has proven.

Sellers hoping to be moved into a new home for this Christmas need to put their property up for sale in the coming days to stand the best chance of completing in time for the December holidays.

In the space of just eight weeks, the subject of using pets to help sell your property has made it into the national newspapers. Both the Financial Times and The Times have run features on the art of property sales with pets as prominent features.

Who needs to know that the last time you saw your neighbour was in the back of a police car or that you only communicate with them via a solicitor? Buyers do, that’s who. Potential purchasers have a right to know whether they’ll inherit a long-running feud or if they’ll be disturbed on a regular basis if they buy your property.

You may see some property listings state ‘opportunity to add a side extension and convert the loft, STPP’ – with the STPP standing for ‘subject to planning permission’. We’re often asked whether granted planning permission is needed and whether it adds value, so we have answered the most commonly asked questions.

Hands up who’s blown the budget in the garden centre, had a moment of madness in the DIY store, or made a few impulse ‘middle aisle’ purchases as soon as summer arrives? Clever marketing always makes the most of hot, sunny weather but the latest garden fashions may knock thousands of pounds off your home’s value.

Are you one of the growing number of over 50s who are considering buying your very first home? If figures from the Financial Conduct Authority are taken into account, you’re not alone.

It was Margaret Thatcher in a 1974 party political broadcast that uttered the phrase ‘a nation of homeowners’ and ever since then, subsequent Governments have championed the climbing of the property ladder.

We all know Instagram as a free photo and video sharing app that allows us to document all aspects of our lives. A recent newspaper article highlighted how home décor accounts on Instagram can help generate interest if and when the property eventually comes up for sale.   

47, 38, 8. What do these numbers have in common? According to different studies, they represent the number of seconds it takes for a home to make a first impression with visitors.

Sellers? Commission a survey? It’s not as silly as it sounds. Issues identified in a buyer’s survey are some of the most common reasons why a sale collapses, asking prices are negotiated downwards and delays occur. Sometimes it pays to be forewarned and sellers can do this by ordering their own surveys. Here are some helpful Q&As for those concerned about the condition of their property or who want to avoid the unexpected.