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Deakin-White are delighted to announce that we are now working alongside Boomin - the next generation property site. You probably haven't heard of Boomin yet, so allow us to explain what it's all about.
Boomin was launched in 2021 to transform the property market, while making the lives of clients and estate agents easier. Boomin's powerful property site aims to reduce the stress and burden of moving home, as well as provide inspiration to home buyers. Too often, buyers feel left out of the loop of property buying, but Boomin aims to engage them and empower them.
So what is it that makes Boomin so special? Read on to find out.
Secret Properties
Boomin allows you to discover Secret Properties that aren't available to see anywhere else. Secret Properties are properties that are not yet officially on the market. In some cases, they are still being valued by estate agents, meaning that no one else even knows they are going to be listed for sale. With Boomin, you can register your interest long before anyone else even knows the property is available. This allows you to be first through the door when the property comes onto the market, giving you the opportunity to get your offer in before anyone else.
Sneak Peek
Think of Sneak Peek as being like a movie premier: you get to see something before anyone else. Boomin enables you to jump the queue by booking viewings for properties days before details are posted online or anywhere else. This means that you can be the first to view an available property and, if you like what you see, can get your offer in long before anyone else has even viewed it.
Property Playground
Property Playground provides inspiration for your new home. Buying a property can be stressful, but Property Playground is all about having fun. Get tips and advice on creating your perfect home decor and making your property work for you. See hundreds of photos of aspirational homes and view collections carefully curated by industry experts and people just like you. Follow collections you particularly like to help you put together your dream home.
Book Viewings Online
Boomin understands that when you see the perfect property appear online, you want to book a viewing immediately. The most desirable properties are snapped up before you can blink, so to be in with a chance, you need to be one of the first buyers through the door. Boomin allows you to book property viewings online, 24 hours a day. So when you see your dream home appear, you can book a viewing immediately without having to wait for the estate agent to open or for your call to be returned.
This means now we advertise all our properties not only on DWRealEstate.co.uk but on all the major property portals including Boomin, Rightmove, Zoopla, Prime Location and OntheMarket.com.
We hope you're as excited about Boomin as we are. We'd love to tell you more about our work with Boomin and answer any questions you might have. You can get in touch at any time using the following details:
Deakin-White
Tel. 01582 343 548
E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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As you walk along the streets where you live, there will be certain houses that catch your eye. They may be of an architectural style that you adore or just scream potential, but more than likely it’s because they win you over with their kerb appeal. Kerb appeal is simply how a home looks from the pavement or road, when that initial glance can quickly turn into a stare. Having alluring kerb appeal is always essential but even more so in this sellers’ market, which is why our team at Deakin-White have put together some of our favourite tips to help you wow buyers with your home’s kerb appeal.
A Sellers’ Market?
With not many homes on the market compared to the level of buyer demand, you would think that your kerb appeal is important but not quite as essential as when we’re in a buyers’ market. We can understand this thinking but there is still an advantage to presenting the front of your home in a way that attracts and excites potential buyers. Buyers at the moment are trying to get ahead of the game, they are touring streets and neighbourhoods looking for homes that they love, even if they are not even on the market. We often get calls from buyers saying, “If this home or one similar comes on the market, please contact me straight away.”
Imagine having potential buyers queuing to view your property even before you have made the decision to sell? That is the power of exquisite kerb appeal.
It’s Not About Size
Any home, regardless of the size, can wow buyers with its appeal. “I remember a first-time buyer a few years ago, she had driven down a street and seen a home that just spoke to her. It was a tiny terrace that sat directly on the pavement edge. The house wasn’t on the market at that time, but it had a beautiful hanging basket bursting with blooms and the door looked like it had been freshly painted. She said to her family, ‘That’s the house I want,’ and a few weeks later it was on the market and yes, she did buy it,” said Scott from our Hertfordshire office.
We don’t want you to think that just because you don’t have a drive and garden at the front of your home, you can’t grab buyers’ attention. Kerb appeal is essential for any size of home, no matter how big or small, as first impressions do matter.
Where to Start
Just like with your home’s interior, start by giving the exterior of your home a good clean, from windows to doors, even to the pavement edge. Pathways and paving can start to look tired over time, but it’s nothing a good old jet wash won’t get clean. If you don’t have the equipment yourself, there are plenty of local companies that can help. Tidy up your home’s exterior and find somewhere out of sight for your bins, if possible, as let’s face it, they’re not very attractive.
If you have a fence and gates, what condition are they in? This year’s random weather, from sun to snow, may not have been kind to your home’s exterior, so fix anything that is broken and give it a fresh coat of paint and stain where needed. Peeling paint work on a windowsill and a fence that has passed its sell by date are never a good look, yet often in the stress of getting a home ready for sale, we can forget about that kerb-side view.
Bring Back to Life
Your garden may be seeing signs of spring coming to life, with leaves and blossoms beginning to appear and even some plants adding colour and joy to your flowerbeds. Give your front garden a good MOT: get rid of the weeds and winter decay and add some new seasonal plants where needed, so instead of something that looks barren, you have the most beautiful welcome.
The same goes for any lawn areas; bare and patchy grass just looks like work, so do whatever you can to bring it back to life before you place your home on the market. If you don’t have much, or any, space at the front of your home, there are still ways to add some greenery through tubs, window boxes and hanging baskets.
A very popular and elegant way to frame your doorway is with symmetrical planting, whether that’s through a pair of bay or olive trees, or even a couple of stylish planters filled with your favourite shrubs.
Front Door
Your front door is the focal point of your house, and is where a buyer’s eye will initially be drawn. With so many fantastic products on the market today, you can even spruce up an old PVC door with a lovely new colour. Whether you choose a bold and luscious red, a subtle heritage shade or a deep and warm blue, there is only one rule: it needs to work with the style of your house, otherwise it could turn buyers off instead of attracting them.
The Big Test
If you want to know how it looks, judge for yourself from the pavement or roadside, but remember to do it with a judgemental eye, just like those of a potential buyer. There is just one major risk: that when you see your home presented to wow buyers with its kerb appeal, you may start to fall in love with it all over again!
For more advice on how to get the highest possible price for your property in contact our team today.
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We can certainly see the impact the Stamp Duty holiday extension is having on the property market, as we have been kept very busy this week. Even so, selling your home isn’t as easy as placing a For Sale sign outside. At Deakin-White we focus on every element of the sale, so your experience is one that results in the best possible sales price whilst taking away the stress associated with moving home. But to achieve that best possible price, you need to put in the work. One thing we are seeing quite often is homeowners who don’t truly understand how to prepare their home for sale. Professional home stagers have a wealth of advice, but we have compiled the top five tips they swear by before listing your home.
Decluttering
You may have heard us speak about this before, but we can’t tell you how important it is. What buyer wants to view a disorganised home? Failing to do this simple task is something we see often; we know it can seem daunting, but by taking a room at a time you will soon have it in hand. Make sure that you keep surfaces clear of clutter – that means your kitchen worktops, bathroom vanity units and windowsills. Just because you have a surface, doesn’t mean it needs to be filled with things.
Remember to clear out cupboards, garages and other storage areas. If a buyer sees that there isn’t enough room for your belongings, they may feel that storage will be lacking for them too. Decluttering isn’t just about organising, it also opens up spaces and makes them feel more spacious, which is always a plus point for potential buyers.
Refreshing Décor
Every buyer will want to put their own stamp on the home they buy, but that doesn’t mean they will want to fully redecorate the minute they get their keys. It is natural for a home’s décor to become tired over time and it’s amazing the transformation a quick coat of paint can achieve. Yes, neutral tones are generally preferred but that doesn’t mean that this is always true. You may have used bold and elegant shades throughout your house that create a striking and stylish interior. There is no doubt that this may grab the attention of buyers with similar tastes, but just bear in mind it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
That being said, if you have a more dated décor scheme or one which only its owner could love, then failing to make a few changes can turn buyers off. Grabbing a buyer’s attention as quickly as possible is essential, so it’s important to do everything you can to stop them quickly moving onto the next property and leaving yours behind.
Don’t Neglect The Small Stuff
You may have some little niggles in your home which you haven’t got round to addressing; it could be changing the light bulb in the entrance hall, or tightening that loose handle on the bathroom door. You would be surprised the negative effect that neglecting to take care of the small stuff can have on a buyer’s impression of your property. They may start to wonder what else is broken in your home – are there problems they can’t see? Don’t leave them with any doubt, get those jobs done so that buyers can see the care and attention you have given the property whilst living there.
Staging Your Home
Staging a home is an art. It doesn’t mean stripping a room bear and leaving a stark, clinical look, but you also don’t want it to look like life has just exploded in each room. You want a careful balance of cleanliness and order, with those careful touches that make it feel like a home. Remember to take away personal photos, as these remind a buyer that this is your property, when they should be thinking about how they might live there. Staging is all about those finishing touches, a vase of fresh flowers placed on the dining table; a small tray ready for a cream tea in the garden; a throw and a book carefully placed on the bedroom chair…
Home magazines are the perfect inspiration, or you could look at photographs from show homes – these professionals know how to create a lifestyle that buyers will want to buy into.
Now it’s Time to List
Yes, all this work should be undertaken before you invite an estate agent in to value your home, why? Because how your home is presented could affect your home’s valuation. This is again where many sellers go wrong, but if you have this all done before your home is listed, your marketing photographs and videos will show your home at its best and grab the attention of all those eager and ready-to-move buyers.
If you are unsure how to prepare your home for sale, please contact a member of our team and we would be happy to give you our honest advice on what will have the biggest impact for your home.
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No matter what you’re advertising, whether it’s a product, a service or even a home, you want to capture a buyer’s attention. To get results you need to put in time and effort to ensure your property is looking its absolute best. You don’t need to own one of grandeur, any sized home has supermodel potential, which is why at Deakin-White we’ve put together some tips to show you how to prepare your home for its photoshoot.
Understanding The Value
When it comes to selling your home, you only have seconds to make a lasting impression. Buyers will be flicking through the online property websites hardly even giving some homes a second glance. A photograph may not sell your home, but it can open the door to the possibility and prompt a viewing. The more importance you place on getting things right for when your home is photographed, the better the potential outcome can be. Buyers want to feel a connection with your house; the way it’s marketed is the draw and ‘that feeling’ tends to happen the moment they step inside. Yet if we don’t market your home correctly, we will struggle to get buyers to view it in the first place.
If you follow our tips you can transform your property into the next top model. We want buyers to be focused on your clean and bright home, not pondering over what work it would take to get it looking its best. With your preparation and our investment in photography and videography, together we can dramatically impact buyers’ opinion of your home.
1. A Clean Kitchen
When we talk about a clean kitchen we don’t just mean literal cleanliness (and we know you will be cleaning vigorously before the shoot) but also a clean ‘look’. Worktops are fantastic places to store and house things, all those wonderful gadgets that we buy and rarely use, but by minimising what you keep on your worktop your kitchen will look so much cleaner and larger. Just leave a couple of decorative items, such as a bowl of lemons and a vase of flowers and find a place to hide the practical bits whilst your photoshoot is taking place.
2. A Clean Bathroom
The same principle should be applied to the bathroom. We all have bottles, soaps and paraphernalia decorating our bathrooms, but does a buyer really need to know what shampoo you use? A bathroom that has been cleaned and cleared of lotions and potions is a lot more attractive than one where the bath has various items on display. Again, by clearing things away for the photoshoot you will make your bathroom look bigger and also give it more of a ‘sanctuary’ feel, a place where your buyer can see themselves relaxing in and enjoying.
3. There Has to Be Light
One of our little niggles as estate agents is when we are in a property and the owner has neglected to check and change lightbulbs. Light is always a big selling point for buyers and we want your home flooded in it, so check the lightbulbs of all your ceiling lights and lamps before your photoshoot so we have as much light as possible.
As well as lightbulbs, raise any blinds, open all curtains fully and remove anything that could be blocking natural light from a window. With this in mind, don’t forget to get those windows clean too!
4. Less is More
We all have personal tastes, especially when it comes to how we decorate our homes. One of the most challenging requests we have for sellers is to remember that less is more. Removing large and bulky furniture is going to be challenging but if it’s eating up all the space in a room then it’s a must-do task. Many buyers will find it difficult to visualise the room without this piece of furniture within it, and so their focus could be on that particular piece rather than what the room could offer them. You want buyers imaginations running wild when they look at photograph of your home and thinking about the potential space it offers.
5. Remove Floor Mats
Lots of us have floor mats and runners (not rugs); they are fantastic at protecting our floors, especially when we arrive home all wet and muddy from a walk. As wonderful as they are, they can make a room and even a hallway look smaller and a bit cluttered. It will only take a couple of minutes to remove bath mats, door mats and runners for the photoshoot, to give these rooms clean lines and a greater sense of space.
6. Fridge Design
How many of us are guilty of cluttering our fridges with magnets, notes, reminders, children’s artwork… you name it. It’s a little piece of your family life, but as much as you love it, it’s not so alluring for buyers – in fact, it can be extremely distracting. Removing all these items will make your kitchen feel tidier and cleaner, but also, and more importantly, keep personal information away from prying eyes.
7. Make the Beds
Yes, we know how obvious this sounds, but it can often get overlooked, especially in rooms you may not be using. Fresh clean bedding with a neutral design always works best, accented with pillows, a throw and a couple of finishing touches. Look at hotel rooms and flick through home magazines for inspiration if you get stuck for ideas. One thing we know you will agree on is that walking into a room with an unmade bed doesn’t give you a warm feeling.
8. Remove Yourself
This is a tough one, as this is your home and ‘you’ are everywhere throughout it. But when buyers see your home, they want to see themselves there, which is hard to do if you’re staring back at them. By removing your family photos and personal items, a potential buyer can focus on the house and not you and your family.
9. Clear Surfaces
From the coffee table, breakfast bar, bedside table to chest of drawers, we all have places where clutter congregates whether that’s a book we’re reading, chargers, tissues, essential bits and pieces, it’s amazing how quickly a space can be filled.
You want any surface to have minimal items, maybe a book on your bedside table and, if big enough, a decorative item. A coffee table could be staged for a morning coffee on a little tray, and your breakfast bar is perfect when completely clear.
10. Remove ALL Pet Items
We’re not being harsh, most of us have pets too, and we know what an integral part of the family they are, but the truth is not everyone has pets and some people are allergic. The last thing you want is a buyer who is allergic to your home due to the smell of pets. It’s essential to get this right so hide bowls, beds and toys and give your carpet, and furnishings a deep clean to get rid of any ‘nose blind’ areas of your home.
Camera Ready?
It’s always easy to spot the homes where the owners have really spent some time getting it ready for its photoshoot. In this buoyant market where houses are selling quickly and often at asking price or above, the more you can do to bring out your home’s inner top model, the more viewings and potential offers you will receive.
For more advice on how to prepare your home for sale, please contact our team at Deakin-White.
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How exciting, you’re ready to embark on the next stage of your relationship and decided now is the time to move in together. If you’ve decided to rent or buy your first home, we bet you can’t wait to have a space that is just yours. When it comes to relationships, I don’t think any couple would say lockdown hasn’t come without challenges, yet if you are still living in separate abodes moving in together could be your biggest challenge to date if you haven’t talked everything through first. From financials to daily chores, from what belongings you will be bringing to communicating, there are many things to consider. We want moving into your first ‘together’ home to be a wonderful experience, so we have put together some top tips of things to consider to make sure moving in with your partner is a success.
Be Open About Your Finances
Let’s start with probably one of the most difficult tasks you may have, and that’s an honest conversation about your personal finances. When you move in together you will have some joint financial responsibilities, such as your rent or mortgage, bills, shopping even the Sky TV subscription and broadband. It’s important to discuss and put plans in place for things to be paid, whether you decide to open a joint account for ‘home’ expenses or split payments, you will find that getting this organised before you move in will ease some of your worries.
No one wants to start off an exciting new chapter with stresses over money when you should be enjoying having a place of your own. If you haven’t already done so, get a list together of all your expected expenses and then ask someone to check you haven’t missed anything. This way, your new life together will be starting with a clear understanding of your financial commitments and how they are going to be met.
Responsibilities
You may both may be very handy around a home and have no issues doing the washing up and mowing the lawn, but what are your expectations? One thing about jobs around the house is that they can easily become niggles that blow up into issues, if you’re always the one doing the majority of the housework whilst juggling work and life.
We all have our own ways of living; you may be a neat freak and your partner could suffer from dropsie, which could cause tensions. This is why a simple conversation about who is going to do what can help iron out any teething problems. Bear in mind, you will also have your own way of doing things – you may fold the towels one way, your partner another. There are just some things you’ll have to agree to disagree on and learn the art of compromise.
Your Stuff
When two become one, there are two lots of ‘stuff’ that need to work in harmony within a home, so you need to talk about your belongings. Having too many things in a new home can be stressful, especially if you don’t have space for everything and your home becomes cluttered and disorganised. If you’ve been both living alone you could potentially have a lot of doubles – you don’t need two kettles, 18 mugs (well, you might!) two sofas… You get the idea.
Make an inventory of what you each have and then bring your lists together so you can work out what’s important to you both. Decide which belongings to downsize, what stays and what will be sold or donated before you move in – you may even make a little money to buy something new.
Just Enjoy It
Talking through any issues is going to be a wonderful foundation for any relationship, even more so when you’re taking this amazing and exciting step of moving in together. Take a breath – moving home is stressful, there are bound to be some silly arguments over nothing, but don’t let that mar this important new adventure. Just relax and focus on your life together; after the year we’ve had, you deserve so much happiness.
So on the first night, as you sit down in your new home, take a moment and smile, because this is now your ‘together’ home and that should be celebrated!
If you’re struggling to find your together home in give our Deakin-White team a call.
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Sorting fact from fiction when selling your home
Every home sale is different, and it is understandable that through whispers, chats over the fence, and listening into conversations whilst having a coffee, misunderstandings can occur. In normal times, we would often hear some amazingly creative stories whilst going about our business, so now that the Stamp Duty holiday has been extended and we’re busy helping homeowners to get their property on the market, we thought now would be a great time to sort out the fact and the fiction, once and for all.
Spring is a fantastic time to sell your home
The property market always has peaks and troughs, but the springtime always sees a rise in people looking to sell their home. This year is obviously very different, but the signs are still that we are in for a busy spring.
The chancellor’s Budget announcement that the Stamp Duty holiday will be extended, followed by a reduction, along with the new Mortgage Guarantee, will no doubt give confidence to those who may have been reluctant to consider a move. Add to this the successful vaccine roll out, the children going back to school and the roadmap to recovery, we think that there will be a burst of activity in the spring market.
Buyers decide quickly
If you have bought a home before then you will know that this is no old wives tale, you kind of have an inkling very early on if a home is doing it for you. We see it first-hand all the time: the excited buyers filled with anticipation, then the door opens and the house is not what they expected, disappointment takes hold and you see that initial zest start to fizzle away.
Then you open another door; they may be a little apprehensive this time, but within seconds you see their whole demeanour change. They have it, that feeling that is often hard to describe, but simply says to them, ‘home’. Not everyone is easy to read, some people like to challenge us and keep us guessing, but behind that non-emotive exterior they still know if the property is for them or not.
Studies have found that buyers make a decision within 15 minutes or less. It’s amazing that in that time we make the decision on one of the biggest assets we’ll purchase in our lives.
People will see past it!
Whether that’s clutter, an unkempt garden, overbearing furniture, a tired décor or some dodgy DIY, when it comes to selling your home, no one will see past it. Buyers are looking for a home where they can see themselves living and each little sign of neglect is a barrier that you’re making a buyer leap over. This is why it’s important to do all you can to present your home for sale, taking time to declutter and get each room organised. Tick off all those jobs you may have been leaving for another day and give your home a fresh lick of paint, neutral shades are always preferred.
Don’t put all your effort into the inside of your property, though, also think about the exterior. Summer will be here in the blink of an eye and, after the year we’ve had, buyers want to see themselves enjoying the garden, entertaining with their friends and family and making the most of some sort of normality.
All estate agents are the same
We have to disagree here. We may offer the same service but our delivery and quirks are always different, just like no two supermarkets or cars are the same. But to put this to the test, when you’re ready to get moving, please give our team a call and we can show you how we will sell your home.
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Well, what a week it has been for anyone who loves, supports, or follows football. Less than 48 hours after the announcement of the European Super League (ESL), the six English clubs quit against a backdrop of anger, criticism and disbelief. News channels highlighted their failure to speak or listen to fans, and to understand the mood of the country. In truth, it was one big idea that bombed spectacularly with the world watching, but would these clubs have joined the ESL if they had just listened?
Listening is often something that is taken for granted, and if we’re honest with ourselves we don’t always listen effectively all the time – we could be distracted by something else happening or going on in our lives. But when it comes to selling homes, listening should never be underestimated. At Deakin-White we believe it is the most important skill we possess, and one that places us at an advantage when selling your home.
From The First Call
We know that when you call or interact with our agency for the first time, this is our chance to impress and your time to judge. You don’t want to feel like a number, and your house just a commodity – that just makes us look like an ESL-style agent. Getting to know you on that first call is essential. Yes, we would like to know more about your house, but it’s you and your family that are our focus initially. “Why?” you may ponder. Because, simply put, if we don’t listen at the start, how can we know the best strategies to use? If we understand you, the motivations for your move, your circumstances, your plans for the future, we will know exactly how to approach your sale and can start planning a strategy for marketing your home should we be given the honour of selling it.
The Valuation
You may believe that the valuation is all about a number and in a way it is, as you need to know what value is placed on your property so that you can plan your move. But there is so much more to the valuation, and Matthew Lindsay from Deakin-White Village & Country explains why.
“Every home has a story. It is easy to find out the facts – number of bedrooms, bathrooms etc – but it’s the tales of people’s lives there that makes this part of my job so fascinating and enjoyable. They give me a little insight into what it has been like to live in a home, the owner’s favourite spot to sit and read, where the dog loves to snooze as the sunlight hits the spot just perfectly in the morning. How they upgraded and spent time in their garden over lockdown, and the many treasured memories that each room holds. It is these stories, these moments in time that make a house a home, and knowing this enables us pass on the love you have for your home to potential buyers on a viewing.”
If we didn’t take the time to listen to you whilst valuing your property, we would miss out on these wonderful stories, and who doesn’t like talking about their house? Buyers just love to hear about how the current owners spend time in the house, not because they plan to do the same, it just adds another layer for buyers to connect with.
The Offer
When we are conducting a viewing with a buyer, we’re not just listening to what they are saying but also what they are not. Again, we take time to get to know them as people so that we can point them in the direction of the right property for them. By taking the time to truly listen to buyers, we can artfully negotiate an offer, as we know what style of negotiation will be best to navigate to a successful outcome. Unlike the ESL, we believe that listening to all sides involved is the best way to sell a property and get you the highest possible price.
Put Us to The Test
There are many estate agents you can choose from when selling your property but do they all truly listen? If you’re thinking of selling your home, why not give our team a call today and see the difference a service based around listening can offer you and your family.
We look forward to getting to know you. Call Deakin-White for a premier home selling experience.
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It’s said to be one of the most stressful things you can do, and with the year we’ve had you may find that your stress levels are already heightened. The last thing we want is this exciting chapter of your life to impact on your mental health, which is why our team at Deakin-White have put together some practical tips to help things feel a lot calmer. Whether you’re moving home for the first time or are a serial mover, here’s our guide for how to manage the stress of moving home.
It’s Going to be Emotional
It’s important to accept from the start that moving home is an emotional bubble that can burst when you least expect it. You’re leaving behind a property that holds a wealth of memories; even if you’ve fallen out of love with your house, you may still find that packing up a particular space could spark a memory that puts a lump in your throat. This is normal, so give yourself a break.
Not only may you have feelings of loss and grief, you could also be filled with fear and anxiety about the massive change that you are about to undertake. Even if you’re only moving locally, a home is a place where you feel safe and secure, and you’re leaving that to step into the unknown. But remember, once you fill this new abode with all those things you hold dear, it won’t be long until your new house becomes that place that isn’t just called home but feels it.
Don’t Leave it Until the Last Minute
Yes, we’re talking about packing – yeah!! Let’s be honest, there aren’t many people who look forward to this job. You may start with excitement – the date of your move beckons and so you start to pack with wild abundance, eager to see your favourite lamp displayed in that corner you picked out on viewing your new home. That initial enthusiasm is bound to fade as you begin to realise just how much stuff you actually have in every corner of your home – oh and don’t forget the garage and shed!!!
And breathe……
This is why the earlier you start packing, the better. If you’ve been an avid reader of our blog you’ll know that our expert opinion is to start before you even put your house on the market. Yes, that’s right. When you declutter your home to place it on the market, this is the optimum time to pack those things away that you won’t need before you move. This could be books, old photos and even clothes. Then, little by little, do a bit more as the weeks progress – the more you do beforehand, the less you will have to do as your moving date approaches. By not leaving packing to the last minute, you will reduce your stress levels exponentially.
Plan for Your Arrival
Whilst packing you need to get labelling. Whether you’re using a removal company or doing it yourself, make sure you have things organised so that when you arrive you’re not diving into every box going crazy because you can’t find that one item you desperately need.
It’s good to label your boxes in priority order and by location. Sometimes there can be delays which could mean you moving into your new home much later than planned. Exhausted, the last thing you want to do is unpack everything, but if you can find those boxes labelled as top priority, you’ll have everything you need for that first night. This way, instead of the stress of the day getting the best of you, you’ll be able to grab your essentials and relax, knowing that you can do the rest tomorrow.
Get to Know the Area
Even if you’re moving locally, there will be differences that you may or may not be aware of. As things start to open up, you could grab a coffee in a nearby coffee shop, pop into the local store to see what they stock and their opening times, and even take a little wander down the street you’re going to live on.
When you move to your new home, the unfamiliar will now be less so. When you forget to buy milk, you’ll know what time you need to pop to the shop before it closes. You may have met some of your neighbours, and your kids will have found the local park. Learning as much as you can about your new community and neighbourhood can lessen any anxieties you and your family may have about your move.
We’re Here to Help
We may be estate agents but we also live and work in this community, and we pretty much know everything there is to know. If you have a question, want advice on a group to join, or where’s best for your kids to play, please give us a call. The property transaction is just part of the process, what’s most important to us is that your move is successful in every way possible.
For a smoother move, call our team.
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There are rumblings in the press that the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will extend the Stamp Duty holiday deadline until the end of June. This is fantastic news for all those people who are in the process of completing and have been worried if it will happen in time. The Stamp Duty holiday certainly fired up the property market last year across the UK, and we saw many people moving as a result. Regardless of whether these rumblings become reality or not, we still believe that now is a great time to sell your home.
Are there buyers?
Even during a lockdown, the desire to move never fades, and that is proven when you take a look at February’s House Price Index from Rightmove. The index shows that visits to the property website are up 45% on last year, with those eager house-hunters increasing the number of enquiries by 18%. At Deakin-White we have really felt this buyer increase; it seems that the prospect of a restriction-free (ish) summer has got people looking to the future, and for many this includes a new home.
What can they buy?
As fantastic as this surge of buyers is, there is a problem: demand is outstripped by supply, there are just not enough houses on the market for them to buy. Rightmove figures also show that seller numbers are down by 21% from last year. In a sellers’ market such as this, it means that any home on the market will receive lots of attention, especially if it is priced correctly and marketed properly.
Where is the supply?
One of the reasons suggested for the lack of available properties is that people have resisted the urge to place their home on the market due to the pressures of home schooling. If you, like us, are trying to keep your sanity whilst googling ‘how to…’ to help your child with their schoolwork, you are not alone. Whoever said moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do in life, hasn’t experienced a lockdown with home schooling alongside home working – thank goodness it comes to an end on 8th March.
It is completely understandable that the idea of throwing a move into the mix has been one stress too many for lots of people. When the little ones are back in school we believe that the number of homes coming on to the market will start to increase and, as such, start to meet that demand from buyers. But remember, the more houses there are for sale, the more competition there is to catch potential buyers’ attention.
What do they need?
Today’s buyers know exactly what they want. This last year has given everyone a different perspective on personal needs, and this might now include space to work from home. Only this week, HSBC have announced that they are letting go of almost half of their global office footprint in favour of a “very different style of working post-Covid”. They are not the only corporate name to be making this move, and it is believed that the post-Covid working environment will be very different to what it was just over 12 months ago.
This huge change in the global working culture means that now more than ever before, a space to work is essential, whether that’s from home or an office hub. We have seen over the past year many home offices being built in gardens and in converted garages. It is therefore worth thinking about presenting an ‘office space’ in your property when you decide to place your home on the market.
A fresh start
There is no doubt that the idea of a post-Covid fresh start is extremely alluring, the idea that when June arrives, you will be able to enjoy your freedom in a wonderful new home. We know that many of you have invested in your properties over the last year – the queues at the DIY stores and the difficulty of finding certain shades of paint and materials was testament to this. All your hard work and creativity may give you some good news when we come to value your property.
Why now?
Why wouldn’t you want to sell your home when there is an abundance of buyers and a lack of properties available? We can start to do the work now so that when the schools are back and things are a little calmer, we can have your home marketed as quickly as possible. If you’re thinking of moving, now is a great time to sell your home.
Give our team a call today.
