-
Home
- Blog
Blog
- Details
- Hits: 1702
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.
- Details
- Hits: 769
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.
- Details
- Hits: 1710
Perfectly placed residential apartments, close to the open and unspoiled Bedfordshire Countryside, a thriving food and drink scene, excellent schooling, unbeatable leisure opportunities and perhaps one of the most accessible locations in England – there’s a reason why all eyes are on Picture House Luton.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Property buyers in Luton have been watching the development of the Picture House apartments with interest, transforming the much-loved historic Art Deco 1930s cinema into modern, sleek homes – and Deakin-White are proud to be the exclusive property agents for the sale of these much-anticipated one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The Picture House, a popular architectural landmark of Luton since the roaring 1930’s, has been carefully and meticulously restored. Based on Gordon Street – a quiet location, with excellent parking for residents and just two minutes from the bustling heart of the town with restaurants, bars, boutiques and shops – and all within the commuter belt to London for City workers.
Ideal for small families, first time buyers, young professionals, buy-to-let landlords and investment buyers, the development is an extremely high standard, sympathetic to the historical features of the iconic building. This is a fantastic chance to buy high-end homes which benefit from easy access to London, close to Luton’s centre, just a short journey from the beautiful countryside of rural Bedfordshire.
Residents of Luton have long loved the iconic cinema building and will be thrilled to see that this historic art deco landmark, a beautiful building, of great architectural merit, has been so carefully preserved, transformed sympathetically into luxury residential apartments. Every apartment has been finished to the highest specification and an attention to detail that sets them apart as beautiful executive apartments.
All sales of the Picture House apartments are exclusive to Deakin-White, experts in property sales, and well known locally for supporting buyers in their journey to home ownership. These apartments are highly anticipated, and likely to be snatched up by a market keen to invest in beautiful, high-end homes in one of Luton’s best loved historical buildings. To find out more about the homes and the property visit their website www.picturehouseluton.com where you can explore show home features and find out more details about the available apartments, and register your interest in a viewing or purchase online, or by calling our dedicated sales team on 01582 292 061 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Listings are also live on the Deakin-White website where you will find images of Picture House, detailing the fixtures and fittings included in the apartments, and you can again register your interest for a viewing or exclusively purchase off plan with the Deakin-White team https://www.dwrealestate.co.uk/for-sale-bedfordshire/property/10720386-gordon-street-luton
For more details, call our offices and speak with one of the Deakin-White team – established locally with properties across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, we have a wide range of properties both rurally and centrally, and comfortably in the London commuter belt for professionals.
Register Your Interest today: www.picturehouseluton.com
Exclusively being sold by Deakin-White
Call our dedicated sales team on 01582 292 061
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Details
- Hits: 1594
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.