Stamp Duty

Are you on track to sell your home in Hertfordshire before the stamp duty deadline?

When Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the temporary stamp duty exemption back in July, there was excitement in the air.  Those who had been thinking of moving in a few years started to have discussions on whether they should do it sooner. Families who had felt like the walls were getting smaller around them during lockdown began to dream of more space. But are you on track to sell your home before the stamp duty deadline on 31 March 2021?

Where should I be?

If your home is already on the market, you are on your way. Remember, it normally takes 12 weeks from when an offer is accepted before you complete on your sale, but there are exceptions to this.  If you haven’t listed your property yet, you need to do so as soon as possible – at Trend & Thomas we would suggest in the next few weeks – to ensure that you can move without the additional costs of having to pay the stamp duty tax.

Listing your home is one thing, finding your next one is another, so don’t wait to list your home, you can be actively viewing properties while buyers are viewing yours.  The more you can do to actively help your sale and purchase move forward, the greater the chance you will be relaxing in your new abode without fear of the approaching deadline.

What is the exemption?

The Stamp Duty Land Transaction Tax is tax that is payable when you purchase a property over £125,000 or, if you’re a first-time buyer, over £300,000.  There is now a temporary holiday on stamp duty, which means you will pay nothing for any property up to the value of £500,000, which means you have more pennies in your pocket when you move. 

For example, if you sold your home for £400,000 and it was your main residence, prior to the stamp duty holiday you would have had to pay £10,000 in stamp duty tax –  now that bill is zero!

It’s no wonder that we have seen an influx in sellers throughout Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Chorleywood, Sarratt, Loudwater, Harefield, Uxbridge and even Buckinghamshire, when the cost of moving home is reduced by such a large sum.  This has opened the doors for many sellers who may have been struggling to raise the additional funds required for moving home.

What can you do?

Let’s start at the beginning, with choosing an estate agent. There are many to choose from locally, as you know, but before you rush into a decision, please do your homework.  Remember, you’re on a deadline, so look at which agent is selling homes – not listing them, but selling them.  Contact those agents you’re interested in as a buyer, this will show you what the experience will be like for any potential buyers for your home.  Are they taking all your information, listening to what you’re looking for, and providing you with properties that may be of interest?  Ask questions, challenge them on their service, and you will know who you think is the right fit to sell YOUR home.

Get the price right

When choosing an estate agent, don’t be lured by one who is suggesting they can sell your home for a higher price, unless they can prove it with recent sales.  Getting your price right from the start, a price that is realistic in the current local market, is paramount to ensure that you sell your home quickly and for the right price.  Pricing correctly in the first few weeks you hit the market is the key to clinching a quick deal.  Do not be tempted by the shiny suited agent who promises you the over inflated price only to tell you to reduce it weeks later.

What we want to make you aware of at Trend & Thomas is that the longer your home is on the market, the harder it can be to get the price you want.  Typically, you will see the most viewings during the first 20 to 30 days, and those potential buyers will be serious and ready to move. Now we are undertaking virtual viewings, this period is much shorter.  You want to attract more buyers not less with a price that is not realistic, so listen to our expertise, we don’t want your home gathering dust, we want it sold and you in your new home before the March deadline.

Don’t delay

If you’re wanting to move home in Hertfordshire and are taking advantage of the stamp duty holiday, come and chat with our team as soon as possible.  With just one call to us on 01923 773 616 you will be on way to seeing your house sold and enjoying the beauty that your new home offers by early next year.

Link here to a Stamp Duty Calculator

Our second ‘House to Home Reveal’ and an introduction to Baaa-Bette

We have been at it again – catching up with past clients to see what they have done with the House we helped them buy a few years ago.  This one is a gem.  Kirsti & Al have a perfect mixture of practical and creative abilities between them with a plethora of skills in their armoury from upholstery to animal husbandry to triathlons, photography and the commercial property world.  Come and enjoy this spectacular #HouseToHomeReveal

Rickmansworth Semi-detached home – purchased May 2016

How long did it take you to decide to buy your home?

We loved our old cottage on Ebury Road so it was difficult to find somewhere generally but when we found this property we decided almost straight away. We wanted a project as well as a little more living space.  Did we love it? No, too many features had been taken out. But did it have bags of potential? Yes absolutely! It was a rare opportunity to buy a Victorian refurbishment project in Rickmansworth.

What feature of your home did you love when you first viewed it?

The high ceilings! All I need in a house, the rest can all be changed!

And what part of your home did you hate when you first viewed it?

Where to start…. The 60s fireplace, the woodchip wallpaper everywhere, the electric 1960s radiators used to heat pretty much the WHOLE house. The fact that nearly all the features were either gone or ruined.

How easy or tricky was the buying process – time it took to complete, any curve balls?

Yes, tricky… I nearly put my shoes on once to go and have a word. It took a long time for our vendors to make up their minds and when they did they decided at the last minute that they would actually quite like to tie in the house they were buying into the chain, having always maintained that they were chain free! This might have meant further delays which in turn meant that our buyers were in danger of losing their mortgage offer.  Luckily for us Trend & Thomas managed the situation and got the sale through to completion.

How long did it take for you to decide on the renovations you planned?

I had a rough idea of what I wanted straight off but planning it and being able to afford it took a couple of years!

Did you live in the house for a while or did you rip it out and do it up before you moved in?

We moved in and renovated upstairs nearly immediately, due to the need for central heating and a functioning bathroom…. We are lucky that the house was big enough for us to move around in whilst works were taking place, allowing us to live upstairs when we then got round to doing the extension downstairs in 2018.

How challenging were the renovations? Any advice on what to do or not to do?

It was hard but worth it! If you can do the whole thing in one go then do, absolutely it would have been easier for us, but at the same time the fact that we could stay here and move around made it bearable. Being on site was also very useful.

What do you love the most about your refurbished home?

The light, the big open plan space, the high ceilings and of course the period features which have been reinstated.

Anything you would do differently now you’ve lived with it a bit?

Having a big open plan space means that all the walls are quite far away, I could have done with a sunken floor socket or two in the middle but then again if I had those I probably would find them an eye sore 😊  That’s an excellent tip Kirsti!

Any more great tips for suppliers and companies you used to refurb and dress your home?

I love a mix of old and new, so good quality new or anything old! Spend time researching as things don’t always have to cost eye watering amounts of money. For example, our outdoor tiles came from Topps Tiles which people are always amazed at as they are so unusual for outdoors.

Our windows in the main space are from a company called Fabco in Littlehampton and our beautiful stair runner is from Roger Oates.

I source most of my furniture and fixings myself from markets, reclaim yards, auctions and antique dealers. The Sofa in our Living area is from West Elm, the wall lights are a mixture of Rocket St George and Graham & Green and the TV in the main area is the Samsung Frame TV.  Our roll top bath is from CP Hart but we reclaimed the feet from the old bath that was already here!

The bamboo pendant in our main living area is from Cox & Cox and the pendant in the Snug is a Mathieu Challieres Voilere from The Conran Shop.  Our kitchen is DeVOL and we have mostly painted the house Farrow and Ball Shaded White except for the Snug which is Inchyra blue.  Our yellow bed is from LoveYourHome and we used the Period House for some radiators.  The lovely round mirror in the bathroom is from Loaf.  The tiles in our main living area are from Porcelanosa.

Who lives here with you?

My husband and our two cats.  – Extra points if you can spot the lovely Lionel and Porridge making three appearances in the photos.

Which room do you use the most – before Lockdown, and after?

We’re always in the main room and then have the snug for a change of scenery!

Favourite tune to listen to in your home?

Now you’re asking! Only one????   Cherchez la Femme by Dr Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band – As many as you like given that calibre!

Favourite meal to enjoy in your home?

All four of us love a nice Fish & Chips from SeaMaster!  – Oo that’s made us put that on our to do list soon!

How has your use of your home changed due to the Coronavirus Lockdown?

Our main open plan space appears to have changed into a plant nursery! They’re all growing big and strong so they can go in our freshly dug vegetable patch.

If you could have one change/improvement to your home to get you through lockdown – what would it be?

My work room is the one room in the house still to be done, somewhere where I can plan interiors and work on my upholstery and furniture projects.

And finally your favourite objet, piece of art or furniture; in your home and why?

My haberdashery cabinet! It’s beautiful, it’s old and it stores everything!! – Yes your haberdashery cabinet is stunning – but also, what about that amazing Sheep? 

Oh yes, the Party Sheep from Rocket St George’s collaboration with Pikes Hotel is a favourite feature –  although in our house she is known as Baaa-bette.

Baaa-bette is beautiful and no longer available we understand – what a find you lucky four (or 5 including Baaa-bette) your home is one of our favourites to come and revisit.  Partly because you have carefully restored the important period features but also because you have given it a personality of it’s own relevant to life today.  Well done Kirsti & Al, doesn’t look like you are moving with Trend & Thomas again anytime soon – Oh no! 

How coronavirus has changed homebuyers priorities in our corner of Hertfordshire

Life has a funny way of showing us what’s important, and the coronavirus pandemic and recent research has shown that homebuyers’ priorities have certainly shifted in our area.  Your home will have been a crucial factor in determining your experience of this crisis; it’s not only been your home, but possibly your place of work, and your playground.  You may have fallen completely in love with your home all over again and decided to give it a makeover whilst you’ve been confined.  Or its flaws may have grown so big in your eyes that they can no longer be ignored and you are screaming inside to find a new home.  But just how has coronavirus changed Rickmansworth & Hertfordshire homebuyers’ priorities?

Change in the top 5

According to Rightmove, the top five types of property searched for by buyers has changed over the last few months, with houses and bungalows becoming the most sought after.  As early as January, two and three-bedroom flats were included at the top of this list but, when analysed in May, this had changed.   At Trend & Thomas we anticipated that outdoor space could be a big draw for buyers, after gardens have become a sanctuary for many over the last few months.

Space has always been something that most buyers crave, especially if they have a growing family, so it’s no surprise that searches for homes with gardens had increased by 42% in May from last years’ figures.  We expect the weather has also played a part in increasing our desire for a garden; whether you are looking for a space that is maintenance-free or a landscaped paradise, being able to enjoy the sunshine and relax has been a blessing for our mental wellbeing.

The new workplace

Not everyone has been able to work from home, but for those who have, many are wishing to make this more permanent, whether it’s a couple of days a week or full-time.  We have already seen the requests for space for a home office in our area increase dramatically, and we expect this to continue to rise in the coming months.  Employers have found that people have been more productive working from home, even with the pressures of home schooling and self-isolation.  As such, businesses are rethinking how they operate in the long run, Twitter recently announced that should an employee wish to continue working from home, they can do so forever!

To meet this most essential need, buyers will be looking for homes that have superfast broadband and strong mobile signal to ensure communications can continue without issue.  Those buyers wanting a home with a home office will be seeking a property with a designated space, whether this is a spare room or a purpose-built or transformed garden building.  Offices in the garden are highly desirable as they give distinct separation from work and home life; not only that, being able to look out over the garden can make you more productive.

If you’re looking to sell your home Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Croxley Green and the surrounding areas, it’s worth seeing where you can create a private workspace before placing it on the market.  Maybe you have a box room that could be easily presented as a tranquil place to work, or you could already have an office but a quick lick of paint might transform it into the kind of home office a buyer cannot resist.

Yet to come

At Trend & Thomas we have been frantically busy with people looking to move into and around our area.  You can be assured that the buyers out there are serious, so it’s in your interests to do everything you can to attract to today’s buyers, from enhancing your outside space to offering them a place to work.  If you would like advice on how you could increase the appeal of your home before you place it on the market, please contact a member of our team on 01923 773 616.

Enjoy the gardening today if that’s in your plans!

 

 

COVID19 Update for our Clients

We do hope you are safe and well in these unprecedented times.  We wanted to provide you with an update on how we are currently operating and the guidance specifically available for the property industry.   On the 20th April 2020 the Law Society has collated the current information on Home Moving and Conveyancing to cover essential moves and those contractually binding.  You can find this information here.

Some of our team have been furloughed but rest assured our office is continuing to function as normal with staff now working remotely as per Government guidance for the safety of our team & community.

There should be no interruption to services, but please bear with us if any delays in response occur. Please contact us on the usual number 01923 773 616 and on the emails salesandlettings@trendandthomas.co.uk or neil.guilfoyle@trendandthomas.co.uk. We will be happy to answer any property questions you may have.  We are working hard to stay up to date during the rapidly changing scenario.

During this time our on-line presence is vitally important and we remain on all the mainportals, Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation as well as our own website and all the main Social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, IGTV, Twitter and Vimeo.

Where possible, we have carried out filming or received footage from clients, to create short video tours so we can continue to virtually market properties under the current conditions.  Please contact us should you wish to know more about our Virtual viewings and please visit our IGTV or Vimeo page for these.

With regard to viewings, we are happy to organise a real-time Facetime or Zoom walk around where possible, for example where the property is either empty or the client is comfortable to carry out the walk around with the viewer and ourselves linked in.

 

Sales Progression – Communication is key and we will work hard to progress your sale from exchange to the handover of keys, liaising with mortgage advisers, conveyancers and solicitors with all the tenacity and attention to detail that you expect from Trend & Thomas.  We will also keep you informed at every stage. It has never been more important to have a good agent working on your behalf to keep your sale on track and with our local expertise we will do just that.  We have had several successful completions  in recent weeks and expect to continue to do so despite these challenging times.

You may well have seen that we are also providing a strong presence on Social Media in a more community focused direction.  In these uncertain times we feel it is important to support our town and locals as best we can.  

We have been doing our best to communicate with you regularly and we will continue to do so.  On a personal note if anyone needs a pint of milk, some eggs, or a prescription picked up then please contact us.  We have helped out a few clients over the past few weeks and as we live in the Town centre it is much easier for us to do.

Stay safe and well and keep in touch.

Neil Guilfoyle – Director

COVID 19 Update for our Landlords & Tenants

Dear Landlords &Tenants, 

We do hope you are safe and well in these unprecedented times.  We wanted to provide you with an update on how we are currently operating and the guidance specifically available for Landlords & Tenants. 

Some of our team have been furloughed but rest assured our Rental department is continuing to function as normal with staff now working remotely as per Government guidance for the safety of our team & community.

There should be no interruption to services, but please bear with us if any delays in response are experienced. 

The past week, being the end and beginning of the new month, are our busiest for receiving tenants’ rents and we have been encouraged to see these coming in as contracted.  However, this may change on a day, week and month by month basis ~ please be assured we will work through any issues on a case by case basis and keep you updated at every step. 

For your reference, the Coronavirus Act 2020 came into force on the 26th March 2020 and this emergency legislation prevents new eviction proceedings from being commenced for a three-month period; from the 27th of March the court service has suspended all ongoing housing possession action for 90 days.  Further information with regard the Government support available for tenants and landlords can be found via this link.

The Government has also published guidance for landlords and tenants who may be affected by current events to explain the measures relating to the Coronavirus Act 2020. This can be found via this link.

In line with public health guidance which advises that people stay in their current home unless absolutely necessary, the Government has also recently published advice on home moves during the COVID-19 outbreak. Home moves are still possible but if not essential, home buyers and renters should delay moving to a new home while measures are in place to fight coronavirus. More information on this advice is available here.

We are doing our best to keep you informed as advice changes and we are attempting to keep our community supported with our social media as we know how isolating this can all be. Please keep up to date with us on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter and please do download our Ricky Town colouring book if it will help you relax during this lockdown.

Ricky Town Colouring Book Download

Please do contact us by phone 01923 773 616 or email to salesandlettings@trendandthomas.co.uk if you have any queries, we will do our best to answer your concerns.  We understand this is a worrying time for everyone and we intend to provide our services in a respectful way to the benefit of all involved.

 

We will follow this update with further more specific information in the next few days.

Stay well

Neil Guilfoyle – Director

TREND & THOMAS ESTATE AGENTS

Rickmansworth Take Aways & Deliveries

It’s Saturday and we don’t know about you but we are feeling this isolation a little today

So we had a ring around locally to see who might still be doing Take Aways and Deliveries to help us all feel like it’s a proper Saturday….here’s what we found:

Cinnamon Square is open for Take Away Friday & Saturday   Here’s their website

Operating a 1 customer at a time policy and with pre-ordering via their website you can still enjoy some of their delicacies.  They are also doing a Saturday afternoon delivery service to the Rickmansworth & Croxley Green areas.  Might be full for today’s deliveries but worth planning for next Saturday!

Order online here

Maurizio’s is open for Take Aways   Here’s Maurizio’s website

 

Please check their opening times but at last check it was:

Friday, Saturday & Sunday  5-9pm

Delivery coming as soon as they have a Driver. Ph 01923 775 701

 

 

Rasal is open for Deliveries  Here’s Rasal’s Website

Rasal are operating a cashless, pay over the phone Delivery service – they’ll deliver to your doorstep and call you to let you know it has arrived.

Ph 01923 778 722 / 779 921

 

Tamarind Thai is open for Take Away Wednesday to Saturday –  Ph 01923 897 740

It’s a good time to support our local Businesses if you can – get your Saturday sorted and settle in with your Netflix Party, Zoom Quiz night or your Houseparty.  #StayHomeSaveLives #TheNewSatudayNight

Sunday 29th – Update

We’ve since heard that Leon Catering are working with Rossco Fresh to deliver not only fruit & vegetables but also chef-prepared meals such as lasagne, pies & fruit crumbles! Order online here  

FL Dickens are delivering beer, wine, spirits and jams etc Ph 01923 773 636 or mobile 07702104898

The Anchor, Tap & Bottle in Croxley Green will make deliveries for orders over £25 – they’re taking orders between 1-7pm Ph 01923 330 168

The White Bear Rickmansworth is doing Take Aways!

Monday-Sunday 5pm-10pm Call 07957 388422 Or 01923 772381

Artisan Bakery SevenSeeded is doing delivery of orders over £10 with some amazing looking breads and treats – perfect for Easter!  Ph 07808 772 781 info@sevenseeded.co.uk

The Boot in Sarratt are doing the Bootiful Drive Through Takeaway.   Check out their brilliant Easter menu. To order please email – thebootsarratt@gmail.com or call / text / WhatsApp – 07966 886726

We’d love to hear from any more services that are operating.

Leave us a message on Social Media – T&T Facebook  T&T Instagram T&T Twitter or email us on admin@trendandthomas.co.uk

Stay Well WD3!

Give buyers the present they want this Christmas

The days are ticking by and as each one passes we are a step closer to jingle bells and the festive season.  With tinsel on the shop shelves and Christmas adverts filling our screens, it’s a reminder to to get ready before it’s upon us.  It doesn’t matter if you’re planning to place your home on the market now or at the beginning of the year, we have some great advice that will help you give buyers the present they want this Christmas.

Photo ready

You’ve decided to wait until after Christmas to place your home on the market in Rickmansworth & the surrounding areas but want to make sure you don’t miss the New Year rush.  You may or may not know that one of the busiest times on property portals is between Christmas and New Year.  As everyone is opening their presents and enjoying time with family and friends, millions of us are thinking about the future with a new home in our sights and scrolling through online property porn.

Having your home’s marketing material ready to launch for this period is essential – you don’t want to miss the opportunity to impress those eager buyers wishing to make a new start with a new home in 2020.  The sooner we can take your photos before you put up your decorations the better, this will allow your buyers to see those all-important key features of your home rather than being distracted by your stunning Christmas tree and singing reindeer.

Make room

We always advise that before you place your property on the market you consider decluttering your home, and there isn’t a better opportunity than at this time of year.  Your children’s rooms may be bursting with more toys than a store could hold, your cupboards spilling over with stuff you really don’t need, and a shed and attic that, honestly, you couldn’t say what’s in there.  And in a few weeks’ time, Father Christmas will be bringing a whole pile of new things for your family to enjoy – that’s if you’re on the nice list of course!

Who needs more stress at Christmas with trying to declutter just to make room for your new presents?  Why not put the hard work in now, so you can simply enjoy the season – it will also help you to stage your home for sale.

Less sparkle

It’s the most magical time of the year, but buyers are looking to buy your home, not Santa’s grotto.  This is why when it comes to staging your home at Christmas you need to think about your buyers without losing the sparkle of the season.  You know the main features of your home, keep any decorations in these areas minimal so they speak for themselves.  Paring back your décor will also make it easier to clean and tidy should a last minute viewing be requested.

Make a scene

When it comes to finding the house you want to buy, it’s a feeling.  Buying a property is an emotional experience and if your home can’t pull buyers’ heart strings at Christmas, then when will it?  Where possible, make sure your fire is lit for each viewing – whether electric or multi-fuel, the sight of a flame makes any room feel cosy.  No one wants to walk into a dark room, so make your decorated rooms feel magical with Christmas lights and lamps.  Make your bedrooms feel snug and warm with lamps and textured accessories, and if you want to pull out all the stops, bring your kitchen to life with seasonal scents.

Season to be jolly

With presents to buy, parties to attend and family to see, the next few weeks are certainly going to be hectic.  At Trend & Thomas we don’t want to add to your stress, but we also want to ensure that you never miss an opportunity to sell your home.  We undertake all viewings on your behalf, but there may be a viewing request that is on an evening or Sunday.  The more open you are to letting potential buyers view when they are free, the easier it will be to sell your home.  By working together we can hopefully give buyers the present they want this season.

Wishes and dreams

Even though you’re looking to sell, you’re also dreaming of a new home.  If you’re planning to stay in the area, we may be able to grant your wish.  Imagine being made aware of properties coming onto the market before they are advertised, and having a local estate agent proactively trying to find that house for you to make your next home? Well it’s the time of year where anything is possible.

Jingle all the way

There is no time to wait if you’re looking to move in 2020, give our sales team  a call on 01923 773 616 and let us help you jingle all the way to a sale.

 

Declutter for January

How many of you have thrown out NY resolutions in favour of throwing out your clutter? 5 Top tips to help you along.

With us in and out of houses many times a day, a decluttered space really is a big game changer when it comes to letting or selling your property.

Clearing out some clutter to allow a potential buyer or tenant to insert their own thoughts on how they would feel living in your home really can make a difference to the success of the viewing.

Decluttering doesn’t have to be religious and zealous like some people might profess but it’s a whole lot easier than giving up meat or alcohol for January and just might make you feel refreshed for the new year….and sell or let your home quicker.

Top 5 Marie Kondo tips summarised below….give it a go…we are!

1. TIDY ALL AT ONCE

Set aside at least two days to completely overhaul your home. If you tidy little by little you will be tempted to shift the remaining clutter into those clean areas and chaos will quickly resume. By tidying everything at once, you will be forced to break any messy habits to uphold the cleanliness of your entire home.

2. TIDY BY CATEGORY, NOT BY LOCATION

Sort through all your books at once, even if you have a bookcase in every room, the same applies for clothes and paperwork and so forth. This forces you to consider possessions as part of a collection, and helps determine what is worth keeping and what you should throw out.

3. PUT EFFORT INTO FOLDING CLOTHES

It might seem like a tiresome chore, but putting more effort into folding clothes can reap long-term rewards. Watch the video tutorial below and learn Marie Kondo’s technique; basically any item of clothing (including underwear) should end up as a compact rectangle. You then stack these little soldiers in neat rows, enabling you to identify individual items of clothing at a glance and pull them out without disrupting everything else.

4. CREATE A STATE OF CHAOS

Do not be afraid to make a big mess before you tidy up again; consider it part of the ‘healing’ process. Pull out absolutely everything and dump it on the floor creating a state of chaos. Sort through each and every item, placing them in either a keep or toss pile. Make sure you actually discard the toss pile before you start rearranging the keep pile – you do not want to be tempted to hold onto anything you originally decided to trash.

5. DISCARD SENTIMENTAL OBJECTS

We have all be gifted something that we hate, but feel obliged to keep it due to sentimental value. It is time to readjust that type of thinking. These items have already served their purpose as a symbol of a fulfilling relationship. Keep hold of that warm gooey feeling but sensitively offload the unwanted gift.

_____________________________

There’s even a new Netflix show by the Queen of decluttering, Marie Kondo, to help you along…Netflix – Marie Kondo show details

The Guardian also discusses Marie Kondo but amusingly muses, it might spark a domestic row 😉

Guardian article on Kondo & domestic bliss 😉

 

Our Viewing Day Checklist for Sellers & Landlords

Trend & Thomas Viewing Day tips!

Prior to marketing your property we will have chatted to you about the unique elements of your home.  These can become useful selling tips, how friendly (or distant!) the neighbours are, proximity to good schools, red kites in the garden!  Make sure you pass these on to us and we will build our marketing with these in mind.

In order to ensure we work with you to maximise the success of your viewings we have also prepared for you a thorough checklist of things you can do prior to a viewing. Speak to us about anything you would like explained further and always ask us if there is something we can do to make the process easier, we accompany all viewings unless otherwise arranged.  Viewings are our forte!

Our Viewing Day checklist for Sellers & Landlords:

• A quick tidy up including a vacuum and sweep is a good start
• Tidy your entrance and water any pots you have to make things looked cared for
• Remove any post or flyers
• Consider opening a window to air your home out, let us know and we will ensure we have shut these afterwards
• Make the beds.  You’d be surprised how many people forget this!
• Have the dog taken out for a walk or left with a friend. Let us know about any cats – if they can be outside for the viewing even better but at least if we are aware of where they might be we can ensure we move quickly past them.
• Clear all dishes and clutter from the kitchen and put out fresh clean tea towels
• A clean oven is always a good idea prior to viewings as people often open the oven
• Empty all your bins and bring in any street bins and recycling
• Ensure wet towels are in the wash and put out fresh folded towels in the bathroom
• In the winter months ensure the heating is on well before the viewing and definitely light the fire if you have one. In the hotter months ensure we are able to open windows should your home need fresh air.
• Box up any clutter that has accumulated and pop it in your car if nowhere else!
• Leave any necessary keys out for us in a pre-arranged spot – window, back door, garage and loft keys etc
• Turn all your house lights on and remember any under bench kitchen lighting, porch lights & garden lighting – we will do this on arrival even during the day but great if you have beaten us to it.
• Consider Home Staging if you really want a huge impact – chat this through with us in more detail
• If you have a parking space consider moving your car so viewers can park in your space – this will make their experience more enjoyable and put them in a good mood to view your property
• A fresh vase of flowers does wonders as does lighting a scented candle, it might sound a bit cliché but fresh coffee really does smell great and can often mask any recent food smells.

Home Sweet Home! We are sharing a little love this Valentine’s Day.

We’ve teamed up with the ‘SWEET’ local company Kitty Riddle’s to offer a gorgeous Kitty Riddle’s Valentine’s gift box to share the love this Valentine’s Day.

HomeSweetHome

Kitty Riddle’s produces beautifully packaged boxes of good old fashioned sweets and delivers them to your door.  We love the partnership with Kitty Riddle’s and our  #HomeSweetHome pun!

To enter just comment below, on our Facebook page, Tweet us or Instagram us with the hashtag #HomeSweetHome & we will draw a lucky winner in the next few days, but hurry if you want to receive your ‘sweet’ gift box by Valentine’s Day!

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