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Plant power: use botanicals to impress buyers

It’s true – the wonder of nature can be harnessed to help you sell your home. Homes & Gardens even claimed in a recent article that ‘houseplant staging’ was the secret to property sales success.

Botanical elements can definitely add appeal before you open your door to buyers. With everything you need freely available from garden centres, DIY stores and even your humble supermarket, what’s stopping you?

Fill a vase with flowers & foliage

Yes, it’s a cliché but cut flowers will always make a home for sale feel fresher and better dressed. If you’re heading out to buy a ready-made bunch, opt for UK-grown blooms to support local growers. If your garden is in good shape, you may be able to pull together your own display using what’s in season – and reduce the bouquet’s air miles to zero at the same time. Pad out your vase with foliage and twigs or opt for single-stem vases if you’re short of flowers.

Try a houseplant take-over

Achingly in fashion, houseplants are guaranteed to impress and you don’t have to wait for the right season for the best results. Their evergreen nature and adaptability is ideal if you have an empty shelf or a bare corner. Some houseplants prefer bright light, while others can tolerate shade. Some even thrive in steamy environments, such as bathrooms. If the thought of keeping a houseplant alive is daunting, choose almost-indestructible varieties such as pothos, money tree, lucky bamboo, spider plant or snake plant.

Prioritise pots of joy

The plus points of pots are numerous and they really are a seller’s friend when it comes to making a shrewd investment. Unlike shrubs and trees, which ideally need planting into beds, pots can move with you (even with plants and bulbs still in them) and provide years of joy.

Pots can go almost anywhere too – on your doorstep filled with bright bedding plants, by your back door crammed full of culinary herbs, grouped together on the patio or added to a balcony. Opt for vibrantly-coloured, unusually-shaped and interestingly-textured pots and they’ll become statement items on their own, or when paired with foliage-only plants.

To ensure the health of any pot plants, always add crocks to the bottom of the pots to improve drainage, use peat-free container and basket compost, ensure the soil doesn’t dry out and feed in the growing/flowering seasons.

Notes for the not-so-green fingered

Plants are a little like children – they need a certain degree of feeding and nurturing. If your past growing track record leans more towards neglect, never fear. There are low and no-risk ways to flood your home with flora and fauna.

  • Keeping it real

There are many houseplants that need little or no moisture. Ponytail palms, tillandsia, burro’s tail, sedums, sago palms and zebra plants (haworthia) are ideal for busy households who may overlook strict watering schedules.

  • If you can’t make it, fake it

Faux plants have evolved to become ultra-realistic but while they can fool even the most observant of property visitors, faux plants haven’t always had a good reputation in the sustainability stakes. Thankfully a number of companies are addressing the issue, one of which is Bloomist, who’s EcoFaux™ uses upcycled and recycled plastics.

  • The compromise

Preserved plants are an interior designer’s favourite as they keep the characteristics of living plants and fuse them with the zero-maintenance of faux plants. A more advanced art of flower drying has allowed gypsophila, hydrangeas, heathers, linum, bunny tails and craspedia to be preserved for natural beauty with none of the plastic.

  • Opt for flora and fauna on fabrics & wallpaper

Buds, petals, leaves and trees have long been fashionable motifs in the interior design world, with a style to suit all tastes. All manner of items can be boosted by botanicals, and examples include Cath Kidson’s ditsy design cushions and Orla Kiely’s retro stem pattern bedlinen, to Colefax & Fowler’s embroidered crewel fabric and Graham & Brown’s jungle wall mural.

We would be happy to provide a free, no obligation appraisal for a property you are looking to sell. You never know – a stunning garden or balcony display may just add a few pounds to your home’s value. Get in touch to make an appointment.

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8 ways to decorate a rented property

Despite the image of tenants being flighty characters who move home every six months, renters are living in the same place for increasingly extended periods of time. Rightmove research among nearly 1,300 landlords in 2022 found the most common length of a private tenancy is over two years, with a fifth (18%) of landlords saying their average length of tenancy has increased over time.

Zoopla’s findings from 2022 concurred. Its analysis found UK tenants were staying in their rental properties for an extra five months, with the average tenancy length at 75 weeks – up from 51 weeks at the start of 2017. In England specifically, average rental durations are lengthening – rising from 3.9 years in 2016/17 and 4.1 years in 2017/18, to 4.4 years in 2021/22, according to the latest English Housing Survey.

With average stays increasing in duration, it’s no surprise tenants want the property to feel like home. Tailoring surroundings to personal tastes is something that is achievable, even if the tenancy agreement sets out some restrictions. Known as clauses, a landlord will detail what is and isn’t allowed in respect of DIY and redecoration.

Once tenants are familiar with the clauses, they can start planning how to add colour and personality. While drilling holes in the wall, repainting in bold colours and wallpapering may be off limits, here are 8 ideas that will give any rental property unique character and style:

1. Add a statement rug: a rug is a great way to add colour and texture, as well as cover up a floor covering you’re not fond of. Interior designers advise to go for the biggest size rug possible for both impact and balance.

2. Go green with house plants: air purifying, mood boosting and affordable, house plants have so many benefits. Lush leaves, bright flowers and coloured pots will look fantastic against a plain wall and if you opt for herbs, you’ll enrich your cooking too.

3. Lead with light shades: many rental properties have bare light bulbs but shades can quickly be added for a designer look. Plain, pleated and patterned pendant shades are freely available and for maximum impact, buy matching examples for table lamps too.

4. Try removable wallpaper: if you’re prohibited from painting, investigate removable wallpaper. Specific ‘peel and stick’ varieties are designed not to damage what’s underneath or leave behind anything tacky.

5. Add the latest trend to tiles: in the same vein as removable wallpaper, you can buy stickers and self-adhesive paper, which add a temporary splash of colour to bathroom and kitchen tiles. Simply cut to fit, apply and remove with ease.

6. Let soft furnishings do the talking: if you’re faced with four magnolia walls, use this base as a foil for furniture. An armchair upholstered in cobalt blue, an ottoman in mustard yellow or a chest of drawers painted candy floss pink will really ‘pop’ in a neutral setting.

7. Accessorise with bold colours: cushions and throws are the natural place to start and it’s easy to create a design theme with these two items alone – perhaps Art Deco or botanical. You can enhance the look by adding matching items, such as candles and vases.

8. Try ‘no-damage’ strips and hooks: when nails, screws, pins and even Blu Tac are banned, tenants can try Command™ Strips & Hooks. These products are specifically designed to be damage-free and come off clean when removed.

If you’re thinking of adding a touch of personality to a privately rented property, please contact us and we will explain any clauses that are listed in your tenancy agreement.

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Should vendors commission surveys before they sell?

The buying and selling process in the UK hasn’t changed for decades. Most home movers understand a survey that examines the condition of a property is commissioned by the purchaser as part of ‘caveat emptor’ – let the buyer beware.

There is, however, another approach that puts the seller in the driving seat when it comes to surveys. It’s very much a pre-emptive move that arms a homeowner with essential facts about their home before they put the property on the market.

You may ask why a seller should bear the cost of certain surveys when usually the bill is picked up by the buyer. Let’s explain. One of the most common reasons for a purchaser to withdraw from a transaction is a negative set of survey results. By the time the survey is received, the transaction is usually quite far along, with the house taken off the market, a degree of financial investment and the seller making onward plans.

If a buyer isn’t happy with the survey results, there are a number of paths they can follow. They can ask the seller to reduce the asking price to a figure that factors in the cost of remedying any issues; the buyer can ask the seller to undertake the work to correct defects in order for the sale to proceed, or the buyer can walk away from the purchase.

Each option delays the process and the first two options will cost the seller money, as well as incur delays. Pre-emptive surveys carried out by the seller before the ‘for sale’ board goes up can help mitigate these scenarios and prevent unwanted surprises.

So, what type of surveys should a seller consider commissioning? The top two survey discoveries that would prompt a buyer to withdraw from a purchase are subsidence and Japanese Knotweed. Other aspects that may trouble a buyer are damp and mould.

Seller-commissioned surveys are sensible if the homeowner suspects there is an issue – perhaps they have seen large cracks appear since they bought the property. It’s also worth bearing in mind that some problems can be genuinely missed. A new survey by Legal & General’s team of accredited surveyors found damp was the most common issue to go unnoticed by homeowners prior to a survey. Asbestos and electrical issues were also aspects that were only picked up by a surveyor’s assessment.

Such issues can be identified upfront by specialised contractors, who will inspect the property and grounds, highlight any issues that may come up in a buyer’s survey, give an estimated price to correct the faults and carry out any work necessary.

The information gleaned from any specialist surveys allows sellers to take a course of action that best suits their circumstances: carry out any work before a sale starts, price according to the home’s condition or prepare to make allowances when the buyer’s survey results are received.

Not every seller will need to conduct their own specialist surveys and we feel they will never replace a HomeBuyer Survey or a full structural/building survey carried out on behalf of the purchaser.

If you’re a potential seller in any doubt, we can advise if any action needs to be taken before your home comes to market. The age, location and condition of your property will be taken into account, and the survey report from the last sale may be used for background information. Please contact us to discuss your moving plans.

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Kitchen Q&A special: What to do before a sale

There’s a saying in estate agency that goes ‘kitchens and bathrooms sell homes’ and we tend to agree. We’re often asked by prospective sellers what they should do to make their kitchen ultra-appealing and many ask if it’s possible to add value too. Our answers to the most commonly-asked questions should help inform your kitchen plans.

Q. Should I completely replace my kitchen?

A. Our answer would follow an in-person visit. Exceptionally dated or poor-condition kitchens can put buyers off and decrease a home’s value, so we may recommend a refit before the property goes on the market. How much value a new kitchen adds varies – it can be as much as 10% – but we can help you establish whether the cost of a refit’s labour and materials is more than the price uplift achievable.

Q. Is there a cost-effective alternative to replacing my kitchen?

A. Buyers are looking for bright, social and practical kitchens and if your kitchen doesn’t deliver, it may be seen as a negative. If your budget or time scale prevents remodelling, illustrating what’s possible is an option. A small investment in plans for a revised kitchen layout and creating a mood board to show prospective buyers will highlight potential. You may go as far as obtaining drawings or even full planning permission for a kitchen extension – it will cost a fraction of actually undertaking the work.

Q. My cabinets are from the 1990s – should I change them?

A. Cabinetry fashions change over time and the style makes it possible to pinpoint the age of a kitchen. If your carcasses are in good condition, a cosmetic makeover may be enough. It’s possible to replace the doors – or have them resprayed – and a change of handles can make an instant impact. You can also replace worktops, or have poor-condition surfaces wrapped or overlayed.

Q. I have freestanding appliances – will they hinder a sale?

A. While research by Ideal Home found UK buyers would pay £1,761 extra for fitted appliances, freestanding appliances are rarely so off-putting they cause a prospective purchaser to walk away. Indeed, we feel integrated appliances are ‘nice to have’ rather than essential. What matters more is the brand, the energy rating and the age of the appliances – the newer the better.

Q. You can’t sit down to eat in my kitchen, is that a problem?

A. There are advantages to an eat-in kitchen if you haven’t got a separate dining room. If space is at a premium, you may wish to consider a slim bar-height table with stools, a drop-down table that can be folded flush against a wall or a drop-leaf dining table with integral chair storage. Alternatively, make use of bench-style seating in alcoves and bay windows, and save space with fold-up dining chairs.

Q. Should I upgrade the lighting in my kitchen?

A. Kitchens have evolved from merely a place to prepare food to social hubs, and a variety of lighting options can help set the scene. Overhead task lighting – such as spotlights – is essential for cooking but being able to switch to pelmet and plinth lighting is an attractive feature. Pendant lights over an island or peninsula also make a great design focal point.

Q. I haven’t got much of a budget, are there cheap ways to improve my kitchen?

A. Yes! Some of the best transformations follow a simple trip to a DIY store. You should never underestimate the power of a clean kitchen, so pick up a limescale remover, a degreasing product and a stainless steel cleaner to make your kitchen sparkle. Cleaning your oven and hob are also must-do jobs before a sale. Decluttering will help make your kitchen feel more spacious and a coat of neutral paint will freshen the walls. Add a scented candle or reed diffuser to your shopping basket to help neutralise cooking odours, and a houseplant or vase of flowers never fails to add finesse to a set of property photos.

If you would like advice regarding your kitchen or a free, no-obligation valuation, please contact us today.

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Dos & don’ts when it comes to devaluing your home

There is nothing wrong with wanting to add value to a property. In fact, it can be exciting to think altering, enlarging or upgrading your home may allow you to recoup more than you’ve spent when you come to sell.

There are, however, high points and pitfalls when it comes to adding value, especially if you’re looking to undertake much of the improvement work yourself.

Be prepared to go neutral

It’s an oldie but a goldie – many buyers are put off by brave interior design choices. Most buyers make snap judgements based on aesthetics, especially when viewing online, while other people want a ‘ready to live in’ home where they don’t have to spend time or money on redecorating.

Dark paint colours, bold wallpaper and fun themes rarely add value and can actually prompt potential buyers to offer less, so don’t follow fashion when revamping the interior. Redecorating with neutral colours will give your home the broadest appeal and attract more buyers. Plus, a light, unfussy interior has the added bonus of making rooms feel more spacious too.

Enquiry levels, viewing feedback and offers received will be a good indicator if some décor tweaks could improve the property’s appeal. We’ll always advise you before you put your home on the market but acting on comments during the marketing process can also have a positive effect.

Consider reinstating coveted aspects

In most cases, some basic DIY and maintenance is enough to add appeal and help a home achieve its true sales value. In some cases, however, more major alterations could be required.

Reoccurring aspects that can devalue a home include bathrooms where the bathtub has been replaced with a shower cubicle, bedrooms that have been converted into dressing rooms, a gym or hobby spaces, and rooms that have been knocked through to create open-plan living. The latter has been under scrutiny more recently, with buyers concerned about the cost of heating larger spaces.

Careful planning is required, however, when it comes to reversing substantial property aspects. Don’t automatically assume reinstating a dividing  wall or ripping out fitted wardrobes is the right decision – you’ll need to establish whether the work will cost more than the value it will add.

In some cases, there may be a more practical middle ground – such as installing a shower over a bath, for example. As we discuss below, removing or adding an element is one thing, how well it’s executed is another.

Know when to call in the professionals

Knowing your limits is important, especially in light of a new study commissioned by British Gas. In its list of ‘Top 25 jobs Brits don’t feel confident carrying out’ were wallpapering a room, patching a hole in the wall and replacing a light fitting.

While it’s tempting to think ‘that’ll do’ if you’ve slapped on a coat of paint or literally papered over the cracks ahead of selling, sloppy workmanship can come back to haunt you. In two separate reports, one by Pension Times and another by Loveproperty.com, poor quality DIY was deemed to devalue a home. In the case of the latter, it was cited as the top reason why a home could lose value.

If you’re not a perfectionist or have never tackled such jobs before, don’t go it alone. It could be more cost effective to hire a professional to undertake the work for you.

Homeowners rarely set out to devalue their property and more often than not, DIY and maintenance can enhance the value, if done well. If you’re in any doubt about how you can achieve the very best sales price for your home, feel free to contact us.

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Are you ready to detox these 5 areas in your home?

The word detoxing is most associated with our diets but there is a growing movement that suggests we should be getting rid of harmful, unhealthy and disruptive items in our homes too.

It’s an interior cleansing ritual that could be viewed as the next step up from simple decluttering, with the mantra that things that clutter your mind are just as bad as those that clutter your rooms.

Rather than just tidying away, detoxing your home requires you to objectively look at items and remove them if they aren’t being used, are defunct or don’t make a meaningful contribution to your daily life. Preparing to move home is a great time to have such a cull and here are five places you can start:-

  • CDs and DVDs: many of us are guilty of hanging on to our favourite films or albums, even if we no longer own a DVD or CD player! Discs and their accompanying cases can take up a lot of room and often look ugly when left out on display. Donate your collection to a charity shop and take comfort from digital streaming services that mean we can watch or listen to the classics at the touch of a button.
  • Clothes that don’t fit: if you’ve been holding on to that slim fit shirt since 2007 or are waiting for tartan flares to come back into fashion, be realistic. If clothes burst out when a viewer opens a wardrobe or drawer, it can suggest your home hasn’t got enough storage. As well as anything that doesn’t fit, odd socks, garments with holes in and worn-out shoes should be recycled.
  • Anything that’s empty: carrier bags, shoe boxes, plastic cartons saved from take-away meals – many of us hoard as we have a ‘just in case’ mentality. Detoxing involves seriously editing down how many items we need. One or two of each is usually plenty and removing any excess will automatically bring a new sense of neatness to your home.
  • Anything that’s out of date: things left out in bathrooms, on kitchen work surfaces and generally lying around will lend a cluttered air to your home and there’s a high chance many items will be past their use-by date or shelf life anyway. This applies to food, cosmetics, medicines and batteries, so you could be improving your health and wellbeing at the same time as smartening up your home.
  • Piles of paper: nothing screams of a more disorganised home that stacks of letters and, worse still, unopened envelopes – it really sends the wrong signal to people who you hope to enter into a legal transaction with. Digital is definitely the way forward when it comes to administration. Set aside a day to set up a filing system, work through all your paperwork – scanning anything you may wish to keep but don’t need the original of – opt to go paperless with as many bills as possible and shred anything that’s junk, circular or no longer valid.

Don’t forget to donate, sell or recycle as much possible, and return any out-of-date medicines to your pharmacy. When you’ve detoxed you home and feel ready to go on the market, get in touch.

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January blues? Use colour therapy to brighten your mood

This year has got off to a familiar start with people staying at home as much as possible. In fact, the percentage of workers around the world who are permanently working from home is expected to double in 2021. Add in home schooling and limited social interaction, and how we decorate our four walls has never been more important.

Boost your brain and change behavior
It has long been known that external factors can alter our mood. From what we eat, the scents we smell to the textures we feel and the sounds we hear, our senses directly control neurons and serotonin levels in the brain.

What we see is up there with the most sensual of stimuli that can impact our wellbeing, and the relationship between colour and our mood is especially relevant now. Far from an interior fad, the connection is of such fascination that it falls into the ‘cognitive psychology’ category and continues to be researched by academics for its benefits.

The good news is you can easily self diagnose and carry out your own therapy armed with nothing more than a tin of paint and a colour chart – you don’t need to be Freud or have a psychology degree to get started.

The right colour for the right room
There are lots of online guides to choosing the right colours for your home. A good place to start is to identify what each room is used for most and find a colour that promotes the right feeling or atmosphere for that task. If your dining room is now where your children sit down to learn, a balance of stimulating yet relaxing colours may work. Planning on de-stressing with a long soak in the bath? There are calming shades that suit bathrooms best.

As a basic rule of thumb:-

  • Blue: a relaxing colour that can clear the mind and even lower blood pressure
  • Yellow: citrusy shades can lift spirits, enliven and increase energy levels
  • White: this neutral imparts a sense of cleanliness, clarity and space
  • Green: used to reduce anxiety and is one of the most restful colours for your eyes
  • Red: avoid in rooms that need to be calm as it’s a colour that can agitate and irritate
  • Orange: bright shades will encourage energy, exercise and enthusiasm
  • Pink: it’s proven the longer people are exposed to pink, the calmer they feel
  • Purple: rich shades can spark creativity, while the lightest lilacs are very soothing

Celebrate with two Pantone ‘Colours of the Year’
The importance of colour in the home in 2021 is of such importance that Pantone – the kings of colour – have nominated not one but two ‘Colours of the Year’. Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are described as “a marriage of colour conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting”. One is a solid, optimistic and dependable shade of grey, while Illuminating is a zingy citrus yellow designed to warm, brighten and enliven.

Before you go colour crazy, bear in mind any immediate and future property plans, as well as your residential status. If you’re a tenant living in a rented property and your landlord says no to redecorating (always ask first), you can add colour with temporary textiles, accessories and artwork.

If you’re a homeowner hoping to move this year, you may also want to think about the temporary colour option or be mindful that any bold colour choices may need to be reversed before you come to market. If in doubt, ask us for decorating advice with moving in mind.

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Must-have home tech for 2021

With Brits now spending an extra eight hours per day in their humble abode, 2021 could be the year that investment in smart home technology explodes. Virus aside,
you could argue that this ‘remote living’ culture started back in the 1950s, with the invention of the Lazy Bones TV remote control, but it’s taken 70 years to develop wireless technology that can control almost every device in our homes.

Over half of homes in Britain already have some sort of smart device installed and with 45% of homeowners intending on making their homes even smarter, we thought we’d take a look at some of the steady favourites and rapid risers to help you identify your home technology essentials this year.

Whole home efficiency
Although not new in the energy efficiency category, smart heating is still gaining in popularity. Digital thermostats from the likes of Nest, Hive and Tado° allow you to control the temperature inside your home from anywhere, by connecting the thermostats to your mobile smart device.

This technology is advancing at a rapid rate and some solutions can monitor the weather or even your own habits to adjust the heating to suit your routines or the climate outside. Wake up to snow? Turn up the heating on your ground floor without leaving your bed.

There are whole house lighting systems that work in a similar way but they can be expensive to install – a cheaper alternative is to buy smart bulbs. They are pricier than your standard light bulbs but use less energy, last longer and enable you to turn the hallway light on without fumbling for the switch in the middle of the night.

You can also purchase smart plugs for devices that aren’t smart themselves. By simply plugging in any appliance, you’ll be able to turn them off and on from an app or remote control – great for boiling the kettle whilst you soak in the bath.

I spy with…
…several little eyes, dotted in various locations inside and outside! You no longer need expensive CCTV systems and cabling installed in your home to keep an eye on it.

Smart cameras aren’t just for managing home security but also for answering the door remotely, checking the contents of your fridge, minding your pets and even feeding Fido treats.

If security is your priority, then there is no reason to stop at cameras. Some security systems come with ‘open and close’ sensors too (or you can buy them standalone) and it is predicted door keys will soon become a thing of the past with the like of August Smart Locks – perhaps not a good option if you’re always forgetting your pin!

Hired help
While having your own robotic butler is still a few years off, there are plenty of gadgets available that are the next best thing to hiring human help.

Coming in at double the price of an average oven are smart ovens that you can control from an app, check on food without opening the door, and let the technology decide the temperature and cooking time based on the weight of a joint of meat, for example.

For cleaning, there are now a range of robotic mops and vacuums that vary in price and effectiveness – some even empty themselves! You can also buy a driverless lawn mower so you can lie in the sun instead of labour over your lawn.

Big ticket blowouts
If all that money saved during lockdown is burning a hole in your pocket, there are plenty of smart home technologies that require serious investment.

Always wanted a bigger TV but don’t have anywhere to store it? Try LG’s rollable OLED TV for a whopping £66,000. Or how about a bed that lights up in the right places if you get up in the dark? For the more health conscious, smart mattresses can monitor sleep using biometric sensors or how about a virtual reality home gym system like the Tempo Studio and Peloton Bike+?

The most accessible home tech, however, remains the smart assistant. Devices such as Google Home Assist or Alexa are voice controlled and are compatible with an increasing number of devices. Just ask your smart assistant to do the work for you and they will communicate with the relevant appliance or system on your behalf!

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Never miss out again: be first to know about new-to-market homes

On your marks, get set…go! If 2021 is the year you want to move home, you’ll need to be quick out the blocks as forecasts indicate that this year will be a bumper 12 months for buying, selling and letting. There are a number of tips and tricks to ensure you know about properties as soon as – or even before – they come to market, giving you a competitive edge. Here’s how to be first in the queue, avoid disappointment and even how to beat Rightmove.

Register directly with an estate agent
The frustration of seeing a sold board outside a property, yet never seeing a ‘for sale’ sign there in the first place can be galling – especially if it’s a property you’ve had your eye on for some time. It may surprise you to know that many homes never make it online as estate agents often hold waiting lists – buyers known to them who get first refusal before any mass marketing begins.

Be first in the queue by registering your details and property desires directly with local estate agents. They may ask about your buying circumstances – whether you have a property to sell and if you have a mortgage agreement in principle – but you’ll be held on a list and contacted first when a property that matches your description is taken on.

Look out for planning applications
If you’re dreaming of a brand new home built from scratch, there are a few tell-tale signs that may enable you to jump the buying queue. Take note if you see little pastel-hued A5 signs tied to lampposts as they often advertise planning applications for new developments. You could also monitor the online planning portals of boroughs in which you’d like to live, as applications to build are always published on a dedicated web page. You

If you’re really keen, you could look out for land surveyors with a theodolite – a piece of surveying equipment atop a tripod that you look through to measure horizontal and vertical angles. This piece of equipment is almost always used when house builders are at the early planning stages of a new site. If you’re feeling brazen, you could ask who the surveyor is working for.

Don’t underestimate the drive by
Despite being one of the most traditional marketing methods, estate agents’ ‘for sale’ boards are still one of the best ways to spot when a home has come on to the market. If there are certain postcodes, neighbourhoods and even specific streets that you’re most interested in, it’s worth driving around – or even strolling on foot – spotting boards. If you’re especially lucky, you may even catch a board just going up!

Don’t ignore ‘to rent’ boards either. There is always the chance the landlord would be open to selling, especially if they are finding it a struggle to source suitable tenants. Contact the agent responsible for the letting of the property and ask if they can make a purchasing approach on your behalf.

Be proactive
You don’t always have to leave it to the property professionals! If you love where you live, a simple social media post can bear fruitful results. Simply state that you’re looking to buy or rent locally and that you would appreciate being notified if anyone is thinking of coming to market soon. Another strategy is to create a leaflet with your contact details on to post through the doors of properties you can see yourself living in, again asking for notification if they’re thinking of selling or renting out.

If you’d like to know about properties before your buying or renting rivals, register with us. We regularly take on new instructions to sell and let, and we’d be happy to share those details with you.

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How to bag a home bargain in the January sales

While estate agents won’t be giving you 50% off your dream home this January, plenty of retailers are offering discounts on hundreds of furniture items, electricals and gadgets. But how do you know if you’re really getting a good deal? 

Before hitting the shops (if they are open) or immersing yourself in the vast chasm that is the online marketplace this year, check out our top tips for bagging a home bargain. 

Separate temptation from need

As you may have heard, Money Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis warns repeatedly: ‘you’re never saving money if you’re spending money you never intended to’. 

What he means by this is that you shouldn’t use any kind of marketed ‘sale’ period, including Black Friday and Bank Holiday offers, to buy something you don’t need or want. 

On his ITV money show earlier this year he explained that if you were planning to buy a video game for £50 and it’s on sale for £25 you’ve saved 25 quid. If they have persuaded you to buy something you otherwise wouldn’t buy, there’s an extra cost of £35, so it’s not a saving.

Ask yourself if you really need that robotic hoover or will get any meaningful use from a trendy waffle maker – will they be collecting dust in the under-stairs cupboard come next Christmas? 

Make a list and check it twice

Do not wander aimlessly around the shops or scroll through hundreds of web pages. Make a list of items you know you want or are going to need in the near future and do not get distracted. In fact, making the list in advance and signing up to sales notification alerts or email newsletters is a great idea. 

Think about what retailers offer these products, shop around and do not be tempted by price alone. You may find that retailers are jumping on the Boxing Day band wagon and marketing something as a sale item when, actually, it’s more expensive than it was before. 

Use price comparison sites like PriceSpy and Alertr, who can tell you whether you’re getting a product for the best price and where you can buy it. 

Read reviews

There could be a good reason that a washing machine has gone into the sale and promises a large saving. It could be a bad performer!

As the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap – see what consumers are saying about it before you enter your card details. 

Also remember to read reviews about the retailer. It could be that an item was one in a dodgy batch or damaged in transit, but would otherwise work perfectly fine. However, some retailers have less than helpful return policies and customer service, which could make getting a replacement extremely difficult. 

Think seasonally

Even though you probably can’t imagine enjoying a fruity cider in the garden right now and don’t want to see any form of festive bauble for at least 11 months, January is certainly one of the best times to buy unsold garden furniture and Christmas decorations before they are in high demand again.

This does raise the question, is January the best time to buy at all? According to ecommerce site, Klaviyo, Boxing Day sales only just pip Black Friday to the post when consumers were asked about their most popular shopping day. 

Spending and discount trends differ, however. Research from credit card company, marbles.com, analysed the best product offers throughout the year and found that you can get excellent deals all year round, depending on what you are looking to buy. 

The good news is January seems the best time to buy a bed, sofa or chest of drawers. But if you’re looking for white goods, hold off until February. 

Reading this outside of January? Although some retailers specialise in January sales, there are plenty of websites that will alert you to others that happen throughout the year.