Expert Advice

The value of your home

Your home has a market value. To some extent it is worth what someone will pay for it, but don't get carried away. If your buyer needs a mortgage, the mortgage company will have to agree the amount they pay for it.

Our valuation

When we visit, we'll give you an honest and expert valuation for your property, based on over 30 years of selling property in this area. We'll make a recommendation of what price you place it on the market at and what price you should expect to achieve.

It's up to you of course, whether you chose to market it at that price, but you can be assured that the price we recommend will be accurate and realistic.

Improving the value, getting a quick sale

Put yourself in your buyer's shoes. Most people have some pretty clear ideas of what they're looking for in terms of number of bedrooms, area and need for a garden and the price band they're willing or able to pay.

Beyond that there's a great deal you can do to swing the buyer in your favour.

Buyers can be swayed

Often people have a fixed idea that they want an old house with lots of character and room for improvement, for example, but you'd be surprised how often they change their mind if a more modern house with a fantastic kitchen, conservatory or well designed garden that they can move into straight away, comes on the market.

De-clutter and de-personalise

People like to see space; they don't want to have to "imagine" what it would be like without the clutter, the toys, the pets or the lurid wallpaper. Make it easy for them to imagine themselves and their furniture in your home.

Clear out your clutter. Put it in storage, in the loft or even with friends. You may well adore your vast collection of dolls, plates, toy cars or fluffy animals but chances are your potential buyers won't share your passion and will just see clutter.

Curb appeal

Potential buyers will form a positive or negative opinion of your property the very first time they see it. Be that in the paper, on our website or from seeing the For Sale board and standing outside.

What will they see when they look at your house?

A clear and uncluttered front garden, neatly mown lawn and weeded boards, a clean or freshly painted front door, a spacious driveway and a warm and welcoming entrance?

Put yourself in your buyers' shoes. What they see when they first arrive will make or break the sale. What's going through their minds is 'what will my friends and family think when they come to see my new home?'

Get it right and your potential buyers are in through the front door wanting their first impressions to be right and their hopes and aspirations for the inside of their new home to be delivered.

Get it wrong and you're on the back foot from the moment you open the door.

Clean and Tidy

It sounds obvious, but you'd be amazed! If you want to sell your home for as much as possible, then you have to accentuate the positive.

Don't let dirty carpets, smelly pets, gaudy outdated decor, broken furniture or unclean kitchens and bathrooms, kill the deal.

A lick of paint, having the carpets cleaned and getting round to those simple DIY jobs will make all the difference.

If you need to spend some money and get the work done professionally, do. Get it right and you'll easily recover the investment.

Think about having a set of bathroom towels and clean and tidy bed linen kept especially for viewings.

The viewing

Before a potential buyer comes to view your property it's worth spending a little time sprucing your home up to create the best possible presentation. Remember you are the best person to sell your property, you know all of its best features and those of the area you live in so smile and enjoy the viewing. You only get one chance to make a good first impression!

The Do's

• Decide on one member of the family to show your visitors around as you don't want to crowd your rooms.

• Be ready in plenty of time to greet your visitors.

• We would suggest showing your downstairs first, then the upstairs and finally the garden.

• Let your visitors enter each room first so they can get a full view of the room.

• Point out the rooms, best features e.g. a view from a window.

• Point out any extras that may be in the asking price, e.g cooker, curtain poles etc.

• Don't rush your visitors, allow them to have a good look around and offer to show them rooms for a second time if they are showing interest.

• Give information to your visitors about local amenities e.g. shops, schools, etc.

And the Don'ts

• Don't worry if your visitors make comments on what they would like to do to your property e.g. decorate, knock walls down, etc.. Everyone has their own ideas of what they like but some people think out loud.

• Don't let your children get involved with the viewing, as lovely as they may be, they are better out of the way.

Preparing Your House for the Viewings

Remember you only get one chance to make a good first impression!

Front Garden

• Remember this is the first impression purchasers will get of your property.

• Make sure the front of the house is tidy - grass cut, pathways swept and rubbish free.

• If you have cars on the drive make sure there is still a clear pathway to the front door or better yet, move the cars to make it look spacious.

• Colour always looks welcoming. Well cared for plants in containers or borders will brighten the front of your property.

• Make sure your door is presentable - well painted, re-varnished or just washed down. Remember it's that first impression that counts.

Inside

• Make sure the house is clean from top to bottom. Use nice smelling polishes, candles, etc.

• Make each room clutter free. A room will appear more spacious if you have only the minimal amount of furniture. Clear surfaces will enable any perspective purchaser to visualise where they could place their own furniture.

• Make your property as light as possible, open curtains/blinds fully and if the weather is warm, open some windows. Remember to replace any blown light bulbs.

Kitchens

• Kitchens are one of the best selling points of a property. It is often the meeting point of the house and therefore should look inviting.

• Put away extra appliances on the work surfaces - toasters, blenders, etc. Clear worktops give the impression of space.

• Tidy the inside of your cupboards so when they are opened the contents don't fall out.

• Put tea towels/hand towels away, don't hang them over oven doors.

• Put your pet's water and food bowls away until your viewing has finished.

• Put some fresh flowers at the window or on the table, these will add warmth to your property.

Bathrooms

• Bathrooms should look relaxing.

• Put fresh towels out (keep a set just for viewings).

• If you don't have a cabinet to put shampoos and other cosmetics in, use some type of container e.g. wicker basket to keep them all in one place and remember to remove any items you don't want a perspective purchaser to see.

• Use an air freshener!

Bedrooms

• Bedrooms should look inviting and calm.

• Have fresh bed linen on your beds (keep a set just for viewings).

• Pack as many toys/CD's, etc. away or if you run out of space stack them neatly.

• Leave soft lighting on to create an inviting atmosphere.

Gardens

• Whatever time of the year you are selling your property you want your perspective purchaser to be able to imagine using the garden in the summer.

• Cut the grass short.

• Keep borders neat and tidy.

• In the summer months display nice garden furniture and in the winter months stack it neatly away.

• Display any colourful/fragrant pots near to walkways.

• Move any broken pots or old garden furniture.

Pets

However cute they may be keep them out of the way. Some people are afraid of dogs and other pets, even if they are friendly.

Local Area Knowledge

General knowledge of the area is important. Know where your local schools, shops, hospitals, etc. are.