Preparing Your Home For Sale

Christmas. Estate Agents will tell you it’s a selling nightmare. Houses with oversized trees. Cards hanging from holders pinned to the wall. Tinsel draped around the picture frames. Does this sound familiar?  How can a buyer possibly see your home in the best light?

Your home is de-cluttered, your decor tip top.  You’ve finished off all of those odd jobs that needed doing.  You are almost ready to market your home.  However before you do, have you considered your lights?  Great lighting adds atmosphere.  It transforms a gloomy corner.  It can make your home stand out on a dull day.  Here are some simple ways to brighten your home and make it stand out to your potential buyer!

The summer is here.  The weather is hotting up and you are wanting to move.  Everywhere looks brighter, everybody’s garden is looking its best. The question is what can you do to look better.  How can you help your home sell?  Here are my 7 top tips for the summer months!

Summer is almost here.  The days may still be cool and often damp, however, the occasional appearance of the sun is changing the way many house hunters are thinking.  The focus is rapidly changing from the cosy fireplace and wood burning stove to something slightly more important  –  Your outside space.

Have you noticed?  There is a new trend for downsizing.  It’s not something reserved for the elderly or those who are now semi-retired - it is happening all over and for many different reasons.

 Some people to choose to downsize to save money.  A smaller home can mean cheaper bills.  Others choose it because they are changing area and simply can’t get the same size house for their budget.  I’ve met people who want a change in lifestyle and those who want to spend more time abroad so don’t simply need the space ( plus the money comes in handy too! )  Then there are those families who are separating and the family home has to be sold.  

Spring is finally here, the sun is shining and the selling season is here! If you are thinking of moving home now is the time. However, what can you do to ensure you are ahead of the competition, that your home shines and ultimately, you get the best price for it?

The spring is officially here.  The days may still be cool and often damp, however, the occasional appearance of the sun is changing the way many house hunters are thinking.  The focus is rapidly changing from the cosy fireplace and wood burning stove to something slightly more important  –  Your outside space.

“What can I sell my house for?” “I want the best price for my house”

Today I want to talk to you about property pricing.  The above are questions / statements I get asked every day.  After all, when you are thinking of moving it’s one of the key answers you are looking for.

Are you struggling to be a minimalist?  Maybe you don’t like the crisp, clean sterile look but equally, you can’t cope with living with clutter?  Are you trying to strike a balance between the two?   If so, cosy minimalism is for you and the great news is, this look is easy to achieve and it is even easier to live with.   It’s also proven that this fabulous look will help sell your home.  The home featured in the photo sold in days!

The names and address of the sellers of this home have been changed to protect identities and save embarrassment.  

This Halloween I could have chosen several different real stories to share with you.  We have had the haunted house near the Boys Grammar School (the family selling all slept in one room of this 5 bed home as they were so scared )  and years ago a house on Scotforth Road which the previous owners had to get exorcised as doors kept slamming for no apparent reason - even our team were scared!   This story though is slightly different but can be more related to by many.  

If you’re considering listing your property for sale, we have some good news.  Traditionally, there’s a surge in serious buyers coming to the market in autumn after the summer lull – so you’ve timed your move wisely.   But what’s the psychology driving property hunters at this time of year? And how can you, as a seller, capitalise on buyers’ motivations to ensure you secure the best deal for your property?

Let’s find out. 

Before selling your home, you might be thinking about ways to add value or unlock potential so buyers can get a feel for what it would be like to live there themselves. But renovations are costly and may not pay off.

So, what can you do to make a change without spending too much? 

Summer is here.  The temperature has hit 32 degrees across Lancaster and Morecambe and we are all feeling the heat.   Many of us have googled the ways we can cool our home down,  but how can we give it a summer vibe, so it feels fresh,  airy and more like Summer?    In this week's blog, I'll share with you simple ideas.

When you are planning on selling your home I always feel it is key to imagine who your buyer may be.  This way it is easier to tailor your marketing towards this group, thus attracting the right type of buyer.  Imagine why you bought your home.  What were your circumstances at the time?  What attracted you to it?

It’s true.  A photo speaks a thousand words.  Great photos attract buyers.  Poor photos can actually put them off.  At JDG we believe in crystal clear photography that shows off the whole room.  Here are our some of top tips to help you get ready for your photo shoot!

Did your grandparents ever have an annual spring clean?  The type which took all day?  The rugs got aired over the washing line.  The kitchen cupboards were cleaned out and the windows were washed inside and out? If they did, you’ll know what I mean! I f you are planning on moving you need to follow their lead.  You need to Spring clean your home and make it sparkle. The great thing is most of it is free to do.  It just needs a bit of time and elbow grease!

Have you ever wondered what home staging actually is?  A few people get nervous about it, thinking we are going to ask them to refurbish their home for sale. We are not!

Put simply, home staging is simply preparing your house for sale.  The purpose behind it is to make your home is as appealing as possible to the widest number of buyers with the aim of getting a quicker sale and a better price in the process.  

Deciding to move home is a big deal.  For many it’s a life changing event.  We have dreams and we have hopes.  We pour through magazines and pinterest boards planning on how our new home is going to look often forgetting the one we already live in.  Our current home becomes our past as we look and plan the future.  But how can the future become reality when we our current home isn’t yet sold?  How can we get the best price for it?  After all,  we all want the best price don’t we?

Did you know?  There are over 7.7 million families with dependent children in the UK.  At any one time, approx 3% of residents in the UK are in the process of moving.  That equates to lots of houses with children up for sale!

We love our own kids however when it comes to moving home they can make the whole process a little bit more difficult.  Kids can cause distractions.  They can make our homes look untidy.  They can even put buyers off sometimes by just stealing the attention!

The winter is well and truly here.  The days feel dark.  The days are often wet.  We have seen bits of snow and high winds.  It is cold out there.  Why would anybody want to move? The new year brings a whole new group of buyers.  All house hunting for different reasons.  The question is how can we attract them to your home?  How can we make them want to buy?  

A little black dress is considered to be a wardrobe staple.  It’s the blank canvass of the fashion world, there to be dressed up or down as the occasion dictates and easily transformed with simple accessories.  Worn on it’s own, it often goes unnoticed.  Add a pop of colour, a silk scarf or a bit of sparkle and it’s a force to be reckoned with!

Congratulations!  You’ve decided to put your home up for sale.  Now you have the difficult choice in deciding which estate agents to ask out. No doubt you eager to know how much your home is worth.  But which agent do you choose to sell it?  The one which values it the highest?  The one which charges least?  Or maybe the one which you feel most confident with?

Moving home is never a decision to be taken lightly. Some people need to move - they may be changing areas for a new job, or being forced to move due to circumstances such as divorce. For others, however, the desire to move begins with a feeling.

Have you decided you want to sell your Lancaster or Morecambe home?  If so, you are about to have more visitors than you’ve probably had all year.  However, rather than friends and family calling around for a coffee, these people are serious home buyers.  Your home needs to be looking its best.  Here are a few little tips to help impress those viewers this Autumn.

Are you thinking of moving? If so you might be wondering when is the best time of year to sell your home?

Many people believe that Spring is the best to put your home up for sale, however, Lancaster isn’t actually that seasonal. It is true that the housing market tends to slow down during the school holidays as families have other priorities. Plus trying to keep your home as tidy when the kids are trying to have fun can be hard work and stressful!

The flip side of that is the start of a new term is always a period when there is a flurry of people looking to move!

If you are thinking of moving home, you will need to get your home valued for sale.  At JDG Estate Agents we call these market appraisals.  We will look at the marketing price of your home and also the best way to advertise your home to the general public to ensure you get the best price.  Most home sellers will invite 3 estate agents and choose who they feel most confident with.

Have you ever stopped in a luxury hotel and wished you could achieve that same look at home?  You know the look I am talking about.  The fresh flowers in the lobby,  the bowl of fresh green apples at reception, even the way it smells.   It’s the beginning of your holiday and this first impression that greets you sets the expectation of the week ahead.

Christmas, it will soon be upon us.  Already many garden centres are starting to get ready,  Christmas Parties are being advertised and the Harrods Christmas shop has been open for over a month.   

 Many home movers decide now that they want to be moved by Christmas.  They put a self-imposed deadline on themselves.  So much so that December has become one of the busiest months of the year for people physically moving.

Last month I met a lovely couple and their young child.  They had decided to move.  Like many other families of their age, they needed more space.  However they had made the fatal mistake of house hunting first which had resulted in them finding a home they loved.  They needed a quick sale.  However they also needed a top price in order to be able to afford their dream property.

Are you looking to sell your property?  Why not give your home a luxury makeover.  It needn’t cost a fortune but could make a great difference when buyers come and view.  These simple tips will take your home for ordinary to extraordinary and make you stand out from the crowd.

Do you get frustrated when the estate agent calls to book a viewing yet only gives you 24 hours notice?

It’s difficult, isn’t it?  You don’t want to say no, however you are also worried that your home doesn’t look quite its best.  If you say no, you risk losing the viewing.  If you say yes, how on earth do you get ready in time?   Today I want to share with you one of my favourite tips.  We devised this for a client.  It worked for her and I’m sure it will work for you.  It’s really simple.  Buy 4 cardboard boxes.  Here is what to do with them!

Have you ever wondered why some homes sell for more money than other similar homes?  Have you ever wondered why some homes also sell quicker?  

It’s all about your presentation.  How your home is presented and how your agent presents it with the photos they take.  The good news is - you are in control of both.   You just need to know how to take control!  

When you put your home up for sale, it’s really important that your internal presentation is great.  Photos of your property will be looked at by potential buyers.  From a photo, these potential buyers will make a decision if they want to view or your home or not.

If you’ve followed our previous cleaning advice, your home should be sparkling.  Now we just need to add the finishes touches which will transform your home into a house ready for sale.  You might already have some of these items.  Others you might need to acquire, hence I have made it a shopping list.

2020 is a year everyone is going to want to leave behind.   At the very least it has been disruptive.  For others, it has been destructive and we will all enter into January with the feeling of hope that things can only get better.

The Lancaster and Morecambe Property Market is back open.   The government has announced the property industry can go back to work and that viewings can re-commence.   Valuations, Surveys and photo appointments can take place - however strict social distancing must be adhered to and it is vital we keep you, your home and our colleagues safe.     So what does this mean?   What does safe look like in reality?

 Are you thinking of moving and want to get sale ready for when the lockdown is over?

If so,  why not try our virtual valuation tool?  It is a relatively new of working and whilst nothing beats a real face to face meeting and seeing your property for real,  this is a way you can get the ball rolling now.   The virtual valuation allows us to see your home using just the camera on your mobile phone or Ipad.   All we need you to do is give us a guided tour around.   

How many times have you said - I wish I had more free time?   Or used the excuse that I don’t have time?   All of a sudden, many of us have a lot more free time than we actually really want.  The problem now is, how do we use that time? 

It's the weekend and for many of us the end of the "working week" means a weekend night treat. For some, that would normally mean Fish and Chips from the local chippy, a Chinese or Indian Takeaway.  For others, it would involve getting "dressed up" and heading out to one of the many local eateries across Lancaster and Morecambe.

Some of us might even get some "special" ingredients and choose to a host a dinner party for family and friends or even a romantic meal in for two

Have you ever wondered why new build companies such as Barratt Homes, Persimmon Homes and locally PJ Livesey have show homes?  Why do they spend £10,000’s creating that perfect look?  Why do they go to such much trouble and effort?

The hallway is the very first reception area in your home, which is why it is essential that you make a good impression to prospective purchaser’s.

Your hallway needs to set the tone of your home.  It needs to feel welcoming.  If buyers like your hallway, they will want to continue with some eagerness to see the rest of your property.   What does your hallway say about you?

“A rather versatile room,  especially when space may be a premium”

If you enjoying entertaining friends and guests or like to sit down with the family around a dining room table,  a dining room may be an essential room in your home.  For many people a dining room is about a lifestyle choice for other’s it’s essential.  Some people want to dine in the kitchen,  others enjoy having tv dinners.  The point is we are all different.

There I have said it.  And I want to stress I also believe it.  After all, I am an estate agent and I know I am different.

It's an interesting question, isn’t it?  If all agents were the same surely we would all sell the same amount of houses?  We’d all do things in the exact same way.    We’d all advertise in the same places.  We’d all produce the same quality of brochures and photos.  In fact we would even employ the same people.  We don’t, we can’t.  After all there is only one of each us!

“The idea of curb appeal is to give your home an inviting look that makes the buyer want to stop and take a look inside”

When I value a clients home, I am always stressing the importance of kerb appeal.  The front of your home, in particular your front door is one of the first things a client will see. A front door speaks volumes, it creates an image of the home behind.  And so because of this image it’s important that the front of your home gives out a positive, buy me message.  

The holidays are here.  Many of us are jetting off to warmer climates stopping in luxury hotels and holiday villas.  From our holiday we post photo’s of our accommodation, the blue skies, the beautiful flowers, the dinners we enjoy in fab restaurants online.  We do it in the hope our friends interact with us, liking our posts and telling us how fab it all looks.

We all want our holidays to be perfect.  We spend so much time planning and saving for it.  Just like we do when we house hunt.  Many of the principles are similar.  Let’s pinch some of those ideas and inject that holiday feeling into our home

We have many debates as to the importance of a kitchen in a home.  The one thing we all agree on is a great kitchen can really help sell a home.   It can for some buyers actually be a determining factor as to whether they buy your home or not,  especially if they are someone who loves to cook.

In some houses,  the lounge  the very first room you walk into, straight from the front door.  Others homes may have the benefit of having a hallway.  Because of this your lounge needs to have a wow factor.  It needs to be a place a buyer can see themselves living in, whether it’s a for their sole use or a place for the family to gather.

Many people feel that the lounge is one of the most important rooms in the house.  It’s the place we spend a lot of time in – relaxing,  listening to music, watching tv,  entertaining and socializing.

The hallway in your home is the very first reception space into your home, which is why it is essential that you make a good impression to prospective purchaser’s.

Your hallway needs to set the tone of your home.  It needs to feel welcoming.  If buyers like your hallway, they will want to continue with some eagerness to see the rest of your property.   This is the first place your buyer will notice if the house is well-kept or untidy,  fresh or smelly and light or dark.

Have you seen any of the new reg cars out yet?  I’ve spied 5 so far this month.  All nice and gleaming, their bodywork still shiny.  The owners driving them look so as pleased as punch, excited about their new vehicle.  It’s strange but I always know when my husband ( aka Mr JDG ) is thinking of changing his car.  

When you choose to sell your home with an estate agent, you will be asked to sign a contract. This is not unusual. It is standard in our industry. After all, you need to have an agreement in writing with your estate agent so you are both clear over the marketing price and also the agreed fee you will be paying at the end.  However what is not so clear to many property sellers is the exclusive term your estate agent may be holding you too. Are you aware of this? Have you read your contract?

It’s true.  A photo speaks a thousand words.  Great photos attract buyers.  Poor photos can actually put them off.  At JDG we believe in crystal clear photography that shows off the whole room.  Here are our some of top tips to help you get ready for your photo shoot!

We all know someone who can talk a great game. It might be a friend, a business colleague. It could even be a family member. But what happens when it’s your estate agent? Sometimes talk can be cheap. Cheap talk can end up being expensive for you resulting in you reducing your house price in order to get that sale. You need to find an agent which is results driven. One who will fight your corner and do all they can to get you that best price for you in a time frame you’d like!

Here is how you can find that action agent!