Property Selling Tips

First-time buyers are key drivers in the Lancaster and Morecambe property markets and could be the ideal candidate to purchase your home. So, are you doing enough to target them?

I love the autumn months. I love it for the comfy sweaters and warm drinks. I love it for all it’s cosiness. Cooking hearty stews and keeping warm in front of the wood burning stove. Thick rugs which are soft under foot and rich coloured tactile fabrics. I also love it because if you get it right, autumn is the 2nd best time of year to sell your home. Families are back from the summer breaks and the kids are back at school. We have a couple of months of calm before Christmas is upon us! 

September is here and the kids are back at school. The summer holidays are over and normal family routines resume. People are back at work and the whole city feels busier as the students return. It’s a different time of year.

People's attentions move back to moving home, the thoughts being they can be moved by Christmas. If you’ve been trying to sell for a while, don’t despair. September could be your month. Just make sure you follow our back-to-school selling basics….

Do you want to increase the saleability of your home?   Do you want to achieve the best price for it?  Follow our 7 simple tips which are all tried and tested and proven to work.  You'll sell your home for and faster too!

"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 think of moving it’s one of the critical answers you are looking for.

Want to fast-track your property sale by getting your marketing just right?  Then spend some time thinking about the type of buyer most likely to fall in love with your home, and ensure you target them.

Setting the right asking price for your home is often the hardest thing you can do.  We all want a good deal, however, if you set your price too high you risk putting potential buyers off.  Set it to too low and you’ll always be wondering could you have achieved more.

Daffodils blooming, bumblebees buzzing, and birds singing.

It’s not a scene from The Sound of Music but a stereotypical scenario that welcomes in spring, which started officially on Friday 20 March.  And it’s not just the wonderful world of wildlife that comes alive now – it’s the traditional cue for the property market to burst back into life after the quieter winter months.

There’s an old saying. Home is where the heart is. I agree, it really is. It’s the place of safety and comfort. It’s the place you share with your family, your children, your pets. Memories are made. Tears are wiped away. Laughter is shared. Your home is part of who you are. I ’ve even heard people say it is even essential for their well-being.

Back in 2014 I got engaged.   It happened in New York which unknown to me at the time is the diamond capital of America.  Having burst into tears (and of course saying yes), John and I went in search of the perfect engagement ring.  I’m not going to bore you with my full story however some rather interesting events happened which I can relate to in the world of the property.   I’ve broken them down into three points.   Which all come down to three things.  Trust.  Confidence and knowledge

You’ve decided to sell.   The problem now is which estate agent should you use?   There are lots to choose from you and you need to make sure you pick the best for you.   After all, your home is your biggest asset! 

When looking for the best estate agent in Lancaster and Morecambe, there are a few things you should consider.  

Are you trying to sell your home?  Are you on the market and wondering why you aren’t getting many viewings?  Do you drive past similar homes only to see a sold board staring back at you?  Are you frustrated?  If so, what can you do to get more viewings?

Here are our top 5 suggestions..

Deciding to sell your home is a big decision that comes with a long list of jobs and responsibilities.  Along with decluttering and last-minute DIY, you need to find a good agent (we can help you with that) and speak to a broker if you require a mortgage to fund your next move.

But there’s another critical aspect of the process that often gets overlooked: the conveyancing.

Odd Jobs. Most of us have them around the house. Sometimes it is the things we never quite got finished. Sometimes it minor things that need repairing. It could be something we would change if we were not planning on moving. We convince ourselves our buyer can do that. Or change that. I’ve heard house owners tell me buyers change things anyway, so what is the point?

When it comes to preparing for a property sale, most sellers focus on the early stage of the process: sprucing up their home and choosing an agent to manage the marketing.

But there’s another element to nailing a successful property deal that gets less attention but is just as critical: negotiating the sale.

August has been a great month at JDG.  I can’t complain.  By the 25th August, we had already hit our monthly sales target . We are on track for the year.   We have completed over 30 sales.   But 2 days ago I received an email.   It was feedback from a client and rather than one that sings the praise of my team - it was about why a client hadn’t chosen to use me but had in fact chosen a competitor.  

Unless you’re one of those super-organised types who spend the year secretly buying stocking fillers and stashing them under your bed, Christmas is probably the last thing on your mind right now.

This week’s sales article looks at the importance of being realistic when pricing your property for sale.

In this week’s sales article, we drive home the importance of sprucing up a property before photographs are taken. 

 The number of downsizers active in the housing market has skyrocketed in recent months*, and is it any wonder?   With steep hikes in energy bills, interest rates and inflation, many people feeling the squeeze are rethinking how – and where – they want to live.

What first-time property buyers can expect 

In this week’s sales article, we take a brief look at the first-time buyer’s journey and what they can expect. 

In this week’s sales article, we explore how agents with local knowledge could help sellers get the most for their property.

Picture this: After a long and exhausting property search you finally find the home that’s just right for you. But then the estate agent mentions that it’s a ‘probate property’ and you’re left scratching your head.  While it’s a term that you’ve heard before, you’re not entirely sure what it means and if it could scupper your homebuying plans

Do you know how your property is performing online?  Has your estate agent ever talked to you about it?  If you are not getting regular viewings this is a great starting point and the insights can be very telling.  At JDG we obsess over it.  Daily we check to see how our homes are performing.   As a rule of thumb, higher online viewings = higher real-life viewings!

 If you are not getting a high number of online viewings, here are 3 simple things that you can do and it won’t cost you a penny!    Do it and the chances are you’ll get more real-life viewings too!

Why do you need a mortgage broker?  In this week’s sales article, we look at how mortgage brokers can save buyers time, money and hassle. 

Do you want to guard against the disappointment of having your property sale collapse? Then go with an agent who is skilled at sales progression. 

In this week’s sales article, we look at why people still get duped by overvaluations and the difficulties that arise from them. 

Do you want to market your home to its full potential in order to achieve the best possible price?   

Do you want to cut down on viewings from people who aren’t really interested, thus saving you time and hassle?   

If so, our high quality 3D virtual tours are for you.  

If you are trying to sell your Lancaster or Morecambe home,  you need to start thinking like a buyer in order to ensure you achieve the best possible price. I meet potential home sellers every single day.  Some are very motivated to move and will do whatever it takes to get their home sold.   They have a desire and often a need to get moved.

Others, however, are too emotionally attached to their home.  They don’t understand that by making some simple tweaks to their home will make a huge difference to the results they achieve.  

This weeks article stems for a true story.  It is from the experience of a client of ours whose home we are in the process of selling.  Our client shared with us her experience of trying to move home to date.  It made for interesting reading……

Have you ever heard the term “the walkaway price”?   It’s a term we use regular at JDG and ultimately, when selling houses, bungalows and flats it is what we look at for our selling clients.  

Everybody wants the best price for their home.  It’s human nature.  As a vendor you want as much as possible.  As a buyer you want to buy cheap as possible.   Ultimately though, the one thing everybody has in common is that they all want value for money.   It’s what I alway looks for!

At the time of writing this,  I have toothache.  Real bad toothache.  The sort where you can’t sleep and just don’t know what to do with yourself.  I need a dentist.  The internet can’t help me,  googling toothache doesn’t help.  I need the help of a professional.  An expert in their field and somebody who I know won’t hurt me.  It will cost.  But it will be worth it for I am in pain.

If you have found a house you want to buy, but need to sell your home first, you need to act quickly.   The race to get sold is on.    In this 3 minute read, we will look at 4 things you can do to ensure you sell quickly and still get a great price!

Are you thinking of selling your home in the new year, but planning to wait until January?   A lot of people think putting your house on the market during the holidays is a crazy idea - it’s actually not.   If you’re wanting a quicker and smoother sale then launching your house to the market on Boxing Day is one of the smartest things you can do. 

It’s November. The housing market is supposedly starting to slow and the excuse you hear from your agent is that’s the time of the year. But is it really?  

Eight weeks ago, I was contacted by an old school friend.  Becky is trying to sell her home in Surrey.   It’s struggling.   She’s only had 1 viewing in 4 weeks and wondered if I could give her some advice.   Becky has staged her home to perfection.   Her home ( in her opinion ) is competitively priced.   Yet still, she is just not getting the viewings.    I asked Becky to send me a link to her Rightmove listing so I could give her some advice.  

It’s strange isn’t how quickly the season changes from Summer to Autumn.  One moment we are walking around in shorts and t-shirts, yet just a week later, the leaves have started to fall,  berrys are appearing on plants in the gardens and we are all back wearing jumpers and coats.

If you are trying to sell your Lancaster or Morecambe home, it goes without saying that you both want and need to generate as much interest as possible.

Years ago (when I first started as an estate agent), Rightmove, Zoopla and other property portals did not exist. Potential buyers would trail the estate agents, buy the local newspaper and drive the streets looking for homes for sale. It was all about the curb appeal. Did the outside of your home attract buyers enough to make them want to see more?

Should I sell now or wait until a home I like comes available for sale is something we are hearing lots of at the moment.     

People want to move for all sorts of reasons and with the recent jump in house prices, many sellers have equity in their homes.    Many are looking to move to larger homes, especially now that working from home has become a new normal for many.   

When it comes to selling your home, one of the most difficult decisions a homeowner has to make is how to price their home for sale.  What pricing strategy should you adopt?  Who’s advice should you take?  If you price your home too high, you run the risk of buyers not looking.  Price it too low and you might end wondering, could I have achieved more?  Does this sound familiar?

If you are tempted to sell your home privately, maybe to a colleague, a friend or just someone who happens to have popped a note through your door, please think twice and read this article first.

Most people who sell their homes privately think they are saving thousands in estate agency fees. Often though the reality is very different and they end up costing themselves thousands instead. Sadly I have seen it happen several times over the past few months.

See.  Smell.  Touch.  Listen.  Feel

Have you ever just walked into a house and known it’s the one for you?  If you have you’ll know it’s a feeling.  Many home owners tell me, “It just felt right” or “I just knew”.  Something when they viewed triggered a feeling.

I’m going to begin by saying,  I actually find this article quite depressing.  I am an estate agent and I should be over the moon, that Boxing Day is a key day on Rightmove for savvy home buyers and sellers.   I’ve never though really enjoyed the boxing day sales either (which is a busy day in the shops).   Surely Boxing Day should be spent enjoying time with family….

Are you thinking of moving in the New Year but really don’t want the hassle over Christmas?

You are not on your own.  When we are out valuing homes in late November and December we often find clients fall into one of two camps.  Those that want to move now and those that would like to move soon but find Christmas is quite simply in the way!  Is this you?  If so please read on.  Our brilliant plan might just be the perfect solution.

This week an old school friend who lives in Yorkshire messaged me. Partly out of frustration, partly because being friends she wanted to share her house hunting experience with me. We swapped messages. At first, I laughed, however, this quickly turned into despair and also embarrassment for my industry. Are estate agents really that bad?

Let me tell you the story. Sadly, I have come to realise that this experience isn’t unique to Emily……

Have you ever tried to lose weight?  I know lot’s of my friends have.  Many of them started with diet fads in their 20’s.  We are now all turning 40 and most of us have failed miserably.  Sure we lose a few pounds, however ultimately most of us pile it back on.  And so the diet starts again!

Why is it that estate agency fees vary?  Why is it that some estate agents charge more than others? Why, when you call to ask what they charge, do you feel like they avoid your answer, making it feel like you are literally going around the houses to get your answer?  It really shouldn’t be like this, should it?

It always fascinates me why people choose a particular estate agent. Just like there is any industry, there is a choice out there. Why do people call certain agents out but not others. What goes into their decision process? For many people, moving home is not something that happens often.

What a year 2020 has been.  It’s been a year like no other and I don’t think anybody could have predicted the boom to the housing market,  the increase in property prices and the huge shift in the way we live and what we now want from our homes.    Not even the Doc in “Back to the future” could have predicted this, although he did warn Marty not to go to 2020!

As 2020 draws to a close, the Pantone Colour of 2021 has been revealed.  These are the colours that will inspire designers and decor schemes around the world.  It is unusual for Pantone to select two tones,  it is only the 2nd time they have done it,  however here at JDG we love them for it.

So maybe you’re not as big of a fan of project runway as JDG Estate Agents are, but after two lockdowns, something had to go on in the background while we all had those now dreaded work-from-home days! 

Since the chancellor announced the stamp duty holiday last week, we have had lots of questions from both house sellers and buyers across the region.

We thought lets put together a quick 2-minute guide, which will explain and simplify it all.

At least every few days, someone will ask me what they can do to increase the value of their home.  It’s a common question most estate agents get asked.   Very few though will ask me how they can protect the value of their home and I feel this is as equally important,  if not more so.   Imagine, buying a home, only for the value to decrease due to poor maintenance.

1. Have you ever been on a website, only for it follow you around the internet, popping up on your Facebook feed and appearing in articles you are reading?

2. Have you ever looked at a holiday page,  only for other holidays companies to start showing you adverts?

3. Have you ever changed your relationship status - eg told facebook you have just got engaged, to suddenly find wedding companies, pushing out their adverts in your timeline? 

Did you know?  45% of people say that piles of junk would put them off buying a home.

Clutter.  It’s the bane of my life.  I’m not just talking professionally now.  I am talking personally too.

Often I can’t see it in my personal life.  Those items that I hoard or those fads that I go through.  In my line of work, I should be able to see it easily in my home.  Is it strange that I can’t, or is it because in reality, I am just like you?

You’ve decided you want to move home.  The inside is all prepped.  Your kitchen and bathroom are sparkling.  But what does the front of your home say about you? Go outside and take a look.  Does your front door stand out?  Is your front garden neat?  Does your home have what we call kerb appeal?  It’s important that your home stands out as the best on the street. Here are just a few simple idea’s low cost ideas which can make a big difference!

Is the price your estate quoted you, really the price you are going to pay? What are you getting exactly? Could you end up paying extra?

Today I am on a rant.  I’ve just booked a flight for Christmas and I am truly fed up of airlines trying to attract me with an enticing ticket price.   In the end, I’ve chosen what on the surface looks to be a more expensive airline, however, once I've added up all the extras the others charge for,  it is actually cheaper and the seat pitch is better!

Have you ever wandered around the fish markets abroad? It’s something I love to do. I like to see how the locals really live and for some strange reason I have a fascination for these places. If you get there early enough you see the hoteliers and restaurants choosing for their customers. Later on the locals arrive to do their own shop.

This blog has been inspired by a new client of mine.  A client who called rather worried as her neighbour’s house had also just gone up for sale. Worse still, there are actually 17 other terrace homes up for sale within 1/4 mile radius which are potential competition.  We had already identified these.  It is after all our job to know what else is up for sale. However it’s more important that we know what we are selling and how it compares!

See.  Smell.  Touch.  Listen.  Feel

Are you trying to sell your modern home only to be told by your estate agent that the new build properties which have popped up across Lancaster and Morecambe are why it is struggling to sell? Are they telling you that buyers prefer brand new homes citing they are a blank canvass and everything is new and shiny down to the granite work-surfaces ( which are often an extra cost anyway)

My house hasn’t sold in 2018. Should I change my estate agent for 2019?

The newspapers are reporting an increase in house sales, there are reports of a shortage of stock yet your home remains unsold. You drive around and see sold signs everywhere you look. You get frustrated, wondering to yourself, why has my home not sold? Should I be changing agents?

Why is that people believe the Summer is always a better time to sell a property in a coastal town? Is it because the sun is shining, the sea is glistening and the sand looks golden? Do they believe nobody wants to buy on a wet day when the sea is grey and rough?

There is no doubt about it. Viewing activity is greater from June - September, but how many of these people have the real attention of buying? How many have just fallen in love with the idea of moving to the seaside? Each month we look at the fact and figures to let you know what is really happening out there.

Many people ask me what is the secret to how we sell so many houses.  How do we do it?  What actually makes us different?  I put it down to top team work.  We know each other’s strengths.  We even know each other’s weaknesses.  We work together for the good of our client.  We want to achieve the same goals!  Lets compare to a winning football team.

This blog has been inspired by a new client of mine.  A client who called rather worried as her neighbour’s house had also just gone up for sale. Worse still, there are actually 17 other terrace homes up for sale within 1/4 mile radius which are potential competitors.  We had already identified these.  It is after all our job to know what else is up for sale. However, it’s more important that we know what we are selling and how it compares!

Continuing on our Rightmove themed blogs, this week I wanted to chat about the importance of naming your photos on Rightmove.  It stems from an interesting chat I was having with a lovely new client earlier this week during our home consultation.

This week I got shouted at.  Well maybe not strictly shouted at, but it was certainly a rant.  Luckily it wasn’t actually aimed at me, rather my profession in general.  The lady was a tenant in a house I happened to be valuing.  She is also a house hunter,  looking to buy a property and one which is rather frustrated by estate agents in general “wasting her time”.  I asked her to explain what she meant and sadly found myself agreeing with the majority of her points.

Back in 2015 I was very lucky to be invited to the Cheltenham Gold Cup.  It was a fantastic experience and not just for the horse racing.  I couldn’t believe how much organising goes into such event.  I also got to see AP McCoys final Cheltenham race.  The roar was fantastic when he came out and the crowd went wild.  Even the large TV Screens had a good wish message just for him!  Travelling back home, I thought about my experiences and how backing a winning horse isn’t actually that different from choosing the correct estate agent for you.

Why is it that some estate agents no longer create property brochures?  

In the Autumn of last year, a gentleman called and asked for some help.  His home at High Wood, Lancaster was struggling to sell and he couldn’t understand why.  He’d been reading our property magazine for some time and felt he had followed all the advice we had given.   He was truly perplexed.   

Love him or loathe him, you have to agree Alex Ferguson was one of the greatest team manager ever.  He did this by surrounding himself with people who all did the individual roles better than he could himself.

Sir Alex believed in great teamwork.  Here at JDG we believe the same. .  Our team are our greatest asset.  Individually we have some great players.  Put us together we have a formidable team.

As the autumn slowly turns into the winter, and the shops start to fill with Christmas, many potential home seller ask me this question.   Do I put my home up for sale now or wait for the better weather?

Internet shopping.  I’ll be honest.  I hate it.  I’ve tried it for the first time this month.  Shopping for clothes for me and gifts for family and friends.  People saying buying houses is stressful.  Believe me, when I say it’s nothing compared to online shopping.  

A client came into our office last week.   She said one of things she loved about coming into our office is just how happy we all were.   She made reference to the happy atmosphere and the buzz of the office.   It got me thinking, can happiness actually help sell a house?  

If you are reading this article there is a chance that you are doing so, because of the title.  You are probably frustrated, wondering why your home hasn’t sold.  After all, you’ll be reading reports of an improved housing market, and it may even be possible that you have seen a property you wish to buy.  You may even feel that your life is on hold until you can get your home sold.  Does this sound like you?  What’s going wrong?

Did you know back in the 1930’s home sellers often had floor plans of their homes?  Many people think they are recent addition to property details.  I used to think the same.  Until I was shown, by a client,  that actually they aren’t new at all.  They just somehow became lost in the passage of time.  There is no doubt about it.  Buyers love floorplans.  Buyers tell me this.  They tell me of their frustration when there is no floor plan to view.  But why are they so important? 

Here are my thoughts and findings.

I'm sat on a plane travelling from Atlanta to Miami.   I'm frustrated but also relieved.  We should have been on an earlier flight but we missed our connection due to delays.  I'm in row 14.  It's a middle seat, you know the ones, all squashed in because the chap next to me as taken over the arm rest.  The lady next to me can’t help but spill over.  It's not her fault really.   Mr JDG is further back, row 32 to be precise.  At least he has an aisle seat.  In my perfectly planned schedule, we were sat together.   However, how often do things go to plan?  All I can say is thank goodness for a helping hand.  Missing a flight is a first for me.

Have you ever tried to grow your own vegetables?  I tried a few years back in those temporary canvas vegetable bags you can buy in Wilkos.  I did ok (ish).  I managed to get several potatoes,  grow a few tomatoes and even a few (albeit small) onions.   I was rather proud of my efforts, even boasting about my results on social media, all of which were documented with full technicolour photos.  Of course, this prompted several friends to post their homegrown efforts online, all of which made mine pale into insignificance.

I’m lucky. I love what I do.  Helping people move home.  We get to fulfil people's dreams, helping them move from one chapter in their life to another.   Some people say that moving can be stressful.  I’ve often wondered in the scheme of things is it really?   

How much do you rely on the internet? What do you really use it for? Research? Communication? Playing games? How much internet shopping do you actually really do?

As I write this I am sat on a train travelling to York,  on my way to meet old school friends to celebrate their 40th birthdays.

I’m sat in first class.  I’m kind of pleased I paid the extra £20 to upgrade.  There is a stag do on board, hell bent on having a great time and the train has just 4 carriages.  The song no limits has been sung 6 times.  I really need to do some work.  The couple across from me are discussing the French election and the fake news stories that surrounded it.   Her daughter starts talking about how Facebook has now become ‘fakebook’.

Is your home up for sale?  Are you getting frustrated by seeing other agents sold boards or reports that you read that the housing market is picking up?  If you are, you are not alone.  We’ve been talking recently to frustrated home owners across Lancaster and Morecambe who are struggling to sell.  Thankfully these people weren't up for sale with us, although we hope they soon will be.  I can tell you though the first to switch to us is under offer already, and in just 4 days!

Twelve months ago I was asked to sell a property for an investor client.  The property was an ex-rental terrace. The kitchen and bathroom were sparkling new.  As was the double glazing and the gas central heating system.  All were brand spanking new!  Sounds like an easy sell?  You’d expect it be.  Expect it wasn’t.  This property was empty.  It was uninspiring.  The 2nd bedroom was small.  The wallpaper wood chip.  The rear yard tiny due to the kitchen extension.

I love making comparisons in property.  Everywhere I go, I find them. I  like to use them.  I find it helps people relate better to their home and understand what I am trying to help them achieve.

When you decide to move home, you are doing it for a reason.  We all have them and surprisingly they can differ greatly.  Some people need more space.  Others have a job change and are moving out of the area.  It could be you are moving in with a loved one and are starting your next chapter in life.  

Today I want to tell you little story.  It’s a true story and involves Boots,  our office Puppy.  We call her our office puppy as she comes to work everyday with me.   She just 7 months old.  Having never had a dog before,  I never realised just how much you could love one and how they become an integral part of family life.  

How do you house hunt?  Are you a sofa surfer who looks at almost every Rightmove listing that comes available online?  Or are you someone who is much more specific, purely hunting in a very small area?  We are all very different you know.  First time buyers often have to work to a tight budget, finances dictating what they can afford to buy.  Further up the chain, home movers have much more exacting needs, ranging from the location they want to live in, through to the need for an additional bathroom!

Have you ever bought something that really wasn’t fit for purpose, only to have to start again?  Did you do it because you perceived it to be cheap?  Or because you believed it to be better value?  We’ve all been there.  I booked a flight with Jet2.  It was cheaper than Monarch.  However if I had known they did not have a walk way to the plane and I’d be stood out in the pouring down rain getting drenched, I’d have happily paid the extra £30 each.  £30 more not to get wet and end up with a heavy cold sounds like great value now.  Trust me sat in wet clothing for a 3 hour flight was not pleasant at all!  Would you agree?

When I was at primary school my teacher banned the word nice.  She informed us all that the word nice was no longer good enough.  She told us that everything and everyone was nice, even down to a make of biscuit.  We had to find different describing words.  The word nice was banned.  It’s something I have never forgotten.

This week I thought I’d talk to you about the importance of an estate agent really knowing what their buyers are looking for and how it’s important they keep their keen buyers at the top of their mind.  It stems from a chat I had with another northwest estate agent who was intrigued as to how we sell so many homes locally when we don’t actually have the largest stock register in the town.

He wanted to know what our magic was and asked me if I would share the secret!

Everybody is talking about Hygge - a danish concept used to descibe the feeling of cosiness and contentment in your life.   At JDG believe a home is also a feeling.  It's place where memories are made.   It's a place where we feel safe.  

Here are 4 ways we feel you can hygge up your home for a sale this New Year.... 

We are a nation of pet lovers.  Did you know?  Over 9 million of us have dogs and 8 million of us have cats.  They are even over 20 million fish kept in tanks across the UK. Strange isn’t it then when it comes to selling a home with pets, buyers seem to find animals a big no-no!

Selling houses, it’s the name of the game.  It’s what every agent sets out to do.  Some do it with great success.  Some struggle along. You hear stories of happy customers and people who moved quickly achieving a great price.  You hear sad stories of frustration and stress from those struggling to sell.  The question is how do you find a Super agent, who will do the best for you?

The pie chart on the link below demonstrates agents varying levels of success in 2016.

As the autumn slowly turns into the winter, and the shops start to fill with Christmas, many potential home seller ask me this question.   Do I put my home up for sale now or wait for the better weather?

If you ask a male and then ask a female if size matters, you are likely to get two very different answers.  Girls like to think that the best things come in small packages (think diamond rings).  Boys like to think the bigger the better ( especially when it comes to flat screen tv and motorbikes! ).  However when it comes to choosing your home, how important is the size of your home to you?

I’ve read so many articles and heard so many stories that moving house is stressful.  I’ve read reports that it is one of the most stressful events that can happen in somebody lives.  Is it really?  There are many more stressful life events out there.  Can we put things into reality?  Is moving house more stressful than losing a job that you loved?  Going through a divorce?  Living in a war-torn country?  Discovering you have a terminal illness?  I’m certain it isn’t!

Every week without fail, somebody asks must I have for sale board? There are various reasons for asking, ranging from not wanting to upset the neighbours, through to the fear of somebody knocking on their door directly. Each time I always answer no. If somebody really does not one, I will not force you. However before you decide against a board, let me tell you why I believe they are essential.

Have you ever heard of scent marketing?  In case you didn’t know it is a technique used by many businesses in order to help influence a buyer / client’s mood.  Smell is thought to be the most powerful sense we have.   A smell can affect how we feel.  Research has found scent can add to a buyer’s perception of a product’s value.