Blog

The crudely made toilet roll angel that Lily proudly brought home from primary school might be your prize possession, but she’s 18 now. Similarly, the illuminated blow-up Santa that sits outside to welcome late-night visitors may have become something of a tradition in your household, but to others it might simply look garish.  If you are looking to sell your property during the Christmas period, you will have to rethink your Christmas decoration plans. Sadly, those prized personal possessions may need to stay in the loft – for this year at least. Keep decorations simple and subtle Prospective buyers are likely to want to see some signs of festive spirit, but they will also want to see your property’s features and space. If an eight-foot Christmas tree takes up valuable square footage and every surface is covered in Christmas-themed ornaments, then that won’t happen. It could be enough to lose you a potential offer. Instead, keep decorations simple, subtle and tasteful to appeal to the broadest range of buyers-to-be. This may mean pruning your existing collection, which could be a useful decluttering process before you move. Or it might be about leaving most of them in the loft and investing in a couple of new key pieces instead. Less is more when it comes to lighting Exterior Christmas decorations can be a bit Marmite-like. Prospective buyers will either love or hate your flashing exterior lights and that inflatable Santa we mentioned earlier. When it comes to kerb appeal, they can be one of the biggest turn-offs of all. Once again keep it simple. A string of lights on a tree or bush can help your property look a little more inviting, especially if it’s leading up the path to your front door. But less is definitely more on this occasion. It’s time for the inflatable Santa to retire – for this Christmas at least. Increase light (of the natural kind) Making the most of your natural lighting is key at any point of the year when staging a property, but it’s even more important in the winter. Sprayed-on window decorations may show off your artistic flair, but they’ll minimise the natural light coming into the property when you want it most. They could also be another love or hate feature for your buyers. It’s simply not worth the risk. Keep windows and light sources clear, relocate Christmas trees if they are blocking light, for example, and put that spray can of fake snow away. Provide a warm welcome December viewings can be miserable. It can be cold, wet and slippery outside. To increase kerb appeal, make sure the exterior of your property is tidy and clear of hazards – such as fallen leaves. A welcoming light at your front door – and perhaps a wreath to add a festive touch – can be supplemented with a warm invite inside, perhaps with a Christmas-scented candle or two or some mulled wine brewing to cheer up tired and cold prospective buyers.

Do your research before viewing Before viewing any properties, do your research into the local housing market to give yourself an accurate idea of what prices are like for the area. This includes looking at how much houses actually sold for compared to the asking price which indicate how much of a reduction people are willing to take, a very handy piece of information when it comes to making your own offer. Once you’ve booked a viewing, take a look on online property websites such as Zoopla and Rightmove to see how much the current owners paid for the property. If they bought it 10 years ago, they’re likely to have made quite a bit of money on it while benefitting from a small mortgage. This could mean they can be more flexible on what they’re willing to accept. If the property was only purchased recently, the reverse may be true, and they may need to get as much from the sale as possible. Ask questions during the viewing So, you’ve arrived at the property and it’s everything you’ve dreamed of. Use the viewing to ask the estate agent about the vendor’s situation, their reasons for moving, how long the property has been on the market, do they need to move quickly etc. If you find they have got a new job out of town, for instance, they may need a quick sale in order to have moved and settled in another area before their start date. Whereas if the sellers are a retired couple simply looking to move to a quieter area, they may be more willing to hang around for better offers. Don’t be afraid to ask directly how much they are willing to accept. This is also a good time to show off your advantageous situation. For example, if you’re a first time buyer, the success of the sale won’t be dependant on your chain, which makes for a more certain situation, not least in terms of finance. Often, people get attached to their homes so make sure to tug on the heart strings of the seller by complimenting the decor or commenting on what a great family home it is. Making the offer Before calling the estate agent to make your offer, combine everything you have learned about the property market, the house itself and the owners’ situation to give you a realistic first bid. It’s also a good idea to set yourself a top limit for what you would be happy to pay. When making that initial offer, start low. Sellers expect a first offer to be under the asking price and don’t be afraid to be a little cheeky – after all, if you don’t ask you don’t get. If this is turned down, ask for a counteroffer and then go back with a figure somewhere between that price and your first bid. Don’t use a round number but something specific, such as £259,450, as this suggests you’re at your maximum mortgage limit and can’t go any higher. This is also the time to add other things into the mix, such as white goods and other appliances, which could help sweeten the deal. If the seller still doesn’t accept your offer and you are willing to pay more, make another bid but make it clear that the price you state now is the final price. You may have to be prepared to walk away if the seller still doesn’t budge. If the seller comes back to you in the next few days or even weeks, remember that the tables have now turned and they are trying to sell to you, rather than you buying from them, so be confident in the following negotiations. The experienced estate agents at Chimneypots are highly skilled at negotiation and ensure the very best price for buyers and sellers alike. So, if you’re looking to sell your property or are searching for that dream home in Hampshire and Dorset, get in touch today on 01489 584298 to discuss your needs.

Learning from the UK’s top estate agents The event also featured three keynote speaker sessions, including Cally Beaton, media executive and entrepreneur who helped us learn about change management, and Oliver Gleave, founder of property software providers, Jupix and Loop, who discussed how to maximise the use of technology in modern day estate agency. The last but by no means least speaker was economist Roger Martin-Fagg, who provided an economic forecast for the coming months, helping us give expert advice to all our clients whether they’re buying, selling or renting. This year’s event also included roundtable breakout sessions, each one hosted by an expert in their respective fields. From marketing and social media, to compliance and employee engagement, the roundtable format gave delegates the opportunity to choose the topics that they wanted to learn more about, something we all took full advantage of. The event culminated in a black-tie awards dinner hosted by the well-known national television broadcaster, Huw Edwards, who presented awards to the night’s winning estate agents. What does our Network membership mean to you? The Relocation Agent Network hand-pick members from estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales who excel in customer service, professionalism and local knowledge. Membership is by invitation only so if your estate agency is part of the network, you know they’re among the best in the industry. Chimneypots is proud to say we are one such Relocation Agent Network member and cover Warsash, Locks Heath, Sarisbury Green, Titchfield Common, Southampton and Fareham. As such, we’re the area’s local expert here to help you buy, sell and rent. To learn more about the Relocation Agent Network or for help buying, selling or renting property, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today on 01489 584298.