Spring is in the air! Magnolia trees are in bloom, tulips are coming up and selling your property is all about maximising curb appeal. 

Read on to find tips for grabbing the attention of buyers and finalising that sale!  

First impressions matter 

Start every viewing on a positive note by keeping your drive, garden and front door in tip top condition. Spring bulbs can add welcoming colour. 

Hide the clutter!  

A tidy space will help a buyer imagine how their possesions might fit in. The space will look bigger if non-essential items are hidden away or even put in storage.

Have your garden ready for sunnier days  

Now the weather's warming up, set up your garden with outdoor furniture so buyers can see how they can use the space once summer arrives. Remember though, if it's still chilly outside, do keep the heating on - a warm house will make your house more appealing.  

Keep pets away 

Not all potential buyers are animal lovers. Do keep pets out of the way for viewings. Even if buyers love your furry friend, they may be distracted and not focus on your house.

Focus on your home's best bits  

Make sure the best room in the house is decorated and presented to perfection, whether that's a light-flooded kitchen or an office with a stunning view.  

Has it ever occurred to you that our gardens are – potentially – the largest nature reserve in the country?

The total area of private gardens in the UK adds up to almost two million acres. This weekend is the Big Garden Birdwatch, running since 1979, and over half a million people will typically take part. It is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey, and last year over 9 million birds were counted. Over the course of one hour, between 26 and 28 January, residents are asked to submit the birds they see in their gardens to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Guides are available online to help spot the different species you might encounter.

The stats are quite scary – over the past 50 years, the population of birds in the UK has dropped by 73 million.  House sparrows top the list of birds spotted – 1,401,338 in 2023, but they have declined by 57% since 1979. 

We can help by making our gardens better for wildlife, and there are so many ways we can do this, whether we have a small patio, a stretch of lawn or a mature plot full of shrubs and trees. 

• Bird tables, and sophisticated variations which are squirrel-proof, are increasingly popular. 

• We can put out water too, especially during hot and cold spells. 

• You will also attract butterflies and bees if you grow plants rich in nectar. Catmint is a magnet for bees and a buddleia bush in full bloom is heaven for butterflies. 

• Nettles are great for feeding the caterpillars of many types of butterfly. 

• Berry bushes bring in birds. 

• If you have a lawn, you could let part of it grow wild, and adding a wildflower mix will look stunning for both humans and wildlife.

• Piles of leaves, logs or stones all help mini beasts find homes.

The RSPB website has all sorts of information on what different birds like to feast on. 

Why not join in for an hour this weekend and enjoy recording your garden visitors?

Are you planning a move next year?  Are you wondering what your property could be worth?  Do read on to see current average property prices in Ashtead, with data collated via Rightmove.  

According to data collected from HM Land Registry up to October 2023, properties in Ashtead had an overall average selling price of £674,639 over the last year.  The majority of sales in Ashtead during that time were detached properties, selling for an average price of £1,139,182.  Flats sold for an average of £275,737, with semi-detached properties fetching £653,135.  Overall, sold prices in Ashtead over the last year were 6% up on the previous year and 11% up on the 2020 peak of £591,547.

Do contact the office if you’d like a bespoke valuation of your own property – telephone us on 01372 221678 or email [email protected] and one of the team will be happy to assist with booking a valuation appointment.   

They say you are most likely to fall in love, if you love yourself first! Your home is no different. The more love you show your home, the more other people will love it too.  

The flowers are starting to pop up and so are V&H Homes sold boards, so why not be a part of this growing trend? 

We give you four top tips on bringing back the love so your home sells!

If you don't have much time 

Do the basics; a good clean and declutter. Create space by clearing worktops and stowing away any of the unnecessaries so that you optimise your rooms. This combined with making use of the vibrant colours of spring could really set you apart from the rest. Think about yellows, blues and greens to provide a truly refreshing feeling to your property.

Love at first sight!  

Don’t forget the front of your home. This is most likely to greet your buyers initially online and during a physical viewing.  A simple tidy-up to make your home look its best.  Check the front door, does it need painting or cleaning? Are there any unsightly weeds in the garden or paving?  

Have your paperwork ready  

You don’t want to make a swift sale only to become delayed by paperwork. Start gathering it now, from gas certificates to warranties.  

If you have a little more time 

After you have cleaned, check grouting, mould and anything else that is a relatively cheap fix. This will spruce up your bathroom or kitchen and seduce buyers. Check everything from taps to toilet seats!

V&H Homes Estate Agents in Ashtead are looking for a part time Viewings & Office Assistant to join our company.

This is an opportunity to work within a highly experienced team in our busy Ashtead office.

We will consider high calibre applicants who have a commitment to outstanding customer service.

Hours: 2 days a week; every Saturday 8.30am - 5pm and one day in the week 8.30am - 6pm (weekday hours can be flexible).

Requirements: Full UK Driving Licence.

Experience: Experience in Estate Agency is preferred, but not necessary. Training will be provided.

Duties will include:

• Accompanying prospective buyers to properties and encouraging offers.
• Talking with prospective and existing clients on the telephone and face to face.
• Delivering exceptional customer service.

We need you to be:

• Responsible and reliable.
• Able to communicate effectively.
• Professional, organised and have a great work ethic.
• Confident over the telephone and present a positive image of V&H Homes at all times.

If you are interested in this role, please send your CV to [email protected].

Last month, changes were made to how some aspects of Right to Rent checks are completed in England. 

Since 2014, anyone letting a property in the UK has been obliged to complete a Right to Rent check every time they take on a new tenant. As part of the changes to Right to Rent checks, landlords in England are no longer allowed to accept physical biometric residence cards and permits, nor Frontier Worker permits. All holders of these cards and permits in England will have to verify their identity using an online service operated by the Home Office. 

There are legal implications for anyone who does not follow the new laws. It is illegal for landlords to only check people that they think are not British citizens; the government states that potential tenants should not be discriminated against based on speculation about where they are from. 

For now, this change is limited to tenancies in England. For the rest of the UK and Northern Ireland, the Home Office will require tenants to register with a certified identity service provider (IDSP), which will use identity document validation technology (IDVT) to share checks with agents and landlords. 

If you are a tenant or landlord looking for answers, get in touch and we will help wherever we can. 

With demand for homes still outstripping supply, sellers can be confident they will find a buyer quicker than ever before. * 

On average, properties are spending just 33 days on the open market, compared to 2019 when the average time on the market stood at 67 days. As well as this, the huge decline in sale time means that 53% of property sales are now being agreed at a figure above the asking price, as buyers bid higher to secure their ideal home. * 

The large number of buyers continues to create a competitive market, ideal for sellers. Over 125,000 prospective homeowners took to the market in April to take advantage of the great seller’s market. *  

If you are looking for a quick sale of your property, start by booking a free property valuation here. 

*Rightmove 

If you have ever considered building a property portfolio as a landlord, now could be a great time to start your journey. 

Information from a market-leading property portal indicates rents have risen at the fastest rate on record, and tenant demand has almost doubled. At a time when interest rates on traditional savings accounts are low, many believe it is a good time to invest in the property market. * 

Lenders are evidently committed to supporting prospective landlords. A recent report from a popular money comparison site revealed there are currently 2,235 mortgage products on offer to first-time landlords, an increase of more than 70% than the same time last year.  

A huge 64% of available buy-to-let mortgage products are catering to first-time investors and rates are attractive, allowing landlords to protect themselves against future rate rises by locking into a good deal with a fixed-rate mortgage. The average two-year fixed rate mortgage for a first-time landlord is currently 3.19%, rising to 3.47% for a five-year fixed product.  

If you would like to explore buy-to-let properties and mortgage products which could lay the foundations for your property portfolio, call us today and talk to one of our team members.