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?

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!

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. 

Last year, Rightmove saw a 26% increase in web traffic, with over four million of us visiting their website on Boxing Day.
 
Your property could be marketed to a HUGE online audience over the festive period and the New Year.
 
Listing is a sure-fire way of capturing attention from serious buyers and tenants.

Did you know...
 
Online property searches double over the Christmas and New Year period.
 
On average, there's a 20% increase in people searching online for their next home.
 
9 pm was the citied as last year's prime property-surfing time. 
 
Over 2.3 million people visit Rightmove on the 29th December.
 
Over 3.3. million people visit Rightmove on the first day of the New Year.
 

The next six months are expected to be a busy time for the property market

As restrictions are officially lifted and the stamp duty holiday draws to a close, we take a look at what will be influencing home purchases going forwards over the next few months.

What will happen to house prices after the stamp duty holiday?

As demand still remains above normal levels for the season, many people will be undeterred by the end of stamp duty savings next month.

Instead, they'll be pushed to buy based on their changing needs and living conditions, meaning house prices are expected to remain consistent.

Market update

Over the last year, average property prices in Surrey, have increased by 12%, with the average property now worth £613,048.*

*Rightmove Intel

Taking a step on the ladder is really exciting! 

So, you shouldn’t be daunted by mortgages. We can help you find your perfect property and offer you expert mortgage advice. 

What is a fixed-rate mortgage? 

With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate that you pay remains the same throughout the period of the contract – typically one to five years. Choosing a fixed-rate mortgage means that you will know exactly how much your mortgages will cost for a set period of time, and your repayments will remain the same, even if interest rates change. 

What is a tracker mortgage? 

The interest rate on a tracker mortgage is linked to the Bank of England base rate. This means that if the base rate changes, so will your mortgage rate. You can get lifetime or term trackers that are often very flexible and can be great if you don’t want to be tied into a mortgage. 

What is a guarantor mortgage? 

With a guarantor mortgage, your friends or family members can opt to be your mortgage guarantor. With this type of mortgage, if you miss any repayments, your guarantor could risk losing their savings or their home. 
 

SEARCHING FOR MORE SPACE THIS SUMMER?

Here's why you should sell your property this summer...

1. IT'S A PERFECT TIME TO SHOWCASE YOUR PROPERTY

If you are looking to showcase your most valuable asset, summer gives you the chance to ‘wow’ potential buyers and sell them the dream they’ve been looking for. With the garden in full bloom and sunlight streaming through the windows (when the UK decides!) buyers will love looking around your home.

2. SERIOUS BUYERS & SELLERS

Sometimes there are less properties on the market in Summer, however the buyers and sellers looking tend to be the most serious ones!

3. GET SETTLED BEFORE THE NEW TERM

Buyers with children will be keen to have them settled in before school term starts. What’s more, with glorious weather, moving home can actually be a great experience.

More than a quarter of UK homeowners and renters have claimed that their property priorities have changed since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Previously highly-sought after and high-value property features have dropped down the priority list for home buyers and tenants, as they now seek different factors when looking for a property that meets their needs and lifestyles.

Easy commutes to work, proximity to local shops and restaurants, and local public transport links are no longer as desirable as they once were.

Instead, we have noticed a significant increase in those searching for more space, whereby those searching are willing to compromise on location or local amenities in return for larger bedrooms and a 'work from home' zone.

Having access to a private garden or nearby green space has also become one of the top preferences for homebuyers and renters, especially in light of reduced travel options this summer.

If you need more space, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678 to see how we can help.

This article was extracted from Rightmove for informational purposes

The government has announced that the temporary stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland has been extended until the end of June.

The news will hopefully come as a relief to those buyers and sellers who have been desperately trying to get their sale completed in time to meet the previous deadline of 31st March.

What is the temporary stamp duty holiday? 

The temporary stamp duty holiday, first announced by the government on 8th July last year, means that if you are buying a home up to the value of £500,000 you will not pay any stamp duty.

The extension means you now have until 30th June to complete on the purchase to make the stamp duty saving.

Then, to smooth the transition back to normal, the nil rate band will be £250,000, double its standard level, until the end of September.

It will return to the usual threshold of £125,000 on 1st October.

There hasn’t been any further update from Scotland on any extension to the Land & Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) holiday, which is currently due to end on 31st March 2021.

In Wales, temporary Land Transaction Tax reductions are also set to end on 31st March, but we’ll let you know if this changes.

Are there delays in the home-moving process right now? 

When the announcement was first made in July we recorded our busiest ever day on Rightmove, as people rushed to see if they could move home and make use of the savings, leading to a huge increase in the usual number of sales that would be going through the legal process.

We estimate that there are currently 628,000 sales going through, and this massive number, coupled with the challenges of conveyancers, solicitors and councils working from home, has led to delays in the home-buying process.

Our latest data shows that it is taking an average of 65 days from the time a seller has a property listed by an agent on Rightmove until they get an offer accepted, and a further 126 days to get through to legal completion, which is almost seven months.

But remember these are averages, and other factors such as if you are a cash buyer or if council searches in your area take longer will affected how long it takes.

What do the experts say?

Our resident property data expert Tim Bannister explained that the stamp duty holiday extension should give tens of thousands of home-movers the chance to complete before the new deadline.

He said: “This three-month extension will come as a huge relief for those people who have been going through the sales process since last year and were always expecting to make use of the stamp duty savings.

“Our recent data shows one in five sales that were agreed in the same month the stamp duty holiday was first announced in July last year still haven’t completed, so this additional time will make a big difference to help those stuck in the logjam complete their purchase in time before the new end of June deadline.

“Buyers who have recently agreed a sale now have a race on their hands to see if they can also make use of the stamp duty savings, but many with purchases over £250,000 will find that time is too tight to complete before the end of June and so shouldn’t be factoring this into their purchase.

“It’s worth remembering that the average savings vary massively around England, and first-time buyers will still be exempt if they’re buying for £300,000 or less. There are also many other reasons people are choosing to move, evidenced by the strong buyer demand Rightmove has already seen in the first two months of the year.”

We’re not used to spending so much time in our homes, but whilst we are, it’s important that we make the most of it.

It gives you a chance to play more with the kids and also see to those bits of DIY that you have either not been able to get round to doing or purposely avoided.

There’s no getting out of them now and you shouldn’t want to as they will benefit your home life.

Show your home some love with these three simple DIY jobs and it will love you back:

Add a lick of paint to those rooms in need of it!

One of the quickest and most effective ways of reviving a room is to patch up any paintwork that’s looking untidy. Hopefully, you might have a tin of the original paint lying about somewhere and a few paintbrushes stashed away.

For a more drastic transformation, change a colour scheme completely by fully repainting a room in a fashionable shade.

As it’s now spring, a sage or olive green colour seems fitting, or try a cheery yellow.

To get a combination of colours, paint your skirting boards and doors in different finishes.

Do a bit of fixing and recycling

It’s unheard of for a home to have nothing that needs fixing – there’s always something in need of repair.

Certain pulls, handles and knobs on your cupboards could be loose and need tightening or a fence panel in the garden wants mending. You can sort this yourself rather than pay someone to come and remedy them for you once lockdown is over.

If you’re a hoarder, now would also be an apt time to repurpose any rarely used items you have in the house.

Get your garden organised for spring / summer

Being stuck indoors for so many hours of the day can be tough, so use your garden at every opportunity to breathe in some of that fresh air.

In ordinary circumstances, we’d encourage you to bring the outdoors indoors, but current circumstances demand a reversal – taking the indoors, outdoors.

So get that garden furniture and those bean bags out so that you can relax in the sunshine, whilst the kids take to their swings and slides.

Give the garden a good tidy first to maximise the space, donning your gardening gloves for all that mowing, weeding and preening you need to do.

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678