Monday 28 December 2015

The internet's top 8 cleaning tricks


It's time to get 'your clean on' - well, that's what my 12 year old tells me, must be some new young person phrase that I'm too old to carry off, although it is remarkably similar to a Missy Elliot track from the 90's! 

What my 12 year old doesn't realise is that this year is the year I teach him not just to tidy, but to clean!  As I type his shoulders have dropped and he's adopted a 'kevin' stance, for those of you old enough to remember the comedy sketch Kevin and Perry, the brainchild of Harry Enfield.  However,  I love cleaning, when i'm not at work selling houses, it's like therapy for me. 

I've decided to share the 8 tips I found online today to help your home stay cleaner.  Enjoy!



Top 8 internet cleaning tips

1. Drilling: 

Catch dust that is created whilst drilling by using a stick memo pad folder to catch the dust.  Why not ask someone to hold the hoover nozzle and turn on the hoover to catch it before it falls.

diyforbeginners.com

2. Bins:

To get rid of odours, drop in a cut-up lemon, some salt and a few ice cubes. The lemon deodorizes, and the ice and salt clean away residue.


Womensday.com
3. Sponges

Sponges are the breeding ground for bacteria.  Disinfect yours everynight by squeezing it out and microwaving it on high for about a minute.  Once it gets out of shape and smelly - I would replace it though.


Womensday.com


4. Paint Tins

Stop paint from running over the edge of the tin and hardening, because then the tin will be hard to close. How to do it? Just fold some aluminium foil over the edge of the tin.
DIY for beginners.co.uk

 5. Make your bed easier
I read this one today I LOVE this tip:
Start with the Bed: If your bed is made, your bedroom looks neat. When you wake up, pull the covers up to your chin, then scissor-kick your way out of bed so it'll be half made. Finish the job before you walk away.

Thinking of all the people scissor kicking their way out of bed tomorrow morning

Womansday.com
6. Radiators 
To clean your radiators, hang a damp cloth or damp newspapers behind the radiator. Blow on the radiator with a hair dryer to force hidden dirt and dust onto the damp cloth. © 2006 Publications International, Ltd.  Use a hair dryer to remove hard-to-reach dirt from a radiator.
Howstuffworks.com

7. Radiators and crayons don't mix
Remove crayon from your radiators with a papertowel soaked in milk from the fridge.  <<really? If it works, this really is a great tip.
Huffingtonpost.com

8. Pet Hair
A house selling nightmare s pets.  Pets are wonderful, I even have a cocker spaniel called Tilly.  Sadly, they don't help your house sell, but you can get rid of pet evidence, aka pet hair, by using  a wet rubber glove and rubbing it over your furniture.  It will get rid of any hair your hoover and lint roller miss! 
 Huffingtonpost.com


Do you have a top cleaning tip, you can share?  i'd love to hear them.


If you would like to see a way of getting out of cleaning, why not take a tip from Kevin...  I'm still laughing:






Until next time












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Friday 4 December 2015

What does the 3% rise in Stamp duty mean to you?



Did you even know it was changing?  Remember when VAT dropped to 15% to kick start the economy then rose to 20% to compensate for the reduction  (It had previously been 17.5% for years). 


So what will the new Stamp Duty Land Tax mean to you next April?  Will you be affected?  Will you have to find more money to move? Or will you escape without the hefty price tag?



If you are selling your only property and buying one.  Nothing changes for your purchase, you are good to go.  Your rates stay at the new low figures. (see below) BUT read on, as depending who buys your property and their position may affect your offers?  Not always, not often, not every house, but maybe. 


If you have another property that you own, or are considering a rent to buy scenario you might need to read on, carefully, and proceed with a little more caution.

So what is changing?


In November 2015 the government announced a stamp duty increase the current stepped rates by 3 points for any properties over £40,000 from April 2016.

Here's the latest change (from April 2016)  on purchases of second homes or buy to let properties: (SDLT = Stamp Duty Land Tax)

2nd Home   Current SDLT   SDLT from    Difference
Buy to Let (BTL)        April '16    
Purchase Price            
             
£100,000   £0   £3,000   £3,000
         
£150,000   £500   £5,000   £4,500
         
£200,000   £1,500   £7,500   £6,000
         
£300,000   £5,000   £14,000   £9,000
             



Here's the chart to work it out: as you may not be purchasing at the prices above:


2nd Home     Current SDLT   SDLT from April '16
Buy to Let (BTL)            
Purchase Price       (Stepped)           (Stepped )
(Over £40,00)            
             
Up to 125,000   0
  3%  
             
Above £125,000 and up to £250,000   2   5%  
             
Above £250,000 and up to £925,000   5 %   8%  
             
Above £925,000 and up to £1,500,000   10 %   13%  
             
Above £1,500,000+   12 %   15%  
             

How does the stepped part work?:  Right now a £150,000 property would have to pay 2% on £25k in April (on second homes and BTL) that will change to 3% on the first £125,000 and 5% on the next £25k



Why?


Moss Properties Managing Director Sanjay Gandhi thinks this is to aid the buy to let sector and 'reduce down accidental landlords and smaller landlords to provide longer term lets and less instability in lives around the uk' as the 'overseas markets work very differently and provide long term lets to tenants'.  Claire Harvey MD at Seekers disagrees, 'Landlords will still buy, if they are considering a purchase it is usually at least a 5 year investment to make it worth it, so anything additional in costs becomes negligible'


How does this affect you? (our Lancaster and Morecambe sellers)


Landlords: 

If you are a landlord and considering expanding your portfolio you will have to dig deeper post April. 

Pitfalls for Renters: 


Rents may have to rise to ensure a Buy to Let is a good investment


Pitfalls for owner occupiers wanting to sell: 



Properties sold to landlords MAY see more negotiation in offers or lower offers. 


Note to sellers:  Not every buyer is an investor/second home owner so sellers, this might not be a problem at all for you anyway.


(Just ask your agent each time you have a viewing, so you can be prepared)


Bonus for first time buyers:



If you are a first time buyer the choice will increase as the properties are less likely to be snapped up by buy to let landlords


Landlord Bonus: 



Will things really change for a landlord?  If rents rise, you will still get a similar investment yield anyway that you had before even with an increased upfront cost.  You'll need to do the sums.

My Predictions:


Buy to let landlords with just a few properties may sell them off in the first quarter providing a boost early next year to available properties, bad news for sellers of these properties as there will be more choice, leading to a stabilisation of house prices. 

Ask us how to increase the likelihood of a sale and how to attract the right buyers YOU REALLY WANT!!

If you are a first time buyer you may find a good buy early next year!



Those who can't sell:

For those people who can't sell their home and need to move will need to make more considerations prior to taking the plunge.


The GOOD NEWS:


The government hasn't finalised the parameters yet!  So, you may still be a way to sidestep the cost.  Some reports have said that you could purchase in your long term partners name - I'm sure your solicitor will have something to say about this.  Good news if your not married, I suppose! Watch this space.

For those larger corporates buying properties and already owning more than 15 properties, may receive special dispensation for this, but no one yet knows.


What does this mean to the Uk property market?



In 2014 the government stepped in to assist the growth of the property market by making the SDLT stepped.  Therefore reducing the cost of purchasing a house.  The predictions back then was that it would be a catalyst to aiding growth.  In parts it did, it made the financial strain of a purchase  much easier, especially for first time buyers and investors.  Yes, the market saw an increase this year of purchases and in 2015 there were over £1.4 million transactions.  Much higher than previous years.  It didn't really have the influx of buyers that was predicted, for those who were already purchasing it made a big difference, and even now I still come across people who don't know that it has changed for the better.




The future - at the moment my prediction is that it is unlikely to make much difference to Landlords/investors in Lancaster and Morecambe.  Our buy to let investors prefer the more reasonably priced homes that will only see a small increase in upfront costs anyway.




Before the announcement lots of the industry gurus had predicted an average house price increase of 5% next year - (individual predictions differed from a mediocre 2.5% (Property wire) to 7.30% (Beacon Economic forecasting).  It would be interesting to see exactly what they predict will happen now.




We may see a shortfall in new landlords to market but overall it will see that home owners that do go on to sell their properties will be much happier selling to first time buyers and owner occupiers and gaining the price they really want.




Local investors that are serious will see the bigger picture and their nest eggs will be fine if they are in it for the long haul anyway. 




As for our Lancaster and Morecambe owners that wanted to rent their old homes to buy a new one - may have further considerations to think about, but not until we know the extent of what the government will impose.



As a side note: The government is panning to invest circa £60million of the funds they gain from this into areas where 2nd home ownership is particularly acute, interesting indeed!


A small little bonus for sales only agents:  Less rentals may mean less 'To Let' signs all over the place!  These are almost like junk mail on the outside of houses at the moment and don't help first time buyers feel comfortable buying in high rental turnover uptake areas.



I'd love to know how you think this will affect you?  Are you currently struggling to sell and weighing up your options?  or perhaps trying to build a local property portfolio for your children? 


Why not drop me an email on v.green@v-move.co.uk


Nothing is ever straight forward and sometimes carefully electing the right moving strategy will lessen your monetary burden and help to attain your dream home.


I'd love to hear from you



















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Monday 9 November 2015

The 3 B's - to ensure a MORE SECURE SALE -


Ever got to the end of a jigsaw and can't complete it?  How does that make you feel?  Frustrated? Deflated? or worse still,  angry?
 


If you were buying a house and hurdles kept getting in your way and small things kept getting uncovered, these missing pieces can make you all of the above until one day you wanted to throw in the towel and withdraw.  It's frustrating, stressful, time consuming and worst of all, costly!




How would you feel if that was the buyer of your house?  Panicked that they may pull out?  Worried they may issue unreasonable demands or put a strain on your timescales and finances?





This can be very tricky and there are ways to avoid this situation:  it's very simple, these are my 3 B's!

 Be Honest


About why you are moving (we wont disclose this, but it makes our relationship stronger and enable us to understand your situation so we are working in the best way to make your sale easier for you)

Be Realistic


About your timescales to get moved when you get that offer (You may be having hospital treatments/operation scheduled, you may only be able to do viewings at weekends due to your seasonal workload or you might have just had a beautiful little baby) your buyers will need to know as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary tension and worry.

Be Clear


On the best times to schedule viewings - especially if you have a dog, or your neighbour like to rev his bike or you get the school's overflow parents that need to park for collection.



This will keep your sale smooth.




Have you been Honest, Realistic and Clear with your agent, your buyers and yourself?



I'm Victoria and I love to interview my potential clients to see if we are the right fit.  We work on honesty and integrity and we work our socks off for our clients.  What are you looking for in your agent?  I'd love you to drop me an email with a few words of what is most important to you.



Email me at v.green@v-move.co.uk right now with your 3 top priorities when selecting an agent.




I look forward to hearing from you




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Tuesday 3 November 2015

Buyers Brains like Balance - Mini Blog

When you put your house on the market what is the one thing you want?  The one thing that you need to move on?  Buyers

There is one simple thing you can do to significantly increase your chances of getting the price you want in the timeframe you require. It all comes down to...

 

...Balance

This is the simple mechanics that tyre specialists use on your wheels.  Facial symmetry is one thing that will significantly increase the chances of being defined as more 'beautiful'.  The thing an aeroplane needs to ensure a safe flight and something that photographers use for creating a simple and spectacular photographs.

Consider your own home by asking these questions

  • Is you centre piece on your coffee table in the absolute centre or your two candles aligned with the thirds. 

  • Does your colour scheme show fluidly throughout your living room or is one side 'burnt orange heavy' and the other a bit more 'oatmealy' and less dramatic.

  • Are your agents photographs straight?

  • Is the key point of reference in the centre of the photographs therefore balance on both the left and right. (Watch out for the dreaded 'toy corner' on one side of each photograph)

  • Think about creating balanced areas kerbside too - matching pots & flowers to each side of your front door

  • Perhaps your dining table is pushed to one side of the room consider bringing it more central

Brains love balance and your buyers feel much more relaxed in a home that feels more balanced and symmetrical leading to making a much easier decision on whether to offer on your home.

This is just the tip of a very large iceberg, and there are some brilliant ways of creating balance in your home right now.  Each of my carefully selected clients benefit from attention to detail like this. 

"Build the right foundations to reap the biggest rewards!" - Victoria Green Vmove

Hope you found my mini blog useful, why not share with a friend who is struggling selling their home. After all Sharing is Caring!

Until next time

 






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Monday 10 August 2015

What really makes a house sell?






There are many other factors that determine the saleability of a home.  I thought I would share these with you.  The better you are in all the categories the higher your chance of achieving that sale and get moved.

Presentation





Houses that are presented well generally sell faster. Here's a small list of great things to do to present your home to it's very best. 


Clear the clutter, complete your DIY projects, freshen up your décor and a real deep clean are some of the best ways you can help your home to sell.


Your determination



How determined are you to sell your home?  Is there a little reluctance, perhaps you are not really convinced that the rural idyllic lifestyle that you think you want is the right one.  Your frame of mind WILL have an impact on how you deal with the sale.  Do you really put everything you have got into presenting your home for viewings?  Do you really want the estate agent to keep sending their hot buyers?  Do you really care if it sits there for 6 months?


How determined are you?


Your Estate Agent



Are they motivated enough to put their all into your sale?  Perhaps they have quite a few similar properties.  Are many of them in competition with yours?  Let's say they have 20x 3 bedroom semi detached  houses, can you be sure when someone phones yours is top of mind? Why not ensure yours is the absolute best 3 bedroom semi detached available?  Check out your house competition and see what you find. 


Viewings



Estate agents much prefer the homeowner to be out for the duration of a viewing.  It puts the viewers more at ease and enables them to say what they feel.  This means that your estate agent can help counter any objections quickly and effectively, or make an alternative suggestion.  If they leave without having had this discussion with your agent at the time a small molehill can quickly become a mountain they don't wish to climb.


Have you viewed with your agent before you put your house on the market?  Check them out, it's great way to put your mind at rest.


Price




How fluid is yours?  Be ready to act fast, the easiest way to lose a buyer is to take too long to decide.  Have the talk now, then the momentum is there from the start of the offer process and things can get moving quickly (this also means that your buyers will stop looking).  Taking to long to make key decision gives your buyer the opportunity to find something else.



Demand




Is the market mainly retirees at the moment or is it flooded with first time buyers? Pick the right time to sell.  Bungalows and houses for retired downsizers will generally sell better in the spring, when the homeowners will find it easier to find something they want due to the good weather and makes the removal process far easier for them. 

What would happen if...




Great questions to ask yourself and it will differ dependant on your individual circumstances -
 
...you priced it too high and you were still on the market in six months time?

...an offer came in tomorrow at £230,000 and you were considering asking £240,000

...an offer came in at £230,000 in six months time? (your mortgage payments, insurances, bills etc would have been paying for 6 months.  A £700 mortgage payment in 6 months is £4200 add on top - other bills, council tax, insurances etc that could be around £6000.)  So should you be considering this kind of price now?

There are lots of factors that determine how soon your house will sell.  Each way above we found there is one common denominator, that's YOU!


Did you find this useful?  I'd love to know.


Until next time



























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Friday 10 July 2015

GUIDE: How to switch estate agents.



Not every agent is right for every property or every owner.  Sometimes changing agents can make the world of difference to your sale.  A fresh approach can actually get your house sold so you can move into your new home and start your new life. 

Here's a timeline and a little guidance to ensure you make an informed decision when switching agents.  If you'd like to go straight to get the downloadable FREE checklist to switch agents, click here.


Why not read on for some great tips on how to use it, and get your switching questions answered.  

Make a list



Make a list of the reasons you feel you need to move agents.  Then note down the positive aspect - its these qualities you need in your next agent. This list can help keep you focussed when interviewing the next agents.  For instance:  

Poor or low quality feedback = Honest feedback and a solution
Lack of communication - Someone who can update you regularly
You don't understand what is happening = Someone who can give a little extra guidance and hand holding with regard to your sale


Invite 3 more agents out


While armed with your new super list, interview your chosen agents. Ask some great questions.  Why do you think I've not sold?  What would you do differently?  Can you help me?

Check your contract


Some agents have a minimum tie in period.  If they do, this can range from 8 weeks to 26 weeks, it's always worthwhile checking your dates out first.  If you are tied in - some will allow you to leave with a withdrawal fee, if this is the case, ask yourself if it really is the agent you feel you need to change, or is there a way to make a difference.  It may be worth having a face to face discussion with your agent to see if you can put a new plan in place to help get you sold.  If you are out of your initial term, that's great, you can leave subject to...

Notice Period


There may also be a notice period you have to give your current agent of around 14 days.  This gives your current agent the opportunity to exhaust all current leads and have one last push to get you sold.
The new agent may ask to get everything prepared ready for when they can start marketing.  A note to be aware of:  When you are in a sole agency contract (your contract will tell you) you cannot allow another agent to start selling until the other agent has ceased all marketing in accordance with your 14 day notice period.  So just get ready for launch, a few more days will be worth the wait.

What if an old viewer comes back to see it?


Don't worry, all estate agents field enquiries and anyone who has previously viewed with another agent will be asked to contact the previous agent to progress things.  A great way of dealing with this is to request a letter detailing the names of the previous viewers, then your current agent can ensure these enquiries are dealt with by your old agent, so you won't ever miss out!


Do I have to give notice in writing?



Yes.  This way you have a fixed date in place for your marketing from your current agent to stop.


I'm worried this will be a lot of hassle?



Selling a house is never an easy task, however a great agent will make this as easy as possible for you.  Your new agent will want it to be as stress free and will work with you to limit any hiccups.  It would be much harder work staying with an agent that doesn't meet your needs.


Do I need a new EPC certificate, I can't find my old one?



No, an EPC from your current sale is valid for 10 years and your agent can pick this up from the online database, so you don't have to worry at all.

I like my old agent but my house hasn't sold, I don't really want to leave they have been very good.


If you are happy with your current agent, then don't leave!  This is about you feeling comfortable but there is also a goal.  Your goal is to get moved, if your current agent is struggling to sell and you have a good relationship, ask them why?  If all they can say is you need to drop your price, they may not be the right agent after all.  You instructed them to sell your home, how long do you think you can wait?  I know a great quote for this...  "If you do what you've always done, you will get what you've always got"  - Sometimes a fresh agent or a little ingenuity will work wonders on your sale. 

Aren't all agents the same?



The one fascinating thing is that they are all different.  They all have unique qualities, it's all about finding one that you have confidence in.  Trust.  That might be the next one that walks through your door, it may be the one that your neighbour recommended.  Find one that is amazingly honest, has a bucket load of integrity, a sprinkling of enthusiasm and a genuine love of people and property.  These agents work very hard to make your days with them brilliant.





Hi readers...

This blog was written as unbiased as possible to ensure that you get the right agent for you.  I might not be that agent.  I select my sellers carefully too, I only want motivated clients that have a desire to move, are happy to have complete honesty when it comes to their sale and don't want to settle for second best.

If you are after a cheap fee, and a few photos on Rightmove, then perhaps you would be better with one of our competitors, but, if you need someone to guide you through the process, help you through the minefield and generally treat your property sale as if it were their own, then please, give us a call, because that’s exactly what we will be for you.

My name is Victoria Green, and I’ll be exceptionally proud to call you my client

Click here for my downloadable checklist to help you switch agents


and above all else, have a fantastic day!














PS:  Feel free to email this helpful blog to someone who is struggling to sell, people love it when you are thinking of them.  It makes them feel all fuzzy inside.










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Monday 22 June 2015

How front doors help sell houses





The front of your house is your buyers first impression.  It generally sets the tone of your home and shows the homeowner what to expect inside.

Most properties on the main portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla have a picture of the front of the house, which includes the front door. 



A door with peeling paint, or dirty windows and a rusty knocker, is usually an indication that the inside will follow suit.  A buyer has already begun to say no to this house or could perhaps already have a figure in mind to put it right. 

 This figure will end up coming off your asking price.




A lovely front door will do just the opposite.  It will appeal to you, and make you want to step inside.




If you are on the market or considering selling your home, your front door is a great place to start. 


Here are my top tips for fabulous front doors.




Clean.



Whether they are UPVC or wooden make sure they are clean.  If your front door is glazed, do the windows.  The quality of light they let in will work wonders.  Don't forget to sweep your step too.




Paint



Scrape off peeling, faded paint and give the door a new lease of life.  Try a glossy black or navy blue for a traditional entrance.  Maybe you have a cottage, surrounded by trees and flowers, try a period olive or powder blue. 




No matter where you are, you can always pick a paint that works well.  I must let you know that I once sold a house with a purple door, and yes the buyers did certainly comment on that.  In fact one actually said they were surprised at the quality of the interior as the door made them almost think twice.  They bought it.  But I wonder how many didn't view because they didn't like the colour and thought the inside would be the same??




Doorbells





Make sure they work.  Viewers may use them (children of viewers like to try things like this) and if it doesn't work it may make them worry that other things have been neglected.




Door furniture





Is yours shiny and new?  Accessorise your front door with a chrome knocker and a new post box. How about a stunning new wrought iron handle to match the front gate.




Numbers





Do you have a number or a name?  It doesn't matter, just have it displayed so your prospective purchasers can find you easily.  If there is more than one up for sale on the street, it can make it very confusing for a buyer.




I love a beautiful front door.  I enjoy knocking on front doors to my appointments as it gives me a first impression of your home too.
 


Do you have a fabulous front door, or maybe your neighbours do?  I'd love to see it. 




You can tweet me your pics here: @VMOVE_Limited




or




post them to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VMOVElimited




Until next time








Ps:  Interesting Fact:  Did you know that traditionally in Scotland when you had paid off your mortgage you painted your front door red? 


And in Feng Shui a red front door means 'welcome'.






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