#leysbrook

Leysbrook Estate Agents in Baldock. Covering Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin & All Surrounding Areas

Read our top 10 tips for viewing a property in this area:

1 – Until you have officially moved in, try not to see the property as a home.

This is the most important tips for viewing a property. We understand that this can be difficult, but you should try to look at any building objectively as something that needs to be thoroughly inspected. Listening to your head and not your heart will mean that you are less likely to overlook any potential problems.

Discovering a problem doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t make the purchase, but it could give you some leverage when negotiating a price with the seller.

2 – Take your time!

When you go to view a property, you should make sure that you take your time to look at it properly. We think that you should realistically allocate around 30 minutes per viewing. This should allow you enough time to look around properly without feeling the pressure of time constraints.

3 – Visit the property more than once.

Even when houses are selling quickly, it is a bad idea to buy without looking around more than once. Seeing a house different times of the day will give you a good opportunity to spot any potential problems that you could have otherwise missed.

4 – Get to know the neighbourhood.

We are in a lovely area with a great community and general facilities but don’t just take our word for it. Before making the decision to move here spend some time getting to know it yourself. Check out the local schools, cafes, shops and transport, etc.

5 – Check out the building structure.

Make sure that you look at the outside of the building with as much care as the inside. Taking the time to do this will allow you to see any damp patches, hairline cracks, loose roof tiles and broken guttering, etc. that you can deal with before making an offer and moving in.

6 – Any funny smells?

Be aware of any unusual smells in a property. If a property has any damp patches, it could well give off a musty smell that you can detect before you see any actual evidence.

7 – Check the light switches, taps and windows!

Unless you turn the taps on in a property, you will have no idea if they work of if the water pressure is adequate. The same goes for light switches and windows. You want to know that these features are in good working order and unless you check for yourself you could be in for a surprise on moving day.

8 – Rearrange the furniture.

OK – maybe not literally but you should be aware that furniture is often used as a way for homeowners to cover things up. Make sure the painting on the wall isn’t hiding a giant crack or that the rug isn’t covering up problems with the floor.

9 – Make sure you know exactly what land comes with the property.

It’s amazing how often we come across uncertainty when it comes to land ownership. If there is any doubt over who the garage belongs to or who is responsible for maintaining the side access, make sure that you find out the facts and get it in writing to avoid any issues further down the line.

10 – Have a full survey of the property.

Don’t rely on the mortgage valuation to pick up on any potential problems with a property. Having a full assessment carried out by an experienced surveyor will pick up on potential issues that you may have otherwise missed, saving you money and heartache in the future.

Buying a new home can be a stressful time but we feel that if you follow these tips, you can

make the move with more confidence and ease

Making the decision to move home is both exciting and daunting. You’ve probably been thinking about it for some time and have an ideal home and location in mind. At this point, there is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in a property that you just can’t sell. You may be thinking that sell house is not easy as it seems.

If the property market is going through a particularly sluggish spell houses can sit on the market for months on end, leading to the common question: “Why can’t I sell house?”…

To avoid disappointment and get a realistic idea of the current market conditions you should speak to a qualified estate agents. Good estate agents will be able to market your home based on the current conditions and give you advice on how to maximise your chances of a speedy sale.

Reasons Why You Can’st Sell House

However, a slow property market may not always be to blame for a house not selling. If properties all around you are selling quickly yet you are struggling even to get someone through the doors for a viewing it could be for one of the following reasons:

1 – Your house is in poor condition

If you have typically put off maintenance jobs, you may well have a house that is not in a good enough condition for a sale. Mouldy bathrooms or loudly painted walls are enough to put prospective buyers off. Try and keep your house as tidy as possible too. Messy or cluttered rooms with toys strewn across the floor are a big turn off!

If you want your house to sell quickly, then you should probably put a bit of extra effort into making it look nice. Have a look at similarly priced homes in the area and use them as a comparison.

Your buyer is going to be looking for value for money. If they can spend the same amount but get something with a brand new kitchen or bathroom just up the road, then it might be time for you to start thinking about some upgrades.

2 – Your property is over priced

You may love your home, it may be immaculate and decorated to the highest possible standards, but if it is overpriced, it will not sell. If the property market is good and your house has been sitting there for months, then you probably need to reassess your asking price.

A property that has been sitting there for months without selling becomes less desirable to a buyer and can lead to offers being made way below the market value. If you want to avoid cheeky offers you need to make sure that you have the correct asking price as quickly as possible.

3 – Your home isn’t being effectively marketed

Make sure that you choose an estate agent who will work hard and proactively market your property. Sometimes little things like having an online video tour of your home or inviting people along to an open house can make a huge difference. Ask your estate agent to ask for feedback after viewings. If you know what people like and don’t like then you can make changes accordingly.

4 – The photos of your home are not good enough.

Making sure that you have good quality pictures of your home is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to selling. Before the pictures are taken, make sure that you have spent time organising your house to look as good as possibly. It should be spotless and clutter free and if your home has any special features such as original sash windows or fireplaces.

Moreover, make sure that they are included in the pictures. And make sure that the photos are taken by a professional who knows how to angle the camera and get the best possible shots.

5 – You hired the wrong estate agent

If you feel that you have followed all of our tips and that your home is being presented in the best possible way, it may be that you have chosen the wrong estate agents to sell your home. Speak to them and find out exactly what they are doing. Many people are initially lead by cost and go for the cheapest option, but this can result in sloppy and lackluster marketing.

If you aren’t happy with your estate agents, then it could be time to market your home with someone else. Try and find an estate agency that is experienced in selling similar properties and that has the drive to sell yours.

When it comes to moving house, there are so many different things that you need to think about. From moving dates and moving vans to pack up all your belongings and getting rid of unwanted furniture. Moving without a moving house checklist is a pain.

Combine all that with a tight schedule from both the house you’re moving into and the house you’re leaving behind it can often be overwhelming for everyone involved.

Moving House Checklist

To make things a little easier, below are some important things that you need to remember before making the move.

Ask the right questions

Before you move, it’s helpful to make a list of questions for the sellers in case you run into a problem that you don’t know the answer to once they’ve left. This includes things like where is the thermostat, how does the boiler or heating system work, the electric or gas meter. Moreover, make sure also to know what days the bins are collected.

Redirect your post

This is something that a lot of people don’t even think about, but do you know what happens when you move house, but your post gets sent to your old address? It might be inconvenient or even impossible for you to call in and collect any post that might build up at your old home.

Instead, use Royal Mail’s Postal Redirection service for three, six or 12 months to get your post sent to your new address. This helps while you get time to contact all of the companies and people who might be sending you post. Remember that this service is per surname. You may need to pay for more than one redirection service. This is if you have different surnames living under the same roof.

Clean, clean, clean

One of the best things you can do when moving into a new place is to clean it from top to bottom before you even move a box inside. When the house is empty it is the best time for you to touch up any painting or DIY work that needs done. Also, it’s the best time to clean everything before you start filling it up with stuff.

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