6 Reasons People Are Not Buying Your Home That Might Surprise You

A recent survey revealed the top six things that can put potential buyers off of your home and they are not all as obvious as you might think.

Clutter

Clutter can make rooms feel smaller and is very off putting to buyers especially if they have to step over or go around it. Take some time to declutter your property. If you cannot bear to let go of items then consider renting a storage unit to put some of your things in until you move.

Dirt

You cannot clean too much when you are preparing your home for a viewing. Potential buyers are trying to envisage whether they can see themselves living in your property. Yes, dirty properties can be cleaned but most people find it hard to conjure up an image of what something can look like. So make sure that the image that you provide for them is a clean and welcoming one.

Clingy Sellers

Of course you are anxious to know how a viewing is going and want to make sure that the potential buyers are shown all of the most charming parts of your property. However, sellers that loiter during a viewing are more likely to put buyers off than encourage them to make an offer. This is because potential buyers need to have the opportunity to visualise themselves living in your property and that is much harder if the current homeowner is standing right in front of them constantly reminding them of the life that they are living in the property.

Smells

Unpleasant odours are a big no no for potential buyers. Make sure that you take the time to find the source of any unpleasant odours and deal with them. While you may be tempted to burn your favourite scented candle, be aware that no scent, however strong, can mask an unpleasant odour. Instead you end up with a mix of the two scents which can be highly unpleasant. Fresh air is the most attractive scent to buyers so make sure that your property has been well aired before any viewings.

The Goldilocks Effect

If a potential buyer feels too hot or too cold it will affect their perception of your home. You don’t want them to think of your property as ‘the cold house’ or ‘the hot house’. You want them to be as comfortable as possible during the viewing. 21°C is an ideal temperature, so consider adjusting your thermostat accordingly a couple of hours before each viewing.

Your estate agent

Rude and unhelpful agents don’t only annoy potential buyers, they may put them off of purchasing your property completely. Take some time when selecting your agent to talk to them about the local area and their experience of selling similar properties like yours. If you don’t find them to be knowledgeable and approachable then your potential buyers won’t either and it is important that when you leave them alone with your potential buyers during viewings that they have the social skills to be able to turn a potential buyer into an offer.

If you would like more advice on what you can do to present your property in its best light during viewings or are considering selling in the Warrington and would like a free no obligation valuation then please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01925 235 338 .

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page

How To Find And Keep Good Tenants

All landlords want a good tenant. Even better is a good tenant who wishes to rent your property for a long time as it means you won’t be faced with rental voids or the stress of frequently having to find new tenants. Long-term tenants also tend to take better care of properties as they are more likely to treat them like their homes rather than as just temporary accommodation.

So how can you find your perfect tenant? Here at Hamlet we know that the best way to attract your ideal tenant is through targeted marketing and consistent good service. So what does that mean?

Identify your perfect tenant

A listing is just like a dating profile. If your ideal tenant finds the listing for your property online and doesn’t like the look of it then they won’t bother to consider it. So first take some time to think about who your ideal tenant is and then consider if there is anything you can do to make your property and your online advert more attractive to them.

Location, location, location

Highlight the proximity of the local services and attractions that your ideal tenants would use. For example if you would like to rent to students then mentioning the distance to the university would be a good start. For families let them know which school’s catchment area your property falls within and for young professionals focus on distance to transport links and local nightlife.

Take an objective look

Try to see your property through the eyes of a potential tenant. Is your property in need of a fresh coat of paint or are there things that you have been meaning to fix but haven’t got around to yet? Things like this can be a red flag for a tenant as it may give them the impression that you are a neglectful landlord.

Research

Look at similar properties in your area to ascertain what your competition is offering and make sure that you are not trying to set your rental price too high in comparison to them. Good tenants always have their pick of properties so do not price yourself out of their search by setting your rent too high. It can also lead to it taking longer to find tenants so the rental void may cancel out any gain you make from the higher price.

Choose your letting agent carefully

If you want good, long-term tenants then choosing the right agent to manage your property long-term is as important as choosing an agent who will be able to market your property well and find tenants fast. The key to getting long-term tenants is to treat them well and if your managing agent does not do that then you will have a high turnover of tenants and word will soon get around amongst tenants that it is unwise to rent through that particular agent reducing your pool of potential tenants. Here at Hamlet we have been responsible for managing hundreds of properties in Warrington and our happy landlords and tenants are proof that we truly are agents who care.

If you are a landlord and would like to discuss how wecan help you both find good tenants and keep them long-term or are a potential tenant looking for a property to rent in Warrington then please give us a call on 01925 235 338 and we will be delighted to help you.

How To Make Moving Home Less Stressful

Moving home is an emotional time. You may be sad to be leaving your old home but at the same time be excited about moving into your new one. Finding the right home for you and your family can be a stressful experience and then just when you have finished jumping through all of the necessary hoops and signing all of the paperwork the most stressful part of all begins, moving!

However, with a little bit of planning you can help to reduce some of the moving day stress and make moving into your new home a more enjoyable experience.

Start now

If you are reading this blog then it is likely that you are either fast approaching your moving day, are actively looking to move or are considering moving. Whichever of these best describes you it is never too early to start getting ready to move. The best way to start is to get decluttering. It’s easy to think that you have lots of time and everyone loves a bit of procrastination but the sooner that you start dealing with all of your excess clutter the less stressed you will be in the long run as you will have less to pack.

Get ahead

If you really can’t bear to get rid of some of your belongings but also know that you won’t need them before you move then why not take the opportunity to get ahead with your packing and pop them in a box so that they are ready to go.

Measure

Will your furniture fit in your new home? If not then paying to move it will be a waste of money and finding out now will be less stressful than finding out on moving day. If you have sentimental attachment to any particular piece then see if a family member would like to use it until you move again otherwise see it as an opportunity to start afresh in your new home.

Label it

Clearly labelling each box with its destination and contents will make it easier for the removal company (or you) to know which room to put each box in on moving day. If you unexpectedly need something before you move and have already packed it then clear labels will make it easier to find it too. The same applies when you are in your new home and need something before you have finished unpacking.

The night before

Pack yourself a bag with your important paperwork, identity documents, daily medication, toiletries, chargers and a change of clothes. You may find that you are too tired on the first evening in your new home to start unpacking so make sure that you have everything you need to be able to comfortably spend the first night in your new home in that bag.

Try to relax

Moving day can be stressful. Try to avoid putting extra pressure on yourself by setting yourself goals about what time you want to be in by as delays can happen, or how quickly you must unpack. By approaching the day with a relaxed attitude you will be much more resilient to and therefore less stressed if any hiccups occur. Just focus on how you are going to feel at the end of the day when you are settled in your lovely new home and use that feeling to help carry you through the stresses of the day.

If you are thinking of moving in Warrington and would like more advice on moving home then please do give us a call on 01925 235 338.

Diy Dos And Diy Don'ts!

The sun is shining and the long Summer evenings make us feel like we have plenty of time in the day. Plenty of time to get on with all of those jobs that we kept putting off during Winter! For many of us now is the best time to get out our tools and fix things that have been bothering us and upgrade our homes.

However, you should always keep in mind that any DIY you do to your property should not just create a better and more enjoyable home for yourself and your family but should also add value to your property when you decide to sell it.

You may be surprised to know that some DIY projects can actually devalue your home and DIY disasters can cost homeowners 1000s of pounds to fix.

Be realistic

We all know it’s tempting to try and save some money by doing jobs around our homes ourselves but if you are not particularly gifted at DIY then consider getting a professional in to help.

Start small

Small jobs are a great place to start building up your skills and your confidence. Start by replacing broken light bulbs, oiling creaky hinges and fixing broken kitchen cabinet handles. If small jobs are neglected in your home then it can give the impression to visitors or potential buyers that your home is not cared for and may cause them to worry that there are bigger problems that they have not noticed.

First impressions

Once you have finished all the small jobs the first thing that should get your attention is the front of your home. It is true that first impressions matter and whether you want to increase your kerb appeal in order to attract potential buyers or if you would simply like to impress your guests, the state of the front of your home is the first thing that they will see. A fresh coat of paint on your front door and a clean and tidy front path will make your home a welcoming place to visit. Not convinced? Good kerb appeal can add 2-3% to the value of your home!

Bathrooms

Beware of removing baths in favour of trendy wet rooms. These can actually devalue your home as properties without baths are less attractive to families. This will decrease the pool of people your home attracts which means less competition for your property which can lead to a lower sale price.

No DIY

If you are no good at DIY and can’t afford to hire the help of professionals then there are many things that you can do to improve your home that require no DIY skills at all. Decluttering your home can have a huge effect on the feel of your home as can a deep clean.

If you are considering a big DIY project or major renovation then do give us a call on 01925 235 338 to discuss how it will affect your property price. Not all projects will add value to your home and you should also be aware of the maximum price that properties will sell for in your area to avoid spending more than you can recoup.

What Are Tenants Responsible For?

Tenants are very used to the long list of don’ts that they are given when they first rent a property. Don’t redecorate. Don’t hang pictures. Don’t cause any damage. The list goes on.

Tenancy agreements also contain a list of must dos but, the focus on the don’ts can often overshadow them leaving tenants with the impression that as the property is very clearly not theirs, any problems to do with the property is for their landlord to sort out.

However, not all problems are the responsibility of the landlord. Some of them are for the tenant to sort out. So if you are a tenant what is it that you are responsible for?

Rent
The first thing is obvious. You must pay your rent.

Drains
The second is one that tenants often think is the responsibility of their landlord but is in fact yours. You must look after the drains. If you block them then it is your responsibility to unblock them. Most tenancy agreements stipulate that no cooking oils or fats are to be put down the drains as that will increase the likelihood of them being blocked.

Lightbulbs
Yet another thing that often catches tenants out. Tenants are responsible for replacing any blown lightbulbs. Lightbulbs are usually itemised in the check-in inventory and if when you hand the keys back you have failed to replace any blown bulbs the cost of them can be deducted from your deposit.

Garden
Tenants are responsible for handing back the garden in the state that it was in at the beginning of their tenancy. Even if you don’t use it you will still need to make sure that you look after it. Deductions can be made from your deposit if the landlord needs to hire a gardener to bring it back up to scratch at the end of your tenancy.

Bills
You are responsible for paying your utility bills unless your tenancy agreement explicitly states that these are included in your rent. Failing to pay these can not only result in large amounts of debt owing to the utility companies but can also result in the utilities to the property being cut off.

Report
If there is an issue with your property then you need to report it promptly. Most repairs are easier, quicker and cheaper to fix if they are attended to promptly. If left many issues become worse, especially if the issue is a leak as there is the potential for the water to cause a great deal of damage to the property.

Secure
It is the responsibility of the tenant to make sure that the property is kept safe and secure.

It is also your responsibility to pay to insure the contents of the property as landlord insurance does not cover the tenant’s belongings. It is not uncommon for it to be written into the tenancy agreement that you must not leave the property unoccupied for a period of more than 14 days. If you do go away for a prolonged period of time you will need to inform your landlord and insurance company.

If ever you are unsure as to whether you should report an issue or deal with it yourself please give our expert lettings team a call on 01925 235 338 and we will be happy to give you our advice.

June 2022 Market Report For Warrington

With the school summer holidays nearly upon us, many people start to think about moving home. Having family around a lot more can highlight how your current place isn’t quite working for you. You might need more space when all the kids are at home, a bigger garden for when the grandkids are at yours, or somewhere quieter when the neighbours’ kids are all home.

If you want to be moved and settled in by the next big school holiday, which is Christmas, you need to be getting on the market now. There are national delays happening in the legal sector that deals with housing. Often called conveyancers, or solicitors, these are the people that deal with all the paperwork after you’ve made or accepted an offer before the key handover, known as ‘completion’.

In 2019, the time between offer and handover was 100 days. Even that is over 3 months, just for the legal part of the transaction to take place. This has now increased by a third. Add to that the time it takes to get your property ready to go on the market, perfect the marketing, show people around, and negotiate an offer, and you can see why you need to get on with it now to be settled by Christmas.

Let’s have a brief look at what’s been happening over the last month in the local Warrington property market.

There are currently 275 properties available for sale in Warrington. This is 78 more than last month. Of these 275, 81 were new to the market in the last two weeks. The average price of properties in Warrington is £285,183 with the median price at £220,000.

Most of the properties available are in the £100,000 to £200,000 bracket with 91 currently on the market. There is just 1 property available, priced at over £1 million. In May, properties in the £500,000 to £1,000,000 bracket were selling the fastest, only on the market for an average of 33 days. They are still the fastest but the length of time has extended to 49 days. This month, properties priced between £300,000 and £400,000 are the second-fastest movers, only on the market for 51 days.

Properties priced at £100,000 and under, are now taking 356 days to sell. This is similar to one-bedroom properties with a median price of £90,000 as they are currently sitting on the market for an average of 326 days. This has gone down from 350 days last month.

This is another example of how selling property can take longer than people often imagine. If you’re looking to upsize from your first home, or are an investor looking to change their portfolio, please bear this in mind when planning.

Let’s take a look at the annual figures now. Properties around Warrington had an overall average asking price of £245,315 over the last year. Despite the media claiming house prices are falling, this figure demonstrates a 12% increase from the same time last year.

Overall, sold prices in Warrington over the last year were 6% down on the previous year and 8% up on the 2019 peak of £229,819. This doesn’t represent a crash, simply the market correcting itself, as we mentioned last month in our report. The craziness of the last couple of years is starting to settle, which is a positive thing as supply and demand should level out, with prices calming too.

The majority of sales in Warrington during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £242,595. Terraced properties sold for an average of £180,274, with detached properties fetching £402,967.

If you’re looking for further information about the Warrington property market, please feel free to contact us. If you’re thinking of selling or buying, letting or renting a Warrington property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call 01925 235 338 or email staff@hamletwarrington.co.uk