If you’re thinking about selling your home, the first step is to figure out how much it’ll sell for. We urge that you receive a professional assessment of what your property is worth, especially because few estate agents like Leaders offer a free pre-sale appraisal service, known as a “valuation”. To know the accurate valuation of your property, request a free property valuation with Leaders. Also when you’re considering selling, there are a few things you should do to make the most of your valuation. Read on to know more

Do your homework

You can do some research before any agency visits the property to conduct the valuation. Websites like Zoopla and Rightmove allow you to look for the sale prices of previously sold properties in your neighbourhood, giving you an approximate indication of how much your home might sell for.

Get Rid of the Clutter!

A good old-fashioned spring clean may completely transform the appearance of your home. Tidying up and getting rid of unnecessary clutter allows an appraiser to see the entire property and gives them the best idea of what your home is worth.

Pay attention to Property’s Exterior

It’s easy to overlook the outside aspects of your home, yet they’re frequently the first impression a potential buyer will have of it. To get the best price, keep the outdoor areas neat and tidy.

Preparation is Crucial

Make a list of questions you’d like to ask the estate agent’s appraiser before they come to see your home. If you’ve made any changes or improvements to the property, tell the appraiser about them. Valuers will consider, among other things, the price at which you purchased the property, so knowing what has been done to improve the property since then will aid them in determining a precise value.

Get Right to the Point

All estate agents charge different fees, yet this isn’t necessarily because they do more for you! Solicit clarification from your agent as to what he or she will do to advertise your home, how that marketing package will boost your visibility to potential purchasers, and a documented breakdown of all selling costs. This enables you to compare like-for-like properties and select the finest estate agent for your needs.

How to Present Your Home

Allow the appraiser to take a thorough look at the property. You don’t have to “sell” the property to the appraiser; they’re just attempting to figure out how much it’ll sell for on the open market. Save any questions you have for the end of the valuation; the agent may have already answered most of them by the time you get there!

Allow Plenty of Time

For each valuation meeting, set aside roughly an hour of undisturbed time. Every agency is unique, so make sure you’ve covered all of your bases before signing on the dotted line!

Be honest with yourself.

Everyone wants their home to be valued as high as possible. It is the valuer’s responsibility to provide you with the most accurate estimate of what your property is worth on the open market in current market conditions. If you don’t agree with the price, ask the agent to explain why; they should be able to provide similar data to back up their claim.

Increase the amount of natural light in the room

If a property has a lot of natural light, it’s something that estate agents like to emphasise on many property listings. To fill your home with the sun’s beautiful beams, though, you don’t need enormous, double-aspect windows. To greatly improve the appearance of your home’s interior, simply ensure that all of your curtains and blinds are open, and that nothing is obstructing the windows in your property.

Plant some flowers.

To follow up on the last advice, try pruning any hedges in front of your windows to allow more light into the home while also tidying up the outdoor area. You can always add colour with a variety of flowers, cut the lawn, paint worn-out fences, and relocate any cars that impede the view of the property to help clean up your garden and make your house look great from the outside. A clean outside space serves to highlight your upkeep of the house, letting guests know that the property has been well looked after, in the same way that sprucing up the insides does.

You can’t have failed to notice that there’s a lot of residential development going on, particularly in the South East and in London. The government’s aim to build its way out of our current housing shortage is progressing apace, with a promise to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. So, with more new-builds available than ever, should you buy one?

Whether you are a first-time buyer, an upgrader, downsizer or property investor, this is a question that everyone must consider. And while many buyers prefer to buy ‘second hand’, with an opportunity to renovate and add value to an existing property, a new home has the advantage of everything being, well, brand new, offering low-maintenance living from the very start.

According to recent figures, 11% of homes on the market in London are new-build builds, with the City of London having the largest proportion of new-build housing stock (28%), followed by Hackney and Tower Hamlets (23% respectively). “The delivery of London’s new build housing stock is largely focused on desirable areas that are considered up and coming and there are plenty of pockets in Hackney, Newham and other more centralised boroughs that provide a perfect opportunity for housebuilders to take advantage of this ongoing change,” says one industry expert.

At the top of the market, property buyers can choose from the latest exciting developments right across the capital, from uber-luxury residences in Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Holland Park, Canary Wharf, the South Bank and beyond.

Investing in a perfect home?

Buying a new-build understandably comes with the expectation that it should be in pristine condition. With the fresh paint barely dry, carpets that have never been walked on and cutting-edge appliances newly installed, you are literally the ‘virgin’ owner of your perfect home. Contemporary London homes are fully compliant with the latest building regulations, giving you the peace of mind of a safe and energy-efficient home. Who could ask for more?

Except that new-builds are hardly ever perfect. In fact, a staggering 98% of new homes have defects, according to latest reports. Snagging is commonplace, so much so that it is established practice to make a snagging list of all the little and not so little problems that need fixing. From a cracked tile in the bathroom to a crack in the outside wall, these things should of course be covered by your 10-year NHBC warranty.  But getting the housebuilder to admit responsibility, never mind coming back to actually remedy the problem is all too an uphill battle.

An independent Chartered Building Surveyor is your best friend here. Get them to inspect the condition of the property before you commit to the purchase and use the survey findings as a negotiating tool to obtain a better deal.

What’s more, buying a property straight from a developer often comes with attractive additional perks that you simply wouldn’t get from the purchase of an older building. You may be able to negotiate upgrades for fixtures & fittings or built-in appliances, have carpets included in the price, or even get your stamp duty paid for.

If you’re a first-time buyer, you may also be able to benefit from schemes such as Help-to-Buy and Shared Ownership available for new homes that can help you get onto the London property ladder.

Deceptively spacious or living it small?

Houses in the UK are the smallest in Europe, that’s a fact. Interestingly, the UK also has the oldest housing stock in Europe, and probably the world. You can trace the size of the average British home since the 1930s here, with irrefutable data showing that today’s homes are the smallest yet, with only 67.8 square metres.

Whether you call them ‘bijou homes’ or ‘rabbit hutches’, new-build homes tend to be on the compact side, which directly affects plot sizes, room sizes, storage and outdoor space. It is no coincidence that the ability to fit a greater number of smaller units onto a plot has also had a very positive impact on housebuilder profits.

For London families looking for space to grow, a new-build home may not give you the best result. That said, if you are looking for a low maintenance property to complement your busy professional lifestyle, or your life stage affords you the opportunity to downsize or rightsize, a compact brand-new home in the capital may suit you perfectly.

No chain, no pain?

Research has shown that buying and selling a home is one of the most stressful life events, right up there with bankruptcy, divorce and the death of a loved one. It can be an intensely emotionally and financially draining process to be stuck in a property chain, not to mention the added risk and stress of being gazumped or gazundered, or someone changing their mind about selling.

One of the key advantages of a brand new home is that you are buying chain-free. Obviously, this relies on the property developer keeping his side of the bargain. If there are construction delays, it could be months before you’re able to move into your new home or until the new neighbourhood becomes habitable. Your best tactic is to find a good conveyancer to oversee the purchase and ensure that the contract is in your favour, your deposit is protected and there is a ‘long-stop’ completion date with compensation payments payable in case of undue delays.

According to figures from a new London development report, new home sales in the capital remained resilient in 2020 notwithstanding the pandemic. Zoopla reported that almost 30,000 homes were built in the UK in the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of about 20,000 compared to the second quarter. The new-build market is clearly doing well.

People are too busy with mattresses than just about any other furnishings in their home. A decent night of sleep can help you feel refreshed and energized. As a result, selecting a mattress is a crucial step in the purchasing process. If you’re not sure what to look for in a mattress, here are a few things to keep in mind before you go out and buy one.

Place a premium on convenience

Your degree of comfort is the most important element to consider. Even if you buy the most expensive mattress, you won’t have the best sleeping experience of your life if you aren’t comfortable with it. What to look for in a mattress is influenced by the magnitude, stiffness, and type of materials utilized in the mattress.

Cost

Price should always be last on the list of priorities; after all, we encounter a lot of offers related to various mattress brands every day on the internet. Do you believe all of Dunlopillo mattresses are genuine? To this question, you would respond with a resounding “never.” Take your time to figure out which company offers mattresses at a reasonable price, whether it’s a bed or mattresses.

Aches and pains in the body

Muscle or bone weakening can cause chronic aches and pains, as well as injury-related aches and pains. Furthermore, persons who have medical disorders or physiological diseases may require orthopedic mattresses. When it comes to body aches and pains, it’s critical to understand what’s causing the discomfort and what type of mattresses are good for that.

Method of purchase

You’re certainly familiar with traditional in-store mattress buying, which entails sleeping on a variety of beds until you discover one that’s a suitable fit. But really how do you go about purchasing a mattress over the internet? It’s like purchasing any others digitally, except it’s transported directly to the customer and rolled up in a crate.

Keep in mind that firm mattresses aren’t always the greatest option

Think twice about whether you want a hard or firm mattress. Numerous research has found that Dunlopillo mattresses, rather than hard mattresses, are the best choice for low back pain. It’s important to distinguish between firm support and firm feeling. Your personal preference will decide how comfortable you are. You want strong support that also feels good.

Top plush

Easy-to-remove mattresses are often covered in quilted ticking and feature either a fiberfill or foam outer layer. Although if you just want a super-plush sensation, a thick-looking pillowtop can compress over time. Choosing a firmer, well-quilted mattress and then covering it with a removable mattress topper is frequently the best option.

Conclusion

You should always study mattress reviews, regardless of how you decide to purchase your new bed. Too from experts and people who have already tried the bed. They’ll inform you how your potential new bed will feel to the typical person, and they’ll tell you the truth about any claims that might just be mattress marketing nonsense.