8 Staging Tips for Selling your Property
8 Staging Tips for Selling your Property When we talk about 'staging' your property, we really do mean shining a spotlight on it. But that doesn't mean you have to going to go all glam with gold mirrors and other bits of bling all over the place. Quite the contrary - a room should be in neutral shades and at the same time appear smart and homely. The intention being that any prospective buyer who comes along will want to move in right away. The reason property should always be staged are many. And that means if you've already moved out and taken your furniture with you, then it may be worth the cost of getting in a professional staging company. That's because: A staged room feels inspiring. An empty room looks just that - an empty room. It's cold and inhospitable. And that hardly makes it inviting for any buyer who comes along. Instead, by putting some smart but distinctly neutral coloured furniture in, a bright rug, some flowers, a plant or two and blinds or curtains up, it starts to feel like a home. And buyers find it easier to start imagining their own furniture in there. A staged room appears larger. That's because furniture provides a 'reference point' for the potential buyer. They can tell how big a bedroom is with a double bed in it, for instance. That way they'll also know if their bedside cabinets will fit in etc. Incidentally, an empty room doesn't just seem smaller, it will also show up any cracks and other faults more clearly! So, what are those home staging tips we talk about in the title of this article? Well, here are some right here: Look on the bright side. Get as much daylight into your rooms as possible. That way your home will feel larger and more open. Roll up the blinds, pull back the curtains and put a lampshade into any dark corners to 'open' them out. 'Float' the furniture. No, we don't mean sit your sofa in water. Rather, this is a particular design technique that involves pulling the sofa, chairs and tables etc away from the walls. You can then anchor the space with an area rug to create a cosy area for sitting around chatting. Remove the big pieces. If you've acquired so much furniture over the years that, even in your own eyes, the place seems pretty crowded, then put some of it in storage. It'll only be for a month or two (hopefully) until you sell. Declutter Marie Kondo style. Anything you haven't used for a year or so, chuck it in the bin. Why drag it along to your new place to get covered in dust there too? Make a fresh start! Clearing out the clutter will also make your property more attractive to buyers. Go for kerb appeal. If you're fortunate enough to have a house with a garden, then make sure it's tidy and attractive. You'd be amazed how many sellers turn up, see a messy garden, dirty windows or a front door that needs painting and just keep on walking past. And then there is literal kerb appeal... if you have a parking space outside your property then wait until five minutes before your buyers are expected and park your own car around the corner. That way, if they arrive by car your buyers will get parked easily, putting them in a good mood for viewing. Having to park in a neighbouring street may very well put them off your property. Keep it clean. It should go without saying that your house should be pristine from top to bottom. But, remember too that even though you are used to it, your buyers may not appreciate your dog's odour. So, use pet freshener and remove him or her from the property if you're still living there at the time. It's the little touches... Make sure there's apples etc in the fruit bowl, set out some fresh flowers, new soap and scented candles and always have fluffy freshly-laundered towels in the toilet. It's often the little thing that buyers love and remember. Get in touch Looking for advice or help in selling your home? Then get in touch today, tel 01698 441327 or email sales@LanarkshireEstateAgents.co.uk https://youtu.be/AxKKKgNfMdA
Local Town in Lanarkshire - Airdrie
Local Towns:AIRDRIE Lanarkshire Law Estate Agents specialise in Bellshill and the surrounding areas. Our agents are local, have 10 years in the industry and have extensive knowledge within the property market that can help sell your home for its maximum potential. We appreciate how stressful selling your property can be and our intention is to provide a service second to none. We believe it is important to know local towns and what draws people in as well as factors that make properties more appealing in these locations in Monklands. This can range from shopping facilities to local schools. Below we have compiled a list of some local areas we cater to and some facts that give a better understanding of the area and the house market. Airdrie: Located within North Lanarkshire Council area, Airdrie currently has a population of around 36,500 people. Airdrie is a former industrial town in North Lanarkshire which lies 12 miles east of Glasgow and 31 miles from Edinburgh. Airdrie's industrial heyday was the 19th century when the major industries were coal mining and cotton milling. Airdrie's name first appeared in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1373 as Ardre. By 1546 it had become Ardry and by 1587 it was known as Ardrie. In 1630 it finally appeared in the Register as Airdrie. The enormous growth in population in the 19th Century was a reflection of the change from cottage industry to heavy industry in the area. Most of the Irish immigrant population were involved with mining and labouring. This led to an increase in ironwork foundries around the area. Airdrie houses one out of the 10 Astronomical observatories in Scotland and dating back to 1896. There are only four public observatories operating in the United Kingdom, all of which are in Scotland. Airdrie Observatory is the smallest, and second oldest. Modern day Airdrie is very much a commuter town but it contains a variety of historical and modern attractions. Airdrie has also been declared the highest town in Scotland in terms of altitude. It also has a local Football team and stadium Airdrieonians FC founded in 1878. There are many shopping facilities within the town of Airdrie as well as Airdrie Public Observatory which is one of only four in the whole of the UK. Airdrie train station provides transport links to other stations such as Coatbridge, Glasgow, Helensburgh and Balloch  and then in the opposite direction directly into Edinburgh on a frequent basis. There are roughly around fifteen primary schools in Airdrie and three secondary schools. Zoopla reports that house prices in Airdrie in November 2020 are, on average, around £135,749 with flats being around £81,909. Properties in Airdrie had an overall average price of £133,114 over the last year according to Rightmove. More details of Airdrie can be found on Wikipedia https://youtu.be/TeL8hZa_Obc
Local Town in Lanarkshire - Coatbridge
Local Towns:AIRDRIE and COATBRIDGE Lanarkshire Law Estate Agents specialise in Bellshill and the surrounding areas. Our agents are local, have 10 years in the industry and have extensive knowledge within the property market that can help sell your home for its maximum potential. We appreciate how stressful selling your property can be and our intention is to provide a service second to none. We believe it is important to know local towns and what draws people in as well as factors that make properties more appealing in these locations in Monlands -Â Airdrie and Coatbridge. This can range from shopping facilities to local schools. Below we have compiled a list of some local areas we cater to and some facts that give a better understanding of the area and the housing market. Coatbridge: Coatbridge has a population of over 46,000 residents. The Coatbridge area is steeped in history. There are settlements which have been discovered in the Drumpellier estates in 1852 circle of Bronze Age stone coffins that date back 3000 years to the Mesolithic Age. A number of other Bronze Age urns and relics have been found in Coatbridge and replicas have been on display within Drumpellier locks and local museum Summerlee Heritage Park. the founding of the town can be traced to the 12th century, when a Royal Charter was granted to the monks of Newbattle Abbey by King Malcolm IV. This borough along with neighbouring Airdrie was collectively known as Monklands. The Monkland Canal was constructed at the end of the 18th century initially to transport coal to Glasgow from the rich local deposits. The invention of the hot blast furnace process in 1828 meant that Coatbridge's ironstone deposits could be exploited to the maximum by the canal link and hot blast process Neighbouring Airdrie, Coatbridge has a population of over 46,000 residents. There are six local train stations in Coatbridge that provide links to Airdrie, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Helensburgh, Cumbernauld and several other places. There is a Coatbridge retail park as well as local shops making it the ideal place to go shopping. Daniel (Dane) Sinclair, an engineer with the National Telephone Company, based in Glasgow, patented the automatic telephone switchboard. This system was installed in Coatbridge in 1886 and became the worlds first automatic telephone exchange. There are lots of historical sites to see in Coatbridge such as Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life. The Douglas Support Estate whose origins can be traced back to the 18th century. It also boasts several large recreational parks and The Time Capsule Leisure complex. It also has a local Football team and stadium Albion Rovers founded in 1882. The main street has several high street names as well as local independent stores. It has three main Supermarkets Tesco, Asda and Lidl's as well as the Faraday Park. The only retail park in town, anchored by Tesco Extra, M&S Simply Food, Next, Argos. Iceland Wholesale and Matalan. Nearby B&Q Warehouse. Coatbridge also houses fast food outlets, McDonald's, KFC, Burger King Costa and two Greggs stores. There are nineteen primary schools and three secondary schools According to Zoopla, in November 2020 the average price for a property in Coatbridge sits around £132,258 with flats being around £87,261. Rightmove states that properties in Coatbridge had an overall average price of £118,038 over the last year. More details of Coatbridge can be found on Wikipedia For details on how to get the best price for your property by looking at our 8 Staging Tips for Selling Your property
How to make moving home fun for children
Children often feel anxious when they are told that they are going to be moving home. They are concerned about whether they will like their new home, whether they will be able to see their friends, and whether they will have to change schools. Like all of us, they simply need to be able to talk through their worries and get some answers to their questions. Taking time to sit down with them and listen to their worries and opinions is the best way to help. Chatting in the car can be one of the best places for these sorts of chats, especially with teens. Giving your children some autonomy over decisions such as the colour you are going to paint their new bedrooms and the furniture they would like to put in them can help to give them a sense of control. This can help alleviate the anxiety they may be feeling about moving somewhere new. Taking your children on a viewing to see their new home can be very helpful. It gives them the impression that they helped choose which property they will live in and allows them to visualise where they will be moving to. However, if at all possible, avoid taking them on the first viewings. This allows you to concentrate on looking at the properties and avoids the possibility of your child falling in love with a house while you do not! Once you have had an offer accepted on a property, it can be a lovely idea to take your children on a tour of the local area. That way you can all find out where all the local parks are, where a nice cafe is, and if there are any exciting activities nearby. This will help turn a worrying experience into an exciting one, as they already know where some things are, so moving home doesn't feel so daunting. Make sure on moving day that you pack their most important belongings into a bag that they can keep with them. That way even when the moving truck is unloaded at the new house and they are surrounded by boxes they will still be able to cuddle and play with their favourite toys without having to worry about which box they are in. We at Lanarkshire Law are always delighted to help your children in finding their new home. If you would like us to help you in finding the perfect new home for your entire family, please give us a call on 01698 441327 or send us a message.
Fall in love with your home this Valentine\'s Day
The most romantic day of the year is nearly upon us. Love is in the air and all around us are happy couples preparing to celebrate their love. I would like to talk about a different type of love, the love you have for your home. Just like our relationships with our partners, the relationship we have with our homes goes through stages. First meeting someone you like is the same as the first viewing of a property. You then progress to asking them on a first date, which is like making an offer. Courting and finding out more about one another is the same as the paperwork side of things the solicitors deal with. The honeymoon period is when everything's glowing and rosey. You're completely in love and showing off your home to all your family and friends. After a while though, you might start getting a bit complacent, taking your home for granted. You may even feel bored and no longer enjoying the time you spend in your home. Your eye may start to wander as you start noticing other homes... Then you may decide to sell your home, which could be seen as the equivalent of a break-up. If your relationship with your home has hit the complacency or boredom stage, maybe it is time to freshen up your relationship by making some changes that will benefit you both. Whether you rearrange furniture, declutter your house, or commit to completely redecorating, changes, big or small, can help you fall back in love with your home. If, after making some changes, you still believe that your relationship with your home cannot be saved, you will at least know that you have maximised your profit if you do decide to break up (sell). Estate agents are the matchmakers of the property world so if you and your property have reached the end of your relationship, we will gladly help you to handle your break-up with empathy and sensitivity. We can handle the dates (viewings) of your home with potential new owners and provide you with any constructive criticism, saving you from having to hear if the viewers simply didn't like your taste in sofas. Once a potential buyer progresses to a second date (second viewing) we can handle all their queries and help them to decide whether your property is the right match for them. Love cannot be rushed. Some people place an offer on a first viewing, "love at first sight". Some people want to see it six times before they decide to make an offer, a perfect example of how love can grow. We can help guide you through the property selling process. No matter how lucky or unlucky in love you are, we will find your home its perfect person/people. One thing is definitely true. If you instruct us to find your property the perfect new owner, you will fall head over heels with our service and care. If you are ready to break-up with your property and you would like to put it on the market give us a call on 01698 441327 or send us an email to sales@lanarkshireestateagents.co.uk and we will make sure that your property finds someone who will love it as much as you used to.
The first things to do when you are moving home
Moving home is one of the most stressful things you will do and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the things that you need to do. Our easy to follow list will help guide you through it. In the lead up to moving day: Pack early Avoid a last minute panic and start packing early. Removing the stress of last minute packing will help make your moving day go far more smoothly. Redirect your post It can take up to two weeks for your post to be redirected so make sure that you arrange this nice and early then you don't have to worry about whether you have failed to notify anyone of your change of address. Insurance Lenders usually require that you have buildings insurance in place before you move as a condition of them granting you a mortgage but don't forget to organise your contents insurance before you move in as well. Meter readings You need to let your utility companies know which day you are moving out of your property and provide them with a final meter reading so that you don't end up paying for your buyer's energy or water usage. Internet You need to inform your internet service provider of the date you are moving home. It can take several weeks to get connected to the internet when you move so the sooner you can start the ball rolling the less time you will spend relying on mobile data. Pack an essentials box Having a box with everything you need for the first few days in your new home will save you from a lot of frustrated searching through all of your unpacked boxes. Make sure that you include your kettle and some tea bags for that well deserved first cup of tea in your new home. Moving Day! Find the essentials No not the teabags, although those are important too! You need to find the location of the stopcock, the thermostat, the gas and electricity meters and the water meter too if you have one. Meter readings Once you have found your meters make sure that you take readings from all of them. Always take a photograph as it will be time-stamped so can help if there is a disagreement over your first bill. Submit these as soon as possible to your energy suppliers, you will normally have been left their details by the sellers. If not, expect to receive a letter from them in the first few days as the previous owners will have submitted their final meter readings and the companies will be keen to make contact with the new billpayers! Neighbours It's always a good idea to introduce yourself to your new neighbours. They will be the ones who will be taking in your parcels and can also be a great source of information about the area, including which pubs and restaurants to try out and which day to put out the bins. You never know, it could even be the start of a lifelong friendship. We are always here to offer advice on any aspect of moving home so if you have a question please don't hesitate to give us a call on 01698 441327 or send us an email to sales@lanarkshireestateagents.co.uk.
Do you want to be moving home this Summer?
If you are thinking about moving and would like to be settled in your new home in Lanarkshire in time to enjoy the summer there, you need to get your house on the market as soon as possible. On average, it takes approximately 12 weeks from an offer being accepted to the sale being completed, so there is no time to lose. The best season of the year to sell a home is often thought to be Spring. Many buyers are coming out of their self-imposed winter hibernation due to the warmer weather, and the sunshine and spring flowers make your outdoor spaces more attractive to potential buyers by bringing life to them. It is also a good time of year to sell your home because many families attempt to time their house purchase with the end of the school year so that they may move their children before the new school year begins in September. Longer days create more opportunities for scheduling viewings during daylight hours and all properties look better in natural light. People who work full-time are also far happier to schedule an evening viewing when it is still light which may also increase the number of viewings your property will get. Spring is also an excellent time to perform a thorough cleaning of your property. Open up your doors and let the fresh Spring air fill your property. Don't forget to take advantage of the seasonal flowers and fill vases with brightly coloured blooms to add colour and life to your home. The increased number of buyers created by both the warmer weather and the desire to complete in time to be in their home by the Summer tends to have a positive effect on house prices so you should act fast to take advantage of this. If you would like to be in your new property in time for Summer please give us a call on 01698 441327 and we will be delighted to help you to get moving book a viewing today.
February 2023 Market Report for Lanarkshire
March sees the start of the Spring Rush which is traditionally the busiest time of year for the property market. Warmer weather brings home buyers out of their self-imposed winter hibernation. Longer days give more opportunities for evening viewings, and spring flowers brighten up and bring outdoor areas to life. All of these things make now the ideal time to put your property on the market. Let's have a brief look at what's been happening over the last month in the local property market around Lanarkshire. There are currently 771 properties available on the market in the area. This is an increase of 43.6% more than were available in February 2022 which is excellent news for buyers as it gives them more choice. In January there were 693. In December there were 568, in November 620 and in October 687. There have been a steady number of properties coming onto the market over the last few months. In February, 296 properties were put on the market in the local area. In January, that number was 203, in December, there were only 153, which is likely because many sellers were busy with festive plans. However, before that, in November there were 219 and in October there were 299. These figures clearly demonstrate that the market in this area is remaining busy. February is the month of love, and this certainly was true in the local property market with 260 homebuyers falling in love with a new property in the local area. In January there were 215 sales agreed; in December there were 135; in November there were 265; and in October there were 271. There is a high level of activity in the local property market, and we expect the second quarter of 2023 to be as busy as usual. In October, we saw 54 price reductions across the Lanarkshire property market as a whole. There were 81 in November, 30 in December, 92 in January, and 45 in February. The market is returning to normal, and seller expectations are now more realistically aligning with reality. The local market may no longer be gripped by the frenzy that followed the pandemic, but it is remaining buoyant. In January, there were 231 slow movers in the Lanarkshire area. This is a property that has been on the market for at least 12 weeks. This could be due to the market returning to more normal levels but expectations still being at peak levels. In January, there were 251 slow movers in the Lanarkshire area; in December, there were 182, in November, there were 120, in October, there were 90, and in September, there were 81. When houses are priced properly, they sell quickly. Setting an unrealistically high asking price at the outset can delay your move by several months Slow movers can often be due to the 3 Ps: presentation, promotion, or price. We are proud to be in the top 5 agents in the area with the smallest number of slow movers. Choosing the right agent for your property can make a very real difference in achieving your moving plans. In October, each property in the Lanarkshire area had an average of 149 daily views on Rightmove. This is the average of the top ten agents in the area. In November, it was 129.2. In December, it dropped to 76.5. This was highly typical for December, with commitments over the festive period taking precedence over house hunting for many buyers. In January, average daily views sprung back up to 122 and increased further to 153.1 in February. The levels of activity in the local Lanarkshire property market have, as expected, returned to their normal high levels in the first quarter of this year. Average daily views per property on Rightmove for properties listed by Lanarkshire Law were 210.6 in January, which was 37.6% higher than average. We are pleased to consistently deliver above-average results for our clients. It shows the difference your estate agent can make when it comes to attracting the right buyer to your property. If you're looking for further information about the Lanarkshire property market, or if you're thinking of selling or buying in the area, please don't hesitate to get in touch. You can call 01698 441327 or email sales@lanarkshireestateagents.co.uk.
Do I need an EPC?
Everyone who is advertising their residential property for sale or rent in the UK is required by law to commission an EPC. In Scotland, it is required that the EPC be displayed in the property, usually in the meter cupboard or next to the boiler. You can be fined for not having an EPC when you need one. There are a few possible exceptions, but the majority of them concern businesses or places of worship. For example, your property might be exempt if it is mixed-use, such as a home that is also a shop, less than 50 square metres, or utilised for less than four months of the year, like a holiday home. What is an EPC? EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate. An EPC grades how energy efficient a property is from A to G and 1-100. It includes advice on how to use less energy, as well as the rating the property may get if all of those recommendations were implemented. It also includes the environmental CO2 impact rating for the property. That is how much CO2 is produced during the production of hot water and heating for the property. How is an EPC produced? You need to employ a certified assessor to do the report. The EPC assessor will visit your property and gather information about your boiler, hot water tank, radiators, insulation, and windows. They then input this information into software which calculates the energy efficiency of your property and its environmental impact. How can you improve your EPC? Contained in the report will be a list of ways in which you can improve your property's EPC rating. These are not generic suggestions but will actually be specifically tailored to your property. As you will not personally benefit from any of the recommendations, you may decide not to use any of them. However, it is worth noting that a low EPC rating can put off potential buyers, as they may worry about the cost of heating the property. If you want to raise your property's rating, the single most effective thing you can do is install a new boiler. Other things that can improve the energy efficiency of your home are increasing the amount of loft insulation, adding solar panels to your roof, sealing unused chimneys to reduce draughts, and adding wall insulation. It is always a good idea to keep any documentation when having insulation installed because EPC assessors only conduct a visual inspection of your property and will not be able to see any in tucked away or inaccessible areas. It may feel like a hassle to have to arrange for an EPC to be carried out, but it can actually help you attract buyers to your home. A home with a good EPC rating will be attractive to a wide range of buyers, as many people are now concerned about their own carbon footprint and the rising cost of energy. Therefore, if your property is energy-efficient, it is definitely a selling point. Even if your property scores poorly, that is not the end of the world, as the EPC lists the potential rating that your property could achieve if the suggestions contained within it were carried out. Those looking for a fixer-upper will be particularly interested in that section. If you have any questions about EPCs or would like to learn more about how we can help you through the entire property selling process, please contact us at 01698 441327 or send us an email to sales@lanarkshireestateagents.co.uk
Local Town in Lanarkshire – Bothwell and Uddingston
Local Towns: Lanarkshire Law Estate Agents specialise in Bellshill and the surrounding areas. Our agents are local, have 10 years in the industry and have extensive knowledge within the property market that can help sell your home for its maximum potential. We appreciate how stressful selling your property can be and our intention is to provide a service second to none. We believe it is important to know local towns and what draws people in as well as factors that make properties more appealing in these locations. This can range from shopping facilities to local schools. Below we have compiled a list of some local areas we cater to and some facts that give a better understanding of the area and the house market. Are you looking for a FREE Home property valuation, then Click Here and enter your residential home postcode. If you are looking for a conveyancing quotation for your house sale or purchase, then Click Here Bothwell: A conservation village called Bothwell is located in the South Lanarkshire Council. It is easily accessible because it is close to Blantyre, Hamilton, and Uddingston as well as the M74. The ruins of Bothwell Castle, a well-liked tourist destination, are located right next to the River Clyde. The village is home to a number of taverns, eateries, and businesses. There are two primary schools in the neighbourhood, and secondary schools are located in nearby towns just outside the hamlet. According to Zoopla, the average price for a property in Bothwell is around £317,529 and flats are around £210,470. Over the past year Rightmove states that the average price of a property has been £322,859. https://youtu.be/nWp7ujNxIks
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