|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yorkshire Post Top Tips - Ten Ways To Get The Best Price For Your House
Information supplied by Merryweathers – one of the region’s leading estate agents
Ian Butcher, partner at Merryweathers, looks at ways to increase the chance of a successful sale.
1. Clear the clutter
There’s nothing puts a buyer off more than a property that looks dirty or feels untidy. Spend time de-cluttering your home and cleaning up before the viewing. Don’t leave washing lying around on radiators or toys on the floor, it all helps detract away from the feeling of space, which is what all buyers look for in a new home. Your estate agent should be able to advise on any alterations that need to be made to your home to make it more saleable, so don’t be afraid to ask!
2. Know your local area
A buyer is likely to be interested in knowing where the local schools and amenities, such as local shops are. Even if you don’t know yourself, you need to find out as this is likely to have an influence on their decision to buy. Make sure you let buyers know about these things even if they don’t ask.
3. Feed the senses
When buyers come round, their decision is not made just by what they see, but also what they feel and smell. There’s no need to go to the extreme of baking fresh bread, but it can be worth introducing light scented candles and air fresheners, particularly if you have pets. The house also needs to be the right temperature. If the viewings are in Winter, make sure you have the heating on and similarly in Summer, keep the windows open so it doesn’t feel stuffy and hot.
4. Know your HIPs and energy ratings
With Home Information Packs now upon us for three and four bedroom homes, you are much more likely to get asked about how energy efficient your home is. If you haven’t insulated your loft already then do so. If you have any other energy saving devices in the home, for example, a modern combi boiler, cavity wall insulation or a heat pump, make sure you point these out. If you live in a three or four bedroom property, make sure you are familiar with the contents of your pack, and be ready to answer any questions potential buyers may have.
5. Know your neighbours
A prospective buyer is always going to be interested in who lives next door and what the community is like as a whole. Honesty is always the best policy. Get to know your neighbours and when you are selling your home, let them know before the signboard goes up. This will make them feel more involved and that you care about who moves in, preventing potential problems occurring between them and the new owners.
6. Keep up communications
Once you have started showing buyers around, keep the momentum up. Your estate agent will provide you with feedback from your viewers, usually within two or three days and it pays to take on board any negative comments where the issue could be addressed. If you feel you need any guidance from your agent prior to a viewing do ask them. It is normally better to plan visits at weekends when buyers are likely to be in a more relaxed frame of mind and can view the property at its best in daylight but if they are unable to view at weekends do your utmost to be flexible - remember, you only need one buyer and it is not unusual for a sale to be agreed having only had one viewing. Once you have an offer, try to make a decision as quickly as possible as delays may mean the potential buyer finds another property.
7. Decide what you are prepared to negotiate on
Have in your mind a price that you would be prepared to take as an offer. Property dealing often comes down to negotiation so this is where your estate agent really comes into their own. Try not to get involved in negotiating with your viewer directly as you may not achieve the best price and you may lose control of the situation in a way that your agent will not. Think carefully also about what fixtures and fittings you are prepared to include, if any. Also, don’t forget, some buyers will want nothing left behind, in which case make the point that you would completely clear the property.
8. Keep pets out of the way
Not everyone is a pet lover, so don’t make the mistake of your over enthusiastic dog greeting the prospective buyer when they enter the property. Keep pets out of the way until the visit is over.
9. Mow the lawn
Many people, in preparing to get the house looking perfect, forget about the garden. If you have a garden, make sure it looks neat and well maintained. Buyers are likely to want to know it is low maintenance. Also make sure you know which way the house and garden are facing as it can be a selling point to point out South facing views.
10. Use an estate agent
Of course we would say this, but with the property market as slow as it is at the moment, it definitely makes sense to use a professional estate agent. A good estate agent will advise on how to make your home more attractive to buyers and will give you honest feedback on what needs doing. This should ensure the property sells more quickly.
Merryweathers has residential sales offices in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. For more details contact Merryweathers on 01226 730850.
» Back to Top |
|
Lettings Soar As Market Uncetainty Hits Property Sales
Although sales of new homes has slowed down in the last couple of months, the residential lettings market remains robust, fuelled by a ‘wait and see’ approach, according to property experts at South Yorkshire’s Merryweathers.
With interest rates rising five times in the past 12 months as the Bank of England tries to control inflation and in an effort to curb the spiralling house prices in many areas of the country, more and more people are choosing to rent, whilst monitoring the market closely.
“Residential lettings are buoyant due to the current housing market,” says Matt Smith, who heads the residential lettings department at Merryweathers in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. “We are now seeing more potential house buyers adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach, with some first time buyers holding back to see what will happen in the market before they commit to a property. This means that many more people are now renting rather than buying. Many sellers are also deciding to let their homes, at least in the short term in the hope that interest rates will come down in the next few months. All this has meant that we have seen a huge increase in demand for rental properties compared to this time last year, with many properties being advertised and let on the same day!”
Merryweathers has also noticed a significant increase in home owners selling their properties and renting while they look for a new property to buy. Matt Smith explains: “At the moment it is a buyers’ market, which means that homeowners are selling when they can and renting for a while. The advantage of this is that it puts them in a stronger position when they come to buy as they have no chain.”
“We are also seeing more top end houses entering the lettings market. In the past, owners of these types of properties could be reticent about letting but as it is taking longer to sell, many of them are buying another home and letting their old one on a short term let until they secure an offer.”
The Association of Residential Letting Agents concurs with Merryweathers’ findings.
They recently reported that tenant demand now outstrips supply in all areas of the rental market, even though private landlords continue to invest in this sector. This trend started at the beginning of 2007 and looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.
“More first time buyers are choosing to rent as it becomes more expensive to borrow - a 95% or 100% mortgage would cost them a lot more than the rental on the same property. Landlords who borrow to fund their buy to let are often being forced to raise prices to their tenants to cover their mortgage costs as interest rates rise. The fact that we offer both rental and sale means that we can usually find the best outcome to meet differing customer needs”, said Matt.
Merryweathers currently has residential sales offices in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, a residential lettings division, a Land and New Homes division in the Dearne Valley, surveying divisions for both residential and commercial properties, an overseas department and an agricultural division.
For more information on renting a property through Merryweathers contact the lettings department on 0845 225 5541.
» Back to Top |
|
Property Experts See Increase In Buying Abroad
With confidence in the UK property market wavering more and more people are looking at markets further a field according to overseas property experts at South Yorkshire’s Merryweathers.
Rob Brown, who heads up the international team at Merryweathers Overseas, a sister company to Merryweathers, has seen an increase in interest in buying abroad.
“For some time now we have been aware of the demand for overseas investment, whether as a holiday home or buy-to-let. And for some people it is the only way they can get on to the property ladder.
“There seems to be no set category of people purchasing from Merryweathers Overseas,” said Rob, “The one thing they have in common though is a vision or dream to own a holiday home or investment abroad.”
Rob and his team are currently working on their most prestigious property project yet, a sea front development in northern Cyprus. The Emerald Bay development on the North coast of Cyprus features an impressive complex of 112 apartments with its own beach, restaurant and swimming pools.
“Northern Cyprus is a flourishing, emerging market and a perfect place to invest. In recent years North Cyprus’ economy has been growing at an unprecedented rate with those investing in property benefiting most from its growth. Over the past three years property prices have risen around 30% and rental yields are 8-12%.
“Demand for holiday rentals is expected to continue to grow over the next few years and property prices are still 30-40% cheaper than other Mediterranean countries such as Spain and Portugal and as much as 50% cheaper than the South of the island.”
“Cyprus has been rated as the best place to invest in property anywhere in the world, with two bedroom apartments starting for as little as £44,950. With 300 days sunshine a year, a low cost of living and English as the island’s second language, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular!”
“The island also has many similarities to the UK. The traffic drives on the left and they use of the same style three square-pin plugs that we use. And with it only being a four hour flight it’s virtually home from home!”
Merryweathers are also offering free white goods for every apartment bought this Autumn.
Someone who already realises the benefits of life in Cyprus is John, a retired police officer, who bought a property in Northern Cyprus earlier this year, “Northern Cyprus is a warm, safe, inexpensive and friendly place which is why I chose to move here for my retirement. Living here is like being on a permanent holiday, but it is also ideal for a holiday home and a great investment. I’m very happy here and believe things can only get better. Come and have a look for yourselves, you won’t be disappointed!” said John.
Call 01709 837778 or visit www.merryweathers-overseas.co.uk to arrange a visit.
Merryweathers Overseas, which is based in Rotherham was set up in December 2006 and specialises in selling holiday homes and buy-to-let investment properties in a variety of countries including Spain, Northern Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Thailand.
» Back to Top |
|
New Sales Negotiator For Merryweathers
Merryweathers, one of the region’s longest established estate agents, has appointed Sheila Williams as Sales Negotiator for its Rotherham residential office.
Sheila, who lives in Scholes, has over 15 years’ experience in working in site sales offices for a regional developer and is looking forward to the challenge of working on both the vendor and buyer sides of estate agency.
Anthony Thickett, partner at Merryweathers, said: “We are pleased to welcome Sheila to the team. She has lots of valuable experience in dealing with customers and guiding them through the buying process and will be an asset to our team.”
Merryweathers currently has residential sales offices in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, a residential lettings division, a land and new homes division in the Dearne Valley, surveying divisions for both residential and commercial properties, an overseas department and an agricultural division.
For more information on buying or selling a property through Merryweathers contact 01709 375591.
» Back to Top |
|
HIP's
How have HIPs affected the property market in Yorkshire?
“As far as we are concerned at Merryweathers, we are seeing less valuation appointments in the diary and significantly less properties going on the market, when this time of year is normally one of our busiest. Of course this can not just be blamed on HIPs, other factors such as the school holidays, interest rates, weather and the Northern Rock fiasco all play their part. However, since September 10th, when three bedroom houses became applicable to the HIPS, we have seen a drop off in both valuation appointments and properties being put on the market.”
What do buyers think of HIPs?
“Since September the 10th we have had approximately fifty properties on the market subject to HIPs. Out of those fifty properties, we have not had one request from potential buyers to view the HIP as the public perception of what HIPs comprise of is almost non-existant. Buyers are aware of HIPs but there is an air of apathy surrounding them, they are not showing much interest in them and don’t think they provide any great benefit to the house selling process.”
What do sellers think of HIPs ?
“Sellers are accepting HIPs as something they have to live with, although feedback suggests that they feel it is an unnecessary process and an additional expense. The seller’s position here on HIPs is justified if you take on board my earlier point that prospective purchasers have not even been asking to see the HIPs.
Additionally, a lot of what we will sell comes from ‘floating sellers’, people who in the first instance were not 100 per cent committed to sell but just wanted to put their house on the market to see what interest was out there. Since HIPs came in we are losing these people as they do not want to pay £400 for the HIP.”
How are properties faring generally in the energy efficiency surveys?
“It completely depends on the property. It’s pretty obvious to tell if a house will do well in the energy efficiency survey by just looking at it, as if it has an up to date boiler, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double glazing, then it will do well in the survey. If it doesn’t have all these, it won’t. The interesting point here is that from what we have seen the energy rating is not likely to have an effect on the likely demand of a buyer. A lot of older properties might not get a good energy rating but are still very popular with buyers due to their character and often historically favoured locations, so potential buyers will not be put off by this.”
Overall thoughts on HIPs
“The general feeling is that HIPs are an unnecessary inconvenience and added cost to sellers and agents, providing limited useful information to buyers, and information that they would establish during the house buying process anyway.”
Merryweathers is an independent partnership of auctioneers, valuers, land and estate agents established in 1832. Dealing with the sale and letting of residential, commercial and agricultural properties throughout South Yorkshire.
Merryweathers currently has residential sales offices in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, a residential lettings division, a land and new homes division in the Dearne Valley, surveying divisions for both residential and commercial properties and an agricultural division.
For more information on buying or selling a property through Merryweathers contact 01709 763900.
» Back to Top |
|
New Units To Let At Bradmarsh Business Park
Just four new-build commercial premises are available for lease at Bradmarsh Court in Templeborough, Rotherham, through commercial letting agents Merryweathers.
Bradmarsh Court is part of the successful Bradmarsh Business Park development, which is just five minutes’ drive from the M1 motorway Junction 34 and close to Rotherham town centre. The development was completed earlier this year and comprises seven purpose-built modern business units in a secure, self-contained estate.
The units range in size from 1,500 sq ft to 5,500 sq ft and are ideal for light manufacturing or warehousing purposes. Each unit has roller shutter door access to the front, together with a surfaced car park and dedicated parking available with each unit. The light industrial units have been built to a high specification with attractive brick and block elevation providing a professional finish.
Neil Keally, Associate at Merryweathers, said: “This is a prime development, within easy access to the M1 motorway and the main arterial routes. We have already received lots of interest with three units already let. We now have four units remaining. This is a superb opportunity for a business that is looking to expand in an excellent location and with easy access to local amenities.”
Merryweathers has a company history spanning 175 years, with eight offices throughout the South Yorkshire region. Its commercial division provides a professional, personal service to businesses throughout the Yorkshire region and beyond. This includes the marketing of both sale and leased commercial properties, valuations, property management, rent reviews and estate management.
For more information on commercial properties for lease or sale from Merryweathers contact 01709 379444.
» Back to Top |
|
Merryweathers Land & New Homes Moves To Dearne Valley
Merryweathers, one of the region’s longest established estate agents, has relocated its Land and New Homes division to Manvers Way in the Dearne Valley near Rotherham.
The company, which has eight offices throughout the South Yorkshire region, took the opportunity to relocate its Land and New Homes office from Bradmarsh Business Park, where it had been based for two and a half years, to purpose built offices at Manvers Way, Dearne Valley. Previous to this the Land and New Homes division had been based at the main residential sales office located on Ship Hill in Rotherham town centre.
Partner Ian Batty, who has been with Merryweathers for over 30 years said: “This whole area is being re-developed and we wanted to be at the heart of this major area of regeneration and new builds. We are heavily involved with the marketing of several sites around the Dearne Valley area and this gave us the perfect opportunity to be closer to developers and to expand our coverage of the whole of the South Yorkshire area. This is a really exciting time for our company as we move forward with ambitious plans for growth and development in the region.”
Merryweathers currently has residential sales offices in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. The company also has a residential lettings division, a survey office offering both commercial and residential surveys, an overseas office specialising in North Cyprus, Spain, Italy, France and Brazil, a professional services office dealing with commercial sales and management and an agricultural department based in Doncaster.
Merryweathers’ Land and New Homes was founded in the early 1970s and is headed up by Ian Batty (Partner) and Jill Hall (Associate Partner), who have nearly 50 years combined experience in the business. The company now employs 12 experienced staff, dedicated to providing first class service to its many clients.
Ian Batty continues: “We are a Rotherham company that has expanded across the South Yorkshire region. Our new location so close to Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, as well as the M1 and M18 means we can even better serve our clients across the region.”
For more information on Land and New Homes from Merryweathers contact 01709 763900.
» Back to Top |
|
New Showhome Opens At Whiphill Lane, Armthorpe
Anyone interested in a superbly designed three or four bedroom home in an attractive location should visit the newly opened showhome at ‘Whiphill Lane’ in Armthorpe, Doncaster.
Property agents Merryweathers Land & New Homes are on hand to answer any queries regarding the six new homes available on this latest release, with prices ranging from £162,995 for a three bedroom town house to £225,000, for a four bedroom semi detached home with garage.
“The show home has been professionally styled to show homebuyers just what can be achieved with one of these superb properties,” explains Eileen Longden of Merryweathers. “We have had a lot of interest in this development already and with the release of the show home, we are expecting to attract even more buyers as they can actually get a feel for what it would be like to live here.”
Whiphill Lane is an exclusive development of high quality properties, which are conveniently located for local schools and facilities within the village of Armthorpe. These properties are built to a high specification with a sympathetic style that complements the local area. They come with high quality modern units and an excellent standard of kitchens and bathrooms, ideal for the discerning buyer.
Merryweathers currently has residential sales offices in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. The company also has a residential lettings division, a survey office offering both commercial and residential surveys, a professional services office dealing with commercial sales and management and an agricultural department based in Doncaster.
For more information on new homes from Merryweathers contact 01709 763900.
» Back to Top |
|
BBC Employs Merryweathers Expert
Local estate agents Merryweathers were called in this week to provide a valuation with a difference when the BBC Homes Live programme got in touch about a home they were featuring in Wombwell, Barnsley.
Dean and Rachel Bennett of Cotterdale Gardens had worked hard for months extending their home and adding a two-storey extension. Just days before their renovation was complete, the floods destroyed it completely and Dean and Rachel, who have recently had a new baby, were left with nothing.
The programme, which is due to be shown this month will show how Dean and Rachel were evacuated from their home during the floods in the summer and have again been carrying out renovations every since the floodwaters subsided, so that they could take their newborn baby Libby home.
Andrew Cooper from Merryweathers in Barnsley was invited to value the house, he said: “The house looks great now and has been renovated to a very high standard. It has the benefit of a new double story extension making for a very flexible living arrangement. This was my first appearance on TV, so I was a bit apprehensive at first, but it went really well and it was great to see how the couple have turned a badly damaged property into a really lovely home for their new baby.”
Dean said, “I can’t believe the bad luck we have had this summer! We couldn’t have been nearer to finishing the extension, we had chosen the furniture and everything, just as the floods hit us! With Rachel several months pregnant, it put stress on us all, but looking back, we are really grateful to be back in our own property – and can’t wait to be on TV!”
Home Live is an hour long live magazine programme on BBC one in the mornings, hosted by Matt Allwright and Beverley Turner, giving home improvers information about buying, selling and renovating a property.
The programme visits homes that have been renovated and then asks local estate agents, such as Merryweathers, to re-value a property afterwards. What they hadn’t counted on in this case was the flood. Before the renovations the value (pre flood) was £119,000, but after the extension and conservatory were added, Merryweathers valued it at £150,000. The couple’s planned budget for the renovations was £40,000 but they actually ended up spending £60,000, due to the damage caused by this Summer’s severe weather.
Merryweathers is an independent partnership of auctioneers, valuers, land and estate agents established in 1832. Dealing with the sale and letting of residential, commercial and agricultural properties throughout South Yorkshire with offices in Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley offices.
For more information on residential purchases, sales or lettings from Merryweathers contact 01226 730850.
» Back to Top |
|
|
|
