Previously we gave you some useful tips for moving in to your new Devon property, in this post we hope to help you with the arduous task of packing for your big move. Packing doesn’t have to be a nightmare task if you have the right tools and equipment.

One of the first things you should get is a good range of boxes in various sizes. You don’t want to use just large boxes and fill them with allsorts of things as these can easily become too heavy to lift. Also if you are packing small items in a big box there is a danger that they could break or get damaged.

Make sure you have a good supply of bubble wrap or old newspapers to help protect the more fragile possessions. In the weeks leading up to your move stop recycling your newspapers so you have a good supply for when you pack. Other handy items include strong parcel tape, pens and stickers for labelling boxes and sealable bags for any small lose items.

Here are some useful packing tips.

• Keep potentially hazardous products like paints, sprays and oils in clearly marked separate boxes.
• Load the removal van with the boxes you will need least first
• Be careful when backing boxes not to put heavy items on top on lighter items
• Make sure ever box is well labelled.
• Boxes containing fragile items should be marked fragile
• Make boxes of essentials you will need straight away such as a kettle, cups, plates, utensils, bedding, medicines and toiletries

Hopefully some of these tips can allow you an easy and stress free move.

If you have been lucky enough to buy yourself a property in Devon then you will soon be looking to start packing and begin the often difficult process of moving. Moving home can certainly be one of the most stressful processes you will ever have to go through but fear not because there are a few tips that can help make moving as pain free as possible

Here are some great moving tips to help

• Get confirmation of your moving date as soon as you can so you have plenty of time to prepare
• Start calling moving professionals for quotes or alternatively start asking friends and family
• Book time off work if necessary
• If you live in rented accommodation inform you landlord you will be leaving
• Contact your insurance company so you can arrange coverage of your new property
• If you are not using a professional moving firm you will need to reserve your own moving van
• Contact secure storage units if required
• Start to purge items you no longer want
• Contact, banks, building societies, pension provider and any company you have loans or investments with, credit card and store card companies,  Inland Revenue, your local council regarding council tax, catalogues and magazine subscriptions, your employers, your children’s schools and the DVLA.

When your moving date gets closer you will need to start the following:

• Pack away any items you will not need again before you move
• Inform the post office to redirect your post
• Stop services such as newspaper deliveries and milk delivers and get they redirected if possible
• Get a child minder or pet sitter for the moving day
• Send out change of address cards to family and friends
• confirm moving arrangements with movers

Good luck with your move and remember that the more organised you are the easier your move will prove to be

2011 looks to have started well for Estate Agents in Devon and across the UK with the latest news from the NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents).  The NAEA have reported that their members saw a rise in demand from house hunters in January as well as an increase in the offers from sellers.

January saw the number of registered house hunters reach their highest levels for 6 months with an average of 252 per branch, up from 227 in December, according to data from the National Association of Estate Agents.

The President of the NAEA said the figures were “encouraging” he went on to say “However, when compared with our report from this time last year, the market is still showing signs of consumer reluctance. Macro-economic issues such as the VAT rise and interest rate pressures continue to put many people off searching for property.”

The NAEA also revealed figures that showed the number of houses put up for sale in January were on average 69, which is up from 64 in December. When the NAEA questioned 700 estate agents across the country a massive 45 per cent had said they had seen an increase in enquires from those looking to sell their property.

In other good news the Department for Communities revealed that house prices increased by 3.8 percent during the year with the average price of a property now standing at £208,148.

Devon and its neighbour Cornwall were amongst the few places in the UK were property sales rose during November according to a recent housing survey.

According to South West surveyors there was a sales increase by over a fifth in the region. This compares favourably to other regions across the country which saw a decrease during November. The figures have been compiled by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

It’s perhaps not surprising that sales rose in Devon and Cornwall. The counties are amongst the most popular in the UK with people from all over the country flocking to the area looking for a new property or a second home.

Not only are the two counties popular they also provide a wonderful and diverse range of property to buy. You can find a Devon Property to suit all your needs be it a beach front apartment, chocolate box cottage, grand country manor or Victorian town house.

The region also offers a wonderful standard of living with access to some of the best beaches and countryside in the whole of the UK as well as great access to the rest of the country and thanks to its regional airports and airlines Europe and many global destinations are just a few hours away from your front door.

If you are looking for your own perfect country property there are many great Devon Estate Agents who will help you find the home of your dreams.

In the current economic uncertainty it’s perhaps not surprising that house prices are either stagnant or falling, with this in mind many people are looking for ways to add value to their house as well as making general improvements that they can live with till they decide to put their house on the market.

Here are some home improvements that can be made which will add value to your Devon property.

Increasing the size

A well designed conservatory or extension that doesn’t take up too much outside space could add up to five percent to your value as well as provide a more liveable home for the remainder of your time in the property. However if you end up turning your garden in to something resembling a postage stamp you could wipe out all the extra value you add.

A Second Bathroom

Be it an en suite or on the landing a second bathroom could increase your house price by up to five percent. But when thinking about installing more bathrooms don’t go overboard, a four bedroom house does not need four en suite bathrooms.

Central Heating

Even the ancient Romans had central heating so it’s only natural that houses with good central heating are worth around six percent more than those without it.

Loft Conversion

While a loft conversion could add an extra 20 percent to the value of your house it is expensive and very disruptive. If you plan on a conversion make sure you make the most of the space by adding a bedroom and a bathroom.

It is of course worth bearing in mind that all of these improvements cost a lot of money up front and do not guarantee to increase the value of your house or to make it sell faster.

Selling your home can be for many different reasons either positive or negative. A loss of job or divorce can lead to a forced sale just as much as a new job or moving in with a partner can. Whether it’s executed with a leap in your step or done with a heavy heart selling your Devon Property successfully will mean you have to do the same either way to get a buyer and move on.

Ideally, you want to be able to sell your home before you buy your next. Doing the latter can cause all sorts of problems and if you hold off until your property is sold then you are in an enviable position which sellers will find attractive. Often, you can ask considerably less than the property is worth and get an acceptance due to your ability to exchange quickly.

Although circumstances may not permit, try and sell your property in a robust market. Any Devon Estate Agents worth their salt will be able to talk you through property trends of the moment and help guide you with the whole process.

First impressions with houses count enormously so check out your kerb appeal. By that I mean, on arrival, how does your property fare? Well kept lawns and borders along with more substantial elements like pristine windows and paintwork, good pointing on brickwork etc can make or break someone’s opinion of the property, so much so that regardless of what the interior is like, their impression is formed and could be detrimental to the popularity of the property.

The standard on the outside should be kept throughout the inside of the property, a good declutter along with a neutral touch with colours and textures will go far when it comes to appealing to the masses: People won’t necessarily like your taste so go for the wider market appeal.

When it comes to selling property many of us believe people do it to upgrade on their existing property whilst few of us think it may actually be because the owner needs a quick house sale for cash. But interestingly, one of the main reasons people are selling their house is just that.

Other reasons include children’s schooling, divorce, separation and more increasingly, friends who have grouped together to buy a house and have subsequently fallen out. In these times of economic uncertainty though one of the prime factors people sell house for cash is to release equity and downsize. Whether people can afford to lose the space personally is another matter but as interest rates rise and more and more people are made redundant then the ability to repay the mortgage each month along with other household outlays, maintaining a family and a car and putting food on the plate gets harder and harder.

Of course, whilst you may have to put your house on the market for these reasons, the people that are looking around your house do not need to know this and you are well within your right to give any other valid reason you want to sell.

Unfortunately, some people find themselves in a situation where their house is run down and in need of restoration so will not easily sell on the open market. In this case, there are other options to choose and companies out there that will offer a good deal on your house.

Whether you fall into the first time buyer category of buying a house or this is just another to add to your growing portfolio of Devon Property, choosing an estate agent is still one of the best decisions you can make. Whilst there are plenty of different ways you can buy a house these days, like so many things, the old way is often the best way.

Finding a reputable Estate Agent that has a wealth of experience and a wide offering of property, from old cottages in rural settings to modernistic apartments in the heart of the city, will provide you with not only the best and widest choice in terms of locations and price ranges but you will receive the ultimate customer care and advice needed.

Estate Agents in Devon will offer advice and guidance on all elements of buying, selling or for those looking and whilst it is a known fact that moving house can be one of the most stressful times in someone’s life, going with a reputable agent should help relieve the stress and make the move as easy as possible.

Another reason to go for a reputable Estate Agent is they will recognise the need to optimise their presence and should be found on popular online portals too. As times have changed, so too have good estate agents who recognise the need to diversify and vary their offering. So, if you are looking for other services than help with buying or selling your house, then check out a high street estate agent. You may be surprised with what else they have to offer, from surveying to property management right through to overseas properties.

If you have been struggling to make ends meet, fretting that you cannot keep up with your mortgage repayments and loosing sleep thinking about how to achieve a quick property sale, then there may be one thing you can try before it comes to that.

Thousands of parents have seen their children fly the nest and leave for university this week and whilst many may be feeling that ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’ others are already thinking of ways they can cash in on the extra space they now have in their home, in the form of lodgings.

Of course, you would have to allow the room that was once occupied by your child to be available on weekends and during holidays but many lodgers these days are flexible and often only want to rent a room during the week whilst they are at work instead of commuting.

Another alternative is to use the room as a guest house, charging by the night rather than the month. You could receive even more money a night if you installed an en suite in the room, as people prefer not to have to share bathroom facilities where possible.

This idea may not appeal to everyone and receiving cash for property may still be more of a desirable choice but it may be worth looking into the feasibility of sharing your house and earning some much needed extra cash. Offering breakfast and even tea could see even more money brought into the household, which could be much needed.

They say that in the world of property, location is the most important element to buying a house. Consider for a moment what your needs are above and beyond the four walls you are purchasing. Do you require a school close by and if so, no doubt you expect a good one. Shops? What happens when you run out of milk or you fancy a bit of chocolate with the movie you are going to watch tonight? Can you walk somewhere or will you have to jump in the car?

Countryside? Are there walks available? Do you get to see a view? Does the countryside matter to you? What about a beach? Pubs, post offices, vets and local amenities are all other aspects people look for when they are buying a property; something Estate Agents in Cornwall are only too aware of.

It seems that the perfect Cornwall Property isn’t that perfect unless the additional criterion of buying a property is met. Of course, with growing demands for both the property and its surrounding area to be perfect, comes a need for some compromise, unless of course you have an unlimited budget.

A good estate agent will help you with your pursuit of finding a property and will have a wide range of properties in different locations for you to sample. There is a right property out there for everyone, it just may take a little bit of time to find and perhaps something may have to give a little, although you may find yourself pleasantly surprised.