Tag Archives: house

Tips for Packing When Moving House

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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.

Tips for Selling your Home with Home Improvements

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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.

House problems?

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After the media exposure of the government’s expenses claims there was an out cry of public opinion showing disgust for these politicians cheek in fiddling their claims.

Some politicians had chosen to claim the home in which they lived was in fact their second home and an additional home else where was actually their primary place of residence. At a time of recession there is little sympathy for these people who can’t fill a form out correctly and are unsure of where they live.

The state of the economy has seen people have their houses repossessed as they where unable to meet payments, yet politicians have managed to claim money that they are not entitled to.

Many of these politicians seem to forget that they are working for us and are on a substantially higher wage than the majority of the country yet still continue to receive substantial benefits.

Perhaps we aren’t being sympathetic enough to their problems? It must be hard choosing in which house to live, as most of us only have one to choose from, so we do have it pretty easy. Yet they can be grateful that under the unfortunate circumstance they claim too much money, or ‘accidentally’ receive too much cash a simple ‘I will return the money and apologise’ is all they have to do and then come the pat on the back. All is forgiven. Unfortunately it’s not as simple as other working folk. What would be viewed by many companies as theft would result in being sacked and then being pursued by legal charges.

An excuse of ‘oh I forgot to pay for that’ will work wonders if you are a politician but try that when you’re halfway out the door of WH Smiths with the latest copy of  Private Eye and security will be on you quicker than you can say ‘evening officer’.

To make matters worse, this all comes at a time when house prices are plummeting and the property in which they reside is less than what they paid for it. Many people are moving towards Cash for Property services to enable to keep their heads above water.

Things to Consider When Looking for a House Part 2

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sell house for cashLast time we talked about considering the things that are important to finding an ideal home and that these things might have not have been considered. We looked at the importance finding the right location and how this is one thing that cannot be changed. This article will look at other key elements of finding and looking at any new potential home that you find to avoid any nasty surprises.

One big question on many people’s lips is ‘what potential does the house have?’ Many people are looking to develop their own house with an extension perhaps for a conservatory, porch or maybe even an additional bedroom. Look at other house in the street and see what they have done as this will give you an idea of the likelihood of getting planning permission for that extension.

You need to remember that the internal decoration of the property can be changed at any stage. Very few people move into to a new house they have just bought and keep it exactly that way that they bought it in, as people like to personalize it by putting their own stamp on it.

There are some people who really enjoy the sun, so for these people the way the house faces play a large part in what will be considered a good property or not. This is one thing that doesn’t change so it is important that this is something that is addresses right from the beginning. A rear garden that faces the right direction is for many people a deal breaker when it comes to choosing a house.

Another major consideration to a lot of people is the outside look of the property. It’s important that you like the look of the property. This is a very individual thing and what some people consider to be nice others would look to change. Many people do not really change the brick work of the building out the outside appearance except from the front garden.

If you don’t want a lot of work to do on the property a new build is probably what you want to be looking for. Yet for those of you who are looking for a bit more of a challenge and wanting to put your own stamp on it repossession is worth considering. Sometimes repossessed houses are a little worse for wear but that can be had at a bargain price.

To help eliminate additional stress of moving and starting a life else where many people have opted for a Quick Property Sale for Cash which enables them to get cracking on to the next big adventure. A Quick Property Sale can be just what you need to get you moving quickly in the right direction.

Sellers drop asking price

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A smaller amount of buyers in the housing market has forced sellers to drop the prices of their homes in order to become more competitive. It seems that they days when people would battle it out to buy a house are behind us, as figures suggest a drop in prices to try and lure buyers to their property.

First signs show a drop of over 2% and almost 4% in London. Although these percentages seem small on a property of £200,000 you are looking at a large loss.

As there are even fewer buyers out in the market then it seems that they have a little more control over the property market. More choice means sellers will have to make their process competitive and appealing if they want to sell. Holding on to an unrealistic price will not only put buyers but could also mean that a property will make a much larger loss in the future of may even become repossessed.

Yet it is not only the house prices that are making buyers be more careful but also mortgages. It seems that buyers are being a lot more selective about what they opt for and are considering a much great choice of deals. With a vast amount of banks offering mortgages these too are having to become more competitive with their lending and ‘deals’ that they offer.

Even the slightest rise in interest rates could force people to sell up which would mean that the market could be saturated with houses that people just can’t afford to keep, which means even better deals for the buyers and a greater loss for people who are desperate to sell. This just re-enforces that importance of selling before the debt gets too much.

It is believed that a few of the potential house sellers are waiting for the interest rates to be announced in September, but for some this could be too late and would mean the loss of their property and any investment that they have in their property.

It still looks like sellers can be burned especially if they leave it too late or bury their heads in the sand. If you are finding yourself in a similar situation and want to get out before the going get too tough then why not look at a Quick Property Sale or the option to Sell your Property and Rent Back which would mean you wouldn’t have to leave your home.

Buying a house – the process

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cash for propertyThe economic downturn generally has a negative effect on society and is generally seen as a bad thing in the eyes of the public. Yet with all this going on there is some good news, houses prices have fallen and for those who have saved, this could be your time to snap up a bargain.

As property prices continue to fall houses become more obtainable and much more of a reality for many people. So what do you need to do to get the wheels in motion?

Step one would be all about how much you can afford. Speak to local mortgage lenders and give them an idea of your income, outgoings and any savings that you might have as this will have a reasonable impact on what money you can be lent and what house you will be able to afford.

Step two is choosing a house you like. Once the mortgage has been agreed then the fun part starts. Look around at everything on the market and see if that it offers all that you are looking for. Many first time buyers don’t get everything that they want so you may find you will have to make some sacrifices.

Step three requires getting a solicitor. This will mean that things are really in motion. This step is required to ensure that all legal requirements are met and fulfilled as to avoid and downfalls.

Step four is all about making an offer on the property. At this stage you have decided what you want and how much you can afford and it is now time to try and get a bargain. You don’t have to offer the full asking price you can offer less or even more.

Step five comes after your offer has been accepted. This is your chance to get a house survey done to find if there are any problems that you aren’t able to see just from looking at it. This might include such things as subsidence.

Step six means time to finalise your mortgage. Providing you are happy with the information received in the survey then this is your chance to close the deal.

Step seven is the exchanging of the contracts. This will ensure that all parties involved are happy and all systems are still moving forward.

Step eight requires organising the big move. Sorting all of the packing and getting the removal vans ready for the day you get the keys.

Step nine will all be about finalising the details of the contract. This is the last stop and once this have gone through then all is complete and you are ready to go.

These nine steps are just advice on the processes and procedures and are not set in stone. The orders in which they appear do vary depending on circumstances. Some people decide not to put their house on the market and instead choose a Sell House for Cash option or a Quick Property Sale as they do not have the luxury of time on their hands.

Things to Consider When Looking for a House Part 1

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property for saleFor the majority of people buying a new house can be a very daunting concept. There are so many things to consider, some of which you haven’t even thought about. This two part article will look at a few of the main factors when looking to buy a property either as a home or as an investment.

The surroundings of the house is a very important factor. This really is one of the things that you can’t change about your house. It is well worth looking at how much space there is between surrounding houses. If there is a lot of space around you and it’s a new build property then you might find that the developers may still look to build future developments in front or behind your property so you may not keep the privacy that the house currently offers. Keeping privacy may also be an issue if the houses are already too close together. Not many people want the neighbors too close for comfort.

With a look at the surrounds in mind you need to access what the local area has to offer. There are some questions that you might want to ask yourself:

How far is it from the town? If you are looking for good nightlife then close to the town will be ideal, but for more peace and quiet then some where out of town will offer more solitude.

Are there any local schools? Many people looking to start a family will want to know if there are any schools and how far away are they. But for the people looking to retire might want to avoid areas where students pass through five days a week.

What about parking? Some properties aren’t able to offer parking but there is always the opportunity to park on the road. Make sure that you check out the parking in the day as well as in the evening when everyone gets home from work to get an idea of how easy it’s going to be to park.

How far away is it from work? You need to remember that you will be commuting to work on a regular basis and that a house further away from work will add to the traveling time of each day going to and from work.

Another thing that people consider is the possibility of other family member’s locations. Some people choose to move closer to the family and some further away. After a week of traveling to and from work each day could you really face another trip to see the family?

Buying a house can be very stressful especially if at the same time you are trying to sell your own. Dealing with possible buyers for your house can be a nightmare. To avoid all of this hassle many people are turning to a Quick Property Sale through companies that offer a Sell House for Cash service which enables you to find a buyer and levitate the stress and grief from selling your home.

Why go for a quick house sale?

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quick house sale

In our current financial climate, many people may be in financial difficulties and need to get some money fast to pay off debts and bills. One solution to this type of problem is to sell your house for cash in a quick property sale.

There are many advantages to this type of sale

1. It allows you to get rid of debt

2. Can stop repossession

3. Can sell and rent back

4. Allows you to move abroad if given short notice

5. You can relocate to a new job quicker

6. Guaranteed sale if you are sick of time wasters

7. No need for endless amounts of people visiting your house

8. Can buy back in the future if your circumstances change

9. No fees, some companies will even pay solicitor fees for you

So if you are currently struggling financially or needing to sell your house quickly, why not use a cash for property service today.