A Pet Lover’s Guide to Selling a Home

Don’t let your beloved family pet stop you from achieving top selling price for your property. Follow these tips to ensure buyers don’t get sniffy about making an offer on your home.

Given that 62% of British households have a pet*, you might assume buyers wouldn’t bat an eyelid at the prospect of viewing a property where a furry or feathered friend resides.

But many property hunters are put off when they visit a home where there are obvious signs and smells … Continue Reading…

How the Cost-of-Living Crisis Is Impacting Rents

You can’t open a newspaper (or app) without seeing something about the UK rental market. Whether it’s the increase in demand for property, changes to rent rules or landlords selling up – rentals are getting a lot of attention.

And one matter that is causing a lot of controversy is the issue of rising rent. In a cost-of-living crisis, the increase in monthly rent is understandably worrisome for tenants, but are landlords really to blame?

Owning investment property is a business, and … Continue Reading…

Why Your Dingy Bathroom Could Be Putting Buyers Off

If a kitchen is the heart of a home, then the bathroom is the brains. It’s where you get a few minutes of privacy every day (unless you’ve got toddlers who like to come in with you). It’s where you do some of your deepest thinking, and it’s an area that could make or break a potential sale.

Buyers need to imagine themselves living in your property, and if your bathroom is a bit dingy, it could put them off.

In this … Continue Reading…

How to Avoid the Headache and Expense of an Empty Rental Property

Success as a landlord doesn’t just centre around what you do when your property is tenanted. How you manage your rental when it’s empty is also crucial.

All landlords have to contend with void periods – they’re an inevitable part of having a buy-to-let.

So, it’s wise to budget for the costs associated with void periods and take precautions to stop them dragging on.

That’s because when your property is empty, not only will you be missing out on rent, you’ll also have … Continue Reading…

Moving Home Just Got Less Stressful

Just the thought of moving home can make you break out into a cold sweat. It’s a life experience that many people think of as one of the most stressful things you can do. So how can you minimise those feelings of panic?

April is Stress Awareness Month, and if you’ve got a move coming up, you’ll need to keep your wits about you to get it all done.

In this quick read, we look at ways to make selling your home … Continue Reading…

Ways to Avoid Deposit Disputes When You Leave Your Rental

It’s widely recognised that moving house is one of the most stressful (and annoying) life events you can experience.

If you’re nearing the end of a tenancy agreement, there are a few things you can do to ensure your check-out inspection goes well and (upon moving out) you get your tenancy deposit back in full.

In this quick read, we go through ways to make moving out easier for you and your landlord.

1) Report issues or breakages early

Let your landlord or managing … Continue Reading…

Cheap and Cheerful Ways to Have Family Fun This Easter

If you’re looking for ways to keep your children entertained this Easter, here are some fun activities that won’t break the bank.

These child-friendly suggestions won’t blow your budget but will stave off that familiar phrase, “I’m bored!”.

Organise a treasure hunt

Take the traditional Easter egg search to the next level by preparing a treasure hunt. Hide clues around your home and encourage your child to play detective. Each clue should direct your child to a new location, where they’ll have to … Continue Reading…

Estate Agent Costs: Fixed Fees Vs Commission

So, you’re selling up and don’t know whether to instruct a traditional estate agent or a DIY fixed-fee agency. Let’s look at the pros and cons of both options.

If moving is on your mind, the first thing you need to do is find the right estate agent. But before you can do this, you need to answer a more fundamental question: what type of agent do you want to handle the transaction? You have two options:

• A DIY agency which … Continue Reading…

What’s the Number One Accident People Have at Home?

Some days, it’s like your home is a minefield of accidents just waiting to happen. You trip up the stairs with a pile of washing in your arms, you break your favourite mug, and to top it all off, you burn the toast. Not fun.

While everyone wants a home that is safe and hazard-free, sometimes little mishaps can cause a whole lot of bother. So, how can we make our homes safer for all?

In this quick read, we look at … Continue Reading…