April 2019 - Fife Properties
Fife Properties

Month: April 2019

Top tips to prepare your garden for Summertime

We all love that summer pleasure of sitting outside and enjoying the feeling of the sunshine on our skin, yet despite this melanin-inducing activity being a firm favourite, many of us shy away from gardening. Here are a few tips to help revitalise your garden or outdoor space, just in time for the summer!

1) The right grounding
Before you go out and start purchasing new flowers and shrubs to zhoosh up your garden, it is important to have an idea of the soil that you will be planting in. Different plants will thrive in different environments, and the consistency of your soil will be a key player in this; is your soil light and sandy or heavier with elements of clay? This, as well as the amount of light which the new plants will receive, should be kept in mind before you go and make any expensive purchases.

2) Put the ‘plan’ in ‘plant’
That old adage of “fail to plan and plan to fail” exists for a reason; it rings true amongst many of us. The same is applicable for when you are upgrading your garden – planning on how you are going to use the space will mean that you maximise your outdoor area. Decide what you are going to use the space for and segment it appropriately; eating areas, planting areas and water features all make a garden more pleasant; however, if there is not enough room between each then the space becomes overcrowded and less appealing.

3) The perfect lawn
When we think of the quintessential British garden, we immediately think of a lush and healthy grassy area. If you’re yearning for a luscious lawn, then ensure that you water your green areas regularly – the optimum time to water the area is between 4am and 8am. If we are lucky enough to have another hot summer like last year, then remember that any temperature above 30 degrees will stunt growth and temperatures from 26 degrees onwards will not benefit your lawn – therefore keep the grass a little longer which will prevent the soil from drying out.

4) Sitting areas
One of the easiest ways to spend a little more time in your garden is to create an outdoor sitting space; from simply installing a table and chairs, to installing a full decking area this can transform your outdoor space. If you already have a suitable surface such as paving or decking then purchasing a table and chairs will be an inexpensive way to create outdoor living space, but don’t despair if you need to spend a little more to create suitable grounding for your table. Buying stones or pebbles and some tarpaulin to lay them upon is a very cost-effective manner to provide a nice zone for seating – look in your local supermarkets as well as the DIY stores as they often provide better value for money during seasonal offers.

5) A shed load of storage!
If you’re looking to make the most of your garden this spring and summer, then a shed might seem like it should be the last item on your list of priorities. However, a shed can offer valuable storage and organisation to your garden that will encourage you to make the most of the space; having your gardening tools easy to access and your outdoor supplies organised will make your outdoor living much easier. In addition to this, a shed can be a beautiful piece of garden architecture; go bold on the colour and choose pastels such as blue or pink for that country cottage kind of chic that looks wonderful in all types of garden. In addition, adding some stylish bunting to the shed will enhance the overall aesthetic, and can be extended to other parts of your garden to create a more cohesive look.

Fife Properties Group Office Owner, Jim Parker commented, “Some of these top tips can be done at an inexpensive price which can completely revitalise your garden so it’s often worth doing when selling to enhance the buyer experience as it often translates to a higher offer” Fife Properties currently offer a FREE initial consultation service which not only provides an idea of the current value of your property but gives extremely useful advice on maximising the value when selling. To book click the link: https://www.fifeproperties.co.uk/property-valuation

Read our tips to increase your kerb appeal

Any estate agent will tell you that making a good first impression is key when presenting your home for sale. Potential buyers and renters are always extra vigilant when it comes to viewing properties, from the front gate to the back garden, meaning it’s even more important to present your home in its best light from the off. But even if you’re not looking to sell up, there’s something to be said for sprucing up the front of your home.

One of the best ways to do that is to maximise your kerb appeal, which refers to how striking your home is when viewed from the road. When you think about searching for properties online, how likely are you to click on details for a home if the lead photograph is rather drab? The homes that perform the best on property websites like Zoopla and Rightmove are the ones that can grab the attention from the off.

Thankfully, maximising your kerb appeal doesn’t have to break the bank!

1) Front and centre

The front door is always a good place to start, especially as it’s one of the first things that people see when it comes to your home. UPVC doors can be cleaned easily enough with the right product, and if you’ve got a wooden door, why not consider a fresh lick of paint? You can also bring your garage or front gate into the equation for a bit of colourful synchronicity.

Giving your letterboxes and door handles a polish shows good attention to detail, but if they’re looking a little tired, don’t be afraid to replace them.

2) Plot your path to success

The path to your front door or outdoor paving stones can get dirty with ease, so applying some TLC, whether that’s with a pressure washer or a good ol’ bucket of warm water and a scrubbing implement will instantly help your outside space.

If you have paving stones, then keeping your weeds in check is also a shrewd move; pulling out the week killer for large front porches, paths or driveways will make things look far neater.

Gravel is a feature of many a home, and it’s also one that’s easily refreshed with a bit of colour. Locate some similar stones to your current palette and use a rake to spread them together and you’ll be surprised by how much it refreshes the approach to your front door.

3) Plant an impression

A simple touch, but an effective one. Adding some greenery around your front door suggests to the naked eye that you take care of your property and look after your home, so look into some potted plants to go outside your front door. Hanging baskets are another option if ground space is limited.

4) Window dressing

The windows on your front room are another area where little touches can make a big difference. Have a look into replacing your curtains or blinds with lined alternatives for a tidy appearance, or, if your windows aren’t providing you with sufficient insulation, you could even look at replacing them altogether.

5) Night Lights

Finally, take a look at the area around your front door at night and imagine how much more welcoming it could be with a bit of light. An outdoor power supply will help if you’re looking to install something akin to a classic-style lamp, but you needn’t go overboard; a solar-powered light is easy to install, charges itself during the day and won’t cost you extra!

Fife Properties Group Office Owner, Jim Parker commented, “Some of these top tips can be done at an inexpensive price which can completely revitalise your properties kerb appeal so it’s often worth doing when selling to enhance the buyer experience as it often translates to a higher offer” Fife Properties currently offer a FREE initial consultation service which not only provides an idea of the current value of your property but gives extremely useful advice on maximising the value when selling. To book click the link: https://www.fifeproperties.co.uk/property-valuation/

The UK has the cheapest agent fees in Europe

For most of us, the purchase of a property will be the biggest single expense which we ever have to cover, and the fees associated with this are often touted as expensive. However, a recent report has shown that fees in the UK are the lowest in Europe and therefore the old myth of expensive fees has been debunked, with other parts of Europe up to five times more expensive than the UK.

The average commission paid on the sale of a property in the United Kingdom is 1.2%, according to analysis from GetAgent, which is lower than all other European countries, with Denmark and Ireland next cheapest at 1.25% and 1.75% respectively. On the other end of the scale is Romania with an average fee of 6% – five times more than the UK.

“I think it’s fair to say that estate agents in the UK have a tough time of it when it comes to justifying their fees, with the predominant opinion being that they charge too much for the service provided,” said Colby Short, GetAgent’s chief executive officer.

“This really isn’t the case and as this research shows, the UK is actually home to the lowest estate agent fees in the EU and therefore you could argue, the best service as well. Of course, the price of property means there is a degree of relativity and the 6% commission you might pay in Romania will be a lot lower due to the lower cost of getting on the ladder,” he pointed out.

“So while you consider if three to four thousand pounds is a justifiable spend when selling a property for hundreds of thousands, remember you could be paying upward of ten thousand if you were to live in another area of Europe,” he added.

Fife Properties Group Office Owner, Jim Parker commented, “Choosing an Estate Agent to sell your house will probably be one of the most important things you will ever do. While fees are important what is equally important is the end result. Having an Estate Agent that can demonstrate the ability to achieve more than the asking price on a consistent basis could far outweigh trying to save a few hundred pounds in fees at the beginning.”

Fife Properties currently offer a FREE initial consultation service which not only provides an idea of the current value of your property but gives extremely useful advice on maximising the value when selling. To book click the link: https://www.fifeproperties.co.uk/property-valuation/

Do higher temperatures affect house prices?

It is widely accepted that the warmer months in spring and summer bring with them spikes of activity in terms of the buying and selling of properties. A new piece of research has taken this one step further, however, and directly linked an increase in temperatures to increases in house prices.

The research conducted by a national estate agent firstly looked at seasonal differences in selling prices, and it comes as no surprise that the summer season posted the highest average selling price. In Winter 2018, the average selling price was £291,810 and this increased to £293,347 in Springtime. Summer average sale prices increased once more to £301,321 and prices during the autumn period fell to £289,833.

With seasonal changes prevalent in terms of property pricing, it is the temperatures themselves which the researchers then looked into. The data shows a direct correlation between price decreases between January and February as the temperatures cool, and similar changes are recorded as both temperatures and prices consistently increase from February through to July.

When analysing the seasonality on a financial level, the research shows that selling prices increase by £2,150 for every single degree of temperature change. For every degree that the temperature increased, this represented an extra £1,461 in sold price; however, the drop-off in temperatures increased to £2,838 for every degree colder.

Fife Properties Group Office Owner, Jim Parker commented, “While it is often perceived that the Summertime can produce higher prices, often this is due to the fact that sellers with higher priced property come to market at this time of year and push this average figure up so we should not get hung up on seasonality. It is true that spring and summer tend to bring more people to the market, and it does go quicker because viewings can be undertaken quicker due to lighter nights. I always recommend it is worth getting the facts first before making any decisions on selling and that is what we are there for.”

Fife Properties currently offer a FREE initial consultation service which not only provides an idea of the current value of your property but gives extremely useful advice on maximising the value when selling. To book click the link: https://www.fifeproperties.co.uk/property-valuation/

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