How To Sell Your Home

Your 3 choices on who to help you with your mortgage

2016-10-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

When you are looking to get a mortgage it really helps to use a professional to guide you through your options. You want someone who has experienced it all before to let you know how to get the most from the process. In the UK you really have three options on who will guide you through the process of getting a mortgage. Here is my guide to your 3 choices on who to help you with your mortgage.

Independent Mortgage Adviser

An independent mortgage adviser can access deals from a while de range of mortgage providers to help you get a great deal. They are not tied to any lender (hence the term independent) so they can look for the deal that works best for you. They have access to enough lenders to be considered "whole of market" so you stand the best chance of getting the deal that is right for you.

Mortgage adviser with an estate agent

Typically a mortgage adviser with an estate agent will have access to between 5 and 10 lenders. All estate agents will want you to see their mortgage adviser. All members of the team will be targeted on get a certain number of people to sit down with their mortgage adviser. Don't feel pressured to do this but know that there can be some benefits.

The big estate agency chains in the UK will have a lot of influence with lenders so they often end up with great deals that you can't get anywhere else. Estate agency chains deliver a lot of business to the big lenders so you can benefit from this relationship by getting a great deal.

The mortgage adviser with your bank

We start to move down the scale with the number of lenders a mortgage adviser can access here.

An independent mortgage adviser will access anything up to a hundred lenders.

A mortgage adviser in an estate agency will access between 5 and 10 lenders.

The mortgage adviser in your bank will access only one.

But they can be useful. If you struggle to follow me a lender via one of the other advisers then your bank may come up with the solution. They know you and can often give you better teens and more leeway than a lender you have no existing relationship with. Think about your bank if other avenues fail.

If you are looking for a mortgage or to buy or sell your home then there can be a lot of new things to learn. My books are designed to help you understand the process and get the most from it.

The 4 reasons you really need to use an estate agent when selling your home

2016-10-04T23:17:00.000-07:00

They are one of the most maligned professions. Every year when the surveys come out of the professionals that people love to hate, estate agents are always right up there with politicians, tax collectors, traffic wardens and (recently) bankers.They often have a reputation for-

Being incompetent
Promising the earth and failing to deliver
Having poor communication
Being expensive

But selling your home in the UK would be almost impossible without an estate agent because of the way that the system is set up. There are options such as choosing an online-only estate agent but in reality an estate agent is an estate agent. Here is my guide to the 4 reasons you really need to use an estate agent when selling your home.

4 - Experience

An estate agent will have been through this process many times before and they really should have seen it all by now. Selling your home with an estate agent means that whatever issues arise they can calmly and professionally deal with it.

A buyer loses their mortgage offer and can now only borrow £10,000 less? Don't worry, they've seen it all before!

Someone in the chain is stalling? Your estate agent will have dealt with this in the past!

Their expertise and experience is a sign that you can relax throughout the process because the estate agent will be on the ball and will resolve all the issues that can arise. Traditionally they don't get paid until they have sold your home so it is in their interest to get your home sale through to completion.

3 - A database of registered buyers

Many properties will be sold to people that are already known to the estate agent, so the hard work of marketing a property and generating an interest in it has already been carried out by your chosen agent. They have a database of people that have registered as looking to buy a property and this list contains first time buyers, people looking to move home and investors. It gives you the best chance of finding someone that the estate agent already knows as soon as possible.

You want to be able to reach as wide an audience as possible, so using places like social media to attract potential buyers is great but the ideal person would be a potential buyer that has already expressed an interest and gone to the trouble of registering with an estate agent.

2 - Negotiation

When you have found a buyer then you need to negotiate your best price, anything you are leaving behind and the terms of the sale. For some people the chance to negotiate is exciting but for many they need the support and professionalism of an estate agent to help them get through this. Your estate agent will have the necessary skills and experience to handle these negotiations and they are able to act as an intermediary. The seller and the buyer are both emotionally attached to the transaction and tempers can become a little frayed. With an intermediary acting as a go-between the negotiations can run more smoothly and both sides can speak freely without fear of offending the other.

1 - Time

There just aren't enough hours in the day to sell your home without the help of an estate agent. An estate agent will-

Answer questions on your property
Call the details out to their registered buyers
Market your property online and locally
Arrange viewings
Broker negotiations
Deal with the mortgage adviser, solicitor, surveyor, etc

You have a busty life and unless you can take a sabbatical from your day job for a few weeks or months then you need an estate agent to help you through all of this. Using an estate agent saves you countless hours of your time when selling your home.

If you are thinking about selling your home then my guide to selling your home will really help. It contains tips and ideas on how to make the most of the home selling process. There are other books in the series too about how to buy a home and how to get a mortgage. Check them out now-

Top 5 tips for getting the right mortgage

2016-09-19T01:22:00.000-07:00

When it comes to buying your first home there is a lot of things to remember. You have new processes and new people along the way and you want to get the most you can from buying a home.

One area where you can save a great deal of money is your mortgage. Making the right choices with your mortgage can save you thousands over the life of the mortgage. It is a vital part of buying a home. Here are our top 5 tips for getting the right mortgage-

5 - Understand what it is all about

There are many decisions that go together to make up your mortgage. You will need to know who to use, which product to take and other decisions too. When all of these choices come together you will have a mortgage that works for you. But you need to do the research to understand what is going on so you get a mortgage that really works for you.

4 - Decide how to repay your mortgage

The repayment of your mortgage is a vital decision. At the end of your mortgage term the lender will want all of their money back. The most popular eat is by capital and interest repayment but that isn't the only choice. Look at the options s d decide what might be the right one for you.

3 - Check your credit file

The lender will certainly take a long hard look at your credit file so why not check it out yourself first?

You can look it up for free and see what it says about you. If there are any issues with it then it is best to get them sorted out before you approach a lender yo borrow money. Forewarned is forearmed.

2 - Choose the right mortgage adviser

The choice of mortgage adviser can make a big difference in the amount you pay in the leg term. An independent mortgage adviser will have access to more lenders but might not be able to get the same deals as a mortgage adviser at the estate agent or your bank. Look at the options and find out which is the right one for you.

1 - Get an Agreement In Principle

You won't really know how likely it is that you can get a mortgage until you get an Agreement In Principle from a lender. The Agreement In Principle or AIP is where they check you against their profile of an ideal mortgage candidate and see both of they will lend to you and how much. The AIP is your certificate to show that you can borrow a set amount of money. Use it to assure estate agents that you can buy the homes they are selling.

If you are looking to get your first mortgage or just want to know more then my book Mortgages Explained will help you. It is full of ideas, hints and tips and really expands on the points above to help you get the most from the process of obtaining a mortgage.

The top 4 reasons why promoting your home for sale on Facebook will really help

2016-09-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

The way that property is sold has changed. Over the last year in particular in the UK there has been a massive rise in the number of online-only estate agents. They offer low prices and big exposure to people thinking of selling their home. It is really tempting to go with these guys and make a big saving against using a High Street estate agent. The adverts tell you that you can save thousands. The proof isn't yet out there because the online-only estate agents haven't taken a massive share of the market yet but they have generated a lot of interest.

It gets you thinking about what might be the best way to sell your property. Using social media platforms like Facebook can really help you to gain vital exposure for your home for sale and help your estate agent to get you the best deal.Here are the top 4 reasons why promoting your home for sale on Facebook will really help

4 - You can add and amend as many photos as you like
You have complete control over the marketing of your property if it is on your own Facebook profile. You can upload photos, take some away, take new images and start all over again if you want. The photographs on property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and On The Market don't change very often and once your home has been on there for a while it looks stale and people click straight past it. You can counter that effect by having your on page updated with photos whenever you are ready.

3 - You can keep it up to date
Because you know what is happening in your home you are best positioned to keep people informed. If you redecorate of tidy an area up then just get a new photo and upload it. Your estate agent will have limited time and resources to do this for you on their own website and the property portals like Rightmove, so if you can do this on Facebook it might help to catch a buyer.

2 - Many of your contacts will be local
A large proportion of homes are sold to people that already live in the area. The fact that m,any of your contacts will be local people who you know, went to school, with or work with means that you can get your property in front of the local people that are likely to buy it. You can get people who you know well to share it and your connection to the local market grows.

1 - You have a reach that your estate agent doesn't
Estate agents only really promote properties to people that are looking to buy a home. I know this sounds obvious but there are more opportunities out there than that. people may not be on the market (so they don't look at estate agents websites or Rightmove) but might see your home on Facebook and think that they want it. You can each people that your estate agent does not have the means to contact. The marriage of the estate agent's knowledge and your reach will be the best way to get your home sold.

If you are thinking about selling your home (or indeed thinking about buying) then my books are available on the Amazon Kindle Store that can help you get the most from the process. They are filled with great idea like the ones above and will help you to get sold quickly and for a great price-

The top 5 ideas to make your open house go with a bang

2016-09-06T09:28:00.002-07:00

When you are selling your home there are different ways to attract the right buyers to your door. Your estate agent might recommend an open house to get more people looking and increase the interest levels. This is all well and good but there are several things you need to get right if you want it to be a success. Here are my top 5 ideas to make your open house go with a bang.

5 - Get cleaning

Your home will come under quite a bit of scrutiny when you host an open house. People will come to you and put your home through its paces so be prepared. You really want your home to look immaculate at the start of the open house. The idea behind it is that you have people competing for your home on the day. Your property looking it's best will help you to achieve this.

4 - Make it right for your potential buyers

You need to think about who might be likely to buy your home and make sure the open house works for them. If you have a family home then an area for kids to sit and play or colour in will be an ideal distraction while the parents look around. Also seeing their kids comfortable and happy in a property will make them more likely to buy.

3 - Make sure it's advertised well

Although a lot of this will be down to your estate agent, you want as many people there as possible to make it a success. Keep in touch with your estate agent to make sure they are getting in touch with as many people as they can. You can also use your social media and your own contacts (through work for example) to increase the interest and get more people through the door.

2 - Cater for the occasion

You want to keep people in your home for a while so they get used to their surroundings and consider making an offer. A great way to do this is to provide them with food and drink so they can mingle and spend a bit of time in your home. Food and drink are the ideal way to get people to feel at home and this makes them much more likely to want to buy.

1 - Make it look a million dollars

You are not just selling a home - you are selling an aspiration. Our top idea is to make sure your home looks and feels great. Fresh flowers, scented candles, freshly baked bread and freshly ground coffee are all ways to get your home smelling great. Your kitchen and bathroom need to look and feel as though they are wonderful places to spend time. Get this right and you will attract potential buyers to make an offer.

If you have a home to sell, or if you are looking to buy a home, then my books have information and ideas to help you get the most from the process. Check them out today-

4 signs it might be time to switch your estate agent

2016-08-26T02:36:00.002-07:00

When you are trying to sell your home you need the support of a good estate agent. Although you may have gone through all the right steps when choosing an estate agent things may just not work out with them. But the trick is when to spot the signs that they are not going to cut the mustard. If you spot these signs then you are in danger of not selling your home for the best price in a timescale that suits you and your circumstances.Here is our guide to the 4 signs it might be time to switch your estate agent-

4- A lack of enthusiasm
The enthusiasm and energy that an estate agent displays is what will sell your home. If your agent doesn't seem upbeat about your home then this will work its way through to the potential buyers. In most cases the first person that you saw from the estate agency would have been the lister. But they are not the ones that will sell your home. It is unlikely that you will ever see them again. If the rest of the team are not getting behind your property then it will cause you problems in the long run. Think about how the lack of enthusiasm may affect your chances of selling your home. It might be time to look for someone else.

3- Errors
This may sound like a vague heading but you will know what I mean if it ever happens (or has ever happened) to you. Your estate agent is a professional that you pay to sell your home. As part of the process they advertise your home. particularly on the internet. If you find that they have got the description wrong, missed out a room or another error then it doesn't look good. The errors that your estate agent makes might be a sign that they are overloaded with work or that they are not thorough in their job. Either way you won;t get the best service and even at this early stage you might want to look for an alternative agent.

2- Poor communication
This is really unforgivable in an estate agent but it happens far too often. The estate agent has it as part of their role to keep you informed about what is going on with your house sale at all times. They need to gather feedback from viewings, let you know how the marketing is going and keep you in the loop when it comes to progressing the sale. If you hear nothing from your estate agent for a long period of time then you have right to start worrying. In my view every estate agent should be speaking to every one of their sellers at least once a week.If you don't hear from your estate agent then start to look for one that will keep you informed.

1- They keep asking you to lower the price
This is the biggest sign that you might need to ditch your estate agent and look somewhere else. You chose the estate agent because you felt that they understood your property. It is a worrying sign when an estate agent starts to talk about a price reduction quite early on in the marketing. You trusted their judgement with the price to begin with and now they are telling you to drop it - something doesn't feel right. If your estate agent starts talking to you about dropping the price in the first 6 weeks of marketing with them then you have reason to question their initial valuation and start to look for another estate agent.

If you are looking to sell your home and want some advice and tips on how to get the most from the process then my book on selling your home is available now. Also in the series is the popular book on buying a home and the combined book - "How To Buy A Home - And Sell It Too!"

The top 6 pitfalls to avoid when buying your first home

2016-08-16T07:51:00.004-07:00

When buying a home for the first time you will have only a little idea of what is in store for you. It is useful to know the right things to do when buying your first home but what can be even more crucial is to know what to avoid. Here is our guide to the top 6 pitfalls to avoid when buying your first home-

6- Don't think that it will happen quickly

When you go into the home buying process for the first time you will probably be astonished at how long it takes. An average home purchase will take around three months to go through so don't become frustrated if it takes a long time. Be prepared to do a lot of waiting.

5- Don't rush in

Although you've just learned that it won't happen quickly, this is no reason to rush things. By trying to hurry things along by choosing one of the first homes you see you will more than likely make a bad choice. It is beneficial to take you time and find the right property for you. When you are buying your first home it is important to get this right.

4-Don't rely on a mortgage survey

The survey that your lender commissions is a really basic report. It confirms for the lender that the property is broadly worth what you are paying for it. You may well want a more comprehensive survey carried out so you have a good idea of any issues with the property or repairs that might be needed.

3- Don't forget all the other costs

When you buy your first home all your attention can be focused on the money you need for a deposit. But buying a home has other associated costs and you need to consider. Legal fees, stamp duty land tax and mortgage fees can run into the thousands of pounds when buying a home so don't overlook them. You need to keep an eye on all your costs to ensure you know what they are in advance and plan for them before they cause an issue.

2- There are mortgages out there than the one offered by your bank

For most people buying their first home a mortgage is an integral part of the process. When you are looking for a mortgage you need to remember that there are more lenders out there than just your bank. Other lenders might be able to offer you more money, a better rate or lend you money on a property your own bank won't consider. Look around to see what else might be on offer.

1- Don't think it's over until the ink is dry

When buying a home it can be easy to think that you make an offer and then sit back. But from that stage in there is still a long way to go. You will still need all the mortgage, insurance, survey and legal side of things to fall into place. You then have to multiply all these considerations by every property in the chain. The professionals involved will do a lot of work behind the scenes to get your home ready. Don't sit back - keep in touch on a regular basis.

If you are looking to buy your first home then my Amazon Kindle books will help you through the process. I have written guides to buying a home and selling a home to help you get the most from the process. Check them out by clicking on the images below-

The 4 professionals you need when buying your first home

2016-08-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

When you buy a home for the first time it can be quite a daunting prospect. There is so much to know and do and sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. But help is at hand. There are professionals that you can rely on during the process of buying your first home. Here are the 4 professionals you need when buying your first home.

Mortgage adviser

The vast majority of homes are bought with a mortgage. I suspect that to buy your first home you will need the advice of a mortgage adviser to find out how much you can borrow and how much that will cost. Speak to a mortgage adviser at the start of the process so you can plan out what you can afford. You can speak to a mortgage adviser at your bank or go and see an independent mortgage adviser.

Estate agent

Once you know how much you can afford you will want to start looking for property. You can register on all the property portals like Rightmove but nothing beats the advice if a good estate agent. Speak to a few of them and get registered with them. You get a better chance of seeing property quicker than with the property portals and can ask them as many questions as you like. Remember that the estate agent acts on behalf of the sellers though when it comes to making an offer.

Solicitor

To make sure that everything runs smoothly you must use a solicitor. They will protect you when it comes to buying a home. It is a big purchase and you want the peace of mind that you are buying somewhere that doesn't cause you any problems in the future. Your mortgage adviser and estate agent will probably recommend a solicitor to you but they will be paid a commission for their referral. Ask the people you know of they can recommend you a solicitor.

Surveyor

When you have found somewhere to buy you want to know all about it. A surveyor will go round to the property and check it out. They can let you know about the condition of the roof, whether there is any damp and any other issues that might cost you money in the future. A good survey can stop you buying somewhere that is in poor condition or allow you to adjust the price to take into account of the work needed.

You need to rely on professional people when buying your first home. The four key people above will help to make the journey as smooth as possible.

If you are looking to buy your first home (or even sell a home) then my books in the Amazon Kindle store will really help. They walk you through the process step by step so you can go into the home buying or selling process with the confidence that you know what you are doing.

The 5 things that will stop your home from selling

2016-07-26T04:14:00.000-07:00

When it comes to selling your home you need to make sure that it is in the best condition you can make it. Potential buyers will have many choices when it comes to a new home so yours needs to be in the best possible shape to attract these buyers. The ideal situation you want to be in is when you get more than one buyer interested. In this situation you might get people willing to outbid each other and get the best possible price for your home. But to do this there are certain things that you really need to avoid when it comes to selling your home. Here is our guide-

5- Buyers are put off by the sight of dirt
This is such a simple one to fix. Buyers don't always use their imagination when it comes to buying a home. They see the condition that it is in today and make a judgement on that. If you have a little dirt or grime, especially in the kitchen or bathroom then get it cleared up. In the buyers eyes it is a sign of a home that is not well cared for and this affects the value.

4- The garden is a part of your home for sale too
When you prepare your home for sale it is so easy to get caught up in the inside of the home and forget about your garden. It is an important part of the way your home is viewed. The from garden will be seen on the initial image most of the time on the internet and will also bee seen from the kerb at a viewing before the potential viewer has even set foot inside your home. What is it they say about impressions being made in the first 30 seconds? Ignore the garden at your peril.

3 -Football rivalries can stop a home sale
In parts of the country football rivalry can run deep. I live in the North East of England and a home that is plastered in Sunderland memorabilia will put off a Newcastle fan, and vice versa. Nobody is telling you to stop supporting them but while you want to sell your home the attic might be a better place for all your football gear for now.

2 - The price is wrong and people don't view your home for sale
It is of vital importance to get the price right when trying to sell your home. Any new home to the market will have the greatest impact in the first month or so. This is because this is when it is new to market and when people first hear about it. They will be sent it by their estate agent (your estate agent too!) and see it on the property portals such as Rightmove. If the price is too high then people will immediately dismiss it from their consideration and you will have wasted all the power of that initial impact.

1 - Avoid nasty smells to sell your home
When you are trying to sell your home then nasty smells are the number one turn-off for potential buyers. Pets, children, oil and cigarette smoke will put off many buyers and stop your home selling for the very best price. If you know that you have viewings then do all you can to eliminate these smells from your home. Get the pet outside, smoke outside and give the whole place a spring clean. The addition of nice smells such as baking bread, freshly cut flowers or air fresheners will help but don't use them to make bad smells. Clean up first then add nice smells after.

If you are looking to sell your home then all the information you can get together will really help you. I have written a guide to selling your home and a guide to buying your first home (plus a guide that combines the two) and they are available on the Amazon Kindle store today-

The 5 questions your estate agent should be asking potential buyers of your home for sale

2016-07-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

When it comes to selling your home you need the help of a good estate agent to get the best price. But not every potential buyer will want your home. But no need to worry. A top estate agent will gather all the feedback they need to advise you on how to sell your home. The comments that viewers make will allow you to make any changes needed to get that sale from the next viewer.

Feedback is hugely important when you are selling your home. The bland comments such as "it's not for me" just don't cut it any more. Your estate agent must find out for you the information you need (and they need) to improve the marketing of your home. Here are the 5 questions your estate agent should be asking potential buyers of your home for sale-

5- What would you offer for it?

This is a great question for an estate agent to ask. It gets to the core of the situation and confirms whether the asking price is right. People may not want to buy your home but if you ask this question then you will know if the price is a major factor.

4- When would you like to view again?

This is a loaded question that assumes the viewer has an interest in the property. It is a great question to ask because it establishes a connection between the potential buyer and your property. It would be highly unusual for someone to make an offer on your property after only one viewing so multiple viewings means more chance of getting it sold.

3- What would you change?

The answer to this question will help you to consider the pinch points when it comes to the property you have for sale. I wouldn't recommend making major changes on the back of one comment but if there is consistent feedback about one area of your home then it will give you something to focus on. Consider a lock of paint, some basic repairs, improvements or decluttering to get potential buyers back on your side.

2- What did you like?

This works really well with the last question to form an opinion of the property. When your estate agent gathers the answers to this question it can give you a list of the things the marketing needs to highlight. It gives you all the areas of your home that you need to shine when the next viewer comes along. Make the most of these opportunities to sell your home.

1- What were the parts you didn't like?

Yes, our number one question really is that simple. The feedback that you get here can provide you with some great ideas when it comes to selling it. Your estate agent should encourage the viewers to be totally honest here. The answers may range from things that you can do nothing about (location) to others that you can improve to get more viewers in and increase your chances of a sale.

If you are looking to sell your home (or even looking to buy one) then my guides to selling and buying property will be really useful. Check them out on the Amazon Kindle store-

The 7 keys rules of choosing an estate agent

2016-07-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

When it comes to selling your home you will almost always use an estate agent to get the most from the process. But it can be difficult to know how to choose an estate agent. You need to think about what it all means for you. Here are my seven key rules for choosing an estate agent.

The first rule is do not choose on based on price
It can be easy to think that all estate agents are alike and if you choose the cheapest on then you are making a saving. This is far from the truth of the situation. Often a cheap estate agent is one that does not spend a great deal of money on advertising your property for sale.They are cheap because they don't spend the money that will secure the results. These must be avoided.

The second rule is do not chose based on price
I know that I have stolen a line from Fight Club but this is so important that it needs to be reinforced. Just choosing an estate agent because they are cheap is no way to go about selling your biggest asset.

The third rule is don't just settle for the estate agent that values your home the highest
Again this can be tempting. If you get three agents round and one says that they can get £20k more for your home then the other two it sounds like no-brainer. But what they say may not be what they can deliver.Do your own research so you know what your home should go on the market for BEFORE an estate agent comes round.

The fourth rule is speak to 3 estate agents
This may seem like an arbitrary figure but there estate agents is a good number to see how your home will sit in the market. You need to know from these agents what they do for you and why they are different. This gives you a great idea about the decision you will make.

The fifth rule is to feel comfortable with your choice
This is someone that you will entrust to sell your home and someone that you will be in close contact with for several months. You want that person to be easy to talk to and that you can deal with. This means a lot when it comes to those negotiations.

The sixth rule is to find out what your estate agent offers
There are more sides to estate agency now then there were 5 or 10 years ago. Your estate agent may offer Rightmove Premium Listings, floor plans, 3D tours on any of a whole host of ways to bring your home to the attention of potential buyers. Find out what they do and if they charge any extra or it. Make the final decision based on what they can do for you - not what they cost.

The seventh rule is to find out how they market your home
All the little extras above may help but what you really need to know is what they will do on the day you give them the instruction. An estate agent that proactively phones out to all their registered buyers will more than likely do a better job than the one that puts it on their website and waits for a response. Ask what they do with your property and this will help you to choose the agent that is right for you.

If you are looking to sell your home (or indeed looking to buy one) then my books are available now that go through the process step by step to help you get the most from it. They are available on the Amazon Kindle store now-

The 5 most important people on moving day when you buy a new home

2016-07-04T05:53:00.001-07:00

When you buy a new home there are certain things that have to happen in a particular order to make it a success. You hire a bunch of professionals to get all of this ready for you and when it all comes together on the day you move in there is a lot to do and a lot to remember. Here is my guide to the five most important people on the day you move and why-

5 - Mortgage & Insurance Adviser

Your mortgage adviser will need to know what is going on from you, if they haven't got their finger on the pulse already. If you exchange contracts and complete on the same day then they will need to know when to put your buildings and contents insurance ion place. This is vital to make sure that you are covered. if you exchange and complete on different days (which is still far more common) then your adviser will need to put your buildings insurance in place on exchange and the contents on completion. Keep them in the loop.

4 - Removal Company

These guys will make a big difference to a comfortable move. Sometime people do this themselves but if you use a removal company then they need to know what is going on and at what time. They will have all of your belongings packed up and ready to go. You need to stay in contact with them to make sure that they get your stuff to you at the right time so you can move in and start your new life in your new home.

3 - Estate Agent

The estate agent will hold the keys to your new home so you need to make sure you have their number programmed into your phone. You will liaise with them to get hold of the keys as soon as possible. You want to be able to move into your new home!

2 - Solicitor

Your solicitor will be the person that will confirm to you that all the legal work is done and the home is actually yours! They are the only person that can guarantee the deal has been done and that you can get everything else in place. Stay in touch with them on moving day so you know for sure that you are ready to move in.

1 - YOU

Although you may think that getting the keys and moving in are the end of the process, in many ways they are just the start. There are things that you need to take care of as soon as possible and some of these just need to be done on moving day. You need to take meter readings and call these in to the utility companies. In the coming days you will need to-

change your address with your bank
get your TV provider installed
sort out broadband
let your employer know that you have moved

And much more. Remember that you need to get everything lined up just right so moving day runs as smoothly as possible.

If you are buying your first home (or indeed selling a home) and need more information and advice then my books will really help you on the way. They are full of information and will help you through the process. Check them out-

The 5 things to look out for when choosing an estate agent

2016-06-30T00:15:00.002-07:00

When you are selling your home you will almost certainly need the help of an estate agent. If may be some time since you last used an estate agent, if ever, so here are the key things to look out for when choosing your estate agent-

5 - Do they sell homes like yours?

Different estate agents will specialise in different types of property. You want an agent that understands your part of the market to sell your home. If the agent is full of flats and you have a house to sell them it's best to look somewhere else.

4 - Ask people you know for a recommendation

When your friends, family or work colleagues have had experience with an estate agent it is wise to ask their advice. The experience that someone you know has just had will help you greatly to choose an estate agent - or to know which to avoid.

Nothing beats a personal recommendation so ask people you know and get the lowdown on what that agent is actually like.

3 - Which property portals are they using?

The way to get your property seen is via the property portals. No matter what your estate agent says the overwhelming market leader is still Rightmove. If they are not there then it will harm your chances of selling and getting the next price.

Property portals are the place where a massive proportion of property is noticed. If you're not in the right place then it harms your chance of selling your home.

2 - Photographs sell properties

The quality of the photographs that your estate agent produces makes a huge difference to the chance you have of selling your property. Take a look at their current listings to see how well they take photos.

Images of the bathroom? Probably best to give them a miss.

Your home should shine on the because that where your potential buyers will see it. Make sure you choose an estate agent that can do that for you.

1 - The fee isn't everything

This is the most important thing to consider when you are looking for an estate agent to sell your home. A low fee might be tempting but what you get for your fee is far more important. An estate agent this is cheap because they don't spend money on marketing your property are never the right choice.

It's obvious. If you save a few hundred pounds on your estate agents fee but lose a few thousand on the sale price then you've lost out. The estate agent that can sell your home for the best price is the one to choose.

If you are looking to get the most from the home selling or home buying process then my series of books are a great place to start. They are available on the Amazon Kindle store.

The 4 key things you can do to get the best price for your home

2016-06-27T02:12:00.002-07:00

When it comes to selling your home for the very first time it can be a daunting prospect. You've never been through this before and you're nor sure what to expect. Although every home sale is different there are four key things that you can do that will help you to get the very best price when it comes to selling your home.

4 - Be flexible with viewings

Home buyers can be quite impulsive. If they want to see your home then you will have the best chance if your potential buyers can see your home as soon as possible. If you can't find the time for them to see it soon then they may have found something else in that time.

Find someone you know, ask a trusted neighbour or give the estate agent a key. It is really important that you make your home for sale available for viewers. Flexibility is key.

3 - Think about what you are prepared to leave behind

Sometimes it can sweeten a deal of there are certain items you are prepared to leave behind. White goods, curtains and items of furniture might not fit into where you are moving to so the deal can work for both parties.

If you think in advance about what you are prepared to let go then this can be an important part of negotiations later on in the sale.

2 - Choose an estate agent that takes great photos

Much is said about kerb appeal when it comes to selling your home. In this day and age internet images are the new kerbs! You need to choose an estate agent that can show off your home to its best. Look through the listings of your local estate agents and find the ones that take great photos. This will really help you to sell your home.

The images that can be found in the Internet in relation to selling your home will determine whether people want to come round and see your home. The more viewers you can attract then the better chance you have of selling your home.

1- Set a realistic price from this start

The most important factor when it comes to selling your home is the price. It is so important to pitch this at the right level. Your home will have the best chance of selling in the first few weeks that it goes on the market. This is when all of these factors need to come together. You have to be available for viewings, you have to be prepared for negotiations and you have to have the right photos to get those viewers. But most importantly you have tinder acres listing price. If you set it too high then you run the chance of all this effort going to waste. Once your home has been on sale for a few months then it becomes stale and people ignore it. That's when you can end up losing big money.

If you are looking to get the most from selling or even buying your home then my series of books will help you. They are packed with great ideas that will help you get the most from selling or buying your home.

The 5 things that every home buyer needs to know NOW

2016-06-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

When you are buying home, especially for the first time, you are surrounded by information and advice. It is a really daunting time and you sometimes just don't know which way to turn. Buying a home is full of difficult decisions that can make a massive difference to the chances you have of finding the place of your dreams. Don't be caught up in all the confusion. If you discover the 5 things that every home buyer needs to know then you can get ahead-

5. Consider all the costs

Too many home buyers just think about the size of deposit they need when it comes to buying a home. There are other costs and these can add up. You will need a survey, possibly a full one if the property is quite old. This can add a few hundred to your costs. There is also the solicitor. And that's before the tax man asks for his money because you may be liable to stamp duty land tax. The rates change regularly so check them out here -

https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/overview

4. Do your research

It's good to know what you are dealing with when it comes to buying a home. Look at all the things that will be important to you in that home - quality of nearby schools, how close to transport links, if it is near a busy road, etc. But also don't forget the things about the home - how long has it been on the market? Has the price been reduced? What is the council tax? You can find all this info (and much more) online and if can make a big difference to your home buying decisions.

3. Look beyond the current condition

It is so easy to walk into a home and think "I don't like the decor" or "I hate this kitchen" but buying a home is about so much more than this. The decor can be easily changed. A new kitchen doesn't cost the earth. What is important is the space that the home has and the location that it is in. Neither of these can be changed easily but most everything else about the home can. Make a decision based on what you can make the home become rather than what it is now. The savvy home buyer can see through all of this and decide whether the home is right for them based ion what they can see it looking like in the future with a little TLC. Think about what you are buying and see it in a different light.

2. The estate agent is contracted to look after the seller - not you

This may vary from country to country but in the UK the estate agent has a contact with the person they are marketing the house for. It states that they will endeavour to get the best deal for the person selling the home. Although every transaction needs two parties - a buyer and a seller- - the estate agent has a duty to get the best deal for their client. This is not you. I'm not saying the you shouldn't trust the estate agent but you should be aware of this when buying a home.

1. Sort your finances out first

This is by far and away the most important thing you can do when it comes to buying a home. Too many people look through the property portals and speak to estate agents before they truly know the state of their finances. How do you know if you are looking at property in the right price range? The simple answer is that you son't. Without seeing a mortgage adviser you may not even know if you can get a mortgage at all. Imagine all those wasted hours looking for a new home only to find out that you can't get a mortgage. Make sure that this is top of our list.

If you are looking to buy a home then you can get all the information you need from my great Amazon Kindle books-

The top 5 things you can change TODAY to sell your home

2016-06-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Selling your home is a serious business. The differences a well-presented home can make is to add thousands to the sale price. But you get almost no help from your estate agent with making your home as saleable as possible. But there are simple fixes that can make a massive difference when it comes to selling your home. Here are the top find things that you can do today.

5 - Cut the lawn

It sounds like such a simple thing to do but a today garden will do wonders for the kerb appeal of your home. First impressions count a great deal so when you want to sell your home you need to sell your garden. It's not just the lawn. By having a garden that is well-looked-after you are increasing the chances of selling your home. Trim the hedges and add a bit of colour too.

4 - Clean the windows

The two things that sell a home more than any other are space and light. Add to that feeling of light by making sure your windows are sparkling clean before a viewing. People really notice small details like this and it will instantly add value to your home in their eyes.

3 - Fix all the little jobs around the house

This is an easy one to do and really shouldn't take long. If you have a loose door handle or a missing light bulb or whatever in your home then fix it right away. It mat not be something that bothers you too much and you know you will get round to it someday but to the potential buyer this is a sign of neglect. They worry that if these little jobs are not done then there may be bigger jobs that need doing. Take a little time to get all of this in order.

2 - Think about the smell

This may sound like an odd one but the smells that your home carry make a big difference with buyers. Smells of pets, cooking or unemptied bins will lose your buyers straight away. They won't make you an offer. Smells like fresh coffee, freshly baked bread and cut flowers do wonders for the saleability of your home.

1 - Declutter

This has to be at the very top of the list for anyone that wants to sell their home. The more space you can make on your home then the more it will be valued by your buyers. What's more than this - it will help you to sell your home quickly too. A clutter-free home allows your potential buyers to see the potential you have. It is an absolute must for anyone trying to sell a home.

My books are available to help all those involved in selling (or buying) a home

2016-03-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that my books are available how to help you get the most out of your home selling or home buying experience.

The books are full of ideas, hints and tips on how to save money, get the most from the process and get the deal you want.

Check them out on the Amazon Kindle bookstore.

Find ways to highlight the clever features of every propertry - even a tiny home

2016-03-17T23:00:00.001-07:00

People have all kinds of houses to sell and the way in which they present their home makes a massive difference to the potential to get a quick sale or to get the price that you were looking for at the start.

Space

One of the major considerations when selling a home has always been the amount of space that a property has. This needn’t be the case as it isn’t the size of the home that really matters. It is the functionality of the home and what it means to the person or people living there that makes a difference.

Take tiny houses for instance. There are benefits to owning a tiny house that the owners of large property will never be able to appreciate. The cost of building a tiny home will be a fraction of the cost of building a large home. When the savings are made on the building of your home then these can be spent elsewhere. The financial freedom from not having to pay a mortgage for 25 years is a liberating experience and thus means that you can spend your money on the others things that interest you in your life. Keep this in mind when talking to potential buyers about your home.

You need to be organised in a way that you probably never imagined before. When it comes to selling any home the amount of space is only relative to the amount of stuff you fill it with. Any unnecessary clutter can be removed nit just from your home but from your life if you decide to live in a tiny home.

Architecture

Tiny homes are often architecturally clever in their design because they have to make the most of the space that is available. Highlight the clever feature sin your home and you will get potential buyers hooked on these little ideas that make the difference to how you live in the home. Don’t be afraid to talk about the size of your home with potential buyers because you just can’t hide it. But be clever in taking about the parts that make it unique. A tiny home is often a home that has been created in a different way to homes with standard construction.

Be proud of your tiny home and if the time comes to sell it then get the housing market to embrace it for what it is. Small is beautiful!

Should you consider an online-only estate agent?

2016-03-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of publicity at the moment regarding online-only estate agents. They advertise all over the television and extensively online so they can't be missed.

One of the main reasons they cite for using their service is price.

"We save you thousands over using a High Street estate agent."

Or words to that effect.

Their fees are much smaller than those charged by the average estate agent. But don't forget that the average takes in London and the South East of England where house prices are high and subsequently fees quoted in £'s look high too.

I remind you to look at my blog entry on how to choose an estate agent.

This gives you the opportunity to remember what is important when choosing an estate agent. Price is not the only consideration. You have to remember that the service you receive will be directly linked to the income the estate agent receives. Online-only estate agents may have lower overheads but not at the saving level they are advertising.

If you are thinking of selling your home then a great place to start your research is to look at my book. It is available now-

What is important to you when negotiating the sale of your home?

2016-02-10T10:01:00.000-08:00

In this blog we will look at what to do when you have been made an offer and how you go about negotiating the best deal in terms of this offer. The best deal may not always be related to price, there may be other factors at play here – how long it will take them to complete the purchase, what you are leaving behind or other such matters.

What you first need to evaluate is what is important to you? Do you need to agree a price quickly in order to make a move on something you really want? Do you need a certain amount of money in order to be able to make a move to a bigger home? These personal factors are absolutely key to making the decision on how to negotiate. If you need a set amount of money then you need to aim above that in order for the potential buyer to offer lower. It sounds obvious, but there is some basic psychology at play here – people want to be able to tell their family, friends, colleagues that they bargained a great deal. You want to be able to tell your family, friends and colleagues that you stood firm. The best deal is one where both parties walk away thinking that they have gained the upper hand.

For example-

You have your home on the market for £200,000.
You are willing to accept £185,000 as you need the funds to move to a new home.
They offer £180,000.
They are willing to go to £190,000 as they have a mortgage agreed for that amount.
You negotiate to a figure of £187,500 as the sale price.

You are happy because you would have dropped more - £2,500 more.

They are happy because they would have paid more - £2,500 more.

Feedback changes the way you look at marketing your home

2016-02-10T09:56:00.001-08:00

Feedback changes the way you look at marketing your home.

This is what the general public feels about you home now that they have viewed it. Don’t forget that to get to your front door they have found it somewhere (probably on the internet) then made contact with the state agent, looked at further details and then made an appointment to see your home. They have bought what you and the estate agent have presented to a degree that they have made time in their life to view your home. If from that point they don’t want to make an offer on your home then you want to know exactly why. This is the chance of finding out what you can tweak or change to make a better chance of the next person making an offer. Don’t let your estate agent miss out on this. As a seller I want to know how many other properties the potential buyer is viewing and when the estate agent has agreed to speak to them to gather their feedback. This needs to be quality time set aside to have a decent conversation with the potential buyer to establish in detail what they thought of your home. Preferably on a room-by-room basis.

Only from this detailed feedback can you work out what the market is thinking. If, for example, the market wants a better flow from kitchen to dining areas then you can make some small changes to make that happen. If the market thinks your bedroom is too small, then you can de-clutter or move furniture around.

When should you cancel your home insurance as a home seller?

2016-01-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

Following on from the last blog entry, I'm looking at the fact that 20% of home insurance claims are being rejected. This was featured on the BBC website.
I've looked at setting up the right insurance in the first place. Today I'll look at when you need your insurance to run. It's different whether you are selling or buying so let's take a look at what to do.



Selling
You need your home insurance to run until you've competed in the sale and given over the keys. The buyer will have committed to buying from you at the stage of exchange of contracts. But if something happens in between exchanging contracts and actually completing the sale then you could end up in a messy situation as solicitors argue whose problem it is.

It is so much better to be insured and let the insurers deal with each other to sort it all out. You can then cancel the insurance.

Buying
In the same vein as the above, you want to be insured from exchange of contracts as this is the time when you have committed to buy the property. The worst case scenario is that you exchange contracts and then the place burns to the ground when the current owners are out at work. You have then legally agreed to buy somewhere that doesn't in essence exist.

Make sure that you are covered by having your insurance in place at the right time.

If you want to learn more about the process of selling a home then check out my book. It';s full of tips and ideas like this and is available now.

How to stop your home insurance claim from being rejected - from the outset

2016-01-27T07:07:00.000-08:00

There's an article on the BBC website today related to home insurance. It highlights the shocking fact that around 20% of home insurance claims are rejected.

To put this into contrast, only around 1% of car insurance claims are rejected. It makes me think about why they have been rejected and where this fits in the home selling and home buying process.

There are a couple of things that you can do to make sure that your home insurance doesn't leave you with a problem.

Find the right insurance
This isn't always as easy as it sounds. Home insurance policies run into tens of pages and outline all sorts of instances where insurers won't pay out. There are so many clauses and paragraphs that even the best of us can get last in all the wordings.

There are two ways to get ahead in this situation. One is to really read up. To start to get to grips with exclusions, see which of them may affect you and try to find a policy that fits best. The other way to approach this is to get your mortgage adviser to so this legwork for you. If you get together a list if things that are important then they can find the best policy for you. For example-


£2,000 cover for personal possessions outside the home

£1,500 for your bicycle

£2,000 to cover your engagement ring

Cover for burst water pipes

Or whatever it is that us important to you


This then gives the mortgage adviser a shopping list of items to make sure they find for you.

The next entry will look at when you need to stop your home insurance as a seller and when you need to start it as a buyer.

Should I pay a higher fee to an estate agent I think is better?

2016-01-22T23:29:00.000-08:00

I'm writing here today to ask a question that is asked of me more than any other-

"Should I pay a higher fee to an estate agent I think is better?"

If you follow my blog then you'll know that one of the things I advocate is speaking to at least three estate agents before making a decision on who to go to market with.

The reasons are spelled out in a previous blog entry but the end of that process may leave you with the question above.

For example-

You see three estate agents. Agent 1 comes across poorly so you immediately rule them out. Agent 2 comes across as good (but no better) and charges a 1% fee. Agent 3 comes across as excellent and charges a 1.5% fee.

What do you do?

Well the first thing to do is to negotiate with agent 3 to reduce their fees. You are unlikely to get them down to 1% but any reduction in fee is helpful.

After this you have a decision to make. In my mind I would always go for the excellent estate agent. Their "excellence" will go a long way with what you want to achieve. Don't forget that half a percent on a fee will earn you more if the estate agent generates an extra percent or more on the final sale price-

Sold at £100,000 with 1% fee (plus VAT) means you net £98,800 from your sale.
Sold at £101,000 with a 1.5% fee (plus VAT) means you net £99,182 from your sale.

The difference in fee is easily offset by the difference in selling price.

If you are looking to sell your home then my book is available. It gives you tips and ideas on how to sell your home and talks you through situations such as the above. Give it a go.

See how the changes in Stamp Duty can affect your ability to sell your home

2016-01-12T02:27:00.000-08:00

The upcoming changes to the stamp duty rules will may hinder you as a seller, as they make investors less likely to want to buy more property for their portfolio. The changes have been made to promote owner-occupation rather than landlords buying to let.

The changes will come into effect at the start of the new tax year in April 2016, so there may be a little flurry of activity from investors before then.

Although some have proposed ways to get around this increase in tax, however there is expected to be a drop in investor activity immediately after this date.

So, as a home seller, what can I do?

The main way that you can make the most of this situation is to sell your home before the changes take place. This gives you a full market to aim at (owner-occupiers and all investors) before the investors take a break from investing. The break from investing won't be a permanent thing, it will just dampen the market for a little while.

The best way to get the best out of selling your home is to be informed. To help with this, I've published a book full of ideas and hints. It can be found on the Amazon Kindle store-