Tag Archives: Selling

Are you thinking about moving house? Is your current home too big, too small, or just not quite right for you and your family? Maybe it’s a job move you’re considering, or you want to be closer to someone special.

Moving home is usually a complex decision, one that most people take a while to make.

Whatever your reason for moving house, your discussions about whether to stay or go will centre on costs, feasibility, timescales and return on your investment. And then of course there’s the emotional factor; perhaps you feel attached to your home, and it’ll be a wrench to leave it.

Some people (like me) thrive on moving home. Loving the thrill of packing up and starting a new chapter in a new home, and sometimes new place, is exciting. Others feel it’s a bit of a hassle, and can be tempted to overstay their welcome in their current home to avoid it.

Having worked with thousands of homeowners, I’ve distilled their many reasons for moving into these top twelve:

1. Money

Taking a good look at your current expenses is a first step when you’re considering a move. Yes, you may be able to extend, convert or add to your current home to fit your future needs, but will you see a return on your investment when it’s time to sell? Now is the time to examine your finances – try breaking down your options on a spreadsheet – and work out which is the best way forward for you and your wallet.

2. You’ve outgrown your storage space

There’s only so much de-cluttering and sorting you can do to make your storage fit your needs. At some point, you start to realise that your current space just isn’t working for you any more. If your cupboards, under beds and cubbyholes are full to bursting, and in danger of exploding every time you open a door, it may be time to accept you just need more space.

3. Your family is expanding

Maybe when you moved into your current home you were child-free, or you had just one tiny baby. But now a few years on, has your brood expanded? Maybe pets too? Moving to a bigger home may be the next logical step. Aside from needing more space, (bikes, toys, games kit, all takes up so much space) aspects you may have overlooked before — like good school catchment areas and local parks— may be a priority for you now.

4. Empty nester?

If however, you’re now or soon to be an empty nester, why waste money on space you don’t need? If it’s just you and your other half now, or perhaps just you, why not downsize to a smaller home or apartment to save not only on your mortgage but also on utilities, repairs, cleaning time, and more?

5. You have a dream your current place won’t support

Thinking of a change of lifestyle that will require extra space? Maybe you’d like to indulge in a hobby, go freelance or simply start working from home more. If your current home doesn’t allow for the extra space, perhaps it’s time to find one that will accommodate a home office, studio space or whatever your new life chapter needs.

6. You’re ready for a new challenge

If you have spent a lot of time, effort and money on making your current home just right, it can be hard to walk away from it. But what if you’re just bored, and want to start again, putting your stamp on a new place? Maybe in hindsight you would have chosen a different kitchen, a bolder flooring, but it’s too expensive – and new – to replace? Moving to a new home and having a new blank slate to put your own creative mark on can be really exciting.

7. You’ve started cooking at home more

If you can’t get enough of MasterChef and Great British Bake-off, and your current kitchen is limiting your creative cooking, then perhaps moving to a home with a spacious, state-of-the-art kitchen would seem like a dream come true. All those big, shiny surfaces, built in appliances, space to move around…. culinary heaven.

8. Your children don’t invite their friends over

Are your children always going to their friends’ houses, but never invite them back home? Maybe Jack has more room, Rosie’s home has a den, and Ethan’s house has a massive garden with a tree house. Pester power can really make you think about your current home and whether it has everything the whole family needs.

9. You’re sick of sharing a bathroom

Do you crave a candlelit bath with a book, uninterrupted by someone needing the loo? Sick of there being no clean, dry towels left for your shower? You definitely need an ensuite. A space just for mum and dad (but mostly mum) to have some peace and quiet pamper time. Think of it – your own loo, clean hung towels, no empty toiletries’ containers. Bliss.

10. You’re not sure what interest rates are doing

With interest rates at rock-bottom, the only way is up. If you have an amazing mortgage deal, perhaps you’re reluctant to give it up, even if you really do need a bigger home. Whilst it’s true that interest rates are almost certainly set to rise, albeit moderately, the reality is that you can’t control all the factors. So if you’ve outgrown or just aren’t happy with your current home, there’s no reason not to at least explore your options. You might be surprised at what you can afford if you’ve built up enough equity in your current home.

11. You really want to cut the commute

Commuting to and from work can take hours out of your week. Just think, you could be doing much more important things, like spending time with your family, indulging in your hobby and just enjoying some quality after-work time.

Whether you’re starting a new job or keeping your current one, moving closer to work has a lot of benefits.

12. You’ve found love

Meeting that special someone doesn’t necessarily mean it’s suddenly time to pack up and move in. But if you’re seriously considering a permanent commitment, buying a new home you can enjoy together is the next logical step. And house hunting as a loved-up couple is just so romantic!

So, do any of these top twelve reasons for moving fit your move? Or do you have an entirely different motivation for wanting a new home? Drop me a line and let me know; I’d love to hear your moving story.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

I think it was Tom Peters who said, “It’s really difficult to dislike someone once you know their story.” Not only does everyone have their own story, but every home has one too.

Of course, the Tudor black and white timbered home that was once visited by Bonnie Prince Charlie has a long and interesting history that can be used to entice a prospective buyer; but what if you live in a 1970s ‘box’? What can you say about that to make its story interesting to a buyer?

Well, there are several elements which can be combined to make a home’s story; here are a few to get you started:

History of the site

Perhaps your home was built on what used to be a country estate, or the site of a little-known but nevertheless important, battle; or else your town or village has an interesting history which you could draw upon. Contact a local historian and see if you can find out what was on the land before your home was built, and perhaps where your street name originated from.

Architectural provenence

Finding out who designed your home can be a source of interest. I once investigated the architect of a very unusual 1960s home in Cheshire, and discovered the architect had led a colourful and media-rich life. We printed a copy of the original plan, together with some biographical information about the architect, and the extra interest added to the house so fascinated the next viewers that they offered the asking price on the spot.

Famous past owners

Ask your neighbours, local shopkeepers and anyone else who might know about who lived in the house before you did. There may have been a celebrity owner, or someone who led an interesting life. These kinds of connections can be attention-grabbing to a buyer.

Your own history

If you’ve lived in your home for more than a decade or two, you have a story of your own to tell! What about the winter when you were snowed in for a few days, and your neighbours had to help dig you out? Or when you hosted a party for 100 guests in your garden? Or that you have won prizes for your roses? Telling your story can add another dimension to an otherwise unremarkable house.

Stories about your home, your life there, your neighbours and your locality, all make up a rich tapestry of the house you are selling. Sharing extra information will not only grab a buyer’s attention, and capture their interest, it can also help to make sure that your home stands out above the competition. Told in an interesting way, your local paper may also be interested in running a feature on you and your home, which means extra publicity for you. Create an interesting story and the buyers will come.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I was working with a developers, sourcing properties for him, when I got a call out of the blue from John, a friend of a friend.

“Can you help me?” he asked. Turns out he’d been offered a great new job in London, starting immediately, but couldn’t sell his house in Cambridgeshire. He’d already been on the market several months, and reduced his asking price, but he just wasn’t getting viewers across the door. So what was the problem? I promised to investigate, and said goodbye to him.

Now, those were the ‘bad old days’ when Rightmove was just a little property website with a handful of agents on it, so the first place I looked was on his estate agent’s website: I studied the photographs and read the description carefully: it was a spacious four bedroomed, two bathroomed ‘executive’ style home, with modern fittings and a large garden; in short, a great family home. I checked the asking price against his competitors: it seemed to represent good value for money; certainly not over-priced. What about the location? I checked it out: lovely village, within 20 minutes’ drive of Cambridge, and boasting the all-important pub, shop and school. Big tick there then. So what was the problem?

I decided to give the estate agent a call and pose as a buyer, to ask them to send me the property brochure. Perhaps that would hold the answer.

“Good afternoon, Acme Estate Agents, how can I help?” was the chirpy answer.

“Hi there. I’m looking to relocate to the area, and I’d very much like to see anything you have in Smallsville,” I told her.

There was a moment’s hesitation, before her response came back: “I’m sorry, we don’t cover that village, it’s out of our area of coverage”.

I was momentarily struck dumb. Did I really hear her right? After all, I knew very well that she did have a property for sale there: I was staring right at it on their website!

“Where exactly do you cover?” I asked her. As she told me, I traced my fingers on a map. Nowhere near the village in question!

I thanked her, and immediately dialled John. “You’re with the wrong agent!” I burst out. I went on to tell him word-for-word what I’d been told. He was absolutely astounded; not least because the manager of Acme Agents who had taken on the instruction to market his property had assured him that they had “buyers waiting for that very village”.

“That’s why you aren’t getting any viewings!” I told him.

“So which agent should I use?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, “I’m not familiar with the area”.

“Can you find out and recommend one to me?” he asked. “I’ll pay you for your time, of course.”

We agreed a fee, and I told him I’d get back to him with a recommended agent by the end of the week. But where to start?

Firstly, I drew up a criteria of what I thought a really good agent should offer: well-placed office, professional photography, supportive staff, and lots more. My list covered around thirty separate points.

Next, I scoured the internet, checking every agent against my admittedly pretty tough criteria, and came up with a shortlist of only three estate agents.

I decided the only way I could be confident of my recommendation to John, and after all, he was paying me to come up with the best agent for him, was to actually call the respective managers or partners of each of these three shortlisted agents, and ‘interview’ them. So I did.

One I ruled out straight away; I thought his attitude to be overly negative and unaccommodating. I knew the relationship between John and his agent would need to be as strong and positive as possible, right from the start, so I discounted him.

The second agent was positive about the property, but wanted a significant price reduction before taking it on. I told him I’d pass on his advice to my client, and called the third agent.

Just like the Goldilocks fairytale, this agent was ‘just right’. She was positive, friendly and personable; we had a long chat about how she would propose to market John’s house, and I liked everything she said. She also told me she thought the asking price to be realistic, and told me about other properties she’d sold recently in the area. I’d found John’s new agent.

I quickly set up a meeting between the agent, John and his wife, and John called me afterwards, delighted. He and his wife had both really liked the agent I’d recommended, and they had signed up there and then. I was very relieved. Now all she had to do was put her money where her mouth was, and sell John’s house!

A couple of weeks went by. I checked out the online advert, which looked great. John had even taken on board a couple of staging tips I’d given him, so the house was really looking its best. Then, I got a call from John.

“We’ve sold!” he said. “The agent you recommended not only got us half a dozen viewings in the first two weeks, she also negotiated an offer to within £10,000 of our asking price, so we’ve decided to accept it. We can’t thank you enough for putting us on the right track.”

I told him I was absolutely thrilled for him, and picked up the phone to thank the agent, who was suitably modest, but also clearly very pleased.

“So who are you going to send me next?” she asked.

And HomeTruths was born.

I realised in that moment that the average seller has no idea which agent to select to sell their home. They will ask friends, look through the paper, and browse online, but it can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Sellers need professional advice from an independent expert, in order to ensure they instruct the right agent to sell their home effectively.

There are currently around 15,000 estate agents in the UK, and over the years, we have recommended less than 1% of them. We’re picky, to say the least.

HomeTruths is for sellers. What we do could change your life; literally. Because when you need to move on, in every way that one can move on, you really need the cards stacked in your favour. That’s where we come in. We will give you the information you need to get it right, and the confidence to stick to your plan. And there are eight years’ worth of happy sellers behind you, proving it can be done.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

Most sellers who call us have had experiences at least as traumatic as this:

On the other hand, with our help, it could look more like this……

So – what’s it to be?

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

Who will buy your house?

Most sellers, when asked this question, will respond with something to the effect that their house holds mass appeal. I think this point of view could cost you an early sale. Have you heard the saying “specialise or die”? Marketers will tell you that if you don’t specialise, and find your own niche, you won’t attract your target buyer strongly enough to beat off the competition.

In order to make certain your house acts like a magnet to attract your most likely buyer, you need to first identify them, then find out as much as you can about them.

Identify

Ask your agent who he considers to be your most likely buyer, and why. Then look at your viewers: what kind of age group are they in, and what ‘life chapter’ are they currently at? Are they ’upsizing’ or ‘downsizing’? Couple or family?

Motivation

Are they looking for a quieter life at a slower pace, or do they want to move somewhere urban and cosmopolitan? What would they expect to pay and what are they able to pay?

Aspiration

What are they looking for? Do they want great restaurants nearby and a train station within walking distance? Or is it and Aga and space for chickens that they’re searching for?

Match their needs. Your buyers are trying to spot clues that your house is what they’ve been looking for, so make sure they find them: the urbanites may well be pleased to see a bottle of champagne, a state-of-the-art coffee machine and some chic coffee table books. Those buyers wanting an idyllic rural life will be hoping to see an Aga cookbook, a handpicked posy or a homemade loaf of bread.

Remember – know your buyer – win the sale.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

I hear many reasons against having a for sale board: it’s a security risk; we don’t want our neighbours to know; we don’t want people to knock on the door, wanting to view; it’s embarrassing to have a board up for months on end. These are all valid reasons, but none outweighs the merits of having a for sale board outside your home, when you’re trying to sell it. Some reports indicate that up to 50% of enquiries originate from a for sale board, and in a difficult market, that’s a statistic you just can’t afford to ignore. Even if your house is down a no through road, or considerably off the beaten track, you should not take the risk of missing out on even the smallest number of potential buyers that might see it.

Whilst your home is on the market, it’s vital to keep it looking good. If the wind blows it slightly askew, make sure you straighten it without delay, or ask your agent to arrange this. If the board that is erected for you is considerably past its best, and looking tatty, then don’t accept it: ask for a new one to be put up. Keeping it clean and straight is a subtle but strong indication to a buyer that you value the way your home is presented, and they will subconsciously acknowledge this.

Clever ways of using your for sale board:

Put your price on your board.

This is a bold move, and it’s rare a seller tries it. However, if you are on a busy thoroughfare, or maybe in a popular village, putting your asking price on your for sale board can really bring in the enquiries. Otherwise, when an interested buyer sees your house is for sale, they have to do the research themselves to discover whether or not it is affordable to them. This may involve a call to the agent, searching on their mobile, or remembering until they have access to the internet, to look for your house online. These all have the potential elements of delay and frustrations, whereas if the buyer can see straight away the price your home is for sale at, the only step they need to make is to call the agent to book a viewing. More simple, direct, and less susceptible to anything going wrong.

Attach a brochure holder.

Wouldn’t it be lovely for a potential buyer, if whilst walking or driving past your house, he could stop and pick up a brochure? So right at the point of his initial interest, his desire to find out more about your house is fulfilled immediately. He can sit in his car or pause a while on his walk, to take a look through your brochure, and decide whether or not to take the next short step to book a viewing.

Have a unique sign.

There are some sign companies that will create for you a bespoke sign. This could include photographs of your house and garden, and even be constructed like a book, with opening “pages”. This gives the seller the opportunity to ensure that all the best aspects of his home can be ascertained from his sale board, without relying on the buyer to take the necessary steps to find out this information for himself. One example of this is below, where the kitchen is featured. This can be really eye-catching!

In a nutshell, your for sale board could be your biggest and most effective marketing tool, so use it to its best advantage, to make sure that everyone knows your home is on the market, and to lure those buyers to view.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

When you first engage an estate agent, you may find that you get a flurry of viewings, that your agent calls often, you get full feedback after each and every viewing, and your house is profiled in their high street office window. You feel that you’ve chosen the right agent, and are busy between viewings patting yourself on the back.

Six months later, it may be a different story. You didn’t receive any feedback from the last viewer, and in fact you haven’t had a viewing in weeks. You can’t remember the last time you heard from your agent, and he seems to have stopped returning your calls. When he does eventually call you back, it’s only to suggest a price drop.

It’s all going wrong – what can you do about it?

One strategy is to reinvigorate your agent by incentivising him. This will only work if he’s going to actually benefit personally from this, but my advice is to get the branch manager involved and offer an extra commission if they sell your house within a certain time period.

Have a strategy meeting with your agent. Thoroughly examine all the marketing and advertising – online advert, photography, brochure, print advertising – and look at ways it can be refreshed and made more efficient.

Take your house off the market for a short break, then put it back on with a new estate agent. That way, you can recreate that initial burst of enthusiasm and activity, and this time, it might just work.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

Headlines are meant to command your attention. Think of the front page of our daily newspapers, the News at Ten summary before the Big Ben bongs and the way our gaze is snagged by the headlines on the front cover of glossy magazines as they sit on the shelves, all fighting for our attention.

The same is true for property marketing. Too often are houses listed on Rightmove and the other property portals with the main description simply lifted and inserted on the summary page. So we get flat descriptions with ellipses, as they haven’t been written to fit the summary, so overflow. Take a look at this prime example of a yawn-inducing ‘summary’:

A modern link detached 3 bedroom family home, situated in a corner position, located in this popular village. The property also offers a stylish kitchen, cloakroom, spacious living room and conservatory overlooking the rear garden. Further attributes include a garage,…

Much better to have a simple and punchy headline of no more than 15 – 20 words that tells the buyer straight away why they need to book a viewing.

Here’s a list of some headlines – some better than others – but all better than a wordy description that nobody will read:

A good effort:

Luxury period living with 21st Century refinements

A superb architect designed house enjoying far-reaching panoramic views over Lake Windermere and the stunning backdrop of the Lakeland Fells

A cosy cottage nestled in a beautiful quiet backwater

A bit of punch:

Make as much noise as you want

Possibly Norfolk’s finest coastal property

Welcome to paradise

Some pointers to make sure your headline beats the competition:

Use individual and unusual words – forget ‘spacious’ and ‘well-presented’, and go for adjectives that will really grab our buyer.

Capture the essence – what is it that is unique and special about your home?

Keep it short – with the exception of the Tuscany headline above, all the others are less than around 20 words.

Struggling to create a catchy headline? Email me with a link to your property advert, and I’ll see if I can help.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

A gentleman called me recently, and asked me this very question: “How many photos of my house online is too many?”

“How many do you have?” I asked him.

“77” came the reply.

Yes, if you’re wondering, 77 photos is too many. Around 57 too many, in fact!

There’s a great marketer’s saying that goes, “Sell the sizzle, not the sausage”, and that’s very relevant here. What it means is, don’t try to show the buyer everything, all at once. If you have 77 photographs of your home online, coupled with 1000 words of description, why would a buyer need to view your home? They can decide whether or not your home is of interest to them, from the comfort of their armchair, based on your photography alone.

Keep a little back; tease your buyer and pique their interest. Here’s a few tips on how to hook their attention, and encourage them to view your home:

Don’t post too many photographs: 12 – 20 images is plenty, you really don’t need any more.
Try to make a third of your photographs lifestyle images; in other words, stylish pictures of interesting features of your home, close-up. Perhaps a garden table dressed with a bottle of wine and some glasses, a candlelit dining table, or flowers on a hallway table. These kind of images snag a buyer’s attention and give them the clues they need that your home may be what they are looking for.
Keep your copy brief and snappy: use bullet points for your main features, and short, interesting sentences for a brief description.
Don’t let your agent use a long description online, as your buyer may well have to scroll down several times before they even reach your brochure link. Keep the copy to no more than a screen’s depth.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

Identify

Motivation

Aspiration

Put your price on your board.

Attach a brochure holder.

Have a unique sign.

A good effort:

A bit of punch: