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Published: 24 March 2022

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Why you should not neglect your garden when selling your home this spring in Surrey

It is official, we are now in spring; we can now all enjoy those longer days and better weather, and
watch whilst flowers bloom and trees blossom. It is the season where Mother Nature loves to show
off her splendour, and when it comes to selling your home, you need to be doing the same. Spring is
the best time of year to sell your home, and according to Rightmove, this is because of record prices,
the imbalance between demand and supply as well as the prospect of finding a buyer the first week
your home is on the market. And whilst your focus may be directly internally, we want to make sure
you understand why you should not neglect your garden when selling your home this Spring in
Surrey.

It’s a blooming market

“Those who weren’t ready to take advantage of last year’s rush now have another chance to get on
the market while these conditions last”, Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Data
comments. Anyone selling their home wants to ensure they a maximising their sale in every way –
who wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to add some value, and your garden is a hidden gem.
According to Good Move house experts, “Transforming your garden can be the most fruitful way of
adding value to your home, with a well-kept garden raising prices by around 20 per cent.” Although
many home owners understand the potential their garden holds can bring to the value of their
property, there are many that ignore this area when preparing their home for sale.

Lockdown goals

Lockdown saw many of us turning our time to our gardens: bars were erected, decking built and
outbuildings constructed creating havens for us to enjoy whilst the strange times we were living in
passed us by. Potential buyers, too, wish to imagine themselves spending time in a garden that is
ready to enjoy, not one that has a wild side and needs a lot of work to restore. Your garden is an

extension of your home, and should the sun be shining, buyers love to imagine themselves al fresco
dining or enjoying a tipple or two. Don’t put barriers in their way by making them struggle to see
what your garden has to offer – make it the dream they have been seeking not the jungle they wish
to forget.

It needs to be green

There is something very attractive about a healthy lawn, one glistening in shades of green without a
balding patch in sight. Yet we all know how much maintenance it takes to keep a lawn looking green
and healthy. For many of us, those perfect contrasting green lines of grass are something we aspire
to but never quite achieve. If your lawn looks like it has seen better days, it may be best to invest in
some new turf. It may feel like an unnecessary expense, but having your garden in the best possible
condition could add value to your home and, what’s more, help it to sell more quickly.

Just like new

It isn’t just your lawn that needs to look healthy and just like new; the winter months having taken a
toll on many a home’s exterior, especially with the storms we have had. Paint and stains have faded
on gates and fences, decking may have some slippery grime or peeling stain, weeds have been
springing up and some plants may have a survived for another season. Yes, there is work to be done,
but the benefits are certainly worth it. Put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer: how would you
feel about seeing a garden in tip-top shape and full or colour, compared to one that has seen better
days? Your offer may reflect how you feel, so make sure that your buyers see the value your garden
brings to your home.

Bring the lifestyle to life

Adding some finishing touches to your garden for a viewing brings to life the lifestyle your home
offers to a potential buyer. A viewing is the opportunity for your property to transform into a home
for sale. You want that show home feel that is organised yet warm, welcoming and intoxicating.

A table and chairs is just that, but add a tray with a couple glasses and a bottle and suddenly your
buyers are seeing themselves sitting there on a warm spring evening. A wall seat may go unnoticed,
but a throw, a cushion and a book transforms it into a cosy space to while away an afternoon. No
matter the size or style of your garden, there are little touches you can add to bring your space to
life. You don’t need to go overboard, just a couple here and there is enough to get a buyer’s mind
starting to imagine living there.

It deserves it

Give your garden the spring clean it deserves, and you are putting your home in the best position for
selling in this busy spring season. For more advice on how to prepare your Surrey home for
sale, call a member of our sales team on 01932 221331.

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Published: 14 February 2022

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Selling your home in Surrey? Start with sustainable decluttering

When you open that door to your first home, or your next home, you never know how your life will
change during your time there. One thing we know for certain is that inevitable collection of stuff
that starts to fill every drawer, cupboard and room in your home. When you decide to place your
home on the market a simple dust and vacuum is not going to be enough; one of the first things you
need to do is to get rid of your clutter. The quickest way may be to bin everything you no longer
want or need. As easy as this may be, it isn’t good for the environment. This is why, when you
decide to sell your home in Surrey, you should start with sustainable decluttering.

Why do I need to declutter?

There are many reasons why you should declutter your home when preparing it for sale. When
potential buyers view a home they want to be able to imagine themselves living there. If your house
is filled with numerous collections or bursting to the brim with personal mementos, all a buyer will
see is you and your family. Personal items can also make a buyer lose focus – when they are
intrigued by you they are failing to see how they can make your property theirs.

A full or disorganised room will make the space feel smaller, and one thing all buyers are looking for
is space. Clutter is space sucking, and instead of seeing the true possibilities a room holds, potential
buyers will be struggling to see how they will fit in. Marketing your home with beautiful images is
certainly going to catch a buyer’s eye, but an image of a home in need of decluttering will just be
ignored, and this is the last thing you want when selling your home.

Start with electronic waste

We are positive that if you start looking through drawers, the back of cupboards and in your garage
you will no doubt find an array of electronic devices from old mobile phones, televisions, printers,
used printer cartridges and game consoles. Separate the electronics you find: those that work and
those that are broken and could possibly be used for parts. There are many charities looking for electronics which they refurbish and donate to those who are digitally excluded. Should you be
looking to dispose of your broken devices, search your council website for the correct way to do so.
At James Neave, we would suggest this be your last resort, as you may find that even parts can
be useful to someone rather than going into landfill.

Have those good intentions gone?

January is now behind us and that New Year’s resolution to get fit and healthy could mean that you
have some unused sporting equipment gathering dust in your home. Many of these pieces of
equipment are big; they can take up so much space making the room feel a lot smaller than it
actually is. Be proactive and honest, if you’re not using it then sell it or donate it to someone who
will really appreciate it.

The ‘Just-in-case’ curse

Time to get to your clothes, and we guarantee that you will have items in your wardrobe that you
have kept ‘just in case’. It is time to be realistic – do you want all those clothes cluttering up your
new wardrobe and still never being warn? Empty your wardrobe and drawers and get tough; only
keep those clothes that fit, you love, and you actually wear.

There may be some items that really have seen better days, but there will be many which are in
excellent condition and perfect to donate to a local charity. You may look at trying to sell some on
Facebook Marketplace to make a few extra pennies – ideal to help you purchase a little something
for your new wardrobe.

Hard to part with

It is funny how things like books, DVDs, and albums can be hard to part with; many people are mini-
collectors and have more books on their shelves than they are likely to read. If you are a book lover,
of course keep those that you love, are on your to-be-read pile or are hard to replace. Go through
your entire collection and, again, it is time to make some tough decisions, or pack them away ready
to decorate your new home.

Family photos are extremely personal; pack these away whilst your home is on the market, this
again will help potential buyers to see themselves, not you, living there. Artwork is subjective, what
someone may love, others could loathe. If you think the art in a room is distracting it may be worth
removing it, even if it is only for viewings, so a buyers eyes are focused on what is important.

Sustainable move

We all have a responsibility to do our bit to help the environment, and we hope we have given you
some ideas on how to get your home ready for sale in a sustainable way. Decluttering is an essential
process for preparing your home for sale, and helps to give buyers the best experience when viewing
your home.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in Surrey and want advice on the best way to
prepare your property for maximum impact, contact our team on 01932 221331.

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Published: 09 February 2022

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What home buyers in Surrey can learn from online dating this Valentine’s Day

All those who have ventured into the world of online dating will know what an emotional roller coaster it can be. From an online profile, you make decisions on what you see, and as a result you choose to slide right or left. Making such judgements based on a what is portrayed is what you do when you’re looking for a home in Surrey. As online dating is more the norm these days, you have, no doubt, picked up some knowledge to help ensure the date you pick has a higher chance of being successful.  These tools can also be used when looking for a property, which is why we believe home buyers can learn a lot from online dating this Valentine’s Day.

You can only tell so much from a photo

Whether it is online dating or social media, we are all guilty of posting photographs that depict our happy times, but rarely do we share our whole life.  The photos that you choose for your online profile may have even had a filter added to enhance your appearance in some way. Have you ever turned up on a date and realised the person in front of you hardly resembles the person you had expected to meet?

Photographs do tell the story about a home, but they do not give you the full picture. The angle used can make a room look bigger or smaller, and as much as they are a marketing tool to grab your attention (just like a dating profile), the only way to truly know if you are the perfect match is to meet in person.  Only when you are in a room can you know if you get the feeling that you could fall in love with the home you are standing in.

Do your research

In this day and age, it is essential to do your due diligence before you meet someone on a date: you want to make sure they are a real person, they are who they say they are, and Google becomes a necessary tool. The same can be said if you are looking for a new home. If you do not know the area the property is located in, personally and thoroughly, then do your research.

Start by looking at Street View so you can see what is in close proximity and also the condition of the neighbouring homes. You can then look at what other amenities are close by, such as coffee shops, stores, parks, places to walk your dog and everything else you enjoy doing. Remember, it isn’t just the property that needs to meet your requirements, ideally, you should also fall in love with where you live, too.

Get the facts as well as the images

You wouldn’t choose to go on a date with someone based on their photos alone, would you? It isn’t just how someone looks that will grab your attention, it is the details that are expressed in their written profile. Property descriptions, creatively written or lacking in content, can often give away details that images do not provide. They can inform you about rooms that are not photographed, and, frustratingly, as not all estate agents provide a floor plan with their listings, this is essential information.  They can give clues to the area, a covenant that the building is subject to, if there is a right of way, and many other factual details that could sway your decision on whether to view a particular home or not.

Stop over thinking

Dating rules, does anyone actually understand when you should text, etc? Often, we can over analyse and question everything when it comes to internet dating to the point that we can take the enjoyment out of the process.  Buying a property is a huge investment; you will have worked hard to raise the deposit and no doubt have been dreaming of what this home will look like. You will probably have to make a compromise or two along the way. It is great to ask us, as your estate agent, as many questions as you need to help you make a decision, but if you start to overanalyse you may find that you talk yourself out of that perfect home. Delaying putting in a offer could also see you lose out, especially in this current market in Surrey where buyers are aplenty and the number of properties for sale remains low.

Trust your gut!

You know very quickly if you and your date click or not, and research across the world has shown that it takes around 8 seconds to know if a home has stolen your heart or not. Remember not to just go solely on looks, it has to work for you in practical ways too. If you’re looking for a home to love this Valentine’s Day, at James Neave we hold the key to your heart.

To begin your home search today, call our sales team on 01932 221331.

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Published: 21 January 2022

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What does 2022 hold for you and your home in Surrey?

With every new year we have expectations of the year ahead; we always hope it is better than the last, and during a pandemic we wish that even more. Yet, as we know, there will be a few challenges for us this year as economists predict that our living standards will deteriorate . But there is also some light too, whether you’re looking to move home or stay put, it is always good to be prepared. Our team at James Neave have come together to give you an insight into what 2022 holds for you and your home in Surrey.

Base rate increase

If you didn’t have your eye on the ball last month, you may have missed the Bank of England’s surprise decision to increase the base rate to 0.25% from 0.1%, after the Monetary Policy Committee approved the decision. This is the first rise in more than three years. How does this affect you?  The central bank uses the base rate to charge other lenders and banks when they borrow money, which in turn influences the rate at which you borrow and savers earn. This may only equate to a relatively small increase in your monthly payments for those with a variable rate mortgage, and if you have a fixed rate deal you can breath a sigh of relief as you are protected for now.  Should you be looking to secure a new mortgage you will find that the rates are higher.

Buying a home

If you were looking for a home over the last 18 months you will know you have been caught up in a frenzy where available properties have been few and buyers many. This lack of supply over demand saw house prises rise and many buyers missing out on properties and even not even getting a viewing.  We predict that this year will see things starting to balance out a bit. We have already seen an increase in requests for valuations from sellers in Surrey. It’s not just us that have seen an increase in valuation requests, Rightmove have also stated that they have seen a 19% increase in requests compared with this time last year. We’re excited with the range of homes that we predict will be coming on to the market in the new few weeks.

Selling your home

Last year was most certainly a sellers’ market but we do believe this year we will see more stability in the Surrey housing market, although we still expect it to be strong for sellers. "If you do decide to sell your home in the new year, your chances of finding a buyer are very high, as we’re still seeing huge levels of buyer demand, and not enough homes available to buy”, according to Rightmove's property expert Tim Bannister.  We have many buyers registered with us at James Neave who are still looking for their first or next home. If you’re curious about the current value of your property or thinking about moving, give our team a call.

Make your finances a priority

Regardless of what ups and downs this new year will bring, you have the power to get yourself in a healthy position financially. We can all make small changes here are there that can help towards a deposit, a new bathroom, or even simply improving your quality of life. When is the last time you did a rigorous assessment of your outgoings? You will be surprised by the number of people who don’t realise they are paying small subscriptions out for one thing or another every month. Be frugal about shopping and more so about what you waste – every positive change you make at home will have an impact one way or another to your monthly finances.

What is in your 2022?

New year plans and resolutions can often change or be put on the back burner as life takes over, but whatever you do this year, always keep a watchful eye on what’s happening financially around you. Placing yourself in a financially savvy position will only be of benefit when you decide it is time to move home in Surrey, and when that time comes, we will make sure that your money is invested wisely.