LIFESTYLE - SUMMER 2017

SELLING TOP TIPS FOR

YOUR HOME THIS SPRING AND SUMMER

by Jonathan Parkinson DIRECTOR ATDUCKWORTHS ESTATE AGENTS

Duckworths is one of the longest established estate agents in the area with a history dating back to 1877. Longevity like this should not be taken lightly, and hard work and dedication has created a business of experts in their field. An accredited member of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), today Duckworths’ director Jonathan Parkinson shares his selling pearls of wisdom to help you get a better price for your property and a faster sale.

• Spring : Traditionally the Best Time for House Sales Spring is traditionally a good time to sell with themarket busy with potential buyers. If you have decided to sell there are lots of things you can do to ensure your home sells easily for the best pricewithout stress or problems. • Local Agent with Local Knowledge A local estate agent will help you sell, we suggest you choose onewho has in-depth local knowledge, who is a licensed NAEAmember andwho has an easy to usewebsitewith excellent presentation of properties offered for sale andwho also recognises the value of traditional local marketing. Every home and every buyer is in someway uniquewhich is why a local agent with decades of experience can ensure that you have every chance of finding the best buyer and achieving the best price for your home so you complete the salewithin your required timeframewith everything going as smoothly as possible. • Before you Instruct an Agent Drive by appeal is very important so remember that your home has less than aminute tomake a good first impression. Try to view your home as someone seeing it for the very first time, make yourself conscious of the lile things you have lived happily with andmake good these things. Remember that most buyers are looking for a home and a property which is evidently cared for. It ismorewelcoming and easier for them to feel they canmake the property their home. A good estate agent will advise you of the repairs and replacements or aention to small details which are important to get a sale at the best price. • Choosing your Estate Agent Estate agency is essentially the business of matching buyers and sellers and then of finding a way tomake the sale happen. In order to do this it is important that your agent understands your requirements as a seller so he canmatch your property according to the needs of buyers.

• A Lick of Paint A fresh lick of paint makes your home seem lighter and bigger. It also helps buyers to envisagemoving in and enjoying the property immediately without work, stress or expense. • Fix and Clean Many buyers just want tomove and enjoy their new home somake it easy for them. Clean everything until it sparkles, get rid of any odours and present as you wouldwish to find. This helps buyers imagining living there and allows them to see your house as their home. • Present the Kitchen ParticularlyWell The kitchen is the heart of many homes and canmake the biggest difference if buyers are unsure. Your estate agent will advise if expenditure is recommended but always decluer surfaces and take away bulky appliances whichmake the space seemsmaller. • Light and Airy Wall mirrorsmake a room look bigger and lighter andwork very well in smaller rooms or hallways. Brighter bulbsmake theworld of difference presenting a roomand lamps transformdark corners. Obvious things such as ensuringwindows are clean and replacing broken bulbs inmultiple light fiings are oen overlooked.

• Make it Look Like Home Poor curtains or dated blindsmake a property look impersonal and run down and can so easily be changed at lile cost to create a homely feel. Plants and flowers add colour and smell as does that bowl of fruit – all together making a house a home. • Get the Right Smells Bad smells are the number one objection for prospective buyers so take particular care about this. Pet smells and cigaree smoke are themost common problems not noticed by property owners so be careful to get rid of these. Conversely good smellsmake it easy to identify with a home so consider brewing fresh coffee or freshly cut flowers. • Make Moving a Pleasure With help froma good estate agent moving home should be a pleasurable experience – the next step on the journey of lifewhether you’removing somewhere bigger, smaller, with the garden you have dreamed of or the nomaintenance garden you always wanted. Whilemany people have badmemories of stressful experiences whether buying or sellingwith a good local estate agent this need not be so. Matching an enthusiastic buyer with a willing seller and then finding a way of overcoming the inevitable small hurdles which naturally occur is the day to day work of a good estate agent.

• Decluer but Don’t Depersonalise Themany personal things which accumulate over timemake your home your own – oen you don’t even notice these things. But remember people need to envisagewhat the property would look like if they were living there andmany people find this difficult somake it easy for them. Removing bulky furniture canmake rooms seembigger and present a fantastic living space but don’t go t extremes and make it look like a hotel. • Buying a Home and a Lifestyle People are oen buying into a lifestyle as well as buying a home so show the aractive side of your lifestyle. Make it easy for the buyer to feel at home in your property.

Above: Duckworths are the largest estate agents in Hyndburn with offices in Accrington, Rishton and Oswaldtwistle. Opposite: Our team take property sales to new heights.

If you would like a FREE valuation and appraisal of your property call JONATHAN PARKINSON today on 01254 234242

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