Sales

If you are buying a property, every little helps – especially when it comes to finding enough money for a deposit. Just how much purchasers rely on a cash injection was revealed in 2024, when analysis by Uswitch found 37% of UK first-time buyers were only able to amass a deposit thanks to financial help from family or friends. 

Did you know we have been making New Year’s resolutions for more than 4,000 years? The custom is thought to stem from the ancient Babylonians, who used their New Year in mid-March to reaffirm loyalty to the monarch, make promises to be good moving forward, pay debts to gods and return borrowed objects.

Getting your home on the market is easier and quicker than you may think – and there is every reason to order a ‘for sale’ sign this December. In fact, there are four indicators that now is a good time to instruct a sales agent:

The most recently published Land Registry data revealed 24% of residential property sales in 2022 were leasehold – that equates to around 207,000 transactions in total. If you own a flat or apartment, it’s highly likely you will have a leasehold agreement.

The nights are drawing in, summer flowers have faded and the temperature is dropping but instead of putting your garden to bed, now is a great time to reconsider how you use your outdoor area.

Our homes are where we are free to express ourselves, live how we please and, perhaps, let a slovenly nature take over. That’s perfectly fine when the occupant has no plans to move but it’s a different matter when it comes to selling.

Bridging loans have long been viewed as specialist products used by niche borrowers and those in distress but the finance sector has noted a new trend. The image of bridging loans has undergone somewhat of a rebrand and their appeal has become more mainstream.

For many home movers, a garden is a must have and new research has revealed just how important this feature is. A survey by Home Sale Pack found 90% of prospective purchasers considered outside space important when looking for a new home. 

The saying ‘good things come to those who wait’ is partly true for those selling a property. While many aspects of a successful sale are in the hands of third parties, the waiting part is something sellers have some control over.

According to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, 53% of UK adults own a pet, therefore a large proportion of sellers will have a cat, dog or other domestic animal. While we are a nation of animal lovers, not everyone wants a furry encounter when they’re searching for a new home.

When filling in the Property Information Form (TA6), sellers need to be open and honest about a number of aspects. One of those is neighbourly disputes and things that may prove to be contentious in the future. This can be a grey area, so we’ve provided the answers to the most commonly asked neighbourly dispute questions.

While decluttering and lick of paint may add some value to your home before you sell (they’ll definitely add appeal), the best returns are on more practical improvements – ones that need careful planning, time and money.