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Creating kerb appeal

Scott Austin • May 11, 2021

First impressions count when selling your home

This story + many more are available in our 1st edition of the Zoom Mortgage and Property Magazine. Available for you for free here https://zoommortgage.lpages.co/zoom-mortgage-property-magazine


IF YOU’RE MAKING plans to sell your home, there are a number of improvements you should consider before putting it on the market, as even small things can make a surprising difference to a successful and quick sale. Preparing your home for viewers, or ‘staging’ as it’s called, can potentially add thousands of pounds to its value. Your property will almost certainly be more attractive to buyers with some general sprucing up and cleaning, and can give your home a new lease of life and potentially increase its value without blowing a big hole in your budget. Remember that most buyers start looking for properties online and they will expect to see in the region of twenty to thirty photos, so your property has to look its best from the outset. Untidy properties and ones that look like they have limited space aren’t likely to be first in the queue to view.


REDECORATING

Decorating is perhaps the most obvious task when thinking about how to add value to your home. Whilst small, superficial defects won’t directly affect the value of a property, they could put off potential buyers and therefore prevent it from selling at the optimum price. It’s best to fix all superficial defects. While unlikely to be the clinching factor in a house sale, small problems and defects can create an impression of a house being run down or not well cared for.


Redecorating checklist:

• Peeling paint

• Dirty walls, especially near door frames and around switches

• Dripping taps

• Squeaky floors, doors or stairs

• Mouldy sealant in kitchens or bathrooms

• Limescale built up on kitchen and bathroom fittings

• Badly fitted laminate flooring

• Broken lightbulbs

Bigger issues such as damp should not be covered up. It will show up on a survey and is likely to come back to haunt you later on.


FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT Prospective buyers are likely to make a drive-by visit of your property before they decide whether or not to arrange a viewing. Your goal is to make them want to come in. It’s important to make sure your property has instant kerb appeal. Tidy up the outside

of your home, regularly cut the lawn, trim hedges and remove any weeds from your beds or pathways. If required, consider painting the front door and the window frames. Even a new

doorknob, house number or name sign can help. If it’s the right season put some pots or baskets outside your property.


KITCHEN MAKEOVER

An attractive, clean and sociable kitchen is essential for most buyers. Kitchens may be the first thing they look to replace if they can’t imagine living in yours. You may not be able to afford a whole new kitchen, but there are many smaller ways to improve what you already have.

For a relatively small budget, painting units or replacing cupboard handles or doors are a cheaper way of refreshing kitchens. Good lighting and clutter-free, clean surfaces will make a big difference to the feel of the house. Alternatively, if there is money in the budget, kitchen  renovations can be carried out for a modest investment. Prospective buyers may be willing to pay more to save themselves the hassle of buying a new kitchen.


Kitchen checklist:

• Clean and polish all surfaces, fittings, handles, cupboard fronts and appliances

 • Clean inside the oven and any integrated appliances that are included in the sale

• Clear any clutter from surfaces and make sure the sink and draining area are completely clear

• Pet bowls should be cleared away, and always let in a blast of fresh air to clear any stale cooking smells


BATHROOM

Bathrooms need to be fresh and hygienic looking. Where appropriate re-grout tiling, eliminate all limescale and replace taps. Paint the walls a neutral shade, and ideally replace a shower curtain with a new one or a simple glass screen.


Bathroom checklist:

• Replace existing bathroom fixtures if they are chipped, badly stained or an unfashionable colour such as pink, avocado, peach or chocolate brown

• Flooring should be clean and hygienic

• Consider painting unfashionable tiles with white tile paint. If you need to replace tiles, you could tile over the old ones as removing tiles can be a difficult and very time-consuming job

• Make sure the bathroom has an extractor fan for ventilation

• Add a mirror or two to make the space seem larger and brighter

• Make sure that at least one bathroom has a shower

• Consider replacing bath and shower sealants if mould has accumulated

• Clear away the mountain of toiletries, sponges, medication and make-up that seems to accumulate in the bathroom

• Clear away children’s bath toys and put out clean, dry, folded towels

• Open windows to clear away any excess moisture


GARDEN APPEAL

For many people the garden is one of the biggest selling points. An attractive, tidy, well-designed garden can add a great deal of value to a property. The garden should feel like an extra space

for entertaining or relaxing, rather than an expanse of grass. An area of decking gives buyers a sense of having a bigger usable living space.


Garden checklist:

• Tidy away any rubbish, weed and cut the grass

• Trim borders and clear pathways

• Put out some potted plants to soften patios and yards

• A seasonal fertiliser will add colour to a tired lawn

• Be sure to cut back any boisterous bushes, particularly in smaller gardens


SMART TECHNOLOGY

Smart home technologies are increasingly important to buyers – just advertising the presence of fibre optic cables in your area could be enough to encourage buyers. Statement systems like multi-room music platforms can also make a difference. Smart technology which gives mobile control over heating systems, is a feature worth considering. If it moves your EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) up a band, it could add thousands to the sale price.


>> READY TO SELL YOUR HOME? <<

Want to know how to add value to your home prior to putting it on the market? We are here to help with

helpful information, whether you are carrying out a complete house renovation or a quick makeover.

 Contact Zoom Mortgage – telephone 08003101210 – email Contactus@zoommortgage.co.uk.

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So, here we are half way through 2021 and the property market is still going crazy, I heard a story the other day about a first time buyer that went to view a flat in London and there were 10 other couples waiting outside, now that might not seem like much but it might just put you off selling up and moving. So, if you are going to "stay put" then it is time to think about if you can get a better rate for your current mortgage. With rates at all time lows and not much indication that they are going up anytime soon, this is your opportunity to save money. So if you are on a fixed rate that is going to end in the next 6 months then now is the time to get in touch and see if a better rate is available to you. If you are on the standard variable rate or a tracker and you want to see if a fixed rate is now worth it because the rates are so low then we can help to. We can even help you stick with the same lender and get you a better rate than the standard variable, so if you need quick action we can help there too. Contact Zoom Mortgage telephone 0800310121 email contactus@zoommortgage.co.uk .

Government-backed 95% mortgage guarantee scheme

By Scott Austin • July 2, 2021
This story + many more are available in our 1st edition of the Zoom Mortgage and Property Magazine. Available for you for free here https://zoommortgage.lpages.co/zoom-mortgage-property-magazine THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) pandemic led to the virtual disappearance of mortgages that only required a 5% deposit. But the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced on 3 March a new initiative during his Budget 2021 speech. The government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme is open to first-time buyers and home movers across the UK and is aimed at encouraging banks and building societies to offer 95% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages again. The announcement is tremendous news for first-time buyers looking to get on the property ladder at a time when, for many, owning a home may seem an impossible dream as they would otherwise not be able to find a large deposit to secure a mortgage deal. GETTING ON THE HOUSING LADDER The announcement aims to stimulate the housing market and get more people onto the housing ladder. The Chancellor said there was good evidence that ‘this will help those that are getting on the housing ladder disproportionately to other home movers.’ He said: ‘We know from the previous time we did it, it helped 100,000 people buy a home and the average value of a home bought under the scheme was £160,000, compared to the average price of a home which at that time was more like £225,000. ‘And 80% were first-time buyers, so it feels like it is a policy that is quite well targeted to help people get on the housing ladder.’ ACROSS THE UK The government introduced the scheme for new mortgage applications which commenced from April and provides a guarantee to lenders across the UK that offer mortgages to people with a deposit of five per cent on homes with a value of up to £600,000. This scheme is for any ‘creditworthy’ household struggling to save for a higher deposit. These will be standard residential mortgages – so no second homes or buy-to- lets. If the borrower gets into financial difficulty and their property is repossessed, the government will cover that element of the lender’s losses. The scheme opened for new mortgage applications from April and will be open to new applications until December 2022. Several of the country’s largest lenders, including Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Barclays and HSBC, are offering these 95% mortgages, with others to follow shortly after. The mortgages must be on a repayment basis, not interest-only. And borrowers will need to be credit checked and meet the standard rules on affordability. All lenders under the scheme will also offer mortgages fixed for at least five years, providing options for buyers with smaller deposits who want the security and predictability of a mortgage with a fixed rate over a longer term. Eligible mortgages guaranteed under the scheme will need to: • be a residential mortgage (not second homes) and not buy-to-let • be taken out by an individual or individuals rather than an incorporated company • be on a property in the UK with purchase value of £600,000 or less • have a loan-to-value (LTV) of between 91% and 95% of the value of the property • be originated between the dates specified by the scheme • be a repayment mortgage and not interest-only • meet standard requirements in terms of the assessment of the borrower’s ability to pay the mortgage, for example, a loan-to- income and credit score test LIFELINE FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS Thanks to soaring house prices and tighter rules on mortgage approvals, the first rung of that famous property ladder can be very hard to reach. So the new government backed mortgage guarantee scheme will be a lifeline for those first-time buyers trying to get on the housing ladder. >> GET AN ESTIMATE ON HOW MUCH YOU COULD BORROW << Are you ready to buy a property? You’ve dreamed of owning a home for as long as you can remember, or maybe you’re looking to move to another property. Now the new government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme could make it a reality. To discuss your options and get an estimate on how much you can borrow, contact Zoom Mortgage – telephone 0800310121 – email contactus@ zoommortgage.co.uk
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