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Month: October 2021

How to sell your Medway home this Halloween

Posted on by Sophie Winter

The summer has well and truly gone, and there are even signs that Christmas will soon be here; judging by goods in the shops and some ads on TV. But before we deck the halls and hang the tinsel; we have a more eerie celebration on the cards, when the spooks and ghouls rule the night. Since the fright night has been somewhat reduced over the last couple of years; we know that many of our local residents are looking forward to celebrating in style. How should you decorate your Medway home if you decide to sell this Halloween?

Does spooky sell?

Even though the stamp duty holiday has ended, we are still seeing buyers eager to find their next home in Medway. And don’t worry if your home has it’s own Casper or requires the Ghost Busters because; according to a recent study by Inventorybase, you could actually scare your home’s value. The study found that homes that look (supposedly) haunted had sold by 18% more than their more warm and welcoming neighbours. That being said, we find that today’s buyers in Medway are looking for a home and not a house of horrors; so before you make any haunting mistakes, we have put together some decorating tips.

Eliminate the cobwebs and spiders

Although cobwebs and spiders are the perfect companions for Halloween; they are not looked on so favourably by buyers. So, before you put up any seasonal décor make sure your house has been decluttered; as adding more items will make your home feel disorganised and smaller. Also, give your home a deep clean, it doesn’t look good when buyers have to run screaming from a smelly fridge or an unsightly corner.

Tame for gore

Of course, you may wish to decorate your home to give your family a Halloween to remember, but don’t go overboard. Remember buyers are coming to see your home; and they need to be able to see it and all the key features that it holds. Not everyone loves Halloween; and it isn’t only young children that could be put off by scary and gory decorations. If you’re having a party, decorate for that and then pull it back ready for any viewings.

Treat the senses

Selling your home is all about the senses, so don’t forget to treat your buyers with some autumnal scents. This season has some of the most delicious aromas, from gingerbread to pumpkin spice and cinnamon. However use them carefully and make sure you avoid any artificial scents as these can be overpowering. Whether you bake an aromatic traybake for a viewing; or add these natural smells in another way, don’t forget to treat your buyers’ senses.

Elegance over tacky

Who doesn’t want to go overboard with gory and spine-chilling decorations; but if you’re selling your home we are afraid you want to make sure you make the best impression. Try to keep things elegant, and there are many beautiful home decorations available to add some shivers rather than some frights. Make sure your choices complement your home’s existing colour schemes, and use warm, earthy tones. You also need to keep your decorations looking fresh; especially if you’re using real pumpkins and flowers; buyers don’t want to see smelly rotten displays, that’s another way to give buyers a scare.

Don’t hide your features

What beautiful and wonderful features does your home have? One thing you need to make sure is that your decorations celebrate these rather than hide them; which is why you need to decorate strategically. Add touches that will accentuate fireplaces, brighten dark corners and highlight beautiful period features. Ensuring your décor works with your home, rather than against it, will also appeal to potential buyers.

A six sense

Buyers have a sixth sense when it comes to knowing whether a home is right for them; and you don’t want to put any barriers in the way. Therefore, this Halloween, don’t make any haunting mistakes and eliminate the cobwebs, tame the gore, treat the senses, keep it elegant without hiding any features. If you would like more advice on how to prepare your home this October, please call our team at Century Residential on 01634 570057.

Content contributed by The Federation of Independent Agents.

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Avoid these exhausting mistakes when moving home in Kent

Posted on by Sophie Winter

There is nothing more exciting – or stressful – than seeing your moving date start to rush towards you.  You have been looking forward to the day you can step foot in your new home; but you also look around you and feel overwhelmed. How will you be ready in time?  It is always advisable to plan ahead and we have some great tips that will make moving home in Kent less stressful by helping you to avoid some common and exhausting mistakes.

Don’t wait until the last minute

Have you started to prepare for your move?  It is never too soon to get started; there are things you can do even before you place your home on the market.  If you do a little here and there, the whole process won’t feel so insurmountable; and as your moving date approaches, you will feel a lot calmer. No matter where you are in the sales process; one thing you can do now is start organising your move by decluttering.

Start decluttering now

Whether your home is yet to be placed on the market or you are in the midst of the sales process; it is never too early to start decluttering. We all accumulate a wealth of stuff over the years. From things that have moved into the attic never to be seen again, to drawers full of mystery; and do we mention those clothes that you’ll never wear again?  Do you really want every tiny thing in to find its way to your new home, only to be stuffed away again?

This is a job you can do little by little; you may have a spare 10 minutes to sort out a drawer, or an afternoon to organise a bedroom. Sort things into:
Keeping – will need before we move
Keeping – but can pack it now ready for our move
Donate
Sell
Bin

When you start to put things back, you will have less to do; which will help should you be looking to stage your home for sale. You will have some boxes already packed for your move, which means less to pack when the time comes.  Make sure you label your boxes clearly, as this will make things a lot easier when you’re unpacking at the other end.

Forgetting to measure

You are no doubt taking a lot, if not all of your existing furniture, from your current home to your new one; but have you checked that it will all actually fit?  It’s funny how our minds can play tricks on us and resize spaces or furniture when the reality can be a little bit different. If you haven’t already done so, organise a time to view your new home again but this time with a tape measure.  This way, you will know for sure what furniture you can take with you; and what pieces you may have to get rid of before your move.  This is far less stressful than arriving with a van full of your belongings and realising that the vision you had in your head cannot be achieved. Then being left with things that won’t fit whilst you’re trying to make your new house feel like home.

Not organising your change of address

In the UK, we are lucky that Royal Mail can redirect post for a set amount of time, thus giving you some breathing space to check that you have changed your address on everything.  As great as this is, it is still advantageous to plan your change of address in advance, even if companies won’t actually let you do it until after your move.

Start by making a list, from banks and subscriptions to the electoral roll. When you have a list to work through, it can make the process a lot easier and less time consuming. It is worth starting your list sooner rather than later as some organisations may only communicate with you a couple of times a year, whereas you may hear from others monthly. 

Doing everything yourself

The idea of doing the whole move yourself can be attractive, especially if you’re only moving a short distance; but there is a lot more work than you could imagine.  Yes, moving your possessions yourself could save you money compared to hiring a professional removal company, but it isn’t an easy job.  Friends may offer to help you with your furniture; but bear in mind life happens and you could get let down at the last minute.

Moving home furniture isn’t easy, and you will be moving a lot of it. Plus boxes and general ‘stuff’ throughout the day. As the day moves on and you begin to tire; you will be more susceptible to injuries, or even an accident where something gets broken. There is knack to packing a van. Knowing what to place where and how to make the best use of the space, to protect belongings and ensure nothing is damaged in transit. A removal company will have the right equipment to protect any expensive furnishings; and will make sure everything is packed correctly.

There are a wealth of removal companies in Kent, our past clients can share their thoughts and ask on Facebook pages for recommendations.  It is worth investigating as this is one easy way of eliminating a physically and mentally exhausting moving mistake.

Not preparing to move with kids and pets

Moving day will be stressful enough without the added worry of what your children and pets are up to and if they are safe.  It will be difficult to keep them occupied whilst your attention is taken in another direction. Can your pets be cared for at a pet day care facility, and your children left with a friend of relative? They can have a day of fun and you can focus on your move. 

A smoother move

At Century Residential we want to ensure that when your moving home it isn’t exhausting and stressful, but smooth and enjoyable.  If you’re looking to move, we can make sure you have a wonderful experience from start to finish. Call our team today on 01634 570057.

Content contributed by The Federation of Independent Agents.

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How to market a property to find the perfect tenant

Posted on by Sophie Winter

All landlords know the value of a good, long-term tenant. It means less turnover, less stress, more profit and a well looked after investment. However, how do you find this perfect tenant though? The answer lies in targeted marketing…

Marketing is incredibly important to make your property visible to potential tenants; and your marketing efforts will yield even better results if you focus on your marketing efforts to a targeted audience. Here are few ways that you can use targeted marketing to find the perfect tenant:

Do your homework

Remember, different people look for different amenities in a home. So, you first need to make a list of amenities that your property is offering. Next, you need to customise your marketing strategy based on the target audience. Apart from the property, also make a list of features in the areas that the property is situated in.

Get personal

The only way to attract potential ‘perfect’ tenants is to stand out from the crowd. So, it is better to go personal in your communications. One effective way to market to a targeted audience is by bringing personalisation and building a genuine connection.

Location is important

Location is quite an important deciding factor when it comes to renting properties. For example, if there is a university nearby; you should target your marketing efforts to students. If you are targeting families, highlight the benefits of the location such as proximity to schools, the station, stores, and other transport options.

Look through the eyes of the tenant

When it is your property, you always see the good points; but you are not the one who is going to live there. Look at the property through the eyes of the people who will actually going to live in it. If you don’t live in the area of the property; you need to make yourself familiar with the surroundings. Look out for things that a tenant will look out for in and around your property; and compare the price of your property with the others being offered in the area.

Happy tenants not only feel well treated, but they also keep the property in a good condition. Problems with tenants will not only cost you money but also result in stressful situations. Finding a tenant over and over can be tough, so it’s important to make the right choice of tenant the first time around.

Get in touch if you are a landlord looking for your perfect tenant! We’re here to help.

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