Let’s move to Chester: is that a tiny bit of mojo hiding among the history?

It’s beautiful, occasionally suffocating, but a little bit woke

What’s going for it? There’s so much past in Chester. It piles up on the streets. It accumulates. Roman amphitheatre, medieval cathedral, Ruskinian town hall, all those Tudor black-and-white, half-timbered buildings straight off a Quality Street tin, all those Victorian black-and-white, half-timbered buildings pretending to be Tudor black-and-white, half-timbered buildings straight off a Quality Street tin, cobbles, ye olde gatehouses, etc. Beautiful. Occasionally suffocating. (I speak as one raised on cathedral cities.) That’s not to say Chester isn’t with it. It’s long had a reputation for middlebrow poshness, all wine bars and pearls. Who knows what they’ve put in the water recently, though, as there’s a tiny bit of mojo in the place. Decent coffee has turned up. The lovely new Storyhouse arts complex has brought contemporary architecture and cutting-edge culture. It’s even a little bit woke: last year Chester was crowned the most accessible city in Europe for disabled people. In Europe! With those cobbles! Onwards and upwards, Chester.

The case against It’s pricey, from the property to the cost of living.

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Let’s move to Chester: is that a tiny bit of mojo hiding among the history? https://t.co/G9BIGwj763 Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM

Let’s move to Chester: is that a tiny bit of mojo hiding among the history? https://t.co/G9BIGwj763 Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068548222912733186)

Let’s move to Chester: is that a tiny bit of mojo hiding among the history?

It’s beautiful, occasionally suffocating, but a little bit woke

What’s going for it? There’s so much past in Chester. It piles up on the streets. It accumulates. Roman amphitheatre, medieval cathedral, Ruskinian town hall, all those Tudor black-and-white, half-timbered buildings straight off a Quality Street tin, all those Victorian black-and-white, half-timbered buildings pretending to be Tudor black-and-white, half-timbered buildings straight off a Quality Street tin, cobbles, ye olde gatehouses, etc. Beautiful. Occasionally suffocating. (I speak as one raised on cathedral cities.) That’s not to say Chester isn’t with it. It’s long had a reputation for middlebrow poshness, all wine bars and pearls. Who knows what they’ve put in the water recently, though, as there’s a tiny bit of mojo in the place. Decent coffee has turned up. The lovely new Storyhouse arts complex has brought contemporary architecture and cutting-edge culture. It’s even a little bit woke: last year Chester was crowned the most accessible city in Europe for disabled people. In Europe! With those cobbles! Onwards and upwards, Chester.

The case against It’s pricey, from the property to the cost of living.

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Five Scottish homes for St. Andrew’s Day https://t.co/Ofc6IXHKAt #estate agents Nottingham

Five Scottish homes for St. Andrew’s Day https://t.co/Ofc6IXHKAt #estate agents Nottingham (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068507305472348161)

Five Scottish homes for St. Andrew’s Day

We showcase some true dream properties for sale in Scotland.

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Buying or selling a house with dry rot https://t.co/0Q0eb0oUeh #conveymove #estateagentsnottingham https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM

Buying or selling a house with dry rot https://t.co/0Q0eb0oUeh #conveymove #estateagentsnottingham https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068474267048783872)

Buying or selling a house with dry rot Nottingham Estate Agents

Dry rot is a serious problem that can affect properties across the UK. If you are looking to either buy or sell a property that has dry rot then it should be treated as soon as possible to minimise structural damage to the property. To help guide you through how to handle a dry rot […]

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The Buyer’s Journey through Rightmove (and how it can help you Sell your Home)

Twenty years ago, a search for your next home would start and end with the estate agent.  Agencies were town centre offices, busy with buyers and sellers all day, and the phones ringing off the hook.

Ten years ago, agents’ websites were the place to look for your new place, which often meant trawling through a slow and clunky website for each of perhaps ten or more agents in your chosen area. (Then give up and phone the office anyway.)

Today, it’s a whole new world.  Homebuyers conduct their searches on Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation, at their leisure, over a glass of wine, watching tv, or during a break (or not) at work.  Agents now have no influence over which properties a purchaser will view, moreover, that buyer is completely anonymous and invisible to the agent, right until the last moment, when they call or email to book a viewing on a property they have chosen to see.

Because of this new way of searching for homes, your property advert on the portals becomes the only method of persuading a buyer your property is worth viewing.  It’s vital therefore, that it works.    A buyer needs to take 5 steps before they book a viewing, and you can help facilitate this journey, and give yourself the best possible chance of that buyer choosing to view your house:

STEP ONE: Get found in a property search:

If your property doesn’t show up in an online search, you have zero chance of generating a viewing! Firstly, check the agent has listed you correctly, in terms of postcode, number of bedrooms and type of property.  Mistakes here are surprisingly common so do check carefully.  Next, make sure your asking price is optimised for the portals.  (This post gives more information on this subject.) Simply put, your price needs to exactly match one of the drop down price bandings in the property search box, complete with the three zeros on the end.

STEP TWO: Sell the ‘Click’

The ‘summary advert’ that appears in search results has only one job – to persuade someone to click on that advert.  It is not there to sell the house.  No one will book a viewing from this page; they need to see more information, and they can only see that by clicking your advert.  To make your advert clickable, you need to have a terrific main image, and a really punchy, carefully crafted headline.

STEP THREE: Get them excited with your photo gallery

An interested buyer will look through your images at least two or three times.  It’s vital therefore, that these images all really sell your property.  They need to be professionally taken (ideally), well lit, of beautifully presented rooms, with the external shots taken on a blue sky day.  Don’t overwhelm them with 40 photos (read more here), but do give the buyer enough to want to see more.  I’d suggest you need around 12 images for a 3 bedroomed home, less for a small flat, more for a mansion.  But definitely no more than 20, or you will be showing so much that a buyer doesn’t need to view!

STEP FOUR: Make your brochure accessible 

Has your agent produced a digital brochure for you? Take a look at your Rightmove advert – can you find the link?

Rightmove made some changes to their advert format a couple of years ago, and unfortunately, in their wisdom, decided that the best place for a brochure link was right down at the very bottom of the page.  (It used to be at the top, above the map, which was much better.) The problem is that buyers need to see the brochure before they book a viewing.  Rarely will they decide to view your home without reading the information in your brochure.  Therefore it stands to reason it needs to be at eye-level when they are looking at your advert.  The only way to do this, is to remove almost all of the ‘Full Description’ text.  I suggest that the ‘Main Feature’ section is limited to 5 bullet points, and the text below is written especially for this advert, rather than simply drawn out of the brochure.  If you keep this to a 100-150 word paragraph, you’ll see that the brochure link now sits just below the level of the bottom of the map.  Now add a final line which states “Click the brochure link below for more photographs of this beautiful home”.

STEP FIVE: Reward them for opening your brochure:

There’s something very disappointing about opening a digital brochure and seeing exactly the same images and information as is contained in the online advert.  You need to reward your buyer for going to the trouble of finding the link to your brochure and downloading it to view. Add new, different images and lots of well-written words, so that they will feel interested and also satisfied that they now know enough to book a viewing on your home.

So that’s it – five steps to helping your viewers on a journey that will hopefully result in a viewing for you.  If you need more information on this critical area of your marketing, or your agent is less than cooperative over making changes to your advert, please get in touch; I’d be glad to hear from you and help you to reach your moving goals.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post The Buyer’s Journey through Rightmove (and how it can help you Sell your Home) appeared first on Home Truths.

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The Buyer’s Journey through Rightmove (and how it can help you Sell your Home)

Twenty years ago, a search for your next home would start and end with the estate agent.  Agencies were town centre offices, busy with buyers and sellers all day, and the phones ringing off the hook.

Ten years ago, agents’ websites were the place to look for your new place, which often meant trawling through a slow and clunky website for each of perhaps ten or more agents in your chosen area. (Then give up and phone the office anyway.)

Today, it’s a whole new world.  Homebuyers conduct their searches on Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation, at their leisure, over a glass of wine, watching tv, or during a break (or not) at work.  Agents now have no influence over which properties a purchaser will view, moreover, that buyer is completely anonymous and invisible to the agent, right until the last moment, when they call or email to book a viewing on a property they have chosen to see.

Because of this new way of searching for homes, your property advert on the portals becomes the only method of persuading a buyer your property is worth viewing.  It’s vital therefore, that it works.    A buyer needs to take 5 steps before they book a viewing, and you can help facilitate this journey, and give yourself the best possible chance of that buyer choosing to view your house:

STEP ONE: Get found in a property search:

If your property doesn’t show up in an online search, you have zero chance of generating a viewing! Firstly, check the agent has listed you correctly, in terms of postcode, number of bedrooms and type of property.  Mistakes here are surprisingly common so do check carefully.  Next, make sure your asking price is optimised for the portals.  (This post gives more information on this subject.) Simply put, your price needs to exactly match one of the drop down price bandings in the property search box, complete with the three zeros on the end.

STEP TWO: Sell the ‘Click’

The ‘summary advert’ that appears in search results has only one job – to persuade someone to click on that advert.  It is not there to sell the house.  No one will book a viewing from this page; they need to see more information, and they can only see that by clicking your advert.  To make your advert clickable, you need to have a terrific main image, and a really punchy, carefully crafted headline.

STEP THREE: Get them excited with your photo gallery

An interested buyer will look through your images at least two or three times.  It’s vital therefore, that these images all really sell your property.  They need to be professionally taken (ideally), well lit, of beautifully presented rooms, with the external shots taken on a blue sky day.  Don’t overwhelm them with 40 photos (read more here), but do give the buyer enough to want to see more.  I’d suggest you need around 12 images for a 3 bedroomed home, less for a small flat, more for a mansion.  But definitely no more than 20, or you will be showing so much that a buyer doesn’t need to view!

STEP FOUR: Make your brochure accessible 

Has your agent produced a digital brochure for you? Take a look at your Rightmove advert – can you find the link?

Rightmove made some changes to their advert format a couple of years ago, and unfortunately, in their wisdom, decided that the best place for a brochure link was right down at the very bottom of the page.  (It used to be at the top, above the map, which was much better.) The problem is that buyers need to see the brochure before they book a viewing.  Rarely will they decide to view your home without reading the information in your brochure.  Therefore it stands to reason it needs to be at eye-level when they are looking at your advert.  The only way to do this, is to remove almost all of the ‘Full Description’ text.  I suggest that the ‘Main Feature’ section is limited to 5 bullet points, and the text below is written especially for this advert, rather than simply drawn out of the brochure.  If you keep this to a 100-150 word paragraph, you’ll see that the brochure link now sits just below the level of the bottom of the map.  Now add a final line which states “Click the brochure link below for more photographs of this beautiful home”.

STEP FIVE: Reward them for opening your brochure:

There’s something very disappointing about opening a digital brochure and seeing exactly the same images and information as is contained in the online advert.  You need to reward your buyer for going to the trouble of finding the link to your brochure and downloading it to view. Add new, different images and lots of well-written words, so that they will feel interested and also satisfied that they now know enough to book a viewing on your home.

So that’s it – five steps to helping your viewers on a journey that will hopefully result in a viewing for you.  If you need more information on this critical area of your marketing, or your agent is less than cooperative over making changes to your advert, please get in touch; I’d be glad to hear from you and help you to reach your moving goals.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post The Buyer’s Journey through Rightmove (and how it can help you Sell your Home) appeared first on Home Truths.

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The Buyer’s Journey through Rightmove (and how it can help you Sell your Home)

Twenty years ago, a search for your next home would start and end with the estate agent.  Agencies were town centre offices, busy with buyers and sellers all day, and the phones ringing off the hook.

Ten years ago, agents’ websites were the place to look for your new place, which often meant trawling through a slow and clunky website for each of perhaps ten or more agents in your chosen area. (Then give up and phone the office anyway.)

Today, it’s a whole new world.  Homebuyers conduct their searches on Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation, at their leisure, over a glass of wine, watching tv, or during a break (or not) at work.  Agents now have no influence over which properties a purchaser will view, moreover, that buyer is completely anonymous and invisible to the agent, right until the last moment, when they call or email to book a viewing on a property they have chosen to see.

Because of this new way of searching for homes, your property advert on the portals becomes the only method of persuading a buyer your property is worth viewing.  It’s vital therefore, that it works.    A buyer needs to take 5 steps before they book a viewing, and you can help facilitate this journey, and give yourself the best possible chance of that buyer choosing to view your house:

STEP ONE: Get found in a property search:

If your property doesn’t show up in an online search, you have zero chance of generating a viewing! Firstly, check the agent has listed you correctly, in terms of postcode, number of bedrooms and type of property.  Mistakes here are surprisingly common so do check carefully.  Next, make sure your asking price is optimised for the portals.  (This post gives more information on this subject.) Simply put, your price needs to exactly match one of the drop down price bandings in the property search box, complete with the three zeros on the end.

STEP TWO: Sell the ‘Click’

The ‘summary advert’ that appears in search results has only one job – to persuade someone to click on that advert.  It is not there to sell the house.  No one will book a viewing from this page; they need to see more information, and they can only see that by clicking your advert.  To make your advert clickable, you need to have a terrific main image, and a really punchy, carefully crafted headline.

STEP THREE: Get them excited with your photo gallery

An interested buyer will look through your images at least two or three times.  It’s vital therefore, that these images all really sell your property.  They need to be professionally taken (ideally), well lit, of beautifully presented rooms, with the external shots taken on a blue sky day.  Don’t overwhelm them with 40 photos (read more here), but do give the buyer enough to want to see more.  I’d suggest you need around 12 images for a 3 bedroomed home, less for a small flat, more for a mansion.  But definitely no more than 20, or you will be showing so much that a buyer doesn’t need to view!

STEP FOUR: Make your brochure accessible 

Has your agent produced a digital brochure for you? Take a look at your Rightmove advert – can you find the link?

Rightmove made some changes to their advert format a couple of years ago, and unfortunately, in their wisdom, decided that the best place for a brochure link was right down at the very bottom of the page.  (It used to be at the top, above the map, which was much better.) The problem is that buyers need to see the brochure before they book a viewing.  Rarely will they decide to view your home without reading the information in your brochure.  Therefore it stands to reason it needs to be at eye-level when they are looking at your advert.  The only way to do this, is to remove almost all of the ‘Full Description’ text.  I suggest that the ‘Main Feature’ section is limited to 5 bullet points, and the text below is written especially for this advert, rather than simply drawn out of the brochure.  If you keep this to a 100-150 word paragraph, you’ll see that the brochure link now sits just below the level of the bottom of the map.  Now add a final line which states “Click the brochure link below for more photographs of this beautiful home”.

STEP FIVE: Reward them for opening your brochure:

There’s something very disappointing about opening a digital brochure and seeing exactly the same images and information as is contained in the online advert.  You need to reward your buyer for going to the trouble of finding the link to your brochure and downloading it to view. Add new, different images and lots of well-written words, so that they will feel interested and also satisfied that they now know enough to book a viewing on your home.

So that’s it – five steps to helping your viewers on a journey that will hopefully result in a viewing for you.  If you need more information on this critical area of your marketing, or your agent is less than cooperative over making changes to your advert, please get in touch; I’d be glad to hear from you and help you to reach your moving goals.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post The Buyer’s Journey through Rightmove (and how it can help you Sell your Home) appeared first on Home Truths.

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UK house prices pick up amid 'subdued' market https://t.co/eButzOLZLU Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM

UK house prices pick up amid 'subdued' market https://t.co/eButzOLZLU Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068446364147884032)

UK house prices pick up amid 'subdued' market

Values increase 0.3% in November ending a five-year low point but few predict rapid growth any time soon

House price growth picked up in November from a previous five-year low, although increases remain “relatively subdued”, according to an index.

Property values increased by 0.3% month on month, compared with 0% growth in October, the Nationwide building society said.

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Why won’t our insurance pay out for a fault in building work?

The builder went bust before fixing the problem, but our policy covered that eventuality

We built a £49,000 annexe three years ago. Last year we found some bubbling in the external render, which the builder agreed to treat.

There were various delays due to weather and cancelled appointments and then we received notice that the firm was in liquidation. Fortunately, the deal included “a guarantee in the event of the builder ceasing trading”, so we sent a claim to the insurers but they’ve said that because the fault was identified before the builder ceased trading, it isn’t covered. We’ve been quoted £1,600 plus VAT to repair that wall – though the builder warned the other three are likely to have the same problem. JL, Birmingham

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Homes that are off the beaten track – in pictures

Get away from it all in these remote properties for sale, from Suffolk to Scotland

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Why won’t our insurance pay out for a fault in building work? https://t.co/yCEJ6e6dUY Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM

Why won’t our insurance pay out for a fault in building work? https://t.co/yCEJ6e6dUY Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068402338048688129)

Homes that are off the beaten track – in pictures https://t.co/IA7TldZ5qm Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM

Homes that are off the beaten track – in pictures https://t.co/IA7TldZ5qm Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068402336236781568)

Bowel movement: the push to change the way you poo https://t.co/4dGS2LM0Z6 Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM

Bowel movement: the push to change the way you poo https://t.co/4dGS2LM0Z6 Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068385969550868481)

Bowel movement: the push to change the way you poo

Are you sitting comfortably? Many people are not – and they insist that the way we’ve been going to the toilet is all wrong. By Alex Blasdel

For their 27th wedding anniversary, the Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston gave his wife, Robin, a gift that promises “to give you the best poop of your life, guaranteed”. The Squatty Potty is a wildly popular seven-inch-high plastic stool, designed by a devout Mormon and her son, which curves around the base of your loo. By propping your feet on it while you crap, you raise your knees above your hips. From this semi-squat position, the centuries-old seated toilet is transformed into something more primordial, like a hole in the ground. The family that makes the Squatty Potty says this posture unfurls your colon and gives your faecal matter a clear run from your gut to the bowl, reducing bloating, constipation and the straining that causes haemorrhoids. Musing about the gift on one of America’s daytime talk shows in 2016, Cranston said: “Elimination is love.”

More than 5m Squatty Potties have been sold since they first crept on to the market in 2011. Celebrities such as Sally Field and Jimmy Kimmel have raved about them, and the basketball sensation Stephen Curry put one in every bathroom of his house. “I had, like, a full elimination,” Howard Stern, the celebrity shock jock, said after he first used one, in 2013. “It was unbelievable. I felt empty. I was like, ‘Holy shit.’” The Squatty Potty has been the subject of jokes on Saturday Night Live, and of adulation by the queen of drag queens, RuPaul. This January, after Squatty Potty LLC hit $33m in annual revenues, the business channel CNBC, which helped bring the footstool to fame through its US version of Dragon’s Den, hailed the device as a “cult juggernaut”.

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Look around the home of 007 himself, James Bond https://t.co/RXd5rkmviW #estate agents Nottingham

Look around the home of 007 himself, James Bond https://t.co/RXd5rkmviW #estate agents Nottingham (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068096311776485376)

Look around the home of 007 himself, James Bond

You can now buy the fictional Chelsea base of 007 himself.

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Where are the happiest places to live? https://t.co/wzm2sCzJ9f #estate agents Nottingham

Where are the happiest places to live? https://t.co/wzm2sCzJ9f #estate agents Nottingham (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1068066869372948481)

Where are the happiest places to live?

Leigh-on-Sea has been crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain.

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5 Ways to Keep Your Agent Onside

It’s very tempting when the market is difficult to blame your estate agent, especially when you doubt they are actually doing anything proactive to sell your house. But however inclined you might feel to bawl them out, it’s vital that you keep them ‘onside’ and the relationship as strong as possible, if you want to sell your house for the best possible price. Here are my five tips for keeping your agent sweet, and trying hard to sell your house.

1 . Keep in contact often, but non-confrontational. Find an excuse to call them about something insignificant, like “I just called you to warn you that the garden gate is sticking” so that they don’t start avoiding your calls. Keep your tone upbeat and cheerful so that each conversation is positive.

2. Ask their advice– it will make your agent feel important if you make it clear your value their advice, so ask something you want to implement anyway, like “I’m thinking about painting my front door dark blue; what do you think?”

3. Get to know the other members of the team– pop into the office every now and again with a smile and if appropriate, cakes! A sunny disposition and treats go a long way to making sure the whole team is on your side.

4. Take them into your confidence and tell them your motivation for moving. Understanding what is behind your move and how important it is to you and your family, will really help their motivation in turn to helping you sell.

5. Thank them for every viewing they book– people respond well to praise, and telling them that you know they are doing everything they can for you, and how much you appreciate it will make them want to do their best to help you sell.

Keeping your agent on your side is so important, especially in this difficult market when many vendors are holding their agents to account for a lack of viewings.  Avoid being on the “vendors I don’t want to talk to” list by treating your agent with respect and kindness, and they will, in turn, help you sell your house.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: Some estate agent jokes for Saturday

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post 5 Ways to Keep Your Agent Onside appeared first on Home Truths.

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5 Ways to Keep Your Agent Onside

It’s very tempting when the market is difficult to blame your estate agent, especially when you doubt they are actually doing anything proactive to sell your house. But however inclined you might feel to bawl them out, it’s vital that you keep them ‘onside’ and the relationship as strong as possible, if you want to sell your house for the best possible price. Here are my five tips for keeping your agent sweet, and trying hard to sell your house.

1 . Keep in contact often, but non-confrontational. Find an excuse to call them about something insignificant, like “I just called you to warn you that the garden gate is sticking” so that they don’t start avoiding your calls. Keep your tone upbeat and cheerful so that each conversation is positive.

2. Ask their advice– it will make your agent feel important if you make it clear your value their advice, so ask something you want to implement anyway, like “I’m thinking about painting my front door dark blue; what do you think?”

3. Get to know the other members of the team– pop into the office every now and again with a smile and if appropriate, cakes! A sunny disposition and treats go a long way to making sure the whole team is on your side.

4. Take them into your confidence and tell them your motivation for moving. Understanding what is behind your move and how important it is to you and your family, will really help their motivation in turn to helping you sell.

5. Thank them for every viewing they book– people respond well to praise, and telling them that you know they are doing everything they can for you, and how much you appreciate it will make them want to do their best to help you sell.

Keeping your agent on your side is so important, especially in this difficult market when many vendors are holding their agents to account for a lack of viewings.  Avoid being on the “vendors I don’t want to talk to” list by treating your agent with respect and kindness, and they will, in turn, help you sell your house.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: Some estate agent jokes for Saturday

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post 5 Ways to Keep Your Agent Onside appeared first on Home Truths.

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via IFTTT

5 Ways to Keep Your Agent Onside

It’s very tempting when the market is difficult to blame your estate agent, especially when you doubt they are actually doing anything proactive to sell your house. But however inclined you might feel to bawl them out, it’s vital that you keep them ‘onside’ and the relationship as strong as possible, if you want to sell your house for the best possible price. Here are my five tips for keeping your agent sweet, and trying hard to sell your house.

1 . Keep in contact often, but non-confrontational. Find an excuse to call them about something insignificant, like “I just called you to warn you that the garden gate is sticking” so that they don’t start avoiding your calls. Keep your tone upbeat and cheerful so that each conversation is positive.

2. Ask their advice– it will make your agent feel important if you make it clear your value their advice, so ask something you want to implement anyway, like “I’m thinking about painting my front door dark blue; what do you think?”

3. Get to know the other members of the team– pop into the office every now and again with a smile and if appropriate, cakes! A sunny disposition and treats go a long way to making sure the whole team is on your side.

4. Take them into your confidence and tell them your motivation for moving. Understanding what is behind your move and how important it is to you and your family, will really help their motivation in turn to helping you sell.

5. Thank them for every viewing they book– people respond well to praise, and telling them that you know they are doing everything they can for you, and how much you appreciate it will make them want to do their best to help you sell.

Keeping your agent on your side is so important, especially in this difficult market when many vendors are holding their agents to account for a lack of viewings.  Avoid being on the “vendors I don’t want to talk to” list by treating your agent with respect and kindness, and they will, in turn, help you sell your house.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: Some estate agent jokes for Saturday

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

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Rogue landlords: 90% of local authorities fail to issue fines https://t.co/NX7lgJ64mb Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM

Rogue landlords: 90% of local authorities fail to issue fines https://t.co/NX7lgJ64mb Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1067936713895489537)

Rogue landlords: 90% of local authorities fail to issue fines

FoI responses from 293 English councils reveal string of weaknesses in private rented market law

Almost 90% of local authorities failed to use new powers to fine rogue landlords last year, in the latest finding to suggest tenants are being failed by a lax enforcement regime.

It follows a Guardian and ITV News investigation in October, which revealed a string of weaknesses in the legislation governing the private rented market and which also raised questions about the rigour with which certain councils pursued any offenders.

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Step inside Dusty Springfield’s old home https://t.co/j2XApUlT7S #estate agents Nottingham

Step inside Dusty Springfield’s old home https://t.co/j2XApUlT7S #estate agents Nottingham (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1067805928194490368)

Step inside Dusty Springfield’s old home

The sixties pop icon's former property is listed for sale on the market.

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12 Guerrilla Marketing Tips to Help You Sell

Have you heard of guerrilla marketing? The term was coined and defined by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerrilla Marketing and was invented as an unconventional system of promoting something, that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing campaigns are unexpected and unconventional, and consumers are targeted in unexpected ways and places.

There’s a lot that estate agents could learn about guerrilla marketing techniques, and how to apply them to selling houses.  In this still-tough market, sellers need all the help they can get.  But don’t leave it to your agent; there’s plenty that you can do to give yourself the best possible chance to attract interest and beat the competition.  Here’s twelve guerrilla marketing tips to get you started:

1. If you have an unusual feature, design or story about your house, try to generate free PR by getting onto local radio or in the press.

2. Offer a financial referral incentive to all on your email contact list, and ask them all to pass it on. Make it a really worthwhile reward – several thousands of pounds – to make sure they get excited about it.

3. Leave your brochure between the pages of some of your used magazines, and then take them to doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries for their waiting rooms.

4. Attach a lidded, waterproof brochure box to your for sale sign so people can help themselves to your brochures when they are driving or walking past.

5. Your largest employers in the area will probably have noticeboards where you can pin a brochure, or at least an index card..

6. Put your asking price on your for sale board. This particularly works well on a busy road, or on the rear fence of a house that backs on to a playing field or park.

7. Have some small postcards printed with your property details and contact information; wherever you go, make sure you have some with you and can leave them in appropriate places.

8. Calculate the price per square foot of your house, and compare it to your competition; if it is favourable, print a table showing how you rank and make it available to buyers.

9. If you have a family house, make sure any children are well catered for, and encourage them to play on swings, slides, trampolines etc, leaving their parents free to look around in peace.  Pester power can work a treat!

10. Follow the developers’ lead, and place some signs around the house detailing appliances and any other features, such as pull-down loft ladders and garage door remote switches. Men in particular, love any gadgets, and it gives them permission to try them out.

11. Ask your friends and neighbours to write some nice testimonials about the house, the neighbours and the village or town. Leave these printed out on the table for them to take with them. Include any interesting local stories and famous or celebrity residents.

12. Facebook sites are really easy to create – make one to showcase your house complete with local information, photographs, details about local stories and famous neighbours etc. Share the link with your email list, and add it to any marketing.

The message here is, don’t leave it all to your estate agent – there’s so much you can do. At the very least, you’ll feel that you have taken back some control of the marketing of your property – and at best, you might just find yourself a buyer!

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: Is your marketing strategy working?

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post 12 Guerrilla Marketing Tips to Help You Sell appeared first on Home Truths.

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12 Guerrilla Marketing Tips to Help You Sell

Have you heard of guerrilla marketing? The term was coined and defined by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerrilla Marketing and was invented as an unconventional system of promoting something, that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing campaigns are unexpected and unconventional, and consumers are targeted in unexpected ways and places.

There’s a lot that estate agents could learn about guerrilla marketing techniques, and how to apply them to selling houses.  In this still-tough market, sellers need all the help they can get.  But don’t leave it to your agent; there’s plenty that you can do to give yourself the best possible chance to attract interest and beat the competition.  Here’s twelve guerrilla marketing tips to get you started:

1. If you have an unusual feature, design or story about your house, try to generate free PR by getting onto local radio or in the press.

2. Offer a financial referral incentive to all on your email contact list, and ask them all to pass it on. Make it a really worthwhile reward – several thousands of pounds – to make sure they get excited about it.

3. Leave your brochure between the pages of some of your used magazines, and then take them to doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries for their waiting rooms.

4. Attach a lidded, waterproof brochure box to your for sale sign so people can help themselves to your brochures when they are driving or walking past.

5. Your largest employers in the area will probably have noticeboards where you can pin a brochure, or at least an index card..

6. Put your asking price on your for sale board. This particularly works well on a busy road, or on the rear fence of a house that backs on to a playing field or park.

7. Have some small postcards printed with your property details and contact information; wherever you go, make sure you have some with you and can leave them in appropriate places.

8. Calculate the price per square foot of your house, and compare it to your competition; if it is favourable, print a table showing how you rank and make it available to buyers.

9. If you have a family house, make sure any children are well catered for, and encourage them to play on swings, slides, trampolines etc, leaving their parents free to look around in peace.  Pester power can work a treat!

10. Follow the developers’ lead, and place some signs around the house detailing appliances and any other features, such as pull-down loft ladders and garage door remote switches. Men in particular, love any gadgets, and it gives them permission to try them out.

11. Ask your friends and neighbours to write some nice testimonials about the house, the neighbours and the village or town. Leave these printed out on the table for them to take with them. Include any interesting local stories and famous or celebrity residents.

12. Facebook sites are really easy to create – make one to showcase your house complete with local information, photographs, details about local stories and famous neighbours etc. Share the link with your email list, and add it to any marketing.

The message here is, don’t leave it all to your estate agent – there’s so much you can do. At the very least, you’ll feel that you have taken back some control of the marketing of your property – and at best, you might just find yourself a buyer!

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: Is your marketing strategy working?

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post 12 Guerrilla Marketing Tips to Help You Sell appeared first on Home Truths.

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12 Guerrilla Marketing Tips to Help You Sell

Have you heard of guerrilla marketing? The term was coined and defined by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerrilla Marketing and was invented as an unconventional system of promoting something, that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing campaigns are unexpected and unconventional, and consumers are targeted in unexpected ways and places.

There’s a lot that estate agents could learn about guerrilla marketing techniques, and how to apply them to selling houses.  In this still-tough market, sellers need all the help they can get.  But don’t leave it to your agent; there’s plenty that you can do to give yourself the best possible chance to attract interest and beat the competition.  Here’s twelve guerrilla marketing tips to get you started:

1. If you have an unusual feature, design or story about your house, try to generate free PR by getting onto local radio or in the press.

2. Offer a financial referral incentive to all on your email contact list, and ask them all to pass it on. Make it a really worthwhile reward – several thousands of pounds – to make sure they get excited about it.

3. Leave your brochure between the pages of some of your used magazines, and then take them to doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries for their waiting rooms.

4. Attach a lidded, waterproof brochure box to your for sale sign so people can help themselves to your brochures when they are driving or walking past.

5. Your largest employers in the area will probably have noticeboards where you can pin a brochure, or at least an index card..

6. Put your asking price on your for sale board. This particularly works well on a busy road, or on the rear fence of a house that backs on to a playing field or park.

7. Have some small postcards printed with your property details and contact information; wherever you go, make sure you have some with you and can leave them in appropriate places.

8. Calculate the price per square foot of your house, and compare it to your competition; if it is favourable, print a table showing how you rank and make it available to buyers.

9. If you have a family house, make sure any children are well catered for, and encourage them to play on swings, slides, trampolines etc, leaving their parents free to look around in peace.  Pester power can work a treat!

10. Follow the developers’ lead, and place some signs around the house detailing appliances and any other features, such as pull-down loft ladders and garage door remote switches. Men in particular, love any gadgets, and it gives them permission to try them out.

11. Ask your friends and neighbours to write some nice testimonials about the house, the neighbours and the village or town. Leave these printed out on the table for them to take with them. Include any interesting local stories and famous or celebrity residents.

12. Facebook sites are really easy to create – make one to showcase your house complete with local information, photographs, details about local stories and famous neighbours etc. Share the link with your email list, and add it to any marketing.

The message here is, don’t leave it all to your estate agent – there’s so much you can do. At the very least, you’ll feel that you have taken back some control of the marketing of your property – and at best, you might just find yourself a buyer!

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: Is your marketing strategy working?

What to do next: Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post 12 Guerrilla Marketing Tips to Help You Sell appeared first on Home Truths.

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This month’s most unusual property listings https://t.co/AHLzXYd3hn #estate agents Nottingham

This month’s most unusual property listings https://t.co/AHLzXYd3hn #estate agents Nottingham (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1067444709470146560)

This month’s most unusual property listings

Take a look at some of the quirkiest homes for sale on Rightmove.

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I couldn’t use my Wyevale garden centre gift card after Dobbies took it over

I was shocked when I couldn’t use spend £150 voucher locally and was told to travel miles away

I am a keen gardener and was fortunate to receive more than £150-worth of Wyevale garden centres gift cards for my recent summer birthday. I had specified that retailer as there has been a large one near my home for many years. However, when I visited last weekend I was shocked to see that it is now a Dobbies garden centre.

I was finally told that I could not use the cards there but that I could do so at other centres. However, the three “relatively” near me are a considerable drive away. This all seems unfair as it is hardly my fault that the company has changed hands.

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Headlines that grab

Headlines are meant to command your attention.  Think of the front page of our daily newspapers, the News at Ten summary before the Big Ben bongs and the way our gaze is snagged by the headlines on the front cover of glossy magazines as they sit on the shelves, all fighting for our attention.

The same is true for property marketing.  Too often are houses listed on Rightmove and the other property portals with the main description simply lifted and inserted on the summary page.  So we get flat descriptions with ellipses, as they haven’t been written to fit the summary, so overflow.  Take a look at this prime example of a yawn-inducing ‘summary’:

A modern link detached 3 bedroom family home, situated in a corner position, located in this popular village. The property also offers a stylish kitchen, cloakroom, spacious living room and conservatory overlooking the rear garden. Further attributes include a garage,…

Much better to have a simple and punchy headline of no more than 15 – 20 words that tells the buyer straight away why they need to book a viewing.

Here’s a list of some headlines – some better than others – but all better than a wordy description that nobody will read:

A good effort:

• Luxury period living with 21st Century refinements

• A superb architect designed house enjoying far-reaching panoramic views over Lake Windermere and the stunning backdrop of the Lakeland Fells

• A cosy cottage nestled in a beautiful quiet backwater

A bit of punch:

• Make as much noise as you want

• Possibly Norfolk’s finest coastal property

• Welcome to paradise

Finally, some great examples from our friends at Pink and Black in Oxford:

• Handsome farmhouse with lots of toys and plenty of land for the aspiring smallholder

• If you are looking for a view it doesn’t get much better than this. With a tantilising touch of Tuscany, if the tree-lined drive hasn’t sold it to you, the 4 acres of grounds will.

• A great combination of work and home life: a true home in every sense
• Like a Saville Row suit, this house has been created to last the test of time.

Some pointers to make sure your headline beats the competition:

Use individual and unusual words – forget ‘spacious’ and ‘well-presented’, and go for adjectives that will really grab our buyer.

Capture the essence – what is it that is unique and special about your home?

Keep it short – with the exception of the Tuscany headline above, all the others are less than around 20 words.

Struggling to create a catchy headline?  Email me with a link to your property advert, and I’ll see if I can help.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: 10 quick staging tips

The post Headlines that grab appeared first on Home Truths.

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Headlines that grab

Headlines are meant to command your attention.  Think of the front page of our daily newspapers, the News at Ten summary before the Big Ben bongs and the way our gaze is snagged by the headlines on the front cover of glossy magazines as they sit on the shelves, all fighting for our attention.

The same is true for property marketing.  Too often are houses listed on Rightmove and the other property portals with the main description simply lifted and inserted on the summary page.  So we get flat descriptions with ellipses, as they haven’t been written to fit the summary, so overflow.  Take a look at this prime example of a yawn-inducing ‘summary’:

A modern link detached 3 bedroom family home, situated in a corner position, located in this popular village. The property also offers a stylish kitchen, cloakroom, spacious living room and conservatory overlooking the rear garden. Further attributes include a garage,…

Much better to have a simple and punchy headline of no more than 15 – 20 words that tells the buyer straight away why they need to book a viewing.

Here’s a list of some headlines – some better than others – but all better than a wordy description that nobody will read:

A good effort:

• Luxury period living with 21st Century refinements

• A superb architect designed house enjoying far-reaching panoramic views over Lake Windermere and the stunning backdrop of the Lakeland Fells

• A cosy cottage nestled in a beautiful quiet backwater

A bit of punch:

• Make as much noise as you want

• Possibly Norfolk’s finest coastal property

• Welcome to paradise

Finally, some great examples from our friends at Pink and Black in Oxford:

• Handsome farmhouse with lots of toys and plenty of land for the aspiring smallholder

• If you are looking for a view it doesn’t get much better than this. With a tantilising touch of Tuscany, if the tree-lined drive hasn’t sold it to you, the 4 acres of grounds will.

• A great combination of work and home life: a true home in every sense
• Like a Saville Row suit, this house has been created to last the test of time.

Some pointers to make sure your headline beats the competition:

Use individual and unusual words – forget ‘spacious’ and ‘well-presented’, and go for adjectives that will really grab our buyer.

Capture the essence – what is it that is unique and special about your home?

Keep it short – with the exception of the Tuscany headline above, all the others are less than around 20 words.

Struggling to create a catchy headline?  Email me with a link to your property advert, and I’ll see if I can help.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: 10 quick staging tips

The post Headlines that grab appeared first on Home Truths.

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Headlines that grab

Headlines are meant to command your attention.  Think of the front page of our daily newspapers, the News at Ten summary before the Big Ben bongs and the way our gaze is snagged by the headlines on the front cover of glossy magazines as they sit on the shelves, all fighting for our attention.

The same is true for property marketing.  Too often are houses listed on Rightmove and the other property portals with the main description simply lifted and inserted on the summary page.  So we get flat descriptions with ellipses, as they haven’t been written to fit the summary, so overflow.  Take a look at this prime example of a yawn-inducing ‘summary’:

A modern link detached 3 bedroom family home, situated in a corner position, located in this popular village. The property also offers a stylish kitchen, cloakroom, spacious living room and conservatory overlooking the rear garden. Further attributes include a garage,…

Much better to have a simple and punchy headline of no more than 15 – 20 words that tells the buyer straight away why they need to book a viewing.

Here’s a list of some headlines – some better than others – but all better than a wordy description that nobody will read:

A good effort:

• Luxury period living with 21st Century refinements

• A superb architect designed house enjoying far-reaching panoramic views over Lake Windermere and the stunning backdrop of the Lakeland Fells

• A cosy cottage nestled in a beautiful quiet backwater

A bit of punch:

• Make as much noise as you want

• Possibly Norfolk’s finest coastal property

• Welcome to paradise

Finally, some great examples from our friends at Pink and Black in Oxford:

• Handsome farmhouse with lots of toys and plenty of land for the aspiring smallholder

• If you are looking for a view it doesn’t get much better than this. With a tantilising touch of Tuscany, if the tree-lined drive hasn’t sold it to you, the 4 acres of grounds will.

• A great combination of work and home life: a true home in every sense
• Like a Saville Row suit, this house has been created to last the test of time.

Some pointers to make sure your headline beats the competition:

Use individual and unusual words – forget ‘spacious’ and ‘well-presented’, and go for adjectives that will really grab our buyer.

Capture the essence – what is it that is unique and special about your home?

Keep it short – with the exception of the Tuscany headline above, all the others are less than around 20 words.

Struggling to create a catchy headline?  Email me with a link to your property advert, and I’ll see if I can help.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next: 10 quick staging tips

The post Headlines that grab appeared first on Home Truths.

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I couldn’t use my Wyevale garden centre gift card after Dobies took it over

I was shocked when I couldn’t use spend £150 voucher locally and was told to travel miles away

I am a keen gardener and was fortunate to receive more than £150-worth of Wyevale garden centres gift cards for my recent summer birthday. I had specified that retailer as there has been a large one near my home for many years. However, when I visited last weekend I was shocked to see that it is now a Dobbies garden centre.

I was finally told that I could not use the cards there but that I could do so at other centres. However, the three “relatively” near me are a considerable drive away. This all seems unfair as it is hardly my fault that the company has changed hands.

Continue reading...

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I couldn’t use my Wyevale garden centre gift card after Dobies took it over https://t.co/rLwUPTrYMy Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxCrNc

I couldn’t use my Wyevale garden centre gift card after Dobies took it over https://t.co/rLwUPTrYMy Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxCrNc (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1067313905720975360)

Is a property crash coming? We answer the 20 most pressing personal finance questions https://t.co/TJ0Jv75UE8 Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM

Is a property crash coming? We answer the 20 most pressing personal finance questions https://t.co/TJ0Jv75UE8 Solicitors & Estate Agents In One Just £899 + vat .. https://t.co/GmjoJxU3bM (via Twitter http://twitter.com/conveyandmove/status/1067303830298271744)

Is a property crash coming? We answer the 20 most pressing personal finance questions

Should I buy travel insurance from Ryanair? How much money do I need to retire? And do shops have to accept Scottish banknotes? The Guardian’s money team on everything you need to know about your cash

First, pay down your debts. It is foolish to keep, say, a £3,000 balance in savings while repaying the monthly minimum on a £5,000 credit card debt. That said, try to keep about £500 aside for emergencies – a car or boiler breakdown, for instance. Once your credit cards are paid off, the rule of thumb is that you should keep between two and three months’ worth of take-home pay as an “instant access” reserve fund. But banks typically pay a lousy 0.1%-0.2% interest on these accounts. Put some of it through a “regular” savings account instead – you can save £250 a month at Nationwide building society, and get 5% interest. Patrick Collinson

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