My daughter is buying me out of a house – must she pay stamp duty?

She hasn’t had a mortgage before, but I’m told she will need to pay stamp duty on a mortgage

Q My two daughters and I are the joint owners of a property for which we paid cash (so there is no mortgage involved). One of my daughters lives in the house and is now in the process – with her husband – of taking out a £120,000 mortgage so that she can buy her sister and me out (the house is valued at £180,000). On the strength of the £60,000 that she will get from her sister for her share of the house, my other daughter is also thinking of taking out a mortgage to buy her first home. Although neither of my daughters has had a mortgage before – and so in my view are first-time buyers – we have been told that they will both need to pay stamp duty on their mortgages. Is this correct?
JC

A No, it is not correct that your daughters will have to pay stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on their mortgages because SDLT is not charged on mortgages but on what is called “consideration given” for a property which usually means what was paid for a property (or a share of a property). It is also incorrect to think that your daughters should be eligible for first-time-buyer relief from SDLT – which lets first-time buyers off SDLT on the first £300,000 of properties costing up to £500,000 – because, strictly speaking, they are not first-time buyers because they have previously owned property. In the words of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): “In order to count as a first-time buyer, a purchaser must not, either alone or with others, have previously acquired a major interest in a dwelling situated anywhere in the world.”

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How to make it easy for a buyer to buy your home

So, you’ve de-cluttered, tidied, finished off those niggling maintenance jobs, and repainted the kitchen. You’re ready to sell!

But what if there are external drawbacks that may deter a sale? The interior of your home aside, external factors are often forgotten about because they aren’t part of ‘the home’, but there are some your buyers may be thinking about. One of the best ways to see through your rose-tinted spectacles is to think like a buyer, and see what might be challenging them…

Surrounding properties – If similar properties are for sale in your area, it is very important to keep an eye on what is going on with these homes. If a buyer is already sold on the area, they’ll be closely studying the photos on Rightmove. How does your front door compare to that of your neighbours’? If yours is looking a bit sorry for itself, and the neighbour’s door has just had a Fired Earth refresh, they’ll be getting the first visit. Keeping up appearances is essential when the competition is so close.

Pricing – While your price may have been perfect when it was put on the market, what if the market has changed? If your house was put on a year ago and hasn’t shifted, prices could have changed. Any of your neighbours’ properties that are newly listed could be much cheaper than yours, making you look oddly expensive. Compare your price with your neighbours’ similar properties, and talk to your estate agent about altering the price to reflect market changes.

Hurdles – A buyer may have fallen in love with your home and be ready to sign on the dotted line, but a massive barrier could stand in their way. As an example, what if your home isn’t going to be ready to move in to on the date that they are requesting? In these instances, be prepared to negotiate. Suggest local temporary housing and storage options to them, which can make an otherwise impossible move highly achievable. Especially useful if your buyers are moving a great distance.

Neighbourhood – Local facilities are often very important to buyers. If your neighbourhood is quite similar to another in your town, buyers might draw a comparison between the two. Why not do the research for them? Look for amenities that buyers will be looking for such as good schools, playgrounds, restaurants and sports grounds. List the locality of these local benefits on your property listing. Why not put together a few brochures about these places too, and leave them in your home for people to look at?

Thinking like buyer can really help you to take account of any external factors that people are considering when looking at your home, and trying to imagine themselves living there. You can then pre-empt, or at least mitigate, and be prepared for any negative feedback you may get from your agent and buyers.

Sam

The post How to make it easy for a buyer to buy your home appeared first on Home Truths.

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How to make it easy for a buyer to buy your home

So, you’ve de-cluttered, tidied, finished off those niggling maintenance jobs, and repainted the kitchen. You’re ready to sell!

But what if there are external drawbacks that may deter a sale? The interior of your home aside, external factors are often forgotten about because they aren’t part of ‘the home’, but there are some your buyers may be thinking about. One of the best ways to see through your rose-tinted spectacles is to think like a buyer, and see what might be challenging them…

Surrounding properties – If similar properties are for sale in your area, it is very important to keep an eye on what is going on with these homes. If a buyer is already sold on the area, they’ll be closely studying the photos on Rightmove. How does your front door compare to that of your neighbours’? If yours is looking a bit sorry for itself, and the neighbour’s door has just had a Fired Earth refresh, they’ll be getting the first visit. Keeping up appearances is essential when the competition is so close.

Pricing – While your price may have been perfect when it was put on the market, what if the market has changed? If your house was put on a year ago and hasn’t shifted, prices could have changed. Any of your neighbours’ properties that are newly listed could be much cheaper than yours, making you look oddly expensive. Compare your price with your neighbours’ similar properties, and talk to your estate agent about altering the price to reflect market changes.

Hurdles – A buyer may have fallen in love with your home and be ready to sign on the dotted line, but a massive barrier could stand in their way. As an example, what if your home isn’t going to be ready to move in to on the date that they are requesting? In these instances, be prepared to negotiate. Suggest local temporary housing and storage options to them, which can make an otherwise impossible move highly achievable. Especially useful if your buyers are moving a great distance.

Neighbourhood – Local facilities are often very important to buyers. If your neighbourhood is quite similar to another in your town, buyers might draw a comparison between the two. Why not do the research for them? Look for amenities that buyers will be looking for such as good schools, playgrounds, restaurants and sports grounds. List the locality of these local benefits on your property listing. Why not put together a few brochures about these places too, and leave them in your home for people to look at?

Thinking like buyer can really help you to take account of any external factors that people are considering when looking at your home, and trying to imagine themselves living there. You can then pre-empt, or at least mitigate, and be prepared for any negative feedback you may get from your agent and buyers.

Sam

The post How to make it easy for a buyer to buy your home appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2Val3RM
via IFTTT

How to make it easy for a buyer to buy your home

So, you’ve de-cluttered, tidied, finished off those niggling maintenance jobs, and repainted the kitchen. You’re ready to sell!

But what if there are external drawbacks that may deter a sale? The interior of your home aside, external factors are often forgotten about because they aren’t part of ‘the home’, but there are some your buyers may be thinking about. One of the best ways to see through your rose-tinted spectacles is to think like a buyer, and see what might be challenging them…

Surrounding properties – If similar properties are for sale in your area, it is very important to keep an eye on what is going on with these homes. If a buyer is already sold on the area, they’ll be closely studying the photos on Rightmove. How does your front door compare to that of your neighbours’? If yours is looking a bit sorry for itself, and the neighbour’s door has just had a Fired Earth refresh, they’ll be getting the first visit. Keeping up appearances is essential when the competition is so close.

Pricing – While your price may have been perfect when it was put on the market, what if the market has changed? If your house was put on a year ago and hasn’t shifted, prices could have changed. Any of your neighbours’ properties that are newly listed could be much cheaper than yours, making you look oddly expensive. Compare your price with your neighbours’ similar properties, and talk to your estate agent about altering the price to reflect market changes.

Hurdles – A buyer may have fallen in love with your home and be ready to sign on the dotted line, but a massive barrier could stand in their way. As an example, what if your home isn’t going to be ready to move in to on the date that they are requesting? In these instances, be prepared to negotiate. Suggest local temporary housing and storage options to them, which can make an otherwise impossible move highly achievable. Especially useful if your buyers are moving a great distance.

Neighbourhood – Local facilities are often very important to buyers. If your neighbourhood is quite similar to another in your town, buyers might draw a comparison between the two. Why not do the research for them? Look for amenities that buyers will be looking for such as good schools, playgrounds, restaurants and sports grounds. List the locality of these local benefits on your property listing. Why not put together a few brochures about these places too, and leave them in your home for people to look at?

Thinking like buyer can really help you to take account of any external factors that people are considering when looking at your home, and trying to imagine themselves living there. You can then pre-empt, or at least mitigate, and be prepared for any negative feedback you may get from your agent and buyers.

Sam

The post How to make it easy for a buyer to buy your home appeared first on Home Truths.

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Property jargon buster – a glossary of terms Nottingham Estate Agents

The property world is full of words and expressions that may be unfamiliar to anyone who is not regularly buying, selling, letting or renting a home. This updated guide from OnTheMarket.com will help to shed light on what they all mean. Absent landlord A landlord described as “absent” is one who cannot be contacted. If […]

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Sales Progression Management – what is it?

Did you know that on average, 36% of sales arranged in England and Wales fall through after the offer is accepted?

It’s a scary thought, especially when so often so much is riding on the sale of your house.

Sales progression management is the process of monitoring all those tricky milestones and liasing with all parties to ensure that communication doesn’t go unanswered, questions are responded to promptly, and disputes are handled sensitively. This process is best handled by someone to whom a successful outcome means a completed sale. That person is usually your estate agent.

So, one of the questions you need to ask an agent before you decide to engage his services, is how sales progression is managed in his office. You need to know someone is on your side, fighting your corner for when the going gets tough – and it often does!

You can also help yourself at this tricky time, by making sure you do the following:

• Instruct your solicitor early – before you get an offer – then inform your agent;

• Get your documents together – this may be details of any work you have had done to the property, planning permission, guarantees and certificates;

• Complete and return all paperwork from your solicitor as soon as possible; for example, the fixtures and fittings enquiry form;

• Keep a diary of all communication and double-check anything you have sent has been received, whether by email or post

With a great agent experienced in sales progression management, and thorough communication and record keeping, you’ll put yourself in a far better position to get that sale to completion.

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: What’s your house brand?

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

The post Sales Progression Management – what is it? appeared first on Home Truths.

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Who are you trying to convince?

At HomeTruths, a very important part of our service is to provide to our clients a comprehensive and detailed report on their asking price. We look at several different data points in order to establish whether they are still achievable. In the vast majority of the time, we report back, much to our client’s relief, that we believe they should continue to market at their chosen price, or even at an increased level.

However, we are not the only party to be convinced. There are three other parties who, if not confident that your house is worth its price, can sabotage your property sale. Let’s have a look at the implications of their influence in turn:

Your estate agent. If your agent does not have confidence he can sell your home for the price you want, this lack of support will eventually filter down through the branch staff, and be in no doubt, to your viewers. It only takes a careless remark, such as “the vendors are very flexible” or “it’s always worth making an offer” and a buyer will get the subtle message that the agent does not support the asking price. The solution is to gather all the data you can regarding any houses sold in your local area, comparable properties currently on the market and even, if your maths is up to it, a price per square foot comparison table, showing how much house a buyer is getting for their money.

Your buyer. They are probably the best informed out of these three parties, as they are likely to be looking only within a particular price range, geographical area and house type. This makes them a ‘temporary expert’ of a house such as yours. If they don’t feel your house is worth the asking price, they may not even make an offer. The solution is to make your house as appealing for the 21^st century buyer as possible, and compete strongly on features and presentation. Your marketing sets the scene, so ensure your brochure, photography and online advert are giving the right message, and back it up with a house that sells itself to a viewer.

Your buyer’s lender. This is a very important point: your estate agent may agree to market your home for a very optimistic price, and your buyer may get carried away enough to offer the asking price, but if he needs a mortgage, it’s the lender who makes the final decision. Their valuer will take a very cautious and guarded view of the value of your house, particularly if your buyer needs a relatively high loan amount. The solution is to present the valuer with your own dossier of comparable evidence to support your price. He will, of course, compile his own data from various different professional sources, but any information you can supply that will make his life easier, and your agreed purchase price more realistic, will really help to support your argument.

The lesson here is that preparation will really put you in a much stronger position and make your eventual sale price more likely to put a smile on your face.

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: Don’t drop your asking price!

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

The post Who are you trying to convince? appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2Uk6Epc
via IFTTT

Sales Progression Management – what is it?

Did you know that on average, 36% of sales arranged in England and Wales fall through after the offer is accepted?

It’s a scary thought, especially when so often so much is riding on the sale of your house.

Sales progression management is the process of monitoring all those tricky milestones and liasing with all parties to ensure that communication doesn’t go unanswered, questions are responded to promptly, and disputes are handled sensitively. This process is best handled by someone to whom a successful outcome means a completed sale. That person is usually your estate agent.

So, one of the questions you need to ask an agent before you decide to engage his services, is how sales progression is managed in his office. You need to know someone is on your side, fighting your corner for when the going gets tough – and it often does!

You can also help yourself at this tricky time, by making sure you do the following:

• Instruct your solicitor early – before you get an offer – then inform your agent;

• Get your documents together – this may be details of any work you have had done to the property, planning permission, guarantees and certificates;

• Complete and return all paperwork from your solicitor as soon as possible; for example, the fixtures and fittings enquiry form;

• Keep a diary of all communication and double-check anything you have sent has been received, whether by email or post

With a great agent experienced in sales progression management, and thorough communication and record keeping, you’ll put yourself in a far better position to get that sale to completion.

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: What’s your house brand?

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

The post Sales Progression Management – what is it? appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2s4lqQA
via IFTTT

Who are you trying to convince?

At HomeTruths, a very important part of our service is to provide to our clients a comprehensive and detailed report on their asking price. We look at several different data points in order to establish whether they are still achievable. In the vast majority of the time, we report back, much to our client’s relief, that we believe they should continue to market at their chosen price, or even at an increased level.

However, we are not the only party to be convinced. There are three other parties who, if not confident that your house is worth its price, can sabotage your property sale. Let’s have a look at the implications of their influence in turn:

Your estate agent. If your agent does not have confidence he can sell your home for the price you want, this lack of support will eventually filter down through the branch staff, and be in no doubt, to your viewers. It only takes a careless remark, such as “the vendors are very flexible” or “it’s always worth making an offer” and a buyer will get the subtle message that the agent does not support the asking price. The solution is to gather all the data you can regarding any houses sold in your local area, comparable properties currently on the market and even, if your maths is up to it, a price per square foot comparison table, showing how much house a buyer is getting for their money.

Your buyer. They are probably the best informed out of these three parties, as they are likely to be looking only within a particular price range, geographical area and house type. This makes them a ‘temporary expert’ of a house such as yours. If they don’t feel your house is worth the asking price, they may not even make an offer. The solution is to make your house as appealing for the 21^st century buyer as possible, and compete strongly on features and presentation. Your marketing sets the scene, so ensure your brochure, photography and online advert are giving the right message, and back it up with a house that sells itself to a viewer.

Your buyer’s lender. This is a very important point: your estate agent may agree to market your home for a very optimistic price, and your buyer may get carried away enough to offer the asking price, but if he needs a mortgage, it’s the lender who makes the final decision. Their valuer will take a very cautious and guarded view of the value of your house, particularly if your buyer needs a relatively high loan amount. The solution is to present the valuer with your own dossier of comparable evidence to support your price. He will, of course, compile his own data from various different professional sources, but any information you can supply that will make his life easier, and your agreed purchase price more realistic, will really help to support your argument.

The lesson here is that preparation will really put you in a much stronger position and make your eventual sale price more likely to put a smile on your face.

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: Don’t drop your asking price!

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

The post Who are you trying to convince? appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2Uk6Epc
via IFTTT

Sales Progression Management – what is it?

Did you know that on average, 36% of sales arranged in England and Wales fall through after the offer is accepted?

It’s a scary thought, especially when so often so much is riding on the sale of your house.

Sales progression management is the process of monitoring all those tricky milestones and liasing with all parties to ensure that communication doesn’t go unanswered, questions are responded to promptly, and disputes are handled sensitively. This process is best handled by someone to whom a successful outcome means a completed sale. That person is usually your estate agent.

So, one of the questions you need to ask an agent before you decide to engage his services, is how sales progression is managed in his office. You need to know someone is on your side, fighting your corner for when the going gets tough – and it often does!

You can also help yourself at this tricky time, by making sure you do the following:

• Instruct your solicitor early – before you get an offer – then inform your agent;

• Get your documents together – this may be details of any work you have had done to the property, planning permission, guarantees and certificates;

• Complete and return all paperwork from your solicitor as soon as possible; for example, the fixtures and fittings enquiry form;

• Keep a diary of all communication and double-check anything you have sent has been received, whether by email or post

With a great agent experienced in sales progression management, and thorough communication and record keeping, you’ll put yourself in a far better position to get that sale to completion.

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: What’s your house brand?

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

The post Sales Progression Management – what is it? appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2s4lqQA
via IFTTT

Who are you trying to convince?

At HomeTruths, a very important part of our service is to provide to our clients a comprehensive and detailed report on their asking price. We look at several different data points in order to establish whether they are still achievable. In the vast majority of the time, we report back, much to our client’s relief, that we believe they should continue to market at their chosen price, or even at an increased level.

However, we are not the only party to be convinced. There are three other parties who, if not confident that your house is worth its price, can sabotage your property sale. Let’s have a look at the implications of their influence in turn:

Your estate agent. If your agent does not have confidence he can sell your home for the price you want, this lack of support will eventually filter down through the branch staff, and be in no doubt, to your viewers. It only takes a careless remark, such as “the vendors are very flexible” or “it’s always worth making an offer” and a buyer will get the subtle message that the agent does not support the asking price. The solution is to gather all the data you can regarding any houses sold in your local area, comparable properties currently on the market and even, if your maths is up to it, a price per square foot comparison table, showing how much house a buyer is getting for their money.

Your buyer. They are probably the best informed out of these three parties, as they are likely to be looking only within a particular price range, geographical area and house type. This makes them a ‘temporary expert’ of a house such as yours. If they don’t feel your house is worth the asking price, they may not even make an offer. The solution is to make your house as appealing for the 21^st century buyer as possible, and compete strongly on features and presentation. Your marketing sets the scene, so ensure your brochure, photography and online advert are giving the right message, and back it up with a house that sells itself to a viewer.

Your buyer’s lender. This is a very important point: your estate agent may agree to market your home for a very optimistic price, and your buyer may get carried away enough to offer the asking price, but if he needs a mortgage, it’s the lender who makes the final decision. Their valuer will take a very cautious and guarded view of the value of your house, particularly if your buyer needs a relatively high loan amount. The solution is to present the valuer with your own dossier of comparable evidence to support your price. He will, of course, compile his own data from various different professional sources, but any information you can supply that will make his life easier, and your agreed purchase price more realistic, will really help to support your argument.

The lesson here is that preparation will really put you in a much stronger position and make your eventual sale price more likely to put a smile on your face.

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: Don’t drop your asking price!

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

The post Who are you trying to convince? appeared first on Home Truths.

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Five magically minimalist homes for spring clean inspiration

It's a tried and tested design philosophy.

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Say hello to aloes that will thrive outdoors | James Wong

With good drainage, many succulents grow well outside

As a lifelong lover of succulents, it’s exciting for me to see that they are suddenly back in vogue. Driven in large part by social media, sales of these wonderfully low-maintenance houseplants have seen a sharp increase in recent years. But despite their incredibly exotic appearance, many succulents will grow perfectly well outdoors. If you have run out of windowsills for your growing army of desert plants, here are some of my favourite aloes that will let you increase your collection outside.

We tend to think of aloes as larger, statement plants when grown indoors, but if you have a sunny spot outside, the low-growing, bunching rosettes of Aloe aristata make a wonderfully effective ground cover. They help green up the bare patches of gravel between bigger specimens in dry or Mediterranean-style borders, where they will also suppress weed growth, and even reward you with spikes of bright orange tubular flowers held on elegant stalks each summer.

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Homeowners caught in a crippling ground rent trap

A clause in their lease doubled the bill every 15 years, meaning mortgage lenders steered clear

Sahar Nejabati planned to sell her flat before she got married in order to buy somewhere more spacious to raise a family: but buyers would not touch it because of a clause in the lease under which the ground rent doubled every 15 years.

Mortgage lenders steer clear of homes with onerous ground rent clauses, so it can be difficult for sellers to find a buyer or remortgage.

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Say hello to aloes that will thrive outdoors | James Wong

With good drainage, many succulents grow well outside

As a lifelong lover of succulents, it’s exciting for me to see that they are suddenly back in vogue. Driven in large part by social media, sales of these wonderfully low-maintenance houseplants have seen a sharp increase in recent years. But despite their incredibly exotic appearance, many succulents will grow perfectly well outdoors. If you have run out of windowsills for your growing army of desert plants, here are some of my favourite aloes that will let you increase your collection outside.

We tend to think of aloes as larger, statement plants when grown indoors, but if you have a sunny spot outside, the low-growing, bunching rosettes of Aloe aristata make a wonderfully effective ground cover. They help green up the bare patches of gravel between bigger specimens in dry or Mediterranean-style borders, where they will also suppress weed growth, and even reward you with spikes of bright orange tubular flowers held on elegant stalks each summer.

Continue reading...

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Spring fever breaks out | Allan Jenkins

As the hour goes forward, it’s all systems go for everything from the windowbox daffodils to the street magnolia

So that’s it. British Summer Time Sunday, slightly later this year. We’ve had meteorological spring for a month and the equinox was over a week ago. So is it all gardening systems go? Well, sort of, though it helps if you have a greenhouse, perhaps a polytunnel or even a tray on a windowsill.

Of course it will be brighter in the evening. Day workers get to go home in daylight, or in my case try to steal away for an hour or two in the vegetable patch. Our rooftop daffodils are all out, the street magnolia, too. Assorted frothy blossom colours my walk to the plot. I am currently obsessed with spring – with frogspawn and blackthorn flower.

Continue reading...

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Spring fever breaks out | Allan Jenkins

As the hour goes forward, it’s all systems go for everything from the windowbox daffodils to the street magnolia

So that’s it. British Summer Time Sunday, slightly later this year. We’ve had meteorological spring for a month and the equinox was over a week ago. So is it all gardening systems go? Well, sort of, though it helps if you have a greenhouse, perhaps a polytunnel or even a tray on a windowsill.

Of course it will be brighter in the evening. Day workers get to go home in daylight, or in my case try to steal away for an hour or two in the vegetable patch. Our rooftop daffodils are all out, the street magnolia, too. Assorted frothy blossom colours my walk to the plot. I am currently obsessed with spring – with frogspawn and blackthorn flower.

Continue reading...

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Looking for a quiet property? Tips if peace is your priority Nottingham Estate Agents

With increasing numbers of people moving to busy cities and towns, peace and quiet can seem a rare commodity. Some people are happy living close to the action, but for others, a quiet home is a priority. If you are house hunting, it can be difficult to know (beyond the obvious) of what to consider. […]

The post Looking for a quiet property? Tips if peace is your priority appeared first on OnTheMarket.com blog.

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Under the rainbow: primary colours, gentle pastels and strong shapes collide in a flat in Lyon

A sci-fi novelist and a psychiatrist have brought a cheerfully eclectic mix of styles to their period apartment

When we moved in here, we dreamed of making a home with plain white walls and a Zen-like atmosphere. But I guess that was never really going to be our style,” says Chloé Valentin. She and her husband, Thomas Valentin, live in an apartment in a late-19th century building in Lyon, France, with their children Isaac, five, and Sidonie, three. The idea of a serene blank space, interrupted by little more than a few fine linen curtains wafting in the breeze, has long since been shelved. But nobody minds, because in its place is a family home full of warmth, character and creative ideas.

The couple found this place just after Isaac was born and, at first, the neighbourhood was much more of a draw than the flat itself. “It’s in the Croix Rousse area of Lyon, which feels more like a village than a part of the city, set on a hill above all the noise and bustle,” says Chloé. “The streets are small and quiet and there are lots of parks, so it’s popular with families. In summer, the neighbours in this building come together and have picnics in the small shared garden.”

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Under the rainbow: primary colours, gentle pastels and strong shapes collide in a flat in Lyon

A sci-fi novelist and a psychiatrist have brought a cheerfully eclectic mix of styles to their period apartment

When we moved in here, we dreamed of making a home with plain white walls and a Zen-like atmosphere. But I guess that was never really going to be our style,” says Chloé Valentin. She and her husband, Thomas Valentin, live in an apartment in a late-19th century building in Lyon, France, with their children Isaac, five, and Sidonie, three. The idea of a serene blank space, interrupted by little more than a few fine linen curtains wafting in the breeze, has long since been shelved. But nobody minds, because in its place is a family home full of warmth, character and creative ideas.

The couple found this place just after Isaac was born and, at first, the neighbourhood was much more of a draw than the flat itself. “It’s in the Croix Rousse area of Lyon, which feels more like a village than a part of the city, set on a hill above all the noise and bustle,” says Chloé. “The streets are small and quiet and there are lots of parks, so it’s popular with families. In summer, the neighbours in this building come together and have picnics in the small shared garden.”

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Bauhaus: 100 years old but still ubiquitous in our homes today

How a revolutionary idea became our go-to way of living.

Shop the look: our pick from the high street

Spending a night at the hallowed Bauhaus school in Dessau, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, was my teenage dream come true. The walls of my childhood bedroom were plastered not with posters of pop stars, but with the furniture manufacturer Vitra’s wall chart of iconic 20th-century chairs. As a design geek, growing up in a house bedecked with Laura Ashley, I found the idea of the Bauhaus thrilling: each chair was a mini manifesto, embodying the world of stripped-back modern design that I might one day inhabit (I’m still waiting).

Yet, almost 20 years later, when I got to stay in Josef Albers’ former bedroom in the Bauhaus dormitory block, surrounded by chairs and lamps designed by the school’s various luminaries, it felt disappointingly like a sleepover in an Ikea showroom. There was a stack of four coloured nesting tables in one corner, of the kind readily available from Habitat for £95, but these were in fact Albers’ original version, designed in 1924, now reissued by the German manufacturer Klein & More – yours for £1,614 (from connox.co.uk). In another corner stood a simple bent tubular steel chair by Mart Stam, of the unremarkable sort you find in restaurants and meeting rooms around the world. There was a steel coat stand, too, which I thought betrayed the hand of Marcel Breuer – but which turned out to be from Ikea.

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Bauhaus at 100: shop the look – in pictures

As the influential design school celebrates its first century, here’s our pick from the high street

Read more: Bauhaus – 100 years old but still ubiquitous in our homes

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Want to attract orange tip butterflies? Planting honesty is the best policy | Alys Fowler

Wherever the hardy brassica is sown, the delightful springtime butterfly will follow

There are many reasons to grow honesty, Lunaria annua: for the transparent, silvered, papery discs of the seedpod that persist all winter; because it merrily self-seeds, so once established you need do little else than remove the odd seedling in the wrong place; or for the froth of flowers in purple, lilac or white that dance effortlessly between tulips and daffodils.

But for all its elegance, the real reason to grow lunaria is to entice its guests to your garden. Where there is honesty, there is always a fluttering of orange-tip butterflies. These are some of the first spring-emerging butterflies in our gardens and they are such a delight – a welcome sign that the new season has arrived.

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Gardening tips: plant flowering currant

Plus, give pots some TLC and visit Great Comp garden

Plant this The flowering currant’s sprays of dark pink flowers (Ribes sanguineum) may be enlivening gardens across the land, but is it fashionable? No. Some people object to its musty smell – earning it the unhappy moniker “cat-pee plant” – but, for me, it’s the scent of sunny spring days. Embrace the nostalgia and plant one in full or partial shade. Try cultivars ‘Elkington’s White’ or ‘Pulborough Scarlet’.

Visit this Great Comp garden in Kent reopened to visitors last Monday25 March. The dozens of magnolia varieties are the springtime draw to this garden set around a 17th-century manor house; greatcompgarden.co.uk.

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via IFTTT

Bauhaus: 100 years old but still ubiquitous in our homes today

How a revolutionary idea became our go-to way of living.

Shop the look: our pick from the high street

Spending a night at the hallowed Bauhaus school in Dessau, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, was my teenage dream come true. The walls of my childhood bedroom were plastered not with posters of pop stars, but with the furniture manufacturer Vitra’s wall chart of iconic 20th-century chairs. As a design geek, growing up in a house bedecked with Laura Ashley, I found the idea of the Bauhaus thrilling: each chair was a mini manifesto, embodying the world of stripped-back modern design that I might one day inhabit (I’m still waiting).

Yet, almost 20 years later, when I got to stay in Josef Albers’ former bedroom in the Bauhaus dormitory block, surrounded by chairs and lamps designed by the school’s various luminaries, it felt disappointingly like a sleepover in an Ikea showroom. There was a stack of four coloured nesting tables in one corner, of the kind readily available from Habitat for £95, but these were in fact Albers’ original version, designed in 1924, now reissued by the German manufacturer Klein & More – yours for £1,614 (from connox.co.uk). In another corner stood a simple bent tubular steel chair by Mart Stam, of the unremarkable sort you find in restaurants and meeting rooms around the world. There was a steel coat stand, too, which I thought betrayed the hand of Marcel Breuer – but which turned out to be from Ikea.

Continue reading...

from Home And Garden | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2YBwQL5
via IFTTT

Bauhaus at 100: shop the look – in pictures

As the influential design school celebrates its first century, here’s our pick from the high street

Read more: Bauhaus – 100 years old but still ubiquitous in our homes

Continue reading...

from Home And Garden | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2TIqkPc
via IFTTT

Want to attract orange tip butterflies? Planting honesty is the best policy | Alys Fowler

Wherever the hardy brassica is sown, the delightful springtime butterfly will follow

There are many reasons to grow honesty, Lunaria annua: for the transparent, silvered, papery discs of the seedpod that persist all winter; because it merrily self-seeds, so once established you need do little else than remove the odd seedling in the wrong place; or for the froth of flowers in purple, lilac or white that dance effortlessly between tulips and daffodils.

But for all its elegance, the real reason to grow lunaria is to entice its guests to your garden. Where there is honesty, there is always a fluttering of orange-tip butterflies. These are some of the first spring-emerging butterflies in our gardens and they are such a delight – a welcome sign that the new season has arrived.

Continue reading...

from Home And Garden | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2TMnBEt
via IFTTT

Gardening tips: plant flowering currant

Plus, give pots some TLC and visit Great Comp garden

Plant this The flowering currant’s sprays of dark pink flowers (Ribes sanguineum) may be enlivening gardens across the land, but is it fashionable? No. Some people object to its musty smell – earning it the unhappy moniker “cat-pee plant” – but, for me, it’s the scent of sunny spring days. Embrace the nostalgia and plant one in full or partial shade. Try cultivars ‘Elkington’s White’ or ‘Pulborough Scarlet’.

Visit this Great Comp garden in Kent reopened to visitors last Monday25 March. The dozens of magnolia varieties are the springtime draw to this garden set around a 17th-century manor house; greatcompgarden.co.uk.

Continue reading...

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This week’s quirkiest properties on Rightmove

Including a time machine, a remote island and an architectural masterpiece.

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Let’s move to Brecon, Powys: ‘Bright streets and brooding Beacons’

Whether you want to hike up them or admire them from a cafe, there’s no escaping the hills in this Welsh market town

What’s going for it? I used to climb up the Malvern Hills as a kid and gaze at the rest of the universe from the top. I could always spot the Brecon Beacons: their chiselled, flat‑topped peaks gave them away, against the soft curves of the Herefordshire hills. Up close they’re just as recognisable, only now with added high-res moorland broodiness, glowering over the town of Brecon like something menacing that you sense from the corner of your eye. There’s little escaping them in the gay streets of this market town, a continuous gloomy foil to its brightly painted Georgian streets, dotted with craft galleries and secondhand bookshops. People come from far to test themselves against the power of the Beacons and their national park, calibrating their challenge according to the strength of their thighs and the age of their heart. The Brecon Beast? Or a gentle hike, leaving time for an ice-cream at Llanfaes Dairy, a bit of window shopping and a mooch around the ancient font inside the sturdy walls of the cathedral. Well, you know which one I picked.

The case against The glowering countryside and (whenever I go at least) grey weather is not for everyone. There’s no railway, so you’re here for the duration.

Continue reading...

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via IFTTT

Let’s move to Brecon, Powys: ‘Bright streets and brooding Beacons’

Whether you want to hike up them or admire them from a cafe, there’s no escaping the hills in this Welsh market town

What’s going for it? I used to climb up the Malvern Hills as a kid and gaze at the rest of the universe from the top. I could always spot the Brecon Beacons: their chiselled, flat‑topped peaks gave them away, against the soft curves of the Herefordshire hills. Up close they’re just as recognisable, only now with added high-res moorland broodiness, glowering over the town of Brecon like something menacing that you sense from the corner of your eye. There’s little escaping them in the gay streets of this market town, a continuous gloomy foil to its brightly painted Georgian streets, dotted with craft galleries and secondhand bookshops. People come from far to test themselves against the power of the Beacons and their national park, calibrating their challenge according to the strength of their thighs and the age of their heart. The Brecon Beast? Or a gentle hike, leaving time for an ice-cream at Llanfaes Dairy, a bit of window shopping and a mooch around the ancient font inside the sturdy walls of the cathedral. Well, you know which one I picked.

The case against The glowering countryside and (whenever I go at least) grey weather is not for everyone. There’s no railway, so you’re here for the duration.

Continue reading...

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House prices in England fall for first time since 2012

Slide driven by London and south-east slowdown as Brexit chaos seems to put off buyers

House prices fell in England for the first time in seven years in the first three months of 2019, dragged lower by the traditional property hotspots of London and the south-east in a sign that Brexit turmoil is putting off buyers.

Prices fell 0.7% in the first quarter, compared with the same period in 2018, taking the average price of a home in England down to £255,683, according to the mortgage lender Nationwide.

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Loads of viewings but no offers – why?

Sometimes it seems that every weekend sees you tidying, vacuuming and getting rid of the dogs yet again, but come Monday, it’s the same old story – they aren’t interested. I spoke to a gentleman recently who had had 30 viewings on his house over only a three month period, but not only had no one offered on the house, not a single viewer had booked a second viewing. Statistically, we know that a house sells on average after around 15 viewings, but during this time, there should be at least 2 or 3 second viewings, and usually a low offer or two. So after 30 viewings, this gentleman should have had say, 5 second viewings and three offers, of which the last should have been high enough for him to accept. Something is clearly not right – but what?

• The marketing materials could be misleading. Perhaps the wrong aspects of the house are being promoted, such as a photograph of the back of the house used as the leading image; a very wide-angled lens used in property photography can make small rooms look vast, or maybe an important feature, such as the fact that the house is next to a school or has no garden, has not been mentioned in the description at all. Your marketing materials (brochure, online advert, photography) all need to be flattering, but not misleading.

• Maybe your agent is being over-enthusiastic, and pressing everyone, no matter how unsuitable, to come to view. Be selective – only allow viewers who are in a position to actually buy the house, so then even if you have less buyers wanting to view, at least your viewings will all be of a high quality.

• Make sure that your agent is seeking full and frank feedback from your viewers. A comment of “not for us” is not helpful. Impress upon him the importance of being aware of any issues, particularly those which you can do something about.

• Engage a home stager. A professional expert with a dispassionate viewpoint can often identify problems that are easy and inexpensive to rectify. A beautifully presented home that has been staged especially for photography and viewings will set you head and shoulders above the competition.

Too many viewings is a much easier problem to deal with than no viewings, and is a positive measure of how many buyers are looking for a property of your type, location and price range. Now all you need to do is attract that one viewer who actually wants to buy 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: Smartphones – making your listing stand out 

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

The post Loads of viewings but no offers – why? appeared first on Home Truths.

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When every penny counts

Are you downsizing?

If you’re at that time of your life when you’re currently rattling around in a house that’s too big for you, that is consuming more time, effort and money than you want to give it, you may have decided it’s time to move on to the next chapter in your life. Perhaps you have your heart set on a cottage in the hills, a coastal retreat or just being closer to the family.

Your home may well be your most valuable asset, and when you’re hoping to make a new life for yourselves, and at the same time make sure you have a nest egg to fall back on, it’s vital you realise your home’s financial potential. Here are some of my suggestions to make sure that you leave your lovely home with enough money to make your move worthwhile:

• Tell your estate agent – make sure they know how important your sale price is, and that achieving as close as possible to this is your primary goal; more important in fact, than selling quickly.

• Allow negotiation room – make sure you pitch your asking price with enough of a differential between it, and the price you hope eventually to achieve. Try to resist the temptation of ‘testing’ the market at a higher price for a short time, as this strategy rarely works. Instead, do your research and set your price, then stick to it. Remember too that current asking price to sale ratios are at around 95% at best.

• Stage your home – if you’ve lived in your home for more than 15 years, unless you’ve updated it regularly, chances are its interior may not be as up to date as today’s buyers expect. Whilst commissioning the services of a professional home stager may cost you a few hundred pounds, this will almost certainly prove to be a very worthwhile investment, and avoid buyers making low offers on the basis that your house is too dated for them.

• Have confidence in your asking price – if you don’t, how do you expect your buyer and your estate agent to?! Be firm with your estate agent if he tries to persuade you to drop the price, and be equally firm – but fair – with your buyers when they make an offer.

Make sure you implement these four steps, and you’ll be embarking on your exciting new chapter with some pennies in your pocket to enjoy it.

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: 3 things to do today to get your home sold

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

The post When every penny counts appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2WvDoJf
via IFTTT

Loads of viewings but no offers – why?

Sometimes it seems that every weekend sees you tidying, vacuuming and getting rid of the dogs yet again, but come Monday, it’s the same old story – they aren’t interested. I spoke to a gentleman recently who had had 30 viewings on his house over only a three month period, but not only had no one offered on the house, not a single viewer had booked a second viewing. Statistically, we know that a house sells on average after around 15 viewings, but during this time, there should be at least 2 or 3 second viewings, and usually a low offer or two. So after 30 viewings, this gentleman should have had say, 5 second viewings and three offers, of which the last should have been high enough for him to accept. Something is clearly not right – but what?

• The marketing materials could be misleading. Perhaps the wrong aspects of the house are being promoted, such as a photograph of the back of the house used as the leading image; a very wide-angled lens used in property photography can make small rooms look vast, or maybe an important feature, such as the fact that the house is next to a school or has no garden, has not been mentioned in the description at all. Your marketing materials (brochure, online advert, photography) all need to be flattering, but not misleading.

• Maybe your agent is being over-enthusiastic, and pressing everyone, no matter how unsuitable, to come to view. Be selective – only allow viewers who are in a position to actually buy the house, so then even if you have less buyers wanting to view, at least your viewings will all be of a high quality.

• Make sure that your agent is seeking full and frank feedback from your viewers. A comment of “not for us” is not helpful. Impress upon him the importance of being aware of any issues, particularly those which you can do something about.

• Engage a home stager. A professional expert with a dispassionate viewpoint can often identify problems that are easy and inexpensive to rectify. A beautifully presented home that has been staged especially for photography and viewings will set you head and shoulders above the competition.

Too many viewings is a much easier problem to deal with than no viewings, and is a positive measure of how many buyers are looking for a property of your type, location and price range. Now all you need to do is attract that one viewer who actually wants to buy 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: Smartphones – making your listing stand out 

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

The post Loads of viewings but no offers – why? appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2xbBlCC
via IFTTT

When every penny counts

Are you downsizing?

If you’re at that time of your life when you’re currently rattling around in a house that’s too big for you, that is consuming more time, effort and money than you want to give it, you may have decided it’s time to move on to the next chapter in your life. Perhaps you have your heart set on a cottage in the hills, a coastal retreat or just being closer to the family.

Your home may well be your most valuable asset, and when you’re hoping to make a new life for yourselves, and at the same time make sure you have a nest egg to fall back on, it’s vital you realise your home’s financial potential. Here are some of my suggestions to make sure that you leave your lovely home with enough money to make your move worthwhile:

• Tell your estate agent – make sure they know how important your sale price is, and that achieving as close as possible to this is your primary goal; more important in fact, than selling quickly.

• Allow negotiation room – make sure you pitch your asking price with enough of a differential between it, and the price you hope eventually to achieve. Try to resist the temptation of ‘testing’ the market at a higher price for a short time, as this strategy rarely works. Instead, do your research and set your price, then stick to it. Remember too that current asking price to sale ratios are at around 95% at best.

• Stage your home – if you’ve lived in your home for more than 15 years, unless you’ve updated it regularly, chances are its interior may not be as up to date as today’s buyers expect. Whilst commissioning the services of a professional home stager may cost you a few hundred pounds, this will almost certainly prove to be a very worthwhile investment, and avoid buyers making low offers on the basis that your house is too dated for them.

• Have confidence in your asking price – if you don’t, how do you expect your buyer and your estate agent to?! Be firm with your estate agent if he tries to persuade you to drop the price, and be equally firm – but fair – with your buyers when they make an offer.

Make sure you implement these four steps, and you’ll be embarking on your exciting new chapter with some pennies in your pocket to enjoy it.

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: 3 things to do today to get your home sold

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

The post When every penny counts appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2WvDoJf
via IFTTT

Loads of viewings but no offers – why?

Sometimes it seems that every weekend sees you tidying, vacuuming and getting rid of the dogs yet again, but come Monday, it’s the same old story – they aren’t interested. I spoke to a gentleman recently who had had 30 viewings on his house over only a three month period, but not only had no one offered on the house, not a single viewer had booked a second viewing. Statistically, we know that a house sells on average after around 15 viewings, but during this time, there should be at least 2 or 3 second viewings, and usually a low offer or two. So after 30 viewings, this gentleman should have had say, 5 second viewings and three offers, of which the last should have been high enough for him to accept. Something is clearly not right – but what?

• The marketing materials could be misleading. Perhaps the wrong aspects of the house are being promoted, such as a photograph of the back of the house used as the leading image; a very wide-angled lens used in property photography can make small rooms look vast, or maybe an important feature, such as the fact that the house is next to a school or has no garden, has not been mentioned in the description at all. Your marketing materials (brochure, online advert, photography) all need to be flattering, but not misleading.

• Maybe your agent is being over-enthusiastic, and pressing everyone, no matter how unsuitable, to come to view. Be selective – only allow viewers who are in a position to actually buy the house, so then even if you have less buyers wanting to view, at least your viewings will all be of a high quality.

• Make sure that your agent is seeking full and frank feedback from your viewers. A comment of “not for us” is not helpful. Impress upon him the importance of being aware of any issues, particularly those which you can do something about.

• Engage a home stager. A professional expert with a dispassionate viewpoint can often identify problems that are easy and inexpensive to rectify. A beautifully presented home that has been staged especially for photography and viewings will set you head and shoulders above the competition.

Too many viewings is a much easier problem to deal with than no viewings, and is a positive measure of how many buyers are looking for a property of your type, location and price range. Now all you need to do is attract that one viewer who actually wants to buy 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: Smartphones – making your listing stand out 

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

The post Loads of viewings but no offers – why? appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths https://ift.tt/2xbBlCC
via IFTTT

When every penny counts

Are you downsizing?

If you’re at that time of your life when you’re currently rattling around in a house that’s too big for you, that is consuming more time, effort and money than you want to give it, you may have decided it’s time to move on to the next chapter in your life. Perhaps you have your heart set on a cottage in the hills, a coastal retreat or just being closer to the family.

Your home may well be your most valuable asset, and when you’re hoping to make a new life for yourselves, and at the same time make sure you have a nest egg to fall back on, it’s vital you realise your home’s financial potential. Here are some of my suggestions to make sure that you leave your lovely home with enough money to make your move worthwhile:

• Tell your estate agent – make sure they know how important your sale price is, and that achieving as close as possible to this is your primary goal; more important in fact, than selling quickly.

• Allow negotiation room – make sure you pitch your asking price with enough of a differential between it, and the price you hope eventually to achieve. Try to resist the temptation of ‘testing’ the market at a higher price for a short time, as this strategy rarely works. Instead, do your research and set your price, then stick to it. Remember too that current asking price to sale ratios are at around 95% at best.

• Stage your home – if you’ve lived in your home for more than 15 years, unless you’ve updated it regularly, chances are its interior may not be as up to date as today’s buyers expect. Whilst commissioning the services of a professional home stager may cost you a few hundred pounds, this will almost certainly prove to be a very worthwhile investment, and avoid buyers making low offers on the basis that your house is too dated for them.

• Have confidence in your asking price – if you don’t, how do you expect your buyer and your estate agent to?! Be firm with your estate agent if he tries to persuade you to drop the price, and be equally firm – but fair – with your buyers when they make an offer.

Make sure you implement these four steps, and you’ll be embarking on your exciting new chapter with some pennies in your pocket to enjoy it.

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: 3 things to do today to get your home sold

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

The post When every penny counts appeared first on Home Truths.

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