Why Mrs Hinch and the 'cleanfluencers' are sweeping up the book charts

Sophie Hinchliffe, a hairdresser who dispenses cleaning advice to 2.3m Instagram followers, has sold more than 160,000 copies of her first book in three days. What’s going on?

In 1861, the original domestic goddess Mrs Beeton warned her readers: “not only health but life may be said to depend on the cleanliness of culinary utensils.” More than a century and a half later, more than 150,000 people have rushed to snap up a copy of Instagram “cleanfluencer” Mrs Hinch’s guide to a spotless home, Hinch Yourself Happy, which promises to reveal “how a spot of cleaning is the perfect way to cleanse the soul”.

Mrs Hinch, AKA Sophie Hinchliffe, is a hairdresser from Essex who dispenses regular cleaning advice to her 2.3 million Instagram followers: how to make a bed “‘bedgasm’ ready for the week ahead”, her favourite cleaning gloves, dousing her bathroom in disinfectant and karate-chopping cushions. Her book, a mix of memoir and advice, promises that cleaning (which she calls “hinching”) “can soothe anxiety and stress”, according to her publisher Michael Joseph, which bought the rights to the book in a “heated” 11-way auction in December. Published on 4 April, the book sold sold 160,302 copies in three days – making it the second fastest-selling non-fiction title of all time, just behind Kate Allinson and Kay Featherstone’s recipe collection Pinch of Nom, which broke the record just last month by selling 210,506 copies in three days.

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Game of Thrones spotlight: Eight Westeros castles ‘for sale’

From Winterfell to King’s Landing, we’ve got you covered.

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UK house prices likely to keep falling for another six months

Prices in south-east and London likely to fall for whole of 2019, industry survey finds

House prices are likely to continue falling for another six months in the UK and for the whole of 2019 in London and the south-east, according to an industry survey.

Separate official data shows that rents are also falling, with tenants typically paying £757 a month, down from £772 a year ago, continuing a pattern of declines that began after the Brexit vote in 2016.

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Top tips for viewing empty properties Nottingham Estate Agents

Empty properties can often be undesired or even overlooked but they can offer potential buyers many benefits. Find out why an empty home may be worth a second look. Unfurnished homes can be beautiful but they do not appear to attract the same level of attention as furnished properties. While it is true that good […]

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What to do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all

I spoke to a gentleman this week who has had his house on the market for three years.  And in that time, he has only had three viewings.  Really. He sounded utterly despondent, and no wonder!

So what can you do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all? Here’s my action list to help you to address the problems, and improve your situation – cut out and keep it!

Presentation – ask a friend to walk round your house with you, and write down all those little jobs you’ve been meaning to get round to doing.  Ask her to point out any area that is particularly personal, like name plaques on doors or a photo gallery.  De-clutter, de-personalise and add shine through dressing and accessories.

Photography – get in a pro! If neither you nor your agent can afford it, then read my Six Secrets to Fabulous Property Photography and get the best shots you possibly can – including some lifestyle images – to make your house look like a magazine shoot.

Description – brainstorm with your family and come up with the best descriptive words to describe your home. Use emotion and feeling to really get across the essence of your home.

Rightmove ad – keep the text in your summary advert short and sweet.  Write a snappy headline of no more than a line, to encourage clicks. Pick the best ‘lifestyle’ image that represents your home and ask your agent to use it as the main shot on your advert.

Estate Agent – is your agent fully on board? If not, get another! Newer agents are often hungry, with something to prove.  Offer them a great commission to incentivise them to sell your house quickly; this is not the time to scrimp on fee!

Prepared? – have a plan that you stick up on the inside of a kitchen cupboard so that as soon as a viewing is booked, the whole family can spring into action.  Whether it’s moving the cars off the driveway, taking the dog out for a walk, or having freshly laundered bedding ready to pop over the top of the beds, having a plan will make sure you have a professional approach to your viewings when they do happen, which they will!

If you aren’t getting viewings, perhaps it’s time to call in an expert – me!

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: 8 Tips For Prepping Your Home For A Viewing

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

The post What to do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all appeared first on Home Truths.

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What to do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all

I spoke to a gentleman this week who has had his house on the market for three years.  And in that time, he has only had three viewings.  Really. He sounded utterly despondent, and no wonder!

So what can you do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all? Here’s my action list to help you to address the problems, and improve your situation – cut out and keep it!

Presentation – ask a friend to walk round your house with you, and write down all those little jobs you’ve been meaning to get round to doing.  Ask her to point out any area that is particularly personal, like name plaques on doors or a photo gallery.  De-clutter, de-personalise and add shine through dressing and accessories.

Photography – get in a pro! If neither you nor your agent can afford it, then read my Six Secrets to Fabulous Property Photography and get the best shots you possibly can – including some lifestyle images – to make your house look like a magazine shoot.

Description – brainstorm with your family and come up with the best descriptive words to describe your home. Use emotion and feeling to really get across the essence of your home.

Rightmove ad – keep the text in your summary advert short and sweet.  Write a snappy headline of no more than a line, to encourage clicks. Pick the best ‘lifestyle’ image that represents your home and ask your agent to use it as the main shot on your advert.

Estate Agent – is your agent fully on board? If not, get another! Newer agents are often hungry, with something to prove.  Offer them a great commission to incentivise them to sell your house quickly; this is not the time to scrimp on fee!

Prepared? – have a plan that you stick up on the inside of a kitchen cupboard so that as soon as a viewing is booked, the whole family can spring into action.  Whether it’s moving the cars off the driveway, taking the dog out for a walk, or having freshly laundered bedding ready to pop over the top of the beds, having a plan will make sure you have a professional approach to your viewings when they do happen, which they will!

If you aren’t getting viewings, perhaps it’s time to call in an expert – me!

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: 8 Tips For Prepping Your Home For A Viewing

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

The post What to do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all appeared first on Home Truths.

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What to do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all

I spoke to a gentleman this week who has had his house on the market for three years.  And in that time, he has only had three viewings.  Really. He sounded utterly despondent, and no wonder!

So what can you do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all? Here’s my action list to help you to address the problems, and improve your situation – cut out and keep it!

Presentation – ask a friend to walk round your house with you, and write down all those little jobs you’ve been meaning to get round to doing.  Ask her to point out any area that is particularly personal, like name plaques on doors or a photo gallery.  De-clutter, de-personalise and add shine through dressing and accessories.

Photography – get in a pro! If neither you nor your agent can afford it, then read my Six Secrets to Fabulous Property Photography and get the best shots you possibly can – including some lifestyle images – to make your house look like a magazine shoot.

Description – brainstorm with your family and come up with the best descriptive words to describe your home. Use emotion and feeling to really get across the essence of your home.

Rightmove ad – keep the text in your summary advert short and sweet.  Write a snappy headline of no more than a line, to encourage clicks. Pick the best ‘lifestyle’ image that represents your home and ask your agent to use it as the main shot on your advert.

Estate Agent – is your agent fully on board? If not, get another! Newer agents are often hungry, with something to prove.  Offer them a great commission to incentivise them to sell your house quickly; this is not the time to scrimp on fee!

Prepared? – have a plan that you stick up on the inside of a kitchen cupboard so that as soon as a viewing is booked, the whole family can spring into action.  Whether it’s moving the cars off the driveway, taking the dog out for a walk, or having freshly laundered bedding ready to pop over the top of the beds, having a plan will make sure you have a professional approach to your viewings when they do happen, which they will!

If you aren’t getting viewings, perhaps it’s time to call in an expert – me!

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: 8 Tips For Prepping Your Home For A Viewing

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

The post What to do when you just aren’t getting any viewings at all appeared first on Home Truths.

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