• 5 Ways to sell your house faster

    5 ways to make your home sell faster

    As the various May Bank Holidays head our way people start to think about selling their house. The lighter nights and sunny Spring days seem to trigger a change. However they can also show up the things that may put off a potential buyer. Hopefully this blog post will give you some ideas to maximise your property and get it sold and quickly.

    One of our early blog posts <<link here>>> dealt with the structural things you should look at fixing. This deals with a term much bandied about by the likes of Kirsty and Phil and Ms Beeny – staging. The following points will help you stage your house and get those buyers ready to buy.

    1 Simple beginnings

    A good place to start before you rush off to IKEA for a plate of meatballs and some soft furnishings called Kushuns, is to start by walking round your house. Start from the gate and follow the journey your buyer will take, hopefully the route you have set up to best show off your house. We all have that one friend who is blunt with their opinion, ask them if they would do the same and give you some feedback.

    This will probably show up a couple of things which could be detrimental to the sale of your house. Firstly, the ‘clutter of your everyday life’ – we all have it – and secondly, some areas that could do with a deep clean and possibly a lick of paint.

    2 Clean and paint

    We’re not suggesting you redecorate your whole house but there are a few quick and easy things you can do to improve your chances of a sale. We’re pretty sure that one of the first things you will have noticed on your walk around is the front door. If its a painted door give it a nice new glossy coat of paint. Don’t go for anything too strong in colour, unless it is in keeping with the house or the area, choose something classic and neutral.

    If you have a double glazed front door give it a good scrub with something non-abrasive. There are some excellent caravan cleaners which work a treat on uPVC. Whilst you are at the front door don’t forget the step, mats and porch if you have them. Nothing says neglected property like a threadbare welcome mat or a porch you can barely move in.

    If any of your rooms are on the small side or painted with a dark colour or north facing, give the walls a quick coat of a bright neutral colour, a slightly warm shade if you are painting a north facing room.

    This will always make a room look bigger and brighter, it also allows buyers the chance to better visualise the space.

    Finally, give the bathroom a clean, especially the grouting and shower tray.

    3 De-clutter

    Now you can get on to staging. De-cluttering doesn’t mean putting your personality in to storage, it does mean having a little less of it on view though. Anything you don’t use regularly put it in the loft or ask friends and family to store it. If there’s a lot of it then consider the short term rental of one of the ‘storage boxes’ that have sprung up all over.

    Buyers need to see what the house would look like if they were living there, cleaning your clutter allows them to see the room in all its glory.

    However don’t take out your personality, you’re not making it into a hotel, think more show home with some of your possessions added. Adding your lifestyle helps any potential buyer visualise their lifestyle in the space.

    4 Bringing it all together

    Now here’s the nice bit – time to add those finishing touches.

    Light is great at making a space feel bigger than it is, so try adding lights, particularly to dark corners. In smaller spaces consider adding some simple mirrors, especially useful in narrow hallways.

    Put fresh flowers in some of your rooms and an attractive bowl of fruit on the kitchen work surface. Whilst you are in the kitchen make some coffee or bake [make sure you tidy before they arrive], if you don’t bake, put the oven on a gentle heat and add a splash of vanilla essence to a baking tray – smells like you’ve just finished baking.

    And whilst we are talking pleasant smells don’t forget the less pleasant ones. Remove things such as pet food bowls and cat litter trays and empty the bins. If there’s a smoker in the house, bowls of vinegar work a treat but it does take a few days to work.

    If buyers are visiting at night during the colder months use some warm, reasonably bright, light-bulbs and light a fire if you have one or candles in place of a fire. Help them visualise how warm and cosy it would be to come home here after a long day at work.

    5 Sell your house with Reside!

    Reside are the fastest growing agency in Rochdale. Independent figures show we get 97% of the asking price and on average houses sell in under 6 weeks – some have sold in one day. Even if your house is on with another agent and it hasn’t sold then you should consider moving to Reside. We recently sold a house in less than a week, it had been on the market with an agent previously for over two years!

    So, if you want to sell quickly and for a great price then you need to be selling with Reside.
    Just go to our website

    www.reside.agency

    and book your free, no obligation, valuation now.
    If you have any other ideas you’d like to share about staging a house then go to our Facebook page and leave a comment on the ‘staging’ post, the best one gets a bottle of summer fizz.

    www.facebook.com/resideestateagency

  • We love Mondays!

    In fact we love all 365 days but what can you do with 130 days?
    130 days is a long time. 3120 hours, 187,200 minutes, we will stop before we get to sound like an annoying hit record!
    However, if someone could give you an extra 4 months of life you’d be thrilled, well here at Reside we can do just that! WhichMoney? recently discovered that the average length of time to sell a house in the UK is 191 days. With Reside you could have sold your house 130 days earlier. That’s 130 days to be in your new home, to have done the decorating, fitted a new kitchen, had 32 barbecues. A whole 130 days to relax having sold your house and moved into your dream home.
    So Reside can not only get you in to your dream home but we can give you an extra 130 days in which to enjoy it. With this gift of time maybe we should put Jason forward as the next Doctor Who!
    So, the sooner you list with us the sooner you get the extra time in your life.
    As we always say we SELL HOUSES – 7 days a week.
    Call us now for your free, no obligation, professional valuation to get your house sold!
  • We don’t like Mondays!

    We don’t like Mondays

    WhichMoney? has just announced that Monday is the best day of the week to list a house with an agent, if you wish to sell that house quickly. They analysed tens of thousands of homes sold in the UK in the previous 12 months and found those listed at the beginning of the week sold more quickly.

    The average house sold in 191 days, houses listed on the Monday sold, on average, in 176 days. If your house was listed on Saturday the average went up to 203 days and on Sundays, well 213 is your lucky number.

    But lets rewind. The average number of days to sell a house is 191 days! Wait, what? Here at Reside the average number of days it takes to sell a house is 61, it doesn’t matter which day we listed it, you’re house is selling in a third of the National average. It’s also selling a lot faster than the local agent’s average as well.

    So you don’t have to push us to get your house listed on a Monday, however with our average sale time the sooner you list your house, the sooner it will sell.

    As we always say we SELL HOUSES – 7 days a week.

    Call us now for your free, no obligation, professional valuation to get your house sold!

  • Life in Marland and Castleton

    Castleton and more so Marland, are often seen as no more than places you drive through; going to Heywood in the case of Marland and Middleton and beyond for Castleton. However, as with much of Rochdale, there is far more than meets the eye.

    Again, as with a lot of Rochdale, you are never far away from lovely green spaces. Walking distance will see you in the lovely Springfield Park, which is great for a family picnic or just sitting and it hosts some great events during the year. You can also take a walk along the towpath of the newly restored, historic, Rochdale Canal and check out the history of the Blue Pits which used to produce naturally blue clay. If you want more of a ‘day out’ walk, then you can yomp your way the scenic route to Tandle Hill Park!

     

    Sunny Springfield Park Rochdale

    With great communications, you can easily catch the train and tram to Hollingworth Lake or further afield to Didsbury or Leeds. With the M62 motorway so close, as well as great bus and train services, makes the area a great place to live for commuters.

    castleton_railway_station-640

    The housing is a typical Rochdalian mixture of Victorian with pockets of newer build, It really is a great mix with something for everyone from first time buyers to more established families. Although Castleton dates back to the Domesday Book, it was the site of Rochdale Castle, and it has a beautiful Gothic church, it is not an area to live in the past.

    All the amenities you need are here, whether leisure or retail therapy, there’s something for everyone. There are lots of independent shops or larger supermarkets and the All in One garden centre is a stone’s throw away.

    For leisure there are two golf courses, swimming pool and the aforementioned parks and canal. If golf isn’t your thing then you can enjoy rugby, soccer, bowling and even indoor karting and there are plenty of activities for the younger ones.

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    As you would expect of anywhere in Rochdale you’re not short of a range of different pubs and cafes.

    If you want something more substantial to eat or a place for a celebration then the area is well served with a range of dining options. The Royal Toby is always a favourite as is Cenetta or Success to the Plough.

    Castleton also is home to a fabulous 4 star hotel, the Norton Grange, which is not only a great place to stay but has great food.

    There are always some great value houses of all sizes in the area and we are always adding new.

    Just go to our website

    https://www.reside.agency

    type Marland or Castleton into the search box to see the great houses for sale now.

    Make 2017 the year you look at Marland and Castleton in a new light.

  • Life in Norden and Bamford

    It seems that even people from outside the area have heard of Norden and Bamford, in many people’s eyes Bamford is the home of big houses and famous people. Whilst it’s had it’s fair share living and entertaining themselves in the area – 10CC, Anna Friel, Lisa Stansfield amongst others if we must name drop – the area is so much more than that.

    Norden and Bamford are both right on the doorstep of some beautiful countryside. Great for family walks or outdoor sports like mountain biking, horse riding and running being popular. Ashworth Valley provides some lovely walks along Naden Brook – reputedly once the home to over 200 working water mills, you can still see the evidence of some. If you want amazing views go high up out of Norden to Greenbooth Reservoir for stunning views back over Rochdale, Manchester, Cheshire and on a good day Jodrell Bank.

    image

    From the outside it’s hard to find where Norden stops and Bamford starts [or vice versa], if you live there you ‘just know’ and the locals all have their own views. Whatever the geography, broadly speaking Norden tends to be for younger families and Bamford for the older families, of course there are always exceptions to the rule.

    The area does have great amenities, with great schools, medical facilities and leisure on your doorstep. It also boasts a great selection of independent retailers, pubs and restaurants as well as some up and coming cafes. The main areas are Oulder Hill shops, Bamford Precinct, Norden Village and the nearby Cutgate Precinct.

    bamfordchapel

    If you’re looking for places to eat or have drink with friends The Elephant and Castle, The Crimble or slightly further afield, Nutters will all serve you well. We’d need a whole directory just to name them all.

    elephant-and-castle-bamford

    If you’re looking for leisure and entertainment then there’s Rochdale Golf Club with Oulder Hill Leisure Complex and the Gracie Fields Theatre all within easy reach.

    It’s definitely worth checking out some of the amazing properties we have in the area and we are always adding new. Reside Estate Agency are somewhat specialists in the area and one of the biggest agencies serving Norden and Bamford, at anyone time we have a third of all the property for sale in the area and most sell within 6 weeks.

    Just go to our website

    https://www.reside.agency

    type Norden or Bamford into the search box to see the great houses for sale now.

    Make 2017 the year you move into one of these great areas.

  • 8 simple steps to buying your first home.

    Our simple steps to buying your first home, hopefully helping you to demystify the process and help you feel more in control.

    Being a first time buyer can be daunting, feeling like you don’t know the processes involved mixed with a mass of emotions and excitement at getting on the first rung of the property ladder.

    If this sounds like you now or soon to be then we have put together this short piece to outline the steps and the basics you need to do.

    Follow this advice and buying your first home will be as stress free as can be and we will have you looking forward to your new home.

    Estate agents

    When buying your first home you can’t choose your agency, you’re stuck with whichever agency the vendor has chosen. However there are things you can do to help the buying process. Get to know the area’s estate agencies. Call in, say ‘Hi’ and give them a run down of what your ideal home would be, you never know to whom they have just spoken.

    Estate agencies get lots of enquiries from prospective vendors checking out if they’re the right agency to sell with. They maybe trying to sell the the exact house of your dreams, a fact no one would know if you hadn’t gone in to chat.

    It also means that they can point you at suitable properties already on their books. A good agent can also talk with you about your dream home and tailor your expectations. You may have your heart set on a 6 bed detached property with pool in Bamford for £30,000, the agent has the best knowledge to help you avoid disappointment.

    Equally they may point you at an area you hadn’t considered because the properties are on budget and there are many of the type you require.

    And don’t feel, because you are new at this, that you are wasting their time, this is what they do and they know that if they make a good impression on you and maybe when you come to trade up your house you will look to them to sell it.

    Mortgage

    In the current climate very few first time buyers are cash buyers so you’re probably going to need a mortgage. You will need to get your mortgage offer, at least in principle [usually up to a maximum the lender will offer], before you start looking and certainly before putting in an offer on a property. You can put an offer on a property without having a mortgage in place but having a mortgage offer always smooths the process and if you end up in a ‘bidding war’ with another buyer, having a mortgage in place may swing it in your favour.

    You will also need to provide documentation and information about your financial situation, including outgoings, spending habits and dependants. For a full list of what you need to get your mortgage with the minimum fuss click here.

    We can help you with a mortgage here at Reside, so always worth calling in for a chat for advice as well as registering your interest in looking for a property.

    Time to make an offer

    So now that you have found that your special place its time to make an offer. You don’t have to offer the asking price so it’s time to do a little research if you can. What have similar properties gone for? How is the market at present? has the house been on the market for a while? Using this information you can judge whether you are going to offer the asking price to ensure you get it or put a cheeky offer in at first?

    Once you put the offer to the agent they are legally required to put the offer to the vendor in writing. However in practice, before they do this they will often call the vendor to get a speedier response. Hopefully the vendor will accept your cheeky offer and take the property off the market.

    Of course the friendly, professional team at Reside will help guide you through the process, we are here to make it easy for people to buy and sell houses.

    Your offer is accepted!!

    Yay! You can relax now, from here on in it is mainly procedural and an awful lot of paperwork. For the best reasons acquiring a house is a very legal process. You are dealing with large amounts of money – for both parties – it is probably the largest single purchase anyone of us will make, so care is necessary.

    It’s not just having an offer accepted then heading off to IKEA, you have to deal with deeds and the mortgage and lots of other stuff. Here is the point where we recommend you use another professional and instruct a solicitor. They can represent you throughout the process, deal with legalities and often help you avoid any pitfalls.

    Legal stuff

    Get a solicitor. When buying your first home there will be a pile of legal paperwork and the best advice is to leave it to the legal professionals. You still need to check contracts and the like before you sign. However, you should be safe in the knowledge that from a legal standpoint your solicitor has done everything to protect you and your interests.

    Your solicitor is going to check for claims on the house, other building plans etc that may effect your quality of life or future value of your property.

    Get a survey

    There are three types of survey and you will be required as a condition of your mortgage to get one of them. Which you choose is usually down to your choice and the type and age of the property you are buying.

    The three types are: Condition report, Homebuyer report and Building/Structural survey. They go up in cost and detail of the report. Often people buying a new or nearly new home opt for the Condition report and those buying an older or less standard home invest in the Building/Structural survey.

    One thing the second and third reports do is possibly give you some leverage on price with the vendor. If they pull up work that will need doing you can use that as a bargaining point to get the value of the house reduced to cover the future costs. However the main reason is to highlight any problems or failings with the property either current or will cause a problem in the near future.

    Exchange contracts

    Your surveyor and solicitor will tell you when they have completed what they need to this point and that you are okay to go ahead and sign and exchange contract. You will be asked for a deposit at this point, often 10-20% of the agreed price.

    This means that both parties are locked into the sale at this point. If either party now backs out you could lose your deposit and you will still have to pay the professional services fees owed to your solicitor and surveyor.

    Completion

    And it’s all over! You have completed, you have the keys, you have the deeds, the property is yours, you’ve successfully navigate buying your first home! However, there will still be more fees to pay; solicitors, conveyancing, stamp duty [a British Government tax on property] will all need paying and are usually arranged by your solicitor.

    You will also need to have paid the remaining balance of the property – the difference between your deposit and the final agreed price – which again should be organised between your legal people and the mortgage lender.

    Move in!

    Now the fun starts!

     

    If you’re looking for buying your first home please call in for a chat and a coffee or click here to see the new properties we have listed.

  • Top 5 quick fixes to make your house more saleable

    Before you start selling your house on the market there are many, often simple, changes and fixes you can make to increase the saleablity of your property. Often these are things with which you may have lived for years, always just about to get around to, and they can increase the chance of selling your house.

    The following are five quick fixes that you could complete in a couple of days, with minimum expense for the most part. Not only will these give your house more kerb appeal they may add value as well.

    Let’s start outside as these are the things that prospective buyers will see first when they turn up to view.

    Garden
    Often gardens get overlooked when you are coming to sell your house, especially if you are selling during autumn or winter. Even a quick run over with a lawn mower, getting the hedge trimmer and the strimmer out can pay dividends. First impressions count.

    Windows
    Whilst we outside dirty windows can be really off-putting, not only do they suggest the house has been neglected but they also make the interior darker, Light bright rooms are a big turn on for buyers, more critical during the darker months. If the windows are too much for you find a local window cleaner – we can help you there as we have a bank of reliable, trustworthy tradespeople.

    Carpets
    People look down when they walk or when they enter somewhere unknown, this means they look straight down at your floor. If your carpet is stained or worn – maybe you have pets or teenage boys [they’re much the same when it comes to making a mess] – then your first port of call is a local carpet cleaners. If they can’t help you then replacing the carpet will help create a great impression.

    Wall coverings
    Again nothing is more off putting yet easy to fix than peeling wallpaper and cracked or dirty wall tiles. No one is suggesting you should redecorate from top to bottom but repairing peeling paper or damaged tiles can increase the appeal of your property. If you do repaper choose something fairly simple and not too trendy. Consider repainting instead of papering and paint in neutral colours.

    If your tiles are looking a bit past their best it’s often down to the grouting. It’s a fairly simple task to re-grout and can really lift old tiles. If you need to replace some then it maybe time to get a professional in but it will pay dividends when selling your house.

    Kitchen
    In our modern busy lives the kitchen is often the hub of the household. It’s where we meet, eat and often socialise, so it is definitely the one room that needs to be immaculate. This doesn’t mean you have to replace the units and work surfaces. It is the chance to declutter, tidy and do a little staging [we can help you with that] to make the best impression. If the units are looking a little tired they can often be spruced up by new handles of a lick of paint, easy jobs to really lift your house.
    As we said they’re not particularly big jobs nor are they too expensive but they will make your house more presentable and lift the chances of quick and profitable sale.

    If you are looking to sell or rent your property, give us a call or click here for a free and professional appraisal and valuation of your house.

    Give your house the Reside Effect.

  • Welcome to our new blog

    Hi and welcome to our new blog and news pages. Here you can find out new properties, information on selling and letting your property, state of the market, mortgage advice. In short all the advice and information you need if you are thinking of buying, selling or letting a property in the Rochdale area.

    Each week myself and my team will be posting articles and information we know will be useful to you. We will also be posting on Twitter and Facebook for the faster moving stuff such as ‘Property of the day’ or recent successful sales.
    With the market every changing with Brexit and record low interest rates now, more than ever, it is important for buyer’s, sellers and landlords to have the latest information to hand. Here we will make sure you have all the relevant information without some of the nonsense that so often goes with it in the press.

    Don’t forget that in this age of social media where we Tweet and Facebook and Instagram you can still give us a call or pop-in for a chat and a coffee.

    So if you’re in the market to sell or let please give us a call and find out what the Reside effect can do for your property.