Latest News | Robert Williams Estate Agents in Exeter, Devon

Details: Published: 27 November 2018; Hits: 413

Ok, so you’ll probably have a clear idea of what you want – both in terms of absolute must-have’s, such as the number of bedrooms, outdoor space, location or price, and features you’d like but aren’t absolutely necessary, such as a certain style of property or a separate dining room, etc.

You might want to think about the time of day that you view. For example, if the property is near a school, you might want to avoid break times due to the noise or by the same token, you might specifically want to go at those times so you can hear just how noisy it is. If the property is on a main road, you might want to arrange the appointment for the middle of the day when traffic volumes are lower.

Once you arrive, take a good look at the outside of the property. Do the windows, guttering, brickwork/render and roof appear to be in a good state of repair?

Inside, mould and blown plaster, particularly under windows and on or close to ceilings, should be noted as possible signs of damp or leaks. Are there any smells? Look at the electrical sockets and switches as well as the fuse board if you can – are they aged or does it all look sound? Depending on the age of the house, tiny holes in floor boards or other timbers on close inspection could be a sign of woodworm...

All of this can of course be remedied – either quickly and relatively cheaply or at a higher cost, depending on the extent of the work needed, which will become more clear with a survey. The estate agent should have copies of any guarantees and inspection reports, has a legal obligation to disclose any known problems, and will have taken the condition of the house and its fittings into account for the valuation.

Details: Published: 20 November 2018; Hits: 586

It sounds as though you need to de-clutter, and there are two main reasons for this – firstly, to make your home as tidy and presentable as possible for photography and viewings and secondly, so your actual move is both less costly and less stressful!

First impressions really do count so creating a neat and tidy home without clutter is one of the quickest and most effective ways of making a positive impact on the way your home looks and feels to prospective buyers. And whether you’ll be employing the services of a removals firm or hiring a van and moving yourself, the process will cost less and take less time and effort if you have fewer belongings.

Sorting through and getting rid of stuff takes a while so start in the primary rooms and remember the term ‘use it, love it or bin it’. Try to be ruthless - items you’ve accumulated that either no longer relate to your present lifestyle or your future aspirations, or hold no sentimental value need getting rid of - clothes that no longer fit, books you’ve already read, kitchen gadgets you have never used, etc - and moving home provides the perfect opportunity to have a really good clear-out.

All too often, our idea of having a good tidy up simply means putting stuff out of sight – in the loft, the under stairs cupboard or the garden shed for example, and that’s really just shifting the problem. Remember, serious buyers are going to want to look in cupboards and the last thing you want is a load of stuff falling out on them!

Nowadays, the tip isn’t the only place for unwanted items – let’s face it, if you were holding onto this stuff it’s obviously got life left in it, so try holding a stall at your local car boot sale or selling things online on sites such as ebay, Preloved and Gumtree. If you use Facebook, search for a local ‘Bargains’ page where people buy and sell things. Other options include giving certain items to friends or family members who will make use of them, and of course charity donations.

In practice, removing clutter and not allowing it to build up again is really nothing more than learning a new habit - it is even claimed that de-cluttering is good for the psyche. You may well make a tidy sum from your so-called ‘clutter’. Having done it, many say they wonder why they ever hung on to so much stuff in the first place!

Details: Published: 13 November 2018; Hits: 519

With temperatures dropping further with every passing day, this is the time to check that your property is ready for the onset of autumn and the impending arrival of winter.

Heating

Everyone’s immediate priority for as far as autumn and winter property maintenance should be their heating system. Don’t wait until it’s needed - test it now to get a jump on any repairs it might require before the cold weather hits.

Check the boiler to make sure it lights properly and isn’t leaking carbon monoxide
Schedule a gas safety inspection to ensure the whole system is working properly
Check the radiators to ensure they turn on and off and radiate heat effectively
Clean fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and chimneys in preparation for use
If you have a feed and expansion tank in the loft, check it’s working by moving the float arm up and down to see that the valve lets in water

Insulation

Your second priority should be insulation - there’s no point ensuring the heating system works if the heat escapes immediately.

Ensure that the loft has insulation to a thickness of at least 270mm
Insulate areas that could allow draughts in, such as around doors, in loft space and between floorboards
Replace draught-proof covers around the front door letterbox and keyhole if necessary
Repair door and window-frames that are damaged

Gardens

The front and back gardens shouldn’t be neglected, even though the cold temperatures will restrict the growth of plants and shrubs.

Trim bushes
Prune trees
Plant shrubs and trees (winter is a good time for them to grow and establish roots)
Rake fallen leaves from your lawn to prevent the grass dying
Stow lawn equipment and summer activity equipment inside or in a garden shed for the winter

Exteriors

The exteriors of the property are its first line of defence against the cold and bad weather. It’s therefore vital to ensure that they are all as robust as possible before winter sets in.

Check for peeling paint - this may mean moisture is making the home’s surface swell
Check the roof (or get someone else to do it) to find and replace missing or loose shingles
Look for siding that may be damaged or coming off
Ensure that any exterior pipes are still securely fastened to the wall
Ensure all gutters are cleared of dead leaves
Power wash your siding and windows
Check the driveway for cracks or uneven ground that frost could exacerbate
Ensure that any exterior lights all work
Treat outside timber such as fences, decks and sheds to ensure it remains robust
Make sure that vents are not obstructed

Plumbing

As the water circulating through the plumbing system gets colder, it can freeze inside the pipes, which naturally causes a lot of issues.

Ensure pipes, especially in the loft, are insulated to prevent freezing
Ensure pipes are not blocked at any point
Check that stopcocks are working so the water supply can be turned off if required

Details: Published: 31 October 2018; Hits: 418

Searches are an integral and extremely important part of the conveyancing process. Basically, they comprise a series of checks made by the buyer’s solicitor to ensure that everything about the property is as it should be.

Broadly speaking, searches fall into 3 main categories:

Local searches. These are commissioned from the local authority and are concerned with things like planning issues and major changes to the infrastructure of the area.
Specialised and environmental searches. These often tend to be more important in particular parts of the country – for example, in areas liable to flooding, or where there are old mine workings.
Land Registry searches. These not only provide all the necessary ownership information about a property, but also reveal whether there are any debts outstanding on it or anything else of concern.

Solicitors will normally handle these enquiries directly, except in the case of local searches, where they may employ the services of a specialist personal search company.

Generally speaking, searches have to be paid for upfront as they are an expense. If the sale falls through for any reason, the buyer will still have to reimburse the solicitor for this outlay – even where the actual conveyancing work is offered on a ‘no sale-no fee’ basis.

As for delays, these can occur for any number of reasons. For example, even in this day and age, local authority searches can’t be conducted at the click of a mouse. They require the attention of council staff so at any given time, some local authorities may simply be too short-staffed to handle search enquiries quickly - as a result, local search times can vary enormously from one area to another, from less than a week to well over a month. With some solicitors, it is also general practice to hold off commissioning searches until their client has received a firm mortgage offer – just in case the whole deal falls at the first hurdle.

So, if you want to minimise the risk of any delay, get your mortgage offer sorted out as soon as possible and instruct your solicitor to order the searches right away.

Details: Published: 24 October 2018; Hits: 601

Firstly, your home is not necessarily worth what you think it is. The truth is that every property is worth precisely what a serious buyer is prepared to pay for it and that’s why pricing is the most difficult part of the whole selling process to get right.

Now, of course we all want to get the best possible price for our homes so it’s always tempting to err on the optimistic side. After all, years ago, it wasn’t unknown for property to sell for substantially more than its original valuation. However, those days are gone and going to market at an inflated price is not a good idea – particularly now, given that there are fewer buyers than then and those that are in the market are understandably price conscious.

In the current climate, it’s not even worth taking a punt, just in case there’s someone out there who’s prepared to pay a bit over the odds for his or her dream home. By doing so, you could actually be spoiling your best chance of getting a sale – and that’s certainly not something you want to risk doing in today’s market. Statistics show that properties invariably attract the most viewings during their first few weeks on the market and that’s also generally the time when the best offers are made. Thereafter, buyer interest declines. Even when prices are later reduced, it can be difficult to persuade buyers to reconsider a property they have already rejected.

You might like to consider asking your agent about marketing your home on the basis of ‘offers in excess of…’, which is a bit like setting a reserve price at auction and if pitched at the right level, it could generate extra buyer interest. But take the advice of your agent – after all, they’re the ones with market experience.