Across the road from our home and enjoying a view across open countryside that would add several thousand pounds to the asking price of a property stand six allotments which are rented out for an annual sum equivalent to a family trip to the cinema. As a true daughter of Welsh farming stock I have had my eye on these plots since the day we moved into our current house and at last, today I received the long awaited telephone call. Wandering over to inspect our newly acquired “estate” my eldest son remarked at how lucky we were to live in such a great location.Known as the three most important factors when buying a property, location has always been an important point to consider when looking for a home. In fact choosing the house over the location may actually cost you money in the long run as insurance premiums increase in less desirable neighbourhoods and families travel further to access better schooling and amenities. I would always advise buying the worst house in the best location if finances are limited, rather than the other way round. My son is right. We do live in a great location. Good schooling and nursery provision are within ten minutes’ walk. We can wander down to the town centre through the woods and be at the library, swimming pool, shops, restaurants, playground, bank, health centre and railway station in a similar time. Our neighbours are friendly and considerate; our road isn’t busy and the open countryside we gaze out on is unlikely to change. We have a large family garden – and now a space where we can grow our own veg. In fact with a bit of rearranging we may even fit in a few hens in the New Year. I certainly feel we compromised wisely at a time when our children were tiny and finances severely limited.Remember the most unprepossessing semi can be improved given a modicum of time and imagination. Our house now boasts a huge kitchen, a pretty front garden, safe and convenient parking and an open fire. We’ve stripped some of the floors and discovered a complete set of beautiful original wooden doors beneath the chipboard cladding and stuck-on handles. Not bad for a square box entirely decked out in magnolia woodchip and purple carpet! Most things about a property can be changed over time except the location and the amount of natural light– and even the latter can be improved. A poor location takes government intervention, massive finance and a liberal dose of community spirit to make even a small difference.

As well as planning my allotment strategy I’ll be looking at the effect of Home Information Packs over the next few weeks and would be happy to hear from anyone who has first hand knowledge of these – as either seller or purchaser. Comments can be e-mailed to info@countrygate.co.uk.

Thanks,

Cally

A telephone call from my sister in the States describing the first snows of the Winter coupled with the purchase of a Home Almanac in the second hand bookshop has put me in the mood for some serious pre-winter tasks around the home. It’s not as sexy as buying a new sofa or as uplifting as redecorating but when it comes to protecting the value of your property asset and ensuring its saleability, it makes sense. Consequently I am soon to don a strikingly ugly boiler suit and start clearing debris from the gutters, content in the knowledge that I am saving myself time and money in the long run.

Actually, Friday sees the start of National Maintenance Week, now an annual fixture in the calendar of the Society For the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the organisation behind the BBC’s Restoration series. The aim of the week is simply raising awareness that there are straightfoward, achievable ways to protect your property from the ravages of the winter weather - and that doing so is both ‘green’, economic and financially astute.

In my line of work I am all too aware of the cost, both financial and emotional of avoiding planned minor maintenance around the home. Usually the results are a hefty bill or a prospective buyer pulling out when a survey reveals a problem. Water damage is of particular concern - so check drains, clear gutters of leaves and other debris and inspect the roof through a pair of binoculars to ensure that tiles are all in place.

Choose a bright, clear day and spend a couple of hours checking, clearing and mending in preparation for the winter. Your window cleaner may agree to clear the gutters for you or why not get together with friends and do a job lot. Safety at height is paramount so ensure that you can gain access safely,set ladders up correctly and have someone around to foot them for you. (If in doubt use a reputable professional.) And don’t forget to use protective gloves. Then sit back , reward yourself with tea and cake and remember next time there’s a downpour, you won’t be up a ladder trying to sort out an emergency or paying tradesmen handsomely for bailing you out on Christmas Eve.

For more information about SPAB, who provide all sorts of fantastic advice and workshops about property maintenance, log onto their website www.spab.org.uk

Information about National Maintenance Week can be found at www.maintainyourbuilding.org.uk

Have a good week.

Cally

Now that the school holidays are over, pumpkin lanterns are confined to the compost bin and the bonfire is merely a dying ember, I’m back to work with a vengeance and the telephone has buzzed with tales of woe from clients who cannot sell their houses. If you’ve employed a relocation agent like me to find your next home then this is serious – a house stuck on the market means potentially losing your next property or a crippling bridging loan whilst the market remains uncertain.

Moving house can be an emotional rollercoaster. If you’ve followed the wealth of advice on TV, in magazines and on the web about presenting your property and it still doesn’t sell it’s easy to get despondent.

So what can you do to get buyers through your door and secure serious offers when presentation and marketing simply isn’t working? No advice is guaranteed to work but here is a three point plan which involves no expense, is ethical and usually has the desired effect.

• Be flexible  Any successful house sale requires a large dose of flexibility, whether that’s allowing viewings when you’d rather be in your pyjamas eating a late breakfast or meeting a buyer halfway when your chain is in danger of collapse. Flexibility does not equate to letting someone else call the tune. It does mean that things run more smoothly and if, like me, you believe that you get what you give, you can expect greater compromise in return
• Be realistic Know what your property is truly worth. If you have your eye on the local property press and estate agents’ windows you’ll have a rough idea. Access to the web will provide information from the Land Registry about actual selling prices. How does it really compare with the competition? Don’t expect someone else to place the same value on your property as you do. If on paper something else offers better value for money, that will sell first. Location and square footage tend to be the main influence on price.
• If you are one of the increasing numbers of people who decide to sell their house themselves then don’t underestimate what is involved in marketing your property, reaching the right audience of potential buyers, conducting viewings and keeping your sale on track without the safety net provided by an agent.
• Communicate, communicate, communicate. This is the key to successfully completing a sale in my experience, particularly when it comes to dealing with estate agents and solicitors. Build an open and trusting a relationship with them and remember they are on your side. Give them as much information as you can to help them do their job. Be clear and businesslike in your approach. Give the estate agent and solicitor working with you the space to do their job but never let more than a few days go by without touching base. In property no news usually means not much is happening. Inject some urgency into your sale and head off problems with a more proactive approach.

Happy selling!

Cally