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5 Easy Steps to Prepare Your Home for Viewings

Selling your home can be a stressful process, but we believe that with a thorough plan and understanding of the process it doesn’t need to be. One key element of selling your home is viewings, and often not enough thought or effort goes into this. Our top tips are…

1. Declutter

Where possible limit the number of items that personalise the house such as family photos, memorabilia, collections, and furniture. Remove excess items that make rooms appear cluttered as this will give potential buyers a better impression. 

2. Repair

Make sure to repair any known defects in the house, such as broken windows, leaky faucets, or damaged flooring. Potential buyers won’t be interested in a home with a long punch list. 

3. Paint

Freshen up paint colours in each room of the house with neutral tones and finishes. Neutral colours will make the house more attractive to potential buyers and may also increase its resale value. 

4. Stage

Staging the house can help potential buyers envision how the space can be used and also present it in its best light. Use simple and stylish decor to make the house feel inviting, intimate and attractive to potential buyers. 

5. Clean

Consider having a deep clean to make sure your house is truly looking as good as it possibly can, making it easy for buyers to fall in love with it.

At Fisher & Partners we will always be on hand to advise and guide clients in order to get the best possible route for them. By working closely together we can make sure that the whole processes is as smooth as possible for you. 

If you are considering a move, are struggling with your current estate agent or simply need some advice, please contact us and we’d be delighted to help.

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UK Property Update for 2023

The UK property market is an ever changing landscape and looking ahead to 2023 there’s a number of factors that will affect the market. 

Demand for housing is likely to rise in the UK as the population continues to expand and the economy bounces back from the turbulence of 2022. This means that the outlook for 2023 is promising, all against a backdrop of rising interest rates, increased costs of living and a pessimistic viewing from broadcasters on a national level.

In terms of prices, experts predict that the market will remain largely stable in the next few years and that house prices may rise by around 5-10%. However, this will vary significantly depending on the region, with some markets being more expensive and better performing  than others. Certainly the Home Counties will be expected to out perform the rest of the UK, with strong demand from across the globe and limited expansion in terms of property development, underpinning values and transactional volumes. 

The pandemic has also had a major impact on the property market and this could continue in 2023. Working from home is becoming more common, meaning that people may be less reliant on their local area and more likely to move farther away in order to get better value for money. However the migration from city centres to more suburban and rural areas is still affected by the desire to have good communication links and social infrastructure. 

Additionally, in recent years travel restrictions have affected the number of overseas buyers, but as we return to a post-Covid normality we will expect to see the return of foreign investors taking advantage of the weak pound and any uncertainty in the markets.

If you’d like any further advice or help from us then please do reach out to use using our contact page.

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Top 5 Pubs for Sunday Lunch in Berkshire

The Four Horseshoes – Chobham 

A beautiful village pub near Chobham Common. It’s a welcoming pub with fantastic food and there are so many amazing walks and rides all around.

The Winning Post – Winkfield

A hugely popular spot for locals and those from further a field. Set in the village between Ascot and Windsor, it’s a superb environment mixed in with amazing service, food and the odd celebrity.

The Fox & Hounds – Englefield Green 

Set in a beautiful position boarding the Windsor Great Park. Its the perfect spot for a well earned roast after a long walk, bike or horse ride in the Great Park.

The Half Moon – Windlesham 

Truly superb food, fantastically welcoming and heated outdoor seating. It’s perfect for families all year round.

The Carpenters – Sunninghill 

A visit to The Carpenters is a must! It’s a hugely popular local staple with an incredible atmosphere for England rugby matches, combined with the best of French and traditional English food.

If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends, and also take a look at our other posts on our A&T page.

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Simple Tips for Beginning Your Property Search

1. Begin early

Start researching well ahead of when you plan to buy – at least 6-12 months prior. This will give you plenty of time to research different areas and finances.

2. Research thoroughly

Read up on the different areas you are looking to buy in. Look at local amenities, school districts, and property value trends.

3. Understand your finances

Use a mortgage calculator to help you work out how much you can afford to borrow and how much you can afford to pay back each month.

4. List your must-haves

Make a list of what you want and need in a property. Having a clear list will help you narrow down your options.

5. Get a pre-approval

Get pre-approved for a mortgage to show sellers that you’re serious and financially capable of purchasing the property.

6. Talk to an estate agent

As much as the online portals can give you a good overview of a local property market, they don’t tell the whole story. Being on the books of estates agents is key. This will give you a first chance look at new properties as they come onto the market as well as access to the nearly 40% of properties sales that take place off market. 

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3 Tips for Finding the Best Estate Agent

Property agent in Ascot

When choosing an estate agent, it is important to consider a variety of factors to make sure you
have the perfect partner to aid you in this important part of your life.

Our three top tips on what to consider are:

• The estate agent’s experience and track record of success should be a primary factor, as this
will give an indication of the quality of their service and their suitability to best handle your sale.

• It is important to consider the fees and services offered by the agent, and to compare these
across different estate agents. Whilst important, be aware that the correct estate agent can
more than make up the difference in fees, with the correct negotiation on your behalf throughout
the sales process, or more pertinently a cheap agent can cost you a lot more, by not marketing
and negotiating correctly for you. Ask agents what is their average sold price vs asking price.

• Another important consideration is whether the agent who you meet is the person who will look
after you. Remember with large agents, very often the lovely person you meet initially will not be
the person who looks after you going forward. They will instead leave you in the care of a team
of less experienced sales people, who might not best understand how to help you move or be
experienced in the complexities of the markets.

At Fisher & Partners you will be looked after by a managing partner, who will look after a limited
number of clients at anyone time. This means you have a constant point of contact, who will have
a detailed understanding of your needs and property. As such, they will be able to best negotiate
on your behalf and manage the whole process seamlessly, so you can enjoy the process and let
us do the hard work.

We cover a large number of areas throughout Berkshire and Surrey, including but not limited to, Ascot, Windsor, Sunningdale, Wentworth, Virginia Water, Bray, Sunninghill, Cookham and Windlesham. If you are considering a move, or are struggling with your current estate agent please contact us and we’d be delighted to help.

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How to Prepare Your Winter Garden for Spring and Summer 2023

As we come out of Winter and the early signs of life in our gardens are signalled by bird song and daffodil shoots, we want to share with you a few tips to help you prepare, so you can make the most of your garden this Spring and Summer.

1. Start your garden early

Most vegetables and annual flowers will provide a bountiful harvest if they are planted early in the spring, starting as soon as the soil can be worked. Start prepping and planting in mid to late March, once the threat of frost has passed.

2. Amend the soil

Before planting, amend your soil with fertiliser, compost or manure, to give your plants a nutrient-rich environment to thrive in. Start with a soil pH test to determine acidity, and adjust as needed with lime and/or fertiliser.

3. Get mulching

Mulch helps retain moisture and keep weeds at bay, so cover flower beds, gardens and trees with several inches of mulch to protect their roots.

If you found this useful and would like any further advice on prepping and styling your garden – particularly if you’re looking to put your property on the market – then please do get in touch using our contact page.