Let’s face it: there is never a bad time to sell your home in London! But summer is a fantastic time of the year to think about selling your home.
Here are a few tips on getting the most for your home, and even possibly getting multiple offers!
De-clutter your entire home. Keep ‘knick knacks’ down to a minimum and take down a few of those family vacation photos. This will help other people be able to see themselves in your home and help to not distract them when they’re viewing your home.
Make sure your garden and garage areas are as clean and de-cluttered as possible.
Leave your home when there is an agent showing it. There is nothing worse than a seller who is hovering over a buyer and their agent when they’re trying to see a home. If there are special things about the home that you feel your agent may forget to provide buyers, then make a short list and leave it on the kitchen counter for agents and buyers to see.
If you have AC units, turn them on before a showing. If not, then leave some windows open so that the home can be ventilated. If your home feels HOT and almost as if there is poor ventilation, that could deter them from wanting to live there.
Make sure your home is as clean as possible. Hire a cleaning company to do a deep clean before listing your home. I’ve seen so many buyers who were unable to see past a mess.
If you’re trying to sell a home that is vacant, try to go to the home every 5-10 days. There is nothing worse than opening a kitchen drawer and seeing a dead cockroach…
Turn ON all of your lights even if it’s daytime. It sounds absurd, but it always helps your home appear more “light and bright”!
If you have any questions about selling your home, call me! I am here to help and available 7 days a week 07460 088 110
Are you a first-time buyer hoping to find a home in a buzzing city centre?
Over the past year, asking prices in many countrysides and coastal areas have kept rising as more buyers looked to find bigger houses and a quieter life.
Meanwhile, in some of Britain’s largest and most popular city centres, asking prices have remained at a standstill – and in some cities, they’ve even dropped.
But I am seeing demand from buyers increase again in city centres, so now might be the best chance to buy a place while prices are cheaper than normal and mortgage lenders are offering competitive low-deposit loans.
In a recent survey, one in five first-time buyers have said they are either planning to use, or are already using the government’s 95% mortgage guarantee scheme, which was introduced in April.
Instead of having to save for a 15% or 20% deposit, first-time buyers can buy a home worth up to £600,000 through the scheme with a deposit of just 5%. You can find out more about how the scheme works here.
The housing market is still really busy right now, so whether you’re thinking of buying a house or a flat, it’s likely to be competitive.
In the past two months we’ve been seeing a lot more first-time buyers searching for homes in cities, especially flats with two or three bedrooms, or extra home office space, as well as having a garden or at least a balcony.
So where are best cities for first-time buyers right now?
The biggest price drops are for homes in the city centres of Leeds and Sheffield. In Leeds, the average cost of a home is just below £160,00, which is £6,788 cheaper than it was at the start of the year. This budget will buy you a two-bedroom flat with a balcony in the heart of the city.
In Sheffield, average asking prices are now about £4,000 cheaper than they were in January, so it’s no surprise that buyer demand has skyrocketed here in the past month or so. For the average asking price of £124,097, you can buy a one- or a two-bedroom flat in the city centre. Some three-bedroom flats and houses start at around £300,000.
Homes in Nottingham‘s city centre are also in demand right now, with the average cost of a home dropping by £5,000 to £178,390.
London for first-time buyers
Buyers are starting to head back to London after more than a year of lockdown restrictions, as restaurants and bars continue to fill up and offices gradually start to reopen. We’ve seen demand for flats in London rise by a third since January. While prices across the capital are pretty much at a standstill, at £477,000, the average cost of a first-time buyer home is almost three times higher than many other cities.
Rightmove’s property expert, Tim Bannister says that these early signs of demand could be the start of city prices rising again, so for those home-hunters who have their sights set on a city-centre flat, now is the time to see what’s available.
Primrose Hill is a grassy hill on the northern side of Regent’s Park with stunning views overlooking London.
The picture-postcard view of the capital’s skyline might be your top reason for visiting Primrose Hill – but it shouldn’t be the only one. This well-kept annexe of Regent’s Park is also surrounded by posh cafés and shops. And when the sun starts going down, it really is all about that view, so pack a picnic, invite some friends and play ‘spot the landmark’ as London is bathed in awesome orange light.
Up until the 19th century, Primrose Hill was no more than just a woodland area filled with trees and wolves, and it was even once used as a hunting ground by the English monarchs. It is believed to have been named Primrose Hill due to the number of primroses which once grew here; (although not much of them can be seen today), but some experts believe it was named after Archibald Primrose, who was famous for the expansion of the London underground.
Throughout its history Primrose Hill has changed very little, and just strolling around its surrounding streets you will feel as if you’re walking around a London village during the 20th century.
Today Primrose Hill is a highly desirable place to live among the rich and famous, and some of the many celebrities who once lived (or still live) here include Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, Dylan Thomas, Boris Johnson, Kate Moss, Gavin Rossdale, Jude Law, and many more. As a matter of fact, Primrose Hill became so famous because of its famous residents, a group of London-based celebrities like Kate Moss, Davinia Taylor, Ewan McGregor, Sadie Frost and Jude Law became known as the “Primrose Hill Set” during the 1990s.
Highlights in Primrose Hill
At the Primrose Hill summit lies a York stone which is inscribed with a William Blake quote, as well as the famous “Shakespeare’s Tree.” In 1864 an oak tree was planted here to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, although the tree that stands there today is a replacement tree which was planted in 1964.
Not just limited to Primrose Hill, walking around its surrounding streets is a highlight in itself, as many of the streets, buildings, homes and pubs have been left untouched for many years, giving a very unique, architectural feel that is unlike any other in London.
Famous People Who Once Lived in Primrose Hill
A lot of visitors head to Primrose Hill to do some celebrity-watching, as many famous names are known to both live and visit in and around Primrose Hill. Some of the many houses which were once lived in by famous residents have been marked with English Heritage blue plaques such as:
Friedrich Engels (122 Regent’s Park Road)
William Butler Yeats (23 Fitzroy Road)
Sir Hugh Clough (11 St. Mark’s Crescent)
A. J. P. Taylor (13 St. Mark’s Crescent)
William Roberts (14 St. Mark’s Crescent)
Roger Fenton (2 Albert Terrace)
Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes (3 Chalcot Square and 23 Fitzroy Road – with the latter being where Plath ultimately committed suicide)
Dylan Thomas (54 Delancey Street)
Visitors can also easily walk to the nearby Regent’s Park, ZLS Zoo, and Camden Town, and by walking through St. John’s Wood visitors can cross the famous Abbey Road, and even see Abbey Road Studios. There is also a Primrose Hill market which draws both locals and tourists to the area every Saturday.
Where to Eat and Drink Near Primrose Hill?
Primrose Hill Market
https://www.thespreadfood.com/primrosehill
Elsworthy Rd, London NW3 3DS
Saturday 10am–3pm
Primrose Hill Market is home to 50 award-winning farmers, small batch producers and street food traders.
May is National Share a Story Month in the UK. An annual celebration of the power and magic of storytelling organised by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, providing a fantastic opportunity to fulfil the core aim of the FCBG of bringing children and stories together. Across the country, Federation book groups and individuals run a whole host of events.
It is a wonderful opportunity for families to share stories and books and read and write together, particularly important. Spending just 10 minutes a day reading and sharing stories with children can make a crucial difference to their future, plus it’s a lovely thing to do.
Moving to a new home can be magic as a story. Still, it can also be particularly difficult for children, especially if the move also means uprooting them from a school and a comfortable circle of friends. As a parent, though, there are plenty of ways you can help soothe your kid’s fears and concerns during the moving process.
One way to do this is by telling them stories about moving or reading positive and uplifting children’s books that explain the experience of relocating to a new home. So, to mark the National Share-a-Story Month, here are some of the children’s books that will successfully help your children deal with the anxiety and sadness often associated with moving away to a new home.
Moving House
by Usborne First Experiences
This beautifully illustrated book is suitable for very young children by gently introducing them to the process of moving house. There is a lot to see and look for in the pictures, and the story has a fun element making the whole concept of moving house fun. There is also a sticker book version for a little more interaction.
We’re Moving
by Heather Maisner
A book about Amy, a pre-schooler, who doesn’t want to move as it will mean she will have to say goodbye to her best friend and leave the garden she planted with her dad. The illustrations are lovely to look at, and the story will encourage younger children to talk about their feelings and any concerns that they may have about moving house.
The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day
by Stan and Jan Berenstain
This beloved children’s book has been helping kids with the trials and tribulations of moving for years. When Mama and Papa decide to move, Brother bear must prepare for relocation from their beautiful mountainside to the family’s new treehouse. The story’s iconic Berenstain bear characters are sure to make this children’s book a hit with your kids.
My Very Exciting, Sorta Scary, Big Move: A Workbook for Children Moving to a New Home
by Lori Attanasio Woodring
Workbook for kids ages 5 to 11 years. The step-by-step guide will help children manage different aspects of the moving process, such as saying goodbye, making new friends and dealing with the different emotions that come with moving to a new place.
The Good-Pie Party
by Liz Garton Scanlon and Kady MacDonald Denton
If your child is particularly sad about leaving their friends behind, this children’s book will help show them how to deal with sad emotions appropriately. The story centres around three friends, Posy, Megan and Mae. When Posy learns she must move away, her friends come together to throw a goodbye party for her. The book is written for kids ages 5 to 8.
The Moving Book – A Kids’ Survival Guide
by Gabriel Davis
A great book about moving house for older children (approximately 8-13 years). This comprehensive guide is highly organised and helps to prepared kids to move house. It deals with everything from coping with any anxieties that they may have to how to keep in touch with friends they are leaving behind.
Moving Day!
by Jess Stockham
Make packing boxes part of the play experience on moving day with this handy children’s book. The book makes packing fun and teaches children what to keep and what to toss.
Moving House (First Times)
by Rebecca Hunter
Clever book that explores the whole first time experience of moving house with specially commissioned photographs to support the narrative, with 2 levels of text so that early readers can join in or simply look at the pictures and be read to.
Contact me today and see how I can help you with your home and move.
