The Blog

So, you’ve found the home of your dreams and your offer has just been accepted. Congratulations! Your journey to owning your new home has officially begun. If you’re wondering what happens next, here are five immediate things you need to do after your offer has been accepted to get things moving. 1. Provide Confirmation Once your offer has been accepted, your estate agent will likely give you a congratulatory call. But this won’t just be a courtesy. They’ll also request confirmation of a few things so they can finalise the offer. You’ll usually need to provide confirmation of things like: You have the funds available to make the purchase Your mortgage in principle You have a solicitor – or you’re working to get one now 2. Remove Competition Normally, estate agents will cancel viewings and take the property off the market as soon as your offer has been accepted. However, you’ll want to make sure this is definitely the case. Remove the competition immediately and ask your estate agent to cancel any scheduled viewings and to take the property off the market. If the listing isn’t taken down, you could be at risk of getting outbid or even gazumped. 3. Instruct Your Solicitor There’s no better time to get the ball rolling than after your offer has been accepted. For a quicker sale, you’ll want to instruct your solicitor as soon as possible. If you haven’t already found a solicitor, ask your estate agent for a recommendation. At this stage, your solicitor will start completing the checks and searches on the property. Depending on the solicitor, they may also ask you to pay up-front for some of their services. 4. Complete Your Mortgage Application Since the mortgage in principle was a principle agreement, you’ll need to complete a full application for the money now that your offer has been accepted. You’ll need to apply for the exact amount you need to borrow for the property in question. If you have a mortgage advisor, they’ll guide you through this process and let you know what information you need to supply. 5. Arrange a Survey While surveys aren’t compulsory when you buy a new home, they’re a good idea. During a survey, a professional surveyor will inspect the property and cast an eagle eye over the place. Surveys can help you understand any current or future issues you may have with the property. To arrange the survey, you’ll need to speak with your estate agent about booking time with the sellers. Still Looking For a Essex Home? If you’re still looking for your new home in Essex, Lawrence Antony Homes could have what you’re looking for! Check out our listings or let us know what type of property you’re interested in so we can help keep an eye out for you. Give us a call today on 01268 778333 or email us at info@lawrenceantonyhomes.co.uk to speak to a member of our friendly team.

One of the top concerns that many families have when moving home is finding the right school for their children. So many home moves happen for this very reason, as families are keen to move closer to the catchment area of a particular school. But what happens if you find your dream house first and then need to find the best school close by? We are asked so often by our buyers, which schools we recommend and whilst we always offer honest advice to the best of our knowledge, ultimately it comes down to what YOU want. Here in this blog we've created some tips for helping you find the best school in Essex for your children. Start your school research well before your move It's important that you start thinking about schools long before you move. We recommend doing this as early as you possibly can. You will probably want to visit several schools in Essex before you decide on the best fit, so make sure you leave enough time for multiple appointments and open days. With the power of modern day technology, it's so much easier to find all you need to know online, even if you are relocating from a-far. Almost all schools have a collection of online reviews for you to look at. Ofsted reports are also listed on school's websites and you can usually download a free online prospectus to print at home. Start gathering critical information online using reputable sites such as The Good Schools Guide and check the school performance tables on Gov.uk. School research can be a time-consuming process, which is why we recommend starting early. Once you’ve whittled it down to your top three schools, pay each of them a visit with your child. Work out what your priorities are Let’s face it, it may be tough to find a school that has absolutely everything that you’re looking for and all the schools in the Essex area have their own strengths. When looking for a school, we recommend making a list of your priorities. For instance, are you looking for a school with a tremendous academic record or one with a specific subject focus? Are extra-curricular activities essential or does your child have any special needs that the school should cater for? Are you looking for state schools or private schools? Day or boarding? Single-sex or co-ed? Writing down all your priorities like this will help you narrow your search, as Essex is an area that’s packed with lots of great schools to choose from! Ask around! If you have the chance to speak to your new neighbours before your move, ask them about their personal experiences with the local schools and if they don't have children themselves, perhaps they can introduce you to someone they know who does? Chatting with another parent could save you research time, and they may also have first-hand experience of a school if they are sending their own children to one of the schools that you’re interested in. If you aren't able to speak with the new neighbours, another good option is local Facebook groups. Join the local group for your new area and put a post up asking people for their thoughts. Go and look for yourselves! Although this might not be immediately possible, we highly recommend visiting schools when you can. Here are some of the key things to observe on a school visit: Is the environment and community friendly and welcoming? Are the facilities clean and well-maintained? Do the teachers seem enthusiastic and happy to chat through all your questions? How do the students and teachers interact with each other? Do the children appear happy and engaged? What is the area like? Some schools now even offer virtual tours of their campuses so if you aren't able to go in person, this could be a good thing to explore. You could also hold a Zoom call with the headteacher to get a better feel of the school, and it’s teaching style. Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Once you have found the perfect fit, find a back-up! It’s always sensible to have a Plan B in case your chosen school in Essex doesn’t work out. Creating a list of your top two or three schools means that you can quickly fall back to another option if needed, although of course, we hope your child gets into your first choice! Speak to your agent We're here to advise. We know the area and we have had hundreds, possibly thousands of conversations with similar home-buyers. We will always give you the best knowledge we can and give you a starting point. Please call us on 01268 778333 or email us at info@lawrenceantonyhomes.co.uk if we can help!

So, you’ve picked out your estate agent to help sell your home, but what’s the next step? While for the most part the baton is now with the agent, who’s responsible for keeping the progress of the sale on track, there are still some things you can do to achieve the very best desired outcome when selling your house. Try looking at it this way: you and your estate agent are now a team. You’re on the same side and are both equally motivated to secure the right sale. In light of that, it’s best to make sure you’re aligned on exactly what you want to achieve over the next weeks or months. Still not sure where you stand or what your next steps should be? Not to worry, we understand! That’s why we’ve collated 8 useful pointers which take you from that initial estate agent meeting through to obtaining the right offer. Be clear on your timeline Before you do anything else, make sure you and your agent are aligned on your expectations from the outset. Ask questions and iron out any queries you have, as well as giving an indication of how quickly you’re looking to move – whether you’re aiming for a specific timeframe or you’re happy to hold on a little longer for a more generous buyer. This will really help your agent organise and prioritise your requirements. Stay updated Working with your estate agent requires communication on both parts, so keeping in close contact is paramount. Let your agent know how regularly you’d like to be updated on the sale’s progress along the way. For consistent, general updates, we suggest every seven to ten days, but we also recommend aiming for a couple of days after every viewing to gather the potential buyer’s feedback. Act on feedback Potential buyers tend to be honest and forthcoming with their opinions on a house, especially after a viewing. So, while there will be positive feedback, there may also be some criticism. If this happens, try not to be disheartened and instead let your estate agent know that you’re open to all kinds of feedback so you can use it to your advantage. You may notice common themes in the feedback you receive, which will help you decipher what you can do to improve your home for the next viewing. For instance, the buyer may suggest that the décor is a little tired or that certain areas need some TLC. Be prepared to dedicate some time to these updates, potentially with a fresh lick of paint or a weekend of DIY fixing – you can rest assured that it will make all the difference on your next viewing. Decide on a marketing strategy Give your estate agent a steer when it comes to where you want your home to be advertised to potential buyers. You’ll likely want a ‘for sale’ sign up, but aside from that, decide on whether you want your house advertised in the local press and stipulate how many times you want it to be shown if so. Give an indication of approximately how long you’d like your house to appear in the estate agent’s window and provide some direction as to which online portals you want to see your home shown on. Approve the marketing Your agent will likely have a list of marketing details for you to approve, all of which should highlight the qualities your home has to offer. They will be used to market your house and will likely be the first place potential buyers will read about your home. So, while the estate agent will have thoroughly checked through this information, you also want to make sure nothing has been missed in the description. Showcase your home’s best angles Alongside the marketing description, the images of your house should be a top priority, too. To help the photographer capture the best shots possible, try to give your home a thorough tidy before they arrive, move the likes of bins and parked vehicles out of shot for the day, and if you can, switch on accent and mood lighting to create an ambient atmosphere. Once the house is in shape, add a few stylish touches with fresh flower bouquets in vases, and complete the dining table with your favourite place settings – this will really enhance the lifestyle photography and give viewers a chance to envisage themselves in the space. Try to maintain this look for viewings so potential buyers can fall in love with your home on their visit, too. Try to be flexible with house viewings Of course, the more viewings your estate agent can book in, the more offers you’re likely to get. It’s a well-known fact that weekends are when most people are free to view a property, and it gives potential buyers enough time to mull over what they’ve seen and make an offer on Monday morning. Viewers are also more likely to be looking at several houses over a weekend with the aim of making an instant comparison, so it’s best that your home is scheduled in at this time too rather than on a weekday, where it may not remain fresh in their mind. Carefully consider your offers Lastly, remember that most of the offers you get will be negotiable, even on occasions when they might seem a little low. Usually, most buyers will get in touch again with a better counteroffer if the first is politely declined, so try not to be too quick to dismiss an offer from a potentially committed buyer. Do you want to know more about how you and your estate agent can work together? Or do you have general questions about marketing your home? Either way, feel free to reach out to our team, who are always more than happy to help. Simply contact us by phone on 01268 778333 or send us an email at (info@lawrenceantonyhomes.co.uk and we’ll get straight back to you.

Moving home is notoriously one of the most stressful things you can go through in life. This can be made worse when buying and selling a property due to the many additional layers involved in the process. In 2021 around one in three UK property purchases fell through, which would have caused so much stress for those involved. Before embarking on your home buying or selling journey, it's important to be aware of the risks involved. Your agent will be able to guide you through and keep you informed along the way to make sure your expectations are always managed. Here's 5 of the main reasons property sales fall through: A Break In The Chain A property chain is a string of transactions linked together. Just one sale collapsing can result in the whole chain collapsing and leaving many people out of pocket. There are many reasons why a chain can collapse and unfortunately this can be one of the most unavoidable situations in a sale falling through, due to how many different parties are involved. Luckily most agents take several steps to avoid unreliable buyers so this situation does happen less and less in the current climate. Conveyancing Delays Delays in the conveyancing process can lead to buyers losing patience and sales falling through. The legal practicalities of buying a house can take some time, either due to delays in documentation arriving, slow local authority searches or an unresponsive conveyancer elsewhere in the chain. The best way to get ahead of the game is to instruct a conveyancer early in the process and a good agent will always advise you of those steps early on in the process. Problems Discovered In The Home Survey Home surveys can uncover a whole range of problems with a property, from smaller cosmetic issues to major structural flaws. If a home survey finds a major issue, the buyer may look to renegotiate the price or pull out of the deal completely. Gazumping Gazumping is when the seller accepts a higher offer from someone else after they've already agreed to sell to you. This is allowed as the sale isn't official until the contracts have been exchanged. You might wish to approach the seller with reasons to go ahead with your purchase but the key thing is to not overstretch yourself financially in an attempt to win back the property. Mortgage Problems A mortgage offer expiring or a change in circumstances can mean the buyer can no longer borrow as much as they need to purchase the property. Mortgage lenders also sometimes value the property at less than the buyer has agreed to pay (a down valuation) which means buyers have to either renegotiate the price with the seller, find the extra cash to make up the shortfall or pull out of the sale.

What does your garden mean to you? For us, it can be summarised in three simple words: entertainment, enjoyment and peace. With it being such a pleasurable, versatile space, it’s no wonder several studies show that it’s within the top three priorities for a potential buyer. Surrounding your house at both front and back, it’s a large area that requires just as much pre-viewing preparation as any room inside – and that’s where we’re here to help! Tidying the garden is one thing, but styling it is another – it’s the finishing touches you add to the space with considered layouts and accessories that will take it to the next level. So, after you’ve trimmed the hedges and pressure-washed the patio, the fun can truly begin! By bringing a flourish of style to the garden, you’ll be surpassing the viewer’s expectations, showing them the true potential of the space. Read on for 6 tested tips that will finesse your garden with a dose of charming style. Frame the front door The first area viewers will see when they arrive is the front door, so it’s worth thinking about the inviting impression you want to create. After refreshing old letterboxes, handles and knockers, consider defining a pathway to the door with flanks of flower beds or potted plants interspersed with post lights. When it comes to the doorway or porch, draw the eye by framing it with hanging baskets and climbing plants. Alternatively, use candle-filled lanterns of varying sizes either side of the door – mix these in groups of three for visual appeal. 2. Get in the zone Before you start accessorising the back garden, we suggest dividing it into different areas that are suited for particular purposes. Not only will this make your space feel bigger, but it will also be more organised, allowing you to show the garden in its best light. A few cleverly positioned dining and seating areas will help to subtly delineate your garden and enable potential buyers to envisage themselves in the space. Define the centre of the main entertainment area with a weatherproof rug, and use comfy furniture to outline the borders. For a balance of cosy and sophisticated style, use a glass-topped table and cushioned dining chairs made from natural-looking materials such as all-weather wicker or Lloyd Loom. If space allows, channel relaxation in another corner of the garden with an outdoor sofa or swing chair and a timber coffee table. To complete the snug look and feel, add a gas or electric heater. 3. Light the way Come rain or shine, illuminating your outdoor space with thoughtfully chosen lighting that looks just as good in the daytime as it does at night will add warmth and style. Consider the theme of your interior, and expand this into the garden. A set of bronze- and copper-toned fixtures will give an aged, antique look that’s in keeping with period houses and cottages, whereas matt black and silvered patinas will coordinate with the contemporary feel of a modern home. If you have a decking area, consider installing recessed floor lighting – for house viewings during darker months, this it will add an uplifting glow to the space. Alternatively, intertwine streams of festoon lights around an awning, hang them along the eaves of a shed or car port, or wrap them around a tree or two to enhance the relaxed atmosphere. 4. Play with mirrors An outdoor mirror or two is ideal for bouncing light around the garden and, if you position them in a clever way, they can also make the space feel bigger. When placing a mirror outside, consider what you want it to reflect. Fixing it against a fence or wall to reflect flowers and foliage is much preferrable to a view of trailing drainpipes! Think about the shape and size of the mirror, too. Going large will have the most impact, so when it comes to oversized mirrors, add one to your seating area to bounce light and reflect your table styling skills. Whether your garden style errs on the classic or modern side, a Crittall window mirror will suit the space. Give an arch-shaped one pride of place in an elegant countryside garden, or use a straight-framed square version in a more contemporary area. 5. Lift the space with colour When it comes to nature, feel free to play around with colour to make your garden feel cheerful and inviting. For easy decorating, bring in container plants – they work especially well on a paved area or courtyard space where colour might be lacking. And if the flowers aren’t in bloom yet, then you can still add bright hues in the form of plant pots and baskets grouped together in coordinating colours. For quaint, older houses, a fast-growing climber such as wisteria or clematis set against a wall or fence will give your space a real ‘wow’ factor. Or for a modern home, use trailing plants housed in hanging baskets to create a living wall of foliage for a more minimal approach. Wooden or galvanised metal step ladders are also a creative way to make a fun floral display. If you have any bare patches among your flower beds, then now is the time to fill them. Bring in a selection of easy-to-maintain perennials that look good all year round such as hellebore, libertia, liriope muscari and cranesbill. 6. Keep it low-key Remember, you don’t need to go OTT with styling or make it appear high maintenance. Keep it depersonalised by opting for furnishings that highlight texture over pattern and, unless it’s in the form of flowers or plants, accessorise with calm, neutral colours so you don’t overwhelm the space. Keen for more tips on how to style your garden? Or do you need other advice on how to prepare your home ready to go on the market? Either way, we’d love to hear from you! Simply call us for a chat on 01268 778333 or send us an email at info@lawrenceantonyhomes.co.uk. No matter what your question is, we’re always more than happy to help.

Sell your home at Easter for a Summer Move

Spring is a wonderful time to sell a home – the buds are budding, gardens are springing into life, and a little bit of sunshine makes everyone’s home look better. Plus, buyers have traditionally always started home searching in the spring, and the property portals tell us this is still the case today. If you’re thinking of selling your home, or your home is on the market right now, you may have some questions about how to make your move a success. Here are some of the questions we get asked at this time of year by our clients at Lawrence Antony Homes. “My house has been on the market since wintertime – now my garden is flowering, should I get new photographs taken?” Winter garden photos can look a little, well, sad. Bare trees and shrubs, bare earth and leaf-covered, muddy lawns can all be a bit off-putting to buyers. So when your garden starts coming back to life, it’s a really good idea to get some fresh and colourful images taken to showcase it to buyers. At Lawrence Antony Homes we offer new foliage images free of charge to our clients, to make sure their images online are always current and as attractive as possible. Why not ask your agent if they can do likewise? “If I get an offer now, when should I expect to be moved by?” Nationwide, the current time from accepting an offer to handing over the keys is around 12 weeks, but this can vary hugely depending on your buyer’s position, finance needed, any complications with your sale and much more. If you have a straightforward sale, no chain and your buyer doesn’t need a mortgage, then you should be moved by the summer, or around 10 weeks. Any complications or chain delays can more than double this, so ask an expert about your specific situation. We’re always happy to offer our advice on timescales and what to expect. Just give us a call on 01268 778333 and let’s have a chat. “I don’t know how I’m going to keep my house tidy during the Easter holidays! Should I take a break from the market?” We feel your pain! Selling a house with children off school is never an easy task, but there are some things you can do to help make your viewings successful and stress-free: Encourage (bribe) your children to tidy up and keep tidy. Daily inspections with reward stickers for younger children and cash for older teens usually does the trick. Keep the children out of the house as much as possible, so your home stays tidier! Takeaways or eating out if you have an imminent viewing booked will save you having to clean your kitchen. Resist the urge to do ‘messy’ playtime with the kids if you have viewings arranged – no finger painting, Play-doh or baking! Make sure you’re out of the house for viewings, so you don’t feel stressed – being under pressure to have perfectly-behaved children will not result in an enjoyable viewing, for you or your buyers! If you have a real house-full and really would rather not have to cope with viewings during the school holidays, tell your agent. They’ll be understanding if you want to take a break from the market until the kids go back to school. “I’m thinking about moving home – is now a good time?” A great question! We’re sure you’ve heard it’s a ‘seller’s market’ right now, and has been pretty much since the start of the Pandemic. But things are starting to change. More homes coming to market means more competition for buyers, and that creates downward pressure on house prices. We expect prices to remain strong for at least this year, and probably into next year, but we think the days of huge scarcity are now behind us. What does this mean for you if you’re thinking of selling? Well, if we’re right and property prices have peaked, you can feel confident you’d be selling your home at the top of the market. Whatever your situation, selling now when you know it’s a strong market is going to give you a more predictable sale price than waiting until next year and facing an unknown property market. “What are most buyers looking for right now?” Some homes are inevitably in more demand than others – our buyers are looking for specific features, like work-from-home space, and often want a home with potential to extend. Bungalows seem to be very popular right now, as are homes with land. Whatever your home has to offer, we’d love to have a chat with you and tell you whether we have buyers registered who are looking for a home just like yours. “I thought this was supposed to be a seller’s market, but my home still hasn’t had much interest. What can I do?” It’s hugely disappointing when you’re excited to put your home on the market, and no one seems interested. Especially if neighbouring properties are selling fast around you. The three key drivers of any successful property sale are presentation, price and promotion: how well your home is presented to the market, and whether it competes on how modern rooms like its kitchens and bathrooms are; whether the price is competitive and not over-optimistic; and finally, but probably the most important of the three, how your home is marketed. The images, written description and brochure are more important than most people assume, and just improving them can have a dramatic impact on how much interest a home receives. We’ve taken on , styled them and changed the photography, and sold them straight away without changing the price at all! So if you’re not sure if your marketing is really showcasing your home, we’ll be frank, and tell you honestly if it is. Send me a link to your home at info@lawrenceantonyhomes.co.uk and I’ll tell you how you can improve your marketing and attract the right buyer. “Our garden is looking lovely, but it’s still a bit muddy. Can we ask viewers to take off their shoes before they view our home?” Yes! We always take off our shoes before going into a home, and so we expect the viewers to, too. Carpets with muddy footprints aren’t attractive to buyers, so let’s make sure yours stay clean! If you have any questions at all about any of the points raised in this article, or you’d just like a friendly, no-strings chat about your house sale, we’d love to help you. Call me on 01268 778333, or email me on info@lawrenceantonyhomes.co.uk and let’s get you moving.

“Give your home the ‘wow’ factor!” We’ve all heard this advice from property experts, but what does it mean? And how do you do it? Most importantly, is it worth the time and effort it may cost you? All good questions, and the answers will be revealed in this article – so let’s dive in… “What’s a ‘wow’ factor anyway?” It’s that elusive magic ingredient that turns a home from standard to exceptional; from forgettable to unforgettable; from ‘meh’ to ‘wow!!’ “Ok I get that, but how do I create it in my home?” Sometimes it’s as simple as adding a lifestyle touch to your kitchen, with a beautiful cake on a pretty stand, surrounded by fruit. Something like this: Or you may need to spruce up a room by refreshing the décor with contemporary cushions, new furniture placement and some styling touches like flowers and magazines. Bedrooms can be forgotten and unloved, especially if they’re rarely used, so treat them to some new bedding, a luxurious throw and even some new artwork for the walls. “Is it worth spending time, effort and money on styling my home if it’s going to sell quickly anyway?” As I write this, there is a definite scarcity of homes on the market. Homes are selling fast, and often over the asking price. But while today’s ‘sellers’’ market may make it seem that house selling is easy, no matter its condition, spending a little T.L.C. on your home to make it even more appealing is a smart move for two reasons: When the market turns, your home will still stand out in all the right ways, and Even in a sellers’ market, you need to be confident you’re not leaving any money on the table and losing out to competitive homes just because they are more attractively styled. As you can see, styling doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive, and adding the ‘wow’ factor to your home could be simple and fast to do. If you’re feeling inspired and keen to get started, the team and I have compiled a list of 12 simple ways to wow your buyers. Let’s go!  Make a big, bold statement To create a ‘wow’ feature, add a special piece to the entryway of your home. A large photographic print, original artwork or over-sized vase will instantly capture attention, pique a potential buyer’s interest and make them want to see more. Showcase your best spaces To make a room feel large and open, moving or even removing unnecessary furniture will simplify it. This helps your buyers to make it their own in their heads, imagining how it will look with their furniture and accessories. When rooms are full of furniture, buyers find difficult to see past what’s there and envision your home’s potential. Romance your buyers Think: date night. Soft lamps, gently flickering candles, a crackling fire and subtle music playing – these all set the scene for a romantic date, but also for a successful viewing. Buyers buy with their hearts, not their heads, so appeal to their softer side, stir their emotions and make sure they leave wanting more! Create a culinary experience So many of us are budding chefs these days with the popularity of Masterchef and Bake-off, so create a mouth-watering experience for your buyers as they step into your kitchen! Try an Ottolenghi cookbook, casually open on the side, with some posh cookware and even posher ingredients, to create the impression that culinary magic is about to happen. Play it safe in the bedrooms Bedrooms are no place for strong and vibrant colours, unless you are a professional interior designer, and even then you risk sending your buyers running for their car if your bedrooms are overpowering. Even if you love bold colours, when you’re selling your home, you need to pander to a buyer’s tastes, rather than foist yours on them. So keep bedrooms light and simple. Crisp white bedding with plump pillows, dressed with a throw and some cushions in a subtle shade will give your bedrooms a hotel quality a buyer will love. Set the table Why not set your lovely dining table for dinner with your best dinner set? If you don’t want t go the whole hog with silverware and glasses, just add placemats, plates and glasses for an understated look. Add a floral centrepiece and voila! Your home is ready for its House Beautiful debut. Add colour sparingly and subtly If you’ve neutralised your home so much it looks bland and maybe a bit boring, it’s time to add some colour. The safest way to add interest is with soft furnishings: rugs, cushions and throws add colour and warmth and can really help co-ordinate a room. If you’re not sure what colours might work, look at high street stores like Next and Wayfair for ideas, and Pinterest for inspiration. Use mirrors to make rooms feel bigger and brighter Mirrors are a great way to bounce that light around your home and banish dark corners. Try a mirror instead of a picture over a fireplace or above a sideboard. Mirrors can make narrow spaces like hallways and landings look wider and help open up the space, and they can also transform a tiny bathroom. Give your dining room table a fabulous centrepiece The dining room tends to be a place for celebrations, but it’s also a room that can feel a touch bland when it’s not being used. The perfect solution when you’re selling is to lift the look and atmosphere of the room by having a stunning centrepiece that gives a sense of occasion. Perhaps a large bowl of fresh hydrangeas, a tall vase of flowers and foliage (either real or good-quality imitation) or an arrangement of storm lanterns and pillar candles – something that will leave a striking impression on buyers. Make the fireplace a focal point Fireplaces are certainly an attractive selling feature, so make the most of them. If you have a working fireplace, make sure the hearth is clean, the fire is always laid and you have a lovely store of logs beside it, ready to light for viewings. And if you can’t or don’t want to light a real fire, why not fill the recess with a selection of pillar candles? That can look really pretty, and even if there’s no actual heat, the flames will give the illusion of warmth. Bathrooms that wow In the bathroom, tidy away the products you use every day – toothbrushes, toilet cleaner etc. – and make sure your sanitaryware is sparkling. Add a set of fresh white towels and luxurious toiletries (Jo Malone or The White Company), a room diffuser and a couple of pretty plants, and your bathroom is ready to show off. Bring your doorstep to life And let’s not forget the front door. Plain styles tend to work best for contemporary homes, whereas if you have a period home, a red or navy front door can look classically smart. Adding bay trees or shaped conifers completes the look. If you’re lacking in inspiration, google “front doors” plus your type of home. For example, “front doors for contemporary home”. You’ll see pages and pages of beautiful ideas to copy and make sure your buyers are wowed on the doorstep. As you can see, we’re big fans of styling a home to wow buyers! And we know it works. The homes we sell that have been skilfully styled tend to get more viewings, and better feedback too from buyers. If you’d like a complimentary consultation on how your home could benefit from being styled – either a little or a lot – we’d love to share our ideas with you too! Just call 01268 778333 or email info@lawrenceantonyhomes.co.uk and we’ll have your home wowing buyers in no time.

How the current shortage affects your home’s price

2021 was a tremendous year for home price growth in the UK – the strongest since the mid-2000s – with many areas and types of home seeing values increase by double-figure percentages. This means a house bought for £500,000 only two years ago could be worth up to £600,000 today! The huge imbalance between supply and demand, with many more buyers than homes available, has been the key driver behind these extraordinary increases. If you own a unique home and you’re thinking of selling, you have a rare opportunity to sell your home for far more than its ‘logical’ value. Chicken and Egg  Across much of the country, the best price rises have been at the higher end of the market. Historically low mortgage rates and a desire for extra space – especially as more people have found themselves working from home – has encouraged many homeowners over the past couple of years to upsize to larger homes. The biggest challenge with the current lack of homes available to buy is that many homeowners can’t find anywhere to move to, so instead are staying put until that dream home comes on the market. This has created a ‘chicken and egg’ situation where the market is facing a stalemate – no one can move if no one is moving! What’s likely to happen to prices as we move through 2022? As more sellers decide to take advantage of current demand and put their home on the market, that increase in supply is likely to lead to slower price growth, with Rightmove predicting that average prices will have risen by around 5% by the end of this year, marking a considerable slowdown in price increases compared to the last two years. At Lawrence Antony Homes, we’re already seeing a significant increase in the number of people inviting us to give them an up-to-date valuation of their home. Therefore, although right now, demand from buyers is still far outstripping supply, we expect this gap to close over the next few months.  As this happens, buyers facing a greater choice will be less willing to pay a premium for their next home, even if they can afford to do so. Getting the right price for your home Sell sooner rather than later to get the best price. Of course, no one knows what’s going to happen to house prices in 2022, but early indications are that we just won’t see the record prices achieved in 2021. This means selling now will give you a degree of certainty and avoid you regretting sitting tight later in the year when house prices could flatten out. This is especially true if you’re downsizing or selling a second home, when you can best take advantage of the price differential or the funds you could realise in an early sale. National, and even regional, house price averages are just that – averages. Every area has its own micro-market, and the price performance of different types of home can vary from one village, and even one street, to another. As your local property experts, we keep a very close eye on the details of the market, so we can best advise you on timing and selling strategy, to help you maximise your selling price. What’s next? Let’s have a chat about if and how moving on right now could be the right decision for you. At the very least, we can act as a sounding board to help you make an informed choice. And at best, you could realise a life-changing sum of money from your house sale and move on, secure in the knowledge that you captured the very peak of the market. You can reach me on 01268 778333 or at info@lawrenceantonyhomes.co.uk, and I’ll very much welcome the chance to chat through your potential plans.