How to increase your home's kerb appeal

In this month's edition, we're starting off by offering our advice on how to increase your home's visual appeal, also known as its kerb appeal. 

We also offer our guidance on best practices to avoid opportunistic Summer burglaries, there's news on a strong start to the year for the mortgage market and we review what the tenant's fee ban means for both tenants and landlords. 

How to increase your home's kerb appeal

 

Any estate agent will tell you that making a good first impression is key when presenting your home for sale. Potential buyers and renters are always extra vigilant when it comes to viewing properties, from the front gate to the back garden, meaning it’s even more important to present your home in its best light from the off. But even if you’re not looking to sell up, there’s something to be said for sprucing up the front of your home.

One of the best ways to do that is to maximise your kerb appeal, which refers to how striking your home is when viewed from the road. When you think about searching for properties online, how likely are you to click on details for a home if the lead photograph is rather drab? The homes that perform the best on property websites like Zoopla and Rightmove are the ones that can grab the attention from the off.

Thankfully, maximising your kerb appeal doesn’t have to break the bank!

1) Front and centre
The front door is always a good place to start, especially as it’s one of the first things that people see when it comes to your home. UPVC doors can be cleaned easily enough with the right product, and if you’ve a wooden door, why not consider a fresh lick of paint? You can also bring your garage or front gate into the equation for a bit of colourful synchronicity.

Giving your letterboxes and door handles a polish shows good attention to detail, but if they’re looking a little tired, don’t be afraid to replace them.

2) Plot your path to success
The path to your front door or outdoor paving stones can get dirty with ease, so applying some TLC, whether that’s with a pressure washer or a good ol’ bucket of warm water and a scrubbing implement will instantly help your outside space.

If you have paving stones, then keeping your weeds in check is also a shrewd move; pulling out the week killer for large front porches, paths or driveways will make things look far neater.

Gravel is a feature of many a home, and it’s also one that’s easily refreshed with a bit of colour. Locate some similar stones to your current palette and use a rake to spread them together and you’ll be surprised by how much it refreshes the approach to your front door.

3) Plant an impression
A simple touch, but an effective one. Adding some greenery around your front door suggests to the naked eye that you take care of your property and look after your home, so look into some potted plants to go outside your front door. Hanging baskets are another option if ground space is limited.

4) Window dressing
The windows on your front room are another area where little touches can make a big difference. Have a look into replacing your curtains or blinds with lined alternatives for a tidy appearance, or, if your windows aren’t providing you with sufficient insulation, you could even look at replacing them altogether.

5) Night Lights
Finally, take a look at the area around your front door at night and imagine how much more welcoming it could be with a bit of light. An outdoor power supply will help if you’re looking to install something akin to a classic-style lamp, but you needn’t go overboard; a solar-powered light is easy to install, charges itself during the day and won’t cost you extra!

Beware the rise of opportunistic burglaries over summer

 

Now that the clocks have gone forward, we can all look forward to longer days and (hopefully) nicer weather. However, the results of a recent study discovered that homeowners should take extra precautions during British Summer Time (BST).

According to data collected by the Co-Op, the number of opportunistic break-ins over the last four years increased by 23% when the clocks go forward.

During the summer months, opportunistic burglaries account for nearly two-fifths (37%) of all break-ins. In comparison, during the winter, opportunistic thefts only make up 30% of all break-ins.

The study also revealed the day that homes were most vulnerable, with the majority of break-ins taking place on a Friday. Sunday is the safest day with a reduction of 13% in break-ins occurring on the last day of the week.

The average cost of break-in costs the average homeowners £1,208.

David Huse, OBE, chair of the Neighbourhood Watch Network, said: “Police records indicate that burglary is on the rise. Now, more than ever, people should do what they can to secure their home and possessions. Joining or starting a Neighbourhood Watch scheme is one way you can help reduce your own risk and support your neighbours to do the same.”

Top tips for securing your home:
• Use strong padlocks to secure shed doors.
• Whilst away, ask a neighbour to check in or set lights to a timer.
• Keep windows and doors locked.
• Don’t share your whereabouts on social media.

Mortgage market gets off to surprisingly strong start in 2019

 

With almost 67,000 mortgages approved in January, 2019 has started strongly for the property market. Despite fears for the housing market this year, this represents an increase in activity from the end of 2018, showing that 2019 could surprise many when it comes to the upward trend in property.

“January’s rise in mortgage approvals is at odds with recent data and surveys which had suggested that Brexit and economic uncertainty could be having a dampening effect on housing market activity,” said Howard Archer, chief economic advisor to the EY Item Club.

The surprise seen amongst analysts indicates that the upsurge in activity is unexpected, but there are several factors that are contributing to the market’s current health. A major contributor is, of course, the low-interest rates in the market, which have supported purchasers and given the lending industry much confidence. Many current property owners have used these historically low levels in order to refinance their loans and find a better deal.

The emergence of first-time buyers as one of the major forces in the property market is another contributing feature to this unexpected upsurge, as well as the increase in mortgage applications, as for the first time since 1995 first-time buyer mortgages made up over half of mortgages approved in 2018.

The strength of the first-time buyer market in 2019 can be seen in the 25,000 mortgages taken out in the first month of 2019 by first-time buyers, according to banking trade body UK Finance. A total of 33,621 mortgages were approved to purchase a home last month, according to data from UK Finance which represents high street banks and building societies. This also represents an increase when compared to February 2018 of 1.8% - which is fairly significant considering the march towards Brexit was firmly taking place through February.

With summer firmly established as the most popular time to buy and sell, we are moving into a particularly busy time of the year for property and therefore, this resurgent health of the market should continue for the foreseeable future.

The Tenant's Fee Ban: what it means for tenants and landlords

 

If you’re a tenant or landlord, then it has been hard to avoid all of the recent coverage of the Tenant Fee Ban. Essentially, the new Act means that tenants will no longer be charged for extra services from June this year. Take a look at the key points below to make sure that you are up-to-date with the latest legislation, whether you’re a tenant or a landlord.

Headline changes:
• Landlords will only be able to hold up to 5 weeks rent as a tenancy deposit.
• The holding deposit, to ensure the tenant application, can be no more than one week’s rent.
• All other payments will be banned with the exception of contractual default penalties.

What can no longer be charged for:
• Charging for a guarantor form
• Credit checks
• Inventories
• Cleaning services
• Referencing
• Professional cleaning
• Having the property de-flead as a condition of allowing pets in the property
• Admin charges
• Requirements to have specific insurance providers
• Gardening services

Two default fees are exempt from these changes and can still be charged for should the tenant break the Tenancy Agreement. These exceptions will have to be written into the contract, however, in order for a landlord to be able to charge tenants, despite being also highlighted in the new legislation:

1) Late rent fees
Under the new Act, landlords will be able to charge a late rent fee for payments more than two weeks overdue. The fees can be charged at an additional 3% plus the Bank of England base rate at the time, but this must be charged on a pro-rata basis.
2) Lost keys
Once the new legislation comes into the place, a landlord may only charge up to £5 for a replacement key, and they must provide a receipt.

To read more about The Tenant Fee Ban click here to see the legislation in full.