Many people wanting to sell their home focus on preparing it for sale which makes perfect sense!

But, you should also be looking at what your garden offers to a potential buyer. After all, more and more of us are spending time at home and so want the outdoor space.

So, what sort of garden improvements should you be doing to add value to your home?

Here, we at Perry Bishop take a step outdoors and share our top tips on garden improvements you can action immediately.

These tips won’t necessarily add monetary value to your home, however they will certainly make your property more attractive to potential buyers.

Fix it up: Complete outstanding garden jobs

First of all, fix things. You know that fence panel you have been meaning to sort for a while now? Get it done. That outside tap with a slight leak? Sort it out. And as for that cracked paving slab on the patio right by the French doors? Come on, either do it or get someone in to have a look at it!

Seriously, gardens are so important and they have to look good. If someone sees a messy, overgrown garden, they may have difficulty seeing past the weeds and miss the potential. They’ll see hard work and that is not for everyone. It also makes people wonder just how well you have looked after the rest of your home.

Home office: Add a garden structure

As we have said, more and more of us are spending time at home. Working, but at home. There are pitfalls to working at home, and one of those is finding a balance between work and home life.

The easiest way to separate the two is to – separate the two! A garden office provides that distance to lock yourself away and work without home life getting in the way. You can also step out of your garden office at the end of the working day, lock up, and then, quite literally, go home.

Costs of installation (and quality) vary, so you’ll need to do your homework.

Dine out: Create outdoor eating spaces

When the summer sun hits the sky, we all love being outside. Dining al fresco is something to cherish. Imagine a lovely breakfast on the patio or a BBQ with friends as the sun sets.

A nicely maintained garden patio or decked area will work wonders for your home’s appeal to a prospective buyer. If you have garden furniture, arrange it so that people can picture themselves there.

Lighten up: Add mood lighting to the garden

Adding value to your garden could mean making it more appealing. Use lighting to lift darker areas. You could add small solar lights to light up pathways, or a net of twinkling stars woven over a tree’s lower branches. You could have a fixed, electric light too, either for cosmetic purposes or security. It fully depends on your budget.

What is certain is that good use of lighting will benefit you when it comes to selling the property.

Home takeaways: Eating out…in!

Eating at home rather than eating out has become the norm so it’s unsurprising that there are items you can purchase to enhance the experience – a bar area for example, or a pizza oven maybe.

Some potential buyers will love that you have something there for them to make use of. These things won’t add much to the actual value of your home, but, what you are doing is adding value and standing out.

Outside and in: Merge the two

When you think of the garden, also think of how the garden and the house work together. For example, how do you exit the house to go into the garden? Could you add bi-fold doors to the property? This will be relatively costly, but the impact means you are more likely to add real value to the house.

When you are thinking of garden improvements, you can think big but you should also think small too. You could do some building work, or you could just ensure you get the small things done well. You could install a fake grass landscape, or you could make sure real grass is cut properly.

Whatever you do, or are thinking of doing, ask us for our opinion as we are more than happy to share our advice and expertise.

Perry Bishop are your local property experts for the The Cotswolds and the Vale of the White Horse.  Call your local branch to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.

Get your game face on. Sarah Benson, Residential Director at Perry Bishop, explains what it takes to be a winner in the property event.

The property market has some interesting parallels with the Olympic Games. Hand-in-hand with glorious success can come bitter disappointment when things go unexpectedly wrong. Preparation and training are everything. Like Olympic competitors, the more prepared and event-ready home buyers and sellers are the fewer things there will be to go wrong.

But sometimes events are beyond anyone’s control. So, like any great Olympian, it’s best to concentrate fully on things one can control.

Equipment
Sellers’ equipment is their property. This should be in tiptop condition – with no nasty surprises lurking for buyers – and should be presented and priced to sell. Buyers need funds to be fully in place.

Mental Preparation
Both parties need to know the rules of the game and understand what can go wrong. This will help to calm nerves and avoid making costly mistakes when there are unforeseen bumps in the road.

Support team
Any Olympic champion will tell you that the support of a great coach and backroom team are essential for success. Think of your estate agent as a coach. And don’t forget your other support, including a great conveyancing solicitor and a talented mortgage broker. Together they will make sure you are at your competitive best.

Understanding the prevailing conditions
Olympic sailors are brilliant at reading the weather. Property buyers and sellers need to be just as good at reading the market. Interpreting the conditions correctly has never been more important as we come out of the Covid pandemic.

As we move into the autumn market, buyers and sellers should ensure they are in the best condition to succeed. Sometimes finding the perfect home or buyer does boil down to luck. But as any gold medallist would say, the more you train, the luckier you become.

Ensure you’re first out of the starting blocks and enjoy gold medal service by calling your nearest branch of Perry Bishop to help with your next move.

Local mortgage specialists, The Finance Roome, answer common questions surrounding BTL mortgages and pick this month’s top BTL deals. Areas of confusion are often based around the deposit amount and how it influences borrowing; Income and potential rental return; stress testing and tenant types.

Example of 25% deposit case scenario – Rates from 1.51%. Example of purchase price £250,000, mortgage £187,500. Monthly payment £235.93. £995 arrangement fee.

Stress testing – A stress test is used by all lenders when assessing the suitability of an applicant for a Buy to Let mortgage product. Two factors are considered; the rental income and the ability to repay the interest on the mortgage.

Top slicing – When a customer’s rental income falls short, we can look to top it up by considering their overall income and expenditure. If they have enough spare income to cover the shortfall we can look to lend the full amount.

Limited Company Buy to Let – Most lenders will require a property portfolio schedule, asset and liability statement and a business plan

Portfolio lending – Don’t simply consider one property; look at the whole portfolio when it comes to re-financing

Tenant types – Working professionals, families, relatives, students, Housing for Multiple Occupancy (HMO) or tenants on housing benefit

This month’s current BTL deals:

• Fixed rates at 80% Loan to value – 2.49% for a 2 year fixed rate / 3.09% for a 5 year fixed
• Fixed rates at 75% Loan to value – 1.51% for a 2 year fixed rate / 1.88% for a 5 year fixed
• Fixed rates at 65% Loan to value – 1.19% for a 2 year fixed rate / 1.64% for a 5 year fixed

Buy to let is a speciality for The Finance Roome. Whether you have a multi-million pound portfolio or you are a one off landlord, the Finance Roome will  find the best deal for you.

t. 01242 226353

 

 

Meet Alice Clatworthy, our friendly and experienced Property Manager and key member of our Letting team.  All tenants as well as landlords who choose either our managed or enhanced management service benefit from Alice’s tenacity and can-do approach – very important qualities as she is the person who manages all maintenance and repair services for the properties we look after.

Alice works out of our Stroud office and ensures that all jobs are booked promptly and performed by reliable local tradespeople. She also makes sure that the properties we manage are fully compliant – responsible for ordering EPCs,  booking gas and electrical safety inspections and arranging PAT tests.

Alice has a passion for helping people, with a proven track record of dealing with clients/customers in a friendly and professional manner in a variety of roles – from estate agency through to personal training and online coaching. When she’s not ensuring everything is running smoothly for our landlords and tenants, she will either be down the gym, horse-riding or out walking her dog Snoop, a whippet/staffy cross.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a key part of the government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs.

HMRC’s ambition is to become one of the most digitally advanced tax administrations in the world. Making Tax Digital is making fundamental changes to the way the tax system works – transforming tax administration so that it is:

• more effective
• more efficient
• easier for taxpayers to get their tax right

What is MTD for landlords?

Any landlord with a turnover exceeding £10,000 will be within the new MTD regime.

From 6 April 2023 landlords will need to:

• record their income and expenses digitally
• report their income and expenses quarterly to HMRC.

This is in addition to their current requirement to file a self-assessment tax return.

Background

From 6 April 2019, MTD was introduced for VAT for any ‘Taxable Person’ with VATable turnover above the VAT registration threshold.

It has always been the government’s intention to introduce MTD for income tax for both landlords and businesses, but this has been subject to a number of delays over recent years.

However, a government announcement on 21 July 2020 brought this firmly back on the agenda for landlords.

Actions to take

The long lead in time given by the government is welcome, as it will enable taxpayers to prepare for the upcoming changes, and we are hoping to see further guidance from HMRC regarding the implementation in the near future.

Although 6 April 2023 seems a long way off we would urge landlords to consider the impact MTD will have on their affairs as soon as possible including considering how to digitalise their records and bookkeeping.

While all eyes were on the sales market ahead of the June 30th Stamp Duty deadline, the lettings market recorded a strong month according to the Goodlord Rental Index, with voids continuing to decrease and rents strengthening across England.

Voids drop across the country

Voids dropped in nearly all regions monitored by Goodlord during June. The East Midlands, Greater London, the North East, North West, South East and South West all saw voids fall. The average void period in England is now 16 days, down from 22 days.

For the South West and North East, the month on month decrease in voids was a huge 50%. The South West moved from 18 days to just 8, and the North East dropped from 30 days (May’s highest rate) to 13 days.
All other areas enjoyed a healthy drop of at least 20% to their void periods – highlighting the exceptional high levels of tenant demand being seen across the lettings market.

The only area to see an increase in void periods was the West Midlands, where voids increased from 18 days to 23 days, after the region experienced a particularly busy May.

Rents rise across the board

In good news for landlords, rents also increased in every region during June. The North East and the South West both recorded increases of over 10% (11% and 10% respectively), with all other English regions seeing a boost.
The West Midlands, the only area not to see an decrease in voids, recorded a very marginal rise in rents of 0.05%. The average cost of rent for a property in England is now £932, an 8% increase on May’s figure of £885.
Tenants in England now earn an average of £25,647 – up slightly on May’s average of £25,429.

Tom Mundy, COO at Goodlord, comments:
“All the signs this year have been pointing to a bumper summer for lettings and we’re now seeing that reflected in the numbers. Trade is brisk across the country and tenant demand is extremely strong. As summer continues and the prospect of remaining restrictions lifted, increasing numbers of people are looking to move.
“Rents are at levels we’d expect to see during the summer. In fact, average rents were higher last month than June 2019, pre-pandemic, showing that the lettings market has continued to go from strength to strength despite the turbulence of the last 16 months.”

*Article courtesy of Goodlord, an award-winning lettings platform

Perry Bishop have enhanced their Land and Development Team with the appointment of Sean Tredgold as the new Manager.

Sean has been in the property industry for over 20 years, with hands on experience of developing residential schemes. This started when Sean obtained planning on a brownfield site the family owned. Working first-hand on this smaller scheme of 7-units, ambitions grew and with a company formed he moved to larger developments such as an 18-unit conversion and new build in Leamington Spa and Birmingham’s Jewellery quarter with a 34-unit part conversion and new build.

Having produced detached houses, flats, and conversions over a 10-year period, Sean’s energy moved to Land Agency work. Dealing with Options and Subject to Planning schemes led him to becoming a Land Manager for a regional housebuilder, purchasing their land for strategic and immediate delivery. Sean’s depth of practical knowledge will enable Perry Bishop’s specialist land team to work closely with all aspects of development from single plots to larger more complex schemes. Former Director, Peter Chambers FRICS, will continue working on a consultancy basis, and Sean will also be supported by New Homes Development Manager, Helene Parker-Joel and her assistant Nicola Williams, and by Land Administrator Emma Nash and Karren Brown, PA to Land and New Homes.

Perry Bishop’s Land and New Homes team cover it all! if you are a land owner, developer, investor or self-builder our team have the experience to bring your project to market. With fantastic coverage across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire from six well established offices. They offer a free initial appraisal of your plot, site or building along with expert advice on planning potential. They can also identify if your land is suitable for longer term development and introduce developers and promotors.

If you have a project you wish to discuss please contact the team in Cirencester on 01285 646770 or in Cheltenham on 01242 246983 or email them at landandnewhomes@perrybishop.co.uk

Launching on Thursday, anyone living in the Cheltenham area is being invited to enter the ‘Most Attractive Property Front’ competition, celebrating beautiful gardens and our wonderful NHS.

TV celebrity, horticulturalist, and author Stefan Buczacki, who has two family members working in the NHS, will judge the competition. Winners will receive £250 worth of vouchers for Webbs Garden Centre in Cheltenham. They will also be photographed with Stefan and receive one of his signed books.

Mr Buczacki said:

“What a privilege to be involved in the NHS Property Front Competition. Plants of course have always been important in my life, while the NHS has over the past eighteen months proved itself one of this country’s most cherished assets. With two hospital consultants in my own family, I have been close to seeing how much has been sacrificed by so many to keep us safe. How wonderful therefore to find a cause that combines two subjects so close to my own heart.”

Participants are encouraged to be innovative and have fun with the competition. Creative Ideas could include window boxes, hanging baskets, pot plant displays, theming front doors, gates, balconies, front gardens. Entries must include some element of plant work and the supplied NHS Garden Stake.

Stakes are available to be displayed alongside entries. They can be collected either from Webbs Garden Centre, Evesham Road in Cheltenham, the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, or the Perry Bishop office on Bath Road in Cheltenham.

To enter, please either:
– email cheltenham@perrybishop.co.uk in the Cheltenham office with your front property image displaying the stake
– by Instagram @perrybishopandchambers or Facebook @perrybishopcheltenham using #cheltenhambestpropertyfront with an image of your entry, then DM name, contact telephone number and address.
– Alternatively, a photograph can also be given to anyone in the Perry Bishop office on the Bath Road in Cheltenham, with name, address and contact number on reverse.

All entries are to be submitted by midday Wednesday, July 28. The winner will be announced in August and photographed with Stefan Buczacki.

Gavin Wallace, director of Perry Bishop in Cheltenham, added:

“The extraordinary workers across all levels of the NHS put their lives on hold to battle the greatest crisis in its 72-year history, showing tremendous fortitude, resilience and selflessness throughout the pandemic. We wanted to find a way to recognise all those involved. We hope that the front of property displays will lift spirits and hearts as people are out and about in the Cheltenham area this summer”.

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Flick through the Summer issue of our very own magazine – At Home.
Packed with beautiful properties from across our branch network plus  articles to inspire – including gardening tips, country walks with summer pub gardens and a handy guide for anyone considering a move this year – helping you reduce the time it takes to sell.

Alternatively, pop into your nearest Perry Bishop branch and pick up your very own copy.

https://bit.ly/3cHrQgL

Happy Summer reading!

Interrogate the data behind the recent soaring house price headlines. This latest report from leading property portal, Zoopla, explores regional price and rental data variations and looks ahead to predicted sales activity for the remainder of the year.

This useful Market Briefing helps anyone considering a move or investing in a buy-to-let rental stay informed.

For more specific insights into what’s happening in the market in your particular town or village, please contact your nearest branch of Perry Bishop. Our friendly and knowledgeable teams are here to help.