Moving Home Mortgage Advice in Manchester
In order to proceed with the process of moving home in Manchester most homeowners will need to sell the property they are currently living in. The equity from this property (the amount at which you sell your property for, minus the current balance of your mortgage) will be your deposit for your next property purchase. You are able to top this up from savings or a family gift if that is something you would like to do.
Top Tips for Selling your Home & Moving in Manchester
1. Realistic Asking Prices
There is always a magic number, the lowest a seller is willing to go when it comes to accepting an offer. The way a home is marketed and presented will always make the biggest difference in how a property is sold.
Your asking price should always be realistic when comparing to the area your home is in. The estate agent will suggest the highest potential sale price, but this won’t always be the most ideal situation for you to go along with.
Thanks to the rise of notable property websites such as Zoopla and Rightmove, making that initial step onto the rungs of the property ladder is crucial. Your main goal is to generate the property viewings that you can within the first 2 weeks.
If your property gets no initial interest, it’s very likely that it has been over-valued. We find that some potential sellers would rather find the place that they want to live, before they go ahead and sell their own home.
2. Perception of your home
Review your own house as if you’re the first time viewer. This may be a challenge as it’s somewhere you already own, and you’re familiar with it. If it looks good though when arriving on the scene and when entering, it’s likely the viewer will think of it the same way.
3. Cleaning the exterior
Tidying up the outside of your home is always a massive help. Jet wash your driveway, make sure you have a nice and neat lawn; it’s this kind of thing that will resonate with a potential buyer. The buyer will know you’ve looked after the home they’re possibly about to make an offer on. With the outside looking nice, you’ll create a level of optimism about the inside too.
Remove any kind of clutter from the front of the property. Things like children’s bikes, toys and so on can make it seem rather untidy. Clean the locks and handles on your front door and ensure the doorbell (if there is one) is fully functional. It is even worth treating yourself to a brand new doormat.
4. Cleaning the interior
Make sure you clean all throughout the house, especially the kitchen and bathroom. Ensure your cupboards and wardrobes are all neatly stacked, free of clutter and smelling nice. If you are a smoker, air out your room before the potential home buyer arrives. If something has a smoky smell to it, remove it from the property altogether.
Freshly paint all interior doors and polish any brass fixtures. Make sure all doors open and close with ease, without any broken locks.
Your bathroom should look absolutely spotless. Anything that doesn’t need to be out should be put away, like cosmetics and items that aren’t being used on a regular basis. Co-ordinate your towels and flannels so that everything is matching. Don’t leave any clothes out on the floor as well, tidy those up.
Wash all curtains and blinds, wipe your walls, clean your windows and floors. Make sure any repairs that need doing are completed and your bedroom has been sorted out with some new bedding. Clear out any garage space so that it looks like a car could be parked there, if applicable.
5. Ensuring the viewer feels comfortable
Something you want to achieve when they’re viewing the property is to make them feel relaxed and like they have a sense of belonging. You need to present a feeling that this really could be their next home. Having pets or young children running around whilst they try to look could put off a potential buyer.
Alternatively though, if it’s a family home you’re selling, then keeping up things like family pictures and paintings can help, as it can demonstrate what the property would be like as a family home.
Don’t crowd those who are viewing, let them walk around the property on their own if appropriate. This gives them a chance to discuss amongst themselves.
Make sure your home is well-lit, with lights turned on in any rooms that are slightly darker. Leave all curtains and blinds open too, as it needs to feel inviting and warm.
You may hear claims of making sure it “smells like baking bread”, a claim that is old fashioned and doesn’t work quite so well. Ensure there are no smells lingering around the kitchen. Also, cut back and prune any large interior plants that block out the natural light.
Plain painted walls and new carpets can resonate with a potential buyer, leaving them to see it as a blank canvas and somewhere that’s been well appreciated and looked after.
6. Making your garden presentable
A general clean up always helps, removing all rubbish from your garden. The viewer may like to have a look inside your shed to see what size it is, so don’t just overload it with everything you’ve removed from the garden. Ideally, it should look presentable.
Cut your lawn and remove grass clippings, weed the paths/walkways and replace any dead plants to make it more aesthetically pleasing.
Make sure the slats in any fences are in place and are painted nicely or creosoted (treated wood).
Tidy up anything that’s outdoors, such as barbecues and seating. Don’t just hide everything away though as people like to see colourful gardens as opposed to empty ones. If it’s the season for it, flowering plants always make a garden seem more full of life.
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Always go with the mindset of being the viewer yourself. If it appeals to you, it’ll appeal to a potential buyer. No doubt you’ll be very pleased with yourself and be passionate about your home, showing it off in all its glory.
This even includes mentioning minor issues you’ve had before, such as broken leaks that you’ve now fixed, presenting a balanced view. Estate agents, as you would expect, want to earn a commission. That being said, compared to you, their knowledge of the property was limited.
Finally, remember the emotions attached to the process of buying a home. If you have a family, it’s helpful to accentuate that you’ve had a lot of happy memories in your home. This is sure to rub off on viewers if they are thinking of raising a family as well.
If you need of moving home in Manchester or any other tips or tricks in regard to this or need to speak with one of our mortgage advisors in Manchester, get in touch and we’ll see how we may be able to help you.
Date Last Edited: December 11, 2023
