rental market boom

The Busy Rental Market: Steps to Secure a Rental Property

We have seen a rental market boom in 2023, with enquiries trebling the numbers of 2019 and competition fierce for the remainder of the year ahead. Whilst it is not a closed door for those wanting to secure a rental property in 2023, we advise that interested renters get a little savvy and act to improve those chances.

Being quicker than others seeking to secure rental property is vital, and the best way to do that is to prepare some stages in advance. In times like this where the rental market is a hotly sought requirement, getting ahead means working with an estate agent Stockport and being prepared to strike whilst the iron is hot.

References and Paperwork Prep

Having everything required to send an application at short notice means you can be ahead of the crowd when applying for new listings. The early bird may catch the worm, but the prepared renter can just as easily get the property.

Paperwork typically encompasses a reference from an employer, a previous landlord and potentially your bank – giving plenty of notion as to who you are, how you treat the rental property and, most importantly, the ability to afford the rent.

Other items would be a valid government-issued passport and driving licence for photo identification and a utility bill from your current address. If you don’t have any of these, you should start contacting them now and inform them of your rental property search and need for their references. All individual tenants will need this documentation, and if you are moving in with a partner, ensure that they also have the same documentation ready.

Be Open

It is never a guarantee that your preferred property will be the one accepted for you. With demand at so high a level, all listings will likely have many applications put forward for them.

When exploring the rental market, be open to expanding your search area and consider rental options that would have commuting expectations. The more properties you show interest towards, the higher your chances of hearing back from them. Do not make the common mistake of becoming too attached to any single property that is hot on the market.

Take time to set up alerts for new listings and increase your chances of being the first person to enquire about a fresh rental property.

Demonstrate Interest

Landlords and estate agents want sensible tenants who pay rent on time and do not cause issues. Being open and eager to impress helps to build a good relationship and keeps you constantly in mind with both parties.

Be punctual. First impressions always matter, so getting off on the right foot helps when the final decisions are being made – or when they have fresh property about to make its way to market.

If you wish for more advice on the rental market boom, renting a house, or information on how to sell a house or buy property in Stockport, contact the team at Joules estate agents Stockport today.

Read More

advertising your property

The Price Is Right: The Magic of Selling Your Property

Future home seller – Come on down! If you are fresh to the property market and looking at how to sell a house, you have eyes on getting the right price as the goal. As estate agents Stockport will tell you, getting the right price is the ultimate reward in your selling journey, and advertising your property at that right price helps you attract the right buyers like moths to a flame.

Let’s talk about why getting the right price matters when advertising to those looking to buy property in Stockport.

Bring On Genuine Buyers

Selling your property at the right price brings out genuine buyers who want your home. When you do some research and work with your estate agent, the eyes of potential buyers focus on a hot deal. If you price too low to gain quick interest, you may have people with no genuine interest taking up prime viewing time.

Also, if you go crazy with your price, you alienate some genuine buyers who will head to the next available property that fits their price range. More people will meet your right price than above or below it, so work smartly on finding that price and take agent advice.

The Time is Money

There is always a ticking clock on the property. If your home sits on the marketplace longer than needed, you may have to adjust the price as the market fluctuates.

Active homebuyers notice when a house is on the market for long periods, and a certain stigma may develop as to why you cannot sell it during a hot market. Accurate pricing will speed up the entire process, attracting the required attention and enquiries and allowing for the right amount of showings. That saves a lot of lost time and does much more to put that SOLD sign outside your door.

Perceived Value

Do you ever wonder why some properties get a lot of attention whilst others get passed over? That all comes down to perceived value

When a property holds the right pricing, it subliminally screams that it is a fantastic deal that deserves people’s attention. Everyone loves a bargain, and if the price is right, the queues can line up around the block to be the first wave of potential buyers through the door.

Wouldn’t you love to be in the middle of a bidding war for your property? Nothing is more satisfying than a group of interested buyers constantly outbidding each other for your property. The way to achieve that is by setting the right pricing from the beginning, allowing those comfortable buyers to feel they can raise the stakes on their bids to bag your home bargain.

Now you understand how the magic comes with setting the right pricing with estate agents Stockport. Contact the team at Joules estate agents to guide you through the pricing game and prepare to showcase your home as the ultimate sale on the market.

Read More

rental market

Making Your Rented Property Feel Like Your Home

The rental market is doing incredible in 2023 and looks set to continue for the rest of the year. If you are looking at the rental market as a short-term option, you may have restrictions on what you can do with the property during your lease.

Knocking down walls to extend a room will come with plenty of resistance from your landlord, or a new kitchen installed or drilling holes into a wall could be problematic. However, that does not mean that it can’t be made to feel like it is your home.

There are many ways to personalise a rented property to make it feel like a home. Let’s consider some.

Understanding the Boundaries

Before you plan a large-scale decoration mission, it is best to consult with your landlord on what changes you want to implement and what you are permitted to do with their property.

Even as little a task as repainting a wall may not be something a landlord wants, as many want the property to be in the state of lease to you. Naturally, they may not want to repaint the property when you leave. If you decide on painting your new home, use neutral colours that will be easy to paint over. You don’t want any colours that will give your landlord a headache later.

Surround Yourself With You

It may sound obvious – but surrounding yourself with a personal touch in a rented property makes a big difference. There is no point in living with 80% of your stuff in a box ready for when you buy property in Stockport.

Placing your family photos, gifts from friends and items that make it feel like your property turns the empty spaces into something that is yours alone. That should pertain to every room – from the kitchen to the bathroom.

Get Creative

If you cannot paint your walls, why not improvise and decorate your walls with something that doesn’t leave a permanent effect?

These can be novelty wall decals that bring colour and warmth to your new property and provide no damage when removed. Homeowners love decals, like tree and mosaic patterns, that stick to the wall and leave no mark or residue. These are ideal for rental properties to provide your personality over the existing design and not ruffling your landlord’s feathers.

When seeking advice on renting a house, the best question is how much you can make your house. When talking with estate agents in Stockport, be sure to ask critical questions about the landlord’s expectations of the tenants and the allowances for alterations to the property.

Contact the team at Joules independent estate agents Stockport for buying property advice and advice on renting a house in the area.

Read More

benefits of working with an agent

The Best Perks in Working with an Estate Agent

The one benefit people believe they are receiving when they look to work with an estate agent Stockport is that they are purely selling their home to people who want to buy property in Stockport. Whilst the primary focus of an estate agency is indeed on how to sell a house, there are even more benefits you get working with an independent agency, specialised in selling your home as the game plan. Allow the team at Joules Estate Agents to better inform you of the benefits of working with an agent.

An Unemotional Process

When you step into selling your home, there are many waves of emotional conflict where your feelings about the home dictate the movement you make in making sales. Hiring an agent removes that emotional element from the transaction.

When separating this personal element, you eliminate the risk of making personal mistakes – such as overpricing your property or declining an offer that you personally feel as insulting. It also stops you from giving in to pressures in closing a deal when the clock is against you. An agent can follow up without giving the sense of desperation that you would have, and you also won’t have to take the buyer’s agent’s word if their client is not interested in your home – your agent can take that onboard instead.

Full-Time Commitment

It may be your home but not your full-time job selling it. That is the big difference when working with an estate agency – it is their full-time job. Are you in a position where you can leave work should a buyer be interested in viewing your property?

An estate agency acts on every interest on your home to get the sale. If you were doing it yourself, your life would be turned upside down for months on end trying to meet a demand buyers have around their timeframe – not yours. An agency can even provide lockbox services on your front door so that – should you be away on holiday or working – viewings can still go ahead without you having to cancel or travel back.

Larger Networks

No matter how hard you advertise, there will be little chance of your home for sale spreading to larger areas and people looking to buy property. Selling your home a lot of the time takes access to a wider variety of networks.

If your house spends too long on the market and does not attract buyers, you may sell for much less than it is worth – just because you didn’t get wide enough coverage. Estate agents have a full and extensive list of contacts to help spread the word of the latest available property for viewing and a quickfire email through their contact lists is sure to bring the right people to your home.

More importantly, estate agents Stockport can weed out the serious buyers from the timewasters, ensuring that the people coming to your home are looking to put their money down on a home. They are also equipped with the negotiation skills required to get the process past the finish line and sell your home.

Selling your home will be one of the bigger life transactions you will make, so you must have the right people helping you make it stressless. Contact the friendly team at Joules estate agents today for the great deals on your house and benefits of working with an agent.

Read More

estate agent partner

Best Results Through an Estate Agency Partner

Picking an estate agency to work with you in selling your home to people looking to buy property in Stockport is no easy task. Whilst the main bulk of the workload will fall onto the agent in keeping the sale on track, there are still some things that you can do to help achieve the very best results.

Once you have found an ideal partner in an estate agent’s Stockport, you understand you are joined at the hip as a tag team. You are both motivated to get the very best on a sale, so stay aligned in all areas in what you both look to achieve.

Here are some helpful pointers from your first meeting to obtaining the right offer alongside your estate agent partner.

Be Clear and Stay Updated

Before anything else, take the time to align with your agent on expectations from the outset. Use this start to ask all questions and iron everything out, including indication of how quickly you want to move.

That can be on a specific timeframe or if you can hold out a little for the right buyer. That plays a great benefit to your agency in organising and prioritising around your requirements.

Working with your agent requires communication between both of you in close contact. Having your agent understand how you want updating on the progress should fall in every 7 to 10 days, with any pressing post-viewing discussions occurring a couple of days later to gauge buyer feedback.

Feedback and Marketing Strategy

Potential buyers will be honest and forthcoming with opinions on your property viewing. Whilst this is great for positive feedback, expect some criticisms.

Don’t be disheartened – instead, let your agency know that you are open to all feedback so it can be advantageous. Negative feedback may show common themes that will benefit you, such as a need to change the decor or some areas that need additional touch-ups to be appealing. Making those recommended changes makes all the difference.

Work alongside your agent in how you want your home advertised to potential buyers. Getting answers about success rates of portals, advertising and putting a sign on your lawn will help you to hone in on the most successful avenues.

Showcase and Be Flexible

Alongside marketing, showcase your property with the best possible images. Before the photographer shows up, declutter your home thoroughly, remove the bins and cars from the driveway and switch your lighting for something more ambient and appealing.

The more viewings your agent can book in, the more offers you are likely to receive, so make a point to be flexible for weekend viewings. That is when couples are more likely to be together and not working separately, while also giving them time over a second weekend day to talk-over the potential of your property before the regular working week takes up their time.

Do you want to talk more with estate agents Stockport on how to sell a house to those seeking to buy property advice? Contact the friendly Joules team today.

Read More

Setting the Correct Asking Price

You ask anyone who has recently gone through the process of how to sell a house. They will tell you straight – selling your property is one of the most complex and time-consuming periods of your life.

They will also highlight the importance of setting the correct asking price. The reason is that it is crucial in ensuring your sale is successful. Today, let’s look into why setting the right asking price is of utmost importance and how exactly you determine the best price for your home for people looking to buy property in Stockport.

The Importance of the Asking Price

The asking price is the first thing potential buyers look at when searching for a property. The right asking price has the most significant impact on their interest in putting in the offer.

When your asking price is too high, buyers will be instantly discouraged as it will not meet their budget. That means they look elsewhere for property more within their expected price range. On the other hand, if you set your asking price too low, you stand the chance of leaving money on the table.

The asking price is the starting point of negotiation, so you need to figure out exactly what price is fair and reasonable for your ideal buyer.

Determining Factors

Determining the correct asking price for your property is going to be challenging, but, as any estate agents Stockport will advise you – there are several factors to consider to gain the best return on your investment.

The property market can fluctuate (as we have seen over the last few years), and it is essential to keep that knowledge of changes heavily at the forefront of all decisions in setting the asking price. The current property demand in your area – and the available supply of homes within it – can seriously impact the price that most buyers are willing to pay.

The condition of your property is also something that will significantly impact its value. If your property is in a well-maintained state with a fresh design – complete with the most modern features and updates – it is much more likely to fetch those higher prices over properties that require a certain amount of repairs or renovations.

Around the Area

The location of your property is going to be among the highest factors for determining the right asking price. Properties located in desirable areas, such as ones close to schools, shopping outlets and transportation links are the homes that fetch the best prices due to convenience.

Researching similar properties that have been recently sold in the same vicinity can help you to gain a better understanding of what buyers would pay to secure a property in the area. The best way to go about this is by working with a local estate agent that has all the information on the value of the area and what people are willing to negotiate around.

Stuck with an asking price dilemma? Talk to our team at Joules Estate Agents today for up-to-date buying property advice and sales.

Read More