We are reopening in a responsible way

In light of recent Government restrictions being lifted during the Covid 19 pandemic, our offices are now open. This is being done in a responsible and phased manner, within the Government guidelines, and therefore limited staff are available in the office. We do have some of our team working remotely still so if you do not wish to come in to the office, or have any Covid 19 symptoms, members of both our Sales and Lettings team can be contacted via telephone or video call or communication over email

SALES OFFICE Storrington 01903 742354 – enquiries@glproperty.co.uk

SALES OFFICE Pulborough 01798 874033 – pulb@glproperty.co.uk

LETTINGS OFFICE - 01903 744166 – lettings@glproperty.co.uk

All enquiries are important to us, but please be patient as our staff are working in unprecedented circumstances but doing their very best as always!

We remain in contact with all our vendors, especially those with a sale progressing. We will not only remain in contact with you and your buyer, but also with the solicitors.

How to prepare your property for sale

With demand for property prior to lockdown soaring, there are sure to be plenty of motivated buyers once restrictions are relaxed, therefore now is an ideal time to prepare your property for a quick sale.

Kerb appeal
As is always the case with selling properties, a first impression can make or break a sale with a poorly presented property often putting off buyers before they have even set foot in the home. In the summer this is especially important as buyers will often drive or walk past a property before they decide to book a viewing. With the summer sun shining a light on any less-than-perfect parts of the exterior of your property, you should ensure that flowers are planted, weeds are pruned and lawns are mowed. Extra attention to details, such as ensuring that the front door has been cleaned and the windows are streak-free will pay dividends in your selling process.

Accessories
A neutral interior will appeal to a mass market and increase the scope of your property in terms of potential buyers, but if you are looking to make the most of the summer then don’t be afraid of colour. Using accessories to add pops of colour around your home that reflect the brighter summer season – such as burnt orange and lemon – will make your property stand out from the crowd in those all-important photographs.

Lights
When we think of summer, we all first think of sunshine and brighter evenings – so make the most of this light when presenting your home for sale. Get rid of heavy curtains and dark blinds, which can make a room feel smaller and prevent the light from entering a room. Buyers want to feel that rooms are bright and spacious, so if at all possible have windows and doors open throughout the house to create a light, airy feeling (as well as bringing in those fresh summer scents).

Set dress
Set dressing refers to the arranging of a room or space in order to paint a picture of the kind of lifestyle which could be enjoyed in your property. Never is it more important to set dress your garden than throughout the summer months, with potential buyers wanting to know that they will be able to enjoy the outdoor space which your home provides. Tempt potential buyers by showing off your outdoor spaces with garden furniture, fire pits and barbecues.

Viewing times
During the summer months many people like to start work early and leave early in order to benefit from the longer evenings; make sure that you can accommodate as many viewings as possible by being flexible with your viewing times. Allowing people to view your home early in the morning, as well as in the afternoon will help bring more people through the door as well as showing off your property in favourable lighting.

Conducting A Property Viewing From The Comfort Of Your Own Home

In order to make the most of being at home, you may be thinking about the current value of your property and whether you may want to sell-up later in the year, or what you can do to maximise the value of your home. Many estate agents are now flexing with the current situation and offering virtual viewings in order to allow you to plan for your property transaction and search for the right property, but how do we value your property without ever stepping foot in your home?

The first solution is simple – online valuation tools. Online valuation tools have become increasingly more popular as their accuracy improves, and as people become more aware that the values are a rough guide rather than a solid appraisal figure. These tools look at land registry data to ascertain the price a property was previously valued at and then use matrices in order to give you a value in today’s inflated rate. Although the estimates can vary, they do give you an idea of the value your property could obtain on the open market, and allow you to have conversations with your agent about selling your home.

The next solution to have your property appraised remotely is more technological – by using video calling applications such as Skype, Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp and others you can walk an estate around your home. You will be able to talk to the estate agent and they will also be able to guide you in terms of what they need to see to give you an accurate figure – they can also inform you of where the most valuable improvements can be made.

Finally, if you do not have the technology or the know-how to facilitate a video call, then sending over specific images of your property to your estate agent should be sufficient to give you an estimate of your property’s value. In principal, an estate agent will need images of the exterior of your property, including any gardens, garages and parking, as well as an image of each room of the property. If any further clarifications are necessary, your agent will call or email you so that your valuation isn’t delayed.

We would like to emphasise the fact that during this period you can make plans which will help to facilitate your property aspirations in the future – we are here to help you however we can.

Lockdown DIY jobs that you can complete

Whilst we’re spending more time at home than ever before, has there been a better opportunity to complete those DIY jobs that you just never quite got round to? Why not make the most of the extra time at home and tackle one of our easy lockdown DIY tasks…

1. Tackle the woodwork

Doors, skirting boards and any coving that you may have in your home are one of those jobs that we all shirk away from as they are time-consuming and a little tedious. However, they can also finish a room to a higher standard, and therefore why not set yourself the task of refreshing the woodwork around your home? If you don’t have materials such as gloss and primer, you can still order them online, otherwise a little elbow grease and soapy water will do the trick in reviving them for now.

2. Perfect the painting

Have some paint stored away for when you were going to refresh the living room? Get those tins of paint out and why not pick a room to give a new lease of life to? Do it as a family and have the kids tape up edges and areas which you want to keep free of the new paint colour, and then if you are brave enough set them loose with a paint brush to learn some valuable skills. On average, having a professional repaint a room will cost between £100 and £150, therefore you are also saving on potential unwanted expenditure.

3. Organise your home

Marie Kondo says “The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t” – why not embody this mantra and organise your home, you will be amazed by how much it also frees up your mind. Start small, and organise your wardrobes at first – simply bag up what you don’t wear anymore or no longer like and once the lockdown is lifted you can donate. Once your wardrobes are tidied, you may be inspired to keep on tidying!

4. Create a picture gallery

With the likes of online photo developers such as Snapfish, photographs and prints have never been cheaper to acquire, therefore why not sift through your mobile and pick some photographs that you would like to see every day. You can have them developed, and then choose a space in your home to inject some personality into, at the moment eclectic photo frames hung on stairwells are proving very popular as a design focus.

5. Get into the grout

Grouting isn’t usually on anybody’s list in terms of design touches, however very few things can make a space look as unkempt as discoloured or dirty grouting. Whilst you have a little spare time on your hands, why not give your grouting some TLC in your kitchen and bathrooms? A solution of warm water, salt and bleach will have the power to remove most stains, or if you need something stronger then you can purchase grout pens which restores grout to its original colour.

6. Upcycle

At the moment, having a personal project to work on can be good not just for our homes, but also for our mental health as we can take some immediate gratification from our efforts. Whether you choose something small like a chest of drawers which you paint and restore, or a larger project such as restoring your kitchen cupboards just remember to take your time and enjoy the process.