Open houses are a hugely under-utilised tool in the industry for selling a home, but we really believe in them as there are many benefits for sellers. From saving time and managing viewings more effectively to selling quickly and attracting bidding wars, here are a few reasons why it’s one of our favourite ways to sell a home in Rutland, Stamford and South Lincs…

Save time

If your home is highly attractive and sensibly priced, the chances are you are going to have plenty of viewings booked in. However, having to ensure your home is looking its very best several times in the week can be exhausting and time heavy – especially if you lead busy lives. Cleaning, dusting, tidying away…. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to do all of this in one go to minimise disruption to your life and get back to ‘normality’ quickly? With an open house, you can!

Maximise interest

We tend to find that properties advertised as an open house allows our sellers time to whet buyers’ appetites, generating a good sense of urgency and interest. We therefore encourage properties to have two to three weeks between launch and the open house date to ensure interest has absolutely peaked before we invite potential buyers round. Thus ensuring maximum exposure and creating some healthy competition on the day!

Attract serious buyers only

Open houses allow enough time for us to vet each buyer so that we can ensure the only people viewing are in a proceedable position. This helps increase our chances of selling the house at the end of the day.

The potential to attract higher offers

Open houses usually create competition amongst buyers, which generates multiple offers. These are often (but not always) over the asking price.

Be sustainable

As well as being an efficient use of time, it is also a more green way of selling a home because it removes numerous trips back and forth to a property. This helps us as a company to reduce our carbon emissions – a small part, but every little counts right?

Structured appointments

We organise timetabled appointments which allows us to control the situation and flow on the day. This ensures that it remains a personal experience for our sellers as well as the buyers.

Things to bear in mind… 

Be patient. The waiting from launch to open day can be torturous but trust us – it is worth the wait. We have an excellent track record to prove it! But timing is key, jump too soon and you will fall, too late, and you will miss the boat.

Open houses can be perceived by some buyers as unfair, because the high demand means that those not in a position to proceed right away are at a big disadvantage. As a seller, this however streamlines the process, ensuring that there are only serious contenders on the table.

Find Out More

For more information about selling your home this way, please do contact Jan and Ildi on 01780 750 200 or e-mail: stamford@fineandcountry.com.

Moving house not only requires a lot of organisation and planning but it is also an emotional experience. Fine & Country Property Staging reveal their top tips for a smooth move.

For many, it can be an exciting time to be moving into a new property, often your dream home, but for some, when moving is prompted by bad news, such as a divorce or bereavement, the process can be stressful, to say the least.

We have helped move a large number of clients, many in different situations across the country, and we advise on how to make your move as stress-free and efficient as possible. We know all too often there can be hiccups with moving dates and significant delays and that is why planning early is key.  

Source a reliable removal firm

Sourcing a reliable removal firm should be one of the early ‘to do’ tasks on your list. It is important that you find a company that has the right-sized vehicles to accommodate the number of items you are moving. Find out if there is any additional help they may be able to offer, too. For example, some firms will help remove headboards from the walls or remove curtain poles. This could be a big help in the long run.

Start packing early

If your removal firm is not packing your boxes, then it is best to get started early with this. Equip yourself with a permanent marker pen, plenty of brown packaging tape, and lots of packing materials such as bubble wrap and newspaper. Boxes can be sourced from a number of places. Amazon has a good selection of sizes at a reasonable price. We recommend using ‘double walled’ boxes as they are stronger and more likely to hold a heavier weight.

Do not forget the garden

It is amazing how many items you can accumulate in your garden over the years, such as beautiful plant pots, furniture and ornaments that all need to be packed. It is worth moving the items you plan on taking with you into one section of the garden, so it is clear. This is a great opportunity to clear out any things you no longer need, as sheds and garages can be a great place for harbouring clutter. eBay and Facebook selling sites are an easy way to list and sell old items which you will no longer need in your new home.

Pack an ‘essentials’ box

Clearly label a separate box and fill it with everything you will need for the first few days in your new home. This can include valuables, phones, chargers, and television remotes. If you have children, think about schoolbooks and their school uniform, as it can be a hassle if these things are difficult to find quickly. If you have pets, make sure their pet food is not too far away.

Remember to pack the kettle last. Moving house is thirsty work and you will be ready for a coffee when you move in.

The key here is starting early. Even before you have an exchange date, you can begin sorting through your belongings, whether by room or perhaps certain areas of your house. It will help you to have less clutter to sort when you are packing.

Contact us today

Fine and Country Property Staging can help you with every step of your move from the staging to the moving. Get in touch at propertystaging@fineandcountry.com

To achieve optimal results when putting your home on the market, it is important to stand out from the crowd. Jan von Draczek, Director of Fine & Country Rutland, Stamford & South Lincolnshire gives his top tips on how to showcase the highlights of your home. 

There are a number of techniques to selling a property, but fundamentally, they all point to the same base fact: sellers need to focus on showcasing their home’s best features to gain a competitive edge and realise the property’s true sales potential.

Selling a home at the best possible price within the preferred time frame takes more than luck. It’s about having the right real estate professional in your corner with the right tools and a few tricks up your sleeve.

There’s no need to completely revamp your property or embark on a costly, time-taking renovation project to make a sale. It’s about finding ways to highlight your home’s key features. This can be in the way you present your home – uncluttered, curtains open to let light in, suitable scents and the like, but there are also a few subtle changes that can make a big difference. A few well-chosen tweaks can update your entire home, giving it a fresh look and feel – and without squandering your savings. A lick of paint and a thorough scrubbing is the ideal place to start to ensure your home is in tip-top condition. 

Here are a few more ways of making sure your home is in top form on show day:

Kitchen 

The kitchen is fast-becoming one of the most important areas of the home. For many buyers, it can be the deciding factor. An updated kitchen increases the perceived value of a property and leaves a lasting impression. Take a good, hard look. Is your kitchen well-loved and a tad worn? Refurbishing the countertops and cupboards can quickly reverse that trend. Updating large appliances also breathes new life into the space. Depending on the space, it may be worth adding an island to increase the room’s aesthetic appeal and boost counter space.

Bathrooms

Not much needs to be done in a bathroom for it to feel different. Changing the taps or adding a mirror can freshen up the look and alter the space. Lighting can also change the feel of the room and breathe fresh life into an outdated area.

Storage and organisation

Depending on the layout of the property, installing additional storage space can be a practical way of creating an additional selling feature. Buyers tend to look for homes with ample storage capacity, so pantries, utility cupboards and the like can be a selling point. Building in under-stairs storage can be a good way of turning an unused area into functional space.

Flooring

If the home has carpets, they should be in good repair and professionally cleaned. If the carpets are not in a good state, depending on what’s underneath it might be worthwhile having them replaced. You never know, there may be some beautiful original wooden flooring underneath the carpeting, which can be sanded and revarnished. Wooden floors are a timeless feature that are constantly in fashion. The right kind of flooring makes a room appear larger and it can revitalise a tired room. 

If none of these options are feasible, smaller house hacks include things like replacing door handles, replacing soft furnishings or removing some of your excess furniture to make rooms appear spacious. Your agent can advise on what is likely to add to the appeal of your home.

For advice on selling or buying property, please contact Fine & Country Rutland, Stamford & South Lincolnshire on +44(0)1780 750 200 or email stamford@fineandcountry.com