I say time and time again, when selling or letting your home, first impressions really do count. So this week I thought I would talk about your hallway. We can often get distracted making our kitchen and bathrooms looking irresistible. But then forgetting the hallway.

Hallways can become a bit of a dumping ground for shoes, bags, coats and pretty much anything that can be dumped there.  Here are my top tips to transform your hallway and give your potential buyers or tenants a warm welcome.

1. Remove clutter- You want to entice people in and not drive them away as they side step over bags and shoes. Its time to clear away your clutter!
2. Paint walls fresh and neutral colours to catch any light and lead effortlessly into the next room.
3. Cover Radiators- Use a simple radiator cover (if in keeping with the house of course)  This will look elegant and can then be used as a shelf to pop a beautiful house plant, flowers or even scented candles on.
4. Hang a hall mirror- This will increase the light and expand the space.

Little simple steps can seriously transform any ones home.  Do you need help with the transformation of your home? We can help you make your house look fabulous  and earn you the best possible price.

What to read next: Is your bedroom putting offyour buyers? 

What to do next: Click Here and get your free instant online valuation.

Speak to Charlotte:  If you need some help with your property I would love to hear from you. Drop me a line at charlotte@perrenproperty.co.uk or call me on 01306 880 442

The bedroom is a personal space and believe it or not has a huge influence on how buyers think about your home. You want to maximise space so the room can look as large as possible. Using patterns, florals and bold colours will make the room look smaller. You want your bedroom to look fresh, light and bright. To get this look use warm neutral shades.  The bed should be positioned so that is doesn’t block the door or window. Remove any junk from the top of the wardrobe and put away any clothes you have left lying around.

It is always worth investing in new bed linen but if you don’t want the added expense make sure it is clean and ironed. Add some finishing touches with a picture, scented candles, cushions and perhaps a throw folded neatly at the end of the bed. Make sure if you are showing your property off in the evening the lighting is effective. Light bedside lamps instead of the ceiling lights. Clean and make sure all lightbulbs are working. Lighting candles will create a relaxing ambience. 

Here are some of my top tips to create an irresistible bedroom.

1. Paint walls with warm neutral colours, strong colours can overwhelm buyers and could put them off.
2. Thin down items and clear any clutter. This room is okay to display a few personal photos.
3. Replace any worn out carpet with new. If your floorboards are in good condition you could sand and paint and invest in an accent rug
4. Show of your bright window and create a feature with attractive  colour co-ordinated curtains.
5. Arrange the room to show It off with maximising its light and layout to create space.
6. Fresh new bed linen will give the impression you care for your home.
7. Transform your junk room into the second bedroom. Make sure you put the bed in there. You can find one on second hand sites or even hire one.
8. Remove the smell of any pet odour in your bedroom. You may love your fury friend in the bedroom but your buyers may now.
9. Add ambience in to your room with scented candles and fresh flowers.
10. Check all your lighting works and the shades and bulbs are clean

What to read next:  Should you buy a new home 

What to do next: Download your copy of What Every Landlord in Surrey Should Know Before Renting

Speak to Charlotte:  If you need some help with your buy to let search or current rental property I would love to hear from you. Drop me a line at charlotte@perrenproperty.co.uk or call me on 01306 880 442

Whether you are selling or letting,  your properties appearance is so important.  First impressions really do count in the property market - so make sure you get it right.

Sometimes we jump on minimalism a little to much.  Your viewers shouldn’t feel cold and un welcome, they should feel relaxed and visualise themselves in your property.  This doesn't mean leaving your household clutter all throughout the home but by thinning down a few personal belongings can really help your property become a picture perfect home and one your viewers will want to buy. You need to inject some soul and creativity into your home. 

Charlotte Secrets to Create Soul and Creativity in your Marketed Home- (Yes this works for Sales and Lettings)

• Declutter- Use storage that can also be used as furniture.
• Clean clean and clean some more! 
• Create atmosphere - Add some flowers, plants, diffusers and scented candles.
• Mirrors - Put mirrors in places to create light and space.
• Define the room- If it is a double bedroom show it off as one, if it is a dining room show it off as a dining room. Your buyers need to know what each room is.
• Let there be light- Clean your lightbulbs and replace with brighter ones in if necessary.
• Make your room feel lived in- Use colourful accessories to create the lived in feel but remember keep the colours matching and simple. Do not over do it.

What to read next:  Should you buy a new home 

What to do next: Download your copy of What Every Landlord in Surrey Should Know Before Renting

Speak to Charlotte:  If you need some help with your buy to let search or current rental property I would love to hear from you. Drop me a line at charlotte@perrenproperty.co.uk or call me on 01306 880 442

Hi there,  

This is it,  the full 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas! 
A freezer breaking at the time when you need it most is a 'chilling' thought! 

If this happens with your tenants, we really do have a team of reliable and trusty contractors who will be more than happy to help. 

I really hope you have enjoyed my 12 Landlord Nightmares before Christmas. It really is a bit of fun but also to show you how important having the right team around you to look after your most expensive asset is so important.
I really love to help my clients become a stress-free and relaxed landlord.  They know their property really is in safe hands with Perren Property.

Till next time,  

Hi there,  

On the eleventh day of Christmas my tenant's phoned me.... (remember to sing it now!) 

Eleven electrics sparking! Arghhh this is not good at all.

 At Perren Property we recommend your property electrics be checked prior to a tenancy start.  But need an emergency electrician fast- no problem we can help. 

I hope you are enjoying the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas. I wonder what number 12 will be...

Till then, 

Hi there,  

Tenth day of Christmas,  and I really hope your property chimney does not start smoking! However, it is important that you or your tenant (depending on what is in your tenancy agreement) gets the chimney swept. I would suggest every 12-18 months. 

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,  

Hi There,  

Ninth day of Christmas and the oven decides to break just before your tenant needs to cook the turkey.  

We want to create the best possible service for you and your tenant . If the oven was to break on Christmas Day and we couldn't get it repaired. We would do our ultimate best to provide a relaxing Christmas with minimum stress. 

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,  

Hi there,  

Eighth day of Christmas, and a broken dishwasher over Christmas is not ideal.

We always want to be on hand to help our landlords and tenants.  We will get our domestic maintenance contractor out as soon as possible.  We have collected washing up in the past on Boxing Day to really help our tenants  and landlords to have a relaxing Christmas. 

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,  

Hi there,  

Seventh day of Christmas, and your tenant calls with a leak in the property. Big or small you need to make sure your tenant knows exactly where the stopcock is.  

Whether it be an insurance claim or a small repair, we are on hand to coordinate all necessary works to a high quality standard. 

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,

Hi there,  

Sixth day of Christmas, and a power cut has happened in the street. Leaving your rental property burglar alarm to fault and guess what it's 11pm.

Here at Perren Property we have a 24 hour maintenance line so your tenant can call and report any time they like. 

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,  

Hi there,  

Fifth day of Christmas,  and the wind storm hits, fence panels are down leaving the garden open for your tenant's dog to runaway! 8am the following morning,  just as your leaving for work and fit in the school run,  your tenant rings you to report the broken fence panels. 

This is one of the busiest times of year for fencing companies. We have trusted suppliers who can repair and replace any broken panels quickly and efficiently.  

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,  

Hi there,  

Fourth day of Christmas,  and your social diary is booking up fast. But before you go out your tenant calls with a blocked drain.  But who do you call? (not ghostbusters!)  We can organise any maintenance required over the season and in 2017. 

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,  

Hi there,  

Third day of Christmas, it's getting colder and the frost is on the windscreen. What is one of the worst things that can go wrong? - your tenant's boiler to breakdown (it never happens in the summer!)  At Perren Property our Gas Engineers can be out within 24 hours of the initial call.

You can relax, your tenants won't be cold this Christmas.  

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,  

Hi there,  

Second day of Christmas and as a landlord, you don't want to be finding a glazier when your tenants call you at this busy time of year.  At Perren Property we have a list of trusty window glaziers who are always on hand to help.

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time,  

Hi there,  

Last month of the year, time to start planning Christmas and indulge in some glorious food and festive spirits.

First day of Christmas and believe it or not many tenants lose their keys or get locked out. When your property is managed by Perren Property we always have a spare set of keys available in case your tenant does lose their keys at the office Christmas party!

Being a landlord over the winter months can be testing, especially when you have other plans. I have recreated my version of the 12 Days of Christmas and over the next 12 days you'll receive the next verse to the very well known Christmas song.

I hope you enjoy the 12 Landlord Nightmares Before Christmas.

Till next time, 

What is Really Happening in the Local Property Market

Well it has been a few months since Brexit and as we settle into the Autumn with X factor, Strictly and the Football season ... the newspapers are returning to their mixed messages of good news, bad news and indifferent news about the property market.

The thing is the UK does not have one housing market. Instead, it is a patchwork of mini property markets all performing in a different way. At one end of scale is Kensington and Chelsea, which has seen average prices drop in the last twelve months by 6.2% whilst in our South-East region, house prices are 12.3% higher. But what about Mole Valley?

Property prices in Mole Valley are 4.3% higher than a year ago and 0.6% lower than last month.

So what does this mean for local landlords and homeowners? Not that much unless you are buying or selling in reality. Most sellers are buyers anyway, so if the one you are buying has gone down, yours has gone down.  Everything is relative and what I would say is, if you look hard enough, there are even in this market, there are still some bargains to be had in the local area.

However, the most important question you should be asking though is not only is what happening to property prices, but exactly which price band is selling? I like to keep an eye on the property market in Mole Valley on a daily basis because it enables me to give the best advice and opinion on what (or not) to buy in the local area.

If you look at Dorking and split the property market into four price bands.

•    Nil to £300k             45 properties for sale and 21 sold (stc) i.e. 31% sold

•    £300k to £450k         32 properties for sale and 41 sold (stc) i.e. 56% sold

•    £450k to £7000k       37 properties for sale and 32 sold (stc) i.e. 46% sold

•    £700 +                    36 properties for sale and 32 sold (stc) i.e. 47% sold

Fascinating don’t you think that it is the whole Dorking market that is doing well?

The next nine months’ activity will be crucial in understanding which way the market will go this year after Brexit ... but, Brexit or no Brexit, people will always need a roof over their head and that is why the property market has ridden the storms of oil crisis’ in the 1970’s, the 1980’s depression, Black Monday in the 1990’s, and latterly the credit crunch together with the various house price crashes of 1973, 1987 and 2008.

And why? Because of Britain’s chronic lack of housing will prop up house prices and prevent a post spike crash. ... there is always a silver lining when it comes to the property market!

Yield Versus Capital Appreciation

You are ready to buy a house to let out and make your fortune - but what kind of fortune do you want?
Are you looking for hard cash now or a nice nest egg for the future? Naturally most people would like both but one will outweigh the other according to your business plan.
This is where you need to consider what your goals are as an investor - and ask some shrewd questions of estate agents and letting agents in your target area.
For those landlords looking for a good monthly return now, the rental yield is the all-important economic term.
Simply put, what percentage of the property price you will make in rent each year? You can work this out as a gross figure excluding your costs of business such as insurance and maintenance - or as a net figure, where you have included these costs.
Yield is usually most important where the landlord is interested in maximising the income received every month, so they tend towards smaller properties and put down high deposits or even buy for cash. Landlords looking for large portfolios of property for multiple income streams will focus on the yield more than the appreciation.
In contrast, landlords looking for a good nest egg to perhaps provide in retirement are less concerned with making their profit now and instead are looking for the property to increase substantially in value over the long term.
This means they can cash out in 10, 20 or even 30 years time by selling the property and taking their capital gains (minus tax alas).
With a bit of careful research and a splash of luck on picking such a long term investment there can be big profits ahead.
These landlords are more likely to choose properties they could imagine themselves living in, higher priced in more desirable areas.

If this is you, you should be looking for areas you think will gentrify over the coming decades, where there are good schools and infrastructure, where development is likely to add amenity to the neighbourhood. It is noted property prices increase markedly in town where Waitrose build new stores.