How Do You Judge The Best Essex Estate Agent?

Do you feel the estate agent or the housing market will dictate your final sale price?
The answer, I believe, is both. The market will determine up to 90-95%, and a skilled agent will make the difference from 90-100%. So what defines a professional agent, and how can we influence the result.

I detail my top 5 benefits and the resulting impact for you:

Professional Presentation:

First impressions only occur – once. Obvious right? However, I see so many mistakes with homes on the market. There needs to be a defined strategy, and every element has to be the best standard possible. Make sure your agent uses a professional photographer and, where possible, encourage videography. Remember, every home in your location, on the market, within your price range, is a competitor.
Having the best advert and showcasing the key features will ultimately attract more attention, gain more viewers, multiple offers, and the highest sale price. A high-end advert can make the difference in whether you sell or not.

Rapport Building:

Buying a home is exciting and emotional. A great estate agent will build relationships with buyers from the first inquiry to completion, studying wording used and body language. If your agent establishes rapport early, the chances of negotiating become more straightforward, resulting in a better end result.

Negotiation:

Using rapport building, the agent works to secure the best price to make the deal happen. It is a delicate balance to push the buyer up but not too far, damaging the chances of completion. Unfortunately, if you select an agent that works to high volumes, the commitment to negotiation wavers. As discussed above, having the right agent dedicated to time for you and your buyer can result in a 100% sale price.

Pro-active marketing

Generally speaking, a low fee estate agent will offer a more inadequate service, which typically impacts the marketing scale. We can simplify the advertising for a home sale to numbers. The more eyeballs that see the advert with the best presentation, the more inquiries are generated, resulting in maximum viewings, creating multiple offers leading to the highest sale price.

But this is only achieved if the agent implements a pro-active marketing strategy across multiple channels and commits to higher advertising spend per home. I highly advise you to check the level of commitment from each agent.

Network

The more extensive the network of the agent, the more buyers will be registered with them. Using a single brand agent that delivers on 4 of the tips above is excellent, but the final network piece is crucial. Being part of a larger organisation gives an advantage. I have seen many sales agreed without a home even going to market due to the power of the agents’ connections.

We tend to look at the cost as the crucial factor when deciding on a service provider. I get asked what my fees are regularly on a telephone call, without even viewing the property. How can I do that when I have no idea of the seller’s circumstances, property condition, location, demand, and saleability?
A world-class estate agent can make a significant difference. I believe anything from 2-5% of your sale price. So I would always encourage homeowners to consider the overall value rather than the cost. Not all agents are the same!

A home is a considerable asset, sometimes a liability, so invest in the best agent and get the ultimate result. You can determine who the best is – to find out if that’s us, call on 01277 564022  🙂

Getting Your Essex House Prepared For Sale

As we recover from the impact of COVID, the property market has continued to remain robust and is bustling. Due to the lockdown periods, buyer demand continues to outstrip supply. This means the typical seasonality of quieter and busier months is simply not applicable.

Usually, spring is a great time to put your  home on the market and sell it quickly. That is because people tend to be open to viewings in happier weather rather than in the midst of freezing winter, but buyer demand means advertising your home in quieter listing months gives you a distinct advantage and the opportunity to secure a premium price. Basically, any time is a good time to sell right now!

Before your agent lists your  home, you must make sure it looks its best. Assess your living space and look at it as though you are a buyer. You can then double-check this list of staging tips for ensuring that no crucial details were overlooked.

Remove the clutter

Clear up your countertops, bookcases, garages and closets. 

Pack every beautiful item you own

Right from personal photos to knick-knacks, everything  that you want to keep must be boxed up.

Procure a storage unit

Clear up some space with the moving of furniture and boxes into storage, which will augment your room’s size. 

Finish minor repairs

Ensure no leaks, all doors close properly, and any holes in the walls get patched. 

Beautify it! 

Note that the windows, floors as well as bathrooms must sparkle. Remember to dust each surface, hang up fresh towels in the bathroom and ensure that the place smells great. 

Don’t forget the garden

How your garden looks will create the first impression. Hence, mow it, wash the walkways and decorate the place with yellow flowers.

There are many ways to ensure that your home holds an advantage over the competition. Your property’s overall look will accelerate the process of selling. Please call on 01277 564022 or email at kwplus@kwuk.com for more information about how to get your property ready to sell!

Subjects to consider when viewing a house

When you enquire about viewing a property, the selling agent should be evaluating your position to purchase. Good agents will also understand your requirements to help source other homes if the specific house is not suitable.

Buying a home involves the buyer as much as the seller, so you need to undertake your own research. It can be challenging to know what you must ask. Here, we have outlined a few example questions that you can ask the selling agent.

Why has the seller decided to sell now?

By asking the agent why the seller is moving, it is possible to learn valuable information that can help determine your bid. Knowing if the owners may go into repossession or if they’ve retired after paying off the home can assist you in understanding the urgency of the sellers to sell their Essex home. 

Have you had any other offers?

Remember that you are not merely negotiating with the seller for a particular price. Instead, you are essentially competing with other potential buyers. Thus, knowing what you are up against can be really useful. 

Does the property have special ownership costs?

Ask the agent regarding the expenses associated with the property ownership. Understand the extra costs included to make an informed choice. 

Has there been previous survey issues?

The property could have been sold before and experienced mortgage survey issues. Finding this out before negotiating a price is highly advised; otherwise, you could find a similar problem yourselves and save money and valuable time. 

Are the sellers in a chain?

Find out not only if the seller has found a property to buy connected to your transaction but how many other people are involved. A large chain could be off-putting with no chances of withdrawals, so this could impact the price you are prepared to pay

Do the sellers have an AIP?

Your financial position will be checked and verified as part of the selling agent service, but what about you verifying the seller? What happens if they do not get their mortgage? Your purchase would fall apart. So let’s get this checked early.

What furniture and appliances are being sold with the house?

A seller tends to incorporate their major appliances, including the refrigerator, stove and dishwasher, with the home most of the time. However, this does not always hold

true. If you do not own any of these items, it is best to learn if they are incorporated in the purchase price. 

If you would like us to handle the negotiation process to reduce the house purchase price and verify the seller, contact us 01277 564002 or email kwplus@kwuk.com

Purchasing a New House? Four Key Questions to Ask Your Essex Mortgage Advisor

Are you looking to purchase a new house? If you plan on borrowing either some or most of the house’s purchase price, you must get prepped for the entire mortgage process. We have outlined four key questions that you must ask your Essex mortgage professional to begin working on your home loan.

What’s The Best Mortgage Option For Me?

It is common knowledge that there are an array of mortgage loan options and programs available today. You may be eligible for several mortgage loans as well as a few government programs or speciality mortgages. For each kind of mortgage loan, your mortgage advisor can assist you in discussing the pros and cons to help you opt for the right option.

What Interest Rate Fits My Budget?

The next step involves determining the loan term and interest rate combination that result in an affordable monthly payment for you. For instance, in a few cases, a lower interest rate may be preferred over a more extended period such as 15 or 20 years, which essentially decreases your monthly payments. Alternatively, you may wish to pay back the loan faster and opt for a shorter term with a slightly higher interest rate.

What Fees And Completion Cost Will I Incur?

When borrowing a mortgage to purchase a house, a few additional costs and fees will be incurred. A few of them are associated with the home itself, including the home inspection or valuation fees. The rest of the fees are associated with the mortgage. They are related to loan origination fees or discount points that you decide to purchase to lower your interest rate. Consult your mortgage advisor to learn more regarding the fees you must pay and those you can avoid.

What Documents And Paperwork Do I Need To Prepare?

Lastly, you will need to supply documents and paperwork. Such as income and credit history and those meant for risk assessment purposes, including past income tax forms, bank statements, or other materials in case you’re self-employed.

When you meet your mortgage advisor, these are a few points you must cover.

To learn more about the mortgage process and how you can get things started, get in touch with us today. Our mortgage partners will be more than happy to answer any queries you might have, call on 01277 564022.

Reduce Money Stress with Essex Equity Release

Are you and your spouse all set to enter your new life of retirement? In that case, you know the importance of a sound financial plan that can act as your primary source of income since you no longer enjoy a regular salary. If you have put in some money into your retirement, you may have adequate resources to sustain yourself. But if the house is essentially the central part of your net worth, what is the solution?

Here are three reasons for choosing Essex equity release to release stress by releasing the equity you’ve built up in your home.

Reason #1: This Is Your Last Home

Suppose you wish to qualify for equity release. In that case, you must be a homeowner, or you must be particularly close to paying off any outstanding mortgage debt. In simple terms, equity release involves borrowed money against your home’s equity, which essentially acts as collateral. Hence, if you wish to stay in this house long-term, equity release is a great alternative.

Remember that purchasing a new home is possible even with equity release. All you must do is pay the outstanding balance, similar to other loans or mortgage products.

Reason #2: You Don’t Plan On Leaving Your House To Anyone

Do note that upon the passing of your spouse, your equity release becomes due. Usually, this is followed by selling the house or its transfer to cover the mortgage that is still outstanding. Hence, a person who inherits your house basically inherits the equity release too.
Suppose you have no children, or they are financially stable already and do not require an inheritance. In that case, your house need not be left for anyone, making equity release an amazing source of income.

Reason #3: You Can Afford Taxes And Upkeep

Lastly, remember that equity release does not eliminate the responsibility of taxes, insurance, and expenses. If you do not pay for these costs, it may cause your equity release to become instantly repayable. In case these expenses are something you can afford easily, you will live comfortably.

Suppose you want to optimise your home equity as a financial asset, and you and your spouse are 55 or older. In that case, we recommend opting for equity release.

If you wish to learn more about these financial products and your alternatives, get in touch with us today on 01277 564022. Our partner team of mortgage advisors will be more than happy to explain why equity release is a good fit.