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Moving can be spooky, but with the choice of property available, and the back up of our first rate team Acres will remove the scary part of selling, or buying.

Four Oaks                              0121 323 3088

Sutton Coldfield                  0121 321 2101

Walmley                                 0121 313 2888

Great Barr                             0121 358 6222

Thank you for reading and your interest in Acres and our property for sale. 

Nigel & Jayne  Deekes – Acres Partners

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If you're looking for some pointers for selling your home during the autumn you’ve come to the right place.  We’ve compiled some tips that can help your property stand out in the market during the autumn. 

Setting the stage for a potential house buyer is crucial in making the right impressions. Remember, you’re not just selling a house, you’re selling a dream or a lifestyle.

Here at Acres Estate Agents we often see autumn as the time when more serious buyers get in touch. These are the ones who will want to see properties to actually move to – they won’t be the tyre-kickers Spring can often bring, just having a nose round to see if a move would be on the cards if they see “ a perfect home “, with no real intention to buy.

 

Organise early viewings

It can be more of a challenge for your house to stand out in the dark and as the days get shorter, evening viewings don’t always set the best first impression. Homes generally look more appealing during the daytime. 

It might be difficult to organise daytime viewings during the week as people are at work, so it’s a good idea to make time during the weekends to try and accommodate more potential buyers viewing. 

Ensure your house is well-lit

It can be challenging for natural lighting to brighten up your home during the autumn, to combat the issue, it can be worth investing in some nice lighting. For rooms with large windows, be sure to open all the blinds and curtains as nothing beats natural light. However, for rooms that don’t have the luxury of larger windows, be sure to ensure they are well-lit through other means.

 

Clean the outdoors of fallen leaves

If you’ve got trees and hedges around the garden, you’ll be aware of how much of a mess fallen leaves cause during the autumn. External house maintenance is always important, but even more so whilst you are trying to sell your property. 

Make use of the heating

As the days get shorter, the temperature starts to drop. The last thing you want during a house viewing is for your guests to feel uncomfortable due to being cold, so you’ll want to keep your house a cosy, a nice temperature can go a long way in creating a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. 

Log burners / real or effect coal fire

Always as an appealing feature, have these lit to make a property feel like a home, and help your buyer imagine a cosy night in, within the heart of your home.

Stand out

If your property goes on the market in the Autumn, it’s more likely to get noticed, compared to the traditional Spring influx of properties to the market. This is particularly true when you see how our exceptional photography will show off your home to its best advantage.

We think it’s best to stand out from the crowd, and Autumn is the ideal time to do that.

 

Final thoughts

Whilst it can seem impossible to time the sale of your property to perfection, Autumn is a great selling time with buyers thinking of a new home for Christmas and of course, those ever-important school applications being submitted.

If you are looking to sell your property, then Autumn could well be the perfect time for you to sell up and move on.

Yes, Spring is often seen as the best time to sell, but we at Acres also find that autumn proves to be a Buoyant time in the Property Market.

What steps can you make to maximise the appeal?

The obvious one is the presentation of your property. Make sure your garden and the outside of your house deliver maximum curb appeal. It’s surprising what you don’t need so a quick dump run to get rid of the clutter always helps free up space. Ensure you do your research and price your home competitively. Most importantly, choose a good local agent who understands the area. Here at Acres, your local independent estate agents, being a market leader in the North Birmingham area we accordingly have an exceptional knowledge of the locality. This means understanding transport links, local schools, and amenities so that we can quickly show the right buyers the right properties. Make October the month you finally make the move you have always wanted to.

 

If you were thinking of writing Autumn off, stop. Think about it. Autumn could absolutely be the season for you to show your house off to a potential buyer.   If you would like to discuss selling your home, please get in touch with us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call any of our busy, helpful teams/offices:

Four Oaks                              0121 323 3088

Sutton Coldfield                  0121 321 2101

Walmley                                 0121 313 2888

Great Barr                             0121 358 6222

Thank you for reading and your interest in Acres and our property for sale. 

Nigel & Jayne  Deekes – Acres Partners

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We are delighted to announce that following Chris’s exceptional work at our Great Barr office, greatly assisted of course by his superb team, that the partnership now welcomes Chris in as an Associate partner of Acres.
 
Chris commented " As a family business I have from my childhood aspired to join the team and continue the outstanding service and success Acres have enjoyed over the past 32 years. I very much look forward to the continuing success and growth of Acres, to working with the Partners, my parents, Nigel & Jayne, and to the future decades to come with my fiance Natalie, whom I met at Acres, and with my sister Katie who is based at our Walmley office, as well as of course the excellent, dedicated team / managers we have "
 
Chris's interest in agency was there since childhood, always saying he wanted to be part of the family business. Initially joining a corporate agency, rather than taking the “easy” route by joining the family business Chris trained initially for two years in lettings as he felt to have a full knowledge of all aspects of agency was paramount. Joining Acres seven years ago as a negotiator his flair, and proactiveness soon shone through. Progression was earnt; accordingly, Chris became manager of our Great Barr office taking it from its already strong position to market leader.

 If you are considering a move and live within the Great Barr area please give Chris, or his outstanding team a call on 0121 358 6222 or email Chris  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

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Taking out a mortgage is likely to be the biggest financial commitment you’ll ever make, and so you'll want to find the best deal you can. The good news is there’s plenty you can do to improve your chances of getting your mortgage application accepted – follow our top 10 tips to help you get the mortgage you want

 

If you’re thinking about how to get a mortgage, you should be aware of the factors that affect your eligibility. These include: your credit score, length of time in current job, current debts, whether you’re self-employed and of course the size of your deposit.

 

Follow our top 10 tips below to find out how to get the mortgage you want.

 

1. Your credit score matters

Before applying for a mortgage, get a copy of your credit reportwhich is held by credit reference agencies such as Experian or Equifax. This will allow you to see what lenders see when they review your application.

 

If your credit rating isn’t looking that great, there are lots of simple things you can do which can give your score a boost. For example, check you are on the electoral roll and close down credit card accounts which you no longer use.

 

2. The starting point is your own sums

Sit down and work out your budget before applying for a mortgage. You will need to be sure you can borrow enough to cover the purchase of the property and that you’ll have enough spare to cover all the associated costs and fees.

 

Monthly mortgage repayments will depend on how much you want to borrow (and over how long) and the interest rate charged.

 

3. You’ll be better off in the same job

Lisa Brown of Acres Financial Services said; “ Most lenders will want to see that you’ve been with your employer for some time before they’ll give you a mortgage, so if you’re thinking of switching jobs, it’s a good idea to hang on until you’ve got your mortgage in place. Many lenders like to see you have been in your existing job for at least three to six months.”

 

4. Debts don’t help

If you’re submitting a mortgage application, the last thing any prospective lender is going to want to see is that you owe a load of cash on credit cards or you’ve got outstanding loans.

 

Claire Allen of Acres Financial Services said " Before you apply for a mortgage, try to reduce any debts you have – this will help demonstrate that you manage your money responsibly. It will also mean you will potentially be able to borrow more when it comes to a lender’s affordability calculations. "

 

 

5. You’ll need proof of income

Mortgage lenders will want to see proof of how much you earn, so you’ll probably need a P60 form which you get every year from your employer and shows a summary of your pay and how much tax has been deducted.

 

You’re also likely to be asked for three months’ worth of bank statements and payslips so the lender can look at both how much you have coming in as well as your outgoings.

 

6… or accounts if you’re self-employed

Getting a mortgage when you’re self-employed can be more tricky, especially if you’ve only recently decided to go it alone. Lenders want proof of income and so they’ll usually ask to see SA302 forms relating to the current / recent years from HMRC, or your full trading accounts.

 

7. The bigger the deposit the better

The more you can save up to put down as a deposit, the bigger the choice of mortgages that will be available to you. Lenders reserve their best rates for those with hefty deposits, so you’ll also benefit from lower monthly payments because you’ll have qualified for a better deal.

 

8. Buying with someone else can be easier

If you are struggling to building up a decent deposit on your own, you might want to think about buying with someone else. This could boost your chances of securing a decent mortgage, particularly if they’ve got an excellent credit history and a higher income than you. But remember that this is a big commitment, so you’ll need to sit down and work out with the other person what would happen if one of you wanted to move in future.

 

9. You shouldn’t chop and change your application

Once you’ve started your mortgage application, don’t mess around with it and start changing figures as it could hold up your property purchase.

 

10. It can pay to get help

If you’re struggling to find the right mortgage deal, or you don’t know what you’d be eligible for or how much you can borrow, it is always a good move to have the help of a mortgage broker. They can research the market for you and help you through the application process so you don’t have to go it alone.

 

Here at Acres we offer a comprehensive mortgage service giving independent financial advice, with access to the whole of market / high street lenders, often with exclusive deals. For further help please call any of our offices detailed below, or click to the link above.

 

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

 

Information provided by

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/mortgages/first-time-buyers/top-ten-tips/

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In the blink of an eye it is Autumn, the trees are full of beautiful reds and golds and the  first waft of coal fire smoke is in the air in later September.

As always we are taking calls from family buyers looking for larger homes, however there has been a real up swing, as expected. Clients like to buy in autumn, spring and early summer.

We find that buyers with children tend not to house hunt during the school holidays. After all, when the sun is shining, people are away, life is busy thus leaving little time for viewing homes.

It’s also worth remembering how stressful viewing a home can be, with children who just want to be playing / elsewhere. Instead, parents tend to wait until the children return to school, so they can view homes a little easier. But there is more to it than convenience alone; psychology of space can come into play too.

During the summer of course kids often spend much more time outdoors. Whilst their children are busy playing in the garden it’s easy for parents to feel their home is bigger than it is. As a result, ‘upsizers’ tend not to feel as squeezed for space in the warmer months.

But as the nights begin to draw in, the house begins to feel crowded, meaning parents once again are looking for a change and a larger home in which to grow.

House hunters searching in September and October tend to be keener to make an early decision. After all, everybody wants to settle in ready to start enjoying their new home in time for Christmas. In fact, ‘a quiet and settled Christmas’ can be a real driving factor. Buyers are more motivated than ever to get the deal done. Indeed Rightmove confirm an increase in traffic numbers to their website at this time of year.

With that in mind, let’s explore the reasons why selling in September is a great time.

  1. Motivated buyers

Buyers who start looking for a home in September are generally planning to be moved in by Christmas, particularly if they’re looking to host family and friends in their new home.

As a result, they see December as a self-imposed deadline, which can encourage them to make an offer quickly and also do their best to speed up the buying process.