Blog

Downsizing can be a difficult decision to make. You might have decided to downsize so your home is more manageable for you, or you want to live in a more convenient location, or you might just want to release equity from you home. Whatever the reasoning, if you have decided to pack up and find somewhere smaller — our tips below should help to make your move a smooth one. Make sure you...

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Moving home can be stressful and a lot of work especially if you have pets. We hope our tips will ensure your pet will have a happy move. Make sure you plan your journey You should ensure your pets are actually fit to travel, if you are in any doubt – contact your vet. If your animal is pregnant, you should also seek advice from a vet before traveling with her. Make sure you pre-plan you r...

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Love him or loathe him, the 45th President of the United States is visiting the UK, so we can expect to see a mixture of ‘Stars and Stripes’ flags being waved and angry placards being hoisted in equal measure! It’s not clear as yet whether the visit will extend to Staines Upon Thames but we will be keeping an extra eye out for limousines, just in case! One interesting aspect of ...

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Philip Stuart our Letting Consultant gives his view on the current state of play in the property industry. The property industry is going through a transition period right now, which will take anything from 18-36 months to complete. Within this time, you will see the industry turn from that of an industry to an actual ‘profession’. Gone are the days of Joe Bloggs, off the street, open...

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In April, the number of property sales agreed per estate agency branch increased to the highest level seen since October, according to new data. The number of sales agreed per member branch increased for the first time this year, seeing a rise from an average of seven per branch in March, to eight in April – the highest level seen since October 2018, when the same number of sales were recor...

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Unless you’ve been living in an igloo for the last few weeks, you couldn’t help but notice that there’s been a Royal birth, which has caused much celebration throughout the world and has caused even a lowly estate agent innocently walking through Windsor to be interviewed by French TV for his opinion on likely names of the new arrival! Whatever your feelings on the matter, it has...

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Presentation really does matter. Potential buyers are coming to look at your property so, you need to try and show your home in its best light. Buyers shouldn’t need to imagine how good it could be! Show the strengths of your property when conducting viewings. You want to impress. Check out our tips for preparing your home for a property viewing. Outside Appeal A lot of buyers ...

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Spring and summer are great times to sell your home as everything looks a bit nicer in the sun! So, how can you maximise the sale price of your home? Know your audience Knowing who is interested in buying your home is vital to preparing it for sale. Think about what sort of person would want to buy it. Is it an older couple? People with teenage children? A Young family? If you are unsure, we wil...

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Over recent years, auctioning properties has become increasingly popular with homeowners because it’s faster and cheaper, but just as reliable as mainstream selling. If you have been thinking about putting your property up for auction, but unsure where to start; S J Smith are here to tell you all you need to know about the benefits of auctioning your property and how we can help you all the ...

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Are you looking to renovate a property you are renting? Or, do you want to update it before selling? Hopefully you have a budget in mind, know the amount of work involved and hopefully good contractors to do the work. What about the design element? Not all landlords understand the value of design and let friends, a relative or even their builder decide for them with disastrous results.  This...

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