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If you’re thinking about selling your home in Battle this spring and want a quick sale, then here are our tips to help you find a buyer in no time at all. Be Flexible on Price When it comes to selling your property in Battle, a good estate agent will be able to give you a clear idea of the price range that it falls into. Ideally you’ll get the full asking price, and if you’re very lucky then you may be offered more if a couple of potential buyers want to compete. However, if you want a quick sale then you may need to be prepared to accept a little under the asking price. You should be willing to be flexible, especially if the property is looking tired and some of the major components need updating, such as the boiler or windows. Have an amount in mind that you would be willing to accept but don’t allow yourself to be forced into accepting a low offer if you won’t be happy with the price. Find the Right Buyer While it’s natural to want to achieve the highest possible price for your property, it may be worth sacrificing a small amount to get a sale completed as quickly as possible. For example, one buyer may offer you the full asking price but be part of a long chain, whereas a first-time buyer may come in with a slightly lower offer but with no chain to consider. So if you’re looking to sell in a hurry, then it may be worth your while choosing a buyer who’s ready to go quickly, even if it costs you a bit of money in the short-term. Give Your Home a Lick of Paint Buyers will be far more attracted to a property that’s ready to move into immediately, and you don’t need to spend a fortune getting the place ready either. A fresh coat of paint will do the job, even if it’s just a touch up rather than a full paint job. Go for neutral colours too, such as an off-white or magnolia. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the property they’re viewing, so giving them a blank canvas will be far more appealing than jungle-themed wallpaper for example! Boost Kerb Appeal Many buyers will make up their mind about a property before they’ve even stepped foot inside. If you’ve allowed the front garden to become overgrown, or your overflowing wheelie bins are blocking the path then it’s time to get the gardening gloves on and tidy it up. Add a hanging basket or two, or some pots, and perhaps touch up any paitwork if you want to really make an impression. Show off your Home’s Assets You want to show your property in its best light, so that means highlighting everything that’s good about it. For example, you may have been using the second bedroom as a dumping ground for all your old coats or magazines, but buyers will want to see how they can use the space as a second bedroom. So clear all the clutter out of sight, make the bed and let buyers see what it’s meant to be used for. Declutter…Everywhere! This ties in nicely with showing off your property’s assets. Buyers want to see a property that’s well looked after and don’t want to be overwhelmed with clutter when they walk through the door. So if you have been using the understairs cupboard for junk or piling up paperwork in the sitting room then it’s time for a clearout. And there’s the added bonus of potentially making a few pounds by selling some of your unwanted possessions. Fix any Minor Issues When you’re living in a place it’s easy to overlook a missing lightbulb, a damaged fence or a cracked window. However, if you’re looking to sell, then these minor issues are all things that buyers could pick up on, and which might put them off making an offer. Some buyers may see minor issues like these as a sign of potentially bigger issues elsewhere, and it gives them the impression that the house isn’t well maintained generally. So before you come to sell, just take some time to sort out those odd jobs that you’ve been putting off. Clean Your House You don’t need to get the professionals in or spend all day doing a deep clean, but before any viewings just make sure you’ve whizzed round with the vacuum and a duster, emptied the bins and tidied up. You’d be amazed how much of a difference it can make to buyers, and it’s further proof that you take pride in your property and maintain it to a good standard. Paul Stripp Estate Agent are your local property experts for the Battle area. Call us on 07891260449 or email info@paulstrippestateagent.com to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.

Selling your home in East Sussex is a big task in itself as there’s so much to prepare. If you’re trying to tackle everything yourself, it can be daunting trying to attract potential buyers, but one of the best ways to do that is to have the right decor that gives off that ‘wow’ factor. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, ‘wow factor’ it is essentially any feature or quality that is impressive and—you’ve guessed it—makes people say ‘wow’ when they see it for the first time! When potential buyers are checking out your home, you want to impress them and get them to imagine their new lives in your home, and a space with a ‘wow factor’ does the trick. One of the best spaces to create a wow factor in is your living room because it can be done on a budget and without spending a lot of time and money on renovations. It’s also one of the most used rooms in the home where families gather, where people socialise and entertain guests, and where you wind down after a long day. It’s also one of the most important rooms when showing your home, aside from the kitchen and master bedroom, and is often one of the first rooms people look at when they view a property. With this in mind, we have detailed three simple ways to give your living room the wow factor and impress anyone who walks through your door. 1. Choose your furniture carefully The furniture in your living room obviously makes a major difference when it comes to looking drab and plain or exciting and bold. If you’re staging your home, you have some choice in this department. Choosing pieces of furniture that look cheap or are poor quality doesn’t do anything for the wow factor, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to choose expensive pieces to add flair. You can source vintage pieces or antiques that stand out from the mass produced or highly trendy furniture that a lot of people choose. The goal is to have a living room that stands out, so unique pieces of furniture will certainly accomplish that. If you’re working with the furniture you have, try and dress it up or rearrange it so your space is open and interesting. Consider giving old wood furniture a fresh coat of paint or a new stain to brighten them up, or try some DIY tricks to make outdated furniture look fresh and exciting. You can also use contrasting textures to bring some energy and boldness into the room. If your sofa is leather, get a plush throw to hang over it for example. Don’t feel discouraged if you aren’t inspired by the pieces you have – there are plenty of ways to make them exciting without breaking the bank. 2. Add the right decor Your decor can make or break a room so when it comes to the wow factor, choosing your decor pieces is especially important. The goal here is to create a focal point in the room where the energy can emanate from and draw people’s attention. Once you have the focal point, you can work from there to bring energy to the rest of the space. One great idea for a focal point is a colourful piece of art on the wall or a collage of pieces or artistic photographs that work well together. Hang your art on a wall free of clutter and obstruction so it can really shine in the space. Another idea is to strategically place a large plant in the room where it can make a dramatic statement. Oversized plants are also perfect for drawing the eye towards something else, like a gorgeous fireplace. A final focal point idea would be to have hanging lights over the main seating area or to place a lamp in a corner or next to a sofa where it can really make a statement. 3. Add a splash of colour The colour scheme of your room is another imperative aspect to creating the wow factor, so try to stay away from the trendy colour du jour. Again, you want to avoid the styles that seemingly everyone else uses because it is no longer bold and interesting. You want your living room to be memorable and stand out from the crowd, so don’t go for the usual neutrals and instead, go big. Choose contrasting colours that stand out for your furniture, textiles, decor, and walls. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different palettes – that’s what drives the wow factor. Opt for colourful and bold patterns on accent items like throws, cushions and rugs, rather than plain or solid fabrics. Pick an accent wall and paint it a bright or contrasting colour or put up wallpaper with an interesting pattern. There are so many ways you can create the wow factor in your home and these three tips are the perfect starting point. Why not experiment with your decor and then call the friendly team at Paul Stripp Estate Agent on 07891260449. We will be delighted to offer you feedback and provide you with a free valuation on your property in East Sussex.

Property fraud is on the rise, and if you own your property outright, have an empty property or rent your property out to tenants, then you are most at risk of fraudulent theft. What is Fraudulent Theft of Your Property? Property fraud comes in many shapes and sizes, but the fraudulent theft of your property involves someone claiming your property as their own and selling it without your permission. This, unfortunately, happened to reverend Mike Hall whose identity was stolen and then used to sell his house. You can read more about that case here. While we’d like to say that this was an isolated incident, it is not as uncommon as you may think, and so it is important to protect yourself and your property if you want to lower your risk. How to Protect your Property from Fraudulent Theft If you only own one property and are currently living in it, then it is much harder to fall victim to this scam. However, property investors, landlords, second property owners and those who leave their homes vacant for long periods of time should take some extra measures. By far, the easiest way to prevent the fraudulent theft of your property is to sign up for the HM Land Registry’s free property alert service. This service will notify you if anyone approaches the land registry to make a change of ownership or tries to make alterations to your property boundaries. How to Sign Up for the HM Land Registry Property Alert Service Signing up for this free service couldn’t be easier, which is why it’s something we recommend all of our customers do. To sign up, head over to https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk/ and create an account. Once you have an account, you will be able to set up alerts for up to 10 properties. Once you have alerts set up, you will be notified whenever an official search or application is received against one of your monitored properties. If this activity looks in any way suspicious, you are then prompted to take immediate action. Things to Know About the HM Land Registry Property Alert Service You will need an email address to sign up. You can register for alerts on up to 10 properties. You do not need to own a property to set up an alert. Multiple people can monitor the same property. You can use this service without access to the internet by calling the Property Alert team on 0300 006 0478. Protecting your Property From Fraud For more information about protecting your land and property from fraud, visit https://www.gov.uk/protect-land-property-from-fraud. If you're at all worried about property fraud during the buying or selling process, then please get in touch with us at Paul Stripp Estate Agency, Battle.

The property market in the United Kingdom is difficult to predict. Will prices rise or fall in 2022? Is it a good time to buy or sell a property? And has the pandemic changed anything? Here's my take on the property market in the UK as it stands right now. What Is Expected to Happen to Property Prices in 2022? Since May 2021, house prices have risen by 4.9%. Over the course of the entire year, we saw an average price increase of 13.3%, taking the average property value to £355,948 in the South East. In 2022, it’s likely that property prices will continue to rise – albeit a little more slowly – with the property website Rightmove predicting an annual rise of 5% in 2022 and the property firm Savills predicting a 3.2% increase in areas outside of London. Is 2022 a Good Time to Sell Your Home? Of course, you're expecting me to say "YES! Of course - right now is the perfect time to sell your home", but the reality is that the right time to sell a property depends on many different factors, including the variations in your local property market and your property type. As an estate agent who prides themselves on transparency, I will never tell you that now is the right time to sell your property if your local market says otherwise. Has COVID-19 Changed the Property Market in the UK? The property market in the UK has been affected by COVID-19 in a few different ways, but they aren't all negative. With the lockdown’s behind us, in-person viewings are available once more, and I, for one, am glad to be back in the office. It appears as though we're through the worst of the pandemic, and with hope on the horizon, January of 2022 has been my busiest month to date, indicating that many potential buyers and sellers are thinking of making a move in 2022. What to Do if You're Unsure if 2022 is the Year for You to Move House? If you're unsure if now is the right time for you to move house, don't worry – there are lots of things you can do to help make your decision. For one, speak to a knowledgeable local property expert who will be able to advise you on the current property market in your area. If you live in Battle, Robertsbridge, Sedlescombe or the surrounding TN33 regions, then I'm your man. Secondly, there's no harm in viewing properties even before your own home comes to market. Viewing properties in your chosen area is a great way to gauge what you can expect to get for your budget, and you never know; you may just stumble across your future house. Drop Me a Message to Discuss Your Property Needs for 2022 If you want to find out more about the property market in your area, or if you have any specific questions, then please do not hesitate to contact me. I'll be happy to answer any of your questions and help guide you through what can be a daunting process. Happy house hunting! :)​

Here at Paul Stripp Estate Agency, we constantly search for new ways to make our customers' buying and selling processes easier. Therefore, we are delighted to be offering a unique service to our new and existing clients, Offr.  What is Offr? Offr is a cutting-edge technology that allows buyers to submit offers via their mobile, tablet or laptop and enables sellers to see in real-time the offers coming in! It’s ideal for keeping track of your sale when on the go and provides a new degree of transparency between buyers and sellers. The software also enables buyers to request viewings 24/7. How Do I use Offr? To check out Offr for yourself, jump onto my website's buyer's search section. Simply select the property you’re interested in, and you’ll notice the Offr icon pop up in the bottom right-hand corner. Click this and follow the instructions to enter the Offr platform.  What if I Don’t Want to Use Offr? Offr is a helpful tool, but we understand if you want to do things the more traditional way. Using Offr isn’t compulsory for Paul Stripp Estate Agency customers, so don’t panic if this kind of technology isn’t for you.  Learn More About How Paul Stripp Estate Agency Uses Offr To find out more about how Paul Stripp Estate Agency uses the Offr platform, drop us a message, and we will be happy to explain the software in more detail. 

Do you have off-mains drainage? Does your property have a septic tank or a cesspit? Then the following post is for you.  The 3 Key Types of Off Mains Drainage  If your property isn’t connected to the mains sewer network, then your wastewater and sewage will be collected in one of the following:  1. A Septic Tank A septic tank is an underground chamber that collects your sewage. Over time, the sewage in this chamber begins to separate into solids and liquids. The solids settle to the bottom, and the liquids flow out from the surface and discharge somewhere else on or off your property.  2. Cesspit or Cesspool Unlike a septic tank which discharges liquid, a cesspit or cesspool collects all waste types and requires emptying. When your cesspit gets full, you will need to hire a tanker to suck out all of the sewage and dispose of it. 3. A Sewage Treatment Plant If you’re lucky, you may have a sewage treatment plant. Sewage treatment plants are a more sophisticated version of a septic tank and ensure that raw sewage is converted to a safe liquid before it is discharged.  Important Changes to Septic Tank Regulations In 2015, the government passed new regulations to prevent septic tanks from discharging into surface water such as ditches, streams, canals or rivers. Why are you only hearing about this now? Well, the regulation changes weren’t very well publicised and have only been enforced since the 1st of January 2020.  How do Septic Tank Regulations Affect The Sale of Your Property? If you currently have an old septic tank that discharges into surface water, you will need to have it replaced before selling your property. Rather than waiting for a buyer’s survey to pick up the problem, sellers should act fast to prevent their sale from falling through.  What to Do Next - Advice from Paul Stripp Estate Agency, Battle. If you have a septic tank or any kind of off-mains drainage and are looking to sell your property, it's well worth having a professional assess your sewage system before putting your home on the market. If the survey highlights any issues, you’ll be able to rectify them before they can affect the sale of your home, and if the survey comes up clean, then this will be a positive selling point for buyers later down the line.  Below is a list of local drainage companies who will be able to assist you: Moody Sewage - 01825 890294 County Clean - 01323 741818 MTS -- 01634 250326