e7334e13

Dress To Impress.

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 16:51:35 GMT

10 Top Tips To Show Your Harborough Property At Its Best.

First impressions count. If you turn up to an interview with your tie askew, hair like a bird's nest and feet encased in trainers, chances are you won't get the job, even if underneath the sloppy exterior you are a picture of professionalism.

The same goes for houses. Potential buyers can make a decision in seconds on whether your property is up to the mark.

Making your home more attractive needn't be expensive. Here are 10 quick tips on dressing your house to impress without usually redecorating:

1. Before you book in any viewings, get friends around to cast an impartial eye over the place. They may pick up off-putting features you have become blind to.

2. Fix any defects that could become potential stumbling blocks when it comes to negotiating a price. Dripping taps, faulty light fittings and peeling wallpaper costs little to fix but may knock many hundreds from your asking price.

3. Give your property curb appeal. Tidy the frontage, clean windows and touch up shoddy paint work. Why not add features like hanging baskets to increase drive-by desirability.

4. Banish children and pets for the duration of the viewing. Even the cleanest pets add a whiff and could give the impression of a dirty home, while children will distract from the task in hand.

5. Make sure the furniture in each room reflects its function. For example, if you have advertised three bedrooms, make sure there is a bed in each, so viewers can imagine the usage of the rooms.

6. Clear out clutter. Too much personality will make it harder for people to picture their own belongings in situ. Put dated furniture into storage. Not only will your home appear more modern, it will also look more spacious.

7. To create the illusion of a large and welcoming space, ensure there are no dark, unwelcoming areas by putting on lights and lamps when showing people around.

8. Ensure your cupboards are tidy as they're likely to be opened - social etiquette goes out of the window when it comes to seeing every nook and cranny of a potential new home.

9. It sounds like a cliche, but wafting smells such as coffee, baked bread or pot-pourri through the house could make a real difference. Daily exposure to you home's individual smell can make you immune to pet, smoke or food odours.

10. Treat your garden like an extra room. Remove washing lines, children's playthings and tools. Trim the lawn and do the necessary weeding. A high-maintenance garden could be a deal breaker.

Call in Harborough Estates for a pre-valuation chat. We will get you moving in the shortest possible time.

01858 790099

Get Your Garden Summer Ready

Wed, 15 May 2019 15:38:41 GMT

With the weather improving you want to make the most of your outdoor space and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the glorious weather, look at some of our top tips to get your garden summer ready.

1. Garden Furniture

No matter how big or small your garden is, there’s plenty of types furniture available to suit your requirements. If you’re after traditional oak or wooden furniture, it’s worth noting that they require regular maintenance to keep the grain in perfect condition. Another option is metal, glass or wicker furniture as a low maintenance option.

2. Weeding

As summer starts weeds will be at the height of their growth. Try to spend the early summer months removing weeds from your garden and planting summer shrubs and flowers to add colour to your garden. There are plenty of useful guides when it comes to keeping on top of your weed growth and allowing your garden to flourish.

3. Lighting

Summer evenings are always better with a bit of ambient lighting. You can pick up solar lights from major retailers that really help set the mood on warm summer evening. Whether you’re after wrap around lights or hanging bulbs, there is something to suit your garden and tastes.

4. Hot Tubs

There are a range of hot tubs available on the market allowing you to relax and unwind in the comfort of your own home. Whether you have £400 to spend or £4,000, you can enjoy a taste of luxury. Why not take a look at some of the hot tubs currently available on the market and get your garden summer party ready.

Making the Most of Small Spaces

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 10:39:22 GMT

If you have a smaller property, or a compact flat, it can be difficult decorating a room when you have such limited space. We’ve collated some useful top tips and ideas to help you maximise the area you have available.

1. Mirrors

Mirrors provide a great visual effect of more space. To make a room seem larger, place a mirror on the far side of a wall to give the impression of a larger area. Clever placement can also help reflect light back into a room making the area brighter creating the feeling of added space.

2. Light Colours

Picking the right colours for a room can make a difference to a small space and how it feels. Lighter colours on ceilings and upper walls can make the ceilings seem higher and therefore the room larger. Feature walls are a great option to add a splash of colour without overwhelming the room.

3. Plants

Adding some natural or fake plants to your home help add a splash of colour and freshness to a room. Picking a natural house plant also adds humidity to a room that can help combat the dry air created by central heating. If you’re not the best at maintaining plants, there are plenty of realistic fake house plant options available that give you the added colour and help bring a light and airy feel to any room.

4. Clever Storage

With minimal space available it’s important to make the most of any storage. Whether you choose a custom-built storage solution, or clever storage that’s hidden under stairs, or within walls, there are plenty of options out there to suit your home.

Whether you’re looking to brighten up a room, or create a visual effect of more space, there are cheap and effective solutions out there no matter your budget or time scale.

Decorating Your Home on a Budget

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:22:52 GMT

Even on a shoestring budget it’s possible to spruce up your home and inject a bit of life into a tired looking room. The simplest solutions can have the biggest impact on your property, so look through our cheap decorating tips to revive your house and make it sparkle again.

1. Add Some Greenery

Including plants and flowers in your home adds a sense of brightness and lightness to a room with an eye-catching burst of colour. If you’re not very green fingered, there are a whole host of realistic fake plants available that’ll look great all year round.

2. Upcycle

An old tired piece of furniture doesn’t have to head straight for the skip. If you have a fully functional item that just needs a bit of TLC, look into the options of redecorating or ‘upcycling’ it. For example, an old wardrobe may just need a new set of doors or a touch of paint to help revive it.

3. Replace Cupboard Doors

A whole kitchen refit can be an expensive investment. If yours is looking dated or a little worse for wear, consider just replacing the cupboard doors. Having a fresh new look to the exterior of your cupboards can have a large impact on the feel of your kitchen and how modern it looks. If you have a budget that can be stretched a little further, replacing the worktops alongside the doors can be enough to really achieve the revived look you’re after.

4. Focal Points

Having a singular focal point like a large mirror, statement lamp or feature wall can give the sense of a whole room renovation. Drawing people’s eye to one area can take their attention away from the rest of the room. As well as this, large mirror can also give a sense of space and light when placed in the right location.

Common Mistakes When Moving Home

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 12:47:44 GMT

Moving home can be a stressful experience, if you haven’t planned correctly you may fall victim to one of the common mistakes and pitfalls of that all-important house move.

1. Label Boxes

With the rush of packing you may be inclined just to get stuff into boxes without thinking about the confusion that’ll come once your start unpacking. Make sure you label all boxes by room and note down where the fragile items are to avoid any unnecessary damage. Your future self will thank you once you arrive at your new home.

2. Leave it Too Late

House moves can move slowly initially, then suddenly moving day is upon you. To avoid a rushed and disorganised packing day, make sure you plan well ahead. Packing the non-essential items first and leaving the essentials (kitchen utensils etc) until last. It may help setting up a calendar to ensure you set designated time aside.

3. Not Researching a Moving Company

Give yourself enough time to properly research your local moving company. There are a whole host of user reviews available online, whether it’s via a companies Facebook page or through their website, make sure you’re picking a removal company you can trust. Alternatively, if you have a friend or family member that’s recently moved, find out how positive their experience was.

4. Not Packing a Moving Essentials Bag

Another often overlooked area is the packing of your essentials on moving day. As much as you want to be organised and pack everything that’s moving out, it’s always good to keep a bag on you for essential items you’ll require. Whether it’s your purse, keys, phone chargers or car keys, make sure you have all those necessary items to hand to avoid any unwelcome stress during the big move.

Primary and Secondary Schools in Market Harborough

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 11:43:54 GMT

Harborough Estates helping you with local school information

Harborough Estates are here to help. This is a list of schools within the Market Harborough area. We are so lucky to have such a fantastic choice of schools.

Secondary Academies

Robert Smyth Academy
Tel: 01858 440 770
robertsmyth.tgacacademy.org.uk

Welland Park Academy
Tel: 01858 464 795
wellandparkacademy.co.uk

Primary Schools & Academies

Farndon Fields Primary School & Community Centre
Tel: 01858 464 744
farndonfields.org

Great Bowden Academy
Tel: 01858 463 216
greatbowden.leics.sch.uk

Little Bowden Primary School
Tel: 01858 462 258
littlebowden.leics.sch.uk

Lubenham All Saints Church of England Primary School
Tel: 01858 462 319
Lubenham.leics.sch.uk

Market Harborough Church of England Primary Academy
Tel: 01858 464 112
marketharboroughcofe.co.uk

Meadowdale Primary School
Tel: 01858 465 479
meadowdale.info

Ridgeway Primary Academy
Tel: 01858 465 800
ridgewayprimary.org.uk

St. Joseph's CVA
Tel: 01858 465 359
stjosephs.leics.sch.uk

The Only Way is Market Harborough

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 14:33:18 GMT

Time to move and experience Market Harborough

A vibrant market town full of life and culture, Market Harborough is perfect for those who want a bit of everything...whatever type of lifestyle you lead. If you're moving in the near future, and with so much on offer, Market Harborough is an ideal place to move to at any time of the year. In fact, Market Harborough has been dubbed as one of the best places to live in Great Britain.

Moving to Market Harborough with young children - or moving because you want to start a family - will also inevitably throw up questions of schooling. But with nine primary schools and two secondary schools on offer in the area, you can rest assured in the knowledge that education is one of the town's top priorities.

When it comes to leisure time, fitness fanatics are also well catered for in this town - whether it be golf, football or rugby, horse riding at one of the several riding schools, tennis or bowling at Welland Park or simply a swim, run or game of badminton at the local leisure centre, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Now we take a look at the property market in Market Harborough and uncover the reasons why this attractive part of Leicestershire is so popular with homebuyers.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the area, give us a call on 01858 790 099 or email hello@harboroughestates.com

Demand for properties for sale in Market Harborough and the surrounding area remains generally strong, largely due to good value period property and New Build, fantastic amenities and great schools.

In the last five years we've seen an influx of families migrating here from all parts of London, Kent and Essex in search of better value property with the added bonus of a better lifestyle. Something to note though, the price gap is starting to narrow because we all want the best that our money can buy.

Because Market Harborough has become extremely popular in its own right, property prices are rising to reflect this.

It is worth noting, that the surrounding areas of Market Harborough, being Great Bowden, Little Bowden and Lubenham are considered popular places due to interest from first time buyers, families and people retiring from London who wish to start the next new exciting stage of their life.

Does Market Harborough offer you all that you need?
Absolutely.

Mel.

(Original Watercolour By Michael Edwards)

Winter Energy Saving Tips for Your Home

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 16:30:45 GMT

There’s plenty to celebrate over winter. Cosy nights in, Christmas festivities, and new year celebrations. There’s a flip side to all this fun, the extra cost of heating and lighting your home in the cold dark days can add up.

There’s plenty to celebrate over winter. Cosy nights in, Christmas festivities, and new year celebrations. There’s a flip side to all this fun, the extra cost of heating and lighting your home in the cold dark days can add up. However, there are some tried and tested energy saving solutions you can implement this winter, take a look below at our top tips.

1. Draught Proof

Most modern homes are efficient in keeping drafts and cold air out of each room, however if you have an unwanted cold breeze coming through your windows or doors, it’s time to cover it. Invest in some good quality draft excluders or make your own from high density foam tubes.

2. Insulation

Whether it’s wall or loft insultation, ensuring heat stays in your home is essential. Having the central heating running in your house over winter can be expensive, but if that heat is escaping and not being held, you’re spending money and not receiving the benefit.

3. Upgrade Your Boiler

If your boiler is on its last legs, or it’s an old model, it’s worth investing in an upgrade. The initial outlay of a boiler can be expensive, however over time you’ll reap the benefits through cheaper bills and better energy efficiency.

4. Natural Light

This change costs nothing. Make the most of natural light in your home by keeping curtains and blinds open in the day. By allowing sunlight to enter your house this will transfer warmth into your home which you’ll benefit from in the evenings.

5. Energy Saving Bulbs

With shorter days and darker night’s drawing in, not only heating but lighting is in demand too. To benefit the most from energy saving bulbs use them in the most commonly used rooms, whether that’s a hallway, landing or kitchen.

6. Radiator Space

A radiator needs space to expel heat and warmth properly into a room. If there’s a radiator in your home that’s blocked by a piece of furniture or a heavy curtain, ensure it’s free of clutter and able to work optimally.

Moving Home-Top Tips

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 10:17:16 GMT

Make your next house move as stress free as possible. Follow our top tips.

Moving home can be a stressful and exciting experience all wrapped into one. To make sure your experience runs as smoothly as possible, take a look through our top tips and take the dread away from moving home.

1. Group by Room
It’s easy to be tempted to quickly throw a bunch of items in a box and hope for the best. This makes the initial stage of packing go by quickly, however once you get to your new home you’ll be in a world of disorganisation. Take the time to group your packing boxes by room and even by item, this will make the whole unpacking process on the other end go by far quicker.

2. Redirect Mail
This is one of the often-overlooked tasks when you’re moving home. To make sure you don’t miss out on any important letters, take the time to get your mail redirected. The Royal Mail offer a redirect service for a set period, as well as this you need to inform any providers of a change of address to avoid mail not getting to you.

3. Choosing a Removal Company
Picking the right removal company can be a daunting task if you don’t know what to look for. Instead of rushing to the first one you see, ask friends and family for recommendations or browse the internet for reviews on local companies. The last thing you want is to be overcharged or receive a poor service.

4. Prepare the Home for New Owners
Make sure your old home is ready and prepared for the new owners. Leave all house keys in an easy to find location, make sure the house is clean and ready for habitation. The last thing anyone wants is to move into a home that’s dirty or neglected.

5. Take Care of Pets!
If you have a pet, large or small, don’t forget to ensure they’re either well looked after and kept away from the madness of moving to a new house. The last thing anyone wants is their pet escaping or panicking while you’re packing up items.

Make sure your next move goes as smoothly as possible by planning before you start packing the first box. Use our handy tips to avoid any nasty surprises!

Request a Free Valuation today with Harborough Estates- The Ultimate Harborough Estate Agent. Tel:01858 790099

What time of year should I sell my house?

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:22:55 GMT

Selling your home is a huge decision. Depending on your reason for selling, you may have flexibility over when your property is listed, so take a look below to find out when may be best for you.

Spring

Generally the most popular season for selling is Spring and as a result, there are more potential buyers to show interest in your property. This time of year is far enough away from Christmas and the upcoming summer holidays that people find they have the time to invest in preparing to move home. Properties will also view better as gardens start to come back to life and daylight gets longer.

Summer

Known to be one of the quieter seasons of the year, as people’s attention focuses on holidays and school breaks. If you are marketing your home at families, be aware that a lot will be looking to complete the move and settle in before the new school year starts in September. On the positive side, photos and viewings will look their best with the blue summer skys and gardens in full bloom – something to consider with the rise of online property listings and the pictures that accompany them.

Autumn

With people back from their summer holidays and still time to move before Christmas, property sales will generally see an increase in Autumn. The mild weather still makes for attractive sale photos and homes with extensive grounds can look particularly beautiful as the colours start to change.

Winter

Available property levels can be low as people focus on the upcoming festive period. Winter can be a difficult time to sell, with fewer active buyers in the market as people’s time is taken up by shopping, planning and organising for Christmas. Once into the new year and moving through to February, the number of properties for sale starts to rise and potential buyers begin their search for their new home.

There are no fixed rules on when you should sell your home, and whilst the seasons still influence the housing market, their impact isn’t what it once was. With the rise of online house hunting and the availability and ease of access to information of the latest properties for sale, home buyers can look at houses at any time of the year. Positive or negative news in the media can have more of an effect and the general consensus is that school holidays lead to quiet spells.

Ultimately, when you sell your house is up to you and will be dependent on your own situation.

How to Increase Your Chances of Selling Your Home Quickly

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 14:12:06 GMT

Most buyers form an opinion within the first 15 seconds on entering a property. Take a look through our top tips to help ensure a smooth process.

1. Show off your space

Declutter where possible to avoid your home appearing smaller than it is. When we visit to take photographs this will make all the difference. If you have outgrown your home you could consider temporary storage. If your property is tenanted, perhaps offer your tenant a day's free rent for making an extra effort to tidy and better organise the property in readiness for our photographer.

2. Smells, odours and (even) allergies

This is something we're sure everyone has heard before but it can help. Avoid any strong smells being present when people are viewing your home. Cooking, smoke and pet related odours may be off putting to some people. Cat or dog hair may even cause an allergic reaction, and with it the potential to lose a could-be buyer, so a quick vac around the house to pick up any loose hair is a good idea.

3. Improve It's Kerb Appeal

Avoid giving people a bad impression before they've even stepped foot in your home. If you have a front garden, tidy it up or add some fresh new flowers and ornaments to differentiate it from your neighbours. A fresh coat of paint is another good idea if your property is looking tired on the outside. Initial appearances are important to get right first time.

4. Give your property the "live here feel"

Too often people worry about removing all trace of personalisation; however give this a little more thought as many buyers want to experience that all important "I could live here" feeling so a homely feel is a good thing. For vacant properties we would suggest using a staging specialist. Prices are not as high as you might expect, especially in a market where property usually sells quickly.

5. Don't forget the garden

If you have a shed use it. Clear everything from the garden to make it neat and tidy. Remove potential hazards, such as panes of glass or loose bricks and paving slabs......the last thing you want is a personal injury claim!!! If the garden is overgrown and out of control, use the services of a local gardener to give it a general overhaul.

6. Upgrade Where Needed

Kitchens and bathrooms and the main areas that not only add value, but also attract new buyers. If you've got a dated kitchen or bathroom, or even worse one that doesn't function correctly, get a range of quotes and make small or large changes depending on what you can afford. Even a change of tiles can make a difference.

7. Don't freeze or overheat your buyers

In the winter keep it warm, in the summer keep it cool. You want prospective buyers to feel comfortable when viewing your property: not left shivering to the bone or in danger of overheating.