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Bigger Boxing Day bounce expected, as prices to rise 2% in 2026

  Average new seller asking prices fall by 1.8% (-£6,695) this month to £358,138. This larger than usual December drop means that prices are 0.6% (-£2,059) lower at the end of 2025 than in 2024 Bigger than usual Rightmove Boxing Day Bounce expected, as those who paused due to Budget uncertainty to join the post-Christmas boost in home-moving activity: Very early signs of post-Budget rebound, with number of top-end London sellers up by 24% week-on-week The uncertainty and gloom caused by rumours of property tax rises in November’s Budget from as early as August contributed to more subdued activity and pricing in the second half of the year: The number of new sellers coming to market in the first half of 2025 was 9% ahead of the first half of 2024, which reversed to 4% below 2024 across the second half of this year Buyer demand was 3% ahead of 2024 across the first half of the year, but 6% behind in the second half It’s still been a more positive year overall for sales, with the numb...

Top Tips To Transform Your Home For Autumn

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  It’s that time of year again; the nights draw in, sunsets split the sky into spectacular colours and rich leaves blanket the grass. With all this magic going on outside, it only makes sense to bring some of it indoors – here are some tips to transform your home this autumn. Use warm ambient lighting Embrace autumn’s mood with soft and low lighting. Ambient lighting involves using colour, temperature and brightness which can create a warm and comfortable amount of light throughout your home to complement its features. If your home has a dimmer switch, opt for lower settings to capture the cosiness of autumn’s dark evenings. Add cosy textures to your home When you think of cold weather, thick blankets, glowing fireplaces, hot chocolates and comfy slippers come to mind. One of the best ways to optimise relaxation in your home is to declutter the space so that your sofas and beds become the centrepieces of the rooms. This creates a calm, comfortable atmosphere which is perfect f...

How to increase property viewings when selling your home

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Putting your property on the market is an exciting step. The photos are taken, the floorplans are complete, and your home is ready to shine. But what if viewings aren’t coming in as quickly as expected? If your property isn’t attracting attention, it’s important to understand why and how you can turn things around. Review Your Asking Price One of the biggest barriers to generating viewings is an unrealistic asking price. Buyers today have access to vast amounts of data, making it easy to compare similar properties in your area. If your home is priced higher than comparable listings, it can put people off before they even book a viewing. A well-researched, competitive price will help attract more interest and could even encourage multiple offers. If you’re not seeing any enquiries, it may be time to revisit your valuation and adjust accordingly. Choose the Right Estate Agent Your choice of estate agent can make a huge difference to the number of viewings your property receives. A motiva...

Thinking Of Selling A Shared Ownership Property?

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Why Now Might Be the Perfect Time to Sell Shared ownership has long provided an affordable path to homeownership, helping thousands of people get on the property ladder with a lower upfront cost. But if you're currently a shared owner, it's worth asking: Are you making the most of your investment? With a rapidly shifting property market and increasing demand for homes, now could be the ideal time to sell your share—and here’s why. 1. Take Advantage of Strong Buyer Demand The current market shows a healthy appetite for shared ownership properties. Many buyers are looking for affordable entry points into the housing market, and your property could be exactly what they’re searching for. If your home is well-located and maintained, it can attract competitive offers quickly. 2. Maximize Your Return on Investment If you’ve owned your share for several years, there’s a good chance your property has appreciated in value. Selling now allows you to cash in on that growth, especiall...

Top five things to consider before you renovate

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  Making the decision to take on a renovation project is a huge challenge and commitment and should not be taken lightly. As rewarding as the outcome will be, it can be expensive, time-consuming and takes a lot of preparation. We reveal a few things to consider before you delve into a big home renovation. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail  Renovations are daunting, and so creating your own detailed schedule, with sections for each room e.g. ‘loft conversion’ will help massively. In each section, write time frames and assign job roles to ensure no jobs overlap or conflict with each other.  When working on a big task, it’s always easier to take it one step at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Without a detailed plan of action, the whole process becomes hectic and stressful. It’s normal to miss deadlines, but do your best to make a schedule and stick to it! Budget for additional costs Home renovation projects are never simple and rarely go exactly to plan. ...

How many homes should you look at before making an offer?

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  Looking for your perfect property is an exciting experience. Once you’ve searched online and spoken to your local Guild Member about what you’re searching for, it’s time to start the viewings. But how many should you do before you make an offer? What if your first property seems perfect? Should you keep looking? We asked our proud Guild Members from around the UK to share their top tips. How many viewings should you do per day? Darran Jospeh, from VG Estate Agent believes that three to four viewings in a day is an optimum number. He comments, “It gives buyers enough variety to compare properties while still allowing time to properly absorb the details of each one. Any more than that, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed or begin to forget the relative pros and cons of individual properties.” Tim Bennett, from Webbers Estate Agents agrees, adding, “it’s best to limit viewings to three or four properties per day to avoid fatigue and confusion. Seeing too many homes in quick succession ...
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Whether you want to move to a new location, upgrade to a larger home or are looking to take on a project property, selling your home can seem like a mammoth task. If you have never sold a house before, all the unknown processes can leave your head spinning. Maybe you need to sell your home right away or perhaps you are making preparations to put your house on the market in the next year. Whatever your situation, we have created a helpful guide to prepare you to sell your home for the first time.  Preparing your home You want to ensure prospective buyers see your property in its best light to promote more interest, a quicker sale and a higher offer. Viewers of the home need to be able to picture themselves living there. Cleaning, decluttering, tidying and repairing the home will ensure the home is move-in ready and more desirable to house-hunters. Getting the house up to a good standard will make it easier to sell and could even get you a higher offer. If you are thinking ahead, the...