Prepare home for quick sale

The scheme, which offers savings of up to £15,000 on property purchases, runs until March 31, 2021 - the same date that the existing Help to Buy equity loan scheme also comes to an end.

Helene Key, sales manager of Chestnut Homes, which has been building in Lincolnshire for more than 30 years, said: “Following the announcement of the stamp duty holiday, there has been a rising number of enquiries from buyers interested in purchasing at our developments across the county.

“There is a high demand for homes in Lincolnshire, as people increasingly look for properties which offer more space, both inside and out.

“With more buyers keen to complete before the stamp duty and Help to Buy deadlines, that demand is continuing to rise across our developments.

“I would encourage anyone interested in taking advantage of the stamp duty holiday to begin preparing their home now to give themselves the best chance of securing a move before the deadline.”

Ben Sykes, founder and director of The New Homes Agent, Lincolnshire’s first dedicated new homes estate agent, said: “Now is a great time to buy, with benefits such as the stamp duty holiday on offer. However, buyers need to act quickly.

“At The New Homes Agent, we have seen a significant surge in market activity over recent months, which has led to a bottleneck in the conveyancing process.

“When readying your home for sale, there are four ‘Ds’ to remember – Deep clean, Declutter, Decorate and Diffusers.

“Bad odours can be an instant turn off for viewers, especially dog odours!

“People can’t smell their own dogs, but it’s the first thing a visitor will smell, especially if they don’t have dogs themselves.

“Diffusers, or any type of air freshener, are ideal for eliminating such odours.

“I would also recommend applying a fresh coat of paint to all walls and woodwork. Sometimes you can get away with deep cleaning your skirting, architrave and internal doors, but you’ll likely need to touch up the paint here and there too.

“You should also look to remove all scuffs, marks, stains and chips. It’s important to remember that you can become blind to your home environment as you see the imperfections every day.

“You can overcome this problem by asking a friend or family member who has been to your home to tell you all the imperfections they have noticed that might give a negative first impression. Make sure they’re honest with you, it’s for your own good.

“Once you’ve done the above, invite your estate agent to your home and ask for their final advice and guidance.”

Ben continued: “Agents are still able to operate under the coronavirus restrictions, but with additional safety measures in place.

“While it’s an agent’s job to help you prepare your home to give you the best possible chance of a quick sale, many won’t want to make certain comments in fear of offending you, as the homeowner.

“Take this fear away and ask them to be totally honest. It’s really important you get the right advice.”

For more information about The New Homes Agent, visit thenewhomesagent.co.uk.

Chestnut Homes is currently building at developments across Lincolnshire in Alford, Boston, Dunholme, Coningsby and Lincoln. For more information, visit 
chestnuthomes.co.uk.