If you’re looking for a property to rent or buy in Colnbrook, Slough, and the surrounding areas, make sure you give the leading estate and lettings agents in Colnbrook and Slough a call on 01753 683000or email us and we’ll help you find your next place to call home.

Below we look at what to plant, how to maintain your garden, and effective ways to create irresistible curb appeal this September.

Planting for late September and autumn

Planting for late September and autumn allows your garden to thrive with the right plant choices. Consider autumn blooms like chrysanthemums, asters, or pansies, which add colour and vibrancy as summer flowers wane. These hardy plants thrive in cooler temperatures, maintaining a lively garden. Additionally, ornamental grasses such as fountain grass or Japanese forest grass introduce texture and movement, turning your garden into a visual masterpiece with their gold, red, and purple hues in the autumn.

Late September is also the perfect time to plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses. Though their full beauty won’t grace your garden until next year, it’s an investment in a colourful future garden. You’ll be pleased by your efforts now, especially if you’re considering waiting until spring to sell.

Maintenance tips

Pruning and cleaning are essential tasks as leaves begin to fall. Regularly rake and clean your garden to maintain its neat appearance. Trim back any dead or overgrown branches from trees and shrubs to encourage healthy growth next spring.

Even in autumn, your garden needs hydration, so be sure to water appropriately. While plants may not require as much water as in summer, ensure proper drainage to prevent waterlogging.

Applying a layer of mulch to flowerbeds is beneficial, helping to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weed growth, all while providing a polished look to your garden. Additionally, consider adding a slow-release fertiliser to your plants in early autumn, providing them with the nutrients needed for the coming months.

Creating curb appeal

Creating curb appeal is essential for making a lasting impression on your home’s exterior. To achieve this, consider the following steps:

Enhance walkways by clearing fallen leaves and debris. Repair any cracks in your driveway or walkway, and consider adding outdoor lighting to illuminate the way, especially as the days get shorter.

Garden lighting should be installed to create a magical atmosphere in the evenings. Warm, inviting lights can accentuate key features and foster a welcoming ambiance.

Attend to paint and repairs as necessary. Give your home’s exterior a fresh coat of paint if needed and address minor repairs like loose fixings, broken windows, or damaged gutters.

Incorporate potted plants and decor to add a burst of colour and enhance your home’s welcoming appeal. Place potted plants near to your front door/entrance to your home. Seasonal decorations like pumpkins and wreaths can infuse your property with a cosy, autumnal atmosphere.

Keep the exterior clean and tidy by maintaining it regularly. Pressure wash, clean windows, and ensure that your grounds are well-maintained. A well-kept exterior significantly contributes to your home’s overall curb appeal. 

With careful planting, maintenance, and curb appeal enhancements, you can create a captivating outdoor space that’s a joy to experience year-round, whether that’s for yourself to enjoy, or something to be proud of when you’re looking to sell your home.

Contact Us

If you are looking for your next property to rent or buy in Slough or the surrounding areas or you are looking to let or sell your property, we are the leading independent sales and letting agents in Colnbrook and are location experts. You can contact us on 01753 683000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook,  LinkedIn, and Instagram.

The latest House Price Index report shows that average asking prices for homes across the nation has remained steady so far this year, while only reporting an increase of £14 (+0.0%) from January to February, and the smallest increase on record for a January to February period, an increase is a sign of a more positive housing market for the year ahead.

With this news in mind, we are the leading estate agents in Colnbrook so if you are looking to buy or sell in the area, or you are a landlord or looking to rent in the area and have any questions, make sure to give us a call on 01753 683000 or email us.

What can we take from the latest Rightmove HPI report?

There is more choice for buyers

After two and a half years of a fast-paced housing market, with multiple bidders and cash buyers lining up to buy every home for sale, we’re now heading into a more settled market. There’s still a shortage of available homes for sale, but with 48% more homes on the market than there was a year ago the good news is that there’s more choice for buyers.

More buyers ready to move

Many buyers are ready to get on with their move, it is spring now after all! The number of potential buyers making enquiries to estate agents had risen 11% in the last two weeks of February, compared to the same period in 2019, which is the last time any of us saw a ‘normal’ housing market. Buyers have returned with more confidence and more choice, although with revised budgets to accommodate mortgage rates, they are back and looking seriously for their next move.

Realistic asking prices for sellers is key to finding the right buyer

As we enter a slower market, setting a realistic asking price when first listing a property is key to finding the right buyer, contact us today if you would like your home valued with an honest opinion and expert knowledge of the local market. 

Lower mortgage rates and packages are coming back

The latest data shows that average mortgage rates have fallen after the uncertainty in the months following the mini-budget. Someone looking to take out a five-year fixed mortgage with a 15% deposit would be looking at an average rate of 4.82%, compared with 5.90% in October 2022, lower rates than originally predicted for now. This is great news for buyers, as lower mortgage rates mean the potential to now afford a higher-priced home than anticipated or have more disposable income to help combat the cost of living crisis.

First-time buyers are returning to the market

More sales are being processed and agreed now than at the start of this year. First-time buyers were hit hardest by the rapid increase in mortgage rates, and with many packages being removed from the market, caused havoc for many property chains. First-time buyers returning to the market with the confidence to make a purchase is a positive sign for all, allowing sellers to continue to chase their next dream home, ultimately keeping chains moving nicely.

If you’re looking to get onto the property ladder in Slough, or buy and sell in Colnbrook, contact us today. We’re ready and waiting to assist you, we have homes waiting for you to view and buyers waiting to view homes like yours.

Contact Us

If you are looking to buy, sell or rent a property in Slough and the surrounding areas, we are the leading independent estate agents in Colnbrook and are location experts. So, contact us on 01753 683000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook,  LinkedIn, and Instagram.

However, we know it can be difficult to get into the mood with the mental overload at this time of year, so with a week left, we thought we’d help you to get into a festive mood by bringing you our top 7 ways to get a bounce in your step, the tinsel up, and in a proper cheery mood ahead of the big day.

If you’re thinking of moving in the new year, take some time now to browse homes in the area. We are still open right up to Christmas Eve and we are the leading estate agents in Colnbrook so if you are looking to buy or sell in the area, or you are a landlord or looking to rent in the area and have any questions, make sure to give us a call on 01753 683000 or email us.

HERE ARE 7 WAYS TO GET YOURSELF IN THE FESTIVE MOOD…

Pop the TV on and cosy up –  Maybe an obvious and easy one with the current temperatures outside. Grab an Oodie, fluffy socks and pop on Home Alone. Still not ready? Go for The Grinch or A Christmas Carol, that might just do the trick.

Head on down to a panto – Pantomimes are everywhere, book one in and head on down for a bit of “oh no he didn’t, oh yes he did!”. Audience participation is encouraged, and a real cheery mood created. You’ll be bouncing out of there feeling ready to tackle the tree, last minute presents and the food shop!

Light some festive scented candles – From mulled wine, cinnamon, pine, orange to clove, gingerbread, rosemary and thyme. Fill your home with the scents of Christmas and have all the best memories floating back in.

Get out and about – Soak in the festive atmosphere at a local pub or restaurant, take a stroll through a park, get your nose all red and head home for a movie, as mentioned above!

Shop local – We totally get that Christmas shopping can be an awful experience. But it doesn’t have to be! Take it easy, shop local and support your town, it may just help put a meal on their table.

Bake a treat at home – There is nothing more satisfying than when others enjoy your baked goods. You don’t have to go wild. Fill your home with the scent of Cookies or Gingerbread, and soak it all in.

Sight see, go in search of Christmas lights – Facebook is great for finding out about the best local attractions and the streets to visit for free, or venture out a bit further to Christmas light extravaganzas, they’ll have you feeling all bright and merry.

So there it is, when you’re not busy browsing for a new home, 7 ways to get you in the festive mood and ready for Christmas next week.

Get in Touch

If you are looking to move to Slough and the surrounding areas, we are the leading independent estate agents in Colnbrook and are location experts, we have homes suitable for many budgets ready to view. So, contact us on 01753 683000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook,  LinkedIn and Instagram.

If you’re looking for a property to rent or buy in Slough and the surrounding area now, make sure you give the leading estate agents in Colnbrook a call on 01753 683000 or email us and we’ll help you find your next home.

Many of our clients have come to us in the same position, it has been a difficult decision for them but they want to find something that better suits them. However, once they find their dream property it is clear that they made the right decision to pack up the boxes. We have put together some of the top reason people decide to move, if any are relatable it may mean it’s time for you and your family to consider making a move.

Here are the top 7 reasons many give when deciding it’s time to move;

The commute to work  

The cost of fuel is increasing and with concerns for the environment being a hot topic many have reassessed the commute to work. Many consider moving themselves closer to their workplace or closer to public transport networks to cut down on the commute.

No longer needing to commute

Many people have now transitioned into work-from-home roles so they are looking for a change at home to accommodate space for this. Others are realising a more desirable home location is the priority. Covid-19 created a real need to take care of mental health and drove an interest in being around more green space for walking and reconnecting with nature.

The house feels too small

Many first homes are purchased alone or in a couple, however; as life progresses, and kids, pets or even elders need to move in, the house that was once spacious and cosy is now cramped and uncomfortable. Covid-19 forced many to spend more time at home, with a real shift to home working and at-home hobbies extra space for things such as a home office or garden are top of the search lists.

The house feels too big 

On the other hand, many are finding that their homes are just too big for them. Times change, the kids move out, visitors are less, bills are increasing, time and energy for pets, cleaning or maintaining a home becomes limited. While there can be an emotional connection involved with a long-standing family home, many take the decision to move whilst it is still in their control to do so.

School catchment areas

Sometimes the home does not sit within the catchment area for the school that is desired and therefore to get a place within the school a move is key. Properties within just a few meters of each other can have a different value based on which catchment area that they are in.

Having a better network or more space to themselves

Many found Covid-19 lockdowns difficult to be away from family & friends so they are now considering moving closer to loved ones in case it was to happen again. Others realise a quiet place to enjoy their surrounding with less hustle and bustle or bumping into crowds of people is better for their health overall.

Just in need of a change

Some people just wake up and know they just aren’t happy and they need to change something. That could be internal or external to their home. Some find that their home is ageing but they don’t have the skills or time for DIY so they look for a new build with all the shiny additions. Or others are bored of the same plain walls and have more time on their hands and budget constraints means buying that bigger but older ‘fixer-upper’ home is more achievable. It could just be that they want to walk outside to something different.

Get in Touch

If you are looking to move to Slough and the surrounding areas, we are the leading independent estate agents in Colnbrook and are location experts, we have homes suitable for many budgets ready to view. So, contact us on 01753 683000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook,  LinkedIn and Instagram.

If you’re looking for a property to rent or buy in Slough and the surrounding area now, make sure you give the leading estate agents in Colnbrook a call on 01753 683000 or email us and we’ll help you find your next home.

The proposal shared by Boris Johnson’s Government stated that landlords of rental properties should no longer be able to ban new or existing tenants from having pets, as part of the Renters Reform Bill designed to give tenants more power and promising the biggest reforms to the private rented sector in decades. It also says that landlords will only be able to refuse the addition of pets if there is a clear supported reason to do so, such as the property is simply too small to accommodate the requested pet.

We’ve covered some questions below where pets in rental properties are concerned, however; if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call our expert team on 01753 683000 or email us.

Will tenants need permission to have pets?

Tenants will still need to inform their landlord if they are intending to get a new pet. Even if the proposal becomes written law and landlords won’t legally be able to just refuse a pet, it will still be necessary to get their written permission (the same as it is to make changes to most things in a rental property).

It would still be necessary information to disclose to a potential landlord when looking for a new home, whilst they cannot say no pets they still have a right to know who and what is residing in the property.

Can a landlord say no to pets?

If a tenant is currently renting a property and has requested in writing to their landlord that they intend to get a pet, the landlord must object in writing within 28 days and must provide a reasonable explanation if they are refusing the request.

It’s not clear at the moment what the legal path would be for a tenant whose landlord refuses the request and they feel it was unreasonable for them to refuse. According to the proposal, the government will “legislate to ensure landlords do not unreasonably withhold their consent” to allow pets.

‘The choice of wording ‘unreasonably’ leaves a lot of scope for interpretation, and doesn’t guarantee that owning a pet in the property will always be allowed. It is not clear what would count as a reasonable refusal, details are still to be clarified by the government however some reasons may include that the property is too small for the size of the pet, or the property is in a block of flats and the noise for neighbours would be unreasonable.

Will the property be covered for pet damage?   

Prior to 2019 a landlord could increase the deposit request for tenants if they wanted to move in with a pet or request to get a pet, this extra deposit was to account for any potential damage caused or cleaning up after the tenant and their pet left. However, when the Tenant Fee Ban of 2019 came in to effect it meant that this was no longer an option for the landlord, which lead to some placing an all-out ban on pets in their properties in turn making it difficult for tenants to find properties that allowed them to move in with their beloved pets.

If the proposal becomes law in order to cover the risk of potential damage to a property that a pet may cause, the landlord will likely be within their right to request that their tenant obtains pet insurance in order to cover any damages to the property. This is an additional cost that tenants may have to prepare for in the future.

As with any damage to a rental property, the 5-week deposit may be at risk if a pet damages the property or fleas are discovered during cleaning. Having a good inventory taken is essential for both parties when a tenant intends to moves in.

Get in Touch

If you are looking to move to Slough and the surrounding areas, we are the leading independent estate agents in Colnbrook and are location experts, we have homes suitable for many budgets ready to view. So, contact us on 01753 683000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook,  LinkedIn and Instagram.

It’s at times like these that we need to look on the bright side of life – to paraphrase Monty Python. The good news is that last year, the property market showed a great deal of resilience when faced with the first lock down and has continued to prop up the economy thanks, in part, to government initiatives like the Stamp Duty Holiday.

As one of the leading lettings agents in Colnbrook and the surrounding areas, we recognise that it is our responsibility to keep our clients well informed on issues that might affect them and their properties. So, if you are looking to move in the near future make sure you get in touch with us on 01753 683000 or email us.

House Price Growth

There has been a bit of a property boom since May 2020 with people aiming to save up to £15k on Stamp Duty; however, while transactions have been at record highs recently, we are expecting to see this slow down along with a more subdued growth in house prices. While this doesn’t necessarily sound like good news, but this temporary slowing of the market is forecast by industry experts to pick up in 2022 and gather momentum again over the next five years.

Brexit and Covid-19

In the short term, Brexit is unlikely to have any direct impact on the property market in the UK. It is more likely that job uncertainty caused by both the pandemic and Brexit will be what influences how people set their priorities for the year.

Having said that, at the time of writing, the first vaccines in the UK are being administered for the ‘at risk’ demographic; this is giving the general population a little more hope that we might be back to some semblance of ‘normal’ within the year; naturally this will bring renewed confidence in the property sector.

Demand

As mentioned before, there has been high demand for property for the last 8 months which have led to record property transaction numbers. It is safe to say that many people were sparked into making a decision by the lure of saving on stamp duty; but also, the national lock downs have made people reassess their living arrangements and their home priorities. With changing lifestyles comes changing criteria. We have seen buyers looking for things like better internet connectivity, access to outdoor spaces and properties with ready built home offices.

Mortgage Rates

It is highly unlikely that the Bank of England will increase the base interest rate, at least for now; so, this will keep mortgage rates low. Now could be the perfect time to take advantage of the excellent mortgage products which are available; as confidence returns to the banks and wider economy we are likely to see more of these competitive mortgage products come to market.

Property experts have forecast a similarly resilient property market in the UK throughout 2021 so if you’re thinking of making your move, make sure you drop us a line.

Get in Touch

If you would like to talk to a member of our expert team about your property and getting compliant, make sure you contact us on 01753 683000 or email us. As the leading independent letting agents in Colnbrook and the surrounding areas we are location experts and are always happy to help. You can also follow us on Facebook,  LinkedIn and Instagram.