Raising the Rent: How to Renegotiate a Higher Rate Without Losing Your Tenant
By Phillippa Baillie-White on 29th Mar 2024Is there anything trickier than a rent review with a tenant you want to keep? It's little wonder so many landlords leave things as they are, no matter how far behind the market their income falls. Eventually, though, an...
Damage or Wear & Tear? Which Counts as Which, and What Can You Claim Back?
By Phillippa Baillie-White on 22nd Mar 2024Just like a friend you haven’t seen for a long time, your rental property will look older when you get it back at the end of a tenancy, and the difference can be jarring if you haven't visited for a while. Regardless of whether...
Get Sold This Spring: Give Your Home an Instant Spring Lift to Sell Fast and High
By Rachel Ollington on 15th Mar 2024Daffodils, bluebells, and tulips are out in force, and bare branches are filling with leaves and blossom: it must be spring! As the time of fresh starts, now is when buyers come out of hibernation in droves. But so do many...
Four Ways to Declutter: Add Value and Space with the Perfect Method for You
By The Vesta Team on 8th Mar 2024Even though it can add thousands to your selling price and give you more space to enjoy, decluttering can feel like a mountain to climb. As well as the dilemma of where to start, it's easy to lose momentum when you're halfway...
Changes to Selling Homes: How Do the New Trading Standards Rules Affect Your Move?
By Rachel Ollington on 1st Mar 2024You're not alone if you think the way homes are advertised needs a jolly good shake-up, and that's exactly what's happening with the new trading standards rules. From buyers and sellers to estate agents and solicitors, everybody...
Landlords in Trouble: How We Come to the Rescue and Stop Things Going Wrong Again
By Phillippa Baillie-White on 23rd Feb 2024Hardly any landlords we meet are fully legally compliant when we first speak to them, but it’s never on purpose. In fact, most of them genuinely believe they’ve got everything handled. Unfortunately, this often means that...
A New Look for 2024? Discover the Year’s First Major Trends for Home Interiors
By Rachel Ollington on 15th Feb 2024Style and comfort are the perfect combination for every home - not just for quality moments, but also for adding value when you want to move. Interior trends have a longer shelf life than the fickle world of fashion, and perhaps...
Lettings Outlook 2024: What Can Landlords Expect From the Rental Market this Year?
By Phillippa Baillie-White on 11th Feb 2024There's no denying that landlords faced a pretty challenging 2023. In particular, many of those who were highly leveraged decided to simply sell up, but did they act too soon? Their departure has left a large hole of opportunity...
Going Nowhere: Is Your Asking Price or Estate Agent Holding Up Your Sale?
By Rachel OllingtonIf your home has been on the market for a while, something probably needs to change to get your move underway. The latest government figures show the market performing at about 80% of last year, with transactions in September 2023...
Moving for Schools: Get the Timing Right for Your Home Search, Sale and Children’s New Start
By Rachel OllingtonMoving home with your family is a momentous time, especially when it involves changing schools. And although it can be challenging for everyone, it can also be an exciting new chapter. Nonetheless, whether it’s switching from...