Published: 11/03/2020 By Tam van Wyk
Those daffs are all coming out and, the sun is occasionally managing to break through the storm clouds. Whatever the weather, though, this is one of the key periods in the property calendar. It’s when we end our winter hibernations and begin looking for new homes.This year, however, as a result of the coronavirus, things are looking rather different. The market had been building nicely in the aftermath of last year’s election but now things are quietening down. The good news is, it should pick up where it left off once the crisis is over. In the meanwhile, there are still people who need to move, so don’t be put off getting your property on the market. No doubt, there will also be plenty of others searching the portals over the coming weeks, it’s just they are likely to delay booking their viewings.
If you’re one of those who’s considering moving, you might want to use any downtime to de-winterise your house, especially those outside spaces. It’s worth paying particular attention to the front garden, as it’s the first thing people see. If it’s attractive and well maintained, viewers will assume the rest of the property meets the same standards. Mostly, that only involves sweeping up a few leaves and giving any hedges and bushes a quick trim.
Out back, straighten up any wobbly fencing and give the lawn a mow. None of it’s too arduous but will make a big difference. Windows are another area that suffers in winter and a quick clean will work wonders both inside and out. And then there’s the front door, which should truly sparkle - give any cracking paintwork a touch up and don’t forget to give your door furniture a polish.
Right, that’s all for this month. Stay safe and I’ll give you another update in April.