Buyers And Sellers With Time On Their Hands Can Prepare For A Move After Lockdown
20 Apr 2020

Any plans to buy that first dream home, move to a bigger house or sell an existing property may be on hold for some - but don’t waste time sitting and waiting for normal service to resume.

Buyers in the East and North Yorkshire area are continuing to keep their new home expectations on course, with developer Linden Homes East Yorkshire (part of Vistry Group) still taking reservations and allowing to customers to hold their preferred plot for a £99 fee.

They say this is evidence that the market hasn’t come to a complete standstill, and that there is still plenty for buyers and sellers to be getting on with now, taking practical steps and saving valuable time in preparation for life after lockdown.

Sales director Steve Woomble said: “We continue to find ourselves in the challenging but necessary position of having to stay at home. However, with extra time on their hands, buyers and sellers who may not be able to physically visit our developments and chat face to face with sales teams can put this time to equally good use.

“For those looking to buy a new home, there is plenty of ‘homework’ they can be doing, and likewise for sellers looking to part exchange their property, lockdown provides the perfect opportunity to get sale ready, engage in some physical exercise and involve members of the family living under the same roof – all whilst stay at home!

“Spring is traditionally a time when people think about moving, and they can still focus on this but in a slightly different way.”

Some tips for using your spare time wisely:

For buyers

• Get connected with your nearest development online. As all of the Linden sales offices are now closed, there is still an opportunity to view the development, admire photos, enjoy video tours and stay in touch with the sales teams remote either by telephone or video. There will be information about local attractions, schools and travel links giving visitors the opportunity to discover more about the area without stepping outside their front door.
• Familiarising yourself with floor plans is also a great way of getting a feel for your potential new home. By measuring your own kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms etc you can then compare your home to the one you are viewing.
• Getting your paperwork in order will also save time, particular when you come to apply for a mortgage. A mortgage candidate needs a passport, at least three months’ worth of bank statements and pay slips, their name on at least one utility bill at their current address and will be on the Electoral Roll.

For sellers

• If you are looking to part exchange your home when the market begins to stabilise, then it makes sense to get ahead of the game – when others in your position will also be looking to sell. Lockdown DIY can provide a valuable opportunity to finish off those odd jobs around the home. While most retailers are currently closed, some still offer online delivery services for paint, materials and other finishing touches. Replace broken tiles, paint out the scuff marks, wash windows, paint over watermarks on ceilings, clean the carpets, fix or replace that leaking tap, etc. Put together a checklist and tick off jobs once completed – it will give a sense of achievement!
• Give your garden some TLC by washing down patios, filling planters (again, lots of nurseries are fulfilling online orders), paint the fence and clean the garden furniture. Not only will this help to show case your garden but promote exercise and well being just by being outdoors.
• Don’t forget about the exterior of your home, as first impressions count. Give your front door a lick of paint for instant kerb appeal, clean windows and gutters and weed the driveway and / or front garden.
• Finally, don’t let the garage let you down! If like the majority of homeowners you use your garage for storing everything apart from the car, keeping it clutter free will give viewers an idea of how much space there is. They may have their own ideas for garage use – so keep tools, Christmas decorations and other items stored in boxes or hooked on the wall. Don’t hide this vital space under a pile of ‘junk’.

For details of developments in your area visit www.lindenhomes.co.uk/yorkshire.

Linden Homes Coronavirus latest 25 March 2020

While our sites and sales offices are closed, we will stay ‘open for business’ and customers and clients will still be able to contact our teams on the phone and online.

We will also continue to look to support our supply chain partners during this challenging period and will remain in close communication with them.

Our thoughts remain with all those personally impacted by the outbreak, and the safety, health and wellbeing of our customers, our people and our subcontractors is the top priority.

-ENDS-

For further press information please contact Cetti Long at Media Matters on 01733 371363 or email cetti@mediamatters-pr.co.uk