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A Place in the Sun Q&A
Saturday, October 21, 2006

Emily has recently writtern an Article for "A Place in the Sun" with questions and answers for the oversea's owners selling and investers thinking of buying their first property.

Q “We are trying to sell our house in Turkey but I think the garden is letting it down, can you give me some tips on improving it to appeal to buyers?”

A
There are some easy steps that you can follow to tidy up your garden and to give it that ‘wow factor’ for potential purchasers. First of all brighten up your borders with low maintenance, hardy shrubs to add colour and scent. If you are not at the property for long periods of time then do not over-plant and keep it simple.

Most people abroad will relish eating outside in the warmth so make this possible by creating a patio area; for low maintenance, use stones and shingle or for a more contemporary look install decking, however be aware that it will require varnishing to prevent heat and water damage. Accessorising the garden furniture will give a lived-in feel, add bright cushions to chairs and bug-repelling citronella candles to the table to give a full effect.

Create an irresistible ambience in your garden with ‘mood’ lighting there are many options available these days from solar garden lights to colourful patio

Q “In order to increase the value of our Spanish home, should we put in double glazing or will that effect keeping the property cool so would buyers rather have the traditional single panels?”

A Double glazing is a more secure option depending on the necessity in your area, and it would appeal to UK purchasers. Today you can source double glazing which will even compliment mosquito nets perfect for overseas hot climates. Many households in Spain choose to have single panels and add bars across the windows; some people view this as a traditional feature, however others think it is unsightly. Your final decision would have to be on the finances, would the glazing cost more than what it would add to the value of your home, if the answer is yes, then I would advise to keep the windows as they are.

Q “We are investing in a 2 bedroom villa in Portugal which we are planning to sell on completion, our agent is offering a furniture pack with the villa sale for an extra fee. Are these are these a good deal and will people expect furniture in the villa when buying?”

A Many agents today offer the possibility of purchasing a furniture pack which they generally source from local companies and can be of a good quality. Whereas they can make your life very easy when you first buy your own home so that you can move in straight away, they can also sometimes be of a substandard quality and over-priced by the agent. If you were moving in yourself you could make a decision on personal taste and budget, however as you are looking to sell immediately I do not believe purchasers will expect furniture (it also reduces your profit margin). Furniture can be a hindrance as some purchasers can not see beyond the chairs and tables and if it is not to their own taste then they will be put off.

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