Moving into a new property at a new location can bring a whirlwind of emotions, including stress, excitement, and a slight apprehension, but it’s essential to create a positive impression on your new neighbours.  

Your neighbours play a vital part in keeping you and your property safe, so it's crucial to create a good, solid relationship.  

Start with a simple introduction  

When relocating into a new home, you should approach your new neighbours at the first chance and introduce yourself. A great way to confidently do this is by approaching them and beginning your relationship with a kind, simple smile and introduction, creating a solid foundation.  

Having this first interaction creates an important first impression and can help you identify what your new neighbours are like, potentially preventing future disputes.  

Keep your surrounding property tidy  

Whether you live in an apartment, a terraced, semi-detached, or detached property, you may have shared-cared spaces you look after with your neighbours. This could be a shared drive, fence, or pathway, so it’s important that you communicate clearly and create a rotation of care for the shared space to avoid disputes.  

It is vital that you help maintain these spaces and create a clean environment in your community. By having an untidy entrance or drive to your home, it can imprint a negative impression on your neighbours and potentially make their property look untidy. So, by simply sweeping around your property to remove any loose leaves or debris, you can make a positive impression on your neighbours.  

Property garden maintenance  

Maintaining your property's surroundings also includes keeping your garden well-groomed to produce a beautiful appearance. You can simply care for your garden by ensuring your grass doesn't overgrow with a weekly cut and potentially planting some bulbs, which will allow effortless flowers to appear every year. Don't become the property that everyone avoids; instead, impress your neighbours with a well-cared-for garden.  

Neighbouring hedges and fences  

When it comes to first impressions with your neighbour, disputes can easily be encouraged if you are sharing a fence or hedge. This is extremely common, so before making any changes to any hedges or fences, it is key to discuss your options with your neighbour and ensure you receive the green light. Your neighbours will appreciate the discussion, demonstrating clear communication from your end and an excellent first impression.  

Home improvements  

When moving into a new property, sometimes you want to make slight home improvements, which can potentially cause disruption to your new neighbours. Keeping your neighbours informed and providing them with notice of any completed work is crucial.
Being a good neighbour means being considerate of others and being aware of the little things. For example, outdoor flood lighting can shine into your neighbouring homes, disturbing their privacy, or an outdoor shed could disturb their garden's sunlight. Being aware of the little things can create a good first impression on your neighbours.  

Be a considerate neighbour  

When moving to a new home, it’s vital to be a good, kind neighbour and considerate of your surroundings. This can be as simple as not being disruptive with noise pollution, taking your rubbish bins out at the correct times, parking in the correct place; there are so many unwritten rules of being a good neighbour and creating a good first impression.  

Clear communication is a key rule to maintaining a positive relationship with your neighbours and keeping you and your community safe. Exchanging numbers with your neighbour allows you to communicate clearly if you feel something suspicious is occurring. The more people you know in your area, the safer you and your property will be.  

If you're considering upgrading a potential property through a home renovation, it can be an exciting process, but it can also present challenges. Instead of buying a move-in-ready property, you have the option of renovating a character-filled, fixer-upper. We have compiled 10 steps to follow to guarantee success throughout a home renovation.

Step one: Find a property and make a renovation plan

With our 10 steps to successful renovations, you can easily lay out a plan and begin your renovation journey. But to begin your renovation adventure, you need to find the right property. Study potential properties and uncover their hidden value.

Make sure to have a survey completed. The most detailed survey you can receive for a property is a level 3 survey, which is the most thorough analysis of the entire property’s building structure and condition. The overall report provides extensive details, including recommendations, estimated costs, and a timeline for any necessary work. This can help you produce a solid plan and give you an idea of where to start.

Step two: Understand your legalities

When you decide to complete renovations on a property, you need to understand the legalities. This will include ensuring you have planning permission in place (if needed). Even though plenty of home alterations don’t need planning permission, it’s always beneficial to check before diving straight in. You can apply for planning permission before you purchase a property.

Once you exchange contracts and have secured your property, it will be your responsibility to have the right insurance in place. Home insurance during renovations can come at a higher expense, but it is worth every penny as it provides you with peace of mind throughout the entire process.

Although a house warranty is not a requirement when renovating your property, it protects you from any flaws in the potential design, materials, or overall build quality, and will also cover any problems that occur for 10 years as a result of these factors.

Step three: Calculate your costs

Correct cost alignment is crucial for delivering a successful renovation project. You're looking to get the best value for money. Being vigilant about potential hidden costs is crucial to staying within the right budget. Always overbudget by 10% to provide yourself with flexibility, and you can utilise any remaining funds for enhancing your home's interior design or landscaping your ideal garden.

Step four: Understand EPC and ways you could improve it

If you’re renovating your home, consider the future and its resale value. Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are now more important than ever in terms of increasing value; the future may create difficulties for homes without a good EPC score, so the quicker you take this into account, the better.

You can enhance your EPC rating by installing insulation in your home and surrounding pipes, replacing light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, upgrading your boiler and heating system, installing solar panels, a smart meter, and installing double or triple-glazed windows.

Step five: Discover a trustworthy contractor

This is a crucial step because this individual will bring your ideas to life. Become your own project manager and oversee the entire project, and if you’re a seasoned pro, get stuck in and knock a few walls down. Shop arounFd, gather ideas from different contractors, and take into account positive references and reviews.

Step six: Organise the removal of materials

A renovation project always leads to plenty of waste, especially if the demolition of walls is part of the plan. By organising a skip hire for the property, you can create less hassle for everyone involved, and the skip hire company will be able to dispose of the materials. You could potentially sell certain elements of the property to generate additional revenue.

Step seven: Protect the property’s original features

The main attraction when you buy a fixer-upper is the original character features. These can easily be rediscovered and highlighted throughout the home renovation, adding a timeless charm to the property. By utilising these original features, you have a chance to save some money on new materials. Particular attention should be paid to certain features such as:

While renovating, remain careful around these areas to avoid potential damage to the original features.

Step eight: Update your plumbing and electrics

Even though rewiring and plumbing are expensive renovations, they're definitely worth it. This allows you to add certain light features or bathroom looks that suit your lifestyle. By completing this, you could also add characteristics that cut down your energy bill and increase your EPC rating, improving the property’s end value.

Step nine: Turn structural problems into upgrades

While the property is stripped back, this gives you the perfect opportunity to fix or improve any structural issues in the home. This allows you to match the home to modern-day living, potentially creating an open-plan living space or inserting large bi-fold doors leading to the garden.

Take a look at the floor plan, external and internal features, and identify the potential characteristics it could offer. Is there conversion potential for the loft, basement, or garage?  Identifying these key potentials can present a substantial increase in your property’s value.

Step ten: Create a snagging list

As you finalise the property by adding all your interior and décor, you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

What is a snagging list?

A snagging list typically indicates that the home renovation is complete. This is an inspection completed at the end of building work to identify any minor defects and meet the standards you expect, potentially achieving perfection.

Examine your completed project and pinpoint any minor issues you wish to address or monitor to allow issues to be flagged up in a timely manner. The contractor can assist in resolving these issues, ensuring a flawless completion of the project.

First impressions matter
First impressions in property aren’t just about kerb appeal, they’re about attention to detail. The best-prepared homes don’t necessarily undergo major renovations. Instead, they focus on small but meaningful tweaks that help them stand out from the crowd.

Lighting that welcomes
One often-overlooked area is lighting. Swapping out cold, harsh bulbs for warm, ambient ones can instantly make a space feel more inviting. In summer, maximise daylight by ensuring windows are clean, blinds are open, and overgrown plants are trimmed back. Brightness sells - not just literally, but emotionally.

Reimagine your space
Next, take a walk through your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. Do hallway walls need a fresh coat? Could a rug be repositioned to open up the space? Minor redecoration - neutral tones, tidy lines - can quietly uplift your interior without losing character.

Small updates, big impact
Kitchens and bathrooms rarely need full replacements to make an impact. Re-grouting tiles, changing cupboard handles, or updating tap fittings can make the whole space feel sharper and more current. Buyers are unlikely to commit on the strength of a new sink alone, but they will notice if yours feels tired or dated.

Scent and sound: The finishing touch
Don’t overlook scent and sound. Subtle fragrance like fresh linen, citrus, or lavender can evoke comfort. Likewise, ensuring the property is peaceful - or playing low instrumental music during viewings - can create a calm backdrop.

Tidy the outside as well
Finally, pay attention to the exterior. Repainting a door, adding a potted plant, or simply power-washing a patio can add an instantly refreshed look. A buyer’s experience starts the moment they walk up the path, not once they’re inside.

The power of small details
In a market where detail counts, it's often the smallest tweaks that make the biggest impact. You don’t need to overhaul your home - just tune it thoughtfully.

Contact us today to prepare your home for market

Identifying what makes your home unique
Some homes have a charm that’s hard to define but unmistakable when you feel it. It might be a bay window with morning light, a garden that feels like a private retreat, or the simple calm of a well-loved kitchen. Buyers don’t just want square footage - they want charm. And your home might already have it.

The question is: how do you showcase it?

Capture mood, not just space
Start by identifying what drew you in when you first bought the property. Maybe it’s the original floorboards, a period fireplace, or the way the space flows when friends come round. These aren’t just features; they make your home unique.

Photography should capture not just space, but mood. Rather than over-stage every room, aim to keep it honest and inviting. Use natural light, pull back curtains, and focus on textures and materials that evoke warmth and quality. Show off your home’s character - create focus on a reading nook, a Sunday lunch setting - and not just blank rooms.

The power of small, personal touches
Sellers often overlook the small, personal touches that quietly speak volumes. A well-tended plant in a sunny window, an organised shelf of cookbooks, or a subtle scent can create an emotional connection. Buyers may not remember every fixture, but they will remember how the space made them feel.

Let the summer work for you
It’s also helpful to think seasonally. A home that glows in summer light should embrace that with open windows and fresh flowers. A property that feels cosy in winter might benefit from soft throws and warm tones. Let the time of year work in your favour.

Embrace your home’s character
Finally, avoid masking your home's character in a rush to neutralise everything. While clean and uncluttered always helps, don’t be afraid of personality. Buyers aren’t looking for perfection - they’re looking for a place that feels like home. And authenticity sells.

Contact us today to prepare your home for a standout sale