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By theteam, 2 October, 2024
Be a better buyer

BACK TO JOURNAL

Be a better buyer

02/10/2024

You don’t buy a dream home, you make a dream home. At best you buy someone else’s dream and then change it to fit your best vision. Ten-out-of-ten houses are the unicorns of property. Even those who have custom-built their homes discover there are things they should have done differently. For buyers a nine is best, good is an eight and seven might be OK. If you accept this truth you are on the way to becoming a better buyer.
 
So embrace the not quite right and then put it right. Celebrate hideous, badly replaced windows, for in time you will replace them properly, improving insulation, reducing energy bills and, with the correct style, increasing the property’s value. Delight in an overgrown jungle of a garden that’s putting perfectionist buyers off and keeping the value down, and pick up your spade. It won’t be an instant value gain but given time it will be - and think of the mental and physical benefits you will gain on the way.
 
Sniff out the improvers, those properties that will become more valuable because of schools Ofsted is noticing for the right reasons. Understand how future planning will affect local areas for better or worse and choose neighbourhoods that will become more popular and, in turn, gain value.
 
Be patient. It is generally taking far too long to transact property, so dig in for the long haul by selecting well and accepting there will be bumps along the way.
 
Be prepared. When that perfect imperfect house becomes available, be ready to seize the opportunity. Have your finances in order, a buyer lined up, and a complete chain if necessary. Make it hard for a serious seller to refuse your reasonable proposal.
 
Don’t judge the book by the cover. That house with the ideal interior for you but ghastly frontage may not make you happy. But what if a good local architect could transform that elevation into a handsome head-turner that turns a five out of ten into a nine out of ten?
 
Learn to love your estate agent. They already know all those things you need to find out.
 
Looking for a new place to live needn’t be a chore or a lottery. But it is a campaign with a dream at the end - home. 

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By theteam, 11 October, 2022
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"Everyone at Caldwells have been so supportive and friendly, Jeremy, Julian and all their team. Thank you so much for dealing with the sale of my property in Lymington. I have no hesitation in recommending them."

Mrs W
By theteam, 11 October, 2022
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"Caldwells have been brilliant from start to finish. I feel like I have utilised the expertise of every member of this incredible team. So a big thank you to Julian, Jeremy and Jess who all had a hand in this sale. I never felt any pressure to put the house on the market and the first hand advice I received before making any decisions was brilliant and really appreciated. House under offer within a week due to the hard work of every member of the team and I felt reassured throughout the selling process. Thank you to everyone. Thoroughly recommend."

Mr S
By theteam, 28 October, 2022
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"I would recommend Caldwells Estate Agents, they took excellent pictures of our house and an amazing video. They were very professional and the communication was great from start to finish when they sold our house for us."

Mrs C
By theteam, 28 October, 2022
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"To Jeremy, Many thanks for all your advice. With kind regards." 

Mr & Mrs C
By theteam, 28 October, 2022
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"Dear Jeremy and the Caldwells team, Just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help in purchasing my property, very much appreciated."

Mr F
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sales@caldwellsnewforest.com
01590 675875
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Lymington office
Beaufort House,
69 High Street,
Lymington, Hampshire
SO41 9AL
Tel: 01590 675875
Email: sales@caldwellsnewforest.com
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41-43 Maddox Street,

Mayfair, London
W1S 2PD
Tel: 020 7467 5330
Email: info@mayfairoffice.co.uk

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