The simple tricks to make your house stand out to buyers

Finance expert JASMINE BIRTLES, founder of moneymagpie.com, gives her tips for the year ahead…

As it is a buyer’s market in most parts of the country, sellers need to be realistic about their asking price. It can even be worth spending a little ‘dressing’ the property for viewings, including giving it a deep clean, tidying up paintwork and bringing in some colourful cushions and throws to lift the way a room looks.

If you’re selling, be patient. It takes an average of 19 weeks to sell a property, so don’t lose heart.

Buyers have a fantastic choice of low-cost mortgages. It is possible that interest rates will go down later in the year if Brexit really begins to bite, so you could risk a tracker loan, which tracks the Bank of England base rate. However, if you’re a first-time buyer, you’ll need to keep on top of costs for the first few years so a fixed-rate mortgage would be best. As mortgages are still at a historic low, it could be worth going for a long deal, such as a five-year fixed offered by the Halifax and Yorkshire Building Society.

People looking to buy new-build homes can seek support through Help to Buy. The Scottish Government scheme provides up to 15 per cent of the value of the property. It has been extended to March 2021, with a further £100 million over the next two years. By then, the Government estimates the scheme will have helped 18,000 households.