Is now the best time to sell your house?

If you've got the luxury of being able to wait around for the price you're hoping for, then great. It makes things a little bit easier for you. But what if you need to move quickly for a new job or a bigger house for a growing family? Well, then you might want to know what the best months are for selling your house and when you're more likely to get the best price fast.

So, we need to consider this logically and in terms of human behaviour. You want to sell your house when there are a lot of buyers competing with each other. Spring is always a good time to sell. Couples with children want to get into their new home before the new school year starts in September. And if this is your demographic, you need to think about putting your house up for sale in February- April at the very very latest.

If you're holding off a bit, don't fear. October and November could be your time to sell to buyers who want the sale to go through before Christmas. It's a shorter window than the Spring season. But leave it much longer than this and you'll find that your buyers are in a stronger position than you as the market slows down and their competition dies down.

At the end of the day, whenever you sell your house, it's how motivated you are (and enthusiastic your estate agent is) that will decide how fast it will sell and for what price. This is just a guide to help you along with your planning. Happy selling!

5 top tips for showing your house

1. Have the right attitude
   You need to convince yourself that the person/people standing in front of you are going to buy your house. Offer them a drink like you would any guest to your house. Not dinner though... that might come across as a bit desperate. Oh, and make sure you know who's coming and try not to get their name wrong.
2. Presentation is paramount
   Give the walls a lick of paint and clear out all the clutter. It's hard for a prospective buyer to visualise all their things in the house when it's cramped with all your things. 
3. Smell you later...
   Sticking a Glade plugin in every socket in the house is going to give your prospective buyers a headache. And it might make them think you're trying to hide something. Try baking some bread or brewing some coffee. These smells are a lot more natural and inviting and won't leave your visitor feeling like they've spent the last half hour in Body Shop.
4. Give them space
   You can give your visitors a guided tour, of course. But don't follow them around for the whole visit. They need to be able to feel as though they've had a proper look and haven't had you breathing down their neck. If there are any obvious problems with the house, point them out. You'll appear more open and honest.
5. Be honest
   Even the smallest white lie could snowball and leave your prospective buyer doubting the truth in everything else you've said. So, be honest and friendly... you don't have to point out all the tiny imperfections though. You are trying to sell your house after all!

Why buy a house in Hungerford?

OK, so I am going to be a bit biased. However, there are a lot of reasons why Hungerford could be the perfect place to buy your new property. In no particular order, here are a few facts about Hungerford:

• The name 'Hungerford' is said to derive from 'Hanging wood by the ford' and the town has a rich history, which its residents are proud of.
• Hungerford is in an 'area of outstanding natural beauty'
• It's only 4 miles from the M4 motorway
• It has a direct rail link to London- great for commuters
• A great area for small businesses and independent retailers
• Hungerford is surrounded by common land just five minutes walk from the town centre
• Home to unique annual events and festivals

If you're after somewhere in the country with idyllic settings and friendly locals with easy routes to major cities, Hungerford could be your new perfect home.

'First time buyer mortgages' now more affordable

First time buyers are in a better financial position to get a mortgage than they were two years ago, according to the latest Halifax First Time Buyer Annual Review.

The credit crunch has certainly slowed down the rate at which first-time buyers have been clambering onto the property ladder as lenders tightened their belts. But this news is optimistic as house prices have lowered and become more affordable.

Commenting on the figures, Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, said that while affordability has improved "substantially" for first time buyers, they are not out of the woods and into their new home just yet.

"The tightening in lending criteria over the past two years is, however, making it very difficult for some to take advantage of lower property prices and mortgage rates," he said.