Make the first few seconds count! Your front door is the centrepiece of your kerb appeal so think about giving it a repaint in a tasteful colour and adding identical potted plants or hanging baskets either side. Make sure to move bins out of view and clear away anything unsightly in the driveway.

Don’t forget to check the outside lights work too, as some viewings may be in the evening and lighting up the entrance will look a lot more welcoming.

The entrance hallway will create the memorable first impression, so make sure it’s the right impression by removing any bulky furniture and shoe clutter. Upgrade lighting and paint walls in a neutral colour to create a bright, welcoming look. If there is plenty of space, additional accessories like rugs, welcome mats and modern wall art will boost instant attraction too.

Deep clean

Buyers are searching for their dream home, so they’ll be expecting to see immaculate rooms with zero signs of dirt. They need to imagine themselves living in your home, so make sure all your bits and bobs are neatly put away.
Cleanliness should never be underestimated and this includes deep-cleaning the carpets and scrubbing bathrooms until they sparkle. A sparkling floor will instantly lift the room and the smell of freshness will definitely be appreciated by your guests. Get rid of limescale, clean and repair tile grout, wax the wooden floors and hang up fresh towels.
Use air fresheners and candles to get rid of any faint smells and make your house smell delightful throughout. If you have pets, it will be your luck that not one of your prospective buyers will love animals, so it’s definitely worth making sure all the carpets and rugs have been thoroughly cleaned and smell fresh.

Declutter your home

Clutter will never help sell a home – instead it makes them seem smaller and disorganised. Take time to remove as much as possible without leaving the rooms bare and boring. Either throw clutter away, store it neatly out of sight or give items to your friends and family. All floors and surfaces should be clutter-free, while cupboards should be neatly organised in case sneaky guests start peeking.

Show off your storage space

Plenty of storage is a huge selling point for buyers, especially if they have children – or plan to. So it’s important to make sure that all of your cupboards and drawers throughout the house are neat and tidy. People like to see for themselves what sort of space they can utilise, so be prepared for cupboards to be romaged.

Start packing before you’ve even sold

If you’ve already outgrown your home, it’s a good idea to start packing before your house photos are taken. Sadly, potential buyers won’t see your family pictures as charming decorations, but as house-shrinking clutter. Removing personal photos will also make it ten times easier for buyers to envisage living in your home as they won’t have strangers smiling at them from the walls.

Get the lighting right

The wrong lighting can make your home feel dark and drab. If your bulb has been flickering, or just looks plain dull, now is the time to replace it.

Install bright, modern lighting throughout your home. This will not only make living areas feel bigger, but it also makes it feel a lot more cheerful too.

Fix it!

Still got some long-overdue DIY jobs on the to-do list? Now is the time to finally get these ticked off. Dripping taps, creaky floorboards, cracked tiles, and grubby sealant will send all the wrong messages to potential buyers. Many buyers want to move in without the dreaded costs of DIY jobs, so prepare for this.
Getting any problems fixed before putting your home on the market is a smart idea. Just by installing new faucets, mirrors and doorknobs will instantly refresh your home.

Keep your home neutral

Bright colours and wacky wallpapers aren’t for everyone, but neutral colours won’t put any buyer off. Giving walls a fresh lick of paint will help freshen up rooms and look more attractive to a buyer.
Using sophisticated, neutral hues allows viewers to see your home as a blank canvas. It lets them easily plan how they would put their own stamp on the house. Yes, it may take a few weeks to paint every room white, but it will be worth it in the end.

Compliment your windows

All windows should have blinds or curtains, but avoid nets – they’re far too old-fashioned.
If some rooms have smaller windows, you can make them appear larger by adding long curtains. Just make sure curtains are pulled right back with attractive tiebacks and any blinds are open to let plenty of light flood the room. If you’re in need of a curtain upgrade, you don’t have to spend a fortune – Ikea, B&M and The Range all offer great value for money.

Give your home some TLC

There are many simple, yet effective, interior changes you can make to help bring your home to life. You really don’t need to spend a lot of time or money on it either.
From adding mirrors to make rooms appear bigger, to plumping cushions and re-pleating curtains, it only takes a few minutes to make a room look that little bit more attractive. Try adding rugs to spacious rooms – it will help create a warm, homely feel.

Plants and flowers bring colour, life, and light to a room, as well as smelling wonderful. It’s still important that your home looks lived in though, so adding flowers and fresh fruit in a bowl on your kitchen counter is a nice touch. Good smells can make a property feel like an alluring home that anyone will want to come back to.
A well-presented shelf can do wonders in creating a stylish look. Avoid overfilling them, but use them to neatly display plants, flowers, pretty books and modern artwork.

Make the master bedroom inviting

Your bedrooms, and in particular the master room, are key selling points for a potential buyer. To really impress your guests, use white or neutral bedding that is freshly cleaned and neatly ironed. Plump up pillows, add decorative cushions and drape a throw over the end of the bed for added cosiness.

Make the most of your garden

Spending some time tidying up the outside of your house will definitely pay off. Gardens or any type of outdoor space can be another great selling point – but an overgrown jungle could see your buyer running a mile.

Potential buyers want to visualise themselves using the garden, playing with the family or hosting BBQs with friends.
If the first thing people see when they walk out the back door is an unkempt garden or loose concrete slabs, it’s likely they’ll instantly compare yours to all of the looked-after gardens from previous viewings.

First things first – tidy up the garden by cutting bushes back, clean the patio, cut the grass, remove weeds and sweep or power wash pathways. While this doesn’t add much value to your home, it will help make it more likely to sell. If need be, buy inexpensive patio furniture, potted plants and install some outdoor lighting to tie it all together.
Tips for improving a successful viewing

Leave your doors open

Make prospective buyers feel welcome and free to wander around your home by leaving the doors to each room open. It’s a fantastic way to immediately impress people by showing off the main selling points of a room just from the doorway.

Always be prepared for last minute viewings

Be ready to scramble for last minute viewings, you know what people are like!
Once you’ve done your deep clean, DIY jobs, and your garden is looking fantastic, all you’ll need to worry about is keeping every room smelling and looking fresh. Just make sure the beds are always made!

Spread the word

Tell everyone that you’re selling, including neighbours, friends, friends of friends, and even your hairdresser. Use social media to spread the word, such as Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. These platforms are all free, so use them to your advantage. You never know where an unexpected buyer might spring from.

Stay out of the way!

When potential buyers come to view your property, let them wander freely around the house. You want them to feel comfortable and as though they can spend time looking at each room and imagine their life there. But don’t run off, as you may need to be on hand to answer questions after the viewing.

Why buy new? The surprising benefits of owning a new build home

If you’re moving house but can’t decide if you want to buy a new build or an older home, we have all the information you need to know about the benefits of purchasing a brand new home.
On top of the unrivalled luxury, you feel when you come home, living in a new build comes with some unexpected advantages. A modern home saves you money with greater energy efficiency – and lets you seize the opportunity to move to a desirable location.
But that’s just the start.
At Bargate, we don’t just build beautiful, comfortable homes; we build welcoming communities that you’ll be proud to call home. Each home we build is carefully crafted, to showcase individual character and complement its surroundings.
If acres of stunning English countryside sounds like the perfect destination for your next move, you don’t have to rule out a new build. We design our rural homes with traditional architecture, to complement the charming villages, breathtaking views and fascinating heritage around them.
Please view some of our current developments to see for yourself the homes Bargate build:
Deer Walk
Ashwood
Romana
Better for the environment, better for your pocket
We’re proud to build quality homes that meet the latest environmental standards, offering unbeatable value for money.
A new build home from Bargate cuts carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 60% when compared with a second-hand property. Our homes are not only better for the environment – they’re around 50% cheaper to run than older homes.
New build homes can make an enormous difference to your outgoings by reducing utility bills by more than £500 a year. Our homes are fitted with the latest boilers, that only make hot water when you need it. So you can relax and put your feet up, knowing that your home will keep you cosy through the winter – without a hefty bill.
High-quality for complete peace of mind
We follow strict building regulations, for homes that are built to last. We start our diligent process before a single home is built – surveying the development location to make sure it’s safe from flooding and any other natural events.
Knowing you can settle straight into your home without the worry of paying for repair and maintenance work (or doing lots of DIY) is just one of the reasons why buying new is such a popular option.
There’s nothing worse than having the excitement of moving completely destroyed when you find poor DIY jobs and stained carpets in a second-hand home. It can be costly and stressful, knowing that there’s so much to do.
“We have been nothing but delighted with our lovely new Bargate Home in Fair Oak. We looked at lots of new houses before buying but the finish, specification, design and location of our Bargate home just seemed to edge the others out. We especially like the higher ceilings which give the downstairs rooms a light and airy feel.”
A modern home with integrated kitchen appliances, a stylish en-suite and a gorgeous master bedroom isn’t a luxury with Bargate – it’s a quality standard. We build houses you’ll be proud to call home, by using the latest building materials. And all of our homes include high-performance locks, burglar alarms and smoke alarms – so you’ll feel safe even when you aren’t at home.
To give you complete peace of mind, our homes come with a 2-year guarantee and 10-year structural warranty with Premier. Our customer care team are always on hand to answer your questions too.
“The build quality was of a very high standard and I have since recommended Bargate to a number of friends.”
Make your first (or second) home your dream home
We are so proud to be a part of helping our customers get on the property ladder and move into their first home.
With Help to Buy, we make the buying process as easy as possible. So many customers didn’t even know they could move into their dream home with just a 5% deposit – until they spoke to us.
If you’re a second-time buyer, Help to Buy is available to you, too – in fact, anyone who wants to move into a newly built home under £600,000 is eligible. It’s another great advantage of buying new that you can’t get from buying second-hand.
“I’d recommend Bargate to anyone looking for their dream home and if you’re considering buying a New Build, I’d urge you to give them a chance whilst looking around!”
Chain free, hassle free
Whether you’re buying your third, fourth or tenth house, having the opportunity to move in as soon as you complete means you don’t have the stress of waiting for existing owners to move out.
By cutting the chain, you eliminate the uncertainty that is often associated with moving – particularly with second-hand homes.
Bring your personality into your home
New homes offer something for everyone. There are countless designs and styles to choose from in all price ranges – and every one of our homes has a charming individual character.
With a new home, you can tailor your property to your personal taste – by choosing flooring, adding your own interior design touches and growing your own garden just the way you want it. A new build home is your chance to develop and design the perfect environment for you and your family.
Everything that happens in your new home will be a first: the first laughs, the first meal – the first relaxing bath. Your new home is so much more than just a blank canvas – it’s the start of a lifetime of memories and your chance to add your own style and personality throughout.
Bargate Home vs Second-hand Home

Built with efficient insulation – cheaper bills

Potentially draughty – take longer and are more expensive to heat up

Perfect condition – no maintenance work needed

Maintenance and renovations expected

You can personalise your home to suit you

Everything has been lived in – smells and stains expected

High-security homes

May lack high-performance locks, smoke and burglar alarms

Kerb appeal to make anyone envious

No blank canvas to add your own stamp

Chain-free

Risk of long chains and uncertainty

Building on quality with superior specifications

Bargate Homes is your local expert on new homes. With decades of combined home building experience, we build our homes on a foundation of quality using premium materials and the latest techniques, but we don’t stop there.
We give every one of our homes the same great care and attention to detail that other home builders just don’t match. In our kitchens you will find integrated premium appliances, stainless steel ovens, and durable laminate worktops making your kitchen not only functional but a joy to work in.

Keeping our bathrooms modern and contemporary is Porcelanosa® tiling with a chrome-trimmed edge and elegant sanitary ware by brands such as Roca®, featuring close coupled WC’s with soft-close seats. No detail is too small for consideration.

Helping to preserve the peace of your bedrooms and beyond are our solid-core doors, ensuring that socialising, shrieks from playtime, and music (practice or played) doesn’t intrude on anyone’s relaxation.

Keeping our purchasers in mind, it’s easy to know that wiring every Bargate home for Sky+ will be greatly appreciated. This and the BT connection points placed strategically throughout each home is just one way we demonstrate our knowledge of your preferences.

Our developments are all built in beautiful areas and are exquisite examples of location led design, we want our developments to fit into the communities we live and work in. Every development has a special characteristic like rear garden sheds (at Bishop’s Harbour), solar panels (at Meon Green) and easy access to nature (Norton Heights’ ancient woodland paths).

We know that each purchaser has different needs and requirements and we aim to provide you with the ideal house, ready to become your family home.

Hampshire by the shore

We love to be beside the seaside and Hampshire has some gorgeous locations for you to while away your day. Whether you are looking for a beachy adventure or a place to simply enjoy the sun, sea and waves, there is somewhere for everyone.

Hayling Island

These family friendly beaches near Chichester are fantastic for the whole family to enjoy. The three main beaches have an international Blue Flag award and the Keep Britain Tidy award flags for beach cleanliness! The Hayling website tells you which beaches are best for swimming (West Beach is particularly good) and you can find out where you can get your adventure on with jet skiing, kayaking, powerboating, sailing, stand up paddle boarding, surfing, windsurfing and more!

We don’t know about you, but Hayling Island is on our list of places to visit this summer!

Lepe Beach

A part of Lepe Country Park, situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this shingle and sand beach has a great area for swimming and fantastic views of the Isle of Wight. If you’ve got your walking shoes on you can traipse along coastal cliffs, D-day remains and wild flower meadows, there’s even a nature trail for children, just £1.50 each for pencil, crayon and Lepe wristband. There’s so much to see and do! If guided activities are more your style ask about their Bat Walks, Nature Detectives and Marine Wonders.

Chichester Harbour (not quite in Hampshire, but not to be missed!)

One of the few remaining undeveloped coastal areas in Southern England, this too is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You’ll see a wide variety of birds (and other wildlife) in the saltmarsh and mudflats. Book a boat trip to see the harbour and the Isle of Wight from the deck to enjoy the views and sea spray. If you want a true beach day at Chichester Harbour you’ll want to spend part of your day at West Wittering beach with their beautiful white sand beaches.

If one of these beaches isn’t perfect for you and your family’s day out, then you can take a look at one of the MANY other beaches in Hampshire. The Visit Hampshire website is a great resource for planning a day trip and they have a page devoted entirely to their beaches.

With so many things to do in Hampshire we’re writing a series! Next week we’ll be tackling ‘Hampshire under the canopy’, covering forest pursuits both thrilling and tranquil.

You might also be interested in our article, ‘Hampshire is for families’.

Finding THE home for you and your family can be an arduous process. Every family member has a list of what they want in your new home, and sometimes those wants are at odds with each other. What’s a family to do? That’s where we’d like to help. We’ve put together the five elements you’re likely to want in your next family home.

Space

Whether you’re looking for open plan living or a more traditional style home, space is always at a premium. You want to find the home that utilises space in the way you need it to. Is there enough storage for linens and seasonal items? Do you prefer closets and built-in wardrobes to freestanding ones? What’s the back garden like? The way a home is laid out and how the space is used is the most important aspect that will make a house your home.

Schooling

Where your children are going to get their education is key. We all want what’s best for them and doing a little research before you move can help.- How will they get there? Can they walk or do you need to drive?- Do the schools make it easy to find their Ofsted ratings? Is it in a navigation bar or do you have to search?- What do other parents say about the school? Are they positive or do they have complaints?

These three questions can help you make the right decision for your family.

Comfort

As you walk in the door, you want to feel a sense of welcome and well-being. You want your home to be an escape from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. There’s a homey feel ready to be made all your own with personal touches, just like icing on a cake. There’s daylight adding warmth to the walls, nothing feels cramped and too small already. If you’ve got niggling feelings now, can you imagine how you’ll feel after you move in?

Ease

It’s the little things, all the small additions that make life just a little bit easier. Like a pantry off the kitchen to make cooking a family meal quick and easy and a utility room to hold all those muddy wellies and dripping coats. It’s heated towel rails and half height tiling in the bathrooms, the satellite wiring to the living room, all the things you don’t have to add or plan to take care of after you move in. Whether you’re looking for a new build or second-hand property, will it tick all your boxes or will you have to compromise?

Security

There’s a comfort in knowing that your new home is secure and within a great neighbourhood. You want to feel comfortable parking your car after a day in the office or after an errand or school run. It’s the carbon monoxide detector next to the boiler, the smoke alarms connected to the mains, the double-glazed windows and solid doors. All of these things really add up.

There you have it: space, schooling, comfort, ease, and security. The five elements that are needed to create your perfect family home.

Are you ready to find your ideal home?

Click the link below to see the specifications on a Bargate home. Let’s see if we tick all of your boxes.

www.bargatehomes.co.uk/find-your-home