How to Prepare Your Home for a Summer Sale in South Wales Summer is a great time to sell your home — longer days, blooming gardens, and brighter light all help show your property at its best. But in today’s market, first impressions really count. Here are our top tips from SA Property to get your home sale-ready this summer: 1. Boost Your Kerb Appeal First impressions matter. Mow the lawn, clean your windows, trim hedges, and add some colourful hanging baskets or pots near the front door. A fresh lick of paint on your front door can make all the difference. Tip: In SA4 and surrounding areas, buyers love a well-kept garden that feels ready to enjoy. 2. Declutter and Deep Clean Let natural light flow through every room. Clear countertops, remove excess furniture, and give everything a thorough clean. Consider hiring a professional cleaner before the photos or viewings. Summer bonus: Open windows during viewings to bring in fresh air and let your home feel light and breezy. 3. Style for the Season Swap heavy curtains or winter throws for lighter, brighter options. Use seasonal flowers, fresh cushions, and soft furnishings to give your space a fresh and modern feel. 4. Fix the Little Things That dripping tap or scuffed skirting board? Buyers notice! Taking care of minor repairs shows that your property has been well maintained — and avoids giving buyers reasons to haggle on price. 5. Show Off Your Outdoor Space South Wales summers are perfect for BBQs, gardens, and relaxing on patios. Make your outside space feel like an extra room. Clean outdoor furniture, tidy lawns, and maybe even stage a seating area. 6. Get a Local Expert Valuation Online tools can’t tell you what your home is really worth — not in any postcode. A local, independent agent who knows the market can give you an accurate, realistic valuation to help you price to sell. Want a summer-ready valuation? Book a free one here. Final Thought You only get one chance to make a great first impression — make it count. Whether you're upsizing, downsizing, or relocating, summer is the perfect season to showcase your home in its best light. Need Help Selling Your Home This Summer? At SA Property, we know the SA postcode inside out. We’ll give honest advice, local insight, and expert support at every step of your journey. Call us today on 01792 893000 Email us at info@saproperty.co.uk Or Or book your free valuation here

7 Tips to Make Your Rental Property Stand Out in a Tough Market Let’s be honest—the rental market has shifted. Fewer enquiries, more choice for tenants, and longer void periods are becoming more common across Swansea and the wider SA postcode area. After 25 years in estate agency, I’ve seen these cycles before. And while it might feel like the market has gone quiet, there are always ways to stay ahead of the competition. So here are 7 practical, proven tips to help your rental property stand out—and get let faster, to better tenants. 1. First Impressions Count: Kerb Appeal Matters Before tenants even step inside, they’ve already made a judgement. Tidy the front garden or pathway Repaint tired doors or windows Clear bins and clutter A smart, well-kept exterior suggests a well-managed property—giving potential tenants instant confidence. 2. Modern, Clean, and Neutral Décor Wins Every Time It’s tempting to save money by doing the bare minimum, but a little investment in décor pays off. Stick to clean, neutral colours. Tenants want to imagine themselves living there—not be distracted by bold patterns or dated fittings. Fresh paint, modern light fittings, and clean carpets make a huge difference. 3. Highlight Energy Efficiency With rising energy costs, tenants are more conscious than ever about running costs. Make sure your EPC rating is decent Mention things like double glazing, energy-efficient boilers, or smart meters in your marketing A warmer, cheaper-to-run home is far more attractive—and more likely to secure longer-term tenants. 4. Professional Photos (and a video) This one is non-negotiable. At SA Property, we never cut corners on presentation. Professional photos and a video,  dramatically increase engagement on portals like Zoopla and OnTheMarket. If your current listing has dark, blurry phone pics—chances are tenants are scrolling straight past. 5. Competitive (Not Just Aspirational) Pricing We all want to achieve the best rent—but overpricing in a quiet market can cost you weeks of lost income. It’s better to price competitively and fill the property quickly than wait for a perfect tenant who never comes. We’ll always give you honest, up-to-date advice based on real-time demand—not guesswork. 6. Be Flexible Where You Can Demand may be softer, so flexibility helps. Consider allowing pets (with higher deposit or rent) Be open to different tenant types (students, working professionals, families) Offer longer-term or shorter-term contracts depending on demand A wider tenant pool means more enquiries and less downtime. 7. Work with a Proactive, Local Letting Agent And this is key. At SA Property, we don’t just list and wait. We actively match tenants, send alerts to our database, promote on social media, and follow up fast. We also advise you throughout—on compliance, condition, pricing and more—to protect your investment and minimise stress. Final Word Yes, the market might be tougher right now—but the right strategy, presentation and support can make all the difference. If your rental property is empty, or you’re just not getting the enquiries you expected, get in touch. We’ll take a look, give you honest feedback, and help you make it tenant-ready in no time. Pop in, call us, or drop us a message—we’re here to help you rent smarter.

The 5 Most Common Myths About Estate Agents—Busted After 25 years in the estate agency business, I’ve heard just about every rumour, gripe and assumption people have about estate agents. Some of them are funny, some are frustrating—but most of them are just plain wrong! So, let’s break down five of the most common estate agent myths—and give you the real story behind them. 1. “All estate agents are the same.” This one always makes me smile. Trust me, they’re not. Some agents will list your home, snap a few photos and disappear. Others (like us at SA Property) will be right beside you from day one until the keys are handed over. The difference? Experience, passion, work ethic—and how much your agent truly cares. We’re a small, independent team, and that means every instruction really matters. At SA Property, We’re a small, independent estate agent in Swansea. Every instruction really matters. You're never just another listing on the books with us—you’re a person, with hopes and plans we want to help fulfil. 2. “Estate agents just take photos and wait for the phone to ring.” This might be true of some agents… but the good ones are grafting hard behind the scenes. We’re not just uploading your home to Zoopla or Onthemarket and hoping for the best. We’re reaching out to hot buyers, arranging and managing viewings, giving honest feedback, negotiating offers, handling sales progression, and doing everything we can to keep the chain intact. Behind every sale is a mountain of calls, emails, chasing and problem-solving—often after hours, weekends, even on holidays!Actually, thinking about it, for a decent agent, it is never-ending and at SA Property, we wouldn’t do it any other way. 3. “The cheapest agent is the best value.” We totally understand wanting to save money—but cheapest doesn’t always mean best. An agent charging £500 less might seem like a win… but if they get you £5,000 less on your sale price, was it really worth it?You could be perfectly fine with a cheaper agent, I am sure that there are some who are excellent and provide real value for money. However, in general, the cheaper agents are cheap for a reason, mainly that they need to offer a cheap fee to attract sellers. Good agents don’t just sell your property—they maximise its value. That means better presentation, stronger marketing, skilled negotiation, and ultimately, a better result in your pocket.Too me, if an agent can't negotiate a decent good value for money (for agent and seller) fee, then how on earth are they going to negotiate you the best price for your property? 4. “As long as it’s on Rightmove, it’ll sell.” We love portals like Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket—but they’re just one tool in the toolbox.We don't actually use Rightmove, as we feel that we get better value for money and quality leads from other sources. We also promote homes through social media, email campaigns, videos, floorplans, local networks and direct contacts. We also send out property alerts to matching potential buyers, telling them that a property matching what they are looking for has come on the market.We don’t just list your home—we launch it. The best results come from a mix of clever marketing, great presentation, and knowing how to create a buzz when your home hits the market. 5. “Estate agents are pushy and just want the sale.” A big one—and one we work hard to prove wrong every day. Our job isn’t to pressure or persuade. It’s to guide, support, and give you the information you need to make the right decision for you. Whether it’s when to list, which offer to accept, or when to walk away—we’re here to help you get it right, not push you into a quick deal.Actually, most of the work that we do is long term, we may value a house today, it may then come on the market a month later, we would expect to be under offer within 8 weeks and then the chain to progress would normally take around 3 months (if the solicitors are pushing). So dealing with 1 property can and usually does last around 6 months or more. That's why we believe in a consultative approach or hand holding works the best for us and our clients. Final Thought There are some myths that stick—but I hope this helps you see that a great estate agent can be the difference between a stressful move and a smooth one. If you’re on the market and feeling stuck—or you just want a second opinion—get in touch. Let’s bust a few more myths together and get your move back on track.

Why the Property Market Feels Slower Right Now – And What You Can Do About It If you’ve noticed fewer homes coming onto the market recently, or felt like there’s less interest when a property does get listed—you’re not alone. Over the last few weeks, we’ve definitely seen things quieten down a bit. It’s not just our agency either; the same pattern is showing across the wider market. Spring usually brings a flurry of activity, but this year it’s felt a little off pace. Now, I’ve been in estate agency for 25 years. I’ve seen the highs and the lows—booming markets, interest rate hikes, the 2008 crash, and even a global pandemic. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the market never stays the same for long. But whether it’s a seller’s market or a slow patch like this, properties still sell and rent — you just have to think smart and sometimes outside the box. What’s Actually Going On? This isn’t a market crash. It’s more of a market shift. Properties are still moving—but the pace is slower. Buyers and tenants are more cautious, taking their time before committing. Higher mortgage rates and ongoing cost of living pressures mean people are thinking twice before making big moves. So with less urgency out there, what can you do if you’re trying to sell or rent your property? My Tried-and-Tested Tips to Beat the Market Slump Here’s what I’d recommend—based on two and a half decades of experience and a lot of trial and error! For Sellers: Nail the presentation Make your home as inviting and clean as possible. Tidy gardens, fresh paint, and de-cluttered rooms work wonders. However, if you have a "doer upper" then market is as that, be honest, it is what it is! Make the marketing pop Quality photography and a strong, engaging description help your property stand out online—where 99% of buyers are looking first. Price it realistically One of the biggest mistakes I see in slower markets is overpricing. The longer a home sits unsold, the more buyers start to wonder what’s wrong with it. Over the years we have seen changes here, previously, people would have viewed with the intention of knocking the price down. More recently though, we have experienced, if buyers think that the price is wrong, they just wont come and look at the property Be flexible on viewings The easier it is for someone to see your home, the better. Weekends, evenings, short notice—it all helps. For Landlords: Price matters here too Rent needs to be competitive. If your property isn’t getting enquiries, chances are tenants are finding better value elsewhere. In my view, if your property hasn't rented after 4 weeks then you have just lost a months worth of rent of what it would have rented for. Its best to make a price adjustment quickly to get people interested again Spruce it up A quick refresh—cleaning, fixing, painting—can mean the difference between sitting empty or signing a tenancy. Offer tenant-friendly terms Flexibility goes a long way. Being open to pets or shorter tenancies can make your property more appealing in a crowded rental market. Respond quickly Tenants have options—if you or your agent aren’t quick to reply, they’ll move on to the next listing. Already On the Market and Not Seeing Results? You’re not stuck. If your property has been listed a while and isn’t getting much attention, I’d be happy to offer a second opinion—even if you’re already with another agent. Sometimes it’s a small tweak in presentation or pricing that makes all the difference. We’ve helped many sellers and landlords in exactly that position. A fresh set of eyes and a new approach can turn things around quickly. Let’s Talk Strategy... There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, especially in markets like this. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that with the right guidance, honest feedback, and a little creative thinking—your property can still stand out and move. Got questions? Thinking of switching agents? Just want an honest chat? Get in touch—I’d love to help.