Having someone come to view your home is a nerve-wracking experience as you want them to love your home as much as you do. This is the reason why a growing number of people decide to show the property to prospective buyers themselves. However, some prospective buyers may prefer this approach as the owner can answer questions about the property and the local area. For this reason, it’s beneficial for us to take you through what you should and shouldn’t do when showing your own home.

Learn the facts

Make a list of your property’s best features and anything of note which a prospective buyer will want to see. First impressions are incredibly important so if your kitchen is the most impressive room in the house you should start there, ensuring to list the features as you go. If the house has original or period features, then showcase these too as they all to the overall impression of the house.

Do a run through

Do you get stage fright before a presentation at work and need to practice a few times before doing the real thing? This is no different and it helps to have a script prepared beforehand so you don’t miss anything out or repeat yourself. Remember you’re selling the property and to do so you need to ensure you point out all the positives; think of what you love the most about your home, but also what viewers might be interested in and start your pitch from there.

Allow them time to view the property alone

Giving prospective buyers time to view the property without means that they can start to envisage themselves in the property, take in the view and make decisions on what they would do with the space if it was theirs.

Don’t talk about other viewers

This isn’t to say that if you’re asked how many people have seen the property that you can’t answer tactfully that there has been quite a bit of interest, without mentioning numbers. Also remember to never air opinions on anyone who has viewed the property previously or relate others what was asked.

Don’t be afraid to add some personality

If you’re the chatty type, then your script should be the same. Don’t feel that you need to hide who are in order to sell your house. Reminisce about childhood memories or a funny story to help you remember what you need to say. This also goes for the property itself – don’t be afraid to add any extra finishing touches to your home to make sure the impression you give is the right one.

Don’t talk business

Although you’re the one handling the viewing we advise you against talking business with prospective buyers, as this should be handled by us (one of the many reasons why estate agency is still a people’s business). By all means take a note of questions which have been asked and pass them on to be answered by your Caledonia Bureau negotiator but don’t attempt to answer anything to do with asking price or fees as this could potentally lower the final offered price and even endanger the progress of negotiations.

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.

Letting property nowadays can be a complicated process, but when you work with professionals like Caledonia Bureau who manage hundreds of let properties in the West of Scotland, you know you will have expert advice on all aspects of letting procedure, legal obligation and maximising returns through pro-active management and superior customer service.

We have put together a quick checklist to help you get ready to put your first rental property on the market, as there are a few essential steps to ensure you are legally compliant but also that your property is ready for its first tenants. The more prepared you are, the easier and less stressful finding and keeping a good tenant will be.

1.     Is the property ready? You might need to un-clutter and do some maintenance job to make sure the property looks appealing to potential tenants. The easiest way to figure how much you should invest in that home is – would you live there? If the answer is yes then you are most likely on the right track.

2.     Does the property comply with all rules and regulations? There are many laws around health and safety for letting property, like the regulations around Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Also, all residential properties which are rented out must now have a risk assessment undertaken to determine the risk of Legionella, and must comply to the Gas Safety Regulations 1998, as well as the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulation 1993. While all this might look daunting, we have gone through the entire process with many landlords and will know exactly what needs to be done.

3.     Mortgage and insurance. When you decide to rent out property, you have to let your lender know as mortgage conditions differ for second homes and buy to let. The next step will be looking into specialist landlord insurance. Many companies offer now specialist policies that will cover risks that are specific to renting out property like Buildings insurance, including accidental damage and subsidence, Contents cover, including accidental damage or Loss of rent, with an indemnity period of 12, 24 or 36 months.

4.     Your letting plan. An important step in getting your property ready to let is defining your target market. Is your home suitable for families or for young professionals? Is it ideal for commuting? When taking property photos and marketing it we will keep all that in mind and bring the best

5.     Keep up to date. At Caledonia Bureau we will be with you every step of the way through all the process of getting your property ready to letting it in the best possible conditions. Our eProperty system allows you to keep up to date with viewers, feedback and track our progress across the entire letting contract.

With an experienced letting agent like Caledonia Bureau, we make sure we do the hardest parts for you, so becoming a landlord can be a very easy process. If you would like to find out more about becoming a landlord or how much your property would rent out for, why not give your local Caledonia branch a call today?!

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.

The biggest investment most people will ever make is the purchase of property. We all want to know how much our homes are worth, which can dramatically change over time, so it’s important to keep abreast of trends, forecasts, and property sales in your area. However, the vast majority of homeowners either underestimate or overestimate what their properties are worth. Whether or not you’re planning to sell your home now, in the near future, or not at all, it will always be beneficial to monitor the value of your home or buy-to-let properties because it has a direct impact on financial planning and borrowing, building and contents insurance, home improvement plans, and the best time to sell.

Financial planning

Before making any major decisions, it’s is always a good idea to assess your current net worth. By knowing the current market value of your property, you can determine if you are in negative equity or have made capital gains. This information is really important when making significant life choices, approaching banks for a loan, switching credit cards, remortgaging your property, investing in a buy-to-let property, or starting a new business. It is particularly useful to know how much your home is worth is you are planning to retire, downsize to a smaller home, or you hope to buy a bigger property in the future.

Home improvements

If you’re thinking of making home improvements to your property, either for your own benefit whilst living there or to increase the value of your home before putting it on the market, it’s important to know the current value of your home and of similar sized properties in the area. If your home is already one of the highest valued properties in the area, investing a significant amount of money in home improvements for the purpose of selling may not yield the desired returns. In such instances, it would be advisable to speak to a reputable local estate agent for advice before making any changes. They will be able to advise on the best way to make the most out of your investment.

Insurance

Many homeowners make the mistake of using the original purchase price or current market value of their property when getting a home insurance quote. In most instances, this will result in much higher monthly or annual premiums. Instead, you should use the rebuilding cost of the property – i.e. how much it would cost to rebuild if it were destroyed by fire – when renewing or taking out a new buildings insurance policy. Related to this, most people actually underestimate the value of their belongings for contents insurance, so be sure to take your time with calculating how much it would cost to replace everything you own, including things like CDs, records, clothes and shoes, cushions and curtains, etc.

Selling your home

This is most obvious situation when you would need to know how much your property is worth. Keeping track of the value of your home over the years means you will not be disappointed or surprised if it turns out that your property is not worth as much as you thought. This is particularly unpleasant news if you had set your sights on a larger property or a home in a more expensive area in the west of Scotland, only to discover you cannot afford it. By always knowing the value of your home, you can plan and save accordingly for a future move that requires more significant investment, thus avoiding disappointment.

Conversely, if the value of your home increases more than you had predicted, you will have more options than realised. You may choose to sell when you had not been considering it, or move a little sooner than planned because of high property values and demand from buyers, thus putting you at an advantage and perhaps releasing capital to investment or spend on other things. At the present time, we’er in the midst of a sellers’ market – mortgage approvals are up and interest rates are still incredibly low, so it is a really great time for anyone thinking of selling or hoping to make significant capital gains from their current property.

Arrange a Free Valuation

Do you own a property in the west of Scotland and need an idea of what it is currently worth? Let Caledonia Bureau give you a free no obligation valuation on your property. We’ll apply our in-depth knowledge of the property to provide you with an accurate valuation and make recommendations on ways to increase the value of your home.

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.

In today’s digital world, many are left wondering if a human touch is still necessary in buying and selling homes. In our experience, the answer to that question is a resounding yes, estate agency is still very much a people’s business. And here we explain why:

A home is a unique product

In our experience, each home is unique and you need a trained eye with local experience to value its individual selling points. What market is it ideal for? Does it have potential to extend? What lifestyle does the location offer? Some features might be quantified without actually seeing the house,

Great value

Because the home you own might be the most valuable asset you will ever own, can you rely on a software to actually sell it at its true value? We have years of local experience and most likely know all historic sales in the area as well as current interest from active buyers. Although digital platforms are great tools to reach information, it is the collecting and disseminating it discerningly that offers the true added value in a property transaction.

The art of negotiation

While you can rely on managing offers via online messaging, having an expert negotiator on your side, able to pick cues and leverage their experience in reading people and their reactions can make a difference of thousands to the final sale price.

All the unpleasant aspects of a home sale – handled by professionals

Home viewings, listening to buyer feedback, asking uncomfortable questions to vet potential buyers, are all part of our job. Some might be easily handled online but others hinge on looking a person in the eye and asking the right questions at the right time.

A hand to hold

Buying and selling, letting and renting are all life changing, stressful events. Having the support of an experienced professional who understands the ins and outs of the transaction and is able to offer advice and support can make a world of difference in the process. We love the fact that we meet people from all walks of life in our daily jobs and help them get to where they want to be. Sometimes personal stories get intertwined in our professional work but that is ok, that is why we as humans are here, to listen and help in difficult moments, as well as celebrate with you in the happy ones.

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.

The town of Paisley has a rich history, from its abbey to its famous Paisley pattern shawls. Paisley’s growth in the early 19th century was primarily through textiles and the Paisley Thread Mill Museum details the town’s historic textile industry. (source) With an average property price of £110,526 according to Rightmove, Paisley is an affordable option for home buyers wishing a quiet location within comfortable commuting distance from Glasgow.

An attractive proposition for young professionals and families alike, Paisley offers varied property types to suit all lifestyles and budgets. Here are a few of the properties we currently market on behalf of home owners in and around Paisley:

Pioneer Park, Renfrew PA4 8ZG

Offers Over £268,000

Caledonia Bureau are delighted to present to the market this outstanding executive Detached Villa situated in a prime location within this popular modern development,

This contemporary home is located within the sought after Riverside Point locale of Renfrew and offers a family sized home, finished to the highest standard throughout. The present owners have upgraded and maintained the property to offer a home in true walk in condition.

Moredun Drive, Paisley PA2 9LW

Offers Over £220,000

Offering this spacious detached villa to the market. An ideal family home with open views to the front over the south side of Paisley.

Cairnhill Circus, Crookston, G52 3NL

Offers Over £135,000

Offering to the market this superb semi detached villa, located close to all local amenities and an ideal buy for a young family. Internally the house is in superb condition having been improved and maintained by the present owner.

Craigmuir Road, Penilee G52 4DN

Offers Over £150,000

Offering to the market this spacious modern semi detached villa with a popular modern development, ideal for first time buyers or a young family.

If you are thinking of selling your home in or around Paisley, get in touch with our friendly Paisley team! We offer fantastic packages to local home sellers, with no upfront marketing costs, discounted home reports and no sale no fee. Together with top quality marketing materials, exposure on the UK’s highest ranking property portals, extended opening hours and the willingness to go the extra mile in helping all our clients, your property will be matched to our own extensive database of buyers who are ready to move.

At Caledonia Bureau our aim is to make your buying, selling, letting or rental journey as straightforward and stress free as possible. Call us today on 0141 648 0888.

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.

Having a relaxing place to go to at the end of the day makes a huge impact on our daily lives. And given that most of our time is spent indoors, it is important to build that all necessary oasis to recharge your body and soul.

At Caledonia Bureau we believe it is important to pay attention to your home and make the best of your living space no matter how big or small.

In today’s noisy world, our homes are becoming a personal retreat, an ideally soothing space where we can relax and be ourselves, By taking steps to secure that safe, quiet environment you will enjoy your home that much more and that will impact your level of daily stress.

In creating that safe, soothing space not only interior design and looks play a role, but actually paying attention to your personal space, encouraging your style to come through and make your home your own personal retreat.

Natural Elements

It is said that natural materials like wood, cork, wool and using functional furniture that offers you the best use of space have an impact on recharging you and helping you get rid of stress. A bright airy space and living plants are all said to impact our mood. So pay attention to tactile, delightful materials that you will enjoy touching daily, encourage your passion for gardening even if it is indoors, paint your home in light colours and keep windows open daily. Pay attention to what works for you and do more of that.

Tidy or Not?

Some people thrive in their own organized mess, while for others a minimalistic space is the way to go. As long as you listen to your instincts, cultivate your interests and hobbies and purposefully go about creating the right environment for you, you are doing it right.

The Power of Colour

It has been long studied that colours have an impact on our overall wellbeing and mood, so choosing the right colour scheme for your home is an important element for creating a relaxing, healthy home environment. Whether you want to get on board with the latest colour trends in interior design or have your own favourites, go with the colours that make you feel good, energise you or calm you down, depending on the area of the home.

Paying attention to all these aspects when looking at decorating your home helps you create a space that will help us cope better with the outside stress and busy lives we all lead. What’s even more, we will all love our homes a little bit better when each corner has been mindfully constructed to suit our needs.

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.

Buying your first home can be an incredibly exciting time as well as life changing and stressful. We have prepared a few tips to help guide you through the maze of finding a home, making an offer and making sure it gets accepted.

Is It the Right Home for You?

Most of the times, your first home might not be the last, so while you are looking for that first step on the property ladder, you want to make sure it is the right investment. In a few years time when you feel ready to step up, you wont to make sure your investment paid off.

Look into location – is it convenient for commuting? That will ensure your investment is well protected as an easy commute is something most first time buyers are interested in.

Can You afford it?

We all had to start somewhere, so it might not be that beautiful forever home you dream of, but it is a great first step towards it. Making sure you secure a mortgage is essential before starting placing offers. So a sound financial check and pre-approval for a mortgage will raise you chances in searching the right home and offering the right price.

Will Your Offer Be Accepted?

As a first time buyer, you have that benefit of not having a lengthy and complicated chain you depend upon. That, together with having a pre-approved mortgage makes you a highly desirable home buyer for sellers, as it means less potential surprises later on in the transaction.

Look at previously sold homes in the area to make an idea of current values and go with a realistic offer that you consider fair and that you can afford.

The Waiting Game

Even if you might miss out on a couple of homes you had your heart set on, the right one will still be out there. Buying a home is a process and only by constantly keeping an eye on the market and being in a position to buy immediately will bring the right home to you.

As estate agents with 30 years experience, we understand the local market and are happy to advise and guide you toward that first home buy. The areas we serve (Dumbarton, Paisley, Clydebank and Helensburgh) all have great potential for first time buyers as they have great value homes in commuting distance to Glasgow and beyond. Just check our current books or give us a call to find out how to secure your first home.

You have decided to put your home on the market – congratulations, what an exciting time! Now here is hoping for that quick easy sell. What might help, aside from luck is having a knowledgeable estate agent on your side that will not only advise you but make sure your home is presented in the right way to attract the right buyers.

While there are many things that us as an estate agent can do to raise interest to your home, here are a few tips on what you might do while waiting for those first eager home buyers to come view your home:

Pay attention to the outside of your home

A fresh flower pot by a freshly painted door can make a right first impression. It has been said that home buyers make their decision in the first few minutes of seeing a home so make sure that first impression is the right one.

Small maintenance jobs

Home buyers are facing a huge investment and they want to make sure they do it right. That is why tackling the some tasks can help with buyers interest as that will be one less hassle (and expense) for them to worry about when moving in.

Clean and Declutter

It has probably been said too many times, but for good reason: a clean, tidy home is more inviting and will be more welcoming to potential buyers. They will more easily see themselves and their possessions in their new home. A lovely fresh scent also helps and some go so far as to bake cookies right before a viewing so the smell is as inviting as can be.

Add finishing touches

Add a bouquet of fresh flowers on the dining table, a crisp set of bed linen in the master bedroom, make sure the rooms are as bright and aired as possible – and you are ready.

Potential buyers appreciate these touches and you will see that in the level of interest your home raises as well as the final sale price.

Talk to us today about selling your home and we will advise you on all the little things that make for a quick and successful home sale.

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.

There are a good few weeks to fill during the school summer holidays and you may be wondering how to keep the kids entertained without spending lots! Here’s a round-up of some free school holiday activity ideas in the west of Scotland – from picnics in the park, to garden camp outs and free museum events.

Sunny days

Park Life – What nicer (and cheap!) way to spend a sunny day than a trip to the park! Pack a picnic and take a ball to kick around, it’s easy to while away a good few days of the summer holidays at the various parks on our doorstep. Keep the wee ones entertained by doing a bit of nature spotting or by feeding the ducks – remember current guidelines say frozen peas or vegetable trimmings are better for them than your stale bread! Park highlights in the area include Glennifer Braes Country Park in Paisley, Finlaystone Country Estate in Langbank, Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Balloch Castle Country Estate.

Get out into the Garden – Many of our childhoods were spent making our own entertainment in the garden, whether it was simply taking toys outside to play or getting wet under the sprinkler with a water fight! Other ways to create special summer holiday memories include den making, using bits and pieces from the garden or old sheets and clothes dryers. Or get the tent out and join kids for a spot of camping at home complete with a BBQ, marshmallow toasting and star gazing – guaranteed fun on your doorstep!

Beside the sea side – We don’t get much beach weather in Scotland, but the seaside can be a great place to explore even on an overcast day. Think cartwheels and races along the sand, paddling in the sea, sand castle competitions, shell collecting and rock pool exploration. Pack some sandwiches and make a day of it with bat and ball games, Frisbee throwing or kite flying if the wind picks up! We are spoilt for choice for beaches and coastline on the Ayrshire and Argyll coasts, with popular spots including Troon Beach and Argyll’s Secret Coast.

Good sport – Kids seem to have more energy than ever in the summer holidays! Keep them active with sporting activities, whether it’s cycling on one of the national cycling network routes or taking inspiration from Andy Murray at Wimbledon, looking out the rackets and heading to the public tennis courts. Get some other parents and kids together for a friendly game of rounders at a local green space. If yours are forever running around, sign them up to the free junior parkrun, 2k running events for kids aged 4 – 14 years.

Summer fruits – Teach kids about the food they eat and where it comes from with a day of fruit picking! The summer sees soft fruit season, when strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries and redcurrants are all ripe for the picking. Most farms won’t charge entry, though you will obviously pay for any produce by the punnet/weight. East Yonderton Farm in Renfrewshire has strawberries and other soft fruits as well as peas, broccoli and potatoes ready to pick in July and August. A great way to get your kids into their fruit and veg!

Rainy days

Must-see museums – Most museums are family friendly and there are loads to explore in Glasgow and the surrounding areas. Look out for children’s zones and free kids workshops that many museums organise, especially during summer holiday time. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre has a full programme of free events for children throughout the summer including fun with fossils, dinosaur adventures, sculpture making, crafts and mystery trails.

Kitchen creations – Turn them into little chefs and use up what’s in the cupboard of a rainy afternoon. With supervision, children can be captivated by getting stuck in in the kitchen. Bake a cake, scones or cookies or have a go at making your own pizzas – kids will love getting creative with topping combinations. There are lots of child-friendly recipe ideas online, including these fun foodie ideas from netmums.

Creative arts & crafts – Getting children settled with some paper and colouring pencils can be tricky at times! Make things more interesting for them by suggesting crafts like mask making, collaging, sock puppet making and stone painting. Save money on supplies by raiding the recycling to make Blue peter style models! Find lots of ideas, from origami animals to egg box crafts at parents.com.

Lovely library events – Keep wee one’s brains busy with a trip to the library to search for their favourite books, magazines and audio books. Libraries offer lots of regular free events for parents and kids, from toddler bounce and rhyme sessions to kids craft clubs. The Summer Reading Challengetakes place every year during the summer holidays at local libraries across the country. You can sign them up at your local library to read six library books of their choice in order  to complete the Challenge, with this year’s theme being ‘Animal Agents’. To tempt kids to take part there are exclusive rewards to collect along the way. And it’s all completely free to take part!

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.

According to The Telegraph, a well-kept garden can add whopping 20 per cent to the value of your home. Gardens are viewed increasingly by potential buyers as an extension of the home and should be well maintained and invested in to achieve maximum value of any property. When it comes to a property viewing ‘must-have check list’, a garden is often near the top of the list, and pretty properties with south facing gardens get snapped up especially quickly. Whatever outdoor space you have, take inspiration from some of these simple steps to create the most appealing garden possible, helping to boost your overall property value.

Basic maintenance: Before investing in your garden, start with what you have. Basic weeding, pruning, planting and mowing will get it looking the best it can, leaving you to fill with plants, colourful ceramic pots and furniture as you see fit. Keep an eye out for fences that could do with a lick of paint, paving stones that would benefit from a good clean and any garden ornaments that look particularly weathered too.

Simplicity: People can be put off by the time and money involved in the upkeep of fancy, landscaped gardens. If you have an abundance of lawn, break it up with paved or decking areas, flower beds or rockeries that will take the edge of the mowing duties.

Privacy – Erecting fences, walls or planting hedges create shelter and privacy, particularly important on residential estates and gardens in more built up areas. Being able to relax and utilise a garden in fair weather is the whole point of a garden for many.

Create space – Just as acres of land might be off-putting for some, a tiny garden may seem disappointing to others. There are tricks that can make even the smallest garden feel bigger such as using tall, thin plants and climbing plants to create a sort of optical illusion as well as allowing more light in. Storing away bulky equipment like furniture and barbeques frees up space too. Any small garden requires some careful planning to make sure you are using the right materials and maximising the space as best possible – there are lots of ideas online to help you do this.

Sheds & outhouses – Potential buyers love the flexibility and additional space that sheds and outhouses provide. Not just for Dad DIY enthusiasts, the garden shed has been transformed of late into something altogether more stylish – more like a mini log cabin for your backyard, where you can spend real time relaxing. If you have the space for it, an outside structure can certainly add appeal and value.

Decking vs paved patio – Most people will be looking for a garden that combines both lawn and non-grassy areas. Your two main options are decking and paving, though gravel, bark or slate chippings are also an option too. Though decking is popular and attractive, it does take a beating, especially in the UK’s climate, making it more difficult to keep looking its best. Paved patios are definitely sturdier – just remember to invest as much as you would for any quality hard flooring inside your home.

Outdoor seating and dining areas – Again this ties into the idea of creating flow with the rest of your indoor living space, maximising your garden as somewhere you can really use and enjoy. Consider creating an al fresco kitchen and dining area to score top points with viewers. A portable BBQ just doesn’t cut it for many nowadays, as separate buildings or sheds containing kitchen and/or dining space outside the house are becoming more popular and are very attractive to buyers.

Lighting – For those late night summer parties and outdoor dinners you are going to need some outdoor lighting. A bit of thought and planning into this can help create a really atmospheric space and help to showcase your garden at night time property viewings too. You can use anything from lanterns and fairy lights to spot lights and light-up pot plants.

Fancy features – Things like built-in BBQs, pizza ovens and hot tubs really can provide the wow-factor as long as your garden space is suitable and these extra features don’t crowd it.  If you plan to move, keep in mind who likely would be interested in your property and whether these extra touches might appeal. When it comes to bigger investments like swimming pools, though they provide a luxurious touch, pools can be massively expensive to upkeep and conjure up safety concerns for families with young children too.

As one of the West of Scotland’s longest-standing estate agents, we have had lots of experience managing the ups and downs of the housing market in recent times, so you can be confident you’ll be in safe hands when working with us. With an expert team by your side and a variety of properties on offer, including both property to let and homes for sale, Caledonia Bureau are confident that we can match you with the right home. Give our friendly team a call today, choosing from our offices in Clydebank, Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Paisley.