Home staging is a skilled art. Done poorly, it can put off prospective purchasers the moment the front door is opened. Done well, it can be the deciding factor that inspires buyers to commit to a property purchase on the spot.
In fact, home staging in the right hands can be award-winningly good, as demonstrated by Alexander James, who are famed for dressing (amongst others) the stunning new Silverwood residence on the main island of the Wentworth Estate in Surrey.
Many property entrepreneurs are comfortable with managing their portfolios from home. For others, though, the pull of the warmth and friendliness of areas like Portugal's Algarve has tempted them to take a more hands-on approach to property entrepreneurship.
Those considering buying a home in the sun are likely to have Portugal’s Algarve and Spain’s Costa del Sol on their list of possible destinations. Meravista.com has taken a close look at the property markets in the two regions and has found that they differ greatly in terms of value for money.
Comparing these two European locations side by side there are many similarities - a history of Roman and Moorish patrimony, excellent cuisine and a relaxed way of life in a desirable climate. There’s a wide choice of property for sale in both Costa del Sol and the Algarve; new builds, apartments, villas and traditional homes. But which of the two areas offers the better value?
With the dust settling on another fantastic Masters, golf season is in full swing once more. The PGA tour will see five tournaments take place in May, followed by another five in June and six in July.
When it comes to golfing in Europe, the courses of Spain and Portugal have long enjoyed a friendly rivalry, with both countries vying for the crown of Europe's best golf destination.
Portugal is known for its wealth of accommodation, with modern apartments and villas clustered around some of the best beaches in Europe along the southern Algarve coast. But not everyone is looking for a two bedroom apartment with shared pool, or a three/four bed villa with a few orange trees.
These days, a new breed of buyer is looking for something seriously unusual.
There has been much talk of late about online services allowing homeowners to place their properties for sale at a fixed cost and thereby avoid estate agent’s commissions.
In fact, one recent report even stated that there is a growing trend in the Algarve of vendors moving away from the services provided by agents, and flocking to such fixed fee solutions.
We at Fine & Country Carvoeiro, like many agents who provide a truly professional service, have experienced quite the opposite. Our portfolio of properties continues grow and we have many happy vendors who have seen their properties sell with us quickly, efficiently and without the hassle of having to deal directly with the buyers.
This week we focus on this fantastically located property in Vale do Milho, a suburb of Carvoeiro. Reduced by €175,000 to just €675,000 for a quick sale, this luxury villa features a swimming pool and a tennis court in lovely landscaped gardens. Close to golf courses and beaches, it’s a bargain price and likely to sell fast.
Comfortably placed in the middle of 4,620m2 of fully fenced and landscaped grounds, this spacious villa comes complete with its own private, heated swimming pool and a tennis court.
With speculation rife that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting the arrival of a little princess on 25 April, despite the official party line being that the new baby's gender is unknown, the world is watching and waiting for the patter of tiny Royal feet at some point this month.
The new princess (or prince, if the rumours and the bookies turn out to be wrong) will reside with her parents and older brother Prince George in the ten bedroom Anmer Hall, close to the Queen's residence at Sandringham in Norfolk.
