House Doctors - Press - The Final Touch

Every week the Final Touch provide advice and tips to the Homes & Property section of the London Evening Standard visit their website for more information and news

http://es.homesandproperty.co.uk/your_space/design_news/designnews.html

Emma Mitchell - 24th January 2010

When Celia Falconer, a publisher from London, decided to sell her Muswell Hill flat, she knew she needed help. Every spare surface, every table, chair and corner of her home was covered with books, CDs and clutter. When she finally found the phone, it was time to call the house doctor.
“I’m a hoarder”, admits Celia. She contacted Hampshire based house doctors Suzy Maas and Katie Moug of the Final Touch. They moved in and steadily moved out a staggering 59 boxes of books and personal possessions from Celia’s two-bedroom flat.
“I have lots of books and CDs and every window sill is used,” Celia explains “You get used to it. You don’t see it after a while. Three years ago it probably wouldn’t have mattered but now it does.”
“Suzy and Katie of the Final Touch came in for three weeks,” Celia says. “I gave them a free hand because I’m too close to see what other people would want They stripped the wallpaper and sanded floors, painted everywhere in what I’d call “rich tea biscuit”, tiled the bathroom and rehung pictures.”
An undecorated, unfurnished but otherwise similar flat in the same block sold recently for £193,000, she says. Celia’s flat went on the market in late November and within only a week she was delighted to receive an offer of £245,000.
The Final Touch typically charges £150 for a consultation on how to present a property for sale or rent and around £75 an hour for two doctors on site.

Suzy Maas and Katie Moug - Autumn 2009

“We aim to give our clients a home that will stand the test of time, and that won’t date. We create calm and tailored interiors, but never at the expense of comfort…. Homes are for living in, not to act as showcases. We often blend modern and traditional styles according to the client’s brief and needs.”

“We are currently working on a house in Pimlico which was originally the bachelor pad of our busy lawyer client. He now shares a beautiful country home with his wife but when work dictates he has to stay in London. The house was dated and cluttered with rag rolled walls and melamine kitchen and his wife reused to stay there! We are creating open plan living, with masses of light and storage.”

Emma Wells - April 2009

Suzy Maas cofounded The Final Touch a Hampshire based house doctor, in 1999 to provide a decluttering and dressing service. The company charges £75 per hour for the initial consultation then approx £100 to prepare a report for a one-bedroom flat; £175 for a four-bedder. "We are seeing people who are desperate to sell and need to get things moving". Maas says. "People are looking for a quick fix for as little as possible. We advise on everything from outside to decorative order and redecorating, and we supply rental furniture".

The firm was called in last year to work on a three-bedroom home near Canada Water, in southeast London, which has been languishing on the market for six months at £275,000. With an updated kitchen, a new bathroom, new curtains and blinds and general dressing - at a total cost of £18,000 - it sold three months later for £695,000

Emma Simon - August 2008

Tart up the inside, without spending a fortune

Complete all basic repairs such as touching up paintwork, filling cracks, sealing the bath and straightening cupboard doors.

These are usually inexpensive improvements but help create a far more favourable impression. If you can't face the work yourself call in the professionals, who will revamp your home for about £500 a day.

More expensive renovations - such as new bathrooms, kitchens and loft conversions - may help you sell but according to Abbey you are unlikely to recoup the outlay with property prices falling. Suzy Maas, one of the founders of The Final Touch, a firm of house doctors, advises homeowners to think about space, light, cleanliness and smell. "Clear clutter, minimise furniture and incorporate mirrors where possible," she says.

To filter light through the property keep doors open, use soft glow bulbs and use side lamps rather than overhead lighting. It goes without saying that your property should be spotlessly clean but she suggests organising cupboards, cellar, loft and garage, as many prospective buyers will want to inspect the storage spaces too.

March 2008

"We zone living rooms and dining rooms with a fabulous dining table or U-shaped seating areas," she says. "Potential buyers are thinking that if there are hard times up ahead, they want a home where they can imagine entertaining their friends and feeling happy in." Helen Searle, a charity worker, was still struggling to sell her four-bedroom house in London after four months, so she hired Hampshire-based house doctors The Final Touch to partially re-carpet, redecorate, dress the roof terrace, update the kitchen cupboard doors, and clean and declutter - for a total cost of £3,565.

"We couldn't get any offers over £650,000 initially. A friend of ours had used a house doctor, so we decided to try the same. The house sold within three weeks in December for £665,000," says Helen, 38.

February 2007

How do you give your home the winter wow factor during these dreary months?

First of all, the interior must be immaculate, says Suzy Maas of The Final Touch, a company of 'housedoctors' that advises sellers on how to prepare a home for sale.

It will be dark outside, which takes the garden out of the equation, so your home is now going to be centre stage. Make sure the carpets are clean - those near the front door are often stained in the winter so, give them a quick touch up'.

You will also need to clean the windows and invest in some heavy, interlined curtains which hang nicely. Blocked gutters, leaks and cracked walls should be repaired too, as buyers will be more aware of drafts and damp in the chilly winter months.

Its worthwhile putting extra thought into your lighting,' adds Maas. 'Use table lamps to create a welcoming cosy effect. You may be happy to stumble upstairs in the dark, but buyers wont be impressed. That one missing light bulb could lose you a sale.

Period House Web Watch - May 2006

Almost as good as attending a course on the subject of property presentation, is a quick visit to Suzy Maas' website www.thefinaltouch.co.uk The beauty of this site is that you can see before and after photos of rooms, which make it crystal clear what kind of subtle changes make the difference between your home being a seller or a sticker. Case studies detailed on the website are gripping real-life property tales. For example, one of Maas' clients spent £2528 and added £137,472 to the value of his apartment. Maas specialises in helping time starved squeeze maximum value out of their properties and this flat, in St John's Wood, London, was owned by a busy banker and wife with a new baby. The three bedroom apartment was valued at £380,000, in its unloved 'before' state, and an agent estimated it at £530,000 after Maas' simple redecoration and decluttering (costing £2528). It sold, within two weeks of being put on the market at £520,000.

March 2005

'As the housing market slows, buyers are better placed to bargain than they have been for years.....it has become a ruthless buyer's market out there.....Savvy sellers can heed the advice of professionals by ensuring that every area of their home is as near perfect as possible. Suzy Maas, who runs The Final Touch, a "house-doctor" service preparing homes for sale, agrees.'

December 2004

'After putting my house on the market in July this year and getting nowhere....my husband Rod and I decided to bring in a house doctor to help- and found Suzy Maas of London firm, The Final Touch.......It clearly worked.....This week we had our first offer after nearly four months - not far off the new asking price of £1.25 million. Could we have done it ourselves? No, not even with the help of a friend whose taste I trust....Its money well spent if you really want to sell your home.'

January 2005

December 2004

'Suzy Maas, 30, is managing director of London-based house doctors The Final Touch, which she formed in 1999 with her friend Lottie Sanger. Prior to this, Suzy had been an interior designer for 10 years and in that time she also bought and sold six houses, considerably increasing their value each time. She tackles everything from staging show flats to project-managing renovations. House doctoring is, she says, 'about presenting a property so immaculately that it has immediate 'wow' factor.'

November 2004

'Suzy Maas at www.thefinaltouch.co.uk charges £75 per hour for an initial consultation. She prices up her recommendations and provides an itemised estimate, and, if you wish, charges £475 a day to project manage the makeover. Recent magical transformations include a banker's St John's Wood apartment opposite Lords Cricket Grounds. Maas says: "It was vast but extremely scruffy. We just gave it a facelift and dressed it. The client spent £2,528 with us and he added £137,000 to the value." '

Caroline Phillips - 4 August 2004

'Suzy Maas has bought, decorated and resold her homes, five times in six years, to make a handsome profit. And much of her experience has gone into her house-doctoring company. She knows that certain simple changes do emphatically push up the price you can ask for your home, and that decluttering is more than just cleaning the windows and hanging up your clothes.....
Maas, 30, started the Final Touch , a house-doctor service for people wanting to prepare their home for rental or resale, in 1999. She offers money-saving tips and is forever bargain hunting for clients......'

Caroline Phillips - 30 June 2004

' Two house surgeons are put to the test when asked to transform a dowdy basement flat...Suzy is managing director of The Final Touch, which renovates properties for sale or rental. She does everything from large structural changes and clearing clutter to redecorating, or replacing the garden fence...Now properties she tackles sell for up to 15 per cent above their original asking price...
Previously valued at £400,000...The total expenditure on the decorative element of their surgery was £8000. Last week the vendor was considering an offer of £450,000.'

April 2004

'Persuading viewers to buy your home takes more than a quick vacuum around and herding all the clutter into the cupboards. But discovering the missing X factor can be hard - especially if you've been happy enough without it.'

March 2004

'Your new property may look amazing, writes Suzy Maas, but is it right for potential tenants?

You've found it, the perfect home. You knew the second you opened the front door you could happily live there. Even the street number is your lucky one! This house is the dream property, right?
Not necessarily. Remember, you're not buying to live you're buying to let. This beautiful house may look fantastic, but delve a little deeper and forget about your personal needs and desires and how you would use the space. Now is the time to get hard nosed and put your emotional evaluation on the backburner.'

June Fletcher & James Keighley - 3 - 5 October 2003

' In Europe, staging is becoming more common, both for showing residential properties and for the photos that are often made for brochures for luxury homes on the market. Though the idea of completely depersonalizing a house hasn't caught on to the same extent as in the U.S., many real-estate agents agree that it's improtant to be sure that a buyer is able to get past the current owners' lifestyle....
Suzy Maas, managing director of the Final Touch, a London based group of 'house doctors', advocates a more balanced approach. As a former interior designer, she is keen to retain the innate qualities of a property. 'Some sell themselves with their character. It is not always about going round with cream paint', she says.'

Fiona Brandhorst - 17 September 2003

'We recently purchased a scruffy central London flat that needs total refurbishment, but we are finding the prospect a bit daunting, particularly as we don't live there. Are there any firms we can hand the keys to who will do the whole job - design, installation, decorating and even furniture buying? '
Take a look at www.thefinaltouch.co.uk, which offers advice on property renovation whether you intend to live in the property or rent it out. They will make an initial visit, then provide a written estimate detailing the work required and cost. They have their own team of contractors and will source and supply all the materials required. The full service costs £475 plus VAT per day or £75 plus VAT per hour for consulting only. The Final Touch can also be contacted on 020 7228 4233.'

Claire McDonald - 14 March 2003

'Small details can also make a huge impact. Suzy Maas, from The Final Touch, a company that helps vendors to smarten up their home before selling, recommends changing the cupboard door handles. 'It is a really simple thing to do, very cheap, but very effective,' she says.The same goes for stained or old appliances. Replacing discoloured old kettles and battered toasters with modern brushed steel designs will complete the look for under £100. If you are going the whole hog, a posh-looking Smeg fridge could impress a potential buyer and give the house a trendy edge, but it doesn't need to be included in the sale.
'It is unlikely that buyers will ask you if everything is included in the asking price in their preliminary viewings, so you can benefit from the presence of 'lifestyle' type objects, but then take them with you when you leave,' says Suzy Maas.'

Lucia Van Der Post - 8 March 2003

'The Final Touch is a team of British house doctors whose speciality is helping people get maximum value from their houses. They say that kitchens and bathrooms are where the interioi focus is at the moment. Update them as much as you can. An out-of-date kitchen or bathroom will seriously affect the price that you can expect to get for your property.
You can generally expect to add 10 to 15 per cent to the value of the house if you spend something like £7,000 on repainting and updating a kitchen. Without completely redoing the kitchen and bathroom, a lot can be done,
Sometimes the problem is the opposite to one of clutter - a lack of atmosphere. The Final Touch quotes a flat that had been valued at £l million but which looked uncomfortable and unlived in. They 'dressed' the kitchen, cleared
out old cereal packets and empty wine bottles, brought in rugs and some more furniture, and the flat eventually went for almost £1.3 million for an outlay of about £3,500.'

Neil Del Strother - January 2003

'The formerly makeover-shy Neil del Strother finds himself convinced by 'house doctors' Suzy Maas and Lottie Sanger...
They relate to each other like an old and happily married couple, and their enthusiasm for their work is tangible and contagious. So much so, that by the end of the interview I'd more or less forgiven them for their criticism of my flat. Another five minutes and I might have blown the dust off my wallet and given these two latter day sirens the readies for a complete flat makeover. Be warned.'

Ginetta Vedrickas - 30 November 2002

'Lottie Sanger and Suzy Maas run The Final Touch, a house doctor service based in London. 'Lots of people do need the obvious pointing out,' Ms Maas says. 'A fresh eye is vital because owners are often too busy and tend to neglect their homes. Presentation is not just about curtains and cushions, it's also about those many awkward jobs such as lumpy plaster which can put buyers off.'
A Notting Hill flat's valuation shot from £450,000 to £520,000, and sold for £512,000 after its owner spent £2,500 on house-doctoring. An Islington loft apartment valued at £1m sold for £1,295,000 after just £3,000 worth of improvements. 'It can seem a large outlay initially but it's worth it,' Ms Maas says. '

September 26 2002

'Lottie Sanger, 30, and 29-year-old Suzy Maas- aka the 'House Doctors'- can make even the drabbest home look like a housebuyer's dream...they can add up to 15 percent to the value of a home by polishing, decorating and fixing it so it makes the best possible impression when it goes on the market.'

Johnny Turner - August 2002

'Johnny Turner talks to Lottie Sanger of The Final Touch, presentation specialists whose service goes far beyond the traditional consulting role...
Sanger and Maas started the Final Touch in May 2000, bringing their respective experience in estate agency and interior design to a venture which offers not only tips on how to best present your home for sale or letting but hands-on service that can be as involved as the client needs it to be. 'We advise for maximising value and appeal,' explains Sanger. 'We're both passionate about properties and design.'

Rosie Millard - 28 July 2002

'Townies whose flats need sprucing up can also call in the consultants. Lisa Richards, an actress in south London, inherited a nearby flat and was letting it to students when she came across the services of The Final Touch, which comprises two woman house doctors, Suzy Maas and Lottie Sanger, who for a considerable fee will revamp your flat out of all recognition.
'They got a team of decorators in who sanded the floors, de-Blu-Tacked the walls and repainted every room,' says Richards. 'They did the decor and put really nice pictures up. Changing the shower curtain and regrouting the bathroom made a huge difference. Even small things, like putting a bowl filled with stones on the coffee table, made it look bright, modern and clean.' The consultations, plus the decorating costs, set Richards back about £4,000, but meant her flat could leap from the student bracket into the young professional tenant zone. She now gets at least £75 more a week for it. The Final Touch transforms about 30 London properties a year. Some are derelict and are being refurbished for sale, but others are for landlords who know they could get more for their property but cannot face the nightmare of personal contact with London decorators. As well as consulting the owner, we do all the sourcing and running around, and oversee all the jobs,' says Maas. She and Sanger have blitzed their way through flats crammed with bathroom junk, Hello Kitty junk, student junk and bachelor junk. Everything is tamed, neutralised, modernised and even fully furnished, if you wish.'

Lisa Freedman - 25 May 2002

'Lottie Sanger, a former estate agent, and Suzy Maas, an interior designer, set up The Final Touch to prepare homes for both letting and selling, For £450 a day, they provide a tailor-made taste strategy for your property and organise all the contractors and purchases you need to put it into action. 'We have recently been working on a flat in the Barbican that didn't have a washing machine. The likely tenant is a busy banker, who won't have time to take his clothes to the laundry, so we redesigned the kitchen to fit one in.'

In a mews house in south Kensington - rental income £1,900 a week - they may suggest Eurosmart with modernist Italian furniture, while in Clapham they might go for more traditional prints and gilded frames.

One of their successes has been to help a landlord who had bought three identical flats, all of which lingered unrented for months. 'We told him to stop showing two of the flats, and helped him furnish the third. When that went - instantly - we turned to the next. '

'People want character, not the normal, bland thing. They shouldn't need to use their imagination.'

Alex Perchard - Spring 2002

'Styling your home for sale can add thousands to the price. Or if you're staying put, there are ways to put the pleasure back in your pad. Alex Perchard finds out how to work a little magic.
Two years ago, Lottie Sanger was a Central London estate agent and Suzy Maas ran her own interior design business. When they decided to pool their resources and form a company, The Final Touch, their combined knowledge of the property market proved a winning formula for homeowners looking to get the best possible price for their property.
Not only will the partnership offer advice, their team of workmen and contractors can also dress, furnish, renovate and refurbish your home. In short, The Final Touch offers the help you need to prepare any property for sale or rental.
'Most people find the concept of spending money on their homes before they sell difficult to get used to', says Suzy. 'But a few minor adjustments can make a property sell far sooner and bump up the asking price. We also make sure it's going to be financially viable, by phoning estate agents and checking prices in the area. If it is, our team of builders and contractors will carry out the work.'
We asked The Final Touch to pay a visit to three HomeLife readers and give some advice on what could be done to improve their sale prospects or improve the overall 'look' of their houses. Please note, the cost of the work is for materials only and does not include labour costs...'

Helen Kirwan-Taylor - April 2002

'The irritation factor also inspired bright young 'house doctors' Lottie Sanger, a former estate agent, and Suzy Maas, an interior designer, to set up The Final Touch. Originally formed two years ago to prepare homes for letting or selling, the two women often found their clients liked the house so much after the facelift, they didn't want to move. For £50 an hour, Sanger and Maas do the niggly things that drive people crazy. 'We sort out the damp, repair the cracks, fix a tap, fill in the missing mosaic, reupholster the sofa that has become the dog's bed and repaint the electric blue little Jimmy chose for his walls,' says Sanger. An experienced curtain-maker, Maas can also whip up a blind quickly and inexpensively.'

Alison Cork - April 3 2002

'First impressions count, so the saying goes, and that's certainly true of presenting a property for sale. Whether your house needs a tidy-up or a total makeover, house doctors Suzy Maas and Lottie Sanger aim to do it quickly and cost-effectively. With combined experience in estate agency and interior design, they reckon they can more than recoup the cost of the service in the increased value of your property. The Final Touch can spend anything from a day to several weeks getting your property just right, and will charge £50 per hour or £450 per day- A recent client spent £6,800 having her flat redecorated and partly refurnished, then sold it for £165,000, £20,000 more than the previous valuation.'

Lara Sargent - April 2002

'Thinking of selling your house, but haven't got time to give it that once-over before putting it on the market? Don't worry help is at hand with the Final Touch, a team of house doctors (one an interior designer, Suzy Maas, the other an estate agent, Lottie Sanger) who will look at your property and suggest how to make it more attractive to potential buyers. Whether its harmonising your decor, clearing clutter or a full renovation job, The Final Touch can take care of everything. Not only that, but every house they've tackled has sold for an extra 10-15 per cent of the original asking price. Fees start at around £100 for a house and visit report.'

March 1 2002

'There are 15% more houses on the market than this time last year, which means you would do well to take professional advice if you want to sell your property fast, says Graham Norwood in The Observer. There is a growing number of 'House Doctors' in Britain and, 'more importantly, there is evidence they do work'.
One man, for example, called on the services of The Final Touch. They spent two days and £6,000 on his house, which had been valued at £450,000 and he subsequently sold it for £512,000. They concentrated on the kitchen and bathroom ('the rooms that add most value'), replaced tiles, rehung curtains and repaired wear and tear. They source all materials and equipment, and arrange craftsmen to work on larger jobs.'

March 2002

'First Impressions count, especially in today's high pressure property market. And if you're selling a property you need to maximise the speed of sale and financial rewards by presenting it at its best. With today's hectic lifestyles however, not everyone can afford to spend time working on their home. This is where a company like The Final Touch (020 7733 2562) comes into is own. As London-based house doctors, Final Touch looks at properties from the buyers' perspective, presenting an extensive report of improvements and alterations they feel will increase the value of the sale. These improvements are then carried out swiftly and efficiently by a reliable team of contractors. The Final Touch has extensive experience in interior design and property sales and can also improve the look of a home by enhancing light and space, harmonising colour schemes, changing furniture or even clearing away clutter.'

Johnny Turner - February 22 2002

'In recent years it has become difficult to have a conversation or watch a TV programme that isn't about property. It's been said that the British public have become obsessed with it - what to buy, how to buy, how to improve it, how much it costs etc. It follows that there would be an increasing number of experts to help you make the right decisions. And 'house doctors' have become fixtures of the modern property game, filling the gap between what the average seller knows about presenting a property and the expertise it takes to get the best possible price.

What's in a name
'I don't really like the name "house doctor",' says Lottie Sanger good-naturedly. And its true that the service she and Suzy Maas offer as partners in The Final Touch goes well beyond the scope of the typical advice-only service the label implies. 'When the House Doctor programme first came on Suzy and I watched it, but it was more of a laugh than an inspiration.'
Sanger and Maas started The Final Touch in May 2000, bringing their respective experience in estate agency and interior design to a venture which offers not only tips on how to best present your home for sale or letting but a hands-on service that can be as involved as the client needs it to be.'Sanger and Maas started The Final Touch in May 2000, bringing their respective experience in estate agency and interior design to a venture which offers not only tips on how to best present your home for sale or letting but a hands-on service that can be as involved as the client needs it to be.'

Graham Norwood - February 17 2002

'As the spring selling season nears, property experts are dusting off their lists of handy hints on how to make your homes sell quickly and at a top-notch price.
With the market unlikely to repeat last year's average 10 per cent price rise, sellers will have to work harder - and appearance can add thousands to the value.
There is a growing number of house styling gurus in Britain. More importantly, there is evidence that they work. One of the most successful is The Final Touch, run by London-based property experts Suzy Maas and Lottie Sanger, who work on houses in Britain and Ireland.'

Christina Marriott - January 2002

'A good working relationship is not always obvious when friends become business partners. Often the stresses of a business put the fun and friendship on the back burner, replacing them with grind and toil. This is definitely not the case with Lottie Sanger and Suzy Maas, the partnership behind The Final Touch.
Set up in May 2000, The Final Touch offers property services, from home "doctoring" to full renovations. Specialising in the preparatory work needed to market a home, their aim is to appeal to buyers. Applying good marketing principles of working out the lifestyle that the buyers are aspiring to, and then staging the home to represent this, The Final Touch's aim is to maximise the value of the property.'

January 2002

'With the ever increasing amount of newly refurbished flats coming on to the market it is becoming harder to find something a little more unique. Presenting a property at its best will maximise the market value and appeal. "With the abundance of refurbished properties on the market it is advisable to give each property an individual feel" says Lottie Sanger from The Final Touch.'

December 2001

'With the ever increasing amount of newly refurbished flats coming on the market it is becoming harder to find something a little more unique. Presenting a property at its best will maximise the market appeal.
Property presentation specialists The Final Touch have told London Property News of their latest success with two flats that have been sitting on the market for over three months with little interest. The agents recommended the developers to bring in the firm of house doctors based in London.
They dressed the flat at little expense, with a few pieces of furniture and some decorative accessories and they were both sold before the end of that week!
"With the abundance of refurbished properties on the market it is advisable to give each property an individual feel" says Lottie Sanger from The Final Touch.'
Contact them on: 020 7733 2562 or info@thefinaltouch.co.uk or check out their website: www.thefinaltouch.co.uk

November 2001

'Ever thought that if you had a stylist's touch you could sell your property more easily and for more money? Well help is at hand. The Final Touch is a small company run by Suzy Maas and Lottie Sanger, a former interior designer and estate agent, who together claim to know exactly what it takes to improve your home for re-sale. "We noticed that not everyone has the time or knack to present their properties at their best and if only they did the rewards would be quite substantial," explains Lottie.
The Final Touch will visit your home and make suggestions in a written report on what areas need attention. "We then roll up our sleeves and clear the clutter re-plant flower boxes, and look at the touches that will put your home in its best light," says Suzy. "We even supply extras like flowers and pretty throws."

October 2001

'Suzy Maas, from The Final Touch, often furnishes studios for clients entering the rental market and says that practical furniture doesn't have to be boring. 'Obviously foldaway furniture is ideal for studios but tenants should consider quirky ideas like hanging funky folding chairs on walls to clear maximum space ...... Up-lighting is better than down-lighting to create the illusion of space; paint ceilings white and over dado rails and cornicing to prevent them breaking up the room...'

Sally Gillam - September 2001

''I remember thinking what a great shame it was when people put properties up for sale which, with a few minor adjustments, could have sold for much more and far quicker. But most people find the concept of spending money on their homes before they sell it very difficult to get used to.'
Now Lottie and Suzy will oversea everything from mini makeovers to major reconstruction work.
'First we make sure it's going to be financially viable, by phoning estate agents and checking property prices. If it is we have a trusted team of builders and contractors who can carry out the work.'
' Often the owner and their estate agent can't believe the results, but they're always pleased.''

July 2001

'If you want to sell your house, how you present it to a potential purchaser can make all the difference to a successful sale.
Lottie Sanger and Suzy Maas have recently set up 'The Final Touch' to advise clients on how to make their houses look just right when it comes to selling. . . '

Fiona Brandhorst - 28 July 2001

'When a property won't sell or rent, it could be time to call in the house doctor. Not the Californian with the fawning sidekick from the Channel 5 TV show, but the British duo Suzy Maas and Lottie Sanger, who were brave enough to give up their day jobs as interior designer and estate agent to set up The Final Touch two years ago...
"Presentation is so important," says Lottie, who as an estate agent quickly learned what sold a property and what didn't. "Most people's biggest asset is their property and they want the maximum price without having to spend too much on it. That's where we come in."...
Lottie and Suzy visit each client together and produce a report listing their suggestions, costs and how long the work will take. "Most people are in a hurry, so we have to act quickly once we get the go-ahead," says Suzy.'

July 2001

'First impressions count when you are selling or letting. If you live abroad, or are too busy to make good wear and tear, clean the curtains or replant the window boxes of your home, up for sale or rent, then contact 'The Final Touch'.
Run by interior designer Suzy Maas and Lottie Sanger, a former South Kensington estate agent, the company works throughout the UK and covers everything from cleaning the windows to painting the front door.
The cost of the initial survey is deducted from the final cost. '

June 2001

'Aimed at property vendors, the service involves a team of specialists, who refer to themselves a "house doctors" and who will visit the property to advise on what is needed to be done to ensure the best results from the sale.'

"With today's hectic lifestyles, it can be pretty difficult to find the time to present a property at its best so we organise and carry out the work for the vendor," said Suzy Maas, a founder member of 'The Final Touch' team.
"From harmonising colour schemes to simply clearing away clutter, it all increases the market appeal and we have found that we can improve the value of the property an average of ten to fifteen percent."

Penelope Watson - March 2001

Q 'Our house has been on the market for four months and we have dropped the asking price by £15,000. . . so what are we doing wrong?'
A ' House buyers are very intuitive and go on whether the building has the right feeling. It sounds to me that you need some help from an objective third party to get things moving. 'The Final Touch' will not only tell you which simple alterations can give your house the wow factor; they will do the work for you, all for a modest fee...'

December 2000

Lottie and Suzy appeared on 'It's Your Money' to advise a seller on how to maximise the market value of his house.

Anne Spackman - November 18 2000

'One of their first projects involved staging the two-bedroom flat of a single man in Notting Hill. In its original bachelor state, the agents suggested a value of £450,000-£460,000...'
'In this case they removed clutter to cupboards and trunks, mended broken fixtures and fittings like lights and curtain rails, added accessories and cut flowers and rearranged the balcony. The cost to the owner was £1,700.'

When the agent visited later he suggested an asking price of £500,000. The flat came on the market at that price in the summer, attracted two asking price offers immediately and went for £512,000.'

Sarah Edgehill - October 2000

'Your home doesn't need to appear on TV to get the once-over by an expert. 'House doctoring' has become big business, with eagle eyed style gurus on hand to make your pad look its best for a speedy sale at the highest price.
If you've had no luck selling but feel sure your home is worth what you're asking, get advice from someone who can see past your clutter and come up with ways to overhaul tired decor.
The Final Touch specialises in dressing properties, fixing wear and tear and de-cluttering before you sell or rent.
A visit assessing what needs to be done starts the ball rolling.'