If moving is starting to feel more realistic, September is a useful time to prepare. Understanding your budget, priorities and local property search now could make things much easier when the right home appears.

Property management is about far more than collecting rent. In this week's article, Katie explains what a professional property manager really does behind the scenes, from compliance and maintenance to market advice and protecting your investment, so you can spend less time worrying and more time growing your portfolio.

A fresh coat of paint can help, but missing paperwork can delay a sale for months. Use August to prepare the information buyers and solicitors will need before an offer is agreed.

Scrolling property portals is useful, but registering with an estate agency can give buyers a more personal, proactive search experience, especially when the right home is about to come to market.