Holding the Sale Together

Holding the Sale Together

It is well documented that, nationally, around 30% of all sales arranged fail to reach a successful exchange of contracts. Fortunately, our success rate is better than this average! However, the sales cycle can be frustratingly slow and the longer the sale takes, the...
Tenant Decoration

Tenant Decoration

Tenants often ask if their landlord will allow them to redecorate the property. On the surface, this is a reasonable question and should generally not send alarm bells ringing in the landlord’s ear. Firstly, if the tenant wishes to redecorate, this suggests that they...
Smarter Ways of Getting Your Price

Smarter Ways of Getting Your Price

One of estate agency’s fundamental tasks is to secure the highest price that an able purchaser will pay for your property in a given market. In an ideal world, we would have a hot-line to Camelot who would feed us with a regular supply of lottery winners prepared to...
The Benefit of Indepencence

The Benefit of Indepencence

“Location, location, location” may be the cornerstone of wise property investment, yet many people are unaware of the importance of location in making the right choice of estate agent – whether buying or selling. Estate agency is an intensely local business. It is...
Save Time by Helping Your Estate Agent

Save Time by Helping Your Estate Agent

Buyers often waste an inordinate amount of time viewing property that is either too expensive or blatantly wrong in other critical ways. Additionally, more than 30% of UK property-sales fall through due to buyer or seller suddenly changing their minds. Both these...
Valuation Versus Value

Valuation Versus Value

Estate agents’ market valuations are usually free, and because of this, it is very tempting for prospective sellers to invite a number of agents to comment and then select the agent that suggests the highest likely sale price for the property. However, we advise...
The Weakest Link?

The Weakest Link?

Many property transactions form part of a chain of related sales. Of course a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and, as a national statistic, unfortunately one in every three chains will fall apart, often at the eleventh hour. This happens for a variety of...
The Meaning of Service

The Meaning of Service

Most estate agents see their role solely as a “purveyor of buyers”, and they understandably pride themselves on their ability to find the right buyer for a property and to negotiate attractive terms for the seller. But estate agency has moved on. Indeed, finding a...
Sell First or Buy? Chicken or Egg?

Sell First or Buy? Chicken or Egg?

For homeowners wishing to sell their property and buy another, it’s the classic dilemma – which do you do first, buy or sell? There is probably no all-encompassing answer. Typically, people initially investigate the market to find out what they can buy for their...
Preparing your garden for sale

Preparing your garden for sale

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and the state of your garden is will always make an impact. Not only will prospective buyers be walking around your garden, but it will often make up much of the view from within the property as well. Gardens begin...
Guide For Landlords: Getting Rentals Right

Guide For Landlords: Getting Rentals Right

Just as anyone can open up an estate agency, so they can also start up a lettings business, without any training, experience or qualifications. This should concern landlords because there is far more to the business than meets the eye. In some ways, finding a tenant...
Unraveling Deposit Confusion

Unraveling Deposit Confusion

One of the property terms that can be confusing is the word “deposit”, especially among first-time buyers who have previously been renting. For example, consider this statement: “When Jake got his deposit back he had enough for his deposit, although this was not...
Guide to Marketing Your Property

Guide to Marketing Your Property

If your rental property is currently on the market awaiting a tenant, it may be tempting to assume that your agent is in full control of the situation, and that sooner or later a tenant will materialise. But don’t be so sure! Sometimes an agent will take the same view...
Defects And Disputes – Should I Disclose Them?

Defects And Disputes – Should I Disclose Them?

When selling your home it is natural to want to show its best aspects to prospective buyers, whilst minimising anything that might put them off.  However, not only is the law clear on disclosure, but an honest approach can help to secure a sale and reduce the chances...
Should We Extend?

Should We Extend?

We are often invited to advise local homeowners on the expected “uplift” in the value of their property if they make certain alterations. On the surface, it is logical to assume that an extension will add significant value to your property, and this is often the case....
What about the Children

What about the Children

Showing your home to prospective purchasers can be stressful enough, but children add an extra dimension and their needs should be considered. Moving house might be logical and exciting for an adult, but the fear of the unknown can be upsetting for children. That room...

Property Improvements You Can Take With You

We all know that home improvements will often increase the value or saleability of your home, but whilst most improvements enhance a property, they generally stay with it when it is sold. However, there are improvements you can make that will not only maximise your...
Showing Buyers Around (Part One)

Showing Buyers Around (Part One)

Some estate agents claim that the seller is the best person to show a property to prospective purchasers. However, apart from the inevitable awkwardness of inviting strangers into your home, there are sound reasons why good estate agents prefer to accompany buyers...

Showing Buyers Around – Part Two

Some people feel that houses should be able to “sell themselves” and do not need to be “shown” by estate agents. Whilst this may be true of certain exceptional homes, or where achieving the optimum price is not an issue, most properties require the skills of a...