“Deciding On Price” (Part Two)
Establishing an accurate asking price that will optimise your chances of selling at the highest likely price within a reasonable timescale is both an art and a science, particularly during a time when buyers are especially price sensitive.
Estate agents’ valuations can vary tremendously. Some agents attempt to win your instruction by flattering you with a high but unrealistic suggested asking price -beware! Some, due to inexperience or unfamiliarity with current buyer trends, get it plain wrong – which can cost … Continue Reading…
“Deciding On Price” (Part One)
Whatever anyone might say about location, condition, proximity to schools, size, etc., it is the price at which a property is initially marketed that is the key to a successful sale.
But emotions often cloud good judgement. The chance to secure a high price can prompt sellers to quote too much, and the house then misses the early buyer activity that is most likely to produce a sale. Quote too little and the resulting immediate sale can fuel resentment as you … Continue Reading…
June Market Comment
Who’d have thought it – the market is moving! Despite all the uncertainty and political turmoil, buyers and sellers alike seem to be getting on with life as readily as one would ordinarily expect at this time of year.
However, if you really want some juicy property-related dinner party conversation then just try to unravel the various house price reports. For example, according to the latest data from Nationwide, annual house price growth has remained under 1% for the sixth month … Continue Reading…
Richard James Joins Forces With Agents Across The UK, To Help Support Local Food Banks
We’re delighted to announce that we are participating in a nationwide event organised by Relocation Agent Network to collect at least 10,000 items of food (and other daily necessities) for local foodbanks.
Taking place between 13 and 20 June, the event – #RANFoodbank10k – will see Relocation Agent Network members across England, Scotland and Wales join forces to help tackle food poverty in the UK.
So if you have any spare food items or other vital supplies like toiletries, we invite you … Continue Reading…
Moving Day
We all know that moving can be stressful. Good estate agents, especially those who have moved house themselves, should be able to minimise this wherever possible by anticipating many of the needs of buyer and seller alike.
However, even though the seller has the same primary objective as the buyer, each plays a critical role in the stress of the other party and each has an important responsibility to the other. Whilst negotiations may have been tough, following exchange of contracts … Continue Reading…
Stamp Duty
Stamp duty originated in the 17th century when duty stamps could be purchased and attached to a transactional document to prove that any tax due on the transaction had been paid. Today, tax relating to the purchase of land is known as “Stamp Duty”, or, more correctly Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
There has in the past been some confusion as to whether the rate bands are applied once on the whole amount or incremental, ie escalating rates on successive portions. … Continue Reading…
May Market Comment
The pressure for a decisive Brexit result has clearly provided the country with a sigh of relief and a bit of breathing space – finally. Most people now realise that life goes on and whatever the eventual result, if there ever is one, it is probably more likely to affect their political sensitivities more than their actual pocket. This has been borne out by the increase in activity we have experienced over the past few weeks as we find ourselves … Continue Reading…
Spoilt for choice? You can’t beat a good recommendation!
Today, we have more choices than ever before. From the half-fat, decaf, double froth cappuccino at your local coffee shop to the fifty shades of white available at your local DIY store (Chapel Porth or Dover Skies anyone?). When it comes to selling your home, selecting an estate agent is no different, except this time it’s not a £3.60 coffee you’re choosing, it’s someone to help guide you through the biggest investment you’ll ever make.
With so many agents these days, … Continue Reading…
Habitable Rules
New legislation means that tenants can now potentially sue a landlord who fails to adequately maintain their property.
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 means that tenants can take direct action over substandard property, rather than having to rely on their local authority to pursue a landlord who fails to adequately maintain it. Courts will not only be able to force landlords to carry out repairs, but can also award damages to tenants.
The scope of the legislation is wide-ranging, … Continue Reading…
Other Forces
There was a day when a slight shift in the bank base rate or change in stamp duty could have a profound effect on property market sentiment. Yet the Bank of England’s continuing consensus to maintain interest rates at very low levels (albeit tweaked with the occasional 0.25% here and there) is possibly the strongest signal to date that the British property market is actually driven increasingly by factors other than such things. The general economy, oil prices, employment, and … Continue Reading…