Personal Accountability
Many properties in the East Northants area are as unique and distinctive as the people who buy them. So when selling yours, it is most important that your estate agent has a thorough understanding not only of your property, but also of the needs and preferences of every buyer who views it.
It is simply not good enough to load the property onto “the system” and hope for a sale, especially in this market. The promotion and sale of every property … Continue Reading…
What Property Ladder?
During the boom years, if you were minded to move house you simply got on and did so! Any delay in moving up in a rising market could prove expensive as the property you were buying would inevitably have appreciated more in cash terms that the one you were selling. Moving up the property ladder was all the rage as speculation, aspiration and wealth creation prompted a culture of expected property inflation, supported by “generous” lending by the banks.
Today of … Continue Reading…
Why Use An Estate Agent At All?
On the surface it might seem reasonable to consider selling your house yourself, yet only the smallest minority of people attempt to do so, even in the face of so-called “DIY online” estate agency platform, usually with disappointing results.
Yes, you could put a home-made board up in your front garden or publish your own ad on some private sellers’ or online agency website. But apart from the problem of appearing “cheapskate” to prospective buyers who might assume that you have … Continue Reading…
You’ve accepted an offer, now the real work begins (for us!)
So you’ve just accepted an offer on your house, congratulations! Job done, right? Well not for us. It’s at this point, where we begin dedicating our time to securing the sale and ensuring the whole process goes as smoothly as possible.
According to a recent survey conducted by Relocation Agent Network, of which Richard James is a member, 60% of responding agents (including us!) have at least one employee dedicated to sales progression.
Adding Value Behind the Scenes
Many people think that an … Continue Reading…
August Market Comment
Here we are, mid-summer holidays, and the market is generally regarded as subdued. However, due to the continued lack of stock, we are still securing some excellent prices locally. Certainly, volumes are down but ask any buyer or seller and they are less concerned about “the market” and more interested in their own situation. This usually revolves around a single property, so volumes are irrelevant!
We are acutely aware of the personal requirements and emotions behind every sale, so we handle … Continue Reading…
What Is A Covenant?
A covenant is a term you might hear when discussing a property during the conveyancing process. Covenants are a form of legal obligation that is binding on the owner of a property and passes from owner to owner whenever the property is sold. They form part of the deeds of a property and are recorded at HM Land Registry.
A covenant is usually established by the builder or original owner of a property and seeks to ensure that certain things happen … Continue Reading…
Extensions
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. However, we would urge caution when justifying the cost of improvements versus the expected increase in value.
There is little point in improving your property unless it significantly increases its saleability. In other words, once … Continue Reading…
Stamp Duty Rates
Many clients often ask what the current rates of Stamp Duty are. Hopefully the following explanation will help clarify the confusion.
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 … Continue Reading…
Preparing Your Garden
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 to grow vigorously at this time of year and if kept unchecked your property can appear unkempt. A little input now could pay dividends when it comes to the sale, so … Continue Reading…
July Market Comment
As British politics continues to be a bit of a bun fight, the great British homebuying public is taking a more pragmatic approach and appears to have disconnected from such trivialities, with buyer registrations nudging up by between 4% and 9% across the UK*. This year, the spring market appears to have overflowed into the summer, with no sign of any seasonal slowdown.
Although the summer holidays have yet to begin in earnest, anybody seriously looking to move house is unlikely … Continue Reading…