What do homeowners and tenants need to know about the Energy Plan?

With headlines proclaiming Britons were likely to pay 80% more for household energy costs this autumn, the Government has taken swift action with its proposed energy plan, the Energy Price Guarantee.
We’ve summarized here some key highlights of the plan, as well as actions homeowners and renters can take to control their costs.

What’s covered by the Energy Price Guarantee? And what’s not? 

The bill announced by Prime Minister Liz Truss is intended to cap and control the rate of increase, in the … Continue Reading…

What Recent News Means For Home Movers

Crisis. Turmoil. Unprecedented.

These were words rarely used pre-pandemic.

Now they’ve become staples of our nation’s news coverage.

And this week, they have been used more than ever to report on the economic waves caused by the Chancellor’s mini-budget last week.

As an agency that believes in always telling the truth, it would be highly disingenuous of us to say it’s business as usual.

It’s not.

With interest rates rising and mortgage rates following suit, local home buyers and sellers are concerned.

We’ve spoken with many people … Continue Reading…

How to Make Your Property Stand Out to Buyers

Whether you’re a DIY kind of person or prefer to hire a professional, home improvements are on the up.

Since the pandemic, savvy homeowners have been looking for ways to make their properties more comfortable and more desirable to future buyers.

So, what are the most popular home improvement trends?

How can you wow potential buyers with your use of space?

In this quick read, we look at some of the most popular ways to make your home more desirable to future buyers, as … Continue Reading…

BREAKING NEWS – What the Mini Budget Means for Homebuyers

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng outlined his plans for the economy during the ‘mini-budget’ announced this morning.

This included changes to stamp duty, tax cuts and other measures aimed at boosting the nation’s finances.
Here’s what the Chancellor said about stamp duty as reported by leading estate agency news website – Property Industry Eye.

“The government is reforming stamp duty by doubling the level at which people begin paying this from £125,000 to £250,000.

“The government also committed to helping first-time buyers get on the property … Continue Reading…

A Quick Guide to Setting Your Monthly Rent

As a landlord, you want to earn a good return on your property investment, but how do you decide what rent to charge? In the current market, rents are at an all-time high, but what’s the fairest way to set your monthly price?

In this quick read, we look at how to calculate the right rental price for your property.

Check out the local area
While not all properties are the same, researching the local market is the first step towards finding out … Continue Reading…

State Funeral Of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

To enable our colleagues and customers to mark their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, our offices will be closed on Monday 19th September 2022.

Estate Agent Myths: What Sellers Need to Know

The digital revolution has given rise to several assumptions about estate agents, but we’re here to tell you they’re not true. It’s time to separate fact from fiction and debunk four myths about estate agents.

Estate agents just post stuff on the property portals. Anyone can do it.

Given that 95% of people search for their next home online*, any selling strategy that doesn’t have a strong digital element is a failed one (but more on that in a minute). When selling … Continue Reading…

Landlords – A Legally Important Date for Your Diaries

A significant change in how rental properties must be maintained comes into legal effect on Saturday, October 1st 2022.

The law affects what alarms landlords must provide in their properties to protect against potentially lethal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Failure to comply with the new rules can result in landlords getting a hefty fine.

The new Regulations, as outlined in the government-issued Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022: guidance for landlords and tenants state:

1. Landlords must ensure at least one smoke alarm … Continue Reading…

No Viewings for Your Property? You Might Need a New Agent

If your home is on the market, you’re probably in a constant state of anticipation. Will this viewing be the one? Are you going to get your asking price? Will you need to accept a lower offer?

We bet there are lots of questions and scenarios running through your head. But if you’re not getting enough interest in your home or if it has been on the market for ages, is it time to switch agents?

Recent research by Rightmove found that … Continue Reading…

In Memory of Queen Elizabeth II

1926 – 2022