August Market Update

The month of August is the traditional holiday period when less business activity generally takes place.  The good news from our perspective is sales are up this month compared to July, despite the good weather and the difficult economy.

Over the past couple of weeks mortgage rates have reduced slightly from last month’s increase but there is still a need for further reductions to restore confidence and increase affordability. The higher cost of oil, a result of the conflict in the … Continue Reading…

What Every Homeowner Should Expect from an Estate Agent

Estate agents do not always have the best reputation, and it is worth being honest about that. In its 2025 Veracity Index, published in December 2025, Ipsos found that public trust in estate agents fell by five points on the year. That is not a comfortable statistic, but it is a useful one, because it raises the real question: how do you find an agent you can actually trust?

This is not a sales pitch. It is a guide to the … Continue Reading…

The Real Cost of Choosing an Agent on Fee Alone

When you are about to sell, a lower fee is tempting. It feels like the obvious saving. But the agent’s fee is one of the few costs in a house sale that can quietly pay for itself many times over, or cost you far more than you saved.

This is not about spending more for its own sake. It is about understanding what you are actually paying for, so you can choose well. Here is the real cost of picking an … Continue Reading…

What a Good Letting Agent Should Do for Landlords

If you pay a letting agent to manage your property, it is worth asking a simple question now and then. What am I actually getting for this? A good managing agent earns their fee quietly, in problems you never hear about. A poor one costs you far more than they charge.

So here is a clear picture of what a good letting agent should be doing for your money, and the warning signs that you are not getting value.

What should a … Continue Reading…

First-Time Buyer or First-Time Renter: Which Makes Sense for You?

Moving into your first home is a huge moment, and it usually starts with one big question. Do you rent, or do you try to buy? In 2026, with deposits, mortgage rates and rents all pulling in different directions, it is a genuinely tricky call.

There is no single right answer, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. What matters is which option fits your life right now. Here is an honest look at both, so you can decide … Continue Reading…

Down Valuations Explained: What Sellers Should Do

You accept an offer. Everyone is delighted. Then a few weeks later the buyer’s lender sends a surveyor round, and the property is valued at less than the price you agreed. That is a down valuation, and it can feel like the ground shifting under a sale.

It is more common than you might think, and it is far from the end of the road. If you are selling locally, here is what a down valuation actually is, why it happens, … Continue Reading…

Landlords: How to Avoid Deposit Disputes for Good

For many landlords, the end of a tenancy is the moment they dread. Will the deposit be returned smoothly, or will it turn into a drawn-out argument? The good news is that disputes are rarer than most people fear, and almost always avoidable.

If you let a property locally, here is how deposit disputes really work, what causes them, and how to make sure you are never on the wrong end of one.

How common are deposit disputes really?

Less common than the … Continue Reading…

Grow to Learn: Celebrating National Allotments Week

From 10 to 16 August 2026, the country marks National Allotments Week, and this year’s theme is a lovely one: ‘Grow to Learn’. It is a week that celebrates something easy to overlook, the humble patch of green where people grow food, swap tips and quietly look after one another.

Locally, outdoor and community space has never felt more valuable. So this feels like the right moment to talk about why it matters, and how to get involved even if you … Continue Reading…

Does a Good School Catchment Still Add Value?

Ask any parent house-hunting locally what matters most, and a good school is almost always near the top of the list. It shapes where they look, what they offer, and how quickly they move.

For sellers, that demand can be quiet money in the bank. For buyers, it can mean paying more, or missing out on a place at the school you moved for. So does a school catchment still add value in 2026? The short answer is yes, and the … Continue Reading…

Inventories Explained: A Landlord’s Guide to Deposit Protection

Of all the paperwork a landlord deals with, the inventory is the one most often rushed, and the one most likely to cost you money if it is. It is also, quietly, your single best protection.

If you let a property locally, here is exactly what an inventory is, what a good one contains, and the mistakes that turn a deposit into a dispute you cannot win.

What is an inventory?

An inventory is a detailed written record of the condition and contents … Continue Reading…