Six Ways to Prepare Your Home for a Summer Sale

The summer solstice, on Thursday (20 June), marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the changing of the seasons.

But could the start of summer also be a turning point in your property journey?

If you’ve been thinking about moving home for a while, now’s the time to grasp the moment and get your property plans moving.

There are many good reasons to sell in summer; buyers will see your property at its best – with the light flooding in and the … Continue Reading…

Deposit Deductions: What a Landlord Can and Can’t Claim for

When a tenancy ends, there’s often confusion – and sometimes disputes – over what a landlord can claim as a deposit deduction.

So, let’s look at what’s reasonable to claim and how to avoid deposit disputes in the first place.

A landlord can deduct funds from a tenant’s deposit to cover*:

Unpaid rent or bills.
Damage caused by negligence or recklessness. (The tenant should return the property in the same condition as at the start of a tenancy.)
Anything in the property at check-in that is … Continue Reading…

Using the Five Senses to Find Your Dream Home

Buying a home is a huge undertaking that many property hunters find exciting – but also a bit scary.

With so much at stake, what if you make an offer you later regret?

Or what if you don’t make an offer and miss out on a great deal?

If you often feel indecisive at viewings, here’s some advice on letting your five senses guide you.

Your sense of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste will provide you with a wealth of information to help you … Continue Reading…

Check-Out Guide for Tenants

As we all know, moving home can be a stressful business.

But you can avoid a frantic panic on the big day by starting your end-of-tenancy preparations sooner rather than later.

With a little bit of planning and forethought, you can streamline the process and avoid a last-minute scramble.

Once you’ve agreed on a moving date with your landlord or letting agent, follow this guide.

Check out your check-in report: Review the inventory you received on moving-in day. This will outline the property’s condition at … Continue Reading…

Seven Key Questions to Ask an Estate Agent Before Making Your Choice

Choosing the right estate agent is a big step on the road to successfully selling your home.

But with so many agents making big promises to win your business, how can you identify the genuine professionals from the wheeler dealers?

Meeting different agents at the start of the process can leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused.

But by asking these seven questions, you’ll find it easier to spot the best from the rest.

How will you determine the value of our home?

Understanding the valuation process … Continue Reading…

Why You Should Understand Your Buyer’s Position before Agreeing a Deal

It’s an exciting moment when a buyer puts a good offer on the table.

After all your hard work to prepare your home for sale, it feels like everything is finally falling into place.

But before you agree a price in a rush of giddy delight, it’s important to ask a few questions – especially if more than one buyer is interested.

This is because you need to understand a buyer’s position to evaluate how good an offer really is.

While price is obviously … Continue Reading…

Protecting Your Property: Security Steps for Landlords

When summer arrives, the issue of property security becomes even more relevant for landlords.

The summer months provide more opportunity for thieves to take advantage of longer days, open windows and doors, and vacant properties.

As a landlord, you need to protect your investment, but it’s also good practice to help your tenants feel safe and secure.

Here are five relatively simple security steps landlords can take to safeguard their properties during summer.

Upgrade locks and secure entry points

As a landlord, it’s important to … Continue Reading…

Understanding Freehold vs. Leasehold vs. Flying Freehold

Understanding the various property tenures is helpful for homebuyers in making informed decisions.

In a world where jargon often replaces plain talking, this article demystifies the terms freehold, leasehold and flying freehold.

It highlights the differences and implications they have regarding property ownership.

Freehold

Freehold properties are the most straightforward type of ownership. Buying a freehold means you own the property and the land it stands on outright, without any time limit. It’s yours – forever, if that’s what you want. Freeholders have complete control … Continue Reading…

First-Time Buyers: Facts and Figures from around the World

Getting on the housing ladder in the UK is no easy feat, with property prices and inflation meaning it can take first-time buyers (FTBs) years to save the deposit for their first home.

As a result, the average age of an FTB in this country has risen to 34*. For context, it was 29 in 1981.

So, how does this compare to other countries? Are FTBs in Spain, South Africa or Switzerland older or younger**? Let’s take a look.

Switzerland

The land of luxury … Continue Reading…

Tips for Tackling the Biggest Challenge Facing Landlords Today

One issue, above all else, causes landlords sleepless nights. Can you guess what it is?

Could it be maintenance and repairs? Or maybe it’s worrying about the rent being paid on time?

If you answered one of the above, thanks for playing, but you’re mistaken.

The biggest challenge landlords currently face is abiding by government regulations.

In a recent survey*, 67.5% of landlords said complying with red tape was their most significant hurdle. (This figure was up from 39% the year before, a clear … Continue Reading…