Finding A Good Property Lawyer – Six Tips

To prevent your property deal from progressing at a snail’s pace – or falling through altogether – you’ll need a good lawyer. Here’s how to find one.

Once you’ve agreed a deal to sell or buy a property, the next step is to instruct a lawyer to handle all the relevant searches, paperwork and enquiries.

It can be tempting to go with the cheapest lawyer you can find or the first one you come across on the high street, but it’s worth … Continue Reading…

Are You Putting Your Rental Investment at Risk?

There’s a lot to think about when you are a landlord.

You’ve got the ever-changing rules around rental property to consider.

Then there’s ensuring your property is well maintained and your tenants are happy.

Add to that the cost of living crisis, pressures on the economy and political instability, and you could be forgiven for thinking, ‘what’s the point?’.

But before you sell up, let’s look at your alternatives.

We believe that the best way a landlord in East Northants can run successful rental property portfolios … Continue Reading…

Five Facts Chocoholics Need to Know

Once you’ve read these five facts, you won’t feel quite so guilty about indulging in chocolate again. A two-minute read.

Humans have enjoyed the delights of chocolate for thousands of years, starting with the Mayans, who drank it as a hot liquid (and even used it in wedding and baptism ceremonies).

Fast forward to today, and chocolate is a 120-billion-pound global industry. The Germans are the top chocolate consumers per capita, followed by the Swiss, Estonians and Brits.

But there’s no getting around it, … Continue Reading…

Why Going Cheap is Costing Home Movers Thousands of £££s

The last two years have been hectic for the East Northamptonshire property market.

But now, the market is slowing down, and homes are not selling as fast as they once were.

It’s also becoming harder to sell a home for a premium price.

Add to that the cost-of-living crisis and other global events hitting us in our collective pockets.

The good news is it’s still possible to achieve an excellent price for your home if the estate agent working with you knows how.

As the … Continue Reading…

How to Stop Condensation Becoming a BIG Problem

This two-minute read looks at some simple steps landlords and tenants can take to reduce the risk of condensation causing mould, damp and disputes. 

What causes condensation?

When moist air is cooled by contact with cold surfaces such as walls, windows or mirrors, the moisture condenses into water droplets, AKA: condensation.

This can often cause unsightly mould and, in extreme cases, be unhealthy. Not just in terms of physical health but because it’s a common breeding ground for disputes between landlords and tenants.

Why … Continue Reading…

World Smile Day: Why Grinning is Winning

They say the best things in life are free, so here’s a quick and easy way to brighten someone’s day that won’t cost you a penny – but will make you feel good.

He may have been known as ‘Cranky Franky’, but crooner Frank Sinatra is responsible for popularising a very cheery message that has stood the test of time.

Sixty years ago, he enjoyed a hit with When You’re Smiling, a tune best known for the catchy lyrics “When you’re smiling, the … Continue Reading…

Why the East Northamptonshire Property Market Never Stops

You’d be forgiven for adopting a head-in-the-sand approach to current affairs.

Listening to a news bulletin filled with the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, cost of living surges and political uncertainty are enough to put anyone on a downer.

The clouds of gloom and doom have gathered over the East Northamptonshire property market.

Will there be a house price crash is a common feature for many involved in the media to discuss.

Some ‘experts’ are confident we are heading into a property market … Continue Reading…

Make Your Rental Stand Out with These Techy Tips

It’s fair to say that tenants’ needs have changed in recent years. With more people working from home than ever, has your rental property got the tech to appeal to top tenants?

In the current digital age, there are countless smart apps and devices that can help your property stand out in a crowded market.

In this quick read, we look at some easy ways to become a tech-savvy landlord, attract the best tenants and save money. 

Broadband

Let’s start with the basics. Everyone … Continue Reading…

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…