January 2018 – Market Comment

Is the property market up or is down? This month, more than ever, the answer depends on who you speak to.

For example, according to the Land Registry, a total of 850,281residential properties were sold during 2017, which is a clear 14.6% fall on 2016 (although still 30% up on the low-point of 2008). In respect of properties listed as flats, terraced, semi-detached or detached, London was hardest hit at -27% and so was Manchester, supposedly the new kid on the … Continue Reading…

How to Interpret a Survey

Buyers clearly need to make informed choices when it comes to deciding which property to buy and at what price, although only about one in five people in England and Wales commissions a survey (source: RICS).

However, we find that buyers can be unnecessarily disappointed by the survey report simply because they are not familiar with some of the terminologies used.

Increasing litigation and a massive rise in professional insurance premiums means that surveyors are understandably becoming very cautious as to how … Continue Reading…

Getting Personal Through Technology

The opportunities opened up by technology in estate agency have been enormous, yet many local agents simply use their website as a glorified shop window. Like any agency window, the properties displayed need to be regularly updated and presented in a way that inspires buyers to take things further.

But a good estate agency website is more than a simple property search tool. If that’s all it did, it would be a bit like only being able to get the news … Continue Reading…

Does your commercial property have hidden development potential?

A little-known change in the national planning regulations could mean your commercial property has new and highly lucrative development potential.

On 1st October 2017 a new class of permitted development (PD) rights came into place to enable the conversion of light industrial units (Use Class B1c) to residential use (Use Class 3).

At Richard James, we are Members of the national Land & New Homes Network, and we recognise this as an opportunity for many commercial property owners to benefit from the changes … Continue Reading…

The Kitchen is the Heart of the Home

Our home satisfies our basic human needs such as sleeping, relaxing, washing, recreation, as well as family time, reading, watching TV, leisure, etc. But it is possibly eating which is the focus of home life. This basic need that punctuates our day provides a social focus for families and couples the world over.

Whilst many properties have a formal dining room for “special occasions”, it is without doubt the kitchen that forms the central hub of home life. The kitchen is … Continue Reading…

Market Comment – December 2017

This November has seen both an increase in interest rates and the abolition of SDLT (Stamp Duty) for first time buyers up to £300,000. Certainly the nominal 0.25% interest rate increase is unlikely to cause most homebuyers a problem. However, this first rate rise in a decade might be regarded as a tipping point for further increases in the coming year and the market remains subdued. This is despite the apparent windfall for first time buyers, which will almost certainly … Continue Reading…

Should I, Shouldn’t I?

The press is currently full of mixed messages about the property market, especially following the Brexit debate, election, budget, etc. Will it rise, will it fall, is it a good or a bad time to move? Fortunately we have remained extremely busy, and find ourselves in need of stock to support this demand.

Such demand may well be the best indicator of the future of the market than any other indicator. People don’t buy unless they feel confident about the future. … Continue Reading…

Don’t wait till Spring!

As the Christmas holiday season is nearly upon us, many people will start to think about the prospect of moving house early next year. However, as the evenings will still be dark, and the garden remains rather sad, there is usually the feeling that it would probably be best to wait until the spring before putting your property on the market. After all, spring is traditionally associated with a time of change and this has always had a bearing on … Continue Reading…

Market Comment – November 2017

This November has seen both an increase in interest rates and the abolition of SDLT (Stamp Duty) for first time buyers up to £300,000. Certainly the nominal 0.25% interest rate increase is unlikely to cause most homebuyers a problem. However, this first rate rise in a decade might be regarded as a tipping point for further increases in the coming year and the market remains subdued. This is despite the apparent windfall for first time buyers, which will almost certainly … Continue Reading…

Richard James Re-affirmed As The Areas Local Experts

We have been re-affirmed as the area’s Local Expert by Relocation Agent Network.

Richard James were re-affirmed at the 2017 Relocation Agent Network Conference and Exhibition, which took place at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in Central London on Friday 17 November.

Relocation Agent Network is a national network of selected estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales. We were handpicked to be a member of the Network, based on strict criteria such as quality of service, local knowledge and professionalism.

Helping Our … Continue Reading…