Market Comment – August 2017

August is a tricky time to comment on the property market. The market is usually understandably subdued during prime holiday season, but this is often a self-fulfilling prophesy.

This is because those sellers who would have liked to have entered the market during the summer delay doing so, in the belief that the hottest spring buyers have probably found somewhere by now, or are on holiday.

This is one of the greatest faux-pas a seller can make. Serious buyers are serious buyers, … Continue Reading…

We should have sold by now?

We are often asked to look at properties that really should have sold, but haven’t, and we understand the disappointment of vendors whose experience of the sales process has fallen short of their expectations.

This disappointment can sometimes be the result of simply not knowing where you stand. We find that enthusiasm and good communication must be maintained throughout the sale if you are to enjoy peace of mind. Of course a steady flow of buyers also helps!

So if you find … Continue Reading…

Manage Your Investment

Some landlords, especially those who are new to the experience, understandably wish to use a letting agent simply as a route to market in order to find a tenant. However, whilst a return on investment is one thing, sleeping well at night is quite another! A managed service is not just about chasing late rent, resolving disputes and inventory control.

When your property is professionally managed, it’s all about accountability. This means regular inspections to check that your tenant is treating … Continue Reading…

Don’t Just Move, Relocate!

If you are thinking about moving to a new area, near or far away, then we’re the estate agent for you. As members of Relocation Agent Network, we’ve been hand picked as being, in Relocation Agent Network’s opinion, the Local Expert in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough and Rushden. This means that we’ve met the Network’s strict criteria to become a Relocation Agent, such as quality of service, local knowledge and professionalism.

Offering You an Additional Channel of Buyer

Relocation Agent Network is a national … Continue Reading…

We Have Helped To Raise £1,450 For UK Charity

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve helped to raise £1,450 for UK charity, Agents Giving. Organised by Relocation Agent Network – of which we are a member – the #RelocationAcrosstheNation fundraising event included estate agents from across England, Scotland and Wales.

So how did we raise so much? Well, the #RelocationAcrosstheNation event launched on 22 June, coinciding with Agents Giving Day, the charity’s national fundraising day. Between then and 31 July 2017, we (and our fellow participating Relocation Agent Network members) … Continue Reading…

Clutter Costs

In the current market, if you are to maximise your price, it is more important than ever to ensure that your property is a highly saleable proposition, rather than one that makes another house look good by comparison.

Of course, there are several basics that should be in place. The price needs to be as attractive as the décor, and you should aim to be flexible on things like fixtures, viewing times and completion dates. You also need to be with … Continue Reading…

Market Comment – July 2017

Perceptions-v-reality in property can confuse even the best-informed of armchair economists. The latest House Price Sentiment Index from Knight Frank and HIS Markit suggests that approximately twice as many households believe their property value has risen, than fallen, in the past year, yet the measure of sentiment is still nearly 15% lower than its previous peak in May 2014.

Despite this positive outlook, according to HouseSimple research, some 35% of all properties currently being advertised for sale in London (and up … Continue Reading…

A Summer Breeze… for Burglars!

When the weather is good, there’s no beating the great British summer. It’s the time for enjoying barbecues, outdoor entertaining, children splashing in the paddling pool and balmy evenings.

However, because there is never any guarantee of really hot weather, British households tend not to have air conditioning, unlike some other countries where sweltering summers are generally guaranteed. So when things hot up, we tend to revert to our manual air-conditioning system – we open the windows!

The problem is that we … Continue Reading…

Independence Day

On 4thJuly each year Americans go to town on celebrating their national pride on Independence Day.

And well they might, as independence is wonderful thing – whatever your views on Brexit/Trump etc! As independent estate and letting agents we experience daily what it is to be free of the constraints of corporate governance, number crunching, management reports and toeing the party line. The only people we have to report back to are the most important of all – our customers!

Being independent … Continue Reading…

Richard James Joins forces with Agents across the UK, to help raise money for charity.

We’re delighted to announce that we are participating in a nationwide event organised by Relocation Agent Network called #RelocationAcrosstheNation, to help raise money for UK charity, Agents Giving.

The #RelocationAcrosstheNation event launches on 22 June, coinciding with Agents Giving Day, the charity’s national fundraising day. Between then and 31 July 2017, we’ll donate £1 every time we refer a customer to another Relocation Agent Network member agent, or receive a referral. As a network of estate agents across England, Scotland and … Continue Reading…