Category Archives: News

What a recent customer thought of us!

In all honesty, I like to try and keep the blog purely for advice and tips for home buyers and sellers but every now and again it is nice to share a success story.

We recently sold a property in Irthlingborough in Fernmoor Drive, which had been sold via another estate agent, but was not going well so we found them a buyer and got their sale through in under 4 weeks. Pretty crazy considering they had a chain involved at … Continue Reading…

To Achieve a Sale this Summer….

A recent survey conducted by Home Sale Network amongst its members reports that 97% of Network respondents achieved an average 93% of a property’s asking price in June 2011 – demonstrating the calibre of estate agent we have on our Network.

Handpicked to join Home Sale Network, Richard James Estate Agents makes sure all of their customers are prepared for that summer sale with a sensible asking price, professional property photos and excellent presentation. Here are their handy hints for preparing … Continue Reading…

A guide to property turn-offs

Came across this excellent post over on Tepilo (Sarah Beeny’s website) which covers lots of things you can do to ensure you present your property in the best possible way:

“As a Buying Agent I see lot’s of properties and I see lot’s of buyers reactions to them. One can’t over generalise as there is a big difference in something being sold as ‘beautifully presented’ and those properties which are directed towards that huge market of ‘do-ups’. However, for the average … Continue Reading…

Cheap solicitors are expensive!

Once we agree a sale on a property, the hard work really begins.  As estate agents we liaise and chase solicitors, chains, buyers and sellers to make sure it all comes to a satisfactory conclusion. Unsurprisingly we get to know which solicitors are on the ball and which are quite frankly, useless. It seems to be that a fair percentage of buyers and sellers naturally get tempted to use the cheapest solicitor or conveyancer that they can find as they … Continue Reading…

First Time Buyers Continue To Enter The Market

A recent Home Sale Network survey has found that first time buyers continue to enter the UK property market.

When asked whether there was an increase in first time buyers in 2011 compared to the end of 2010, over a third (35%) of respondents indicated that they had seen an increase.

A specially selected, national network of independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales, Home Sale Network is able to provide a good indication of the number of first time buyers … Continue Reading…

Wellingborough Office Has 33% Market Share

Since the start of the second quarter of the year, (1st April 2011 to 13th May 2011), Richard James Estate Agents Wellingborough office has agreed sales on 27 different properties. This is 33.3% of all property sales, agreed in the postal district of NN8 during this period. Our nearest competitor has a market share for this period of 22.22%, this equating to 18 agreed sales and every other Estate Agent in the area selling than ten properties each.

One in three house sales in Wellingborough are … Continue Reading…

Asking Price Remains Key to Achieving Sale

A recent survey conducted by Home Sale Network reports that getting a property’s asking price right is essential to selling your home. Indeed 83% of survey respondents indicated that the asking price remains key to achieving a successful and quick sale in the current market.

Half of Network respondents also reported that it was ‘critical’ for sellers to set the correct asking price as soon as the property comes to the market.

On average, the majority (57%) of Network members reported that … Continue Reading…

Home Sale Network Welcomes Government’s FirstBuy Scheme, But will it help?

Following the Budget speech announcement (23 March) that there will be a £250 million shared equity scheme within the UK – designed to help first time buyers purchase a new-build home on selected properties – a recent survey conducted by Home Sale Network discussed the scheme’s potential affect on the property market landscape.

The year-long programme, called FirstBuy, will provide interest-free loans for the first five years to first time buyers, if they fulfil the eligibility criteria, including a household income … Continue Reading…

Essential Guide to Moving House

If you’re currently in the process of looking to move then you may will find this information very helpful.  Moving is always stressful, so here are a few tips courtesy of Zoopla.co.uk to hopefully make it that bit easier for you! Of course if you have any specific questions regarding the moving process, just give me or any of the staff at Richard James a call on 01933 651010 (Irthlingborough) or 01933 224400 (Wellingborough) and we’ll be more … Continue Reading…

UK Budget 2011 To Help First Time Buyers

George Osborne today announced a £250m package to help 10,000 first-time buyers get onto the property ladder in the Budget today.

The Firstbuy Direct scheme will help buyers struggling to get a deposit together, the opportunity to take up a five-year interest-free loan of up to 80% of the deposit, reported this morning suggested.

The scheme is set to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of the Labour government’s Homebuy Direct Scheme, which ended last autumn.

2011 Budget: Key Points

* Fuel duty … Continue Reading…