Whether a first-time buyer, looking to move up the ladder or downsizing, buying a house can seem an overwhelming task. Breaking it down into smaller steps can make it more manageable and help to feel you are really making progress towards your end goal. As a first-time buyer, it is most important to consider how you will finance your purchase. You should first look at how much capital you can initially raise for a deposit. How much do you have in savings? How much can you save each month? Do you have any large monthly outgoings such as car finance or loans? These are all things to consider before approaching a mortgage advisor or provider and will give you a good estimate of what you can afford. A good target... Read More »
When you decide it’s time to move or wish to remortgage to extend your current property, it can be crucial to get a high valuation. A large portion of the value of your property is based upon its location, there are some things you can do to have a positive impact on your home’s value. Before anyone comes to value your property, ensure that your home is clean and tidy, as this gives a positive feel. De-clutter the house to appear more spacious is inexpensive and straightforward. Give the garden some TLC and mow the lawn to provide the valuer with an excellent first impression. If you are looking to move, it may be a good idea to give your home a lick of paint, both inside and out. Neutral... Read More »
Buying a new home can be exciting but are you making the most of your time viewing a property? Here are some tips to help you make the most of your tour. Make sure the majority of your time at a property is looking around the inside of the house. We recommend 20 to 30 minutes to allow you to get a good feel for the place. Walk around the outside of the house, checking for any cracks, loose roof tiles, problems with the guttering etc., that may cost you a lot to get fixed. A smell can be an important indicator of a home as well as what you see. Is there a musty smell? This could indicate dampness or a smell of fresh paint like they may be... Read More »
Have you been considering if turning your front garden into extra parking is right for you? Creating additional off-street parking can really add considerable value to your home, especially for housing in expensive urban areas. It can be an ideal solution if you struggle for parking, have multiple vehicles and have enough space in the front. The good news is that in many cases you do not need planning permission to create or replace a driveway. It comes down to area, material and ensuring you have PD rights. If it is a porous material, such as gravel or permeable asphalt or block paving and you have PD rights, you usually will not require planning permission. If it is more than five square metres of impermeable material, planning permissions will most... Read More »
When you’re preparing your house for a home inspection there’s a few things you need to be aware of. An inspection is a hugely important part of the buying process, and you’ll be surprised how far a deep clean will go. Making sure your property is in the best possible shape is a great place to start when it comes to selling your house, but of course, you may not have the time and money to invest in all aspects of the building envelope, but getting everything inside looking nice and clean will always be a good starting point. Simplicity Making the house simplistic in style is another good option because it allows potential buyers to see the property for what it is. This means removing as much clutter as... Read More »
When you’re looking at a property that’s for sale and you’re planning on viewing the property soon it’s important to be aware of what you should be looking for. Bathrooms can be one of the most problematic of rooms for homeowners should something go wrong and it’s not just the money spent on plumbers and spare parts, it’s the downtime that people can’t really do without. You see, you can actually get by when your kitchen isn’t complete as you could always use a microwave, but when your plumbing system is down then you have a more serious issue on your hands. So, when you’re visiting that house you’re growing interested in, you need to make sure you have a good look around the bathroom. You should check behind the... Read More »
An estate agent is a person whose job involves selling and renting out buildings and land for clients. If you’re selling your home and you’ve hired an estate agent to help you, you’re the client and you deserve a good service. If you feel as though your estate agent is not doing a good enough job, then you need to find a way to rectify the problem. You could get a friend, or a friend of a friend, to pretend they’re interested in your property to see what kind of service they get, or you could be honest and frank and speak to them for yourself. It’s up to the estate agent to find the right buyer, and any potential buyers should understand the benefits of your home. If you... Read More »
Getting your key cut isn’t always a simple task and we’ll explain why. If you’ve just moved into a flat or an apartment that is part of a larger complex, you will need a key for the main building’s door and one for your apartment. Getting the main key cut isn’t a simple task though without the landlord or property owner’s permission. That said, it can be pretty difficult to get their permission if you have to go through an agency and it can be ta time consuming process. Why do you need their permission? The keys used for the main building will likely have a security code included, and every decent key cutter will ask you for their permission in writing. This can cause delays when you move into... Read More »
With a CCJ (County Court Judgment), you’ve essentially been blacklisted. The last thing a landlord or Estate Agency want to see on their applicant’s credit check is a CCJ. Even if you’ve since paid the CCJ and your credit score is fair or good, they will question you. This means that to rent or buy a property, it can be extremely difficult. You may need a guarantor to help you find a place to rent, but finding someone who’s willing to bail you out may prove to be quite tricky. If it’s possible you should avoid the credit check. Some agents/landlords don’t require credit checks, so if you can find one in your local area, you’re golden. Alternatively, you may wish to get a reference from your previous landlords or... Read More »
Many people advertise their properties for rent or sell on Gumtree and other similar websites, and it makes many people wonder why they would ever use the services of an estate agent. Before we get into this one, let’s just explain what an Estate Agent does: They market and sell property. They also deal with paperwork, monitor the chain (of buyers selling their old home and sellers buying their new home), liaise with solicitors and negotiate with buyers and sellers. If you’re willing to do all of that on your own then fine, you don’t need an estate agent, but let us say it’s a lot of work and the rates many of them charge are worth it. At least then you’ll know everything is being handled correctly.
One of the biggest problems with setting up a rental business is the financial cost and your own effort that comes with building the capability to deal with your renters’ problems. Any number of issues can occur in your own home, so when you expand those problems across the 5 and upwards properties that you own, the problem becomes very significant. A broken boiler, a malcontent tenant, a lack of rent-pay, will become increasingly common occurrences as your portfolio of properties begins to expand. One of the easiest solutions to this scenario is to pay for property management services. The reason why this is a valid option is because you don’t need to develop your own system to manage your tenants and your properties, as they will essentially bring a... Read More »
If you’re looking to let your property out, choosing the right letting agent is an important part of it. They can be incredibly helpful in managing the applications and they will advise you on how to present your home in advance of house showings. There are a lot of real estate businesses that provide services and advice for a fee regarding home letting, and choosing the right one for you can be a difficult process. To make it easier, you will need to take advantage of all of the information at your disposal, and luckily there is a lot of information right at your fingertips with the internet. Using review websites which look at the services provided by specific companies can give you the information you need. When you look... Read More »
