How choosing the right agent is the key to a successful sale
Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to successfully selling a property in tough market conditions.
We take into account all aspects of the house-buying process and because we look at the whole picture we always offer a realistic appraisal.
People appreciate our honesty and because of this many more clients are choosing us to sell their properties. They know that we will give them an assessment based on the facts, not just on what they might want to hear.
For example, there is no point in overpricing a property. It will not attract buyers and will be languishing on the market for months on end. Far better to present the facts as they are and ensure a property sells for the best price it can. We can also tap into a national network of mortgage lenders.
The start of the year has seen us experience a huge surge of interest from buyers; however many are unable to secure a mortgage. We are fortunate that because we are part of a large network we can contact an extensive range of mortgage lenders across the UK. We can also offer up-to-the-minute local advice which is a huge bonus and can make all the difference when trying to secure a dream property.
I really believe that the future lies with estate agents who can go the extra mile. The property market is extremely competitive and both buyers and sellers are selecting agents with far greater care and discretion than ever before.
They realise that the right agent will get the results they want and because of this everyone in the industry is having to step up a gear.
We are successful because not only do we offer additional services, but we are honest and realistic. Our goal is always to achieve the best outcome for both seller and buyer and we rarely fail to do this.
Labels: Darlows, estate agency, Felicity J Lord, haart, Haybrook, property market, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Booming rental market creates perfect job opportunities
There has never been a better time to pursue a career in the lettings industry.
With rents at an all time high and a soaring demand for rental properties, the industry is booming.
At a time when many other areas of the economy are struggling, the demand for rental property is unprecedented and this is unlikely to alter which makes the lettings industry an extremely attractive sector for those wishing to change career.
Spicerhaart recently instigated an internal training programme for all its lettings division. So now is a really great time to become part of a thriving industry and have an exciting career.
We place a huge emphasis on training and development and have put together a structured career path for all our staff to encourage swift career progression.
The training programme covers three major career stages from Trainee Lettings Negotiator right up to Divisional Lettings Director. Our lettings branch network is currently undergoing major expansion and we have a number of vacancies as many of our existing staff have recently been promoted.
If you have the motivation to succeed and want to work for a dynamic and successful company we would be interested in hearing from you.
Labels: careers, Darlows, Felicity J Lord, Haybrook, lettings, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Buy-to-let is still a safe bet
As 2010 draws to a close, we are urging those with money to invest in the New Year to consider buy-to-let as a viable medium to long term investment.
Landlords with buy-to-let properties can expect an increasingly good return on their money as the rental market is predicted to remain strong.
There is currently a real undersupply of rental property, and this is unlikely to change in 2011 with massive demand remaining which will push rents up further.
With interest rates so low and an increasing lender appetite, a buy-to-let property can be an excellent investment. For example, a property which costs in the region of £185,000 can generate a yield of as much as eight to ten per cent a year. This is a great return and far better than any bank or building society can offer.
Those looking to invest in buy-to-let property should also be prepared to look further afield. We would advise investors to consider looking outside their immediate locality when considering buy-to-let properties, as there are areas in the country with some great returns to be had which can offer excellent yields.
We have a large network of both sales and letting branches and are happy to offer guidance.
Investors should always take advice from a reputable lettings agent accredited by a professional body such as NALS (National Approved Lettings Scheme) or ARLA (Association or Residential Lettings Agents).
A good agent will ensure that the property is looked after and well managed, and so the area of the country in which it is located should make little difference.
The yield is calculated by taking a property’s monthly rental income to give the annual rent and dividing this into the purchase price of the property. Of course, it is important to take into consideration such things as mortgage set-up fees, stamp duty and other costs associated with the purchase of a property. Even so, with the rental market so strong a buy-to-let property is a good investment.
In many areas rental properties are being snapped up in less than 24 hours such is the demand, and this will continue to remain the case the foreseeable future.
Labels: ARLA; NALS; buy-to-let, Felicity J Lord, haart, Haybrook, landlords, letting agent, rentals, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Rental bonanza is unprecedented says local lettings agency
With demand outstripping supply, rents are currently at an all-time high – and they are likely to stay that way for some time to come.
What we are experiencing is unprecedented. In the last few months, we have seen a soaring demand for rental properties - from one bedroom flats to family homes - and rents are continuing to rise rapidly.
We believe demand for rental properties will continue to surge due to a number of national factors.
The average age of a first time buyer is now 37 and with restrictions on mortgage lending this is unlikely to change.
Student debt is also on the rise which will make buying a property out of the question for many people and we also believe that the public sector cuts will have a huge impact.
Across the board, people are more and more reluctant to commit to buying and want to remain in rented accommodation long-term.
Whilst the boom is good news for landlords who can expect greater returns on their investment, it is not such good news for tenants who are having to fight harder to secure properties.
In this market, the best piece of advice for anyone considering either renting or letting out a property is to research every aspect. Both landlords and tenants should obtain advice from reputable licensed letting agents who can guide them every step of the way.
Labels: Darlows, Felicity J Lord, first time buyers, haart, Haybrook, letting agencies, letting agent, lettings agencies, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
How a good estate agent can make all the difference
Take good care when choosing your estate agent and reap the benefits of a successful sale.
Selecting a good estate agent can mean the difference between a property languishing on the market for months or selling much more quickly.
In this tough climate, it is more crucial than ever to take your time and conduct your own research to enable you to choose the right estate agent. You will have no better ally – the right agent can offer in-depth advice and support and most importantly ensure that your property is priced realistically.
We advise sellers to be cautious about those agents quick to over or under value a property. Most estate agents are very professional but unfortunately there are some who overvalue to win business or undervalue to get a quick sale and their commission.
Pricing a property correctly requires considerable skill. Our aim is always to achieve the best price for a property, and we go to great lengths to make sure this happens by ensuring a property is valued appropriately at the outset.
It can mean the difference between moving now or selling later for less than if it had been priced competitively in the first place.
Other things to bear in mind when looking for an estate agent are the quality of service, coverage and professionalism on offer. For example, does the agent offer additional services such as mortgage advice, insurance, conveyancing and surveys? We offer a one stop shop for all these services which is of huge benefit.
It is also important that your property is marketed effectively. It is well worth researching what sort of marketing materials an agent produces. In this current market, your property needs to stand out from the competition.
We also believe the most important aspect is the professional relationship between an estate agent and client.
You want an agent who has in-depth knowledge of the market and who will go that extra mile for you. Our staff are selected not only for their knowledge and expertise but also their integrity and willingness to provide the best service possible. They are trained to the highest standards and take great pride in their work, always putting their clients’ interests first.
Choosing an estate agent is not the easiest task, but the benefits of selecting the right one are immense so it is really worth taking time over.
Labels: Darlows, estate agency, haart, haart sales estate agent agency, Haybrook, property market, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Rent if you can’t sell
Homeowners struggling to sell their properties in tough market conditions and anxious to move should not feel despondent.
Many property sellers are now deciding that rather than waiting to find a buyer and secure a realistic price for their property, a temporary option is to rent it out.
Before now, it would not have occurred to many sellers that they can actually rent out their property, but many are seeing it as a viable alternative to selling.
The rental market is currently booming and landlords can expect increasingly higher yields with demand outstripping supply. Coupled with this, renting provides flexibility and a source of income, whilst allowing time for the housing market to improve.
Before deciding to rent out your home, it is important to obtain advice from a reputable lettings agent who knows the local area and market well.
Before letting out your home you will have to ensure it is up to market standards, inform your mortgage and insurance companies, and make it compliant with safety regulations and other legal requirements. This is not difficult and, providing you obtain the correct advice from us and our financial services colleagues, everything should be fairly straightforward.
Property is one of the biggest investments anyone ever makes, so it makes sense to ensure that when you do come to sell you do so at the right time and can secure the best price possible.
Labels: buy-to-let, Darlows, Felicity J Lord, haart, letting agent, lettings, property market, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart, tenants
Why good presentation is the key to selling your home
Despite challenging market conditions this autumn, house sellers should not be discouraged provided they enhance their property’s unique selling points.
It is now more important than ever that sellers invest both time and money in ensuring their property’s key features are highlighted to potential buyers.
In this tough market, excellent presentation has never been more crucial. It is all about improving marketability and ensuring a property stands out. It is often hard to view your property through a buyer’s eyes and this is where the advice and objectivity of a good estate agent comes into play.
We recommend that potential sellers rectify any problems which could detract buyers immediately.
Basic repairs and redecoration should be carried out where necessary and gardens and outside spaces should be immaculate. Internally, clutter should be removed, rooms restored back to their original purpose (for example a spare bedroom might currently be used for storage) and old shabby furniture replaced.
We also advise that as the kitchen is now frequently seen by buyers as one of the most important rooms in a home, it is often worth investing in improvements.
Small details such as fresh flowers and a lick of paint count, and simple inexpensive renovations such as repairing peeling windows can add instant kerb appeal. If a property appears unkempt and uncared for, buyers will be put off immediately.
It is also vital to ensure that the property is priced correctly, and again this is where the skill and knowledge of a good estate agent such as us is so crucial.
We are always honest with vendors and our aim is to ensure that they sell their property at the best price possible and quickly.
Nicely presented properties always attract interest and even in this climate, sellers can still achieve a good price.
Labels: Darlows, estate agency, Felicity J Lord, haart, Haybrook, property market, property prices, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Properties will sell at the right price
House sellers can avoid the property slump by pricing their homes at a realistic level.
Data from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors has showed that house prices in August in England and Wales fell to their lowest level since May 2009.
But homeowners should not be too alarmed at the figures - their homes will still sell if they are priced at a reasonable, realistic level.
Our experience suggests that over-pricing may mean buyers don’t bother to view and will look elsewhere instead. So with good advice, sellers can pitch at the right price and enjoy a smooth sale, even in the current climate.
It’s very much a buyers’ market. The next six months is a really good time to buy, with lots of properties coming on the books.
Labels: Darlows, estate agency, estate agents, Felicity J Lord, haart, Haybrook, properties, property market, property prices, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Google’s new property search helps put your home on the map
Spicerhaart is one of the first estate agencies to sign up to Google’s new property search feature on Google Maps, giving customers a wealth of options when it comes to marketing their property online.
Viewers can search a local area using Google Maps, pinpoint the exact location of a property for sale with us and see what features are offered.
They can search on property price, whether it is for sale or rent, how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has, and whether it is detached, a semi or townhouse/unit.
By being one of the first to partner with Google’s property search, we can offer our customers so much more. Not only do they benefit from exposure on all the existing main property portals to which we subscribe, their properties will be seen by so many more people who search on Google.
As the most popular search engine in the UK, it will be so easy for people to pick the location where they want to live, then see the wealth of properties on offer in that area.
Andrew Foster, product manager for Google, says: "We know that many UK home buyers are already using Google Maps to help with their house-buying and renting decisions, especially driving directions and Street View. By making property listings available in Google Maps we can drive qualified buyers directly to listings.
"It's a simple and free way for property companies to make their listings even more discoverable, and have them seen on an easy-to-navigate map."
Labels: buy-to-let, Darlows, estate agency, estate agent, Felicity J Lord, haart, Haybrook, housing market, lettings, London property market, property market, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Property market experiences post-election surge
With a coalition Government now in place and the election period over there is a reclaimed sense of stability in the housing market which has led to a surge of property coming onto our books.
It seems that confidence is returning with people no longer postponing their decision to buy and sell.
Since the formation of the new Government we have also experienced a flood of phone calls to our branches, plus a large increase in traffic to our website.
In particular, we are seeing a flurry of web-driven activity during the lunchtime period and between 7pm and 9.30pm. When we surveyed our customers recently, they told us one of the reasons they chose us to sell their property was because they can talk to us up to 10pm during the week.
Even the uncertainty over the future of Home Information Packs is failing to dent interest. Although the new Government has confirmed it will be scrapping them, it hasn’t yet announced the timescale to do so.
With the election behind us and the summer ahead, sellers now need to focus on smartening up their properties and making them stand out from the crowd.
For buyers, there are some good mortgage deals available and, with property prices rising again, it has never been a better time to get on or move up the property ladder.
Labels: buy-to-let, Darlows, estate agent, Felicity J Lord, haart, Haybrook, house prices, housing market, London property market, mortgages, property market, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
New stamp duty threshold is of national significance
The scrapping of stamp duty for first-time buyers who pay less than £250,000 for a property is set to strengthen the market.
First-time buyers are the lifeblood of the industry and the new stamp duty threshold will substantially increase the number coming onto the property market.
Already we have taken more enquiries from first-time buyers looking to get a foot on the property ladder. Although the average first-time buyer still needs a decent deposit before they can purchase a property, the fact that they no longer also have to save up one percent of the purchase price means that there will be many more properties available to them.
This new measure is of national significance and is good news for the industry and economy in general. It will particularly help those first-time buyers in London and the South East where property prices are generally much higher.
However large numbers of would-be first-time buyers are still being frozen out of the property market because they are unable to secure a deposit. We strongly believe the government should either help decrease the amount of deposit required or assist first-time buyers with securing funding through the Government-owned lending institutions.
Labels: estate agency, estate agent, estate agents, first time buyers, haart, housing market, properties, property market, property prices, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart, stamp duty
Landlords must be aware of new planning rules
Landlords may not realise they need to apply for planning permission to let houses in multiple occupation (HMO) under new rules.
Where a landlord lets or is considering letting a property to three or more sharers, this creates a house in multiple occupation (HMO). As a result, they will need to apply for planning permission for “changing the use” from a family home to a HMO.
The new planning rules have been introduced in response to the growth of “sharer properties” in certain areas predominately occupied by sharers such as students and migrant workers.
This legislation has come into place at very short notice and has not been very well-publicised, so many landlords may not be aware of it.
In effect, it means they need to obtain separate planning approval if they wish to let any property as an HMO. Furthermore, as the planning process takes about two months, landlords need to take this into consideration.
The new rules do not apply to tenancies which are currently in place, but a planning application may need to be made on tenancy renewal.
This will undoubtedly cause a massive increase in the number of planning applications and the number of appeals, as well as an increase in cost to landlords. Inevitably, many will now have to consider whether to let to sharers and what hoops they have to jump through to do so.
Do not forget that the HMO licensing introduced in 2006 is still very much in force, where certain types of HMOs require mandatory licensing. In addition, local authorities are able to create selective licensing for other HMOs by type or area under the licensing regulations. This new requirement for planning permission is an additional requirement to licensing.
Conditions are also likely to be attached to the new planning permissions. These could include an order to carry out a full health and safety assessment or perhaps restrictions on the number of cars allowed at the property.
I suggest landlords check with their local planning authority on their particular situation, or call us for advice.
Labels: ARLA, buy-to-let, Darlows, haart, Haybrook, landlords, letting agencies, lettings, properties, rent property, rental properties, rentals, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart, tenants
Open House brings buyers flooding through the doors
Our new scheme aimed at creating a buzz amongst potential property buyers is proving to be a big hit.
With the new Open House initiative, vendors pay a one-off fee for a large-scale viewing event at their property. At one Open House this month, almost 30 potential purchasers visited a property for sale, leading to a winning offer of £14,000 over the asking price.
The events are arranged as soon as possible after the property goes on sale, with eye-catching flags flown outside the home on the day. Making an impact as soon as a property hits the market can be key to a swift sale and maximum interest from potential buyers.
The Open House events are part of a trio of Accelerated Marketing tools. Also included in the package is a minimum of a one quarter page advert in the seller’s local press.
Properties are also given a premium listing on the Rightmove website for as long as the property is on the market with us. Benefits include multiple photos of the property on the search page, an eye-catching background and a larger listing box.
Labels: estate agent, Felicity J Lord, haart, haart sales estate agent agency, Haybrook, housing market, properties, property market, property prices, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Add value to your property this year
This year should see the gradual strengthening of the UK property market. Prime homes in prime locations always sell well, but there is a real shortage of better quality homes on the market so any work done has got to enhance the property. There are a number of things sellers can do to ensure their properties attract buyers and yield the best price.
Extensions and loft conversions, extra bedrooms and bathrooms, new kitchens, conservatories and creating off-road parking are all proven ways of increasing the value of a property, but there are also less expensive and invasive ways of ensuring a property is attractive to potential buyers.
Simple renovations can add value to a property. Re-decorating the outside and improving the garden will add instant curb-appeal. Light and airy properties are very attractive to buyers so decorate with light neutral colours. Dispose of clutter and if you are presenting your home to potential buyers remember to ‘stage’ it which will mean getting rid of too many personal items such as photographs and ornaments, ensuring that it is spotlessly clean, replacing old furniture with selected new items and carrying out basic repairs.
However, the cost of any home improvement must be in proportion to the value of the house. A lot of home improvements can be done without planning permission these days, but it is worth checking before the work starts. If you do have to apply for planning permission, allow for the costs involved and the extra time you'll need for permission to be granted.
There are a fewer number of properties coming on to the market at present and while this continues sellers have a great opportunity to obtain a higher price for their property and achieve a faster sale. However potential sellers should always consider the best ways they can add value to their property.
Labels: Darlows, estate agency, estate agent, estate agents, Felicity J Lord, haart, Haybrook, Spicer McColl, Spicerhaart
Talking up the market
Every day we open our papers and turn on our radios and TVs to hear about doom and gloom in the housing market. The truth is... it's not as bad as people are making out and, indeed, it's a good time to buy because prices have fallen in recent months.
Whenever the media releases one of these stories, they are making it worse and shaking consumer confidence, with the result that some transactions that are nearly complete are now falling through or being renegotiated.
What the media fail to realise is that if they continue to talk our market down, more estate agents will be forced to close and the media will lose out even more on their already dwindling income stream from property advertising. That in itself will impact on the print media in particular – who are already introducing their own cost-cutting measures as they too fight for survival.
So next time you see a columnist slating our industry and blaming us for the woes of society, I urge you to fight back. Theirs is the literature of ignorance and shows little understanding of what estate agency is about. We need to show those that pen words that contribute to our downfall they could in fact be contributing to their own downfall. It’s a vicious circle – and we’re all in this together.
Labels: housing market, property prices, Spicerhaart
