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
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
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
Bonuses bring surge of activity to London property market
The return of bonus payments to city workers is leading to an increase in property transactions at the top end of the market.
It’s predicted that overall the bonuses paid could total £6 billion. We believe this will help sustain property prices rather than cause a bubble.
With many bonuses being paid in February and March next year, we’re looking forward to a confident Spring market in London.
Labels: city bonuses, estate agency, estate agent, estate agents, London property market
Property shortages in best areas drive up prices
A shortage of properties for sale in popular areas is leading to rapid price increases.
At £162,038 the average UK house price has now risen for six consecutive months but at the same time there are fewer houses on the market than at any time in the last year and a half.
We’re really encouraged to see prices continuing to rise month-on-month. But the lack of houses for sale is really making the current situation a sellers’ market.
This is particularly true in popular areas. These are often areas with things like sought-after schools, a selection of period properties or good transport links. Here we’re seeing sellers being able to demand even higher prices as the lack of properties for sale increases demand.
This is encouraging news for the housing market. We traditionally see extra activity in the run-up to Christmas and then a lot of movement in the Spring. We’re hoping this increase in demand for houses in popular areas will really help strengthen the market and improve confidence.
Labels: estate agency, estate agent, estate agents, haart, house prices
Perfect opportunity for first-time buyers to make their move
Now is the ideal time for first-time buyers to take the plunge and get their foot on the property ladder.
For a long time first-time buyers have struggled to get their foot on even the lowest rung of the property ladder, but now the tide has turned, and it is a great time for them to seriously consider buying a property.
There are some fantastic new mortgage products available at the moment specifically aimed at first-time buyers, property prices are much more realistic and the stamp duty threshold will remain low until Christmas.
It is important that first-time buyers thoroughly evaluate the amount of money they have available to put towards a property,research mortgage deals and familiarise themselves with the different types of loans available. They should also consider the type of property they require and what area they wish to live in.
We are certainly seeing more first-time buyers and are always happy to advise them on the best way forward.
Asking prices are significantly reduced, there are some excellent mortgage deals around and interest rates are low all of which are encouraging first time buyers.
Buying a first home is one of the most important steps anyone will ever take and now is a great time to take that step.
Labels: estate agency, estate agent, estate agents, first time buyers, FTBs, stamp duty
haart launches new super-branch expansion plan with flagship development in Milton Keynes
At haart we have launched a major expansion programme, starting with the development of a new £500,000 ‘super-branch’ in Milton Keynes, set to be five times bigger than the usual high street branch.
The new cutting-edge super-branch expansion programme will enable us to reach an even wider number of people, with our focus remaining on the excellent customer care for which we have become renowned.
The new branch will serve a 20-mile radius, including Bletchley, Newport Pagnall, Shenley, Stony Stratford and Walnut Tree, and will employ 23 negotiators, nine of whom will specialise in lettings.
This branch is just the first of a series of large-scale haart branches planned for the UK, with discussions already taking place for further super-branches in Leeds, Coventry and Birmingham as part of a £3 million expansion plan.
The company is also a member of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA), offering peace of mind to tenants and landlords alike.
Labels: ARLA, estate agency, estate agents, haart, Milton Keynes
Why rent when you can buy?
haart is offering comparison mortgage prices on all our rental property details. Although many people are reluctant to buy in the current market, it has become a cheaper option for those able to make a down payment.
The start of the year is often a time of change, with people moving jobs, more divorces and alterations in personal circumstances, all of which result in people upping sticks and moving house.
What could be better than living in your own home and enjoying your own tasteful décor, while capitalising on current low prices for long-term investment? It really is a good a time to snap up a bargain.
Because of the economic downturn, people believe that they cannot afford to buy or that lenders are unwilling to lend. This is simply not the case. Now is the time to take advantage of competitive property prices and invest in your own bricks and mortar.
Labels: estate agency, estate agents, haart
Price property sensibly for a quick sale
At haart estate agents, we’re urging people who want to sell their properties to ensure they are realistically priced in the first place.
There are still lots of people looking to buy, no doubt keen to take advantage of the recent cut in mortgage rates. So we’re encouraging sellers not to have unrealistic expectations about what their property is worth in the current property market.
Over-inflated prices will put off buyers and lead to potential delays – and they may look elsewhere instead. Your property could end up on the market for much longer, possibly delaying important life-moves. If it hangs around for too long, people will be further put off because they’ll wonder what’s wrong with it.
On the other hand, If both price and property are attractive, you could get multiple offers and be able to negotiate a deal that’s not far off the asking price. Plus, if you are also looking to buy, you too could pick up a bargain, balancing out any losses incurred.
It’s very tempting to ask as much as possible for your property on the basis that you can always come down if you have to. But delays can wreck property chains. No one wants their sale to be delayed by a chain which has got bogged down because one of the vendors can’t sell.
The cut in mortgage rates means we now have many more people able to get cheaper deals; this means anyone with a well-priced property is now in a far better position to sell and we should see the green shoots of growth returning once more to the housing market.
Labels: estate agency, estate agents
Property safe haven for uncertain investors
Investors who have lost faith in the stock market and banks and want something tangible for their money are increasingly turning to bricks and mortar as a safe place to invest their funds. Estate agents are currently noticing a strong growth in interest in all types of property, from dilapidated terraced houses to top-end mews apartments.
The credit crunch has pushed the price of property down, making it an increasingly sensible investment. What’s more, the cash buyer is in a far stronger position to negotiate price reductions than the person with a mortgage.
Capital prices have plummeted by between 15 and 20 percent in recent months as mortgage lenders tighten the purse strings. The sharp drop in values means residential property in particular is an increasingly attractive long term investment for investors with liquid funds.
The trend we are noticing very strongly is for people to turn their back on paper investments and put their spare cash into something they can touch and feel.
In the short term, the property market may go up and it may also go down, as we’ve seen. But the canny cash buyer can currently see income yields of up to eight percent. Equally importantly, their money is safer in property than in other forms of investment or savings which may no longer be the safe options they appeared.
Labels: estate agency, estate agents, haart
haart scoops communications award
I was extremely delighted to collect an award from Communicators in Business, in recognition of our excellent Fine haart glossy magazine.
We won a trophy for the Photography category in the East Anglia awards, plus an 'Award of Excellence' certificate for our haart ezine in the national awards.
We have invested substantially in
haart and our premium brand during the past year, with a new look on our signage and marketing particulars, plus our excellent new
estate agency website, in order to deliver the best service to our customers, and to really stand out from the crowd.
We are always pleased to receive positive feedback, not just from our own customers but from experts within the industry, as excellent marketing undertaken by
estate agents can really make a difference to the sale price.
Labels: estate agency, estate agents, haart
