By Helen Plumstead, manager of Tops Moving House in Norwich
It is a real pleasure to receive praise, it gives you a warm feeling and it motivates too. We all use praise in our everyday lives, I know how much my children enjoy being praised – it is a reward in itself and a really positive and motivational influence.
My approach in estate agency has always included a work ethic aimed at “exceeding customer expectations”. Customer service is a hugely important subject, but all too many believe it is purely a training issue, I disagree, in my view it is a state of mind, an attitude and an approach that is part of our individual make-up. I have always believed that an estate agent should work hard to smooth that process, to support the individuals involved and wherever possible play a problem solving role.
Helen is on 01603 221882.
By Mathew Forster, development manager of Landingpad, a new homes and land centre based in Norwich
Lacking character, soulless, boring, dull, all the same etc, etc, etc…all these accusations have been levelled at new homes – and far more besides, probably not suitable for publication here…but have you ever considered the other side of the coin…build guarantees; warranties; nice, shiny, brand new appliances and a kitchen unspoilt by somebody else’s messy cooking; warm, snug, heat-efficient, economical and now, in this day and age, increasingly “green”…. Moving on, why buy – and I appreciate I’m going to incur the wrath of the character seeking individualists, who just love the roses around the door et al, and of whom more later – a drafty, second-hand (at best), used pile of bricks, wood, tiles and slates, decorated to someone else’s taste, almost certainly needing work, tender-loving care and cash, when the alternative is new, fresh, untouched, up-to-date and unused? Add into this equation the probability that nice Mr Developer may be offering you some mouth-watering goodies, such as your choice of nice new carpets, tiles, kitchens; maybe your deposit paid, or some help with those hefty fees that are always difficult to find; even a choice of wall colours to help you individualise your home – it’s not necessarily just magnolia and white gloss anymore you know. Then, of course, you have to remember that, buy a brand new home from a reputable builder, they wont pull out or change their mind or, providing you meet the agreed timescales, sell the house you thought was yours to somebody else after you’ve had your offer accepted, incurred costs and got all excited. If you’re lucky, these frightfully obliging chaps may even offer to buy your house if you haven’t sold it yet. You have to admit that, all of a sudden, buying a brand new home does have it’s upsides and advantages…some would say it’s almost a no-brainer…Now, moving back to the roses-around-the-door brigade, I’ll be the first to admire and understand the appeal of character-filled, beautiful, soulful, historic homes – I’ve bought them and lived in them all my life – but one does have to ask in this day and age, with the way of life so many of us have, are new home the most sensible, straight-forward way to moving either onto the property ladder or moving up it? I know that my next purchase will most probably be brand new…I don’t want the hassle of maintenance, mega-heating and electricity bills. Having to paint the soffits and gutters every five years is a seriously over-rated pastime and I can now live without the need of having to do it and that’s before we get anywhere near the redecoration of windows and front doors! And, I have to say, designs are improving, for the individualists out there, desperate to be different, there are exclusive one-off new homes offering the very best of both worlds and this is only going to continue.
Mark’s on 01603 857854
By Jon Gibbs, sales director for developers Charles Church,
At our flagship development Fellowes Plain in Norwich our beautiful apartments incorporate inviting lounge areas and dining rooms for entertaining, and with many people now choosing to host friends and family at home to save money rather than an expensive night out, try some of these tips to make the most of staying in. Host a film night. Invite a group of friends over and ask everyone to bring a film of their choice and a bag of popcorn. Start up a book-sharing club. It’s a cheaper alternative to buying new copies and gives you the chance to catch-up with friends without the cost of a night out. Begin your very own ‘come-dine with me’ competition. Invite a group of friends/family to join in and start planning your meals. For birthday’s/special events try one of the at home parties such as a wine tasting. Create your own cocktail bar. Dig out a selection of different drinks recipes and choose an evening to invite people round to sample them. Arrange a games night. The old favourites like Scrabble and Monopoly are still a fun way to pass the time. Buy an at home exercise DVD and start keeping fit with friends without spending money every month on gym membership. Try learning to bake. Not only will you be very popular at work and at home but a home-made cake can make a great Birthday present. Or take up a new hobby. There are hundreds of products out there to help you and friends learn new talents from dance DVD’s to CD’s teaching you a new language. Or why not try your hand at painting?
The number of people choosing to stay in is on the increase at the moment so people won’t be alone if they do decide to entertain at home. Hopefully our tips will spark off some good ideas to make staying in as much fun as going out.
By David Walker, in charge of new homes at Bidwells in Norwich
Within Residential property, the sector that will see the most change is without doubt the New Build industry. With the mountain of legislation that has come into force in recent years – HIPs, EPCs, eco codes, not even to mention the incoming Consumer Code, the industry has never been more regulated. I am sure in the long run that some of these changes will bring advantages, but it does bring a lot of red tape to both buyers and developers. In many ways much of this could not have come at a worse time for house builders, the credit crunch and house price readjustment meant that companies were struggling to keep up in the first place without these additional changes. Ultimately any recession will bring adjustments, and this one will be no different. Despite the wonderfully wide variety of property we sell – North Norfolk sea front apartments to individual village family homes, to large consortium sites to city centre high rise – you can divide them into two camps; flats and houses. Flats and Apartments have been the sector under most under scrutiny, and in fairness this is probably due to many schemes nationally not being the right product in the right place. However on the whole houses on Greenfield sites have seen more stability, this is because they offer more options for more segments of the market, first time buyers, young families, professional couples, retired purchasers and so on. So what are purchasers going to be buying in the future – flats or houses? They are going to look a little different, Eco home design is going to have an impact, and the local authorities will still push for higher densities on brownfield sites. So it’s a yes to new apartment schemes, but overall demand requires more family houses and hopefully a good balance.
David’s on 01603 763939.
By Collette Hanlon of Home Stagers home presentation service
First impressions
With the internet becoming increasingly important as a marketing tool for house purchases, we now have a new phenomenon referred to as ‘surf by’ desirability, where potential buyers actually eliminate homes, if they do not appear to come up to scratch. Presentation of both interior and exterior has never been more crucial in the marketing of homes and we are informed that more good photos on websites lead to more interest.
The effect of kerb appeal is very powerful, and yet still many vendors choose to leave this factor to chance, although to most of us, it is the exterior of a property that defines exactly what that property is i.e a Victorian terrace, a cottage, contemporary apartment. All of these immediately conjure an image of the architectural exterior of that building.
You may ask – does it really matter what a property looks like from the outside but I would suggest that the condition of the outside of your property has a psychological effect on the ‘buyer’. If your property is tidy and well presented the perception is that the property is well maintained and cared for. It sets the standard for the rest of the viewing. It is a well used cliché, but you only get one chance at a first impression!
Excellent photographs, which we take and include for free within our home staging offer, are a key tool to enticing potential buyers over the threshold. We are exposed to hundreds of professional marketing images in our daily lives and subconsciously our expectations are driven to aspire to this level.
Collette is on 0800 542 8 952.
By Peter Hornor, auctioneer and chartered surveyor with Brown & Co in Norwich
Common questions about auctions
Question: Registration?
It is not compulsory to register with us on the day of the auction but it is advisable. Very often you are provided with a bidding number and you should remember that money laundering regulations are relevant and you will need to provide photographic ID and proof of address to be in a position to bid at the sale.
Question: Do I need an agent or adviser with me?
This will depend on the experience you have and whether you have attended an auction before. It could be that a friend will do but you might have your solicitor with you, which would equally be fine. The importaRecent articles have concentrated on the types of property that suit an auction, together with the importance of presentation to successful outcome. Last week we looked at the ramifications of employing an auctioneer.
As we approach our spring auction we are dealing with continual enquiries from prospective purchasers about what they need to do on the actual day and what advice they need. Here follow some of the more frequent questions we are nt thing is to be absolutely clear about what you are prepared to pay and when the time comes you can bid up to that level but do not go beyond!
We always say that however experienced you are you should take advice from a chartered surveyor prior to purchase because that individual will give you all the information you need about the market and condition and whether or not he thinks what you are interested in is worth buying and at what level.
Question: Do I have to attend?
Nowadays most auctioneers have the ability to take telephone bids so you would not need to be at the sale necessarily, although in our view it is better to be there if you are keen to acquire a property rather than rely on someone else. If you wish to be represented you would be best advised to liaise with your solicitor who will take you through the ramifications of such an arrangement.
Question: What about finance?
Remember that the beauty of an auction sale is that the property is sold at the fall of the hammer with an exchange of contracts immediately afterwards. You as the buyer would be liable to pay 10% of the purchase price at this stage and so you need to be in a position to pay this over to the agent or solicitors acting on behalf of the vendor. You also need to be clear that the finance is arranged for the complete package, that is to say the whole of the purchase price because completion usually takes place about 28 days after the auction.
Question: What happens when the hammer falls?
This is the exchange of contracts stage and is binding and the completion date will be set out in the special conditions of sale.
Question: What if the property is withdrawn from sale – can I still buy?
If a property is withdrawn it means it has not reached the reserve price. In most cases it is then available again and the agents will be offering the property on a private treaty basis, and if you have just missed out or are keen to acquire the property you should contact the agents as quickly as possible to ascertain the situation because this is often the time when you can agree a sale between the parties. If the property does not sell the best thing to do is to see the auctioneer immediately afterwards if possible in any event.
Question: What about insurance after a sale?
The buyer is responsible for the insurance after the sale and if there are any questions regarding this his solicitor will be able to help him.
Peter’s on 01603 767606
