Incentives available for homemovers in Somerset

25/01/2012

in Somerset

Getting on the property ladder may not be as difficult as it seems, according to leading local agent Palmer Snell.

At the end of the 2011, the Government announced a number of measures to assist homemovers to move up and for first-time buyers to get on the property ladder. These include:

  • A Mortgage Indemnity Scheme designed to offer 95% loan to value mortgages for first time buyers looking to purchase new build properties.
  • An additional £400m earmarked for the FirstBuy Scheme, which will help 10,500 first-time buyers get on to the property ladder with a loan of up 20% of the property value available.

To support the New Year buzz Palmer Snell offices across Dorset and Somerset have a number of specialist advisors on hand to provide advice for all potential homemovers including first-time buyers, homeowners looking to trade up or access new mortgage products and landlords who are looking to grow their property portfolios.

Ian Thompson, Managing Director said:

“2012 looks set to be a promising year for the property market in Dorset and Somerset .Within the first few weeks, we’re already seeing an increase in new buyer enquiries and homeowners looking to get their property valued.

“Buyer demand is still strong across the region and although deposit affordability continues to be a hurdle for many potential buyers to overcome, properties that are competitively priced to sell are being snapped up.”

“Countrywide operates one of the largest mortgage broker services in the UK and its 650 mortgage consultants, including consultants at Taylors have found that in recent weeks, at least nine of Countrywide’s Top 10 Mortgage Products have been fixed-rate products.”

Ian Thompson adds:  “Despite marginal  rate rises, mortgages are still 0.81 percent cheaper than in 2009, with the average 75% LTV mortgages now available at a rate of 3.24%. This provides a good time for borrowers to review their options and consider remortgaging to take advantage of the great deals currently on offer. We are working with some of theUK’s largest lenders to give buyers a helping hand by enabling them to access competitive purchase and remortgage products, ideal for customers making their first steps onto the property ladder and those simply looking to remortgage.” 

To find out more about Countrywide’s exclusive mortgage products and services, contact your local Palmer Snell office or visit www.propertywide.co.uk

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Moving home? Get the children involved in preparing for the big day

24/01/2012

in Cambridgeshire

Teresa Foreman, Chatteris branch manager at Harrison Murray

In all the excitement and organisation of selling your home and moving, it may sometimes be difficult to remember that the young children in the family are also facing a change, says Teresa Foreman, Chatteris branch manager at Harrison Murray estate agents.

Selling the home and moving house can seem very daunting for some children, leaving them facing a huge change in their lives with new surroundings and possibly a new school. However, if the children are old enough, get them involved and enlist their help in showing the home to its best effect during the viewing and selling process.

Here’s how to get the children involved:

* Initially, chat to them about the family’s plans and get them on side when thinking about moving to a new home in a new area – with lots to explore.

* The same basic rule applies to children’s rooms as to other rooms in the house – clear out the clutter. Many children are expert hoarders, so introduce some eye-catching storage boxes and challenge them to leave only a few favourite toys on display.

* Try to encourage them to keep posters and stickers off doors and mirrors. Limit wall posters to one or two tasteful ones if they insist on keeping them.

* Children’s carpets can often suffer many years of wear and tear. If you cannot afford to replace them, disguise any tatty or stained carpets with a bright, plain rug.

* Ensure clothes, shoes or even cups and plates from last night’s snack are tidied away. Ask your children not to use cupboards as a dumping ground in case viewers want to inspect storage space.

* Keep pets out of children’s rooms when showing your property. Caged rodents or reptiles may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

* A few days before the move, get them to design stickers for their boxes of possessions.

* Compromise with the children. Don’t turn their room into an impersonal desert.

* On arrival at the new house, encourage them straight away to put out a few initial belongings in their rooms to help make their mark on the new home.

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Prepare well if you are planning a spring sale

24/01/2012

in Suffolk

By Jonathan Penn of Jackson-Stops & Staff

 

LIKE many things in life, good preparation helps any job run more smoothly.

This is particularly true of the house selling process.

The obvious tips concern creating the very best possible first impression by ensuring that your property is presented in a cared for and tidy manner, having been de-cluttered both internally and externally.

Without the attendance to such relatively minor tasks, your purchasers may have concerns about the maintenance of the larger jobs.

Secondly and in many ways, almost more importantly, the property’s legal paperwork should be fully in order. The conveyancing procedure has become considerably more stringent in recent years and a purchaser’s solicitor will require every ‘I’ to be dotted and every ‘T’ crossed.

It is essential that your conveyancing solicitors are forewarned of your plans and instructed to check title documentations and all supporting paperwork, ensuring that all planning permissions and completion notices are in place.

Any question marks over boundaries should be attended to and if there are any covenants affecting the property, these should be highlighted to your selling agent.

Many a transaction has been delayed or even derailed by ‘ticking time bombs’ that may have laid dormant within the legal paperwork for many years.

Some vendors are prepared to go a stage further and we had a couple of examples last year whereby full structural surveys were prepared, where the liability could be transferred to a buyer who would purchase the survey as a part of the negotiations.

So now your house is ‘fully in order.’

The other key ingredient to success is ensuring that the property is marketed by an appropriate agent, with a guide price set in the correct bracket.

I encourage most vendors to have a target price in mind and it is worth carrying out a little of your own research via the internet to get a ‘feel’ for the market.

If you plan to make an ongoing purchase, check and plan that your purchasing finances are all in order.

Consulting a mortgage broker at an early stage will help understand the best options and what information will be required.

These steps will ensure you are well prepared for the vagaries of the property market!

 

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Country Properties focuses on Home Counties

20/01/2012

in Hertfordshire

Go along to a Home Counties Property Show

When it comes to going the extra mile to find the right buyer or tenant for your property, Country Properties has long been in a league of its own.

And true to form, the company is kicking off 2012 with a unique programme of three exclusive, high-profile Home Counties property exhibitions in the heart ofLondon.

Designed to appeal directly to Londoners looking to move out of the capital, these exciting free events will not only highlight the wide range of properties available in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and the Cambridgeshire borders, but also showcase their many attractions and lifestyle advantages.

The exhibitions are scheduled for February 3/4, February 24/25 and March 30/31, and all three will be held amid the prestigious surroundings of the National Property Centre inPark Lane.

“Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and the Cambridgeshire borders are prime targets for all those looking to move out of London in search of better value and a more congenial lifestyle,” said Country Properties’ Ian Wilson.

“This is a huge potential market, and becoming more so. Indeed, in the last six months alone, we have registered over 1,800 potential buyers and tenants withLondonpostcodes.”

Mr Wilson added: “With 21 franchised offices right across the region, no other agent knows it better, or enjoys such a reputation for dynamic and innovative marketing.”

As well as displaying Country Properties’ entire portfolio of homes for sale or rent – from apartments suitable for first-time buyers right up to the very top of their premium Style & Distinction range – the three events will also provide interested members of the public with all sorts of useful information about the areas concerned.

Mr Wilson continued: “We know from our extensive experience in running roadshows that people at the very early stages of contemplating a move to another area need lots of information. For instance, for people currently both living and working in London, accessibility and travelling times are obviously particularly important – so we will be highlighting these, and emphasising just how well served the area is by road, rail and even air!”

The highly experienced staff manning the exhibitions – which will be open from 9am till 6pm each day – will be handing out details and dealing with the large number of enquiries.

So, if 2012 is the year you plan to move house, you need to start off on the right foot by contacting your local Country Properties straight away and finding out more about these great, exclusive events.

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Route 85 incentive at Chrysalis Park, Stevenage

20/01/2012

in Hertfordshire

Explore Living is delighted to announce that it is offering the Route 85 incentive atChrysalisPark,Stevenage.

This fantastic opportunity allows first-time buyers the chance to get their foot on the property ladder by buying 100 per cent of a property for only 85 per cent of the price.

The Route 85 purchasing plan is open to first-time buyers, and enables them to own their home outright. The 15 per cent share is funded by Explore Living as an interest-free loan to the buyer for up to 10 years. All new home buyers need is a minimum deposit of five per cent of the property’s value that they are interested in and an additional £1000 to reserve their home, some terms and conditions do apply and Route 85 is subject to availability. Explore Living can even put buyers in touch with a mortgage broker who can arrange a mortgage for the remaining 80 per cent of the value of the property.

Prices start from £199,995 to £269,995. For more information, please call sales on 01992 526753, email gill.austin@lanesproperty.co.uk or visit www.exploreliving.co.uk

The bedroom of a showhome at Chrysalis Park

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Connells success brings changes in Hertfordshire

20/01/2012

in Hertfordshire

Adam Mckeon-Hewitt

Connells estate agents is delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Mckeon-Hewitt as manager of the Marshalswick office and the promotion of Doug Guerrier to Area Director, responsible for five branches in Herts. 

Adam (pictured right) is one of Connells’ home grown stars and he began his estate agency career at the company’s Welwyn Garden City office in 2004. He has won a number of top internal awards including Manager of the Year in 2005 and 2007, and has managed the company’s Letchworth, Hitchin and most recently Welwyn Garden City offices. Adam looks forward to his new challenge running the Marshalswick branch.

Doug began his career with the company in 1994 when he joined theSt Albansoffice. He became manager of the branch in 2001 and went on to be a Board of management partner in 2009 and a local director this year. Through his hard work and determination theSt Albansbranch is one of Connells’ most profitable and successful. Over the past decade, the branch has been one of the top three offices within the company and for seven of those years it was number one. 

Regional director Steve Valentine commented on their appointments: “I am delighted to see Adam and Doug take up these positions. They are both hard working and determined individuals who pride themselves on providing excellent customer service.”

The housing market inSt Albansand Marshalswick is very buoyant. Properties that are correctly priced, well-presented and pro-actively marketed are selling well. However, demand is outstripping supply and Connells desperately needs more properties of all types and price ranges to sell to meet demand.

Due to the promotion of Doug Guerrier, Connells is actively looking to recruit an efficient and determined sales manager to run theSt Albansoffice and build on the success of the branch.

If you are thinking of moving and would like to find out more about the local housing market or if you would like to arrange a free market appraisal, contact the successful St Albans and Marshalswick offices at:

38 Chequer Street,St. Albans. Tel: 01727 856781;

5 Wycombe Place, Marshalswick. Tel: 01727 851100.

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More tips on planting a hedge from garden designer Steve Perrett.

19/01/2012

in General Property,Norfolk

 Written by Steve Perrett.

Here are a few hedges which are well worth considering:

Yew (Taxus baccata) – This is such a beautiful and versatile plant. It looks good all year round and can be used in a variety of situations. Makes a good slow growing, evergreen hedge in the 1.5 – 2.5m range.

 Beech (Fagus sylvatica) – A traditional, slow growing hedge with beautiful, reflective green or purple leaves. Not evergreen but they do hang on to their copper coloured dead leaves in winter, so not completely bare. A beech hedge will look absolutely stunning if looked after. Again, in the 1.5 – 2.5m range.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) – A good looking, reliable conifer hedge which unlike Leylandii won’t go beserk. Needs a couple of good clips each year. Grows to about 1.5m then stops.

 Aucuba japonica – Spotted laurel is a great choice for city locations as it puts up with pollution. Grows 1.2m – 2m high.

Eleagnus x ebbingei – A good hedge for coastal locations as it puts up with salt and sand laden winds. Gives off a lovely scent and grows 2 – 2.5m high.

Escallonias – Make a good evergreen hedge with a long flowering season. 1.5 – 2m high.

Four Tips for Planting a Hedge

 1. Consider what it is you want the hedge to do. Is it for security, screening an unsightly object or privacy. Different hedges serve different purposes.

 2. Prepare the ground thoroughly. Ideally dig a trench 45cm wide and 30cm deep using lots of organic matter along the bottom.

 3. Use a mycorrhizal funghi such as Rootgrow when planting. The fungus helps provide a secondary root system.

 4. Once planted, bare root plants will need to be cut down to about 15cm from the ground or by about one third to ensure that the hedge fills out from the ground up.

You don’t want to be left with a bare bottom!

 We provide a complete planting service so if a hedge appeals to you but don’t fancy the physical exertion, we can do all of the hard work.

 Steve Perrett Gardening Design can be contacted at 07825 215622 or 01263 768037,

www.steveperrett.co.uk

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