Blog Book a Property Valuation
THE DARTMOOR OFFICE, ASHBURTON: 01364 652652
THE TEIGN VALLEY OFFICE, CHUDLEIGH: 01626 852666
THE HIGH MOOR OFFICE, MORETONHAMPSTEAD: 01647 441104
ASSOCIATED PARK LANE OFFICE: 0207 079 1448

 
22Jan

The Guild of Property Professionals Member, Sawdye & Harris was presented with two prestigious accolades at The Guild Awards ceremony, which was held at QEII Centre in Westminster, London on 17 January 2019.

The Guild Awards were presented by British TV presenter, Rachel Riley and Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild, after a full day at The Guild Annual Conference, where new strategies, services and plans were revealed to keep Guild Members at the forefront of the industry. Estate agents also heard from motivational keynote speakers and property industry experts.

The Guild Awards were sponsored by The Telegraph, who commented: “As the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper, The Telegraph is looked to by its readers as a trusted source of expertise. It is therefore fitting that we are able to celebrate excellence in the property industry by sponsoring The Guild of Property Professionals Awards."

The Guild Awards 2019 were also presented in association with The ESTAS and the ceremony was sponsored by Reapit, a CRM and Client Accounting software provider specialising in the residential sector. The ESTAS are awarded based on customer surveys regarding the agent’s service – these scores contribute to the decision of The Guild Awards judging panel when selecting winners.


  

Sawdye & Harris were proud to be chosen to receive not one but two awards, which were collected by Katie Griffin and Jade Crouchen, on stage at the QEII Centre in front of nearly 500 estate agents.

“We are thrilled to be recognised for our hard work and dedication over the past year. This award is a culmination of our efforts throughout the last 12 months and a symbol of our commitment to excellence within the property industry,” said Katie Griffin, Owner of Sawdye & Harris, "All our hard work has paid off and with our clients providing testimonials and feedback, a bit like TripAdvisor, it has allowed us to really show what a professional and exceptional service we offer and why you should use a high street, Guild estate and letting agent" 

Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild of Property Professionals, said: “The Guild Awards is a much-anticipated fixture on our calendar, and this year’s event was another huge success. It was great to be able to get together and celebrate excellence within our network. Congratulations to all agents and offices that received awards this year, and all the best for 2019.”



19Jan

Are you taking the right Winter weather precautions?


With the threat of inclement weather imminent, we wanted to take the opportunity to focus on the practical steps that can help you to reduce the risk of damage to property. Damage caused by the escape of water from frozen pipes and other equipment can be extremely costly in repairs and disruption.

Here are some tip to help our landlords and tenants:

PREVENT FREEZING

  • Ensure that all areas containing pipes and water storage tanks are heated to prevent freezing.
  • Heating should be thermostatically controlled to maintain a minimum temperature.
  • Fuel supplies and any associated equipment should be periodically tested and maintained. This is particularly critical where “interruptible” gas supplies are used.
  • Pipes should be lagged to delay the temperature drop. Use 32mm thick good quality, non-combustible lagging securely fixed to all piping including expansion pipes.
  • Tanks should be lagged around and over, but not underneath so that heat from below can rise.
  • Minimise pipe-runs outside, or in areas exposed to winds.
  • Wet pipe sprinkler systems should be avoided where the temperature cannot be kept above 4°C, the use of alternate or dry pipe systems should be considered.

ACTION TO MINIMISE DAMAGE

  • Know the location of all stopcocks inside the premises as well as the main incoming valve in the street. The stopcocks should be periodically exercised to ensure that they are in working order.
  • Someone should be responsible for any sprinkler system, its water supply and pump room. Ensure that buildings are inspected to identify frozen or leaking pipes at an early stage.
  • Review and update emergency contact procedures.

Responsible staff should know how to thaw pipes safely:

  • Isolate the pipe by closing the stopcock on the feed from the tank or main.
  • Expect a thawed pipe to leak water, so protect items beneath it.
  • Do not use blow torches, hot air paint strippers or naked flames.
  • Use hot water bottles or a hair dryer.

COMMON OR UNOCCUPIED AREAS
The precautions described previously apply equally to common and unoccupied areas. These can be particularly vulnerable as problems may not be identified until damage has occurred.

  • Regular inspections of these areas should be carried out before and during cold weather.
  • If a tenant is still responsible for an unoccupied area ensure that they are inspecting these and taking the precautions described above.
  • Consider provision of heating to any unheated portions of the building if they may be vulnerable. The use of minimum and maximum thermometers can give an indication of potential problems.

ACTIONS TO PREVENT FREEZING GENERAL

  • Establish a monitoring function during the winter months.
  • Drain all equipment that carries water or is susceptible to freezing in all vacant areas or those that have history of past freezing.
  • For unattended buildings, provide a supervised alarm system to monitor power supply and buildings temperatures
  • Consider draining the water system if the building will be unoccupied for a prolonged period.
  • Consideration should be given to how ice plugged pipes will be thawed (e.g. hot air blowers) - DO NOT expose pipes to open or naked flames.


15Jan

Our 2018 Property market review for Ashburton is ready ! Giving you an insight in to the popular #Dartmoor town of #Ashburton - whats selling and on which roads - This is the start of WE LOVE TQ13 focusing on why we love living here.




14Jan

Most property viewings happen in the first month of marketing a property. What can you do if your home isn’t attracting much attention? 

Here are five tips to make sure your property has more viewings in 24 hours. 



1. Run a social media campaign 

Ask your agent to boost your property on Facebook. They will be able to target people who live in your local area to generate attention. Make sure people can easily book a viewing from the post. 


2. Host an open house 

Set a date for an open house and invite interested people to attend. Most open houses run from about 11am to 1pm on a Saturday. You could get up to 30 people through the door on just one day. 


3. Stage your home 

Are your interiors inspiring? Hire a homestaging firm to help declutter and present your home in the best possible light. This is particularly important if your property isn’t furnished. 


4. Reduce the price 

This is a big decision, but a reduced price will get a lot of new attention. If you need to sell quickly, this is a good option. 


Are you looking to sell your home? Give us a call on 01364 652652 and we would be happy to talk your though the house buying and selling process.


07Jan

Estate Agent at Blue Door

How to Pick the Perfect Estate Agent

Choosing the right estate agent is very important and will have a big impact on how quickly you sell your house, and at what price. Contrary to common thinking, not all agents are the same and some will be more effective than others. 

Do your research

When it comes to choosing an agent to sell your home, it helps to firstly make a shortlist of possible agents. It’s always a good idea to speak to others about their first-hand experience, so start by asking family, friends and neighbours for their recommendations.

Whilst comparing facts, like how quickly they sell property, how close they come to achieving the asking price and how successful they are, are important, you’ll also want someone who is experienced, enthusiastic and helpful, and a good estate agent will be punctual, friendly and able to offer expert advice.

Why not also take a look at their listings on sites such as Rightmove and OnTheMarket and check how they are marketing other properties they’re currently selling -  do they include attractive pictures, list all the important features, have a floorplan?

Customer review websites like TrustPilot or Feefo or Google or Facebook Reviews can also be really helpful when searching for reputable companies with honest customer feedback. 

Ask questions

Once you have a shortlist of three or four possible agents, head in to their office (if they have one) or give them a call, and ask them to provide a valuation for your property. This is a chance for you to check their communication skills, professionalism and knowledge.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and make sure to gather as much information as possible – you’re going to need it when it comes to making a decision about who you want to sell your home. Here's a list of essential questions you should be asking each agent:

  • Do you live locally?
  • What can you tell me about the market in my area?
  • How many properties have you sold in my area?
  • What kind of prices have you achieved for sales similar to mine?
  • How long have you been in the real estate business?
  • Are you a member of NAEA Propertymark?
  • Do you have a team of people to help with my sale?
  • What are your working hours and will you or a colleague be contactable on weekends?
  • What would you do if my property wasn’t selling?

Every agent who visits you should be able to tell you the price they suggest marketing your home for and the price they expect to achieve (although it’s important to note that these may not be the same), details of their fees and the costs associated with marketing your home and specific contract details such as tie-in periods.

What are their fees?

Then you will need to look at the nitty-gritty of the contract and the agent’s fees. If you are selling your house using a traditional, high-street estate agent, their fee will typically be based on a percentage of the price paid by the buyer - this is called commission. 

You may find that other agents charge a single, flat fee. What is included can vary dramatically, however, and it's likely that different packages will be available for different price points, so make sure to check what you're getting for your money.

In order to avoid unexpected costs, don’t sign anything that you don’t understand and be sure to ask about anything that is not clear.

Are they Propertymark Protected?

NAEA Propertymark Protected agents will give you the assurance that your estate agent follows best practice, meets all requirements of the profession and works to industry standards.

We always recommend that you use an NAEA Propertymark estate agent. They hold Professional Indemnity insurance and if they are holding monies are required to be covered by Client Money Protection to give you peace of mind throughout the sale of your house.

Finally, choose someone you have felt comfortable dealing with and who you feel you can get along with.

If you are thinking of selling or just need some property advice just give us a call on 01364 652652.


Check mortgage eligibility online