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08Oct

Whether you’re a new homeowner or have been living in your home for a few years, carrying out maintenance work is critical. As the place you spend every day, regular home maintenance is beneficial for saving money in the long run, raising the value of your property, creating a safe and comfortable home and increasing the longevity of your appliances.

 

It can be tricky to know where to begin with maintenance work on your home. Read on to find out our top tips for carrying out DIY tasks.

 

Caring for your home changes from season to season, depending on the weather and the appliances you use. To stay organised, write up a home maintenance checklist for every season and tick the tasks off gradually through the year. 

 

Winter tasks can range from keeping the gutters clean, and servicing the boiler to inspecting your home for any leaks due to the weather. Whilst summer tasks can include checking your water supply status, fixing the garden and inspecting any type of fan usage. With a useful list, it’ll save you from wasting time and forgetting vital tasks at home throughout the year.

 

 

Maintenance of the home can range from simple, everyday tasks we can all do, to other jobs where a professional is needed. Similar to the maintenance jobs list, also create a handy list of local and trustworthy professionals who can do the jobs you’re not skilled for. This can include servicing your boiler, cleaning out gutters, repairing the driveway, painting the exterior of the house and cleaning the chimney. With a professional on hand, you’ll have the confidence of a job done correctly.

Appliances are incredibly useful in everyday life, from hoovers, ovens, and washing machines to the fridge. With regular use comes regular maintenance, meaning a deep cleaning process or sending for repairs when needed. If you don’t regularly clean or repair appliances they can cause damage, either minimal or extensive, depending on the appliance. 

 

You don’t need to be deep cleaning them all the time but once a month or once every two months can help immensely. Put a date in your calendar to keep you organised. For example, cleaning your washing machine can be done every six months, whilst your fridge every month.

 

Our home is our haven and it’s necessary to protect and keep ourselves safe from common faults or hazards. Maintenance is the key to prevention before any issues are unable to be resolved or any faults cause serious damage to the home and people living in it. Caring for your home’s maintenance is a priority for every homeowner because it improves the safety, and the overall look and assures you that issues are less likely to occur.

 

With a checklist in place, a contact list acquired and regular cleaning days, your home maintenance will become a part of your everyday life – and seem a lot less of a hindrance than you think.

 

We are here to guide and advise you, every step of the way - simply get in touch on 01364 652652 or email me directly katie@sawdyeandharris.co.uk for professional property advice.

 

21Sep

How to navigate selling your property in an evolving market

 

The housing market is constantly fluctuating and evolving. As a property owner, it's crucial to understand the current market conditions and trends in your area when deciding to sell your home or investment property. Successfully selling your property in an ever-changing market requires thorough preparation and adapting your approach to match shifts in buyer demand. 

Being a savvy seller who can navigate the home selling process in any market — whether it's a hot sellers' market, a seasonal decision or a slower buyers' market — will maximise your chances for a quick and profitable sale. This guide provides key tips so you can best position your property to sell quickly and for top dollar even as market conditions continue to evolve.

Research the Market

The first and most important step is to understand the current market conditions. Start by reviewing recent sale prices for comparable properties in your neighbourhood. Checking listings to help you gauge current home values in your area. Also take some time to analyse the inventory of properties currently for sale. A high volume of listings signals a buyers' market while a low inventory indicates a sellers' market.

It is understandable that you will want to get the best possible price for your home in order to plan ahead and fund your future lifestyle without any worries. In addition to researching the expected value of your home, you might also want to learn more about the broader economic factors that are impacting the UK housing market. 

These include current interest rates, employment trends, population growth or a decline in your region. Looking at data on the average number of days properties are staying on the market in your area can provide insight into buyer demand. Faster sales tend to indicate a hotter market with higher demand.

Prepare Your Property for Sale

First, make any necessary repairs and improvements to maximise your home's appeal to buyers. Focus on kerb appeal by ensuring the exterior, garden and landscaping look neat and tidy. Inside, create attractive staging by decluttering each room and removing excess furniture so they look spacious, organised and move-in ready. It’s worth repainting walls in neutral colours and storing away personal items and clutter to make the home appear more spacious. 

Sellers should also have their home professionally valued by an estate agent to get an accurate estimate of the current market value. This will help guide the asking price and ensure you’re not pricing yourself too high or low. 

Deep clean the entire property including carpets and windows, and make sure that all fixtures, appliances and utilities are in good working order, especially if you’re leaving them as part of the sale. If needed, replace any broken or outdated items before you go on the market. The better condition your home is in, the quicker you’ll be able to sell

Check your home complies with all safety regulations including up-to-date electrical safety certificates and gas safety records, and consider making energy efficiency improvements like insulation and double glazing to maximise appeal. These are features buyers are keen to have in their home today and getting ahead of their own renovations will make your home more appealing. 

Price Your Property Competitively

Pricing your property correctly is crucial for a successful sale. Set your asking price based on the current market value, which you can determine from recent comparable sales in your area, and make sure your price reflects the location, size, condition, upgrades and other features that impact value. 

In a buyers' market with high inventory, you'll need to price at the lower end of your property's value range in order to stand out and sell quicker. In an economic crisis when the market is dipping and homes are threatened with repossession, you might need to consider lowering your expectations. In a sellers' market with high demand and low inventory, you may be able to price at the higher end and still attract buyers.

Factor in that buyers will negotiate and make offers below your asking price, and leave enough wiggle room to counteroffer so you end up at a fair market value price. It’s important to work with your estate agent to land on an optimal asking price. They can provide advice and guide you based on experience pricing homes in your local market. Being flexible on price and starting competitively will help ensure a faster sale.

Adapt Your Strategy to Evolving Market Trends

The UK property market is always shifting, with new trends emerging, so be prepared to adapt your selling strategy accordingly for the best outcome. Monitor the market closely in the weeks after you first list your home. If it doesn’t generate much interest in the first 2-3 weeks, consider lowering your asking price or relook at your marketing approach. You may even want to take it off the market and wait a few months before trying again, depending on your circumstances. 

If buyers viewing your property seem hesitant or make low offers, think about making improvements like renovating the kitchen or bathrooms to enhance appeal, or offer to cover solicitor fees or stamp duty for the buyer to encourage a sale. 

In a slow market, you need to be willing to negotiate more on price, terms and inclusions. For example, you may need to be flexible on completion dates, or consider allowing first-time buyers to purchase with just a 5% deposit through programmes like Help to Buy.

In a hotter market, property owners can expect bidding wars with offers coming in considerably higher than the asking price. As a seller, you’ll have more leverage to find the best buyer and terms, but bear in mind that things will move much faster and you’ll need to factor this into your own plans. 

Staying abreast of economic factors influencing buyer demand, inventory levels and home values in your area will enable you to make data-driven decisions on pricing and marketing. Investing time upfront to declutter, stage and enhance your home’s appeal will also attract more buyer interest. With preparation and adaptability as a seller, you can tailor your sales strategy to match any market for the optimal outcome.

We are here to guide and advise you, every step of the way - simply get in touch on 01364 652652 or email me directly katie@sawdyeandharris.co.uk for professional property advice.

30Aug

 

What is conveyancing? It's the legal process of transferring the ownership of property from the seller to the buyer. We explain everything you need to know about the stages of the conveyancing process when buying.

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the legal transfer of home ownership from the seller to you, the buyer. The conveyancing process starts when your offer on a house is accepted and finishes when you have completed the purchase and receive the keys. It’s a service you’ll be paying a good few hundred pounds for and a critical part of buying your home – so you’ll want to get it right.

Who does the conveyancing?

When you’re buying a home, a solicitor or conveyancer usually conducts the conveyancing process, but it is possible (although difficult) to do it yourself as long as you are not taking out a mortgage.

The stages of the conveyancing process

There are a number of stages of the conveyancing process. Here’s our step by step guide to the conveyancing process for buyers.

Stage 1: Instruct a conveyancing solicitor

The first stage of the conveyancing process is to find the right solicitor or conveyancer and instruct them to start work on the legal side of your purchase.

If you’re considering using the conveyancing solicitor recommended by the estate agent for the house you’re buying, we’d advise you to compare conveyancing quotes first to check you’re getting a good deal. You’re not obliged to use the conveyancer the estate agent recommends and you may get a better service for a better price by shopping around. We can help with a conveyancing quote – just click here

Once you’ve got a few conveyancing quotes from different firms, give them a ring to discuss how they work. Once you’ve instructed a conveyancing solicitor, they will undertake the relevant ID and Anti-Money Laundering checks. And they’ll write to your sellers solicitor to confirm they are instructed and request a copy of the draft contract and any other details, such as the property’s title and the standard forms.

Stage 2: Draft contract and raising enquiries

One of the first stages of the conveyancing process involves your solicitor examining the draft contract and supporting documents and raising enquiries with the seller’s solicitor. You will be expected to go through the paperwork and forms the seller has completed, including the TA6 form and let the solicitor know if you have any queries or concerns.

In particular, you will want to double check the tenure of your new home: is it freehold or leasehold ? If you’re buyig a leasehold do check the length of the lease. This is a critical piece of information. Leases below 80 years can be a problem, can be costly to extend and you need to have owned the property for 2 years before you are eligible to do so. Leases under 60 years are best avoided.

When you’re buying a home, you’ll want the process to be as smooth as possible so make sure you respond promptly to queries and also ask for regular updates from your conveyancer and estate agent. 

Stage 3: Arranging a property survey

While it’s not a legal requirement, it’s a good idea to have a survey conducted. The survey report will highlight any major problems and may recommend extra investigations. The sort of survey you have done will depend on your specific circumstances. Depending on the results of the survey, you may want to go ahead with the purchase, renegotiate the price or even decide to pull out. So it’s a good idea to arrange your house survey as early as possible.

Once you’ve had a survey done, your conveyancing solicitor can advise on what to do next. Whether there are problems you want fixed before purchase or issues you want to investigate further, they can liaise with the sellers solicitor. If there are significant issues flagged up by the survey, you may want to renegotiate the price and your conveyancing solicitor will need to be looped in to get everything agreed in writing. 

Stage 4Conducting property searches

There are things you may not know about the property just from viewing it with estate agents or even from a survey. As part of the house conveyancing process, a conveyancing solicitor will carry out a set of legal property searches to ensure there are no other factors you should be aware of. Some searches will be recommended by the solicitor for all purchases and others will be required by the mortgage lender to protect them from any liabilities that the property may have.

These property searches include:

  • Local Authority searches: Are there plans for a motorway at the end of your new garden? How about radioactive gas?
  • Checking the ‘title register’ and ‘title plan’ at the Land Registry – these are the legal documents proving the seller’s ownership. Both checks are legally required in order to sell
  • Checking flood risk – this can also done at the Land Registry. If you are already getting an environmental search (see below), you might not buy this one separately as the search will contain much more thorough flood information and maps
  • Water authority searches – find out how you get your water and if any public drains on the property might affect extensions or building works
  • Chancel repair search – to ensure there are no potential leftover medieval liabilities on the property to help pay for church repairs. However, you may decide to take out Chancel repair insurance instead for £20 or so. The laws around Chancel repair changed in October 2013 so now the onus is on the Church to establish and lodge liability with the Land Registry
  • Environmental Search – this report is used on the vast majority of transactions and is provided by either Landmark or Groundsure. Depending which product your solicitor usually uses, the report will give information about contaminated land at or around the property, landfill sites, former and current industry, detailed flooding predictions, radon gas hazard, ground stability issues, and some other related information
  • Optional and location specific searches – sometimes extra searches are required or recommended depending on the location or type of property or due to particular concerns raised by the buyer. These could include:
    • Tin Mining searches in Cornwall
    • Mining searches in various parts of the UK and Cheshire Brine searches
    • Additional Local Authority Questions such as Public Paths, Pipelines, Noise Abatement Zones, Common Land, etc

The cost of these property searches are often charged as extras, so make sure you factor them in to the conveyancing fees.

Stage 5Conveyancing for your mortgage

You will need to get your mortgage in place, which includes ensuring you have the financing available for a mortgage deposit.

As part of the process of getting a mortgage, you’ll need to get a mortgage valuation. This is carried out on behalf of the mortgage company so they know that the property you’re buying provides sufficient security for the loan. You normally have to pay for it, but a mortgage company might throw it in for free to attract business. But don’t let a free valuation sway you, it’s vital you pick the best mortgage for you.

Stage 6Arrange buildings insurance

If you need a mortgage to buy the property, your lender will require you to get buildings insurance for your new home before exchange of contracts can take place. That’s because you are responsible for the property as soon as contracts have been exchanged. So shop around before you exchange to find the best policy at the best price. 

Stage 7: Signing contracts

Since receiving the draft contract from the seller’s solicitor at the start of the house conveyancing process, your solicitor will have been in correspondence with you about what is covered. Before signing the contract your solicitor will need to ensure:

  • That all enquiries have been returned and are satisfactory.
  • That fixtures and fittings included in the purchase are what you expected.
  • A completion date has been agreed between parties, which can be simultaneous with exchange or might be a few days or weeks  after exchange of contracts, although this can vary widely and depends on all parties involved in the transaction.
  • That you have made arrangements to transfer the deposit into your solicitor’s account so that it is cleared in time for an exchange. You may want to negotiate on the size of the deposit, which is normally 10% of the value of the property. However, even if you agree to pay less than 10%, you are still liable for 10% of the value of the property if you later pull out of the agreement. Therefore, if you pay a 5% deposit and pull out of buying the property, you will not only lose your deposit but also legally owe an additional 5% of the value of the property.

It’s a good idea to go to the property with the estate agent and the fixtures and fittings inventory list to ensure that everything you paid for is still there and the house has not been damaged in any way.

Stage 8: Exchanging contracts

Exchanging contracts is one of the most important stages of the conveyancing process. You and the seller will agree on a date and time to exchange contracts. Your solicitor will exchange contracts for you, which is usually done by both conveyancing solicitors reading out the contracts over the phone (which is recorded) to make sure the contracts are identical, and then immediately sending them to one another in the post.

If you are in a housing chain your solicitor/conveyancer will do the same thing, but will only release it if the other people in the chain are all happy to go ahead. This means if one person pulls out or delays, then everyone in the chain gets held up.

Once you have exchanged contracts you will be in a legally binding contract to buy the property with a fixed date for moving. This means that:

  • If you do not complete the purchase, you will lose your deposit and owe the seller more if the deposit was less than 10%
  • The seller has to sell or you can sue them
  • The seller can no longer accept another offer (you no longer need to worry about being gazumped)

Stage 9: Between exchange and completion

You’re now in the final stages of the house conveyancing process. The period between exchange and completion involves your solicitor lodging an interest in the property, which will mean that the deeds to the property are frozen for 30 working days to allow your solicitor to process payment to the seller and lodge your application to the Land Registry to transfer the deeds into your name.

The seller will move out (although they may leave this to the day of completion).

You should get organised for your moving day and organise your removals and broadband for your new home to ensure it’s set up on time for your moving-in day.

Your solicitor will send you a statement showing the final figure to pay, which will need to be cleared into your solicitors bank account at least one day before completion. Your solicitor will apply to your mortgage lender for the mortgage loan.

Stage 10: Completion day

Completion is normally set around midday on the specified date, although in practice takes place when the seller’s solicitor confirms that they have received all the money that is due. Once this happens, the seller should drop the keys at the estate agent for your collection. This means that the house conveyancing process is over, and you can move in.

Stage 11: What happens after completion?

After completion, your solicitor will tie up the last few stages of the house conveyancing process:

  • Pay Stamp Duty Land Tax on your behalf. 
  • Your conveyancer will register the property in your name at the Land Registry. It can take anywhere from two to six months to register a property and may take significantly longer depending on your circumstances.
  • Notify the freeholder if the property is leasehold
  • Give you a bill for their payment

You will want to collect together all your paperwork from the purchase of your new home, including the estate agent’s brochure, to file away and keep safe for when you might want to move again.

Stages of the conveyancing process timeline

The conveyancing process starts when you make an offer on a property – or accept an offer on your home – and lasts until completion day when keys for the property are exchanged. The conveyancing process may be shorter if you are a cash buyer.  

The conveyancing process usually takes around 12-16 weeks.  

CONVEYANCING PROCESS STEP

APPROX TIME

Pre contract work: appoint conveyancer, instruct local searches, get survey, get draft contract

2 weeks

Time to arrange mortgage

4 weeks

Draft contract: reviewing survey report, local searches, answering outstanding questions

2-10 weeks

Time between exchange and completion

1 week

Total time from an offer being accepted to completion

12-16 weeks

Is conveyancing different for leaseholds?

Yes. If you’re buying a leasehold flat or house, there are additional steps to the process. It will usually take longer because:

  • The seller will need to provide a leasehold management pack and these can take several weeks to arrange.
  • Your conveyancer will also need to review the lease in order to advise you on any conditions or obligations it contains that may impact on your decision to proceed. This may result in the need to raise further enquiries.

The conveyancing process for sellers

If you’re selling a house you’ll also want to know about the conveyancing process when selling. There are some stages of the conveyancing process for buyers that won’t apply to you. For example, you won’t need to apply for property searches. But there are some extra stages of the conveyancing process you’ll need to undertake, for example, you’ll be asked to complete a TA6 form and other forms, as well as collect together a number of documents required when selling.

 

Credit: Edited from an article produced by www.hoa.org.uk

 

 

29Jul

We all know moving house is stressful — in fact, it’s regularly rated in the top five most stressful things you can do in your life - but it doesn't have to be like that if you prepare.

Moving day is likely to be stressful in one way or another. And even though research shows that only around 7 in a 100 people in the UK actually move further than 50 miles, unexpected surprises always tend to come up. But don’t worry we have got some top tips on how to avoid some of the biggest moving mistakes.

So what are the biggest moving mistakes to watch out for?

1. Messing up with movers

Planning is vital when you’re moving house, especially if you’re moving at a busy time of year. The first of the moving mistakes to avoid on our list is messing up with your removals firm. If you choose the wrong one, you could end up with a more stressful and costly move. So how can you avoid this moving mistake?

·        Firstly, if you’re using a removals firm, start shopping around and get quotes from a number of removals firms 4-6 weeks before you move and compare them, it can make a huge difference to your costs. Remember that the costs of removals does vary according to your requirements, so getting a house visit and a detailed quote from your removals firm will ensure there are no last minute surprises, for them or for you. Size of property, number of rooms (don’t forget the loft, garage and shed), volume of items being moved and the distance of your move will all impact the brief and the quote.

·        Make sure the removals company know the vehicular access to your current property and the one you are moving to. That’s because another of the moving mistakes you’ll want to avoid is having a very large vehicle arriving only to find it can’t get within 500 metres of the property.

·        Crucially, if you are near to exchanging contracts check in with your removers to confirm your dates are still free.

If you need to make the money stretch a bit further, there are ways to save on your moving costs depending how much work you are willing to take on yourself. You can either hire a van and do all of the packing, moving, and driving yourself — or hire movers with the van, so you don’t have to worry about the heavy lifting. 

2. Starting to pack too late

Next on our moving mistakes list you won’t want to get caught out by is packing too late. Packing up a house can take a long time, especially if you have a loft and a garage to clear out. So start early, particularly with items you know you won’t need every day. And bear in mind, many people consider the hardest room to pack when moving house is the kitchen because of the number of breakables.

And you should also plan how you’re going to pack too. Can you do it yourself? Do you have some friends who will help you? Or are you prepared to pay for the removal firm’s packing service?

Also, make sure you’re up to speed with how to pack boxes for moving. You’ll don’t want to make boxes too heavy to move, especially if you’re moving yourself. So pack heavy items in small boxes and light items in bigger ones. If you’re packing a box containing different weights, put the heavier ones at the bottom.

3. Keeping your clutter

Let’s be honest — lots of us are often short on space. So don’t make the moving mistake of taking your clutter to your new home. The clothes that are waiting to go to the charity shop, the unrepairable bike — this is the time to clear out. This means you’ll only move what you really need.

Alternatively, if you need to declutter beofre or after your move there are plenty of places you can look to for help - be it the local charity shop or online marketplace to reuse and recycle you can make use of what is out there online or on the high street. 

4. Forgetting to keep your moving essentials in one place

One of the moving out tips you might be most grateful for on moving day is to pack an emergency box with all of the moving essentials you’ll need when you first arrive at your new home (we’d recommend the kettle, tea bags, toilet roll, toiletries, biscuits, and more biscuits). And keep a couple of pairs of scissors in your moving essentials kit to open boxes too !!

5. Underestimating how many packing boxes you need

Buying packing boxes is expensive, plus they’re probably heading to the recycling bin after you’ve moved. So instead, try your local supermarket and ask for any used boxes or look online to see if anyone locally is giving any away or selling them cheaply.

But don’t underestimate how many you need. This is another benefit of starting to pack early – you’ll have time to buy more boxes if you need to. Also, stock up on masking tape, marker pens and bubble wrap. And when we say this, we really mean it: you can never never, ever, ever have too much bubble wrap. 

6. Leaving boxes unlabelled

We know, we know — you think you’ll remember. You’re sure you’ll remember. But when all you want is a cup of tea and a fresh change of clothes, you’ll be cursing yourself for not labelling them. And when it comes to moving day tips, make sure to leave each box with the room it’s going into and a couple of items listed that are inside the box to help navigate where everything is going in your new home.

7. Not measuring doorways

Before moving day, it’s essential that you take measurements inside your new property – and of your larger pieces of furniture – to make sure you’ll be able to get them through doorways and into the rooms. If pieces of furniture need legs or arms taking off to get through, it’s best to know this in advance.

8. Forgetting to give people your new address

Don’t make the moving mistake of forgetting to tell people about your new address. There is a long list of people you need to inform of your new address, including:

·        Telephone and broadband providers. It can be a good time to review your service if you are considering a change.  

·        Bank, building society, pension provider and any company you have loans or investments with.

·        Credit card and store card companies.

·        HMRC

·        Local council – for council tax and to re-register to vote

9. Not checking your insurance

This is one of the major moving mistakes you will want to avoid. Before you move house it’s important to make sure your belongings will be covered in transit. Check with the removals company that they are fully insured. Also, check your home insurance as you may be covered for accidental damage or loss, although it may stipulate that certain items like glasswear and china will only be covered if they are professionally packed so always check the terms and conditions.

10. Getting hit with unexpected charges

A Zoopla study has shown that a whopping 39% of Brits have been stung by hidden costs when they moved house. Of those, 44% said they were hit by unexpected charges of more than £500 while 30% overspent by more than £1,000 — ouch!

A further 15% of home movers said they forked out more than £1,500 over what they expected to.

For nearly a third of movers, these extra costs were linked to standard sales-related services such as surveyors and conveyancers.

It pays to set aside an extra sum to cover any unforeseen moving costs. 

    We are here every step of the way to guide and advise you on all things property - simply get in touch with us on 01364 652652 or email me directly katie@sawdyeandharris.co.uk.

Source : Moneywise

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02Feb

If you’re considering moving house this year, if you’re currently house-hunting or thinking about selling a property, it’s worth doing your ‘home-work’ and knowing what’s happening in the market right now…

Looking back at the end of last year and Boxing Day, which is usually one of the busiest days for activity on the major portals. Historically, the end of the year is a quieter month for new homes coming to the market, so once the Christmas festivities are out of the way, we often see an increase in activity.

Rightmove Property expert, Tim Bannister, recently reported that “Boxing Day is traditionally the start of activity ramping up into January and the spring selling season after Christmas, as people return to their search or consider a New Year move. We’ve seen some promising activity and familiar patterns over the festive period this year, which are good signs for the year ahead.”

Signals are showing that buyers will have more choice in 2023 as Boxing Day 2022 saw a record number of houses coming to the market, almost 50% MORE than the previous year. This means that many homeowners were preparing in 2022 for a move this year. They wanted to get a ‘head-start’ on the New Year, New Home movers.

Over the past couple of years, the supply and demand for houses has been in the favour of sellers, with fewer homes for buyers to choose from, pushing prices to an all-time high.

However, with more choice currently available, this may mean that houses are on the market for slightly longer than before, as buyers have more choice and more time to ‘shop around.’ Rightmove’s Tim Bannister has commented, “After such frenetic market conditions over the last few years, this year’s calmer market will better suit measured movers who prefer to take their time to find the right property”.

Property prices in 2022 were at a record-high and although the forecast is that prices will fall by 2% (coming in-line with a pre-pandemic, calmer market), there are still plenty of buyers ready to launch their homes to the market this year.

If we compare the week of Christmas to the week of Boxing Day, there was a 20% increase in views of homes for sale on Rightmove.

“The jump in number of views of properties for sale pre- and post-Christmas is another good sign that the new choice available is getting a lot of attention from future buyers. After a pause for the festivities, those wanting to buy this year will be ready to get back to their plans and assess where they’d like to live and what they can afford”, says Tim.

Whilst the NATIONAL average house price is expected to reduce slightly, this could differ depending on where you live! Trends vary depending on the types of property on the market, the location’s desirability, and what buyers looking in that area can afford.

This means it’s more important than ever to employ the services of an expert estate agent in your area, with a proven track record of selling homes like your own and a mailing list of other potential buyers. It’s crucial to work with an agent who knows your area and its trends inside out, who can be trusted to guide you through the whole process of selling your home.

And, a good estate agent needs to be combined with good mortgage advice. Lenders have tightened their affordability criteria recently, to ensure people are still able to afford their mortgages, were their payments to increase.

But, right now, many of the deals mortgage lenders are currently offering, have already factored in the Bank of England’s recent interest rate rises, including the December rise to 3.5%, because this has been expected. This means that it is unlikely that last month’s rate rise will lead to an increase in the pricing of mortgages.

So, in summary, whilst it appears nationally that prices this year will, on average, come down by around 2% compared to the RECORD HIGHS of last year, local markets will have their own trends. There may be an increase in choice for buyers so houses may take a little longer to sell, but there are definite positives right now.

There are more people WANTING to move and so not only will you be able to find a buyer (who can get a mortgage with a lower rate than in previous months), but you will also have more choice of properties to purchase too.

So, the best way to secure your dream home, is to;

·       Get yourself in the best position. When that property comes to the market, you need to know your affordability (speak to a mortgage advisor).

·       Get ahead of the competition. If there will be more choice for homes this year, getting yours on the market first means you’re already one step ahead and most likely to get the better price. Working with a local, experienced estate agent will ensure you’re getting the best advice on price, strategy and timing.

·        Get sold to put yourself in the strongest position to negotiate on your next home.

    We are here every step of the way to guide and advise you on all things property - simply get in touch with us on 01364 652652 or email me directly katie@sawdyeandharris.co.uk.

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