Brought to you by chelmsfords' property experts
If you’re thinking of moving, beware of agents who advertise a surprisingly low commission to entice you, as a prospective seller, to invite them to your home with a view to listing your property with them. They might even offer to throw in the VAT, conveyancing and other costs! Smell a rat? The “deal” is…
Homeowners are rapidly becoming hooked up to “the internet of things” by linking everything from their lighting, fridge, doorbell, central heating, sound system, and more, at the touch of a button, or indeed voice command. “Ask Alexa” is clearly here to stay and she is set to enable us to control more of our lives….
This year is a leap year – the 29th February only occurs every four years – which is about as frequently as many people used to move house during the heady days of property speculation that sparked the boom market. Nowadays most buyers and sellers are more level-headed and don’t leap from place to place…
There are still some remarkably old-fashioned estate agents out there who believe that their website has perfectly connected them to the digital age. Yet, on closer inspection, some agents’ websites can actually alienate their customers. We spend a fortune on attracting and nurturing the right buyers. So we make sure that our website is fully…
Love it or hate it, social media’s impact on property marketing has been profound, but there is far more to this dark art than meets the eye. Some estate agents simply upload all their stock to Facebook or Twitter and hope for the best, but that can just alienate people. However, a sophisticated social media…
Parking is the downside of the convenience of car ownership and everyone knows how difficult and expensive parking close to work can be. Not everyone finds the bus or train to be a convenient, comfortable or cost-effective way of getting to work. However, one solution has been staring us in the face for years. Some…
As estate agents we are acutely aware of the need to understand and assist with some of the frustrations involved in the moving process. One of the most immediate irritations which buyers face is the fact that a property, which they had hoped might still be available, has in fact sold. This is one of…
There has recently been a lot of controversy surrounding the possible withdrawal of Section 21 as a way of evicting a tenant who has not specifically breached any of the terms of the tenancy. For the time being issuing a Section 21 notice remains the most effective way to evict, but these can only be…
The name of their property is, to many people, as important as the car they drive and says a lot about the owner. For example, stating your address as “The Manor House” immediately suggests wealth and status, whereas “The Bungalow” has different connotations. From a property marketing perspective, house names can have a bearing on…
Most people who are happy to instruct an agent to sell their property are usually just as happy to provide a key for the purpose of buyer viewings. And with good reason; the easier it is to gain access to a property, the more likely it is that the estate agent will bring a regular…
During these winter months, landlords can easily overlook the importance of ensuring that the temperature of your property does not fall below freezing. Your tenant might be more concerned about their own comfort than the welfare of your investment. But what happens if they decide to fly to some winter the sun for a couple…
Our recent article looked at the benefits of buying to let in principle. Here we consider some practical elements: Attitude: Buying to let is a long-term investment, so don’t stretch yourself, because if you had to sell in the short term you would almost certainly lose money. Choose well: Follow your head not your heart….