Brought to you by chelmsfords' property experts
Some local sellers have approached us to sell their property following a less-than-impressive performance by an online alternative to “proper” estate agency. Although it is always tempting to say “I told you so”, we wouldn’t be so harsh with someone who has just been through the mill with the wrong choice of agent. And…
Despite turbulence caused by increased taxation and regulation, confidence in the Buy-to-Let sector is being shown by the banks as the number of BTL mortgage products available exceeds 2000 for the first time ever* (Source Moneyfacts). Just two years ago it stood at 1340 products! BTL finance was hardest hit immediately following the last financial…
Selling your property is easy. Just advertise it online and wait for the buyers to flock to your door!! If only! Sadly, too many estate agents rely on this approach, which inevitably results in disappointment. Indeed, in some respects, finding the buyer is actually the easy bit. But, when you think about it, there…
There is clearly a balance to be had between profitability and compliance for landlords, who are again coming under increasing pressure from legislative changes. Here are our top four current issues that you really should know about: 1: Mortgage Applications for Landlords. New lending criteria for landlords mean that lenders are now obliged to take…
There was a day when a slight shift in the bank base rate or change in stamp duty could have a profound effect on property market sentiment. Yet the Bank of England’s continuing consensus to maintain interest rates at very low levels (albeit tweaked with the occasional 0.25% here and there) is possibly the strongest…
As a buyer, it can sometimes it can be difficult to decide which properties are worth viewing, and which are not, simply from their on-line description. Sometimes the choice of properties is simply overwhelming. So why not let us help you? Let us take you on a mystery tour, or “Viewing Hour”. The Viewing Hour…
If you’re buying a second home, Buy to Let, or investment property, you should be aware that there is an additional 3% Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on top of the standard SDLT amount payable. Since this regime was introduced in 2016, the market for second homes has certainly felt the pinch, especially for buy…
As we find ourselves in the middle of the dark winter months, some would suggest waiting until spring before putting your property on the market. After all, spring is traditionally associated with a time of change and this has always influenced the property market in the past. However, it might be worth looking at this…
One way of taking advantage of the value in your home is to save money by using it as a holiday destination. Not for you of course, but for someone else! Home exchange is an increasingly popular and flexible way of cost-effectively securing suitable holiday accommodation that might otherwise have been prohibitively expensive to rent….
Houses, cottages, flats, apartments, maisonettes, studios, detached, semi, terraced – these are terms we as estate agents hear every day of our lives. They are the lifeblood of our business, but the common theme is they all represent the concept of “home”. We are privileged to be a nation of homeowners. Property is right up…
The 20% VAT applied to most goods and services is a burden for the private individual. Whilst VAT-registered builders can reclaim the VAT spent on their purchase costs, most homeowners can not, adding significantly to the cost of improving your home. There are however, certain exceptions for which you may be able to qualify, especially…
When you market your property, you will naturally want to achieve the highest price today’s market will pay. But how do you know what this is? Sadly, there is no almanac of “correct” prices relating to an address and a date and online price “calculators” can be wildly inaccurate, so most people will take the…