Premier Property Search Blog

In 2012 organisations continue to relocate staff extensively to meet the demands of a rebalancing global economy

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:09:00 GMT

Artwork is a key ingredient in creating a comfortable and fitting home environment for key staff and their families. Many people relocating overseas or moving home will want to take their favourite artwork with them.

Following on from the previous blog about long haul moves we consider this week moving with treasured artwork or buying new artwork when you have found your new home, to make it more special.

International Art Consultants, leading fine art consultants, have kindly written this week’s guest blog (their contact details are at the foot of this blog).

The Importance of Art Work In Property

Working closely with you, your appointed interior designer and architect a team of art consultants, such as International Art Consultants, will establish the appropriate art strategy for relocating an existing art collection or acquiring artworks for a new residence.

How art works within the space and how it is presented should not be overlooked. Delivering the desired impact requires an understanding of your art taste and careful consideration of the design scheme. Art should stand on its own merits but you need to always be conscious of the interior design of the space.

Relocating An Existing Art Collection

If an existing collection is being relocated a team of art consultants can help audit the work and gain updated insurance valuations, if necessary, as the price of art may alter significantly over variable periods of time.

Moving also gives you the ideal opportunity to arrange for any damaged works to be restored or repaired as appropriate ready to be rehung in the new location.

Art Rental Solutions Enable You To Try New Artwork

Both interior designers and clients are increasingly interested in artists working on the border of fine and applied art. They wish to see work by artists specialising in textiles, glass and metal.

It is great for art lovers to experiment with innovative artwork. This can now be achieved using a risk- free service such as the art rental scheme offered by International Art Consultants, which allows residents to “live with the art” for flexible periods of time before committing to any purchase. If not entirely convinced, you simply exchange the works of art and try new options, guided by our expert advice. However, if the client feels that the initial selection is appropriate and the artwork is purchased at the end of the rental, the overall cost is significantly reduced.

Art, selected carefully by an expert hand, will effectively contribute to creating a desirable space and provide a sense of home.

International Art Consultants offer their clients a pleasant journey through the art world, managed with personalised advice and absolute discretion. Please visit www.internationalartconsultants.com for more information and if you have any queries please email enquiries@internationalartconsultants.com

Long Haul Moving Tips To The UK

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:53:00 GMT

Don’t let your excitement and joy of moving to the UK be overshadowed by the stresses of moving. Relax, do your research and ask for help from the experts both in the country you are leaving and when you arrive in the UK.

Moving is stressful at the best of times but moving countries...you will need nerves of steel!

There’s so much to think about – what to pack, when to move, who to move with, visas, bank accounts...the list goes on and on. If you are moving to the UK there are many regulations.

Good preparation will save you time, costly mistakes and a lot of stress. Do your research on how living in the UK is different to your current location.

What to take:

Vehicles, Boats and Trailers – If you’re in love with your car or boat and can’t stand the thought of selling them, not a problem. Specialist transport can be arranged.
Your beloved pet – The UK has a Pet Passport Scheme. Your pet must be micro-chipped, vaccinated against rabies and blood tested (6 months prior to arrival).
Furniture – Many UK houses have smaller room sizes than the ‘Open Plan’ you are used to in Australia and some other countries. If you are able to check the dimensions of your new house before you ship bulky furniture items.
Electrical items – The UK runs on 220-240 Volt AC. Check your compliance labels first as well as the compatibility of televisions and other such electrical items. You may wish to buy an adaptor to take with you and expect to change plugs for different sized sockets when you unpack.
Personal items – do not leave your life behind. Take everything which is important to you with you.

Belongings are precious

Most people have precious breakables, be it baby ornaments to antiques. So how do you protect your belongings? You may wish to have professional packers pack the whole house for you or pack yourself. If packing yourself:

Pack your boxes carefully! Make sure you use removal type boxes not boxes from the supermarket, as boxes from the supermarket are not designed for moving and will, in most instances, fall apart in transit.
Use plenty of packing paper (not newspaper) to wrap special items. You will also need to place padding at the top and the bottom of the boxes to add extra protection for valuables and special items, including photo albums, to protect against damage. Your removal company or most self-lock storage companies will be able to supply you with packing materials suitable for the job.
Wrap your glassware, crystal and antiques in tissue.
Plastic crates/tubs should not be used for packing fragile items in, as they are designed for storage rather than transit and are likely to crack or collapse in transit.
Specially designed cartons or crates are available for books, paintings or your fabulous wine collection.
Your furniture (particularly wooden furniture) should be wrapped by your removalists in a material called propack, which is a tissue paper backed bubble wrap.
Fabric items, including your mattress, should be placed in large plastic bags, which have been made for the purpose, not any old plastic wrapping.
Clothes should be packed in special boxes, which are designed so the clothes are laid flat, as they would in a chest of draws.
Special items, which may be a little out of the ordinary, such as a model ship, flower arrangement or a special painting of your first born should be given special consideration by your removal company and you should talk to them early on about the best way to ship these irreplaceable items.

Make sure you employ a well-regarded, experienced moving company who will guide you through the process and help you with customs, insurance and shipping.

Everything will be scrutinised by Customs whether your goods arrive by boat or plane. Be prepared for some delays in receiving your items.

When you arrive in the UK, or even before, property consultants such as Premier Property Search will be able to help you find your ideal house, whether for renting or to purchase. They will also provide you with invaluable information about the local area, schools, health services and all the other services which matter to you when settling into a new home in a new country.

This blog post has been written by David Spray, Operations Manager at international moving specialists Transglobal Shipping. Formerly of the UK, David works daily with people moving to the UK from Australia and moving to Australia. For more information about Transglobal Shipping http://transglobalshipping.com.au

The Difference between Unfurnished and Furnished Properties in the UK

Wed, 02 May 2012 08:43:00 GMT

The rental market moves fast in the UK and properties are often shown and advertised as available when in fact they have already been let and a deal has been agreed. Carrying out an internet search for rental properties can prove frustrating, as multiple Letting Agents often advertise the same property and floor plans are rarely provided.

If you are moving to the UK with your company you may be wondering what to expect from the available rental properties.

All properties available to let, should be professionally cleaned prior to the commencement of the tenancy, as all tenancy agreements in the UK state that it is the outgoing tenants responsibility to have the property professionally cleaned. However, we would advise that you add this to your “wish list” with the offer to make sure.

Unfurnished Properties

You will find that the kitchen in an unfurnished property usually comes fully equipped with “white goods”; cooker, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer and possibly a dishwasher if space permits. Curtains and blinds will be fitted to the windows and the floor coverings, carpets or wood flooring, will be provided.

Furnished properties

It is harder to find furnished properties in the UK as there are not as many available. Landlords cannot charge a higher rent for a furnished property and also have to ensure that all furniture meets with UK fire regulations.

Properties which are furnished often have just the large main items of furniture, such as beds, a sofa, table and chairs. Landlords/Landladies are often reluctant to provide a TV or sound system as these are additional electrical appliances which they will be responsible for and have to get repaired or replaced if they go wrong.

In most instances you will still need to shop for crockery, cutlery, pots, pans, toaster, kettle, bed linen, duvets, pillows etc. Letting Agents will not provide a list of contents prior to viewing, so if a furnished property is important you should ask as many questions as possible to find out what is and is not provided by the Landlord.

The Paperwork You Need To Expect when You Relocate Homes to the UK with your company?

Wed, 02 May 2012 08:41:00 GMT

Most people relocating with their company move into long term, executive rental apartments or houses.

Even if you have previously visited the UK, you have probably visited on holiday or visiting friends or family, which means living in the country is a completely different proposition, when you have to take into consideration traffic, commuting times and costs, crime statistics and where to go for your hobbies and leisure pursuits.

You will also need to be aware of the paperwork and documents that are required when you are renting apartments or houses in the UK.

Tenancy Agreement and Inventory

Tenancy agreements and inventories are both important documents. The Tenancy Agreement covers the legal terms and responsibilities for both the Landlord/Landlady and you as a tenant.

The Inventory or Check In Report is a schedule of the house or apartment, room by room giving the condition of the room, including walls, floors, light fittings and other fitments and fittings. This should be prepared by an Independent Inventory Clerk a day or two before your tenancy commencement. It can be e-mailed to you or posted to your new home. The report should be very accurate and detailed, as the Inventory is the official document used when a tenancy ends to determine if any fair and reasonable deductions need to be made from your security deposit (usually the equivalent of 6 weeks rent).

Official Documents in the UK

There is no National Registration or ID in the UK, so it can prove difficult to open a UK bank account until you have a UK address. Some banks offer ways around this, but these accounts often have a monthly charge linked to them.

With Internet banking you can start a tenancy in the UK without a UK bank account. However, companies that provide services you may wish to use in your rental property, such as Sky or Virgin Media, will not let you open an account without a UK bank account.

Once you have moved into your property you will receive bills for council tax ,water rates, gas and electricity, which can then be used as your proof of address in the UK and help you to open accounts. They will be required to register at a Doctors (GP) Practice, to get a mobile phone account and as proof of residence if you are buying or leasing a car.

Relax – Your Travelling Pet Will be in Good Hands

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:10:00 GMT

When moving to a new property it is important that all members of the family remain as stress-free as possible. This applies to the pets in a family as well as the humans.

Have you ever noticed how pets know something’s wrong when the suitcases come out or the removal men arrive? It is worth considering packing up your house without the worry of nervous cats and dogs under your feet by using international pet travel agents, whose experience and services are designed to suit any situation, depending on your individual needs.

Airpets are one such company who specialise in helping people move their pets. Gillian Lewis of Airpets has kindly agreed to add a guest blog this week on the topic (Airpets contact details are at the end of this blog should you require further information).

Importing Your Pet to the UK from Overseas

By consigning your pets to an experienced pet travel agent you will be able to relax and get on with arranging the rest of your move more efficiently, safe in the knowledge that your pets are being cared for in the best possible environment.

Paperwork will be needed, so an international pet travel agent should help you to ensure that this is in order before your pet’s departure. This will help achieve a hassle free customs clearance at Heathrow or Gatwick.

Assuming your Pet Travel Scheme (PTS) documentation is all in order your pet will take 4 to 8 hours to clear customs. Whereas PTS failures will need to be quarantined until the compliance period is fulfilled.

You will want to select somewhere which provides a clean and safe environment as well as importantly somewhere where your pet will be properly cared for, whether this is for quarantine or just temporary boarding whilst you unpack in your new home, without worrying about your pet escaping through a door accidentally left open in an area unfamiliar to your pet.

You should be able to discuss your instructions with those you are entrusting your pet with, and all reputable agents should be able to honour reasonable requests. When you are ready for your pet, and they have fulfilled any legal quarantine requirements, your pet should be delivered to your home anywhere in the UK.

The staff you are dealing with should be experienced animal lovers and the facilities should provide daily veterinary attendance if required by your pet.

Exporting Your Pet from the UK?

Relocating your pet out of the UK requires a good deal of planning and research. By using a pet travel agent you can concentrate on your own travel arrangements, confident that your pet is in good hands.

You should seek answers to the following questions:

Will your pet be collected from anywhere in the UK?
How will your pet be looked after before the flight?
Will the pet travel agents ensure your pet meets all veterinary requirements for their destination and have access to a visiting veterinarian, who will provide advice as necessary?
Will the pet travel agent organise the most direct flight and deliver your pet for this flight in plenty of time?
Will they organise fully all documentation?
Do they provide IATA approved sky kennels?
Do they organise the delivery, at destination, through a network of worldwide trusted agents?

The caring efficient transportation of the family pet is a genuine concern and any company you deal with should appreciate this and be prepared to answer your questions.

Airpets is an ideally located international pet travel agent, situated close to Heathrow and Gatwick with all the in house facilities your pet needs.

For more information about international pet travel please visit www.airpets.com (for exports from the UK) or www.petimport.co.uk (for imports to the UK) where you can complete a request for an online quote or contact us by telephone if you prefer to speak to a friendly pet travel expert.

Renting a House in the UK: Search Advice

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:57:00 GMT

You need to act quickly to secure the house you wish to rent, in the current climate. Demand for rental property is at an all-time high, especially for houses and apartments in London and the South East of England.

Although the rental market is highly competitive, it is still possible to find that ideal home if the search is carried out in a thorough, well-informed and realistic manner. By being realistic, some compromises may be necessary, but you should not settle for a property which is barely acceptable as you will need to live there for many months, if not years.

Research Rental Properties

Start by knowing what features are the most important to you. Before booking viewings, set in place key 'criteria' as well as areas for compromise. Knowing which things you are willing to be flexible on will aid the decision-making process and help you select properties to suit your specific needs.

You should not feel pressured into accepting a property that does not fit your standards and must-have criteria. However, with the best properties often being let quickly, it is important to be able to make a swift and informed decision: Quick decisions are different to rushed decisions, which tend to be regretted later.

If you are moving to a new part of town, check out the location on foot as well as driving around to get a real feel for the area. It is also a good idea to conduct online research into average rents for the area early on, this will enable you to build up a picture of likely prices and adjust your expectations or budget accordingly. Remember online prices may not be the actual rental prices paid, but in most cases they will be a good indication of the rental prices most properties achieve.

How to Secure the Right Rental Property

The Lettings industry in the UK is unregulated. This means anyone can set up as a Letting Agent or Landlord, so look for Letting Agents who have the relevant professional affiliation, ideally members of the ARLA or National Approved Lettings Scheme (NALS) and The Property Ombudsman Scheme who all adhere to a strict code of conduct.

The same property may be advertised and marketed by several Letting Agents at the same time, so check the prices and details carefully. As soon as your offer is accepted you will be expected to pay a holding deposit and complete a reference form, if you wish to proceed with the rental.

Ascertain what is covered in your rental price and any responsibilities you will be expected to undertake. For example, is the garden maintained by you or the landlord? If there is a house alarm, who will be responsible for the cost of the maintenance? Who is the Managing Agent for the property when you have on-going maintenance issues? Once your tenancy has commenced you will have signed your tenancy agreement and you will also be provided with an Inventory detailing the condition of the property, this is an important document so please check it carefully.

Premier Property Search has been securing rental properties for clients for many years. We are experienced at both finding and negotiating rental properties for those that would like professional help, whether moving from other parts of the UK or from overseas and we would be happy to help you secure the right rental property.

Is adding a tennis court to your home a good investment?

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:56:00 GMT

If you have, or are thinking about buying a property which has room for a tennis court you are possibly wondering if this will be a wise investment.

Mark Jarman, a planning consultant has been researching the value of tennis courts and has kindly agreed to add a guest blog this week on the topic (his contact details are at the end of this blog should you require further information)

Increasing Your Property Value in the Current Economy with a Tennis Court

The publication of property data over recent months indicates that the recession has hit country house prices with an overall fall of around 3% in the last year. This has encouraged owners of such houses to explore ways of increasing property value including the option of building a tennis court in their garden.

The general consensus amongst property experts is that adding a tennis court to a country house will increase the value by at least £75,000 and possibly more than £100,000. With the construction costs of a court being as low as £25,000 and rarely more than £50,000, adding a tennis court would seem to be a very wise investment, even for the less sporty amongst us. After all, what other options for investing in your property offer the potential of a three fold return on your investment?

Key Considerations when Adding a Tennis Court to Your Property

Based on the above, you might be expecting tennis court builders to be inundated with requests for new tennis courts from home owners. However, before going ahead with a new tennis court you will need to take into account a few key considerations. For example, you cannot just build a court anywhere you like on your land.

Tennis courts on paddock land require a formal change of land use, whilst even a court within the garden may result in a lengthy planning process.
If the property happens to be a listed building then the local Council’s Planning Officer will need to be convinced that a court within the garden will not have an adverse impact on the setting of the listed building.
If you wish to put the court outside your garden in what is deemed agricultural land, then a Planning Officer may argue that a tennis court would impact on the wider open countryside.

In other words you need to think carefully about the design and location of your proposed tennis court.

Using a green surface with fencing which is reduced in height along the sides can help to reduce the impact. Similarly, an inconspicuous location, hidden by existing or proposed hedge screening, will help to make the court more acceptable in planning terms. Equally important is the need to back up your planning application with the appropriate national and local planning policy justification. It is surprising how important it is to draw the Planning Officer’s attention to the relevant planning polices to support the introduction of your tennis court.

A tennis court brings significant added value. Therefore, it is worth taking the time and effort to think carefully about the design and location of the court as well as ensuring that the planning issues are fully addressed and if you are keen tennis player hope that the weather is kind to you too!

For more information about tennis courts please contact Mark Jarman: by email on mark.jarman@planningfortennis.co.uk (Tel. 01608 811692, Mob. 07833 614028)

Selecting the Right Estate Agent

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:06:00 GMT

Your home is usually your largest financial asset so it is important to select the Estate Agent who will be able to best look after your interests. We have listed below some key points to help you select the right estate agent when you wish to sell.

Working With You and For You: What to Look For and What to Expect

Estate Agents should be marketing your property for you, which involves lots of communication with you. It is important to select an estate agent whose staff you find friendly, well informed and positive. You need to feel comfortable with them and find out if they will accompany perspective purchasers on viewing of your home.

Your chosen Estate Agent should offer to produce professional pictures, floor plans and well written concise descriptions, within a few days of you confirming the instruction.

Find out too if they have national coverage and if they enjoy a good reputation in the local community. Are they making the most of the internet to reach more people? Look at how they market properties on both their website as well as general web property search websites. Estate agents these days should be offering website marketing as well as more traditional local newspaper advertisements and boards (if you want a board).

Will they consider “open days” too? This is a means of marketing properties, which although fairly new in the UK, has been used successfully for many years in countries such as America and Australia.

Will the Estate Agents offer to check their data base of candidates and contact Property Search Consultants? If not this may limit contact with some potential purchasers.

Valuation: Do They Have the Knowledge to Price Correctly?

The Estate Agent valuing your home needs to be knowledgeable and provide evidence to substantiate the valuation and marketing plan they are proposing on your behalf. Some Estate Agents overvalue houses, to secure the instruction. Unfortunately, properties priced too highly will be over exposed, so the property stagnates and within a few weeks of marketing the Estate Agent will be suggesting a price reduction. Therefore, we recommend that you ask the Estate Agent to provide some background to quantify their valuation of your property.

Fees: Are Lower Fees Always Value For Money?

The Estate Agent will usually charge a percentage of the price your property sells at, which is agreed at the time of confirming your instruction (sometimes they may charge a fixed rate rather than a percentage). Appointing a sole agency will usually mean you are charged a lower percentage than if you appoint multiple agents.

Estate Agents offering cheaper percentage fees have to take on larger volumes of properties to make a profit. Therefore, they may not be able to provide the personal, dedicated time required to market and sell your home to reach its maximum price from the best buyer.

Do not be afraid to negotiate with the Estate Agent on their fees: Why not try a ‘performance related’ fee scenario? For example, the more they sell your property for the higher the percentage you pay them.

Contracts: Reading the Small Print

The Estate Agent will ask you to sign a contract to market your home, which usually lasts 28 days but always double check how many weeks’ notice you have to give the Estate Agent should you wish to discontinue using them.

Once marketing has commenced ensure your Estate Agent gives you honest feedback following viewings, it may be that you will need to de-clutter more or repaint a favourite room so it becomes a neutral colour to increase its appeal.

You also want your Estate Agent to carry out financial checks on potential buyers.

In other words, your Estate Agent should be actively involved in managing the sales process for you, through to the exchange of contracts and should continually be communicating with you.

Ultimately, the decision about which Estate Agent to use may come down to your instinct. Do you believe you can work with the Agent? Were they professional in their approach? Did they give you the confidence that they would look after your best interests throughout the process?

Estate Agents should be looking after the vendors (sellers) interests whilst we as Property Consultants look after our clients’ interests (the purchasers). This should be an exciting process for everyone and the start of a new chapter in your life.

To Move or Not To Move That is the Question

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:53:00 GMT

With the recent Budget announcements many people are deciding whether to move or stay in their current homes; renovating and extending their properties instead of moving. With the first time buyer’s stamp duty holiday no longer in place and changes to the Stamp Duty for those purchasing houses over £2 million many are wondering if they should save money by staying put.

Home Improvements, DIY and Adding Value to Your Home

Whether you want to develop your house to resell or improve a buy to let property to maximise your rental income or increase its overall value the work needs to be carried out safely. Whatever project you are undertaking it is also crucial that your costs are controlled and work is completed as quickly as possible without any compromise on quality.

Homeowners who are considering renovating their homes or simply improving and enhancing their property, rather than moving, need to ensure that any refurbishment project is implemented with attention to detail. Work, especially DIY (Do It Yourself) home improvements that are not finished to a high standard or even worse left uncompleted distract from the value of the house and will cost you money when you decide to sell. Potential purchasers of homes with poor or unfinished “improvements” see all the work they have to do and may well over estimate the cost and the time involved to correct or have work finished. If you cannot ensure the work is finished it to a high standard it is better not to start the home improvement project in the first instance.

Using a Builder to Improve Your Home and Add Value

If you are bringing in builders to do the work for you it is important that you, as the owner, make it your business to keep on top of what is happening. Not all builders are interested in paperwork and when you come to sell your home the buyer’s Solicitor will ask to see all of the relevant paperwork to demonstrate that the work complies with all regulations.

If the work being undertaken is to change the exterior of a property then it is likely to require planning permission. It is a good idea to research and ask questions to find the most appropriate Architect to meet your requirements. It is equally important to make sure that if building regulation consent is needed, the local authority are involved at the correct stage as they will need to carry out inspections and a final inspection to sign off the work and issue a Certificate of Completion, this is particularly important if any major structural work is being undertaken.

If you love your current location and are willing to see the home improvements and extensions through to completion it may make sense to stay in your current home. However, moving to a new house whether it is a new modern house or a house that needs some updating can be a rewarding and exciting experience. There is no one right answer in the current climate, ultimately the decision has to be yours.

Purchasing a Property: A List of Costs to Consider

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:22:00 GMT

In the UK, you (the purchaser) are not responsible for paying the estate agent who is selling the property on behalf of the vendor. However, you will need to pay the agreed price for the property to the vendor through your solicitors whilst the vendor pays their solicitors for professional fees and their selling agent a commission. In some countries the process is a little different and you may not use a solicitor but in the UK we always recommend people to use solicitors when purchasing a property.

Many Miscellaneous Costs

There will be a number of other costs associated with purchasing a property, which will quickly add up if you have not budgeted fully for them. These costs will vary according to the cost of the property so we would recommend you speak to your solicitor for a breakdown of costs, ideally before you have even begun looking at properties.

Your solicitor will need an idea about the amount of money you are looking to spend on purchasing a property and should be able to give you guidance about stamp duty levels as well other costs which will include:

Fee for Conveyancing work
Fee for Stamp Duty Land Tax Return work
Electronic transfer of funds fee
VAT on our Conveyancing work fee
VAT on our SDLT Return work fee
VAT on electronic transfer of funds fee
Local Search Fee
Drainage/Water Search Fee
Environmental Search Fee
Pre Completion Title Search fees
Chancel Check Search fee
Stamp Duty Land Tax
HM Land Registry Registration Fee

The largest single cost will be the Stamp Duty Land Tax and this is a set percentage of the purchase price, so can be quite costly as an “extra” and needs to be included in any budget.

It is better to plan and be prepared financially rather than waste your time viewing properties that you cannot afford and having your hopes dashed, after falling in love with a property that is outside of your financial means.

Short Listing Surveyors – We Recommend You Use One

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:08:00 GMT

When purchasing a property you may be looking around to save expenses and wondering if using the services of a surveyor is really necessary.

A professionally qualified surveyor inspects a property and writes a detailed report, which critiques the property you are planning to purchase. Their report will comment upon the structure and fabric of the building and tell you what needs attention and what is structurally defective, usually with recommendations about how to put things right. The level of detail will vary according to which type of survey you request.

You may be asking yourself if it is always necessary to appoint a surveyor and if you need any such report. Professionally, we would always recommend clients to appoint one. However, before appointing a surveyor you should take some important issues into consideration.

Using a Surveyor When Purchasing with Finance such as with a Mortgage

If you intend to raise finance to pay for the property, such as taking out a mortgage, then you should call and speak to the person or company that is arranging the finance for you.

They usually ‘insist’ that you use a reputable surveyor, one that they already have an existing relationship with. The finance company will want to appoint and use this surveyor to protect their investment in the building, hence their insistence on the use of their approved surveyor as part of the financial terms and conditions of their mortgage or other financial agreement.

By contacting the finance company you will probably save duplicating surveys and paying twice. A mortgage valuation is not the same as a full survey.

You may be able to request a more detailed survey, as often the finance company only requires a basic home buyers’ survey looking at the most structurally important items. If you are purchasing an older house it may be worth paying more to receive a detailed report so that you are able to budget for repairs, insulation etc. things which may not be immediately necessary and would not be highlighted in a less detailed report but will become increasingly important to you living in your new home.

Using a Surveyor When Purchasing as a “Cash Buyer”

If you are a ‘cash buyer’ we would still strongly recommend that you have your property surveyed and use a qualified, reputable surveyor to safeguard your money and investment.

A survey will furnish you with the knowledge you need before you commit to a large financial outlay. In some instances this will put you in a stronger position to consider the price of the house. It may alert you to work that needs doing which you were unaware of and you may even wish to reconsider your offer price with this new information.

Instructing a surveyor is not a difficult process. When using our services, should you want additional support about which qualifications you should be looking for or more information about the difference in reports, we will be happy to provide this for you.

Selecting a Solicitor When Purchasing a Property

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:33:00 GMT

Many people have never used or had need to use a solicitor prior to buying a property. If you are moving to the UK from overseas you may have used alternatives to a solicitor, such as a “Settlement Agent”. In the UK a solicitor is used by both the purchaser and seller to handle the necessary legal work properly.

Using a “common sense” attitude to selecting a solicitor to handle the legal work for your transaction will be a good starting point.

Select the Right Solicitor for You

It is important that you select the right type of solicitor, as well as the most appropriate one, to help your property purchase progress as efficiently as possible. If your family already uses a law firm for other reasons they may seem like the natural first choice. However, you will need to have a solicitor who is a specialist in property conveyancing rather than one that specialises in divorce or litigation.

If you are moving into an area it is wise to use a solicitor that is familiar with the area. They will have the advantage of having local knowledge about the area you intend living and buying into, which is invaluable for a proper understanding of local development and planning policies as well as transport issues. The former is especially important should you intend to alter, refurbish or extend your property in the future.

When Do You Need a Solicitor

Soon after your offer to buy a property has been accepted by the vendors (sellers) the selling agent will probably ask you for the name and contact details of your solicitor.

To make the process run as smoothly and efficiently as possible it is a good idea to have a solicitor in place, awaiting your instructions or at the very least for you to know which solicitor you are going to ask to represent you.

There are definite advantages to appointing the right law company to assist you in the legal process of buying your property. It therefore makes sense to have decided upon your solicitor as early in the process as possible, rather than rushing to appoint the first one you come across.

When you use a Property Consultant we will help you through this process, should you need additional help. We will also advice you about appointing a surveyor and costs associated with purchasing a property – both of which will be the subject of blogs; to follow in future weeks.

So You Want to Buy a “Listed Property”?

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:27:00 GMT

Full of charm and appealing to many prospective purchasers listed properties are often requested by people looking to move into a “character” home. These properties come with responsibilities, which modern houses escape. The restraints placed upon listed properties are necessary so that their beauty and uniqueness can be enjoyed by future generations.

What are Listed Properties?

Listed properties are graded. Mainly those available for purchase will be Grade II listed. Grade I and Grade II* listed houses are carefully monitored and often owned by English Heritage. Although rarely sold as homes, should you have the opportunity and finances to purchase such a house you would need to be aware that these properties attract the strictest controls of all. Grade II listed houses are frequently available on the property market and are available in a range of price bands.

Considered to be of architectural or historic importance, listed properties are included on a national register. The owners of such properties are expected to keep the property in good repair, whilst maintaining the character of the property and usually the grounds and area around the house together with outbuildings and even wells.

Our Advice for Listed Property Purchasers

As nearly all listed properties are older we strongly recommend clients thinking of purchasing such a house to have a full structural survey carried out by surveyors with experience of surveying period properties.

Allow for on-going maintenance in your annual budget and make sure you have sufficient capital, after you have purchased the house, for possible repairs or maintenance that you need to do after moving in, when considering purchasing a listed property and its financial implications.

In most cases listed properties are not able to be extended or altered although kitchens and bathrooms may be updated, providing a Conservation Officer has approved the alterations. There is a common misconception that listing is just for the outside of a building but this is not the case. A listing will have an impact inside the home as well as on the exterior of the property, so floorplans, for example, will be included in the listing.

If you do not want the responsibility of a listed property then there are many period houses available that are not listed and still offer lots of character.

Owning a listed house gives tremendous joy to those lucky enough to live in such a home, but we urge anyone considering such a purchase to make sure that they know all the responsibilities that come with such special properties and not just be swept away with the aesthetics and wow factor of the house.

Where are the keys?

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:30:00 GMT

Anybody working in the property market, particularly Viewing Agents will know just how annoying and embarrassing stiff locks and incorrect sets of keys can be.

Just imagine the dilemma when the prospective purchasers – our clients have issues with their keys!

The first incident happened when we had planned to show a delightful family around three houses in quick succession. We came out of the first house to round up the children who had been playing in the communal courtyard, when the husband realised that he could not find his car keys. Various members of the viewing party were despatched to search the house, rummage through the thankfully-unlocked car and scour the courtyard as well as the children’s pockets. Eventually, as time was pressing, we had to split up and take half the family on to the other viewings. When the husband finally caught us up, he explained that the keys had been found in his car in a crisp packet!

Let me into my Ferrari – Fathers occasionally put their bored offspring to play behind the steering-wheel of their cars in order to keep them amused so that the parents can view a property in peace. We advise against this practice now. We had one such embarrassing incident with a Ferrari – Dad outside, son inside – with the car blocking several other cars in the driveway, it took Dad and considerable amount of gentle persuasion (with Mum standing close by suggesting everyone should stay calm) and bribery to re-gain control of his car keys.

We have never used a solicitor before, how do you decide which one to use?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:37:00 GMT

You would be surprised how many people have never used or had the need to use a Solicitor prior to buying a property. How to choose the most appropriate and best Solicitor is not such a daft question. Does your family use a law firm and do not forget you need to use a qualified Solicitor who specialises in property conveyancing not divorce or a specialist litigator!

You may wish to use some good ‘common sense’ when choosing your solicitor to handle the legal work for your transaction. You will be asked very soon after the offer has been accepted usually by the selling agent, which Solicitor you are using. If you are moving into a new area there is sound reason and logic to use a solicitor that is familiar with the area as they will have the advantage of local knowledge and familiarisation of the area that you moving to, this can be invaluable when considering local development policy, transport issues, local planning policies particularly if you are intending to alter, refurbish and extend your property in the future. There are some definite advantages to appointing the right law company to assist you in the legal process of buying your property. Posted by Nigel S