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News

16th October 2014

How to keep your house safe now that the evenings are darke

Now that the clocks have gone back, giving us lighter mornings – but darker evenings, we need to be more vigilant about keeping our homes safe.  Thames Valley Police recently sent out an alert saying that they would post a note through homeowners' doors if they left their house in darkness while out. Although the area is not a high-risk one for break-ins, burglary is listed as one of the top three...

5th October 2014

Why the Election affects UK Property Prices

Come the dawn of the year 2015 you won't be able to miss the fact that it's "Election year". On 7th May 2015, the whole of the UK will once again be urged to visit the polls and vote for their choice of party. The months leading up to the election will bring with it acres of press coverage, and among the business and financial pages there will be a...

5th October 2014

How to sell your home in autumn and winter

Early autumn is actually one of the busiest times for house sellers. The weather can still be warm, children are back at school and everyone is back from holiday. Come late autumn and winter, though, and there are fewer buyers looking around. That doesn't mean you can't get a house sale, though, you just have to work a bit harder! Sooner rather than later First of all, put your house up for...

23rd September 2014

House sale prices: factors that affect the value of your home

Imagine two homes that are exactly the same. They are both three-bedroom, semi-detached houses with a lounge, dining room, kitchen and small garden. They are only within two miles of each other in the same town. You would expect them to go for more or less the same price. Or would you? Actually, their prices could differ by thousands. And here's why: 1. Location "Location, location, location" is a familiar cry from estate agents....

19th September 2014

What is a valuation – and do I have to commit?

Want to know what your house is worth? Read on to find out what a valuation is, and how can you get the most out of it. What is it? Essentially, a valuation will tell you how much your house is worth in the current market. How do I get one? The most informative way of getting a valuation is through an estate agent. Any agent worth their salt offers a free valuation with...

16th September 2014

Creating your moving checklist

So you’ve received your moving date, you’ve started your packing and you already have a million and one things to do. With the best will in the world, even the most efficient people are bound to forget something, so writing out a checklist and, more satisfyingly, ticking things off once you’ve done them, is a basic necessity. Areas you should think about are: Moving How are you moving your stuff from your...

12th August 2014

Home security tips: How to keep your home safe this summer

Summer is here and the living is easy – and so is stealing from your home.  Every summer Thames Valley Police launches a summer safety campaign to remind homeowners to take care of their homes and their valuables. This is because burglaries and thefts increase nationwide in the warmer weather. Why? Because in the summer we are much more likely to leave windows unlocked (because we use them a lot), and we're more...

15th July 2014

Top 10 Property Turn Offs – and how to avoid them

Buying a home is very personal and while you can’t be expected to read the minds of your potential buyers when your home is on the market, you’d be surprised how many potential buyers are turned off by the same things, some of which are quite easy to avoid. We've compiled a list of the top 10 property turn-offs that could cost you a sale. Lack of a Garden Or an overgrown garden....

11th July 2014

New mortgage rules 2014 – why you should care

Alarmed by all the talk of the new mortgage rules? Let us help you get to grips with it. What new rules? During the housing boom of 2005-2007 many lenders gave borrowers mortgages that they couldn't afford. The inevitable consequence was an increase in people defaulting on their mortgage payments and, sadly, an increase in repossessions. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) brought about some changes in April this year regarding how you...

27th June 2014

New mortgage rules 2014: What do they mean for you?

Alarmed by all the talk of the new mortgage rules? Let us help you get to grips with it. What new rules? During the housing boom of 2005-2007 many lenders gave borrowers mortgages that they couldn't afford. The inevitable consequence was an increase in people defaulting on their mortgage payments and, sadly, an increase in repossessions. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) brought about some changes in April this year regarding how you...