Ask the Estate Agent

By: David Thomas
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  • Summary

  • Ask the Estate Agent - News, views, tips and interviews to help you negotiate the property market from industry experts. Your on demand source of property market knowledge and information.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Ask the Estate Agent
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Episodes
  • Selling through the festive season? Stand out from the crowd

    Selling through the festive season? Stand out from the crowd
    Nov 12 2019

    Here are some top tips to help you sell through the competitive festive season.

    Get your decorating in order

    The interior of the house sells it more than anything, so it is important to get the basic decorating inside the house right.


    If you have any garish colours in any rooms, get rid of them and replace with creams and beiges. Bright and striking rooms will attract attention, but they will be far more likely to turn buyers away.


    Similarly, get rid of any large pieces of furniture that make the rooms look cluttered. Space sells, and the fewer items you have in the house, the more spacious it will look.


    Top quality marketing

    As much as the interior of your house will sell it, getting the marketing right will attract the buyers in the first place – you can’t sell a home if no one comes to see it.


    Make sure you get the property online and ensure that it is well described and photographed in order that people can get a good idea of what they are coming to see. The more they know, the more likely they’ll book a viewing.


    Dimensions and Floor Plan is a must!


    Check your Kerb appeal

    We all know the importance of first impressions when meeting new people, and it is no different when you are selling your house. The first impression people get will be all important to them.


    Make sure your garden is clean and tidy and well pruned. Fences should always be painted and in a good state of repair. Anything out of place is a negative in the eyes of buyers, and it is important to minimise these to increase the chances of selling.


    As a listener we want your questions to answer. Whatever your worries, concerns or needs are, contact us via our social media channels or our website below and we’ll answer your questions in our future episodes.


    Facebook: www.facebook.com/asktheestateagent


    Instagram: www.instagram.com/asktheestateagent


    Twitter: www.twitter.com/asktheEA


    Website: www.asktheestateagent.co.uk


    We hope you find this resource useful and that helps to educate as well as dispel any myths or uncertainty around getting on the property ladder or making that next move.


    So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    9 mins
  • What information must a seller legally declare?

    What information must a seller legally declare?
    Sep 16 2019
    Dreaming about moving into your new home only to discover you have noisy neighbours, non-stop traffic whizzing past, or next-to-no wi-fi signal? Here's how to do your research…Whether you are looking for a new home to buy or rent, you’ll want to be sure that it’s a relaxing and enjoyable place to live.But what if you move in only to discover that you’re living next to the neighbours from hell? Or the incessant noise from the road drives you crazy? Or that there’s planning permission for an industrial project right on your doorstep?Here we look at the information that a seller or landlord is legally required to give you – as well as the stuff that it is ‘good manners’ for them to pass on to you.So firstly lets look atSellers are legally required to declare certain informationIf you are buying your new home, the seller is required to disclose certain pieces of information to you – and if they fail to do so, they could end up in court.For example, a seller must tell you about a ‘defective title’ if there is no way you could reasonably find out before exchanging contracts. This might, for example, include a right of way across the property that isn’t on the title deeds.What about the Seller’s Property Information Form?Sellers are also required to fill in a Property Information Form (or TA6) which gives the buyer lots of information that they would otherwise be unable to find out through surveys or the standard searches.This includes:      Information on boundaries – including those between you and your neighbours      Details of any disputes or complaints with neighbours      Notices of development or planning permission of properties nearby      Alterations and building work ever done on the property (including details of planning permissions and building regulations approvals – or the absence of)      Information about guarantees and warranties      Buildings insurance details      Information about environmental matters, such as flooding, energy efficiency and Japanese Knotweed.      Details of rights and informal arrangements, such as access or shared use.      Information about parking – including whether the property is in a controlled parking zone or local authority parking scheme.This form is part of the pre-contract documents, so it’s legally binding. This means that you, as the buyer, can make a claim for compensation if the seller deliberately tries to conceal something – even after the sale has gone through.Other information may be provided by the sellerAs part of the conveyancing process, the seller’s solicitor should provide certain additional information to your solicitor.This includes details such as where the gas and electricity meters and stopcock are located, and what fixtures and fittings will be left as part of the sale.However, there is certain information the seller’s solicitor is unlikely to provide, such as the strength of the phone signal and what day the bins are emptied. On these matters, the key is to collect the information yourself and don’t be afraid to ask those questions while you can.Landlords also have some legal obligationsIf you are renting, there are certain legal obligations on the landlord that can’t be ignored.This includes the safety of the electricity and gas supplies, fire safety throughout the property, protection of deposit funds, and the landlord’s responsibilities for maintenance and repair.In addition, there are certain issues which fall under the ‘Consumer Protection Regulations’. These include:      Planning activity      Off-road parking      What furniture and other items are being left and      Public rights of way – if a right of way goes through the grounds of the propertyThese regulations are all-encompassing and require both landlords and agents to tell tenants all ‘material’ information necessary, in order for the tenant to make an informed decision. The law is about what tenants need to know – not what they want to know.So that concludes this episode of Ask the Estate Agent Podcast. I hope you found this topic useful and highlights a few key areas you should pay particular attention too when searching for your next property.As ever please do get in touch with your feedback and comments and also let us know about your experiences in negotiating the property market. We would love to hear from you.You can contact us anytime using the links below:Facebook: www.facebook.com/asktheestateagentInstagram: www.instagram.com/asktheestateagentTwitter: www.twitter.com/asktheEAWebsite: www.asktheestateagent.co.ukSo don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.This podcast is brought to you by Liberty Gate www.libertygate.co.ukNottingham's multi award winning Estate ...
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    8 mins
  • What questions should I ask an estate agent when selling my home?

    What questions should I ask an estate agent when selling my home?
    Sep 9 2019
    Making sure to ask estate agents the right questions before signing up to their services is vital when you’re selling your home.It will mean you’ll avoid any nasty surprises, such as unexpected fees or lengthy tie-in periods, and give you confidence that you’ll be able to sell as quickly as possible and for the best possible price.So here are the questions that every home seller should ask the estate agent: What are your fees?Typically, you’ll find estate agents charge a percentage of the sale price and they should state these inclusive of VAT and provide an example breakdown of the fee.For example, if you sell a property for £300,000, the fee may be 1% plus VAT, amounting to £3,600 (1.2%), including VAT.But you may find that percentage fees are far greater than this, depending on the agent, and can be as much or more than 2.5%.Check this is the only fee payable to the agent and that you won’t face paying this unless they successfully sell the property for you. What about other costs? Will you pay for a ‘For Sale’ board, for example, or professional photographs and floorplans? Find out any extras and any costs associated.Remember that you’ll need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before putting your house on the market and these are normally charged at around £60 – £120 pounds but check for your area and property size with your agent or local EPC surveyor as you can easily have these done yourself by a local EPC registered surveyor. What kind of contract do you use?Estate agents offer several different types of contract and it’s important to be aware of which you’re signing up to.Sole selling rights This is a fairly rigid form of contract, meaning that the particular estate agent you’re signing up to is the only one allowed to sell your home during the contract period. Even if you find your own buyer, you’ll have to pay the agency fees.Sole agency If you find your own buyer, you don’t fork out anything to the agent. But if you decide this agent is not working out and turn to another who then sells the property in the contract period, you are still tied into paying the first agent.Multiple agency These contracts allow you to market the property with several agents, but typically demand a higher fee. This was traditionally as a result of you having more exposure to potential buyers.Now with most buyers using a website such as Zoopla, the higher fee reflects the risk that Agent B might sell the property, so Agent A’s marketing goes unrewarded. What’s your tie-in period?An agent’s contract will often include a tie-in period, depending on the type of agreement you’re entering into.Typically, this spans around 12 weeks, with a 14-day notice period. If another agent sells the house during this time, you’ll have to stump up fees to two sets of agents.Tie-in periods can vary dramatically between agents, from zero weeks to 20, in some cases.  How will you market my property?The most important thing is that the Estate Agent takes the time to listen to what you are looking to achieve and then discuss a marketing strategy that will achieve that goal.You also want to make sure the estate agent’s descriptions are honest and help point out the great features of the properties they are selling.The photographs are even more important. Prospective buyers are drawn in visually, so having high quality pictures is a must. Ask to see specific examples, or search online yourself for a better idea.For those reducing numbers not searching online, check how the agent will market the property in its local branches and local press.Again, ask for specific examples and think whether these would appeal to you if you were a buyer.  How long do you take to sell properties like mine?There are a number of factors that can affect the time it takes to sell a property, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any insight.Ask for past examples of sales of similar properties, and predictions of how long the agent think it will take to sell your property. After all, a good agent will understand the trends in the local market.Also, seek out friends who have used their services and can provide some insight into the level of service. What redress scheme are you a member of?If things go wrong, you should be able to pursue a complaint with a particular professional body.Agents must be a member of either The Property Ombudsman, or the Property Redress Scheme.So there are a few essential questions to be asking to ensure you pick the best estate agent for your sale. Hope they help you and don’t forget to let us know how you get and send us your feedback.So that concludes this episode of Ask the Estate Agent Podcast. You can contact us anytime using the links below:Facebook: www.facebook.com/asktheestateagentInstagram: www.instagram.com/asktheestateagentTwitter: www.twitter.com/asktheEAWebsite: www.asktheestateagent.co.ukSo don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like...
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    15 mins

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