Property
London Borough’s breakdown: find your flatshare area match
By Bea Patel, TLE Property Editor and Director of Shop for an Agent, the estate agent comparison website Souring rental prices in the city has forced many couples and singles to flat share with strangers. This figure is set to rise over the next few years, as experts forecast millions more will rent in the city. With rental cost spiralling out of control, those who can’t afford to rent alone are resorting to flatsharing to stay in the capital. New...
It’s a 5* hotel – surely? No? Luxury Student Accommodation?
By Bea Patel, TLE Property Editor and Director of Shop for an Agent, the estate agent comparison site Single beds, cramped rooms, shared kitchen and bathrooms, mould and leaks are the stereotypical student pads of old. It was, as they say, the ‘norm’. But has this all changed? Over the years, a growing demand for luxury student accommodation has emerged. Demands of modern urban life have become unavoidable. Smart phones flashing continuously. Social media and WhatsApp notifications demanding our attention....
How to choose the right estate agent
By Perry Power, property sales specialist at Perry Power Unless you live in a remote area with little competition, it can be difficult to decide which estate agent to use to sell your house. You may lean toward the ‘new kid on the block’ who promises the earth, the one offering the cheapest fees, or an older agency with a long-standing reputation in the area. The decision is even more difficult as a growing number of online estate agencies emerge...
‘Cleaning up Croydon’
New development puts affordable housing in reach of working Londoners By Bea Patel, TLE Property Editor and Director of Shop for an Agent - the estate agent comparison site Croydon is getting a much needed facelift by Property developer Inspired Asset, who are opening Green Dragon House on 26th June 2015 as part of Boris Johnson’s wider regeneration plans for Croydon. Green Dragon House, a commercial property home to a number of well-known companies over the years, is now changing...
Why setting the right marketing price for your property is vital
By Perry Power, property sales specialist at Perry Power Have you ever stopped to ask your estate agent exactly why they’ve decided to market your property at a particular price? Not the value itself necessarily (which should be based on the current market and sales prices for similar properties in your area), but the way they’ve presented the price. After all, when it comes to selling a property, setting the right price is crucial. There’s a fine line between listing...
Seven in Ten Brits Unhappy with their Home
By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent Seven in ten Brits admit they aren’t happy with their home, new research has revealed, with size and location coming out as big factors but décor topping the list. The study found millions of Brits are living in homes we dislike, with more than 20 per cent saying they completely hate where they live. While many people dislike their home because it’s too small, or because they’re not happy with the location, half of us say...
How to attract more property viewings
By Perry Power, property sales specialist at Perry Power Has your home been languishing on the market for months? Many clients come to me exasperated, as not only have they not yet received an attractive offer on their property, but that viewing numbers have also dwindled. The harsh reality is that well presented homes marketed from day one receive the offers. The longer your property stays on the market, the less chance you have of receiving a suitable offer anytime...
Post Election: what it means for first-time buyers
By Dean Jones, managing director at SoSmart Money First-time buyers were set firmly within the sights of the majority of parties in the build up to the recent general election, and it appears that this target market may have been key to the outcome. During their last term in office – as part of the coalition government – the Conservative Party introduced various initiatives to help first-time buyers, including the Help to Buy Mortgage Scheme which was followed up fairly...
“Client led passive fire protection – it’s in their interests”, says Alan Oliver
By Alan Oliver, Director of Compliance Division at Yorkshire and Essex-based Checkmate Fire solutions Under the Building Regulations in England and Wales, there is a requirement for main contractors to ensure that new or refurbished buildings are completed and handed over to the client in a fire-compliant state, in relation to means of escape and minimum life safety. However, there is significant evidence showing that increasing numbers of buildings are being constructed with badly installed passive fire protection, or more...