Are you dreaming of building your own home? Buying land and building a property on it is a dream many people share. But what about the logistics? Buying land and building your own house is uncharted territory for most people. We have seen many people build their dream homes on land that they’ve bought for that purpose. We’ve seen where things can go wrong, and all of the ways that a buyer can prevent these things from happening. So here’s our do’s and don’ts for building your own property. Q: So...
Feb 18, 2019•9 min•Ep. 48
Wanting to make a good impression and make your home stand out in the crowd doesn’t have to cost the earth. There are numerous budget-friendly ways that you can use to make your property more appealing to potential buyers and increase your chances of selling for the highest possible price. You can make a big impact without spending big money, too. Subtle, well-thought-out and inexpensive updates are sometimes all that is needed to make a lasting impression and give you the edge in the market. He...
Feb 11, 2019•11 min•Ep. 47
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have been researching with the aid of working group called the Home Buying and Selling Group which is chaired by a research firm and includes solicitors and estate agents. They have been considering ideas for the last 11 months of how to improve the process of buying and selling property in the UK. Key Stats from research so far Timing 12-14 weeks offer to completion Leasehold adds at least a week to this timescale Failed Transactions 25-...
Feb 04, 2019•13 min•Ep. 46
Noisy neighbours are more than just a nuisance. If you are subjected to constant dog barking, loud music, screaming children (or even adults), and doors banging at all hours of the day and night, it can feel like your neighbours are ruining your life! The brutal truth is that, if you live in an apartment or terraced / semi-detached house, much of the enjoyment of your property rests on the civility of your neighbours. But don’t despair. If your noisy neighbours are driving you around the bend, r...
Jan 28, 2019•10 min•Ep. 45
When you’re moving home, there’s so much to think about and organise. To help make the process a little simpler, why not check out our quick checklist of essential reminders. Post: Those final bills, magazine subscriptions or the store card vouchers you’ve been saving up may still be addressed to your previous home. To give you time to change your address on everything, you can set up post redirection through the Post Office (though be aware you will have to pay a fee). Internet: Argh what will ...
Jan 21, 2019•11 min•Ep. 44
When you’re looking to rent a new property, there are some checks it’s important for you to understand so you can make sure you hit the criteria before you start your search. If you’re renting through an estate/letting agent then their lettings administration team will be handling and processing your paperwork but if the landlord is doing the checks themselves, these are all or some of the searches they will want to conduct in order to protect themselves when you are their tenant. Application Fo...
Jan 14, 2019•14 min•Ep. 43
When it comes to buying a home, this is probably the most expensive purchase you’re ever going to make, so you definitely shouldn’t rush it or go into it half-heartedly. To help you, we’ve put together a list of our top 10 tips to help you find your perfect home! 1. Work out where you want to buy Location is key. You can change the aesthetics of a property, but you can’t change its area so head to some areas you’re considering. Have a wander around and take special note of local schools, transpo...
Jan 07, 2019•14 min•Ep. 42
When buying a house it’s vital your credit score is at a certain level, otherwise your mortgage could be declined. If you wait until you come to get a mortgage, it’s impossible to make quick changes to improve it. That's why it’s important that in the year leading up to purchasing a property or re-mortgaging your property, you spend time looking at your rating and work on ways to make improvements. Here are 10 tips to help you out. 1. Get some bills in your name If you live in a rental right now...
Dec 31, 2018•11 min•Ep. 41
Moving home is a hard job on its own; factor in moving with pets or children and it becomes a whole new level of planning and energy. From pre-planning to settling in, see if some of these ideas could make your home move a little easier. Before the move, talk to the children about why you are moving and integrate the idea into their daily life – they can create some art for the new home or create a map of their new area. If possible, take them to their new home and let them see and plan out the ...
Dec 24, 2018•8 min•Ep. 40
In this episode we are delighted to Welcome Julie White from Cornerstone Tax to the Podcast Julie is a Chartered Accountant who has specialised in Tax for the last 30 years and specifically Property Tax since 1999. She has worked in a number of large accountancy firms from Pannell Kerr Forster in Nottingham where she trained, to KPMG in Nottingham, Arthur Andersen in Cambridge and London and more latterly at RSM UK in Nottingham and EDF Tax in Nottingham. Julie began to specialise in property ta...
Dec 17, 2018•38 min•Ep. 39
When you’re looking for a new home, whether you’re buying or renting, getting swept up in the excitement of possibly finding your next happy home can mean you don’t ask all the sensible questions that you wanted to. To save you the job of having to dampen your excitement, here are some questions you may want to ask. If you’re buying Why is the owner selling? How long did the last owner live here? Have they already found somewhere else to live? Gauge the situation and establish if there are any i...
Dec 10, 2018•15 min•Ep. 38
Adding a touch of luxury to a room through carefully-placed accessories, colours and fabrics can instantly give it a show home worthy look and feel, often for a minimal budget. So to help you get that Luxury look I’ll talk you through five quick and simple ways to transform your interior into a luxurious abode: Accessories Adding metallic accessories such as a gold drinks tray or a statement mirror can make a room look stylish, yet remain functional. Complement the look with this year’s Pantone ...
Dec 03, 2018•7 min•Ep. 37
There are several different methods of selling a property which we have outlined below along with a few reasons why each method is typically used. If you’re thinking of selling then each of these methods should be assessed as to which one meets your goals and objectives best. The methods most commonly used are: Private Treaty Traditional Auction Modern Method of Auction Informal Tender Formal Tender Now lets go through each method in a bit more detail: Private Treaty The process called “For Sale...
Nov 26, 2018•20 min•Ep. 36
Buying a property can be a stressful experience – but it doesn't have to be. Here are a few handy tips to make it as smooth-sailing as possible. You need to jump through several hoops when buying a home. And even if both you and the seller are keen to exchange contracts promptly, the process can drag on. 1. Understand the jargon First of all, get to know the lingo. Arrangement fee? Standard Variable Rate? Mortgage Indemnity Guarantee? There's a fair share of industry terminology involved when it...
Nov 19, 2018•10 min•Ep. 35
A new survey claims to have found the five issues that prospective buyers wish they had checked out ahead of purchase but failed to do. Most of these could or should have been done on a viewing, they admit. A survey of 1,000 buyers conducted for interior firm Terrys Fabrics shows that only 35 per cent viewed their home for two hours or more on combined visits before purchasing their property. Over one in five – 22 per cent – admit they spent less than 30 minutes viewing the property they went on...
Nov 05, 2018•9 min•Ep. 33
We have an incredible gift for all our listeners who might be interested in Property Investment. Whether you are totally new to property investment or an experienced investor we hope this gift will help inspire you and educate you as to just what is achievable through property investment. Through our friends at Progressive Property we have been able to secure a limited number of FREE tickets to their three day – Multiple Streams of Property Income course. This life changing multiple streams of p...
Oct 29, 2018•5 min•Ep. 32
The Deregulation Act 2015 came into force on 1 October 2015 affecting both landlords and tenants regarding deposits , retaliatory evictions and section 21 notices . Three years on and 1 October 2018 is an important date in the implementation of the full changes brought in by the Deregulation Act 2015. The Deregualtion Act came into affect for all new tenancies in 2015 however these regulations now apply for all older tenancies that started before that date from October 2018. The main points are ...
Oct 22, 2018•6 min•Ep. 31
The thought of downsizing can be a little emotional and overwhelming, especially if you have lived in a property for many years. Attempting to sort through and, in some cases, throw out, your belongings can seem like an endless task. However, with some planning and consideration about what you need, you will find that downsizing or ‘right-sizing’ can be a positive experience that sets you up for the future and fits your lifestyle. So here are some top tips to help you downsize smoothly. Get orga...
Oct 15, 2018•7 min•Ep. 30
Moving house is one of the most stressful things you will ever have to do and with so much going on, it can be easy to forget something essential. As soon as you get the date for your move and the time for the exchanging of keys you can start to get organised. Take some time to make a list of small tasks and tick them off as you go. Get organised Avoid leaving anything until the last minute. As a starting point, consider putting together a to-do list to help you prioritise tasks. An inventory of...
Oct 08, 2018•17 min•Ep. 29
What are the main tax considerations for Landlords? The Government has hit landlords hard over the past 12 months with changes to the tax they pay and can claim back. Here we outline the tax rules which landlords need to consider. Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) As of 1 April 2016, anyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland purchasing an additional residential property (that is not their only or main residence) for £40,000 or more must pay an extra 3% stamp duty above the current Stamp Duty Land T...
Oct 01, 2018•13 min•Ep. 28
You can take steps to protect your property from being fraudulently sold or mortgaged. You’re more at risk if: your identity’s been stolen you rent out your property you live overseas the property’s empty the property isn’t mortgaged the property isn’t registered with HM Land Registry Your property will be registered if you bought it or mortgaged it since 1998 – check the register if you’re unsure. You must tell HM Land Registry if information in the register is incorrect, for example if you cha...
Sep 24, 2018•9 min•Ep. 27
Buying your first home is exciting, scary and emotional – usually all at the same time. What makes the experience different from any other house purchase is that you have no prior experience on which to base your expectations and can easily trip up on mistakes that a second-time buyer would know to avoid. If you’re preparing to take your first step on the property ladder, here are seven common problems to know about before you even start viewing. Viewing houses with your heart, not your head Yes...
Sep 17, 2018•9 min•Ep. 26
Buying and selling a home can be affected by a number of factors. One of these factors is called a property chain. This is a description of buyers and sellers linked together because either one or the other needs to sell a home before being able to buy one. Ideally, the best scenario to be in when you are in the market either to sell or buy a property is that of a “no onward chain”. This situation happens when you are buying from a seller who has already vacated the property which means there is...
Sep 10, 2018•5 min•Ep. 25
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a guide that would-be buyers or tenants get when they look at a property. When should you get an EPC? As a general rule, an EPC is required every time a home is put up for sale or for rent. So, a newly constructed home will have one, a landlord will need one to show potential tenants, and a seller must have one to show to potential buyers. There are a few exceptions. You don’t need one for a room that’s being rented out by a resident landlord and listed...
Sep 03, 2018•11 min•Ep. 24
Here is your latest property market update for the UK residential market. Recorded in August 2018 this Podcast gives you the latest update on how the residential market is performing through the summer months of 2018. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 31, 2018•12 min
Preparation is key to ensuring the photographer can capture your property in its best possible light. Potential buyers need to imagine themselves living in your property. They need to be able to instantly visualise the potential of your home, with their furniture and belongings, and to imagine themselves living there. As with so many things, presentation is key. Following these tips will help you to prepare and present your house to its best before the photo shoot: Start outside 1. Ensure that a...
Aug 27, 2018•9 min•Ep. 23
In this episode we look into whether you should buy the freehold to your flat. The process that is involved and the things to consider. If you own a flat it is likely that you will not hold the freehold to the property. You will most likely be paying, not only your mortgage but also ground rent to the owner of the freehold. So what are the benefits and pitfalls of buying the freehold? What is a freehold? A freehold is the permanent and absolute ownership of property or land. If you own the freeh...
Aug 20, 2018•8 min•Ep. 22
In this episode we cover some key points you need to consider when renting a property. 1. Locating the right property – Utilise the portals Rightmove and Zoopla. Register with local estate and letting agents. 2. Choose your Landlord carefully – Always look for an accredited/licensed landlord or regulated lettings agency. Look for landlords that are licensed under local authority schemes or agencies that are regulated by organisations such as ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) or NA...
Aug 13, 2018•17 min•Ep. 21
If you can't afford to buy a property outright, shared ownership can be a great way to get a foot on the property ladder as it allows you to buy a share of a home. In this episode we want to give you an overview of how shared ownership works. What’s it all about?Shared Ownership is a part-buy, part-rent government-backed scheme which allows buyers to purchase a share of a new home (usually between 25% and 75%) and pay rent on the remainder to the co-owning housing association. This is great if y...
Aug 06, 2018•14 min•Ep. 20
Even though the demand for property is greater than the level of supply, and there are more buyers than sellers in the market, selling your home is challenging. Homeowners often struggle to be found by buyers in the market or to grab the attention of likely buyers, never mind persuade someone who has shown an initial interest to make an offer for the property. Homeowners need to use every advantage they can find when selling property and one way in which a homeowner can attract attention and imp...
Jul 30, 2018•15 min•Ep. 19
