As the first named storm of the year reaches us (that’s Storm Aileen for avid storm watchers!) and we start to think ‘wow, it’s dark early’, storms are becoming more likely and we may see more active weather upon us over the next month. So today, we look at how to prepare your property.
The term ‘online agents’ is constantly used in the media and we’re asked daily about the difference between online estate agents and high street agents. So, in this blog we’re looking to explain the differences between the two.
Continue readingChoice is often seen as a good thing but if you have ever sat and flicked through the Netflix catalogue or any catch-up TV service, with endless pages of shows to choose from, you can attest to the fact that sometimes it can be overwhelming.
Go back just a few years and the number of estate agents in the marketplace was far smaller than it is now – coupled with that, there are now a new breed of ‘online’ or ‘hybrid’ agents, offering cheaper pay-up front models and utilising the internet to reduce overheads. With this choice comes a need to compare and contrast agents to help find the right one for your circumstances.
Continue readingGuest Post by Richard Ayre, Business Development Manager at The SEO Works (www.seoworks.co.uk)
So, in the interest of full disclosure, I worked within the property industry for around 10 years before getting into digital marketing and I left just as the big online agents started to gain traction in the marketplace.
I’ve found the subsequent market disruption and how agents have dealt with the challenge fascinating. Anecdotes from friends and colleagues still working within the industry paint a broad picture of the challenges agents are facing in today’s aggressive market. As such, there’s been an amazing increase in high street service levels and creative thinking within the industry over the past few years as agents alter their approach to compete with the new, online business models. Not only that, but the general feeling with the people I’ve spoken to is this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Continue reading2017 has already been an astonishing year for PropTech, with an abundance of fundraising announcements. Never should agents be more aware of the potential impact of this digital takeover. But that doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom.
Continue readingWe’ve now had the first ‘hottest day of the year’ headlines which means we have made it through to Spring. For the property market, Spring is an optimum time to sell your property, with trends showing the largest numbers of buyers active in April, May and June.
Continue readingA guest post by Compare My Move
Buying a house is certainly not an easy process, from having to compare estate agents and deal with mortgage companies, to searching for reliable removal companies. However, dealing with the disappointment of losing out and being gazumped after you’ve put an offer down can add additional stress to the process.
The word ‘Gazumping’ is used a lot, but what does it actually mean and, more importantly, how you can minimise the risk of it happening to you?
Continue readingGuest blog by Sainsbury’s Bank
With the longer and darker nights, it’s now more important than ever to make sure your home is kept secure. Sainsbury’s Bank has created a visual guide to home security, full of tips for the inside and outside of your house to help deter intruders.
Continue readingChristmas is fast approaching and whilst it is unlikely to catch you unawares, given some shops have been in festive mode since late September, if you’re just about to put your property on the market there are a few pitfalls you need to avoid…
Continue readingDespite uncertainty around Brexit following the vote and in the leadup to the triggering of Article 50, house prices have continued to grow according to the Office of National Statistics, up 8.4% across the UK. Demand continues to remain strong given a low number of properties on the market.
Even though it’s getting darker and colder and the festive season is approaching, it would be foolish to write off the autumn and winter months as times to sell your property. And we’ll tell you why…
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