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Quick Move Blog

Monday, 28 May 2012

Top 10 property blogs from Quick Move Now

Quick Move compiled a popular list of the top property blogs in 2009 and decided that it was about time we updated it. So… here is the definitive list of our favourite blogs for 2012 – enjoy!

News

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/

Rightmove blog

We find this blog the most comprehensive round up of industry and property news and we love the way it is interspersed with dream properties and a little bit of gossip about celebrity homes. The serious pieces are always well written and informative and the infographics and statistics are very useful. The site design is clear and fresh and the images are great too.

http://blog.zoopla.co.uk

Zoopla blog

This is another blog that combines serious industry stories with more light-hearted ones. The most useful thing about it is that it has a comprehensive ‘advice’ section where you choose the subject you need advice about and all the relevant posts are displayed. As Zoopla is now one of the biggest property websites in the UK, it holds a huge amount of data and this is used to great effect in its blogs.

Advice

http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/

Helping Innovate Property blog

This is a really useful ‘go to’ site with any questions – it contains advice on green issues, legal issues, selling issues – you name it, there is probably a post about it! The design is very simple and all you need to do is search for the topic you are interested in. The significant number of comments posted on blogs on this site show that people are reading them and they are relevant and useful

http://www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/blog/

Property Investment Project blog

Packed full of tips on how to be a successful landlord, this blog takes a look at all the issues that landlords face – from property photography to evicting tenants – and offers practical and well-researched advice on how to deal with them.

http://www.brightgreenhomes.co.uk/wp/?page_id=244

Bright Green Homes blog

This is a great resource for those who are interested in the basics of eco-friendly housing and want to find out a bit more about it without going into technical detail. It features the latest legislation, industry opinion pieces and showcases specific projects.

http://huntwriter.com/

Huntwriter blog

*Our favourite blog writer!* This award-winning blog is written by Roger Hunt and covers sustainable and vernacular architecture and the materials and techniques used in construction. The design and functionality of the site is fabulous and Roger’s knowledge and passion mean that he gives the blogs such a good history and background that they come alive!

http://blog.thebigpropertylist.co.uk/

The Big Property List blog

Primarily concerned with mortgages, this blog is a great way for those interested in buying a house to keep in touch with what is happening on the mortgage market. There are also some handy hints on how to increase the value of properties for those looking to sell.

Now for a bit of fun…

www.wowhaus.co.uk

Wowhaus blog

This blog does exactly what it says on the tin and literally every house featured makes you say WOW! Keeping up to date with this blog is our guilty pleasure and we find all sorts of gems, from the latest eco-house to huge stately piles. We can but dream!

agentsdiary.blogspot.com

The Agent’s Diary

The agent's diary offers a very humorous take on the estate agent business. The blogger is anonymous and writes about life in his estate agent office. His observations on how each of the characters in his office behaves will resonate with anyone who works in one and it will especially appeal to anyone with a dry sense of humour!

Always save the best ‘til last!

http://blog.quickmovenow.com/

Quick Move blog

This wouldn’t be a true list of our favourite blogs if we didn’t include our own in it! Compiled by Laura and Donna, the Quick Move Now blog is packed full of information about the property industry and helpful guides for people looking to sell their property, along with a few insights about the internal workings of the company.

We hope this list of the top property blogs we love is useful to you and that you get as much enjoyment and information from the ones featured as we do!

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Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Double-dip recession effect for landlords - newsreel

Double-dip effect on landlords - watch newsreel here

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Monday, 21 May 2012

How much can a quick house sale save you?

A quick house sale can save you more than you think! Have you ever stopped to think how much it costs to sell property on the open market? And, even worse, remain on it for a while? Unfortunately the costs add up quickly and can erode a significant chunk of the sale price you eventually receive.

The costs to take into account are…

· Estate agent fees

· Solicitor fees

· Mortgage

· Rent

· Bills

· Vacant property issues

Quick Move Now takes a look at the amount you could save with a quick house sale by using a real-life example…

OPEN MARKET ROUTE

Mr and Mrs Penry had their property valued at £139,995 and it went on the market at this price in June 2011. By July there had been no interest so the agents advised lowering the asking price to £129,995.

At this price a few viewings occurred and in August a £120,000 offer was made which was accepted. Unfortunately the buyers could not secure the mortgage and the sale fell through in September.

Due to worsening market conditions, the price was lowered on estate agent advice in October 11 to £114,995 and in November, after hosting many viewings, the Penrys accepted an offer of £110,000 and at last completed on the sale of their property, six months and -£29,995 later.

Had the Penrys followed the home buyer route, their experience would have been vastly different.

HOME BUYER ROUTE

· Estimated resale price: £125,000 (true market value)

· Part exchange offer: £106,250

· Discount arranged on new home: £10,000 (as the result of becoming a cash buyer)

PACKAGED OFFER: £116,250

SAVINGS

· Estate agent commission: -£3,000

· Solicitor fees: -£660

· Council tax: -£840

TOTAL SAVINGS: £4,500

TOTAL OFFER VALUE: £120,750 – this would have been paid immediately and they would have received over £10,000 more than they managed to achieve on the open market!

Although at first glance, using a home buyer might not seem like the most financially advantageous solution for selling your house, once you calculate just how much money you lose by selling on the open market, the perceived difference can become much smaller, or even non-existent!

To find out how much you could save by choosing a quick house sale, use our handy online savings calculator.

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Thursday, 10 May 2012

What are the chances of a house sale falling through?

Quick Move Now house sale fall through index – April 2012

One third (30.32%) of house sales fell through in April 2012.
Finance continues to be the main reason why many buyers cannot follow through to completion.
Unlike previous years where the rate proved changeable, the 2012 fall through rate has remained fairly constant from January through to April.

Quick Move Now reports that the house sale fall through rate for April 2012 was 30.32%, so around one in three sales failed to reach completion. Such a high chance of fall through is difficult to manage for a company with an experienced team driving the sale process, let alone for an individual homeowner trying to juggle a chain of buyers. Once again, the main reason for sales faltering was finance so, in most cases, the seller was at the mercy of their buyer who was, in turn, at the mercy of their mortgage lender.

Donna Houguez, Market Analyst for Quick Move Now, comments: “The fall through figures remained at approximately 30% for the whole of the first quarter of 2012 and this pattern continued into April. We analysed the trend for January to April over the last six years and found that the 2012 rate has been the most consistent, as shown in the graph below.

In previous years, the fall through rate has constantly fluctuated within the first four months and this is particularly evident when studying the rate for 2008 (in the graph above). The fall through rate for January to April in the years 2006-2011 proved changeable whereas, this year, fall through levels have barely altered thus far. It will be interesting to see whether fall through levels deviate from 30% over the coming months or whether this is a longer term stagnation.”

Data Calculation:

Quick Move Now sells hundreds of properties each year and the fall through statistics are calculated month-on-month using a six-month average. In reality, the fall through rate for homeowners would be approximately 10 – 15% higher as Quick Move Now has a professional resale team proactively managing the completion process.

Company Information:

Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Our experienced team, efficient processes and substantial cash reserves allow us to make immediate purchases, enabling customers to sell their houses quickly and move on with their lives. For further industry analysis and comment, please contact donna.houguez@quickmoveproperties.co.uk.

Tel: 0800 068 3366

www.quickmovenow.com

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Thursday, 3 May 2012

Top 5 Most Expensive Homes in the World 2012

In 2010 we did this post on the Most Expensive Properties in the World. Since then, the value of the super-rich has increased many times over inflation. Business news site CNBC in the U.S states that in 1985 there were the 13 billionaires in America; today, there are over 1000. The famed 1% of individuals in terms of wealth control more wealth than the first 90% combined.

All this is fuelling a property boom for the mega-rich, while the rest of us have to make do with stagnant or falling house prices. The Daily Mail last year reported on how bankers bonuses and the high pay culture of the City has fuelled a property boom in London, driving house prices up and out of reach of many home buyers.

All this has prompted us to review the Top 5 most expensive properties in the world again, to see if there were any new entries into the Top 5, and to see if there was an increase in the average house price as compared to 2010. It turns out the average home in the Top 5 has increased from a price of £297m in 2010 to £1.7b in 2012. There are three new entries onto this year's list, plus 2 more that are still there from 2010.

Here are the top 5 for 2012 starting at number 5:

5) Hearst Mansion, Beverly Hills, California - Valued at £102 million

So called due to the fact that publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst bought the H-shaped Beverly Hills mansion for $120,000 in 1947. The home is now considered the most expensive private residence in the U.S., valued at $165m (£102m). The property was originally built in 1926. The house has a cinematic history - it was the location for the famous "horse's head in the bed" scene from the film The Godfather, made in 1972. If you buy this property you become a resident of the famous Platinum Triangle neighbourhood in Beverly Hills, and you will have famous neighbours such as Tom Cruise, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, plus the Beckhams.

For the record, The Hearst Mansion has:

29 bedrooms
3 pools
2 tennis courts
A nightclub
A private cinema

4) The Penthouse at One Hyde Park, London - £123 million

The website for One Hyde Park describes the property as "a residential scheme whose beauty, luxury and service place it in a class of its own on a global scale." High praise indeed - specially coming from them! Undoubtedly a fabulous property, the Penthouse at One Hyde Park is an extra special place to live. Not nearly as big as some of its "Most Expensive" competitors, this home relies primarily on the luxury of its interiors, as well as it's exclusive address.

Features of the One Hyde Park Penthouse include bullet proof glass, 24 hour service and concierge from the nearby Mandarin Oriental Hotel, housekeeping, a discreet SAS-trained security team, golf simulator, wine cellar and a 24hr gym. Some owners of apartments at the complex have seen substantial increases in the value of their properties since the complex was completed in 2010.Although the asking price of a One Hyde Park penthouse is over £120 million, if you can afford to go for it you might get a bargain: one of the penthouses was reportedly sold for £31 million to One Hyde Park Developer Christian Candy, some £100 million under the asking price (though as the builder he was going to get a discount!).

3) Villa Leopold, Cote D'Azur, France - £310m

This vast home came in at number 2 in our 2010 list, at a value of £250 million; it has, in 2 years, increased in value by 60 million pounds - at good investment at by any assessment! This is the sort of above inflation valuation that the mega-rich enjoy - whether on property, cars or yachts.

Villa Leopold was built, in its current incarnation, in 1929 by an American architect on an estate once owned by King Leopold II of Belgium (hence it's name). King Leopold had made it a present for his mistress, and in WW1 it was used as a military hospital. It is regarded in France as a "monument historique", and is the most valuable villa in the world.

Built on 29,000 sq ft in the millionaire's playground of the French Riviera, the villa has 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, vast formal gardens, swimming pool, private beach front and olive tree grove. Current owners are rumoured to be a Russian Oligarch or Bill Gates.

2) Antilla, Mumbai, India - £620m

Antilla, famed for being the first $1 billion residential property in the world, has sensationally been displaced as the most expensive home 2012 - it only comes in at number 2. Before we get to number one, let's take another look at the hyper-luxurious Antilla, located in the heart of Mumbai.

Antilla belongs to India's richest man and one of the world's richest men, Mukesh Ambani. Ambani is Chairman and CEO of Indian Petrochemical giant Reliance Industries. There are 600 full time staff to maintain the property, and has been described as a "Taj Mahal for the 21st Century" by the BBC.

Antilla would house Ambani. his wife, mother and three children, if they ever move in - it was reported in October last year in the Daily Mail website that the Ambanis had not moved into their new property, for fear that the home had offended Hindu feng-shui type laws, such as not having enough sunlight on the Eastern side of the home, where the sun rises. This is deemed to bring bad luck. You might have thought that they would have thought about that before they spent over £600 million on building the thing! Oh well...

Many of Antilla's spec is already known from 2010 but is worth recapping: the property occupies 27 stories, has multiple garages to house the 168 cars in Ambani's collection, three helipads, a hanging garden, a swimming pool, and ballroom. Let's see if all these features are used by Ambani; or if sold, whether the home fetches a similar or greater price on the open market.

1) exclusiveHAUS, Switzerland - £7.4 billion

Yes, you read that right, this Swiss property is the number one most expensive residential property in the world at the moment (May 2012), and has been valued at a staggering £7.4 billion of your Great British Pounds. On the face of it, it seems to be a lovely, plush but not exceptional mountainside home; so why the price tag? Well, according to press reports, it's due to the bling in it. The home was built with the collaboration of bling master Stuart Hughes whose specialty is custom built luxury, extravagantly expensive items from billion dollar yachts to million dollar ipads. The home is took five and a half years to complete, and lies in a secret location in Switzerland.

The home contains eight bedrooms, a 400 m sq terrace, and over 200,000 of solid gold and platinum fixtures and fittings. The exclusivity bar is raised further with the use of meteoric stone with shavings of T-Rex dinosaur bone embedded in each tile. These account for the expense of the property.

But before you finish "wowing" at this multi billion pound home, be aware - I read from a couple of sources that this property was a fake, a publicity stunt. So...

So that's it, the round up of the most expensive properties in the world 2012. We have seen the properties that we saw in 2010's list go up in value, plus some (questionable?) hugely expensive new properties to the list. Let's see how the list looks in 2014....

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Response to Nationwide announcement that property prices fell in April

The latest Nationwide house prices survey said house prices dropped by 0.2% in April, to an average of £164,134, a level of 0.9% less than a year ago. This was the fourth fall in five months and prices are not expected to revive in the next quarter.

Donna Houguez, Market Analyst at Quick Move Now commented: “We predicted that buyers rushing to purchase before the end of the stamp duty holiday would artificially lift property sales and prices and this is exactly what happened. Unfortunately we are now seeing a return to the true situation with a continuing decline in property sales, prices and mortgage lending.

We expect this announcement to add to the general anxiety surrounding the double-dip recession, resulting in sustained downward pressure on the housing market.

On a positive note, it appears that the stamp duty holiday had an impact, albeit temporary, and it will be interesting to see if the Government responds to these figures with any further stimulus measures.”

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Thursday, 26 April 2012

Response to double-dip recession announcement from Quick Move Now

In response to the announcement that the UK has entered a double-dip recession, Donna Houguez, Market Analyst at Quick Move Now – the UK’s leading home buyer, makes the following comment…

"The announcement that the UK has entered its first double-dip recession since 1975, a situation expected to last well into the summer, adds further stress onto an already severely depressed housing market.

Whereas a positive growth result may have prompted a growth in confidence and the start of a relaxation of lending criteria, we expect the surprise -0.2% shrinkage of the economy to further restrict the number of buyers who will be able to secure a mortgage.

The Chancellor is presently ruling out implementing growth policies as a result of the fall. Therefore, the consequences of the general pessimism caused on employment are likely to be that more of the population will struggle financially, we will see an increase in repossessions and property values will decrease further.

On a positive note, the rental sector is set to receive a boost from this announcement due to the increasing number of people unable to buy, which, along with the Government’s changes to housing benefit, should see rental values increase accordingly."

Company Information
Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Our experienced team, streamlined processes and significant cash reserves allow us to make instant purchases, enabling vendors to sell their house quickly and move on with their life.

www.quickmovenow.com
Tel: 0800 068 3366

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Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Can you part exchange a house?

Q. Can you part exchange a house?
A. Yes, you can! Property part exchange was pioneered over 30 years ago by Barratt Homes, and is now offered by the majority of medium and large new home builders. Essentially, they take your existing property off your hands so that you can purchase their new build.

Q. How does it work?
A. Very similarly to part exchanging a car! You choose your new house and the builder will make you an offer on your existing property. This will generally be between 80 – 90% of the market value as determined by at least two independent valuations. The builder will then generally handle the completion process, meaning that once you’ve agreed a completion date, you don’t have to worry about anything else except the move to your new life.

Some of the larger new home builders will offer the part exchange service using their own funds, but many will use a third party company to finance and manage the process – a home buyer.

Q. What are the good and bad points about part exchanging a house?

Positives
•    You get to secure your dream new home
•    Speed – if the new home is ready, part exchange can be arranged in a matter of days if necessary
•    Certainty – you have a definite moving date and the peace of mind that the sale won’t fall through
•    Hassle-free – you don’t have to worry about arranging viewings, negotiation or completion delays

Negatives
•    You may lose the ability to negotiate discounts
•    You will get a lower price than you may have achieved on the open market in time
•    Some new home builders have strict controls on which houses they will part exchange, such as it must be worth less than 70% of the new build price or that it must be in good condition.

Q. What do industry experts have to say about it?
A. There is broad industry agreement that depending on your situation, the positives outweigh the negatives. Here are some comments from those in the know…

Thisismoney.co.uk

"Although this saves money on estate agents’ fees and provides a guaranteed buyer straight away, the downside is that you probably won’t receive the full market value for your property.

However, with property not shifting quickly at the moment, a part exchange deal could mean the difference between moving and not moving."

Ray Boulger, Senior Technical Manager at mortgage broker John Charcol

“Part exchange takes away a lot of the hassle of a private sale, especially as a private sale would probably be in a chain.”

Peter Lowndes, Lane Fox Estate Agency

Estate agents also like part exchange because it unblocks property chains. “Generally it’s a way of doing the deal that suits both parties. It stops stress.”

In conclusion, in today’s difficult market, if securing your dream new home is more important to you than obtaining the highest possible price for you existing property, part exchange could be just the solution you need!

Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Our experienced team, efficient processes and substantial cash reserves allow us to make immediate purchases, enabling you to sell your house quickly and move on with your life.

Tel: 0800 068 3366

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Thursday, 19 April 2012

How To Stop Repossession

Quick Move Now deals daily with people who are facing repossession. We understand just how stressful and confusing it is, so we have put together this guide which explores the different stages of the process and tells you how to stop repossession at any time.

There are three main points to bear in mind…

•   The eviction process costs the lender a huge amount of time and money, so they would always prefer to negotiate an agreement
•   The sooner you act, the more co-operative they will be
•   The process doesn’t end with the eviction – you will still be liable to cover any shortfall to the lender

In every way, it is better to stop repossession than to suffer the consequences of it. Here’s how to do just that…

STAGE 1: MISSED PAYMENTS

At this stage, you can negotiate a payment plan with the lender. They understand that sometimes finances become tight, for instance due to unemployment, and will be prepared to work with you to get through the difficult times. In general they allow three months to be missed before they progress the proceedings to the next stage, however, the earlier you agree a new plan with them, the smaller the amount of arrears to be paid back.

STAGE 2: LEGAL NOTICE

This is when the lender feels that they cannot reach agreement with you so they need to begin formal proceedings and any negotiations need to take place with the solicitor. You will notified with a solicitors notice that this stage has started. The situation usually remains at this stage for another three months so if the issue is a short term one, it is likely that you will be able to sort out a plan for repayment of arrears and the proceedings will be dropped. In the event that you can’t reach agreement, the solicitor will start legal repossession proceedings.

STAGE 3: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Many people give up when they reach this point and just accept that repossession is going to happen to them. This does not have to be the case! Remember that the lender would rather reach agreement and if you are willing to do this, they will still suspend proceedings. At this point, if you are able, a contribution towards the arrears would probably be enough to suspend proceedings. Even if you can’t make up the arrears, the fact that you have been trying to co-operate and communicate with the lender and their solicitor will be taken into account in court.

STAGE 4: COURT ACTION

If you go to your court hearing armed with proof that you will be able to continue to make your regular payments and clear the arrears accrued by the end of the mortgage term, it is likely that the court will suspend the repossession order. The main thing to remember here is not to over-promise. If you do not keep up with your new agreement, the proceedings can continue from this place in the future, without going through the early stages again.

STAGE 5: EVICTION

If it is agreed at the court hearing that you can’t make up the arrears, you are given approximately 10 – 14 days to voluntarily vacate the property. If you don’t do this, the lender will apply for permission to evict you, which will take a further three weeks or so. Even at this late stage, you can still halt the proceedings in one of two ways. You can either clear the arrears and begin making regular payments again or you can show the court that you have a buyer for the property. If you don’t do either of these things, an eviction notice will be served and you will be forced to vacate the property. As stated earlier, after the lender has sold the property and recovered their costs, you will be liable for any negative equity. It will also be very difficult for you to obtain another mortgage in the future.

We can see that there are many opportunities for you to negotiate with the lender and their solicitor, as long as you are able to resume regular payments and work towards clearing the arrears. If you are in this position, we strongly recommend that you are as co-operative as possible and communicate earlier rather than later.

If this is not you, and you don’t think you will be able to resolve your financial issues but don’t want to be left with negative equity to clear, there is another way. Selling to a home buyer ensures you speed, certainty and convenience. You get the cash in enough time to stop the repossession, you get certainty that the sale will not fall through and you get the convenience of choosing your completion date so you can decide when you would like to move out.

Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Our experienced team, efficient processes and substantial cash reserves allow us to make immediate purchases, enabling you to sell your house quickly and move on with your life.

www.quickmovenow.com

0800 068 3366

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Wednesday, 18 April 2012

What are the chances of a house sale falling through?

Quick Move Now house sale fall through index – March 2012

Quick Move Now provides one-of-its-kind data to property analysts to help with assessment of the housing market.

The house sale fall through rate for March 2012 was 30.03%, so just over one in three house sales did not result in completion. The chance of a sale falling through has remained similar since January 2009 and there is a correlation between the state of the property and mortgage markets and the level of sales that falter.

Donna Houguez, Market Analyst for Quick Move Now, comments: “The fall through rate in March 2006 at the peak of the market was 13.60%, compared to 30.03% in March 2012; the chance of a house sale falling through is currently more than double what it was in the same month six years ago, which shows just how difficult it has become to retain a buyer until completion. It is unlikely that the market will recover to the more manageable 2006 levels in the near future.

The longer the chain of people involved in a house sale, the higher the chance of fall through. Even if a vendor’s direct buyer is in a strong position for exchange and completion, the financial situation of other buyers further down the chain can cause problems.”

Data Calculation:
Quick Move Now sells hundreds of properties each year and the fall through statistics are calculated month-on-month using a six-month average. In reality, the fall through rate for homeowners would be approximately 10 – 15% higher as Quick Move Now has a professional resale team proactively managing the completion process.

Company Information:
Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Experienced researchers and independent valuers work together to ensure that offers made are fair and a friendly, supportive team looks after the customer every step of the way. For further industry analysis and comment, please contact
donna.houguez@quickmoveproperties.co.uk.

Tel: 0800 068 3366
www.quickmovenow.com

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Thursday, 5 April 2012

How to sell your house

Are you wondering how to sell your house and trying to puzzle your way through all the different advice on offer? Fear not, help is at hand! Be open-minded, consider new ideas and look into what really works for you. Read on to find out what your options are, how you could benefit and what to watch out for!

Long gone are the days when using an estate agent was the only option for house selling! With so many avenues to explore, it is important to find the right path for you. The table below evaluates the different methods of selling:

Method of selling	Ideal for…	Why use this method?	What to watch out for!
Via an estate agent	Homeowners who need to achieve the highest possible price and have time to wait on a sluggish market.	Advertisement by a good estate agent can give you an increased chance of finding a buyer who offers a higher price than anyone else: an experienced negotiator leads the process and tries to obtain the best offer because a higher offer for you means a better commission fee for them.	Often the process is stressful and takes a long while due to a lack of buyers, mortgage difficulties and collapsing chains. The person who makes the highest offer isn’t always the person in the best position to complete on a sale.
Through an auction house	Homeowners who want exposure to as many viewers as possible.	Auction houses aim to find as many people as possible to view your home in order to spark a bidding war and increase the price obtained.	Lots of properties go unsold, sales can fall through and any completions which are secured are subject to the usual delays of mortgage finance and the legal process.
Advertising the property yourself	Homeowners who want complete control over the marketing of the property.	If you feel confident in achieving a sale, marketing the property yourself means regaining control over proceedings, avoiding the hassle and worry of putting your trust in an estate agent or auction house and evading the expense of paying their fees.	Advertising a property yourself can be costly and the usual problems associated with trying to secure and keep a buyer right through to completion remain.
Using a home buyer	Homeowners who need a quick, guaranteed sale and want to be in control of the timescales for completion.	Home buyers provide you with speed, convenience and certainty. A reputable home buying company has cash reserves so mortgage delays and collapsing chains are avoided; you choose the completion date and are then free to make your onward move.	There is usually a 15-20% discount involved in exchange for the secure and hassle-free sale.

Will considering new options help you to sell your home?

It is easy to follow the crowd when you are trying to decide how to sell your house but you need to question whether house selling conventions are right for you and whether they will actually be beneficial. Here are three tips to help you sell your house:

Using an estate agent is the traditional way of selling a property and may still be the option which suits you the most. However, it is important not to feel pressured into signing a contract you are not happy with. Make sure you are not tied in in ways which could hamper a sale to anyone else and bear in mind the small print of the contract before signing or allowing marketing to begin. With the popularity of other methods of selling soaring, you have other options for securing a buyer and do not have to rely on tradition.
Home improvements can be an effective way of increasing property value and grabbing the attention of (and offers from!) potential buyers, but make sure you weigh up the pros and cons first. Just because public belief is that a lick of paint will be beneficial for achieving a sale doesn’t mean it will work every time. HSBC’s Home Improvement Survey found that a subdued property market and the inflated cost of materials mean less financial return from projects now than in previous years. Before outlaying any money, check the potential return and ensure it will be a benefit rather than an unrewarding expense.
One of the house selling tips currently circulating is: if you have been on the market for a long time struggling to sell, take the property off the market for a month and start again with a new price, new agent, or both. In an unstable market, though, a break from marketing would not change the state of play, precious time will have been lost and the obstacles faced in the first place (a lack of buyers, mortgage finance difficulties and a one in three chance of a sale falling through) would still exist. If your chosen method of selling isn’t working, change tack and try something new!

Remember, it is your house, your sale and your future! Look into all the options, question conventions and make sure you opt for the service which is most beneficial for you.

Company Information
Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and stress-free house sale. Our experienced team, streamlined processes and significant cash reserves allow us to make instant purchases, enabling vendors to sell their house quickly and move on with their life.

Tel: 0800 068 3366
www.quickmovenow.com

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Friday, 30 March 2012

A property buyer: the top house selling choice for babyboomers!

Why is a property buyer service so perfect for babyboomers? What’s in it for them and how can other babyboomers looking to sell their property experience the advantages? Quick Move Now analyses their house selling trends and takes a look at the benefits of selling to a home buyer.

Babies born during the post-war ‘baby boom’ are reaching retirement age and are typically downsizing to a bungalow, flat or smaller house. The table below shows the change in the average annual percentage of Quick Move Now house purchases which occurred due to the vendors wishing to downsize from 2007 to 2011.

Year       %
2007    3.31
2008    4.40
2009    4.39
2010    6.86
2011    7.72

Danny Luke, Business Manager for Quick Move Now, comments: “Over the last four years, the number of customers looking to downsize has increased by 133%. The value of property owned by those wishing to downsize is typically £46,211 higher than property overall, which means that due to price constraints the pool of buyers able to make offers and follow through to completion is smaller for the babyboomers than other homeowners, making it harder for them to sell conventionally. Those who are in a financial position to upsize are reluctant to commit due to the overall uncertainty within the jobs and property market.”

Why are babyboomers choosing property buyers?

Using a property buyer means that babyboomers can release equity from their existing property with ease and certainty. Usually, retired homeowners have paid off their mortgages and so can benefit from a home buying service where others with negative equity cannot.
Securing their onward purchase as a chain-free buyer becomes effortless and retirement plans can be made a reality.
A hassle-free service, with no viewings, negotiations or legal issues, is more of a bonus for babyboomers than attempting to sell at the highest price which may take a long time.
Having a guaranteed sale, without the usual anxieties about chain collapses and mortgage buyers, brings peace of mind.
As the property buyer manages and funds the legal process, babyboomers have more time to spend planning their onward move and enjoying their future.
Being able to fix the completion date means having control over the timescales allowing moving to commence with a minimum of stress.

How can other babyboomers follow their lead?
Here are some top tips which will help when choosing and using a property buying company:

Ask if the company purchases with cash funds or if it uses mortgage finance and investors. It is only cash buyers who will be able to offer a truly secure and quick sale.
Ascertain whether the company handles and funds all the legalities.
Ask how flexible the completion dates are and how much control you have over them.
Make sure any offers you request come free of charge and with no obligation.
Take your time when considering the final offer and ensure you obtain answers to any questions you may have.

Company Information
Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and stress-free house sale. Our experienced team, streamlined processes and significant cash reserves allow us to make instant purchases, enabling vendors to sell their house quickly and move on with their life.

Tel: 0800 068 3366
www.quickmovenow.com

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Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Why are House Prices So Expensive?

Is it really worth paying extra to live in a popular area?

To live in a popular area, you've always needed to spend a bit extra when buying a new home. But apart from the social kudos of living in a trendy post code, is it really worth it?

A new report from PrimeLocation.com has found that house buyers who want to live close to one of the country's top 100 state primary schools can expect to pay around an extra £90,000 on top of the country's average house price of £218,000.

As well as living close to good schools, there are a number of other factors that can affect house prices. We're going to look at some of the most common factors that affect house prices to help you decide whether paying extra to live in a popular post code is really worth it.

Proximity to Primary Schools

Primelocation.com's recent report looked at house prices in the areas surrounding the top 100 state primary schools in England. Typical prices for homes near the top primary schools are on average 42% higher.

Schools in the East Midlands were found to add the biggest premium of 48% to average house prices, while the proximity to primary schools adds over 47% to house prices in Yorkshire and Humberside. Although house prices in London are significantly higher than in the rest of the UK, the premium in areas close to top-ranked primary schools is only 7.4%, the lowest in the country.

London and the South East

Living in the capital has always costed more than it does to live in regional parts of the UK. But why is this? First of all, demand for housing in London outstrips the the supply of houses, so sellers, to a certain extent, can dictate the price they want for their property.

The jobs market in London is bigger than anywhere else in the country so being situated within commutable distance from the capital means you can expect to pay a premium. This means that houses in the South East or in commuter towns like Haywards Heath often cost more than their northern counterparts.

Although living in or close to London offers signiﬁcant beneﬁts, particularly employment opportunities, if you're self employed or simply don't need to work in the capital, you could get signiﬁcantly more bang for your buck by moving to the north.

North

The North-South divide in terms of house prices is very strong in the UK, with house prices more than twice as high in the south as in the north of England. According to the BBC, the average house price in the North is £138,000 whereas in London the average is signiﬁcantly higher, at £406,000. House prices in the North have also fallen by 6% over the last year.

The ratio of house prices to income and mortgage payments is also more favourable in the north, with houses costing over 6 times the average yearly income in the London region, but only over 3 times the yearly income in the north.

It might be more affordable to buy a house in the north, but only if you can ensure that you will have a job or are self-employed. The economic recession has hit the north of England even more severely than the south, average wages are lower and unemployment levels are high. These factors have pushed down house prices, making them more affordable, however, only for those who have a regular income and can afford to pay.

Demographic Factors

The number of households has been rising in the UK and as this trend continues in the future, it will affect house prices by increasing demand. Some of these demographic factors that cause the increase in demand include higher divorce rates and more single people households, an increase in life expectancy and an ageing population. An increase in immigration both from within the EU and from outside the EU has also increased demand.

These demographic factors affect different regions asymmetrically, so will impact house prices across the UK differently. For example, the influx of immigrants usually affects London and the South East more than other UK regions, and population growth is also set to be concentrated to the London area.

This post was written by Britannia Movers International, one of the UK's largest removal groups, offering UK removals, international removals, storage and business removal services.

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Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Want to sell your house fast? See how the number of buyers in a chain can affect the chance of your sale completing.

For those of you who need to sell your house fast, it is important to minimise the risk of your house sale falling through wherever possible. We decided to analyse over two years’ worth of data to find out the effect that the number of buyers in a chain had on completion rates and found it to be extremely important.

The graph below shows the percentage chance of successful completion when selling a house.

When there are three buyers in a house chain, not an uncommon situation, only 40% of sales will reach completion. If there are four buyers in a chain, only 14% of sales will complete – a huge 86% chance of the sale falling through! So, after all the effort of arranging viewings, going through negotiations and agreeing a sale price, there are still no guarantees!

Our advice is that when accepting an offer if speed is of the essence; rather than just considering the highest offer, you should look at the risk of the sale falling through. If there is more than one other buyer involved, we recommend taking the time to assess each buyer’s individual situation in order that you can make an informed decision as to whether you accept that offer or not.

So what can you do if you need to sell your house fast and your sale falls through?

A home buyer could be the answer – where your house is purchased in as little as 24 hours from offer in return for approximately 15% off the market value – perfect for those to whom a quick sale is more important than achieving the highest price.

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Friday, 23 March 2012

Employee of the Quarter

Quick Move Now is delighted to announce the first winner of its new employee of the quarter award!

Quick Move Now decided to implement the employee of the quarter award in order to say thank you to its hard-working employees! The first winner (for Quarter 1, 2012) was announced today as Rhys Luke. Rhys looks after customers through their acceptance of offer and is responsible for ensuring that they have all the information they need before making their decision.

Here are just a few of the reasons why Rhys was voted the winner of this award…

“Rhys is a hard-working team player and no matter what, always has a smile on his face and is constantly positive in his attitude and approach.”

“I hear over and over from customers how kind, knowledgeable, friendly and reliable Rhys is, and that he has made a big difference to them in reducing the stress of their situation.”

“Rhys is a role model, he speaks to all of us with the utmost respect and helps anyone who goes to him for advice. If he ever has a bad day then I guess he keeps it to himself.”

Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Our experienced team, streamlined processes and significant cash reserves allow us to make instant purchases, enabling vendors to sell their house quickly and move on with their life.

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Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Response to Budget from Quick Move Now - the UK's Leading Home Buyer

In response to the budget announced today, Donna Houguez, Market Analyst at Quick Move Now – the UK’s leading home buyer, has the following response…

“The announcement that stamp duty is to be raised to 15% for companies purchasing properties worth over £2 million is a good thing for both the home buyer and HMRC. In some areas of London, 90% of buyers are cash buyers and over 50% are foreign investors. This has contributed to the maintenance of prices in a range unreachable for the average family in the south and we are delighted to see a small effort to address this.

The reiteration of the Government’s pledge to assist first time buyers with new build homes is admirable, however, we wish to sound a note of caution regarding the effect that this will have on another section of the property market ‘the second steppers’. These are the first time buyers of four to five years ago, who typically bought at the height of the market with a 90 – 95% mortgage. Not only are they struggling to sell at a price that doesn’t leave them in negative equity and contending with the difficulty of the new generation of first time buyers finding it incredibly difficult to secure finance, they are now experiencing increased and unmatchable competition from new homes.”

Company Information
Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Our experienced team, streamlined processes and significant cash reserves allow us to make instant purchases, enabling vendors to sell their house quickly and move on with their life.

www.quickmovenow.com
Tel: 0800 068 3366

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Trying to sell your house? An estate agent contract secret revealed...

When trying to sell your house, did you know that you can find yourself committed to an estate agent’s terms and conditions even if you haven’t signed anything? Quick Move Now takes a look at how homeowners can protect themselves when it comes to estate agent contracts, in particular clauses on sole selling rights.

Let me introduce you to your estate agency agreement: a small A4 piece of carbon paper, plastered with faded size seven font; a worthy opponent for even the best pair of bifocals!

An estate agency agreement typically contains various clauses relating to five main areas:

The various services you will receive
The commission payable if a sale is achieved
The duration of the agreement
The period for sale
Sole selling rights

Often included very subtly in estate agent contracts are sole selling rights which are perhaps the most disputed and contentious issue of them all, tying vendors in if marketing of the property commences or viewings are hosted, whether they have signed the agreement or not. Sole selling clauses give agents the complete and unfettered rights to sell your home, meaning that even if they’re providing you with a poor service or are unsuccessful in selling your property, it can be difficult and extremely costly for you to explore other routes.

If you sell your home by another method within the period stipulated, which can be anywhere up to a year, whether it be via another estate agent, at auction or even to a family member, the original estate agent can still charge you the commission due and will certainly sue if you fail to pay!

Remember, as with all contracts, it’s important to read the agreement thoroughly, not only before you put pen to paper but also before you host any viewings or allow an agent to market your property. Allowing them to do so under UK law contract means that you accept their terms and conditions – no signature required!

All sound like a lot of hard work? It is! For those of you who are interested in a stress-free and guaranteed way to sell your house, contact Quick Move Now to see what the UK’s leading home buyer can offer you.

Company Information
Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and stress-free house sale. Our experienced team, streamlined processes and significant cash reserves allow us to make instant purchases, enabling vendors to sell their house quickly and move on with their life.

Tel: 0800 068 3366
www.quickmovenow.com

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Wednesday, 14 March 2012

What are the Chances of a House Sale Falling Through?

Quick Move Now House Sale Fall Through Index - February 2012

Quick Move Now provides one-of-its-kind data to property analysts to help with assessment of the housing market.

The house sale fall through rate for February 2012 was 29.32% and so the chance of fall through has remained at around one in three for the past year. Despite the incentive of the the first time buyers’ stamp-duty holiday, fall through levels were still in line with consistent rates and didn’t show any drastic change.

Danny Luke, Business Manager for Quick Move Now, comments “February’s fall through figure is lower than it was at the same time last year yet is still a long way adrift of the pre–crash rates of 2006 and 2007 and individual homeowners are most at risk of losing a buyer.”

“The main causes of a house sale fall through still involve finance. Quickmove has found that potential buyers struggle to raise deposits or obtain mortgage lending and they only hear about potential mortgage problems near to completion, which is distressing for all involved. Government schemes such as the right to buy council houses and the 5% deposit mortgage guarantee for new homes may help to ease the pressure on the housing market – it will be interesting to see what sort of effect they have.”

Data Calculation:
Quick Move Now sells hundreds of properties each year and the fall through statistics are calculated month-on-month using a six-month average. In reality, the fall through rate for homeowners would be approximately 10 – 15% higher as Quick Move Now has a professional resale team proactively managing the completion process.

Company Information:
Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Experienced researchers and independent valuers work together to ensure that offers made are fair and a friendly, supportive team looks after the customer every step of the way. For further industry analysis and comment, please contact donna.houguez@quickmoveproperties.co.uk.

Tel: 0800 068 3366
www.quickmovenow.com

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Tuesday, 13 March 2012

5 Tips For Moving Home

Even before you put your house up for sale, you should be starting to think about the practicalities of moving. Moving house is one of the top five most stressful life events, but a bit of forward planning can really help. Here are the top five tips for banishing moving stress.

1)    Take control: solicitors, estate agents, the vendor and your potential purchasers all have their own agendas, so you need to be clear about what your own priorities are from the outset. What features must your new home have, and what are you prepared to compromise on? What are your preferred moving dates? What is the maximum price you’ll pay for your new home and what is the minimum price you’ll accept for your current one? The trick to regaining control over the process of moving home is to know where you are and are not happy to compromise, and then to communicate this clearly from the moment you first approach an estate agent.

2)    Get rid of all your clutter: even before the estate agent comes around to measure up and give you a valuation, sell things on eBay, or give them away to charities or recycling schemes. Not only will this bring in some much-needed money at an expensive time, but it will make your home seem more spacious and easier to sell, and it will leave you with fewer things to move.

3)    Enlist help: ask friends and relatives to recommend good agents, solicitors and moving firms. Ask if they wouldn’t mind watching the children or walking your dog whilst you’re undergoing the moving process. If you can afford to, hire professionals to take care of the cleaning and packing – otherwise, ask friends for an hour or two of their time to help out, instead of a housewarming present, which would save them money too!

4)    Help the kids to adjust: in the initial process of moving, start talking to your children about it as soon as possible. If you can, take the children on a viewing before you move. Explore the area with them. On moving day give them simple but important jobs to do, like making sure that anyone you have paid or enlisted to help a steady supply of tea and other refreshments, or just get them to check all the cupboards are empty and there’s nothing under any of the leftover furniture or fittings. When you get to your new home, spend some time together as a family rather than spending the entire night unpacking.

5)    Keep pets safe: consider putting your animals in kennels or a cattery during the move. When you arrive at the new house, ensure that fences are secure, and don’t allow dogs out unsupervised for at least the first few days. Keep your cat indoors for up to two weeks to ensure she is used to her new home. Make sure the contact details on pet collars and chip databases are up to date.

Remember that the stress of moving is only temporary and that you will soon be settled into your new home and your new neighbourhood.

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Thursday, 8 March 2012

The popularity of selling property to a home buyer is soaring – find out why!

We take a look at why those who need to make a quick move are turning to the services of a home buyer, and show you how to make sure you are using a reputable one.

The number of monthly searches on Google for the term ‘home buyer’ rose by almost 20% between 2010 and 2011 and early indications for 2012 show that they have risen by the same amount again.

Why are home buyers becoming more popular?

•    The continuing difficulty of the housing market.

It is not breaking news to report that many factors are combining to create difficulty for vendors trying to sell property. Finding a buyer able and willing to proceed is a challenge due to inflated estate agent valuations, restricted mortgage lending and a lack of confidence in the market.

•    Industry perception is changing.
The leading home buyers have been able to disprove the stereotypes created by ‘cowboy’ or ‘rogue’ companies who do not buy property themselves. “A bit different”, some may say, “a quirky choice”…yet something within the service home buyers provide must be working for vendors.

•    Sellers are becoming more aware of the alternatives.
Gone are the days when an estate agent or an auction are the only options for homeowners wishing to sell! Today’s sellers don’t just accept the state of play; they research alternatives and take control of their situations. Furthermore, they have the technology and tools at their disposal to make change happen.

Speaking on the surge of enquiries that this interest has generated for the UK’s leading homebuyer, Danny Luke, Business Manager for Quick Move Now, comments “The challenges and delays of the housing market over the past few years have meant that many homeowners wishing to sell had to put their dreams and plans on the backburner as they felt it was impossible to sell their house. Now that people are realising there is another option which gives instant peace of mind and takes away all the hassle of trying to sell in a difficult market, they are keen to take advantage of it.”

Home buyers offer an innovative solution for vendors keen to sell. With the right company, there are no fees to pay, no delays and no hassle. A cash offer means a definite sale and vendors are given control over the timescales along with a service tailored to suit their individual needs, something impossible to replicate on the open market. All uncertainties are removed to enable a quick and trouble-free purchase but the question remains…

How do I make sure the home buyer I use is reputable?
There are many homebuyers on the market who do not hold cash reserves and after making an offer for your property will then attempt to secure a mortgage or even find an investor in order for the purchase to go through – with NO guarantee of success. In order that you avoid this type of company, there are three simple things to check…

•    Does the company have a 24 hour cash guarantee?
•    Has the company been trading for over 10 years?
•    Are there satisfied customers willing to share their experience of working with the company on a reviews page?

More and more homeowners are realising that using home buyers can work and are exploring their service to see what it can offer for them. Research well though and make sure you find a reputable one!

Company Information
Quick Move Now is the UK’s leading home buyer, offering a quick, secure and hassle-free house sale. Our experienced team, streamlined processes and significant cash reserves allow us to make instant purchases, enabling vendors to sell their house quickly and move on with their life.

Tel: 0800 068 3366 www.quickmove.com

Data
Data was collected from the Google Insights tool from 1st January 2010 – 29th February 2012.

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Quick Move Now - The UK's leading home purchase specialist

How is Quick Move Now different to other quick house sale companies?

We buy any house for cash

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