Welcome to our November newsletter!

Woodpecker Lane, Newhall, CM17 9GZ

The first thing you appreciate when viewing our clients property is its location. Positioned in a seclude area of the award winning...

£699,000

Click here to read Woodpecker Lane, Newhall, CM17 9GZ.

Pilkingtons, Church Langley, CM17 9DR

Pilkingtons is a quiet cul-de-sac located off Church Langley Way. This property is presented immaculately throughout, benefiting...

£475,000

Click here to read Pilkingtons, Church Langley, CM17 9DR.

The Railway Children | 20th Dec 2023 - 31st Dec 2023

A brand new adaptation of this timeless and heartwarming classic family story. Centred on the lives of three children whose comfortable lives end when their father has to go away unexpectedly.

Click here to read The Railway Children | 20th Dec 2023 - 31st Dec 2023.

How green is your home? The government increases grants for homeowners

Many homeowners and home movers are seeking a higher Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating because they know that it leads to lower monthly bills. By doing this, it also increases your home’s value significantly. Improving the EPC rating of your home from D to C could see an increase in value of 3%, from E to C a 7% increase, and from F to C could increase your property’s value by an average of an additional 15%.*

What is an EPC rating?
An Energy Performance Certificate measures the energy efficiency of your home and is graded from A to G. A is the highest or most energy efficient, while G is the least energy efficient.

How do I get an EPC?
You will need an accredited assessor, which you can find online on the GOV.UK website. They will assess each part of your home’s energy efficiency, such as lighting, insulation, and the potential for heat loss, and then calculate the overall rating of your home by adding the various scores to get an average overall score.

Climate change
With rising sea levels and the increased frequency of bad weather, insurance companies have been hit with a larger number of claims. Climate change makes the weather less predictable, and more claims can lead to higher premiums. Calculating risk, an already complex process, becomes even more so. The agricultural sector has also suffered, as have transport companies. Wildfires are also becoming more frequent, causing damage running into millions of pounds.

How do you improve your home’s EPC rating?

Energy-efficient lighting
Simply using more energy-efficient lighting can reduce the energy consumption of your home. LED bulbs may cost a little more, but they last so much longer than old-fashioned lightbulbs and use a fraction of the energy.
Double glazing
Triple glazing is even better. Your home can trap a lot of heat throughout the day as the winter sun shines through your windows. The heat you create from your heating system is then trapped inside your home.
Better insulation
Insulating your attic or walls also helps to stop the heat in your home from escaping. This means you will not have to keep your boiler running quite as much to heat your home, saving you on costs.
Install a heat pump
Replacing your boiler with a more energy-efficient system can add a lot of points to your score. It could be that you have relatively recently replaced it but neglected to get your rating upgraded. You could also install a heat pump. In October, the government increased its grant for the installation of heat pumps to £7,500.**
Solar panels
You could reduce your carbon footprint with a renewable energy source by installing solar panels. Large energy suppliers will install these in your home. With finance packages available and the opportunity to sell surplus electricity back to the grid, it’s worth considering.

Final thoughts
There are lots of ways to make your home greener. Adding an electric car charging point, using wind-powered methods to create energy, installing a smart meter, to adopting more healthy living practices. This can be achieved by sourcing sustainable food and clothing. And if you would rather move to a home that is kinder to the environment, it could be less than you think. Talk to your friendly local estate agent.

Do you need a valuation for your home? Get in touch today.

Rightmove Greener Homes report 2023*
GOV.UK**

It's been emotional! Learning to let go of your old home

It’s easy to become attached to a home that most likely made so many happy memories, and perhaps some that are not so good. Either way, the best way to move on in every sense of the word is to focus on the future. But if you find the entire process daunting, here are a few things you can do as a coping strategy.

Celebrate the past, but don’t dwell on it
Saying goodbye is important, and how you choose to do it is up to you. Maybe you are emotionally detached, and a simple walk around your home as you close the door for the final time will suffice. On the other hand, you may want to build up to this process over time, saying goodbye over a period of weeks. Savouring so many nice memories is important, but there will also be a big part of you that can’t wait to move. Especially if you are moving to a bigger and better home.

Keep yourself busy
This is the secret to moving on with most things in life, and moving home is no different. Write an action plan for moving. Break it down into categories. Include everything from moving day to things to do in your new home. Bring the vision of your new life to reality by starting new traditions. Think about the details of how you can make your new home the best version of itself while getting to know your home's new location. Begin the de-cluttering process of your current home now; it will reduce your stress levels significantly.

Accept that change is good
The ability to change is hard-wired into most of us and a natural part of life, so you will be more adept at coping with it than you realise. Embrace the exciting emotions that a new home brings by looking forward to the great memories you will make in the future. Your home will inspire so many positive feelings, from how it makes you feel to its improved energy efficiency or location. Look forward to your first sleep in your new home and allow the vision of your new outdoor space, bedrooms, or kitchen to take over.

Remember, your agent is human
Good estate agents help you understand the buying process. This makes your entire moving journey less hassle, so you can plan each step. Because of this, your friendly estate agent can be a great source of emotional support. Putting your mind at rest with a thorough understanding of your big move. And connecting you with good mortgage advisors and conveyancers, guiding you on asking and selling prices and preparing your home for sale, your estate agent is your rock when moving.

Conclusion
In today’s world, with increasing automation and the advent of artificial intelligence and online-only agents, it’s easy to forget the importance of the human element, which offers so much support. Moving home does not have to be complicated, even if we humans are!
Are you looking forward to saying hello to a new home? Get in touch today.

The art of negotiation: Is it time to talk to your agent?

There is an art to everything in life, and when most people rehearse something in their heads, it usually goes perfectly. Put this in the cold, hard light of day, and things can go quite differently. When it’s time to make or accept an offer, the help of a trained expert is invaluable.

Your agent has a database of buyers and sellers
Your agent does so much more than list your property on their website and a few property portals, with maybe a picture of your home in the branch window. Armed with a database of buyers and sellers and a list of contacts longer than your arms, it means that agents complimented with their ability to market your home are best placed to meet your new buyer. And because of this, they are the best people to advise you on your asking price in the first place.

Making an offer
When it’s time to make an offer, you will most likely be wearing your negotiating hat. The market today is in a good place, helped by the huge demand for homes. It’s easy to make an offer under the asking price and miss out on the home you love. But you also do not want to pay over the odds. Estate agents are well-versed in this and will guide you. It’s worth remembering that estate agents are legally required to tell you about other offers, but not each offer amount.

Accepting an offer
It’s not unusual to receive multiple offers on your property, and this is where the experience of a good agent earns their money. Not to mention that you have found yourself in this good position thanks to the agent in the first place. Your agent will guide you along the right path, prepare your home for sale, give you tips on optimising its value, and market it to the right buyers. Then you can decide whether you want to accept an offer or not.

Market knowledge
Your agent will have years of experience in marketing and selling homes in your area. The plus points of the area and of your home are all great selling points. And equally, an agent will have a thorough eye on where you may be able to negotiate. For example, if there is a patch of dampness or something that needs updating

Are you emotionally attached?
Your estate agent will advise you on all aspects of your move. This makes you feel secure and safe before you move. And the more you feel this way instead of stressed, confused, or bemused, the better your entire moving experience will be. Whether you need help finding a better mortgage deal or are unsure of any of the steps involved, from valuing your home to finding the right buyer or your next home, it’s good to have the assistance of an agent. They also remove any need for awkward moments when a buyer makes an insulting offer to your face.

Valuing your home correctly
Getting the correct valuation for your home is vital in today’s market. Get this first step right, and you are already halfway to where you want to be. It’s very easy to overprice or underprice a property. Equally, without conducting a thorough expert valuation, your home may not reach its full value potential. A good agent will not allow your home to hide its true value from you or your buyer.

Get in touch today to make your move happen!

What do landlords and tenants have in common?

The landlord-tenant relationship in the UK is often portrayed as strained in the media. Seen as one-sided often in favour of the landlord it’s sometimes justified. However, it’s always a few bad landlords who tarnish the reputation of many. The reality is that there are many great landlords letting beautiful properties, managed by reputable agents, who are changing the rental landscape for the better in the UK.

Both landlords and tenants need and want stability
Stability is key to a good tenant-landlord relationship. As a tenant, you want to feel secure in the place you live, and as a landlord, you want to ensure you have a continuous rental stream. Having a good tenancy agreement in place is vital to securing each other's interests and sets a platform to build trust. It’s important that the tenancy agreement is understood by both parties, and the little details that create stability and happiness are always worth considering.

Property maintenance is central to building a good relationship
Landlords are on the same side of the fence when it comes to keeping your home or property in tip-top shape. You want to live in a well-maintained property; informing your tenant or letting agent of any issues is in the landlord's interests. It stops minor fixes from becoming expensive repairs. A managed property will benefit from an on-call property maintenance team that can sort out any niggles. After all, you want to be happy with your home. And landlords know happy tenants are good for business.

The legal landscape is changing for both tenants and landlords
Each person, whether you are a landlord or tenant, benefits from legal obligations. These, if followed, protect you, and by being compliant, you have a sure legal footing to stand on. Legislation is constantly evolving. The Renters Reform Bill has been on the horizon for quite some time and is very slowly going through parliament. Even though there is a considerable amount of time to wait before it becomes law, many landlords and tenants will benefit from it. However, due to a lack of understanding, some landlords fear it. Getting to grips with legislation will reinforce rights and benefit tenants and landlords.

Landlords and tenants benefit from good communication
This is vital and sometimes neglected by unscrupulous tenants or landlords. From maintenance to preventing misunderstandings that could lead to conflict or confusion. If there is agreed-upon communication established with expectations agreed upon from the start, then you will prevent little niggles and costly issues from occurring. All tenants want to be as comfortable as possible, and any landlord worth their salt will be interested in how to make tenants happy. It’s a real learning curve for both.

Landlords and tenants benefit from fully managed properties
There is a lot to think about and even more to do when letting your property. Tenants also have a time-consuming process to follow, from getting references and gaining a clear understanding of their tenancy agreement to finding a good property in the first place. New legislation and the challenges and opportunities in the rental market make it more important than ever to know your stuff as a landlord. A fully managed letting service can manage every aspect of the property and process for tenants and landlords. This includes property maintenance, rent collection, compliance, to matching good tenants with equally good properties, and more.

Landlords and tenants benefit hugely from a managed letting service.

Contact us for more details.