| Helpful property articles | |
| Lynch
& Company have many articles all designed to help give you a
successful move. Select a title to read more... |
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| Winter Property Check List |  |
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| Household
emergencies generally occur during the depths of winter, but we
recommend that homeowners undertake a pre-winter checklist now to
prevent unforeseen property headaches in the months to come. Here are
some pointers... |
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| Buyers Warm To A Real Fire |  |
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The fireplace was traditionally the heart of every home, but changing lifestyles over the past four decades have relegated many of them to the scrap heap, with many families choosing to huddle around the TV instead... |
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| Be Secure When Moving Home |  |
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One aspect of moving that is often underestimated is the need to be vigilant over security. Competent estate agents are trained to qualify and vet prospective purchasers, avoid unsuitable unaccompanied viewings, and ensure that transactions do not fall foul of the anti-money-laundering regulations... |
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| Alarming News! |  |
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| Moving
into a new home is a good time to consider the simple but important
aspect of smoke alarms. Have you got at least one in your home? If so,
are you sure it works? They are not expensive and can be purchased for
under £10 each. |
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| Estate Agency and the Law |  |
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| Estate Agency has made huge strides in improving its reputation recently. Most professionals in the business are keen to redress the balance in the public’s eye and work tirelessly to be seen to be beyond reproach in their dealings, and exhibit the highest personal and corporate integrity. | ||
| Quality Control In Estate Agency |  |
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| When choosing the right estate agent through which to sell, how can you be sure you are dealing with a firm of integrity that upholds the highest principles and standard of service? After all, almost anyone can become an estate agent in this country without any qualifications or minimum service standards. | ||
| Selling Tips For Autumn |  |
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| As the evenings begin to draw in, sellers should take stock of their property if they are to maximise their chances of securing an early sale. Buyer activity is traditionally very good at this time of year, and 2006 has been no exception... | ||
| Is A “For Sale” Board Really Necessary? |  |
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| Tony Lynch of Lynch & Company commented, “During my past 25 years as an estate agent, clients have often asked me whether a ‘For Sale’ board will significantly improve their chances of selling. Some sellers feel that a board risks | ||
| Buying To Let? - Part 1 |  |
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| As pension funds shrink, many people are considering buy-to-let as a viable alternative, and with good reason. The effect of relatively low interest rates and a historically rising property market make buy-to-let one of the most attractive investments accessible to the public. And the great thing is – you can use your bank’s money!... | ||
| Buying To Let? - Part 2 |  |
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| Buying to let is a long-term investment, so don’t stretch yourself, because if you had to sell in the short term you would almost certainly lose money... | ||
| Better Value Out of Catchment? |  |
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| As schools vie for league table position, parents are increasingly selective as to which school their children attend, to the extent that many families move house specifically to live within the catchment area of their preferred school... | ||
| What About The Children? |  |
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| Showing your home to prospective purchasers can be stressful enough, but children add an extra dimension to the equation and their needs should also be considered. Whilst moving house might be logical and exciting for an adult, the fear of the unknown can be upsetting for children... | ||
| Should We Extend? |  |
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| We are often invited to advise local homeowners on the expected “uplift” in the value of their property if they make certain alterations. On the surface, it is logical to assume that an extension will add significant value to your property, and usually this is the case. However, we would urge caution when justifying the cost... | ||
| Preparing your Garden for Sale! |  |
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| You only get one chance to make a first impression, and your garden is usually the first thing buyers see. Gardens grow vigorously at this time of year. If kept unchecked your property can appear unkempt. A little input now could pay dividends when it comes to the sale... | ||
| Hidden Profits of a Large Mortgage |  |
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| Borrowers have never had it so good, and with interest rates at their lowest level for decades there are opportunities to profit from taking out a larger mortgage than you might otherwise consider... | ||
| The Kitchen is the Heart of the Home |  |
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| Our home satisfies our basic human needs such as sleeping, relaxing, washing, recreation, as well as family time, reading, watching TV, leisure, etc.. But it is possibly eating which is the focus of home life. This basic need that punctuates our day provides a social focus for families and couples the world over... | ||
| Why Are The British Obsessed With Property? |  |
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| Tony Lynch, Managing Director of Lynch & Company, says “No dinner party would be complete without talk of property values, gazumping, or someone who has made a killing on their home. We British are obsessed with our bricks and mortar. 70% of us own our own homes, which is more than any other European country”.... | ||
| Buying Old versus New - Part 1 |  |
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| Buyers tend to have fixed ideas about the style of home they would prefer to buy. Some would not buy anything but a "character home" whilst others prefer a brand new property. In this article, we look at some advantages and disadvantages of each, starting with modern homes.... | ||
| Buying Old versus New - Part 2 |  |
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| Buyers with contemporary design ideas need not be put off by an older property, as many people now incorporate modern interior designs that can complement the character of a period home... | ||
| Why Overpricing May Leave You Out Of Pocket |  |
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| As a seller, it is tempting to accept the highest estate agent’s valuation you receive. However, there are sound reasons why you should avoid overpricing your home initially, as overpriced homes often end up selling for less than they otherwise would... | ||
| Working In Partnership With Your Agent |  |
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| When the time comes to sell your home it is important to ensure that you entrust the sale to a reputable estate agent if the stress of selling is to be minimised..... | ||
| Improvements You Can Take With You |  |
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| We all know that home improvements often increase the value or saleability of your home, but whilst most improvements enhance a property, they generally stay with it when it is sold. However, there are improvements you can make that will not only maximise the presentation of your home, but which you can also take with you when you move... | ||
| Removal Planning |  |
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| Despite the effort that goes into preparing a property for sale, many people overlook the impact of good removal planning, and often leave the packing to the last moment. Here are a few suggestions that we hope will help you avoid some of the anxieties many people experience during this exciting but sometimes stressful time... | ||
| Top 10 Tips For Sellers |  |
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| You only get one chance to make a first impression! When it comes to selling your home, attention to detail could be pivotal in securing an early sale at the best possible price... | ||
| Showing Buyers Around - Part 1 | |
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| Some estate agents claim that the seller is the best person to show a property to prospective purchasers. However, apart from the inevitable awkwardness of inviting strangers into your home, there are sound reasons why good estate agents prefer to accompany buyers around... | ||
| Showing Buyers Around - Part 2 |  |
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| Some people feel that houses should be able to “sell themselves” and do not need to be “shown” by estate agents. Whilst this may be true of certain exceptional homes, or where achieving the optimum price is not an issue, most properties require the skills of a well-trained estate agent... | ||
| Enter the Spring |  |
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| Spring is traditionally a time of change. Brighter and longer daylight hours make house-hunting easier for working people, and sellers naturally want their property to look its best... | ||
| The Perfect Location |  |
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| I am delighted to announce the opening of our new state-of-the-art showroom office in Woking, situated opposite Woking’s busiest landmark location – Woking Railway Station. We chose this prime site in order to make us the most prominent Estate Agency, attracting new buyers, particularly those from out of the area... | ||
| Timing Your Sale for the Market |  |
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| We know that property values have risen considerably over recent years, and there are mixed indications about future property inflation. Even if the market slows, it is more likely to be an easing of the rate of increase, rather than an actual reduction in property prices... | ||
| Touching Up |  |
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| When the time comes to sell, you naturally want your property to look its best, but how far should you go in terms of presentation? Firstly, aim to understand how your property “sits” within the market... | ||
| Valuing your Property for Sale - Part 1 |  |
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| Whatever anyone might say about location, condition, proximity to schools, size, etc., it is the price at which a property is initially marketed that is the key to a successful sale. But emotions often cloud good judgement... | ||
| Valuing your Property for Sale - Part 2 |  |
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| We know that UK house prices have rocketed over recent years. However, establishing an accurate asking price that will optimise your chances of selling at the highest possible price within a reasonable timescale is both an art and a science... | ||
| Property Inflation |  |
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| We recently came across this poem about investing in property, and thought you might find it interesting. Once you have read it, take a look at the date of first publication. Makes you think! | ||
| Plans For A Successful Sale |  |
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| Few estate agents use floor
plans in their property particulars, yet our research has shown that
buyers overwhelmingly prefer them to the usual write-up and written
dimensions. There are several good reasons behind this preference,
which is why we always feature floorplans on our particulars... |
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| Virtually Touring |  |
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Estate
Agency is currently experiencing a time of great change as a result of
innovations in customer service coupled with the use of some exciting
new technologies. One
of these technologies, the on-line virtual tour, is having a profound
effect on the whole property moving experience... |
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| Fair Trading |  |
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| As you might have read in the
press, an estate agent recently received a life ban on practicing as
an estate agent by the Office of Fair Trading – the same
organisation that produced a report that concluded that estate agents
need not be formally licensed. |
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| The Benefit Of Independence |  |
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| “Location, location, location” may be the cornerstone of wise property investment, yet many people are unaware of the importance of location in making the right choice of estate agent – whether buying or selling... | ||
| It's Not Just About Selling |  |
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Many
estate agents put substantial emphasis on their ability to find a
buyer, and they highlight this as a primary reason to sell through
them. |
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| The Key To A Happy Move |  |
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| One of our distinctions and
indeed our passion is the fact that we are as involved in our
clients’ move as we are in the sale itself. Certainly, for most
people the property into which they are moving is a lot more exciting
than the property they are about to leave. |
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| This Year - Don't Wait 'Til Spring! |  |
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As
the Christmas holiday season is upon us, many people will start to
think about the prospect of moving house early next year. However, as
the evenings will still be dark, and the garden remains rather sad,
there is usually the feeling that it would probably be best to wait
until the spring before putting your property on the market... |
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| New Regulations Say "Don't Switch!" |  |
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Good
lighting and plenty of power points can transform a property, and most
of us have at one time or another undertaken minor electrical work in
the home and lived to tell the tale. |
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| Maximise Your Sale Prospects |  |
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| In the current market it is more important than ever to ensure that your property is a highly saleable proposition, rather than one that makes another house look good by comparison... | ||
| The Changing Shape Of The Market |  |
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The
property market has historically been fuelled from below, with first
time buyers paving the way for sellers to move onward and upward... |
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| Garages |  |
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| A garage is one of the most
popular items on a typical homebuyer’s list of desirables. Yet, in
our experience the majority of buyers requesting a house with a garage
eventually purchase a property without one! A garage seems to be one
of those things that fall into the “want” rather than “need”
category. |
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| A Feeling Of Space |  |
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| Unlike their continental
counterparts, British property buyers do not generally take account of
the square footage of a house or flat when choosing their next home.
Nevertheless, spaciousness is often a priority and invariably comes at
a premium. |
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| Leaving Your Property | |
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We
all know that moving can be stressful. Good estate agents who have
moved house themselves should be able to minimise this wherever
possible by anticipating many of the needs of buyer and seller alike. |
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| Prepare To Paint | |
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The
Easter period is traditionally the time of year when homeowners start
to consider maintaining or improving their property. The lighter days
and better weather make event the smallest blemish more apparent. |
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| From Small Acorns |  |
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| Many homeowners with foliage-filled gardens are blissfully unaware of the damage tree and plant roots can cause if planted too close to their home... | ||
| One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor |  |
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| About 20% of the UK’s population live in flats, of which most have a “vertical neighbour”. Whilst modern apartment blocks are generally well sound-insulated, this may not be the case with, for example, a converted Victorian property. | ||
| Next Door | |
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| When
investing in a property, you are not only buying bricks and mortar,
but also the immediate surroundings, which are significantly
influenced by your neighbours. Good neighbours can help sell a house
and boost its value, whilst bad ones can knock as much as 10% off the
price. |
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| Safer Gardening |  |
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Gardening
is Britain’s most popular outdoor activity, but over 500,000 people
require outpatient treatment annually for garden-related injuries. |
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| Save Time By Helping Your Estate Agent | |
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| Buyers tell us that some estate agents waste an inordinate amount of time showing property that is either too expensive or blatantly wrong in other critical ways... | ||
| Woman Take Over The Garden Shed |  |
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| The
once-humble garden shed is currently enjoying a revival – but in
unexpected ways. Higher property values mean that space inevitably
continues to attract a premium, and imaginative householders are
cashing in on this by maximising every square inch of space. |
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| Compromise is inevitable | |
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| According to a recent report,
23% of Britons say that a quiet location is the number one
consideration when choosing where to live. This rises to 32% amongst
people in their 50s but surprisingly falls to 16% amongst Londoners. |
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| Think Carefully Before Modernising |  |
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| The
proliferation of property improvement and interior design programmes
on TV has prompted a substantial increase in the number of buyers
wishing to purchase a “dump” and “do it up” for a huge profit.
Sadly those days have all but... |
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| Solicitors And Solicitors | |
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| The
system of property transfer in this country is relatively archaic when
compared to those of most other countries. The variety of age and
tenure of UK property forms a complex framework on which sit further
complications such as easements, rights of way, restrictive covenants,
planning restrictions, building consents, possessory titles and
disputed boundaries. |
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