18 June 2008

Don't forget to ask what the neighbours think

Friends of mine had found their perfect house. A renovated 3-bedroom Victorian property with original period features: slate roof tiles, Victorian fireplaces, large sash windows, etc.

Before making an offer the friends asked for my professional opinion. The property had been completely refurbished to an excellent standard and it looked sound. And on the face of it, at that moment in time, the neighbourhood looked good too.

When I search for property I always do a lot of research, including asking neighbours what they think of the area.

So after the viewing I suggested that this is exactly what we should do. Although the friends were not very comfortable with the idea, we nevertheless stopped to speak with a couple of locals and asked if they were happy living there. Well, we discovered more than we bargained for - cars regularly stolen (including theirs!), police chases, burglaries... These particular locals concluded that they wished they had never bought their houses and feared they would be difficult to sell.

My friends could not believe their ears. These little conversations probably saved them a lot of hassle - potential car theft and burglary, expensive insurance, not to mention stress and worry. Needless to say, they didn’t make an offer on that house, but they now realise that the neighbours can be a source of valuable information.

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posted by Chez-Vous HomeSearch @ 17:34 0 Comments

11 June 2008

Renovation advice to boost property profits

Last week I attended an excellent property seminar in which Dr. Dennis Coote talked about “Renovation Techniques to Boost your Property Profits”.

Dennis is passionate about property, having developed, renovated, bought and sold over 400 properties during his 40 year career. Dennis and his partner Hazel Reed are currently renovating a property in Reading.

Dennis reminded his audience of the first golden rule when investing in property: “To make a profit, you must buy at the right price. The profit you make is made when you buy, not when you sell.” This is even more appropriate in the current climate!

During the seminar he covered a wide range of subjects, aimed at helping investors looking to buy and renovate property: types of property to consider and to avoid; basic tool kit to take with you when viewing properties; location considerations; how to find, select and save money when dealing with tradesmen; sequence of work during the renovation process; etc.

Dennis also described some simple renovations and repairs which can be carried out by those skilled in DIY. Did you know that instead of paying a plumber to repair a toilet that is not flushing properly due to a damaged diaphragm, you can create a replacement plastic diaphragm yourself and save at least £50? Or that if you need to drain your central heating system but the draincock is blocked, you can buy a special clamp-on tap called a tee-valve (costs about £5), and fit it yourself on the pipe with a spanner. No leaks, no mess! And a lot of money saved! One very strong piece of advice: don’t play with gas!

Dennis recommends a visit to The National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon (M4 Junction 16).

To find out more about Dennis Coote, visit: Property Development for Profit - Dr. Dennis Coote's ecourse on property

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posted by Chez-Vous HomeSearch @ 15:59 0 Comments

07 June 2008

More time to search for property

A chain of estate agents in Berkshire has decided to make available sales personnel to answer enquiries until 10pm from Monday to Friday.

According to the company, customer feedback and activity levels on its website have led to the decision to longer opening hours. Its research highlighted that more people do their property searching from home between 7pm and 10pm weekdays than any other time. This is not surprising given that potential buyers are busy doing their own work during conventional office hours, with companies getting strict on internet access for personal reasons. And, of course, if you spot a property of interest outside of agents’ traditional opening times, you would usually have to wait until the next day to ask for information, make an appointment or even an offer.

It is also likely that this estate agent seeks to gain some competitive advantage in a much more challenging property market. It will be interesting to see how many other estate agents will follow suit.

As a professional property finder and relocation services business, longer estate agent opening hours mean that, where time is of the essence, we will be able to act for our busy clients - sourcing the fine detail on shortlisted properties, organising viewings, negotiating the best price - the same day. This greater flexibility will be advantageous for both our UK and overseas clients.


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posted by Chez-Vous HomeSearch @ 08:19 0 Comments