Posts with tag: moving house

20% of Britons Not Happy with Their New Home

Published On: July 1, 2015 at 5:02 pm

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New research has revealed that 20% of Britons believe they have compromised when finding a new home, with renters more likely to be unhappy than buyers.

Those that were unhappy cited various reasons, including not liking the neighbours, finding the property too small and considering the upkeep too much work.

20% of Britons Not Happy with Their New Home

20% of Britons Not Happy with Their New Home

The study by AA Home Membership also found that 29% of respondents discovered a lot of problems after moving into their home and the same amount did not get on with their neighbours. 26% admitted to moving into a property because it was affordable, not because they liked it.

Additionally, 25% said that the property was too small after living in it for some time and 21% thought their home needed too much upkeep. For 13%, the property was no longer suitable as their circumstances had changed.

The findings also revealed big differences between homeowners and tenants. 26% of renters had grown less fond of their home compared to 17% of owner-occupiers.

Tenants are also more likely to move into a home that has unexpected problems and not get on with the neighbours. Homeowners are more likely to struggle with the upkeep and have changing circumstances, such as a child leaving home, which makes the property less suitable.

The cost of a home was the most re-evaluated aspect, mentioned by 32% of respondents. 27% said they had to compromise on either the location or the size. 19% moved into a home that needed more work doing to it than expected and 18% had fewer bedrooms than they wanted.

A quarter of those who compromised were unhappy about doing so. Those aged between 18-24-years-old were the most bothered, with 31% saying they were not happy about making a compromise.

Head of AA Home Membership, Helen Brooker, says: “It must be quite disheartening to find that your home is not all you hoped it would be. Some issues such as property maintenance and anti-social neighbours may only become apparent over time, and may not have been a cause for concern when the householder chose the property.

“It’s pretty common for people to have to compromise when looking for somewhere to live, as after all, not many people can afford their dream home. Even if you find your ideal property, the housing market is so competitive there’s no guarantee you’ll get it.

“Others, particularly those who are looking for somewhere to live with a partner, may find that they have different tastes and opinions, and may find it difficult to agree on what they want.”1 

1 http://snip.ly/HTM7#http://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/uk-home-owners-moving-2015070110692.html

 

New Retirement Housing Development will Help Buyers Downsize

Published On: June 9, 2015 at 8:58 am

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McCarthy and Stone – the UK’s leading retirement house builder – is providing a new stress-free initiative, which hopes to make moving home quicker for retirees in Leeds.

Retirees looking to move to the new Thackrah Court development will be presented with a cash offer within ten days of their property being valued.

McCarthy and Stone are encouraging potential buyers to reserve a place at the Smart Move Open Day at Thackrah Court on Shadwell Lane on 11th June between 11am and 3pm. The sales team will be present to answer any questions. Those making an offer before 4th July will receive a £500 discount and £1,000 towards solicitors’ fees.

The new Smart Move scheme aims to reduce the stress involved with selling on the open market. It will hopefully help buyers downsize to high-spec, low-maintenance apartments. The house builder will also deal with all removals, ensuring buyers’ belongings are transferred free of charge.

Sales Manager for McCarthy and Stone, Karen Harrowell, says: “Visitors to Thackrah Court have instantly fallen in love with the great location and enjoyable lifestyle it offers in retirement.

“Once the decision has been made to downsize, it can be extremely frustrating to have to wait to sell an existing property, so we want to make it as easy as possible for retirees in the Leeds area to make the move by taking away the worry of removal fees and the uncertainty of selling on the open market.”1

The Assisted Living development at Thackrah Court has been created for the over 70s and combines conventional retirement living with residential care. Homeowners will have independence but the peace of mind of 24/7 security and support services.

Onsite is a table service restaurant, homeowners’ lounge, lift, and flexible domestic and care packages, which are personalised based on the homeowner’s needs.

An estate manager ensures the development runs smoothly, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Thackrah Court is in the suburb of Shadwell, just six miles from Leeds city centre. Surrounding the development are many facilities, including: a medical centre, dentist, post office, library, newsagent, churches, social club and tennis club. There are also good transport links to Leeds and Harrogate.

To book a place on the open day, call 0113 268 9562 or for more information, visit http://www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/smartmove.

1 http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/business-news/property-news/leeds-property-news-retirement-house-plan-will-take-hassle-out-of-downsizing-says-mccarthy-and-stone-1-7290943

 

 

The Cost of Moving House

Published On: May 30, 2015 at 12:41 pm

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Most people will take note of solicitors’ fees, mortgage deposits, estate agent and search fees, surveys and Stamp Duty when planning to move house. However, there are other costs to remember.

Depending on how the property is being bought, there could be transaction costs and finders fees to bear in mind, and these charges can add up. So how much does it cost to move house?

Solicitors’ fees

On average, solicitors’ fees are between £500-£1,500. It is advised that buyers instruct their solicitor to conduct a local search on the property to ensure it is not under threat of being destroyed. These searches can cost £200 or more.

The Cost of Moving House

The Cost of Moving House

Estate agent fees

These charges are only paid by the vendor and range between 1-3% of the sale price plus VAT at 20%.

Stamp Duty

Stamp Duty is only payable on properties worth over £125,000 and it is added into the overall cost of the purchase.

For buyers in Scotland, the new Land and Building Transaction Tax (LBTT) applies as of April 2015, which affects homes worth £145,000 and over.

Read more about Stamp Duty here: /stamp-duty-revamp-benefits-investors/.

Surveys

Most mortgage lenders insist on the buyer having the house surveyed. This is beneficial to all as it ensures the home is structurally safe and sound. Surveys cost from £150 to £1,000 or more, depending on the type of survey conducted.

The above costs apply to those buying and selling a home. But for some people, moving house may not include these steps.

Moving house

Some people will inherit a property from family. If they plan to move here from rental accommodation, then they do not need to sell or buy. However, moving to a new house still costs money.

It may be wise to have the new home surveyed for peace of mind.

In terms of moving, the amount of belongings a person is taking to a new property can alter the costs. If they do not have much furniture, they may only need a small van for one day. This costs around £150.

If there is a large amount to move, then a professional removal company is advisable. The amount of furniture and the distance between the houses can see the cost range from £600-£1,500.

If someone moving home is buying and selling, the cost could add up to thousands of pounds. However, when a move doesn’t include these steps, it can cost a few hundred pounds.

Moving house can be cheap, but buying and selling can become expensive.

 

 

 

 

 

Those Moving Home Rose 8% in 2014

Published On: January 21, 2015 at 4:02 pm

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Those Moving Home Rose 8% in 2014

Those Moving Home Rose 8% in 2014

The amount of people moving house in 2014 increased by 8%, revealed Lloyds Bank.1

Approximately 365,400 people moved home last year1, the third consecutive year that this number has grown.

The number of homeowners moving to a new property in 2014 was 16% higher than in 2009, when the market was in the doldrums. However, this number is still considerably less than the record high seen in 2004, 886,700, and just over half the average witnessed between 2004-2007, of 717,025.

Since 2009, the average house price paid by movers has risen by 26%, from £199,645 to £252,064. The average deposit was £83,302 last year, a 9% rise from 2013.1

It is not surprising that London movers paid the highest deposits, an average of £166,265, which is 35% of the average property price of £480,416. This is over four times the average deposit paid in Northern Ireland.1

1 http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/1867-homeowners-on-the-move-up-8-in-2014

Bad Phone Coverage means Tenants Reject Properties

Published On: December 19, 2012 at 3:16 pm

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A recent survey of more than 2,000 people has revealed the significance of a good mobile phone reception to renters and people moving house.

Bad Phone Coverage means Tenants Reject Properties

Bad Phone Coverage means Tenants Reject Properties

The study asked respondents aged 16 and over if they would rent a property with a bad mobile phone signal, with 46% saying that they would not.

In regard to buying a home with poor mobile phone reception, over half (54%) said that they would not. In London, this figure rose to 64%.

Rootmetrics, a network testing company, conducted this research. Their CEO, Bill Moore, states: “While there are obviously more important considerations when it comes to weighing the pros and cons of a house move, there’s no doubt that mobile phone coverage is becoming a factor in the decision-making process.”1

These figures also come in a period where fixed lines in homes are being replaced by mobile phones.

Ofcom explored this change in July, when they found that calls from landlines have dropped more than 10% since 2011, and 15% of homes in the UK only use mobile phones.

More recently, research company fast.MAP have undertaken a survey exposing that 37% of consumers in the UK would be happy to give up their landline and stick to using mobile phones in their homes.

1 http://www.rman.co.uk/latest-news/article/bad-mobile-phone-coverage-means-tenants-reject-properties