Posts with tag: winter

10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Home Movers

Published On: December 16, 2016 at 10:19 am

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Categories: Property News

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Moving home at Christmas can be an extremely stressful experience; the buying process slows down more than usual and many businesses are closed over the festive period. If you know some home movers this year, treat them to one of these Christmas gift ideas to brighten the process!

It’s probably the last time of year that most of us would choose to move home, but many buyers and renters will be packing up and moving on this Christmas. Whether it’s a family member, friend or former tenant that you got on with particularly well, spread some of the festive cheer with these gift ideas from Rightmove (which coincidentally double-up as housewarming presents)…

  1. A doormat

One of the easiest and most effective ways to bring some personality and style to a new property is with an inviting doormat. It’s also one of the first things that visitors will notice, so your home movers will appreciate it instantly.

  1. House plants 

House plants are essential when it comes to adding softness and nature to a new home. Treat them to something attractive and easy to maintain.

  1. A new coffee pot
10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Home Movers

10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Home Movers

One of the first things a home mover will look for when they get all their boxes into a new property is a cup of coffee! Prevent them rummaging through unmarked boxes by picking up a new coffee pot and a nice bag of freshly ground coffee.

  1. Spices 

It’s all too common to spend your first week in a new home eating dodgy-looking takeaways and microwave meals. Help them feel homely and healthy with a new spice rack and spices, which they’ll be able to make use of instantly.

  1. Gardening must-haves 

If your home movers’ new property has a garden, it’s likely that they’ll want to do some work to it to create their dream space. Put together a starter pack of gardening tools to inspire them.

  1. A bunch of flowers 

No home mover will be disappointed if you take round a bunch of flowers to brighten up their new property. It’s also a good idea to buy them a vase too, as theirs will likely be packed deep into a jungle of boxes.

  1. Essential DIY tools 

If you like going for practical gifts, then a nice box of essential DIY tools will go down a treat with your recipients – they’ll probably have lots of small jobs to do as soon as they move in, so make sure they have everything they need.

  1. Scented candles

New homes lack that familiar smell that we all have in our properties. Help to create a homely and comfortable feel with your buyer’s or renter’s favourite scented candles.

  1. Homemade treats

If you’re a dab hand in the kitchen, whip up some festive homemade treats – such as a walnut and cinnamon loaf, or some cute gingerbread biscuits – for your movers to enjoy as they settle into their new home.

  1. A food hamper

We all know that one of the best things about Christmas is the food. Impress your loved ones with a hamper full of their favourite festive treats for them to tuck into while they unpack boxes (they’ll also have something to offer visitors!).

If you’re moving home this festive period, we hope you have a stress-free and relaxing Christmas in your new property.

Letting Your Property in Winter – 4 Useful Tips

Published On: December 13, 2016 at 9:28 am

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Categories: Landlord News

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Finding new tenants for your rental property during the winter months can prove to be a lot harder as compared to all other times of the year. Generally, people tend to avoid moving house in winter, as it poses its own set of problems. However, there are still people moving home during the cold months, for one reason or another, and if you channel your efforts in the right direction, you will be able to find new tenants for your rental. Here are a few tips on how to go about letting your property in winter.

  1. Diversify your marketing

There are different routes tenants take for finding a rental property. About 80% of people search predominantly online. However, if you want to reach as many potential house movers as possible, you should use all other marketing channels you have available too. Don’t neglect the remaining 20% of people – one of them might be your next tenant.

Apart from placing ads online, use the local to let boards to reach people searching for a rental in your particular locality.

Using local classifieds are another marketing strategy you should make the most of. These are preferred by people who want to avoid using letting agents and paying their often high fees.

Letting Your Property in Winter - 4 Useful Tips

Letting Your Property in Winter – 4 Useful Tips

Diversifying your marketing strategy will let you capture a wider audience and, especially in winter, the more people know you are letting your property, the better your chances for closing the deal.

  1. Offer incentives to potential tenants

It’s a great idea, especially in the slow winter months, to offer your potential tenants some kind of an incentive for applying for your rental property. Here’s what you can offer them:

No application fees

Letting agents can sometimes charge as much as £300 for applying for a rental. Many house movers try to avoid that fee by searching for properties to let from private landlords. Advertising that you are not charging any application fees can bring a surprising amount of applicants your way.

Half a rent, or no rent at all, for the first month

This is a really lucrative offer, especially around the holiday season, when tenants usually have limited funds. Sacrificing half or one month’s rent can help you find a tenant a lot faster, and offering this incentive will certainly pay off.

Flexible terms on furniture

If your tenant needs a certain furniture piece, like a wardrobe or bed, it pays off to arrange that piece of furniture for them rather than losing a tenant and a month’s rent. Similarly, if you are letting a furnished property and the tenant wants to bring in their own piece of furniture, like a bed for instance, you should remove the bed from your rental home to make room for it. Being flexible on furniture can help you find a tenant a lot faster, and it is a thought worth considering in the winter, when there are far fewer people who are willing to go through house removals.

  1. Come up with fresh advertising

Usually, a property newly put up on the market is let within the first two weeks. However, winter months can be slower and if your rental has been on the letting market for more than two weeks, you should consider freshening up your advertising. Re-write the property’s description, take fresh photos, point out the good sides of your rental, etc. Re-launch your ad and the audience will view it as a new rental property on the market.

  1. Adjust the price

Last but not least, if you are finding it hard to find tenants for your property in winter, you should reconsider the rental price. Check out what your competitors are offering, re-evaluate your property, decide on a realistic letting price and bring that down by 5%. This discount will draw in more potential tenants, as they will know they are saving in the long-term. It can turn out a lot costlier to lose one month’s rent rather than offer a 5% discount monthly – it adds up to just 60% of a month’s rent over 12 months.

If your property is vacant at the end of autumn or your current tenants are about to move out before winter starts, you should plan well in advance and start advertising your rental at least a month before it becomes vacant. As people are more reluctant to go through house relocation in the winter months, you should do your best to make your property more appealing to potential movers. These four tips would be a great way to start.

Top Tips for Selling a Property in Winter

Published On: November 25, 2016 at 10:25 am

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During the winter months, when the days are shorter, the property market is known for slowing down, but this doesn’t mean that buyers stop searching. If you’re thinking of selling a property in winter, follow these top tips from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).

While many sellers postpone putting their property on the market until the spring, now could be the perfect chance for you to take advantage of those buyers still seeking a new home.

By following a few simple steps, you can ensure that you market your property in the best possible light to capture a buyer this winter.

The President of the NAEA, David Mackie, says: “Traditionally, sellers hold off from marketing their homes in the bleak winter months, because they think it’s a bad time to sell. But it is time to go against these outdated claims and get your homes market ready by making small but effective changes to make your home an inviting prospect for potential buyers looking to make a winter purchase.”

These top tips will help if you’re selling a property in winter:

Don’t forget the exterior

Make sure your property looks well maintained and cared for from the outside by washing your windows and walls to remove any dirt. You should also clear the path of leaves and ensure there isn’t any ice on the paths that could cause an accident. Remember that the first few seconds upon arriving at the property are the most important in impacting the buyer’s decision.

Keep the entryway clear

Top Tips for Selling a Property in Winter

Top Tips for Selling a Property in Winter

With the bad weather comes untidy and cluttered homes. Put a doormat down inside the door for you and your prospective buyers to wipe your feet on, and remove any excess shoes or wellington boots from the entryway.

Let the light in

With shorter days during the winter months, it is vital that you maintain a good level of lighting in your property to make it inviting to visitors. If you’re hosting evening viewings, create a warm and cosy ambience with lamps, and don’t forget to put any outdoor lighting on too. Always make sure that the bulbs are working before a viewing.

Welcome your guests

Decorating your property for the festive season may help your guests feel welcome and comfortable in the home. But don’t go too overboard, as you don’t want the property to seem over-cluttered. Buyers should be able to envisage themselves living in the home, so it’s worth making it as inviting as possible. Smell is also important, so think about lighting some candles or bringing in some winter plants.

Remember the garden 

Messy and unkempt gardens can detract buyers, as they suggest that they’re difficult to maintain. The winter weather can also tire garden furniture, so clear it away or cover it securely. It’s worth braving the cold and spending a few hours trimming back bushes, mowing the lawn, removing fallen leaves and creating a tidy outdoor space. It’s also wise to trim back overhanging branches, as this will encourage as much light into the property as possible. Increased rainfall over the winter months also takes its toll on the guttering, so check for leaves and other debris.

Tackle any DIY jobs

If you’ve been putting off DIY jobs, the perfect time to address them is if you’re selling a property in winter. Whether you have leaky taps or cracks in the walls, make sure you put them right before viewings. Although you might not notice these small defects, potential buyers will spot them immediately, and you don’t want them to get worse during the colder months.

Going away for Christmas? 

If you have a holiday booked this Christmas, don’t forget that the heating in your property should be left on at a low temperature (a minimum of 15°C), to prevent the pipes from freezing. If you’re going to leave the property vacant for a long period of time, but don’t want to leave the heating on constantly, make sure it is set on a timer. The NAEA advises leaving it on for longer spells at a lower temperature than shorter blasts at a high temperature. This will ensure that there are no problems for you to face upon your return. If you’re a landlord, remember that you must still protect your property when it is unoccupied.

Are you thinking of selling a property in winter? We hope you secure a successful sale with these tips!

Landlord Insurance Company Seeks Payment from Tenant

Published On: February 9, 2016 at 1:56 pm

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Categories: Landlord News

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A landlord insurance company is seeking payment from a tenant over damages to a rental property.

The outcome of the case could prove worrisome for generation rent.

Landlord Insurance Company Seeks Payment from Tenant

Landlord Insurance Company Seeks Payment from Tenant

Galina Govina, a scientist, rented a £1m cottage in Wiltshire for £2,800 per month. In 2010, she went away over the Christmas period. While she was away from the property, a pipe burst and flooded the cottage.

Govina later received a bill for £128,000 to cover the damage from her landlord’s insurance company, NFU Mutual.

The case is resting on whether Govina left the heating on to prevent pipes freezing when she was away, as is required by her tenancy agreement. She claims that she did keep the heating on and blames the damage on a “mechanical failure”1.

However, NFU Mutual says Govina turned the heating off, therefore breaching her tenancy agreement. Although the firm has paid the landlord for the damage, it is still pursuing Govina.

Govina is refusing to pay, insisting that the landlord’s insurance policy was in place to protect her from any financial consequences of accidental damage to the property too.

Her barrister, Andrew Butler, warns that victory for NFU Mutual could prove dangerous for many tenants in a similar position in the future.

He says the case is unique, but that it will be “a concern” to anyone living in private rental housing.

He adds: “This was not an uncommon form of tenancy agreement. There hasn’t really been a case like this before in a residential context.

“If the judge finds that the insurance policy didn’t apply for both the landlord and the tenant, that would certainly be a point of concern for tenants.”1

The outcome of the case is yet to be announced. 

1 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/12140902/Physicist-renting-1m-cottage-in-High-Court-test-case-over-128k-bill-for-damage-from-burst-pipes.html

Concerns over elderly and high fuel costs

Published On: January 17, 2016 at 10:30 am

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A concerning new survey has revealed that three in five older members of society will ration their heating during the rest of the Winter because of fears of spiralling heating costs.

42% of respondents also said that they would consider cutting back on their food, in order to save for heating costs, according to data from an investigation by comparethemarket.com.

Freezing

The report comes as Britain is finally experiencing it’s first real cold snap of the Winter to date, with the Met Office warning of snow and ice for later this week.

More results from the survey of 2,000 people aged 65 or over revealed:

  • 46% worry that the cold period will increase their bills
  • 54% fear that their income or pension wont be enough to cover their costs
  • 22% will have to use their savings for credit and energy outgoings

Campaigners have long lobbied companies to pass on reductions in their energy costs to consumers. They warn that many elderly people could die as a direct result of the cold and that more needs to be done to prevent this.

Concerns over elderly and high fuel costs

Concerns over elderly and high fuel costs

Anxious

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said, ‘many older people will be feeling anxious about the current cold snap, not least because high heating costs are prohibitive for many, resulting in large numbers of older people finding it virtually impossible to stay adequately warm.’[1]

‘The UK has an appalling record on cold-related deaths, with one older person dying every seven minutes from the winter cold. Even normal cold temperatures of around six degrees significantly raise the risk of life-changing health problems such as heart attacks and strokes,’ she added.[1]

[1] http://www.itv.com/news/2016-01-13/survey-elderly-will-scrimp-on-heating-over-fuel-bill-fears-this-winter/

 

Housing Costs Causing Families to Suffer Through Winter, Warns Shelter

Published On: January 4, 2016 at 3:18 pm

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High housing costs in England are causing many families to cut back on heating and winter clothing to ensure they meet mortgage and rent payments, according to homelessness charity Shelter.

Over a quarter (27%) of parents of under-18s surveyed reported that they had to cut winter spending to meet their housing costs.

Housing Costs Causing Families to Suffer Through Winter, Warns Shelter

Housing Costs Causing Families to Suffer Through Winter, Warns Shelter

Additionally, 10% feared that they would be unable to pay rents or mortgages in January.

The Government insists that its measures to tackle the deficit are helping more people stay in their homes.

A lack of affordable homes has left families struggling with extortionate housing costs, says Shelter. Last year alone, more than 100,000 people called Shelter’s helpline for housing debt advice.

Households struggling with housing costs are advised to:

  • Seek advice as soon as possible, to avoid eviction.
  • Prioritise mortgage or rent payments before credit card or payday loan debts.
  • Seek help from mortgage lenders as early as possible.
  • Seek help with rent arrears and look into housing benefit.
  • Respond promptly to calls and letters and keep notes of conversations.

Michelle is a mother from Cambridge. Her husband Kevin is a builder who became self-employed last year. He is now paid weekly and Michelle explains the difficulties: “We cut back on everything to pay the rent, including food.”

The family is now in rent arrears to a private landlord and is behind on Council Tax. They fear that another missed payment could put them at risk of eviction.

Of the 853 parents studied, 15% said they had to cut back on Christmas presents and food.

Michelle, a student midwife, continues: “Even though my husband works as many hours as he can, it’s constantly hand-to-mouth. When the children are at school, the heating isn’t on at all, and over Christmas we had to cut back on presents and clothing.”1

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government comments: “The reality is mortgage repossession claims continue to fall and are their lowest since 1987.

“This is thanks to our work to tackle the deficit and keep interest rates low, helping more families to stay in their hard-earned homes.

“We’ve introduced measures to ensure tenants get a fair deal and are aware of their rights. We’ve also doubled the housing budget to deliver over 400,000 affordable homes and the number of new homes is up 25% in the last year.”1

YouGov conducted the survey of a representative and weighted sample of adults late last year.

1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35205076