News
28-09-09
Estate Agents Launch Buy Local Campaign
Eight firms of independent estate agents have signed up to a campaign urging home movers to ‘Go Local’ to take the stress out of moving home.
Based in the Plymouth travel to work area Alan Cummings & Co, Cross Keys Estates, Lang & Co, Mansbridge & Balment, Portrait Properties, Seasons, Swift Estate Agents and Richard Trowbridge have joined the Fastmove campaign to encourage the use of local firms at all stages of the home moving process.
Initially established to promote the use of local lawyers, Fastmove actively supports the use of local firms in all areas of the housing market - local estate agents, local lawyers, local removal companies and local financial advisors.
The eight new members agree that using a local agent rather than a corporate firm is in everyone’s interests.
Marc Rees, Director of Lang & Co says: “We believe, as well as the obvious benefits to the local economy, local firms provide customers with the best possible service because they have a local knowledge. In addition, when making such an important and expensive decision, it is best to speak to your lawyer face to face.
“In today’s market some agents try to win instructions by offering an inflated unrealistic asking price, getting you to sign a lengthy agreement and once you are tied to them they then ask you to lower the asking price or accept offers, leading to your home being on the market for longer than necessary.
“We also find many estate agents are more interested selling mortgages, conveyancing or insurance rather than concentrating on selling and finding properties for their clients.
“As local Fastmove agents, we make a commitment not to inflate the valuations of properties just to gain instructions.”
Fastmove spokesman Mike Goldsmith says: “Moving home is often listed alongside divorce and bereavement as one of the most stressful experiences of our lives.
“That is why it is so important to make sure that you deal with local experts who will work with you to guide you through the process as painlessly as possible.
“We’re delighted that eight of our most reputable estate agents are joining our campaign to keep the home moving process local.
“Alan Cummings & Co, Cross Keys Estates, Lang & Co, Mansbridge & Balment, Portrait Properties, Seasons, Swift Estate Agents and Richard Trowbridge are all fully independent companies owned by local people, members of the Ombudsman or National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and committed to do all they can to make the home moving process easier.
“By using an agent that carries the Fastmove sign you will not only get a great service, you will also be supporting our campaign to help build a vibrant local economy by keeping money circulating here rather than elsewhere.”
Fastmove agents sign up to a code of conduct involving transparent pricing policies and no sale no fee arrangements.
Further information can be found at the website (www.fastmove.info).
Ends
For further information please contact Lucy Hopkins on 07779 725253
Pictured Clockwise from centre: Gemma Wilson (Alan Cummings), Ben Dreher (Mansbridge & Balment), Annie Swift (Swift Estate Agents), Mark Green (Portrait Properties), Marc Rees (Lang & Co) and David Hickman (Alan Cummings).
Notes to Editors
Fastmove, a local initiative for faster and smoother home moves was established in 2007 and involves more than 25 independent law firms in the Plymouth travel to work area.
Lawyers within the Fastmove group, which was recently commended by the Law Society, sign up to a promise to work together to reduce the time taken for a sale by up to 60 per cent.
Further information can be found at www.fastmove.info where there are links to all members
01-07-10
Will the Demise of Hips Boost the Local Housing Market?
Local estate agents are reporting an increase in properties coming to the market since the Government's decision to scrap Home Information Packs - known as HIPs.
Hardly surprising, as obtaining a HIP usually involved a seller having to part with hundreds of pounds even before putting their home on the market.
With more houses on the market, are property prices likely to come down?
Not according to The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) whose recent survey claims house prices are rising in most parts of the country, despite the suspension of HIPs and the subsequent boost in housing supply.
Local agent Ben Dreher of Mansbridge and Balment agrees: “We’ve definitely seen an uplift in terms of properties coming to the market.
“People who have seen a property they want to buy can quickly get their house on the market without having to worry about the hassle or cost of getting a HIP done.
“It’s freed up the market for sellers to take a speculative approach and we think more stock on the market means it’s a better market.
“We’ve got more to offer people and, as long as properties are priced accurately, they will continue to sell - we had a very good June”
Introduced in 2007, HIPs were intended to improve the home moving process by making the packs available to prospective buyers and therefore making it easier for them to obtain information about properties.
But they were criticised for being unhelpful, unnecessary and bureaucratic with some commentators arguing they made little difference to the home moving process.
As well as energy performance details, HIPs contained a report on water and drainage services and the results of local authority searches - switching the cost of searches from buyer to seller.
Sellers will still need to have commissioned, but not necessarily received, an energy performance certificate (EPC) before marketing can start. This means that a seller, or person acting on their behalf such as an estate agent, must have instructed an accredited Energy Assessor to carry out an energy performance assessment.
The EPC, which formed part of the HIP, is required under EU law and the fixed penalty for not providing one is £200.
While the abolition of HIPs is generally welcomed, spare a thought for the thousands of people involved in the production of the packs, many of whom may lose their jobs, although providers could still have a part to play in the market as buyers and sellers will require EPCs.
Still confused?
If you are planning to buy or sell property and you simply want a hassle-free and fast move, talk to the local experts at Fastmove – an initiative for faster and smoother home moves involving 25 law firms, 18 estate agents and many more local companies in the Plymouth travel to work area.
Look for the Fastmove logo which is your stamp of assured local quality and great value for money. Fastmove members are all committed to making your move as stress free and smooth as possible.
Further information can be found by visiting the new website at www.fastmove.info where there are helpful moving hints and links to all members. ...read more
01-06-10
What the New Government Means for the Housing Market
04-05-10
Moving Home... Should You Believe the Headlines?
Some recent media headlines will have made uncomfortable reading for homeowners, but should we in Plymouth believe the latest housing market hype?
The Mail talked of householders in a hurry to sell before the election ‘decimates’ the property market.
Closer to home, the Plymouth Herald reported that the election was ‘sparking a rush of houses on the market’.
But the reports behind the headlines do not appear have such a bleak outlook.
The housing market survey fuelling the media debate was released in April by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and does indeed claim the number of people putting their homes on the market has picked up
But it also suggests house prices are continuing to rise and RICS members expect sales to increase, albeit at a slower pace, with prices likely to stabilise.
Property website Rightmove, which compiles prices of properties as they come on to the market, attributes the increase in vendor activity to the return of previously snowbound sellers, rather than the election.
It agrees prices are at a standstill, but cites a first quarter price gain of 3.7 per cent despite the impact of the severe weather at the start of 2010.
So, what is the true picture locally?
James Clarke, Director of Plymouth-based Lang & Co, says: “Our levels of instructions have remained pretty constant - we certainly haven’t seen a dramatic influx of properties on the market due to the election.
“For most people it is life that dictates when they need to move – such as new babies or children starting school– rather than any political agenda.
“Where we have seen policy affecting buying behaviour is with the recent stamp duty changes encouraging first time buyers to purchase properties above the previous £125,000 threshold.
“Spring is traditionally a buoyant time for the market, especially for larger properties and we have had a number of really high quality instructions in recent weeks.
“I would say prices remain stable which is quite positive for all of us – we don’t want peaks and troughs – and as long as the election doesn’t bring major changes to incomes or taxes I can’t foresee it having a dramatic effect.”
So if you’re thinking of moving, don’t let the headlines put you off! Talk to the local experts at Fastmove – an initiative for faster and smoother home moves involving 25 law firms, eighteen estate agents and many more local companies in the Plymouth travel to work area.
Further information can be found by visiting the new website at www.fastmove.info where there are helpful moving hints and links to all members. ...read more
01-04-10
Would you use a supermarket to sell your home?
01-03-10
Property matters - Motives for moving
01-02-10
Property matters: Moving home? Let Fastmove help!
01-03-10
Property matters: Motives for moving
01-12-09
No Need to Worry about Changes Ahead!
21-10-09
Moving Home? How to Avoid a Horror Story!
28-09-09
Estate Agents Launch Buy Local Campaign
28-09-09
Moving Home? Make it Easy!
11-09-09
Choosing an Estate Agent to Sell Your Home
05-08-09
Good News For Home Movers
Mortgage approvals by high street banks have risen for the third consecutive month. ...read more
04-06-09
Fastmove Solicitors - Go Local!
20-05-09
Legal Advice? Go Local!
22-04-09
Plymouth Ahead of the Game!
03-04-09
New Home Selling Regulations
23-03-09
What is happening to Plymouth’s housing market?
02-05-09
Raising the Bar as Local Initiative Meets the Law Society
16-01-09
New Initiative to Help the Housing Market
20-10-08
Cornwall Solicitors Join Forces
23-04-08
Make Your House Move Fast Movers!
04-04-08
Jeremy Enjoys a Good Vintage!
13-02-08
