Things to Consider When Buying a Building Plot

Searching for a good building plot can be difficult task. Apart from the high purchase cost there are several other financial and legal considerations to conjure with. Many today will turn to the internet to help with their search. There are some great offline services as well which will screen for pots that meet your criteria. Deciding on the ideal plot is very much down to the individual. You will need to assess the plot for size and general aspect, proximity to services and other properties as well as any restrictions which may have been applied to any prospective builds. Once you have boiled down the search to a few likely options it’s time to get meticulous over your figures. Building is a costly exercise and all the cost need to be anticipated before you lay the first brick. Once you feel you have adequate funds for the land and the build, add on another 10% or more for the inevitable overruns and unforeseen problems.

When buying land one common hiccup is missing deeds which make it tricky when pinning down whom legally owns what. This problem can be overcome by getting Statutory Declarations from those selling the land as well as anyone else who may have an association with it. This then enables you to get a Defective Title Indemnity Policy which provides insurance.

In some case you can end up with a Title over land you don’t own. Adverse Possession, as it is known in England, or Prescription in Scotland, can take a while to settle and sometimes means a pot is offered with Possessory Title rather than an Absolute Title. This often happens when boundaries have been moved in previous years. These small areas are best insured just in case the rightful owner makes a claim for the land at a later date. However, the main pot of land can still be offered with Absolute Possession.

You need to ensure that the deeds specify vehicular access from the pot to a public highway and if this is achieved over a private driveway or right of way. If the plot sits near to other land or properties there are occasions when the legal rights or ownership may be unclear. Again Indemnity Insurance will be useful in order to safeguard against any potential claims. If access appears to have existed for 20 years or more it may be possible to claim a legal right of way. This should not be over rail, waterways, highways or crown land and must have been carried out without force or secrecy.

Once you have decided to go ahead with the purchase you need to be practical as to how you are going to find the funds. If your capital is locked up in your current home you may need to consider bridging loans or selling up quickly. Where are you expecting to live if your home needs to be sold first? Are you going to rent in the short term or locate a caravan on the plot itself? Don’t overlook the cost of living while in the building phase. You may need to pay to store the majority of your furniture and use a Removals firm more than just once. Your legal expenses will be higher than with just a simple house to house move so get costs from your local solicitors.

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Paul Coupe is Online Marketing Manager for Quote4Removals.
http://www.quote4removals.com

Moving House for a Good School

Competition over good schools is so hot these days that an increasing number of parents are looking at moving home in order to secure what they want for their children. Government league tables have highlighted the difference between schools in any one area. This has lead to schools being under far more scrutiny than ever before. Logically parents want what’s best for their kids and will always feel somewhat short-changed at the idea of settling for anything substandard. Proximity to a particular school will not always mean an automatic ticket to attend so parents will look at all their options.

Every year there are discussions between parents as to lengths others have gone to in order to get a good school. There are rumours concerning entry procedures and how others have supposedly played the system. Increasingly common is short-term renting of a property so as to achieve local residency near a good school. Local Education Authorities (LEAs) have begun to look more closely at the practice and have started to challenge parents who they suspect have taken this approach. For some the alternative is to gain entry to a good local grammar or to face up to paying for a private school.

Parents should really look at the costs of moving against those of staying put and paying for private education. If parents were already thinking of moving, then perhaps it makes sense to kill two birds with one stone. If the move is purely for schooling reasons then avoiding a large step up the ladder is the key. Even with slightly higher prices in the desired area, the cost of moving can actually be less than paying for private school. But getting over ambitious on house type and size will make the move expensive. Before doing anything though it’s worth exploring to see if any scholarships or bursaries are likely. This could bring the cost of private schooling down considerably. If a move is likely to benefit younger siblings then moving will be a far more worthwhile approach to take.

Obviously moving comes with all the costs of buying and selling. Solicitors, Estate Agents, Removals Fees and Stamp Duty all add up. Is the mortgage portable or will moving bring with it redemption penalties? Parents need to be certain that the school they are pursuing is well worth the effort and the costs involved. It’s also worth looking at the trends suggested by Ofsted reports. Although lower down the league tables is a particular school improving or indeed declining in its performance. Is the Local Authority planning to improve schools by building new ones or renovating those already there? Although Government building projects have been cut back recently, some areas are still managing to fund such schemes. Any changes will inevitably effect how education is delivered and can quickly change the desirability map of an area.

House prices in an area with a good school may well be at a premium especially if the local school is highly prized. Properties in the catchment area of really good state schools are often as much as 20% more expensive than those beyond the catchment. On the flip side the longer term investment potential could be good assuming the school maintains its cherished status.

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Paul Coupe is Online Marketing Manager for Quote4Removals.
http://www.quote4removals.com

Selling Your House Through Sealed Bids

If you are determined to get the best price when selling your property why not take a closer look at the ‘Sealed Bid’ approach? It’s not the answer to everyone looking to sell but for the right house in the right area it can work a dream.

To increase the odds of realising a handsome price make sure you use an agent who’s well versed in the process. The agent will advise you if your property is likely to do well or not. A house with something special about it will always bring in interest. This could mean it’s at opposite ends of the spectrum; possibly in need of restoration or in pristine condition. Either way the property will be a bit of an unknown quantity but offers great potential for the right buyer.

You need to consider the guide price which is generally lower than your eventual aim. But pitching this right can affect the level of interest you get. You’ll need to weigh up the pros and cons verses a regular sale and think about the likelihood of achieving a higher price.

More than anything it’s best to make it clear to all interested parties the terms they need to adhere to. Make it clear as to when all bids are to be presented. Accurate descriptions of what’s included in the sale should be issued so that there is no room for argument further down to line.

People will still want to view the property but this can be done by organising to open the house for several days rather than have the process elongated with individual visits. Your agent should be happy to man the fort as it’s better than having someone pop over to the property many times. If potential bidder clash this will only go to increase the feeling of competition, which can only be a good thing. You may get an offer from someone who’s keen to bypass the bidding process. It’s a nice position to be in but you will need to determine if it’s worth pursuing as it could be difficult to recreate the same level of interest if the sale falters.

Your agent should receive all bids by the specified date. To keep everything transparent you may consider opening bids at the agent’s office. Bidders will be happier knowing that a degree of formality has been followed. As you work through the bids it may be a good idea to score them on several criteria. Price is an obvious attraction but you will need to think about the bidder’s financial situation. Will the purchase be made from cash funds or mortgaged? How soon can buyers move? Your bid application form can be designed in such a way as to gather the kind of information you’ll want to consider before selecting the best bid.

Don’t forget you will need the services of a solicitor if the sale progresses so it’s worth getting this sorted well before the bid date. Removals and storage companies are also worth sorting as your successful bidder may be keen to get the sale completed as swiftly as possible. Once the sale is agreed you are no longer in the driving seat. You may need to compromise on moving and completion dates. Your buyer will inevitably have his/her own circumstances to consider but it’s best to have everything ready to go should the pressure be to do the deal quicker than you might have originally planned.

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Paul Coupe is Online Marketing Manager for Quote4Removals.
http://www.quote4removals.com

Green Up Your Home

With the cost of heating and lighting you home getting ever more expensive, now could be a great time to get green. Even if you’ve not yet woken up to the need to do it for the environment, rising costs may yet be the push that gets you started. If you are looking to improve your current home then there are some fairly simple, low budget, areas in which to start. Insulate, insulate, insulate; both loft and walls will leak heat out of your home. There are many insulation companies which will do both areas for less than £500 for an average sized home. With around 66% of heat loss attributed to the roof and a third of total heat loss down to ‘leaky’ walls, it’s definitely worth looking at these two areas before any other. The pay back should be realised reasonably quickly which is always a great incentive. Double glassed windows are another favourite replacement which will also contribute to improved insulation characteristics of your home.

The heat generation source in most homes is still the trusty old gas boiler. Although boilers have been superseded by many alternative forms of heating, a modern replacement gas boiler will generally be vastly more efficient compared to its old counterpart. Many gas boilers now offer between 95% - 98% efficiency; contrast this with an old one at perhaps 70%, it’s easy to see that savings can be made on fuel bills while being greener at the same time. In addition thermostatic radiator valves are well worth fitting as they will allow you to control the temperature  in various rooms and therefore target heat where you most need it

If you are considering a bigger investment in green technology or perhaps renovating or building a house, there are plenty of options to hand. Solar PV (Photovoltaic) and Solar Thermal are popular options. Although the UK market has been hit by reduced government tariffs, solar can still be a great choice. Solar PV can contribute to electricity normally taken from the National Grid, and/or pump back into the grid and as such earn you payments in return. Solar Thermal on the other hand will produce hot water for use in the home. You do need to conjure with the costs (upwards of £10,000 for PV & £5000 for thermal) and weigh up the options as neither is cheap. Look at the payback periods and do your sums. Have a few professional companies assess your roof for year-round performance. They should be able to project how shadows from trees / chimneys / extensions and the general direction of the roof will affect how well solar will perform.

Air Source and Ground Source heat pumps can be used in conjunction with Solar PV to supply a constant stream of warmth to the home. Instead of warming up the house in order to allow it to cool over night, as is often the case with gas boilers, heat pumps provide heat all of the time, 24/7, but at more ambient levels.

Wind Turbines are much less common choice but is another option to explore for those in windy places. Small systems can cost as little as £1,500 but there is little data available to suggest how much energy they will produce for the average home.

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Paul Coupe is Online Marketing Manager for Quote4Removals.
http://www.quote4removals.com

Selling Your House in a Tough Market

Getting hold of a good estate agent is one of the most obvious places to start. You need to weigh up the costs objectively and consider what the agent offers before jumping onboard with the cheapest price. Like so many things in life, you get what you pay for. Check out the local newspapers and consider the type of adverts and layouts agents place. Is their website engaging and easy to search and navigate? If you’ve used agents before to arrange viewings of other properties how were you treated? Did the agent know his / her stuff and provide you with the information you needed? One little trick always worth remembering is if your house sits in a popular area with several other houses displaying for sale boards, you can get lucky by just putting your own board up. Anyone serious about your area will soon notice you’re on the market and make enquiries. You can even put together you own brochure should anyone ask for it. Yes it can be a little invasive but many people do sell by doing just this.

Price is the big difference between getting people through your door or not. If you demand top price the house needs to be something special. The trick is to get people interested enough to view. Many will be conjuring with figures making assumptions as to how much they can knock you down to the price they can afford. If you start too high people may feel you won’t come down on price by the level they need. It’s a little like going to an auction. Stating price is everything. Once people are bidding items can reach big figures. Start too high and the bidding never gets going.

While you wait for eager buyers there is no better time to put a new coat of paint on a few rooms that may need it. Clean the house from top to bottom and dress the house to win buyers over when they do come through the door. Don’t forget the garden both front and back. Buyers are increasingly interested in outdoor space for entertaining and the like. In the same way you vetted the local estates agents do the same for solicitors. If you’ve used someone previously did they do a good job or is it time to find someone more efficient? Ask friends and family if they can recommend someone. You may have periods where you think you’ll never sell and then a buyer comes along who wants to move in a rush. If you’ve got solicitors appointed you can do all the legal things with the minimum of delay.

A really quick sale can catch you on the hop. If you are still considering properties yourself it’s easy to get in a panic and plump for something that isn’t your ideal. In such circumstances it could be worth considering renting until you are completely happy about your next purchase. If you do rent then it will mean moving twice in a short period of time and possibly storing some of your furniture. While getting prices from removals companies it’s worth asking about their storage facilities and prices. It can all seem a bit of a hassle but if it helps you get a quick sale at the right price it can be an option that works. As a prospective buyer in rented accommodation you’ll be treated like gold by estate agents. It can benefit you in getting a good deal by being in a position to pounce on a property when others are unable to move so quickly.

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Paul Coupe is Online Marketing Manager for Quote4Removals.
http://www.quote4removals.com

So what is a Passivhaus Exactly?

Passivhause is a term we are all likely to hear more often as we become ever more focused on energy efficiency. As you might have guessed from the spelling Passivehaus has its origins in Germany being part of the countries building standards. Any house meeting the standard will have been built to take advantage of the sun’s heat and any other freely available source – including people, household appliances and regular fresh-air. One of the main factors which help to reduce the need for traditional heating is super high degrees of insulation as well as air tight windows and doors. The entire fabric of the house, including floors and walls, work by storing heat to help maintain warmth in winter. The addition of Solar panels and heat pumps may also play a part in supplying efficient forms of heat.

The main aim of a Passive House is to have low impact on the environment and as such will usually require around 75% less heating than a regular home. Although build costs can be up to 8% greater than a normal build the big benefit is obviously the savings the homeowner can make on fuel bills. On top of this the owner can also be fairly smug about their carbon output.

Air quality is usually controlled through mechanical means and heat recovery systems. For anyone who loves to be warm this is undeniably the house for you as temperatures are maintained at a constant level.  Dust and pollen particles are filtered out of the air which is an added bonus to anyone who suffers from related allergies.

Adhering to the standards can be tough. Anyone keen on building a Passive House will need to consider the design and layout from the beginning. Planning permission will need to allow for large south facing windows and ventilation etc, so the right plot of land is essential. Consideration should also be given to internal lighting, appliances and any other energy demanding equipment you intend using in the house. When choosing an architect look for someone who understands the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP). This will enable the architect to gauge energy performance at the design phase. Ultimately you will need to have the house certified by the Passivhaus Institute, the BRE or the Scottish Passive House Centre so getting the design right is essential.

There’s a lot to go though before you sell up and call in the removals company. Ignoring extra build costs, the Passive House philosophy has to be the logical position for all new home builders to aspire. Once you’ve considered the long term benefits, especially in such a windblown island as the UK, to build anything less is to build a house which effectively leaks heat. The Passive House is almost the exact opposite to a heating leaking house. By concentrating on minimising heat loss the need to constantly pump more heat into the house is virtually eliminated. Granted, all those tight fitting doors and windows and super efficient insulation don’t come cheap, but it’s exciting to think that technology can now deliver a much smarter home as well a more comfortable one.

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Paul Coupe is Online Marketing Manager for Quote4Removals.
http://www.quote4removals.com

Ever thought about building your own home?

Many think about building their own home but few ever get beyond the dream or even the TV property programmes that stimulate the dream. If you do look a little harder finding land, getting planning permission and commissioning a competent architect are hurdles that stop many in their tracks.

Let’s start with the issue of finding land; always a good place to start. For many self builders the popular place to look is for old bungalows instead of open spaces of land which have become increasingly difficult to find. The advantage here is that a dwelling already exists on the land possibly with water, electric and gas already supplied. Assuming the property has little interest to the local authority it could mean you’re in with a chance of getting permission to demolish and replace it. The internet also offers plenty of plot finding sites which are definitely worth checking. These sites will at least give you an idea of the going rate for building plots in the area you plan to build. Check out plots which may come up for auction and possible attend on auction day in order to get a feel for the prices they go for. Obviously you’ll need to do your sums before committing to anything. Do you have much equity in your current house, or additional savings? Remember auctions will require almost instant payment and you need to have concluded you’ll get permission to build before you get too carried away and start bidding.

Planning permission is possibly the step people dread most. Gaining permission can be a little less stressful if you present a plan which echoes local styles and possibly uses local material. This is not to say you can’t push the boundaries a little, but it’s often better to remain somewhat conservative with your ideas. If you present an ambitious plan, good for you, but keep in mind a fallback position if it’s wholeheartedly thrown out by the local authority. Again the internet offers lots of advice as to how to go about getting permission. Home-build magazines are also great for chase studies and stories of how people dealt with their local planning office which will both frighten and motivate you in equal measure.

Engaging the service of an architect is the next important step. You’ll need to push hard to get them to give you an idea of the costs involved in building your dream. Many will be happy to take you into project over-runs with plenty of additional expense. A lot of architects see budget increases almost as part of the course. So choose well and try to strike a balance between those who understand your budgetary restraints but can still deliver great design that’s well worth building.

Don’t over look the costs of moving once you decide to take steps towards building. If you have a house to sell you’ll need to factor in the cost of estate agents, solicitors and removals firms and possibly storage. If the build requires capital locked up in your house then these costs will need to found upfront. Conversely, if you can fund the build through other means you need to keep something back to cover these costs at the end of the project.

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Move or Improve Your House?

A dilemma faced by many homeowners these days is, do you spend money on moving house or improving your current home? Either option can be expensive if you get it wrong. An increasing number of people have more recently chosen to improve and extend because of uncertainty in the housing market and the perceived cost of moving. But the approach to improve can sometimes be the wrong one if the main aim is to increase the property’s value. Some improvements can have a negative effect on value especially if you embark on changes which are too extreme or out of keeping with the original style of the house or neighbourhood. Replace an entire kitchen and all you have is a kitchen. Yes it’s clean and new and perhaps more appealing to buyers but the £15,000 it may have cost will probably never be realised in the sale price.

In today’s housing market it’s best to view a house as a place to live rather than the investment opportunity it may have been in the past. It could be argued that this thinking extends to home improvements as well. Price up the cost of a new loft conversion and decide if it’s worth paying £10,000 - £20,000 for the extra space it’ll provide. If you are desperate for space then the answer could indeed be yes. Moving costs alone could add up to a similar amount and that’s before you find the extra to actually buy the new place. As a means to increase the value of your property, yes it’ll add value, but possibly not as much as it cost.

The best advice is to do your sums. Have similar properties in your area had similar work done to them and at what price have they sold? If you are intent on adding value in order to benefit though a sale, get the best possible price but make sure the job is done to a high standard. Obviously if you have been able to get hold of a property cheaply because it really does need work, then you’ll not gain much in a sale unless the work is carried out. It could be a good idea to look at the costs of buying a house where the work you’d like to do has already been done. Would you have to pay stamp duty? If not then the costs may not actually be that bad. You would need to get best price from a solicitor and removals company, but it could work out cheaper and be less disruptive in the long run.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that any one area will have its maximum value. Yes someone will inevitably push that value but in the main buyers will not pay much over the norm. If you push your expected property value beyond certain stamp duty thresholds many buyers will also squirm at the idea of paying at the next level. Double glassing, replacement kitchens, bathrooms, decorating, landscaping, security can all help to make a house more enjoyable to live in but will not necessarily make you a bundle when you sell. If your house becomes too pricy many may opt to buy a cheaper house like yours and do the improvements themselves, or pay the extra to live in a smarter area.

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Paul Coupe is Online Marketing Manager for Quote4Removals.
http://www.quote4removals.com

How to Finance Your Big Move

For most of us buying a house is the single most costly exercise we’ll ever face. It’s usually a very long term commitment which often stretches right up until we retire and sometime beyond.

When it comes to mortgages, doing your homework and reading lots of small print really can help you make better informed decisions. One of the most obvious approaches is to determine what you can afford, or are prepared to afford. There are lots of online mortgage calculators which will illustrate what your monthly repayments will be for a particular amount borrowed at a particular rate of interest. Mortgage lenders will often use varying formula based on your earnings to determine how much they will lend. One of the favourite methods is to multiply your salary by three. Lenders will also take into account the size of deposit you have against the property value often referred to as Loan to Value (LTV). In the early years your deposit basically acts as security should you default on repayments. Lenders are also cautious about property values falling in the short term. Currently if you can gather a good deposit you stand to gain from better interest rates. Homeowners who have seen their homes increase in value look set to get the best deals if they are re-mortgaging.

The small print will always state that ‘interest rates can go up as well as down’. This point should never be ignored. Although we have enjoyed historically low rates for some time now, borrowers should appreciate that they will rise at some stage. Again the online calculators can help you model differing outcomes for various rates of interest. Remember if your mortgage is over 25 years, a lot is likely to change over that period of time. It’s also likely that you’ll move once or twice, increasing the amount borrowed and perhaps extending the mortgage term.

Do your research. Use the internet and search for deals through the glut of comparison and money advice websites. Look at fixed rates, against variable and all the options in-between. If nothing else you’ll get a feel for interest rates and upfront costs for your circumstances. Don’t forget to use more traditional methods as well, such as a financial advisor or mortgage broker. Once you understand the options and costs, you should be better placed to know when you have stumbled across a good deal.

Keep in mind your budget. If an advisor says he’ll lend you X, ask yourself do you need or want that much? Remember you’ll also want do some of the other things you enjoy in life, so don’t stretch yourself to the absolute limit.

If you have the promise of a good mortgage then you can at last go house hunting. Now is the time to get the best deal you can. Every little bit you can save on the purchase price will reduce your monthly payments over the whole term of the mortgage. Don’t neglect solicitors, stamp duty (if applicable), estate agents (if you are selling) and removals firms or man with a van, as none of these come for free. Apart from stamp duty it’s worth ringing round for deals and pushing everyone for the best possible price. The various charges will add up and you’ll want to avoid having to borrow more just to cover them.


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How to Save on Moving Costs

Moving house is never a cheap exercise. Once you’ve made the decision to move the inevitable cavalcade of fees begin to accumulate. Solicitor fees, estate agent fees, property searches, the list of fees can seem pretty daunting. But when it comes to the actual move there are a few ways to save a little.

The most obvious starting point is to look at the options of either doing the move yourself or hiring a professional removals company. There is also a compromise option of using a man with a van which is becoming ever more popular. For each of these choices look at the costs and think about the quantity of items you need to move. Are you happier leaving the whole job to someone else or are you keen to pitch in a bit? Distance is also a factor to consider. Do you need a large removals van to get all your furniture across the other side of the country in one go or will a small van be all you need to move in your local area? Whichever option you go for there are some great ways to save a little.

First things first, get rid of things you no longer need. You’ve either got to move yourself or pay for someone else to move everything in your house, so there’s no better time to reduce the load. Check with removal firms or van hire companies if there is a cheaper period in which to make your move. Assuming you have flexibility on move dates this is possibly one of the easiest ways to save money. Even offering flexibility on the time of day could help get you a bit of a deal.

If you use the services of a removals firm get a breakdown of their charges beforehand. It may be possible to identify areas you are happy to cut out and sort yourself, such as help with packing or packing materials etc. Get a fixed price and make sure it’s all you need. Is the piano catered for (should you have one) or are you likely to get hit with an extra charge if itwas overlooked in the initial quote? If you have some very large items like boats, motorbikes etc, check how the costs add up. Is it more cost effective to hire a trailer and move them yourself? When you are considering large items quiz the removals firm over insurance. This is possibly the main divide between paying professionals or going cheap. There’s no benefit penny pinching to find an expensive item gets badly damaged and there’s no one to claim off. If you use a man with a van or simply hire a van it’s always worth checking to see if your regular insurance with cover the move or if indeed you can pay a small fee to cover it.

Most importantly - be organised. Pack things well in advance and start disassembling large items of furniture as it saves a lot of panic on the day. Avoid rushing as these are the moments things get broken, torn or scratched. You are best taking your time labelling, boxing and protecting sharp edges on things which could easily put a mark in something else as they move about on the van.

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Is it Wise to Move House in Times of Austerity?

The property market has been fairly good at taking the knocks over the years, earning a reputation for being one of the best places to target your money. But with these times of austerity upon us, is the housing market still a good bet? During the recession the marketing held up well and resisted the big falls some had suggested. For many years the UK housing market has sat awkwardly between housing shortages and the impacts of interest rates and inflation. If prices fall there has usually been a group of young buyers eagerly waiting to get a foot on the ladder and owners desperate to avoid a negative equity.

Much depends on the figures you give credit to. Estate Agents will naturally be the most upbeat; always looking for positive signs, after all their livelihoods depends on the market continuing to churn. Take a look at the big lenders and a different story tends to emerge. Currently mortgage approvals do seem restrained which mirrors some of the sentiment coming from the land registry who says prices are 3.2% down on the year to October. Other economists forecast that prices will rise 15% over the next five years pointing again to home shortages as the ever present factor stimulating the market. There is however some consensus in that we will not see the growth we became accustomed to in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. We also need to consider (now more than ever) the impact of inflation on the Consumer Prices Index. While many homeowners will have enjoyed the impact of lower interest rates on their monthly mortgage payments, in real terms their properties could actually be falling in value.

One thing that is for certain is that now is the time to drive a hard deal. If you are looking to buy your first house or sell and move on, there has never been a more important time to wheel and deal. Sellers will perhaps need to compromise somewhat and buyers will need to be savvy over getting the best possible price. London always has its own property micro climate which tends to resist big falls, but for nearly all other areas buyers and sellers will need to be very realistic.

If the market is slow everyone associated with it can be pushed a little. For the keen seller doing deals will also mean pressing estates agents and removals firms for better rates. For the very budget conscious buyer look at repossessions (which increase in number during difficult times) and perhaps the services of a man with a van to save on moving costs. Stamp duty is hard to avoid (unless you fall below certain thresholds) but negotiating a sale price below certain levels could bring you into a lower charge band and save you thousands. Make sure you know that current bands before negotiating on anything. Desirable locations and beautiful homes will always be keenly pursued by those with the money to pay over the odds, but for the vast majority the market will be a pretty aggressive place. New buyers with skinny deposits will need to consider their investment as perhaps much ‘longer term’ than buyers did in the past. Plenty of analysts still predict falls over the coming years so it’s best to see homes as places to live and not the short term investment they once were.

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Moving House – Getting Your Things Packed

Moving everything you own is never something to be taken lightly. It’s a time consuming task coupled with the stress of selling your house, negotiating on the new one, fixing dates, not to mention the costs which are all a part of the joys of moving house. To get the job done correctly it takes a bit of planning. Start with one room at a time and label the boxes so that you know their destination when you reach your new place. Before any of this happens you will have taken delivery of packing materials from your removals company, purchased or begged them from local shops / firms etc. Scrutinise what you’ve got and make a point of getting rid of anything you no longer need. There’s nothing worse than trying to find space for old tat in your new home, especially if your new place is smaller.

The key is to start well in advance of your move but not so early that you are without the essentials needed for everyday life. One of the best places to start is with small ornaments and framed pictures etc. These are perhaps some the items you can do without but nevertheless will want to package up properly so they are not damaged during the move. Use plenty of bubble wrap and newspaper between small items. It’s best to avoid over filling any of the boxes as you’ll want to keep the weight down and make sure things aren’t crammed too tightly together.

Work your way through the house but leave the boxes in the rooms where the contents came from. This way you can retrieve the odd item and keep filling gradually as you get towards your move date. On move day you can fill the last of the boxes double checking you’ve labelled them before you finally tape them up. Bigger items can be packed at the last moment and very large items such as washing machines and fridges will probably be handled and protected by your removals firm separately. If you have opted to use just a ‘man with a van’ you may want to have some extra protection available as they may not provide much for you.

Don’t forget to give thought to any pets and who will transport them as you move. Have you collected the dry cleaning, redirected mail, cancelled the milk and organised for the gas and electric meters to be read? If you are moving some distance you’ll not feel much like driving back to pick up or organise things you forgot. It’s easy to over look these simple tasks but making notes beforehand will mean that you can take care of them one by one and reduce the level of stress you feel on move day.

Once you are unloading items into your new home it’s best to have someone who dedicates time to ensuring the boxed up items end up in the right place. Check the labels and direct the removals people to the room where they need to go to. Some items you may wish to store elsewhere such as the garage (if you have one) so that the items can be positioned once you have had time to organise the essentials. Those small items you packed up at the very start of the process are perhaps the kind of thing you can give proper thought once you have got over the initial moving stresses.

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