-
10 Top Tips to Sell Your Home
24th June 2008
Patience – Don’t get hung up on selling your property, if the price is right it will sell eventually.
Realistic asking price - If you ask too much expect to have no viewings.
Be aware of long chains - The longer the chain the more chance the sale will fall through.
Break the chain - The clever money is on property prices decreasing in the next 1 or 2 years so why not move into a rented property, you’re in a much better buying position when you want to buy.
Sell your property - make sure your property looks its best inside and out.
Be pro-active - Compile local information for your viewer, schools, transport links and the like.
Negotiate - Don’t discount that offer of £20,000 below the asking price, it’s surprising how the right agent can reduce this figure by moving it up the chain.
Be flexible - You may have to dance to the purchaser’s tune if you want to sell.
Make sure that you can jump when ready - Ensure that your Solicitor is ready to act when given the green light, and
The Right Estate Agent - Now more than ever the old adage “pay peanuts get monkeys” rings true. They may be more expensive but what do they offer for that extra 0.5%?
-
Paving over the Cracks.
24th June 2008
The Government estimates that between 120 and 1,200 householders a year will opt for impermeable surfacing for gardens for which they will require planning permission under new regulations in the pipeline.
The homeowners if they submit their plans will have to pay the standard planning application fee of £150 and face the possibility of a refusal, however as long as the area to be paved over remains permeable an application for planning permission will not be required. Is there anyway that an Englishman can defend his castle against the marauding bureaucrats?
-
TV Cameras Focus on Unusual Auction
24th June 2008
A farm auction with a difference has been declared a huge success after the lots were sold for just short of one million pounds.
Roger and Yvonne Bunn, owners of Blakemore Farm in the Wyre Forest, decided to hold the auction for their home at the farm itself – an unusual move that generated so much interest TV cameras filmed the event.
“The auction was highly unusual because of where it was held,” said McCartneys auctioneer, John Uffold, who conducted proceedings at the farm in the village of Rock. “It was a gamble for the owners, but one which very much paid off.”
“We’re delighted with the outcome,” said Roger, who is retiring from farming, but planning to stay in the area. “The barn was packed with people for the auction and there was a real buzz about the place. The cameras from BBC Countryfile filming just added to the excitement.”
The farmhouse and buildings sold for £640,000, while two plots of land, owned by Worcestershire County Council went for £147,000 and £211,000.
-
Auction Shows Strength in Market
10th June 2008
A Powys farm attracted huge interest as it was auctioned by McCartneys at the Royal Welsh Showground.
Penmyarth Farm in Builth Wells came under the hammer at The International Pavilion in several lots.
Lot one - made up of the 4 bedroom farmhouse, a range of buildings and just over 5 acres of prime pasture land – sold for £640,000.
Three further lots of pastureland also sold well. The second lot was made up of three pasture paddocks totalling 5.37 acres. The winning bid was £50,000, equivalent to £9311 per acre.
Accommodation land known as Lloyds Land in Builth Wells sold for £96,000 - £10,412 per acre. And another 18.21 acres of pasture land went for £95,000, £5217 per acre.
“The auction was very well attended and there was some fierce bidding,” said McCartneys’ auctioneer Richard Gwilliam. “The farm is in a beautiful position and has some prime pastureland, so we expected a good turnout. The excellent sale shows the market for such properties and land is still strong.”
-
Lot One – This Place!
9th June 2008
A Worcestershire couple are holding an auction with a difference at their farm in June – it’s their home that’s going under the hammer!
Roger and Yvonne Bunn are selling Blakemore Farm in Rock near Kidderminster after farming there for 36 years.
“We’ll be sad to leave, but we’ve decided it’s time to retire and have a bit more time for ourselves,” said Yvonne, 67. “We’ve raised our three children here and it’s been a lovely family home as well as a working farm.”
The Bunns moved to Blakemore Farm in the early 70’s and started out with a dairy herd of 60 cows. But it wasn’t long before sheep, piglets and chickens were running around too.
Roger, who’s 70 this year, says he has no regrets at all. “Given my time again I’d do everything the same. We’ve made some fantastic friends through farming and thoroughly enjoyed our time here.”
It was Roger’s idea to hold the auction for the house and land, which is being held by McCartneys, actually on the farm. “My father did the same with his smallholding,” he said. “I just think anyone interested will be able to see the place and get a feel for it on the night, rather than just look at pictures.”
“It is unusual to hold an auction on the premises coming under the hammer,” said John Uffold, chairman of McCartneys, who will be the auctioneer on the night. “More often than not they’re held in local hotels or clubs. But the barn will be ideal – there’s plenty of room and light and people will actually be able to see firsthand what they’re bidding for.”
The auction of Blakemore Farm will be held on the premises by McCartneys on Friday 20th June at 7.30pm.
-
New Planning Requirements
3rd June 2008
From 1st May 2008 new dwellings will have a rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes. All designs for new dwellings and extensions must now comply to the new energy efficiency standards. It will be necessary to have SAP (Standard Assessment Procedures). Upon completion of the building project and before the local authority issues the Building Regulations Certificate a construction EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) will be required. Our Accredited assessors are able to advise and assist you to meet these requirements, our qualified staff offer a professional and friendly service.
-
Land Prices Surge
1st June 2008
Land prices have surged over the last 12 months and the sale of land can provide the ideal opportunity to release cash for other investments while the market is high.
McCartneys sold many areas of land between £8000 and £12,000 per acre throughout the Welsh Borders, Shropshire, and Herefordshire & Worcestershire.
Sharp increases in commodity prices have encouraged farmers to expand production and enter the market as purchasers, with demand far outstripping supply, with lifestyle buyers still present on the market despite the credit crunch. The RICS Rural market survey 2007 resulted in a 27.9% increase (the fastest pace in the surveys history) with arable land rising from an average of £9,929 to £10,949 per acre. With the going so good maybe now is the time to release those assets you have thought of selling for years. For a Professional Appraisal of a Farm / Land Sale please contact your local McCartneys Office
-
New Epc Legislation for Landlords
28th May 2008
Landlords are being advised to plan ahead and be prepared for new Government legislation coming into force later this year.
As of 1st October all residential properties new to the rental market will need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before tenants can move in.
“All landlords need to be aware of the requirements and arrange for EPCs to be provided where necessary,” said Simon Smith of McCartneys.
“Energy Performance Certificates are not required for properties where the tenancy is just being renewed. The legislation is for new residential lettings. An EPC must be made available to all prospective tenants and a copy must be given to all tenants before the start of the tenancy. This means that landlords and agents may need to exhibit an EPC before the 1st October start date, so they need to think ahead.”
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date of issue, but may be updated at any time if the landlord wants to reflect any energy efficiency improvements made to a property.
“At McCartneys we already provide EPCs required for residential sales, and now we can offer the same service for lettings,” said Simon. “For more information or to book an EPC, just contact your local McCartneys office.”
-
Plastic is Not McCartneys’ Bag
27th May 2008
Green is the new colour at McCartneys as they launch their free reusable shopping bags.
The company, which specialises in all aspects of estate agency and auctioneering throughout the region, has decided to turn its back on traditional plastic carrier bags in favour of the more environmentally-friendly cotton ones.
“As a company we’re aware we need to think of the future,” said Debbie Anderson, a partner with McCartneys. “We know there’s concern over plastic bags and their effect on the environment and wanted a ‘greener’ alternative for McCartneys.
“We hand out hundreds of bags at shows and events throughout the year and hope the new McCartneys cotton bags will be a big hit. We’ll still be giving them away free of charge, and want people to use them again and again. They’re light enough to fit into even very small handbags, but sturdy and roomy enough to take plenty of shopping.”
It’s estimated more than 12 billion free single-use carrier bags are handed out each year in Britain and on average are used for less than 20 minutes before being thrown away.
ends
Note to editors
Picture attached. McCartneys staff (l to r) Katie Beddows, Yvonne Harrison and Debbie Anderson model the new bags.
For further information please contact Rachel Ammonds at McCartneys on
07971 331809 or email
rachel.ammonds@mccartneys.co.uk.
-
The Readers House – a Happy Ending
23rd May 2008
The Readers House, one of Ludlow’s most important buildings has recently been sold again by McCartneys, Grade I Listed (a similar listing to Buckingham Palace) due to its significant architectural and historic importance. Put up for auction in 2003 by a rival Agent and sold for £230,000 - far below what most people were expecting it to achieve, the property was mothballed for 12 months and then McCartneys were instructed to sell and subsequently achieved a sale price of £375,000 – a good result for their clients!
In 2008 The Readers House came to the open market again at a Guide Price of £450,000. It generated a huge amount of local and national interest and the sale completed in April to a young family who will be renovating the property and living in it as their family home. McCartneys are delighted to have achieved yet another successful sale on one of Ludlow’s most important houses.
With the consent of the former owners, earlier this year the Ludlow Historical Research Group organised guided tours of the house. These proved very successful and in collaboration with the new owners the house will be open for further guided tours during this year's Ludlow Festival. This will provide a rare opportunity to view the interior of one of Ludlow's iconic buildings. A small admission fee for adults will be charged and the proceeds used to fund historical and archaeological research on the house in advance of restoration."
