New Balgores team aiming high

Balgores Chelmsford has expanded its Sales and Lettings Teams, with three new appointments.

Brian Clover has renewed his association with Group MD, Martin Gibbon and joins Balgores as Director.  With 27 years’ experience in the estate agency business, Brian has extensive knowledge of the Chelmsford property market and a reputation for achieving outstanding results.

Balgores is pleased to introduce James Pudney, as Executive Branch Manager, with 19 years’ experience in the industry. James is looking forward to the challenge of working in the City branch of the Group and to continuing his long standing business relationship with Brian.

Balgores would also like to welcome Max Fordham, who has been promoted after a very successful period at the Upminster Branch where he has won the prestigious ‘Lettings Office of the Year’ award for two consecutive years. 

Martin Gibbon FNAEA, Group Director, comments: “I am delighted to welcome three key new members of staff to our Chelmsford City Branch.  These new appointments will bring invaluable skills, experience and knowledge to our Sales and Lettings Team and enable us to achieve an all-time high level of service to our customers.”

Should you be interested in selling or letting your property, please do not hesitate to call Balgores on 01245 492 424.  For further information, please visit www.balgoresproperty.co.uk.

http://www.balgoresproperty.co.uk/News/12054/New-Balgores-team-aiming-high.aspx

Why landlords should invest in rental property in Essex

Investing in property is no easy task, with locations and figures being thrown around almost every day. But, the latest Rental Trends Tracker from Rightmove contained some interesting information for those considering investing in property.

For prospective property investors things seem to be shifting, and it appears there’s a new housing hotspot in town. It has been revealed that the east of England is taking the crown from the capital, generating one of the highest returns on investment across the UK for landlords.

Among the investment locations that everyone is talking about right now are Brentwood, Purfleet and Grays; all Essex towns which estate and letting agent Balgores Property Group operate in.

For some, these may seem unlikely or unexpected investor hotspots, but here at Balgores Property Group we have seen these locations rise in popularity over the past couple of years. Landlords are missing a trick if they don’t choose to invest in the East, as the annual rental growth in these areas averages at 6.4%, the highest growth in any single UK region. London pales into significance in comparison, with growth of only 0.2%.

The key things that landlords should look for when making an investment is the specific location’s annual rental growth, which as we’ve explained is consistently increasing in the East. It’s also vital that tenant demand is strong.

Void periods are a landlord’s worst nightmare, so it’s vital you choose to invest in an area popular with renters. Essex is the perfect region for investment right now, as its towns have recently witnessed an influx of new residents looking to rent in the area.

Essex towns such as Brentwood have been named as investor hotspots, as they provide an attractive place to rent. Brentwood in particular is a pretty solid location to invest in, due to its close proximity to the capital. Commuters are able to travel into Central London from here in just over 20 minutes.

This intimate connection to the capital is enticing many young professionals and commuters to the area -  who are likely to have been priced out of the Central London rental spots.

Not only are the areas more affordable for tenants, but because property can still be purchased here fairly reasonably, it means that landlords won’t have to fork out for an expensive property when initially investing.

Here at Balgores Property Group, we believe it’s our job to ensure landlord’s are aware of the best places to invest, and our team have years of experience in ensuring our landlord clients' investments are a success through our excellent property management service.

We know how to ensure landlords get great returns; our previous blog demonstrates that we know how to ensure your investment is a success.

If you would like further information about investing and letting property in and around Essex, or anything else property related, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of property experts today.

Alternatively, if you’d like to find out how much rent you could generate from your property, why not try our free, instant rental valuation tool

http://www.balgoresproperty.co.uk/News/12001/Essex-named-top-rental-investment-location.aspx

What does the modern property buyer really want?

British homeowners much prefer the way we live now, according to a survey carried out by Anglian Home Improvements.

It might have been known as the Swinging Sixties – with Beatlemania, a relaxation of social taboos and England’s only World Cup win – but people aren’t so keen nowadays on the multi-coloured bathroom suites, crazy paving and pebble dashing that characterised homes in that era.

In fact, what was once seen as the height of sophistication now tops the list for the home improvement us Brits most dislike.

Homeowners in the present day favour state-of-the-art entertainment zones (44% of people), wet rooms (43% of people) and bi-fold doors or conservatories (58% of people). These latter home improvements often help to improve the flow between outdoor and indoor, especially if a house has significant garden space.

Other popular home improvements include a separate dining room (56%), underfloor heating (35%) and decking (40%).

The survey, which spoke to more than 2,000 households, analysed how tastes and the way people used their homes had changed in the past 50 years.

According to the majority of respondents (70%), the most positive home improvement during this time has been central heating, followed in second place by indoor toilets (51%). Hot running water (43%) was in third place, closely followed by better insulated windows in fourth (41%). All of this suggests, of course, that warmth and comfort are still major priorities for the vast majority of British homeowners.

The capacity to work from home thanks to technological advances over the last 15 or so years had, according to 24% of those surveyed, been a significant influence on the way people use their homes. Where once cooking spaces and washing areas were seen as the places requiring improvement, now homeowners are focusing principally on improving their entertaining space.

Those surveyed were also asked what motivates them to make improvements to their homes, with the majority (47%) stating that it was to add monetary value to their home, while 30% said it was to save costs and 28% said it worked out cheaper than moving house.  

This research has now given us a little bit more insight into what British buyers are after. If, as a seller, your home contains an entertainment centre, a wet room or a conservatory, shine a light on this when buyers come to view your home. Space in which to entertain and socialise is also becoming increasingly popular, so if your home provides this in abundance make sure it’s a major part of your sales pitch.

For more information about how Balgores Property Group can help sell your home, please contact us at one of our many branches. We have operations across Essex and Kent, from Gravesend to Upminster. To find out how much your property could be worth in the current marketplace, check out our free instant online valuation tool.   

http://www.balgoresproperty.co.uk/News/11821/Balgores-Property-Group.aspx 

How to become a successful landlord

Some people assume that becoming a landlord is a simple task, generating a generous income without too much effort.

However, there are many things to think of, and whether you’re considering becoming a landlord for the first time, or you’re a seasoned investor looking to increase the size of your buy-to-let portfolio, there are tips and tricks of the trade that are useful to know in order to make a success of your time as a landlord.

Five star property

Having a property which is in tip-top condition is arguably one of the most important things to contribute towards becoming a successful landlord. No prospective tenants will want to live in a grubby, cluttered property, so ensure it’s presented to the best of its ability before a viewing and before the beginning of a tenancy. Plus, giving your property a subtle makeover with a neutral décor could add value to its monthly rent. 

Unfortunately some landlords fall at the first hurdle, as many will ensure their property is gleaming for a viewing, but won’t be on-hand to arrange any property maintenance, should the property require it once the tenancy is under way.

Tenants won’t want to wait around for jobs to be completed, therefore it’s vital that as soon as maintenance issues arise, such as a faulty boiler or a broken freezer, they want to feel reassured that it will be sorted as quick as possible. Tenants appreciate a quick response, and keeping on top of things will contribute towards keeping them happy.

Be a friendly face

Tenants ultimately want a landlord or letting agent to be someone they can come to, should there be a problem, so it’s important that right from the get-go, you’re an approachable point of contact. The little things really do make a difference to tenants, so we advise you send a moving in card with your contact details.

Some landlords even try to sweeten their tenants further with a gift! Ultimately, your aim as a landlord is to generate a regular income and minimise void periods, so these little things could go some way towards convincing a tenant to renew their tenancy.

However, don’t take this to the other extreme and constantly pop around to visit the property. Tenants won’t appreciate a landlord who turns up unannounced, so ensure you notify your tenants 48 hours before visiting the property.

Remain the right side of the law

Being a landlord, it’s vital that you stay abreast of the legislation concerning your rental property. Failing to stick to the guidelines could lead to a hefty fine from the authorities. For example, it’s vital that you as a landlord put tenant’s safety first and install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, especially before October 1^st.

Get in the experts

Being a landlord can be a time-consuming and arduous task, but not if you employ a team of property experts to help manage your rental property. Here at Balgores Property Group, we’re an Essex-based estate and lettings agency, with a whole raft of trained property specialists who possess the expertise to look after your investment.

Not only do we have bags full of property knowledge, but we also ensure your property is seen in all the right places. We market your property on the leading property portals Rightmove and Zoopla, ensuring maximum exposure in finding you the best possible tenants.

Don’t believe us? Don’t take our word for it, just check out what others thought of our service on our testimonials page. Alternatively, if you would like more information on the services we offer, then contact us at one of our many branches. 

http://www.balgoresproperty.co.uk/News/7238/Balgores-Property-Group.aspx

What the length of a viewing could mean for your property sale price

An interesting news story caught our eye this week. Research carried out by Which? has found that older buyers are more likely to take their time when it comes to a house viewing, with those who spend more time viewing also likely to pay less. In other words, the longer the viewing, the lower the sale price.

The poll of nearly 2,000 questioned members of the public about their experiences of buying and selling property over the past five years.

Incredibly, 5% of UK buyers admitted to having purchased without even viewing the property first; a figure that jumps to 9% for Scottish buyers. Unsurprisingly, most people like to have a second look before they decide – 43% said they viewed the last home they bought twice, while 21% viewed it three times.

Generally speaking, younger and first-time buyers spend less time than older buyers on a viewing. They are less inclined to check for things like damp and cracks in the wall.

The survey found that 52% of buyers who spent under 10 minutes viewing their future home paid the full asking price or more. However, this usually happened in locations where the local market was very competitive – so, in order to not miss out, the buyer was willing to match the asking price or above.

By contrast, 71% buyers who spent more than an hour-and-a-half viewing their future home paid below the asking price for it.

At Balgores Property Group we will always do our utmost to get you the best possible price for your home, no matter how long the viewings last! We have branches in a number of locations across Essex, East London and Kent, from Basildon and Brentwood to Upminster, Hornchurch and Gravesend.

Although our branches all offer something slightly different, our team pride themselves on excellent customer service and the 'personal touch' to make the selling or letting experience as smooth as possible.

As well as expertise in sales and lettings, we also help out with the conveyancing and legal aspects of a property sale. We have a national network which includes over 70 regional solicitors specialising in conveyancing and the legalities of the property market. In addition, there is Balgores Network Auctions, the place to head for a quick, easy and guaranteed sale.

If that wasn’t enough, we also have our own financial services arm. This is where we give our customers expert advice on all the latest goings-on in the mortgage world and help our clients get the mortgage that most suits their needs. 

For more information about the services we offer, please contact us at one of our numerous branches. If you don’t want to just take our word for it, check out our testimonials page to see what our customers say about us.

Research has shown that the majority of customers choose their agent based on trust. As such, we aim to offer a unique and transparent service that keeps our clients comfortable and reassured throughout. So, whether it’s glossy marketing materials, floor plans, virtual tours or face-to-face meetings, you can rest assured that we’re doing all we can to sell or let your home.

http://www.balgoresproperty.co.uk/News/11635/Balgores-Property-Group.aspx