Author: Karen Rushe

Do you have a property in Walton-le-Dale that you would like to rent out? Renting out a property is a great way to make some money, especially in Walton-le-Dale where there is a high demand for rental properties.

 

We  understand that renting out your property can seem intimidating if you have never done it before. There are lots of things to think about.

 

You need to decide how much rent you are going to charge. This is more complicated than simply deciding how much you would like. You need to consider expenses like taxes and maintenance costs.

 

Then you will need to find tenants, maintain your property, and deal with any issues that arise while keeping on top of ever-changing regulations.

 

That is where we  come in. As a new landlord, you need to know what to do and what to expect before embarking on this new venture, and we  will be there to help you every step of the way. We  have assisted many landlords with renting out their properties and have many satisfied tenants as proof that we  genuinely care about the properties we  rent out and the tenants we  rent to.

 

As your letting agent, we  can take care of everything from preparing the property, keeping on top of regulations, finding tenants, checking their references, collecting the rent, and solving any issues that may arise during their tenancy.

 

Are you considering renting out your house in Walton-le-Dale? Need some advice or want to know how we  can help to make the whole process hassle free?

01772 252136 or send us a message and we  will be happy to assist you.

 

February is the month of love, and this certainly was true in the local property market. More sales were agreed this month than in the past five months with 213 homebuyers falling in love with a new property in the Walton-le-Dale area. 

 

March sees the start of the Spring Rush which is traditionally the busiest time of year for the property market. Warmer weather brings home buyers out of their self-imposed winter hibernation. Longer days give more opportunities for evening viewings, and spring flowers brighten up and bring outdoor areas to life.

 

Let’s have a brief look at what’s been happening over the last month in the local property market around Walton-Le-Dale.

 

There are currently 1187 properties available on the market in our area. This is 33% more than were available in February 2022 which is excellent news for buyers as it gives them more choice. In January there were 1155. In December there were 1059, in November there were 1165 and in October there were 1152.

The number of properties that came onto the market in February, 280, demonstrated that the market in this area is remaining strong. There has been a steady flow of properties coming onto the market each month. In September, there were 333; in October, there were 286; in November, there were 239; in December, there were 157; and in January, there were 247.

 

In February, 213 sales were agreed. This was 11% more than in January, when 192 sales were agreed, and it was the highest number of sales agreed in the last five months. In December, there were 130; in November, 180; and in October, 207. There is a high level of activity in the local property market, and we expect the second quarter of 2023 to be as busy as usual. 

In October, we saw 169 price reductions across the Walton-Le-Dale property market. In November, there were 167, 99 in December, 134 in January, and 131 in February. There has been a 29% decrease in the number of price reductions since October. The local market may no longer be gripped by the frenzy that followed the pandemic, but the market is remaining buoyant. 

In February, there were 602 slow movers in the Walton-le-Dale area. This means a property that has been on the market for 12 weeks or more. In January, there were 639; in December, there were 565; in November, there were 497; and in October, there were 466.

Slow movers can often be due to the 3 Ps: presentation, promotion, or price. We are proud to be in the top 10 agents in the area with the smallest number of slow movers. Choosing the right agent for your property can make a very real difference in achieving your moving plans.

In October, each property in the Walton-le-Dale area had an average of 70 daily views on Rightmove. In November, there were 59, and in December, there were 54. The average daily views on Rightmove per property increased to 75 in January and then to 79.8 in February, indicating that activity levels in the local Walton-Le-Dale property market are at their highest in five months. If you are considering putting your property on the market, now is the ideal time to do it in order to take advantage of the increased number of homebuyers looking for a property.  

If you’re looking for further information about the Walton-Le-Dale property market, or if you’re thinking of selling or buying in the area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call 01772 252136 or email info@stonehousehomes.co.uk.

Moving home is one of the most stressful things you will do and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the things that you need to do. Our easy to follow list will help guide you through it.

 

In the lead up to moving day:

 

Pack early

Avoid a last minute panic and start packing early. Removing the stress of last minute packing will help make your moving day go far more smoothly.

 

Redirect your post

It can take up to two weeks for your post to be redirected so make sure that you arrange this nice and early then you don’t have to worry about whether you have failed to notify anyone of your change of address.

 

Insurance

Lenders usually require that you have buildings insurance in place before you move as a condition of them granting you a mortgage but don’t forget to organise your contents insurance before you move in as well.

 

Meter readings

You need to let your utility companies know which day you are moving out of your property and provide them with a final meter reading so that you don’t end up paying for your buyer’s energy or water usage.

 

Internet

You need to inform your internet service provider of the date you are moving home. It can take several weeks to get connected to the internet when you move so the sooner you can start the ball rolling the less time you will spend relying on mobile data.

 

Pack an essentials box

Having a box with everything you need for the first few days in your new home will save you from a lot of frustrated searching through all of your unpacked boxes. Make sure that you include your kettle and some tea bags for that well deserved first cup of tea in your new home.

 

Moving Day!

 

Find the essentials

No not the teabags, although those are important too! You need to find the location of the stopcock, the thermostat, the gas and electricity meters and the water meter too if you have one.

 

Meter readings

Once you have found your meters make sure that you take readings from all of them. Always take a photograph as it will be time-stamped so can help if there is a disagreement over your first bill. 

 

Submit these as soon as possible to your energy suppliers, you will normally have been left their details by the sellers. If not, expect to receive a letter from them in the first few days as the previous owners will have submitted their final meter readings and the companies will be keen to make contact with the new billpayers!

 

Neighbours

It’s always a good idea to introduce yourself to your new neighbours. They will be the ones who will be taking in your parcels and can also be a great source of information about the area, including which pubs and restaurants to try out and which day to put out the bins. You never know, it could even be the start of a lifelong friendship.

We are always here to offer advice on any aspect of moving home so if you have a question please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01772 252136 or send us an email to info@stonehousehomes.co.uk.

 

Renting a property for the first time can seem daunting, but our quick guide will leave you feeling like a seasoned tenant in no time.

 

Rent

Rent will be your largest monthly cost, so it is vital to work out how much you can afford before you start your search. A good rule of thumb is to allocate no more than 30–45% of your monthly income. Make sure you pay attention to whether the rental rate being advertised is per week or per month. If it is per week, multiply it by 52 and then divide by 12 to find out the monthly cost.

 

Security Deposit

This is normally five weeks’ rent. Your landlord can make deductions from your security deposit to cover rent arrears or damage to the property when you move out.

 

Your landlord or letting agent is required by law to place your deposit in one of three government-backed protection schemes and provide you with the details. They must also let you know how much they propose to deduct from your deposit within 10 days of the end of your tenancy. 

 

If you disagree with this amount, then the deposit protection schemes provide a resolution service. This can be used to settle any disputes, provided that you and your landlord agree to use it and accept the decision made.

 

Holding Deposit

Some letting agents and landlords charge a holding deposit. The maximum amount that they are legally allowed to charge is equivalent to one week’s rent and is held while your references are being checked. This will then either be returned to you or deducted from your first month’s rent. The landlord or letting agent is legally allowed to keep your holding deposit if you change your mind about renting the property, give false or misleading information, or fail to pass a ‘right to rent’ check.

 

In advance

Rent is usually paid in advance to cover the upcoming month so you will need to pay the first month’s rent before you move in.

 

Bills

Unless your rental agreement states otherwise you will be responsible for paying

• Council Tax
• Utility bills (gas, water and electric)
• Internet and phone bills
• Contents insurance

You may also need to pay additional service charges for things like gardening or cleaning of communal areas.

When going on a viewing, you could ask the current tenants about the cost of their bills so you have an idea of how much yours will be.

 

Furnished

You can rent a property fully furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished. A furnished property may cost slightly more but it is usually cheaper than having to buy all of your own furniture. However, an unfurnished property gives you more opportunity to put your own stamp on your home.

 

Any other costs

You are liable to pay for any damage that you cause to the property. There may also be fees for adding new tenants to the contract during the tenancy. 

 

You may be charged to have a new set of keys cut if you lose yours, and your landlord or letting agent is legally allowed to charge you interest on your rent if you are two or more weeks behind. The interest charged can be no more than 3% above the Bank Rate per day.

 

Affordability

Your landlord or letting agent will want to make sure you can afford the rent. They will therefore require that you provide them with references, usually from your previous landlord and current employer. 

 

You will also need to provide proof of income and address, usually in the form of payslips and bills. It is also normal for them to run a credit check on you so it is always wise to take some time to check your credit score through sites like Experian to make sure that there are no issues that will be flagged up.

 

If you are looking to rent a property in Walton-le-Dale please give us a call on 01772 252136 or send us an email to info@stonehousehomes.co.uk to be added to our  earlybird list so that you can be one of the first to find out about our  latest available properties.

The most romantic day of the year is nearly upon us. Love is in the air and all around us are happy couples preparing to celebrate their love.

 

I would like to talk about a different type of love, the love you have for your home. Just like our relationships with our partners, the relationship we have with our homes goes through stages.

1. First meeting someone you like is the same as the first viewing of a property. 
2. You then progress to asking them on a first date, which is like making an offer.
3. Courting and finding out more about one another is the same as the paperwork side of things the solicitors deal with.
4. The honeymoon period is when everything’s glowing and rosey. You’re completely in love and showing off your home to all your family and friends.
5. After a while though, you might start getting a bit complacent, taking your home for granted. 
6. You may even feel bored and no longer enjoying the time you spend in your home.
7. Your eye may start to wander as you start noticing other homes…
8. Then you may decide to sell your home, which could be seen as the equivalent of a break-up.

If your relationship with your home has hit the complacency or boredom stage, maybe it is time to freshen up your relationship by making some changes that will benefit you both.

Whether you rearrange furniture, declutter your house, or commit to completely redecorating, changes, big or small, can help you fall back in love with your home.

If, after making some changes, you still believe that your relationship with your home cannot be saved, you will at least know that you have maximised your profit if you do decide to break up (sell).

Estate agents are the matchmakers of the property world so if you and your property have reached the end of your relationship, we  will gladly help you to handle your break-up with empathy and sensitivity.

We  can handle the dates (viewings) of your home with potential new owners and provide you with any constructive criticism, saving you from having to hear if the viewers simply didn’t like your taste in sofas.

Once a potential buyer progresses to a second date (second viewing) we  can handle all their queries and help them to decide whether your property is the right match for them.

 

Love cannot be rushed. Some people place an offer on a first viewing, “love at first sight”. Some people want to see it six times before they decide to make an offer, a perfect example of how love can grow.

 

We  can help guide you through the property selling process. No matter how lucky or unlucky in love you are, we  will find your home its perfect person/people.

 

One thing is definitely true. If you instruct us to find your property the perfect new owner, you will fall head over heels with our  service and care.

 

If you are ready to break-up with your property and you would like to put it on the market give us a call on 01772 252136 or send us an email to info@stonehousehomes.co.uk and we  will make sure that your property finds someone who will love it as much as you used to.

2023 is in full swing, and the housing market is starting to return to its normal busy levels after the usual lull in December. 

 

Buyers who are looking in February are serious about moving, which makes this one of the best months of the year to put your property on the market. The Spring Rush is on its way and will bring many more “window shoppers.” Homebuyers who are looking now tend to be motivated and have a strong drive to find their next home.

 

Let’s have a brief look at what’s been happening over the last month in the local property market around Walton-Le-Dale.

 

There are currently 1155 properties available on the market in our area. The month prior, there were 1059. In November there were 1165, in October there were 1152, and in September there were 880. The market has now returned to normal levels for the first time since the beginning of 2021, and buyers now have much more choice.  

The number of properties that came onto the market in January, 247, demonstrated a return to the normal high levels of activity in the local property market after the lull in December, when only 157 properties came onto the market. This was to be expected, as December is usually the least popular month for sellers to put their properties on the market due to festive commitments. Prior to December, there were a steady number of properties coming onto the market each month. In September, there were 333; in October, there were 286; and in November, there were 239. 

In January, 192 sales were agreed. In December, there were 130; in November, 180; and in October, 207. The month before that, 241 sales were agreed. The local facts are that there is a high level of activity in the local property market, and we expect the first quarter of 2023 to be as busy as usual. 

In September, we saw 131 price reductions across the Walton-Le-Dale property market. There were 169 in October and 167 in November. In December, the number of price reductions fell to 99, which was likely caused by sellers waiting for the market to pick up again after the normal lull in December rather than choosing to reduce the price of their property. In January, it rose again to 134. 

In January, there were 639 slow movers in the Walton-le-Dale area. This means a property that has been on the market for 12 weeks or more. This could be due to the market returning to more normal levels but expectations still being at peak levels. It will have been made worse by the fact that the housing market usually slows down in December. In December there were 565, in November there were 497, in October there were 466, and in September there were 438.

Slow movers can often be due to the 3 Ps – presentation, promotion, or price. We are proud to be in the top 10 agents in the area with the smallest number of slow movers. Choosing the right agent for your property can make a very real difference to achieving your moving plans.

In September, each property in the Walton-le-Dale area had an average of 82 daily views on Rightmove per property. In October, this number fell slightly to 70. In November, it fell to 59, and in December, it fell further to 54. This is typical for the last quarter of the year, with commitments over the festive period taking precedence over house hunting for many buyers. In January the average daily views on Rightmove per property sprang back up to 75 showing that the levels of activity in the local Walton-Le-Dale property market are returning to their normal levels in the first quarter of this year. 

If you’re looking for further information about the Walton-Le-Dale property market, or if you’re thinking of selling or buying in the area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call 01772 252136 or email info@stonehousehomes.co.uk.

 

Rising mortgage rates, increasing regulatory pressure to improve the EPC ratings of their rental properties, and the prospect of paying increasing amounts of tax under government plans to cut the capital gains allowance have caused many landlords to consider selling.

 

However, yields in the property sector are still competitive compared to the income that can be drawn from a traditional pension. The average gross yield on a new buy-to-let purchase is 6%, according to a recent survey. By contrast, a typical pension pot in drawdown has a target rate of 4%.

 

Mark Harris, of SPF Private Clients, said, “Demand for rental property is unlikely to fall anytime soon, with more people having to rent for longer because they can’t afford to buy, the need for good quality rental property at a reasonable price is higher than ever…what’s more, with a number of landlords selling up because the increased tax and regulatory burden has become too much, demand is only going to grow. If the rest of your investments have been in stocks, bonds and cash, it is good to have some exposure to bricks and mortar.”

 

A fall in house prices could also work in favour of investors who are looking for an opportunity to invest in a rental property. When house prices fall, it pushes up rental yields.

 

Mr Harris added “Buy-to-let benefits from capital growth over the long term,” he said. “This means you can enjoy a regular and fairly predictable income, but also eventually benefit from capital appreciation should you decide to sell up and bank the profits.”

 

As analysts at Deutsche Bank predict that if the American economy enters a downturn, stock markets could still fall a further 25%, workers nearing retirement need to think carefully about where to place their funds in order to maximise their returns during their retirement years.

 

If you have been considering investing in a buy-to-let property and would like to discuss how the current market will affect your investment, please give us a call on 01772 252136 or send us an email info@stonehousehomes.co.uk and we  will be happy to discuss your options with you.

 

Children often feel anxious when they are told that they are going to be moving home. They are concerned about whether they will like their new home, whether they will be able to see their friends, and whether they will have to change schools. 

 

Like all of us, they simply need to be able to talk through their worries and get some answers to their questions. Taking time to sit down with them and listen to their worries and opinions is the best way to help. 

 

Chatting in the car can be one of the best places for these sorts of chats, especially with teens.

 

Giving your children some autonomy over decisions such as the colour you are going to paint their new bedrooms and the furniture they would like to put in them can help to give them a sense of control. This can help alleviate the anxiety they may be feeling about moving somewhere new.

 

Taking your children on a viewing to see their new home can be very helpful. It gives them the impression that they helped choose which property they will live in and allows them to visualise where they will be moving to.

 

However, if at all possible, avoid taking them on the first viewings. This allows you to concentrate on looking at the properties and avoids the possibility of your child falling in love with a house while you do not!

 

Once you have had an offer accepted on a property, it can be a lovely idea to take your children on a tour of the local area. That way you can all find out where all the local parks are, where a nice cafe is, and if there are any exciting activities nearby. This will help turn a worrying experience into an exciting one, as they already know where some things are, so moving home doesn’t feel so daunting.

 

Make sure on moving day that you pack their most important belongings into a bag that they can keep with them. That way even when the moving truck is unloaded at the new house and they are surrounded by boxes they will still be able to cuddle and play with their favourite toys without having to worry about which box they are in.

 

We at Stonehouse Homes are always delighted to help your children in finding their new home. If you would like us to help you in finding the perfect new home for your entire family, please give us a call on 01772 252136 or send us a message.

 

Even in Winter you can make the most of your property’s outdoor space and getting on top of small jobs now means that it will be ready for you to enjoy in the sunshine whenever it arrives.

 

Weed and tidy up

The first step towards making your outdoor space attractive to potential buyers is to make sure that it is clean and tidy. Tidy up any areas that have become neglected, remove any weeds and neatly trim any grass. Remove moss from paths, sweep up leaves and clean outdoor furniture.

 

Add some colour

We think of Spring as the time that our gardens come to life and colours bloom. However, there are lots of plants that bloom happily during the winter and can add colour and fragrance to your garden. A combination of colourful pots and some winter flowering plants can really brighten up your space, especially when contrasted against green evergreen bushes. 

 

The following are a selection of our favourite winter flowering plants to brighten up your garden or outdoor area: 

• winter cherry
• witch hazel
• early flowering daffodils
• winter honeysuckle
• Christmas rose
• pansies
• daphne
•  snowdrops 
• and winter clematis.

 

Area to entertain

Whilst socialising in the garden has traditionally been a summer activity the pandemic has meant that more and more of us are choosing to create areas that are suitable for socialising outside all year round. A suitably-placed fire pit or chiminea can provide essential warmth on cold evenings. A gazebo can provide both shelter from the sun in summer and rain in the winter. The addition of a few fairy lights, blankets and waterproof cushions can create an enviable space for you to enjoy and for prospective buyers to desire.

 

Tidy up your outbuildings

As the first chill of Autumn settles over our gardens it is tempting to simply throw garden furniture, toys and other summer accessories into our sheds and other outbuildings and close them up until next year. If you are trying to sell your property it is important to remember that these outbuildings are a part of the property that you are trying to sell so should be as tidy and as well maintained as your house in order to maximise your sale price. 

 

Take the opportunity of a quiet weekend in January to sort through these outbuildings, declutter if possible in order to create the impression of space. If any maintenance is required, a new coat of paint or fixing a window, it is a good idea to sort these before potential buyers view your property.

 

Attract wildlife

During the cold winter months when their food sources become scarce, our local wildlife really benefits from a helping hand from us. As their natural food sources decline in Autumn and Winter, birds are more likely to visit bird tables or bird feeders than at other times of the year. 

 

In return for a ready supply of nuts and seeds, they provide us with a colourful and entertaining display as they flit around our gardens. Bird feeders ensure we can enjoy this display from inside our houses as well as outside and the feeders themselves can also be an enjoyable decorative addition.

 

If you would like more advice on how best to present your outdoor areas to potential buyers during the Winter months please do give us a call on 01772 252136.

 

The Christmas holidays and the dawning of the new year often bring changes to many. The realisation that their home is no longer right for them, wanting to move for a better lifestyle, family breakdowns or new additions. 

 

It can be a great time of year to sell your property because those house-hunting in January tend to be serious about their move. The Spring Rush can bring many more “would be nice to move” situations whereas people now are more likely in the “have to move” camp. 

 

Let’s have a brief look at what’s been happening over the last month in the local property market around Walton-Le-Dale.

 

There are currently 1059 properties available on the market in the area. The month prior there were 1165, in October there were 1152, in September 880 and 1052 in August. 

The number of properties that came onto the market in December, 157, was noticeably lower than during previous months. This was to be expected as December is usually the least popular month for sellers to put their properties on the market due to festive commitments. Prior to December there were a steady number of properties coming onto the market each month. In August there were 288, September 333, October 286 and in November 239. 

In December 130 sales were agreed, in November there were 180 and in October there were 207. The month before 241 sales were agreed and in August 268 sales were agreed. The noticeable drop in December is normal and is not indicative of a long-term dip in the local property market. It is reflective of the effect of this time of year on buyers’ priorities. The local facts are that there is still a high level of activity in the local property market and we expect the first quarter of 2023 to be as busy as normal. 

In July, we saw 138 price reductions across the Walton-Le-Dale property market. There were 131 price reductions in both August and September, 169 in October and 167 in November. In December the number of price reductions fell to 99 which was likely to be caused by sellers waiting for the market to pick up again after the normal lull in December rather than choosing to reduce the price of their property. 

In December there were 565 slow movers in the Walton-le-Dale area. This means a property that has been on the market for 12 weeks or more. This could be due to the market returning to more normal levels but expectations still being at the peak levels. It will have been further exacerbated by the natural lull in activity during December. In November there were 497, in October there were 466, In September there were 438 and the month before that there were 429 slow movers. 

Slow movers can often be due to the 3 Ps – presentation, promotion, or price. We are proud to be in the top 10 agents in the area with the smallest numbers of slow movers. Choosing the right agent for your property can make a very real difference to achieving your moving plans.

In August each property in the Walton-le-Dale area had average daily views on Rightmove per property of 88. In September this number fell slightly to 82 and in October it dropped to 70. In November it fell to 59 and in December it fell further to 54. This is typical for this time of year with commitments over the festive period taking precedence over house hunting for many buyers. The levels of activity in the local Walton-Le-Dale property market are expected to return to their normal levels in the first quarter of this year. 

If you’re looking for further information about the Walton-Le-Dale property market, or if you’re thinking of selling or buying in the area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call 01772 252136 or email info@stonehousehomes.co.uk.