Housing Market Predictions for 2021
Now that we’re several stages into the Government’s roadmap designed to guide us safely back to some semblance of normality, we thought it would be worthwhile looking at how the property market is responding and how it’s likely to look throughout the year. Back in December 2020, we gave an overview of the property market…
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Home Survey Standard Introduced by RICS
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, of which Home-Approved is a member, introduced its Home Survey Standard on 1 March. Find out more.
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The Stamp Duty Freeze and How the Property Market is Faring
Have you been spotting ‘for sale’ and ‘sold’ signs lately? Drive down any residential road and there seems to be loads wherever you look. Ever since July, when Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced that he was putting a freeze on stamp duty until 31 March 2021, the property market seems to have gone…
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What Do Building Surveyors Do?
One of the questions our customers frequently ask is “What do building surveyors do?” It’s a good question because what we do can seem a little bit shrouded in mystery and yet everybody who buys a home is strongly advised to hire one. Let’s find out what we actually do for our money! We know…
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Buying a Victorian Property in 2020 – Ideal Living for the Post-Covid-19 Era?
Updated for 2020 Looking for a Victorian property? Ideal living for the post-Covid-19 era Coronavirus, lockdown and our gradual emergence from lockdown has changed the world we live in. It’s hard to really get a handle on just how long we’re going to have to live with social distancing, face masks and caution in everything…
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How the Property Market is Shaping Up Post-lockdown – Don’t Panic!
If you saw the recent headlines in the media after Nationwide published its latest property report, alarm bells will be ringing – on 2 June, The Express ran with ‘UK house prices fall by most since 2009 – experts forecast 5% drop to crippled market’.
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We’re Back – and Ready to Safely Conduct Building Surveys Again!
The last seven weeks have been a tough time for everyone in so many different ways, from being unable to work to home schooling to the challenge of shopping for food and tracking down loo roll and pasta – such has been the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. And then there are the many thousands…
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House-Buying Dilemma – Should You be Buying a Period Property or Choose a New Build Instead?
It’s a question that is easy or hard to answer depending on your preference. Period properties range from chocolate box images of thatched cottages to imposing Victorian townhouses. At the other end of the scale, one could argue that new build properties can sometimes look like glorified Lego houses with no character. It really does…
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Loft conversions – a bonus when they’re done properly
When space is a premium and extending the footprint of a property can be difficult or impossible due to planning restrictions, utilising your loft area can be the perfect solution if you need an extra bedroom or want to create additional space in which to work, work out or relax. However, a loft space suitable…
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So buying a new build property doesn’t guarantee a clean bill of health
Back in June, we picked up on the news about housing firm Persimmon and highly dissatisfied owners. At the time, one couple were feeling angry that their property had 30 faults in every room. Another couple identified 700 defects!
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