The process of buying a house (or flat), or more specifically buying land, is unlike the process of buying any other item. When it comes to any other item, even a very expensive one, the process is extremely straightforward. Seller and buyer agree a price and once agreement is reached a contract is created, which is legally binding and can be enforced through the courts if necessary.
Beware Contracts Race when Buying Property
March 12th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Legal, Property Conveyancing | 3 Comments »
Should you become a Green Landlord?
February 28th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Insurance, Landlords | 3 Comments »
The energy crisis is something that is likely to become more and more prominent over the coming years as the UK as a whole looks to reduce its energy consumption, lower carbon emissions and work towards having renewable energy in the future.
This is an issue that is pertinent to everyone, including landlords who will be coming across more and more tenants and letting agents who want to know how green and carbon friendly their properties are!
To Buy or To Rent Property: What would you do ?
February 17th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Market, Property Portals | Comments Off on To Buy or To Rent Property: What would you do ?
In uncertain economic times, many people are considering their options more carefully when it comes to buying and renting property. Everybody wants their home to be a safe haven and there is a great deal of security on offer for those who are in a position to get a foot on the property ladder. However, there are also benefits to renting a property and sometimes buying comes with its own financial challenges.
Share of Freehold Properties, Leasehold or Freehold?
February 15th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Property Conveyancing, Property Market, Top Tips | 5 Comments »
Generally when buying a property the sales particulars will tell you whether it is leasehold or freehold. If the property is a flat or maisonette however, you will sometimes see it described as “share of freehold”. This can be confusing to many buyers. Does it mean they will be getting a freehold flat with no lease? Does it mean you will be your own landlord? In fact it is just a term invented by estate agents to try and make a leasehold property seem more attractive.
Property insurance – essential or an unnecessary expense
February 6th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Insurance, Property Market | 4 Comments »
The properties in which we live are generally our biggest purchases in life, they are the places we spend much of our time, the places we fill with valuable possessions and one of the things we would least like to live without. Taking these simple facts in to account, the questions we must ask are, do our homes need protecting? If so, what type of protection do they need?
Selling Your Home Without an Estate Agent
January 23rd, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Estate Agents, Property Market | 9 Comments »
Selling a property can be expensive. There’s removal costs, legal fees, utility bills to settle, but by quite a way the largest expenditure (after repaying your mortgage) will usually the estate agent’s fee. Estate agents charge a percentage of the eventual sale price, typically between 1% – 2%, plus VAT. This means that even on a relatively modest sale price of, say, £100,000 the estate agent’s fee will probably be somewhere between £1,200 – £2,400.
Dickens Mania Brings Victoriana to Life
January 11th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Market | 2 Comments »
As London prepares to celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, Victorian themes are dominating the cultural scene, (see www.dickens2012.org) from film and theatre to festivals, exhibitions, cultural tours and interactive shows.
Tips on avoiding home repossession
January 4th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Financial Products, Property Market | 2 Comments »
Being at risk of having your property can be terrifying and can be very lonely. You are worried about what will happen if you lose your home and perhaps embarrassed about what people will think. The reality is you should not be embarrassed – tens of thousands of people are repossessed each year and as the recession bites harder they are on the increase.
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How will installing solar panels affect my home insurance?
December 20th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Home Improvements, Insurance | 7 Comments »
You might think that installing something as large and life-changing as a solar panel on your home means big repercussions on your insurance premium, whether for the better or worse.
Well, there’s a balance at work: on the one hand, environmentally aware homeowners like yourself are usually less likely to claim and insurers can’t really penalise people for doing something that’s so eco-friendly and positive. On the other hand, the solar panels are both valuable in themselves and add value to your home, which means your payout might have to be larger if you were to claim.
Guide to City-Based Student Accommodation
December 16th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Property Market | 3 Comments »
Whether you’re an existing student or you’re looking forward to starting university next year, there’s always a lot to think about – modules to choose, loans to arrange, books to buy and people to meet! But you shouldn’t overlook your choice of city centre flats, or leave it until the last minute – places start filling up incredibly quickly, and if you don’t want to be left with a lack of options it’s always a good idea to plan ahead.
Living With Parents Hits ‘Kiddults’ Where It Hurts
December 14th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Developers, Property Market | 1 Comment »
High house prices hit personal lives of Britain’s stay-at-home grown ups, reveals survey. Living with mum and dad is ruining the sex lives of Britain’s stay-at-home ‘kidults’ according to a survey commissioned by North West property development company, FreshStart Living.