richard james - news and views april 2015
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Property insight, news, views and ideas from our team.TRANSCRIPT
richardjames.info
How to maximise the value of your home....
Demand for rental property is on the up....
Time for a Spring spruce up?
Researching your homes history
richardjames.info
April 2015
Richard James news and views
Photography by Richard James 2015
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Market review - April 2015
As Spring is upon us, the housing market traditionally springs into life. Longer days and warmer weather signal thestart of moving season for many, and we are not expecting 2015 to be any different.
Our offices have been bringing properties to the market at a rate that surpasses 2014 levels, and buyer registrations are keeping pace. Couple this with the fact that mortgage rates are still at an all-time low, and we have a recipe for a healthy market in 2015. So if you are thinking of moving, take advantage of the better rates and the better weather, and move in the spring/summer of 2015.
On the front cover..... and more...Research the history of you home Page 2Time for a Springtime spruce Page 3Rental demand continnues to grow Page 4Maximise the value of your home Page 5 Spotlight on professional photography Page 6Spotlight on our East Swindon team Page 7Hints and tips on conveyancing Page 8
Richard James
This month’s contributors...
Nicky Bint - Lettings new business teame: [email protected]
Ross Sutton - Director - Wroughton officee: [email protected]
Tara Plaister - Marketing team e: [email protected] spent 7 years working in marketing, I have recently joined the Richard James team providing support to the whole company and helping with all aspects of marketing along with community support. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am excited for the future.
Brought up in Wroughton, I have an expert knowledge of the area – and 10 years in residential sales has given me a thorough understanding of marketing and selling property locally. Excellent customer service is very important to me, and I enjoy creating tailored marketing packages for each client. I’m currently studying for a RICS-accredited degree in Estate Management.
Having worked in residential lettings for over 8 years, I have wealth of experience and knowledge of the industry in the local area. I am also a member of ARLA. I’ve been with Richard James for 6 months now and am excited to be part of the growing lettings team and helping to generate new business.
RJ Blog
Old Town I Wroughton I West Swindon I Town Centre I Highworth I East Swindon
Field Rise, Old Town£399,995
Four Double Bedrooms I South Facing Rear Garden I Sought After Location I Four Reception Rooms I Far Reaching Views to Rear I 19’ Kitchen/Breakfast Room I Garage& Driveway I PVCu Double Glazing I Gas Radiator Heating I Ensuite To Master Bedroom I Viewing Recommended!
Unless you’re a descendant of the original owners and have an attic full of memorabilia,
in most cases unlocking your home’s history is a challenging but fascinating journey that will require you to turn detective. You’ll be spending time in libraries, chatting to local people and walking around your neighbourhood looking for clues.Researching your home’s historySo where’s the best place to start?The first step is to identify when it was built. Begin by looking at the building itself. The most obvious clue is a date stone. Alternatively, study its architectural features. Does it have a particular style? The chimneys, windows, ceilings and fireplaces are all pointers to the era your home belongs to. Perhaps it oozes Art Deco glamour or displays Georgian symmetrical regularity? Speak to your local history society who may well know how long your property’s been standing. Remember, your home is just one piece of the bigger jigsaw that makes up your area, so researching your neighbourhood’s history as
a whole will give you a good sense of the story behind the building of your home. Visit your local archives where you can cross reference historical maps, plans, old photographs and drawings. If you have a hunch that your building is late 19th or early 20th Century, examine street directories and the census returns that are available at 10-year intervals between 1841 and 1911, to help you determine when it was built.You could also check the title deeds of your house. However, unless you manage to locate the early version, modern day Land Registry records rarely go back further than 50 years. Alternatively, if it’s listed, check the date in the guide listing description.
Who lived in a house like this?Once you’ve established when your home was built, you can move on to one of the most exciting parts of the project, finding out about the people who used to live in it. For the full story visit richardjames.info/news
RJ BlogResearch the history of your home...
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Detached property I South Facing I Heated swimming pool Sought After Location I High specification finish throughout I Versatile layout I Currently houses an office, annexe and main accommodation I Potential for garaging (subject to planning)
Broad HintonOffers over £575,000
Time for a Spring spruce up...For fresh springtime decorating scheme ideas, combine lush greens with worn timber pieces, metallics and natural textures. Combine textures, such as mixing distressed wood with zinc, copper and glass for a rustic effect. Accessorise with laboratory-style bell jars and vintage bottles, and mingle potted succulents with cut flowers to bring the outdoors in.
Here are some tips for getting that perfect Spring spruce.
Fill blank walls with botanical prints, or frame pressed leaves and feathers to highlight nature’s own designs.
Display eclectic finds such as driftwood, wheels, large stones, old picture frames.
Timber cladding makes a simple, textured backdrop, against which antique accessories really stand out; display pieces on a ladder shelf for a pared-back look.
Refresh classic furniture shapes by choosing upholstery with a nature-inspired digital print to make a bold statement.
Create a dramatic focal point in the bedroom by hanging a floral canvas over your bed instead of a headboard.
Keep bedlinen and upholstery neutral, accenting with splashes of fresh leaf greens.
Accessorise with vintage crates, wicker baskets and a sisal rug.
Image: mother-books.com
RJ Blog
Old Town I Wroughton I West Swindon I Town Centre I Highworth I East Swindon
Demand for rental property is on the up...
The supply of rental property was shrinking in late 201 with more seasoned landlords selling buy-to-let prop-erties than buying them in the last quarter of 2014, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). Their quarterly report found 68% of respondents reported more would-be tenants than properties available over the July to September period – a significant increase compared to April to June.Demand for rental properties is on the up..The association is warning that would be renters will face fierce competition for privately rented residential property as demand among tenants increases and supply contracts. This is reinforced by the fact that supply of residential property on the private rental market decreased in the last quarter, with ARLA licensed members recording a 6 per cent drop in the average number of managed buy-to-let investment properties on their books, from 143 to 135 per member agency. ARLA says stock levels are only going to continue decreasing, as members reported that the number of landlords investing in buy-to-let property shrunk by 8 percentage points in the last quarter, from 35% to 27%. At the same time, the number of landlords selling their buy-to-let property increased by 5 percentage points, from 27% to 32%. As a result, the relationship between buying and selling buy-to-let investments has reversed, with landlords selling property now exceeding landlords buying property for the first time in 4 years. If you are thinking about letting a property or investing in a buy to let - contact our lettings team today on 01793 520721 or email me at [email protected]
Nicky Bint
Oakhurst, North Swindon£147,500
Sandgate, East SwindonOffers over £99,995
WichelstoweOffers over £125,000
Offered for sale with no onward chain is this modern two bedroom Coach House located within a courtyard position. Open plan with fitted kitchen, en-suite and car port parking.Approx rental £650pcm
Located in Stratton St Margaret and offered with no onward chain is this recently renovated two bedroom first floor apartment with the added benefit of a garage.Approx rental £550-575pcm
A well presented and decepively spacious ground floor apartment benefitting from two entrance’s situated in the modern East Wichel development. Approx rental £650 pcm
West Swindon I 01793 877 708 East Swindon I 01793 831 444 Old Town I 01793 520 720
Ideal investment opportunities...RJ Blog
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Maximise the value of your home....To achieve the highest possible price for your property you need to present it in the very best light. Richard James’s marketing services will help you ‘show off’ your home to its best advantage, and get
buyers keen to book a viewing. Maximising the value of your home means presenting it in a way that appeals to the highest number of potential buyers. Richard James knows exactly what will make them want to take a closer look – which is why we see so many sales agreed within 48 hours of a property going on the market. We’ll help you understand your home’s unique and appealing features, and how to make the most of them. Then we’ll select the marketing techniques that will showcase the property in just the right way to the widest audience. Our marketing services include: Professional photography – our in-house photographer has a talent for spotting what makes a home stand out, and producing stunning brochure-quality images that highlight its best features. Home staging – we’ll help you prepare your home for viewings, recommending ways to make it as welcoming and appealing as possible. Detailed floorplans – we feature floorplans of every property we market online and in printed specifications. Worldwide reach – as well as showcasing properties on our website we link to the major property portals. We’re consistently the top agent in Swindon on Rightmove. Social media – we’ll promote your property right across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram.
Video - new for 2015 is our property video offering and Youtube channel, offering ever more exposure of your property to the widest possible audience.
Find out more by contacting your local branch.
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Ross Sutton
Old Town I Wroughton I West Swindon I Town Centre I Highworth I East Swindon
Four Bedrooms I Kitchen Breakfast room I 0.66 acre private plot I En-suite to master I Conservatory Landscaped gardens I Backing onto open Countryside I Rural location I Viewing recommended
HamptonOffers in excess of £700,000
Marketing spotlight... Professional Photography
96% of vendors, when asked agreed that using our professional photography service helped them sell their property quicker.
Professional photography can really help make your home stand out, and with all those other vendors trying to sell their homes at the same time as you, we have to make sure your home stands out. With a touch of staging, the correct lighting, a nice sunny day and a great eye for detail, our photography team will make sure we show off your homes best features and captures what a buyer will be looking for. Along with professional photography, we offer RICs floorplans on all our properties and set them off in a lovely quality brochure. Those finishing touches really do make a difference and might just help your home catch the eye of its new owner quicker than your neighbours.
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Stone cottage I Two bedroooms I Modern fitted kitchen I Character features I 170ft rear garden I Off road parking I PVCu Double Glazing I Popular location I Viewing essential to appreciate
Stratton£170,000
Spotlight on... East Swindon OfficeHave you met the most recent addition to the Richard James offering? Having opened in October 2014, we are now in our seventh month and having a successful time so far. We have a local team including Mark Stacey, Nicole Smith and Gareth Wyn-Thomas. Mark has wokred in the Stratton area for over 10 years and loves locally, along with Nicole who also lives in Stratton and has worked with us sinceshe started as an apprentice in 2011. Gareth is the newest edition to the team and is training with us to become a negotiator. Pop in and say hello to the local team next time you pass our office on Grange Drive.
Mark StaceyManagere: [email protected]
Mike O’ConnorMortgage Consultante: [email protected]
Gareth Wyn-ThomasTrainee Negotiatore: [email protected]
Nicole SmithNegotiatore: [email protected]
150 Grange Drive I Stratton I SN3 4LA I T: 01793 831 444
Old Town I Wroughton I West Swindon I Town Centre I Highworth I East Swindon
Detached family home I Desirable location I Stunningly presented throughout I 3 Generous sized bedrooms I 2 Reception rooms I Driveway parking I Viewing essential to appreciate
Lakeside, Old TownOffers over £375,000
Buying a home is an exciting time but it can be confusing, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. Conveyancing describes the legal transfer of property (from seller to buyer). How long it takes depends on several things, such as how many buyers and sellers are involved in the process, but it can take weeks or months. A solicitor can help you buy your home by explaining the steps involved and helping you to resolve any legal issues that come up.
Searches and surveys Carrying out searches will provide details about issues that could affect your new home including legal disputes, flooding, planning constraints and permissions. Exchange of contractsThis confirms your agreement to buy and the seller’s agreement to sell the property. You and the seller can change your minds about buying or selling the property before contracts are exchanged. exchange-contracts
CompletionCompletion takes place when the purchase money is transferred to the seller and other fees are paid. Once ready your solicitor will tell your mortgage lender the results and the lender will let them have the mortgage monies. Why do I need a solicitor for buying a home? - Find out more and read the full report at richardjames.info
Hints and Tips......ConveyancingTara Plaister
Find your local office here
101 Victoria RoadOld TownSwindon SN3 1PZSales: 01793 520 720Lettings: 01793 [email protected]
Old TownHighworth36 High StreetHighworthSN6 7AQSales: 01793 765 292Lettings: 01793 520 [email protected]
150 Grange DriveStrattonSwindon SN3 4LASales: 01793 831 444Lettings: 01793 431 [email protected]
80 High StreetWroughtonSN4 9JZSales: 01793 814 542Lettings: 01793 431 [email protected]
1 Lucena HouseShaw Village CentreSwindon SN5 5PYSales: 01793 877 708Lettings: 01793 [email protected]
23 Commercial RoadSwindonSN1 5NS
Lettings: 01793 431 [email protected]
East Swindon Wroughton
West Swindon Town Centre
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