Our industry blog
Selling property with fixed-fee agents like Purple Bricks
Purple Bricks - a different approach Unlike conventional High Street estate agents, some newer online agents like Purple Bricks charge a flat fee at the outset rather than taking commission based on the actual sale achieved. This is a radical change from...
Should you give your estate agent ‘sole selling rights’ to your property?
Sole and multiple agency Most people wanting to sell their property via an estate agent start by appointing a single agent - an arrangement known as 'sole agency'. Here the appointed agent is the only estate agent with the right to sell your property. With...
Planning restrictions are not a major obstacle to UK housebuilding
Planning restrictions are not a major obstacle to housebuilding – so why is the government determined to overturn them? If the rate of UK house price increases over the last fifty years were applied to the price of food, then a chicken would today cost £70...
Sole or multiple estate agents – what’s best?
Sole or multiple agency? Should you appoint just one estate agent? Or is there a better chance of achieving a sale by using two or even three simultaneously? Most sellers appoint a single agent, until things get a bit desperate and 2 or more agents are...
The new ‘First Homes Scheme’ – new homes at up to half price – but who qualifies?
First Homes - at up to half price On 4th June 2021 the Government launched a new affordable housing scheme known as the ‘First Homes Scheme’. The First Home Scheme entitles first-time buyers who live in a household with a combined income of £80,000 or less...
The Frustrations of Being An Estate Agent
It's not easy being an estate agent! Estate agents frequently find themsleves in the firing line for the failings of others, and have a reputation for disingenuousness second only to politicians and the tabloid press. Marketing properties may be relatively easy...
What Exactly Do Estate Agents Do?
What exactly do estate agents do? One of the great mysteries of life for many people is what exactly estate agents do for their money. Conventional wisdom has it that they stick a photo of your house online, put another in their shop window and then make a couple of...
Converting Your Loft Into A Home Office
Loft Conversions have never been more popular - here's why With so many of us now working from home there's a massive need for adding 'office space'. Converting your loft is an obvious solution as as most are just wasted space. It's also a lot cheaper...
Is It Worth Putting Up A ‘For Sale’ Board?
How effective are 'For Sale' Boards and Estate Agent websites? In this series of blogs we're looking at different marketing tools used by estate agents and asking which ones work best and whether clients are getting value for money. Estate Agents'...
Estate Agents’ Marketing Tools – Does Advertising Work?
Marketing tools used by estate agents - how effective is advertising? In this series of blogs we're looking at different marketing tools used by estate agents and asking which ones work best and whether clients are getting value for money. Online...