Call Blog
What does no chain (or chain free) mean in property?
If you’re searching for that perfect home to buy, you might have seen terms like ‘no chain’, ‘no onward chain’ or ‘chain free’ appearing alongside property listings. You might have an inkling that chain free is a good thing – but what does it actually mean?
Disadvantages of buying a leasehold property
Are you considering buying a leasehold property? Not to be dramatic, but there are a few things you should know about leasehold properties before you decide to buy one. But are they even worth buying at all, or should you steer clear altogether?
What type of property do I own?
Estate agents may have a categorical knowledge of the different property types, but as a layperson, you'd be forgiven for not knowing your semi from your studio. It’s important to know, as your insurance company will need to assess the likelihood that you’ll need to make a claim – and some property types are more prone to issues than others.
What are house surveys?
The results of the house survey can make or break a sale – so to say it’s important is an understatement. But what exactly is a house survey, and why do you need to have one to sell your home?
What to do if you inherit a house
Inheriting a property is a significant event in anyone's life. It usually brings mixed emotions, and these, together with the legal, financial and moral responsibilities, can feel overwhelming. Don't let it stress you too much, though. We're here to help with our essential guide on what to do if you inherit a house.
What documents do you need when moving house?
There’s no way around it – moving house comes with a whole lot of paperwork. Even in this digital age, expect to find yourself rifling through drawers and digging through document boxes to track down all manner of forms, certificates and documents before the moving process can begin. Missing paperwork can seriously delay your move, so it pays to know what you need in advance. So, let’s take a look at the documents you need when moving house.
What is gazundering and how to stop it
If you're considering selling your home, you must get clued up on gazundering. The UK property market is currently experiencing an epidemic of gazundering, leaving thousands of home sellers frustrated and out of pocket.
What's the difference between gazumping and gazundering?
You won’t hear the terms ‘gazumping’ or ‘gazundering’ outside of the property world. That’s because they have been coined to describe two specific occurrences that can happen when buying and selling houses.
What is a mortgage valuation?
There are some aspects of the home buying process which are a little confusing. For example, why isn’t an offer acceptance legally binding? When do I need to pay the deposit, and to whom? And what are ‘searches’?
Is Gazumping On The Rise?
Instead of being a time for celebration, having an offer accepted on a property is proving to be a nail-biting period fraught with anxiety for UK home buyers.
How to avoid gazumping
Gazumping – it’s happening all around us. The chances are, someone you know has fallen victim to gazumping – and it could be about to happen to you.
What are mortgage lender fees?
Moving house isn’t cheap. We’re not even talking about the deposit, stamp duty or the property itself, but rather the seemingly endless list of fees and expenses which come as part of the deal when you buy a new home.
Should I buy a second home as an investment?
More than 1 in 10 adults in the UK now own a second property. But should you join them?
The process of selling a house
Selling your house? Take a deep breath. It’s quite a process, but nothing you can’t handle. The main stress-causing factor is getting your offer accepted in the first place, followed by the agonising wait until the contracts are exchanged and everything is official.
Buying a home? Government schemes can help
Buying a home in the UK is harder than ever. House prices have risen dramatically while salaries have remained pretty stagnant – and the cost of living means that saving for a hefty deposit is a real struggle for many.
Moving into a new build home checklist
There’s nothing like the feeling of moving into a new-build house. Everything is clean and new, and you don’t have to scrub away decades of other people’s dirt before it feels like home. Just because it’s a newly built property doesn’t guarantee it’ll be smooth sailing once you’ve got the keys, though.
Buying a new build home vs buying an old one: which is better?
When it comes to the perfect home, every buyer is different. Some people dream of a period property packed with original features, while others prefer the blank canvas of a fresh, modern new build.
How to choose the best agent to sell your property
The first step to selling your home is finding the right agent to work with – but choosing an estate agent is easier said than done. Don’t be bamboozled by a sales pitch – read our guide instead.
The process of buying a house
So – you've decided to buy a house. Congratulations! Don't celebrate just yet, though, as the hard part is only just beginning. Luckily, we're here to give you an idea of what's to come with our rundown of the process of buying a house. We've even documented the process in our On The Ladder series here.
What to do if you're nervous about your home survey
When you view a house, you're probably looking at the bigger picture. Can you imagine yourself living here? Is it spacious enough, is there lots of natural light, or are there broken-down washing machines and old tyres littering the neighbour's front garden?