Call Blog
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?
Conveyancing fees - what are you paying for?
Sorry to break it to you, but conveyancing fees are unavoidable in the home buying process. Knowing exactly what you’re paying for can make coughing up a little less painful, so read on to discover what you’re actually getting for those hefty conveyancing fees.
How much can you negotiate off a new build house?
It’s well known that you could end up paying a premium for a brand-new house. But is it possible to negotiate a lower price?
First homes scheme for first-time buyers
The new First Homes scheme for first-time buyers is a government initiative which hopes to change that. But what is it? Who is eligible? How can you apply? And are there any hidden catches?
How to manage a property chain
Most house purchases in the UK are part of a chain. You can look at property chains as a necessary evil. They’re frustrating, delay-causing and sometimes cause the transaction to fall through – but most of us wouldn’t be able to move house without one.
We're paying thousands more than expected on our stamp duty
When buying a property, ensure that you factor in the cost of Stamp Duty before purchasing. Believe me! After our offer had been accepted and we'd instructed the conveyancers to oversee the purchase process, we were sent a breakdown of their costs. Legal fees, transaction fees, drainage and water searches were all there. Honestly, they don't miss a trick! Yet, the figure that jumped out at us was our Stamp Duty costs. Let me explain why.
How to speed up local authority searches
Before you exchange contracts on that dream home, the local authority searches must be carried out. These are a necessary part of home buying, and woe betide anyone who skips them. But do they really have to take so long?