Latest Blog Posts

Minimising Stamp Duty

Wednesday, 6th January 2010

Categories: Market Analysis Sales Selling Tips
With the temporary increase of the threshold over which buyers pay Stamp Duty from £125,000 to £175,000 ending on 31st December 2009 I thought this would be a good opportunity to take a look at some of the issues surround the tax.

Sue Bradford

Make Your Estate Agent Work Harder

Tuesday, 1st December 2009

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
When you first put your property on the market for sale the question often arises; who should show prospective buyers around, you or your agent? From our experience the answer is invariably your agent.

Sue Bradford

Give Your Property a Web Presence

Tuesday, 1st December 2009

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
The way that people search for property is constantly evolving and while newspapers and magazines still have their place, particularly for those without access to a computer, most properties on the market will appear first on the internet in one form or another.

Sue Bradford

Selling Tips for Autumn

Tuesday, 10th November 2009

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
As Firework Night has come and gone and the temperature seems to have dropped a few degrees it’s a good time to bring you a few selling tips if you’re marketing your property this autumn.

Sue Bradford

What Price Should I Market my Property For?

Saturday, 10th October 2009

Categories: Property Prices Sales Selling Tips
When choosing which agent to market your property with there are many factors to consider. You may get in 2 or 3 agents for valuations with each suggesting a different figure. But it is all too easy to automatically choose the agent who promises you the highest price.

Sue Bradford

Our New Drive-By Valuation Service

Monday, 21st September 2009

Categories: Property Prices Sales Selling Tips
There are times when a homeowner wants to know the approximate value of their property but can’t be doing with the hassle of having agents round – it may be that you are at the early planning stages or perhaps you’ve not had a valuation for several years and are just curious. Either way our new drive-by valuation service may be the answer.

Justin Burns

Flat Roof Terraces

Thursday, 10th September 2009

Categories: Sales Surveying
Flat roofs to single storey rear extensions make such ideal terraces it is surprising that you don't see more of them. The problem is of course that it's very hard to get planning consent for them. If you live in close proximity to your neighbours any sort of raised platform will overlook them and for that reason permission is normally refused.

Justin Burns

10 Questions to Ask an Owner When Viewing a Property to Buy

Friday, 28th August 2009

Categories: Sales
Unlike us here at Peter Barry not all agents accompany every viewing. If you find yourself in a situation where you are being shown around a property by the owner it can be revealing to ask a few gently probing questions. Here are a few ideas:

Justin Burns

Market Outlook - August 2009

Thursday, 6th August 2009

Categories: Market Analysis Property Prices Sales
It’s been three months since we last wrote about the state of the market here on the blog. At the time we had a tentative feeling that a recovery may be occurring - three months on and those commentators that predicted doom at the start of the year are publishing updates quicker than a Michael Jackson biographer.

Justin Burns

The New RICS Homebuyer Report

Wednesday, 22nd July 2009

Categories: Sales Surveying
Over the last few years I have prepared several hundred RICS Homebuyer Survey & Valuation Reports for our clients. For those that don’t know the ‘Homebuyer Report is what is known as a ‘level 2’ survey; far more comprehensive than a lender’s valuation but not quite as detailed as a Full Building Survey.

Justin Burns

The Summer Market

Monday, 6th July 2009

Categories: Market Analysis Sales Selling Tips
It appears that summer has arrived early this year and if the long range forecast is to be believed it is to be one of the hottest for many years.

Justin Burns

Open for Business as Usual

Wednesday, 17th June 2009

Categories: Lettings Sales Surveying
You may have noticed that there are a few changes occuring to our office. Our old shopfront was removed this week and the temporary hoarding is now in place.

Justin Burns

Don't Leave it Too Late to Extend Your Lease

Thursday, 4th June 2009

Categories: Sales Surveying
If you live in or are considering buying a leasehold property you will want to ensure that the unexpired term of the lease will not have a detrimental affect on the future marketability of the property.

Justin Burns

What is the real cost of a HIP?

Wednesday, 27th May 2009

Categories: HIPs Sales Selling Tips
The RICS announced recently that they are to investigate the practice of agents profiting from the sale of Home Information Packs to sellers.

Justin Burns

Market Outlook - May 2009

Thursday, 7th May 2009

Categories: Market Analysis Property Prices Sales
In the month that has passed since I last wrote about the outlook for the housing market signs of increased activity have continued. Viewings are still on the increase and the previous reluctance of potential purchasers to make offers has subsided.

Justin Burns

Selling a Property with Unregulated Changes

Thursday, 30th April 2009

Categories: Sales Selling Tips Surveying
Right at the top of the list of things that can bite you on the arse when you come to sell a property is unregulated alterations.

Justin Burns

Unlock the Potential in Your Garden

Thursday, 9th April 2009

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
Now that Spring has officially started and the weather has improved (slightly) prospective buyers will place greater importance on the garden as an attractive and safe place for the parents to relax and the kids to play.

Justin Burns

Changes to HIP Regulations

Thursday, 2nd April 2009

Categories: HIPs Sales
The latest chapter in the Home Information Pack (HIP) regulations commenced on 6th April. It is now illegal to market a property until the majority of the documents that make up the pack are available.

Justin Burns

Welcome to the Peter Barry Blog

Wednesday, 1st April 2009

Categories: Market Analysis Property Prices Sales
It's not easy to be optimistic about the sales market at the moment but this being the first post on our new blog I thought should try. Amongst all the gloom and doom there has been some evidence of a pick up in activity since the turn of the year so maybe we can start to look forward to better days ahead.

Justin Burns

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