Latest Blog Posts

Help us to Help you Sell

Wednesday, 1st February 2012

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
When you instruct an estate agent to sell your property, you might assume that you can switch off and wait for the offers to flood in. With a sought-after property in a very buoyant market, this might well be the case but, generally, you’ll need to do your bit to help your property hit all the right notes with the right prospective buyers.

Sue Bradford

How your Neighbours affect your Selling Prospects

Thursday, 12th January 2012

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
Most people will have neighbours either side of their property – and possibly above and below as well, if you live in a flat. People generally tend to be friendly and amenable and, if you’re really lucky, your neighbours can end up being good friends...

Sue Bradford

Should I avoid getting in a Chain?

Thursday, 15th December 2011

Categories: Miscellaneous Sales Selling Tips
Finding yourself in a long chain is every buyer and seller’s worst nightmare but it’s often an unavoidable scenario. However, there are certain ways to minimise risk or to ensure that the chain you’re in keeps moving towards completion.

Sue Bradford

How Pets Affect Viewings

Tuesday, 8th November 2011

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
There is an easy way to split people into two groups: those who love pets and those who freak out at the sight of a single cat hair on the sofa. Unfortunately, when it comes to selling your property you have to try to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible...

Sue Bradford

Are Local Papers still Relevant in the age of the Internet?

Tuesday, 1st November 2011

Categories: Lettings Market Analysis Sales Selling Tips
The Internet has completely transformed the way we read and digest information...it might seem fair to assume that the old-fashioned method of flicking through the property section of your local newspaper or magazine is now obsolete. In fact, this is far from the case.

Sue Bradford

Who Makes the Decisions – Him or Her?

Wednesday, 19th October 2011

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
If you’re selling a property, it’s always good to get an idea about who the ultimate decision maker is, so you and your estate agent can market your flat or house accordingly...

Sue Bradford

Make the Most of your Garden when Selling

Wednesday, 5th October 2011

Categories: Sales
With property renovation, the garden is usually the last area that people think about or spend money on...However, the last thing you want is to wow prospective buyers with the inside of your property, only to see the disappointment on their faces when they step outside into the garden...

Sue Bradford

What’s Stopping your House from Selling?

Tuesday, 16th August 2011

Categories: Market Analysis Sales Selling Tips
It can be frustrating and disappointing when the potential buyers fail to translate into decent offers or, even worse, when the viewings dry up altogether...However, this is not the time to get defensive: it’s the time for positive action...

Sue Bradford

Mistakes to avoid when Showing Prospective Buyers your Property

Friday, 12th August 2011

Categories: Sales
Once you’ve put your house on the market, it’s only natural to want a sale as soon as possible. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when you show potential buyers around your pad...

Sue Bradford

What Buyers should look for when viewing a Property

Monday, 25th July 2011

Categories: Sales
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned property hunter, there are certain key things that you should look out for when you go for that all-important first viewing...

Sue Bradford

Found your Perfect Property? – The Hidden Dangers you may have Missed!!

Friday, 17th June 2011

Categories: Sales Surveying
In the comparatively few visits you may make to the property you are about to purchase there may appear little in the way of work or defects to deal with, especially when it has been newly refurbished. The following blog details somewhat typical examples of what you may have missed...

Matthew Price

Mary Portas Secret Shopper – An Estate Agent's View

Friday, 25th February 2011

Categories: Sales
Mary Portas has turned her hand and quite frank opinions to an array of businesses including mobile phone, sofa and fashion outlets. Last week it was the turn of the estate agent to receive her very much to the point treatment. For those not familiar to the show’s format, Mary, with the help of her ‘stealth weapon’ (her own words) secret shopping, exposes the below-par customer service of well known companies and then, armed with the footage, returns and gives the bosses a so called wake-up call.

Matthew Price

Freebies for Movers

Saturday, 6th November 2010

Categories: Lettings Sales
It’s rare that we get something for nothing in life so I thought I’d tell you about a new company that sends a box of freebies to any tenant or buyer that moves in to a new property.

Justin Burns

HIPs Suspended

Thursday, 20th May 2010

Categories: Market Analysis Sales
David Cameron's coalition Government have today honoured their manifesto pledge and suspended Home Information Packs (HIPs) with immediate effect. They are to be abolished as soon as primary legislation can be put in place.

Sue Bradford

Unlock the Potential in Your Garden

Wednesday, 24th March 2010

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
Now that Spring has officially started and the weather has improved 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.

Sue Bradford

The Importance of Floor Plans

Monday, 15th March 2010

Categories: Sales Selling Tips
The inclusion of a high quality set of floor plans on your property’s details, showing the layout and dimensions, will not only provide something extremely useful to potential buyers but will have the added benefit of saving yourself time and unnecessary stress.

Sue Bradford

Where have all the Properties Gone?

Thursday, 25th February 2010

Categories: Market Analysis Property Prices Sales Selling Tips
If you are currently looking to buy a property in the area you will have noticed that there is very little around to choose from. Buyer demand is still extremely strong and there is only a trickle of new properties coming on to the market. This combination of factors should ensure that prices remain strong over the next few months.

Sue Bradford

Beat the Spring Rush

Thursday, 25th February 2010

Categories: Market Analysis Sales Selling Tips
Spring is traditionally the busiest time of the year in estate agency. It is not unusual for us to take on half our new instructions for the year during the months of March, April and May.

Sue Bradford

Competition Among Buyers

Thursday, 28th January 2010

Categories: Market Analysis Sales Selling Tips
With a continuing shortage of good quality properties coming on to the market and prices rising steadily the balance of power is likely to remain with sellers for the months ahead.

Sue Bradford

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

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

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

Categories