24/08/2007 by damianbellusci.

The online estate agency firm Brightsale has called on the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to investigate the issue of competition within the UK estate agent industry. The move comes soon after the website reported that several of its customers had been hit by punitive and arbitrary fee increases from a leading high-street agent.

In addition to agents increasing their rates of commission for no apparent reason, Brightsale also claimed that one of the UK’s best-known firms urged traditional estate agents to work together to force their online competitors out of the market.

Emily Bellusci, Less2sell’s owner backs Brightsale’s and she states “We would urge all home sellers to insist that they are free to use an online agency, alongside a traditional one, without a threat of punitive commission hikes.

“We believe that competition crushing contracts are not in the best interests of consumers or the industry as a whole.  We at Less2sell Online Estate Agent set our business up in the hope of restoring faith in Estate Agents.  These traditional agents are keen on destroying that faith”

Earlier this month, Paul Smith, the chief executive of SpicerHaart used his column in Estate Agency News to call on traditional agents to stick together and consider “reverting to sole selling rights and include a clause which prevents the seller from using an internet property retailer at the same time.”

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17/08/2007 by Damian.

 As Less2sell Online Estate Agents rightly predicted in our article on 25th June 2007 titled September start likely for Hips and three-bed homes, the government has today announced plans to extend the recent home information packs to 3 bedroom properties as of September 10th 2007.

For more  information on home information packs please visit Less2sell Online Estate Agents

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Posted in HIP's | Print | No Comments »

16/08/2007 by Damian.

       Good news for homeowners with mortgages as this dramatic reduction in inflation has probably removed any potential further increases in interest rates for 2007.

After last months figures, specialists where 80-90% certain of another 0.25% in interest rates, however the chances of such an increase is now less than 50%.

CPI annual inflation – the Government’s target measure – was 1.9 per cent in July, down from 2.4 per cent in June, the largest single drop in inflation for 5 years.

The largest downward contribution came from food prices, as supermarkets led price cuts across a range of products including bread and cereals, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. In addition, price increases last July on beef and shop bought milk were not repeated this year.

Another large downward contribution came from furniture and furnishings, with average prices falling over the month by more than 10 per cent, a record for July, following record increases for June last month. Widespread sale prices were available on a range of items in July including kitchen, bedroom and lounge furniture.

Other large contributions came from:

• Transport
• Housing and household services
• Recreation and culture

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Beginners Guide to Predicting the Outlook for the Housing Market

Posted in UK Interest rates, General | Print | 1 Comment »

10/08/2007 by Damian.

     Many of you will have seen today that the National Housing Federation (NHF) expects house prices to rise 40% by 2012, with the average House price then breaching £300,000. With compounding, this means an average increase of roughly 8% per year. This is in line with the long-term average, which Halifax says is 8% since 1983.

Is the Market Going Up or will it Crash!’

All predictions should be taken on face value and you should always take head of who has commissioned and written the article.  The NHF has a vested interest and this could be why we have an upbeat report.

Most experts seem to think price rises will slow with the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) estimating that house prices will go up by just 7% in 2007 and only 2-3% in 2008.
Halifax recently revised up its prediction for this year from 4% to 6%. However, this is still lower than the average needed to hit NHF’s prediction.

Is the Market Going to Crash!

The truth is no-one knows take for example Hometrack.    Hometrack made no predictions this year after guessing a 1% rise for 2006. It was more like 10%.

As for the NHF’s prediction of a 40% increase over the next 5 years.  Take into consideration the track record of all other forecasters being so poor, it seems unlikely that its own prediction will come true either.

Like we reported in our earlier blog Beginners Guide to Predicting the Outlook for the Housing Market, predict the housing market at your peril!

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Beginners Guide to Predicting the Outlook for the Housing Market

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02/08/2007 by Damian.

The Bank of England have held the UK interest rate at 5.75% today, however most economists are predicting one final 0.25% rise before the end of the year.

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Posted in UK Interest rates | Print | 1 Comment »

01/08/2007 by Damian.

Showing your home is a vital element of the selling process. The latest figures from Less2sell Online Estate Agents  suggest that you can expect an average of twelve viewers through your door before you confirm a sale. However, inviting so many strangers into your home could place you in a vulnerable position.
 
 It is with this in mind that Less2sell,  member of the National Association of Estate Agents provides advice on how you can ensure your personal safety whilst selling your home.
 
 

1) Be sure to obtain all of the viewer’s details from the agent when arranging times and dates. Check you have the right name and contact details of each viewer, and ask the viewer to confirm all the details to you upon their arrival. If you are going to be alone in the house, it is probably a good idea to ask a friend or a neighbour to accompany you whilst you show your home.
 
2) Be friendly whilst conducting the viewings but don’t be lured into giving away too much personal information. Be cautious of conversations that inform people of your movements, for example holiday plans and work schedules, anything that informs the viewer of when the property is likely to be empty.
 
3) You might prefer for your agent to conduct the viewing on your behalf, make sure that the agent has accurate information regarding alarm codes and locations. Also check that the alarm location is not referred to in any of the sales literature about your property. If you do decide to leave keys with your agent it is a good idea to ask for a receipt and ensure that they will inform you of any viewings they will be conducting.
 
4) Using a sale board is a great way of marketing your property. However from time to time this does encourage people driving past to knock on the door and ask to view. If this happens refer them to your agent and arrange a time that suits you and that you are comfortable with. 

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Seven Simple Tips to Increase Your Chances of Selling Your Home Beginners Guide to Predicting the Outlook for the Housing MarketGuide to Choosing an Estate Agent

Posted in Tips | Print | No Comments »

01/08/2007 by Damian.

Finally after the embarassing last minute u-turn in May, HIP’s are here.  As of today, home owners puting their 4 bedroom or more properties on the market will have to get a HIP.

If you are thinking of selling your home or you require further information on HIP’s including what’s in a pack, pricing of HIP’s and how to conduct a D-I-Y HIP please visit our main website www.less2sell.co.uk - Less2sell Online Estate Agents

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