Blog

As most properties are listed online, it’s now even easier to find your perfect property. Although, due to there being such a large selection to view, it’s worth thinking about exactly what you’re looking prior to looking; doing this will help you know your requirements and narrow the options. We have listed below what you’ll need to think about before staring your propert...

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In the last few years what an estate agent is or is not expected to do has changed quite considerably. The level of services offered by agents can be quite extensive, depending on the needs of the buyer/seller. You will get some agents who will conduct property viewings on a seller’s behalf and some sellers will do the viewings themselves. The vendor (the owner of the property) will pick an...

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It's not the TV quiz show that has put the above question into everyone's minds but more the fashion with which we exit (or don't exit) the EU, and more importantly what effect that will have on the economy generally and for those looking to sell or buy a property at the moment, how it will affect the housing market! At S J Smith Estate Agents we are finding that the local market is proving resil...

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New data has revealed that for the last 12 years, August is the most popular month to move. According to research, August 30th is predicted to be the busiest moving day for Brits this year! Based on figures from the English Housing survey, there was 625,000 owner occupier moves in England in 2016-2017 – approx. 1,700 moves per day. 3.8 times this level (approximately 6,500 moves) are expec...

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It’s an interval that landlords loathe, but unfortunately, also a period which is part and parcel of the property cycle for many who have bought to let. Void periods are likely to incur a landlord financial loses, making it a scary time as you could feel that your investment isn’t paying off, or that you’ve made the wrong decision. Taking precautionary measures is essential for m...

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Are you in the process of selling your home this summer? Making sure your home is maintained to a high standard throughout all four seasons is no doubt vital in order to boost your chances for making a sale. However, the summer months are a great time to undertake some seasonal DIY maintenance on your house which will boost your chances of selling. To increase your chances of selling this summer,...

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As we enter what is technically known as 'Summer' here in the UK, one of the benefits is that the longer, lighter evenings are far more accommodating for property viewings. Viewing a property on a warm summers eve can definitely warm even the coldest of buyers hearts, with gardens looking lovelier, evening sun bathing the buildings and, for the finishing touch, a chilled bottle of wine strategical...

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It may be understandable that when selling a home, the majority of improvements homeowners begin to make are within the confines of the actual house itself. After all, it’s these spaces where the prospective homeowners will be spending the most time – so making these stand out should be a priority.  But often overlooked by home sellers are the property’s garden areas &ndash...

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As the race intensifies to secure the leadership of the Conservative Party, and by default the leadership of the country, the nation waits with either bated breath or a stifled yawn (depending on one's interest in politics) to see who will lead the UK towards the Brexit deadline of October 31st. At the time of writing, former Lord Mayor of London Boris Johnson is the clear front runner and seems l...

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Downsizing can be a difficult decision to make. You might have decided to downsize so your home is more manageable for you, or you want to live in a more convenient location, or you might just want to release equity from you home. Whatever the reasoning, if you have decided to pack up and find somewhere smaller — our tips below should help to make your move a smooth one. Make sure you...

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