Downloads and Useful Information

• The Legal Process and Moving Checklist
• Sample HIP
• Information for Landlords (coming soon)
• Information for Tenants (coming soon)
• Top Ten Tips for a Quick Sale
• Guide to Selling Your Home
• Visit the BBC Virtual Home Page
• To find out about an area, visit www.aboutmyplace.co.uk
• For transport, visit www.transportdirect.info
• www.moveme.com
• Travel/Commuter links
  
  

  Download Example of glossy brochure

Quick Links

• What happens on a valuation
• Viewings
• Finding the ideal property
• What you can afford
• Negotiating and making an offer
• What happens once your offer has been accepted?
• The Mortgage
• HIPs – Home Information Packs
• What are the local schools?
• Council Tax Bands
• Travel/Commuter links

A valuation on your property is a free service we give during which you can raise any questions you have about your property and we will offer honest advice. The mistake most people make is to invite various estate agents around to their property and put it on the market with the agent that promises the highest price. During the current market, this can lead to stagnation of a property on the market and won’t help the sale of the property.
Remember, it is important that you can trust us and we help you sell your property in the most efficient and hassle-free way possible. That is our job!

Don’t forget to take a camera and tape measure on every viewing you go on – the camera is so you can avoid having to rack your brain about which property had the lovely en-suite! With cameras built in as standard on most mobile phones, this is easier than ever. But remember to always ask permission with the agent or owner before taking any pictures. The tape measure is for you to see if your pieces of furniture will fit in the rooms.

You will need to consider what aspects of a property are most important to you:

• number of bedrooms / bathrooms
• parking provisions
• separate kitchen and dining room
• private garden
• conservatory
• how much time/money you may want to spend redecorating etc.

Tell us exactly what type of property you are looking for and the elements that you could compromise on. Also inform us what you don’t want and whether you have a mortgage agreed in principle.

You may want to consider buying a new build; which are growing in popularity and offer many benefits to homebuyers.

If you are moving to a new area, you will need to see how this will affect your lifestyle such as commuting to work, taking the children to school, going to the gym, etc.
You can find useful information about house prices, school performance, public transport links and other amenities on www.aboutmyplace.co.uk, where you can also view aerial maps of the area. Also see the downloads section.

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Buying a property is a big step involving a substantial long-term financial commitment, so think hard about what you can afford. You will need to consider the assets you have – like savings – as well as the money that’s coming in and going out.
Although it may reduce your buying options, you don’t want to commit to a mortgage and then realise you can’t afford some of the nicer things in life! It may sound obvious but take time to think of all the things you spend money on throughout the year, even without a mortgage.Try working out your budget using the easy calculator below or go to our downloads sections for more information.(Insert budget calculator here)

Once you have found the property of your dreams, the next step is to make an offer. It is important to consider a variety of factors when choosing your price level in order to achieve the right deal for you. Take a step back to logically look at all the things that matter before making your offer.
First time buyers, buyers with no chain and buyers who have pre-arranged mortgages have a head start on most of the competition. If this is you, then make the agent and seller aware of this, as this can put you in a very favourable negotiating position, especially if the seller is in a chain. Be sure to check if they are in a hurry to sell or have been trying to sell for a long time. If so, they may be willing to accept a lower offer to make the sale. Sellers who are not in a hurry to move are more likely to hold out for a higher price.

Gazumping is a term used to denote a situation where the seller has accepted an offer but subsequently accepts a higher offer from another purchaser. This is legal and ensuring the property is taken off the market is one way of reducing this risk. Gazumping happens most frequently in a seller’s market. Gazundering is the term for when a buyer reduces their offer just before the contracts are exchanged in the hope of forcing the seller to accept less for the property. Again this is considered legal.Knowing your budget ceiling is crucial so decide your maximum limit from the start and stand firm. If the seller refuses to budge, you need to think very carefully if the property really is worth the extra money and of course, what you will have to live without over the long term. Do your homework and check what the property is truly worth. Whilst sold house prices can help give an idea of recent sales, it’s better to see what the competition is like now. If there are few similar properties for sale in the area, chances are the seller has the upper-hand. Also, if there are any faults or repair work required, use this to justify a lower offer. In tougher times when there are fewer buyers, sellers may be more willing to negotiate on price.

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Once the seller has accepted your offer, ask them to take it off the market. They don’t have to agree to this, but doing so will shut out other potential buyers. Now you need to move fast – the seller will want to see progress so try to avoid any unnecessary delays in getting the surveys and other legal work done. Complete the lender’s application form and send them the documents they require - this will include proof of your ID, evidence of your earnings, proof of your address over the last few months and your bank statements, so have these ready.
The lender will arrange for a valuation to be done on the property. If you are lucky enough to not need a mortgage, you don’t have to get a survey done, though buying a property without one is not advisable and risky. If you are buying an older property, one that needs repairs or just for your own peace of mind, you could consider getting a more detailed survey done than the basic lender’s valuation.
Ask us for a quote

For most people buying a property the biggest ongoing cost is the mortgage - simply a loan secured against a property. You can’t sell the property without paying off the mortgage first and if you don’t keep up the repayments the lender can repossess the property.
Because of the credit crunch, it is vital that you secure a mortgage with a lender before starting the searching process. This way, when you find the right property, you will avoid being beaten to it by another buyer and you will also be in a much stronger negotiating position.
Generally, the best mortgage deals are available to people who put in at least 15% of the property’s value, leaving the mortgage company to lend the other 85%.
If you put in less than 10%, you may have to pay a “Higher Lending Fee” (sometimes called a Mortgage Indemnity or a Mortgage Guarantee Charge) which will add to the cost of your mortgage. Click here to contact us about mortgages…

Since 14 December 2007 every home put on the market, no matter what size, must have a Home Information Pack. It brings together valuable information at the start of the process - such as a sale statement, local searches and evidence of title - which could save you money, time and stress. The Pack also includes an Energy Performance Certificate that contains advice on how to cut CO2 emissions and fuel bills.

Benefits for sellers
For sellers, providing a Pack upfront should reduce the likelihood of any nasty surprises in the selling process that could delay the sale, as buyers will be able to make more informed decisions about purchasing their home.

Benefits for buyers
For buyers, the Pack provides essential information about properties they are considering buying, free of charge.For information about HIPs and all your questions answered, please visit http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/consumer/For a sample HIP, see our downloads section. (‘downloads’ to be a link to the downloads section)

What are the local schools?
Caddington schools:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/witchfield/schools.htm
Markyate area schools:
http://www.markyate.herts.sch.uk/
http://www.beechwoodpark.herts.sch.uk/page.aspx
http://www.flamsteadjmi.herts.sch.uk/

For more information, please visi for schools in Hertfordshire:
http://www.hertsdirect.org
Or for schools in Bedfordshire:
http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/SchoolsAndColleges/SchoolsAndColleges.aspx

Follow the link to find out which council a property is listed under and then follow the link to the council, http://www.voa.gov.uk/cti/InitS.asp?lcn=0

Junctions 9 & 10 of the M1 are a 5/10 minute drive away.

Nearby airport is London-Luton which provides both national and international flights.

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