Month: June 2021

Advice on Choosing a Good Removal Firm in South Devon

This three-minute read gives you a few ideas to consider when choosing your removal firm in South Devon.

Getting the right people to help you move home is so important. This means your estate agent, your conveyancer, and the people that will do the physical heavy lifting. Choosing the right removal firm will make a big difference, not only on moving day itself, but before, and after, your move.

Reviews and recommendations

A good place to start looking for a removal firm you can trust in South Devon is to ask people you know. This could be friends, family, or your property move team, like your estate agent and conveyancer.

After you’ve been signposted to a few companies, it’s time to do some research for yourself. People move home infrequently so it’s always a good idea to check for recent reviews.

If property professionals have themselves used a particular company when moving home, it’s normally a pretty good sign that they’re the best.

Do your research

You’ve looked at the reviews on the company website, social media pages, and an independent review site, like Google Reviews or Trustpilot. There’s a few bad ones but mostly positive. Should you just leave it at that and book with them? Of course, you could but there are a few more recommended steps to take.

• Ask the company for some previous customers’ contact details. You can then have a real-life conversation with someone to explore the service they received. If the company decline, that’s a red flag.
• Ask the company what their insurance policy is. Ask them to send you a copy. This is standard practice so if they have any objections, you know this is another red flag.

Check the Ts & Cs

It’s easy for someone to ping you a quote: “That’ll be £5,000 for your move”. What should also be attached are their terms & conditions. It’s important that you get these to look through and that you actually read them.

The British Association of Removers have a set that are good. Even better companies will adapt them to their own requirements.

Extra suggestions

When it comes to arranging a moving date, exchanges and completions can be a moveable feast. One removal firm we spoke to described it as ‘like juggling jelly’. Find out how good the removal firm is at communicating. What methods will they use? Email, phone, text, social media? You need to know that they will keep lines of communication open throughout, what can be, a tense time.

Sometimes, you can judge a book by its cover. It helps if the firm has a clear, concise website and if the staff and offices are presented tidily. Check their vehicles are clean and in good condition.

Bonus tip

Did you know? Many insurers will be able to extend your existing contents cover. This means that when the movers are in your home, you’ll have extra cover. It’s always worth taking a ‘belt and braces’ approach.

If you need a recommendation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Six Top Tips for Camping Trips in South Devon

In this three-minute read, we share six top tips for successful camping trips in AREA.

Friday 2 July sees the start of the UK’s National BBQ Week – one of the Great British public’s favourite pastimes. Whether it’s bangers, halloumi burgers or spicy cauliflower steaks on the menu, BBQs are the number one meal option when it comes to camping trips.

We’ve put together a list of essential items for a successful camping trip.

• Freeze your meat

If you’re short on ice packs, freezing your meat is a great way to keep it safe until you want to cook it. Frozen water bottles also double up as great refrigerators and who doesn’t love some ice-cold water when you’re enjoying the sun in your deck chair.

• Prepare for all kinds of weather

There’s no such thing as bad weather if you’re appropriately dressed. But a lightweight rain mac and an extra sweatshirt are a good idea if the weather is unkind. A travel-size games compendium might come in handy if rain forces you to retreat inside your tent.

• Portable power bank

In an ideal world, camping trips should be full of wholesome fun; muddy knees, swinging on tree ropes and marshmallows by the campfire. In reality, the kids still need their Peppa Pig fix or Instagram updates and you might need to keep an eye on work or that eBay auction. To keep you connected, a portable charger is an absolute must-have.

• First-aid kit

Be prepared for all manner of first-aid needs – nettles, insect bites, BBQ or sun-related burns, grazed knees (we could go on…). Kit yourself out with plasters, antibacterial cleansing wipes, healing cream, and maybe some paracetamol for the morning after. Better to be safe than sorry.

• An extra loo roll (or two)

Not that we’re endorsing buying more than you need (we still remember the Covid-19 loo roll fiasco), but a couple in reserve is always sensible. They can double up for spills or when the kids need makeshift bandanas.

• A gadget for everything

Don’t forget the corkscrew, or better still, invest in a Swiss army knife – opening tins is nigh on impossible without a can opener. And you never know when you might need that emergency nail file.

If you’ve got any camping tips to share, or to recommend your favourite South Devon campsite, get in touch with us here at Chamberlains.

© Chamberlains 2021

6 Reasons Why South Devon Landlords Shouldn’t Get Lax with Inspections 

In this three-minute read, we look at why regular inspections should be central to your property management strategy.

When you’re a busy landlord juggling a multitude of responsibilities, it’s easy to let a crucial part of managing a property – regular inspections – slide.

Landlords usually carry out inspections with clockwork regularity at the start of a tenancy, but things can get a little lax over time.

Perhaps the tenant presents as a model citizen, and the landlord develops a false sense of security. (To which we say, remember Walter White, the unassuming science teacher turned crystal meth baron in the TV series Breaking Bad.)

Or maybe, the tenant pays their rent on time and never says a peep, so the landlord assumes that everything is ticking along nicely (silence is golden, right?).

No matter how much you like your tenant or how busy you are with other commitments, never skip or delay a property inspection. They are one of the best ways to protect your investment – and head off disaster.

Here are six reasons why South Devon landlords should carry out regular inspections.

• Maintenance

It’s easier (and cheaper) to rectify a minor maintenance issue than a major one. A tenant may not mention a leaky tap or a little bit of damp, but these problems can morph into expensive repair jobs if left unresolved. It’s also essential that you check that carbon monoxide monitors and smoke alarms are working.

• Paper trail

The photographs and notes you take during each inspection (yes, you should be doing this) create a valuable paper trail. If there is a dispute at a later date, you’ll have evidence to support your side of the story.

• Build rapport

If your tenants find you approachable, they’ll be more likely to let you know when there is an issue and treat your property respectfully.

• Contractual obligations

It’s important to know that your tenants are complying with their contract and haven’t sublet the property or sneakily adopted a pack of Great Danes.

• Spot illegal activities

With regular inspections, you can ensure your property isn’t being misused by a criminal gang. We know this sounds far-fetched, but gangs – particularly those involved in cannabis production – are becoming increasingly brazen. Trust us, the last thing you want is a police cordon and Sky News reporter outside your property.

• Insurance disputes

Many insurers won’t pay out on a major claim if the landlord hasn’t conducted regular inspections. They argue that by neglecting to visit the property, the landlord has not been vigilant and has therefore invalidated the policy. Whatever you make of this justification, cover yourself, so you don’t wind up out of pocket.

For advice about our property management services, please contact us here at Chamberlains.

 

How Homes in the UK Compare to Their European Rivals

A two-minute read looking at the price of property across our continent.

The month-long football festival AKA the Euros 2021 kicked off at the weekend.

And the home nations of England, Scotland, and Wales are all competing to win the crown of the best national side in Europe.

A win for England would be priceless, and we thought it might be a bit of fun to look at how property prices compare across the continent.

So, we jumped on Google to see what the average prices for a place to call home are in the following eight countries taking part in the 24-nation tournament. (Stats taken from 2020 – 2021 unless noted.)

England – £268,000

Wales – £178,907

Scotland – £164,099

France – £200,241

Across other parts of Europe, the focus is on the average price based on a square metre of the property.

Germany – £2,922 – per square metre (psm)

Portugal – £964 – psm

Spain – £2,071 – psm (based on new build properties)

Switzerland – £5,078 – psm

To give you a comparison, the average price psm across England and Wales was £2,954 (Jan 2021) and in Scotland £1,579 (2018).

And just like star footballers, the average values depend on how in-demand the areas are.

The cost of properties in many of the above countries is much higher in cities and areas where people buy holiday / second homes.

At Chamberlains, we can’t predict with any guarantee who will win the Euros when it concludes at Wembley Stadium on 11 July, but we can guarantee you a champion level of service if you choose us to help with your move.

5 Reasons to Leave Property Viewings to the Experts

In this two-minute read, we look at why it pays to get an experienced estate agent to handle viewings.

When it comes to selling a property, many people overlook the important role viewings play in the process.

They mistakenly believe that viewings are simply about opening doors and making sure would-be buyers don’t nick any valuables.

In fact, buyers share crucial information during viewings that can be helpful during negotiations and push up the final selling price.

Cutting corners on viewings – as many low-fee and online-only agents do by insisting the seller handles them – only chips away at the end result. Here are five reasons to entrust viewings to an experienced professional.

• Honesty

Brits are a polite bunch who don’t like hurting other people’s feelings – which is lovely if you’re hosting a tea party, but not much use if you’re selling a property. Buyers are much more likely to give honest, constructive feedback to an agent than an owner.

• Personal safety

When you open your front door for a viewing, you’re essentially letting a stranger in to wander around your home. In most cases, buyers are genuine and well-meaning, but many sellers prefer to have a professional in charge for peace of mind.

• Buyers prefer it

There’s a reason why sellers are asked to remove family photos and personal belongings before a viewing: too much personal information is a turn-off for buyers. Similarly, buyers can feel awkward when an owner, especially one with a strong emotional attachment to the property, conducts viewings.

• Spot genuine buyers

Viewings are an opportunity for the seller to suss out if a buyer is for real. As well as achieving top price, you’re looking for a buyer who won’t mess you around or drop out at the last minute. A good agent will ask the right questions during a viewing to glean if the buyer means business.

• Negotiation

If you’ve never negotiated a large transaction before (and let’s face it, selling your home will probably be the largest transaction of your life), why start now when so much is at stake? Let an experienced agent with a proven track record handle it for you. They’ll be calm and level-headed and immune to any buyer shenanigans.

To learn more about our sales success in South Devon, get in contact with us here at Chamberlains.

I’m a South Devon Landlord: Do I need to Register with the ICO?

This two-minute read takes a look at the ICO and what South Devon landlords need to do.

Back in 2018, the rules around the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and data handling changed. Things like ‘This website uses cookies; do you accept?’ popped up everywhere.

The ICO is the Information Commissioner’s Office and covers the whole of the UK. The ICO website explains that they are ‘The UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.’

It’s the law

It doesn’t matter how many properties you have, how many tenants, nor how many people you work with or have working for you. It is the whole business that must be registered. As a landlord, you are considered to be a business, even if you’re a sole trader. 

Not just for agents

Some landlords think that their letting agent has to be registered and therefore, they themselves are exempt. This is not the case. Anyone who handles personal data and stores it electronically must register. This could be as little as a name or phone number for the tenant that was texted or emailed to you.

What are the costs?

The ICO fee will be between £40 and £2,900 per annum. The fee is paid annually. It is worked out depending on the size of the business and turnover. There is a self-assessment you can carry out on the website. Have a look at it here. This will show you what amount you will have to pay.

What’s the risk?

Tenants could raise complaints about you to the ICO if they believe you’re misusing their data. The ICO might then investigate. If you had a complaint about the tenant, like unpaid rent, the tenants could use your non-registration against you. If you don’t register with the ICO and get caught, the fines can range from £400 to £4,350.

How to do it

It’s a simple 15-minute process to get registered. It’s not something an agent can do on your behalf. Visit this webpage to get started.

You’ll need to give the ICO:

• The name and address of the business that needs to be registered
• Turnover and staff numbers
• Business details
• Credit/debit card details

The fee will be due again in 12 months’ time. It could be easier to give the ICO direct debit details.

If you are a South Devon landlord and would like further advice about this or any other lettings issue, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat on 01626 365055