Archives October 2022

It doesn’t have to be hard to find your new ideal place to live. It also doesn’t have to feel like it takes up all your time and therefore makes you feel very stressed out. The problem is that if you start looking for a great new home in the wrong way, it will be stressful and not fun at all. You might even settle for something less than what you really want because you just want to be done with the search. Because of this, it’s helpful to have some tips on house hunting so that the process goes more smoothly and your busy life doesn’t get too disrupted (apart from the move itself, of course – there’s not a lot we can do about that!).

Know Your Budget

If you don’t want to waste time when house hunting, you need to know what you can afford before you start looking for a new place to live, whether you’re buying or renting. To do this, you will need to make a list of all your expenses and income and figure out how much money you have left over for a mortgage or rent payment.

If you’re already paying for a place to live, you’ll know if the amount you’re paying is enough or if you want to cut it or raise it. If you need to, you can talk to a professional to find out what you can afford. So, you can immediately narrow down your search and save a lot of time.

Research Prices And Shortlist Areas 

After figuring out your budget and what you want and need from your new home, the next step is to look into where you want to live. If you know about the area, you won’t waste time house hunting homes that aren’t in the right place

Some of this research can be done online, like checking prices and keeping track of how long properties in the area have been on the market. You should keep this in mind when planning visits if they’re moving quickly. If they’re not, you should think about why.

It’s also important to go to the area at different times of the day and night to see how it feels during the day and at night. Check out the shops and green spaces in the area, as well as how well it meets the needs and wants on your list.

Get Some Viewing Help

It might be that if you’re very busy when it comes to house hunting, you need some extra help to ensure you find the right place for you. One way to do this is to speak to all the estate agents in the area you want to move to as possible – give them precise details about what it is you want, and this will narrow down your choices.

Another option is to hire Looksy Inventories to view properties on your behalf. We can go to the places you can’t when house hunting, either because you’re busy or you live a long distance away (perhaps even in another country) and offer a full report – including a video walkthrough – of the property. Give us a list of your requirements and we’ll let you know what fits and what doesn’t. Contact us today to find out more.

We’re often told that supporting local businesses is important, but what is the reason for this? Looksy Inventories, a local business working in the Sevenoaks area, is part of this group, and we hope that by detailing the reasons why buying local (and independent) is better, you’ll understand more. Read on to get the information you need to make the right choice when it comes to supporting local businesses.

Better For The Local Economy

Local businesses are a big part of the economy in the UK. As of 2018, 99.3 percent of all private sector businesses in the UK were small businesses, and 60 percent of all private sector jobs were with small businesses. In other words, local businesses create a lot of jobs, and they tend to hire people who live nearby instead of relying on people who commute from far away.

Also, when you buy from a local business, your money is much more likely to stay in the area. People who live in the area and work at local businesses spend their money in the area, and small businesses are more likely than big ones to do the same. This is also better for the environment since buying supplies, products, and food from nearby sources reduces the carbon footprint of these items. So, local businesses put money back into the local economy, which makes it stronger and helps it grow.

Creates Local Relationships

Local businesses don’t just make the economy stronger; they also make the community stronger. Relationships between small businesses are important for making a community feel like a whole and welcoming place. This is because businesses help each other.

When you are supporting local businesses, you make the community a better place to be.

A Unique Experience

Not only do you help the local economy when you shop locally, but you’re also more likely to find original and unique items. Instead of the same standard product or experience that a chain offers, a local business can give you something that you couldn’t find anywhere else in the world. Local competition gives the economy a boost, not just in terms of money, but also in terms of new ideas, since small businesses are always looking for new and exciting ways to grow.

Contact Looksy Today

If you need a property inventory or another property service, contact Looksy Inventories today. Not only will you be supporting local businesses, but you’ll be getting high quality work at a great price. You’ll be getting experts in inventory services. You’ll be getting Looksy – you don’t need anything more.

The last thing you want is for your home to bring anything other than good into your life. This isn’t always the case, of course. In any case, it’s far from certainbecause of a number of common property problems. You’ll need to be aware of the hazards and threats that exist in every facet of life. If you’re aware of the threats, you’ll be better prepared to defend your property. In this post, we’ll go over some of the most prevalent risks faced by most homes, and we’ll also provide you with tips on how to defend yourself from them.

Photo by Pixabay

Other People 

Most people won’t be in any way dangerous to your home. But there will be some who are. Some places have more crime than others, but you should always remember that it can happen anywhere. Today, home security systems are pretty high-tech, which is good. If you have one of these, you will have done a lot to make sure that thieves can’t get into your house. You should also make sure that your house is entirely secure. For example, are there any obvious weaknesses or openings that a criminal could take advantage of? These are common property problems.

Mother Nature

Depending on where you live, mother nature could be a danger to your home. As a matter of fact, this is happening more and more often because of climate change. You can’t do much to stop nature from doing what it does. But you can make it less likely that it will damage your house. For example, if you live in an area that gets hurricanes, look for impact windows. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, make sure your gutters work well and that your roof is in good shape. Think about where you live and what the most obvious weather-related issues are, and make sure your property is protected as much as possible. 

Pests

Pests are another way that nature can make its way into your home. This happens more often in some places than in others, but it can happen anywhere. Pests won’t just mean you have to get rid of them. They also make your house look and feel bad as a whole. No one wants to feel like they live in a house with unwelcome guests. The best way to avoid this problem is to keep your house clean, potentially using expert end of tenancy cleaning services to help you, but if you think you might have pests, you should act right away and call in experts. They won’t just go away by themselves as they are common property problems.

Being Out Of Date 

Your home is mostly a place for you and your family to relax, have fun, and make good memories. It should also be a place where everyone feels comfortable. But it’s a long-term plan. You’ll eventually have to sell your house, and when you do, you’ll want to make sure you get as much money as possible for it. One of the more subtle ways your home could be damaged is if you let it get out of date. If you don’t keep your house up to date with modern standards, you’ll eventually find that the property’s value has gone down. Staying on top of these things is important.

Should tenants be present for a check-out?

The simplest answer is that tenants are not required to be present for a check-out.

The check-out, which usually occurs on the last day of the tenancy or a few days after the tenants have moved out, is the final inspection of a property and its contents. The inventory clerk will look to see what, if any, changes have taken place during the tenancy, list all damages for which the tenant may be responsible for costs, and note any necessary actions, such as maintenance work that must be done.

A tenant might feel anxious if they are present for a check-out. There may be tension between the parties if they feel threatened or worried that the inventory clerk will find problems and they will lose their deposit. Of course, the inventory clerk is an unbiased reporter, and they will never discuss the issues with the tenant – they will simply make a note of the condition of the property. However, when there is money at stake – the tenant’s deposit – it can still feel nerve-wracking. So it’s often best if the tenant is not present for a check-out.

What Does The Check-Out Assess?

At the check-out, you should pay particular attention to two things: damages and cleanliness. The inventory clerk will compare the current state of the property to the original inventory report while taking the length of the tenancy and type of occupancy into account. The inventory clerk is responsible for determining who is responsible for returning the item to its original check in a state that allows for reasonable wear and tear.

What Does The Inventory Clerk Do?

The original inventory report and the present circumstances are all that matter for an independent inventory service company and their employed inventory clerks, like the ones at Looksy Inventories. The clerk is not there to pass judgement on the tenants, and they are also not required to know the specifics of any damages or cleaning issues that may have occurred on the property. Simply put, they will take several photos to document the situation and note the exact new condition of any item, be it a door, wall, carpet, piece of furniture, or anything else.

As a result, the check-out inventory is factual and based only on what is and isn’t present. Even if the tenants or landlord were present and could explain the situation, the inventory clerk would still need to record everything based on facts and without being swayed by any of the parties.

For more information about whether or not a tenant should be present at a check-out, or for any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.