All posts by Lisamarie

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.

Things change, and when we talk about mortgage terms, most of us are looking at at least a 15- to 30-year commitment. You can’t say for sure that you won’t have to move within that time frame. So, the answer to whether or not you can sell a house with a mortgage probably won’t come as much of a surprise.

Can I Sell A House With A Mortgage Before The Term Ends?

Yes, you definitely can sell a house with a mortgage before the term ends, as long as you can pay for it. This means that the amount you still owe on the loan must be less than what your home is worth. On top of that, you’ll also need to think about any charges for paying off the loan early and any fees you may have to pay to brokers or financial advisors you hire.

As always, it’s very important to do the maths before getting involved. Find your mortgage terms and see if you are still in a period where there are fees for paying off the loan early. Also, find out how much it will cost to pay off your mortgage in full. Keep in mind that this is different from the annual early repayment allowance that lenders give customers who want to overpay their mortgage. This is usually around 10% of the remaining balance each year.

If you are still within the terms of a deal, you may have to pay a fee of 3 to 5% of the amount you still owe to settle up in full.

Do I Need To Let My Lender Know?

Yes, without a doubt. Obviously, you won’t need to do this until you’re sure you want to sell your house with a mortgage, but this is still a call you need to make. Not only will they need to know that a sale may be coming up, but it will also give you a chance to talk about your options, like moving your mortgage (more on this in a bit).

What Happens To My Mortgage?

Most of the time, the money from your sale will be used to pay off (redeem) the loan and any fees you may have owed for paying it off early.

Your conveyancer will ask your mortgage company for a redemption statement and handle the settlement for you. This will end the mortgage deal, giving you the freedom to live without a mortgage or get a new one with the same lender or a different one.

But this isn’t the only way to do it. For some, it makes more sense to keep the mortgage they already have.

Can I Move My Existing Mortgage?

Yes, you can. This is called “porting.” Even though it doesn’t happen as often as redemption, it’s not that rare. Most mortgages can be moved from one house to another when selling a house with a mortgage, and if the conditions are right, you could save a lot of money by doing this.

Porting a mortgage isn’t as easy as just giving your lender a quick call and asking them to change your address. In reality, the process for porting a mortgage is very similar to the process for getting a new mortgage or switching lenders. You will have to reapply and have your finances reevaluated before being accepted. Your new home will also be given an appraisal (which you may have to pay for).

If you are accepted, however, you will keep the same terms as your current deal, including the interest rate you pay now. This can be a good idea, especially when times are uncertain or when interest rates are going up.

Have you ever thought about adding an extension on to your house? It’s one of those investments that makes sense no matter where you are in the process of owning a home. If you just bought a house, it can help you pay off your mortgage faster or help you sell another house faster. Read on to find out more.

More Floor Space

When purchasing a home, you first consider the house and the value it offers. Making a decision is simple if a home has plenty of space, proper insulation, and a new kitchen. The value of the outside area at the back of the house isn’t taken into account by everyone, though.

Although you spend most of your time in the house, the land it is built on has far higher value, so why not use the property to expand your family’s living space and make the house easier to sell? This is one of the main advantages of adding an extension.

Added Property Value

The property’s value rising is one of the additional primary justifications for adding an extension. Greater demand results in higher asking prices for houses with more square footage. One of the simplest methods to boost market value and more floor area is to install an extension.

Bespoke Designs

Custom designs for extensions let you pick out things like doors, windows, insulation, and more, making the process feel more like a DIY endeavour. This is crucial when building an addition onto a house so that the two spaces look cohesive.

If you decide to go with a prefabricated addition, you and the architect will plan out the details in advance. Your approval of the final product will be required before the plans are finalised. 

More Functionality

Adding an extension can serve a variety of purposes, from providing a peaceful place to work during the day to a lively gathering spot for friends and family after dark. The use of an addition is not limited to work or play; it can also be for reading, cooking, relaxing, and the like.

It’s not possible to make full use of the garden in colder areas, so adding an extension to the house is a great way to make the most of the garden and expand the home’s living space. You can kick up your feet and enjoy the changing of the seasons during the cooler months.

Recently, there has been a big change in the way people think about the environment and about how they’re living on this planet. The concept of a self-sustaining home, while not the norm as yet, is certainly becoming more popular because of this. And the idea of living ‘off-grid’ is something that many people are starting to consider. Although there will be plenty of challenges associated with this kind of lifestyle, the long-term positives do outweigh the negatives.

One thing that you would need to consider, of course, is the cost of creating a self-sustaining home. Read on to find out more about what this would cost you and how you can off-set those costs in the end.

Cost Of Land And Building

Assuming you want to buy a property from scratch for your self-sustaining home, you will need some land to build it on, and this will be the first cost to consider. How much you spend will depend entirely on how much land you need to buy and where you need to buy it – the same size piece of land up in the Scottish Highlands is going to cost a fraction of the cost of buying in the Kent countryside, for example. When you have a budget in mind, the best thing to do is to speak to a land expert who can source you the ideal plot.

Once you have the land, you’ll then need to build the property. Again, this will differ from place to place, but on average the cost of a self-build in the UK comes in at around £1,750 per square metre.

Cost To Run

A self-sustaining home is going to save you money in the long-term due to its sustainability factor – that’s one of the big benefits of building this kind of property in the first place, as well as the fact that it will help the planet hugely. However, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be other things to pay out for, at least initially.

Energy bills still need to be paid out until the house becomes entirely self-sustaining. It can take anything from months to years to become completely self-sufficient, so be aware that you might still need to ‘import’ electricity and water until you have enough for yourself. The same goes for your food. Don’t worry though; your vegan diet doesn’t have to wait until you are growing your own food; you can even buy vegan pizzas these days so you can start earlier if you want to.

Plus, you’ll need to spend money to ensure that the house is self-sustaining in the first place. This might mean installing solar panels or digging a well or creating a vegetable garden – or all of the above, plus more. Many people choose to take out a short term loan to cover these initial costs, knowing that the money they save overall will help them to pay it back more quickly.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that building a self-sustaining home is going to cost you money. From the land to the labour costs and materials to the fact that the self-sustainability doesn’t happen overnight, you could be spending many hundreds of thousands of pounds. Yet when you consider that you would have spent the same on a normal house but that normal house wouldn’t be good for the planet and wouldn’t eventually pay you back and allow you to live off-grid, you’ll see that it’s money well-spent.

Do you plan to invest in rental property? If that’s the case, you’re definitely not alone. It’s no secret that buying a rental property and managing it can be a lucrative business venture, so it’s no surprise that so many people are eager to get into it. However, finding a rental home and giving over your cash is not as easy as it sounds. Many factors should be thought through before making such a substantial investment. In this article, we’ll share some useful information that will make it easier for you to invest in a rental property. 

Get A Good Mortgage When Buying A Rental Property

The importance of securing a decent mortgage cannot be overstated when buying a rental property. If you need a loan to buy the house, this is of paramount importance. All mortgages are not the same, and there are several to choose from. You should look around and get a few quotes before deciding.

In addition, you should check your financial situation to ensure that you can comfortably pay the mortgage. This is especially important if you intend to be a hands-off landlord and instead work with a property management firm. Keep in mind that even though you will be receiving rent each month, you are still responsible for paying the mortgage each month.

Think About The Location

Location is an important factor to consider when investing in a rental property. After all, getting tenants is why you buy a rental property in the first place. Your property’s location is a major factor in determining whether or not renters will be interested in it. Tenants may be hard to come by and keep if you don’t fix these problems.

As a result, it is crucial to give careful consideration to the location of the rental property before making a final decision. Think about accessibility to public transit and nearby schools as well as the safety of the immediate area. It is easier to locate (and keep) tenants when you’re in a more desirable location.

Be Prepared For Unexpected Expenses

An further crucial consideration is the fact that when buying a rental property, unanticipated costs can and will arise. As a landlord, you’ll inevitably face situations like this. As a landlord, you risk losing money due to a variety of factors, such as maintenance and vacancy.

It’s crucial to have a contingency fund in case of such unforeseen costs. One strategy for doing this is to put money aside on a regular basis. You won’t have to take money from your emergency fund or any of your other sources of income to address any unforeseen costs that may arise.

The team at Looksy Inventories joins the nation and commonwealth in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

It’s likely not news to you that a viewing is a crucial part of selling your home.  You can select a trustworthy estate or letting agent, but if they don’t conduct a viewing in a professional, educational, and enriching manner, you’re not going to get an offer, no matter how nice your home is.

A successful showing will highlight your home’s best qualities and encourage potential buyers to visualise themselves in your space. Here, we provide the most effective strategies for making your home more appealing to potential buyers and increasing the likelihood that they will make an offer before they leave.

How To Prepare Your House For A Viewing

Before you conduct a viewing, give your house a thorough cleaning and make sure everything is in working order. At this point, you should be thinking about your potential buyers and how they could envision living in your property. Keep reading to find out more. 

Give Your House Some Kerb Appeal

In the real estate market, the first impression is crucial. This is why you need to conduct a great viewing. Most buyers will have multiple houses scheduled for viewings and may have already viewed several before they see yours, making it difficult, if not impossible, to sway their opinion if they aren’t impressed upon first glance.

Make your house more presentable by cleaning up the outside. Consider this question: what will a viewer observe right away? Take the time to maintain your front garden by cutting the grass and trimming the bushes. Keep the driveway free of litter, and put your rubbish bins somewhere out of the way. You should clean the windows and maybe repaint the front door (just remember to steer clear of particularly garish colours).

Think About Your Pets

You can’t expect potential buyers to share your enthusiasm for beloved pets. Give your home a thorough airing and vacuum up any loose hairs from the carpets, rugs, and soft furniture before you conduct a viewing. The smell of a wet dog or litter tray is not going to make a favourable impression. Since you’ve probably grown accustomed to your pet’s aroma, a friend or neighbour with a more objective nose could be of great assistance here. If your pet gets overly excited when meeting new people, consider having someone else take care of it during the viewing.

Show Off Your Floor Space

British homes are increasingly smaller despite the popularity of open floor plans and light, airy interiors. Among British residences constructed after 1930, LABC Warranty found that the largest dwellings were constructed in the 1970s. Sizing has decreased since then. While newer homes have smaller living rooms than those built in the 1970s by around a third, the average number of bedrooms has decreased to just under three from 3.6 in the 1980s.

If your home is modern and on the smaller side, you may want to give the impression of more room than there actually is when you conduct a viewing. Make the most of the extra square footage your older home has to offer. You can accomplish either of these aims by getting rid of unnecessary items and old furniture, but don’t just stuff everything into the loft or the garage; viewers should want to look there if they are serious. 

Provide As Much Information As Possible

There will be a set of questions ready and waiting for each potential purchaser. Your estate agent will have less time to accomplish the crucial business of selling your house if they have to spend the entire viewing answering these queries. Therefore, give as much information as possible in advance of the viewing. Is off-street parking possible on your property? Do you know if there are any authentic era details? How wonderful is the garden, if there is one? However, don’t be too dismissive of problems either (we’ll go into this more later).

Be Honest

Earlier, we mentioned that you shouldn’t feel pressured to cover up any imperfections you could find in your house. Caveat emptor (“buyer beware”) has traditionally applied to sales of residential property, however deceiving potential buyers is exceedingly unlikely to result in a sale.

If you’re worried that the truth about your home might scare off potential buyers, the best thing you can do is make sure your estate agent or viewing expert knows everything there is to know about it. Pretending that everything is well with the neighbours when you’re actually in the middle of a heated disagreement over the fence or the volume of your music might seem like a small thing to embellish. The truth always emerges in these cases, and if you’ve already sold the house by then, the buyer will likely try to get some kind of compensation from you.

Leave It To The Experts

You could be tempted to conduct viewings yourself – after all, who knows your property better than you? We recommend, however, that you have an expert conduct a viewing instead. This could be your estate agent, but if they aren’t able to attend a viewing or you want to have a little more control – or you’ve opted for a less expensive package that means you conduct the viewings yourself – Looksy can be there for you. Since giving tours of homes is our day-to-day work, we are in the ideal position to point out the most noteworthy features, address any queries, and determine whether or not the prospective buyer is interested. Get in touch today if you want to know more.

Furthermore, potential buyers may not feel at ease touring a home with the current residents present, increasing the likelihood that they will be too polite to raise pertinent questions and thus delay making an offer. Keep in mind, maybe most crucially, that anyone viewing your home should feel like they could actually live there. That might be hard with the current owners there.