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Plant power: use botanicals to impress buyers

It’s true – the wonder of nature can be harnessed to help you sell your home. Homes & Gardens even claimed in a recent article that ‘houseplant staging’ was the secret to property sales success.

Botanical elements can definitely add appeal before you open your door to buyers. With everything you need freely available from garden centres, DIY stores and even your humble supermarket, what’s stopping you?

Fill a vase with flowers & foliage

Yes, it’s a cliché but cut flowers will always make a home for sale feel fresher and better dressed. If you’re heading out to buy a ready-made bunch, opt for UK-grown blooms to support local growers. If your garden is in good shape, you may be able to pull together your own display using what’s in season – and reduce the bouquet’s air miles to zero at the same time. Pad out your vase with foliage and twigs or opt for single-stem vases if you’re short of flowers.

Try a houseplant take-over

Achingly in fashion, houseplants are guaranteed to impress and you don’t have to wait for the right season for the best results. Their evergreen nature and adaptability is ideal if you have an empty shelf or a bare corner. Some houseplants prefer bright light, while others can tolerate shade. Some even thrive in steamy environments, such as bathrooms. If the thought of keeping a houseplant alive is daunting, choose almost-indestructible varieties such as pothos, money tree, lucky bamboo, spider plant or snake plant.

Prioritise pots of joy

The plus points of pots are numerous and they really are a seller’s friend when it comes to making a shrewd investment. Unlike shrubs and trees, which ideally need planting into beds, pots can move with you (even with plants and bulbs still in them) and provide years of joy.

Pots can go almost anywhere too – on your doorstep filled with bright bedding plants, by your back door crammed full of culinary herbs, grouped together on the patio or added to a balcony. Opt for vibrantly-coloured, unusually-shaped and interestingly-textured pots and they’ll become statement items on their own, or when paired with foliage-only plants.

To ensure the health of any pot plants, always add crocks to the bottom of the pots to improve drainage, use peat-free container and basket compost, ensure the soil doesn’t dry out and feed in the growing/flowering seasons.

Notes for the not-so-green fingered

Plants are a little like children – they need a certain degree of feeding and nurturing. If your past growing track record leans more towards neglect, never fear. There are low and no-risk ways to flood your home with flora and fauna.

  • Keeping it real

There are many houseplants that need little or no moisture. Ponytail palms, tillandsia, burro’s tail, sedums, sago palms and zebra plants (haworthia) are ideal for busy households who may overlook strict watering schedules.

  • If you can’t make it, fake it

Faux plants have evolved to become ultra-realistic but while they can fool even the most observant of property visitors, faux plants haven’t always had a good reputation in the sustainability stakes. Thankfully a number of companies are addressing the issue, one of which is Bloomist, who’s EcoFaux™ uses upcycled and recycled plastics.

  • The compromise

Preserved plants are an interior designer’s favourite as they keep the characteristics of living plants and fuse them with the zero-maintenance of faux plants. A more advanced art of flower drying has allowed gypsophila, hydrangeas, heathers, linum, bunny tails and craspedia to be preserved for natural beauty with none of the plastic.

  • Opt for flora and fauna on fabrics & wallpaper

Buds, petals, leaves and trees have long been fashionable motifs in the interior design world, with a style to suit all tastes. All manner of items can be boosted by botanicals, and examples include Cath Kidson’s ditsy design cushions and Orla Kiely’s retro stem pattern bedlinen, to Colefax & Fowler’s embroidered crewel fabric and Graham & Brown’s jungle wall mural.

We would be happy to provide a free, no obligation appraisal for a property you are looking to sell. You never know – a stunning garden or balcony display may just add a few pounds to your home’s value. Get in touch to make an appointment.

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8 ways to decorate a rented property

Despite the image of tenants being flighty characters who move home every six months, renters are living in the same place for increasingly extended periods of time. Rightmove research among nearly 1,300 landlords in 2022 found the most common length of a private tenancy is over two years, with a fifth (18%) of landlords saying their average length of tenancy has increased over time.

Zoopla’s findings from 2022 concurred. Its analysis found UK tenants were staying in their rental properties for an extra five months, with the average tenancy length at 75 weeks – up from 51 weeks at the start of 2017. In England specifically, average rental durations are lengthening – rising from 3.9 years in 2016/17 and 4.1 years in 2017/18, to 4.4 years in 2021/22, according to the latest English Housing Survey.

With average stays increasing in duration, it’s no surprise tenants want the property to feel like home. Tailoring surroundings to personal tastes is something that is achievable, even if the tenancy agreement sets out some restrictions. Known as clauses, a landlord will detail what is and isn’t allowed in respect of DIY and redecoration.

Once tenants are familiar with the clauses, they can start planning how to add colour and personality. While drilling holes in the wall, repainting in bold colours and wallpapering may be off limits, here are 8 ideas that will give any rental property unique character and style:

1. Add a statement rug: a rug is a great way to add colour and texture, as well as cover up a floor covering you’re not fond of. Interior designers advise to go for the biggest size rug possible for both impact and balance.

2. Go green with house plants: air purifying, mood boosting and affordable, house plants have so many benefits. Lush leaves, bright flowers and coloured pots will look fantastic against a plain wall and if you opt for herbs, you’ll enrich your cooking too.

3. Lead with light shades: many rental properties have bare light bulbs but shades can quickly be added for a designer look. Plain, pleated and patterned pendant shades are freely available and for maximum impact, buy matching examples for table lamps too.

4. Try removable wallpaper: if you’re prohibited from painting, investigate removable wallpaper. Specific ‘peel and stick’ varieties are designed not to damage what’s underneath or leave behind anything tacky.

5. Add the latest trend to tiles: in the same vein as removable wallpaper, you can buy stickers and self-adhesive paper, which add a temporary splash of colour to bathroom and kitchen tiles. Simply cut to fit, apply and remove with ease.

6. Let soft furnishings do the talking: if you’re faced with four magnolia walls, use this base as a foil for furniture. An armchair upholstered in cobalt blue, an ottoman in mustard yellow or a chest of drawers painted candy floss pink will really ‘pop’ in a neutral setting.

7. Accessorise with bold colours: cushions and throws are the natural place to start and it’s easy to create a design theme with these two items alone – perhaps Art Deco or botanical. You can enhance the look by adding matching items, such as candles and vases.

8. Try ‘no-damage’ strips and hooks: when nails, screws, pins and even Blu Tac are banned, tenants can try Command™ Strips & Hooks. These products are specifically designed to be damage-free and come off clean when removed.

If you’re thinking of adding a touch of personality to a privately rented property, please contact us and we will explain any clauses that are listed in your tenancy agreement.

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Should vendors commission surveys before they sell?

The buying and selling process in the UK hasn’t changed for decades. Most home movers understand a survey that examines the condition of a property is commissioned by the purchaser as part of ‘caveat emptor’ – let the buyer beware.

There is, however, another approach that puts the seller in the driving seat when it comes to surveys. It’s very much a pre-emptive move that arms a homeowner with essential facts about their home before they put the property on the market.

You may ask why a seller should bear the cost of certain surveys when usually the bill is picked up by the buyer. Let’s explain. One of the most common reasons for a purchaser to withdraw from a transaction is a negative set of survey results. By the time the survey is received, the transaction is usually quite far along, with the house taken off the market, a degree of financial investment and the seller making onward plans.

If a buyer isn’t happy with the survey results, there are a number of paths they can follow. They can ask the seller to reduce the asking price to a figure that factors in the cost of remedying any issues; the buyer can ask the seller to undertake the work to correct defects in order for the sale to proceed, or the buyer can walk away from the purchase.

Each option delays the process and the first two options will cost the seller money, as well as incur delays. Pre-emptive surveys carried out by the seller before the ‘for sale’ board goes up can help mitigate these scenarios and prevent unwanted surprises.

So, what type of surveys should a seller consider commissioning? The top two survey discoveries that would prompt a buyer to withdraw from a purchase are subsidence and Japanese Knotweed. Other aspects that may trouble a buyer are damp and mould.

Seller-commissioned surveys are sensible if the homeowner suspects there is an issue – perhaps they have seen large cracks appear since they bought the property. It’s also worth bearing in mind that some problems can be genuinely missed. A new survey by Legal & General’s team of accredited surveyors found damp was the most common issue to go unnoticed by homeowners prior to a survey. Asbestos and electrical issues were also aspects that were only picked up by a surveyor’s assessment.

Such issues can be identified upfront by specialised contractors, who will inspect the property and grounds, highlight any issues that may come up in a buyer’s survey, give an estimated price to correct the faults and carry out any work necessary.

The information gleaned from any specialist surveys allows sellers to take a course of action that best suits their circumstances: carry out any work before a sale starts, price according to the home’s condition or prepare to make allowances when the buyer’s survey results are received.

Not every seller will need to conduct their own specialist surveys and we feel they will never replace a HomeBuyer Survey or a full structural/building survey carried out on behalf of the purchaser.

If you’re a potential seller in any doubt, we can advise if any action needs to be taken before your home comes to market. The age, location and condition of your property will be taken into account, and the survey report from the last sale may be used for background information. Please contact us to discuss your moving plans.

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Kitchen Q&A special: What to do before a sale

There’s a saying in estate agency that goes ‘kitchens and bathrooms sell homes’ and we tend to agree. We’re often asked by prospective sellers what they should do to make their kitchen ultra-appealing and many ask if it’s possible to add value too. Our answers to the most commonly-asked questions should help inform your kitchen plans.

Q. Should I completely replace my kitchen?

A. Our answer would follow an in-person visit. Exceptionally dated or poor-condition kitchens can put buyers off and decrease a home’s value, so we may recommend a refit before the property goes on the market. How much value a new kitchen adds varies – it can be as much as 10% – but we can help you establish whether the cost of a refit’s labour and materials is more than the price uplift achievable.

Q. Is there a cost-effective alternative to replacing my kitchen?

A. Buyers are looking for bright, social and practical kitchens and if your kitchen doesn’t deliver, it may be seen as a negative. If your budget or time scale prevents remodelling, illustrating what’s possible is an option. A small investment in plans for a revised kitchen layout and creating a mood board to show prospective buyers will highlight potential. You may go as far as obtaining drawings or even full planning permission for a kitchen extension – it will cost a fraction of actually undertaking the work.

Q. My cabinets are from the 1990s – should I change them?

A. Cabinetry fashions change over time and the style makes it possible to pinpoint the age of a kitchen. If your carcasses are in good condition, a cosmetic makeover may be enough. It’s possible to replace the doors – or have them resprayed – and a change of handles can make an instant impact. You can also replace worktops, or have poor-condition surfaces wrapped or overlayed.

Q. I have freestanding appliances – will they hinder a sale?

A. While research by Ideal Home found UK buyers would pay £1,761 extra for fitted appliances, freestanding appliances are rarely so off-putting they cause a prospective purchaser to walk away. Indeed, we feel integrated appliances are ‘nice to have’ rather than essential. What matters more is the brand, the energy rating and the age of the appliances – the newer the better.

Q. You can’t sit down to eat in my kitchen, is that a problem?

A. There are advantages to an eat-in kitchen if you haven’t got a separate dining room. If space is at a premium, you may wish to consider a slim bar-height table with stools, a drop-down table that can be folded flush against a wall or a drop-leaf dining table with integral chair storage. Alternatively, make use of bench-style seating in alcoves and bay windows, and save space with fold-up dining chairs.

Q. Should I upgrade the lighting in my kitchen?

A. Kitchens have evolved from merely a place to prepare food to social hubs, and a variety of lighting options can help set the scene. Overhead task lighting – such as spotlights – is essential for cooking but being able to switch to pelmet and plinth lighting is an attractive feature. Pendant lights over an island or peninsula also make a great design focal point.

Q. I haven’t got much of a budget, are there cheap ways to improve my kitchen?

A. Yes! Some of the best transformations follow a simple trip to a DIY store. You should never underestimate the power of a clean kitchen, so pick up a limescale remover, a degreasing product and a stainless steel cleaner to make your kitchen sparkle. Cleaning your oven and hob are also must-do jobs before a sale. Decluttering will help make your kitchen feel more spacious and a coat of neutral paint will freshen the walls. Add a scented candle or reed diffuser to your shopping basket to help neutralise cooking odours, and a houseplant or vase of flowers never fails to add finesse to a set of property photos.

If you would like advice regarding your kitchen or a free, no-obligation valuation, please contact us today.

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Dos & don’ts when it comes to devaluing your home

There is nothing wrong with wanting to add value to a property. In fact, it can be exciting to think altering, enlarging or upgrading your home may allow you to recoup more than you’ve spent when you come to sell.

There are, however, high points and pitfalls when it comes to adding value, especially if you’re looking to undertake much of the improvement work yourself.

Be prepared to go neutral

It’s an oldie but a goldie – many buyers are put off by brave interior design choices. Most buyers make snap judgements based on aesthetics, especially when viewing online, while other people want a ‘ready to live in’ home where they don’t have to spend time or money on redecorating.

Dark paint colours, bold wallpaper and fun themes rarely add value and can actually prompt potential buyers to offer less, so don’t follow fashion when revamping the interior. Redecorating with neutral colours will give your home the broadest appeal and attract more buyers. Plus, a light, unfussy interior has the added bonus of making rooms feel more spacious too.

Enquiry levels, viewing feedback and offers received will be a good indicator if some décor tweaks could improve the property’s appeal. We’ll always advise you before you put your home on the market but acting on comments during the marketing process can also have a positive effect.

Consider reinstating coveted aspects

In most cases, some basic DIY and maintenance is enough to add appeal and help a home achieve its true sales value. In some cases, however, more major alterations could be required.

Reoccurring aspects that can devalue a home include bathrooms where the bathtub has been replaced with a shower cubicle, bedrooms that have been converted into dressing rooms, a gym or hobby spaces, and rooms that have been knocked through to create open-plan living. The latter has been under scrutiny more recently, with buyers concerned about the cost of heating larger spaces.

Careful planning is required, however, when it comes to reversing substantial property aspects. Don’t automatically assume reinstating a dividing  wall or ripping out fitted wardrobes is the right decision – you’ll need to establish whether the work will cost more than the value it will add.

In some cases, there may be a more practical middle ground – such as installing a shower over a bath, for example. As we discuss below, removing or adding an element is one thing, how well it’s executed is another.

Know when to call in the professionals

Knowing your limits is important, especially in light of a new study commissioned by British Gas. In its list of ‘Top 25 jobs Brits don’t feel confident carrying out’ were wallpapering a room, patching a hole in the wall and replacing a light fitting.

While it’s tempting to think ‘that’ll do’ if you’ve slapped on a coat of paint or literally papered over the cracks ahead of selling, sloppy workmanship can come back to haunt you. In two separate reports, one by Pension Times and another by Loveproperty.com, poor quality DIY was deemed to devalue a home. In the case of the latter, it was cited as the top reason why a home could lose value.

If you’re not a perfectionist or have never tackled such jobs before, don’t go it alone. It could be more cost effective to hire a professional to undertake the work for you.

Homeowners rarely set out to devalue their property and more often than not, DIY and maintenance can enhance the value, if done well. If you’re in any doubt about how you can achieve the very best sales price for your home, feel free to contact us.

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5 ‘must know’ facts for first-timer buyers in 2023

Getting a foot on the property ladder remains a goal for many, especially as every UK region has seen annual rental value growth, according to the latest HomeLet Rental Index.

Many may wonder whether 2023 will be a good year to make a property purchase so to steer buying novices in the right direction, here are 5 facts for 2023’s first-time buyers.

1. Mortgage interest rates have fallen…and may continue to do so
A cooling housing market and falling inflation is widely forecast to result in lower mortgage rates this year, with tracker mortgages potentially offering attractive repayments. The financial experts’ advice is to start a conversation with a lender or mortgage adviser to establish what is possible, based on personal circumstances, rather than be influenced by newspaper headlines and rumours.

2. The Government has extended its Mortgage Guarantee Scheme
In late 2022, the Government extended its Mortgage Guarantee Scheme on a UK-wide basis. Rather than end in December 2022, it now runs until December 2023. The initiative allows first-time buyers with a 5% deposit to access a greater range of mortgages. The scheme can be used to purchase homes worth up to £600,000, subject to affordability and eligibility checks.

3. House prices have stabilised
When a panel of mortgage experts were asked to deliver their verdict on prospects in 2023, they reported it could be a good year ahead for first-time buyers. One of the factors behind the positivity is the stabilisation of house prices. Runaway values that soar month-on-month will be far less frequent and, in some places, prices may even drop back slightly – increasing affordability for first-time buyers.

4. Stamp duty favours the first-time buyer
Many first-time buyers in England, Scotland and Wales will continue to pay nil or reduced stamp duty when buying their first home. Cuts made to stamp duty thresholds in England in 2022 will stay in place until 31st March 2025. First-Time Buyers’ Relief has increased to £425,000, meaning purchases below this value will not incur a penny of stamp duty. The maximum property value that is eligible for First-Time Buyers’ Relief has also increased, from £500,000 to £625,000. This means the remainder of a first-time buyers’ purchase between £425,000 and £625,000 will be taxed at 5%.

In Scotland, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) also favours property novices. A special relief for first-time buyers is available, with properties bought for £175,000 or less attracting nil tax. There is no first-time buyer tax relief in Wales but Land Transaction Tax (LTT) only applies to properties bought for more than £225,000 .

5. The LISA scheme makes saving for a deposit easier
First-time buyers aged between 18 and 40 can open a long-term savings product called a Lifetime ISA (LISA), exclusively designed to help save for a deposit. The scheme sees the Government ‘top up’ money saved – with a 25% bonus up to a value of £1,000 per year. For example, £800 put in a LISA over 12 months will be topped up by £200, resulting in a savings pot of £1,000.

Savers can add £4,000 every year to the account and when two first-time buyers are purchasing a property together, they can combine their LISA-saved deposit. There are some restrictions attached to a LISA, however. These include the buyer purchasing a property costing £450,000 or less and using a mortgage to fund the purchase.

If you are a first-time buyer and would like more moving advice, along with a selection of properties for sale, contact our estate agents today.

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Could pets be the key to successful lets in 2023?

Discussing lets with pets in January is very apt. Chinese New Year falls on the 22nd of the month – traditionally celebrated by assigning one of 12 animals to another year (it’s the rabbit in 2023).

The year ahead could be monumental for landlords and tenants. It’s widely accepted that the Government’s A Fairer Private Rented Sector white paper will be adopted before the end of 2023 – and that means renting with a pet will be made easier.

Reluctance to rent to pet owners

Research indicates that private tenants are animal lovers living in a pet-reluctant rental sector. The results of a 2022 survey by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme Charitable Foundation found 38.6% of tenants had a pet in their rental property, but only 47.9% of tenants admitted to being allowed a pet as part of their tenancy agreement.

The anti-pet sentiment is reflected on the other side of the lettings equation as well. The English Private Landlord Survey 2021 – the most recent published by the Government – found that 45% of landlords were unwilling to let to tenants with pets.

Pets force tenants to move

With such statistics in evidence, it comes as no surprise that renters are willing to move home in order to live with a cat or dog. The Deposit Protection Service undertook its own research on the matter of lets with pets. When questioned in 2022, 30% of renters who moved property between October 2021 and March 2022 had done so to specifically accommodate a pet. For comparison, only 7% of renters cited pets as the most significant influence over their decision to move in 2021.

Tenants leaving one rental property in search of a pet-friendly alternative is something landlords need to consider in 2023. Finding new tenants involves time and money – check out, check in, inventories, referencing and potential void periods, so keeping happy tenants in place – perhaps even those with pets – is sensible.

Domestic animals, damage & a different approach

A major pet deterrent among the landlord community, however, has been damage caused by animals but it’s actually a bit of an urban myth. Steve Harriott, the CEO at the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has publicly said it doesn’t see a lot of disputes involving pets specifically.

Persistent reluctance surrounding pets may be forcibly eradicated anyway. The adoption of A Fairer Private Rented Sector white paper will correct much of the negativity surrounding tenants with domestic animals.

Pet-specific details in the Government’s white paper include:-

  • Legislation that ensures ‘landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home’
  • The right for tenants to challenge landlords who refuse to let with a pet
  • An amendment to the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to include pet insurance as a permitted payment, which should offset potential pet damage

The changes detailed in the white paper are a step up from the Government’s current stance on lets with pets. In 2021, it altered its Model Tenancy Agreement to say: “landlords will no longer be able to issue blanket bans on pets. Instead, consent for pets will be the default position, and landlords will have to object in writing within 28 days of a written pet request from a tenant and provide a good reason.”

For now, the Government’s Model Tenancy Agreement isn’t mandatory when agreeing a new let. Landlords are free to adapt what is suggested or create a bespoke tenancy agreement, which we suggest should always be done in tandem with a professional letting agent. We are monitoring the introduction of the white paper and will report any specific details that clarify whether landlords will retain the right to refuse tenants with pets.

Our lettings team frequently receives requests from cat and dog owners. Please get in touch if you have a pet-friendly property to list.

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January Property Market Analysis

Historically speaking, the property market is cyclical with familiar, repeating patterns – and moving into an anticipated new phase was particularly evident in December. While there was a traditional and circumstantial pause in the sales market – thanks to Christmas and a recovering mortgage market – the lettings sector powered ahead.

Even in sales, there was a shift in dynamics. The end of 2022 saw us move firmly into a buyers’ market, with more homes for sale and tempered asking prices. Here’s where the ebb and flow leaves us as we enter 2023.

What’s gone up?

Sale stock is slowly improving. Figures released by Propertymark revealed the average number of homes for sale per members’ branch is now 33. This has risen from 30 and is creeping upwards towards the pre-pandemic average of 38 per branch (an average noted between 2015 and 2019).

Number of mortgage products rise

The mortgage market ended the year firmly in a recovery phase. As well as improving mortgage rates (more on that later), there is more choice. As of December 2022, borrowers had access to around 4,000 mortgage deals. This was up significantly from the autumn, when the Mini Budget caused product numbers to plummet to 2,560.

Rents have continued their upward trajectory too. The latest HomeLet Rental Index found that rents across the UK ended 2022 on a more expensive note. A new average rent of £1,175 is 0.3% more expensive than seen in the previous four week period.

This latest rent rise caps a year of ever-increasing rents in the UK. Research by Ocasa found the average rent price increased by 10.8% between Christmas 2021 and Christmas 2022. This was a jump from £1,060 per month to £1,175.

Staying with lettings, Scottish buy-to-let purchasers will notice their tax bill has gone up. On 16th December 2022, the Additional Dwelling Supplement – a tax on second homes that is part of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax – rose. The new rate is 6% – up from 4%.

So what’s falling? With the pandemic’s property frenzy over, normality resumes and prices are beginning to adjust. Figures from Rightmove showed that in December, the average price of a property coming to market fell by 2.1% – that’s £7,862 less.

Still 7 buyers for every property

News from Propertymark also suggests that the unsustainable sales market seen in Covid times has fizzled out – but demand hasn’t totally disappeared. While earlier in 2022 there were 11 buyers for every new property coming to market, this number has fallen. According to its report released in December, Propertymark’s members said they had seven buyers per property at each of their branches.

Sometimes figures rise and fall at the same time, and this can be said of future rental values. Zoopla’s rental market forecast for 2023 suggests the cost of renting a property will continue to go up. The portal does say that the rate at which rental values will increase is due to come down. To illustrate – rents rose by an average of 12% in 2022, while they’re expected to rise by 5% in 2023.

Fixed-rate mortgage costs fall

Although the Bank of England used its December announcement to raise the interest rate to 3.5%, it didn’t have an effect on new fixed-rate mortgages. In fact, the cost of taking out a fixed-rate mortgage fell at the end of 2022. When compared to rates in October, the month of December offered cheaper borrowing.

According to a report in Forbes Advisor, the average cost of two, three- and five-year fixed rate mortgage deals across all deposit levels fell in December. Rates at 5.30%, 5.28% and 5.03%, respectively, compared favourably to highs of more than 6.50% in October. The most competitive fixed-rate mortgages are now under 4.7%.

If you would like to know more about your local property market, please get in touch

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Your property fraud questions answered

Property fraud was in the press recently, after a tenant tried to sell his landlord’s property using fake documents and a fabricated estate agency. Thankfully, incidents like this are extremely uncommon, thanks to legitimate estate agents like us, legal protocols and a robust conveyancing system.

Still, a degree of home mover diligence is sensible and the answers to these commonly-asked questions will help you reduce the risk of encountering property frauds and fakes.

Q. Can my house be sold without my knowledge?
A. It is exceptionally rare for this to happen, and such a sale is usually rumbled by agents and solicitors before it reaches completion. Although vacant, let and mortgage-free properties are most susceptible to fraudulent activity, all homeowners should be aware of identity theft. This is when criminals change their name by deed poll to match that of the homeowner and use fraudulent ID to move home and secure a mortgage.

Q. How can I prevent someone from selling my home without my knowledge?
A. There are a number of protective measures open to homeowners. We recommend contacting the Land Registry to ensure three things are in place: your property is registered with them; an alert is set up that notifies you if someone tries to change the ownership of the property or refinance it; and that there is an anti-fraud title restriction on the property, which means a solicitor has to confirm the person selling the property is the registered owner.

Q. How do I know if a buyer is legitimate?
A. There are a number of identity and authenticity checks an estate agent is obliged to make, which will ensure any buyer put forward is genuine, to the best of the agent’s knowledge. In addition, the conveyancers involved and the seller’s mortgage lender will make additional checks, especially concerning financial security and identity.

Q. How will I know if a property for sale is genuine?
A. Fake properties for sale are extremely few and far between but you can protect yourself by always purchasing through a reputable estate agent. Never deal directly with a seller who is advertising on a selling site, such as Facebay or Gumtree, as you’ll have little – or no – protection or right to compensation. Private sellers are not allowed to list a property on Zoopla, Rightmove or OnTheMarket so if the property for sale isn’t on one of the leading portals, question why.

Q. How will I know if an estate agent is genuine?
A. Fake estate agencies are even rarer than fake property sales but it’s still wise to validate any agency you are dealing with. Check if the estate agent has the vitals first: a landline contact number, a website, any online reviews and a willingness to meet at their office.

Next, check their accreditations. Reputable estate agents will be able to prove their membership or affiliation to one – or a number – of these bodies, such as Client Money Protect; The Property Ombudsman; The Property Redress Scheme; the Information Commissioner’s Office; Propertymark; SafeAgent; UK Association of Letting Agents and/or The National Approved Letting Scheme.

Q. What role do estate agents play in preventing property fraud?
A. Estate agents play a pivotal role in protecting buyers, sellers and landlords, carrying out identity and background checks. Among those are ‘know your client’ anti-money laundering checks to make sure the money someone is using to buy a property comes from a legitimate source. Agents also have a legal duty to carry out ‘due diligence’, which involves asking to see photo ID and proof of address of those buying and selling a property.

Q. I have been refused access to view a property, should I be worried?
A. Some sellers will protect their privacy and limit viewings but a complete refusal for an in-person viewing is worrying. Other red flags include only being able to view a virtual tour, no photos of the property’s inside or denying a surveyor access. Sometimes there is a plausible reason for this but an estate agent will give you the full and accurate picture.

Q. How can I choose a reputable solicitor?
A. A diligent solicitor will be alert for fraudulent activity so it pays to have the best legal representative in place – one who will thoroughly investigate title deeds and ownership details. Personal recommendations are always a good place to start when appointing a company, and we can provide a list of legal firms we trust. You can also check the validity of a conveyancer or solicitor with the Council for Licensed Conveyancers or the Law Society, respectively.

We are here to act as a layer of protection when moving home. Our training means we are able to spot fraudulent activity and often ‘feel’ when a party may be operating unethically. If you’d like to know what anti-fraud measures we have in place, please get in touch.

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Red alert! The magenta colour trend for 2023

Is red a colour you’ve always shied away from in the home? It’s certainly not a neutral or a shy, retiring colour but red can bring warmth and depth to any interior – you just need to know which shade to choose and where to apply it.

The people at Pantone have recently released their colour of the year for 2023 and they plumped for a red called Viva Magenta. It’s a shade Pantone calls ‘brave, fearless, empowering and joyous’.

So, what makes this red more suitable for the home than other hues? Viva Magenta is nothing like the primary red we see on post boxes and fire engines. It’s not as brash or as vibrant but is more earthy and soft, thanks to being inspired by the natural dye, cochineal. And instead of blue undertones, which can make a red feel cold, Viva Magenta is rooted in deep pinks and warm purples, which add richness and a touch of luxury.

This framed artwork is the most literal way of introducing Viva Magenta into your home. Featuring Pantone’s iconic swatch design and coloured-blocked with 2023’s chosen shade, it would look great hung on a white wall or, if hanging pictures is an issue, prop it up on a mantlepiece for an instant no-drill interior addition.

There are some stunning wallpapers in the Viva Magenta colour palette and while they can be applied to a wall to create a feature focal point, wallpaper can also be stuck to furniture to add a dash of colour and revamp a tired looking chest of drawers, for example. Look for ‘peel and stick’ wallpapers that are easy to cut and attach.

Accessories are a quick route to red in your home, so why not try a beanbag? They’ve had a chic upgrade thanks to the use of grown-up fabrics, shapes and colours, including dark, sophisticated shades. Finished in a plush velvet and available in a deep magenta colour, this Isabelle & Max beanbag will bring a luxe look to any home. As an added bonus, it comes pre-filled with a removable, washable cover.

Viva Magenta and velvet fabric are such a good pairing that there’s a wealth of options to choose from.  If you have wooden dining chairs and want to add a layer of comfort, these velvet quilted seat pads in the temptingly named shade ‘merlot’ will be loved by everyone who sits down to dinner.

Inspired by another type of French wine is this four-seater sofa. Its Chesterfield styling, scrolled arms and button back are enhanced when upholstered in the decadent ‘bordeaux’ velvet fabric – a red that’s undercut by shades of juicy blackcurrants and ripe raspberries.

Finally, and sticking to the boozy theme, John Lewis has a collection of different size Egyptian cotton towels available in a colour it calls ‘claret’. You’ll elevate any bathroom by adding a neatly folded stack of these plush towels and the colour will ‘pop’ when it sits next to white sanitaryware.

If you would like to discuss your décor and gain some interior design styling tips ahead of a house move, please contact our team.