When our talented videographer Dane isn’t producing wonderful video tours of the properties we’re marketing, he also loves to take his drone out and about above the skies of some of the fantastic towns in which Perry Bishop works.

This latest video captures Cirencester beautifully, depicting some of the town’s stunning landmarks. If you’re thinking about a move to Cirencester, watching this may just help you make up your mind and if you already live or work in this special town it makes you realise just how lucky you are.

Anyone who sells with Perry Bishop can enjoy a video tour of their home, which really does ensure your property stands out from the crowd. For more details talk to your local Perry Bishop office.

Enjoy the film. We realise that Cirencester is already a popular tourist destination, but this may just encourage a few more visitors to venture to this lovely market town – packed with fascinating history and a High Street that’s hard to beat.

Welcome to Cirencester

This month’s House Price Index Report, published by property portal Zoopla, takes stock of what’s happened in this record year for property sales but crucially also looks ahead to next year – specifically the outlook for sales and price growth and the economic trends that will impact buyer demand in 2022.

Here’s the Executive summary:

• 2021 a record year with sales set to exceed highs of 2007 (1.5m)
and over £473bn of new sales agreed – £95bn higher than 2020.
• No sign of any cliff edge in demand. The impact of the pandemic
on activity has further to run – albeit at a less frenetic pace.
• Further room for above average price growth in most affordable
housing markets where the current rate of growth is highest.
• The primary headwinds in 2022 will come from higher living costs
and increased mortgage rates which will impact buying power.
• UK house price growth to slow to +3% over 2022 with 1.2m sales.
• House price growth will be greatest in the North West and East
Midlands (+4%) and lowest in London (+2%).

“It is now clear that the impact of a global pandemic on the UK housing
market was not going to be short lived. We believe the impact of the
pandemic has further to run into 2022, supporting market activity and
sales volumes. The primary catalysts will be an ongoing re-evaluation
of housing needs, increased housing equity and moves in parts of the
labour force to more hybrid working. ”

To read Zoopla’s UK House Price Index in full click here.

Homeowners making energy efficiency improvements before selling are banking as much as 16% extra on average, compared to those who haven’t made any improvements, according to a new study from Rightmove.

The study analysed over 200,000 homes listed on Rightmove that had sold twice, with an improved EPC rating the second time, to understand the impact of energy efficiency improvements on the final sold price of a home.
Those who had upgraded their rating from an F to a C, are adding an average of 16% to the price achieved for their home. Moving from an E to a C is banking sellers an extra 8% on average, and moving from a D to a C is resulting in an average of 4% extra.

Based on the current national average asking price of property, £344,445, this could mean an additional £55,111 for someone moving from an F to a C rating, £27,556 for someone moving from an E to a C rating, or an extra £13,778 for someone moving from a D to a C rating.

This comes as the government releases its Heat and Buildings Strategy, designed to set out how to lower the carbon emissions of homes and commercial buildings. Rightmove’s data suggests buyers are willing to pay a premium to secure a home more ready for the future.

In the last five years, more than one in five (22%) homes in Great Britain has upgraded from a D rating or below, to a C rating or above. The South East topped the regional list at 26%, followed by Wales (24%) and the East of England (23%).

At a local level, Cardiff leads the way with the biggest proportion of its homes improved from a D rating or below, to a C rating or above in the last five years, with more than a third (35%). Coventry (34%) came second, and Barry in Wales (33%) came third.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Data comments:

“Ahead of Cop26, many people will be more conscious of their personal impact on the planet, and will be looking for ways to be greener, including in their home. Although some of the bigger improvements to make homes more energy-efficient can be costly, in its latest strategy, the government has outlined ways it wants to support green choices.
“Our study suggests the longer-term value upgrading the rating of your home’s Energy Performance Certificate can have when it comes to the time to sell. While this naturally needs to be balanced with the investment needed to improve it, we expect that the energy efficiency of a home will increasingly be a priority for buyers in the next few years, and these initial numbers suggest people are willing to pay an extra premium for a home better designed for the future.”

article courtesy of Property Reporter

Looking to move house but can’t find one to move to? Buying new could be the answer.

2021 has been a great year for anyone selling up, particularly in our part of the world where house prices have risen more than 10% year on year. Naturally, many of us contemplating a move are keen to take advantage of the buoyant housing market but have held back, unable to find anywhere to move to.

Buying brand new could be the perfect solution in a market where the number of properties for sale is low. Buying a new home also offers you much greater certainty of the sale completing, with no fear of the seller pulling out due to a change of heart or a break in the chain they find themselves in. Getting mortgage approval for a new home is also usually very straight-forward, as it’s highly unlikely any nasties will show up on the survey for a new build home. And if you’re concerned about energy costs – and with the recent announcement of significant hikes in gas prices, who isn’t? – then buying a brand new home, boasting green credentials and a high EPC rating is a no-brainer.

A number of other real advantages of buying new, include:

• Lower maintenance
• Peace of mind – sold with a warranty
• Personalisation – choice of fixtures, fittings and finishes when buying off plan
• More favourable financial incentives

At Perry Bishop, we sell a lot of new build homes and have had the pleasure of working with a number of national, regional and local developers – large and small – bringing to the market beautiful new homes and apartments across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. We don’t sell ‘cookie-cutter’ homes. We work with award-winning developers who build bespoke new homes to very high standards – quality materials, contemporary fixtures and fittings and energy efficient. For inspiration, ask us about some of the beautiful new homes we are currently marketing across our region, including:

Green Walk, Standish – stunning new homes, including apartments and large detached family homes, set in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Stroud Valleys.
Daintree, Christian Malford – stylish development built with energy efficiency in mind, located in this beautiful Wiltshire town.
The Hendon, Great Somerford – Exclusive development of detached family homes in this attractive and thriving North Wiltshire village.
Pinnigers, East Tytherton – Six stunning heritage barn conversions, each one unique, set in wonderful rural location but within each reach of train service into London. Only 1 remaining!

Coming Soon:
• Stroud Valleys – two x cottage-style properties in Nailsworth and three  cottage-style homes in the village of Horseley.
• New Bovis development in Cam, South Gloucestershire
• New penthouse apartment in Tetbury
• Exclusive development in Cirencester
• 4 & 5 bedroom executive homes in Sutton Benger

Please do get in touch with your local Perry Bishop team for further details of any of our new home sales.

If you live in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire or Wiltshire and are interested in buying new why not join our Local VIP Club and be among the first to hear about planned new developments in your area.

Think of an estate agent’s office as a petrol filling station. Over the past eighteen months there have been queues of buyers wanting to find a property. The uplift in enquiries has kept agents rushed off their feet. The demand is higher than it’s ever been in working memory for many in the property business.

Things will probably normalise at the pumps before long. Apart from the blame game – how did this happen and why? – everyone will soon be going about their business as before.

But the property industry is not like the fuel business. With fuel there is a distribution issue. With property there is currently a supply issue. This difficulty will resolve itself when enough people in the existing housing stock want to move on, and the builders start building. Let’s hope Michael Gove – the nineteenth housing minister in the last twenty years – will remain in office long enough to help.

Like fuel the property market will take time to settle, although it will take longer. But everyone should be aware that with property there is no normal. It is either flying high or flying low – or heading in one of those directions. Buyers and sellers must play the cards they have. But, buyers’ market or sellers’ market, it all usually evens itself out in the end.

So, be a property optimist. Don’t let the market rule you. Do what is suitable for you and your family when you need to. That way you will rule the market and not be a panic buyer or seller. And if everyone does what you do there will be more property at the pumps.

Join our local VIP Buyers Club today to find out about properties coming on stream before they hit the property portals and find out what your property is currently worth by clicking here.

We look forward to helping you with your next move.

The year 2021 has been a great year for anyone selling up, particularly in this part of the world where house prices have risen more than 10% year on year.

As a local resident, even if you are only thinking about a move and have no firm time-scale in mind, Perry Bishop can automatically give you privileged access to new properties about to list even before they hit the property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla. By joining Perry Bishop’s new Local VIP Buyers Club, you will also gain access to properties being marketed on a ‘low-key’ basis that won’t be visible on Perry Bishop’s website or the portals.

The Local VIP Buyers Club is only open to people who live in the areas covered by Perry Bishop’s branch network that has access to thousands of homeowners, who could be persuaded to come to market if and when the right property comes along. Perry Bishop’s office network covers: Cheltenham, Cirencester, Chippenham, Swindon, Stroud Valleys, Faringdon, Fairford and Tetbury.

Many people contemplating a house move are keen to take advantage of the buoyant housing market, but have held back because they can’t see anything for sale that takes their fancy. Selling first without having a property lined up to move to takes courage, but could be the best option – putting the purchaser in a strong position when the right house does come along.

It may, for example, be possible for Perry Bishop to source an off-market property that’s just what a prospective purchaser is looking for and, therefore, bring forward the buyer’s moving plans. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation but, by being a part of the Local VIP Buyers Club, Perry Bishop’s expert team can help make these connections in order to make a house move possible.

No matter how long- or short-term your moving plans are, please get in touch with your local Perry Bishop team who will look after you right from the start of your moving journey – from the day you start thinking about a move to the day you actually move into your next home. Perry Bishop looks forward to welcoming all prospective home movers to the Local VIP Buyers Club and helping them with their next move.

If you live in any of the areas covered by Perry Bishop’s branch network click here to join the Local VIP Buyers Club.

 

Selling your home is a huge deal. Naturally, we can feel very attached to where we live. The walls of our home often hold special memories and all the things we love. The selling process can be challenging, not just because of the paperwork, but because it means saying goodbye to your home long before you’ve left. The process can be emotional and you need to be ready before you fully commit.

At Perry Bishop, we can help make the sale as stress-free as possible. But before you decide to sell, here are our tips on how to know if you’re emotionally ready to sell your home.

1. You’re prepared to declutter

Unless you’re a minimalist, you probably have lots of things in your home that are special to you. The most important thing to do before selling your home is to stage it for a sale. This often means getting rid of the clutter and stripping out your quirks to make it neutral and attractive for buyers. While moving some pictures into a cupboard might be a painless task, painting a room or selling your beloved furniture can feel much more permanent. Before selling your home, you need to be ready to neutralise and maybe even get rid of the possessions you love that you can’t take with you.

2. You daydream about living somewhere else

Are you imagining your future somewhere else? Do you find yourself excitedly daydreaming about it every spare minute you have? If the answer is yes, it’s highly likely that you’re emotionally ready to sell your home. Once you start staging your home for buyers, you’re already saying goodbye. Even though the thought of selling may be sombre, if you’re making plans for new furniture and you’re looking forward to living somewhere else, then this is a definite sign that you’re emotionally ready to sell.

3. You’re ready to accept buyer feedback

If you plan to show people around your home yourself, you’ll likely overhear lots of things. Although some people will be discreet about any distastes, many won’t. Viewers may overtly cringe at your décor or openly criticise some of your home’s best features. Prospective buyers might express their desire to rip apart the kitchen you lovingly designed or tear down your living room walls the minute they buy it. If you’re ready to accept that those things will happen in your home, and you’re prepared to hear this feedback, then the selling process will be much easier for you.

4. You feel ready to say goodbye

This is one of the biggest signs that you’re ready to sell up. Committing to sell means committing to leave. If you’re prepared to say goodbye and the thought of leaving excites you, then you’re definitely ready!

We’re here to help

At Perry Bishop, we understand that selling your home can be emotional. We’re here to help you every step of the way. First step, Book your free no obligation valuation and if you live locally in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire or Wiltshire join our VIP Buyers Club to be among the first to hear about new listings in our area.

When you’re ready, we’re here for you.

Rightmove’s monthly House Price Index was released to the media this week and gives a national picture of house prices and activity over the past few weeks.

Here are some of the key facts:

SALES
Hottest ever competition to buy a home and highest ever prices
• The national average price of property coming to market hits a new all-time high after rising by 0.3% (+£1,091) this month, to £338,462
• This new record high is only £15 higher than the previous record set in July, a sign that prices are now stabilising
• Hottest ever competition to buy, with buyer demand per property for sale more than double pre-pandemic levels
• The rise of the ‘power buyer’ continues – those who have already sold their own home, have cash in the bank, or are first time buyers with a mortgage agreed, are in a more powerful position and are out-muscling those who still need to sell their current home
• Early signs of a better-balanced autumn market with more homes coming up for sale to help with buyer choice, with the number of new listings in the first two weeks of September 14% higher than the last two weeks of August

Click here to read the report in full.

Whether you already have a property you’re looking to rent out in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire or Wiltshire or you’re thinking of investing in a buy-to-let, it’s vital that you know your legal responsibilities and requirements as a landlord, both to protect yourself and your tenants.

Here are our 10 top legal tips for landlords.

1. Take Out Landlord Insurance

It’s vital that you take out specialist landlord insurance, as your standard buildings and contents insurance won’t cover you and may be invalidated if you’re renting your property out.

The right landlord insurance policy will cover you for damage to the property, loss of rent and legal expenses, so it’s worth having.

2. Draw up a Tenancy Agreement

This document will set out the terms of the tenancy between you and the tenant and will help to protect both parties in the event of a dispute.

Ensure that a new agreement is drawn up with each new tenant, as tweaking an old agreement could mean you miss important legal changes that have occurred in the meantime.

3. Arrange Regular Inspections – But Don’t Just Drop in!

It’s important to check your property every so often to ensure it’s being looked after. However, you should be aware that it’s illegal to just enter the property without the tenant’s permission.

It’s advised to give them a minimum of 24 hours’ written notice. This should be stipulated in your tenancy agreement.

4. Obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Landlords have a legal responsibility to serve tenants with an EPC, which must have a minimum rating of E.

You can provide this along with the tenancy agreement and have the tenant sign to confirm receipt.

5. Obtain a Gas Safety Certificate

If your property has gas appliances, then you’re required to have them checked by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.

They’ll be able to provide you with a certificate that will need to be renewed annually. A copy of this should be given to your tenants along with their tenancy agreement.

6. Carry Out Electrical Safety Checks

You’ll need to have the electrical system checked every 5 years by a qualified electrician. It’s also a good idea to have any appliances in the property PAT tested, but this isn’t legally required.

Smoke alarms will also need to be fitted on each floor and these need to be tested on the first day of the tenancy.

It’s also strongly advised to have carbon monoxide detectors fitted and tested too.

7. Check if You Need a License

Some local authorities will require you to have a license before you can rent out a property, so you’ll need to check before proceeding.

This often applies to HMOs and student accommodation, so get in touch with your local council to find out if it applies to you.

8. Protect Your Tenants’ Deposit

If you’ve taken a deposit from your tenants then this will need to be protected in a Government authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme.

There are three to choose from:

• Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
• MyDeposits
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

You’ll need to protect the deposit within 30 days of receiving it and provide your tenants with a deposit protection certificate and prescribed information such as the amount of the deposit, address of the property and details of the tenancy deposit scheme where it’s held.

You will also need to provide your tenants with a copy of the Government’s How to Rent guide.

If you fail to take these steps, you won’t be able to evict your tenant and you could be fined up to three times the value of the deposit. It’s also unlikely that you will be able to make any deductions from your tenants deposit at the end of their tenancy if you need to claim any money back for damages to the property.

9. Carry Out Tenant Checks

You need to know who you’re renting your property out to, and by law you need to make sure that your prospective tenants have the right to rent property.

It’s also a good idea to carry out a referencing check. This will confirm important details, such as employment status and whether or not the tenants have had issues paying rent previously.

10. Keep the Property Maintained

While your tenants have a duty to keep the property in good condition, it is your responsibility to ensure that it’s well maintained, and any issues are fixed promptly.

It’s helpful to have a good relationship with your tenants, and if they contact you about a problem then you should make every effort to ensure it’s rectified as soon as possible.

We understand that when investing in rental properties, there are a lot of tasks that need to be done on a regular basis. Don’t worry, we’re here to help and guide you. And our management service options may be the perfect solution if you’re time poor.  Call the lettings team at your nearest Perry Bishop office for professional and friendly advice.

Property management companies are an invaluable element of the investment process.

In the early stages of their investment career, many landlords overlook the value that solid management can bring. From sourcing quality tenants to ensuring that all legal requirements are met, an excellent management team frees up the landlord’s time to focus on doing what they do best.

An Adaptable Approach

Generally, property management companies work in a very flexible manner. This means they develop relationships with individual landlords, building a working pattern favouring all parties.

Some landlords prefer to work ‘hands-on’ and seek the assistance of a management team only to advertise the home. Whereas other investors prefer to sit back and hand over complete control.

What Does a Property Management Company Do?

Firstly, a management company will advertise the home. This will consist of sourcing a photographer, writing captivating descriptions and creating detailed floorplans. From here, they can conduct viewings and answer any queries prospective tenants may have.

Once a great tenant is acquired, the management agency will conduct background checks on the individual and arrange for holding deposits to be taken. From here, they can deal with drawing up the tenancy agreement, ensuring that it is legally binding.

During the tenancy, your management will conduct regular property inspections and deal with any queries the tenants may have. Should you wish, they can also collect the rent on your behalf.

In the unfortunate event that you need to evict tenants, they will handle the legal complexities this situation forces.

Finally, your management company will conduct end of tenancy checks, deposit releasing, and organise the newly vacant property ready for fresh tenants.

Property Management Companies Will Thoroughly Vet Tenants

The first, and perhaps most important, reason to use a property management company is to ensure you have first class, reliable tenants in your property.

Not only do they have the expertise and experience to acquire quality tenants, but they have the process of conducting background checks perfected. Meaning, your property will be occupied by tenants who pay on time and take the utmost care of the home.

Hiring Management Can Save You Money

Understandably, some landlords are concerned they will not receive the return on their investment when hiring a team to oversee the property. However, many are surprised to hear hiring the right team can save them huge amounts of money in the long term.

Firstly, it is much less likely that the property will sit empty, and therefore as the owner, you will not attract the costs associated with void periods.

Secondly, management companies often develop strong working relationships with those who specialise in property maintenance. This means the upkeep of the property can be dealt with swiftly, generally attracting much lower charges in return for loyal custom.

A Point of Contact

Management companies become the first point of contact for your tenants. There is no need for your tenants to have your personal contact information and can liaise directly with the team, who will get in touch with you where necessary.

This relieves pressure on you as the landlord, and gives tenants the confidence to know exactly who they should contact should they have any queries.

Property Management Ensures Legal Compliance

There are many legal complexities related to investing in property.

Management companies can ensure a tenancy agreement is created and signed which benefits and covers both landlord and tenant. In addition to the contract itself, they will deal with all necessary property requirements such as carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms.

When to Hire a Property Management Company

• You Want to Be A ‘Hands-Off’ Landlord
  People embark on property journeys for many different reasons. Some landlords enjoy being in the mix and working closely with their tenants. Others prefer to take a back seat and let someone else handle the daily running of the property. For those who favour this latter approach, a management company will be required.
• You Have a Growing Portfolio
  For landlords with an extensive portfolio, it can become physically impossible to manage the properties alone. Marketing the homes and arranging tenant viewings is a time-consuming task, especially for landlords who have a career separate from property investment.
• You Don’t Live Close to The Rental Home
  If you have invested in property away from your location, as many landlords do, you may be lacking the required local knowledge. This expertise allows you to instruct the best professionals for any issues the tenants may need rectifying. Management companies can fill this gap, enabling your tenants to be content in the property.

Perry Bishop’s Lettings and Management service offers expert property management for landlords across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. Call your nearest branch to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.