Josh's apprentice update month 12!

Already it has been twelve months since I started my Apprenticeship with Think Property. I find it strange to think I have been here for over a year already as so much has been crammed into my personal life as well as my life here at work.

From Ironman UK in Bolton to passing exams in Colchester it's been a hectic one to say the least. But it's one I'm sure to remember and build on leading into 2012. The start of the year saw my first year as a Letting Agent mapped out. I had 8 exams to pass (4 for The Sale of Residential Property + 4 for Lettings and Property Management) and an NVQ to complete, all worth a couple of A-levels which are always very handy to chuck on the CV. To make things a bit more complicated I had, at times, 20 hours per week of training to squeeze in for my maiden Ironman Triathlon in July. Needless to say my social life took a back seat for the best part of Jan-Aug 2011.

Think Property proudly first opened it's doors in August, and in February 2011 we were already nominated for a nationally recognised award! It was the 'Estate and Letting Agents Awards 2011'(The Esta's) hosted by Channel 4's Phil Spencer and we were in a shortlist of 10 up for 'Letting Agent of the Year' for the South East of England. Now, what makes these awards so special, is that it is down to our clients to vote for us if they choose to. They would fill out a feedback form from the esta's and mark us based on the service they received. So you can imagine our delight when in April, at a ceremony at Mayfair's Hilton Hotel, We were voted the 2nd best Letting Agent in the South East, and then to top it off, the 6TH best in the WHOLE of the UK - wow!! So, 2011 was already big year for us at Think!

Summer, apparently, came and went, and in July I took part in the UK Ironman Triathlon in Bolton. This was without doubt the most amazing (not to mention most painfull) experience I have ever had! Something I only hope to better by doing it again and again, but getting faster everytime. The World Championships are in Hawaii each year so may as well aim high eh?!

Back to work, and into the later part of this year. I've made great progress in my apprenticeship and I have passed all of my Sales exams which now makes me a fully qualified estate agent. I took my last exam on Wednesday this week and got my highest mark of 88% - my average is between 75-80% so I'm chuffed! I only have 2 more to pass for lettings which I'll take in January. I'm currently finishing up my coursework and then my apprenticeship is complete!

I have people to thank that have given me advice throughout my first year as a Letting Agent, most of them know who they are, but special mention to everybody here at Think and also Lynn Barta at DB training - despite having a very tough year herself, she still managed to make time to help us through our exams and NVQ.

Eat/drink as much as you can over the holidays and have a great Chistmas!

Josh Bowers MNEA

Mishas Blog

I have now been working full time for think for just under a month and have already learnt so much. I have been given the role of online sales consultant which involves marketing houses on portals on the internet opposed to the original style of estate agency.

When interacting with customers I am solely conversing with them over the phone and email so I find it very important to start a solid rapport with my client from the word go. I have always been a person who enjoys being social and interacting with the public so this job is proving just right for me.  I am really enjoying the challenges I have had to face over the last month and look forward to help building this side of the business into a strong and successful way of selling property.

Im really grateful to have the opportunity I have been give and enjoy working with my colleagues very much.

get selling before Christmas

Sell your home commission free this Christmas. It is no secret that the well documented economic uncertainty around the Eurozone crisis has impacted somewhat negatively on consumer confidence and has to some extent been governing the decisions of those looking to buy and sell their homes. Indeed, for those who have tightened their purse strings but are still looking to sell their home, what money saving option will save the day?

Relieving your financial woes, iThink Property, the award-winning online estate agent offers an easy, stress free alternative method of selling your home commission free - a perfect way to save money, particularly with the festive season fast approaching.

From as little as £345 (+ VAT), the iThink approach removes the middle-man, the high street estate agent, marketing your property directly, using the same online tools as traditional estate agents.

Peter Joseph, Owner of the established award-winning online estate agent comments,

“With the average high street estate agent’s fee for selling a property in the UK at £3,500, people looking to sell their homes are unlikely to be able to afford such a hefty fee particularly in times of economic hardship and, with the Christmas period looming in iThink Property can lend a helping hand to sell your home commission free.

“We offer the ultimate combination for a private house sale - an outstanding traditional estate agency with the latest full marketing on all the major property portals and online media sites, complete transparency and a service we feel is second to none for a fraction of the normal industry fees. For example, this month we have taken on properties that will save our clients somewhere in the region of a total of £70,000. On top of this we are hoping to double this saving in January next year and to forecast figures, I would be surprised if we don't save our clients about £300,000 in fees in the first 3 months of 2012.”

As the perfect stress free alternative to a high street estate agent that guarantees mass savings, you can select from three fantastic value Price Options starting from just £345 depending on how much you wish to pay upfront. In simple terms, you can submit your property details to iThink Property whose NAEA qualified team ensure the property is marketed on all major UK property portals including Rightmove, Primelocation, FindaProperty, Zoopla, Globrix, Nestoria and Fish4homes in addition to many more.

Utilising the popular Gold package of £345 paid up front with 12 months of flexible marketing and no other selling costs payable upon completion, you can save up to £4,150 in fees on the sale of a typical £250,000 home. In addition you will be assigned a qualified iThink Property Agent, a free “value my home” report, professional and unlimited photography, bespoke floorplans, arrangement of viewings, handling and negotiating of offers, full buyer check including verification of financial position and a weekly sales progression report once a sale has been agreed.

So if you are looking to sell your home commission free this Christmas and wish to save thousands of pounds in fees then visit www.ithinkproperty.co.uk today or call 0844 381 4787 to speak to your dedicated iThink Property Agent.

Thank you

Well I am sitting on the train on route to London and I have just come off the phone from a very happy vendor. Very much like the case written about in the Sunday Times last week we have just sold their house within a month; not so strange you may think apart from it had been on with a local agent for the last 3 months.
Our online agency ithinkproperty reaches more potential buyers than most traditional agents due to our extensive marketing.
I am very pleased for our vendor and I just wish to thank them as they are spreading the word.

If you would like any information about what we do, how much we can save you or for a free valuation, please get in touch.

Many thanks

Peter


iThink Property.
Thinking about keeping you informed.

As Featured By the Sunday Times

Hi, well some great news, we were lucky enough to be contacted by the Sunday Times who wanted to know all about our Online estate Agent. They contacted one of our many happy clients for a case study and the full page article appeared in this weeks Sunday Times.

So incase you didn't have a chance to see it, please see the link below, We are all very proud.

Many thanks

Peter

http://www.onlineestateagentsuk.com/press-releases/httpwww-thesundaytimes-co-uk/

Good news, Mortgages approvals hit a 2 year high

Increase in mortage approvals is this good news

Recent figures from the Bank of England have revealed that August saw the highest number of mortgage approval’s since December 2009. Over 52,000 were approved in August, the previous six-month average was 47,551.

Although this slight increase is encouraging to an extent, my concern remains that first time buyers are still struggling to get onto the property ladder, due to the lack of products and reasonable rates at the higher loan to value, loans.  Understandably lenders want the very safe cases where there is plenty of equity in the property, and in fairness there are some fantastic products available for those fortunate enough to be in this position.  However, to stimulate the housing market, we need more first time buyers to enter the market as we are still very much in a 'buyers’ market' and any slight increase in mortgage approvals is also likely to be as a result of increasing numbers of buy to let purchases to people already owning property, particularly given the recent increase and improvements in Buy to Let mortgage products.

Simon Compton

Independent Financial Adviser

Think Finance

Motivated staff wanted

Think Online Property Require Sales Negotiator / Sales Progessor for ever expanding Online Estate Agency. Please Private Message Me For More Details

Thanks Peter

 http://www.thinkonlineproperty.co.uk/

invest in Property or Invest in Shares ??

Good morning all, Well the sun is shining and we are set for a nice weekend, so I may have to take get the barbeque back out. September is nearly over (already) and we have; as predicted seen a sharp increase in activity on both the local sales and lettings. With more and more properties coming on the market we have just treated Emma to a new 10mm super wide angle camera so if you are thinking about putting your home on the market and want to see the amazing wide angle photos let us know and we can send you some. Both Mark and Josh have been putting the hours in too with more and more rented properties coming on and with our ever increasing number of suitable tenants they are busy matching them up. We are also offering a free 20 page valuation report on your property http://www.onlineestateagentsuk.com/value-my-home Just click through to receive yours. Away from the office for a moment someone recently was asking me about looking out for an investment property as he was thinking about his future and his retirement years and in the light of this weeks crazy share market activity perhaps this is an apt question. Invest in Property of Shares ? For a while now some Financial Planners have been preaching how shares have been a better investment than Property; over the last few years few would argue, that is until share prices plummeted recently. When investing in property you will find that over recent history say the last 50 years, you would have trouble finding a time when prices have fallen more than 10%. However with stocks and shares whilst you can make quick gains you are exposed to equally large and sudden losses. If an investor spent his money on property over the last 5 years they may be down about 5% at the moment which is a normal part of any property cycle, the idea is to be in a position to ride out the storm as property always eventually recovers and goes up, up, up. This unfortunately can't be said for shares which sometimes completely collapse leaving the investors substantially out of pocket. In short both investments involve risk the difference is the size of the risk. If you can hold on through the tough spells property always increases in value over time. The only question you need to ask as an investor is how long I will have to wait to double my money; the answer is usually 7-9 years. With shares this increase can happen a lot quicker but you can also lose the lot just as fast. Look at how much you could have lost on the stock market in the last week !!!! We are getting offered more and more ideal investment properties so if you would like to find out what we have or have coming up please speak to Mark or email him onmark@thinkpropertyuk.com Many thanks for taking the time to read this. If I can be of any help with anything please let me know, have a good day and enjoy the warm week. Peter

We are on the move

Well another week and our online estate agents website Think Online Property has climbed another 2 places on page one of google. Thats great news.
We are offering a free 20 page valuation report on your property, so if you want one please just click on.
Value my home
Thanks for reading and look forward to hearing any comments.
Peter

Misha's blog

Today is my third weekend working at Think. I've felt a lot more confident today and have used my initiative to answer customer's questions over the phone and in person in the office. I feel that I am picking things up subconsciously through listening to Josh on the phone or with clients also. I’m still very much enjoying my time here and am looking forward to future prospects. In being here over the last few weekends I can see why people would choose this career, as not only do you feel a sense of job satisfaction but also you can determine how well you do through your own personal efforts.  

Thank you for reading

Misha

Mishas Blog

Today is my second day working at Think, after chatting with Peter about how the company started and their aspirations, I can already tell that I’m going to enjoy working here. As an aspiring estate agent, I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work here. It’s clear to see, after various chats with my colleagues that Think property is a very successful and well sought after company that has received various awards such as 1st place in Estate and Letting agent in Essex award 2011 accompanied by more. Just a few of the reasons I am thrilled to be part of this team.

I am looking very much forward to learning the trade from my fellow workers here and am keen to get involved with as many aspects of the company as I can. Although I’ve only been here for a short while, I really like the feel of this office environment and I have already started picking things up slowly but surely. Today I have been focusing on the online estate agency which we have, this has proven to be a very cost effective way for a vendor to sell their property whilst still receiving the service that any local agent would provide. I hope to get involved in the structuring of the website at some point and designing is a hobby I hold close to my heart.

 I am looking forward to my future here at Think Property and helping the company grow more so...

Thanks for reading,

Misha

Hi All,

Well the summer holidays are over and the kids are packing their bags ready for the start of a new school term.
I hope you have all had a good summer and for those of you lucky enough to have got away, I hope you had a good time.
I was lucky enough to spend about 2 weeks in France. Most of the time in the Alps and then a few days in Paris.
Property prices in France have been hit just like over here and as you would expect the prices in Paris have been the least affected, just like London over here.
So does this lend itself to thinking that over the longer term investing in our capital is a better bet. Well quite possibly, but if this ever changes, the losses could be greater. Also there is the problem with having to find bigger and bigger deposits for your mortgage.

Office News.

Well August was actually not a bad month (as predicted by everybody) the local office saw quite a few sales go through and a few more offers accepted. The rental side of the business still continued to be buoyant and the online national estate agents Think Online Property saw one of its busiest months and there are quite a few sales progressing here as well.

If you would like to know more about any of the services we can provide please let us know.
For this month we can sell your home locally for just 1% and nation online for as little as £145 with NO VAT at the moment.

Dont forget we are also offering a full free wealth health check, so again just let us know.

Thanks for reading.

Peter

When will it happen?

Earlier this month, the Monetary Policy Comittee, ruled to keep the Bank of England base interest rate at the record low of 0.5% for the 28th month in a row.

Going into 2011, Markets and Economists were predicting increases in the third quarter of this year, now there are suggestions that it could be July or August 2012 before the first increase.  On one hand inflation is very high which would normal be a trigger to increase the rate but with the economy remaining so fragile with little signs of recovery, increases at this time could cause another full blown recession. 

I am probably asked this question more than anything else when advising on mortgages and it is becoming harder and harder to predict.  Speaking to lenders on a regular basis and observing the markets generally, I thought we would have at least one increase in the last quarter of this year and at least a couple more next year and end 2012 with a base rate of 1.5%.  However, now all the signs are, that it could well be into 2012 before any increase at all.  As well as the weak economy we also have the huge problem of thousands of mortgage holders unable to remortgage or do anything other than stay on their current lenders standard variable rate as they have little or no equity in their property and/or don’t have the income required to get a mortgage nowadays under the much stricter criteria used and lower loan to values.  With little signs of any consistent or significant growth in house prices, this situation is not going to change any time soon.  For those on a standard variable rate of 2.5% with Nationwide or C&G for instance the impact of an increase may not be too damaging but for those on variable rates of 4.5-5% (as is the case with several lenders) even small increases will have a huge impact on affordability and is likely to result in repossessions and undermine consumer confidence.

This would all suggest low rates for a long time and no increases at all until next year at least, unless the MPC feel they have to act if inflation continues soaring.  This would be good news for mortgage holders and will hopefully buy some time where hopefully property prices will increase, although very bad news for savers, with no real hope of any decent returns on cash in the near future.  Consequently, with variable and tracker available at around 2%, a two year deal would appear to have every chance of being a lower cost than fixed deal over the same period.

As the so called experts and economists can’t seem to decide when the base rate will increase, what chance do I have!  I think whatever happens, any increases will be small and it is likely that rates will only begin to increase next year, perhaps increasing to 1/1.25% by the end of 2012.  The economy is still so precarious that that I can’t see the Bank of England risking large scale repossessions and even a further recession until there are sure signs of recovery.  However, we should all be aware that the current economic climate is unprecedented and the outlook for the future can change very quickly.

On the mortgage products side of things, lenders keep reducing rates, including some excellent Buy to Let offerings, it remains a fantastic time to obtain cheap funding with some great opportunities particularly for landlords or potential landlords.  As always feel free to contact me for further details and guidance.

Simon Compton Cert PFS, Certs CII (MP & ER)

Independent Financial Adviser

Think Finance

Good news for Landlords

Well, have you ever thought of having an investment property, or dreamt of getting on the landlord ladder. Well it seems more and more of us are, and for the shrewd few the leap isn't one to lose sleep over.

There have been lots of figures released about the rise in rents and the demand for rented property, our office is no exception and the level of calls is quite amazing. A recent ARLA report (Ass. of residential lettings agents) states that the average property stays on the market for 3.6 weeks compared to 4.2 weeks in 2009. On top of this the rents achievable are also rising every quarter and the ratio of tenant demand to available (supply) properties has also been rising for four quarters in succession, this from 59% to an all-time high of 70%

So, for landlords, we have:
a) A faster turnaround on market-to-rent
b) Higher rental yields
c) Increased demand in general, i.e. more tenants to choose from.
So if its always been a dream of your to have an investment property then now could be the perfect time. If you're not sure why don't you speak to Simon our in house IFA. We have helped quite a few clients recently with equity release or re-mortgaging for exactly this purpose. (simon@thinkpropertyuk.com)
On top of this we are also getting more and more properties coming on for sale that are ideal investor opportunities. So again please just let us know if it is something of interest. It costs nothing to speak to us and we'd love to help.
Office News.
We have a new member of staff, Lucy has been in the property management business for years and she will be a great asset to our strong team. Like us she is very service driven so that is very exciting for us.
Emma is very happy as she now has a new camera to play with for her instructions. It has the widest angle lens you can buy so I have been giving her lessons !!!
The online side of think www.thinkonlineproperty.co.uk is still attracting a lot of interst, so if you are in the market to sell and want to save £1000's please let me know. From as little as £145 we can have you listed on Rightmove as well as all the other main portals.

If you would like any information on anything I have mentioned or something else please let me or one of the team know.

The do's and dont's if you want to sell your house

Hello all,

 

Well the school are out and the holiday season is about to start. For many of us it is the start of a quieter time at work and especially in the world of estate agency things drop off until September when all of a sudden more and more people decide to try and sell their house with the hope to be in their new dream home before Christmas.

 

So if you are thinking about putting you house on the market after the hols here are some 'selling tips' from Phil Spencer.

1. Target Market and Timing

The first step to selling your property quickly and painlessly is to consider your target market. Who do you think might buy your property? Then try to tailor your space to appeal to the main group without alienating other groups that might also be interested. So if you feel a professional couple would be ideal, then turn the 2nd bed/office back into a bedroom and make a space for a workstation elsewhere in the house. This will ensure that the house would still appeal to a young couple with a small child. Spring (Feb/Mar) and Autumn (Sep) are the key times to sell your property when traditionally demand outstrips supply and therefore prices are usually at their most buoyant.

2. De-Clutter and De-Personalise

Potential buyers need to imagine themselves living in your house, so get rid of ornaments and photos - especially posters in kids' bedrooms. Put things you don't really use on a daily basis in the attic or storage. Large pieces of furniture should also go into storage; this will make rooms feel much bigger. Focus on the hallway - clear away coats/clutter; the bathroom - hide all your products; and the kitchen - clear the bench surfaces of appliances, jars, tins, etc, and replace any ragged tea towels or smelly bins.

3. Freshen Up

A fresh coat of neutral paint, new tiling or lino, and a couple of new kitchen doors can do wonders to smarten up a tired-looking property. If you can't stretch to re-tiling in the bathroom, re-grouting should bring it up new. The same effect can be achieved by installing matching chrome fittings; replacing broken light bulbs; re-painting the front door; ironing sheets in the bedroom; taking down any heavy dark drapes; installing up-lighters in the living room for subtle lighting; and strategically placing flowers throughout.

4. Clean Up

If you'd rather not re-decorate, it is still essential that the house be spotless. Getting industrial cleaners in to really make the place sparkle will be money well-spent; have the carpets, sofa covers, oven and windows cleaned while you're at it. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms, which need to be inviting and hygienic; finish up with a new loo seat; fresh white towels; and a strategically placed plant or two. Watch out for over-stuffed wardrobes - yes, people do look in them to check the amount of storage space - so clear them out. Finally, the garden is now seen as an additional room, so be sure to make your garden feel like a great space for entertaining and relaxing.

5. Instructing an Estate Agent & Solicitor

When instructing an agent don't necessarily go for the one with the highest valuation, or the one that you may also buy through - this is an old trick used to win instructions. Many agents will also often try to tie you into a 12-week exclusive contract - negotiate the minimum time possible, so that if you are not happy with the service, you can change or go multi-agency. You'll want someone you can relate to personally.

6. Get the Word Out

Always have a board up, and tell your neighbours - word of mouth is a powerful tool. You never know who might live just round the corner, waiting for your house to come to the market.

7. Preparing for Viewings

Everyone knows that first impressions count, and you'll want the house to appeal to as many people as possible; the more people there are who like the property, the higher the selling price should be. So sweep up, and make sure the front yard and hall to your house are tidy and inviting. Leave the pets with a neighbour, and thoroughly clean up any cat hair in particular, as many people are allergic to animal hair. Turn the lights and heating on; air out the house; and don't smoke or cook a curry before viewings. If you've got parking, leave the space free for the buyer - this will add to the whole experience.

8. Showing a Property

You may find your agent will do your viewing but If you must show your property yourself, then decide beforehand what order you will show the rooms, and guide viewers around the property once, showing the best rooms first or last. Don't overload them with detail, such as the size of your boiler or the trouble with the neighbour's cat. Be business-like during the first viewing; if someone is interested, you can always get to know them a little more on the second viewing. Never point out problems or issues, but do feel free to highlight the odd positive point, like a south-facing garden, or very convenient parking. Finally, invite viewers to take another tour round the property on their own... but don't go off and make a phone call - be somewhere nearby, on hand to answer queries.

9. Choosing the Best Buyer

The person who offers the highest price is not always the best choice. Listen to your agent's advice on buyers, and push your agent to find out as much about the buyers' circumstances as possible. First, how are they financing the purchase? Cash buyers are best, but if they are raising a mortgage ask to see a mortgage 'in principle' letter from their lender. Are they first-time buyers? If so, they will need some handholding by the agent and could protract conveyancing. Do they have a related transaction? If they have something to sell, then it should be under offer before you take your property off the market. Also, find out about any forward chains that could complicate agreeing completion dates further down the line.

12. Accepting Offers

Your agent will be the middleman and should present every offer that is made. Insist that the agent has all the background information to hand on the buyer's position, and the ability to move quickly and ask that offers be made in writing. Market conditions, competition and how much the buyer loves the property will determine what the buyer is prepared to offer. Similarly, the price you will be prepared to accept will depend on market conditions; how quickly you need to sell; and the size of your moving budget. Compromise on both sides is often the key to securing a deal. Also, know whether you want to keep all your furniture, curtains and white goods, as many of these items may not suit your next home, and can be used as effective bargaining tools to get the price you want.

13. Holding the Deal Together

This is where the hard work starts, and the longer it takes to reach exchange of contracts, the higher the chances of the deal falling out of bed or of the buyer gazumping (i.e. dropping their price). So keep in weekly contact with your solicitor and agent to ensure that channels of communication stay open. You need to be kept informed of where the conveyancing is at, and how your buyer is feeling about the progress of the transaction - you need to know whether they are still highly motivated, or off looking at other things to keep their options open.

 

Well I hope you found that helpful. We are strong advocates of all the points above and it is this attention to detail that led us to be voted No.1 in South East Essex and no. 6 at the prestigious national Esta's awards earlier this year.

So if we can help you in anyway possible please give on of our team a call.

Have a lovely day

Peter

Good news for the property market plus our news.

Hello all,

Well the tennis is over and yet again the hopes of a British champion are over. History is repeating itself it seems, very much like the reports about the housing market.
Only last week the papers were full of depressing headlines that the housing market had “stagnated”. But now look at them: Surge in house sales… Demand for houses jumps… House prices fall but sales increase… Does this sound familiar...? This week’s headlines, however, have been sparked by the Hometrack survey for June.
Simon Read of The Independent summed it up when he linked the increase in buyers with the sellers ‘getting real’ on prices. He pointed out that the number of buyers registering with estate agents may have risen by 10.6 per cent in June but property prices are 3.9 per cent down on last year. Richard Donnell, Director of Research at Hometrack suggests a number of factors will keep prices down over the next few months – and once again the huge regional variations have to be borne in mind. What’s happening in London isn’t true for the rest of the country and can skew the national picture.
So how do you set an accurate price for your property in today’s market? Numerous factors affect a realistic asking price: number of buyers around, how quickly you want to sell, the strength of the local economy and – if we’re to believe the housing experts – whether you’ve got the smell of freshly-brewed coffee wafting through your house when potential buyers come to visit! More seriously, a number of websites offer details of prices in the housing market based on what your neighbour paid for his/her house. At some point you’ll want to talk to an estate agent who knows the local market. We do extensive research in accurately pricing your property but beware of simply accepting the estate agents who offers you the highest value you for your home – ask how they arrived at that price and why it is so much higher than other valuations you have received. A realistic price will save you a lot of heartache and hopefully result in a quicker sale plus more importantly if the banks don't agree with the sale price you will not get your mortgage.
If you want us to give you a free valuation please let us know or click here to fill out your property details.
Office News
A big welcome to our latest member of staff, Lucie. She is going to be helping Mark on the property management and with her years of experience and long standing working relationship with Mark at her previous company she is a great addition to the strong 'Think' team.
Also a well done to Josh who completed his first half Ironman at the weekend - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike followed by a half marathon. All that in 5 and a half hours! Big pat on the back Josh. Well done and I hear a much deserved drink was had after a few weeks on the wagon in preparation.
Thanks again for reading and your support. If you need anything please let us know.
Peter

The inexpensive Online option gathers speed

Hello All,
Well as I sit here looking out at the rather dark grey clouds, I think to myself ahh, it must be nearly Wimbledon time !! Why does it always look a bit precarious for the championships ??

So what's been happening here for the last couple of weeks, well Josh has passed his 3rd exam so great news there. He's also been in full training for his half iron man and just completed a 100mile bike ride for the heart foundation. Also Emma did a charity fun run last week, so they are leaving the rest of us with our heads bowed in shame !!

The office has again been a hive of activity this month especially the online side of the business.
It seems that more and more people are finding out about how easy it is to use us to sell their property for just £395+vat anywhere in the country. Infact we had a very happy vendor this week who has instructed us to sell his £1.3M home in Surrey, he worked it out that we are saving him a cool £19,000 in fees.
So hopefully a nice bottle of champagne and a huge recommendation when we sell that from him.

Simon has been busy on the finance side with even more new mortages coming out , and some very good deals out there at the moment so let him know if you need and advice on anything.

Right back to it for me. Have a great weekend and I look forward to hearing from you if you need anyting at all.

Many thanks

Peter

An Apprentice's update Month 6

Month 6 already. This year is flying by so quickly. Hope everyone is well and isn't getting to confused with the weather. This morning it was glorious. 11am: Doors and windows wide open, jacket off... 3pm: Door shut, jacket on and it is absolutely chucking it down.... WHY?!

Anyway, some good news, I took and passed my 2nd unit in my Sale of Residential Property Exams last week so I am very pleased! 5 to go now and ahead of my target to have them all done by the end of the year.

On a personal note, at the weekend I went up to Norwich to take part in a 100 mile cycle in aid of the British Heart Foundation. I did this as part of my Ironman training which is coming up in July. Corr that has come round quick too! I did it with my training partner Rob (he's also doing the Ironman with me) and we managed to finish in 5 and a half hours so we were very pleased! For those of you that don't know, an Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 180km(112 miles) cycle + a 26.2 mile run to finish. It's in Bolton too so expecting one or two hills. No wind though please Weatherman.

This week at work I have started to do more with my role as an apprentice. On Monday I went round to a property to do the measurements and take the photos that will appear in our property particulars that we publish to the web and give to prospective tenants. This was the first time I had done it and I thought I did quite a good job. But, by the time it came to putting the details onto our system, the property had been let already, so I never got a chance to make my first property particulars. Next time haha!

The online estate agency goes from strength to strength and Local Sales and Lettings are good too which makes for a busy office.

Have a good Thursday and thanks for the read.

Josh Bowers

Brilliant Buy to Let Remortgage Opportunity – Only available for 1 week

A leading lender in the Buy to Let market is offering rates of 4.29 percent on a 2 year fixed deal and 3.79 percent on a 3 year tracker deal.

·         With a  reduced 0.5% arrangement fee

·         Up to 75% loan to value

·         £500 cash back to cover valuation fee

This is good compared to any BTL products but at 75% loan to value, these costs are unheard of in recent times.  I am calling all my landlord clients today, quite a few have been waiting for an opportunity to refinance or raise additional funds and finally some reasonably prices products to allow this.

Unsurprisingly they will not be around forever, in fact both products are being withdrawn in one week, so all applications HAVE to be in by the 3^rd and then completed by 30^th June.  So for anyone interested get in touch urgently so we can book the funds, it really is a fantastic opportunity.

Simon Compton Cert PFS, Certs CII (MP & ER)

Independent Financial Adviser

Think Finance

An Apprentice's update Month 5

Another month draws to a close and the sun is out yet again, it's annoying how that always happens when I'm working.
Apprenticeship progress is going along quickly and smoothly, after my recent exam success I have wasted no time in knuckling down into my revision material and I have booked my 3rd exam of 8 for the end of this month. Feeling pretty confident about it so hopefully I'll be able to move on to the next module. fingers crossed.

Our trophy that we received at the National Estate Agency Awards 2011 has finally arrived in one piece (the last one was sent broken) so that has taken its proud spot on the mantel piece, hopefully next year to be joined by a Gold award! I'll tweet a picture of it later @thinkpropertyuk.

Buisness is good so plenty to be getting on with, speaking of which im going to crack on with some good old admin.

The world is supposed to end tonight so if it does, good bye, and if it doesn't, I'll speak to you when I pass my next exam!

Happy Weekend and thanks for reading.

Josh Bowers

Massive saving

Good morning all.
Well another beautiful Saturday morning and another busy week. Apart from the normal comings and goings in the office the online website www.thinkonlineproperty.co.uk has started finding people and we have had a few happy clients this week. One in particular has put his beautiful Surrey house on to sell with us
and it has saved him over £13000 in fees.
So you can imagine how happy he is and it's great for us.

So if you would like to know more about how we can sell your property for £395 +vat then please get in touch and I can answer all your questions on what we do.

All that leaves me to say is have a great weekend and speak soon.

It's going to be a good one.

Peter


Think Property.
Thinking about keeping you informed.

Remortgage of the decade!!

What a busy time at Think Property, the online estate agency is up and running and off to a great start with plenty of properties let out and sales agreed already this month.

Also importantly for me, plenty of financial services leads and new clients referred to me which is great news, I really do appreciate such great support from the team.

In recent weeks a couple of fantastic mortgages have come on to the market place, perfect for anyone wanting to remortgage to a lower rate or wanting to raise capital.  With a rate at around the 2.5% mark and importantly NO FEES and available up to 70% loan to value, for anyone on a Standard Variable Rate of 3% or above it is likely to be a no brainer.  I have made several applications for clients previously on SVRs over the last couple of weeks, including a couple wanting to raise capital to buy another property.  Perfect for any potential new landlords, instead of paying higher fees and rates with a buy to let mortgage, they have raised the capital and as well as saving a packet are also now cash buyers and in a great position for a bargain!  

As always let me know if you want more info.

Simon Compton
Independent Financial Adviser
Think Finance

What a week

Hi everyone. Well its 6pm on Friday and Mark and I are off for a well deserved drink in the sun to end a busy and productive week.

The first week of May (I know, how on earth can that be !!?) and we have started the month brilliantly.
Josh already has made a huge dent into what he is hoping to do this month, Emma is getting more and more recommendation which means more properties to sell. So all good. Well done guys.

Also we started marketing our online side of the business this week and have taken on a few properties on that side too, we have one very happy client who we are saving over £13K on selling his house...... I will look forward to the nice chilled bottle of Dom Perignon he has promised us when that is sold.

If you havent seen our new online site please have a look and let us know your thoughts, as ever we are keen to learn what you think.
www.thinkonlineproperty.co.uk

Right, time to switch off the computer for a few hours and relax.
Hope you all have a great weekend.

Peter

An Apprentice's update Month 5

Well well, alot of exciting things have happened in the last few months. I'll give you an update with my progress and also I'll tell you why is now award winning!! 
I'll start with the National Estate and Letting Agents Awards 2011. This took place last month in London with Phil Spencer (from Ch4's Location Location), presenting the awards. Think Property were shortlisted in the Letting Agent of the year award for the South East and also the whole of the UK. Mark and Peter went to represent the Company and gave us regular email updates on what was going on. We were delighted to learn that we had been voted by you, our clients, the NUMBER 1 Letting Agent in Essex. We came a brilliant 2ND in the South East Category and a fantastic 6TH in the WHOLE of the UK. Great stuff! Next year we want to win the lot!! It's great to know that our clients think that we do a good job! So thank you to everyone that contributed!

It's been an extremely busy time in the office so far this quarter; our new oniline estate agency has launched and actually today has been a particularly productive day with the online site so keep a look out for us http://www.thinkonlineproperty.com/.

As I've mentioned previously, I have 8 exams to pass. 4 for Lettings and Property Management, and 4 for the Sale of Residential Property. Well this week I passed the 2nd of my exams which means I have 6 to go so things are moving along quite quickly, I'm hoping to take my next two exams before the summer so I'm going to bury my head in revision next month. That and training for an Ironman in July will keep me busy I think.

I'm a third of the way through my apprenticeship and it has gone like a bolt of lightening. I'm really enjoying working at Think and Mark, Emma and the rest of the team are very good people to learn from. The more I get involved with things, the more I want to do more and more and push my progression on! The next 3-4 months promise to be busy and I can't wait!

Happy Wednesday everyone and I'll blog again soon!

Thanks for reading

Josh Bowers

By the way, I solved my car situation and now have a tidy little KA to run round in. Great fun to drive and nippy too!

To build or not to build

Good morning all. Some years ago I was lucky enough to live in a beautiful little cottage a few miles from here. It had about an acre of land that ran into an apple orchard, was in the middle of nowhere really and was in the green belt.
Now as I said, it was quite small, but not too small, however with such a big garden I decided to build a big conservatory / sun room at the back. Well 6 months later it was all done and a huge decking. Stunning. A beautiful job.

We enjoyed that room for nearly 2 years until a council plane flying over took some photos, turned those photos into letters, turned the letters into red tape and the red tape into a court order...... Yes I didn't get planning permission. On appeal I didn't get retrospective planning permission either.
I hold my hands up, I knew I wouldn't get planning before the build as it was green belt land, I didn't expect anyone to notice the build so I thought I could wait out the amount of years before the build became naturally allowed. I was wrong.

Anyway 6 years later and I still have the conservatory (in bits mostly) and I am just about to get drawings done and submit plans in the correct manner to get the planning approved !!!

So will the cost of the conservatory increase the value of my house - most definitely, will the increase in house value outweigh the cost of the build. - not necessarily. When building extensions, conservatories etc etc , always make sure you are building them for the right reasons and NOT to add extra value to your property. Do your homework to find out if indeed it will add extra value, or is it a lifestyle build; for you only. AND always make sure you follow the correct procedures in planning and application, otherwise they can be very expensive lessons !!!!

For more information on planning, structural reports, drawings or any general property build questions we have a great team of people that can help so give us a call. 01702 470625.
Have a great, Peter

What a week !!!

Well What a Week and I am not talking about the weather

The sun is out, the pink and yellow blossom is lining the streets and everyone is walking around with big smiles on their faces; and none more so that us at Think.

For those of you who don't yet know, we went to the National Esta's (Estate and Lettings Agency) Awards ceremony last week held at the Hilton Ballroom, Park Lane. The event was fantastic and only topped when Think Property were called out and presented with The top Lettings agent in Essex, The 2nd best agent in the South East and unbelievably the 6th Best agent in the entire UK, and this in just 8 months since we opened our doors.

The awards are the main consumer industry awards, so we have to thank every one of our clients who took their time from their busy days to vote of us. It is great testament to the service they were given for them to do this so a massive pat on the back to the whole Think Team for their constant hard work and attention to detail in customer service.

When Mark and I started Think, as you know we set out to offer a better service to our clients. the best service. Well we have all proved ourselves right in our belief and it will only get stronger and stronger.

So a big thank you.

The year ahead look great and with our continued effort to go that extra mile, we will continue to get the thanks of our clients and the deserved pat on the back from us. Really good work team. Peter

Estate Agency Awards 2011 TODAY!!

Today is the day Think Property can become award winning Letting agents. We are shortlisted for Letting Agent of the year for the South East and we could also win Letting Agent of the year for the UK!

Mark and Peter have just left the office to make the trip into London's Park Lane Hilton Hotel so we will be sitting in the office biting our nails waiting to hear if we have scooped Bronze, Silver or even the Gold award and be offically named by you, our clients, The No.1 Lettings Agent in the South East!

We wish all of the other contenders good luck and we are sure it will be a great afternoon!

COME ON THINK PROPERTY!

Hidden Treasures

Over the last few weeks I have seen four separate clients that during the course of our discussions mentioned they thought they might have some old pensions but had no idea where they were or how much they were worth. 

After investigating further and obtaining up to date information, it was evident that there were pensions ranging from £1500 through to £50,000 and in every cases this money had been completely written off and/or forgotten about.  They had generally been set up many years ago in funds that had not performed in years and through companies that no longer existed or had been bought out.  In addition, my clients had not had any contact from the pension providers for years as they had moved several times since they were set up!

We are now looking at investing the money properly and with some careful management can achieve some real growth before retirement.  The irony is if these were monies invested in a bank account, it would never be forgotten about but because it is a pension fund there is a tendency to not see it as real money. 

So dig out your old paperwork and see what you can find.  All I need is a company and policy number and we can find out what you might have hidden away, it's always nice to find money you didn't know you had!

Simon Compton
Independent Financial Advisor
Think Finance

Watch this space..... The shortlist of award winners is out !!!

Hello all, well Mark and I have been away for a much needed week off. We went with some friends to hit the slopes in Austria and had a great time.

Its been a quick 7 months since weve opened our Think doors and although this was a much needed break, out thoughts were never (sadly) too far away from work and the team.

Anyway while we were away we found out that we have made the 'short list' for the ESTA - The Estate and Letting Agents awards 2011....... so not that we needed any excuse but we did raise a glass or two to that very welcome news.

Win or come very close, our clients clearly 'think' we should be at the top and with just 7 months under our belt, I am proud of all the work we have all done.

The results will be out in 4 weeks, so fingers crossed.

Peter

FAQ's from Landlords and Tenants

Tenant Question: Is there there any minimum standards to private rented houses? My house has no central heating, only two double glazed windows and an uninsulated hot water tank. To keep any warmth in the house I had to leave two gas convector fires and an open gas fire running 24/7. At the coldest point of our winter that was not enough. Can I demand better insulation, double glazing etc from my Landlord?

Think Property answer: T
here are no defined minimum standard requirements, such as there must be central heating or double glazed windows, but there is a housing health and safety rating system under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004.

You could get the local authority housing standards team or the environmental health team to come and inspect the property when it is excessively cold. They can serve notices on the landlord to rectify the problem.

If the gas convectors and gas fire make the house warmer but are expensive to run, it might be the case that you consider moving to accommodation with better heating. If the heating is expensive but not classified as inadequate and not producing a health hazard, then there is an element of "buyer beware" for the tenant who chooses to take on a tenancy at such accommodation.

FAQ's from Landlords and Tenants

These Blogs are designed to give Landlords and Tenants an answer to a question they may have on their minds. If you have any questions for us to answer then please get in contact with us and we will do our best to answer you as soon as we can. Thank you.

Tenant Question:

 I am about to renew a tenancy agreement and would prefer to have a one month notice period to leave the property which I am entitled to give in law. However all agreements ask tenants to give two months, which the landlord would need to give me should he ask me to leave. The new agreement is requesting I give the same two month notice period. How can I get my legal rights in this instance?

Think property answer:

Once a fixed period of the tenancy has ended, the tenant has a choice of either accepting a new written fixed period agreement or to just continue in the tenancy as a statutory periodic tenant.

A statutory periodic tenancy continues on the same terms as defined within the fixed term agreement with the exception of the notice period for the tenant, which reverts to the statutory requirement of at least 28 days in writing, expiring on the first or last day of a period of the tenancy.

However, the notice period on a fixed term tenancy agreement is whatever is agreed by the landlord and the tenant. If you agree with two months' notice requirement, you will be legally bound by it if you sign the agreement.

You could try and negotiate a one month notice period but if the landlord does not agree to that, you have the choice of either entering into the new agreement on its terms, or remaining as a statutory periodic tenant but without the security of a fixed term.

An Apprentice's update week 6

This week has been an extremely busy one in the office. We are only eleven days into the month, and already a massive SIX deals have been made, and we don't intend to stop there! Good times!

Last week I mentioned my first deal and how I wanted to finish it on my own. Well this morning, after all the paperwork had been signed, I handed over the keys and sent the guys on their way to their new home! What a feeling that was! It was great to wrap it all up on my own, and as a bonus, they said they had read my blog and were surprised to read I was a trainee which was nice of them to say! So Thank you to the guys and I hope you settle in well!

I passed my driving test on Saturday but finding a car is proving to be just as stressfull! So, if anyone reading knows of anyone selling anything, then please call me in the office. My only requirements are these: Must have 4 wheels and be under £1000. I'd be very gratefull.

All sorts of big things going on in the office with meetings here and there so watch this space for some exciting developments!

Happy Friday Everybody and a big HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY to Mark Newman, Director of Think Property.

Josh

Time to fix

With the cost of fixed rate lending increasing and an increase in the base rate possibly being sooner than expected many mortgage lenders have been increasing fixed rates over the last few days.

There is every chance that fixed rate mortgages have reached their lowest point and this could be an ideal time to secure a fixed deal.  There are still some lenders with excellent rates but there is every chance that they will only be increasing over the coming days so definately an ideal time to review  options.

Simon Compton
Independent Financial Adviser
Think Finance

Buy to Let mortgages are back!

Fantastic news in the Buy to Let mortgage market, finally some long awaited decent products.

Inflated fees have been a major problem over the last couple of years with fees of anything up to 3% of advance the norm. in recent week several Buy to Let lenders have all introduced a much improved range with hugely reduced fees.

One lender in particular has introduced an outstanding offering, with a 5 year fixed deal at 4.99% or a tracker deal of base plus 2.99%,  current rate of 3.49%.  More importantly the only fee is an initial £250 booking fee. No arrangement fee, no valuation fee and free conveyancing on remortgages.

The loan to value is still low for this particular deal 50-65% but an absolutely fantastic offering and ideal for landlords looking to raise finance on existing properties or buy further properties whilst there are so many bargains out there.  I suspect there will be such demand for these products, they will be withdrawn in a matter of weeks.  I am in the process of contacting clients to ensure products and rates are reserved, if you are interested let me know as soon as possible.

  

Simon Compton Cert PFS, Certs CII (MP & ER)

Independent Financial Adviser

Think Finance

An Apprentice's update Week 5

Afternoon all, this week I had my Induction to the apprenticeship program I am doing. A lovely Lady called Lynn sat with me for the morning and walked me through exactly what we are going to be doing over the coming months.

We went through the modules and different aspects of Estate Agency and she explained how I would be learning. I've got four exams to pass for Estate Agency and four exams for Lettings and Property management and a bit of coursework thrown in too (It's going to be a very busy year!). Luckily though, the first exam for both of them are similar (health and safety etc). So, because I have been revising the Lettings side since December, I'm already prepared to take the first exam for both of them. They are expected to be around the end of the month.

Also, as part of the Estate Agency course, I have to compile evidence of work I have done to prove I can do the Job, which I think is a great method of learning! For instance, one of requirements of the Health and Safety module was to be able to carry out a risk assessment in the office and take action if necessary. So Lynn observed me doing the assessment and then I emailed it to Mark (The Boss), printing off the email and having a copy of the risk assessment on file was all I needed to be able to cross it off the list of criteria I need. Done!

So a busy but very eagerly awaited period of time begins in my world of an apprentice! So why not follow my blog on Twitter @thinkpropertyuk and of course our website, and share with me my experiences. I'll try and keep it as interesting as possible. Your comments and tips are very welcome and appreciated! Thank you.

Josh.

(Bring it on!)

PR guru wanted !!

Hi All in cyberworld, if there is anyone out there that knows any PR experts ideally in the property market please can you contact me.

Thanks in advance, hope you are enjoying our blogs.

Peter

Progress as an apprentice

Now I have my first deal under belt, I have been down to meet the guys at the property to do some final measurments before they get the keys in February. All the paperwork is sorted and deposits paid, now its just the final bits to get together.

With this being my first deal, I am keen to try and do as much as I can by my self using the knowledge and tips I have learnt from Mark,Kat, Simon and Peter in the office and also my studies. I'm confident I can finish things up on my own and for it to be a completely successful and problem free deal!

Watch this space Leigh-on-Sea, I'm Hungry for more deals!

Happy weekend everybody.

Josh

Recognition for Leigh-on-Sea at last!

This recent article in the London evening standard quite rightly points out exactly what leigh-on-Sea is, taken for granted by us, it's current dwellers. So here it is....

A recent Halifax survey anointed Leigh-on-Sea the UK's second best coastal location (after Christchurch in Dorset), and it is easy to see why. The town boasts London's nearest beach, and Old Leigh, with its cobbled streets and clapboard cottages, is simply lovely.

If it is cute factor you are after, then a small fisherman's cottage in the old town is selling for between £220,000 and £250,000, while a little further out - but still within the conservation area - a three-bedroom Edwardian semi would cost between £350,000 and £380,000.

The old town has a small but sandy beach and a lively arts scene with an annual free folk festival, a regatta and the Leigh Art Trail where local and invited international artists show their work in the area's many shops and cafés. Unsurprisingly there are many excellent seafood restaurants in town, although a lot of the original cockle sheds have been converted into dinky houses.

The most popular suburbs include the Marine Estate, where a four- to five-bedroom detached house, built in the Twenties, would cost between £600,000 and £900,000. Marine Parade and Warren Road are the most sought-after in an area popular with commuters for its proximity to the three Ss (sea, station and shops) plus the well-thought of Westleigh St Paul's junior school.

"Leigh-on-Sea is very reminiscent of somewhere like Blackheath," says David McNeilly, director of Ashleigh Stone estate agents. "It is very boutique-y, with a village feel and a good community. There is an abundance of pubs, restaurants and bars, and little quirky shops. We have very few of the big chains, and there is a really good café culture."


...Quite right too! Thanks for reading.
Josh

Josh Bowers' Think Bubble

Hi Everyone, Josh here at Think Property HQ. My Estate Agency career is only two weeks old and already I am loving it! I will be posting a blog once or twice a week to give you an insight to what it is like to be a trainee Estate Agent.

It has all been happening in the office and it has been a very busy two weeks! This morning I did my first sign up for one of Kats deals which went well and hopefully the next one I do will be for one of my own deals!!

Need to crack on with some inspection reports now!

Time for a 4 o'Clock cuppa i reckon!

Check out our new blog

Hi everyone out there. After a couple of months of testing, our website designers have tweaked our blog page and we are now all systems go.

You will see over the next months lots and lots of hopefully, interesting, entertaining and educating news from our industry. So please to all who know and support us, pass on our blogs, contact us if you require any information or if you have any questions for the team, please let us know.

You can find this blog and our others on our page www.thinkpropertyuk.com/think-blog so please click on it and share it with one and all. If you subscribe to an RSS feeder then we have that too.

Thanks for your ongoing support.
Peter and Mark

We dont need Insurance ... do we ?

Morning all, well night time for you actually. I am on my final day in Queensland Australia and apart from 4 lovely hot days last week this area and about 100 miles North have had some devistating weather.
With the main highway between me and my airport flooded last night, I may be stuck here..... as annoying as this may be, I cant help but think about all the thousands of people that have been affected by these monsoon floods.

So I make a cup of tea and sit outside and read the local paper. The rain is coming down, not in cats and dogs but more like catteries and kennels. This is a proper storm.

Understandably the paper has page after page about the devastation and to add even more misery to these poor people some, infact lots arent insured !!! Why, are they lazy or admin adverse ? No,

It turns out that a little and in most cases very little small print clause in their insurance may result in over half of them not getting a penny from their insurance companies. They all have storm damage but storm damage is not flood damage. Clever big insurance companies.... Yep it seems that they are covered if their guttering leaks and causes a mini flood in their house, albiet that most of the pictures ive seen the water is above the guttering ! So to add even further suffering most of them are trying to slavage what they can and im sure that they havent even contemplated their insurance small print.

So, I find myself very close to this devastation and I cant help feel more conected to their plight than I may have done seeing it on the news for example in the UK, but the real devastation will continue for years while some of these poor people have to save and buy all of their possessions again that they thought their insurance had covered them for.

Do I like insurance, No. Do I want insurance, No.
Do I need insurance.... ? Absolutely Yes.

From a very wet Brisbane.

Peter

It must be true - It is written in the paper. Daily Mail 8th Jan 2011

Well I dont know how many of you are Daily Mail readers but there was an interesting article in yesterdays paper about the South East.......

If you live in the south-east of England and own a home you are king of the UK property market, according to research. Homes there are worth more than the combined property wealth of owners in Wales, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the north. Analysis shows the south-east, including London, has benefited the most during the boom years over the past decade and contains a third of all housing wealth in the UK. .....I met up today with a nice chap who sold his terraced house in London in 2007 for £400k (which he had no mortgage on) who has just bought a converted church quite close to me for £300k (down from £500k). I would say this sort of thing accounts for most of the property bought in this area. Probably 80% of the population here are from the south of England.