How To Sell And Move In By Christmas

Moving home can be a lengthy process, sometimes taking several months. A lot of buyers use Christmas as a self-imposed deadline, often so they can host the festivities in their new home and start the new year in their new house.

However, if you’ve still not put your house on the market then don’t fret, as it’s still entirely possible to sell up and be moved into a new home in Warrington and move into a new one in a matter of weeks rather than months.

Prep Your Property

If you want a quick sale then now is the perfect time for a clearout, so you can showcase your property in its best light.

At a minimum, it’s a good idea to declutter and tidy the house and garden. Improving your property’s kerb appeal by cutting the front lawn and putting a couple of plants out the front can also make a bigger difference than you might think.

And if any rooms are looking tired or outdated then a lick of paint could do just the trick. Go for neutral colours too, because when combined with a room that’s been decluttered, it gives potential buyers a far clearer idea of how they’ll use the space if they move in.

Get Your Finances In Order

To give yourself the best chance of moving quickly you’ll need to have everything in place as soon as possible, particularly when it comes to finances.

Speak to a mortgage broker about how much you can borrow, and what your options are regarding porting your mortgage. You should also get your mortgage in principle arranged in plenty of time too.

You’ll also need to have at least three months’ wage slips available, as well as your most recent P60. Another thing you’ll need to check is that you have instant access to all of your funds, as many savers will often deposit large amounts of savings into an account that doesn’t provide instant access in order to get a better interest rate. So make sure you’re able to access your funds when you need them.

Weigh Up All Offers

If you’re fortunate enough to get multiple offers on your property then you may have to compromise a little on price in order to meet your Christmas deadline.

For example, first-time buyers and cash buyers are ideal when you’re looking for a quick sale, but they might be offering less than someone else who is part of a lengthy chain.

Ultimately it comes down to how important your Christmas deadline is, but if it’s absolutely vital to you, then you may have to accept a slightly lower offer to get the ball rolling quickly.

Make Sure Your Property’s Being Marketed Properly

It’s highly likely that your estate agent will advertise your home on the major property websites, on their website and social media too, but it’s worth double-checking that this is the case.

Make sure you have a ‘for sale’ sign put up outside too, as you never know who might be looking around the area on the off chance of seeing a place they like on the market.

Basically, you want your property to be seen by as many people as possible, so when you’re speaking to estate agents, find out how and where they plan to advertise your home, to ensure it’s getting plenty of exposure.

Don’t Cut Corners

Just because you’re in a rush to move into your new place, don’t allow it to cloud your judgment when it comes to the important things.

For example, it’s always a good idea to get a survey carried out on the new property, even if it could mean a slight delay in completing the purchase.

Surveys can flag up some pretty big issues, so it’s better to find out about them before you’ve committed to buying a place than after you’ve moved in.

And on the subject of cutting corners, don’t fall into the trap of choosing the cheapest solicitor and estate agent to handle your property transaction. Although it might take some extra time, it’s always worth speaking to a handful of agents and solicitors to get an idea of their timescales and their professionalism. After all, it’s important to deal with professionals that you can trust and who’ll look to meet your deadline, rather than those who don’t pick up the phone and leave your file on the bottom of a mountain of case files!

Talk To The Experts

Here at Hamlet Homes Warrington, we will do our utmost to get you moved into your new home by Christmas – but you’ll need to get in touch quickly!

Contact us today on 01925 235 338 or email us at manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

New House Vs Old House? Here’s How to Choose!

Out with the old and in with the new? Or, out with the old and in with the old?

Moving house can be wonderful but how do you choose where you will be living next?

Do you go for the period property with the character and quirks in need of a little love and attention, or do you opt for the new house with the ensuite, the study space and the double garage?

Choosing your next home in Warrington is a big decision. It’s a huge investment and so it must be right.

At Hamlet Homes Warrington we’ve seen our fair share of old and new, so let’s look at what you should be considering when choosing.

What do you really want?

We speak with people all the time who know exactly what it is they want! However, equally, many don’t. So, what do you want from a new-to-you property?

• Do you want a ready-to-live-in house?
• Would you rather have a property where you know you will need to do some work?

Write the pros and cons of new and old and have a good ponder on the type of house you want.

Do you have the skills?

You may have decided that you want a doer-upper. You know the type. External walls need rendering, a rewire is required, new bathroom suite, the kitchen needs replacing…

But do you have the skills to do the work?

If you do, then great.

Do you have the time?

If you do, then greater still.

If you don’t, then this should steer you away from a house that needs work unless you have the budget to pay for professionals. If you’re going to bodge it, will it really become the home of your dreams? Unlikely! So, think carefully before taking on too much.

Is money no object, or are your finances tight?

Budgets play a huge part in any project, whether it’s a house you are renovating, or a new property that needs carpeting or decorating to your taste.

If you want to renovate, have you worked out all that you need to do, whether that’s materials or labour costs? And what about a contingency fund? What you don’t want to do is have a list of things to do and then forget important aspects which mean the budget is smashed through the roof.

You can of course renovate on a budget, but if you have not fully costed everything, you may be in for a shock.

New can mean brand new!

A new home is so easy to move into. You can practically unpack, add furniture and be having a cuppa within an hour or two!

If it is brand new, then there should be warranties on white goods or on the building itself, giving you peace of mind so brand new can be an ideal option if your skills are limited, your budget tight, and, to be honest, you don’t want to renovate a property.

Is an older property better?

Many older houses are perceived to have been better built than newer ones. It’s true, they might have more substantial building materials used in the construction process, have intricate tiled patterns, more spacious rooms, larger gardens, or handmade bricks.

But… newer homes will have up-to-date environmental standards, materials sourced from environmentally conscious suppliers, have better insulation, and have electric and plumbing systems that are unlikely to require replacing.

There are always going to be pros and cons to any house you buy, whether it’s an old one or a new one.

Right now, we don’t know what your requirements are, so come and talk to us and we’ll be able to help you make the right choice. In Warrington we’re lucky that we have old and new properties coming to market, so we could have the ideal house for you.

What do you prefer, old or new?

Call us on 01925 235 338 or email manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk and let us know what you’re looking for.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

Warrington Buy-to-Let Landlords Owed £1,046,046 in Unpaid Rent

There is no getting away from the fact that the rise in the number of buy-to-let properties in Warrington has been nothing short of astonishing over the last twenty years. As a result, many in the press have said Britain is a broken nation, with many twenty and thirty-somethings unable to buy their first home. The press has named this group ‘Generation Rent.’

Warrington landlords have been accused of scooping up all the smaller Warrington properties for their buy-to-let property empires. Others blamed the Government (of both persuasions) for pouring petrol on the buy-to-let fire for giving landlords an unfair advantage with the way buy-to-let has been taxed in the past. Many have said these landlords have priced out Warrington's 'Generation Rent'. Many say they are rogues, and you can see why there is little sympathy for landlords, especially as …

Warrington landlords receive £56,798,904 a year in rent – easy money or what?

So, as we come out of lockdown, I want to make a stand for Warrington landlords and talk about the great work they have been doing during the pandemic.

Since lockdown, it has been (almost) illegal to evict a tenant from private rented property. Yet, in the last few weeks, this ‘ban on evictions’ has begun to be eased, making some commentators forecast a ‘tsunami of homelessness’ as landlords ready themselves to kick out the tenants who cannot pay their rent.

You might say they can afford it, yet I need to highlight an often-untold story in the massive numbers of Warrington landlords who have co-operated with their Warrington tenants to evade eviction.

The personal finances of some Warrington landlords and tenants have been ruthlessly strained during the last 16 months — something that is going to have ramifications on the back pockets of both landlords and tenants, as well as the attraction of being a buy-to-let landlord (more of that later).

737 Warrington tenants are in arrears with their rent to the tune of £1,046,046.

That's money these landlords need to pay their mortgages with and even to live off themselves.

The eviction ban was imposed in March 2020 and the Government has expected private landlords to stand the cost of their tenants’ rent if they could no longer pay. It was estimated over 1 in 5 landlords with mortgages had requested a mortgage payment holiday in 2020. Thankfully, that now stands at 1 in 100 as most Warrington landlords with shortfalls in rent have been using their own personal savings to cover the mortgage payments.

I have seen so many landlords giving their Warrington tenants rent breaks and discounts to help them through these times. However, most landlords I talk to acknowledge that it is better to have a tenant paying something rather than a tenant paying nothing, hoping that total rent will start flowing as the economy recovers.

Going into the pandemic, 1 in 25 Warrington tenants were in arrears, yet that now stands at 1 in 11.

So, are we going to see lots of evictions? I would go as far as to rebuff the idea that we will see a rush to the courts of landlords to obtain possession orders now the eviction ban has been lifted. I have always viewed evictions as a last resort.

Before the pandemic, it took about 12 months for courts to hear rental repossession cases, so this backlog will be nearer two years (if not more). Nonetheless, the threat of a County Court Judgement (CCJ) often makes tenants pay up as it will demolish their credit rating, making it very challenging for them to rent another home.

I feel for those Warrington tenants under furlough or reduced hours as they have the quandary of wanting to reduce their outgoings by moving to a cheaper rental property, yet whose rental deposits will be sacrificed to cover their rent arrears. However, some have said that because house prices have exploded during the last 16 months, Warrington landlords should write off their tenants’ arrears as a goodwill gesture.

The issue is, 1,313 Warrington landlords only have a single property for rent, so the arrears would have to be funded by their personal savings.

For them, the pandemic experience could be the incentive to sell up for good.

A National Residential Landlords Association survey found around a third of all landlords were now more likely to sell their buy-to-let properties altogether or sell some of them. This would mean fewer properties for tenants to rent, thus driving up the rent.

According to government and industry data, evidence suggests that a tenant who rents a property directly through a landlord and not through a letting agent is between two and three times more likely to go into arrears of 2 months or more. Is this because tenants know that private landlords who advertise directly for tenants on Gumtree and other platforms don't carry out the checks letting agents do on them?

Many of those landlords are switching the management of their property to an agent, and for those landlords sticking with self-management of their property, there is circumstantial evidence they are starting to become a lot pickier when starting new tenancies. Even though illegal, spurning tenants on benefits is woefully all too common. I also worry there could be a stigma about renting properties to self-employed people because of the erratic nature of their income.

Looking into the future, I envisage a growth in the use of ‘rent guarantor contracts’, whereby the tenant is called upon to provide a 3rd party person to pay the rent if the tenant doesn’t. These are pretty common for student lets and those on certain benefits, and it wouldn't surprise me if these are used more often for self-employed tenants and regular professional lets.

That is why I believe Warrington landlords should be celebrated .. most of them have been saviours. These are my thoughts - what are yours?

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

Buying a home in Warrington: Budgeting for Fees

Out of all the purchases you make in your life, your home is likely to be the most expensive, but it’s not just the price of the property you need to take into account. When you purchase your new home in Warrington, you’ll have fees and other costs associated with the move to take into consideration. Make sure you budget well so that you don’t end up with a nasty surprise!

If you are looking to buy a home in Warrington, do make sure you take into account all the associated fees with your purchase. To help you, we’ve created this handy guide to the most common fees.

Stamp duty

Currently, stamp duty is payable when you buy a home that costs over £125,001, although if you’re a first-time buyer, you won’t pay stamp duty on the first £300k. The rate of stamp duty increases as a percentage depending on how expensive your home is, so if it’s under £250k it’s 2%, and if it’s under £925k it’s 5%. There are also higher rates payable for people with second or buy to let homes. Stamp duty needs to be paid to the HMRC within 14 days of completing the process of buying a home, and your solicitor will usually deal with this, so make sure you’ve budgeted for it.

Surveyors fees

When you buy a house, a survey is essential, as it ensures you don’t buy a place that’s full of problems. In some cases, your mortgage lender will require you to instruct a survey, which could be a basic survey costing £250, through to a structural survey which can cost from £500 to £1,300 depending on the condition of the property.

Solicitors fees

Whilst you can attempt to do your own conveyancing, it’s one of those things that isn’t recommended as it’s very tedious, involves a lot of legal terms, and if something goes wrong, you have very little comeback. Therefore, you should budget for conveyancing fees, which can vary from hundreds to a few thousand pounds depending on whether you are buying and selling or one or the other.

Mortgage costs

There are a number of costs you need to budget for when it comes to your mortgage.

• Deposit: This is usually the most costly part of moving. You’ll need to put down a deposit of between 5% and 20% of the property price. If you’re already a homeowner, then the deposit is usually paid out of the equity in your current home.
• Valuation fee. Some lenders will charge you a valuation fee so they can work out how much they’re willing to lend and some banks will waive this fee.
• Transfer fee: Many mortgage providers add a fee of around £40-50 to transfer the money to your solicitor for the property purchase.
• Arrangement fees: These are the fees charged to set up a mortgage, and they can range from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds. In some cases, you can find mortgages with no arrangement fee, and some lenders will give you the option to add the fee to the overall cost of the mortgage. Keep in mind that if you add the fees to your mortgage, you’re likely to pay more due to interest on the combined figure.

It’s definitely worth shopping around when it comes to mortgages, and considering using a broker, as fees can vary and you’ll want to secure the best deal.

Removal costs

It’s worth getting some quotes and choosing not just the cheapest removal company, but the one that has the best reputation and offers best value for money. Some removal firms offer extras such as boxes and packing, which can be helpful when you’re busy dealing with all the other paperwork and stress!

Some people choose to hire a van and do the move themselves, but anyone who has done this will no doubt tell you it’s not always ideal. On the day of completion, you’ll be busy dealing with solicitor calls and trying to get the keys to your new home, so you won’t want to have the responsibility of loading up the van and unloading at the other end! Leave it to the professionals.

Repairs and decorating

Even if your new home appears perfect, when you move in, there are bound to be a few things that might need to be fixed and of course you’ll probably want to redecorate, so it’s a good idea to budget for this.

Moving home can come with a lot of fees, not to mention paperwork, but once you’re comfortably settled in your new home in Warrington, you’ll realise that it was worth all of the stress.

For a wide range of properties for sale in Warrington, contact our friendly and professional team of experts at Hamlet Homes Warrington on 01925 235 338 and speak with us today about your next home.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

How Eco-friendly are Warrington Homes?

‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’, was the song that Kermit sang on Sesame Street.

Yet now being green is a normal way of life for most of us. Walking or cycling places instead of taking the car, recycling and even shunning meat are some of the things most Warrington households are trying to do their ‘bit’ for going green.

Our conduct may have improved but when it comes to our Warrington homes, there is still a long way to go. It is estimated around a fifth of carbon emissions come from home energy usage (nearly three quarters from heating and lighting). The country is releasing 37% less carbon into the atmosphere than in 1990, yet we have legally binding targets to hit 100% by 2050 — and the Committee on Climate Change has stated the UK will need to eradicate greenhouse gas emissions from homes to meet that target.

Landlords were hit first because since April 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations with regards to eco-friendliness of the rental properties have required all rental properties to have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘E’ or above otherwise it is illegal to let out a property, bar a couple of exceptions. This has meant Warrington landlords have had to spend many thousands of pounds to improve their rental property’s EPC rating (an EPC rating of ‘A’ being the best eco rating through to a ‘G’ for the worst – just like washing machine or fridge ratings).

But new Government plans could hit Warrington homeowners in the pocket as well.

The Government is planning to force banks and building societies to penalise people wanting a mortgage of draughty low-eco homes with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower. For those properties not hitting the correct level of EPC rating, it is suggested some form of levy will be placed on the mortgage provider, who in turn will pass that on to the home buyers in the form of higher mortgage payments. Some are describing this charge as an ‘eco-mortgage levy’.

Just under 6 in 10 (56.5%) homes in Warrington would be hit by this ‘eco-mortgage levy’, thus potentially reducing the value of those homes

Interesting when you compare this with the national average of 60.6%.

In real numbers, 39,625 homeowners and landlords in our local authority area would either struggle to get a mortgage from a bank or building society or it would cost them more because they were a ‘D’ rating on their EPC or below.



Looking at the stats broken down for Warrington:

• 54 properties are classified as A on the EPC register
• 6,559 properties are classified as B on the EPC register
• 23,874 properties are classified as C on the EPC register
• 28,676 properties are classified as D on the EPC register
• 8,765 properties are classified as E on the EPC register
• 1,703 properties are classified as F on the EPC register
• 481 properties are classified as G on the EPC register

So, what can Warrington homeowners and landlords do to improve their EPC rating?

Well surprisingly, it need not cost a lot to improve the EPC rating of your Warrington home. One of the most inexpensive ways to help improve your Warrington home’s energy efficiency is low energy light bulbs with an estimated cost of just under £40 per UK property. Other efficiencies can be gained by insulating your hot water cylinder, draught proofing any single glazed windows, increasing your loft insulation and upgrading your central heating controls, all of which can be done for a total of around £750 to £850 per property.

If you want to know the EPC rating of your home, either google the phrase ‘EPC register’ or send me a message and I will find out for you.

Finally, as Kermit famously also said, “Life's like a movie. Write your own ending”. If you are a Warrington homeowner or Warrington landlord, why not look at your property’s EPC rating and look at the recommendations. You are going to have to spend the money sometime, so why not do it now and enjoy lower energy bills and when you come to sell, you won’t be penalised ... a win-win situation for you and the planet?

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

When you find your dream property in Warrington you don’t want anyone else to have it, so it’s quite normal to want to jump straight in with an offer, but here at Hamlet Homes Warrington naturally we want all our clients to be happy and so that involves always negotiating the best price whether we are involved in the sale or purchase of a property. It’s always worth taking your time to negotiate the best deal – and here’s how we do it.

We know the local property market

Simply jumping in with a random offer, because you think that’s what the house is worth, can mean that you won’t get the best deal. We research the market thoroughly and keep a close eye on property prices. We make it our business to find out what other properties in Warrington were listed for versus the price that was eventually paid. And we note how long homes stay on the market.

We work for you!

We are always working for you and it’s in our interest to achieve the best price for your property if you’re selling and negotiate the deal you are happy with if you are buying.

We can advise you regarding your ‘buying position’

We’ve been in business a long time and can sniff out certain types of sellers who are on the lookout for buyers in strong positions, such as:

• Cash buyers
• Buyers with no chain
• Clients who are keen to buy quickly with their own property sold
• First time buyers who have their mortgage funding secured
• Buyers who are renting or have some sort of flexibility in their move

If you can show that you’re in a good position to move and can complete the process quickly, then in our experience, sellers will offer a little more flexibility. Nobody wants to be stuck in a chain or waiting for someone else’s house to sell for the sake of a few thousand pounds, so this can invariably make an offer attractive.

We are professional and friendly at all times

We know that selling your family home can be an emotional experience, and some sellers will feel highly attached to their properties. After all, you may have spent years living there there and have lots of memories. Negotiations are always easier when empathy is shown and we pride ourselves on always being willing to work with our clients to reach an agreement whatever the situation.

We will work to secure the best deal

In many cases, negotiations initially start with a firm no on first offer! However, this is perfectly normal. If your first offer is rejected, we will work with you on a second offer and advise you if any counteroffer is forthcoming, liaising with the seller throughout.

We understand that buying a house can be a stressful process, and sometimes when you find the right property, it’s easy to get carried away. However, it’s advisable to speak with us regarding your budget before commencing negotiations so that we can handle this for you, allowing you to get the best deal on your dream home.

Call the team at Hamlet Homes Warrington today on 01925 235 338 and let us negotiate the best deal on your next home.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

The Benefits of Owning a Buy to Let Property

Owning a buy to let in Warrington and renting out your property can be very rewarding. It can be a way of having a regular income coming in, together with actually owning something that should increase in value over time.

If you are considering renting out a property, there are many things you need to make sure you get right, such as rental income, statutory obligations (e.g. gas and electric certificates), and of course having the right tenants in-situ.

What are the benefits of a Buy To Let?

You’ll have the option of a Buy to Let mortgage

Unless you can fund your property purchase with cash, the chances are that you will need a buy to let mortgage. For landlords, this is the most popular way of acquiring property, which in itself can benefit you in a number of ways including:

• Interest only payments
• Longer mortgage terms
• Mortgage payments can be offset against tax
• Less strict regulatory processes

The good news is that there are a number of products and lenders out there to choose from, and you should be able to get a good deal from a lender.

If you have a larger than average deposit to put down, for example around 35 to 40 per cent, then the deals get even better.

Consumer website which.co.uk has some very useful information on mortgage deals worth looking at, and of course as your local estate agent we are happy to help and put you in touch with a recommended mortgage adviser who will assist you with lending criteria and affordability.

You’ll get potential high returns on your money

When you own a rental property, you should benefit in two ways, financially speaking. Firstly, you’ll have a monthly income stream coming in. If you’ve done your sums right and have a rental income that produces a good yield, then this is good news.

Secondly, you should see your property price go upwards over the years. Despite everything, property is still seen as a sound investment. We know for example that as soon as a rental property in Warrington is marketed, then we get a huge number of enquiries.

Top Tip Do your homework. If you need help making sure everything adds up, talk to us and we’ll do our best to help you.

You’ll diversify the risks

It’s fair to say that the economy has taken a battering over recent months. High street shops and large businesses have come a cropper because of lockdowns and uncertainties over investment going forward. Where previously you may have been certain of your other investments, perhaps now there’s an added element of risk.

If you have a few pounds stashed away in various projects or investments and are worried what the future might hold, property in Warrington is still seen as a sound investment with good returns. Again though, you must do the maths and look at interest and repayments and make sure the rental income covers not only fixed costs, but also maintenance and the other expenses associated with rental properties.

Top Tip Seek the advice of a trusted lettings and property expert to find out which areas will present the best opportunity for rental incomes.

You can help friends and family

We’ve seen a trend recently of people investing in buy to let properties as a way of helping friends and family out, while at the same time building up a property portfolio.

It’s an interesting concept and will not be for everyone but if you know someone going to college or university, it could be a way of generating useful cashflow.

Top Tip There are rules and regulations that tenants and landlords have to abide by whether your tenant is someone known to you or not! It’s probably even more important to get it right if you rent to friends or family as you won’t want conflict in the future.

These are just some of the benefits to owning a buy to let property. There are many things to think about, so if you would like some expert help, do give us a call and we’ll talk you through it. Hamlet Homes Warrington are your local property experts for the Warrington area. Call us on 01925 235 338 or email manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

Your Great-Great Warrington Grandfather Would Only Have Paid £289 10s 0d for his Warrington Home in 1871

Would it surprise you even more when I said the ratio of house prices to wages are still lower today when compared to 1871? Yes, you read that correctly, as a proportion of average wages British house prices are 17.6% proportionally cheaper today than they were in 1871.

I wish to talk about the last 150 years of the British property market and later in the article, the Warrington property market. I will also touch on why before the 1900s, buying a home in Warrington was considerably more expensive than today and why that changed.

So, let’s look at some interesting stats to get us started:

• In 1871, each house was occupied by an average of 5.33 people (i.e. for every 100 houses, 533 people lived in them), whilst today that stands at 2.39 people per house
• In 1871, there were 4.5 million properties in the UK, whilst today that stands at 27.9 million
• In 1871, the weekly average wage was 13s 8½d (68p) and today £585.50
• In 1871, only 20% of people owned their own home, whilst today its stands at 65%

I stated in the first part of the article it was more expensive to buy in the latter parts of the 19th Century than today. It may only be of historical interest, but back in 1871, the ratio of average house prices to average wages was 10.5 to 1 (i.e. the average house was worth ten and half times the average person’s wage), whilst today it stands at 8.8 to 1.

Interestingly, for the next 45 years, that ratio went on a downward trend relative to wages and only stopped falling after WW1, where the average house was worth only 2.2 times the average wage. This made houses more affordable and set the foundations for the homeowning passion we Brits have today.

So why did this happen, what can we learn from it and what does it mean for Warrington homeowners and Warrington landlords?

There are three significant drivers that made property a lot more affordable between 1871 and 1911: the Victorians built more property, made them smaller and people's wages rose significantly.

• In the 40 years between 1871 and 1911, the number of properties in the UK rose from 4.5 million to 8.9 million. To give you some perspective, there were 18 million properties in the UK in 1981. If the UK had grown by the same rate between 1981 and today that was experienced between 1871 and 1911, there would be 35.6 million households in the UK (and not the 27.9 million mentioned above).
• In 1871, the average plot size of a property was 0.23 acres, yet by 1911, that was down to 0.06 acres (or a plot of 72ft by 40ft). This came about from building smaller types of property (i.e. a change away from larger Georgian detached houses towards the infamous rows of Victorian terraces), and a downshift in the average size of houses within each category.
• The average value of property dropped by 26% between 1871 and 1911, whilst wages rose by 85% over the same time frame.

So, by 1911, the average Warrington property had dropped in value from £290 in 1871 to £215.

N.B. – you might have noticed I wrote £290 in a slightly different way in the title of the article. Up to 1971, a pound was split not into 100 pence but 240 pence. There were 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings (or 240 pence) in a pound. It was expressed in the form £sd and spoken as "pounds, shillings and pence". I dropped that into the title as it’s the 50th anniversary this year of when the UK decimalised its currency (younger readers – do google the story – it’s a fascinating topic).

So back to the property market, and at the end of WW1, four in five people still rented, virtually all from private landlords. Politicians were concerned about the poor living standards of people’s homes, and this led to the ‘homes fit for heroes’ 1919 Housing Act which delivered subsidies for local councils to build council houses. The average value of a Warrington property in 1922 was £338.

The 1930s - By 1930, the average value of a Warrington property stood at £427. With the country building a third of a million houses per annum, interest rates fixed at 2% and hardly any planning regulations, supply of property was outstripping demand, so the average Warrington home dropped ever so slightly in value to £394 by 1938.

The 1940s - With the bombing of many towns and cities and housebuilding being stopped because of the war, this created a perfect storm to increase house prices after the war. By 1947, the average Warrington home had risen in value to £1,320 because just as food was rationed during and after the war, so were building materials. Builders could spend no more than £350 on building materials for a new home (and that lasted until 1954).

The 1950s - The '50s were all about building council houses – a quarter of a million of them each year. By 1959, the average Warrington home had risen steadily to £1,831.

The 1960s - This decade saw even more houses being built in the UK, with an average of a third of a million houses a year being built. Warrington is full of 1960’s council houses and now even more owner-occupied housing, meaning by the end of the decade Britain had as many homeowners as renters. The average Warrington house had risen in value to £3,358 by 1969.

The 1970s - We experienced the first boom and bust housing bubble in the early 1970s with house prices rising by over 30% a year in the early years of the decade (so the current 10% a year is child's play!) but prices dropped in 1974. They recovered quickly in the following years, not because of increased demand but due to hyperinflation, making the average Warrington house price rise to £17,078 by 1980.

The 1980s - This was the decade of council tenants being able to buy their own homes, although not many people know it was an idea from Labour. They decided against the idea, but it was seized upon by the Tories, who made it the cornerstone of their 1979 election manifesto. The property market helped improve the economy, and by 1988, Warrington property values increased to £35,721 (only to drop by 32% a couple of years later).

The 1990s - The housing market crash of the early 1990s was painful for all, exacerbated by mortgage interest rates being raised to 15% on Black Wednesday (16 September 1992) and left there for 12 months. Unemployment went from 1.5m to 3m for the second time in ten years, and many of those homeowners who had taken out large mortgages in the late 1980’s housing boom could no longer afford the repayments because of the high interest rates, meaning repossessions went through the roof. The crash also made builders nervous, and they only built 150,000 houses on average a year in this decade. Yet, by the mid-1990s, things started to improve. So much so, the average Warrington home was worth £66,962 by the turn of the millennium.

The 2000s - The decade of cheap mortgages and the rise of Buy-to-Let, together with a severe drop in the number of new homes being built, contributed to the UK’s third big housing bubble since WW2. The average Warrington house price more than doubled to £179,320 by 2008, before the Credit Crunch brought the boom to an end, and a year later (2009), the average Warrington property had dropped to £159,272.

The 2010s - The property market started to come back to life in the early 2010s with property values steadily rising throughout the decade, yet builders were only building around 135,000 new homes a year. It also might surprise you that by 2015/6, the number of homeowners was starting to rise quite significantly, meaning today, as we enter the 2020's decade, the average value of a Warrington property now stands at £231,425.

So, now we are back to 2021.

Yes, your Great-Great-Grandfather might have been able to buy their Warrington house for a shade under £290 in 1871. Taking inflation into account since 1871, that same Warrington house today would be £34,872.39, yet if his wages had increased by inflation at the same rate, the average wage today would be £81.91 per week, not the current £585.50 per week.

I appreciate there are plenty of other factors involved with this topic, such as the cost of renting, raising a deposit, changing lifestyles and the biggest point, the cost of borrowing money on a mortgage.

All this begs the question, what does the future hold for the Warrington property market?

It's obvious since the mid-1980s, house prices have sustained a period of impressive growth (even withstanding a couple of property crashes). The Bank of England has gone on record to say that much of the rise in average house values, comparative to wages, between 1985 and now can be seen because of a sustained, dramatic, and consistently unexpected decline in real interest rates and additionally concludes that: ‘An unexpected and persistent increase in the medium-term real interest rates will generate a fall in real house prices.’

Cheap mortgages and a lack of building have created this situation. So as long as interest rates don’t go back to their long-term average of the 5% to 7% range or the Government decides to increase building new homes to half a million a year (from the current 240,000 per year) ... things will carry on as they are in the medium to long-term.

These are my thoughts. I would love to hear any stories of your family buying property in the late 19th Century or early 20th Century and what they paid for it, together with the affordability of Warrington property and the future of it.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

37.1% of Warrington Landlords Could be Fined £5,000 each with New Energy Regs

As the UK has committed to a legally binding target to be carbon neutral by 2050, one of the biggest producers of greenhouse gasses are residential properties. To hit that target, every UK property will need to achieve a minimum grade of C on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) by 2035. The issue is two thirds of UK’s homes (around 19 million households) are rated D or below.

To help the country hit its targets, in 2018 and again in 2020, the EPC requirements altered for buy-to-let landlords, meaning they couldn’t rent their property unless it had a minimum energy rating of ‘E’ or above.

And now for homeowners, the Government are considering forcing banks and building societies to publish the average EPC rating for all the homes they lend money on and if the banks and building societies don’t hit the Government EPC targets, they will be fined (meaning those homeowners with low energy efficient properties will have to pay much more for their mortgages).

So, let’s look at these two issues, first regarding Warrington landlords and their EPC’s, so you know what your lawful responsibilities are and what else Warrington landlords can expect in the future.

Since October 2008, all UK rental properties have required an EPC, yet from April 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations with regards to EPCs have also required all rental properties with new tenancies and renewals to have a minimum EPC rating of ‘E’ or above. However, since April 2020, the MEES regulations have applied to all existing tenancies as well, meaning if your Warrington rental property doesn’t have a valid EPC rating of ‘E’ (or above), it is illegal to let out.

154 rental properties in Warrington are currently let out with a ‘F’ or ‘G’ EPC rating, making them illegal to rent out and each landlord liable for a £5,000 fine – they just don’t know it

The EPC lasts for 10 years and gives an energy rating of between A - very energy efficient to G - very energy inefficient. If you find yourself, as a Warrington landlord, with a rental property that has an EPC rating of below ‘E’, what are your options?

To start with, you have a responsibility by law to carry out the changes suggested in your EPC report to improve the energy rating of your property. The law states that landlords should spend up to a maximum of £3,500 on the energy efficiency improvements set out in the EPC. Yet, if by spending £3,500, that improves your EPC rating but doesn’t mean you reach the ‘E’ rating, whilst you will still be expected to improve the rental property and spend the money, you will be able to apply for a high-cost exemption via the PRS Exemptions Register and still let the property (even though you will have an EPC rating of F or G).

It must be noted that some properties are exempt from the MEES legislation. If your property is listed or protected and the improvements would unacceptably alter it, it is exempt from EPC requirements.
Once your EPC has been registered, it is then valid for ten years. Because the EPC regulations came into force in 2008, there will be some rental properties that had their initial EPC and not had it renewed on its 10th birthday. Now as a Warrington landlord, you do not need to get a new EPC if your EPC reaches its 10th birthday, unless that is, you are starting a new tenancy with new tenants. The issue is…

of 9,549 rental properties in Warrington, 3,546 of them have an EPC that is 10 years or older which has not been renewed

If you are a Warrington landlord, your EPC is 10 years old (or older) and your tenant leaves, you will require a new EPC, because if you don’t, you will be fined £5,000. If all those buy-to-let landlords in our local authority area ignored that law, accumulatively they could be fined £17.7m.

Secondly, what about Warrington homeowners and the mortgage companies?

Under new legislation being considered, homeowners living in poorly insulated and draughty homes (meaning they would have a low EPC rating) could pay more for their mortgages and lose value from their Warrington homes under Government plans to prioritise mortgages on properties with high energy-efficiency ratings.

There are 10,790 properties in Warrington with a rating of ‘E’ or below

The Department of Business (DoB) wants to force mortgage providers to classify the energy ratings of their borrowers’ homes and put the average into a Government league table, which will be presented on the DoB’s website. Mortgage providers will then get time sensitive targets to improve their average EPC scores, punishable by fines, meaning this would increase the mortgage costs for those with low energy efficient homes.

Maybe it’s time you looked at your EPC certificate and find out how you can improve your rating? If you are a Warrington landlord or Warrington homeowner and would like to chat about your legal position or would like a copy of your EPC emailing to you, don’t hesitate to drop me a line and I will be more than happy to discuss your personal circumstances further without obligation.

So, is it right Warrington landlords should have to fork out to improve the energy performance of their rental property, yet they aren’t the ones benefiting? Also, should Warrington homeowners have to have higher mortgage payments in the future because they have a low energy-efficient home?

Let me know your thoughts.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

Warrington Buy-to-Let Property Market Going into Crisis?

 

Warrington landlords, sell your property portfolios, your tenants will soon be leaving in droves as they buy their first home with the new 5% deposit mortgages backed by the Government’s new mortgage-guarantee scheme revealed in March’s budget! These 95% mortgages are to be supported by the Treasury, lessening losses for mortgage lenders should the borrower be incapable of repaying and get repossessed, as the Government want Generation Rent to turn into Generation Buy.

This sounds like the death knell for buy-to-let investment in Warrington as many tenants will soon be buying their first home

– or is it?

It’s true that on first impressions it might look like many Warrington first-time buyers will now be leaving their rental properties in their droves with this new low deposit mortgage scheme. However, these potential Warrington first-time buyers are facing four big issues which will inhibit their ability to take advantage of the mortgage scheme, meaning many will continue to rent.

Firstly, the mortgage rate for 95% mortgages has increased. The lowest five-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 5% deposit today (with Barclays) is 3.45%, up from 2019’s best rate of 2.75%. That doesn’t sound a lot, yet it makes a massive difference to the monthly mortgage payments (as you will see below).

Secondly, due to pent-up demand post lockdown and the stamp duty holiday, this has increased demand for Warrington property, placing upward pressure on Warrington property prices which has made it problematic for first-time buyers to get on the Warrington property ladder. This has meant ...

the average price of a Warrington first-time buyer property has risen from £140,061 to £146,189 in the last 12 months …

in turn this means, Warrington first-time buyers have had to save an additional £306.40 for their deposit to keep up with the house price increase. That means …

the monthly payment on a 30-year mortgage for a Warrington first-time buyer has jumped from £543.20 per month in 2019 to £619.76 a month today, an increase of £76.56 per month.

The third issue is demand for Warrington first-time property from buy-to-let landlords is surpassing supply, adding further fuel to the fire of driving up prices. Finally, the fact that most Warrington first-time buyers are of the younger generation and it’s the younger workers that have been most at risk of unemployment or salary cuts during the economic crisis.

You might say things will change in 2022 but would it surprise you that 95% mortgages have been available to first time buyers since the summer of 2010 and were only withdrawn during the first lockdown in 2020?

Since 2010, even with ultra-low interest rates, the number of private rented properties in the UK has grown by 580,000 households from 3.8m households to 4.4m households and will continue to grow, let me explain why.

The notion that buy-to-let property is a strong long-term investment has not altered with the pandemic. Since 1930 with the all the crises we have had with WW2, the Oil Crisis, 3 day week and hyper-inflation in the 1970’s, Warrington property has been a hedge against inflation and in addition, delivers a decent income yield of 6% and upwards. Not bad when compared to the 0.5% with a savings account (if you are lucky).

It is a fact that those landlords that see buy-to-let investment in Warrington as a long-term strategy will win.

It is certainly the case that I am starting to see an exodus of the ‘amateur landlord’, leaving more professional landlords who see ‘landlord-ing’ as a business, not a game. Those long-term Warrington landlords can see through the present predicament as they have a long-term buy-to-let investment mindset.

Many Warrington landlords are intensely aware that demand for high quality private rental properties in Warrington is only going to flourish as a consequence of the pandemic; whilst not forgetting that demand presently exceeds supply. Also, those same Warrington landlords know that a responsible approach to their tenants with regard to condition and repairs is a key to ensuring the rent keeps flowing in with minimal void periods.

Finally, even though Warrington house prices are, on average, on the up, there are still some bargains even in this market. By doing their homework and working with an agent like myself, these savvy Warrington landlords are paying reasonable prices, thus giving them a sturdier rental yield and the ability for future capital growth.

If you are a Warrington landlord, as my clients all know, I am here to help and guide landlords on their long-term investment strategy. I therefore extend this offer to all Warrington landlords, irrespective of whether you manage your property yourself, or use one of my excellent competitor agents in Warrington, I am here to help.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

Will Warrington House Prices Fall in 2022?

One of the most astounding things that has happened in the last 12 months was something that did not happen. Even after the country saw the deepest recession since the Great Freeze of 1709, with GDP dropping 28% in one quarter, one would have expected a large fall in Warrington house prices would follow. Yet…

Warrington house prices are 14.4% higher than 12 months ago.

Even though buying and selling Warrington property was put on ice for the first time in the history of the Warrington property market last spring due to the Covid 19 outbreak, as the Warrington property market wobbled on the edge of deep recession, it stepped back in early summer and it is now rocketing upwards as…

28% of Warrington homes are selling within a fortnight of coming to market.

Some commentators have suggested the end of the Stamp Duty holiday together with the ending of the furlough scheme on the 30th September 2021 could be the catalyst for a drop in house prices. Even the Government’s own regulator of finances expects UK house prices to fall around a couple of percentage points in 2022 whilst some others have predicted around a 5% drop as unemployment levels increase post furlough.

However, other property market forecasters believe that property values in 2022 won’t drop against the background of robust British economic recovery in Q3 and Q4 of 2021.

What do I think will happen to the Warrington property market in the next 12 months?

On the positive side, what I do know is the Stamp Duty holiday enabled Warrington homebuyers to spend those tax savings on the price paid for their Warrington home and that certainly accounts for some of the uplift in house prices mentioned above.



Also, the historically low interest rates that have supported Warrington homebuyers’ affordability for the last 13 years since the Credit Crunch has continued. Secondly, with people spending many months working from home, this has seemed to have polarised people’s inclination to make lifestyle changes. Finally, the Government has recently introduced 5% deposit mortgages for first-time buyers. All these factors will fuel demand and hence may cause house prices to rise.

On a more cautious note, I do not believe these very sturdy Warrington house value rises of the past year will persist at these levels for the next 12 months. With buyers having to use many thousands of pounds on the Stamp Duty payment, the price they pay for their Warrington home will be curtailed, meaning property values by definition will ease.

The simple fact is the British economy has yet to feel the full effect of its largest recession since 1709, and we must remain considerate about the long-term effects of the economy (and unemployment levels) on the property market.

These are interesting times for the Warrington property market. If the price you want to achieve for your Warrington home is the most important thing, now as opposed to 2022 might be a good time to consider placing your property on the market.

Don’t forget, you can still put your Warrington property on the market, find a buyer and then go and see what is available to buy. Many buyers will wait for you to find a property, yet if they can’t/won’t – you won’t be made homeless. English property law means you can still come away from the sale and you won’t be forced to sell. If you would like to know a bit more about that or any aspect of buying or selling property in Warrington, drop me a message or call me.


Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

Panic Buying in the Warrington Property Market?

Would it surprise you that there are 81% fewer properties for sale today in Warrington than a decade ago? Property values are much higher than a decade ago and the property market at the moment in Warrington is on fire. In all my years as an agent, I have never seen it like it is at the moment. Many people are saying it’s reminiscent of 1988 when dual-MIRAS relief was abolished by Nigel Lawson, as people are paying top dollar for property because they are buying property like there is no tomorrow.

77.6% of properties on the market in Warrington are sold stc

In a ‘normal property market’, that figure would be between 30% to 40%. There is no rhyme or reason behind it because it’s not as if we are going to run out of property to sell (unlike the panic buying of loo rolls last year in the supermarkets). With such a buoyant Warrington property market, being adept to state what your Warrington property is worth is exceptionally problematic.

This is further exacerbated by the lower-than-average properties on the market at the moment. To give you an idea of the issue …

There are 213 properties for sale in Warrington today, compared to 1,106 a decade ago.

When there aren’t many properties on the market, to gain your instruction some estate agents will value your Warrington property by giving you an over inflated suggestion for the asking price. Why do they do that when the considered wisdom is estate agents only get paid once they sell it?

Well would it surprise you that many (not all) estate agents pay their employees a bonus to put your property on to the market and then pay a further bonus when they get you to reduce the asking price? Some estate agents know the fastest way to get your property to market is to be optimistic on the asking price to secure your property for sale, then work on you to reduce your asking price after it has been sitting on the market for a few months.

Nothing wrong with that you might say, I want to get the most for my Warrington home (and it is indeed the job of the estate agent to get the best price for their client). If I believe it is worth testing the market at a slightly higher asking price, I will suggest that, yet will always explain my thinking and if we have over cooked the asking price, we can swiftly realign it after a couple of weeks.

Yet because many estate agents are disposed to suggest over inflated asking prices to the house seller just to secure their business (i.e. overvaluing) but not manage the property for months and months ... this in turn causes Warrington properties to sit on the market and not sell.

In the best property market for 20 years, 17% of properties for sale in Warrington have been on the market for 6 months or more. Overvaluing is widespread among Warrington estate agents.

Most Warrington homeowners will ask three or four estate agents to value their Warrington home and take the middle figure when they want to sell. Yet, if all (or most) of your Warrington estate agents are over optimistic and they all give you a ‘gilded lily’ price to secure your instruction to sell your home (i.e. overvalue), then that middle figure will be too much. Most Warrington estate agents know they don’t win the business (i.e. secure the listing) if they tell the homeowner what they don’t want to hear.

So, what is the risk of overvaluing?

There is a potential massive cost to putting your Warrington home on the market at too high an asking price. Your estate agent will tell you that your Warrington home is worth a certain figure and then lock you in to a 16-week sole agency agreement (sometimes longer) which you cannot get out of early. If you are getting around two or three viewings a week, and the pictures and marketing material are half decent, then your pricing is about right, meaning in this market you should be sold (subject to contract) within a month to six weeks.

Yet, if your Warrington home has an over optimistic asking price (i.e. it is overpriced), you might only have a handful of viewings in a month and no offers. As the weeks and months go by, your overpriced Warrington home makes similar homes to yours (i.e. your competition) look really good value for money. That’s when you will get the price reduction call from the agent.

How many times have you seen a property that has been on the market a while and you have wondered what’s wrong with that? Also, to add insult to injury, the portals tell you how long a property has been on the market, adding weight to that argument.

The longer your property stays on the market, the desirability of your Warrington home drops.

You will end up selling your Warrington home but only after a handful of price reductions, yet at what cost? Firstly, in those lost months, you would have missed out on many properties that you fell in love with, yet couldn’t buy because your home was languishing on the market with no interest (this is backed up by consumer champion Which, who said that if you have to reduce your asking price by 5% or more, it adds an extra 64 days to the sales process).

Secondly, you will end up selling your Warrington property for less than if you had placed the property on the market at a realistic asking price from day one (again backed up by Which). This is because buyers think there is something wrong with it, so as the homeowner gets fed up, they accept a lower offer to get their property sold.

Finally, because you take less for your property, your choice of the next property to buy will also be curtailed, meaning your dream home move might be more of a nightmare?

The best advice I can give you is to search the portals, make sure you look at properties that are also sold stc (which can normally be found by clicking on the filter section of the search on the portal). Then ask a couple of straight-talking trusted friends to do the same and compare your property to the competition that is both on the market and sold (stc).

Compare their locations, number and size of the rooms and size of plot and ask them where they see your property against those. Carry out the same exercise yourself (of course you will be slightly biased) and take a bellwether from all those figures. Then ask a number of Warrington agents to value your property and if you feel any are being overly optimistic challenge how they get to their figure and get them to qualify their belief in that figure – is their valuation realistically achievable in the market at the time? As we all know markets change and property prices go up and down and ultimately a property is only worth what a buyer will pay for it – this all requires careful consideration.

I can assure you most of the estate agents in Warrington are decent people, who want to do the best for you. All I ask is you do your homework and look at the sale of your Warrington property through the eyes of a cold-blooded buyer.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

Over 1 in 5 Warrington Properties Being Sold with No Chain

Moving home is said to be the third most stressful thing you can do, so if you can do anything to reduce that stress, so much the better? When buying your next Warrington home, being chain-free can certainly reduce your stress and offers many advantages over other buyers (and some disadvantages).

So, what is a chain? A property chain is made when there is a line of home buyers and home sellers linked through their property transactions e.g. a Warrington first-time buyer purchases a property, the sellers of that property then buy another property, and those sellers then buy another property, so on and so forth. Each home sale and purchase are reliant upon the success of every property in the so called ‘chain’. This means if there is one hiccup on one of the properties, every sale and purchase along the whole chain would collapse. No wonder everyone is on tenterhooks when there is a long chain involved.

Yet Warrington buyers who sell their home before searching for a new Warrington home considerably reduce their stress levels because they are not needing all the ducks to ‘line up in a row’ on the sale of their home in order to buy their new Warrington home.

Being chain-free puts Warrington home buyers in an enhanced position to negotiate with home sellers and they in turn may be more enthusiastic to accepting a lower offer.

Sounds brilliant this chain-free life doesn’t it? Everyone is a chain-free buyer once … when they are a first-time buyer and if they are lucky enough to have an additional home to move into. The other option is selling your Warrington home and moving into rented accommodation, but that will end up costing quite a few thousand pounds (in what many perceive as wasted money) together with the added cost of employing the services of home removers twice (with all the hassle that entails doubled!). However, that is what many Warrington homeowners are doing.

20.7% of all the properties on the market today in Warrington are being sold without a chain.

I can’t disagree, moving home twice in a short period will be stressful and rent could be perceived as ‘wasted money’, but I have to recommend you look at the bigger picture. It is one of the sturdiest sellers’ markets in a generation, meaning you should get top dollar for your Warrington home, knowing that many buyers are keen to complete before the stamp duty holiday ends in the autumn.

Then by waiting for the return of stamp duty and for the full roll out on the immunisation programme to give more Warrington homeowners the peace of mind to place their Warrington home on to the property market, for Warrington house prices to cool and the number of properties for sale to increase. Then you could pounce in and buy, with more Warrington homes to choose from and at more realistic asking prices.

So, does the type of Warrington property that is being sold make any difference?

• 6.2% of detached houses in Warrington are being sold chain-free
• 19.6% of semi-detached houses in Warrington are being sold chain-free
• 22.9% of town house/terraced Houses in Warrington are being sold chain-free
• 27.8% of apartments/flats in Warrington are being sold chain-free
• 31.8% of bungalows in Warrington are being sold chain-free

Of course, these aren’t all Warrington homeowners going into rented accommodation hoping to bag a bargain next year. Many of the bungalows are being sold because their homeowner has either moved into sheltered accommodation or sadly passed on and there are Warrington landlords selling their Warrington buy-to-let rental investments.

And don’t get me wrong, there are also risks involved with this type of home buying strategy. Moving into rented accommodation means you are out of the Warrington property market. Property values could dip in the next 12 months, yet they still could continue to rise - you are taking a gamble on a dip in the market and it could go wrong.

Like most things in life, it depends on your own personal circumstances, where you are in your life, your attitude to risk and your belief on what will (or won’t) happen to property values in Warrington in the next 12 to 18 months.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page

Warrington Property Market: 2011-2021

A look back at the Warrington housing market over the last decade

With all of us completing the Census, a couple of weeks ago, it made me realise profoundly that mine and my family’s life, which from our own point of view seems unique and delightful, makes us all into a series of statistics for the Census gatherers to pore over. To digest and regurgitate facts, figures and trends for those who are interested in the ever- changing social circumstances of these islands.

However, the information from the Census is vital to improving our lives - Governments can plan the future with the information it provides and we in turn can wonder about the lives of our past generations with the information provided therein historically if we so wish.

Whilst the information from this Census won’t be published until March 2023, let us have a look at what has been happening in the Warrington property market since the last time we completed the Census in 2011.

Just to remind you, 2011 saw the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Mr Cameron was the PM, there was the last flight of the Space Shuttle and Game of Thrones premiered.

Whilst in the Warrington property market …

· The average price paid for a Warrington detached home in the last 12 months has been £343,600. The average value of a Warrington detached home has risen by 27.5% in the last 10 years or £68,400

· The average price paid for a Warrington semi-detached home in the last 12 months has been £198,600. The average value of a Warrington semi-detached home has risen by 38.6% in the last 10 years or £55,700

· The average price paid for a Warrington town house/terraced home in the last 12 months has been £149,700. The average value of a Warrington town house/terraced home has risen by 27.5% in the last 10 years or £36,800

· The average price paid for a Warrington apartment/flat in the last 12 months has been £107,400. The average value of a Warrington apartment/flat has risen by 36.8% in the last 10 years or £34,900

New properties built in Warrington…

Irrespective of any dip in Warrington house prices or transactions when the Stamp Duty Holiday ends in the autumn, this is a trend that looks set to continue, with no sign that supply of new homes is anywhere near to keeping pace with demand for households.

There have only been 3,446 new properties built in Warrington in the last 10 years, that’s less than 29 a month. That means the population in Warrington has risen by 1.72 people for every new home built over that decade.

Nationally, the Country has only built just over 180k homes a year over the last decade, 120k less than the national target of 300k. In the meantime, the population has grown by more than 4 million.

When looking locally at the size of new build property in Warrington, the average property is around 850 sq. ft., which is 13% larger than a decade ago.

Rents in Warrington …

Whether you are a winner or loser in terms of rental values depends on whether you are a Warrington landlord or a Warrington tenant.

The average rent for a property in Warrington currently stands at £600 per month, whilst a decade ago, it was £545 per month

This means private rents have increased by 45p a month for the past ten years. Interesting, when compared to the national average of 98p a month whilst in London, rents have grown by £4.64 a month.

The next 10 years of the Warrington Property Market…

The next ten years will also be just as fascinating. To try and predict would be a fool’s game.

For example, who would have believed what the Warrington property market has done in the last 12 months since the start of Lockdown 1.0. The number of transactions (i.e. people moving) in turn with UK house prices having risen so much in the last year ... all during a worldwide pandemic and at a time of such mayhem and havoc in the UK and world economy, is nothing short of remarkable … the question is – is it sustainable?

Read these articles in the coming months and years and I will share with you what is happening to the value of your Warrington property, be you a Warrington homeowner or Warrington landlord.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, whether you’re buying, selling or looking for an investment opportunity, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of the Warrington property market.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235 338 – we are based on the Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, WA2 8TX. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR WARRINGTON HOME IS WORTH FOR FREE
Hamlet Homes Warrington, your local Estate Agent
Follow my Warrington Property Market Blog
Hamlet Homes Warrington LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Facebook Page
Hamlet Homes Estate Agents Warrington Twitter Page