At Bradleys the computers say yes!

So many things are coming together all at once at Bradleys that we as a company are about to take a massive stride forward. In the last 7 days our fantastic new website has gone live with many ground breaking features. Our Customer Services team are now taking full advantage of our new telephone system by taking offices overflow calls and this has resulted in picking up many extra appointments which may have been lost when offices were already dealing with high levels of business, that is in addition to dealing with 2,500 on line enquiries every month. We have been upgrading all of our computers and last week saw the final 'lightning fast' machine installed in the final office. Another mammoth task completed and another enhancement to be able to deliver a better service. At Bradleys the computers say yes! We are being featured in a BBC2 show on Estate Agents which will be aired for the first time on Wednesday the 9th April at 8.00. Please see an extract from the Radio Times below for an idea of what the programme will be about. 

Under Offer, Estate Agents on the Job About to hit the screens.

It would have been easy to make this series a lot less kind. A different production company or a different channel might have gone for the jugular and made the world of estate agents look naff – it wouldn’t be hard to play to our preconceptions of divs in tight suits making a fast buck.

But Under Offer is more interesting than that. Take Exeter estate agent Lewis: “I’m like a David Brent-esque manager,” he announces. We see him in his car shrieking along to a Muse song, trying a bit too hard to bond with his underlings, and debating whether to call his new son Finlay or Finley – or maybe Stryder? And yet in the end he’s likeable, and his efforts make a real difference to a young mum moving house.

So, because the series empathises with its characters, rather than stitching them up, we care. Well, you may find you care rather less for Mayfair-based Gary, who comes across as a grandiose creep – but he’s documentary gold.

About this programme

1/6. New series. Documentary offering an insight into the UK's varied property market, following estate agents around the nation as they go about their daily work. Gary Hersham is in charge of selling a £39million town house complete with eight bathrooms, private gym and cinema in Mayfair, west London, while it's a very different world for Lynne Blaney in Spennymoor, Co Durham, where houses can start at auction for £1. In Exeter, novice agent Lewis Rossiter is trying to balance the needs of his pregnant wife with a demanding client, and veteran Dave Simms deals with two couples competing for the same Birmingham bungalow.

Francis Marshall says, “What will be really interesting for the British viewing public will be their ability to see how they judge these agents on screen and then compare them with their allAgents ranking. My bet is that the public perception will match the allAgents ranking which will further enhance the reason why every agent should care about what their customers think about them and make sure that customer service is the number one priority”. See the Bradleys reviews and ranking on the Estate Agents review site at www.allAgents.co.uk/bradleys-estate-agents/

If you like the sound of the developments going on at Bradleys and if you like the tone of the reviews you have read from our previous customers and are interested in selling your current property put our Customer Services Team to the test, ask them for a free valuation and see why Bradleys were awarded the title of the Best Sales Agent in the Country for Customer Service last year. Contact Customer Services at customerservices@beagroup.co.uk they are open until 10.00 at night on-line or just give them a call on 01395 224800

If you found this useful or know someone who would please feel free to share it and like it.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

A Budget for Homes

The Budget last week certainly had an eye on making sure the recovering property market keeps going and the help was directed in to all the right areas.
The big news was the extension of 'Help To Buy' until the end of the decade. The Chancellor is well aware that the country is acutely short of homes and to avoid the price bubble some wrongly expect to come he has done his best to encourage the building of more new homes and to continue make them affordable to buy.
The plan is to encourage the building of another 120,000 new homes of which 15,000 will go into a new garden city in Kent. Further support for the construction industry comes in the shape of a £500m 'Builder Finance Fund' to help to support smaller house builders, which is very good news for us at Bradleys as we specialise in helping the small to medium size builder by providing them with specialist services normally only associated with the big national companies. Even more help has been provided with a 'Right to Build' scheme to help individuals who want to build their own home. The 'Help To Buy 2' scheme was not extended but will still run until the end of 2016 as originally planned for help to buy second hand homes. This is all excellent news, it will further aid the recovery and with the extra homes being built will lessen the chances of a price bubble by increasing the supply in line with the demand. 

The Budget headline was the change to pension regulations which is again excellent news for property. Now that you don't have to purchase a poorly performing annuity upon your retirement, people will look for alternatives and an obvious choice is property. It is very likely that an investment property will be within the reach of most pension pay-outs and that property will be a great investment with increasing value and a better rate of return than the annuities previously on offer. Clearly with something so important as where to invest your pension fund you will need the services of a very trust worthy and reputable estate agent who cannot only sell you a property but also advise you honestly on the best type of investment depending on if you are looking to maximise your investment for growth or yield or combination of both.

This is where we come in at Bradleys, we can offer expert help with every element of buying the correct investment and then letting it to provide you with the maximum return and at the same time manage your investment to keep it safe and growing in value.

Read what our previous customers have said at allAgents.co.uk say thank you Mr Chancellor and then come and see us at Bradleys to make a very important investment.

If you would like to take advantage of our specialist help in this way contact your nearest office or Bradleys Customer Services at customerservices@beagroupco.uk or by calling 01395224800 and we will be pleased to help you with every aspect of your investment.

I mentioned last week I was going to race my Enterprise Dinghy again on Saturday for the first time since 2009. Completely unbelievably I won the first race of the season at Looe which wasn't too bad for an overweight 50something, so there must still be a bit of life in the old dog yet! If you have ever wondered what a first race of the season might look like you can check it out on YouTube . The Enterprises have the blue sails and I am in the red boat. You may or may not be interested.

 

If you found this blog useful or know someone who might please feel free to share it or like it.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Deposit Protection – How Much??

I returned after a week away from the office (well not emails!) to find on my desk the renewal notice for Bradleys Membership of the TDS, the government approved deposit protection scheme.  It was a good job I had already sat down as the bill was huge, but then I thought, actually our membership now protects about 1600 Tenant deposits to the value of £1.2 Million at any one time. It is when I looked at the number of disputes that were referred to the TDS Independent Case Examiner that it was confirmed that Bradleys were involved in only 1.25% of deposits sent to TDS pending a dispute and less than 1% went on to be resolved by adjudication. You will understand why, that in this day and age when we are all looking for value for money, I felt this it is a lot of money for a service rarely used in full.

Of course our membership of an approved scheme is required by law and provides complete peace of mind to both Tenants and their Landlords that, in the event of an irreconcilable dispute, there is access to a completely independent arbitrator to pass a sound award judgment.

Where we do get value from TDS however, is from an excellent source of staff training and helpful advice in unusual circumstances that can often arise in administering deposits back to tenants or awards to Landlords.

The real unsung heroes in all of this though are my Property Management Vacate Team in Head office. This team are dedicated to ensuring the right and fair result for all parties at the end of a tenancy. It is their commitment and tenacity that ensures that the disputes are kept to a minimum and resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned. I take my hat off to them. 

Tenants and Landlords can view the benefits of Bradleys’ membership of TDS Website www.tds.gb.com.

Lyndon Bent FNAEA MARLA
Director

Can you keep up!

It's all go at Bradleys. Comparing the first 11 weeks of this year to the first 11 weeks of last year, new instructions coming to the market are up 8.3% whilst sales agreed are up 32%. Abortive sales are down 1% and completions are up 34%. What does this all mean?

It means that the market is improving and Bradleys are performing well. It also means that we could run short of stock so more new instructions are needed. Perhaps if you are thinking of selling or even on the market with another agent who has not produced the result you wanted, give Bradleys a call. Either contact your local office or contact our Customer Services Department to take advantage of our free valuation offer. Send them an email to request a free valuation customerservices@beagroup.co.uk there is nothing to lose but everything to gain. You can contact us right up to 10.00 in the evening as we are working when it is convenient for you.

That’s fresh isn't it? Still not sure, then read what our past customers have all said about us at the Estate Agents review site allAgents.co.uk. Other things going on include the launch of our cutting edge new website is now just days away. Video content will feature highly as will full screen photos and even presenter led video tours. To have an early peek at the video content search for Bradleys on YouTube.

I have had confirmation this morning that the programme the BBC have been making about Estate Agents is due to come to our screens in April. Check out the BBC press release at http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/under-offer.html I haven't seen any of the content but I am sure it will be fascinating and will provide a great insight to those involved.

Away from work, sailing starts in Looe on Saturday and the breeze is due to be up so if anybody sees me hobbling around on Monday you know the reason why! I wonder if a slightly heavy 50 something can even still cut it, not having sailed for 3 years?

If you found this blog useful or think others might then please feel free to share it and like it.
 

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Why I am backing the Buy to Let Market – by Chris Baxter

At the age of 39, I hasten to add, back in 1999! – my thoughts turned to future pension provision and reviewing my pension contributions to date I discovered a huge gap in my expectations of life after work in retirement and the bleak prospect of an under-performing pension plan! 

At that time, having sold my estate agency business, I decided to invest in something tangible which led me to my decision to purchase a portfolio of property to rent out.

Fast forward to 2014 and comparing my traditional  pension plan performance (yes, I have kept up the payments) and my property portfolio performance it is very clear to me which of the pension provisions has performed to my expectations – yes, you’ve guessed it – my rentals portfolio.    

Looking forward again it seems obvious to me the time is now right to add to my property portfolio for three main reasons.  To explain:

Being a bit of a ‘stats nerd’ back in 1999, having reviewed house price trends since 1960, it was clear at that time that an exaggerated house price increase trend was overdue.  The housing market record between 2000 and 2007 is well-documented. Looking back at this graph and bringing this up to date we may be back to a similar starting point as in 2000.    

On the income front I believe there is still an overdue rebalance of the property market despite the Help to Buy schemes, low interest rates etc.  The volume of rental occupation versus home ownership is set to grow for the foreseeable future. 

My third point is that having come through a disruptive finance based recession where big question marks have been placed on the financial services industries, I feel I am better served with an investment I can touch and feel such as bricks and mortar, rather than a paper based investment that can be traded around the world and be at the mercy of middle men each taking their cut at each turn. 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and no doubt in ten years’ time I will be either proved right or wrong!  However it feels right to be in this market place at this time. 

On a final point, being part of Bradleys Complete Property Service I will be using Bradleys Conveyance team for a purchase, insuring through Bradleys Insurance Services and letting through Bradleys Lettings.  If I decide to arrange a Buy to let Mortgage I will arrange this through Bradleys Financial Services. 

If like me you are thinking of purchasing a property to rent please give our local office a call to start your investment journey. 

 

Chris Baxter

Bradleys Land & New Homes Director

Photographs, Audio Tours or Videos?

Having read a recent article promoting the use of modern technology in estate agency and in particular the use of videos, it made me wonder why someone seemed so against the use of such technology when responding to the article, so here are my thoughts;

The traditional method of photographs have been taken to a new level with the availability of very good camera’s at a reasonable price and therefore even the poorest of photographers can take a reasonable photo, although they still are incapable of removing the tea towels from the oven front or wet clothes from the radiators! Professional photography again takes marketing to a new level but whether professional or otherwise, photography is essential in the marketing of any property. 

Audio Tours; a step up from photographs with the use of software creating a moving image and then a voice over describing the property. Without doubt, these tools are easy to watch, provide you with the basic information a buyer would expect to read in the particulars and definitely make a property look enticing. It adds an extra edge to the marketing and of course are easily shared via social media to friends and family. Perhaps a bit of a luxury but if it helps create a bit more interest and according to statistics, assist in the speed of the sale of a property, then I would suggest there is a definite advantage in the use of Audio Tours.

View one of our Tours








Property videos; the market is coming alive with different companies offering the use of videos to sell a home and with more and more companies offering them comes varying quality. I would advise anyone thinking of using a video to just check the quality of the provider first but what a fantastic marketing tool! At Bradleys we have done our research and have opted for a presenter led video, which not only offers quality, engages the viewer in the property and from what I am being told, often leads to multiple views rather than just the one. Again a luxury perhaps but when you look at the added interest, the fact that in today’s hectic world where people do simply not have the time to view every property they have saved to their favourites, then this would appear an obvious answer. Potential buyers can get to see the house they are interested in without having to take the time to visit in person until they know whether it is worth their time doing so.

Watch the video

In my view, I think that the more attractive a property looks, the more appeal it will have and the more interest it will attract. The more interest a property attracts, the greater chance of maximising the sale price. We have all of these options to our clients and explain the advantages of each relating to any individual property, whether it be simply photographs, audio tours or a presenter led video.

If you want to know more about the options when marketing your home and which would best suit your property then call Bradleys today for a free valuation on 01395 224800.

Jodie Dibble selected for England

There can be no prouder moment for a parent that having offspring selected to represent their country. I am very proud to say that my daughter, Jodie, has just been selected to represent England in the T20 cricket World Cup which starts soon in Bangladesh. She is part of the 15 woman touring party that is being led by captain Charlotte Edwards. Her selection follows a successful tour of Sri Lanka that she has just completed with the England Academy team. Her selection makes all those motorway miles I did as she was progressing so worthwhile! Girls cricket in Devon is very strong and the county has also produced Heather Knight who is in the same touring party. Heather was also part of the victorious team that won The Ashes in Australia recently.

Bradleys Estate Agents are heavily involved in local cricket and have sponsored the Bradleys East Devon Youth Cricket League for many years. Jodie represented Sidmouth in the League on a number of occasions.

Mike Dibble
Bradleys Director

March is the Golden Month

I have been saying all year that the time to buy is now. The market is rising and mortgages are both cheap and available. There is a demand for property and there is still a choice with our offices still carrying good stocks of property for sale. One of our Senior Mortgage Advisors summed it up perfectly yesterday when he said that March is the 'Golden Month' in addition to the things I have already stated he pointed out that new MMR come into effect next month where mortgage applications will be judged on affordability more than just straight income criteria. This will involve more checking and analysis of the person and their spending habits in addition to their income and he thought that inevitably mortgages will take longer to process and become more difficult to obtain. There is still time to buy and get your mortgage in place before the new legislation comes in, so don't delay. Right now buying a property is the best thing to do and it will never be this affordable or accessible again. I am certainly aware that the buyers down here in the South West know that, as sales have risen steeply in March. This is a great opportunity for anyone thinking of selling because the buyers are about, they are serious and in a position to buy. If you are thinking of selling and would like to take advantage of Bradleys free valuation offer then email our Customer Services Department at customerservices@beagroup.co.uk and they will be pleased to book an appointment for you with your local office. Bradleys have 33 Offices spanning between Taunton and Penzance so can help you where ever you are based. If you want to know more about Bradleys before booking an appointment then read what our customers say about us at the estate agents review site allAgents.co.uk where we are ranked 3rd out of 12,400 agent nationally.

If you found this information useful then please feel free to like it or share it with anyone else you think may find it useful.

 

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director

 

Right place, right time!

Speaking to a number of our potential buyers recently it has become obvious that some serious purchasers are taking a risk of missing out on their ideal property. Buyers should be aware that, at Bradleys, the well placed buyers on our register are often contacted well before a property appears on Rightmove, Zoopla or Radar Homes. If you are seriously looking for a home I strongly recommend that you register with your local Bradleys Office to hear about our new instructions as soon as we are instructed. If our negotiators don't know you are looking they can't tell you about our new property listings! Sometimes it can often take a few days before our clients give us the green light to circulate details. By the time a property appears on The Internet a number of viewings could already have taken place.

If you have found this information helpful please pass it on to your friends.

Mike Dibble
Bradleys Director

Help to Buy is working!

The Government has released figures that state over 100,000 properties have now been agreed to be purchased under the current scheme designed to help the property market back on its feet. I personally am very grateful for their help as all that have been involved in the property market over the past 7 years know it has been a tough time. I know the buyers in the South West where wages can be lower and prices higher are now able to buy, who previously had no hope what so ever are even more grateful, so we should all congratulate the Government on an excellent piece of work. There is no doubt that the scheme is just a short term fix and the longer term repair to the UK property market must come in the form of building more homes. I can only assume that if the politicians have understood  that requirement and will be working towards that as the long term goal. It's a pretty basic supply and demand equation, if there are more buyers than houses then the prices will be driven up and the shorter the supply the higher the prices will go. If the Government really want to control the market to maintain it at a sustainable level them more homes are going to be needed over the next few years at a faster rate than we have ever seen before. Stamp Duty used to be an irritation to buyers but at its current rates it is now a serious consideration for buyers and certainly does prevent some buyers from buying the property they could otherwise have afforded. If the Government are serious about helping the market then they should also lift price of exempt from stamp duty to 200K. Again here in the South West where our prices tend to be driven up by second home owners it would be a relief to local buyers who struggle to buy based on lower South West wages.

Congratulations to our Looe Office who raised over £240 on Sunday by organising a walk to Looe Island in aid of the Pituitary Foundation. About 25 past and present customers supported the Looe team and whilst the tide didn't go out quite as far as it should have due to low pressure there was a valiant effort all round.

 

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

So What’s Next For The Thirty Somethings?

The Good old days!

I’ve recently experienced what I consider to be a life changing event, it may not be life threatening but it has made me think about things that I have not considered until now.

Football has been part of my life since I can remember, I’ve never been very good at it but I have enjoyed playing the sport and supported Liverpool from the age of 5. During a recent game I missed a tackle (not unusual) but in the process managed to tear the ligaments in my knee! As a result, I have been advised to give up the sport as I’m in my 30’s and therefore it may never repair itself as well as if I was younger, and could cause big problems in later life. It appears I have no choice.

So what next? My friends and colleagues often tell me that I am a creature of habit and so to change my routine on a Saturday afternoon is going to throw me but more-so, what to replace it with? I love following sport; watching Somerset play cricket, Exeter play rugby and my friends play for local sports clubs but watching doesn’t help me keep fit!

I am a fairly active and sociable chap and also see weekend sport as a good way to release the stresses of the working week. I guess the obvious come to mind; Golf, fishing, swimming, gym, cycling, running, the options are endless.

I haven’t made a decision nor do I intend to just yet and have to focus on my rehabilitation first and foremost. It has made me realise there are so many new opportunities out there for us thirty somethings as well as the twenty somethings, or fifty somethings and so to enjoy the next chapter of sporting activity whatever it maybe.

 

Kai Logan

Bradleys Marketing Manager

Thirty Something (Apparently!!)

 

The time is right and the time is now!

As every week of 2014 passes it becomes even more clear that now is the time to jump in to property ownership. If you weigh up the cost of renting for your life time against buying you will quickly calculate that it is generally cheaper to buy than to rent and you will eventually in 25 years' time end up with a property where you do not have to pay either a mortgage or rent. I have said before this year that mortgages are incredibly cheap and available, property is starting to move up and will be a sound investment over the coming years. There is confidence back in the market and Mark Carney has again said he will hold on to interest rates even if unemployment goes below 7%. It really doesn't get any better than this and if you are thinking of selling to move up in the market then now is the time as there is a good supply of buyers and the longer you delay the jump, the wider the gap in price will become as the % increase stretches the prices in a rising market. To be sure of getting the right price and achieving a sale make sure you use an agent with a good track record. Thanks to allAgents.co.uk it is easy to identify who to trust with your most expensive asset and also who can make it happen for you. At this point you will see by looking at allAgents.co.uk that Bradleys are ranked 3rd out of over 12,000 agents in the country for delivering customer service. Remember always use an agent others have been happy with, they will have certainly valued the property correctly in the first place to enable the deal to be done. If you over price an instruction it will go stale and you will end up having to reduce your price whilst the type of property you wanted to trade up to will have increased and possibly moved out of reach. Don't fall into that trap which can be set by some agents just to win your instructions. Thinking of selling? Use Bradleys, we have a fantastic allAgents rating and your dreams will have the very best chance to come true. We have a Customer Services department who are open until 10.00 at night who will be able to book your free valuation whilst our competitors here in the South West are closed for the evening. Put us to the test and request a free valuation by emailing customerservices@beagroup.co.uk

If you found this helpful or think others might then please feel free to share it and like it.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Pain Relief for Property Repairs

After my Maintenance Team within Bradleys Property Management were overrun with calls during the past spell of unrelenting weather, I felt I had to streamline the system.  I therefore turned to technology yet again to help the team manage the high volumes of maintenance issues that resulted from the horrendous storms. 

Bradleys now operate an online maintenance, repairs and issue reporting system for the Rentals Properties under their Management, assisted by a web solution from Fixflo.  Providing a simple system that enables tenants to report their issue, the picture based diagnostic system prompts users to provide accurate information, ensuring a complete report with a full description and options for photographs. These reports are then relayed to both landlord and contractor. Nothing is missed. 

Tenants can also log a problem in up to 40 different languages which will be accurately translated in the report received by the maintenance team.  The whole process is far more efficient and enables delivery of faster repairs. 

All of this is not to say that Emergencies cannot be reported in a conventional manner.  Of course, it is very important that urgent issues are attended to very quickly, if they are of a nature that would be of danger to life or of imminent peril to the structure of the property.

As I have over many years, I will continue to employ the most up to date systems and processes to continually improve the service we provide to our clients.  Next: Tenant pre-referencing.   Watch this space…. 

Have a look for yourself how easy repair reporting is at bradleys.fixflo.com

Lyndon Bent FNAEA MARLA

Commercial Director

Agricultural outbuildings. A golden development opportunity?

A golden development opportunity?

As this is a Bradleys blog I am assuming I am addressing an audience based mainly in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall – three rural counties accommodating a rich tapestry of Farms and smallholdings interspersed with a diverse range of agricultural outbuildings, whether a defunct piggery, barns, makeshift shelters etc.   

This year could be the year that these buildings come into sharp focus for residential development opportunities under a planning consultation carried out late last year – with very little publicity. 

The Government, rightly or wrongly, believes that a house building led economy is the chosen route out of a recession. After all, housing development and property moves tend to touch many other industries whether manufacturing or services. 

In an attempt to accelerate the provision of housing this government is looking for a multitude of ways of achieving this, and if this planning reform becomes planning law in April, just a couple of months away, there is the potential for agricultural outbuildings, irrespective of material condition, to attract a planning permission for either conversion or complete replacement to a residential dwelling or dwellings. 

Our advice to our vendors, since this little known consultation last year, has been to keep hold of the out building(s) they own until we all know what format new planning policy will take. 

So, if you have that outbuilding within your farm or smallholding or even attached to your farmhouse or cottage, don’t be persuaded by less informed agents to go to the market now, but to wait and seek the right advice after April in what is a rapidly evolving planning reform system. 

I am more than happy to advise potential vendors further on this point and if this applies to you please give me a call on 07968 137038 or email me chrisbaxter@beagroup.co.uk

 

Chris Baxter

Bradleys Land & New Homes Director

 

Not all Estate Agents are the same!

Despite the shocking weather for February so far I am very pleased to report that Bradleys are continuing to perform well and the year ahead is starting to look very promising. New instructions are the life blood of our business and our customers have really understood what makes Bradleys better than other agents as we are winning a very good share of the new instructions coming on to the market. Our Customer Services Department delivers exceptional service answering customer enquiries and making viewing and valuation appointments right up to 10.00 at night as well as Saturdays and Sundays too. Our customers appreciate the 'out of hours' service and quick responses to requests so when they come to decide on an agent to trust with the sale of their biggest asset then I think we naturally spring to mind.

 

Another reason I think we are going well is people's trust in product reviews and again Bradleys show up very well on the estate agents review site allAgents.co.uk. Bradleys are rated 3rd nationally out of 12,000 sales and letting agents and were awarded the title of Best Sales Agent for Customer Service by the review site in 2013. Not all customers are influenced by good service and a good track record, some sellers think all estate agents are the same so choose their agent on valuation provided and fee to be charged. This is where some sellers go wrong. The thing a seller should be aware of is does the agent have a good track record of selling houses in the vicinity and does the agent have the comparable evidence to stack up their valuation. Anybody can value a property at any price, it's selling it that is important. To sell a property it has to be valued correctly for the current market conditions and be in line with the other neighbours sold in the immediate past, taking into account the differences between the properties.

 

To market a property well to achieve the best price costs money and this is where a good agent comes into their own. You need to see a very diverse range of marketing and in the modern world all areas are considered. Recently Bradleys have launched videos to explain our services and also presenter led videos of some of our properties for sale. Visit our YouTube channel and see if you like what you see. If you would like some of what you see for yourself then please contact us as we would be pleased to help and in a way where the best service in the country comes as standard.

If you found this helpful or know somebody who would please feel free to share it or like it.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Every Little Bit Really Does Help!

Estate Agents, as we all know, unfortunately do not have the best reputation. Having read an article recently it stated that in 2013 as an industry Estate Agents raised £13 million for charity. Not bad at all for a group with a so-called bad reputation!

Bradleys have always been involved in sponsoring the communities around us in a variety of different ways. In 2014 we have chosen to support The Pituitary Foundation, not only with a view to raising money for the charity but also to raise the awareness of this lesser known gland placed at the base of our brains. The fact that it controls our hormones is obviously a vital part of our day to day wellbeing. The fact not many of us know what it is also leads to the lack of diagnosis when people suffer from disorders affecting this pea sized gland.

In order to support this charity, Bradleys will be taking part in a variety of different fund raising measures throughout the South West and further afield! The staff in Bradleys have so far agreed to anything from cake sales to running a half marathon, from guessing the number of balloons in a car to going on a zip wire 1 mile long and 500 feet up! There is also a small matter of one of the Directors cycling between every one of Bradleys 33 offices covering Taunton to Penzance!

So if you wish to help us support this charity, feel free to perhaps tell someone about this condition or if you want to take it a step further then perhaps make a donation. Many of the Bradleys offices will be doing something that involves other participants so if you wish to get involved please call in to one of our offices for further information. Every little bit really does help!

 

Kai Logan

Regional Manager

Bradleys Estate Agents

Wettest January on record has little effect on house sales in Torbay

The last two January's have both broken records for the wrong reasons. This January has been the worst rainfall ever recorded in a single month. What is happening with the weather in the UK? Is this all to do with global warming? I recently read an article from the Met office in Exeter saying the storms are almost certainly down to global warming. They also delivered a grim warning that the country should prepare itself for more similar events in future. It is the strongest link yet made by the Met Office between the intense weather and climate change, and backs David Cameron’s remark last month that he “very much suspects” a connection.

At least it hasn't dampened the spirits of house hunters as we have had an excellent start to the year despite the inclement weather. There seems to be a lot of confidence in the local and global economy that has been well reported in the press and on TV over the last few months. This has helped fuel 'buyer confidence' and the UK housing market seems to be well on its way to a recovery.

I do hope this is an end to the bad weather and hope we are rewarded with a barmy summer and see a good number of buyers flocking to The English Riviera to either start a new life or retire by the sea. 

Darren Hole
Regional Manager
Bradleys Estate Agents

Going the extra mile in Looe!

A damp day in Looe!

Wow, it's very wet and windy in the South West and it's been going on for a while. There are some adverse circumstances but life also goes on and in the business of selling and letting property and all related services you might expect things to slow up. Not on your Nelly! The market is strong and the buyers are very serious. One office that springs to mind is our Bradleys Looe Office on the South Cornish Coast. Looe has had some flooding brought on by the combination of southerly gales, torrential rain and spring tides and the result was the harbour walls were breached and the sea poured into the main street. The photo shows the sea in the street and in fact inside our office. It takes more than a bit of water to put a good agent off their stride and I can confirm that on the same day as this photo was taken the Looe team of Niki, David, Jacqui and Ella agreed the sale of a penthouse apartment with lovely sea views. A good agent will never let anything come between themselves and doing a good deal for their customer, let alone a bit of sea water! So well done Bradleys Team Looe for putting the customers first even in the most extreme of circumstances.

If you are a seller or thinking of selling your own property I am sure you would also want to know you were going on with an agent who would show this dedication to delivering great service combined with the right result no matter what tried to get in the way. It's easy, just go to allAgents.co.uk and look at Bradleys great ratings, there is no better indicator of an agent who goes the extra mile to deliver the best service, although hopefully we won't have to contend with the sea coming through the front door again to prove it! You can bet that there will be other challenges to be overcome so make sure you chose an agent who has a history of delivering the service even when the going get as tough as it did in Looe.

If you are thinking of visiting the South West then don't be put off by what you see on TV, they are just showing the very worst incidents, the whole area is open for business and is still one of the most beautiful parts of our country. The pasties are still hot and the walks are spectacular and David Cameron has just visited to promise extra help to return us all to normality as soon as possible, we look forward to seeing you.

If you found this helpful or know somebody else that would please feel free to like it or share it.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Working with a smile on a Sunday?

It was like any other normal day, I was speaking to a lady that wanted to view one of our properties, except there was a genuine element of surprise in her voice as she simply didn’t expect to receive a call from an estate agent on a Sunday! The lady highlighted that not only calling her was a surprise but spending time with her to listen to her requirements and then going on to arrange the viewing was as well.

The next stop was to contact our clients. When I rang the vendors, the husband answered the phone and called to his wife saying Bradleys were on the phone, all I could hear his wife saying was Bradleys, Bradleys! I could tell by the pitch of her voice that she was also surprised we were calling on a Sunday. I explained to the client that Bradleys operate 7 days a week dealing with enquires until 10pm, this way if someone wants to view their property we can deal with the enquiry when it comes in immediately.

So the viewing appointment was made and both applicant and vendor were very surprised and also very happy. I do like to hear the surprise in a clients voice when we call out of normal working hours, which in turn puts a smile on my face!

Suzette Richardson
Bradleys Customer Services Manager

Wow! Bradleys

Last week I wrote about the perfect conditions to buy a property and I think my advice must have been taken because on Monday this week we got the new month off to a flying start with a massive 21 sales agreed in just one day! Wow is all I can say, the confidence is there and the ability to buy at a reasonable cost exists so I know we will see the recovery continue and if you are thinking of buying then don't leave it too late.

Obviously if this level of sales continues then we will need more new instructions to come on to the market and at Bradleys we have many reasons why we are voted the Best Estate Agent in the Country for Customer Service. Our Marketing is second to none and our new website is on the verge of launch which will take us to a new level. We also have great new technology being installed into all offices and the combination of all of these things will enhance our sales capability and the whole customer experience for our customers. To add to the technology we also have our fantastic Customer Services department which is open until 10.00 at night and on Saturdays and Sundays as well, to ensure we answer our customers enquiries as soon as they are made, which does give us a good head start over the other agents who go home in the evening and don't work at the weekends.

If you are thinking of selling your existing property and want it sold quickly, for a good price and appreciate good customer service then look no further, give us a call at Bradleys. But don't just take my word for that, just read what our customers have said about us at the Review site www.allagents.co.uk

Let's face it nobody does anything without first checking the reviews anymore do they?

If you found this useful or think others would please feel free to share it or like it.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Is there a New Homes Boom in the West Country?

Comments such as “those homes sold quickly” or “they’re selling them as fast as they can build them” have started to creep back into everyday conversation in the West Country.

Demand for new homes throughout the South West appears to be at fever pitch when compared with the housing market for the last seven years, and in isolation, the supply and demand imbalance going into 2014 looks similar to the boom conditions of pre-2007, but with one exception. 

During the Boom, buyer demand not only outstripped the supply of new homes, but prices increased on a weekly basis.  This time round, whilst demand is good with most new homes sites reporting the majority of homes selling from plan stage, pricing has shown only modest growth over the last year with expectations in 2014 for demand to strengthen but for house prices to stay in check. 

According to Chris Baxter, Corporate Director of Bradleys Estate Agents, the  levers behind increased new homes demand are, the introduction of Help to Buy in the second quarter of last year, relatively stable interest rates on mortgages and because new homes developers HAVE to sell their product to tight deadlines, reasonably priced homes. This is likely to continue into 2014. 

Going forward, again unlike the boom of pre 2007 where almost anything sold irrespective of house type or position, this time round if the product does not fit the demand in any specific location and/or the end product is priced too high then the homes will not sell. This is a factor of the market that Bradleys can help developers with at planning stage given its extensive market intelligence on buyer trends across its network of 32 West Country Offices.

Anecdotal evidence at branch and site level also suggests that many buyers in the market place are showing a preference for a new home purchase with a home offering lower running and maintenance costs, a ten-year NHBC warranty and the reassurance that they are purchasing a home that has no on-going property chain. 

Bradleys New Homes department, which handles sales on new homes sites throughout Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, has seen a relative uniform picture of this trend going into 2014 irrespective of County or price range. There are a couple of factors on the horizon that may exacerbate the situation, one being a possible shortage of skilled labour in the house building industry and the other being any intervention by the Government or the Bank of England to adjust interest rates or impose lending constraints, although it is perceived this is highly unlikely in the run up to the 2015 election.

 

Chris Baxter 
Bradleys New Homes Director 

Free! - 23 Hours and 50 minutes

The news for the property market just gets better and better. Mark Carney has now stated that even if the unemployment threshold he set at 7% before he would consider increasing interest rates is achieved, he still won't consider increasing  rates for the foreseeable future. He has also confirmed that increases when they eventually come will be gradual and will remain lower than before the crisis. This is fantastic news for buyers and homeowners and again proves that there has never been a better time to buy. Cheap mortgages are available and so long as buyers have a 5% deposit then now is the time to buy. The Governor of the Bank Of England also confirmed that the UK economy has the strongest growth in the developed world so confidence is high and the market is set to grow further. I have said previously that nothing is spiralling out of control and the modest 3.5% increase seen in 2013 should be similar again for the South West in 2014. In the world of estate agency that just means that here at Bradleys we are actively seeking new instructions to feed the increasing supply of buyers. It is documented that 25% of sellers make a snap decision  on choosing an agent based on no more than 24 hours' worth of research. I for one, if I was one of those vendors would do myself a favour and cut the research to just a very quick 10 minute search on allAgents.co.uk to see who delivered the best customer service in my area and therefore save my self the other 23 hours and 50 minutes of research! Equally it is also well documented that 40% of vendors research and consider their choice of agent for 4 - 6 months before taking the plunge and giving their instructions. Those people will make their choice based on all the factors needed to gain a good rating on allAgents.co.uk so think how much time those people could save? Why take chances with the sale of your most important asset, trust Bradleys, the agent with a proven, tried and tested track record as confirmed by their customers. If you are thinking of selling then use allAgents to choose your agent, you can read the reviews given by Bradleys previous very happy customers, I guarantee it will save you time, money and heartache.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Getting the best price for your property.

With more people viewing properties now than in the last five or six years, it is extremely important that houses for sale look their very best to maximise their value potential. Richard Greetham Director Bradleys Estate Agents makes a few suggestions on how to start.

In the US staging – preparing a property for sale - is big business. Professional staging firms clean, de-clutter, furnish, re-furnish, hang pictures and even decorate to make sure that an individual property looks, smells and feels its very best. Getting a property ready for sale sometimes costs thousands but can add tens of thousands to a sale price so is usually well worth doing.

In the UK staging hasn’t really taken off - despite the TV property programmes that show just what a difference a fresh pair of eyes and a bit of imagination can make.

But while we may not feel the need for a stager we should be aware of that vital first impression which is influenced by the cleanliness, neatness and order of a well-maintained and well-loved home when it is shown at its very best.

As we come into the spring, property selling season now is a good time to think about how your property will appear to a buyer. Your home will look more spacious with fewer things in it. Surfaces should be cleared of clutter. Also it is surprising what a difference can be made by taking away just one piece of furniture from each room. Everywhere will look so much more spacious. Give your home a deep clean and if you don’t want to do it yourself get in a good cleaning company to do it for you. As the evenings draw in get the fire going if you have one. A fire in the home is one of the basic human needs and people always respond.

Telling a seller that the look or condition of their house is not actually doing them any favours can be hard for anyone including an estate agent. It is a highly personal subject. So make it easy on yourself - ask your agent what should be done. And then follow his or her advice.

Preparing a house for sale takes practice and the understanding that more of a blank canvas is preferable, so potential buyers can build and decorate in their imaginations without the distraction of other people’s taste. So if you are selling this Spring choose an agent who is not merely going to put your home on the market but  make yours the one that’s most desired.

That is the real way to make more money from a sale - it won't come simply by adding a few thousand pounds to the asking price and hoping for the best.

For a free appraisal of your home contact you’re nearest Bradleys Estate Agents.

Richard Greetham

Director