News & Views Blog

It is reported that Asda is looking to move into property selling.  They are looking to under cut the high street estate agents by leveraging their supermarkets to advertise properties and call centres to help sell the properties.

Touch screens are to be installed in Asda stores and customers will be able to browse properties for sale in their area while picking up a pint of milk.  If the potential purchaser sees a property that they like, they can register their interest via the terminal.   The call centre staff will process these requests and arrange a viewing and hopefully a sale.

See the article at TimesOnline (http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9074-2154056,00.html)

Now having read that article it makes me wonder if there is really any chance of success.  I am not 100% convinced that just because there are visitors to a grocery store that this will necessarily translate to house sales.  I think there will be a novelty factor involved but it is probably unlikely to generate a truly long term term new estate agency business.

When you spend some time in a supermarket, most people are there on a mission - get the milk, buy some fruit, etc - and are not there with massive time to spare.  This is very different to sitting down in front of a computer and surfing the internet for a house.

www.realestate.com.au was involved in a trial of a bank of TV monitors in a Westfield shopping centre in Sydney.  It was a high traffic zone but the reality was that people were not interested.  The monitors have long since been removed and what emerged was a business in which interactive displays were placed in the high street office windows of agents. Now these work!

Time will tell and it will be an interesting experiment to watch.

Posted by Simon at 03:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

New powers of appeal over housing decisions imminent

New regulations governing disputes between landlords and local authorities in relation to the Housing Act 2004 have come into force.

The Government-sponsored Residential Property Tribunal Service (RPTS), has been given a wide range of new jurisdictions, which will enable it to determine appeals over new legislation implemented under the Act.

Under the Act, local authorities will assess housing conditions using the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System, which replaces the old housing fitness standards.  They have also been given responsibility for a new licensing regime for houses in multiple occupation (HMO’s) and the selective licensing of landlords in designated areas of low demand for housing where there are problems of anti-social behaviour.

Effective from13th April 2006, the RPTS is now able able to determine appeals over local authority decisions on the licensing of HMOs, the enforcement of the new Housing, Health and Safety Rating System and the licensing of landlords in selected areas, as well as in relation to a range of new housing management orders. The tribunal anticipates handling up to an additional 8,000 cases per year as a result.

RPTS has aimed since its inception to be an accessible and user-friendly tribunal service that is a faster and more affordable alternative to the court system for resolving residential property disputes.  Appeals will be made to the new Residential Property Tribunals (RPTs) created under the Act, and will be heard by an expert panel comprising lawyers, surveyors and lay people.

RPTS Senior President Siobhan McGrath said:

The services offered by RPTS help people solve housing problems that adversely affect their lives simply, quickly and without major cost implications.  We are hopeful that the implementation of the new legislation will be a smooth and simple process for landlords and local authorities across the country, but we are keen to highlight our new powers to help resolve disputes, should they arise.

Posted by Bronwyn at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ever walked past an abandoned hospital or disused factory and wondered what was inside? Of course you have - its human nature.

But if you would like to do more than just think about it, have a look at Simon Cornwell's website on urban exploring. The site documents Simon's journeys into mental asylums, old hospitals and buildings across the UK. He sees his pictures as a historical account of the buildings.

For some inexplicable reason, I like walking around old derelict sites and buildings. There's aspects of urban decay I find interesting, whilst I enjoy the freedom of 'not having to stick to the tour.' You can wonder off where your heart takes you.

 

When looking back after these buildings have long gone, when drab housing estates sit on the same land, will people then care that the pictures were taken without the permission of their absent owners or the blessing of the totally unimaginative trusts and associations which supposedly look after them? I think not.

Posted by Bronwyn at 09:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Converted churches topped the list of homebuyers’ favourite building conversions in a poll we conducted on the site.

But what should you consider when investing in a church conversion? Nick Leeming, our property expert provides useful advice.

What should people look for when buying a converted property?

Much of this is a matter of personal taste as the properties vary so much, from conversions of big neo-gothic churches, usually in towns and usually separated into flats to small rural chapels, which make great detached homes. But given that buyers are obviously after something a bit special, be sure that the conversion has actually preserved the essence of the original space and maintained the unique ecclesiastical features. If the interior feels like any other home, the developer has missed the point.

What advice can you give people who are thinking of buying?

Unless you have a large budget and a lot of time, be sure that the renovations are done how you want them. Quite apart from matters of planning permission in what may be a listed building, it is expensive to alter the configuration of the space and can be extremely awkward to reach high ceilings and walls. Make sure the developer has considered matters such as insulation, both for noise (especially where there a number of flats) and heat, as these old buildings are difficult and expensive to keep warm.

What difficulties could people face?

Strangely enough, the first question people always ask is: ‘Are there any graves?’ If you have children in your family, their friends always think the place must be haunted. What’s more, people who have been used to it being a church often have difficulty accepting that it is now private property and still believe they have a right to poke around.

Are there any hidden costs or hidden issues that people should be aware of?

Beware of structural conversion and legal issues. The property could probably be listed, and might have maintenance and other obligations imposed as part of the sale or decommissioning. Living in a church, they will obviously be a focal point of the community and be of considerable interest, which is important to remember if considering any changes to the exterior.

There may be general survey problems relating to period buildings. Rising damp dry rot, wet rot, lead roofing (an important one for churches) and whether the steeple is in good repair or not as this would be expensive to renovate or potentially dangerous in a storm.

Do you have a question for our estate agents and property experts? Please let us know below, or read our other Q&As.

Posted by Bronwyn at 09:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Broken down vehicles, rubbish and tarmac driveways go down badly with buyers

Following on from propertyfinder.com research revealing that neighbours can actually devalue your property, the latest survey shows that sellers can be put off by the exterior of the property they are viewing.

Old furniture or broken down vehicles left in front of the house, was deemed the least attractive by 75% of prospective buyers, closely followed by caravans left outside which was disliked by 72% of those surveyed.  

Wealthier households (income over £60k) are almost twice as likely to be put off by sporting flags and excessive festive decorations as households with incomes under £30k. Perhaps unsurprisingly, women dislike sporting flags more with some men commenting that flags are fine if in support of their own team! Wealthier households are also much more likely to be put off by pebbledash with around half of wealthier households ranking it ‘terrible’ compared to less than a third of lower income households. Interestingly, wealthier households were less put off by peeling paintwork that those with lower incomes and a pub in the street would put off 25% of respondents in the South compared with only 17% in the North. Other turn-off factors include tarmac drives, name plaques and large dogs barking in the driveway!

 Warren Bright, Chief Executive Officer of propertyfinder.com said,

 When people sell their homes, first impressions count and sellers need to consider what they would think if they were in the buyer’s shoes.  This applies to the exterior as well as the interior of the property.  It goes without saying that rubbish and rusting cars will put buyers off but it is amazing how many sellers leave these lying around.  There may not be much you can do about pebbledash, but you should absolutely make sure you do the little things like mow the lawn, weed the garden and toss the sports flags and garden gnomes.

Posted by at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A ZenithOptimedia report just released predicts that online ad spend will pass outdoor advertising in 2007 and will pass come close to passing radio advertising in 2008.

ZenithOptimedia is also predicting that online advertising will attract 6.5% of all adspend in 2008 - an increase of 2% from 2005.

See the full press release at http://www.zenithoptimedia.com/about/news/pdf/Adspend%20April%202006.pdf

Posted by Simon at 07:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)