Posts Tagged ‘Testimonials’

Follow the rules, use common-sense and take professional advice and you will never look back again. Here are some guidance techniques to help you survive and perhaps prosper.

1. Let us start with wanting to place your own home on the market. Go to successful local Agents first (try to find testimonials as to each Agents good record and reputation – but don’t believe everything you read on their websites).
2. At the same time consider asking for loan finance and go to at least two sources for provisional advice – perhaps even apply for a Loan Certificate in advance of selling your home so the loan finance deal can be begun asap (remember that the loan valuation is not a survey).
3. When you find a home to buy make your offer subject to loan finance/verification, subject to contract and subject to private survey.

Q1 – Which Estate Agent?

Ans 1 – Choose three local Agents (try to match your idea of who will buy your home to which Agent might most appeal to that profile of Agent: EG: if you think that a family will buy your home from your nearest Town, perhaps a family wishing to get out “of the smoke” then it might be important to choose an Agent who has a satellite Office in that Town).

Get each budding Estate Agent to commit to paper what they think they could get for your home, how soon and how they intend to market it (see below). Look very hard at their terms of business.

Q2 – Marketing Plan?

Ans 2 – Get a written commitment from the Agent about when they are going to advertise your home, how and in what papers and magazines? Perhaps even get them to understand and agree a time limited sole rights to sell your home but after that period they be dismissed and no costs or charges will be paid unless you have agreed an offer that came via their agency services. A good Agent would agree to this whereas a dodgy Agent may not. This tactic may also get the Agent to actually tell you what they really think you might achieve – the actual value rather than what they believe you want to hear.

The Agent must produce full Property Details: this must mean several colour photographs, a room layout plan, the Energy Performance Certificate and all usually provided location, features, services, dimensions etc.. for room listing data. We would also suggest that the details provide a simple listing of all guarantees and planning documents that are in your possession and are valid (why not tell potential buyers something of value to help sell the house? Why not tell potential buyers where they can safely park their cars when viewing?).

Q3 – Instructing your Estate Agent.

Ans 3 – No sell, no fee is the way to proceed. Also never give sole selling rights – at best give Agents a clear run at selling your home but retain the right, at any time frame and at no cost/penalty to you, to instruct other Agents (but do not do so yet). Also make it very clear that should somebody they introduce to you, who visits your home but does not bid and then bids AFTER you have dismissed that Agent will mean the old Agent gets no commission (you will need to specifically agree this – in writing).

Q4 – Which Solicitor?

Ans 4 – This very much depends on the type and age of your home but I am not in favour of these massive Call-Centre type regional offices, especially those that are linked to loan companies or Banks.  I am also a believer in keeping this decision out of the ambit of the estate agent as just too many potential conflicts of interest can otherwise cut in to your potential detriment. Buy and sell via an Agent but that is all – do not buy any extras.

Call Centres are fine if you have a simple home, with a registered title, nothing unusual or altered and located in an area without any flooding, coal-mining, contamination, radon gas, mundic or other such issue. However, for the most part a local, experienced but young Practice is to be preferred. A Practice that is not too busy, does its homework long before exchange of contracts is due and is well connected with local, independent Surveyors. A Practice that goes on even if the lead staff member is ill or on holiday.

Q5 – Found a home to buy? When should you instruct the loan Valuer and your private surveyor?

Ans 5 – Arrange finance first: get your offer in writing/verified after the Valuer has visited. Clear the finance with your solicitor and then ask when the solicitor thinks is the right time for the private survey. Never instruct the loan source (your mortgage Valuer) to do a simultaneous private survey with your loan valuation.

In my view the private survey can wait until the chain is complete and all loan valuations have been completed and loan offers verified by each parties legal team: by this route you are limiting the chances of survey expenses becoming abortive because a chain has fallen through.

Q6 – What type of survey should you have?

Ans 6 – This is a difficult question as it boils down to your personal bias, your budget, the type and age of home you are buying, the characteristics of the location of the home, how much information you need, what services you may wish to link to that inspection, etc…..

For a mainstream, fairly modern, good condition home of traditional construction and in a non-clay or non-high-risk position a standard Homebuyer Report is fine (the most popular form of survey in the UK).

However, it always makes sense to actually speak to a surveyor – not a solicitor, not an estate agent, not a builder, not your neighbour, not your dad, not a secretary of a surveyor. Call an actual surveyor and get him or her to recommend a survey product and want they will charge you for it. A real professional surveyor will ask you many questions before a survey is suggested to you. Don’t think they are being officious and nosy – they are trying to focus your attention on the right issues and to give you value for money.

Q7 – Can you use your private survey to re-negotiate the purchase price on your next home?

Ans 7 – Yes, you can. Once you have your private survey do not be frightened to call the surveyor to discuss the report and how you should proceed. Once you have had that discussion immediately call your solicitor and bounce the surveyors thoughts off your legal team leader. This will give you the confidence needed to get stuck in and start a process that might just save you a lot of money (this is the point where you begin to understand the benefit of a good solicitor and surveyor – they can save you thousands of pounds whereas a Call-Centre probably will not).

The rest is in the lap-of-the-gods. Good Luck.

Stuart Parrett at PROinspect Consultancy provides free advice via his website at www.proinspect.co.uk -alternatively initial calls and product quotations are also free (078 3636 3040).

What have you got to lose? A lot if you get your team choices wrong!

PROinspect – surveying to protect you and your investments.

NEED ADVICE?

Try the SEARCH Box facility (below, left), click on an Article Heading (below, left) or simply read on….

• BUILDING SURVEYS with or without VALUATION advice
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• AUCTION or QUICK-WALK-THROUGH Appraisals
  
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• Is DAMP REALLY DAMP or actually CONDENSATION as a result of your lifestyle?
• Is that CRACK the beginnings of SUBSIDENCE?
• Divorce or Negligence Court-Compliant EXPERT WITNESS Reports/Valuations.

Hello, I’m Stuart Parrett. I am a truly independent, knowledgeable and experienced Chartered Surveyor and housing specialist. I am in the PEOPLE and HOMES Business where Information Discovery is all important.

I survey homes for faults and worth/value but it is not what I do but HOW that separates PROinspect from competitor surveyors.

THE HOUSE DOCTOR IS IN:

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

SOMETHING of VALUE for you —-

1-  Do you have a SEPTIC TANK DRAINAGE system?

NEW Environmental Permitting Regulations cover even old septic tanks, which may previously have escaped regulation, but are now controlled and must be formally registered with the Environment Agency by 1^st January 2012. Failure to register is a criminal offense. Click this link PrivateDrainageChanges2012 for an Environment Agency Brochure that explains all.

2-  CONDENSATION SEASON IS UPON US – have you looked in the back of the wardrobe recently or in “that corner”?

Cold = drop in dew point = cold surfaces will attract condensate: Quick Fix – create airflows and reduce the amount of vapour in the air. Longer Term Fix = Raise the wall temperature by lining it with XXXX; properly kill off mould spores; introduce sensors that apply venting or temperature changes to the environment. Simple.

What often works is opening the window for as long as possible during and after sleeping/baths/showers/cooking (this removes water vapour that then cannot condense on your clothes and walls). You loose heat during this process and so you need to learn how to achieve these goals intelligently without icicles forming on your nose.

For more information on me, my CV etc… – click here and scroll down. Alternatively, look me in the eye by watching a short VIDEO – CLICK HERE. TheHouseSurveyor at YouTube will also deliver several important messages for those looking to purchase or those you wish to become Residential Surveyors and/or Valuers.

Those who have kindly provided testimonials for me say that I can be considered a safe pair of hands, somebody who is a real communicator and a provider of detailed and robust opinions.

Good reasons for using me in the central south coast area include that I take the time to listen to you and then help you make the right choice of survey product and have it completed at the right time. After this I genuinely communicate with you and don’t simply mail a report to you and that is it. No, I am always available for questions and meetings because you need to be re-assured your purchase is both a wise investment and you are not buying a problem.

I protect the biggest investment you’ll ever make in your life – your home – and I work with you every step of the way…..

I’ve brought together a lot of valuable information to help you organise property problems, alterations, private surveys and other services surrounding ownership, maintenance, sales, purchases and Expert Witness Reports.

CALL ME for a free chat and advice on 078 3636 3040 —

• THE GOLDEN RULES OF SELF-PROTECTION DURING HOME BUYING =

1. When your “offer” has been accepted make sure you already have a loan deal secured in principle
2. Make sure you DO NOT agree to a combined Loan Valuation and Private Survey
3. Actually speak to a Surveyor (PROinspect down south) – do not accept an Assistant or a Secretary
4. Find out your Survey Product options, fee costs and the manner in dealing with any special concerns you have
5. Do not fall for quick deals or “linked” services often packaged by costly middlemen Agencies.

STUART PARRETT

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Browse the site and when you’re ready to ask for advice give me a call or fill in the Form on the right. To get the best out of us you need to be briefed as to your options, survey costs and a lot more. As a starting point be as specific as you can as to what you need from us – use the CONTACT FORM (top right on your screen): EG: Detached house – perhaps 50 years old – £400,000 agreed – Building Survey with Valuation needed – being sold by XXX Estate Agents.

PROinspect are led by Stuart Parrett who has an unrivalled pedigree as a specialist Home Surveyor of over 35 years Hampshire experience.

If you wish to read even more of my views on a host of house and survey matters go to ezinearticles.com by clicking of the above icon. Or follow me at Twitter (@SurveyAuthority).