The process of buying a property in Medway

August 4th, 2022

If you’re thinking of buying in the Medway property market at the moment then here’s a little insight into the process so you know what to expect.

First things first before you even start viewing any houses get yourself finance ready, check your credit score, check to see how much deposit you have and how much deposit you need and check what the lenders are going to be prepared to offer you.

Make sure you view multiple properties so you get a good idea of what’s out there so you don’t make a mistake in the property that you’re buying when it comes to making an offer. I will be taking you through that stage step by step and being completely transparent so you know what to expect next and once you have an offer accepted successfully that’s the time when you’re going to be instructing your solicitor and also your surveys as well.

Then on moving day when you get the keys I’ll be meeting you at the property to hand over the keys and to give you a little tour of the property again letting you know where things are, such as the stop cock, gas meters, the water meters and any helpful tips that’s going to see you on your way.

If you have any further questions about buying a property in Medway then please use my contact form below to get in touch.

How to choose the right solicitor when selling or buying a property in Walderslade

July 28th, 2022

Here’s how to choose the right solicitor when buying or selling a property in Walderslade. So when you get to the stage where you are looking to engage in a legal representative make sure to take the following into consideration. So first of all look for or ask for recommendations so speak to any friends or family who have been through the property buying or selling process recently and get their take on who they found to be very good or potentially who to avoid. Also your estate agent that you’re dealing with should be able to help you on this as well, they’re dealing with these people on a day-in day-out basis so they can hopefully point you in the right direction. Make sure to choose somebody that is CQS accredited and make sure to read the reviews of the people that you’re looking at so any google reviews or on their website to see what people are actually saying who have actually used them and gone through a transaction. As with anything in life you do get what you pay for so try to avoid the lowest cost solicitor. It is important to get the right one and you do get what you pay for so on this basis make sure to get an idea of the service as well as the cost. Ask how they work, there’s lots of solicitors that are very old school and traditional, they send everything out by a letter and there are others that are very up with the times, they’ve got access to the Alexa app and you can ask Alexa how your house purchase or sale is going and find the right one that’s going to suit your needs. I hope you found this useful and if you’d like to know anything else or you know someone that might find this useful please like and share it to them. As always you can contact me on 0757783 325.

To get up to scratch with all the property jargon you may see used throughout the process click here.

How to make the most of your outdoor space

July 22nd, 2022

Focus on the areas that get the sun the majority of the time throughout the day or specific times a day when you’re most likely to be outside. This could be seating areas or using soft furnishings to make the most of the sun when it’s out. In the winter times or when the sun isn’t out, what you could do is have a garden room built which means you can add that add that extra room to your home. Using mirrors is a really great way outside to create that open feeling and make your garden feel that little bit bigger than it actually is and adding colour can be an amazing way to really make your garden feel homely. This could be with painting the fences or it could be with hanging baskets or or plants and just general upkeep of your garden can really go along way. So, keeping the the grass cut, de-weeding, and maybe jet washing any slabs that you have. Hope you found this useful and if you’d like to know anything more, please give me a call on 07557783325.

For more way on how to stage your garden when selling your Rochester home click here. 

How to overcome the common problems when dealing with a Chatham estate agent

July 15th, 2022

<!– wp:acf/content-area { "id": "block_62ca061fc6cea", "name": "acf\/content-area", "data": { "content_area_label": "", "_content_area_label": "field_5eb2cd6b95a42", "content_area_title": "", "_content_area_title": "field_5e725e7a479fc", "content_area": "How-to-overcome-the-common-problems-when-dealing-with-an-estate-agent How to overcome the common problems when dealing with a Chatham estate agent tom dix bespoke independent medway estate agent[\/caption]\r\n\r\nImagine this…you’re really excited to move your family into a bigger home in Chatham but the one thing you’re dreading is having to deal with a Chatham estate agent again. You can’t remember who you bought the house through so you phone around a few local Chatham estate agents to find out what they think. You employ someone who you think is great and they get the job. The following weekend, you have the first viewings and someone you’ve never met before turns up to show the buyers around. They’ve only been doing the job for one day and they don’t even know where the local shop is, let alone whether your loft is boarded or when your boiler was installed. Right after the viewings, you’re chasing the person that you employed for some feedback on those viewings but they’re never in the office and they never return your calls. When finding out why your lovely home hasn’t sold yet, all you’re being told is that the market’s tough right now. Eventually, you agree a sale and you find that dream property that your whole family is excited to move into. The children have their own bedrooms at last and you have a big garden to put that trampoline in. After a few weeks into the transaction, you haven’t had much of an update so you phone the agent to find out what’s going on. They tell you that your buyer lost their buyer and that they are having to resell their house but you thought you’d sold to a first-time buyer. After a few sleepless nights, everything works out and it’s time to collect your keys for the new home. You have to drive 20 minutes to collect the keys and when you turn up at the estate agent’s office, they’re all busy doing other things and they don’t even know why you’re there. After a scram around trying to find your keys, you eventually get them and get rushed out the door and they carry on with what they were doing before you interrupted them.\r\n\r\nI’ve been an estate agent for 10 years and I recognise the flaws that give us a bad name. My mission is to show you that employing and working with the right estate agent can eliminate all of those problems and be an enjoyable process and that’s why I’ve decided to become a business owner and start my own estate agency. Every step of the way, have me and me only. My goal is not just to be your estate agent once but your agent for life. Giving you the experience that you’ll want to recommend me to all your family and friends. I’ve lived in Medway my entire life and I want to give you, my community, the moving journey that you deserve. Your home is my passion and our journey. My name is Tom Dix, Bespoke Estate Agent Powered by EXP.\r\n\r\nFor more insights on how to select the right estate agent in Chatham click here. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/QiAhA8saj_k”, “_content_area”: “field_5e725ef86b9c3”, “content_area_call_to_action_text”: “”, “_content_area_call_to_action_text”: “field_5eb2d79c7babc”, “content_area_call_to_action_link_type”: “”, “_content_area_call_to_action_link_type”: “field_5eb2d7a37babd”, “content_area_call_to_action”: “”, “_content_area_call_to_action”: “field_5eb2d7907babb”, “content_area_center_content”: “1”, “_content_area_center_content”: “field_5e78e9263c629”, “add_valuation_form”: “1”, “_add_valuation_form”: “field_5ec96c71fa54e”, “background_colour”: “theme-light”, “_background_colour”: “field_5ec50a7ea8ba5”, “add_top_spacing”: “1”, “_add_top_spacing”: “field_5eb94ffbe5568”, “top_spacing_size”: “section-padding-top-sm”, “_top_spacing_size”: “field_5eb95004e5569”, “add_bottom_spacing”: “1”, “_add_bottom_spacing”: “field_5eb950231ca34”, “bottom_spacing_size”: “section-padding-bottom-sm”, “_bottom_spacing_size”: “field_5eb9502e1ca35” }, “align”: “”, “mode”: “edit” } /–>
What To Expect When Buying A Property In Medway

July 8th, 2022

Your Medway Property Market Report for July

July 4th, 2022

So what’s happening in the Medway property market? We’ve all seen the news stories almost daily about the housing market. “Prices reach record highs” contradicted by “Housing market shows signs of cooling”. It can be difficult to figure out what’s actually going on.

Available properties for sale and new listings coming to the market both increased in June vs the month of May. The most noticeable change was that of properties being sold, which decreased by 186 vs the month of May. This suggests that with more properties being listed to the market and more available for sale, buyers have more choice and have more to compare. This will naturally increase the length of time it takes to sell which is backed up by Zoopla who say the average time to sell based on properties on their site increased by 2 days in June to 22 days on the market.

If you’re a seller in this market, it is becoming increasingly important to present your property at it’s best for viewings and to ensure it is being marketed at its fullest and in the best way.

Medway House Prices

The average UK house price continues to rise, albeit by just 0.1%, but with more choice for buyers, rising interest rates and cost of living, this could be why we have seen less properties sold in the month of June. Unrealistic sellers who ‘try’ a price may see bigger consequences further down the line when they are having to chase the market and being used as a reference point for other properties to sell. Buyer demand is still 40% higher than the 5 year average so if your property isn’t generating viewings, then listen to the market and adjust accordingly. Many buyers will be re-rated by the banks, resulting in their affordability decreasing so capitalise before this happens.

44% more properties are currently sold subject to contract than at the same time in 2019, meaning the conveyancing back log continues. If you’d like to be in a new home for Christmas you need to act now to make sure it happens.

Medway Property Market Predictions

Zoopla’s outlook for the rest of the year is that they see house price growth slowing but they are not anticipating price declines. Rightmove suggest that Affordability constraints, a better balance between supply and demand, and usual seasonal price drops will contribute to further slowing of price growth in coming months, with annual growth still on track to be 5% by the end of the year.

As always, speak to a local estate agent about what’s happening in your area, as supply and demand will always be changing for certain types of properties in different locations.

Medway Property Market Overview

On the whole it’s positive for both sellers and buyers alike, prices are not yet decreasing and buyer demand is still as high as ever. More properties for sale is making the search a little easier for buyers.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to me regarding your position in the market then please contact me on 07557783325.

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medway property market report update july tom dix bespoke independent estate agent
Your Medway Property Market Update for June

June 2nd, 2022

In May new properties listed for sale was at it’s highest since April 2021 with 1341 new properties coming to the market in Medway. Available stock for sale is also increasing so more choice is now available to buyers.

The properties being sold show no signs of slowing with sales agreed once again on the up during the month of May. However the amount of properties being reduced increased in Medway by 20% vs the month of April. This trend is mirrored by the likes of Zoopla who report “Asking prices have been cut by 5% or more on one in 20 homes listed for sale in 4 weeks to mid-May”. The times report that people who are trying to sell their property are having to reduce by an average amount of £22,500.

Propertymark report that 39% of their members sold properties for above the asking prices in the month of May. With the length of time properties are taking to sell still at record lows, however marginally increasing month by month, it seems that if your property has not sold in 4-5 weeks then it’s time to make changes, either to your asking price or your selling agent.

Zoopla comment that “While the rate at which property values are rising is likely to ease during the rest of the year, house prices are not expected to fall.”

Average asking prices have risen more than £55,000 in the past two years, compared to a £6,000 rise in the two years before the pandemic, so if you are thinking of selling your property now is a great time to do so. Sell your property now, and become a buyer as the value of property prices start to ease.

In the mortgage world, the monthly payments on a £300,000 property purchase with a 10% deposit has risen by £77 over the past 3 months, my advice to buyers would be to buy now to lock in a low fixed rate, prices are not guaranteed to come down but interest rates are consistently rising week by week.

If you have any questions regarding the property market or would like any advice please contact me on 07557783325 and follow my Facebook page for moving tips, market news and new properties before they are released to the portals. https://www.facebook.com/tomdixbespokeestateagent

Exploring Medway | My Top 5 Places to Eat and Drink in Chatham

May 24th, 2022

To learn more about places to eat and drink in Rochester click here.

6 Tips to Staging Your Hall in Chatham

May 19th, 2022

Your hall is the first room in the house viewers will see when they come to take a look around your Chatham property, so it’s important to create a good first impression.

It can be so easy to put a lot of effort into staging every other room in the house but forget about the main entrance into your Chatham home.

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home staging tips selling your property tom dix independent estate agent medway

Ultimately, you want to wow potential buyers in Chatham from the moment they set foot inside your property, so here are six tips to help you stage your hall just right and secure a buyer quickly:

Pack away coats, shoes & bags:

Don’t let viewers trip over jackets, bags or shoes you’ve left lying at your front door as this will leave them with the worst possible impression. Instead, pick everything up and store your personal belongings away. If you’re lacking storage space you can still keep them in the hall but on coat hooks or tidied away neatly in a hallway unit or organizer.

Get painting:

Painting your hall is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of transforming the room to make it feel more welcoming. If your hall has any walls that feature bold or loud colours then freshen it up with neutral colours and shades instead. You want your hallway to look open, bright, and fresh to create the best first impression you possibly can.

Add a mirror:

Mirrors are fantastic additions to any hallway and can really transform the space. By adding a mirror to your hall you will instantly add light to the room, making it appear brighter and bigger as well as adding a touch of style to it.

Check the front door:

Make sure your front door can open and close easily as well as lock and unlock easily. You want to create a feeling of safety and your front door is something a viewer might check themselves. Don’t be left red-faced if it doesn’t close or lock properly, so get this checked out and fixed as soon as possible if there are any issues.

Bring some life and a pop of colour:

Consider adding a hallway console table filled with chic accessories, such as a vase of fresh flowers, clock or candles. If this isn’t your thing, look at adding some potted plants to bring a bit of character and sense of comfort to your hall.

Make sure it smells nice:

A fresh smelling hall will instantly give your buyers a good impression of your house in Chatham. Impress them when they first walk through the door by infusing the space with nice smells such as home baking, coffee, scented candles or wax melts or use diffusers or air fresheners to provide that clean and homely feeling.

A viewer can take only a few seconds to decide whether they wish to buy a house or not so it’s important to give them the best experience as soon as they set foot through your front door. Staging a hallway is crucial to making that first impression count.

Want to stage your home for sale? Find out how to stage your living room here.

7 Things Buyers Want To See In A Property That’s For Sale in Medway

May 13th, 2022

What are the things I should highlight to buyers when selling my property in Medway?

  1. Curb Appeal – 1st impressions count and from the moment a buyer arrives at the property, they like to see that it’s cared for inside and out.
  2. Light – The lighting in a property can influence a viewers perception of the home overall. Ensure all blinds and curtains are open to let the most amount of light into all rooms. If your home lacks natural light, ensure your Medway property has enough artificial lighting.
  3. Clean and Tidy – Not only will this show that you look after the property and maintain it to a high standard but it will also let them focus on the important things in their decision making process. Rather than thinking about the clutter, they will be visualising how they can make the room work for them.
  4. Certificates and Guarantee’s – Showing potential buyers that the boiler has been serviced recently and the electrics are safe can be a great way to install confidence in buyers.
  5. Bill’s – Giving a prospective buyer an approximate idea of how much the property costs to run and what they would expect to pay in bills is a great way to positively influence a buyers decision making.
  6. Potential for Extending – Highlighting the areas where space can be added is a way of increasing the value and saleability of your Medway home.
  7. Working from Home Potential – With many people now working from home, a dedicated working area is a must for many of us so showing viewers how this can work will put you top of their list.