The Blog

What are the Benefits of Downsizing in Ashbourne? There will come a time in your life when you will want to downsize. This could be because you would like to release some equity, or it could be because your children have moved out and you now don’t need quite as much space as you did before. Either way, there are so many benefits to downsizing to a smaller home in Ashbourne that you’ll be sure to consider it for your own future. What reasons are there to downsize? There are so many reasons to downsize. Perhaps you feel your property is too big for your current family size, or perhaps you cannot keep up with the rising costs of utility bills. Perhaps you simply want to move somewhere more central, or further out into the countryside. Whatever your reason, downsizing can be good for your budget, for your wellbeing, and for your life. Here’s why: What benefits are there to downsizing? Better location or superior property By downsizing, it’s likely you can do more with your money. In some cases, this could mean moving more centrally or to a location that you have always dreamed of just by choosing a smaller property. Similarly, you can also move into a space that has been better designed, which will save you the effort of remodelling your current, larger home. Huge increase in savings When you downsize, you have the opportunity to increase your liquid funds, especially if your mortgage is either entirely paid off or mostly paid off by the time you downsize. This way, you have money you can put towards your retirement, towards renovations of your new home, or to simply enjoy the good things in life. More efficient use of your home If you have a big family and they have now all grown up and moved out, then you don’t have an efficient use of your current space. Downsizing will allow you to live more compactly and efficiently, rather than wasting space that is not required. Greater wellbeing and happiness Many people find greater purpose and happiness when they downsize, especially as it means they can live closer and in better harmony with their loved ones. Remember, downsizing doesn’t mean living in a single room, it simply means forgoing excess space so that your funds and life can go further. Tips to successfully downsize Successfully downsizing is so much more than just buying a smaller home or even taking it to the extreme with a mobile property – a growing trend that helps those with an adventurous spirit see the world. It is not realistic to assume you can just downsize. You are going to need to first reduce your dependence on material items – depending on your situation, this could be very easy – and be aware of the strategies “tiny home” owners have used. Above all, regardless of the size of the property you are downsizing to, you are going to need to follow these tips to downsize successfully: Declutter in advance before you downsize The biggest issue with downsizing is getting used to a smaller number of belongings. Before you go looking for a smaller property to purchase, it’s a good idea to declutter your home and try to figure out what you actually need. Your kitchen, for example, likely has many items that could be used, but haven’t been touched in years, so get rid of them! Now would also be a good time to invest in long lasting items over single use items, because the last thing you are going to want to deal with in a smaller property is an excessive amount of ‘stuff’. The less you have, the easier it will be for all. Consider space saving solutions Alternatively, you could look into multi-purpose solutions and furniture, which would give you the versatility of a bigger home in a smaller space. By making these changes and finding these solutions in advance, you will be equipped with a better understanding of what size space you need and what you can do with the space once it is yours. After all, the chances are you’ll have quite a healthy sum of money left over once you downsize. Downsizing isn’t for everyone, and of course you still want to live comfortably, but when your children move out, it is often one of the best solutions to become more economical. Downsizing is also a great idea if you want to live more centrally, or if you want to live more purposefully. If you are thinking of downsizing in Ashbourne please contact our expert team here at Bennet Samways on 01335 818550. We will be delighted to show you a selection of properties in Ashbourne that fit your requirements.

Regulation Update - Material Information on Listings 31st May 2022 A property's council tax band or rate, the property price and tenure information (for sales) must be included on all property listings by the end of May 2022 and these data fields will start to appear on portals over the coming weeks. These changes represent the first phase of a project by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team, in partnership with industry leaders and the UK’s major property portals, to define what constitutes material information for property listings. Stuart Bennet from Bennet Samways said “I am pleased that this is a step forward in helping our industry give clarity on what information we should disclose. I have often get frustrated in the lack of information provided by competitors, not providing enough information in the agent’s listings. Good news for our business, is that we already display all of this information and much more.” As new data fields for tenure, price and council tax are added to portals, if they are left empty by an agent, this will be flagged on the listing so consumers can see what information is missing. This will link to advice on why that information is important and how it may be obtained. National Trading Standards wants all material information to be mandatory on property listings once all three phases of the project are complete. At that stage, agents will need to include all the required information before it is listed on a property portal. Under current legislation, as set out in the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, estate agents and letting agents have a legal obligation not to omit material information from consumers on property listings. But current practices around disclosure are not consistent across the industry. Three stages of material information disclosure: Part A - Information that, regardless of outcome, is always considered material for all properties regardless of location. This information generally involves unavoidable costs that will be incurred by the occupier regardless of the use of the property. Part B - Information that must be established for all properties. It applies mainly to utilities (and similar), where non-standard features would affect someone’s decision to look any further at that property. Part C - Additional material information that may or may not need to be established, depending on whether the property is affected or impacted by the information. Applies to properties affected by the issue itself because of, for example, the location of the property. Article sourced from The National Trading Standards UK.

Bennet Samways Estate Agents – First Year Anniversary In May 2021 we opened up our brand new estate agency business here at Ednaston Park, and what an amazing year it has been!! We have not only established ourselves as a quality premium brand in the local market, but also we were awarded ‘Best Estate Agent in Ashbourne 2022’ back in early Spring this year! Both myself and Nick are immensely proud of what we have achieved already. We would like to thank all our customers and clients for their support, kindness and, of course for their business.

Best Improvements To Add Value Which home improvements really add value to your home before selling? Your house will almost certainly be more attractive to buyers with some general sprucing up and cleaning. Larger projects such as loft conversions, converting a garage or adding a conservatory may reap high rewards if you have the time and money. But small things can make a surprising difference too. Redecorate & complete easy upgrades Redecorating is the most popular home improvement and giving your home a lick of paint and doing some general maintenance can be done at a very low cost. Fresh paint in modern colours can go a long way to giving your home a new lease of life, so do not be afraid to pick up the paintbrush. It’s also best to fix all superficial defects. While unlikely to be the clinching factor in a house sale, small problems and defects can create an impression of a house being run down or not well cared for. Things to look out for include: Peeling paint Dirty walls, especially near doors frames and around switches Dripping taps Squeaky floors, doors or stairs Mouldy sealant in kitchens or bathrooms Limescale built up on kitchen and bathroom fittings Badly fitted laminate flooring Broken lightbulbs Bigger issues such as damp should not be covered up. It will show up on a survey and is likely to come back to haunt you later on. Replace doors First impressions count. Make sure the outside of the house is welcoming the front door of your home can say a lot about the rest of the house to viewers seeing it for the first time. If you cannot afford to replace the door, make sure it looks new by giving it a power wash or a fresh lick of paint. Even a new doorknob, house number or name sign can help. Try to make your front door look smarter than your neighbours’.   Makeover the kitchen Kitchens are often the focus for many buyers, so it may be the first thing they look to replace if they can’t imagine living in yours. It's no surprise that 65% of homeowners have renovated their kitchens before selling up. You may not be able to afford a whole new kitchen, but there are many smaller ways to improve what you already have. For a relatively small budget painting units or replacing cupboard handles or doors are a cheaper way of refreshing kitchens. Good lighting and clutter-free, clean surfaces will make a big difference to the feel of the house Buyers may be willing to pay more to save themselves the hassle of buying a new kitchen.   Adding or updating the bathroom In the bathroom, re-grouting, eliminating all limescale and replacing taps are a good option. Bathrooms need to be fresh and hygienic looking, so paint the walls a neutral shade, and ideally replace a shower curtain with a new one or a simple glass screen. 29% of homes sold in recent years have had a new bathroom fitted, so a full update might be the key to selling fast and earning more.   Garden appeal An attractive, tidy, well-designed garden can add a great deal of value to a property. It is essential to trim borders, clear pathways and cut back any overgrown trees or bushes. The garden should feel like an extra space for entertaining or relaxing, rather than an expanse of grass. An area of decking gives buyers a sense of having a bigger usable living space and 3% of homes sold in 2019 were even found to have had a summer garden, giving owners more space to relax and entertain in sunnier weather. Double glaze the windows Noisy roads can impact the value of a property. Double glazing will keep the home warm and keep the noise out, even if it’s near a main road. Opening up space Opening up living space is becoming more and more popular, particularly for the kitchen and dining room. Combining the two into one large room creates a sociable space, great for the whole family to enjoy.  Remember the practicalities with this though, as many consumers still like the ‘front room philosophy’ that can be used for special occasions or to be used for privacy by the adults. Look smart & energy efficient Smart home technologies are increasingly important to buyers - just advertising the presence of fibre optic cables in your area could be enough to encourage buyers. Statement systems like multi-room music platforms can also make a difference. Smart technology such as Hive, which gives mobile control over heating systems, is a feature worth considering. If it moves your EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) up a band, it could add thousands to the sale price. Only 2% of homes sold in 2019 had smart technology installed, so by being ahead of the game, you'll be offering a unique selling-point and future-proofing for any potential buyers. Create a driveway In some areas of the country, the ability to park close to your front door comes at a huge premium and therefore, if you have the room to add off-street parking, you are sure to increase value. Bigger projects Big projects could include a loft conversion, adding a conservatory, converting a garage or installing a whole new kitchen or bathroom. In fact, 22% of homes sold in recent years had an extension added; increasing a property's value and making them more appealing to buyers. A survey by NAEA Propertymark shows that half of estate agents think that adding a bedroom – usually a loft conversion – adds the most value, while a third of agents thought a new kitchen was the best choice. Whatever you choose to do, it is a good idea to speak to a local estate agent about the sort of features that make the most difference when selling homes in your area. Even if you can’t afford an extension or conversion, it might be worth obtaining planning permission to do so at a later date. You would have to spend money on drawing up the designs and getting a survey, but it would remove a big element of doubt from a potential buyer’s mind if they know the council has already approved an extension. You might also want to think about your target audience and try to reflect their needs. For example, is your house most likely to appeal to young professionals? A room could be set aside as an office or you could add an extra shower room. If young families are the most likely buyers, could you turn the adjoining garage into a playroom? Article sourced by NAEA Propertymark.    

Introducing – Winning For Ashbourne – Best Agent 2022 Bennet Samways have just won The British Property Award for Ashbourne. Their team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging period, which focused on customer service l levels. Bennet Samways have now been shortlisted for a number of national awards which will be announced later in the year. The British Property Awards provide agents throughout the UK with an invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against the service provided by their local, regional and national competition. Agents who go that extra mile and provide outstanding levels of customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace. THE BRITISH PROPERTY AWARDS are one of the most inclusive estate agency awards providers as they do not charge to enter. This has enabled their award to be structured in a manner that ensures maximum participation, on average judging over 90% of agents that meet their minimum criteria on a local level. The team personally mystery shops every estate agent against a set of 25 criteria to obtain a balanced overview of their customer service levels. The judging criteria is periods to ensure that agents have been rigorously and fairly judged. Robert McLean from The British Property Awards said “Our awards have been specifically designed to be attainable to all agents, removing common barriers to entry, such as cost, to ensure that we have the most inclusive awards. Our awards have also been designed to remove any opportunity for bias or manipulation. If an agent has been attributed with one of our awards, it is simply down to the fantastic customer service levels that they have demonstrated across a prolonged period of time. Winning agents should be proud that their customer service levels provide a benchmark for their local, regional and national competition”.

How to choose a conveyancer or solicitor If you're buying or selling a home, there will come a time when you will need to choose a solicitor or a conveyancer to help with the legal transfer of the property. Legal professionals are extremely important in keeping the buying and selling process on track and on time - they handle your contracts, carry out local authority searches, deal with the Land Registry and transfer funds when it is finally completion day. So, with so much to do, it’s important to pick one that’s right for you. What’s the difference between a conveyancer and a solicitor? Both conveyancers and solicitors are fully regulated and insured professionals, and when it comes to handling your property transaction, will operate in a very similar way. However, it is worth noting the differences between the two before you get started. Conveyancers are specialist property lawyers who are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, and who focus largely on residential property transactions. Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and offer a much broader legal service and are able to deal with more complex legal issues. Their knowledge beyond property conveyancing law is necessary when dealing with the likes of boundary disputes or if the sellers are separating and using more than one solicitor. Have they been recommended? Recommendations from friends or family are a great starting point, but most estate agents will be able to recommend a local solicitor or conveyancer if you’re struggling to find one. Your mortgage broker or financial adviser might also be able to recommend a firm. Customer reviews from Google can also be really helpful when searching for reputable companies with honest customer feedback. Also, if you had a great experience last time then, especially if the same staff are there, then you are likely to get that again. Here at Bennet Samways we have some amazing relationships built over the years with conveyances and we are always happy to recommend. What’s their communication like? Property transfers are complicated and can often be time-consuming, so a solicitor or conveyancer who communicates well and gives you regular updates will make the whole process less stressful. Having a key contact is essential, so find out if you will have a named individual looking after you and your sale. Ask if there are specific times when you can contact them and if they have a system that allows you to track how the purchase is progressing. Also, don’t forget to check if they have any annual leave booked that could impact the transfer and ask who will step in if they're away. If holiday or sickness cover isn’t available, it could delay your house sale or purchase by a couple of weeks. Understand and compare conveyancing fees There are three different types of fees when it comes to conveyancing: Hourly rate Fixed fee Percentage cost It’s advisable to get a couple of quotes first and ask for a full break down so that you can make a direct comparison. Make sure you check whether the total cost will be a fixed or if it could vary according to the workload. And the final price should be inclusive of everything necessary to complete the sale, including searches, monetary transfers, stamp duty or land tax costs and Land Registry fees. Also remember, you pay for what you get so the cheapest fee is often not the best service and experience.

Covid-19 Guidelines   Since the 19th July 2021, we are still urged by the Government that everyone involved in the home buying and selling process to continue to follow good hygiene practices, including regular hand-washing, sanitising, and cleaning. These measures will help prevent the spread of infection. Coming into close contact with other people While most legal restrictions on contact with others are no longer in place, we are still urged to continue with caution and personal responsibility in situations involving physical contact with others. Face coverings We recommend still wearing face coverings if visiting us at Ednaston Park, going to a viewing, conducting a viewing and on valuations. Viewings Aside from self-isolation rules, there are no legal limits on the households which may view a home in person now. We would, however, continue to recommend that buyers take advantage of any opportunities to view homes remotely before committing to view in person where possible. We will still ask you to attend a viewing wearing a face covering especially with some properties there can be areas difficult to social distance. It is important that everyone continues to follow the safe hygiene practices as described above, and you should let in fresh air if people are viewing your property. Our main aim is keeping clients safe for all our customers. Valuations Aside from self-isolation rules, there are no legal limits on the households. We would still recommend keeping the amount of people to a minimum where possible. On valuations we will always ask if you would like us to wear a face covering especially if you have many areas where social distancing is difficult. Our main aim is keeping clients safe for all our customers. Tradespeople in the home Tradespeople can continue to work in other people’s homes unless customers or tradespeople are self-isolating. Members of the public should ensure their homes are clean and safe before tradespeople enter. This may involve cleaning items being carried by removals firms, wiping surfaces such as worktops and door handles, letting fresh air into rooms, and seeking to delay work if either party is showing COVID-19 symptoms. Going further than this guidance The above guidance describes the minimum best practices you should follow to help keep yourself and others safe. If you want additional measures or reasonable conditions in place for your move, please talk to us about how to proceed. These measures could include, for example, placing a cap on the number of visitors viewing your home at any one time. These measures are at the discretion of the homeowner and we would ask you to accommodate their wishes.

Damp Issues   Keeping your home damp free Damp is one of the most common problems that affects UK homes and if it is not taken care of it can cause major damage to your property. Our guide looks at the main causes of damp – and, more importantly, how to combat them.   What is damp? Damp is the presence of moisture in your property where it shouldn’t be. The problem with damp is that it can lead to structural issues within a property, black mould, wood rot and even health issues. There are three types of damp to be aware of; rising damp, condensation and penetrating damp.   Rising damp Rising damp is caused by groundwater finding its way into a home through stone or brickwork and then working its way from the ground up. It is more common in older properties that were built without a damp-proof course (DPC) or with an old DPC that has begun to wear and fail. Signs of rising damp include damp patches on the wall, crumbling or bubbling paint or woodwork and stained tide marks where the damp has dried and left behind salts.   Penetrating damp Penetrating damp, sometimes called lateral damp or water ingress, is when water works its way into a property through the walls as well as the roof and floors. Growing circles and blotches on walls and ceilings. Wet and crumbly plaster are typical signs of penetrating damp. Potential weak spots on the property exterior such as poor pointing or damaged masonry can also be an indication of damp, causing possible problems further down the line. Unlike rising damp, penetrating damp can occur on your walls and ceiling and is often a sign of damage or a defect to an external part of your property that is allowing water to come in.   Condensation Condensation is one of the most common forms of damp in the home and its harmful consequences are often overlooked. Condensation happens when moisture in the air comes into contact with a cold surface, like a wall or window, leaving behind water. It can be caused by drying wet clothes indoors, taking a shower, having a bath or boiling the kettle, to name a few. Condensation is particularly prevalent in colder months, especially in older, less insulated properties.   Stopping rising damp The most effective way to manage rising damp is through a course of damp-proofing. If your current DPC is damaged or non-existent, then a new one will need to be installed. You should consult a professional to help you choose a DPC that will work for your property and install it if necessary.   Fixing penetrating damp The key to removing penetrating damp is to eliminate the source. To identify the source, check the following parts of your property: Sealant on exterior doors and windows; any gaps will need fixing or replacing Look for missing mortar or areas between bricks that may need repointing Broken or blocked pipes or gutters might be allowing water to enter the property Once any problems are fixed, water should be prevented from entering the property and the penetrating damp should stop.   Managing condensation If you are able, open windows in rooms where condensation is more likely, such as the bathroom or kitchen, especially when cooking, showering or bathing. If you do spot condensation occurring on windows, dry them off to prevent the moisture from going back into the air and causing further damp problems. Double glazed windows are less likely to suffer from condensation than single glazed windows; they also make your property more insulated and energy efficient, so consider installing them where possible. Insulation is the best solution going forward in the long term too, especially for older properties. By keeping your property at a consistently warm temperature, condensation doesn’t get the chance to form. Drying damp clothing on a clotheshorse in a spare room can cause excess condensation and add to your damp problem. Try to dry clothes outside whenever possible, or make sure to hang them in a well-ventilated room. Finally, consider getting a dehumidifier to remove any moisture from the air. This can be either an electric dehumidifier if you have the funds, or disposable ones with dehumidifying crystals, which can be placed in different rooms, thrown away once they have been fully used and found in most supermarkets.   Watch out for black mould Black mould is caused by an excessive build-up of moisture; it is difficult to remove and can have serious health implications. This type of mould is not just unsightly, but it can attract mites and, in extreme cases, could cause respiratory problems. Mould and mildew eradication kits can be purchased online but any cleaning products that contain bleach can also tackle the problem.   Landlords and tenants For tenants living in a property that has damp problems, you should report the issues to your landlord or letting agent to give them a chance to resolve it. Take pictures of any evidence of damp as part of your report. Damp and mould growth are considered a hazard under the ‘Housing Health and Safety rating System’ in England and Wales, so it is the landlord’s duty to ensure the property is at a standard that prevents damp where possible. In Scotland, damp falls under the ‘Tolerable Standard’, which states that properties with rising or penetrating damp that aren’t well insulated are unsuitable to live in. For landlords, preventing damp will not only ensure you are following the law but ensure that your tenants are comfortable and likely to stay for longer. If you improve the insulation of your property, you may be able to lower your EPC as well.   Organise a survey If your property is continually suffering from the effects of damp and you are unsure what the cause is, then consider hiring a surveyor to thoroughly check your property for defects.