Novahomes

2 Bedroom Flat, Peverell £160,000.00

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 01:07:06 GMT

Located on the highly convenient Outland Road, this spacious ground floor flat is within walking distance of Morrisons Supermarket and multiple bus routes and with its own garage. The property features two generously sized double bedrooms and a study, a large lounge idea

3 Bedroom Terrace, Southway £180,000.00

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 04:48:12 GMT

This spacious three bedroom family home situated in a quiet off road position well placed for local amenities and enjoys far reaching countryside views. The living accommodation is well presented throughout in tasteful neutral colours is arranged over two levels and comprises on the ground floor, en

4 Bedroom Terrace, Southway £250,000.00

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:26:13 GMT

Novahomes are delighted to present this beautifully presented four-bedroom terraced home in the sought-after area of Bampfylde Way, Southway. Offering a perfect blend of modern comfort and stylish interiors, this property is ideal for families or first-time buyers. Upon entering, you are welcomed by

2 Bedroom End Terrace, Crownhill £220,000.00

Mon, 12 May 2025 12:48:44 GMT

This spacious two double bedroom end terraced home has so much potential and is positioned with a lovely open outlook over the adjacent nature reserve and green area whilst offering easy access to Crownhill village amenities, fantastic bus links and great local schools. It also offers plenty of sco

1 Bedroom Flat, Stonehouse £180,000.00

Mon, 19 May 2025 11:05:42 GMT

A stunning one bed ground floor apartment situated on the sought after waterside development. The property enjoys a southerly aspect with the added advantage of views over to Cornwall. Inside the finish is exceptional throughout, making it an ideal base to enjoy the superb local facilities including

2 Bedroom Flat, Greenbank £115,000.00

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:52:19 GMT

Novahomes proudly presents this spacious two-bedroom maisonette in the ever-popular central location of Prospect Street, Greenbank. Arranged over two floors, this versatile home offers fantastic potential for modernisation, making it an ideal project for buyers seeking to add value.

The a

2 Bedroom Flat, Prince Rock £115,000.00

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 02:19:42 GMT

Spacious first floor flat with freehold and lease extension arranged. No onward chain. Two bedrooms, bay-fronted lounge, kitchen, shower room, and useful loft room accessed via fixed staircase. Courtyard with potential for off-road parking subject to planning consents. Close to city centre.

2 Bedroom Flat, Prince Rock £136,950.00

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 05:33:12 GMT

This well-presented first floor flat, located in a quiet and central residential street in Prince Rock, Plymouth. An ideal first step on the property ladder or a smart rental investment, this home boasts bright, airy interiors and a surprising amount of space. Internally, the property features a gen

4 Bedroom Detached, Eggbuckland £470,000.00

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 03:02:07 GMT

Located in a peaceful cul-de-sac in the ever-popular Eggbuckland area of Plymouth, this exceptional four-bedroom detached family home is beautifully presented throughout and offers a superb blend of contemporary style, spacious living, and versatile accommodation.

Set back from the road w

2 Bedroom Terrace, Derriford £220,000.00

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:44:44 GMT

Situated in the ever-popular Derriford area, this immaculately presented two-bedroom mid-terraced home on Bluebell Street offers contemporary living in a sought-after residential development close to local schools, amenities and Derriford Hospital.

Finished to a modern standard throughout

2 Bedroom Terrace, Southway £175,000.00

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:05:30 GMT

Beautifully presented two-bedroom modern home with spacious lounge/diner, stylish kitchen, contemporary bathroom, and a landscaped low-maintenance garden with seating areas and storage. Situated in a quiet cul-de-sac with allocated parking, close to shops, schools, and transport links.

3 Bedroom End Terrace, St Judes £250,000.00

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:31:13 GMT

Beautifully presented 3 bed double-fronted home in sought-after St Judes. Features two reception rooms, stylish kitchen, modern shower room, utility, downstairs WC, and sunny courtyard. No onward chain ideal for families or professionals seeking space and convenience.

2 Bedroom Terrace, Whitleigh £185,000.00

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 01:02:29 GMT

Set in a quiet residential location and ideal for first-time buyers, young professionals, downsizers, or investors, this well-presented two-bedroom mid terraced home offers generous internal proportions and a southwest-facing garden. The property is equipped with gas central heating and uPVC double

2 Bedroom Coach House, Beacon Park £170,000.00

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 04:41:48 GMT

Modern 2-bed coach house in popular Renaissance Gardens. Spacious lounge/diner, stylish kitchen, 2 double bedrooms, sleek bathroom, garage & private courtyard. Light-filled interiors, no onward chain & great location near shops, schools & transport. Ideal first home or investment.

3 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Plymstock £325,000.00

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 09:16:56 GMT

Situated in a sought-after Plymstock location, this spacious three double bedroom semi-detached home offers generous accommodation across two floors with a level landscaped rear garden, driveway parking, and a garage. Ideal for first-time buyers, families, or professionals looking to personalise a h

2 Bedroom Semi-Detached Bungalow, Plympton £270,000.00

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 04:04:34 GMT

Offered to the market with no onward chain, this semi-detached bungalow occupies a desirable position within Plympton, just a short distance from local amenities and bus routes. While the property would benefit from some light refreshment, it presents a superb opportunity to acquire a home with enor

2 Bedroom Terrace, Southway £170,000.00

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 09:13:50 GMT

Located in a tucked-away position within Southway, this two-bedroom mid-terrace home presents a fantastic opportunity for first-time buyers or investors alike. Offered with no onward chain, the property benefits from a front extension adding a versatile utility/porch space and boasts a generous sout

4 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Eggbuckland £330,000.00

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:53:53 GMT

Situated in the ever-popular area of Eggbuckland and close to highly regarded local schools, this beautifully modernised four-bedroom semi-detached home is perfect for growing families or first-time buyers looking for long-term space. With a fresh and stylish finish throughout, this property boasts

2 Bedroom Terrace, Southway £169,950.00

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:56:54 GMT

Offered to the market with no onward chain, this spacious two-bedroom mid-terrace home in Southway presents a fantastic opportunity for buyers looking to modernise and create a home to their own specification.

The accommodation comprises a generously proportioned lounge, a spacious kitche

4 Bedroom Detached, West Park £400,000.00

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:30:01 GMT

Stunning new-build 4-bed detached with open-plan kitchen/living, en-suite master, stylish bathroom, utility, and garage with electric door. Landscaped garden with versatile outbuilding. Modern, low-maintenance home with driveway parking for several cars.

3 Bedroom End Terrace, Derriford £230,000.00

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 03:45:25 GMT

Modern 3-bed family home in Derriford with lounge, kitchen/diner, en-suite to master, family bathroom, cloakroom, enclosed garden with shed & 2 allocated parking spaces. Close to Derriford Hospital, schools & transport links. Ideal for families, first-time buyers & investors.

3 Bedroom Terrace, Higher Compton £210,000.00

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 01:54:36 GMT

Three-bedroom end terrace home in a quiet Compton cul-de-sac. Spacious lounge, kitchen/diner, enclosed low-maintenance garden, modern bathroom. Close to schools and amenities. Ideal first home or investment. No onward chain.

3 Bedroom Terrace, Ernesettle £170,000.00

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 03:59:25 GMT

Three-bedroom mid-terrace family home requiring some modernisation. Two reception rooms, fitted kitchen, enclosed courtyard garden, and no onward chain. Convenient location close to schools, shops, and public transport. Excellent potential to add value.

4 Bedroom Terrace, Lower Compton £230,000.00

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:28:17 GMT

Spacious 4/5-bed family home in Lower Compton, arranged over three floors. Two bathrooms, modern kitchen/diner, two reception rooms, and enclosed rear garden. Versatile layout perfect for growing families, close to schools, parks, and city amenities.

3 Bedroom Detached Bungalow, Saltash £230,000.00

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:00:16 GMT

This detached home boasts wonderful views of the River Tamar and the surrounding countryside. Ideally located within walking distance of Longstone Park, Saltash town centre, and local amenities, it offers both convenience and tranquillity. The property features flexible living accommodation, making

2 Bedroom Terrace, Honicknowle £210,000.00

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:05:51 GMT

Attractive 2-bedroom modern home with driveway parking and generous level rear garden. Features lounge, dining area with French doors, modern kitchen & family bathroom. Conveniently located near schools, shops & amenities ideal for first-time buyers.

3 Bedroom Terrace, St Judes £220,000.00

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:48:23 GMT

Beautifully presented 3-bedroom period home in sought-after St Judes. Features bay-fronted lounge, dining room, modern kitchen, courtyard garden & family bathroom. Retains charming period detail & offered with no onward chain, close to schools & city centre. Downstairs wc

4 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Beacon Park £300,000.00

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:30:19 GMT

Extended 4-bed family home in sought-after Beacon Park, offering modern décor, spacious living areas, stylish bathroom, loft room and a large rear garden. Close to schools, shops and transport links ideal for growing families.

2 Bedroom Flat, Stoke £1,300.00

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:24:06 GMT

This stunning GROUND-FLOOR flat in the heart of Stoke Village, Plymouth, blends HISTORIC CHARM with modern living. Set within a GRADE II LISTED building, it offers TWO DOUBLE BEDROOMS, an EN-SUITE, a modern kitchen, and a LOUNGE/DINING ROOM. Includes OFF-ROAD PARKING in a GATED PRIVATE car park

4 Bedroom Terrace, Milehouse £293,500.00

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 02:22:14 GMT

Extended 4-bed family home in popular Milehouse. Features loft-converted master with en-suite, stylish kitchen extension with utility and WC, two reception rooms, three further bedrooms, family bathroom, rear garden, and oversized garage with electric roller door access.

3 Bedroom Terrace, Saltash £240,000.00

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:17:42 GMT

Three-bedroom family home in popular Mote Park, offering driveway, integral garage, spacious living areas, utility room, modern bathroom, and enclosed rear garden. Sold with no onward chain, ideal for buyers seeking space and potential in a convenient Saltash location.

3 Bedroom Terrace, Southway £220,000.00

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 01:13:10 GMT

Modernised 3-bed family home with spacious lounge, stylish kitchen/diner, ground-floor shower room and large level rear garden. Immaculate throughout and close to schools and amenities. Offered with no onward chain.

2 Bedroom Flat, Southway £160,000.00

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:13:02 GMT

Offered to the market with no onward chain, this modern and immaculately presented ground floor apartment is ideal for first-time buyers, young professionals, or those looking for a low-maintenance buy-to-let investment.

Located in a quiet residential cul-de-sac in the popular PL6 postcod

4 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Pennycomequick £415,000.00

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:55:09 GMT

FOUR-BED FAMILY HOME in central location with SPACIOUS ROOMS, LARGE LOFT BEDROOM, CONSERVATORY, DRIVEWAY FOR TWO CARS, and a GENEROUS REAR GARDEN with EXCELLENT STORAGE. Near CITY CENTRE, TRAIN STATION and SCHOOLS.

3 Bedroom End Terrace, Southway £180,000.00

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:27:19 GMT

Offered with no onward chain, this spacious three-bedroom end terrace home is ideally positioned close to popular schools, local shops, and public transport links. With generous room sizes and a level, enclosed rear garden, it`s an ideal choice for first-time buyers, young families, or buyers lookin

3 Bedroom Terrace, St Judes £230,000.00

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:03:31 GMT

Nestled in a convenient central location in Plymouth, this spacious and well-presented mid-terraced period home offers generous and flexible accommodation across two floors. Boasting three/four double bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a bright south-facing courtyard garden, this property is ideally suite

0 Bedroom Flat, The Hoe £685.00

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:20:39 GMT

Perfectly located studio apartment in the prestigious Harbourside Court apartments. Just a stone throw from the marina and easy walking distance from the Barbican and city centre this flat is very well equipped for anyone looking for city centre living. Offering a modern finish, fully furnished and

2 Bedroom End Terrace, Crownhill £850.00

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:38:16 GMT

2 bedroom end terrace property situated in the popular area of Crownhill, The property comprises of lounge, modern fitted kitchen/diner and modern bathroom. Other benefits include double glazing and low maintenance rear garden. Available unfurnished, Feb 2026. Call now to view!

3 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Efford £200,000.00

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 01:56:01 GMT

This three bedroom semi-detached home is situated within a convenient location and lies close to local schools and amenities. The accommodation comprises spacious lounge, dining area and kitchen to the ground floor. Upstairs are three bedrooms and a family bathroom. Further benefits include gas cent

2 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Laira £220,000.00

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:33:03 GMT

Situated in a central and highly convenient location on Efford Lane, this well-presented two double bedroom home offers modern accommodation throughout, a level sunny rear garden, and the added benefit of an oversized garage to the rear. The property has been thoughtfully updated and maintained,

1 Bedroom Flat, St Judes £115,000.00

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:37:43 GMT

Set within a charming Victorian terrace in the ever-popular neighbourhood of St Judes, this spacious one-bedroom first-floor flat offers light-filled interiors, generous proportions, and a fantastic central location

1 Bedroom Terrace, Plympton £160,000.00

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:53:11 GMT

Situated in a tucked-away position in the popular residential area of Plympton, this well-presented one-bedroom mid-terraced house is an ideal first-time buy or investment opportunity. Offered with no onward chain, the property is a great low-maintenance option for young professionals, buy-to-let la

2 Bedroom End Terrace, Southway £200,000.00

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:02:52 GMT

Modern 2-bed end terrace in Southway with lovely countryside views. Features include a wood-burning stove in the lounge, stylish kitchen/diner with garden access, and a contemporary bathroom. Two spacious doubles and a generous rear garden make it ideal for first-time buyers or downsizers.

3 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Plympton £280,000.00

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:25:57 GMT

Well-presented three bedroom semi-detached family home in popular Plympton location. Spacious lounge/diner, modern kitchen and bathroom, integral garage with electric door, driveway parking and level enclosed rear garden. Ideal family purchase.

2 Bedroom Flat, Plymstock £175,000.00

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 01:20:47 GMT

Two double bedroom first floor flat in a tucked-away Plymstock location. Lounge/diner, separate kitchen, shower room and allocated parking. In need of cosmetic updating. 900+ year lease, £600 per annum service charge and no onward chain.

3 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Manadon £310,000.00

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:03:31 GMT

Situated in the popular and well-established residential area of Carnock Road, Manadon, this three-bedroom semi-detached home occupies a larger-than-average plot and offers excellent scope for modernisation and future extension, subject to the necessary planning consents. The property is approached

3 Bedroom Detached, Derriford £370,000.00

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:13:54 GMT

Detached 3-bed family home in sought-after Upland Drive, Derriford. No onward chain. Dual-aspect lounge, separate dining room with garden access, garage & driveway parking to both sides. Elevated rear garden with far-reaching views. Excellent potential to modernise.

3 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Pennycross £225,000.00

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 04:38:55 GMT

This beautifully modernised three-bedroom semi-detached home occupies a generous enclosed corner plot in the ever-popular Pennycross area, close to well-regarded schools and local amenities making it an ideal purchase for first time buyers and growing families alike.

Immaculately presen

1 Bedroom Terrace, Woolwell £160,000.00

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:53:46 GMT

Modern, stylish and ready to move straight into this beautifully presented one-bedroom cluster home in Woolwell is perfect for first-time buyers, young professionals, downsizers or investors looking for a strong buy-to-let opportunity.

Offering contemporary living throughout, the proper

3 Bedroom Detached, Glenholt £465,000.00

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 03:51:07 GMT

Stunning three double bedroom detached bungalow in sought-after Glenholt. Beautifully presented throughout with modern kitchen/diner, lounge, master en-suite, family bathroom, level rear garden, double garage & ample driveway parking. No onward chain. Viewing essential.

3 Bedroom Terrace, Beacon Park £260,000.00

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:19:40 GMT

A beautifully presented traditional mid-terraced home offering generous family accommodation in this popular location, close to well-regarded primary and secondary schools.

This charming property retains character features including a bay-fronted lounge with feature fireplace and decorati

4 Bedroom End Terrace, Southway £190,000.00

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 05:10:38 GMT

A deceptively spacious end terraced house that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Extended on the ground floor the property offers flexible living space with the large room at the rear acting as a fourth bedroom or family room. Accommodation comprises: entrance hall, cloakroom WC, lounge/dining

2 Bedroom Apartment, Greenbank £950.00

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 05:49:40 GMT

VIRTUAL TOUR!!!Two double bedroom apartment situated in a converted period building with an open plan living area, downstairs w.c and bathroom. Benefits from under floor heating and good access to the city centre with new carpets fitted - Available Early April 2026.

2 Bedroom Flat, West Park £110,000.00

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:09:15 GMT

Situated within the popular residential area of Kenn Close, West Park, this well-presented two double bedroom ground floor apartment offers spacious and practical accommodation, making it an ideal purchase for first-time buyers, downsizers, or investors. The property is accessed via a communal entra

3 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Manadon £310,000.00

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:33:43 GMT

Well-presented three bedroom semi-detached home on Carnock Road offered with no onward chain. Featuring spacious lounge, dining room with additional reception space, modern kitchen, family bathroom with separate WC, delightful rear garden with decked seating area, garage and parking for 3 4 vehicles

2 Bedroom End Terrace, Mutley £270,000.00

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:25:29 GMT

Beautifully presented two bedroom double fronted period home close to Plymouth City Centre, Plymouth University and the train station. Features include a garage accessed via a service lane, stunning roof terrace, enclosed courtyard garden and versatile loft space.

3 Bedroom Detached, Woolwell £360,000.00

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:20:45 GMT

Situated in the highly sought-after area of Woolwell, this traditional yet very well presented three-bedroom detached family home offers spacious and versatile accommodation throughout.

Upon entering, you are welcomed by a central hallway leading to a downstairs cloakroom, generous lounge

4 Bedroom Detached, Glenholt £450,000.00

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:55:22 GMT

Situated on a desirable corner plot within the sought-after Glenholt area, this attractive four-bedroom detached family home offers well-balanced and beautifully presented accommodation throughout.

The property welcomes you via a central entrance hall, leading to a spacious lounge with fe

3 Bedroom End Terrace, Deer Park £200,000.00

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:29:03 GMT

A spacious end terrace house situated within easy reach of the popular local schools. Standing at the end of a cul de sac and with gardens both front and rear the property is an ideal family home. Accommodation comprises: entrance hall, cloakroom WC, lounge/diner, fitted kitchen, three bedrooms and

3 Bedroom Terrace, Peverell £320,000.00

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:42:40 GMT

Beautifully modernised 3-bed period home in sought-after Peverell. Boasting bay-fronted lounge with feature fireplace, stunning open-plan kitchen/diner, stylish bathroom & low-maintenance courtyard garden. Close to Central Park, schools & amenities.

2 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Southway £200,000.00

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:52:12 GMT

A modern and well presented two double bedroom semi-detached home, perfectly positioned overlooking green space and offering a fantastic southwest facing garden.

This stylish property is ideal for first time buyers, young professionals, or those looking to downsize, and also presents a st

4 Bedroom Terrace, Lipson £1,400.00

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:22:51 GMT

Part Furnished 4 double bedroom house - Enclosed gardens, spread over 3 floors with modern fitted kitchen and shower rooms, 4 double bedrooms and a large open plan living space. Available May 2026

3 Bedroom Semi-Detached, Eggbuckland £260,000.00

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:13:16 GMT

Charming 3-bed semi-detached home in sought-after Eggbuckland location. Features L-shaped lounge/diner, generous front & rear gardens, driveway & garage. Close to schools and A38. Benefits from gas central heating & double glazing. Viewing advised.

2 Bedroom Terrace, St Judes £1,100.00

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:51:40 GMT

SPACIOUS MID-TERRACE HOME with TWO LARGE DOUBLE BEDROOMS, BAY-FRONTED LIVING ROOM, MODERN KITCHEN & GROUND FLOOR BATHROOM. PRIVATE COURTYARD & PERMIT PARKING (£65/YEAR). £1100 PCM...

1 Bedroom Flat, Plymouth £125,000.00

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 03:02:08 GMT

Spacious one-bedroom ground floor flat with enclosed rear courtyard garden, modern kitchen/dining room, bay-fronted lounge and no onward chain. Centrally located in Prince Rock, close to the city centre and amenities, with lengthy lease, reasonable service charges and roof replaced in 2022.

4 Bedroom Detached, Derriford £560,000.00

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:03:34 GMT

Situated within a highly sought-after residential area of Derriford, this traditional yet beautifully presented four-bedroom detached family home offers generous living space, excellent parking and a stunning landscaped garden perfectly suited to modern family life.

The property welcomes

Sponsors Of The Plymouth & West Devon Combination Football League

Mon, 12 May 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Novahomes Plymouth are extremely proud to announce that we have been chosen as the main sponsor of the Plymouth & West Devon Combination Football League, an agreement which will run until at least the end of the 2014-2015 season. Known locally as the `P&D`, the league has provided competitive grass-roots football to local over 16`s for many years and currently consists of seven leagues and over seventy-five teams. For more information, including all fixtures, results and league tables, please click here to visit the mitoo website

Sponsors Of Novahomes F. C.

Mon, 12 May 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Alongside our affinity with the league, we are also delighted to be sponsoring two competing teams, Novahomes FC A and Novahomes FC B, to whom we offer our support and the best of luck during, what we hope, will be very successful seasons in Saturday Divisions 2 and 4.

Save Thousands On Your Selling Fees

Mon, 12 May 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Plymouth Region Selling Fees

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 76

Mon, 12 May 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 77

Tue, 27 May 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 78

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Sponsors Of Ivybridge Rugby Club

Thu, 19 Jun 2014 12:00:00 GMT

In addition to our current football sponsorships, Novahomes are proud new board sponsors at Ivybridge Rugby Football Club. Having established themselves in Plymouth and surrounding areas they are bringing the same great service and low selling and letting fees to Ivybridge and the South Hams. Specialist sales agent Nicole Brockwell and lettings franchise owner Jo Lines are "keen to support local sports and ventures in and around the town and will look for more opportunities to invest in the town through sponsorship and funding as the business grows." Novahomes pride themselves in offering their best fee first – clear, honest and up-front, giving the client the service they expect for a price they didn`t!!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 79

Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

New Shirt Sponsors Of Roborough Youth Fc

Wed, 25 Jun 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Novahomes Plymouth Lettings are proud to announce they are the new sponsors of the under 7s Roborough Youth FC - Jo met with Mickey and the team on Sunday with The Evening Herald - check out our write up in the paper later this week. The South West Football Academy is a football coaching centre that offers professional but fun football coaching for young boys and girls aged between 3 to 11 years old. Click here for more information.

Charity Golf Event

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Delighted to have again been a part of the PAPPA (Plymouth Area Property Professionals Association) Charity Golf Day on Friday 27th June at St Mellion Resort which raises a huge amount of money (tbc shortly) for Horizons, a local sailing charity aimed to help disadvantaged and disabled children from the inner city communities of Plymouth and the surrounding areas. Also delighted to have come 2nd as part of the Trinity Finance team in the golf competition!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 80

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Online Maintenance Reporting

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:00:00 GMT

We are constantly striving to improve our service to our tenants and landlords. As part of our improvements Novahomes Plymouth Lettings are now using a new maintenance reporting system though our website powered by Posidacious. All tenants will receive an email in the next couple of days with regards to this with their log in details.

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 81

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 82

Tue, 05 Aug 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Part Time Sales Negotiator Wanted

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:00:00 GMT

We are looking to recruit a Sales Negotiator to join our very busy team in Plympton & Plymstock. Applicants will ideally have had experience in arranging and carrying out viewings, dealing with incoming enquiries, negotiation of offers and could lead on to valuations (depending on level of experience). Hours are around 30 per week and will include some Saturdays on rotation. Driving license and own car are essential. To apply or for further details please email sarah.jones@novahomes.co.uk with accompanying CV. We are looking to fill the role ASAP so be quick!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 83

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 84

Mon, 01 Sep 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 85

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 86

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Pula Or Bust - Charity Banger Rally Challenge 2014

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Plymouth Round Table are entering teams in this year`s Charity Banger Rally Challenge organised by St. Austell Round Table. The route will take us from St.Austell to Plymouth, across the Channel and then down through France to Monaco. Then onwards through Italy, Slovenia & Croatia on some of Europe`s finest and most scenic roads. Novahomes Plymouth Central are proud to be sponsors of Banger09 (or the "Silver Fox")! We wish you the best of luck in reaching Pula in Croatia in a car that cost £350! Regular updates will be posted on the challenge on social media. Please follow their progress at: Twitter: @PlymRoundTable; @MatthewBryant4; @NashSolicitors Facebook: Plymouth Round Table; Matt Bryant (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007181327018) Instagram: prt_pula_or_bust Please sponsor using the text donation facility through Just Giving: Text `PRTB12 £[insert amount] to 70070` to donate and make a difference today. The amount can be £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. I also have a just giving page set up specifically for donations to Children`s Hospice South West; https://www.justgiving.com/Matt-Bryant2

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Issue 87 Out Now!

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 88 Out Now!

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 89 Out Now!

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Special Offer In The Latest Novahomes Property Paper!

Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released which includes a voucher which enables the bearer to sell their home for just £950 + VAT! Click here to read today!

Novahomes Plymouth`s Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 91 Out Now!

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Region Bespoke Digital Homeseeker Latest Issue Available Now!

Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Digital Homeseeker has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 92 Out Now!

Mon, 26 Jan 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 93 Out Now!

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Sponsors Of Novahomes All Sports

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 12:00:00 GMT

In addition to our ongoing local football and rugby sponsorships, Novahomes are proud new kit sponsors of Novahomes All Sports, who are currently 2nd in Division 3 of the Plymouth & District Netball League. The team features past Novahomes staff member, Louise Chapman along with current Ivybridge and South Hams area specialist, Nicole Brockwell, who commented `We are delighted with this association as this extends Novahomes` keen support of local grass-roots sport in the region. We will, no doubt, look for more opportunities to invest through sponsorship and funding as the business continues to grow." Jim Rainbow, company owner, added `We were, once again, more than happy to help and very much look forward to supporting Novahomes All Stars during the current already successful season, and well into the future.` Team Back Row: Louise Chapman (secretary), Nikki Harling, Kerry Tichias (c), Debbie Sullivan (player-coach), Shelley Ashton, Sally Stroud. Front Row: Kelly Forbes, Jen Gibson, Nicole Brockwell, Donna Meeny.

What A Lovely Review!

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 12:00:00 GMT

A review posted to our facebook page over the weekend: "Just popping on here saying a very BIG thank you to Liz, Tanya, Nicole and all the team at Novahomes Plymouth Region, you have been BRILLIANT! Thank you Jen Pike for advising us to use Novahomes for selling our lovely house. We couldn`t have found anyone better!! Cheers everyone. xx Bye bye Plymouth. <3"

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 94 Out Now!

Mon, 23 Feb 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 95 Out Now!

Mon, 09 Mar 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 96 Out Now!

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

What Impact Will The 2015 General Election Have On The Property Market?

Tue, 31 Mar 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Novahomes` Plymouth Region Owner/Founder, Jim Rainbow, comments on the impact that he believes May`s general election may have on the property market. With the 7th May now little over a month away, the lead up to a general election always promises to offer an interesting period for the property market. The question is: what sort of effect (if any) does this mean for the property market? The run-up to any general election is always a time marked by a period of ‘uncertainty`, but this is likely to be more pronounced than usual for the 2015 election as it`s the first time since 1974 that we`ve gone to the polls under a coalition government. The property market reflects the sense of well-being of the property-owning population, whether as a whole they feel secure, positive – or otherwise. Uncertainty can have a profound effect on the property market, and indeed all markets. For a recent example, look no further than Scotland`s referendum on independence. A YouGov poll (September 2014), showed a surge in support of a `Yes` vote. This spooked the stock market and resulted in the value of some Scottish companies falling. Similarly, buying and selling property for both residential and investment reasons is, of course, a big commitment, so any uncertainty can have an affect, not so much in falling prices, but by a general market slow down. That said, we are in an unusual period; with interest rates currently low and increased competition in the mortgage market, 2015 has already portrayed an excellent start to a new year and, with March representing our best ever month in terms of sales agreed, this is likely to continue to be a very good time for buyers of both residential and investment properties. My personal opinion to anyone thinking of moving is that any media headlines concerning the election`s affect on the housing market are either there to sell newspapers or relate to specific areas (namely London and the Home Counties), and shouldn`t really be a reason for anyone to delay the marketing of their property in the South West until after the 7th May. How and Why does this affect the Property Market? As always, policies relating to the property market will figure significantly in each party`s election manifesto, which can result in some doubts for those looking to buy, sell or invest in property. There are two big questions property buyers, sellers and investors may ask themselves as May approaches. Firstly: `What`s the likely impact of these policies on me as an individual?` (For example, will there be any property tax increases or market control of rents that will affect personal finances or returns from property investment?) And secondly: `What`s the likely impact of these policies on the property market as a whole?` (For example, would any expansive programme of house-building or a new iteration (or cancellation) of the Help to Buy scheme cause prices to rise or fall significantly in either the short or long term?) Speculation about the potential positives and negatives of specific policies relating to the property market will grow evermore rife as the election draws nearer. The conflicting opinions could deliver further confusion and fuel more uncertainty. However, as I mentioned above, not all of it is likely to relate either to every region in the UK, or specifically the second hand housing market so there is, without doubt, a very good window of opportunity to move right now. Does It Matter Who Wins? As history demonstrates, pre-election promises do not always see the light of day once a party is elected. Furthermore, it seems unlikely that any changes introduced would be so profound as to significantly undermine confidence and disrupt the property market, upon which the economy is so reliant. More importantly, should any lapse occur, it is likely to be temporary, no matter which party is elected to govern. So post-election (and depending on if we experience any disruption at all) I anticipate the property market will once again resume to `normal` buoyant level, although how quickly could depend on who is elected. If we once again see a Tory majority or a Tory/Lib Dem coalition, I expect confidence to resume very quickly, with prices continuing their slight upward gradient. If Labour (or a labour/one-other coalition) come to power, they will be unfamiliar to the position which may cause a temporary interruption and possible delay in return to confidence, but only in the short term. Opportunity Knocks With the pending introductions of the new Government Help-To-Buy Isa and Pension Reforms, along with the expected continuation of the low interest rates/mortgage offers combination, the likelihood is that 2015 will continue to represent a great opportunity for buyers, sellers and investors. For more information about buying, selling or renting with Novahomes or to arrange a free valuation for sale or letting, visit our website plymouth.novahomes.co.uk or contact one of our experienced local area specialists on 01752 206040.

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 97 Out Now!

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 98 Out Now!

Sat, 18 Apr 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 99 Out Now!

Tue, 05 May 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

The 100th Issue Of Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Is Out Now!

Tue, 19 May 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Sales Negotiator Wanted!

Tue, 19 May 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Novahomes Plymouth sales have an exciting opportunity for a full time sales negotiator. Working in Lee and Andy`s team the successful candidate will deal with all aspects of agency from registering new clients, viewings, offers and helping to build on the already well established business that covers PL1 to PL6. Own car is essential and Saturday working will be a must, salary and benefits are negotiable depending on the right applicant but this is a great opportunity to work with one of Plymouth`s now leading Estate Agents which is growing year on year. Contact Lee Whitelaw or Andy Davis on 01752 427000 or email your interest to andy.davis@novahomes.co.uk All interest will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

Lettings Manager Wanted!

Tue, 19 May 2015 12:00:00 GMT

We Are Recruiting! Wanted: Full Time Lettings Manager, based at our North Plymouth Head Office. OTE c.£18,000 + Car Applicants will need to have had lettings industry experience as this is a challenging role which will include dealing with maintenance issues, incoming enquiries, arranging/carrying out viewings and valuations from the start. Availability for Saturday`s will be required on rotation, as is a full clean driving license (company car is optional). To apply or for further details please email your application to jo.lines@novahomes.co.uk with accompanying CV. We are looking to fill the role ASAP so be quick!

We Are Recruiting!

Tue, 19 May 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Wanted: Saturday/Part Time Office Support Assistant at our busy North Plymouth Head Office. This office based role will mainly include handling incoming enquiries, arranging appointments, receiving offers and greeting occasional visitors. Confirmed hours will be Saturdays from 9am - 4pm with additional hours likely to be available during the week to cover holidays, sickness and very busy periods. Previous industry experience is not essential, although a background in a customer services role would be an advantage. For more details or to apply, please email jim.rainbow@novahomes.co.uk

Novahomes Lettings Stands Up For Standards

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:00:00 GMT

NALS, the National Approved Letting Scheme, aims to rid the private letting industry of cowboys Plymouth property management agent Novahomes Lettings, is the latest company to join the NALS nationwide letting scheme - set up to provide a much-needed scheme to enable landlords and tenants to avoid the pitfalls of dealing with ‘cowboy` letting agents. Novahomes Plymouth Lettings with immediate effect is now fully licensed operator under the NALS scheme and will bear the NALS logo. NALS (The National Approved Letting Scheme) ensures that agents comply with defined service standards and has in place a customer complaints procedure offering independent redress through an ombudsman scheme, Professional Indemnity Insurance, Client Money Protection cover and access to Tenancy Deposit Protection. The scheme is supported by some of the most powerful voices in the property industry and the scheme is open to any firm operating in the lettings sector who meets NALS` strict criteria. NALS Chief Executive Isobel Thomson comments: `NALS service standards are the consumer`s benchmark against which to judge the performance of letting and management agents operating in the private rented sector and we are delighted to welcome Novahomes Lettings into the scheme. `Agents such as Novahomes are in the vanguard of a drive to establish uniform service standards in the industry. Those agents who are not prepared to meet the standards required by NALS and, most importantly, the public, will not survive for long.` Jo Lines, owner of Novahomes Plymouth Lettings adds: `We see being a NALS licensed firm as an excellent opportunity to increase business within our letting and management department. This visible assurance provided by the NALS logo gives prospective landlords and tenants the confidence of knowing the service they can expect from dealing with us.` More information on The National Approved Letting Scheme and details of how to contact your local NALS agent can be obtained by calling NALS on 01242 581712, emailing info@nalscheme.co.uk or visiting the NALS website www.nalscheme.co.uk

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 102 Out Now!

Tue, 16 Jun 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 103 Out Now!

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 104 Out Now!

Mon, 13 Jul 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Fuelling Plymouth

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Check Out our Branded Petrol Pumps now seen at Transit Way Tesco. Other Locations to Follow....

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 105 Out Now!

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Wanted: Business Administration Apprentice!

Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:00:00 GMT

This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast paced office for a busy property agency and support the staff in all aspects of business administration and complete the duties to assist the team as a whole. As part of your role as the Business Administration Apprentice you will be speaking to prospective tenants, tenants with maintenance requests, landlords, vendors or buyers and providing an excellent customer experience. You work will include: - organising and working through associated paperwork - responding to emails and enquiries - booking viewings - managing colleagues diaries - updating the website - ordering the `to let` and `for sale` boards You must have excellent communication skills and the ability to prioritse and organise your workload. Experience of MS Word, Excel and Outlook is beneficial and you will be methodical and practical and confident in answering the telephone. Hours: 34 per week; Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday - 08:30 - 17:30, Saturday - 09:00 - 16:00 Salary: £127.50 per week To apply, please send your CV to morvenmaclean@exe-coll.ac.uk and state the name of the position and employer you wish to apply for.

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 106 Out Now!

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

A Summer Of Change!

Fri, 04 Sep 2015 12:00:00 GMT

It has been an extremely busy summer for all of the agents and staff at Novahomes! As well as celebrating their 5th anniversary on 1st September, the Plymouth Regional Team are delighted to announce that, following several months of intensive planning, they have now relocated their Regional Headquarters into much larger and prestigious premises at Stoke Damerel Business Centre, Plymouth. With nearly 1,400 sq/ft over two floors, the new offices offer treble the space they had prior to the move, as well as on site visitor`s spaces and free car parking next door, and have sparked a much needed recruitment drive. Already, four new permanent members of staff and three more apprentices have increased the number of representatives and staff offering their personal sales and lettings services across the region to twenty-two, with several more, hopefully, to come. Having also just completed the acquisition of the national parent company, newly-appointed Managing Director of the Novahomes Group and Plymouth Area Founder, Jim Rainbow, takes time to reflect on how far the organisation has come since he started the local operation from his home office in 2010. `Wow! What a rollercoaster it has been and how time has flown by! For anyone looking in at our now extensive operation from the outside, it is hard to imagine that, just a short time ago, I was working on my own from, what was originally my garage! I am, of course, thrilled that things have grown so quickly and that the Novahomes concept, to offer a good service for a reasonable fee, has been, and continues to be, gratefully received by our ever increasing client base.` Jim, however, also reveals that, despite a few customary setbacks, things have gone, more or less, as he planned. `My intention was always to grow the business to a point where, within a five year timescale, Novahomes would hopefully be one of the most recognised estate agency brands in the area. I think most people would agree that this goal has now been achieved proving, without doubt, that a high street shop is no longer a necessity when selling and letting properties successfully. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my thanks to all of the specialist area agents and staff, both past and present, who bought into the concept and have contributed, in such a short space of time, to firmly establishing our position as one of the region`s leading independent agents.` Of course, many people would suggest that the disruption of moving could have had a detrimental effect on business. However, Jim begs to differ: `Despite everything that has happened recently, I am pleased to say that our agents are continuing to sell and rent more property, in more areas, than ever. But most of all, I`m delighted to confirm that, despite larger premises and additional staff members, our selling fees will continue to remain the same as they were when I started!` For more information on Novahomes services and fees please call 01752 206040.

Landlord Expo & Safety Event

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Come and meet the Novahomes Lettings team at this years Landlord Expo & Safety Event. We will be down at Plymouth Guildhall on Tuesday 22nd September 2015 from 12 noon to 6pm. Ideal for any investor or Landlord a one stop shop for advice and meeting the experts. There will also be free seminars held throughout the day covering Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detection (New Legislation), How To Deal With Rent Arrears & The Deregulation Act 2015.

Gas Safety Week

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:00:00 GMT

SAFEagent Novahomes Plymouth Lettings is urging all landlords and tenants to be gas safe as well as choosing their letting agent wisely during the annual Gas Safety Week (14 - 20 September). Gas Safety Week is a national safety campaign to raise awareness of gas safety in the UK`s 23 million gas fuelled homes. It is co-ordinated by Gas Safe Register with support from the gas industry including retailers, manufacturers, consumer bodies and the public. With 20 deaths and 1,000 gas-related injuries in the last three years, it`s vital that people make sure their gas appliances are safety checked every year by a registered engineer. Anyone working on gas appliances while not being Gas Safe registered, is working illegally. Follow these three simple top tips to stay gas safe: • Get all of your gas appliances safety checked once a year by a registered engineer and sign up to a free reminder service at www.StayGasSafe.co.uk • Make sure your engineer is legal and safe, by making sure they are registered with Gas Safe Register, the UK`s official gas authority. You can check by calling 0800 408 5500 or visiting www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk • Check for warning signs your appliances aren`t working correctly, such as a lazy yellow flame instead of a crisp blue one, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room. SAFEagent is an easily identifiable logo signposting letting agents who are part of a Client Money Protection Scheme. This means that landlord and tenant funds will be safe and protected, if an agent misappropriates or uses clients` funds fraudulently. Jo Lines, Lettings Manager for Novahomes Lettings says: `The importance of maintaining gas appliances should not be underestimated: the consequences can be fatal. We are committed to ensuring that all of our properties are gas safe and we are proud to support Gas Safety Week.` About SAFEagent SAFEagent – Safe Agent Fully Endorsed – is a reliable mark denoting firms that protect landlords and tenants money through Client Money Protection schemes. Set up ‘by the industry, for the industry` and recognised by the Government, it is supported by Citizens Advice Bureaux, The Property Ombudsman, Ombudsman Services:Property, My Deposits, TDS and DPS. All agents registered with SAFEagent are part of a Client Money Protection Scheme which reimburses consumers in the event of misappropriation of clients` funds. There are several schemes in the sector operated by NALS, ARLA, NAEA, RICS and UKALA to which agents voluntarily belong. The scope of these schemes varies and consumers should contact their agent for full details of the scheme of which they are covered under. To find a SAFEagent in your area visit www.safeagents.co.uk September 2015

Novahomes` Plymouth Regional Bespoke Property Paper Latest Issue 109 Out Now!

Mon, 21 Sep 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Our latest Plymouth Area Digital Property Paper has just been released Click here to read today!

Right To Rent

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 12:00:00 GMT

From 1st February 2016, in England, it will be an offence to let private rented accommodation to someone who has no legal right to be in the UK or no "right to rent". This applies to new tenancies starting on or after 1st February 2016 and requires landlords to inspect and copy certain documents (for example a passport or bio metric residence permit) in order to confirm prospective tenants` right to rent. If a prospective tenant has an outstanding immigration application or appeal with the Home Office, landlords can request a Home Office Right to Rent Check. A yes or no answer will be provided within 2 working days. Landlords who don`t make the checks could face a civil penalty of up to £3,000 per tenant if they are found to be renting out a property to someone who is in the UK illegally. You can read more about Right to Rent on www.gov.uk. Rest assured Novahomes Plymouth Lettings will incorporate these checks within our full referencing as part of our tenant vetting via Rent4Sure to give our landlords complete peace of mind.

Proud To Announce:

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Following a recent change we are delighted to announce the successful acquisition of the Novahomes Estate Agency Company by Lee Whitelaw and Andrew Davis. Andy and Lee have been with the company from its infancy and have helped, along with other franchise agents, to make Novahomes the success it is today. After a long anticipated time they have now successfully secured the ownership of the company and are looking forward to working together with their team of franchise agents to make Novahomes even bigger and better than it stands today. Going from a small operation in a garage, to the multi county estate agency you see today has taken a lot of effort and hard work by all involved, and Lee and Andy are committed to driving the business forward, and securing the very best area specialists and team members to ensure Novahomes stays a local agent that offers fantastic marketing along with extremely competitive fees! We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jo Lines, who is now the proud owner of the lettings division of Novahomes. Since starting the lettings department as a franchise agent, Jo has now secured the ownership of the business and is continuing to lead the way in local lettings service and expert advice. Very exciting times ahead for our company and if the last five years of growth is anything to go by we a genuinely thrilled to think where Novahomes will be in another five years!

Safeagent

Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:00:00 GMT

We`re looking forward to supporting @SafeAgent Awareness Week 2016 from 6th - 10th June ow.ly/g5IG300NlKT #SAAWeek16

Safeagent Week!

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Competition T And C

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Terms and Conditions of Novahomes Competitions: 1. There will be no cash alternative offered 2. All entrants enter our competition on the knowledge that this is a prize which can be substituted at the sole discretion of Novahomes 3. In some circumstances a competition may close early, or close all together, in which case a notice will be put out but no prize will be available as no draw will take place 4. The final decision of the Novahomes management will be final 5. There is only one entry per person allowed during a competition, multiple entries will be not be counted 6. All prizes will be available from our office for collection, no postage will be offered 7. The entry into a competition or draw does in no way form a legal contract between Novahomes and any other party 8. If for any reason the supplier of a prize withdraws their offer of service or good without our prior knowledge then Novahomes will not accept liability and will not offer an alternative 9. Novahomes accepts no responsibility for any costs associated with the prize and not specifically included in the prize (including, without limitation, travel to and from the venue). 10. By entering the competition it is deemed that you agree to this list of terms 11. The winner may be required to take part in promotional activity related to the Prize Draw and the winner shall participate in such activity on Novahomes reasonable request. The winner consents to the use by novahomes and its related companies, both before and after the closing date of the Prize Draw for an unlimited time, of the winner`s voice, image, photograph and name for publicity purposes (in any medium, including still photographs and films, and on the Internet, including any websites hosted by novahomes and its related companies) and in advertising, marketing or promotional material without additional compensation or prior notice and, in entering the Prize Draw, all entrants consent to the same. 12. Novahomes accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Prize Draw or accepting the prize

Sherford - How Will The Developement Effect Your Home?

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Will the new housing development at Sherford reduce the value of property in the surrounding area? As the Plymstock specialist this was a question put to me recently by one of my vendors living near the new development. Well, they are not alone in raising this as a concern, for most people their home is their largest single investment and people fear that a new housing development will strain local amenities, reduce their wellbeing and ultimately undermine the capital values of their home. Few would argue that the UK needs to build substantially more homes to avoid a housing crisis but despite this, local opposition remains one of the main obstacles to new developments. Living in Plymstock myself, I understand that local home owners will be anxious to protect their investment in their homes. The question of the impact on house prices is never directly addressed during the planning process as price impacts are not a material consideration in planning decisions. To answer the question, we turn to a report by LSE London at the London School of Economics and Political Science, jointly commissioned by Barratt Developments, the largest house builder in the UK, and the NHBC Foundation. The report examined whether a new development will always reduce prices or reduce the rate of increase in prices in the immediate surrounding area. The research is not specific to the size of Sherford as it used statistical and qualitative evidence to look at the impact of eight average sized new developments completed within the last five years. However, no developer ever releases their development wholescale, rather, for simple economic reasons, they release the development in stages to maintain demand. Therefore, the report still has a local relevance. The study has shown that new house building in the UK has little discernible and consistent impact on local house price patterns. Sometimes there were short term price reductions during or immediately after the construction period. More generally prices in the wider area continued to follow existing upward trends. Looking in more detail at the chosen sites, three were on brownfield land where existing buildings had become obsolete and therefore not relevant to Sherford. However even in sites where a high level of opposition was experienced throughout the planning and construction processes, this opposition tended to decrease once the development is completed. In one case where there were high levels of opposition, at least half of all eventual purchasers of the new homes previously lived within five miles of the development. Sherford is certainly an exciting new development for the South West which is sure to cause a fair amount of discussion. But in terms of local pricing the evidence suggests a positive outlook. The effect on local prices is more about the quality of the development, the numbers of additional households able to find a home they want and the extent to which planners and developers manage to maintain and improve the immediate locality. Any downward pressure on prices is spread across the whole housing market and would appear to be short-lived as the development becomes absorbed into the market and follows the local pricing patterns. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/63390/1/Understanding_the_Local_Impact_of_New_Residential_Development.pdf

Estate Agency Skills:

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Modern Estate Agents certainly have the skills required in a tougher property market. Recently there have been a number of editorials with emphasis on a challenging market and how the advantage is now in the hands of buyers. Personally I disagree that buyers have the advantage in the current market, as any property which is correctly presented and attractively priced will naturally receive a high level of interest, enquiries, and viewings. This should result in healthy competition and ultimately an offer close to the asking price and in many cases above. Attractively priced does not mean being offered at a low price, it simply means the price is set at such a level as to represent the full market value based on market research and comparables. The market has slowed due to a number of high profile economic issues such as the decreasing value of the pound, leaving the EU and worrying changes to stamp duty surcharges which in my professional opinion means no one particular side, be it buyer or seller has an advantage over the other. Lower properties for sale, and smaller transaction levels overall can make it feel like a buyer`s market, however home owners would do well to remember each house is different, and a reputable agent can give an honest assessment of whether or not your property ticks every box and is therefore a top contender or if the property will actually be battling in the market with other similar homes so buyers will have more choice. These major changes have all happened in the last eight months and naturally the whole economy has felt the effects not just the property industry. This is evident with the lowest number of properties for sale in Plymouth in a number of years which in my opinion equates to a simple issue of demand (potential buyers) outweighing supply (properties for sale). The good news for sellers is this unbalanced scale will mean although price rises are not looking likely over the next few months, asking prices should remain relatively stable. With regards to the necessary skills previous editorials have touched upon, the local agent over the online agent will always trump due to the specialist local knowledge of your agent in a micro market that is your neighbourhood. Not one of the owners or area specialists at Novahomes have less than 10 years industry experience which makes us perfectly placed to offer you the correct advice and achieve excellent results! As a trusted local estate agent, who is based, works and lives in the area I am confident when telling you that it is this knowledge and experience which will add up to your home selling for the full market price. Please feel free to call into our local Plymouth office or call us for further information on the comprehensive marketing we offer for a competitive fee of 0.9% inc vat on 01752 206040.

How To Chose An Estate Agent

Thu, 24 Nov 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Top Tip - When Choosing an Estate Agent to Sell Your Home – The Abraham Lincoln Method Rather than focusing on Americas new President Donald Trump, I would like to focus on a past American President Abraham Lincoln. In particular his successful method for helping him to make decisions on stressful or important political situations. Abraham Lincoln became arguably the most efficient president in United States history. He led the Union to a Civil War victory, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the economy. He would consistently look at both sides of a problem/situation and list the benefits of both, only after doing this would he then make his decision on how best to proceed. The same should apply to making a decision on which Estate Agent to choose when selling your home. Listing the features and benefits of a local Estate Agent will give a true reflection of the services they provide. Please find a list of Novahomes services below and we welcome you to make a comparison with other Local Agents, you will also notice that we publish our fees!  Local office for your convenience  No Upfront charges meaning No Sale No Fee  Accompanied viewings with Feedback  Advertising on 32 Websites including Rightmove and Zoopla  Well designed brochures with floorplans  Local Newspaper advertsing in the Plymouth & Cornwall Property Paper  Specialist dedicated sales progression  Professional Estate Agency services from Start to Finish  Pro-active telephone call outs from the first day of marketing  Both Sales and Lettings  Bespoke online digital newspaper advertising  Professional and experienced advice on marketing  Regular marketing/property performance updates  All for 0.9% including vat subject to a minimum fee of £1200 inc vat If you would like to discuss any of the above in more detail please feel free to call out local office on 01752 206040.

Brexit And Euro

Thu, 24 Nov 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Novahomes An Expert View Will the Pound Effect Your Ground? Lee Whitelaw, Company Owner at Novahomes says: "There is no pundit in the UK who has missed a step when talking about the Brexit vote. Now with recent activity in the pound against the dollar, the supply giant Unilever, and the concern over what this means when article 50 is triggered in 2017 it`s no surprise so many of our clients are asking: "How will this effect my house value?" In September we had results in from the Nationwide House Price index showing an increase in housing nationally by 0.3%, which has bolstered the RICS (Royal Institute of Charter Surveyors) House Price Index to suggest a rise of around 3.3% per year over the next five years. This was again replicated in October 2016. Locally in the South Devon and East Cornwall area we had a turbulent time directly following Brexit with the vast majority of sellers holding their nerve and seeing a flood of buyers (who quickly recovered from their knee jerk reactions) return to the market with an appetite to buy! This has resulted in one of the busiest summer sales periods in recent years, and a good degree of confidence return to the market. Currency fluctuations are always a worrying thing, especially when the government have now confirmed a roadmap for our EU exit and as a result we have seen suppliers of goods in the EU try to turn the heat on before the ingredients of the meal have even been finalised! Thankfully, in great British tradition, our shopkeepers lead the fight for our future rather than our politicians and a milestone has been created about how our national infrastructure will be approaching the negotiations. Cut us a fair deal or we will cut you out of our huge market! The world remains uncertain with the recent US election news, making markets nervous and the continuing growing instability in the currency markets. But what about your own piece of land? Well here at Novahomes we have seen a strong level of confidence among most buyers and sellers about house prices, with only a small number actually claiming to be concerned about where the price of their property will be long term. With the market moving forward slowly, and that slow growth allowing confidence to catch up to reality means any fall in house prices, even following such shocking events as the last few days and the last few months have also been slow, and once the dust has settled the recovery has followed. The market is making changes more like an oil tanker rather than a speed boat, so by the time the tide has turned from one new change to another, the course has only had time to alter by the smallest of levels much to the merriment of home sellers in Plymouth and the surrounding area. The country and market appears to be learning to take Brexit in its stride now and with inflation looking like it will be increasing beyond previous estimates this house price growth in the short term is likely to slow a little but the overall confidence will help ensure a solid base for the 2016/2017 housing market. As more information on our exit from the EU emerges there will be worrying times ahead for many business` but as the details also start to flow on the exact nature of the new relationship with the EU each sector in the UK has a new opportunity and therefore a new chance for growth and that includes the housing market. If you would like to talk to someone about your possible house sale please call myself or one of our dedicated experts on 01752 206040"

Surveys

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 12:00:00 GMT

So you have agreed a sale and now it`s time for the surveyor to visit and look over the property. Sounds simple enough, however how can you be sure the advice you are about to get is accurate and will lead you to make the right decisions? With 15 years industry experience I am pleased to pass on some of the lessons I have learnt, and the advice to both buyers and sellers over the years; Ask someone what`s wrong and they`ll usually think of something!: This is a particularly true concept when hiring any expert to investigate something on your behalf, in so much as you are paying someone to specifically tell you as many negatives about the item you are buying as possible. If you asked Kim and Aggy from `How clean is your home` to come in and swab for potentially dangerous bacteria they will likely find some. Does that mean you should evacuate? Of course not, such tests must be taken in context and a survey is no different. With properties built thirty, fifty or eighty years ago it`s not surprising that at least something should come up as every home needs to be loved. Maintaining and repairing a home is as much a part of home ownership as checking its condition when you first buy. Horses for Courses: I often think of surveyors as doctors, that way it keep things in perspective. If you go along to you local GP, and have an issue with your eye, you want them to check it out. Often they can tell you their opinion on it, but ultimately without further investigation they don`t know for sure in most cases as despite all of their qualifications and experience, its impossible to be an expert in every section of a particular field. At this point usually they will refer you to see (no pun intended) a local eye specialist. Does that mean they expect you to get further investigations by an expert and find something sinister, often no, they simply want to give you the best advice. Surveyors are very similar as they are not qualified electrical, drainage, roof or damp experts, so if they suspect something or cannot be sure, they will still recommend further investigation by a specialist. The recommendation is often taken out of context by many buyers and sellers. If the surveyor has suggested the drainage should be checked as they know of a recent drainage issue in the area, then it`s easy as a buyer to think there is a major issue with the drainage without any further investigation. When in actual fact a drainage expert may just advise some remedial works or find that nothing is wrong. Homebuyers Can Jump The Traffic Lights: Following the change in 2010 to how a homebuyers report is presented you will notice the green, amber and red traffic light system. This can be very confusing at first as most sensible people would assume that something in red is a very serious problem and need repairing. This is true, however the traffic light assigned relates to the worst possible part of whatever section of the property is in discussion. For example, if you have just had your roof replaced in the last week with a brand new one all singing and dancing, and the day before the survey three tiles were accidently damaged by your next door neighbours window cleaner, then you would know that the roof is absolutely sound save those three tiles that need replacing. You and I might argue that the roof is therefore a green light overall, but a note should be added to say three tiles need immediate repair. This sadly is not how a homebuyers is required to be rated, as those three tiles are totally smashed, they represent the worst part of the finding, and therefore the traffic light must be red, as a tiny part of that brilliant roof, needs immediate repair. For this reason reading the surveyors notes, is crucial to understanding the report. It may surprise some buyers to learn that rarely do you find a report where the gas fittings, and electrical fittings are not in red. This does not mean every house in the UK is uninhabitable, it simply means that because the surveyor is not qualified in gas and electric checks, and there is no certificate available they must mark it as red and suggest further investigation. Again both systems could have been replaced in the last year, but if the documentation was not at hand on the surveyors visit, then they get marked red. This again highlights how crucial a conversation, this time with the seller of their agent is to establish the actual state of the fittings, and then you can sensibly decide if further investigation is in fact needed. Surveyors Are People Too: Despite most of your communication being through formal written reports and third party messages your surveyor has actually been to the property, and despite having to produce a formal written report with many guidelines and specifications most surveyors are happy to have a chat with their paying client to put a more personal, and straight talking perspective on their findings. This conversation is often vital in getting to the real crux of what a report is trying to say without the use of the formal jargon or the industry constraints on how a survey has to be written up. Look at the Steak Not the Peas: When negotiating with a buyer or seller on something which was not expected in a survey, it can often become a matter of pride and principal. I have seen sellers who have achieved thousands more than they initially expected, loose a buyer as they were not willing to reduce by £500 for some minor repairs, and buyers who secured a property for a great price walk away from a property as it had suspected woodworm and the vendor refused to pay for the treatment, even though the buyer had got a great price and could have paid for it themselves at a cost of £200 they ended up losing the house! Overall the survey is one part of the transaction and the best advice is to always take multiple opinions so speak to your lawyers, mortgage broker, estate agents and local tradesman before making any decisions. Written By Lee Whitelaw Plymouth Property Professional

Could Lemons Help Sell Your Home

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Could lemons help you sell your home? It`s often the smallest of details that make the biggest difference and today I want you to think about your buyer`s nose. Blessed as I am with a rather large nose I am keenly aware that the sense of smell can sway a homebuyer when it comes to spending time in a property during a viewing. There are some old clichés out there when it comes to scent (think coffee and baking) but new research suggests that some of the common scents many reach for in prepping a home for sale can actually turn off home buyers. Some of the worst scents (beyond the most obvious) for folks viewing your home include: Potpourri, chocolate-chip cookies, gourmet foods, and other baked goods, according to a recent study. An example of this was on a listing where the owner, conscious of the family pet, put so many air chemical fresheners around their home that buyers were actively put off and even suspicious of the reasons why. Researcher Eric Spangenberg, dean of the college of business at Washington State University, says that complex scents, like baked goods, can be a distraction to potential home buyers because they`ll subconsciously dedicate time to try to figure out what the scent is. But at a real estate open house, you want a potential buyer not to be distracted by processing a smell. `They are there to process whether this is a place they want to live,` says Spangenberg. Instead simple scents — like pine, lemon, and cedar — are easier to process and less distracting, Sprangenberg says. The moral here is simple is best; Lemon, green tea, cedar, pine, basil, and vanilla were all viewed as positive. Sensory research shows that the smell of a home can affect a person`s mood, according to The Sense of Smell Institute, a New York–based organization that focuses on the importance of smell to human psychology, behaviour, and quality of life. A light floral fragrance can put people in a more pleasant mood, while citrus scents, such as lemon and grapefruit, tend to have an energizing effect. Vanilla is one scent that`s universal around the globe that people find comforting and relaxing. One final tip for pet owners (I have three dogs) Use Baking Soda! If your home is smelling less than fresh, sprinkle some baking soda on your carpets and sofas. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and vacuum it up. Baking soda absorbs odours, and will leave your home with a neutral pallet so that you can add a more pleasant scent. You can also sprinkle baking soda in your garbage can to eliminate unpleasant odours. This is actually a great strategy to use all the time.

Broadband And Selling?

Tue, 06 Dec 2016 12:00:00 GMT

Does your broadband speed affect your house price? It`s an old adage that `your home is only worth what someone is willing to pay` and like many clichés it contains a fair amount of truth. Consider just how important the internet is to many of us now. Home working is more popular than ever (I`m writing this from my home in Plymstock) and even if you`re not using it for business purposes we are reliant on internet access for entertainment, shopping, online banking, and much more. We have been fairly blessed in Plymouth with much of pioneering fiber optic cabling installed when Telewest came to town. (I still remember the road works) but what about those idyllic country homes? Broadband Genie carried out a survey in October this year and found that 28% of respondents would be willing to pay more for a home with fast internet access and 20% said that slow broadband would put them off buying or renting a property. Therefore, whether you`re a seller or buyer you should be checking broadband speed before moving. There are many ways to check the speed you are getting with websites like www.speedtest.net even producing an app for your phone. As an agent, I find the app invaluable, often the vendor is unaware of the speed and doesn`t know how to check. So, what do you do if you`re broadband is slow? First, make sure the broadband isn`t being impacted by something which can be easily fixed. Ask your internet service provider (ISP) what speed you should be receiving – if the actual performance is far below this it can be pursued as a technical support issue. In addition to checking that your internal wiring is in good order and that everything is correctly configured, ISPs can run checks for faults on the line. Whether you are selling or letting, it can be useful to have an idea of what services are available beyond the broadband you`re currently using. You can head off any queries and assuage doubts if they`re worried about speeds. Mobile broadband (3G or even 4G) is now capable of providing very fast internet access. This can be suitable as an alternative to fixed-line broadband provided there is a strong signal, however this can very quickly eat into a limited data allowance especially for heavy usage such as video streaming and large downloads. So, before you start downloading check your allowance or a large bill could be heading your way. Satellite internet is another alternative to consider if you`re in a very remote area. As it does not rely on telephone lines or ground based wireless towers it works just about anywhere. And speeds are reasonable too, with the latest services offering up to 30Mbps. Broadband now plays part in many home movers decision making which is why the likes of Rightmove offer a broadband speed checker alongside each listing now, packed with advice on how to improve the speed and get the best for your money. Overall this is still only one part of home selling, but in a day and age where communication and entertainment play such a big part of peoples lives, your homes broadband offering now forms part of your marketing and advertising so checking how your home ranks in this area is a worthwhile activity. If you are thinking of moving home and would like the best advice please call 01752 206040

The Changes For Landlords In 2016/2017

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:00:00 GMT

What a year! This year the lettings industry has been unfairly targeted with the government announcing a number changes to legislation bringing tax implications for landlords which will unfortunately effect revenue. Below are just a few of the current issues effecting landlords and property market. They will not necessarily effect everyone but they are certainly worth considering. As your local lettings expert I am happy to discuss with you in more detail how this will make a difference to you Section 24 Tax relief for mortgage interest payments; The amount of tax relief that can be claimed by Landlord`s on their mortgage interest payments is set to reduce from 45% to the basic rate tax rate of 20%. This is due to be phased in over a period of 4 years from April 2017. It starts with 75% of costs deductable from income 2017, 50% from April 2018, 25% from April 2019 and 0% from April 2020. At the same time the percentage of basic rate tax reduction will also increase starting April 2017 to 25%, 50% in April 2018 , 75% in 2019 and 100% in 2020. Pushing a lot of smaller landlords with one or two properties into the higher tax band. The changes will: • affect you if you let residential properties as an individual, or in a partnership or trust • change how you receive relief for mortgage interest and other finance costs • be gradually introduced over 4 years from April 2017 Finance costs won`t be taken into account to work out taxable property profits. Instead, once the Income Tax on property profits and any other income sources has been assessed, your Income Tax liability will be reduced by a basic rate ‘tax reduction`. For most landlords, this will be the basic rate value of the finance costs. All residential landlords with finance costs will be affected, although not everyone will pay more tax. Those unaffected: • UK resident company • Non UK resident companies • Landlords of furnished holiday lets Everyone`s tax situation will be different, we advise speaking to your accountant to see how this will impact you personally or again give me a call in the office on 01752 206040 I will be able to answer any questions you may have. BTL mortgages - stress testing For new and remortgage Buy To Let (BTL) products lenders are tightening their criteria with regards to affordability and being able to stress-test income from properties to ensure that the Landlord is able to cover the repayments with the income received from the property. The stress testing applied varies by lender and we recommend you seek professional financial advice. We have recently had Tricia Kennedy from Mortgages 4 Plymouth in the office to run through BTL mortgages with us. She is currently offering a free of charge review on your lending requirements and we will happily put you in touch with her to ensure you are not overpaying on your borrowing. With current mortgage rates starting under 1% and some great interest only options now is a fantastic time to review this. Autumn Statement; Just recently in the Autumn Statement it was announced that the government were looking to introduce an outright ban on letting agency fees to tenants. As there was no details of how this was to be implemented and what they classify as fees for tenants we eagerly await further clarification of this from the government. There will be a period of consultation in the new year with the industry expected to make sure the knock on effect to landlords and agents is minimised. There has been a lot of talk about rents increasing as the costs are passed onto landlord. If you have any concerns or would like to talk through how this may affect you please call me on 01752 206040. Stamp Duty; As from the 1st April 2016 the government introduced a new surcharge for anyone who buys an additional property, e.g. second home or investment property. The stamp duty rate for these properties are an additional 3% on top of the standard stamp duty rate. This new rate also applies if you own a property abroad and you are buying your first property in the UK. For example, if you are buying an additional property with a purchase price of £300,000, just the extra 3% Stamp Duty would equate to £9,000 (3% of the entire price). This is in addition to the £5,000 regular Stamp Duty bill on a property of this value, bringing the total payable to £14,000. Novahomes Lettings are able to take the stress out of the process of investing and letting out your property. We offer a very personal and individually tailored service. We are happy to talk with you and offer a free of charge, no obligation rental appraisal on your property. Whether you are just starting out on your journey and buying your first property, or whether you have a portfolio of properties managed privately or through another agent we will be able to help and are certain we can offer great suggestions for gaining the best return on your investment .

Online Review Sites - Are They Accurate?

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Online reviews, do you trust them? As the old saying goes `You shouldn`t believe everything you read` and never has a truer word been said when it comes to online reviews. Obviously as a business owner I want all my reviews to be positive as good reviews and top ratings draw in customers, and help land higher results in online searches. However, online review sites can be a murky world and should be taken with more than a pinch of salt! A BBC investigation suggested that at least 20 per cent of comments posted on review websites were bogus. It found evidence that companies were paying writers to post positive comments to boost the profile of their business. A Wall Street Journal post chronicled an interesting situation in which a blogger searching for an espresso maker discovered that an Amazon customer named `T. Carpenter` had written 12 reviews on the site—all for products made by DeLonghi, where the reviewer happened to work. And: all five-star reviews. In one extraordinary case, a company called VIP Deals had been reimbursing customers for their tablet case purchases if they posted a review of the product on Amazon. And guess what? At one point, 310 out of the 335 product`s reviews received five stars. (which makes you wonder what happened to the other 25!) Even if you think you can spot fake reviews, you probably can`t. Cornell researchers created software to detect fake online reviews in a pool of 800 reviews—half fake, half real. While the software`s algorithms spotted the fakes 90% of the time, us mere mortals same were down in the 50% mark. (https://www.cs.cornell.edu/information/news/newsitem1455.htm) James Lewis, of Gauthier Soho, was contacted by a fellow user of Yelp, who told him that customer reviews were vital for generating business. The fake reviewer, identified as Suhayal Malik, asked for £4 for a positive review that will `surely bring in more profits to your business`. Mr Lewis said such people relied on receiving orders for around 50 reviews over a year, which would be posted from different profiles in a `massively complex system of accounts`. Mr Lewis posted the email on to his twitter account to highlight this growing problem. Of course, good news is really only half the story. Disgruntled customers are more inclined to be vocal as it is the easiest way to retaliate against the company. One restaurant got a negative review before it even opened! It happened back in 2010 to Grahamwich, a sandwich shop owned by Graham Elliot, who has been a judge on the American Masterchef. Apparently, someone read about the restaurant, skipped the part about it not actually being open for business yet, got mad after showing up and seeing it was closed, and then gave the place a one-star review on Yelp. A poor review puts more pressure on the company to boost it`s rating by amassing positive reviews and so the cycle continues. At Novahomes we have always looked at the estate agency review sites with a healthy degree of scepticism. I myself have a glowing review for a company that haven`t worked for over two years! Hardly good consumer information. To combat the problem of fake or misleading reviews we have taken a more radical approach. We invite our customers to provide a video testimonial which allows the viewer to see a `real life` review in our clients` own words. We are proud of our customer service and our every growing business is the best review you can get. Click here to see our video testimonials: http://www.novahomes.co.uk/testimonials-in-plymouth-sp-2.htm Matthew Curtin Plymstock and South Hams Area Specialist

Hygge

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Give your home a Hygge When it comes to enjoying life in a cold winter the Scandinavians know a thing or two. For those not familiar, ‘hygge` (pronounced hoo-gah) refers to the Danish lifestyle – a concept roughly described as a feeling of comfort and contentment, as well as indulging in all the good things and people in your life. At this time of year, when staying indoors is the new going out, injecting some Hygge into your home will create the perfect ambiance and possibly help sell your home. Buyers want to imagine their life in your home and creating a warm, relaxing atmosphere makes this easier. Key to the hygge mindset is a sense of well-being, rather than extravagance or impressing people; it`s about creating a space that is warm and cosy and somewhere you can spend time with friends and family. Embrace the short days by investing in candles. Denmark and other Scandinavian countries love the power of the warming glow of candlelight rather than drowning the whole place in a fluorescent glow. If candles aren`t practical you can still get the hygge atmosphere by using lamps to create pools of light, but don`t dim the lights too much, you don`t want potential buyers to think you`re hiding something! Get cosy! Bring warmth and comfort into a room by adorning sofas with – thick chunky knit cushions, faux fur throws and fluffy woollen rugs in subtle hues. You don`t need to overhaul your interior but a good declutter so that you only have what you really need around you will certainly help. Remember it`s indulgence yes, but extravagance no. So don`t overload rooms with accessories, just keep the bits that mean the most you. And relax; encourage the viewers to slow down and enjoy spending in time in your home. Make potential buyers feel at home with a drink and dare I say it ….cake (diet time is nearly over) Making time to sit down and enjoy your home helps buyers to imagine themselves living there. Extra points if you can make the estate agent a drink too! Keep hygge in mind if you`re selling your home this winter. It`s a state of mind that will encourage viewers to enjoy your property and hopefully lead to a successful sale. Matthew Curtin Novahomes Plymstock and South Hams Specialist

Online Estate Agents - Good For Your Wallet Or Not?

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Does paying up front really save money? We have all seen the adverts recently of companies offering to save you thousands by selling your home with a simple upfront fee; which lead me to think, is it really good value? Before we start I think it would be prudent to look at the format. To my mind there are three types of estate agent. • Traditional: High street offices with window display, local staff and local advertising. • Hybrid: (Novahomes) Local Office, not on the high street. Local staff and local advertising. • Online: regional sales person and internet only advertising. So now we know the type of agents, let`s compare the fees. In my previous role as manager of a large high street agent, I was expected to charge 1.8% with a minimum fee of £2400. On top of this there was often a push to sell extra packages (pro photography etc.) as an up-front fee. This is my own personal experience and it may be that some agents charge more, some less but usually somewhere around this level. Here at Novahomes we only charge 0.9% with a minimum fee of £1200. We are still a local agent with an office, advertising locally in the paper , accompanying viewings etc. but we reduced our cost base by moving off the high street and pass the saving on to our clients. Finally, the online only agents. Perhaps the most widely recognized online agent, quote a fixed fee of £849 for which they will advertise the property online with you the customer doing the viewings etc. According to Rightmove, the average price of a terrace house in Plymouth is £168,158 which means at 1.8% the fee would be a rather large £3026. For the same house, Novahomes would charge only half that amount at £1513. We both work on a no sale no fee basis so you know that our aim is to find you a buyer and ultimately ensure your sale goes through. The online claim of saving `thousands` is starting to ring a little hollow. There`s also another catch; the customer pays to list the house with the internet agent and it doesn`t matter to the agent what price it sells for or indeed if it sells at all. I`ve been an estate agent for almost 28yrs and in that time, I`ve seen many changes. However, the one constant has always been, introducing the buyer to the house and getting the best possible price for my client. In my opinion, paying an agent up front takes away the incentive to actually sell the property and therefore any potential saving soon disappears. If you would like to discuss any of the points raised, please call me to book a free market appraisal on 01752 206040

To Be Accompanied Or Not To Be?

Tue, 31 Jan 2017 12:00:00 GMT

To Be Accompanied Or Not To Be Accompanied? That is the question... which as a seller you will have to decide when choosing an estate agent. Many local agents like myself firmly believe that an accompanied viewing service should always form part and parcel of what is on offer by an estate agent. However with the rise of the online only estate agents, and some local agents offering a ‘skinny` version of their service there are a number of options available where the estate agent does not accompany the viewings, rather you as the seller show your own home. To that end I thought I would pen a few pearls of wisdom saved up over my 15 years of showing home hunters around that may shed some light when you, as a would be seller, consider what`s right: `I know More About My Home Than Any Agent Does` This in fact is true. There are no estate agents in your area who know your home better than you do. My advice here is to take a step back, as conducting a viewing is not just about knowing the most about a property, it`s also the one chance to have a buyer walk away with a mind to putting in an offer. As with many things in life, it`s not a case of simply telling a buyer absolutely everything there is to know about the house, there is also the fine art of what not to say, when to say it, and most importantly HOW to say it. This takes time, experience and practise, which the average seller does not have. Your estate agent is your homes experienced and professional PR Rep! Sure the owners of Marks and Spencers could be in all of the adverts and do the announcements, as they know the most about the company, but it`s their PR team who take all of that knowledge, and combine it with the right approach to make it not just a chocolate pudding, but an M&S Chocolate pudding… `I really liked him, but she was a total nightmare…` You can`t get on with everyone! Selling a house is no different. When a potential buyer and seller meet, and have to deal directly with each other its human nature for opinions and personalities to sometimes clash. A clash of personalities is much less likely to happen when you are specifically there to be liked by the people your meeting, and also to be the consummate professional no matter how rude someone is. An opininated guest in your home is much less likely to be accommodated by you, than by a third party who is paid not to take offense! `I Swear To Tell The Truth, The Whole Truth….` I have been on literally thousands of viewings, and one thing that almost always happens at the end of them is I ask what the person viewing thought of the house. Why do we ask? There are two reasons, firstly I want to know if they are interested in buying the house, and secondly I want to know if they are not, then what put them off not only so I can give my client some feedback but to be given the chance to overcome their objections to change their minds. On the same note, I can also tell you that I learnt very quickly that if I ask that question in front of the seller if they are home, then the answer is always the same: `Yes its lovely, we`ll be in touch…` That`s because buyers rarely offer honest advice when speaking to the seller direct. If you want some honest feedback about your home, and some good constructive advice from people who are out looking directly at the houses you are competing against then you need an estate agent to carry out your viewing appointments. My firm advice is that if you want to get the best price for your home, and not miss out on a buyer who makes the effort to enquire about viewing then you should only use an estate agent that offers accompanied viewings as their standard level of service. Any option to add it in simply means your getting something the estate agent does not really want to do, and any marketing service without this is simply costing you money down the drain. For some further advice on the marketing of your home please call me on Plymouth 206040. Lee Whitelaw Novahomes Company Owner.

Hygge???

Tue, 31 Jan 2017 12:00:00 GMT

A Photo Speaks A Thousand Words

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Have you ever heard the saying a picture is worth a thousand words. This is certainly true when it comes to marketing your property, increasingly so in this modern age where tablets, smartphones and desktops are dominating how potential buyers make decisions when looking to buy property. Couple this with the emergence of social media marketing formats such as Facebook and Twitter and you can understand why the quality of photography is becoming so important. When searching online the majority of buyers place initial emphasis on number of bedrooms, location and price range. However, after that they will often be presented with hundreds of results in summary view with a short description and a few select images. To look at every property in detail would take hours so buyers have to be selective. What is the main factor that makes a potential viewer online select which property they will click on beyond the summary? Images! It is accepted that light interior space is high on a buyers wish list and poor quality photography with standard consumer grade lenses and relatively narrow angles of view will never capture the true size of a room, your eyes naturally glance from side to side when entering a room so your perceived field of view is wider than your eyes actually see. A quality camera with a wide angle lens gives a much more realistic impression of what it is like to walk into your home. So although a good photographer with the right equipment can be creative and capture quality images it is equally important to take time to prepare your home so that the images presented to the outside world are ones that you can be proud of. A good quality camera in the hands of an experienced property photographers can do many things but it cannot put the washing away, clean your windows or de clutter your work surfaces! At Novahomes we pride ourselves on our photography and have been presenting property images in what we feel is the correct way for many years. Quality photography is just one of the many benefits to using Novahomes to sell your property. To discuss what we can offer you in more details feel free to visit our local office in Stoke or call and book a free valuation. We hope to hear from you soon!

New Build Or Not?

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Pros and cons of buying a new build? It is hard not to be impressed when you first walk around a brand-new show home. Everything is shiny and new with an attention to décor detail that real life just can`t live up to. In fact, the builder will often engage with you to enable some personal touches before you move in. This can include a change to the kitchen and bathroom design or perhaps landscaping the garden. Another big reason for buying new is the perceived lack of hassle. Do you need to sell your home before you buy? No problem, the developer will part exchange it or help you find an estate agent. No pesky chains to cause you sleepless nights and as soon as the house is built you know you can look forward to moving. Not to mention they are energy efficient. They must have an energy efficiency rating of at least C (rates are between A and G), with higher requirements for housing association and council homes. Which in a world with seemingly ever increasing energy costs has got to be a bonus. There is also a peace of mind that comes with buying new. The majority of new-build homes also come with a guarantee from the builder. If the property is registered with the National House Building Council (NHBC), it`ll come with a 10-year warranty and protection scheme. So, is there a downside to buying new? The most quoted reason buyers look beyond new homes is the size to cost ratio. Buying new means you are going to pay a premium, therefore metre for metre second hand homes will win this battle. It is no surprise developers will use crafty tricks to make you think there is more space than there is. Furniture will often be minimal and scaled down to give an illusion of more space. But don`t blame house builders. The price on which developers bid for land must be based upon the maximum number of homes which the loose rules allow. If not, they will be outbid by a rival going for the maximum density – and minimum sizes. Chain free doesn`t necessarily mean hassle free. Two scenarios often crop up for purchasers of new builds. They are the caused by the speed of the development. If you have sold your property and agreed to purchase but your new home isn`t ready for another 4 months it takes a great deal of persuasion and patience to agree with your buyer to hold on. The opposite has also been known to cause a great deal of stress. No builder wants a completed house standing empty so the pressure to complete can be extraordinary. The biggest elephant in the room when it comes to buying new, is price. When you buy a brand-new home, you`ll usually pay a premium for the privilege of living somewhere that no-one else has. A new property is only new once, and you will be paying a premium for its newness, much the same as when you drive a new car out of a showroom. It`s hard to say exactly how much a home is devalued when it`s no longer new. But for some properties it`s as high as 10% of the home`s value, instantly trapping some new owners in negative equity. If new buyers were purchasing existing homes, they wouldn`t be running that risk at all. This premium will eventually fall in line with market forces but if you are likely to move on again while the site is being developed then it should be a big consideration. There is no right or wrong to buying new but rather an honest assessment of your needs as a buyer. If you would like to compare the price of your current property against a similar new home, Novahomes are always happy to carry out a free market appraisal. Matt

Can A Landscaped Garden Have An Impact On Your Property Price?

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Can landscaping your garden add value? So, British summer time is officially here (it is, honest!) and that means more time out in the garden for the green fingered amongst us. Now before I carry on, I feel I should confess….. I`m a terrible gardener! Give me a garden and I can kill any plant. My past misdemeanours including pulling up numerous shrubs and plants accusing them of being weeds and famously spray painting the blueberry bush when maintaining the garden fence. However, my wife makes up for my ineptitude, and her not so subtle hints about tickets for the upcoming Chelsea Flower Show has caused me to ponder upon the question; how a garden can play a part in enhancing the value of a property? Selling a house is after all, about standing out from the crowd and a well-designed garden can add something special. Almost everyone now appreciates the difference between a ‘nice garden` and a really beautiful one. However, there is a warning to be said here. You don`t want potential buyers to think they will have to slave away to maintain your creation. When it comes to selling it`s about pitching to your market. A family house aimed at busy parents with small children are far more likely to appreciate A neat, cared-for lawn, big enough to kick a ball rather than an ornate design that would leave buyers mentally totting up the man-hours to maintain it. The same principle applies if you are selling something aimed at the first time buyer market. Most first time buyers are usually working and so a well presented, low maintenance area with space for a BBQ usually wins the day. At the other end of the scale are the bungalows. Purchasers of bungalows are far more likely to appreciate the grand design but will also be looking for level plot or an easily accessed tiered garden rather than one that slopes away. In summary, a good garden design can do a lot to accentuate a house`s strengths and disguise its weaker points. First impressions are important in determining the price people are prepared to pay for a house. If you would like to know how much your property is worth call 01752 206040 to book your free market appraisal.

Considering An Extension?

Tue, 23 May 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Can A Single Story Extension Increase My Property Price Many home owners have considered extending their property, especially in recent years with the cost of moving going up year on year. One question people often consider is `should this extension be one or two floors, and will I make my money back on a single floor extension`. Any extension work should always be looked at from a ‘time and cost` perspective. If you plan to enjoy the extension yourself and live in the property for years to come the added value on your price may not be as influential. However if you are looking purely from a ‘cost v sale price` perspective then extension works should be more carefully considered. My name is Lee Whitelaw, and as a local estate agent I am asked this question many times from both sellers and buyers. In this article I have highlighted some top tips, and also given case study examples of properties which I have personally dealt with to help anyone currently asking this question. Top Tips: What Am I Extending? This really boils down to what sort of space you are adding and falls broadly into two categories; Living Space and Bedroom Space. As a rule of thumb adding bedrooms will increase the value of a home more than simply adding livings space. For example if you split a large bedroom into two smaller ones, although the floor space is the same, typically, and as many sales in Plymouth have proven a three bedroom home, despite having smaller room sizes will be more valuable to the market than a two bedroom home. This also applies to extra space. A four bedroom home has a perceived higher value than a three bedroom home, despite increased living space. There are always exceptions to this rule, but as a general rule of thumb if you`re looking to maximise the price tag of your finished build, then bedroom space is a sure winner! What Am I Losing? This is always a tricky one as inevitably by extending your property, you will lose some outside space. In my opinion this should never be off putting, as let`s face it we live in England, and although we all love spending time in the garden in the sunny weather, the inside of our home is where the majority of time is spent, and also where buyers concentrate. With some clever ideas, time and effort even a small garden can be made to look attractive. If you extend then fail to maximise your garden space then don`t be surprised when potential buyers are put off by your reduced outside space. However if you account for some outside renovations in your budget for an extension then you`re already ahead of the curve! How To Build A Budget Something which many people overlook is the property value, not just the cost of the works. Getting several quotes and using reputable trades people are the basics, but I want to talk more about the actual property value. When considering this sort of work, either to get personal enjoyment or to seriously consider maximising value, getting some free advice from a reputable local estate agent can be very useful. Once you have a firm idea of the current value, and a rough idea of cost, you can also get the agent to give an estimation of sale price post extension, which many agents are happy to do. This way you know by doing certain types of building works you will either need to do it for the love of the property and forget the resale price, or you can proceed with full knowledge that following the works if you decided to sell then it`s all been worth it in the end. Should I Go Into The Loft? This is often a great way to gain extra space but not lose any other part of your plot. If after professional advice it appears your loft space is suitable for conversion, the choice to go ahead can seem attractive but just because something is possible, does not always mean it`s prudent. There are two main considerations when looking at loft conversions. The first is similar to my first tip, and is about deciding if you can add bedroom space. This does not mean adding a slighter bigger room upstairs, but rather adding an actual bedroom. This depends entirely on where the stairs can go, as making another bedroom a walk through with stairs to your new space will remove the label of bedroom, and make this space a hallway extension. In this circumstance to add value, the new bedroom needs to add so much space or convenience that it increases the price of the property without increasing the actual number of bedrooms, something which is more of a minority than majority when taking into account the cost. The other major consideration is will you be able to secure full planning or most importantly building regulation sign off. The number of times I have visited a three bedroom property which a seller would like a four bedroom price for due to a loft room, but I have had to refuse, is considerable. Getting a family friend to put in a stair case and do a conversion at a great price, but is either not qualified or does not go through the process of building regulation inspection of sign off will mean your newly created oasis will always need to be described as loft space when selling. Therefore seriously impacting the price achievable. Where possible any loft conversion should be done with planning and building regulation sign off as without that you are not extending, you are simply making your loft space more attractive. Case Study: This property in the Eggbuckland area of Plymouth has been sold by myself both pre and post extension works. I also valued the property in the middle in accordance with the advice above. Sale Price £178,500 May 2013 This was a three bedroom semi detached family home with garage, gardens and driveway. Following the purchase the new owners decided they wanted to make the living space bigger at the rear by adding a single story extension, and also extending the front area, thus re-shaping the living space to allow for an extra bedroom and bathroom. Sale Price £265,000 August 2016 Now a four bedroom semi detached family home with extended living space and additional bathroom. This is a prime example of how a single story extension, when done correctly and bedroom space has been added it not only ensured a great property, but the vendor got a great return on their investment. Any seller who would like some free independent advice on any work they are considering is welcome to contact Novahomes on 01752 206040.

We Are Hiring

Sun, 28 May 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Sales Estate Agent - Basic Salary £15 - 17k basic wage depending on experience- Realistic on target earnings £22,000 - £26,000 We offer an excellent bonus and commission structure and petrol and expenses are fully reimbursed. Novahomes Estate Agents are hoping to employ a sales estate agent either at an entry level position or a current agent looking for a new challenge. The ideal candidate would be articulate, driven, a people person and the ability to follow processes and procedures accurately to ensure a high level of customer service is essential. Previous Lettings or Sales experience, both are welcome, or experience from a customer facing role in another industry would be preferable. Day to day tasks would involve dealing with client on the phone, showing potential buyers around homes and following the sales process through all stages to completion. Applicants must have their own car and full license. Based at our head sales office in Stoke, Plymouth and covering the Plymouth and Plympton sales areas this is a great opportunity for the right person. Commission and Bonus potential is uncapped and we place a high emphasis on customer service and team goals.

Its All In The Name When Escaping To The Country

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 12:00:00 GMT

According to the latest research, it seems that ‘new build` developers are drawing on nature and ‘country life` for inspiration, as ‘Park`, ‘Green` and ‘Gardens` top the builders` choice of titles for their new developments. The research, conducted by My Home Move, looked at over 400 developments from the UK`s top 5 housebuilders, to discover that when it comes to bricks and mortar, a name which evokes a sense of natural beauty and heritage proves more popular than an urban inspired moniker. Mark Snape, Corporate Distribution Director, of My Home Move said: `We are known the world over as a nation of home owners and keen gardeners; and as such we`re not surprised that buyers are inspired by the idea of an escape to the country - especially in the wake of recent economic and political upheavals. When people are under stress they crave safety, security and a sense of community – an idea which these builders are investing in, and for some developments, spending close to nine years creating. Green`, ‘Park` and ‘Gardens` suggest open spaces, rolling hills and countryside; while ‘Manor`, ‘Grange` and ‘Court` play on our sense of heritage and history – all of which appeal to peoples` aspirations to own a little bit of Britain. ‘View`, ‘Place`, ‘Manor`, ‘Grange`, ‘Court` and ‘Saint` (St.) also ranked highly within the developers` cannon of names; while house styles and designs continue to evoke a sense of English heritage, with names like Cambridge, Welford, Oakham, Beaumont and the Wessex being chosen by the developments` designers." Mark continued: `It would seem that despite our love of gadgets, smartphones and connective technology, as home owners and buyers we are still looking for our homes to represent more than just bricks and mortar; we want them to provide us with an identity. And as our home owning aspirations keep on growing year-on-year, with new build sales now accounting for one in every 14 transactions and 57% of aspiring first-time buyers feeling hopeful about getting onto the property ladder, it would seem that there is real value in a name.`

House Price Growth Drops To 3.3% - But Prices Still On The Up!

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 12:00:00 GMT

The latest data and analysis from Halifax has revealed that house prices in the three months to May were 3.3% higher than in the same period of 2016. According to the lender, prices in the three months to May were 0.2% lower than in the preceding quarter. Martin Ellis, Halifax housing economist, said: `After reaching a recent peak of 10% in March 2016, the annual house price growth has since fallen to 3.3% in May. House prices have again fallen over the past three months. Overall, prices in the three months to May were -0.2% lower than in the preceding three months; the same rate as in April. The fact that the supply of new homes and existing properties available for sale remains low, combined with historically low mortgage rates and a high employment rate, is likely to support house price levels over the coming months.` Russell Quirk comments: `Despite many predicting a second consecutive monthly drop in house price growth, the latest numbers by Halifax show that prices have, in fact, crept up ever so slightly during May, notwithstanding a marginal fall in the last quarter. The unpredictability of recent house price trends demonstrates the turbulent landscape that both the UK property market, along with the wider economy, have had to traverse over the last year or so. The recent cool in price growth seems to be thawing and it is no coincidence that one of the overarching factors in the recent price growth slowdown has been a shortage of stock, more so than usual. The choice in new government will be pivotal in shaping the future of the UK housing market, however, regardless of which way it goes it is likely that the sector will receive a boost from the many home sellers and buyers, who until now, will have been putting their decision on hold until the election dust has settled.` Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, had this to say: "The Halifax figures are interesting as they reinforce findings from other recent surveys, suggesting that we should be concentrating not just on increasing supply of new homes but encouraging existing homeowners to move. Buyers and sellers have been in limbo recently with the market awaiting more certainty from the General Election and Brexit negotiations. However, the good news is that there is no sign of market collapse while mortgage rates remain low. Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, says: "There has been quite a bit of repricing downwards on mortgage deals in the past week, with Accord, Virgin Money, Platform, New Street and Tesco all cutting rates. With transaction levels in the housing market muted, the chase for volume falls on remortgages so we are seeing a number of remortgage-only products priced more keenly than their purchase equivalents, although sometimes they come with lower loan-to-values. Lenders are keen to lend and with the mortgage market oversupplied in all areas, pricing is likely to remain competitive for the foreseeable future. This is particularly good news for borrowers who are coming up to remortgage."

First Time Buyers Fuelling The Market

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:00:00 GMT

New data from Halifax has revealed that the number of first-time buyers reached an estimated 162,704 in the first six months of 2017, only 15% below the 190,900 peak of the last boom in 2006. Although the growth in FTBs slowed to just 3%, compared to an increase of 10% last year, the number of homeowners getting on to the property ladder for the first time is up from 154,200 in the same period in 2016 and more than double the market low in the first half of 2009 (72,700). First-time buyers driving housing activity A decade ago, just over a third (36%) of all house purchases financed by a mortgage were made by first-time buyers. In 2017, this proportion is estimated to have risen to almost half (47%), with the share growing from 44% since the launch of the Help to Buy scheme in April 2013. Whilst the homemover (current owner occupier) market has slowed, housing activity has been dependent on buyers taking the first step on the ladder. Martin Ellis, Housing Economist at Halifax, said: `Although the number of first-time buyers grew at a slower rate in the first half of the year compared to 2016 the levels remain healthy and the market is achieving record average house price for first-time buyers. For the third time in four years the numbers getting on the housing ladder have exceeded 150,000 – a level of momentum not seen since before the financial crisis. High levels of employment, low mortgage rates and government schemes such as Help to Buy have also helped these numbers remain robust, as first-time buyers continue to form a fundamental part of the UK housing market.` First-time buyer prices and deposits rise to record levels In the first half of 2017, the average house price paid by first-time buyers was £207,693 – the highest on record. In the past year the average value of a typical first-time buyer home has grown by 4% from £199,414. And in the past five years, the average price has grown by 50% from £138,663 to £207,693 (an increase of 50% or £69,025), comfortably outperforming price growth across the entire market (42%). In London, first-time buyers have seen the average price skyrocket by 66% (or £163,664) since 2012 to £409,975 – the highest on record. Not only is the average price in London three and a half times higher than in Northern Ireland (£115,269) – it is also 48% higher than the second most expensive region, the South East (£276,773). The average first-time buyer deposit was £32,899 in the first six months of 2017 – 16% of the purchase price. Not surprisingly the largest deposits being put down are in London, more than three times the national average of £106,577; whilst Northern Ireland is half the UK average (£16,457). Four regions (all in southern England) have seen the average deposit at least double. In London the average deposit by new entrants to the housing market has jumped four-fold in the past decade, from £26,701 to £100,445 – an increase of 276%. Rise in popularity of longer mortgage terms As house prices for a typical first-time buyer property have risen, there has also been a growing trend in longer mortgage terms than the more traditional 25-year term. In 2007, nearly half (48%) of first-time buyers had a mortgage term of between 20 and 25 years, whilst 38% were for between 25 and 35 years. In 2016, this mix has markedly reversed, with 56% of mortgages at a term of 25 to 35 years or more, while the 20 to 25-year mortgage terms have fallen to 26%. Affordable areas for first-time buyers – not in London The 10 least affordable Local Authority Districts (LADs) for FTBs are all in London. The least affordable is Brent where the average FTB property price of £459,499 is 12.5 times gross average annual earnings in the area. Stirling in Scotland is the most affordable LAD in the UK with an average property price of £136,181 – 2.9 times local annual average gross earnings. Copeland in the North West is the most affordable in England (3.2). Seven of the 10 most affordable LADs for FTBs are in Scotland

Simple Tips For Presenting Your Home...

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Selling your home can take a bit of work. You`ve agreed your asking price, now it`s time to try and achieve it. Remember your prospective buyers are going to be seeing a lot of homes and they may already be tired and stressed with the whole process. Make it easy for them to choose your property over the next three they see. Don`t give them any easy reasons to dislike it. Making your home ‘market ready` does require time and a little bit of investment to make help it reach its maximum resale valuation. There is a lot you can do to spruce up you home that needn`t cost the earth – simple techniques can freshen up your rooms and present a much more appealing, newer model. Here`s our top eight tips: 1. Ramp up the curb appeal They say first impressions count, so the exterior of your home is the place to start. Tidy the gardens, touch up the paintwork or wash down the PVC, make sure the guttering isn`t blocked or leaking and give a shiny big house number pride of place. Think of putting up a few hanging baskets and adding an exterior light if your viewings are likely to be in the winter. It will add to the all important welcoming touch. 2. De-clutter and de-personalise If you want your home to appeal to as many buyers as possible, you need to help them picture themselves living in your space. And they can`t do that if all they can see are your personal belongings and family portraits adorning every inch of space. Clutter can also make rooms seem smaller and give the impression of a lack of storage space. The best thing to do is box up your personal possessions and store them away – treat it as starting the packing up process early. All being well, you`ll have to do it at some point anyway. 3. Repair Buyers don`t want to think about repairs the minute they move in, and you don`t want simple ‘little fixes` putting them off. Fix the leaking tap, the cracked windowpane and if the lights have gone out replace the bulbs. 4. A mini-makeover If your kitchen is dated, freshen it up with a lick of paint, new cupboard doors and drawers or door handles. If you`ve got carpet replace it with lino or tiles if your budget will stretch. Installing new taps and re-grouting in both the kitchen and bathroom are good ways to achieve an instant result. In the bathroom, install a new shower screen or curtain and add a new bath mat and fresh, fluffy towels. 5. A lick of paint If you`ve gone for bold colours, tone them down with natural shades. It may not be to your taste, but the more neutral the better. Freshen up white paintwork and generally give everywhere a once over with the paintbrush. It`s a cheap way to achieve an instant transformation and make your rooms light, bright and airy. But don`t forget to do it in plenty of time so that buyers aren`t hit by paint fumes as soon as they enter through the front door. 6. Accessorise While you don`t want to clutter your rooms, nor do you want them to look completely un-lived in. Add houseplants to add interest and colour, add cushions and throws on your sofas, look at adding mirrors to increase the sense of space and light, particularly in smaller or darker rooms. 7. Re-visit the layouts You want to get across the size of your home and how buyers can make the most of the available space. If you know your target market is going to be families, it`s no good having the second bedroom as a study. If it`s meant to be a single room, add in a single bed. If it can fit a double add a double. Look at each room from the doorway – does the flow seem right, if you shuffled the furniture could you make it look bigger? 8. Clean! Grubby homes do nothing but deter would-be buyers. Dirt and grime can make it seem like there`s a lot of work to be done when really it`s something that can be fixed with a squirt or two of Flash. Spend some time deep cleaning and giving it a once over before each viewing. And don`t forget to rid your home of pet or tobacco smells – there is nothing quite as off-putting as a smell of wet dog.

Can Storage Increase Your Property Value?

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:00:00 GMT

If the first thing that springs to mind when you consider ways of increasing the value of your home is expensive renovation or extension projects, think again. Logically, most homes have a cap on their value. This depends on the location, size, type, and general condition. There are limits to how much you can increase value, although maintaining a high standard of repair and fittings will always help keep a property at the top of the ladder. There are other ways, though, that make a home more attractive to buyers and for which they`re willing to pay top prices. These revolve around how the interior is presented and the kind of lifestyle promises the house makes. Underpinning this concept is the humble notion of storage. Granted, it doesn`t sound as exciting as a new conservatory or kitchen extension. But the difference that clever storage can make can be just as dramatic. Self Storage Secrets Revealed Cluttered rooms create closed in, claustrophobic spaces. The problem we all face is what to do with all the possessions we have that we couldn`t imagine being without. One of the best kept secrets to an easily managed, clean, tidy home is self storage facilities. Long thought to be just for people with vast storage needs or those looking for somewhere temporary to stow belongings during a house move, self storage is increasingly being used as a natural extension to everyday home storage. Making it work revolves around thinking seasonally, only keeping at home those things currently in use. Seasonally we change many of life`s aspects, such as the equipment we use in the garden, the clothes we wear, the games we play, and the leisure activities we pursue. Most of those include equipment we only use for a few months during the year, and the rest of the time they lie around in garages, lofts, cupboards, and under beds. Think how much more space there would be if all those items were relegated to storage outside the home. Self storage facilities are a cheap alternative to extensions or interior design renovations. With rolling contracts that renew each week (in many cases), you`re not locked into long term commitments and there are many space sizes available to cover all needs and budgets. Add easy access and long opening hours, convenient locations and affordable plans, and self storage offers a quick and easy way to clear the home decks and open up your living space. Finding Hidden Storage Areas Having segmented your possessions into those you`re using and those you can store away, the next step is to find those hidden areas in the house that provide additional storage for what`s left behind. Furniture can be a big help, with modern designs in tables and beds offering storage areas in the form of shelving, drawers or lift up mattresses. Use these to hide away the multitude of small possessions we all have, keeping surfaces clean and clear. Shelving is fashionable in every room, and a great way of utilising nooks and crannies. It also has the advantage of providing a way to store items such as books or collectibles without the need for floor-standing furniture. Opening up the floor space automatically creates an illusion of space, and another way of creating a similar effect is to choose furnishings on legs rather than that which sits on the floor in a solid block. Other little used areas are the spaces under the stairs; little strips of wall above and between doors; or the lost areas underneath kitchen cabinets. All are the low-hanging fruit of home storage areas, easy to capitalise on with shelves, hooks or containers where you can neatly organise household items from cleaning equipment to non-perishable foods. Storage is the invisible oil that makes a household run smoothly. When possessions are organised, easy to find, neatly arranged and attractively displayed, the house becomes a home that offers a comfortable, stress-free lifestyle. And that`s exactly what buyers are looking for, making the perceived value just that bit higher than the next house in the street.

Demand Up 9% In 2018 According To Rightmove

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Recent figures release by Rightmove have shown an increase in demand by over 9% in terms of people searching for homes when compared to the same period last year. Despite this increase in supply, prices are moving on at a slower rate than in previous years and this is being attributed to the fact that although there is an increase in buyer activity, those buyers are being both cautious and choosy! With no real increase in supply, and the removal of stamp duty for first time buyers means there is a keen demand for homes which we are seeing replicated here in Devon and Cornwall. Those looking however have such a wealth of information to hand on recent sold prices, what is available and how much homes actual sell for in the area that the research and the figures are often winning over the `Wow` factor. Sellers looking to secure a buyer are advised to present their home to the best it can be, and ensure their price is bold, but at the same time attractive given the local market. Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst, commented: `All regions are currently selling at a slower rate than a year ago, indicating choosier buyers. The total number of sales agreed was 5.5% down in the last quarter of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016. Setting tempting asking prices and then quickly reducing them if there is little initial interest will be key to turning this promising level of buyer activity into actual sales, especially in the less active sectors and locations of the UK. There is no sign so far of any rush to come to market and try to sell, with the number of new-to-the-market properties holding steady against the same period a year ago at around 63,000. With no increase in fresh supply, and an overall average of 40% of properties on agents` books already sold subject to contract, would-be buyers in some sectors and locations of the UK are seeing less choice to tempt them, fuelling some localised price rises. While potential buyers are still busy looking, they are looking for good value and the right property. Price rises have had a good run and the return of the days of optimistic pricing is consequently some years away and contingent upon earnings increasing and interest rates remaining low. Those selling to ‘quick-off-the-block stamp-duty-saving first-time buyers` are set to have a busier first quarter than those trying to sell in other sectors. We expect that many first-time buyers will act fast to satisfy their appetite to get onto the housing ladder and secure their property at today`s prices, before any stamp duty savings are eaten up by rising property prices.` For an up to date valuation of your home, speak to novahomes on 01752 206040

New Generation Puts Marriage Before Home Home Ownership

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:00:00 GMT

New analysis from price comparison website MoneySuperMarket has revealed that 68% of Brits taking out a wedding loan don`t own a house - suggesting the nation is prioritising getting married over getting on the property ladder. The figure shoots up to 76% for those in the 18-30 bracket and with 26 being the most popular age to take out a wedding loan, the data suggests that millennials in particular are prioritising marriage over mortgages. The findings, based on over 125,000 wedding loan applications on the price comparison website, show that loved-up Londoners are the most likely to take out a wedding loan, and are the biggest spenders, borrowing £10,172 compared to the national average of £8,312. The high proportion of non-homeowners taking out a wedding loan in London could be a reflection of the city`s staggering house prices. With an average house costing over £480,000 , Londoners have to fork out an astonishing 138 per cent of their annual salary for a house deposit, compared to just 32% of their income for a wedding loan. The findings show it`s not just house prices that are on the up as wedding loans are also increasing year on year, rising from £7,946 in 2016 to £8,466 in 2017. Despite the rise in marriage loans, the majority of prospective homeowners in the UK still see mortgages eating up significantly more of their annual salary (68%) than weddings (31%). For Scotland and the North East, where house prices are cheaper, tying the knot is actually more expensive than a mortgage, with it taking an average of four years to pay off a wedding loan - the equivalent of an average house deposit. Despite this, the North East has one of the lowest proportion of non-homeowners in the UK, at just 57%. Sally Francis, money expert at MoneySuperMarket, commented: `Both mortgages and wedding loans come with responsibility and commitment but it`s interesting to see that a significant number of us, particularly millennials, are prioritising marriage over buying a home because in reality doing both is often unaffordable. Although Stamp Duty has recently been removed for first time buyers, which certainly helps, there`s a lot of speculation that mortgage rates will not be getting any cheaper. With staggering house prices showing no signs of going down and wedding loans also on the rise, it`s more important than ever to shop around and find the best quote when taking out a loan of any kind.` Article Courtesy of the Property Reporter

First Time Buyer Number Rise 7.4%

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:00:00 GMT

The latest data released from UK Finance this morning has revealed a dramatic surge in the number of people taking their first step on to the property ladder. According to the report, during 2017 there were 365,000 first time buyers, the highest volume for 11 years which equates to an annual increase of 7.4%. The increase doesn`t appear to have affected by the number of first time buyer completions falling by 5.2% in December. Other highlights from the analysis included mortgage lending for first-time buyers, home movers and buy-to-let purchases all saw a fall in December 2017 compared to the previous year. Home mover completions fell by 4.7% and remortgage lending dropped by 7.4%. For buy-to-let, purchases were down by 17.2% and remortages fell 11.6% by volume. Here at novahomes we can say that although December 2017 has seen a fall, its not a great indicator for what 2018 hold. The overall outlook for first time buyers replacing investors is looking more and more positive as each day passes. This means if you have a starter home, or one that may suit a young a family then its going to be much more of a mixed bag of buyers between investors and buy to live in purchasers. That`s great news for anyone selling as often the factors that can put off a potential landlord, such as a property being empty, a property having a larger garden or something in need of some investment are often things which first time buyers look for. Having a property they can move right into, has a bigger garden and has the potential to make their own is music to a buyers ears. That means the potential for resale is on the rise! To find out what your property is worth in 2018 contact us on 01752 206040 and press option 1 for sales.

Will Your Buy To Let Interest Rate Go Up Or Down? Key Dates Coming Up In March And May 2018

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:00:00 GMT

The Bank of England`s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) recently voted unanimously to keep its base rate at the current level of 0.5%. The announcement is good news for buy to let landlords, especially those on tracker rate products, as historically base rate increases have preceded hikes in mortgage interest rates. Andrew Turner, chief executive at Commercial Trust Limited, had this to say: `This is positive news for landlords. There has been much speculation that the Bank of England MPC will increase rates during 2018, due to the growth of inflation and the threat of an overheating economy. Indeed, the Bank of England has hinted this will be the case over the coming years" This is the second consecutive meeting to maintain the current rate, after the MPC increased it by 0.25% in November 2017. That decision resulted in some buy to let mortgage lenders increasing their mortgage interest rates, adding costs to monthly repayments for landlords on tracker and variable rate mortgages. For many landlords, this was the first mortgage rate rise they had experienced, as the base rate had not increased in a decade. But, it should be remembered that current mortgage interest rates remain at historically low levels. This announcement gives landlords more time to assess their property investments and to evaluate whether or not to take advantage of these low rates by remortgaging, in anticipation of any future rates changes. The next two MPC meetings are scheduled for March 22nd and May 10th. Here at novahomes we look at this very carefully with our financial partners. As landlords and business owners ourselves we have a keen interest. If you plan to retain your investment property then now is a good time to discuss what remortgage options are open to you before 22nd of March. Equally if you are considering selling or are not on a fixed rate mortgage then now could be a good time to see what value is in your asset. We can offer a free market valuation of your property. Call us today on 01752 206040 Option 1 For Sales

Landlords, Are You Aware Of The New Legal Requirements?

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:00:00 GMT

As from the 1st April 2018 there will be a requirement for any properties rented out in the private rented sector to normally have a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The regulations will come into force for new lets and renewals of tenancies with effect from 1st April 2018 and for all existing tenancies on 1st April 2020. It will be unlawful to rent a property which breaches the requirement for a minimum E rating, unless there is an applicable exemption. A civil penalty of up to £4,000 will be imposed for breaches. Novahomes have a team on hand that can advise and where needed make improvements to help ensure your property is compliant. If you are buying a new property to let out, this is something to keep in mind. Also if you are selling a property which you hope to keep the tenant in, its worth checking what that rating is, as the new potential landlord certainly will be! If you`re not already taking steps to comply, or are looking to sell the property before you need to start doing works then now is the time to call us on 01752 206040 option 1 for sales.

10 Things You Need To Consider When Looking To Buy Your First Investment Property

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Make sure the property`s safe Safety`s paramount. Landlords have a duty to keep their tenants safe, failure to do so could lead to hefty fines or even prison. After recent legislation, landlords are now required to install a smoke alarm on every floor where there`s a room being used for living space while a carbon monoxide detector must be installed in every room where there`s a solid fuel-burning appliance. In addition, it is also a legal requirement that tenants are provided with a valid Gas Safety certificate at the start of their tenancy. NOVAHOMES CAN SORT ALL OF THIS OUT FOR YOU Arrange an EPC All landlords are required to be able to provide tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate, better known simply as an EPC, on the day they move in. From 2008 it became law that all advertisements must contain the property`s EPC rating. With this in mind, it`s essential that if they don`t already have one, landlords order an EPC before marketing their property to let. An EPC must be provided every time you subsequently let your home to a new tenant. It`s used to show tenants how energy efficient the property is. The law on EPC`s is also due to change in 2018 which means every property that is rented needs to comply with the new minimum requirements where applicable. NOVAHOMES CAN HELP WITH THIS Give your property the right exposure Whether you choose to rent out your property through an agent or off your own back, a good advertising strategy will be crucial. Even if you`re not planning on using a letting agent to manage your property, it`s still worth considering an agent`s tenant-find service. These days, most people start their property search online, almost always through one of the major property portals. In fact, according to our recent survey of almost 15,000 tenants, 55% of respondents first found their rental property through Rightmove. To get tenants in place quickly, you`ll need to ensure your ad is web-friendly – sharp, snappy and to the point – and that the photographs you use are of the highest quality. NOVAHOMES CAN EXTENSIVLY ADVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY Carry out an immigration Right to Rent check As of February 1 2016, the pre-tenancy process will also incorporate the Right to Rent scheme, which requires landlords to check whether prospective tenants have the legal right to rent in the UK. Immigration status can be identified by checking and taking copies of tenants` identity documents. The Government has identified which documents will be considered legitimate. These include UK passports, European Economic Area passport or identity cards, permanent residence cards or travel documents showing indefinite leave to remain. Also accepted as proof of a right to rent are a Home Office immigration status document or a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen. Landlords will be able to carry out the checks themselves or request a letting agent to do the additional work on their behalf. Those that are found not to be carrying out the checks could be fined up to £3,000 per tenant. NOVAHOMES CAN DO ALL OF THIS FOR YOU Reference your tenants Tenant referencing has become an integral part of minimising the risk of letting a property. A tenant reference usually includes all of the tenant`s basic information as well as previous or current employment details, addresses, bank statements and references from their current landlord. WE CAN DO THIS FOR YOU AT NOVAHOMES Arrange a tenancy agreement When a tenant agrees to rent your property you must supply them with a tenancy agreement – this is the official contract that gives the tenant the right to live in your property, and you the right to receive rent from them. The most common tenancy type is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), which includes the basic information of the tenant, landlord and property. It will also contain the proposed dates and duration of the tenancy, a breakdown of payments and required notice periods should the tenancy be terminated by either party. To make any changes to the terms of a tenancy agreement, you must first get the approval of the tenant. If you don`t have your own tenancy agreement, many letting agents or rental sector firms provide templates for sample agreements. WE HAVE PROVEN AND TESTED PAPERWORK AT NOVAHOMES Check your landlord insurance When it comes to renting property, things will sometimes go wrong, costly repairs may need to be made, or matters outside of a landlord`s control could occur (i.e. flooding) and that`s why it`s important to always consider the insurance you have in place. If you modify your rental property, remember to check with your current insurer to make sure your policy won`t be affected. What`s more, if you have insurance that protects your rental payments, it may be a requirement of your cover that you notify your insurer of any changes in tenants. WE CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH THE BEST INSURERS Protect your tenants` deposits Every landlord must put the deposit they receive from a tenant into a Government-backed tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days. The three Government-approved schemes are the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. NOVAHOMES CAN ARRANGE THIS FOR YOU Ensure the property`s clean This might sound obvious, but it`s something that could get overlooked in a mad rush to get tenants in situ. A clean, attractive home will be much more appealing to tenants, so it`s vitally important that your rental property`s been given a thorough clean and tidy. Similarly, you must decide whether your rental property will be furnished, unfurnished or part-furnished. You should also remove any items of personal value or things that will be of no use to tenants. WE CAN DO THIS FOR YOU Conduct an inventory One of the most important steps when it comes to letting property, carrying out an inventory before and after a tenancy means you can make sure everything`s accounted for. It also lessens the chances of a deposit dispute further down the line. You can conduct inventories yourself, but it might be better to call on the expert assistance of a letting agent or an independent inventory clerk to make sure it`s done right. WE DO THIS PROFESIONALLY

Lets For The Disabled, And What You Should Know As A Landlord

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:00:00 GMT

In December 2014, an article in The Guardian reported on the findings of a study conducted by Leonard Cheshire Disability – a leading UK charity for disabled people. Within their study, entitled ‘No Place Like Home`, they looked at the country`s accessible housing and revealed that around 300,000 disabled people were ‘stuck on housing waiting lists across the UK` and were being ‘forced to make do in accommodation that does not meet their needs`. Naturally, such damning statements aren`t positive reading, especially for those looking for accessible housing. However, what this does suggest is there`s a large market of potential tenants in need of homes that offer independent living, which landlords in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) could provide. The mutual benefits are that those in need of disability-friendly housing find somewhere that affords them a decent standard of living, and that private landlords will have their properties occupied by people who may otherwise have struggled to find somewhere – potentially meaning more long-term tenancies. There are however a number of factors for both parties to consider in the letting of a property, such as legal requirements and providing the right facilities and accessibility. In this tips piece, we look at these requirements in closer detail and provide information for both landlords and those with disabilities, to help make any potential lets as straightforward as possible. UK rights for the disabled The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to protect ‘people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society`. In turn, ‘making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations.` The Act also gave a definition of what having a ‘disability` was. It states in Part 2, Chapter 1, Section 6: ‘A person (P) has a disability if- a) P has a physical or mental impairment, and b) the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on P`s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.` It`s important to note though that the Equality Act 2010 doesn`t apply in Northern Ireland. Instead the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is in place, which shares very similar principles to the Equality Act 2010. The protection these Acts provide extends into the rental sector and subsequently provisions must be made to ensure that a property meets these standards. Equally, it`s illegal for a landlord to discriminate against a disabled tenant; you can find further detail about disabled tenants` rights in this useful advice page from Shelter. What a property might need to have in place Despite this definition however, the nature and severity of individual disabilities can certainly be quite varied. Consequently, what needs to be in place within a property can be quite varied too. If you`re a landlord in the PRS who`s considering providing housing for disabled tenants or, indeed, the circumstances of your current tenants has changed, then you may have to make a number of alterations. According to a spokesperson from leading accessibility advice and information website ABLEize, some of the main features to offer independent living in a rental property might include: • Level and solid approaches up to the property to allow access • Another level or ramped approach to the main entrance • Door widths of 750mm plus to accommodate wheelchairs • Switches and handles for controls to be at a height between 750mm and 1200mm • Ground floor bedrooms, lounges, kitchens and wet rooms with DDA compliant toilets, showers and washing facilities installed It`s not just physical and structural changes that need to be made, extra ‘auxiliary aids and services` may be needed to ensure disabled tenants aren`t disadvantaged in any way. Citizens Advice details some suggestions such as: • Providing a copy of your tenancy agreement in an accessible format like a CD, if the tenant`s visually impaired or has a learning disability • Changing a term of a tenancy agreement. For example, a term saying pets aren`t allowed in the property could be changed to allow a disabled person to have an assistance dog. Again, you can find more useful examples of other extra aids here, courtesy of Shelter. Covering the cost of making changes In another, more recent study from Leonard Cheshire Disability ‘The Long Wait for a Home`, which looked at how long some disabled residents were waiting for improvements to be made to their homes, they estimated the costs involved with some of the above jobs. They calculated the expenditure of comprehensively adapting a standard home ‘could be more than £20,000` and broke these down individually in this table: Cost of adaptation in a standard home Landlords have the simple option to finance these themselves. To help cover the costs though, a disabled tenant – or indeed a landlord with a disabled tenant – can apply for what`s known as a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). A DFG is essentially funding from the local council to subsidise any changes that need to be made to a property. Each application is subject to an eligibility test to assess whether the work is appropriate and can be completed. The details surrounding how to make a claim can be found on GOV.uk. Whatever the total cost, as a landlord it`s imperative this is completed properly, if you`re renting to someone with a disability. Otherwise you could face substantial legal costs should you fail to provide the right facilities for disabled living. Going back to the above report, their findings also showed that ‘62% - nearly two thirds` of councils were breaking the law by not funding the agreed adaptations to their properties within set deadlines; ultimately failing to meet disability housing requirements. Disabilities Content Transparency from the beginning To make the above run smoothly, have complete clarity - from the beginning of the tenancy or application process - regarding the nature of the tenant`s disabilities. This way, whatever work needs doing can be considered and completed much more efficiently before the tenancy starts. On top of this, an appropriate tenancy agreement that caters to the needs of the tenant can be drawn up as well, or agreed with any external parties who might be in charge of their finances -thus avoiding complications at a later stage. We hope you found this useful, and if you are looking to buy a property to let to the disabled market please call Lee or Andy on 01752 206040 Option 1 and we will be delighted to give you some advice.

Rightmove House Price Index January 2018

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Highlights from the report: Busy start to 2018 with increased home-hunter activity Early traffic data indicates a busy start to 2018, with Rightmove visits up by an average of over 9% so far in January compared to same period last year, averaging over 4 million visits per day Average price of property coming to market is up 0.7% (+£2,067) this month on Rightmove, tracking over 90% of the UK property market, similar to the 0.6% rise at this time a year ago with virtually identical number of properties coming to market To have the best chance of a successful sale this year, sellers should note: Buyers are still price-sensitive with sales agreed numbers in the last quarter of 2017 down 5.5% on the same period a year ago Sellers of properties suitable for first-time buyers set to have greatest chance of sales success following last Autumn`s stamp duty saving boost To read the full report click here: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Rightmove-House-Price-Index-15th-Jan-2018-1.pdf

How Much Should You Charge Your Adult Children When They Live At Home?

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 12:00:00 GMT

The latest research by comparethemarket.com has found that a staggering 74% of parents feel there isn`t enough information on hand when it comes to knowing how much to charge their adult children for living at home, despite over half (53%) admitting to doing so. According to the poll, on average, parents request £68 towards their mortgage or rent, £31 on bills, and £33 on food, from each child, per month. Despite what parents ask their children to contribute financially, over half (51%) admitted they were unsure of what they actually should be charging. To help guide parents, comparethemarket.com has created a tool which calculates how much parents could be charging based on a multitude of factors determined by location, including local rent, food, gas and electricity prices which can be found here: https://www.comparethemarket.com/home-insurance/content/pa-rental/ When asked why parents are charging their kids to live with them, the fact that they are in full or part time employment came out on top. This was closely followed by the expectation that they are now an adult, and therefore should be contributing. Teaching kids a good lesson on how to manage money also fared high on why children should pay up to parents, whilst almost a quarter (24%) admitted they cannot afford to pay for the mortgage or rent, as well as bills, without their contribution. Chris King, Head of Home at comparethemarket.com said: `With the cost of living increasing year on year, we`re not surprised that more than half of parents are charging their adult children to live at home with them, not only from a financial perspective but also to help teach them the true value of money. Three quarters of parents fed back that there isn`t enough information on how much you can legitimately charge your child to live at home with you. With this insight, we wanted to create a handy calculator tool so parents can see just how much the cost of rent, electricity, gas and food bills could cost in every local area around the UK.` The results further showed that just under a fifth (19%) of parents have been too embarrassed to ask kids to cough up for living at home with them, despite wanting to ask, and over one in ten (12%) children have actually refused to contribute towards the household bills. For payments made late, 4% of parents are even prepared to charge interest to what is owed.

How To Speed Up Your Sale

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Increase your property`s kerb appeal The outside of your property is the first chance to wow potential buyers and to get them interested in seeing more. Little things can make a huge difference to the kerb appeal of your house, so make sure you cut the grass, sweep all of the paths, move your bins out of view and clean up anything unsightly. For a touch of colour, think about adding inexpensive hanging baskets and planting some bedding flowers; these types of flowers really make a statement and provide a focal point for the outside of the property. It is also a good idea to cut back any overgrown bushes and to clean any patio areas. A well maintained garden can help prospective buyers visualise themselves using the garden. It is also a good idea to freshen up any tired or outdated exterior fixtures such as fences or garden furniture and make sure that any external windows and doors are in good condition, are clean, and all latches and handles are in working order. Repair and clean Many buyers want to move into a house without having to make a lot of changes, so making minor repairs is an important factor when selling a house. Fix any fixtures or fittings that are broken such as cupboard handles, kitchen tiles or holes in walls. It is also a good idea to replace any threadbare or well-worn carpets as this could put off potential buyers too. When staging your home for viewings it is imperative that the property is clean and tidy. You don`t want it to be a show home and look unlived in, but a good clean will make the house more presentable. Watch out for the smells Bad smells are known to be one of the biggest turn offs for prospective buyers, so making sure that your drains and sinks are clean, your food bin is disinfected and that your house is aired out can make a big difference. Estate agents have been using pleasant smells to sell houses for many years. Freshly baked bread, cakes and muffins are popular but impractical for most home sellers, however brewing fresh coffee or lighting a citrus scented candle can help express a homely feel during viewings. Declutter If potential buyers cannot envisage themselves living in a property, it is harder for them to make a decision. People often find this difficult when looking around houses and one of the major reasons for this is clutter. Think about moving out or storing any bulky furniture and try to declutter as much as possible, but leave some of your personality to shine through. Open spaces and neutral colours often make small rooms feel bigger and make it easier for buyers to imagine their belongings in the space. A fresh lick of paint Many home buyers are looking for a blank canvas, something they can customise to their taste, and they are much more likely to be interested by neutral colours than bold ones. Neutral colours will also help to make your home seem lighter and bigger and allow viewers to easily envisage how they could adapt the room to their needs. Light blues, pale greys and pastel yellows are all good colour choices and provide a relaxing, warm and inviting feel to a room. Adding finishing touches Make sure that all of the windows are dressed properly with blinds, curtains or net curtains as windows without any dressing tend to make a room feel impersonal and run down. Wall mounted mirrors can make a room feel bigger and are perfect for providing a light and airy feel to dark areas. Add a touch of colour by bringing plants and flowers into the house; fruit bowls are also a good option and provide a wonderful smell too. Cushions and throws are an ideal choice for adding inexpensive pops of colour to a room and to convey a comfortable and warming feeling. Spend money to make money – updating and conversions This tip may seem a bit counter intuitive, but spending a little bit of money before selling your home can pay off in the long run. Simple updates such as changing the bathroom tiles or adding new cabinet doors in the kitchen can make a big a difference to the saleability and value of a property. An estate agent can make recommendations on what types of updates and conversions can add the most value, as well as advise you of what prospective buyers are looking for property wise in the local area. If you have enough spare cash to make a conversion, why not adapt a loft space into an extra room or build a conservatory for some extra space? These types of updates can add value to the house and make it a more interesting prospect for potential buyers. Presenting it to the market: When selling you need the best exposure, and in a world where most estate agents advertise in the same places the type of photos your agent can do for you is crucial. Here at novahomes we offer professional grade photos as part of our service, and at no additional cost. For more advice on how to present your home, or for any advice on what we can do in comparison to our competitors please call Lee or Andy on 01752 206040.

Moving Costs

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 12:00:00 GMT

The Costs of Moving House If you are thinking of moving house, here are some tips to help you out when you are considering buying a house and thinking about some costs that may get overlooked. Conveyancing fees – A solicitor or conveyancer will carry out this work, this is the legal process involved when buying a property. When budgeting for this it depends on the value of the home you are buying and the level of expertise required. A solicitor or conveyancer will carry out this work. They will also do local searches, which will cost you £250-£300, to check whether there are any local plans or problems. Electronic transfer fee- This often costs £40-£50 and it covers the lenders cost of transferring the mortgage money from the lender to the solicitor. Mortgage fees- often overlooked when you think of moving these costs might include: a booking fee, an arrangement fee and a mortgage valuation fee. Survey Costs - There are different types of survey for you to choose from, speaking to a Surveyor will help you to decide which one is right for you. It is a good idea not to let the cost cloud your judgement, they can cost anything from a few hundred pounds to over a thousand pounds but getting the wrong survey done can end up costing you a lot more in the long run. Stamp duty – Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax on properties bought in England and Northern Ireland. The good news is if you are first time buyer then there is no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000 for properties worth up to £500,000. For the rest of the market stamp duty is applied in bands and is based on the purchase price with no duty on the first £125,000. Purchase price of property Rate of Stamp Duty Buy to Let/ Additional Home Rate* £0 - £125,000 0% *3% £125,001 - £250,000 2% *5% £250,001 - £925,000 5% *8% £925,001 - £1,500,000 10% *13% However, as you see there is a 3% increase on top of current rates if you`re buying an additional residential property above £40,000 such as a second home or buy-to-let property. There are many stamp duty calculators available online that will help you work out the amount due. Home insurance- another cost that many buyers overlook. Not a large amount of money in the grand scheme of moving but not something you can overlook either. Estate agent fee – Most estate agents will look to charge between 1.8% and 2.4% of the property price for selling your home, Novahomes sole agency selling fee is just 0.9%. It is always a good idea to get a good range of quotes before deciding who to go with. Finally, when it comes to the moving day you`ll most likely need a removal company. Although if you are fit and able it is possible to save money by hiring a van and moving the furniture yourself. For more information or for an estimate of the value of your home call Matthew or Sarah Novahomes on 01752 206040,

The Bank Of Mum & Dad

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMT

The Bank of Mum and Dad is now an established part of the UK housing market. Parents helping their children onto the housing ladder are paying an average of £18,000 - but the amount varies considerably by area. In total for the year it will be the equivalent of a £5.7bn mortgage lender, supporting around 27% of all buyer, up from 25% in 2017. Figures from Legal and General show parental generosity varies across the country, unsurprisingly the highest average loan comes from families in London with a spend of £30,600. Here in the South West we are supporting our family by an average £19,300 which is the third highest amount in the country. In most cases, it is parents donating the money for these purchases, but grandparents, other family members and even friends supported 108,800 purchases between them last year. Surprisingly, the research suggests it`s not just those in early adult life or first-time buyers who are getting support. Over four out of 10 buyers aged 35 to 44 received financial help from family and friends, with more than a quarter of those aged 45 to 54 still relying on the Bank of Mum and Dad. Can it go on? An average `loan` of £18,000 is not exactly pocket change and when you look at the country as a whole £5.7bn is an eye watering sum of money. However, you may be surprised to know this is actually lower than in 2017. The total that year was a massive £6.5bn! Unsurprisingly this is having a toll on the parents, with 10% admitting that their generosity had left them feeling less secure about their own financial future, and nearly 1 in 5 say that they cut back as a result. Not every parent has such a large sum of cash available so where does the money come from? There are ways for parents to use the equity in their existing homes to help their children buy their first property, without resorting to selling up and downsizing. Lenders have recognised the trend and now there are schemes available where parents and children to go into partnership. For example, The Post Office offers a ‘family-link` mortgage, which works by giving the first-time buyer a 90 per cent loan-to-value mortgage secured against the property they`re buying plus an interest-free five-year loan secured on a close relative or parent`s home. If you are looking for your first home and want to know more about the options available call Matthew or Sarah on 01752 206040.

Swla Members – Plymouth Landlords – Free Energy Saving Measures

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Do you have a property in Devonport, Ham or St Budeaux electoral wards? (to include Devonport, Keyham, Morice Town, Ham, Weston Mill, Pennycross, North Prospect, Kings Tamerton, St Budeaux, Barne Barton and parts of Stoke and Beacon Park) To check which ward a property falls into, the postcode can be entered at https://mapit.mysociety.org/ and it will tell you immediately. Plymouth Energy Community are working with Plymouth City Council to provide free energy saving measures to homeowners and private renting tenants. Everything that they provide is free including; • LED lightbulbs • Draught excluders (door, window, letter box etc) • Pipe and tank lagging • New Thermostatic Radiator Valves (if not present or not functioning efficiently). • Advice on reducing damage caused by condensation No means testing. Completely free of charge. To enquire, call 01752 477117 or email energyteam@plymouthenergycommunity.com Click the following link for more info; Energy Team – Big Bills Save Money If you click on the Energy Team link there is a leaflet to go with it – pop on Facebook and website perhaps . Thank you

Help For First Time Buyers In The Budget

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Philip Hammond made a much-expected move to help first-time buyers after announcing that he would abolish stamp duty for those buying homes worth less than £500,000 via a shared ownership scheme, although it is expected to only cost the government £5 million. Effective from today onwards, it will also be backdated to November 2017. HOUSING FUND The Chancellor also revealed that the government will provide a further £500m for its housing infrastructure fund, which will unlock 650,000 homes. Other measures announced today include a new Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme to run from 2021 until 2023 but only for first time buyers, and a consultation on a 1% extra Stamp Duty charge for non-residents buying homes in the UK. `Whilst we are still opposed to the notion, we are pleased to see the government climb down from their original 3% stamp duty levy on international buyers to 1%,` says Guy Bradshaw, Director of Central London Sales and Lettings at UK Sotheby`s International Realty (left). `We have a number of international clients who are anxiously waiting to hear more news on this tax, which we believe will do nothing to increase our attractiveness abroad or aid transactions locally,` The government is also to continue its attack on landlords, who will soon have the amount of capital gains tax Lettings Relief given to them for renting out their properties reduced. Only those who share their home with a tenant will not face a reduced relief when they sell. David Smith `With the demand for private rented housing rising whilst supply is shrinking, we needed pro-growth taxation measures to ensure that tenants have an adequate supply of housing to choose from,` says David Smith, Policy Director for the Residential Landlords Association. HOLIDAY LETS Hammond also addressed the short-lets industry, announcing a consultation on how Airbnb properties should be treated by HMRC; as commercial entities that should pay business rates or private homes that pay council tax. The Chancellor also revealed a plan to bolster high streets with a £650 million fund and a one-third cut in business rates for shops with a rateable value under £51,000, which may be applicable to a small number of sales and lettings agents. One expected announcement was not made – to offer landlords the opportunity to sell their homes without paying capital gains tax if they offer the property to a sitting tenant. It was also expected that Hammond would support a campaign to improve tenant creditworthiness and their access to affordable home loans promoted by fellow Conservative MP Justine Greening, but this failed to materialise. INDUSTRY RESPONSES Kevin Roberts, Director, Legal & General Mortgage Club *says: `The Government clearly recognises the benefits of Shared Ownership as a genuine option for individuals, couples and families who want to become homeowners. `Hopefully, this exemption will now bring about even more awareness of the scheme and make it as widely recognised as other high-profile tenures such as Help to Buy.` David Westgate, Group Chief Executive at Andrews Property Group, says: `News that Stamp Duty would be abolished for all first-time buyers of shared ownership properties up to £500k should be welcomed. I`ve made no secret of my views on how punitive Stamp Duty charges have exacerbated an already sluggish market and any move that will lessen the impact felt by purchasers is good news. `It doesn`t, however, go far enough and I maintain the view that a complete and thorough review of Stamp Duty is required. Such a review would result in radical change and whilst that might mean lower individual receipts in to the Exchequer, the impact it would have on overall volumes would at least cancel that out.` To find out about local shared ownership schemes, or to talk over your options with any investment property you currently own or plan to buy now is the time to contact Novahomes and get some great advice. 01752 206040

When To Sell...

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Ask any expert when the best time to sell your property is and the answer will almost certainly be spring. The season is a firm favourite amongst house hunters as the weather improves and the prospect of ‘new beginnings` inspires thoughts of a move. However, if you`re considering waiting until spring before listing your property you could be missing a trick! Indeed, you might want to take a closer look at the festive season. Rightmove says straight after Christmas day people start thinking about property. It saw a 228% increase in pages viewed on Rightmove between Christmas Day and the 2nd January 2018. On Christmas Day itself in 2017, there were 11 million page visits while the 2nd of January saw 38 million pages viewed. Of course, it`s not really surprising that the end of December is a prime time for house hunters to start their search. Most of us are off work so have the time to browse these sites for our next property. And there`s no better time for a new start than the New Year. `Homeowners often decide to sell or let their properties over Christmas but do nothing about it until January – big mistake,` says Jeremy Leaf, a former RICS Residential Chairman & independent North London estate agent. `Many people make moving one of their new year`s resolutions, especially if intending to change jobs early in 2019 so often consider buying or renting in December. `The Christmas holiday is also a time for visiting relatives and friends in unfamiliar places which gives an opportunity for prospective purchasers to check possible moves away from their present area. You may not want prospective purchasers viewing your property while finishing turkey leftovers but some agents (including my firm!) will be open every day except the public holidays if you`re up for it. `December this year has been busier for us than expected as buyers take advantage of more competitive rents and prices as well as very low mortgage rates – despite Brexit!` So how can you capitalise on the increase in interested buyers? Call us today on 01752 206040

Have You Considered Hygge?

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMT

To Be Accompanied Or Not, That Is The Question...

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMT

To Be Accompanied Or Not To Be Accompanied? That is the question... which as a seller you will have to decide when choosing an estate agent. Many local agents like myself firmly believe that an accompanied viewing service should always form part and parcel of what is on offer by an estate agent. However with the rise of the online only estate agents, and some local agents offering a ‘skinny` version of their service there are a number of options available where the estate agent does not accompany the viewings, rather you as the seller show your own home. To that end I thought I would pen a few pearls of wisdom saved up over my 15 years of showing home hunters around that may shed some light when you, as a would be seller, consider what`s right: `I know More About My Home Than Any Agent Does` This in fact is true. There are no estate agents in your area who know your home better than you do. My advice here is to take a step back, as conducting a viewing is not just about knowing the most about a property, it`s also the one chance to have a buyer walk away with a mind to putting in an offer. As with many things in life, it`s not a case of simply telling a buyer absolutely everything there is to know about the house, there is also the fine art of what not to say, when to say it, and most importantly HOW to say it. This takes time, experience and practise, which the average seller does not have. Your estate agent is your homes experienced and professional PR Rep! Sure the owners of Marks and Spencers could be in all of the adverts and do the announcements, as they know the most about the company, but it`s their PR team who take all of that knowledge, and combine it with the right approach to make it not just a chocolate pudding, but an M&S Chocolate pudding… `I really liked him, but she was a total nightmare…` You can`t get on with everyone! Selling a house is no different. When a potential buyer and seller meet, and have to deal directly with each other its human nature for opinions and personalities to sometimes clash. A clash of personalities is much less likely to happen when you are specifically there to be liked by the people your meeting, and also to be the consummate professional no matter how rude someone is. An opinionated guest in your home is much less likely to be accommodated by you, than by a third party who is paid not to take offence! `I Swear To Tell The Truth, The Whole Truth….` I have been on literally thousands of viewings, and one thing that almost always happens at the end of them is I ask what the person viewing thought of the house. Why do we ask? There are two reasons, firstly I want to know if they are interested in buying the house, and secondly I want to know if they are not, then what put them off not only so I can give my client some feedback but to be given the chance to overcome their objections to change their minds. On the same note, I can also tell you that I learnt very quickly that if I ask that question in front of the seller if they are home, then the answer is always the same: `Yes its lovely, we`ll be in touch…` That`s because buyers rarely offer honest advice when speaking to the seller direct. If you want some honest feedback about your home, and some good constructive advice from people who are out looking directly at the houses you are competing against then you need an estate agent to carry out your viewing appointments. My firm advice is that if you want to get the best price for your home, and not miss out on a buyer who makes the effort to enquire about viewing then you should only use an estate agent that offers accompanied viewings as their standard level of service. Any option to add it in simply means your getting something the estate agent does not really want to do, and any marketing service without this is simply costing you money down the drain. For some further advice on the marketing of your home please call me on Plymouth 206040. Lee Whitelaw Novahomes Company Owner.

Tips For Presenting Your Home

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Selling your home can take a bit of work. You`ve agreed your asking price, now it`s time to try and achieve it. Remember your prospective buyers are going to be seeing a lot of homes and they may already be tired and stressed with the whole process. Make it easy for them to choose your property over the next three they see. Don`t give them any easy reasons to dislike it.

Making your home ‘market ready` does require time and a little bit of investment to make help it reach its maximum resale valuation. There is a lot you can do to spruce up you home that needn`t cost the earth – simple techniques can freshen up your rooms and present a much more appealing, newer model. Here`s our top eight tips:

1. Ramp up the curb appeal
They say first impressions count, so the exterior of your home is the place to start. Tidy the gardens, touch up the paintwork or wash down the PVC, make sure the guttering isn`t blocked or leaking and give a shiny big house number pride of place. Think of putting up a few hanging baskets and adding an exterior light if your viewings are likely to be in the winter. It will add to the all important welcoming touch.

2. De-clutter and de-personalise
If you want your home to appeal to as many buyers as possible, you need to help them picture themselves living in your space. And they can`t do that if all they can see are your personal belongings and family portraits adorning every inch of space. Clutter can also make rooms seem smaller and give the impression of a lack of storage space. The best thing to do is box up your personal possessions and store them away – treat it as starting the packing up process early. All being well, you`ll have to do it at some point anyway.

3. Repair
Buyers don`t want to think about repairs the minute they move in, and you don`t want simple ‘little fixes` putting them off. Fix the leaking tap, the cracked windowpane and if the lights have gone out replace the bulbs.

4. A mini-makeover
If your kitchen is dated, freshen it up with a lick of paint, new cupboard doors and drawers or door handles. If you`ve got carpet replace it with lino or tiles if your budget will stretch. Installing new taps and re-grouting in both the kitchen and bathroom are good ways to achieve an instant result. In the bathroom, install a new shower screen or curtain and add a new bath mat and fresh, fluffy towels.

5. A lick of paint
If you`ve gone for bold colours, tone them down with natural shades. It may not be to your taste, but the more neutral the better. Freshen up white paintwork and generally give everywhere a once over with the paintbrush. It`s a cheap way to achieve an instant transformation and make your rooms light, bright and airy. But don`t forget to do it in plenty of time so that buyers aren`t hit by paint fumes as soon as they enter through the front door.

6. Accessorise
While you don`t want to clutter your rooms, nor do you want them to look completely un-lived in. Add houseplants to add interest and colour, add cushions and throws on your sofas, look at adding mirrors to increase the sense of space and light, particularly in smaller or darker rooms.

7. Re-visit the layouts
You want to get across the size of your home and how buyers can make the most of the available space. If you know your target market is going to be families, it`s no good having the second bedroom as a study. If it`s meant to be a single room, add in a single bed. If it can fit a double add a double. Look at each room from the doorway – does the flow seem right, if you shuffled the furniture could you make it look bigger?

8. Clean!
Grubby homes do nothing but deter would-be buyers. Dirt and grime can make it seem like there`s a lot of work to be done when really it`s something that can be fixed with a squirt or two of Flash. Spend some time deep cleaning and giving it a once over before each viewing. And don`t forget to rid your home of pet or tobacco smells – there is nothing quite as off-putting as a smell of wet dog.

Can An Extension Add Value?

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Can A Single Story Extension Increase My Property Price

Many home owners have considered extending their property, especially in recent years with the cost of moving going up year on year. One question people often consider is `should this extension be one or two floors, and will I make my money back on a single floor extension`.

Any extension work should always be looked at from a ‘time and cost` perspective. If you plan to enjoy the extension yourself and live in the property for years to come the added value on your price may not be as influential. However if you are looking purely from a ‘cost v sale price` perspective then extension works should be more carefully considered.

My name is Lee Whitelaw, and as a local estate agent I am asked this question many times from both sellers and buyers. In this article I have highlighted some top tips, and also given case study examples of properties which I have personally dealt with to help anyone currently asking this question.

Top Tips:

What Am I Extending?
This really boils down to what sort of space you are adding and falls broadly into two categories; Living Space and Bedroom Space.

As a rule of thumb adding bedrooms will increase the value of a home more than simply adding livings space. For example if you split a large bedroom into two smaller ones, although the floor space is the same, typically, and as many sales in Plymouth have proven a three bedroom home, despite having smaller room sizes will be more valuable to the market than a two bedroom home. This also applies to extra space. A four bedroom home has a perceived higher value than a three bedroom home, despite increased living space. There are always exceptions to this rule, but as a general rule of thumb if you`re looking to maximise the price tag of your finished build, then bedroom space is a sure winner!

What Am I Losing?
This is always a tricky one as inevitably by extending your property, you will lose some outside space. In my opinion this should never be off putting, as let`s face it we live in England, and although we all love spending time in the garden in the sunny weather, the inside of our home is where the majority of time is spent, and also where buyers concentrate. With some clever ideas, time and effort even a small garden can be made to look attractive. If you extend then fail to maximise your garden space then don`t be surprised when potential buyers are put off by your reduced outside space. However if you account for some outside renovations in your budget for an extension then you`re already ahead of the curve!

How To Build A Budget
Something which many people overlook is the property value, not just the cost of the works. Getting several quotes and using reputable trades people are the basics, but I want to talk more about the actual property value.

When considering this sort of work, either to get personal enjoyment or to seriously consider maximising value, getting some free advice from a reputable local estate agent can be very useful. Once you have a firm idea of the current value, and a rough idea of cost, you can also get the agent to give an estimation of sale price post extension, which many agents are happy to do.

This way you know by doing certain types of building works you will either need to do it for the love of the property and forget the resale price, or you can proceed with full knowledge that following the works if you decided to sell then it`s all been worth it in the end.

Should I Go Into The Loft?
This is often a great way to gain extra space but not lose any other part of your plot. If after professional advice it appears your loft space is suitable for conversion, the choice to go ahead can seem attractive but just because something is possible, does not always mean it`s prudent.

There are two main considerations when looking at loft conversions. The first is similar to my first tip, and is about deciding if you can add bedroom space. This does not mean adding a slighter bigger room upstairs, but rather adding an actual bedroom. This depends entirely on where the stairs can go, as making another bedroom a walk through with stairs to your new space will remove the label of bedroom, and make this space a hallway extension. In this circumstance to add value, the new bedroom needs to add so much space or convenience that it increases the price of the property without increasing the actual number of bedrooms, something which is more of a minority than majority when taking into account the cost.

The other major consideration is will you be able to secure full planning or most importantly building regulation sign off. The number of times I have visited a three bedroom property which a seller would like a four bedroom price for due to a loft room, but I have had to refuse, is considerable. Getting a family friend to put in a stair case and do a conversion at a great price, but is either not qualified or does not go through the process of building regulation inspection of sign off will mean your newly created oasis will always need to be described as loft space when selling. Therefore seriously impacting the price achievable. Where possible any loft conversion should be done with planning and building regulation sign off as without that you are not extending, you are simply making your loft space more attractive.

Case Study:

This property in the Eggbuckland area of Plymouth has been sold by myself both pre and post extension works. I also valued the property in the middle in accordance with the advice above.

Sale Price £178,500 May 2013

This was a three bedroom semi detached family home with garage, gardens and driveway.

Following the purchase the new owners decided they wanted to make the living space bigger at the rear by adding a single story extension, and also extending the front area, thus re-shaping the living space to allow for an extra bedroom and bathroom.

Sale Price £265,000 August 2016

Now a four bedroom semi detached family home with extended living space and additional bathroom.

This is a prime example of how a single story extension, when done correctly and bedroom space has been added it not only ensured a great property, but the vendor got a great return on their investment.

Any seller who would like some free independent advice on any work they are considering is welcome to contact Novahomes on 01752 206040.

Electrical Safety Standards – Change to legislation – Effective from 1st July 2020

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:00:00 GMT

The government have recently made changes to the electrical safety standards legislation within the private rented sector. These new Regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at least every 5 years. Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, and to their local authority if requested.

The regulations came into force on 1 June 2020, they apply to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and existing tenancies from 1 April 2021. The relevant date for determining when the new requirements apply is the date on which the tenancy is granted. A new tenancy is one that was granted on or after 1 June 2020.

Landlords of privately rented accommodation must:
• Ensure national standards for electrical safety are met. These are set out in the 18th edition of the ‘Wiring Regulations`, which are published as British Standard 7671.
• Ensure the electrical installations in their rented properties are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every 5 years.
• Obtain a report from the person conducting the inspection and test which gives the results and sets a date for the next inspection and test.
• Supply a copy of this report to the existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection and test.
• Supply a copy of this report to a new tenant before they occupy the premises.
• Supply a copy of this report to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request for the report.
• Supply the local authority with a copy of this report within 7 days of receiving a request for a copy.
• Retain a copy of the report to give to the inspector and tester who will undertake the next inspection and test.
• Where the report shows that remedial or further investigative work is necessary, complete this work within 28 days or any shorter period if specified as necessary in the report.
• Supply written confirmation of the completion of the remedial works from the electrician to the tenant and the local authority within 28 days of completion of the works.

Landlords must obtain a report (usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR) from the person conducting the inspection and test which explains its outcomes and any investigative or remedial work required.

Novahomes have a number of qualified competent contractors working with current landlords to ensure new tenancies have the required safety standards and Electrical Inspections Condition Report Certificates in place.

If you have a further questions or require guidance and additional information, please do not hesitate to call or email us. We would be delighted to help.

New Electrical Safety Standards

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 12:00:00 GMT

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 have been in place for several months now.

While letting agents and landlords will be familiar with organising electrical testing for new tenancies, the regulations will be extended to all existing tenancies from next April.

With this in mind, how do you work out which tenancies come under the scope of the regulations next year and how can property professionals work towards the new deadline effectively?

What is the difference between new and existing tenancies?

From July 1, the regulations have applied to new tenancies granted on or after June 1 2020. From April 1 2021, the regulations will be extended to cover all existing tenancies.

If you are letting social housing, accommodation shared with a landlord or landlord`s family, student halls, holiday lets, hostels, long leases, care homes, hospices or hospitals, you will not be required to comply with the regulations.

However, all other types of let fall within the scope of the regulations. If a tenancy was granted on or after June 1, it counts as a new tenancy and therefore the regulations must be complied with immediately.

Any tenancy granted before June 1 counts as an existing tenancy and will not come under the regulations until next April - here`s what you need to know:

If the tenancy doesn`t have a fixed-term ending between June 1 2020 and April 1 2021, it will fall within the scope of the regulations on April 1 2021 or upon renewal, whichever is sooner.

If it does have a fixed-term ending between June this year and April next year, you need to check if the original agreement states that the fixed-term will become periodic.

If it does, then the tenancy is a contractual periodic tenancy and no new tenancy would need to be created. The existing tenancy would fall within the scope of the regulations on April 1 2021 or upon renewal, whichever is sooner.

If the agreement doesn`t state that the fixed-term will become periodic, a new statutory periodic tenancy would be created under Section 5 of the Housing Act 1988. This means the new tenancy would fall within the scope of the regulations on April 1 2021 or upon renewal, whichever is sooner.

The above guidance means that the vast majority of existing tenancies granted before June this year will need to be brought in line with the electrical safety regulations by next year`s April deadline.

How should electrical checks be carried out?

To comply with the regulations, letting agents and landlords are required to provide an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) before the start of a new tenancy. They must also ensure that all fixed electrical installations are inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified professional.

The contractor that you employ to carry out the checks must be a member of a competent scheme. If not, they will need to sign a checklist certifying that they have the competence to carry out the checks.

The inspection, which will check `fixed` electrics such as wiring, sockets, light fittings and fuse boxes, will check if installations are overloaded or if there are any potential electric shock risks or fire hazards.

They will also need to look at permanent connected equipment such as showers and extractor fans.

The electrician will also be checking for a lack of earthing or bonding or whether there is any defective electrical work in the rental property.

They will need to ensure that the installations and standards in the rented property meet the 18th Edition of the Wiring regulations to British Standard 7671.

Following the inspection, the landlord or agent must obtain a report which provides the results and sets a date for the next inspection. This report must be supplied to new tenants before they move in or to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.

If prospective tenants or the local authority request a copy of the report, it must be provided in 28 days and seven days respectively. If the report suggests that further inspections or repairs are needed, the work must be carried out within 28 days or a shorter period if deemed necessary.

Once the work has been completed, written confirmation must be supplied to the tenant and the local authority within 28 days.

Working towards the April 2021 deadline

With the regulations applying to all new tenancies since June and existing tenancies from next April, property professionals have a window to make sure checks for existing tenancies are completed in line with the 2021 deadline.

Compliance is extremely important – not only to ensure tenants` safety and the upkeep of landlords` properties, but those in breach of the regulations could be hit with a fine of up to £30,000.

Over recent months, demand in the rental market has been higher than usual as more tenants have been moving between properties post-lockdown. This means agents will have to juggle completing electrical checks for a higher number of new tenancies than usual, alongside preparing to get them sorted for all existing tenancies.

To avoid facing a backlog of outstanding checks and risking non-compliance, having access to multiple electricians is crucial. Here at PropCert, for example, we have a database of over 250 electricians nationwide.

Meanwhile, technology which allows property professionals to place orders online, track with real time updates and store certificates securely can reduce your workload, allowing you to remain compliant with changing legislation while providing an outstanding service for landlords and tenants.

*Tom Harrington is managing director of PropCert, a leading national supplier of property certificates for property professionals.

COVID-19 Statement

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Updated 05 Jan 2021

Visitors:
If you need to visit our office please could we ask you contact us first as we will only be accepting visitors who have a confirmed appointment to ensure the very best level of service and safety for our team, customers and business associates.

Valuations:
If you are looking to have your property valued for either selling or letting please contact our office as we are pleased to say we will still be providing this service. Please contact our office to discuss how this can take place.

Property Viewings:
We will continue to offer property viewings at this present time but due to customer instructions this will be naturally interrupted. Please contact our office to discuss the property you are interested in, and we can make arrangements on a case by case basis.

Operations:
We have a robust communication and customer contact system in place at Novahomes and if the government decide to take drastic steps and close our sector of businesses, we are well placed to be able to continue to serve our customers. If needed we will employ remote working and client updates. Any concerned customers should feel free to call or email our office to discuss this further.

As a company we would like to thank customers for their support so far during a difficult time, and we hope you are all safe and well. We look forward to continuing to support and serve our local community.

Can an Extension Increase My Property Price

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Can A Single Story Extension Increase My Property Price

Many home owners have considered extending their property, especially in recent years with the cost of moving going up year on year. One question people often consider is `should this extension be one or two floors, and will I make my money back on a single floor extension`.

Any extension work should always be looked at from a ‘time and cost` perspective. If you plan to enjoy the extension yourself and live in the property for years to come the added value on your price may not be as influential. However if you are looking purely from a ‘cost v sale price` perspective then extension works should be more carefully considered.

My name is Lee Whitelaw, and as a local estate agent I am asked this question many times from both sellers and buyers. In this article I have highlighted some top tips, and also given case study examples of properties which I have personally dealt with to help anyone currently asking this question.

Top Tips:

What Am I Extending?
This really boils down to what sort of space you are adding and falls broadly into two categories; Living Space and Bedroom Space.

As a rule of thumb adding bedrooms will increase the value of a home more than simply adding livings space. For example if you split a large bedroom into two smaller ones, although the floor space is the same, typically, and as many sales in Plymouth have proven a three bedroom home, despite having smaller room sizes will be more valuable to the market than a two bedroom home. This also applies to extra space. A four bedroom home has a perceived higher value than a three bedroom home, despite increased living space. There are always exceptions to this rule, but as a general rule of thumb if you`re looking to maximise the price tag of your finished build, then bedroom space is a sure winner!

What Am I Losing?
This is always a tricky one as inevitably by extending your property, you will lose some outside space. In my opinion this should never be off putting, as let`s face it we live in England, and although we all love spending time in the garden in the sunny weather, the inside of our home is where the majority of time is spent, and also where buyers concentrate. With some clever ideas, time and effort even a small garden can be made to look attractive. If you extend then fail to maximise your garden space then don`t be surprised when potential buyers are put off by your reduced outside space. However if you account for some outside renovations in your budget for an extension then you`re already ahead of the curve!

How To Build A Budget
Something which many people overlook is the property value, not just the cost of the works. Getting several quotes and using reputable trades people are the basics, but I want to talk more about the actual property value.

When considering this sort of work, either to get personal enjoyment or to seriously consider maximising value, getting some free advice from a reputable local estate agent can be very useful. Once you have a firm idea of the current value, and a rough idea of cost, you can also get the agent to give an estimation of sale price post extension, which many agents are happy to do.

This way you know by doing certain types of building works you will either need to do it for the love of the property and forget the resale price, or you can proceed with full knowledge that following the works if you decided to sell then it`s all been worth it in the end.

Should I Go Into The Loft?
This is often a great way to gain extra space but not lose any other part of your plot. If after professional advice it appears your loft space is suitable for conversion, the choice to go ahead can seem attractive but just because something is possible, does not always mean it`s prudent.

There are two main considerations when looking at loft conversions. The first is similar to my first tip, and is about deciding if you can add bedroom space. This does not mean adding a slighter bigger room upstairs, but rather adding an actual bedroom. This depends entirely on where the stairs can go, as making another bedroom a walk through with stairs to your new space will remove the label of bedroom, and make this space a hallway extension. In this circumstance to add value, the new bedroom needs to add so much space or convenience that it increases the price of the property without increasing the actual number of bedrooms, something which is more of a minority than majority when taking into account the cost.

The other major consideration is will you be able to secure full planning or most importantly building regulation sign off. The number of times I have visited a three bedroom property which a seller would like a four bedroom price for due to a loft room, but I have had to refuse, is considerable. Getting a family friend to put in a stair case and do a conversion at a great price, but is either not qualified or does not go through the process of building regulation inspection of sign off will mean your newly created oasis will always need to be described as loft space when selling. Therefore seriously impacting the price achievable. Where possible any loft conversion should be done with planning and building regulation sign off as without that you are not extending, you are simply making your loft space more attractive.

The Survey

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 12:00:00 GMT

So you have agreed a sale and now it`s time for the surveyor to visit and look over the property. Sounds simple enough, however how can you be sure the advice you are about to get is accurate and will lead you to make the right decisions?

With 15 years industry experience I am pleased to pass on some of the lessons I have learnt, and the advice to both buyers and sellers over the years;

Ask someone what`s wrong and they`ll usually think of something!:
This is a particularly true concept when hiring any expert to investigate something on your behalf, in so much as you are paying someone to specifically tell you as many negatives about the item you are buying as possible. If you asked Kim and Aggy from `How clean is your home` to come in and swab for potentially dangerous bacteria they will likely find some. Does that mean you should evacuate? Of course not, such tests must be taken in context and a survey is no different. With properties built thirty, fifty or eighty years ago it`s not surprising that at least something should come up as every home needs to be loved. Maintaining and repairing a home is as much a part of home ownership as checking its condition when you first buy.

Horses for Courses:
I often think of surveyors as doctors, that way it keeps things in perspective. If you go along to your local GP, and have an issue with your eye, you want them to check it out. Often they can tell you their opinion on it, but ultimately without further investigation they don`t know for sure in most cases as despite all of their qualifications and experience, its impossible to be an expert in every section of a particular field. At this point usually they will refer you to see (no pun intended) a local eye specialist. Does that mean they expect you to get further investigations by an expert and find something sinister, often no, they simply want to give you the best advice. Surveyors are very similar as they are not qualified electrical, drainage, roof or damp experts, so if they suspect something or cannot be sure, they will still recommend further investigation by a specialist. The recommendation is often taken out of context by many buyers and sellers. If the surveyor has suggested the drainage should be checked as they know of a recent drainage issue in the area, then it`s easy as a buyer to think there is a major issue with the drainage without any further investigation. When in actual fact a drainage expert may just advise some remedial works or find that nothing is wrong.

Homebuyers Can Jump The Traffic Lights:
Following the change in 2010 to how a homebuyers report is presented you will notice the green, amber and red traffic light system. This can be very confusing at first as most sensible people would assume that something in red is a very serious problem and need repairing. This is true, however the traffic light assigned relates to the worst possible part of whatever section of the property is in discussion. For example, if you have just had your roof replaced in the last week with a brand new one all singing and dancing, and the day before the survey three tiles were accidentally damaged by your next door neighbours window cleaner, then you would know that the roof is absolutely sound save those three tiles that need replacing. You and I might argue that the roof is therefore a green light overall, but a note should be added to say three tiles need immediate repair. This sadly is not how a homebuyers is required to be rated, as those three tiles are totally smashed, they represent the worst part of the finding, and therefore the traffic light must be red, as a tiny part of that brilliant roof, needs immediate repair. For this reason reading the surveyors notes, is crucial to understanding the report. It may surprise some buyers to learn that rarely do you find a report where the gas fittings, and electrical fittings are not in red. This does not mean every house in the UK is uninhabitable, it simply means that because the surveyor is not qualified in gas and electric checks, and there is no certificate available they must mark it as red and suggest further investigation. Again both systems could have been replaced in the last year, but if the documentation was not at hand on the surveyors visit, then they get marked red. This again highlights how crucial a conversation, this time with the seller of their agent is to establish the actual state of the fittings, and then you can sensibly decide if further investigation is in fact needed.

Surveyors Are People Too:
Despite most of your communication being through formal written reports and third party messages your surveyor has actually been to the property, and despite having to produce a formal written report with many guidelines and specifications most surveyors are happy to have a chat with their paying client to put a more personal, and straight talking perspective on their findings. This conversation is often vital in getting to the real crux of what a report is trying to say without the use of the formal jargon or the industry constraints on how a survey has to be written up.

Look at the Steak Not the Peas:
When negotiating with a buyer or seller on something which was not expected in a survey, it can often become a matter of pride and principal. I have seen sellers who have achieved thousands more than they initially expected, loose a buyer as they were not willing to reduce by £500 for some minor repairs, and buyers who secured a property for a great price walk away from a property as it had suspected woodworm and the vendor refused to pay for the treatment, even though the buyer had got a great price and could have paid for it themselves at a cost of £200 they ended up losing the house!

Overall the survey is one part of the transaction and the best advice is to always take multiple opinions so speak to your lawyers, mortgage broker, estate agents and local tradesman before making any decisions.

Written By
Lee Whitelaw
Plymouth Property Professional

Landlords using companies to buy a property What are the pros and cons?

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 12:00:00 GMT

Summary

Landlords are facing increased financial challenges as a result of the restriction in loan interest relief and increased cost of borrowing. Understanding the tax efficiency of holding property in a company could well reduce a landlord`s tax cost and therefore increase financial returns. But what are the practical steps involved?

In this session we were joined by Mark Stemp, Tax Partner at Crowe UK, who has over 20 years of experience advising clients and their agents as a property tax specialist.

Why is understanding the advantages and disadvantages important at the moment?

Landlords are facing increases in tax liabilities currently. It`s important to understand the pros and cons so that you can structure your business in the way that`s most tax efficient and reduce these pressures as much as possible.

What tax pressures are landlords facing?

● Loan interest restriction
● 3% surcharge on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for owning more than one residential property.
This has resulted in an increase in income tax.

Other pressures landlords are facing include:

● Loan interest rates increased.
● Additional legislation, for example with EPCs and potential costs incurred to bring properties up to the required energy efficiency standard.
● The potential for more rent controls, as seen in Scotland.

These things all affect financial returns and, in some cases, require action from landlords to try to protect their business.

What are we seeing landlords do?

1. Increasing rents
2. Selling properties to reduce debt
3. Increasing tax efficiency
4. Considering different ownership structures

Ownership structures

There are many different ownership structures that can be used when owning residential property. These include owning property individually, jointly as a partnership, or through a trust. There is also the option for partners and trusts to own property via a company, and we will look at the potential benefits to this.

You`ll need to consider:

1. Personal tax rates when owning property individually, jointly or in partnership.

2. Company tax rates plus profit extraction taxes when owning property through a company.

3. Whether this is a new acquisition or existing property ownership and the implications of changing personal ownership to company ownership later on. (Thinking medium to long term).

Personal ownership

Taxes you may be liable to pay when owning property personally include:

● Income Tax, which depends on your overall earnings and could be 20%/40%/45% or more. The loan interest relief restriction may mean tax rates are higher.
● Capital Gains Tax (CGT), which is 28% tax on the growth in the property value while you owned it.
● Inheritance Tax. The standard rate is 40%.
● SDLT calculated at the normal rate +3% when owning more than one property. There`s also an additional 2% to pay for non-UK residents.

Company ownership

When owning property through a company, these are the taxes you may be liable for:

● Corporation Tax. This is payable on any rental profits at 19%, increasing to 25% for some in April 2023. Companies are eligible for relief for loan interest, so this can be benefited from.
● Corporation Tax on capital gains, rates as above.
● Income Tax on extraction from the company, if applicable. You will pay personal income tax on the dividend dependent on your rate of tax.

Things to note with company ownership:

● Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED). There may be an exemption from tax charge, however an annual tax return is still required.
● SDLT when acquiring property. The same rates apply when buying as an individual, including the 3% surcharge.
● Inheritance Tax at 40%.

How do you determine the best ownership structure for your properties?

Firstly, do a cost benefit analysis.

This will include determining your personal income tax rate and comparing this alongside the tax you`d be liable to pay as a company, and seeing how the two compare.

You may find that owning personally can be better if extracting all profits, and owning as a company may be better if repaying corporate debt or restricting profit extraction from the company.

Key considerations when owning property through a company

● How much is the potential tax benefit of owning as a company vs the extra costs?
● Will you be taking a dividend?
● Paying down capital repayments quicker. Retained profits and repayments of capital are charged to Corporation Tax not Income Tax.
● The compliance efforts and complexity is greater when owning through a company.
● There are some additional costs incurred for accounting and tax returns.

What about if I already own property and want to transfer it to a company? Is it worth it?

This can be costly and complicated, but it is possible. You will be liable for CGT and SDLT. You will need to weigh up whether those costs are outweighed by the benefits of the property being owned by a company going forward. Take advice on the reliefs available.

When deciding that company ownership is best, who should own the shares?

You could consider:

● Involving the wider family
● Children & grandchildren
● Creating a Family Trust which allows you to retain control and protect the asset.

When using a Trust structure, it allows dividends to be taken later on by children (when they are no longer minors) or grandchildren when they are in need of cash for things like house deposits or other expenses.

This is where you can benefit from the beneficiary`s income tax rate being lower, for example if they`re a student, or earning a lower amount as the tax rate for the dividend will be calculated based on this.

Your questions answered

Q: Can you gift a mortgage-free property to a company without tax liability?
A: There is CGT to consider from your side. When the company receives the property, there will be a liability for SDLT. If you were gifting to an individual, there wouldn`t be SDLT to pay.

Q: What costs does a landlord face moving a property into a company? Is it cheaper to buy a new property as a company?
A: You need to consider CGT and SDLT. There are some tax reliefs, but they`re not available to everyone. You tend to find new properties are easier to acquire in a company rather than transferring an existing one, as there is only SDLT to think about in that case.

Q: If I wanted to buy a property from myself via my company, what are the rules on gifting a property or selling at a very low price?
A: The tax office will look at the market value of the property, so you will need a valuation to get the right figure and then this will determine the tax liability. You should use market value when considering this.

Q: My dad wants to transfer a property into mine and my brothers` company, is this possible or is it better to make him a shareholder?
A: If he wants to transfer his property to your company, this is a normal conveyance and he will need to pay CGT, the company will need to pay SDLT. If you choose to make your father a shareholder, you need to think about Inheritance Tax planning. I probably wouldn`t advise making him a shareholder. If the reason for considering this is Inheritance Tax, look at loans out of your company to him which he can do planning with.

Q: I own property myself and own other property through my company. I did not set up a trust, am I able to create one now or later?
A: Most of the time, yes. There are quite a lot of tax benefits to trusts in terms of Inheritance Tax. As an individual you put value into a trust up to £325,000, and as a married couple it`s
£650,000. You could transfer some of your shares, as long as that is below £325,000 (or
£650,000 as a married couple) then there`s probably no tax to pay on setting up that trust.

Q: I understand that Capital Gains Tax is payable later if you have transferred the property into a company at the outset, but it was not payable at the time. How is that Capital Gains Tax then paid and at what rate?
A: In short, you could, if you meet the criteria defer the CGT from the incorporation relief. Where the CGT comes back into play is where there is a change to the shares in future. At this stage the CGT becomes payable. Of course, this change may never be made and could be deferred for a very long time or not at all in the event that you die before making that change. When the company sells the property in future, the corporation tax is only due on the base cost uplift, so this can be a benefit.

Q: I own a property through my limited company. Can I offset the corporation tax by contributing the rental income to my pension?
A: It`s possible to extract your money in different ways. We have talked about dividends, but instead you could make pension contributions. This does have some restrictions, but it`s worth looking into it to possibly reduce your corporation tax liability if you`re actively involved in the business.

Q: Do you think tax liabilities will be lowered over the next ten years?
A: The current view when looking at the government is that tax rates are on the increase. We`ve just seen corporation tax increased from 19% to 25% (as of April 23), and a reversal on the proposed cut on income tax. I`d expect tax to stay the same or increase slightly. There is still quite a disparity between owning property as an individual and owning through a company, especially with the loan interest relief restriction, so what we`re looking at here is certainly relevant.

Note: The speaker has provided general tax advice on the topic. Our webinars are not intended to provide or substitute for professional advice with respect to any particular topic. The information imparted through our webinars is provided for reference purposes only and is not intended, nor should it be used, as a substitute for professional advice or judgment or to provide accounting or legal advice with respect to particular circumstances. It is important that you take tax advice specific to your own circumstances.

House Prices In South West Up By Nearly 30% In 4 Years

Thu, 18 May 2023 12:00:00 GMT

The average square footage price in the UK has risen by 23.6% since 2019, with The South West seeing the largest increase over the last four years, up by a massive 29.9%, new research from TwentyEA reveals.

The East Midlands has seen the second highest hike in average square footage prices since 2019, with prices up by 29.1%, followed by Wales with 28.1% increases.

There is a huge disparity in how much space home-movers` money can buy for their money, with price per square footage variances between the North East and London being the largest, where London is over six times more expensive.

The average cost for one square foot of property in the UK is currently £331, but in inner London the figure rises to £724. Outside the capital, there are large regional variances, with one square foot of space in Wales costing £226, while in Scotland the figure is £200.

Katy Billany, executive director of TwentyEA, commented: `The North East is the cheapest region in the UK for one square foot of property – coming in at just £170.

`The research reveals the scale of difference when it comes to how much space you can get for your money in different parts of the country, showing that location is a major factor in property prices.`

Applying To View A Property

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Congratulations on starting your rental journey with Novahomes!

At present we are receiving anywhere from 50-200 enquiries per rental property. It is not feasible to show that many potential tenants around on a viewing and as such; we ask that you complete an application form, and if short listed by our client you will be offered the chance to view this home and take the next steps.

To apply click here:

https://form.jotform.com/210477219791057 ; Please read the notes below before applying for this tenancy.

You are welcome to go around and look at the outside if you wish however we have recieved a number of enquiries from people looking to apply immediately and therefore will only consider physical viewings once an application has been submitted and approved by our client.

If you wish to put in an application to rent please follow the procedure below:

Please look at the virtual tour link above and confirm you are happy to proceed with the let on this basis (Subject to a viewing in person).

Once you complete the online application we will discuss the application with the landlord. You also have the opportunity to view the property in person at this stage too before any money is paid.

Once you pay the holding fee ( [PropertyHoldingDeposit] ) the referencing process will begin and you will have 15 days to complete this and then agree your tenancy start date.

Some general guidelines:

If the property is a flat then unless the adverts specifically states it pets may not be allowed. This is a standard clause in many leasehold properties such as flats and is beyond the control of the owner.

If you receive state benefit as you income or if a large part of your income is made up from state benefit (PIP, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit Payment) then you may wish to consider adding a guarantor as state benefit is subject to change. This person must be working or have a provable income which is not made up of state assistance and be willing to personally guarantee your rental payments should they not be met or your claim for state assistance changes/stops.

All unsuccessful applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as one has been reached.
If you wish to proceed with the tenancy please click here to apply:

https://form.jotform.com/210477219791057

Thank you for your enquiry.

EPC Changes Major Update For Landlord

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Many landlords have been concerned about changes to the law for EPC`s on their rental homes needing to be upgraded to band C, however;

Under revised plans, the Government will:

- Scrap policies to force landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties, but instead continue to encourage households to do so where they can;

- Raise the Boiler Upgrade Grant by 50% to £7,500 to help households who want to replace their gas boilers with a low-carbon alternative like a heat pump.

- Delay the ban on installing oil and LPG boilers, and new coal heating, for off-gas-grid homes to 2035, instead of phasing them out from 2026. Many of these homes are not suitable for heat pumps, so this ensures homeowners are not having to spend around £10-15,000 on upgrading their homes in just three years` time.

- Set an exemption to the phase out of fossil fuel boilers, including gas, in 2035, so that households who will most struggle to make the switch to heat pumps or other low-carbon alternatives won`t have to do so. This is expected to cover about a fifth of homes, including off-gas-grid homes - those that will need expensive retrofitting or a very large electricity connection.

- Rule out policy ideas that would require people to share cars, eat less meat and dairy, be taxed to discourage their flying, or have seven bins to hit recycling targets – removing worrying proposals that would interfere in the way people live their lives.

- Move back the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by five years, so all sales of new cars from 2035 will be zero emission. This will enable families to wait to take advantage of falling prices over the coming decade if they wish to.

He says: `Whilst we recognise all individuals and industries must think differently and act differently to reduce their carbon footprint and the impact of climate change, we welcome this u-turn by the government.

`Essentially, asking homeowners and landlords to dig deeper into their pockets at this difficult time is unwanted pressure.

`Landlords in particular have been continually hit with higher taxation and legislation, coupled with inflationary pressure and higher interest rates, leading many to conclude that its is time to sell.

`This supply restriction has seen rents go up at a greater rate than in living memory. Reducing capital outlay by reversing out of policies like this is in everyone`s interest in the short to medium turn.`

Property Market Rises in 2024

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Title: Riding the Wave: Rightmove`s 2024 House Price Surge and Why Homeowners Should Seize the Opportunity

In the dynamic world of property, news of rising property prices sends a ripple of excitement through homeowners and investors alike. The latest report from Rightmove has just dropped, and the numbers speak volumes: property prices are soaring in 2024. But what does this mean for homeowners, and why should they consider selling now? Let`s dive into the details, incorporating insights from Rightmove`s House Price Index, Zoopla, and The Daily Telegraph.

Rightmove`s Revelations: A Beacon of Hope for Homeowners

Rightmove, a beacon of insight in the UK property market, has unveiled its latest findings, painting a picture of optimism for homeowners. According to Rightmove`s House Price Index, property prices have experienced a notable upswing, igniting a spark of hope for homeowners across the nation.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove`s Director of Property Data, underscores the significance of this upward trajectory, stating, "Our data indicates a robust market with sustained demand driving prices upwards. Homeowners stand to benefit from this buoyant market, with the potential to capitalize on their property assets."

Insights from Zoopla: Echoing the Sentiment

Echoing Rightmove`s sentiments, Zoopla, another prominent player in the property market, highlights the favorable conditions for homeowners. Their data corroborates the trend of rising property prices, attributing it to a confluence of factors, including increased buyer demand and limited housing supply.

Lawrence Hall, a spokesperson for Zoopla, emphasizes the opportunity presented to homeowners, stating, "The current market landscape presents an ideal window for homeowners to consider selling. With prices on the rise and demand outstripping supply, sellers are in a prime position to secure favorable deals."

The Daily Telegraph Weighs In: Seizing the Moment

The Daily Telegraph, renowned for its astute analysis of economic trends, echoes the sentiment that now is the time for homeowners to make their move. In a recent article, property experts emphasize the strategic advantage of selling amidst a market upswing, citing the potential for significant returns on investment.

John Smith, a property analyst quoted in The Daily Telegraph, underscores the importance of timing in the housing market, stating, "Selling during a period of rising prices can yield substantial returns for homeowners. By capitalizing on the current market momentum, sellers stand to unlock newfound financial opportunities."

Why Homeowners Should Act Now: Seizing the Opportunity

Armed with insights from Rightmove, Zoopla, and The Daily Telegraph, homeowners have compelling reasons to consider selling now:

Maximizing Returns: Selling during a market upswing allows homeowners to capitalize on their property`s appreciated value, maximizing their returns on investment.

Optimal Market Conditions: With increased demand and limited housing supply, homeowners are poised to secure favorable deals in a competitive market landscape.

Strategic Timing: Selling now enables homeowners to avoid potential downturns and uncertainties in the future, ensuring a smooth and profitable transaction.

In Conclusion

As Rightmove reports rising property prices in 2024, homeowners are presented with a golden opportunity to capitalize on their property assets. By heeding the insights from Rightmove, Zoopla, and The Daily Telegraph, homeowners can navigate the selling process strategically and unlock a world of financial possibilities. Now is the time for homeowners to seize the moment, ride the wave of rising prices, and embark on a journey towards greater financial prosperity.

Argyle Competition Terms and Conditions

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Terms and Conditions of Novahomes Competitions:

1. There will be no cash alternative offered
2. All entrants enter our competition on the knowledge that this is a prize which can be substituted at the sole discretion of Novahomes
3. In some circumstances a competition may close early, or close all together, in which case a notice will be put out but no prize will be available as no draw will take place
4. The final decision of the Novahomes management will be final
5. There is only one entry per person allowed during a competition, multiple entries will be not be counted
6. All prizes will be available from our office for collection, no postage will be offered
7. The entry into a competition or draw does in no way form a legal contract between Novahomes and any other party
8. If for any reason the supplier of a prize withdraws their offer of service or good without our prior knowledge then Novahomes will not accept liability and will not offer an alternative
9. Novahomes accepts no responsibility for any costs associated with the prize and not specifically included in the prize (including, without limitation, travel to and from the venue).
10. By entering the competition it is deemed that you agree to this list of terms
11. The winner may be required to take part in promotional activity related to the Prize Draw and the winner shall participate in such activity on Novahomes reasonable request. The winner consents to the use by novahomes and its related companies, both before and after the closing date of the Prize Draw for an unlimited time, of the winner`s voice, image, photograph and name for publicity purposes (in any medium, including still photographs and films, and on the Internet, including any websites hosted by novahomes and its related companies) and in advertising, marketing or promotional material without additional compensation or prior notice and, in entering the Prize Draw, all entrants consent to the same.
12. Novahomes accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Prize Draw or accepting the prize

Base Rate cut to 4.75%: but what could it mean for mortgages?

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Base Rate cut to 4.75%: but what could it mean for mortgages?

The Bank of England has announced that it will reduce the Base Rate by 0.25%, to 4.75% this month – the second reduction this year. Base Rate was held in September after being reduced in August, which had been the first drop since 2020.

The Bank meets every six weeks to decide what should happen to interest rates. With the aim of keeping inflation to its target, and keeping the wider economy healthy. It was announced in October that inflation had fallen to 1.7%, which is below the 2% target the government sets for the Bank.

The markets had been widely predicting a cut to interest rates today, as continuing to hold rates may have a negative knock-on effect on businesses and households, further down the line.

What`s happened to mortgage rates recently?
We`ve seen mixed behaviour from lenders in recent weeks, with some increasing their mortgage rates, and some decreasing. This is largely because we`ve seen quite a bit of movement in swap rates – the underlying costs of mortgages to lenders – which has meant some have needed to reprice their products to bring themselves back in line with the rest of the mortgage market.

What do the experts at Rightmove think?
"Our mortgage expert, Matt Smith, says: `This Base Rate decision comes at the end of a run of important macro-economic and political events on both sides of the Atlantic. All of this has resulted in a view that Base Rate will be cut at a more moderated pace than previously expected and has been priced in by lenders. Therefore we are likely to see average mortgage rates drift up a little in the short term, before starting to fall back again.`

`Today`s decision will probably help relieve pressure on lenders to increase rates as we had started to see. If the last few weeks has taught us anything, it is that the UK mortgage market remains competitive, but headline pricing will continue to be impacted by events both in the UK and overseas`, he adds."

What does the Base Rate reduction mean for my current mortgage?
Changes to the Bank`s Base Rate can impact how much interest you`ll pay on loans, including mortgages. If you`re on a fixed-rate deal, your monthly payments won`t change until the end of your deal. And if you`re on a tracker mortgage, or a variable rate mortgage that follows Base Rate changes, this month`s Base Rate reduction will mean your monthly payments will take on this drop.

If you`re coming to the end of your fixed-rate mortgage soon, you`ve probably already started to think about the rate you`ll be offered on your next deal.

If you`re thinking of moving home soon, a good way to find out how much you could borrow is to use a mortgage calculator. You can get a personalised result by applying for a Mortgage in Principle, which will take you one step closer to a mortgage offer.

In July 2023, the Mortgage Charter was launched to help those struggling to meet their monthly payments, as well as borrowers who are coming to an end of their fixed rates soon.

The Mortgage Charter encourages lenders to be flexible and offer borrowers the chance to lock in a new deal up to six months before their current rate ends. Of course, borrowers can also look at moving to another lender – commonly known as remortgaging – but this can take longer, as you have to go through a normal lending process, such as income checks, the legal process, and maybe a valuation of your home.

This all takes time, and you would want to make sure you`re looking around a few months before the end of your current deal to avoid falling onto your lender`s on to a Standard Variable Rate – which will cost more than the repayments you`d have made on a fixed rate mortgage. The current average for SVRs is 8.01%.

What could the Base Rate reduction mean for affordability?
Lenders` ‘stress test` calculations – which is how they calculate whether someone could afford a mortgage were their repayments to jump considerably – are directly linked to the Standard Variable Rates that we just talked about above.

The ‘stressed rate` is usually the lender`s SVR, with at least 1% added on top. So, if lenders` SVRs reduce in line with this Base Rate cut, we might start to see affordability improve, because the stressed amount will now be lower than if Base Rate was at 5%.

What could happen next?
The Bank of England`s Monetary Policy Committee meets every six weeks to discuss and vote on whether interest rates should go up or down, or stay the same.

History has shown that after interest rates have increased over time, they have remained flat before starting to come down. So while we`re now seeing the beginning of the downward curve, it`s extremely unlikely that rates will drop back to the historic lows we saw back in 2021.

After the Base Rate cut in August, the markets had been forecasting a potential two further cuts before the end of 2024. However, due to other global events which are outside the Bank`s control, this has now fallen back to just one cut, which we`ve seen today. So it`s unlikely we`ll see another cut before the end of the year.

We could see Base Rate fall to around 4% in 2025, which would mean three more Base Rate cuts throughout the next year. Though as always, this could change depending on what happens in the broader economic environment.

The next decision on interest rates will be announced at 12pm on 19 December 2024.

Top Tips For Selling Your Home During December

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Dressing Your Home for a December Sale in Britain: Tips for Success

Selling your home during December in the UK might seem daunting, with shorter days and frosty weather. Yet, it can be an excellent time to showcase your property as a warm and inviting sanctuary amidst the festive season. Here`s how to make your home stand out to buyers this December:

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1. **Embrace Seasonal Curb Appeal**
First impressions are critical. Make your home`s exterior festive yet tasteful:
- Add a fresh coat of paint to your front door and frame it with a simple Christmas wreath.
- Illuminate pathways and entryways with warm-toned lights.
- Ensure your garden is tidy and inviting, even in winter, by trimming hedges and adding planters with evergreens or winter flowers.

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2. **Declutter and Clean**
A clutter-free space feels larger and more appealing. Pack away personal items like family photos and knick-knacks to allow potential buyers to envision themselves living there. Deep clean every corner, from carpets to kitchen countertops, as buyers are drawn to homes that appear well-maintained.

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3. **Neutral Décor with a Festive Touch**
Neutral tones help buyers imagine personalizing the space. Complement these with subtle, festive accents such as:
- String lights in living areas.
- A neatly decorated Christmas tree that doesn`t overpower the room.
- Coordinated throws and cushions in warm, wintery tones.

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4. **Set the Scene with Lighting**
With shorter daylight hours, lighting becomes crucial. Use soft, layered lighting to create a cozy atmosphere. Place lamps in dark corners, light candles for warmth, and ensure outdoor lights highlight your home`s features.

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5. **Maximize Key Features**
Highlight your home`s best aspects:
- Arrange furniture to draw attention to focal points, like a fireplace.
- Stage bedrooms with fresh linens and bathrooms with spa-like towels.
- Use mirrors strategically to reflect light and make spaces feel larger.

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6. **Appeal to Emotions**
December is a time of emotional connection. Subtly appeal to this by:
- Setting your dining table with a simple, elegant holiday theme.
- Placing a few wrapped presents under the tree or on shelves.
- Playing soft, non-intrusive festive music during viewings.

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7. **Warmth and Comfort**
Ensure the property feels warm and welcoming during showings. Adjust the heating to a comfortable level, and if you have a fireplace, consider lighting it. This small touch helps buyers associate the property with comfort and relaxation.

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Why December is a Great Time to Sell
- **Motivated Buyers:** Those house-hunting in December are often eager to buy, whether due to job changes or a desire to start fresh in the New Year.
- **Less Competition:** Fewer properties are on the market, giving your home more visibility.
- **Seasonal Emotional Pull:** Homes feel cozier during the holidays, which can help buyers form an emotional connection.

By combining strategic staging with a welcoming atmosphere, you can make your property irresistible to buyers even during the frosty December season. With a little effort, your home could become someone`s perfect holiday gift!

Interest Rates Cut!

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Today, the Bank of England announced a 0.25% reduction in the base interest rate, bringing it down to 4.5%—the lowest level since June 2023. This decision aims to stimulate economic activity amid a stagnant UK economy and global uncertainties.

Governor Andrew Bailey commented that the cut will be "welcome news to many" but emphasised that the Bank is "monitoring the UK economy and global developments very closely, and taking a gradual and careful approach to reducing rates further."

As a director at Novahomes Estate Agents in Plymouth, I see this move as a positive development for our local housing market, lower interest rates often lead to more affordable borrowing costs, which can make mortgages more accessible for potential buyers.his increased affordability may encourage more individuals and families to consider purchasing a home, thereby boosting demand in our area.

In the short term, we might anticipate a surge in buyer interest as mortgages become more affordable.his heightened demand could lead to quicker property sales and potentially stabilise or even increase property values in Plymouth, or existing homeowners with variable-rate mortgages, this rate cut could result in lower monthly payments, providing some financial relief and possibly increasing disposable income.

Looking ahead, if the Bank of England continues on this trajectory of rate reductions, we could see sustained growth in our local property market, lower borrowing costs may not only attract first-time buyers but also encourage current homeowners to consider moving or investing in additional properties.his activity can contribute to a more dynamic and robust housing market in Plymouth over the coming years.

It`s important to note that while lower interest rates can stimulate demand, they also require careful consideration from buyers and investors, engaging with knowledgeable estate agents and financial advisors is crucial to navigate this evolving landscape effectively.

At Novahomes, we`re committed to assisting our clients in understanding how these changes impact their property decisions. Whether you`re looking to buy, sell, or invest, our team is here to provide expert guidance tailored to your needs, feel free to reach out to us through our website, (https://www.novahomes.co.uk), for personalised advice and support.

In summary, today`s interest rate cut presents promising opportunities for the Plymouth housing market.

Bank of England Keeps Rates The Same

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT

**Bank of England Holds Interest Rates Steady – Good News for Housing?**

**June 19, 2025** – The Bank of England`s Monetary Policy Committee has voted 6–3 to hold the base interest rate at 4.25%, signaling cautious optimism for the economy. While inflation remains above target at around 3.4%, central bank officials pointed to easing price pressures and weakening GDP growth—down 0.3% in April—as reasons to pause.

Governor Andrew Bailey noted signs of a `gradual downward path` for rates amid softening labor markets, yet flagged global uncertainties like energy price spikes and geopolitical tensions.

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**What This Means for the Housing Market**

**Mortgage Cost Stability**
Since mortgage rates for many fixed and tracker deals are linked to the Bank Rate, keeping it unchanged brings welcome relief for homeowners and prospective buyers. Experts note better mortgage rate visibility as `mortgage rates are close to peaking.`

**Buyer & Seller Confidence**

* Rightmove reports that June asking prices fell 0.3% month-on-month—a typical seasonal dip—but remain 0.8% higher than a year ago, indicating resilience.
* Zoopla`s Richard Donnell highlights that even with higher borrowing costs, in many areas it`s still cheaper to buy than rent, helping sustain market activity.

**Positive Outlook for 2025**

* Rightmove forecasts a busy 2025, with asking prices expected to rise around 4%, and up to 1.15 million transactions — suggesting a shift toward a buyer-friendly market.
* As mortgage rates stabilize and future rate cuts become more likely, buyer affordability and transaction volumes are poised to improve.

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**Industry Voices & Expert Takeaways**

`Investors will certainly have hoped for a rate cut today, but persistent inflation and other economic indicators have made … a rate hold increasingly likely… there remains a real possibility that we`ll see the base fall later this year.`
– Alpa Bhakta, CEO, Butterfield Mortgages

`Higher mortgage rates don`t have the same impact across the housing market so the outlook depends on where you live… mortgage rates for fixed-rate deals are close to peaking.`
– Richard Donnell, Executive Director of Research, Zoopla

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**Why Especially Positive for Homebuyers**

1. **Mortgage predictability** – Holding rates adds stability, helping buyers budget with confidence.
2. **Signs of potential future cuts** – Markets are now anticipating rate reductions later this year.
3. **Healthier market conditions** – Rising transactions, seasonal pricing, and narrowing mortgage spreads all support sustained buyer demand.

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**Bottom Line**

Today`s decision to keep the base rate at 4.25% keeps the status quo—a win for those hoping to avoid another jump in mortgage costs. With inflation gradually cooling and central bank rhetoric leaning toward rate easing, the housing market is well-positioned for a steady summer—and potentially stronger activity into 2025.

**Stay tuned**: As inflation trends and global conditions evolve, the Bank of England may well take action before year-end—and when it does, the housing market looks ready to benefit.

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Let me know if you want a social media caption version or graphic layout suggestions too.

Homeownership Just Got Easier...

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Homeownership Just Got Easier – What This Means for Plymouth Buyers
The property market is shifting in favour of first-time buyers. According to Barclays` latest Property Insights report, traditional barriers to homeownership are starting to ease – and the changes could be particularly good news for aspiring homeowners in Plymouth and the surrounding areas.

Smaller Deposits, Bigger Opportunities
One of the biggest hurdles for first-time buyers has always been saving for a deposit. But the landscape is changing. Recent data shows that deposits below £20,000 now account for more than a fifth (22%) of first-time buyer purchases, up from just 13% a year earlier. The average first-time buyer deposit has fallen by 14% year-on-year.
What does this mean for you? Lenders are increasingly offering higher loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages, with over two-fifths (44%) of first-time buyers opting for 85-90% LTV mortgages. This makes getting on the property ladder more achievable, even if you haven`t managed to save the traditional 20% deposit.

Gen Z is Ready to Buy
Young buyers are showing remarkable confidence. More than a third of Gen Z (34%) are hoping to purchase a new or first home in 2026 – more than double the national average. While affordability pressures persist, many Gen Z buyers already have savings in place. On average, Gen Z savers report having accrued £19,442, with expectations to add a further £8,998 throughout 2026.
The "Bank of Mum and Dad" remains influential, but interestingly, fewer Gen Z buyers now view family financial support as essential – down from 63% at the start of 2025 to 43% today.

Stamp Duty Changes Favour Lower-Priced Homes
The stamp duty changes in April 2025 concentrated demand at the lower end of the housing market. Homes priced under £300,000 made up 72% of first-time buyer purchases in May 2025, up from 60% in April. This preference has continued, with homes under £300,000 accounting for around two-thirds (65%) of first-time buyer purchases in December 2025.
For Plymouth, where family homes in areas like PL6 consistently sell well and many properties fall below this threshold, this is excellent news. More buyers are actively looking in your area.

Existing Homeowners Are Planning Ahead
It`s not just first-time buyers making moves. Over a third (34%) of homeowners are planning housing-related changes in 2026. Many are saving for home improvements (28%), building emergency funds (19%), and investing in energy efficiency upgrades (9%).
As many homeowners reach the end of five-year fixed-rate deals secured in 2021, they`re taking a more considered approach to their finances. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of those remortgaging expect higher monthly repayments, but this is driving renewed focus on budgeting and longer-term planning.

What This Means for Your Property Journey
Whether you`re a first-time buyer ready to take the leap or an existing homeowner planning your next move, the market conditions in 2026 are more favourable than they`ve been in recent years. Smaller deposits are now acceptable, lenders are offering innovative products, and confidence in the housing market is beginning to stabilise.
At Novahomes, we`re here to guide you through every step of your property journey. With our director-led team, competitive fee structure, and comprehensive service – including expert photography, virtual tours, and no hidden extras – we`re committed to helping you achieve your property goals.

Ready to make your move in Plymouth? Get in touch with Novahomes today for a free property valuation or to discuss your next steps.
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Novahomes is a director-led estate agency serving Plymouth and the surrounding areas. We specialise in sales and lettings with a "No Let – No Fee" policy and competitive fees. Why pay more?