Interest in Country Living on the Rise
Since our award winning Estate Agency reopened we have seen huge interest from clients looking to buy and sell property. Covid-19 was always going to make people reassess their living arrangements whether that be prioritising outdoor space further afield or perhaps moving out from home and becoming a first time buyer.
According to figures released by Rightmove there has been a 126% increase in June and July 2020 of city residents contacting estate agents regarding properties in villages compared with the same period in 2019. In Scotland, Glasgow saw a 60% increase while Edinburgh saw a staggering 205% increase.
According to Miles Shipside at Rightmove, “the lure of a new lifestyle, one that is quieter and has an abundance of beautiful countryside and more outdoor space, has led to more city dwellers choosing to become rural residents.
The most popular village moves are still within the same region the home-hunters are currently in, as it’s likely they’ll keep their current job but may have the flexibility to commute less often and set up their working space at home.”
It has previously been reported that house prices in Scotland surged to a record high since the March lockdown. As Scotland readjusts and employees embrace a more flexible way of working it will be interesting to see whether these enquiries equate to a higher migration to the country.
One thing that is clear is that these figures released by Rightmove are a further boost to the Scottish property market and indicate the current high level of demand across the market.
At Walker Laird we offer a free valuation. If you are looking to put your property on the market contact our estate agents in Paisley and Renfrew by emailing ea@walkerlaird.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch.
Equally, if you are looking to make an offer on a property our conveyancing solicitors in Paisley and Renfrew are on hand to talk you through the process. Contact them today.
Estate Agency in Scotland set to Re-Open
We are back. Our exceptional estate agency is now preparing for the opening of the property market on Monday 29th June. We are looking forward to help get Renfrewshire moving again. However, we will, of course, be working to minimise the risk to our buyers and sellers.
Since 23rd March 2020, people in Scotland have been on lockdown having been told to stay at home to help stem the spread of Covid-19. With good Spring weather, outdoor space was seen as a premium. According to Rightmove, the priorities of buyers have changed as a result of lockdown with a 2 bedroom house now being the most sought after property.
It will be interesting to see whether buyers will prioritise outdoor space given that many people will be acclimatising to a new form of flexible working where they will predominantly work from home and only occasionally commute to the office. This may result in buyers accepting a longer commute and casting their net far and wide when searching for properties.
With England seeing a surge in the property market after restrictions were eased there in mid-May, it is hoped that Scotland will follow suit.We have already spoken to hundreds of buyers this week who have been patiently waiting to get moving. It is clear there is a great deal of pent up demand which will help get the market off to a quick start.
We will of course be taking the appropriate precautions. We would ask that if you are coming to view a property you follow these simple rules:
- Maintain social distancing at 2 metres
- No more than 2 people per viewing
- Avoid contact with hard surfaces and door handles wherever possible
We have reminded sellers to keep all internal doors open and to respect distancing. Our staff will be wearing face masks and gloves when conducting valuations or viewings. When showing empty properties we will try to wait outside.
Whether you require Estate Agents in Renfrew, Estate Agents in Paisley, Estate Agents in Glasgow, or across Renfrewshire we are on hand to provide you with the expert advice needed to make the selling process as stress free as possible.
We offer a free valuation. Contact us now and a member of our team will be in touch.
Residential Tenancies – it’s all change!
On 1st December 2017, a new regime came into place for any new residential tenancies that commence after that date.
Gone is the old Short Assured Tenancy with its “clunky” signup where the tenant had to sign a form before even being allowed to enter into the tenancy agreement and the old “no fault” termination where the landlord could bring the tenancy to an end without any particular reason. Also, the threat of multiple rent increases has been lifted with specific procedures in place to only allow one rent review in a single calendar year.
So, what’s the new Private Residential Tenancy all about?
The main thrust of the new legislation is to give the tenant security of tenure and to provide some certainly when they take on a new tenancy.
It means that there is no more minimum term tenancy and, once the tenant moves in, they can stay for as long as they want (provided they’ve not breached any of the conditions of the tenancy or the landlord is able to bring the tenancy to an end on the basis of very specific prescribed circumstances).
If the tenant does want to terminate the tenancy, all they need to do is give the landlord 28 days’ notice – and if they agree with the landlord at the outset, this notice can be by email.
Landlords, on the other hand, when seeking to terminate a tenancy, can only do so under one (or more) of 18 prescribed reasons, some of which are mandatory and some discretionary. From a notice perspective, depending on circumstances, the notice of termination can be anything between 28 to 84 days!
when seeking to increase the rent or when trying to bring the tenancy to an end, there are prescribed forms the landlord has to use when sending notice to the tenant.
Should the tenant object to either the rent increase or the termination notice, they can apply to the First Tier Tribunal to intervene. It’s now the First Tier Tribunal and not the courts that will rule on tenancy terminations.
To help set out the position clearly for landlords and tenants, the Scottish Government has provided a “Model Private Residential Tenancy Agreement” and clear explanatory notes for both landlords and tenants. Parts of the tenancy agreement are mandatory and this means they must be used even if the landlord decides to have his own style of tenancy agreement.
There’s a wealth of information on the Scottish Government’s website and here are just a few of the important things you can read about:
The Model Private Residential Tenancy Agreement – click here.
Explanatory Notes for Landlords – click here.
Explanatory Notes for Tenants- click here.
Private Residential Tenancy, Easy Read Notes – click here.
The First Tier Tribunal – click here.
It is very important to note that all existing tenancies under the previous legislation continue to operate under that legislation. The new Private Residential Tenancies only apply to NEW TENANCIES taken on from 1st December 2017
Open house event this weekend
We will be holding an open house weekend for selected properties on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th January. Please see below for details of the properties taking part.
Open house viewing allows potential buyers the opportunity to view property without the need to contact the Estate Agent to arrange an appointment. Home buying can be a fairly daunting process, particularly for first time and inexperienced buyers. All too often we find that new buyers can be apprehensive to arrange viewing, not knowing what is expected of them. We want to alleviate that fear and encourage the viewers to look at our properties on an informal basis.
If a buyer sees something that they are interested in, then we can provide all the help that they need in order to proceed with the purchase. We also find that buyers tend to look at a broader spectrum of properties when given the option to view at an open house, perhaps falling in love with a property that they would not have expected would fit their needs. We can all remember the television programs where the buyers were blown away with the ‘wildcard’ property.
22 Garnie Avenue, Erskine – Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 2pm
14 Park Green, Erskine – Saturday from 12 to 2pm
7 Park Glade, Erskine – Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 2pm
47 Sunnylaw Drive, Paisley – Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 2pm
5A Viking Way, Renfrew – Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 2pm
44 Moorpark Square, Renfrew – Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 2pm
142 Moorpark Square, Renfrew for both Sat and Sun 12 – 2pm
Contact Us
For more information, please call 0141 886 5678
A great year for our Estate Agency and the local property market!
While there have been challenges for both buyers and sellers this year, the property market in Renfrewshire has experienced considerable improvements and we are delighted to announce that our Estate Agency has secured over £20 million worth of property sales on behalf of our clients, in 2016.
The volume of residential sales in Renfrewshire increased in 2016. The latest Registers of Scotland house price report shows a 19% increase in quarter 2 sales this financial year in the local area, compared to quarter 2 last year. For the same period, the average property value in Renfrewshire increased by 3%. Clearly despite uncertainty surrounding Brexit and more recently the US presidential election, the local market has shown resilience.
In 2016, we have not only seen more buyers in the local market, but also more sales being agreed and in shorter periods of times, with Walker Laird selling over 100 properties in Renfrew alone. This year has also brought more favourable conditions for sellers, with growing demand and a steady supply of new properties. In 2016 we witnessed the frequent return of closing dates – an impressive 44 times at Walker Laird this year.
Competition amongst buyers has been particularly obvious when marketing family houses, as we found that some buyers were prepared to pay a premium price for the right property. One property for example, went to a closing date with 12 offers in place, the highest of which was 28% above asking price.
The demand for good family size accommodation looks set to continue, so if you want to know how much your home is worth in today’s market or get advice about moving in 2017, we would be delighted to provide you with an up to date and free valuation. Buyers trying to identify their ideal home should also get in touch and speak to us about using our matching service.
We can offer competitive fee structures for sellers coming to the market early in the new year, which is the ideal time to take advantage of that early rush and pick up of activity after Christmas. We can also offer a full deferral of the up-front costs.
Get In Touch
Call 886 5678 and speak to one of our experienced team.
Walker Laird Can Sell Your House This Winter
Speak to us about selling your home over the winter months without all the up front fees usually attached to selling.
Winter isn’t traditionally seen as a good time to sell property, but our experience tells us that this can actually be a great time to sell your home.
Many sellers are reluctant to come to the market at this time of year, preferring to wait until spring instead. But this often means there is less competition for those who do choose to market their property.
We normally find far more serious buyers looking around the local market at this time of year as well. Those who are looking to make a move are more motivated about doing so. During November and December we have sold many properties within days of coming to the market.
The online property portals also tell us that the festive period is a good time to sell. Rightmove and Zoopla have reported high levels of online traffic at this time, particularly Boxing Day. In fact, on the first working day of January last year Rightmove received 2.8 million hits. If you happen to be looking to buy yourself, take a look at our current property listings.
Winter can also be the perfect time to emphasise your home’s character, with cosy fireplaces and lighting, allowing for a much more relaxed environment during viewings.
If you are thinking about selling then you should be coming onto the market now to take advantage of this. And if you are worried about there being a lack of interest over the festive period we will update your home report for free in the new year.
Contact Us
Call us today to arrange a free property valuation.
Our Easy Guide To Conveyancing
When it comes to buying or selling a house, a key part of the process involves conveyancing. For most people they understand the basics of what is required to buy a house and how to market it, but the conveyancing process still remains somewhat of a mystery, after all, it isn’t a word that comes up too often in day to day conversation is it?
So to help we have created a quick guide to help you understand the conveyancing process, helping to clear exactly what it is, what stages are part of it, how long it takes and help answer some of the most commonly asked questions around it.
Conveyancing...What is it?
In a nutshell, conveyancing is the legal process which takes place after the main details of buying or selling your house has been agreed. This usually involves a contract being created which confirms ownership of the property being transferred from one person to another, done by way of missives (an exchange of letters between the buyer's and seller’s solicitors).
The conveyancing process will also involve your solicitor carrying out additional searches on the property itself and the parties involved in the purchase. These searches are done to make sure the buyer gets and knows what they paid for and to make sure there will be no additional costs incurred after purchasing the home.
What are the stages?
Once an offer has been accepted, both parties solicitors will then work to negotiate the terms of the contract by completing what is known as “missives”. This entails a number of important tasks, including agreeing a date of entry as well as what (or any) additional items to be left in the property (this is commonly things such as blinds, kitchen equipment etc).
The next stage is to “conclude missives”, which simply means that the contract of sale and purchase of the property has been agreed between the buyer and seller. By this point you will have your entry date, funds secured and insurances arranged for the transfer.
Moving forward to the date of entry both the buyer and seller’s solicitors will arrange the successful transfer of the funds. Once complete and correct funds have been received, the new owner will be able to pick up their keys to their new home from either the seller themselves, the seller’s solicitor or the estate agent, leaving them free to begin moving in!
How long does this take?
There is no set timescale for the conveyancing stage, but on average it can take six to eight weeks. This can very easily be longer or shorter depending on the circumstances, everyone will be different. There are a number of factors to consider in a house purchase or sale that can vary the timescale, for example agreeing the initial terms of the sale or securing your mortgage from your chosen lender.
We have a vastly experienced conveyancing team here at Walker Laird who will help you every step of the way, regardless of your circumstances. If you have any questions about conveyancing or would like us to help you during this stage then please give us a call on 0141 887 5271.
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I want to buy my first property…Where do I start?
Through our lives we experience many significant events and one of the most significant is buying your first property. On most occasions, when a person buys their first property it is the biggest purchase they have ever made. In fact, as you progress through life, buying your next property will usually be the biggest purchase you’ve ever made.
Although exciting, this can be a very daunting experience. We know this because over our 200-year history we have guided literally thousands of buyers who were taking their first step onto the property ladder. So, we thought we’d share a basic guide to the steps involved.
Step 1: Finance
First thing’s first, you need to assess your financial situation. There’s no point in looking at properties until you have a clear idea of your price range you can sensibly afford.
Speaking to one of our mortgage advisors is the best place to start. They will take you through all of the costs involved in owning a home and help you to accurately assess a realistic and manageable budget.
Step 2: Type of property
There are different options to consider for your home such as a flat, house, semi-detached, terraced, and so on.There’s also some worthwhile considerations around whether to opt for a new build or an established property. However, once you have an idea of your price range, choosing what type of property you would like to buy becomes a little bit easier.
Step 3: Location
The next step is to look at the location of your home. Deciding where you want to live may be the biggest decision in the whole process. Various factors come in to play here such as local schools, transport links, parking facilities, access to shopping and recreational facilities and other activities running in the area to name but a few.
It is also worth considering how long you may stay in this area and what is the potential investment value of the property you are purchasing. As a first time buyer, you want to make sure your property is going to increase in value enough to allow you to continue moving up the ladder as your circumstances change - perhaps when you start a family.
Step 4: Viewing the property
You’ve discovered a property that meets your criteria, now time to see what it’s like in reality. Our advice is to take others along to view the property with you, it’s always worth getting a second, and even a third, opinion.
We also advise that you view the property more than once, it is often the case that things are not quite as you remembered when you first visited.
Finally, we recommend that you visit the property at different times of the day, very often a quite daytime area becomes something different in the evening. Or, the beautiful public park next door becomes the local hangout for noisy kids in the evening. It’s better to be as aware of the environment as you possibly can be, and that means experiencing it for yourself at different times.
Step 5: Making an offer
Assuming you like the property and you’re happy that it will meet your needs, you then need to move quickly to make an offer and hopefully secure your first home.
That’s where Walker Laird’s experience is invaluable and can really help you. We know the area well, we’ve been helping clients buy and sell homes here for 200 years! Our knowledge of local areas, and even particular streets, will help you to quickly assess just how much to offer. We have a great deal of knowledge about the selling history of properties in most locations in the area and we can advise you with a great deal of confidence just how to proceed.
We hope you have found these basic tips about buying your first home useful and interesting, but really the best way to start is to give us a call, or pop in for a coffee and a chat to either of our offices, we will be pleased to explore your options and help you to make the right decisions.
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