latest news from
the home PARTNERSHIP

Enjoy The Chocolates

Mr & Mrs H from Thames Avenue said "We have been extremely satisfied with the professional way everything was dealt with by the whole team. We will recommend them to anyone thinking of moving" 

Pictured above Senior Property Consultants Lee McGoldrick & Steven Burnside who Mr & Mrs H felt had exceeded in their service.

New Homes Development Launching Saturday 28 January

TAKE THE FIRST BITE OF THE CHERRY AND ACCEPT OUR INVITATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT & SHOWHOME LAUNCH SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 11AM - 4PM.

Don't miss the invitation-only launch of this exclusive, boutique development of 12 three and four bedroom homes with garage and allocated parking space. Luxury specification with a choice of five different house types, all in an established resitential area less than one mile from the town centre.

Viewing is by strict appointment only - CALL US TODAY ON 01245 250222.

Useless when it's warm...

Many agents do freebies but surely they’re not handing them out on the streets when it’s minus 15 degrees (or at least that’s how cold it felt!).

All of the team have been getting up out of bed early this week and hitting the streets before it’s even light putting a branded ice-scraper on the windscreen wiper of all the cars in the Old Moulsham area of Chelmsford.

We were inspired by an article we read last winter written by Richard Rawlings about how many Estate Agents offer FREE gifts, but an Estate Agent that would go the extra mile would be the one that’s remembered!

The thanks has been flooding in this week from the local residents, some even requesting another scraper for a second vehicle and others having it as a topic of conversation at the local primary school.

Can You Guess The Location?

Following on from becoming the Negotiator 2011 winners of the best independent Estate Agency firm of the year, we have updated our company vehicles to reflect our recent success.

We decided to update all of our vehicles to promote that not all Estate Agents are the same!!

Can you guess the location of where these pictures were taken in Chelmsford??

A Date For Your Diary

Whether you are considering the possibility of moving in 2012 or looking for a fresh approach to selling your home that is already on the market, our Advice Evening will be the perfect place to receive free professional property advice.

You can enjoy a glass of wine, beer or choose from our selection of fresh coffees.

Venue: 11 Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1HL

Date: Wednesday 8th February 2012

Time: Between 6-8pm

We're Award Winners

BRITAIN’S BEST ESTATE AGENTS CONGRATULATED AT THE 2011 NEGOTIATOR AWARDS

The top estate agents in the UK were congratulated at a dazzling awards ceremony in London, hosted by Comedian, TV presenter and author Mark Watson and organised by The Negotiator magazine in association with Digital Property Group.

The Home Partnership was the winner of the Independent Estate Agency Firm of the Year, beating stiff competition from around the country.

Clare Bettelley, editor of The Negotiator, says: “Our fourth annual ceremony welcomed more than 500 of the agency market’s leading property practitioners, despite the housing market downturn and ongoing Eurozone debt crisis, reaffirming the event as the residential agency bash of the year.

“Once again, the strength of our award entrants has been outstanding, not least their initiatives designed to survive the last 12 months. The Negotiator is immensely proud of its role in identifying, rewarding and celebrating this excellence, which is part of our ongoing efforts to help further raise industry standards.”

Guests gathered for the celebrations at the prestigious London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane on 9 November and enjoyed champagne, fine food and a terrific presentation by Mark Watson.

Stamp Duty Warning

Watch out First Time Buyers!!!!

If you are a first time buyer or a homeowner looking to sell to a first time buyer you need to be aware of the change in stamp duty about to take place on 25 March 2012.

Until now there has been an exemption for first time buyers paying stamp duty which ceases on 25 March 2012, so if you are currently buying for the first time you must have your purchase wrapped up before the 25 March 2012 to avoid having to pay stamp duty.

If you are a homeowner selling to a first time buyer or have a first time buyer in your chain this could pose a problem if all parties are not aware.

Just so you know….. Forewarned is forearmed.

Stack The Odds Of Selling In Your Favour

Did you know that only half of the properties put on the market last year sold*?

Whilst we can’t do anything about the facts, we can offer you some valuable advice that can help set your home apart from the rest and give it the best possible chance of being in the half that DO sell fast in 2011.

Rightmove’s Director Miles Shipside is someone who sees what makes the difference between a sale and no sale every day. His short video outlines 3 essential tips for selling success and explains how working in partnership with your estate agent can increase your odds of attracting your buyer. Miles’ tips are geared to help give you the edge over similar properties in your area – after all, this is a market and your neighbours could be your competition!

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/sell-my-house-fast/

*Number of properties listed for sale on Rightmove in 2010 vs the number of properties sold in 2010 according to The Land Registry.

Another Happy Seller - Skylark Walk

How would you describe your experience of selling your property with The Home Partnership?

The Home Partnership were very proactive with the sale and kept me up to date on virtually a daily basis, far exceeded my expectations and from experience they leave the competition in the dark.

We are always looking for feedback and ways to enhance our service. We value our clients comments and if you have any suggestions, including ideas that are used in different industries which you feel would benefit our business?? 

Please click on our TESTIMONIALS and SUGGESTIONS page.

Local Sponsorship for 2012

We are currently looking to support even more local charities and other community activities in 2012 and would like to hear from organisations or clubs in the Chelmsford area that would benefit from our help.

As normal we unfortunately cannot support every good cause but would welcome to hear from you with your suggestions for consideration.

For further information please contact Scott Mason by email scott@thehomepartnership.co.uk

Lee Meets the Town Cryer

Yesterday the Chelmsford Town Cryer popped in to see Lee!!

Christmas 2011 Opening Hours

Friday 23 December 9am – 1pm

Saturday 24 December Closed

Sunday 25 December Closed

Monday 26 December Closed

Tuesday 27 December Closed

Wednesday 28 December 10am – 3pm

Thursday 29 December 10am – 3pm

Friday 30 December 10am – 3pm

Saturday 31 December Closed

Sunday 1 January Closed

Monday 2 January Closed

We would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2012

Total Raised For Movember

Pictured above Merrick 'the Handlebar' Allen

Team Tash factor at the Home Partnership are proud to confirm that we have raised £2775 for this great cause.

The collective efforts of over 850,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas around the world has resulted in a record breaking year; an incredible result and one which would not have been possible without the support of you and your donors.

From us all at Team Tash Factor, we would like to say a massive thank you for helping us to change the face of men's health!

Jo Stewart Licensed To Sell

We are very pleased to announce the news that Jo Stewart has secured a nationally-recognised industry qualification and has joined the growing number of qualified agents across the UK to do so.

Jo is now a licensed NAEA Estate Agent along with Scott, Merrick, Lee and Stacy all of whom have passed the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP) Technical Award in Sale of Residential Property, the industry standard for all agents working in this area.

Scott Mason commented “we are extremely proud of Jo and now as a result of her studies she has gained formal recognition for her knowledge and experience within our industry." "We are thrilled for her to have secured the Technical Award.” “For me, it is evidence of our professionalism as a company and shows our clients that they are dealing with someone who is knowledgeable and that they can trust to do a good job.”

First Time Buyer Stamp Duty Relief Ends!

As part of his Autumn Statement announcement in the House of Commons today, Chancellor George Osborne confirmed that the previous charging system for Stamp Duty will be reinstated.

This means that property priced between £125,000 £250,000 will be taxed at 1%, that priced between £250,000 and £500,000 at 3% and that priced at £500,000 or more at 4%.

For residential property priced at £1m or over, Stamp Duty remains at 5% - a rise announced in the 2010 Budget Statement. It does not apply to non-residential or mixed-use properties.

The concession, which removed the lowest price band tax, was introduced on March 25 2010 and set to expire on March 24 2012.

Our Children In Need Grand Total

We are delighted to announce that our cake auction raised a massive total on the day of £766.65 which will rise to over £800.00 once the last donations have all been collected.

The office was packed with bidders on Friday 18 November with £565.00 being made from the sale of a total of 13 entries, other monies raised came from the sale of tea and cup cakes, a dress down day where all staff made a nominal donation, a Pudsey baking game and a good old fashion office swear jar (which of course did not raise that much).

Because the cake auction has been such a huge success we have started planning next years Children In Need in the hope of raising even more money!

Like Us On Facebook or Follow Us On Twitter

Standing out in an increasingly noisy marketplace can prove very difficult at times and Social media can help, with 88% of marketers finding social media assisted them in gaining more exposure and increasing traffic and subscriptions.

As an estate agent we feel its all about listening to our clients and conversations that are going on to inform everything we are doing, be that customer service and support to local property information that will be readily available via our website facebook and twitter.

So we are looking at how we can power our business through social media such as Facebook - Twitter and we are also providing property videos that will be uploaded to You tube and our website.

Being involved in social media allows us to be more transparent and try to have dialogue with our clients to give them the quality of service they deserve and to give them honest feedback not only from us but also their peers.

78% of consumers trust peer recommendations

Fastest growing segment on facebook is is 55 - 65 year old females

80% Twitter usage is on a mobile devise

Youtube are the second largest search engine in the world with over 100,000,000 videos viewed every day

It has taken Radio 38 years to hit 50 million users, TV 13 years, Internet 4 years, Ipod 3 years, Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months.

The social Media revolution isn't coming, it has arrived and now you can like us on facebook or follow us on twitter for all the latest Chelmsford property news and matters

www.facebook.com/TheHomePartnership or www.twitter.com/thehomepartners

Cake Auction Lots 1-3

Lot 1 baked by Jo Stewart

My Mum’s own secret recipe comprising a chocolate sponge with light, fluffy butter cream icing sandwiched in between then topped with butter icing with a splash of freshly squeezed orange juice and decorated with orange chocolate buttons, fudge pieces and a sprinkling of chocol

Lot 2 baked by Tina Brownjohn

Tina’s Coffee & Walnut Cake have to say I truly believe this one was the most difficult to make therefore deserves the highest bid!!…. I was up until 11.15 last night making this delightful creation (usually tucked up with teddy by 9pm, that’s dedication for you!! My motto is – its all about the taste!!!!!

Lot 3 baked bay Stacy Walpole

This beautiful hand crafted wedding cake was created by Stacy. Two layers of sponge cake are filled with rich Vanilla buttercream. The beautifully designed flowers add complexity to this cake.

Cake Auction Lots 4-6

Lot 4 baked by Joanne Williams

Less is more with Jo Williams contribution..a firm favourite with cake connoisseur’s…. Lemon drizzle cake – using the Nigella Lawson recipe

Lot 5 baked by Chantele Evans

Tina’s neice, this lovingly made Victoria Sponge cake made with lots of sweat and tears…. Iced to perfection by their gentle unwashed hands! Thank you for your contribution…

Lot 6 baked by Katrin Leinnemann

Another outside contribution from Katrin Leinnemann with this traditional German Raspberry Sponge pavlova creation. Thank you Katrin for this stunning creation, mum of 4 she’s an experienced baker!

Cake Auction Lots 7-9

Lot 7 baked by Steven Burnside

Light Fruit/ Christmas Cake. This is an absolutely delightful alternative Christmas cake; one for connoisseurs, we think. It’s light in colour with a fragrant flavour and is full of fruit including cherries, sultanas and apricots! It works well with marzipan and icing or a glacé fruit and nut topping and this cake is ready for you to add your favourite. An ideal cake for you to impress the family with this Christmas!! Contains nuts & alchol!! (will keep until Christmas if wrapped in an airtight container)

Lot 8 baked by Merrick Allen

Merrick’s contribution is a ‘refrigerator cake’ made up of chocolate and syrup, cherries and biscuits to be kept in the fridge and it will keep for up to two weeks!

Lot 9 baked by Ian Brownjohn

Contribution from Tina’s husband – Ian Ian’s chocolate orange cake, made by his very own hands – totally shocking bearing in mind he can’t cook/wont cook! Last and only cooking disaster – burnt boiled carrots, not to be attempted whilst footy on the telly…..No more excuses Ian we think you can!!!!! – Thank you

Cake Auction Lots 10-12

Lot 10 baked by Paul Bridgeman

In his own words…My F1 cake putting The Home Partnership in pole position. This is a fascinating blend of chocolate sponge covered in white chocolate. It’s going to be flaming tasty when we light it up.

Lot 11 baked by Lee McGoldrick

This Indulgent dark chocolate and orange sponge with a rich creamy chocolate ganache was master crafted by and up and coming mo bro. Established in Maldon in a fine family kitchen this cake can be enjoyed at any occasion and is looking for a caring and well deserving home 

Lot 12 baked by Scott Mason

This attractive and sweet cottage was constructed in 2011 without planning permission or building regulations. Inside, the property comprises a Victoria sponge cake with original pink wafer windows set within handmade matchmaker chocolate frames. To the outside, there is a jelly tot lawn area and grated flake vegetable garden. The roof is made up of a mix of Tesco and Sainsbury’s white jazzies. Happy bidding!!

Children In Need Auction Cake Bake

We would like to invite you to attend our auction cake bake for Children In Need on Friday 18 November at 5pm.

The auction will be held at our offices with our auctioneer Paul Bridgeman offering cakes freshly baked by our team for one day only instead of properties, there will also be other Pudsey fund raising activities to take part in…

Please feel free to invite family and friends, show your spots let’s raise lots!

Movember Day 11

So far Team Tash Factor have raised £673 and counting, we would like to thank everyone for their support so far and ask for more kind donations over the remaining 19 days of Movember!!

The Home Partnership individual URL codes to donate money are as follows:

Scott Mason http://www.movember.com/m/1388294

Merrick Allen http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1396628/

Steven Burnside http://mobro.co/stevieb

Lee McGoldrick http://mobro.co/LeeMcGoldrick

Local Football Sponsorship

We are delighted to share the news of our recent sponsorship of The Repeat Offenders 5 A-Side football team who ply their trade on a Tuesday evening at Future Soccer in Sandon.

Due to many of the current squad having sold, purchased or re-mortgaged via The Home Partnership a new kit was one of the best ways we could say thank you!

Gentlemen, sharpen your razors..

With just a few hours to go before the gents at the Home Partnership 30 day journey of moustachery begins, its time to start thinking about how to donate money to an individual, a team or to Movember.

Funds raised benefit The Prostate Cancer Charity, The Institute of Cancer Research and the Movember Foundation.

The Home Partnership individual URL codes to be able donate money are as follows:

Scott Mason http://www.movember.com/m/1388294

Merrick Allen http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1396628/

Steven Burnside http://mobro.co/stevieb

Lee McGoldrick http://mobro.co/LeeMcGoldrick

Thanks A Bunch

Last week was a busy week for thank you’s and in particular Mr & Mrs Cook from Kings Road who were so pleased with how we handled the sale and marketing of their home they dropped off some Celebrations to say thank you for all our help.

We managed to attract four offers in the first 2 weeks of marketing their property which Lee McGoldrick, Senior Property Consultant then negotiated a sale for over the asking price.

To book in a FREE valuation please contact us on 01245 250222.

The NEW Signs Of A Quality Agent

We are delighted to show a sneak preview of our new sign boards which will be hitting the Streets of Chelmsford and the surrounding villages by the end of this week.

It's the first time we have changed our sign boards since opening in 2006, which have been specifically designed to attract the attention of buyers and tenants.

We would welcome your feedback about our NEW boards on our facebook page www.facebook.com/TheHomePartnership

Let's see how long it takes you to spot one!

Movember Is Coming...

We are proud to announce that The Home Partnership will be part of Movember this year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world.

The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. Mo Bros, supported by their Mo Sistas, start Movember (November 1st) clean shaven and then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache.

During Movember, each Mo Bro effectively becomes a walking billboard for men’s health and, via their Mo, raises essential funds and awareness for Movember’s men’s health partners.

Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia in 2003, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.1 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate.

Last year nearly 448,000 Citizens of Movember raised more than £48.6million. Mo Bros and Mo Sistas can register at www.movember.com and become citizens of Movember.

Further details on how to donate to our team and make a difference to the future of men's health will follow soon...

New Homes Open Weekend

Auction Day Update

We are pleased to confirm a sale success rate of 57% for the lots being offered at September's property auction.

Our Auctioneer Paul Bridgeman commented “ like in July's auction the sales were made in a number of ways, some of the lots went under contract before the auction and as well as lot 8 Bruce Grove going under the gavel on the day".

Entries for our property auctions are always being invited throughout the year.

WANTED - Can You Help?

We currently have the following buyers that are SOLD stc via The Home Partnership looking for the following:

Miss T looking to move from a 2 bedroom flat to a 3 bedroom house with a lounge that over looks the rear garden up to £210,000 - NOW FOUND

Mr & Mrs G looking to move from a 2 bedroom house to a 3 bedroom house in Springfield only with a garage up to £230,000

Mr K looking to move from a 2 bedroom flat to a 3 bedroom house with a good size garden, most area's of Chelmsford considered up to £220,000

Mr J looking to move from a 1 bedroom flat to a 3 bedroom house in Springfield, Chelmer Village, Great Baddow or Moulsham Lodge up to £240,000

Mr & Mrs R looking to move from a 3 bedroom detached to a good size 4 or 5 bedroom detached house on Beaulieu Park only up to £650,000 - NOW FOUND

Mrs O looking to down size from a townhouse to a 3 bedroom house in the Springfield area due to school catchments up to £200,000

Mr & Mrs B looking to move from a 3 bedroom house to a 4 bedroom house in Chelmer Village, Springfield or Newland Spring due to their family needs up to £320,000 - NOW FOUND VIA THE HOME PARTNERSHIP

Mrs B looking for a 3 bedroom end of terrace or semi detached house in the Tile Kiln area of Chelmsford only up to £220,000

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING MOVING OR CURRENTLY TRYING TO SELL A PROPERTY THAT COULD MATCH ONE OF THE ABOVE BUYERS NEEDS THEN CALL STACY, LEE OR STEVEN TO DISCUSS YOUR MOVE IN MORE DETAIL ON 01245 250222

The Negotiator Awards 2011

We have been shortlisted in the Independent Estate Agency Firm of the Year category of The Negotiator Awards 2011, organised in association with The Digital Property Group, FindaProperty.com, Globrix.com and Primelocation.com.

The event is the leading nationwide estate agency awards scheme in the UK, and the trophies will be presented at a glittering awards ceremony hosted by Comedian, TV presenter and author Mark Watson, at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane on Wednesday 9 November.

Clare Bettelley, editor of The Negotiator, says: “The Negotiator Awards were designed by the leading residential agency magazine, The Negotiator, to identify, reward and celebrate industry excellence and promote best practice, so we’re delighted to, once again, be able to organise and host a ceremony that continues to do just that.

“The Negotiator Awards is in its fourth year of existence and promises to be bigger and better than ever, despite the economic downturn that continues to hinder much of the UK property market. The quality of our shortlisted firms is once again outstanding, and a welcome reminder of the excellence and professionalism that exists within the agency sector.

“The Negotiator is a staunch supporter of professionally-run and successful businesses, hence the launch of our Raising Resi campaign, designed to raise industry standards through a commitment to clear communication, transparent fees and quality service. We’re delighted that The Home Partnership shares this commitment in its drive for excellence, and consider it overwhelmingly deserving of its place in The Negotiator Awards shortlist, particularly given the tough competition within its field.”

Would you like to appear on ITV1??

The Home Partnership are working in conjunction with ITV1 on an exciting new property programme and we’re looking for people to take part.

ARE YOU DREAMING OF YOUR PERFECT HOME? ARE YOU LOOKING TO BUY THIS AUTUMN 2011?

WOULD YOU LIKE AN EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW PROPERTIES IN YOUR AREA?

Whether you are a first time buyer, a family looking for more space, a couple looking to downsize or if you simply feel it’s time to move, we would love to hear from you with your home hunting requirements.

September's Auction Catalogue

Our second Auction is being held on Wednesday 28 September 2011 from 2pm at The Pavilion, Essex County Cricket Club, New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0PG

CLICK ON OUR AUCTION TAB TO VIEW SEPTEMBER'S CATALOGUE

Ground Hop Day

We are pleased and proud to confirm our sponsorship of Chelmsford City for a second successive season and even appeared on Sky Sports News yesterday during their feature on Non-League Day.

Blue Square’s historic Non-League Day ‘Ground Hop’ enabled fans to see three matches on Saturday 3rd September - one from each of the three Football Conference divisions.

The three matches looked ultra-competitive according to the betting markets and the league sponsors who introduced special bets to commemorate the day.

The White House Is Open For Viewing

We would like to invite you to this weekend's Open House viewing event at The White House, Sanford Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6DQ.

Prices start from £175,995 at this unique development of 1 and 2 bedroom converted apartments set within this grade II listed former Chaplin's house built in 1828.

The development is nearing completion and after undergoing refurbishment by Desper Developments who recently featured on BBC1 'Homes under the Hammer' along with The Home Partnership for their previous conversion Pertwee Lodge in Writtle Road.

The White House is positioned within a mile from the town centre with its wide range of restaurants, vibrant cafes, bars, parks and mainline railway station to London Liverpool Street and for this weekend only will be offering a FREE WIRELESS ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM INCLUDING 32" FLAT SCREEN HD TV FOR THE FIRST PURCHASER TO RESERVE THIS WEEKEND ONLY!!

OPEN HOUSE VIEWING TIMES:

SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER BETWEEN 10.00AM - 4.00PM

SUNDAY 4 SEPTEMBER BETWEEN 10.00AM - 2.00PM

We look forward to seeing you there...

A Successful Summer For Stacy

We are pleased to announce that Stacy has secured a nationally-recognised industry qualification and has joined the growing number of qualified agents across the UK to do so. Stacy has now been promoted to a Senior Property Consultant following a fantastic summer of selling.

Stacy follows Scott, Merrick and Lee all of whom have passed the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP) Technical Award in Sale of Residential Property, the industry standard for all agents working in this area. It is the required qualification for entry to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).

Stacy has been working as an estate agent for 10 years nearly 9 of those in Chelmsford. Scott Mason commented “Stacy decided to start her studies as a result of wanting to gain formal recognition for her knowledge and experience within our industry and we are thrilled for her to have secured the Technical Award.”

“For me, it is evidence of our professionalism as a company and shows our clients that they are dealing with someone who is knowledgeable and that they can trust to do a good job.”

“We heartily congratulate Stacy on her promotion to a Senior Property Consultant and on her achievements this summer, which represent a commitment not only to developing her career with The Home Partnership, but achieving the high industry standards we seek!”

Same Day Exchange

We would like to share more auction success today as Paul Bridgeman Auctioneer is pictured exchanging our first post auction contract within our offices at Duke Street today for Lot 4 Elisbar, Mount Pleasant, Halstead, Essex.

Paul commented "Stacy agreed the offer at 10.30am this morning and arranged for the buyer to come in with the required documentation and we exchanged contracts at 1.15pm, there is no reason why more homes can't go from sale agreed to exchange on the same day or even better beating our first time of 2 hours 45 mins"

Auction Day Success

We are pleased to confirm that we achieved a sale success rate of over 40% for the lots being offered at our first property auction.

Our Auctioneer Paul Bridgeman commented “ the sales were made in a number of different ways, one contracted before auction and others on the day. We have left the auction room with several strong possibilities via our post auction marketing procedure, which will lead to further sales being agreed and increasing our success rate further”.

Entries are now being invited ahead of our next auction on Wednesday 28 September 2011 with a closing date for entries of Monday 22 August 2011.

It's a Record

The Home Partnership are delighted to share that we have just recorded the quickest ever sale to completion since opening in 2006.

A buyer was found for a 2 bedroom apartment in Great Leighs on 23 June who proceeded to successfully exchange contracts and complete a week later.

I think you’ll agree that to have a property under offer and completed within 5 working days is something to boast about!!

No Change to Base Rate

‘The Bank of England base rate has been 0.5% for 28 months and is great news for everyone with a variable or tracker mortgage.

 When will rates rise?Hot topic…but some commentators say not until next year…

 Given that the BOE BR is at an historic low, it will go up. So we all need to be prepared for that day…’

Refer to Joanne Williams in branch for further advice on your mortgage

Office Opening Night

Pictures Of Our New Home

Charity Run Race for Business 2011

Well we completed our charity run on Wednesday night June 22nd and managed to raise over £500 for little haven hospice so thank you to all who supported us and the results of who came where are as follows:

The results are now in!

Steve 'do my legs look white in these' Burnside 1st

Paul 'must win' Bridgeman 2nd

Scott 'I do my talking on the pitch' Mason 3rd

Jo 'four warm up runs and a stop watch purchase' Williams 4th

Jo 'I'm going to start from the back' Stewart 5th

NAEA Licence Celebrations

The Home Partnership are proud to announce that we have received our licencing from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).

A licensed estate agency branch means consumers are guaranteed that at least one estate agent within that branch is qualified in residential property sales, either through a formal qualification or through length of membership of the NAEA. This qualification requirement is unique to NAEA licensed estate agents – the only licence of its kind in the UK property industry.

At its launch in the House of commons in November, the licensing scheme was given the backing by Grant Shapps, Housing Minister and Alison Seaback, Shadow Housing Minister.

Shapps said: “By ensuring they enjoy the trust of people buying and selling homes, estate agents will inject greater confidence and movement in the housing market. “In future anyone looking to buy a home or sell theirs should ask the simple question of their estate agents – “are you licensed by the NAEA?”

All NAEA licensed estate agents can be found by visiting www.naea.co.uk

Focus On Chelmer Village Weekend

We are holding a FOCUS ON Chelmer Village event over the weekend 11th-12th June 2011 to showcase properties we are currently marketing in this sought after area.

To meet the demand being generated for this area we urgently need a range of homes in Chelmer Village.

Instruct us now to take part and enjoy these key advantages:

• Increased exposure

• Specific area advertising

• Motivated buyers looking in Chelmer Village

• Highly trained and experienced property proffesionals with exceptional knowledge

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A PROPERTY IN CHELMER VILLAGE PLEASE CONTACT Steven Burnside on 01245 250222 for further details about this exclusive event!

Feel At Home With Auctions

On Tuesday 19 July 2011 The Home Partnership will be holding their first property auction. The auction will include properties across Essex.

Our continued vision is what sets us apart from the competition, as no other agent in Chelmsford is offering this service. Important dates to remember:

AUCTION DATE: Tuesday 19 July 2011, at 2pm

AUCTION VENUE: Essex County Cricket Club, Chelmsford

CLOSING DATE: For entries to the auction - Monday 13 June 2011 

ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY CAN SELL BY AUCTION, FOR A FREE AUCTION APPRAISAL PLEASE CONTACT PAUL BRIDGEMAN IN OUR AUCTION DEPARTMENT ON 01245 250222.

Interest Rates and Budget Point to Market Stability by Scott Mason

For the twenty sixth consecutive month, the Bank of England Base Rate has once again been held at the historic low of just 0.5% which continues to be good news for borrowers. But what of the bigger picture? Anyone expecting George Osborne to have produced a magic wand to “fix” the property market will have been disappointed by last month’s budget. Having said that does it need fixing?

Property has proven to be a solid and worthwhile investment. Which other investment can you live in tax free? And the future looks stronger than some pessimists would have us believe. For example, mortgages are beginning to free up, with some providers once more requiring just 10% deposit. Buy-to-let mortgage uptake has doubled in the past year.

Affordability is also relatively good, with mortgage interest rates around 25% of what they were in 1992. Many people are using the saving to reduce their loan, help their children buy, or invest in buy-to-let property. Whilst fears about inflation may be a worry, unlike the spendthrift days of the 1980s and 1990s, most of the factors currently fuelling inflation (such as oil prices and VAT) cannot be controlled by a rise in interest rates, so it is extremely unlikely that we will ever return to the days of 15% interest, or anything like it.

Many commentators suggest that relatively low interest rates could be around for many years to come. Indeed, the “swap rate” - the borrowing rate between institutions (currently 1.14%) is currently no more than 4.2% for banks lending to each other over a “fixed term” of 12 to 30 years!

With spring upon us we as estate agents have certainly noticed an increase in activity generally and remain very upbeat about the market. This does not mean that prices are due to rise, but that correctly-priced property is likely to sell faster and that the gap between asking and selling prices is likely to narrow during this spring market.

(Sources: Nationwide House Price Index, HM Land Registry, Mortgage Advice Bureau and Swap-rates.com)

Property Ombudsman in fresh plea for law change

The Property Ombudsman, Christopher Hamer, is using his 2010 Annual Report, released today, to make a fresh call for more control over the actions of residential lettings agents.

The government has made it clear that it will not introduce any new laws that could lead to better protection for landlords and tenants from those agents who fail to treat consumers fairly and who potentially can put consumer money at risk.

He has seen the number of lettings offices voluntarily covered by his scheme climb to almost 8,000 by the end of 2010 but is concerned that agents who do not sign up to and adhere by the standards in the TPO Code of Practice can continue to operate, potentially to customer detriment.

'Many agents conduct their business by following the TPO Code of Practice but there are still too many who are operating without that commitment to standards and without any external controls over what they do with client money,' says Mr. Hamer.

'The Code of Practice represents a comprehensive set of standards by which firms conduct their business. Knowing a firm is complying with those standards will give consumers confidence that they are dealing with an organisation which has a committed approach to customer service and that best practice is being treated as a priority by agents,' he adds. 'I had hoped to gain accreditation from the OFT to further strengthen consumer confidence in the Code but I am disappointed that having submitted it to the OFT some three years ago I remain unclear as to when that endorsement will be given.'

From this summer, the TPO Lettings Code of Practice will include a requirement for lettings agencies to hold a separately designated client account to protect money the agencies receive.

Currently there is no compulsion for letting agents to join an Ombudsman scheme and Mr. Hamer notes that this is inconsistent with the obligations on estate agents who market property for sale.

Industry support for regulation

'Whilst the Code of Practice is not intended to be a substitute for formal regulation it would at least mean all letting agents would be following a comprehensive set of standards designed to protect the consumer. Consumers should therefore look to use an agent that displays the TPO logo – that means they are committed to operating fairly.'

Mr Hamer believes that there is general support from within the industry for some form of regulation of letting agents and to see all agents taking a secure approach to the protection of client money with insurance to ensure clients are covered if the business fails or money is misappropriated.

'There can be no excuse for client money not being held in separate and properly audited client accounts such that it is less easy for unscrupulous agents to misappropriate it. Furthermore, there needs to be an obligation that such monies are protected by suitable client money insurance. An appropriate regulatory regime could ensure that the necessary separation of client and business money is enforced.'

'An agent who uses client money because they are operating on the edge of viability and needs to bolster the business, or more worrying still is using the money for personal enjoyment, is entirely unacceptable and against the law.'

Mr. Hamer pledges he will continue to campaign with the industry for higher standards. He believes these are being achieved in the residential sales sector, although complaints against sales agents still remain unacceptably high.

Room for improvement

'The sales sector has room for still greater improvement, of course, but the growing impact of the TPO Code of Practice is further borne out by my average award to compensate complainants for the agent’s actions for sales in 2010 being £258 when in 2007 it was £547, an indicator that the gravity of complaints is diminished.'

Mr. Hamer says the number of cases relating to sales and lettings referred to TPO was 40 per cent ahead of his forecast for 2010 and despite a significantly reduced number of housing transactions the excess has been purely down to the number of sales disputes received.

There were 1,338 new referrals, 646 sales and 672 lettings with the remainder related to HIPs and Residential Leasehold Management – the highest ever recorded in the 20 years of the scheme’s existence and 28 per cent above the previous peak in 2008 of 1,043. They arose from a total of 11,794 enquires, compared with 11,165 during 2009 and 11,201 during 2008.

The largest single cause of complaint was communication failure between the agent and consumer (214) followed by complaints handling by agents (163) and sales details / advertising / marketing (138).

South East England was the source of most complaints (26 per cent), followed by south West England (13 per cent) and the eastern region (12 per cent). Wales generated only 3 per cent of the total, a figure matched by Northern Ireland and Scotland combined.

At the end of 2010, TPO had 8,008 member firms operating 11,321 sales and 7,851 lettings offices. This compares with 7,332 member firms operating 10,577 sales and 7,276 lettings offices at the end of 2009 and 6,322 member firms with 11,215 sales and 5,100 lettings offices at the end of 2008.

The Home Partnership To Appear On The BBC

We are pleased to announce that we are scheduled to appear on the popular BBC1 "Homes Under The Hammer" series on Friday 1 April between 10-11am.

The show will feature the sought after Pertwee Lodge development at Writtle Road, Chelmsford we successfully sold last year.

So, remember to set your SKY+ if your going out in order to avoid missing our television debut!

Dress Down Friday for Comic Relief

Red Nose day banter at the Home Partnership where all staff donated towards Comic Relief.

Please click on the following link www.rednoseday.com to find out more about this years Comic Relief.  

London Buyers

A significant proportion of the market in this area is driven by buyers moving out of London in search of a more peaceful, less-congested, slower-paced, family lifestyle with lower crime, and a greater sense of community.

To this end, a number of London-based companies have sprung up offering affiliation services to out-of town estate agency firms, whereby local estate agents can somewhat ambitiously claim to have a “London Office”. Wow! Very smart!

But don’t be fooled. Whilst the agency may indeed be able to boast of their clients’ property details being on file at a London address, look at the reality of the situation. Is it realistic to expect that London buyers will actually walk into a London office with the hope of securing a property in this area? Surely, if they are interested in this area, then their first port of call will be to register with a local estate agency. And the Internet makes this as easy as walking through our door!

Secondly, London representative offices stock details of their client agencies from all over the UK. At least one represents around 700 agency branches all over the UK. If someone is looking in this area, how easy is it for them to be distracted by property in other dormitory areas and lose interest in Chelmsford, or at best, widen their geographic search criteria?

Our job as agents is to encourage viewings of your property. We do that by engaging with our buyers and understanding their needs, preferences and concerns. We believe this can only be done on a personal, involved basis with buyers who register directly with us. So we don’t subscribe to any London representation – yet we probably have as many, if not more, London buyers than any of our competitors!

Scott Mason MNAEA

Director

iPAD Winner meets The Home Partnership

We are delighted to announce the winner of the iPAD is a Mr M Cousins from Chelmsford (pictured above with Scott Mason MNAEA Director) who correctly guessed the number of balloons in our Home Partnership car.

Thank you to all those who entered our win an iPAD competition at The Meadows last week to celebrate us being open for 5 years. It was nice to see so many faces past and present including (Olly Murs) hey Stacy!

Eros the Estate Agent?

As we approach Valentine’s Day it would seem that there’s a fair bit of love involved in estate agency! Estate agents are, if anything, matchmakers after all. And just as people fall in love with the right person, so buyers also need to fall in love with a property if the sale is to succeed.

Just as a good matchmaker will not just put people on a database and expect them to enter into a long term loving relationship, so our job is far more than a simple broking service. That’s why we go to great lengths to understand our buyers’ needs, preferences, hopes, desires and aspirations in respect of their future home. Only through this understanding can we guide them to the right property.

Of course, our matchmaking brief may be to find a Cheryl Cole or George Clooney, which, in property terms, can be ambitious! Buyers tend to have up to ten factors on their wish list that they seek to fulfil. However in our experience there is usually an element of compromise on around four of these. Interestingly, despite location being the first on the list of preferences, it is often the factor that is compromised first, with many people buying slightly out of their preferred area in order to secure a home that fulfils more of their other desirables.

Speaking of desirables during this Valentine season, whilst we don’t recommend that you necessarily fall in love with your estate agent, it is important that you choose one whom you actually like. Are they professionally attractive? Do they listen to you, do they understand you, do they call you, are they honest with you, do they share their feelings with you and do they respect you? So often relationships with agents can fail for the same reasons as any other. But if you ask our clients, you’ll find our love is expressed in some very practical ways. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Win an iPAD!

To celebrate being open 5 years we are running a special promotion at the Meadows in Chelmsford from Monday 31 January - Sunday 6 February.

You simply have to come along and guess the correct number of balloons in our Home Partnership car.

FREE entry with only 1 entry per person.

A Moving In Present For You & Your New Home

Instruct The Home Partnership to sell your property and we will pay and organise for a professional clean of your new home. We will also treat you to a meal out at a top local restaurant up to the value of £100 once the sale has successfully completed.

Simple terms and conditions apply for our exclusive offer which are available uopn request!

Call us now on 01245 250222 to book your FREE market appraisal of your home.

Pertwee Lodge Conversions Now Complete

We are delighted to announce that this unique and individual development of one, two and three bedroom conversions has now been completed with the final few residents all moved in for Christmas 2010.

Desper Developments and The Home Partnership are now set to appear on BBC1 'Homes under the hammer' in May 2011 (further information about Scott's television appearance will be announced nearer the time).

Prices started from £150,000 and all 9 plots were sold within 6 weeks of launching the site in July 2010.

Should you be considering selling a brand new home, development or something individual and quirky like Pertwee Mews then please contact us on 01245 250222 to discuss further.

Click here to view PDF brochure

New Homes at Telford Mews

We are proud to be offering as Bellway Homes sole selling agents this brand new development of just 11, 3 and 4 bedroom houses in which just 8 remain available. Telford Mews is located in Chelmsford Off Chinery Close, Chelmsford, CM1 7QY.

To make the whole process of selling and buying easier Bellway Homes have put together a range of services to make your move as hassle free as possible including the option of Part Exchange.

Prices start from £274,995, call us now on 01245 250222 to book your exclusive appointment to discuss the development and reservation process in more detail.

We've Moved...

You often hear about the importance of location, location, location that's why we have moved to bigger premises at 11 Duke Street Chelmsford CM1 1HL (all telephone, fax numbers and email addresses remain the same). Would you overlook the importance of location when choosing your Estate Agent!

 Our new home will be ready soon and we're open for business as usual whilst we make our new pad look pretty.

Removal Planning

Despite the effort that goes into preparing a property for sale, many people overlook the impact of good removal planning, and often leave the packing to the last moment. Here are a few suggestions that we hope will help you avoid some of the anxieties many people experience during this exciting but sometimes stressful time:

Don’t wait until a buyer is found before getting a removal quote. In the same way that you should choose your estate agent with care, talk to several removal firms before deciding, without having to use the only one available on your chosen day. (We can put you in touch with a reputable firm that offers preferential rates to our clients)

Friday is the most popular day to move house. However, removal companies tend to get booked up, and if there were to be a hiccup, would they work on the Saturday? Even if they would, the van might have been booked out to someone else and not be available to complete your move easily. So aim to move mid-week if at all possible.

Completion dates are often agreed before exchange. Once you have a tentative date in mind ask the removal company to pencil in the date, subject to confirmation.

You can save a lot of hassle by getting the removers to pack for you. But watch the quality of packing. Do they just put a pile of plates into a box, or do they wrap each one individually? Will they pack clothes in their existing chests/wardrobes etc., thereby saving space, or would they pack into boxes first, possibly at unnecessary cost?

Happy moving!

Make Sure You Choose A Qualified Agent

It seems amazing to us that almost anyone can open up an estate agency and commence trading without any training, qualifications, proof of minimum standards, or certificate of competency.

The sale of your property is far too important to entrust to just anybody. Those who claim to work on your behalf may simply be out to claim the commission from a lacklustre sale which might have happened without their involvement, where there is no accountability, commitment or care. Their objective might only be to secure a sale at any price, as long as they can claim a commission. One has to ask the question – “Will they genuinely act in my best interests, and secure a good price from a well-qualified buyer?” Will they make your move as stress-free as possible, or add to the anxiety of moving?

There are various credentials you should check when selecting the right agent to sell your home, such as membership of the National Association of Estate Agents. Membership of the NAEA is voluntary and demonstrates that the member agent is happy to be bound by a stringent code of conduct and will adhere to the highest ethical standards.

We are proud of our membership of the NAEA and believe it is an indication of the type of service excellence you can expect to receive should you decide to buy or sell through members such as ourselves. After all, when the time comes to sell there is much at stake, so you owe it to yourself to choose wisely.

Merrick Allen MNAEA - Director

"Parents help first time buyers"

According to new research, first-time buyers are increasingly relying on their parents to help them purchase their first home. Around 16% have either borrowed or were given money by family towards the initial deposit, whilst 10% are buying their property in some form of joint purchase with their family. Around 8% will rely on the family entirely to cover the associated costs such as stamp duty and furniture.

However, the current publicity around shrinking pensions makes some parents consider more creative ways of helping their children without denting their retirement pot by mortgaging their own home. Here are some suggestions:

Guarantor mortgages – About 20% of first time buyers use their parents to guarantee their mortgage payments from the parents’ income, although a deposit is usually required as well.

Joint mortgage with parents – Whereby the parents income is taken into account in the loan multiples, similar to the way in which a couple might buy a property.

Offsets – A parent can invest money into a relevant savings account which offsets the child’s mortgage, thereby reducing the mortgage interest and monthly payments. Whilst the parents would not be earning interest, they would not however be paying tax on interest and the rate saved would be higher than the rate otherwise earned.

The age of the average first time buyer is now 34, yet parents are still involved in helping their children take this crucial first step onto the property ladder. Fortunately the institutions are becoming increasingly creative when it comes to mortgages that include some parental backing.

So whether you are a parent or a “grown-up” child wanting to get onto the property ladder, and would like to discuss the options available to you, it’s worth talking to myself as I specialise in mortgages and financial advice.

Joanne Williams

Director

“Competing in Today’s Market”

Nationally, the number of properties available, in relation to the number of buyers registered, is at its highest level for eight years. This means that buyers have a greater selection of properties from which to choose, prompting them to be increasingly selective and cautious before settling on the “right” property.

If you are selling, this puts a huge onus on you to ensure that your property absolutely shines in relation to other properties that are competing for your buyers’ affections. This is not the time to listen to the fawning estate agent who tells you what you want to hear, particularly in relation to your asking price, in order to secure your “valued instruction”.

If your property is going to look good next to the others that are available, then pricing not only has to be correct – it has to be attractive. Imagine a £10 note. It is definitely worth £10 - but could you sell it for £10?! Probably not, but at £9 you would have people fighting over it to the extent that the price would probably rise!

Likewise, if your property is slightly better than others on the market, don’t offset this by quoting a slightly higher price! In other words, make your property the best in the market when compared to others at the same price, and the best-priced property when compared to others of the same size/location/condition.

Finally, listen to your agent’s advice. Only they have a good handle on buyers’ immediate requirements and, importantly, vital buyer information as to what else they have seen and how it compares with yours.

Merrick Allen MNAEA

Director

“The Right People”

Despite the fact that many people regard estate agents as more or less the same, there are in fact numerous selection criteria on which to judge the good from the bad, and the exciting from the mildly indifferent.

For example, there are many services and innovations which can make a difference to how effectively your property is marketed, and how the subsequent sale is handled. These could be the use of 3D floorplans, subscription to one or more of the key property portals, 360 degree virtual tours on a particularly impressive website, multi-media window displays, on-line progress tracking, chain management and interactive “for sale” boards to name but a few.

However, despite the advances in technology, which we are typically among the first in the area to embrace, we still believe that it is the people that make or break a service-led industry such as our own.

Selling your home is an intensely personal and emotive experience, and unless a sale is handled with sensitivity, courtesy, consideration and care, then such add-ons are wasted.

We believe that excellence in recruitment is as importance as achieving high prices or securing fast moves for our clients. Our staff are a reflection of our core values, based on a transparent service from dedicated property professionals who exhibit the highest levels of personal integrity.

You expect a degree of service from your estate agent, and we believe this means regular and meaningful communication delivered by pleasant and personable people who are thoroughly on your side throughout your move. Of course, they may not always tell you what you want to hear – but then there are plenty of estate agents who will – it’s your call! We believe sincerity is worth more than flattery!

Scott D Mason MNAEA

Director

“It’s Not Just About Selling”

Many estate agents put substantial emphasis on their ability to find a buyer, and they highlight this as a primary reason to sell through them.

However, we believe in going far beyond this. In many ways, finding a buyer is the easy bit! Most switched-on agents have access to most of the buyers in the market, either via their local property newspaper advertising, their website, their boards or their existing database of registered buyers.

But the issue is not actually about selling. For most people it’s about moving. Selling your home is only one component of the process, and for most it is not as exciting as the buying component! Whilst an agent’s sales success and their investment in technology and advertising will always be important to vendors, there does seem to be a huge gap in estate agency that provides the reassurance homeowners deserve when they are moving.

On average 36% of sales arranged in England and Wales fall through prior to exchange of contracts (although our own fall-through rate is substantially below this). The chances of a sale failing to exchange can be considerably reduced if the seller’s agents are as concerned about the whole move in context as they are about the sale in isolation. So often, it is issues relating to linked sales or purchases that can be the cause of problems, be they legal, structural or emotional.

Our aim is to make the process of buying and selling be the celebration it should be, rather than the daunting process it often is. So when you speak to one of our property consultants, don’t be surprised to find them as interested in your moving plans as they are in your sale. Because that’s what relevant service is all about!

 Joanne Williams - Director

“Introducing Tina Brownjohn – Sales Progressor”

Many estate agencies simply act as a broking service that matches people to property. However, we are acutely aware that there is far more to successful selling than this alone. Indeed, over 30% of property sales in this country fail to reach completion, falling through for various reasons.

 One of the main reasons is that a buyer simply gets cold feet and withdraws as a result of “buyer remorse”. This is a familiar phenomenon to estate agents and occurs when a buyer feels overwhelmed by the apparent enormity of the decision to buy and takes the more comfortable “low-risk” option and does nothing.

Perhaps the buyer is offered another property which they prefer, or something else comes on the market that makes the price they have offered on your home look expensive.

Your buyer may lose their job, or get a promotion. They might decide to get married or divorced; they might inherit or win a fortune, or their business may be experiencing difficulties. They could even die!

Whilst these types of issues are generally unavoidable and naturally have a profound effect on people’s decision to move, the main problem concerns timing. Because offers in this country are not binding until exchange of contracts, the longer the time between offer and exchange, the greater the opportunity there is for the buyer or seller to decide to withdraw.

We go to great lengths to help you move. The agent you have come to know will be very familiar with your circumstances and plans. He or she will usually be the same person who negotiates for you and who will be thoroughly involved in any linked transactions. From this stage of your property transaction Tina Brownjohn our Sales Progressor will be on hand until the contracts have exchanged through to the completion day when the keys are being handed over. We find our clients appreciate the level of personal dedication and accountability provided by a single point of contact, which in turn leads to understanding, trust and a speedy conclusion.

Scott Mason - Director

2 June 

New Government Good News for Property Market

Following the somewhat indecisive election result and extensive negotiations leading to our new coalition government, it seems that the property market can only benefit from the various political concessions that have been made.

Certainly the Conservatives are keen to kick-start the property market, with the permanent abolition of stamp duty up to £250k for first-time buyers, which looks set to stay. Also helping first time buyers will be the gradual raising of the starting point for income tax liability to £10,000pa.

Meanwhile one of the Lib Dem concessions is to release their plans for a 1% “Mansion Tax” on properties worth over £2 million, paid on the value of the property above that level. With a market fuelled as much from above as below this is certainly a relief, although there could be some long-term Capital Gains Tax issues to be addressed by buy-to-let investors.

However, the most immediate and relevant issue affecting anyone considering selling, is the almost certain removal of Home Information Pack (HIPs) legislation. Whilst the timing is not clear at this stage, the Secretary of State does have the power to suspend the law at a stroke. HIPs have not been popular, primarily because of the restrictions of proactive marketing of a property at an early stage until a HIP has been completed – frustrating many a keen seller. The requirement to have a HIP also deterred some speculative sellers – just when the market needed them!

Whilst the idea of getting various documents in place as soon as a property hits the market is fundamentally a good idea, and we would recommend vendors continue to do this voluntarily. The Energy Performance Certificate element remains a European Union regulation, so this is set to stay, although how this will be managed is as yet unclear.

In all, it therefore looks like the market is set to move on apace, especially with a 24% improvement in mortgage lending and historically low interest rates probably around for some time yet.

With the election issue now resolved, a degree of optimism in the air, and increased activity levels in our offices, this looks to be a healthy market for buyer and seller alike.