Archive for November, 2009
Moving House – Top Ten Tips
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
So, you’ve just found your dream home on Zoopla.co.uk, what next? Chances are you’ve only a matter of weeks until you have to move your worldly belongings from A to B.
It’s a huge task and is justifiably known as one of the most stressful things you can do. But with careful planning your move doesn’t [...]
The Strange Case Of The Missing Architect
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
I am rarely lost for words; you might even describe me as chatty (well, that’s the polite way of putting it) but the other day, I discovered something that left me absolutely speechless.
I’ve always wondered just who designs those nasty little orange euroboxes like my former home of Dovecot Towers which are disfiguring cities everywhere. Whoever they are, they express their hatred of humanity by designing homes that are less about domestic bliss and more about smiting people with vengeance. I imagine their wizened yellow faces contorted with malice, manically intoning their evil plans and cackling until dawn as they draw up the blueprints, satisfied at the huge amount of misery they inflict upon their enemies.
Who else could be held responsible? I know that developers pay this evil piper to call their tune, but seriously – what were the architects thinking when they designed those meagre little box flats? Does nobody ever reject their demonic plans and drag them out by the scruff of the neck, slapping them as they shout: “You’ve been a very naughty architect!”
In fact truth is worse than that. The architect is invisible and powerless. The architect is absent. You see, there is no architect. Buildings urban twat-flats are designed by anybody who fancies a try.
The excellent blog Bad British Architecture (see links) has coined an excellent phrase, which always makes me laugh: ‘developer vernacular,’ that is, buildings styled and envisaged by developers, who favour cost-saving uniform grey metal fittings and orange brick infill stuck onto a concrete box.
Exactly who is responsible, then? Anybody who fancies giving it a go, basically: the work experience girl, some bloke who was wandering by, the cleaner, the man who delivers the organic veg box, Jeffrey from Rainbow, and (on more than one occasion) a troupe of semi-trained gibbons.
Here’s what happens: they draw a childlike box, with no fripperies, no extras, no fancy accoutrements like strong doors, insulated walls, space, or cupboards. They squeeze everything into their tiny little closet and afterwards put a window-box outside and call it a balcony.
Seriously though – can you imagine the same happening anywhere else, where rank amateurs intent on torturing humanity are given free rein to meddle in what should be a skilled profession and thereby ruin innocent lives? (oh right – apart from letting agents.)
Please tell me I’ve been misinformed: please tell me there’s a law stating that houses must be planned with great skill by people specially trained to this, allowing for safety, comfort and even beauty (shouldn’t our homes be beautiful – if only for the sake of the poor blighters standing outside dumbstruck with horror or pointing and laughing.)
But apparently, that’s the way it is. The plans are drawn up with crayon, and if we’re lucky, they’re in a straight line and everything! Please tell me that’s not true.
Although thinking about it – why be so churlish? Why not embrace this notion of can-do. Since you’re asking, I’ve always fancied trying a spot of brain surgery, and I’ve also got this great fantastic idea for a nuclear power station. Somebody hire me please – after all, what harm could I possibly do?
I’ve always wondered just who designs those nasty little orange euroboxes like my former home of Dovecot Towers which are disfiguring cities everywhere. Whoever they are, they express their hatred of humanity by designing homes that are less about domestic bliss and more about smiting people with vengeance. I imagine their wizened yellow faces contorted with malice, manically intoning their evil plans and cackling until dawn as they draw up the blueprints, satisfied at the huge amount of misery they inflict upon their enemies.
Who else could be held responsible? I know that developers pay this evil piper to call their tune, but seriously – what were the architects thinking when they designed those meagre little box flats? Does nobody ever reject their demonic plans and drag them out by the scruff of the neck, slapping them as they shout: “You’ve been a very naughty architect!”
In fact truth is worse than that. The architect is invisible and powerless. The architect is absent. You see, there is no architect. Buildings urban twat-flats are designed by anybody who fancies a try.
The excellent blog Bad British Architecture (see links) has coined an excellent phrase, which always makes me laugh: ‘developer vernacular,’ that is, buildings styled and envisaged by developers, who favour cost-saving uniform grey metal fittings and orange brick infill stuck onto a concrete box.
Exactly who is responsible, then? Anybody who fancies giving it a go, basically: the work experience girl, some bloke who was wandering by, the cleaner, the man who delivers the organic veg box, Jeffrey from Rainbow, and (on more than one occasion) a troupe of semi-trained gibbons.
Here’s what happens: they draw a childlike box, with no fripperies, no extras, no fancy accoutrements like strong doors, insulated walls, space, or cupboards. They squeeze everything into their tiny little closet and afterwards put a window-box outside and call it a balcony.
Seriously though – can you imagine the same happening anywhere else, where rank amateurs intent on torturing humanity are given free rein to meddle in what should be a skilled profession and thereby ruin innocent lives? (oh right – apart from letting agents.)
Please tell me I’ve been misinformed: please tell me there’s a law stating that houses must be planned with great skill by people specially trained to this, allowing for safety, comfort and even beauty (shouldn’t our homes be beautiful – if only for the sake of the poor blighters standing outside dumbstruck with horror or pointing and laughing.)
But apparently, that’s the way it is. The plans are drawn up with crayon, and if we’re lucky, they’re in a straight line and everything! Please tell me that’s not true.
Although thinking about it – why be so churlish? Why not embrace this notion of can-do. Since you’re asking, I’ve always fancied trying a spot of brain surgery, and I’ve also got this great fantastic idea for a nuclear power station. Somebody hire me please – after all, what harm could I possibly do?
Stamp Duty – the essential facts and figures
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
Last year HM Treasury announced that property purchases of £175,000 or less would not be subject to stamp duty. This announcement was intended to kick-start the troubled housing market. As we all know, this kick-start never came.
Consequently, as part of the 2009 Budget, this holiday was then extended until the end of 2009.
So, with just 41 days [...]
Five properties exempt from stamp duty
Friday, November 20th, 2009
The stamp duty holiday implemented in September 2008, at the height of the property downturn, has helped only 115,447 UK home buyers in its first year, according to our research. That’s less than a quarter of the number predicted by the government. The government also announced, as part of the 2009 Budget, that they would [...]
VOTE HERE if you think we’re Website of the Year
Friday, November 20th, 2009
We recently found out we have been nominated for a Website of the Year award in the Real Estate category.
Being nominated is only a part of the process and we really need your support to take it to the next level!
Whilst the judging isn’t purely based on the number of people who vote and rate [...]
Look! We’re sticking to agents!
Saturday, November 14th, 2009
Last week thousands of shiny Zoopla.co.uk marketing packs went out to our member agents across the UK.
Packs included pens, pads and funky window stickers which have begun popping up on high streets across the UK.
Thanks to a colleague these pics were taken during her morning stroll to work (she’s an early bird, hence the darkness!).
This [...]
Your Name’s Not Down – You’re Not Coming In
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Last week, I emailed my Letting Agents stating firmly but politely that they mustn’t come round if I was out. They had (if you recall) left a hand delivered letter on the floor in the communal hallway giving 24 hours notice of a summary inspection.
So there I was bubbling with righteous anger, having cancelled appointments and set aside waiting time (the LA’s allowed themselves a whole day, not even specifying morning or afternoon).
I did some work, typing very fast (I do that when I’m angry) and was speaking to myself in a high-pitched angry voice when, at about ten am, I received an email: they weren’t coming round after all.
How thoughtful of them to them let me know. Were they aware I had complained about my house-keys being passed around like free newspapers? “The office manager is aware of it,” apparently, but not so aware as to apologise.
I reminded them that despite being furnished, there is no shelving or cabinets in the bathroom, so everything is piled up on the floor: not nice, not really hygienic, and so easy to remedy.
But here’s the trap: if I plough ahead, I could be hammered for repair fees. I pointed this out when the LA visited last time (I just the leave the door on the latch for them now) when their response was: “You could buy something yourself.”
I am reasonable. I bought my own towel rack, and I have a clothes rail, since for many landlords, ‘furnished’ is a vague and whimsical term. But drilling into a wall was not the way forward, as I’d lose my deposit (yes, I think I think I’d get it back after a court case, but even so…)
I have as yet received no reply to any of my queries.
So here then, is a thought. Let’s say, hypothetically, that a friend owns several large houses. And let’s say that my hypothetical friend, knowing that I was flat-hunting, had asked me to report on Letting Agents, in a mystery shopper capacity: you know, tell him how they treated me so could select a firm to manage his property portfolio. Let’s say that he wanted them to be fair to tenants, having (hypothetically of course) been a private tenant for years himself. Not wanting to work with a company who abused, disdained and trampled on the rights of residents, he wanted nice people, fair people, to oversee his houses.
And let’s just imagine that I’ve done just that, ensuring that the Office Where The Nasty People Are didn’t get the gig.
It’s sort of a motto of mine: never shaft people unless you’re willing to accept the consequences. Not for one minute do the spiny sharks ruling my world imagine that I have any standing in the world, or that I am willing to stand up for my rights (they believe that renters, like slugs may be eradicated with impunity.)
Be careful who you pick on – very careful. You never know who can bite hardest.
So there I was bubbling with righteous anger, having cancelled appointments and set aside waiting time (the LA’s allowed themselves a whole day, not even specifying morning or afternoon).
I did some work, typing very fast (I do that when I’m angry) and was speaking to myself in a high-pitched angry voice when, at about ten am, I received an email: they weren’t coming round after all.
How thoughtful of them to them let me know. Were they aware I had complained about my house-keys being passed around like free newspapers? “The office manager is aware of it,” apparently, but not so aware as to apologise.
I reminded them that despite being furnished, there is no shelving or cabinets in the bathroom, so everything is piled up on the floor: not nice, not really hygienic, and so easy to remedy.
But here’s the trap: if I plough ahead, I could be hammered for repair fees. I pointed this out when the LA visited last time (I just the leave the door on the latch for them now) when their response was: “You could buy something yourself.”
I am reasonable. I bought my own towel rack, and I have a clothes rail, since for many landlords, ‘furnished’ is a vague and whimsical term. But drilling into a wall was not the way forward, as I’d lose my deposit (yes, I think I think I’d get it back after a court case, but even so…)
I have as yet received no reply to any of my queries.
So here then, is a thought. Let’s say, hypothetically, that a friend owns several large houses. And let’s say that my hypothetical friend, knowing that I was flat-hunting, had asked me to report on Letting Agents, in a mystery shopper capacity: you know, tell him how they treated me so could select a firm to manage his property portfolio. Let’s say that he wanted them to be fair to tenants, having (hypothetically of course) been a private tenant for years himself. Not wanting to work with a company who abused, disdained and trampled on the rights of residents, he wanted nice people, fair people, to oversee his houses.
And let’s just imagine that I’ve done just that, ensuring that the Office Where The Nasty People Are didn’t get the gig.
It’s sort of a motto of mine: never shaft people unless you’re willing to accept the consequences. Not for one minute do the spiny sharks ruling my world imagine that I have any standing in the world, or that I am willing to stand up for my rights (they believe that renters, like slugs may be eradicated with impunity.)
Be careful who you pick on – very careful. You never know who can bite hardest.
Property millionaire or thin air?
Friday, November 6th, 2009
Years of booming house prices resulted in the creation of many ‘property paper millionaires’ who experienced rocket propelled property values and membership to the exclusive ‘property millionaires club’.
However this club has just shed a load of members…99,538 to be precise, leaving only 183, 630 today. That’s a 35% drop since November 2007 or another way [...]
Is now a good time to buy?
Friday, November 6th, 2009At a time like now, with the economy in a bit of a mess, potential homebuyers may be wondering if now is a good time to buy.
Well, as I discovered myself, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no, and buying a house now has a few advantages and disadvantages you should take a look at before you consider making a move:
Advantages
- At the moment, the average house price is lower than it has been, so people looking to buy a house should get a bit more for their money, or get the property they’re looking for – for less. Mind you, it’s still important to search the market for the best deal, as some houses may be priced lower for good reasons.
- With the base rate at its historic low of 0.5%, people who need to take on a mortgage in order to afford their house should benefit from the lower interest rates. Although the low interest rate is bad news for savers, people who are paying interest on their mortgage often find that their payments are lower than usual.
Disadvantages
- No-one can accurately predict what will happen regarding future house price trends, so buying a house now could be a risky investment – for example, someone may buy a house for £150,000 and next year it could only be worth £140,000.
- It is important that anyone looking to jump onto/move up the property ladder at the moment understands that mortgage rates aren’t entirely based on the Bank of England’s base rate. There are a number of other factors that mortgage providers take into account before deciding on interest rates.
Remortgaging
For people who already own their own home, but are looking to remortgage, the same kind of question may pop up – is now a good time to remortgage?
Advantages
- Again, with the base rate at an all-time low of 0.5%, now may be a good time to remortgage. People looking to remortgage should be able to get a good deal at the moment.
Disadvantages
- Because of the lower house prices, some homeowners may have less equity in their home – which means that they may get a worse deal (because mortgage providers tend to charge more when the mortgage they’re granting is larger – as a percentage of the house’s value).
- Again, mortgage rates aren’t based entirely on the Bank of England’s base rate, so no-one can guarantee that they will get a low-interest deal. It all depends on the lender’s criteria and the situation of the homeowner looking to remortgage.
Welcome to the mega property portal
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
After many months, weekends and long nights since our acquisition of the PropertyFinder Group, our immensely talented Development and Tech team, led by CTO Simon Kain, successfully integrated all of our sites on to a single, world-class technology platform at precisely 04.00hrs yesterday (3 November).
It’s likely that if your reading this blog you may have [...]
