London: Property Heaven or Property Hell

London is a fabulous city, there is no doubting that. As the capital of our great country it has more to offer than any other of our city locations with cultural, historical, entertainment and sporting attractions all packed alongside the riverside. Sprawling out to the suburbs there is a richness of diversity and quality of character in the neighbourhoods that is not replicated anywhere in Britain; local produce markets bursting with colour line the high streets and crowded makers fairs make the covered market halls lively and bustling.

And yet many are choosing to move away from London instead of flocking to this vibrant and shimmering city. If you are thinking about making this move, then who do you turn to so you can be sure that you get what your property is really worth on today’s inclimate market? 

What’s Out There for Buyers?

Part of the problem with living in London is that it can be very hard to find the right kind of property in the right kind of area at the right kind of price. This may sound like house hunts all over the country and to some extent this is true. However, the London property market has a mind of its own and as such it is rather important to have an inside man, an expert to guide you through the minefield.

Therefore more and more buyers are turning to specialist estate agents or those with local branches, situated in the area where they are seeking to live. Trust in more generic estate agents seems to be slipping as the housing market dips and dives and properties can sit on the market for months or be scooped up within a matter of minutes. The only people who can know what is likely to happen are those based locally who know the complex market inside out. 

And For Owners?

If you currently own a property in London and are seeking that idyllic countryside dream so are looking to sell, be sure to seek out a company that is local to your area and specialises only in the sale and/or letting of London properties. Choosing to go with a generic estate agent or a large scale online corporation will not get you the price that your property deserves so always shop around locally for the best estate agent for you.

Bear in mind the trend for buyers to stick with these specialist services and place your marketing in just the right location for the best response. Make sure that you have dressed to impress at viewings and see the results in a swift sale at the right price for you.

The Importance of DIY

In these recession hit times moving house can seem like an impossible and unachievable feat. The property market is stagnating and mortgage payers are taking a massive hit with so many properties now in negative equity. With a backdrop like this it is easy to see why many feel like their housing dreams are going to stay just that, dreams for the foreseeable future.

But it is not all doom and gloom, for the response to such gloomy news has been phenomenal with the rise of the DIY-er, the crafter, the self-designer and the home decorator. It is now make do and mend Britain take two, only this time it is our houses that are getting the make over.

Trending on TV

It is clear that this is not just a little fad, but is a serious and rising phenomenon with a whole host of make do and mend television programmes hitting the airwaves. From Kirstie’s Homemade Home where Kirsty Allsopp is on a mission to create the perfect homemade goods to Sarah Beeney trying to Double Your House With Half The Money there are a wealth of viewing options to get you into the DIY spirit.

Getting Started

Now that you’re in the mood and want to get into the swing of things, just how do you get started then? Well first of all have a look around your house and have a good think about the type of improvements that you want to make. Do you want to create more space, recreate a certain style or just soop up a tired looking room? Be clear about your end goal and try to focus on just one goal at a time to ensure that you stay focused if things get tough! When you have picked your goal, write it down somewhere that you will see it every day to act as a motivator for your project. 

What’s Next?

Do some research to make sure that you understand the processes that you need to go through to reach your goal. Look on internet search engines, in library books and even watch some of those DIY programmes that are trending on TV. Make sure that you have the right tools for the job, suitable clothing and a realistic time frame in which to complete your project. Then when you are all kitted out and have researched and planned it to within an inch of your life, all that is left is to cut the procrastination and get going.

Easy Ways to Sell Your Home Faster

There's no denying that selling a home is a very stressful process. Not only do you have to say goodbye to a place you've most likely grown attached to over the years, but you also have to endure the long, drawn out process of vacating the house every weekend whilst buyers view it, never knowing quite when you'll actually be moving. So, if you want to avoid some of this stress, sell your home faster using some of great tips listed below.

Get A Great Real Estate Agent

Having a quality professional in charge of selling your home is absolutely essential in terms of getting it sold as quickly as possible and for the right price. These days, many homeowners are looking to online Estate Agents such as the House Network, as they consistently receive top ratings from past homeowners who have used their services. Who you use is immaterial though, so long as they are a good reputable company who understands your needs as well as those of the market. 

Give Your Home A New Lease of Life

No matter how good your Real Estate Agent might be, they're not going to be able to sell your home if it isn't in good shape. A poorly maintained house will get you nothing other than embarrassingly low offers from buyers trying to capitalise on your laziness, so put the hours in. Dry cleaning your carpets is a good place to start. After years of living in the same space, your nose naturally blocks out certain odours as you adjust to them. But your new buyers won't be in the same position, and any unpleasant smells embedded in your carpet is not going to help your chances of selling quick for the right money. Likewise, all of your walls could most likely use a repaint. Whether you've got some crazy colour in your home or if the ways could just use a freshening up, new paint helps to create that veneer of newness and cleanliness, which all buyers will want from their new home, even if it is second hand. 

Now Could Be the Time

The market is currently improving, and so you may find that now is a good time to sell. However, if you're hoping to sell quickly, don't expect the process to be easy unless you implement some of the essential advice given here.

The Cost of Living: United States vs United Kingdom

English: Blending of the flags of the United States and the United Kingdom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Are you considering migrating to Britain and leaving your American homeland behind? It's perhaps not too difficult to understand why in these current times. It's not likely for instance that you'll see an American citizen receiving completely free healthcare or indeed tallying up how much money they'll receive from the government this month on a DSS Move Benefit Calculator. 

But before jumping to conclusions, you should be aware that many of the overall living costs in the United Kingdom are in fact far greater than in the United States. 

Food

In the United States, we are privileged to have a whole host of international delights fully absorbed into our mainstream culinary culture. From beef tacos to key lime pie, to pastrami sandwiches to the traditional US barbecue, there's not much that we haven't got covered. So surely all of this diversity must be expensive? 

Surely we can't expect to have all of these multicultural foods (in comparison to a fairly bland British offering) and actually pay less than the Brits do? Actually, you can. In a recent study analysing the cost of living in the United States vs the United Kingdom, guess who came up trumps? That's right, America. In fact, on average across the United States, our groceries cost 13.57% less than in the UK. Add that up over a few years and you'll see some big savings, or some big financial losses if you choose to head to Blighty. 

Rent

Well, food is only one of the chief costs of living you might say. The biggest cost is rent, so how does that compare? Even worse if you live in the UK. Yes, on average the cost of rent in the United States is 21.20% cheaper than in Britain, with 1 and 3 bedroom apartments in the city centre and outside of the city centre all costing substantially less than their British counterparts. 

Look at prices in the country and the situation is even worse. Someone living in Truro, Cornwall can expect to pay a whopping 70% extra on their rental cost than someone living in Little Rock, Arkansas. Whether you're receiving housing benefit in the UK or not, it's hard to argue with those figures.

Is the Grass Actually Greener?

Though the UK may seem like a good way of escaping some of the more difficult aspect of America, be aware that Britain is by no means without its own financial pitfalls.

Downsizing – Financial Freedom without the Fuss

As we all know, fifty isn’t the ‘over the hill’ marker it always used to be. Life expectation increases year on year and hitting the big five oh only means that there is every chance you have another thirty or forty years still in you. For many people, their fifties are as big a change as their twenties; families have flown the nest and mortgages taken out in the seventies are, in many cases, paid off. Using the equity in your home to finance early retirement or raising the funds to help your own children get on the property ladder has never been easier.

Downsizing doesn’t just mean buying somewhere smaller. Take the time you need to find a property you truly love in an area that will suit your changing lifestyle. If you still work, consider trading a couple of hours a day commuting time in the short term for the calm beauty of the countryside in later years. On the other hand, if you love the city and want to remain in the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life, luxury apartments in the heart of the city are not just for young up and coming business executives. Whether it is a serviced apartment or a barge docked in a countryside marina; now is the time to embrace your dreams and leave the shackles of the family home behind you.

Take advantage of the expert advice out there; Quick Move Conveyancing has an excellent guide to choosing and finding a dedicated surveyor, and Zoopla has a range of really useful resources on UK house prices and average house prices by area. Using online resources takes the time and ‘legwork’ out of a search that probably took months if you bought your current home more than twenty years ago.

Use your equity wisely; find a financial advisor you can trust – ideally one that is independent and not affiliated with your bank. If you are going to help out children with deposits for their own home, get the paperwork in order. Family trust is all very well, but should the worst happen, it is important that the legal documents are in order. Bear in mind that the UK has laws about cash gifts to dependents and that if death occurs within seven years of a gift of over £250. Research inheritance tax laws properly and thoroughly and draw up the relevant paperwork.

Your Business Should Use the Benefits of a Serviced Office

For a company, regardless of size, the initial investment in facilities is always a consideration when adding up all the costs required to start trading. The initial deposits of income, hiring all services such as electricity, telephone and internet and purchase of office furniture and computer equipment are certainly considerable expenses and sometimes one may even start to question whether or not to start a new business because of them.

In addition to the financial aspect, it is also important to consider the legal part of being a tenant and pattern of a greater number of people. As expected, in this way the risks that the company faces are greater, for example, if the leased premises suffer an incident such as a fire, flood or a landslide, the legal representative must demarcate the liability company and if that could not be the case, then the company must correct the damage caused itself, generating with this an involvement with their cash flows.

One of the options presented to most clients, both micro and small or medium businesses is to hire the services of a virtual office. One of the best examples are the serviced offices in Sydney. Such offices have considerable advantages that start in an easier and safer way a company.

For example, one does not need to consider the initial investment costs for the procurement of services such as electricity or telephone, nor will they incur a decrease in cash flow from having to spend 2 or 3 months' rent as a deposit for use in local offices which will be established.

In the case of staff who answer phones and perform some secretarial activities, virtual offices also offer this service, so occupational risks and costs of recruiting and training significantly decrease or even disappear.

To decide whether it is best to make expenditures for income adequacy and operation of office or virtual office, it is important to know what the requirements of the new company will be at different stages as well as the profits generated.