Greene & Co. win Gold!
Greene & Co. are thrilled to have scooped a gold award for Best Small Lettings Agency at the 2011 Lettings Agency of the Year Awards.
Described as being ‘head and shoulders’ above the competition in terms of our marketing and innovation in customer service, Greene & Co. caught the judges attention for a number of new, market leading approaches we have taken to separate us from the rest of the market.
A bespoke CRM programme is helping to build long term relationships with customers and the team has recently launched e-books on a variety of topics. The website has been re-launched with some excellent new features including the option for potential tenants to match lifestyle preferences to rental properties. We also have video blogs and property book reviews.
Ricky Stone, Greene & Co’s Lettings Director undertakes a series of roadshows to meet landlords face to face, making up to 60 visits per month. This level of customer services again went some way to help bag the gold.
‘It is obvious Greene & Co. is constantly striving to give its clients the best possible experience.’ Estate Agency Events
David Pollock, Managing Director, Greene & Co. said: “We are delighted to have our marketing and customer service excellence recognised at these industry awards and to have Ricky singled out for the enormous effort he makes to give our lettings clients the best possible customer experience.”
This prestigious award was presented to Greene & Co. at the ceremony as part of Lettings Live, is association with The Sunday Times and The Times. Christopher Hamer, The Property Ombudsman was chairman of the judges.
Greene and Co Sponsor 2011 YMCA Festival
Sunday 22nd May 10.00am – 5.00pm
Priory Park N8 Crouch End www.ymcahornsey.org
Greene and Co are joining forces with the YMCA to sponsor the Festival that runs alongside the hugely popular Fun Run.
The Festival part of the event has evolved from the humble beginnings of the YMCA bouncy castle and a face painter or two, to the huge feast of entertainment featured in 2010, which marked the 20th Anniversary of the Fun Run.
At the centre of the Festival will be the main stage featuring the best of local music and special headliner acts entertaining the crowds from 10am until 5pm. The mood will be mellow and the quality excellent.
Children will be fully entertained with the Climbing Wall andSpider Mountain back by popular demand, and new for 2011, Archery! There will be Fun Fair rides for toddlers upwards, face painting, beat the goalie and a host of other activities.
No one should go hungry at the Festival as there will be food to accommodate all tastes, including Hog Roast, Fine Fish and Chips, Greek food, ice cream and crepes, Caribbean food, BBQ, fine coffee, pastries and cakes.
All proceeds raised by Greene & Co. on the day will go direct to Action Duchenne. This year Greene & Co are raising awareness and money for Action Duchenne – a charity helping a community of children and parents touched by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a heartbreaking severe genetic muscle wasting disease. www.actionduchenne.org
Get involved
Do you have something to sell? Stalls are still available to rent for the Festival for more information call 020 7490 0001 or emailmarketing@greene.co.uk
Buy Raffle tickets
You can show your support by purchasing raffle tickets for a draw on the day. Call in to your local Greene & Co. to purchase your tickets now.
Prizes include a holiday in Marbella, children’s Luna street car and much much more. Find your local Greene & Co. at www.greene.co.uk.
Hornsey YCMA Programme Director, Jim Shepley said “We are absolutely delighted to be working with our fellow Crouch End Project partners Greene and Co. Their support is most welcome and their input into the festival will take it to another level and bodes well for the continuing future of this event. It is yet another example of the strength of the local business community in this area”.
David Pollock, Managing Director Greene & Co, comments:
“This event is now firmly set in the local event calendar and the fact that it has grown from strength to strength over the last 21 years is a testament to its success. The YMCA does a tremendous amount of work for young people and we are delighted to be able to fully support the festival. At the event we will be working hard to raise part of the £15,000 annual target for charity. We will be cheering on the many people expected to be running the 10k, including many of our own staff. Greene & Co have supported a number of local charities over the years and and we are now delighted to be involved in such a prestigious event.”
This promises to be a great day for all, and for a great cause. We look forward to seeing you there.
You can also show your support by making a donation on the Greene & Co. fundraising profile page for Action Duchenne http://www.actionduchenne.org/stopwasting/usr0551523070
Is now the right time to sell?
There are many conflicting reports on the future of the London property market. The 2011 Rightmove House Index Report shows the beginning of 2011 to be much the same as 2010 with a slight increase in the house prices in the London area. However The Guardian reported on Saturday that house prices are to fall by 20% over the next two years.
Smart vendors are contacting us now for valuations on their properties to have a good idea of where they stand in the market should they decide to sell before the market dips.
Homeowners should brace themselves for a “short, sharp shock”, with house prices set to fall by up to 20% over the next two years as rising unemployment and public spending cuts take their toll, experts are warning.
“Prices are trending slowly downwards at the moment, but our view is that this is really the start of the second leg of the correction, and we expect prices to fall significantly further,” said Paul Diggle, property economist at consultancy Capital Economics.
He calculates that the average home remains up to 20% overvalued by historical standards – and with the mortgage market still tight and unemployment rising, 2011 could bring prices crashing back to earth.
The impact of any downturn is likely to vary across the country. Miles Shipside of property website Rightmove said prices in each area would be driven by the fortunes of the local population, with the worst-hit places likely to be those where public sector layoffs are worst.
“Forced sales will be the issue, so it depends on the make-up of your area – the level of unemployment and financial hardship,” he said.
The gentle alarm has been sounded, and for those who are already pondering the idea of selling their property – now really might be the best time,
For more information contact your local Greene & Co.
Source
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/feb/19/house-price-fall-20-per-cent
Crouch End Fashion Week 1st - 8th October
The Crouch End Project presents Crouch End Fashion week from 1st – 8th October, so if you are in the area you may want to check out some of the special events.
Throughout the week there are great Crouch End Card discounts, a vintage pop up store, masked tea party, mum’s treat night and loads more.
The finale is a Girls’ Night Out, in aid of Breast Cancer Haven – Looking Good, Feeling Great…
Visit the website for more information http://www.thecrouchendproject.co.uk and for more information on the area pop into our Crouch End Greene & Co.
Crouch End Fashion Week
Hornsey go up!
Greene and Co, proud sponsors of Hornsey Cricket Club and are thrilled to see the clubs return to Division 2. Hornsey’s victory against Indian Gymkhana sealed the top-two spot with a game to spare, putting the club back up where they belong.
We were also touched to read a special thanks to Greene & Co. in the Ham & High Broadway.
“It’s very important that I thank our sponsors - Greene and Co, the Crouch End estate agents. They’ve been sponsoring us for three years, and we’re really grateful. Hopefully that can continue as we go up into Division Two.”
Thanks for the mention guys, and we wish you continued success. Onwards and upwards.
A ray of sunshine on a grey September’s day
Just when commuters thought their day could not get any worse, with the tube strike transforming 10 minute journey’s into hour’s long missions, with bus queue’s filling streets and turning corners, all everyone wanted to do was get home…and then it started to rain!
Luckily for those stranded outside our Greene & Co. shop in Crouch End, Lucy Ableson, Sales Negotiator was on hand to give out coffees and tea to those stuck waiting for a bus in the rain.
Well done Lucy, a ray of sunshine on a very grey day.
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Charity Fun Day
It is amazing what can be done when a group of people band together for a great cause. Greene & Co. had their Family Fun Day at the Hornsey Cricket Club on Sunday July 4 and it was a huge success. We raised an amazing £4000 for the charity, Grief Encounter. We had loads of family fun activities including a jumping castle, petting zoo and sumo suits - which where a real hit. The charity cricket match between Greene & Co and the Hornsey Cricket Club was also great - however Hornsey where to good on the day. To top of a great day we had a performance by the Shalon Monks, which was spectacular. All in all we had a great day and most importantly raised much need money for a wonderful charity.
Greene & Co - Family Fun Day raising money for Grief Encounter
Greene & Co. have gone through a lot of planning and organisation but it is finally here. Our Fun Day is this Sunday 4th July at the Hornsey Cricket Club Crouch End and it is going to be a fantastic family fun day out. The thing about this fun day is that it is raising money and awareness about a great London charity Grief Encounter, who dedicate their time to helping bereaved children and their families. We are really looking forward to the day, there will be loads of family entertainment and a special performance from the Shalon Monks from Britain’s Got Talent which is going to be incredible. Now all we have to do is cross our fingers for good weather.
Are property prices coming down?
Since the abolishment of HIP’s some interesting things have been happening in the property market. According to Rightmove “the market is starting to turn due to increased competition among sellers and fewer potential buyers”. This could be a great time to buy, as each day more properties are coming on the market and prices are also dropping. Our Managing Director, David Pollock had this to say about the current market situation.
“The London market is a different market place to the whole of England. London is in a bubble and therefore it is always a little dangerous to base house buying and selling strategies on whole of UK indexes. Having said that the abolishment of HIPS in the long run will be great for the London and UK market but without doubt there is going to be a period of adjustment. Will prices in London go up, go down or stay the same. Is now a great, average or poor time to buy or sell? The experts don’t and cant seem to agree. My advise is see property firstly as a home and secondly as an investment, its when you do it the other way round that things start to go wrong.”
We will have to wait until the emergency budget is announced to see the true effect on the market as many fear that capital gains tax could be increased but we wont find out until everything is revealed tomorrow.
HIPS - going going gone
Today HIP’s have been suspended which means that people who wish to sell their property no longer need to provide these. This comes as a great relief to many agents, our Managing Director, David Pollock has given us his opinion on this change
“Like most agents, we are delighted to see HIP’s get abolished. In our opinion, they have been an absolute disaster on two fronts. Firstly, they took away any spontaneity in the market, if someone was thinking about selling and just wanted to test out the reaction that putting their property on the market would get, to see if there are buyers out there for it, etc, it would cost them £300 to get the HIP done first.
Secondly, no one ever truly bought into using them, ranging from solicitors to buyers to sellers to agents. There will be no tears shed here about their demise”
House Prices Rising
The housing market seems to be going from strength to strength at the moment. Asking prices have risen for 11 consecutive months with and increase last month of 0.7%. The average entry level price for a house is approximately £155,242. If you are looking to buy a house for the first time now could be a good time to get hunting as prices are going to continue to increase, and although stamp duty does not apply on purchases under £250,000 for first time buyers they still need to have a significant deposit to get into the market.
An article from find a property ““The building blocks are present for a sustained recovery, but we do need lenders to step up to the plate and free the purse strings for first-time buyers. That will not only help the buyers themselves, but also the market overall and the wider economy.””
It could also be good to look into a property for investment purposes as there is currently a huge demand for rental properties in many areas of London, which means there are people out there looking right now! But this is not something you should enter into lightly. A huge amount of research is required to find the right investment property however there are many avenues which can help you along the way. Getting your finances in shape is also one of the keys to getting started with property investments, as depending on how long you keep the property expenses will vary.
To read more about the topics above click on the link below
http://www.findaproperty.com/displaystory.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&storyid=23504
Greene & Co. raising funds for Grief Encounter
One of the best things a company can do is give back to the community that helped to create it. Greene and Co. have supported the local community through various projects over several years, this year we are supporting a truly special and deserving charity, Grief Encounter.
Grief Encounter support children and their families during the loss of one or both parents. The loss of someone you love is difficult for anyone but it can be extremely taxing on a young child who can’t quite grasp what is happening around them. This is where Grief Encounter becomes an invaluable organisation. They have many avenues which help support, care and guide children and families through the most difficult time they will face.
We are aiming to raise in excess of £10,000 for this wonderful charity. If you would like to find out more about them please click here. If you would like to help us with our mission please click here to donate.
Stamp Duty – good news for first home buyers
Good news for people who are looking to buy their first home this week, with the government announcing that first home buyers who purchase property under £250,000 will be exempt from paying stamp duty. This is a great benefit for first home buyers and it will be a great saving which they could possibly now add to their deposit or it will simply allow more people who may not have previously been able to enter the market to purchase a home of their own.
David Smith from the Times commented that “Alistair Darling’s Robin Hood coup in last week’s budget was the two-year stamp-duty holiday for first-time buyers of homes up to £250,000, paid for by a permanent increase in the duty to 5% on £1m-plus properties. Clearly, there will be mixed feelings about this.
Despite the skepticism, stamp-duty holidays work, as previous experience has shown. Provided the bureaucracy can identify who is a genuine first-time buyer — a divorced wife or husband who was previously a joint owner will not count — this should give the market a boost, which is why the housing industry has welcomed it.”
Stephen Brown, Director of our Crouch End shop has said that “if we start seeing banks lend more then this will be a nice saving. Hopefully the stamp duty saving should be good for first home buyers as this will give more money to their deposit.”
Either way you look at it this will help more people purchase their first home which is a good thing!
Is now the time to sell or let your property?
We have found that in Crouch End house prices are going up due to the shortage of properties on the market, and that demand is outweighing supply. If you are looking in Crouch End have you found this to be the case?
Interesting information from the RICS website states that “The supply of new properties coming on to the rental market has fallen for the second consecutive quarter possibly bringing an end to the downward trend in rents that has been in place since the autumn of 2008, says the latest RICS lettings survey. This follows five quarters of negative readings, and is in marked contrast to April last year when 58 percent more Chartered surveyors were reporting falling rents, an all-time low for the survey.”
Stephen Brown, Director of our Crouch End shop has said “rental shortages are occurring, and rental prices seem to be going up. 3 properties at this shop alone went for considerable higher prices from when they were let a year ago.”
If you are looking to sell or rent out your property now could be the time to do it!
New River Village - The perfect place to buy or invest
New River Village, which is located next to the Pump House Restaurant and bar has great amenities and is in a fantastic location. 469 residential units make up the village, you will find varying unit sizes from studios all the way up to 4 bedrooms. These units have been designed with style and sophistication, and the development also offers a concierge service, gynasium and spa facility. Located less than 200 metres from Hornsey train station, its a stones throw away from the excitment of the city centre. This is definitley a place to check out if you are in the market for a new home.
Click here to go to the Greene & Co website to check out our listings for this development
Crouch End fun day -
This year’s fundraising is well and truly underway. The Cricket Match and fun day in Crouch End kicked off the proceedings on Sunday 12th July. After nervously watching the precarious weather reports all week, we struck gold and scored the sunniest day of the week. Hoorah! So off we headed to Crouch End, stilt walker and several hundred balloons in tow to raise a load of lolly for Fight For Life.
We raised a commendable £1,600 with lots of local residents popping along to catch an over or two of the cricket, chance their luck at the raffle, tap their toes to the live entertainment or simply enjoy a succulent burger provided by a local butchers in Crouch End.
Throughout the year we’re going to be holding lots of fun events, watch this space for more news…
Crouch End Fun Day - Sunday 13th July - 12pm
Click on the flyer to enlarge
Don’t miss out on all the fun this weekend - come down to Hornsey Cricket club and help us raise loads and loads of money for FIght For Life. A really amazing charity for children with cancer. All employees at Fight For Life are volunteers. All money raised on the day will be match pound for pound by Greene and Co. Anyway, I’ll shut up - here are the details:
Sunday 12th July
12pm
Hornsey Cricket Club, Tivoli Road, Crouch End N8 8RG
BBQ & DRINKS
Strawberrys and cream
Charity cricket match
Bouncy castle
Sumo suits
Face painting
Penalty shoot out
Lucky Dip
Raffles
Live entertainment.
Call or email for further details
Naomi Buffery
020 7490 0001
07792 376210
Greene & Co to raise lots and lots of money for Fight for Life
Click on the image to download the fun day flyer
This year we hope to raise £10,000 for our chosen charity - Fight for Life.
Fight for Life raises money for children with cancer and our contribution will go towards a radiotherapy unit at the New University College on Marylebone road.
So, we’ve decide to host a fun day in Crouch End on Sunday 12th July and we really want to make lot’s and lots of money to help this really worthy cause. So far, we have a charity cricket match arranged, the vocal talents of Milly Blue - myspace.com/millyin blue, a live caberet act, bouncy castle, stilt walker, face painitng, penalty shoot out, coconut shy, raffle and hopefully lots lots more.
We’re not there yet though and we need help!
Please come along and bring your family
Would you like to play on our cricket team?
We need lots and lots of fab give aways for our raffle
Donate to the charity?
Do you know a band or live entertainer that would perform at the event?
www.justgiving.com/greenefightforlife
Contact Naomi Buffery - naomi@greene.co.uk
020 7490 0001
Greene & Co support Crouch End Open Studios
Being community focussed, we thought this was a fantastic opportunity to get involved and give something back. On the weekend 8th - 10th May Crouch End Open Studios hosted an exhibition, giving the general public a chance to meet artists and buy their work. The weekend went really well, with lots of art lovers flocking to the event.
Interested in art? Why not visit their website to find out when their next exhibition will be.
Looking for something to do in Crouch End?
Crouch End is a lovely part of London, with a village feel.
There are loads to do there too. I just found this article in a copy of North Magazine…check it out and discover what Crouch End has to offer.
