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.
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
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.
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
Good food, good drink, good times in Hampstead
Okay, you’re probably thinking I’m the Ambassador for Hampstead…but seriously I’ve only just moved here and I’m still very much embroiled in a frenzied and passionate love affair – let’s call it the honeymoon period.
It’s not just my love for this cosy and picturesque pocket of North West London that’s got me spouting off again. No, I’m very excited indeed, whilst resting my weary legs from an afternoon stroll, in a local Hampstead boozer I spot not one, not two, but three celebs! Being an avid follower of the gossip pages (sshh don’t tell anyone), I could hardly control my trembling hands as Esther Ransen calmly wanders down the road.
Where can I find such a place to mingle with the rich and famous I hear you wistfully declare? Well, it’s the Freemasons Arms on Downshire Hill right next to Hampstead Heath. It’s a homely gastro pub with a great atmosphere, comfy sofas, open fires and they do a cracking burger to boot. The baked camembert with toast and onion marmalade is to die for – unless you’re like my lovely friend who ate nearly a whole box to herself! Top all that off with some gorgeous views over Hampstead Heath, what more can you ask for when catching up with friends on a lazy Saturday afternoon for a few jars and some tasty grub…oh and a little bit of celebrity gossip.
Want to find out more? Visit their website And this is their address 32 Downshire Hill, Hampstead Heath, London NW3 1NT.
Plans for a road through Hampstead Heath
I read an article in the Ham and High the other day that left me a little perplexed. I’ve just found out there are plans afoot for a vehicle only road to run through Hampstead Heath! Being a West Hampstead resident myself, I think of Hampstead Heath quite fondly…picnics in the summer and winter strolls.
It seems to me, the one thing London doesn’t have a lot of is green open spaces, so why build a road on one? Reading through the article, it’s not just environmental issues that are under scrutiny, there’s also a safety aspect with a school close by.
Have a look at the article and see what you think – I’d love to hear your feedback.
Click here to read the full article.
