The Wellingborough Property Blog

  2022 UPDATE: EPC RULES ARE CHANGING Energy Performance Certificates (or EPCs) have, until now, been barely significant when it comes to the Northamptonshire housing market. But it’s important to be aware that there are big changes afoot with regard to EPC requirements, and landlords in Northamptonshire need to pay close attention. So, what changes are coming to the EPC requirements? What kind of impact will those changes have? Here, we take a closer look at the facts.   What Are EPCs? The EPC or Energy Performance Certificate is a building’s official energy efficiency rating. The ratings range from A – the best – down to G – least efficient. All properties listed on the market must have their EPC included within the sale particulars. Furthermore, all tenants need to receive their rental home’s EPC on moving into the property.   An Old Housing Problem In Northamptonshire, there are many different house types, and some of them are very old. These period homes often have p...

  TOP TIPS ON HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME QUICKLY DURING DIVORCE Selling your home due to a divorce can be a very difficult time. Naturally, many people want to make the sale run as smoothly and quickly as possible so that the journey towards new beginnings can start. If you’re selling your home during a divorce and want to know how to sell it quickly, here are Chelton Brown’s top tips on how to arrange a smooth sale.   1. Keep Communication Open Keeping communication strong between the two of you couldn’t be more important when selling a home during a divorce – particularly if you want to reassure buyers that the sale will be smooth.   Agree on your priorities together and make sure you’re discussing the finances all the way through. Choosing the right estate agent also helps when selling due to divorce. An agent with expert communication is ideal to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible.   2. Stage it for a Sale Staging your home in the right way is important. ...

  WHEN IS PROBATE REQUIRED If you’ve inherited a property that you want to sell, you’ll usually need to undergo probate before you can progress. The process can be complex, but working with the right estate agent and solicitor can make the sale as smooth and painless as possible. In this article, we’ll explain what probate is, when it’s required and how to sell a property when probate is required.     What is Probate? Probate is the legal and financial process that deals with any assets (including money, properties or possessions) of a person who has passed away. The process involves proving that the will is valid and confirming the executors of the will have the authority to administer the estate of the person who has died – which includes whether you can sell the property.   What is Grant of Probate? If you are selling a property you have inherited due to someone passing away, you will need to apply for grant of probate before you can proceed with the sale. This i...

  7 EASY WAYS TO SAVE A DEPOSIT FOR YOUR FIRST HOME IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Lots of people dream of no longer living with their parents or throwing money at their landlord every month and instead buying their own home in Northamptonshire. However, one of the things that often stands in the way of first time buyers is raising a deposit. The average house price in the UK is just over £234k, and nearly all mortgages require a 5% deposit, so that’s a large amount to save. With this in mind, here are some ways you can raise the cash to get on the property ladder. 1.  Look carefully at your outgoings While you may think you’re living quite frugally, most people have some areas where they can cut back a little. For example, if you buy a £2.75 takeaway coffee every working day, that works out at £55 a month or a whopping £3,300 over five years. Even chipping away at these small expenses can improve your finances, and when it comes to applying for a mortgage, you can show that you have a p...

  Record year for first-time buyers stepping onto the ladder, as more than 400,000 buy their first home. The highest number in 20 years. Key takeaways The number of people taking their first step on the property ladder soared to a 20-year high in 2021 An estimated 408,379 people bought their first home during the year, 35% more than in 2020 First-time buyers accounted for 50% of all people purchasing a property with a mortgage in 2021, up from a low of 36% in 2007 during the global financial crisis The number of people taking their first step on the property ladder soared to a 20-year high in 2021. An estimated 408,379 people bought their first home during the year, 35% more than in 2020, according to Yorkshire Building Society. It was the first time that first-time buyer numbers have broken through the 400,000 threshold since 2006, while the figure was also more than double the 200,000 people who purchased their first home each year between 2008 and 2012. First-time buyers account...

  Four reasons to get your home ready to sell before Christmas Are you thinking of selling your home in the new year, but planning to wait until January? Sellers often wait until well after Christmas to get their home on the market, but there’s still time to get a head-start on 2022 by preparing to sell now.  We’ve already seen a 19% jump this month in the number of home-owners starting the selling process by requesting a  property valuation from an estate agent via Rightmove , compared to the same period last year.  With more homeowners getting ready to move, we can expect to see more properties for buyers to choose from in the new year. There are lots of reasons why it’s a great idea to  get your home ready to sell  before the festive season begins. Take a look. 1. Be ready for the ‘Boxing Day boom’ in buyer demand Boxing Day marks the start of the 2022 home-buying season. Every year we see more and more people browsing properties on Rightmove during the ...