UK Housing Market Confidence on the Up

For much of the country it has been a long time coming – but the signs now suggest that confidence in the UK property market is on the up.

In news that will come as a relief to those working in property marketing circles, and those considering a sale in coming months, it has been revealed that 80%  of the country believes that house prices will not fall in coming year.

A Third Predict House Price Rise

According to a survey by property marketing website Rightmove, one in eight people are not expecting a decline in prices in the coming twelve months, with more than a third (35%) predicting that that cost of homes will rise – echoing similar findings from mortgage lender Halifax last week.

The news come just a day after another internet property marketing giant, Zoopla, revealed that sellers are standing firm on prices – with less and less of those in the throes of the property marketing process now willing to lower their asking prices.

Since February the number of homes on the market listed at a reduced price has fallen by three per cent to 34% – meaning that two thirds of homeowners whose properties are  listed with estates remain confident that they can achieve their desired price.

Confidence Important to Property Market

Rightmove director Miles Shipside explained that the figures were good news for both buyers and sellers and were likely to grease the wheels of the property marketing process.

He said: “Confidence plays an important role in motivating those who can afford to buy to actually go ahead.”

Property Marketing Pros Question Worth of Agent Ratings

Property marketing professionals in the US have questioned the validity of a new web based agent rating service, which aims to offer sellers an insight into real estate agents skills and performance.

NeighborCity’s AgentMatch service, which launched last month, uses property marketing professionals listing and transaction history to create a profile of their professional performance.

Real Estate Agent Profiles Created Using Algorithm

Agent profiles include figures such as properties sold, prices achieved and length of time properties remained on the market. The data is taken from publicly available information and results are filtered through the site’s specially created algorithm to create a ranking for each agent compared to others in their area.

And while NeighborCity claim that the results are “the most objective and relevant rankings of realtors in your area” a number property marketing professionals have gone on the record to say that the figures listed on the site do not match their actual achievements, and have questioned whether the site can rival the real life recommendations on which they have long relied.

Facts and Figures Ignore User Experience

Their opinion is echoed by the professional body representing them, with the Realtors Association spokesman Walt Money explaining that facts and figures simply don’t tell the whole story.

“The most important criteria are reputation, trustworthiness, and knowledge of the market,” he asserts.

How to Buy a Home at Auction

All week we have been thinking about property projects, conversions and renovations – as a result of our time at the Grand Designs Live event.

With this in mind we decided to look at a popular property marketing practice for the sorts of spaces that lend themselves to this kind of project – the auction.

While property auctions have long fascinated the home buying public (think BBC One’s Homes Under the Hammer), for the uninitiated the auction room can be a daunting experience.

However, help is on hand, and auctioneers and property marketing professionals have been offering advice on how to get the best from your bids and avoid any auction errors.

Advice on Bidding for Property

According to an article in The Independent this week, buying at auction can be a great way to bag a bargain but only if it is done correctly. The golden rules for the auction room, as suggested by the experts, include:

• Be Prepared! Never bid blind, property photography and floorplans featured in an auction brochure will never tell the whole story. You need to view the property, instruct a survey and carry out the necessary searches in advance of the auction. While you will have to pay and may end up a little out of pocket – it is well worth it to avoid buying a bad’un.

“Never go into an auction blind… You are opening yourself up to massive risks.”  -  Philip Selway of The Buying Solution

•  Keep Cool! Don’t allow yourself to get carried away in the heat of the moment. Set your budget and STICK TO IT! If you miss out on this property – others will come along.

“Remember, there are always other lots and another day.” –  James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search

• Count Your Cash! If you are planning on buying a property at auction, you must have the necessary finance in place before bidding. Once the hammer falls you are committed to buying the property, so the money must be ready and waiting. Cash buyers fare well in the auction setting, and mortgages for auction lots are hard to come by, but loans are available – if in doubt ask your financial advisor.

“Standard mortgage lenders don’t nowadays tend to lend on properties at auction.” Andrew Montlake , director of Coreco Mortgage Brokerage.

3 Property Projects that Will Add Value to Your Home

As the Photoplan team are spending this week at the Grand Designs Live event in London, we are all fired up about property projects and home improvements.

Today we have decided to look at projects that will serve you well if and when you want to sell – adding value and making your space more appealing when it comes to property marketing.

So, if you are bored with your property as it is and have the urge to embark on some home improvements, then why not consider one of these popular projects, all of which have been proven to help push up house prices!

1 – Knocking Through

People pay a premium for space – and one of the easiest ways of creating more useable space is to take a wall down. According to David Koch at Yahoo Finance: “Taking out a whole or half wall to create an open plan kitchen is one of the best approaches, especially attractive to families with teenage kids always in the kitchen.”

If your floorplan does not lend itself to this kind of kitchen improvement, you may wish to consider an open plan lounge diner which can allow for greater family interaction – but do check what is happening in other homes in your area, since property preferences can vary with postcodes.

2 – Digging Down

Creating basement rooms is popular practice in sought after city areas, since it allows for homes to be extended without loss of land – which is also in short supply. If your budget allows (and you will need a big budget!) consider creating underground space to extend your home and add value.

3 – Going Up

Loft conversions are hugely popular and created space can be put to a number of uses, from bedrooms to studies to studios. If you have an unconverted loft space, why not look into it? And did you know that it is also possible to raise the roof on some houses to make room for another floor when there is insufficient attic – the sky is, quite literally, the limit!

How to Sell a Shell – Property Marketing for Renovation Projects

With the Photoplan spending this week at the Grand Designs Live event in London, our thoughts have this week turned to property projects, and today we have decided to look at renovation opportunities from another angle – that of the seller.

If you are selling a home in need of major renovation or extensive updating, you will face different challenges to those who are marketing more polished properties.

For this reason, it can be wise to approach your property marketing efforts from a slightly different angle.

While the condition of the property for sale may be offputting to some sectors of the buying community, the prospect of getting more property to the pound is extremely appealing to many in the current market – so how do you hook the buyers who are willing to rebuild and renovate?

Top Tips for Marketing Properties with Potential

To start you off we have put together a few tips on selling property projects – that can help to capture buyer’s imagination and make it easier for them to see themselves in situ:

• Don’t Skimp on Property Photography: sellers often think that if the interior of a home is a mess then buyers won’t want to see it. Often homes in need of extensive work are listed on property marketing sites with scant images. But the sort of buyer who is interested in buying a project still wants to see inside. Property photography helps prospective purchasers form a connection – so get someone in to document the space warts and all – give house hunters something to fire their imagination by showing them what they will be working with.

• Push the Great Price: One big benefit of homes that will require building work is their price point. Choose a realistic asking price for your property and allow buyers to see how this compares to completed homes of similar size in the area – feel free to point out the potential for profit when buyers come calling.

• Showcase the Potential of the Property: Give people viewing your home an idea of what can be done. If there is a planning history in place then ensure this information is provided, if the property lends itself to a specific project then consider applying for planning permission yourself if the budget allows as this will remove a lot of doubt for buyers and help speed the process of sale. If the property is vacant then consider using property photography as a basis for virtual staging images – defects can be removed digitally and spaces staged to show potential – the resulting shots can be shown in a before and after format helping buyers to see what might be. Consider giving buyers access to interactive floorplan tools – this will allow them to play with the interior plans and help fire their imagination.

Government Pledges Support to Self Builders Looking to Create their own Grand Designs

People wishing to pursue their dreams of building their own grand designs should be given more help and support, MPs have told the commons.

A recent report from the Commons communities select committee showed that while 230,000 new households were forming annually, only 110,000 new home were build last year.

Minister Backs Self Build Boom

As a result, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has pledged to back a “self-build boom” and expressed his hope that the sector will double in size in the coming years.

Showing his support for those with the vision to create their own grand designs, Mr Shapps said that the government was already working to provide advice and information for the embarking on self build projects and planned to earmark more land for building projects as well as streamlining the planning process to make it easier for those wishing to create their own homes.

MP Clive Betts, who chaired the committee added: “Self-build schemes could be a major new source of housing in England, but it will take substantial institutional change to realise this potential.”

Make Grand Design Visions a Reality

If you are interested in building your own home, or would simply like to know more about the process, then why not visit the Grand Design’s Live event at the ExCel London this week, where the Photoplan team will be on hand alongside hundreds of other exciting exhibitors to chat through your plans and see how our services could help you turn your grand design vision into a reality.

The Photoplan team will be at Stand B22 in the Grand Build section of the event, showcasing our range of  high quality visual architectural and interior imagery, app development, 2D, 3D and interactive floorplans and full screen 360 services.

The event runs until May 13^th and tickets are available in advance from the Grand Designs Live website.

10 Great Renovation Opportunities – Build Your Own Grand Design!

As the Photoplan team will be spending the coming week at the Grand Designs Live event at the ExCel in London, we thought we would get into the spirit of the show and help whet your appetite for exciting property projects.

With this in mind we have trawled the property marketing pages and found 10 unique opportunities to create amazing character homes.

From renovations to conversions, we’ve picked out properties to suit all styles – just take a look below, and don’t forget to come along and see us at the Grand Designs Live event to find out how we can help you make your vision a reality.

1. The National School House, Hawes This old school building offers stunning view from its period windows, and you won’t have to look far to see its potential as a renovation project.
2. Stone Built Barn, Laughton Just 20 mins from Robin Hood airport and within commutable distance of the surrounding urban areas, this stone built barn could soon become your rural retreat
3.  Hebridean Home, South Uist Large family home just a hop and a skip of the stunning white sandy beaches of South Uist.  Four bedrooms, huge gardens and an amazing feature fireplace – all it needs is a little bit of love and this place could be heaven.
4. Historic Mill, Watten amazing 19^th Century water mill in the Scottish Highlands. Awaiting planning permission for conversion to residential, and with the possibility of generating its own hydro electric power.
5. Detatched Stone Cottage, Brecon We were sold on this one by the bath and the woodburner – and can see how the rest of this cute traditional cottage could be brought into line for an amazing home or holiday home
6. Gate Lodge, Castletown Small but perfectly formed, this former gatehouse just oozes character from every crack (and yes, looking at the property photography it would seem there are a few!) It would need someone with vision and patience – but just imagine the finished article!
7. Former Baptist Chapel, Castle Donington Stunning frontage and interiors with bags of potential. We can imagine working hard to retain some of the stunning features – aperitifs under the organ anyone?
8. Cornish Farmhouse and Barn, Camelford Set in an acre and a half of Cornish countryside, this tumbledown combo is ripe for renovation and would make an amazing character conversion.
9. Castle Haven, Kirkcudbright Grade A Listed Edwardian model dairy in an amazing location on the Scottish coast with views to the Isle of Man. Planning permission previously granted for residential and commercial conversion though now lapsed.
10. Medieval House, Cazauban Ok, ok so we know it’s across the channel but we couldn’t leave out this little challenge! Built in the 15^th century, this “restorers dream” was originally a presbytery and offers amazing views of the nearby Pyrenees. Renovate then relocate?!

Come and See Us at Grand Designs Live!

Are you planning a new build? A remodel? Or maybe just looking for some ideas of where to go next with your project or property? Then head on down and see us at the Grand Designs Live event at ExCel London from tomorrow.

The team from Photoplan will be joining hundreds of exciting exhibitors in the city’s Docklands to meet and greet homeowners and those with big property plans and see what help we can offer.

Photoplan to Showcase App Development, Floorplan and 360 Services

Here at Photoplan we are excited to be attending the event, which is now in its eighth year, for the first time and looking forward to showing you what we can do – with demonstrations and advice on offer, showcasing our range of high quality visual architectural and interior imagery, app development, 2D, 3D and interactive floorplans and full screen 360 services.

Helping People Realise their Property Dreams

Managing director Ben Gutierrez explains: “The Photoplan team is really looking forward to this opportunity to meet and chat with people about their property plans and see how our services can help. We know how exciting and daunting it can be to take on a big property project and enjoy being able to offer solutions that can help people make their visions a reality.”

The Grand Designs Live event starts tomorrow (Saturday May 5th) at 10am and runs until May 13th. Tickets cost from £12 and can be booked in advance via the Grand Designs Live website. Photoplan will be exhibiting in the Grand Build section of the show, at stand number B22 – we look forward to seeing you there!

5 Easy Steps to Home Selling Success

Are you planning to sell your home? Do you want to move quickly? Then it is important that you give yourself an edge.

In the current market, many homeowners are finding that the property marketing process take longer than they would like – but by taking a few simple steps in advance of selling you can maximise your chances of home sale success.

Simple Steps Proven to Help With Property Marketing

If you want to see results, then the process of successful property marketing starts even before you place your home with an agent, and continues until completion.

Following the simple steps below can help boost your chances of achieving faster results with your home sale.

1. Research the Market: The property market shifts quickly so however long you have been in your home, you will need to update your knowledge of what is happening with home sales in your area. Look at similar properties in and around your postcode, check out both the current asking prices and the recent sale prices to get an idea of the kind of price level to pitch your property. Check out the online listings for your competition – see what sort of standard similar homes are setting and aim to meet or exceed it.

1. Appoint the Right Agent: Estate agents are all different, and you need to appoint the right one for you. Invite a selection of property marketing professionals to pitch for the property sale. Ask them about their record of selling in your area and make sure you check the fine print of their contract. Explain that you want to sell quickly and achieve a fair price, if necessary ask for the selling contract to be limited to a certain period in order to ensure the agent remains motivated.

1. Price Your Property: You must be realistic about the price your home can achieve. Be wary of agents who value your home a lot more highly as the chances are they are simply trying to win your business, and will recommend a price drop down the line. Choose a price that compares to similar sales and, if your situation allows, consider being a bit flexible since buyers love to think they are getting a bargain.

1. Present the Property: Right now it’s a buyer’s market, so your home needs to be able to hold its own against others in the area. Consider “pre-packing” and sending stuff to storage to reduce the amount of furniture and clutter in your home and allow you to show it at its best. If necessary freshen the decor in advance of property photography to add appeal – you may even wish to hire a home stager to help you make the most of all your home has on offer.

1. Be Ready for the Off! If your property marketing efforts pay off and bag you a buyer, you will need to be ready to take advantage of their offer. Put plans in place to be able to leave the property even if you have not yet found your next home purchase. If you have pre-packed and placed personal items in storage (see No. 4) it will be easier to find a temporary place to stay, whether it be with friends or family or in a short term rental home. It may seem inconvenient to have to move more than once, but losing a buyer by dragging your heels will be even harder!

The Possible Pitfall of Perfect Property Photography?

Here at Photoplan we pride ourselves on our professional property photography, we know how to present properties in the best possible light and make the most of a home’s natural assets.

So, when we read on the Photography for Real Estate blog that one property photographer had been asked to make photos look worse we were stunned. Why on earth would someone make such a request?

Buyers Attracted by Beautiful Images

It turns out that buyers had been drawn to the home in question by the beautiful images, only to be disappointed when arriving to view to find that the pictures did not tell the whole story.

Tellingly the agent had neglected to address issues with the property not discernible from the interior photography in the listing, which had led to the let downs.

Professsional Property Photography Brings in the Buyers

So is it possible that perfect property photography could be doing your home a disservice? We really don’t think so. Visual media is one of the most important aspects of property marketing as the reaction that house hunters have to the images presented is a visceral one. The job of the professional property photography is to bring buyers through the door – the job of the agent is to ensure that they are well informed about the property and any potential pitfalls.

Photographers pride themselves on showing off spaces to their highest potential, and asking them to do any less would be a waste of their time and the vendor’s money – in essence it is all about communication, and photos are just the beginning of the conversation.