The latest news from Wood & Pilcher

Welcome to our February newsletter.

Sell Your House, Step By Step

Are you looking to sell? Sometimes it’s hard knowing where exactly to start. Our step by step guide might look like a lot of information but it can really be a good reference point to help you during this process.

1. Work on your finances
With our mortgage valuation tool you can get an estimate of your property's worth.

2. Get an energy performance certificate
You will need one to provide to potential buyers.

3. Decide how much
Get to know your local market as this will help you decide on a price and what you can afford when looking for your next property.

4. Get a conveyancing solicitor
They handle the legal work.

Get an overview of how much conveyancing costs.

5. Fill out your paperwork
There is going to be a lot of it!

6. Accept an offer!
Congratulations, the estate agents legally must now pass all offers over to you.

Once you’re happy with the offer, formally accept.

7. Work on your draft contract
You and the buyer will have to negotiate-
• The length of time between exchange and completion.
• What fixtures and fittings will be including, and if they have a cost attached?
• Any survey discounts.

8. Contracts get exchanged
This is the process when you become legally committed to selling your property, and they become legally committed to buying from you.

When you sell the house, you are responsible for maintaining the property until the sale is fully complete.

9. Move out
It is less stressful to move out before the day of completion if possible.

Completion is when the property changes ownership. Once the keys have been handed over.

10. Pay of your mortgage

The mortgage company will have given you and the solicitor and outstanding amount for the day of completion.

Now the buyer has transferred the money that will essentially pay off the mortgage for you.

11. Settle with everyone
Once completion has been finalised, your conveyance solicitor will send you an overview covering all their costs, as well as outing the sale price.

If you’re buying and selling at the time, you can settle for both transactions at the same time.

There can sometimes be a small discrepancy and you may even get a little refund.

How To Minimise Deposit Disputes

When tenancies come to an end, there are sometimes disagreements between the tenant and the landlord regarding the deposit. If your deposit was paid after 6th April 2007 then it will be protected by the landlord in a secure scheme and won’t be able to be touched until the end of the agreement.

Deposit deductions are historically proven to cause friction. 20% of tenants who lost some of their deposit feel it was unreasonable. A huge 30% of tenancies end with some amount deducted from their deposit, out of which 13% lost the entire amount.

Some common reasons for deductions:

• Rent that hasn’t been paid
• Any bills that haven’t been settled
• Stolen or misplaced belongings
• Any direct damage to the property or its contents
• Lack of maintenance.

Of course, this is subjective to each individual contract, but honesty is the best policy. If you have broken something, it is always the better option to just be open about it. Inform your landlord and in most cases, they will understand and organise it to be taken care of.

Be thankful for your inventory report! Having your inventory report during the process of sorting out your deposit will make everyone’s life so much easier. You will have two inventory checks during your tenancy, one at the beginning and one before you move out. The report is a thoroughly detailed list that states the condition and contents of the property. Once the two checks have been completed, then it is very easy to see if there are any changes that need to be accounted for. This document will either cover your back or it will be used to prove you in fact did misplace or break something. Either way, necessary for both parties.

Welcome to Wood & Pilcher - Heathfield!

Welcome to Wood & Pilcher - Heathfield!

With over 60 years combined Estate Agency experience our Heathfield Branch are extremely well placed to provide a professional and comprehensive service to Clients and customers alike.

Our team is made up of the Business Partner -Ryan Eckhardt, Sales Manager – Mike Watkinson, Senior Negotiator – Josh Johnston, Negotiator – Melissa Marsh, Administrator Lisa Sharpington and weekender Paul Wiley.

All our staff either do, or have lived locally and have an excellent knowledge of the area.

Our Heathfield office work hand in hand with our other offices in Crowborough, Tunbridge Wells, Southborough and Tonbridge and are all fully linked using the latest Estate Agency Software and Technology.

Whether you are looking to sell your home, buy or rent an alternative property, we would be delighted to hear from you.

01435 862211 – Heathfield Office

Is Your Home as Good as it can be?

As part of the valuation process, agents should seek to provide details of properties similar to your own: either still available for viewing, or equally currently under offer. This approach will – broadly – show the many choices that your viewer has. It’s a logical progression that vendors should be always asking themselves will their house be offered at both the correct price and appropriate condition for it to stand out accordingly?

As Easter and a Spring market (thankfully!) approaches, all vendors will be well served to look at their properties afresh. Not as the owner of many years but instead as a buyer would consider the property.

People talk about kerb appeal and first impressions – does your home impress? Are the front gardens and driveway well maintained, grass under control and shrubs suitability pruned? Passing into the property, has a spring clean taken place? Is the property aired? Are the carpets cleaned (if necessary) and has there been an intelligent de-cluttering process going on to show new buyers that the house is perfectly big enough for them to live in?

Obviously, one can think of many improvements that can be made to one’s house and in this competitive world where people are seeking to sell quickly and for good prices, can you genuinely say your property is offered at its best and justify the appropriate asking figure? If you can’t do this then why would you expect a viewer to become a buyer?

On a personal level, we tried to sell a property some 5 years ago at a certain price with little interest. In truth, the colour scheme was terribly dated, and we needed to make changes. We spent a month visiting the property after work and painting the dramatically coloured walls a far more sober, simple, white. On re-marketing not only did the property go under offer very quickly but also at a figure some £20,000 higher that it had originally been on the market for.

For this month, our advice is to take a fresh look at your home. Is it as good as it can be? Are there affordable fixes that could be undertaken? If you go to the market once you have thought this through and seek to remedy any potential problems, experience tells us that you will not only sell quicker but also at a far more attractive price than you would have achieved without due consideration. Dust down those plantation shutters, open the windows,let some light in and take a cold, hard look at your home!.

Welcome to Heathfield!

Welcome to Wood & Pilcher - Heathfield!

With over 60 years combined Estate Agency experience our Heathfield Branch are extremely well placed to provide a professional and comprehensive service to Clients and customers alike.

All our staff either do, or have lived locally and have an excellent knowledge of the area.

Whether you are looking to sell your home, buy or rent an alternative property, we would be delighted to hear from you. 01435 862211 – Heathfield Office

The Comedy Club

The Comedy Club As Seen On TV is one of the most recognised and respected names in the comedy Industry and over 24 years has worked across the UK and Abroad with the best of the best.

Click here to read The Comedy Club.

Prosecco Cream Tea

Alongside your scone, jam and cream, you'll receive a mini bottle of chilled prosecco to enjoy and an additional lemon & orange shortbread. You'll also receive a voucher for a free hot drink.

Click here to read Prosecco Cream Tea.

After Hours Networking

Join us at the Discovery Park for our popular networking event. The informal atmosphere and relaxed environment is the ideal place to make connections.

Click here to read After Hours Networking.

Local Pressure-Washing Service

Thinking of moving, want to freshen up your property before photography is booked and viewings start?

Have a look at what we can do for you...

How To Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

Most of us spend the colder months of the year dreaming about the summer, but it can be easy to forget how inhospitable the heat can make your home.

Ensure you have all the fun in the sun with none of the discomfort with our guide to keeping your home cool this summer.

Use your windows and curtains
It’s a shame to shut all that natural light out of your house, but unfortunately it comes with a good deal of heat. Closing all your curtains or following the sun’s progression across your house will seriously lower the temperature.

However, as soon as the sun has gone down, we would recommend throwing open the curtains and windows so that you can let in as much of that cool evening air as possible.

Build a makeshift air con
Can’t afford the electric bill and initial cost of an air conditioning unit? You can create your own air con by placing ice/frozen ice packs in a washing up bowl. You can then place it at an angle in front of a regular fan, which will circulate cold air around the room.

Switch off the electrical appliances
Every single one of your appliances gives off heat whilst they are on. During the hottest hours of the day you should avoid using washing machines, dishwashers, hobs and ovens. Lighting should also be avoided when the sun goes down.

Drink plenty of water and eat cold
Staying hydrated and eating cold food like salad will help you to keep your body temperature down and avoids using any heat generating appliances.

Sleep on the lower floor
Have you ever headed upstairs when its sunny, only to find that the upper floors are far warmer than the lower floor? This is because heat always rises to the highest possible point. If you are struggling to sleep, ditch the sweltering upper floor and sleep downstairs – either on your couch or your airbed.

Insulate
You probably see a lot of advice articles recommending insulation for keeping your home warm in the summer, but did you know that it also keeps the heat out in the summer? If you don’t already have insulation in your home, it will practically pay for itself in the money saved on energy bills.

Our Top Tips For Designing A Home Office

People have been working from home for a while now. With businesses offering a greater level of autonomy and flexibility to their workers for the long run, many of us will have created office spaces in our homes. These spaces are vital to our productivity, and we have therefore put some of our favourite design ideas together in order to make your home office a hotbed of efficiency.

Nail the basics
When designing a home office, it can be easy to get caught up in the design aesthetic first and foremost, but the basics of a suitable desk and comfortable chair are not to be overlooked. These two pieces of equipment could make your working-from-home bleak or blissful, so take the time to choose wisely. When choosing your seat, ensure that the height and lumbar can be fully adjusted; your thighs should be at a right angle to the floor and your feet totally flat to provide the most ergonomic seating position.

Don’t neglect storage
The old adage of ‘tidy space, tidy mind’ is prevalent for a reason – we tend to work best when we’re in comfortable, organised spaces. It’s easy to forget that a home office will need to have masses of storage in order to store your working documents, as well as any accoutrements you need on a day-to-day basis. When planning your home office, incorporate space for storage which includes shelving, cupboards and filing cabinets.

Create an oasis
Your home office should be a space that you want to visit; therefore, creating a pleasant and attractive room should be high on your priorities to encourage you to use it. Studies have suggested that using greenery in our work spaces can make us happier and improve cognitive functions, so adding plants or herbs in your office space are an easy method to incorporate some natural elements. In line with the greenery, keep the general feel of your home office light and airy by keeping walls and décor neutral, perhaps with one simple accent wall in a colour such as navy blue, which is supposed to help with concentration.

Creating space
Not everybody will have an extra room to dedicate to a home office, but don’t let that stop you. If you have an alcove in any rooms in your house, you can turn it into a mini home office simply with a fold down desk. You could also double up the use of your dressing table or kitchen table. One of the benefits of not having a dedicated fixed office space is that you can move your home office around if you feel like you need a motivation refresh.

Wood & Pilcher receives Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award 2021

Wood & Pilcher has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award, an independent seal of excellence that recognises businesses for delivering exceptional experiences, as rated by real customers.

Created by Feefo, Trusted Service is awarded only to businesses that use Feefo to collect genuine reviews and insights. Businesses who meet the high standard, based on the number of reviews they have collected and their average rating, receive the award. A highly valued badge of approval, this accreditation remains unique, as it is based purely on interactions with real customers. As all reviews are verified as genuine, the accreditation is a true reflection of a business’s commitment to outstanding service.

Feefo gives Platinum Trusted Service awards to businesses that have achieved the Feefo Gold standard for three consecutive years or more. In normal times, the Feefo Gold Trusted Service award recognises organisations that have collected at least 50 Feefo reviews in a year and have achieved a service rating of at least 4.5. This year, to avoid penalising businesses suffering unduly from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the criteria has been adjusted. Organisations that won a Gold Trusted Service award last year but struggled to achieve the required number of reviews this year, have been assessed on an average rating over the 24-month period covering 2020 and 2019.

Ryan Eckhardt, Wood & Pilcher commented: “We’re very excited to receive this award from Feefo because it’s based on the feedback of real customers, who are the most important judges of all. It recognises how hard we work to give all our customers the best possible service, even in a year as tough as 2020. Everyone at Wood & Pilcher is fully committed to the highest quality of service, so it’s important for us to listen, understand and respond to all our customers. The beauty of Feefo is that it enables us to consistently improve, so we’re looking forward to another successful year.”

Congratulating Wood & Pilcher on winning this year’s award, Steph Heasman, Director of Customer Success at Feefo, commented: “The Trusted Service award has always been about recognising companies that are outstanding in customer experience and generate great feedback from happy customers.

“This year, despite the incredible challenges of a global pandemic, so many companies using Feefo have continued to provide remarkably high levels of service and they deserve a huge amount of credit for what they have achieved. It’s why we have changed our criteria to be fair to the organisations that have struggled in such difficult circumstances. At Feefo we help our clients give their customers the best experiences possible.

“I’m confident that throughout 2021 we’ll see even greater customer experience achievements from our partners as we return to something like business-as-usual.”

Feefo is a reviews and customer insights technology company that provides businesses with the tools to collect real, purchase-verified reviews and insights. Working with over 3,500 clients, Feefo ensures that all feedback is authentic, by matching it to a legitimate transaction, to increase consumer confidence and enable businesses to make smarter business decisions.

Wood & Pilcher has been successfully letting & managing properties since 1992

Wood & Pilcher’s Lettings department have been successfully letting & managing property in Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, Crowborough, Heathfield, Tonbridge and all surrounding villages since 1992 and in that time has built up a substantial portfolio. We are proud of our reputation as one of the leading agents in the area.

Having operated for nearly 30 years, and with almost 100 years of combined experience in Residential Letting & Management, Landlords and Tenants alike can see our proven track record of quality service and professionalism. We have an experienced team who know our Landlords, properties and Tenants well, and this personal service has seen many Tenants remain with us for their next rental property, and in a number of cases return to us when they become Landlords themselves. Since day one we have worked closely with an array of clients around the world ranging from large portfolio Landlords to single property investors, all with varying needs, requirements and knowledge of the frequently changing complexities of Lettings.

Our knowledge of the area and detailed understanding of the Letting market is extensive and is the foundation of the excellent service we provide. Our experience makes us all too aware that different circumstances require a different approach and level of involvement from a Landlord and Agent alike. There are 3 levels of service available which are summarised below, although we are able to offer a tailor made service to any Landlords who may need a little more, or less, from the standard services. What you want and need matters to us most and we always aim to work with you in achieving the service that suits you best.

Let Only: This service suits experienced landlords who live locally, have their own contacts/tradesman who can assist with maintenance, and the time to keep on top of rental payments, legislation and compliance changes and overall running of the tenancy. Essentially, those who only require an agent to find and reference prospective tenants and who wish to manage the property themselves.

Let & Part Management: This service suits landlords who live close to the property and are happy to handle the day to day affairs, but who may not have the time, or resources available to keep on top of the financial matters, visit the property periodically, or to liaise with tenants on renewal of tenancies.

Full Management: Most landlords do not wish to be involved in day to day letting matters and to provide for this Wood & Pilcher offers a full management service. Complete peace of mind is provided by this service. A must for any overseas Landlord who wants their property well managed, maintained and their tenants looked after in their absence.

In an ever-changing world, our ongoing investment in specialist industry software means that we are also able to provide our clients with information and access to their property records 24 hours, 7 days a week no matter where they may be based. With our full team of staff in one location, we are easy to reach and communicate with, no matter the nature of your call. You won’t encounter any regional or overseas call centres for maintenance or accounts departments, but the same team who let your property will manage it for you too.

Our ethos throughout the department is focused unashamedly on working as a team to achieve the right results for our clients, not for individual gain or reward. As you will undoubtedly find…….our strengths lie with the people who work for us.

Meet the team;

Nick Davy (MARLA) – Lettings Manager: A familiar face in Tunbridge Wells High St where he has worked for 18 years, Nick has been with Wood & Pilcher for over 10 years now and oversees the day to day operations of the Letting & Management department. One of 4 ARLA qualified agents in the company, Nick's experience, local knowledge and understanding of the complexities of Lettings provides peace of mind to our clients that no matter the scenario, they’re in safe hands.

Joel Bonnici (MARLA) – Senior Negotiator: Another with a wealth of experience, Joel has been with us for almost 9 years and has played a key role in the development of the department in that time. With experience in both property management and administration, Joel’s attention to detail is second to none.

Marissa Mackie – Senior Property Co Ordinator: Since joining us in 2015 Marissa has been involved in helping Wood & Pilcher adapt to some of the biggest compliance changes the industry has seen in many years, alongside the day to day response to the needs of Tenants and Landlords alike.

Heather Steele – Accounts: The longest serving member of the Lettings team, Heather has provided accounts support and assistance to thousands of clients in her 20+ years with Wood & Pilcher. A level of continuity and experience that would be hard to beat.

James Robins – Negotiator: With a background in corporate agency, James joined us at the start of 2020 and has proved to be an excellent addition to the team who has embraced the positive benefits of working within a more team focused environment enabling the client needs to always be at the forefront of all we do.

Emelie Braneby – Property Co Ordinator: Our newest member of the team, Emelie joined us in the of Autumn 2020 having previously worked for a large central London Lettings team.

House Removals in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and across Kent and Sussex

Grosvenor Removals was formed in Tunbridge Wells in 2011. It's run by Dan Fuller who has worked in the removals industry for many years and has previously worked for some of the largest removal companies in the South of England. There has not been any type of removal he has not managed or been a part of. He and his team are some of the friendliest people you'll meet in this demanding and physical business and one not only gets experience in removals but also experience in dealing with any problems or difficulties that might occur during the move. Dan has worked with many Wood and Pilcher staff over the years and we all still commend him highly!

Grosvenor Removals prides itself in a high and efficient level of service. They give a no-obligation quote within 48 hours and advice and offer support right from the first conversation. To that end, Dan can be contacted on 01892 685741 or 07581 007652

Browse their website here.

Heartenoak Meadows Show Home Now Open!

Heartenoak Meadows Show Home Now Open!

We excited to announce the launch of Heartenaok Meadows, Hawkhurst. This is the latest instalment to the Millwood Homes family of developments featuring 18 private homes ranging from 3 to 5-bedrooms with 40% already reserved, so don’t delay!

View our stunning new show home open 10:30am-4:30pm | Appointment only, please email us here, or call us on 01580 820280.

Watch our virtual tour here.

Find out more here.