The latest news from Wood & Pilcher

Why is now the time to buy a second home?

After a year without the ability to socialise or travel, many Brits have been able to save a considerable sum, with savvy savers now wondering what to do with their sizeable nest eggs.

As many as 74% of millennials are more interested in the idea of investing following the pandemic,* with property remaining one of the key areas to see returns.

Before buying your second property, have you asked these key initial questions?

What's the purpose of this investment?

It's worth considering if you're wanting to pursue a high involvement strategy, flipping homes for profit, or you'd like to opt for a lower involvement and more long-term plan, such as letting or owning a holiday home.

Having an in-depth discussion with a local agent will help you to determine your financial position, as well as the plan most suited to your goals and interests.

The hidden costs of running your second home

As with all undertakings that require a financial and personal commitment, you need to make sure you have a thorough understanding of the responsibilities and costs.

When becoming a landlord or holiday home owner, you need to think about insurance and bills, as well as how you plan to manage and grow your rental income.

Likewise, flipping properties can come with considerable bills to pay if you make hasty decisions along the way, so you should have a budget that's realistic and practical.

Unoccupied insurance for a holiday home

As holiday homes are usually unoccupied for the majority of the year, you will find that a regular home insurance policy won’t cover you.

This is because serious damage like a break-in or burst pipe can only be minimised if there is someone in the property.

It’s important you are upfront with your insurer about how often you will be visiting your holiday home.

Am I insured if I rent my property out?

If you decided to rent out the property, you face extra risks.

However, for some, letting could be a big part of why they bought the property in the first place.

It would be recommended to speak with an insurance broker, as this will ensure you have full coverage as a landlord whether the property is being occupied by tenants or not.

For any help or advice when it comes to property, speak to us.

*Finder.com

Will you be joining us this weekend at the Live & Local festival?

Taking place over the August Bank Holiday in Royal Tunbridge Wells’ historic Calverley Grounds, the Local & Live festival is a two-day celebration of the best live music and culture in our brilliantly creative town and beyond.

Now entering its fifteenth year, the festival has become widely recognised as an annual highlight in the regional events calendar.

Click here to read Will you be joining us this weekend at the Live & Local festival?.

We are proud to support our local business, PERRÓN

Burritos, tacos, cocktails, and the very best coffee is what Perrón is bringing to the table! Go and check them out for yourself!

"Finally there is a place in twells for a decent taco, and on top of that, the cocktails are amazing. The margarita is perfect"

Click here to read We are proud to support our local business, PERRÓN.

Click here to read .

We want to know what you think about us.

We want to know what you think about us.

Here at Wood & Pilcher, we strive to deliver the highest level of customer service to our clients. We are always looking at ways to improve our services so your home moving process is as easy and stress-free as possible.

We believe that the proof is in the pudding. The reviews we get give a clear indication of the level of service all of our agents provide, across all branches.

They are something that we highly pride ourselves in.

"Great experience and really helped push the sale through when in a chain of 6. Always responded to emails and queries and gave constant updates." James Paine.

"The team in Tunbridge Wells are the most professional, kind and caring people. No matter who you spoke to, they were all up to speed on your particular situation. Fantastic teamwork." Jackie Wigley.

"Great experience all round, from buying the property through W&P to renting it out through them. Every person I dealt with was extremely knowledgable, understood the market very well, very responsive and delivered great service." Simon Tovey.

If you would like to provide us with your feedback then please get in touch here.

In Crowborough:

Friday 5th November 2021 at Goldsmiths Recreation Ground, Crowborough. FREE.

Click here to read In Crowborough:.

In Tunbridge Wells:

Saturday 6th November 2021 at Dunorlan Park. Tickets available now.

Click here to read In Tunbridge Wells:.

In Tonbridge:

Sunday 7th November at Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground. Tickets available now.

Click here to read In Tonbridge:.

We are sponsoring Castleman this year in Tonbridge!

At the heart of the Castlemas experience will seat an enchanting 300 seat, heated, ’Igloo Theatre’. This will be home to a vast range of live entertainment! Expect interactive baby/toddler experiences, as well as a huge variety of performances for all the family. From Theatre to Magic and Circus to Music – you won’t want to miss it.

Click here to read We are sponsoring Castleman this year in Tonbridge!.

Property searches often spike in January

As we are settling into the New Year, we've always found a renewed interest from homeowners and tenants, with enquiries and property searches at an all-time high.

We've all spent more time than ever at home in 2021, so you might find yourself planning what your 2022 plans will look like and where you want to call home.

Whilst it's commonly believed that spring and summer see the strongest market activity, year-after-year, January has stood out as a time when online searches peak and more people are ready to make and accept offers in a fast timeframe.

Who chooses to move at this time of year?

The new year's property market usually consists of two types of people: first-time buyers and those re-entering the market after trying in the previous year.

In the spring and summer, the market typically becomes much more competitive, with higher supply levels.

If you want a fresh start this year, start the process as soon as possible by instructing your agent, planning your property marketing strategy, and taking advantage of the surge in buyer interest.

While we all hoped the pandemic would be contained in 2021, it's now a confirmed reality that it will continue into 2022.

For that reason, we're committed to continuing all of the safety measures and social distancing practices we've implemented this year.

To make your home extremely visible on the property market over the New Year period, contact our agency today – visit our website for more information.

How to purchase a buy-to-let property in 2022

If you're thinking about becoming a landlord, there’s a lot of things to think about and understand before you buy a property.

The process of purchasing a buy-to-let home differs from purchasing a residential property for yourself, so it's important to know what to expect.

Because our staff specialise in buy-to-let guidance, we've created a simple guide to buying a buy-to-let property.

What is a buy-to-let?

First and foremost, the fundamentals: A buy-to-let property is one that has been purchased with the idea of renting it out.

A buy-to-let mortgage is different from a residential mortgage, and you'll need to apply for one if you can't afford to buy the house outright.

When applying for a regular mortgage, your income is considered, however when applying for a buy-to-let loan, the lender considers the anticipated rental income as your major source of income, while your personal income is considered secondary.

What type of property should you buy?

The location of the property in relation to facilities and transportation, as well as the neighbourhood and demand in the area, are all key considerations.

Just like you would when looking for a home, you should conduct thorough research into the area where you want your buy-to-let property to be placed.

Consider the type of tenant you want to attract and include that into your research.

Finding a property in the suburbs near well regarded schools is your best choice if you're wanting to rent to families.

A home near a university, as well as good yet inexpensive restaurants and nightlife, is essential if you want to rent to students.

Is it necessary to use a letting agent?

This answer is contingent on your financial situation and the level of engagement you want in your buy-to-let property.

You may not want to go via a letting agent or agency if you want to be a very hands-on landlord, but if you want to be more hands-off, it is a good idea to seek the services of a professional, experienced lettings firm.

Credit checks on possible tenants, drafting a lease contract, chasing late rental payments for you, assisting with any on-site maintenance, and assisting with obligatory gas and energy safety and efficiency assessments are all services provided by letting agents like us.

In general, if you're a budding landlord, using our lettings services will relieve you of a significant amount of stress!

Spring Preparation Checklist for Your Home

You’re longing for the first warm breeze.

As spring approaches, you may be ready for a deep clean. So, how can you prepare your home for the longer days and milder nights?

Here’s a simple checklist to get you started.

Extract your vases

Fresh flowers are such a treat, and now is an excellent time to bring them back into your house.

Give your vases a thorough clean and replace any that seem worn.

Store away your winter footwear

Clean your winter shoes, then pack the toes gently with newspaper to keep them in shape.

Don't discard shoe boxes after purchase; they make wonderful storage containers.

Stack your winter shoes and boots in the back or top of your closet and bring your summer shoes and boots forward.

Clean doors and windows

You will want to make the most of the spring light, so be sure to clean your windows to create an airier feel in your home.

Cleaning your door frames is also a simple way to brighten up your home’s interior.

Get your garden ready

As we head further into spring, it might be time to bring out the garden furniture.

Tidy away any plants which have caught the winter frost.

Clear any remaining winter debris – including build-up in the gutters – and tackle any essential repairs before you get distracted by weeding and mowing the lawn.

Keeping your home in tip-top condition is also a good idea if you intend to sell soon.

Not only will it be ready for a professional photoshoot, but you’ll also make a great first impression on your viewers too.

Are you ready for a fresh start? Just give us a call on today for expert advice about prepping your home for its market debut.

Demand creates opportunities for new landlords

As soaring house prices continue to push up the average buying age, more and more people are looking to rent for longer. This squeeze on supply has resulted in the average rent price rising throughout the UK. In London, rents have risen to £1,757 – 11.8% higher than in February 2021. *

The imbalance between supply and demand means that the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks is now applying pressure on the Government to increase rental stock across the UK.

Now is the perfect time for new landlords to enter the market and make a good return while providing homes to those who need them.

Have you had a lettings valuation in the past? You may be surprised by how much your potential rental is worth now.

If you’ve got an unoccupied property on your hands, contact us to learn more about our bespoke services and book a lettings valuation.

EPC changes offer good opportunities for landlords

In a bid to combat climate change and reduce pressure on strained energy supplies, the government has recently announced new proposals on EPC ratings. The changes will require landlords to increase the energy efficiency of their properties to a C or above.

Improvements must be made by 2025 for new tenancies, or 2028 for existing tenancies. As a recent survey showed, 68% of landlords currently own rentals with D or below EPC ratings, which means most will need to act soon to avoid problems down the line.*

While increasing the energy efficiency of your properties can be a costly exercise, it’s also an opportunity to raise the value of your rentals and reduce bills for tenants. This, in turn, will make your lets more attractive to tenants, especially at a time of rising energy prices.

In addition, landlords looking to expand their portfolios may consider buying less efficient homes to upgrade the EPC rating and turn over a profit. If you own a property rated C or above, now is a great time to think about letting it.

However you intend to respond to the upcoming changes, we’re happy to discuss your options going forward.

Contact our team to discuss this further, or to arrange a lettings valuation.

*Landbay

Crowborough have The Queens Jubilee Big Lunch

Click here to read Crowborough have The Queens Jubilee Big Lunch.

Our Letting and Management team has seen a couple of changes in 2022

Our Letting and Management team has seen a couple of changes in 2022. Earlier in the year our then part time team member Chris Henderson accepted an offer to join us on a full time basis and now works closely with both the negotiators and property management team in a variety of roles across the department. Chris’ enthusiasm and attention to detail is an asset for all of our clients to benefit from.

More recently we also welcomed Sally Whitty to the team as our new Property Co-Ordinator. Replacing a long standing member of any team can pose many challenges but Sally’s experience not only in Residential Lettings, but also in customer service and administration roles has made for a much simpler transition for all.

Finally our congratulations to Lettings Negotiator James Robins on passing his ARLA Propertymark exams recently. As members of ARLA Propertymark you can be reassured that we meet higher industry standards than the law demands and our experts. James is now one of 5 individually qualified ARLA members in our team. They undertake regular training to ensure we remain up to date with best practice and complex legislative changes so that we can offer you the best advice.

Looking for help with your mortgage?

Why Autumn Is A Good Time To Move Home

The changing of seasons tends to bring around a renewed mindset and a desire for a change of scenery. If the weather cooling down has you thinking about kicking back and cosying up in a new living room, there’s no need to wait as autumn could be one of the best seasons to start the search for your new home.

Click here to read Why Autumn Is A Good Time To Move Home.

Which green features do homes with high EPC ratings have?

Whether you’re planning to rent or sell your home, want to cut your bills or carbon footprint, your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating matters.

To clarify, an EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property on a scale of A-G, with A being the most efficient and G being the least. A-rated homes should have the lowest fuel bills and carbon emissions – a win for your bank balance and the environment.

Knowing the typical features greener properties command is helpful if you’re looking for a new home or wondering what improvements might boost your current score. A recent overview of high-rated homes listed for sale on a popular property portal, found many shared these attributes:

• Triple-glazed or laminated glass windows

• Aluminium windows (for thermal insulation)

• Air source heat pumps

• Carbon negative construction techniques

• PV solar panels for generating free electricity

• Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems

• HeatStream water tanks

• Underfloor heating

• Ample insulation throughout

Whatever your starting point, we can advise you on improving your property’s EPC rating before renting or selling. We can also help buyers find an energy-efficient new home.

Check out our latest report explaining more about the housing market in your area.

Click here to read Check out our latest report explaining more about the housing market in your area..