Have you got a big one? A small one? Maybe you’ve got a wonky one. Whatever its shape or size, we’ve all got one. We’re talking about your hooter. Smack bang in the middle of your face; the nose is a great tool when trying to sell your home. Known as ‘scent branding’, businesses all over the world are investing in signature scents to harness the power of smells, memories, and...
2022
As trusted local letting agents, we work with a lot of landlords. Finding tenants, managing properties, organising inspections – we take care of each step. However, more and more landlords are choosing to work alone, but is it as easy as they think? Here’s why we think working with an agent is the best way to rent out your property. Save time Even if you’re a full-time landlord,...
This two-minute read explains how to identify a great estate agent – one who’ll land you the best deal for your home. What separates a mediocre estate agent from an exceptional one? It’s not what they say; it’s what they do. While some agents talk a big game, in reality they just go through the motions. But great agents (and we like to think that here at Nest in Essex we fall...
Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you rent your property to family or friends. Do they need to sign a tenancy agreement? Yes, yes, and yes again! They might be family, but they’re also your tenants and both parties need to know what is expected of them. For example, they might say they want to stay for 12 months but then leave after just six. Without a tenancy agreement,...
Selling a home is not a solo project – well, not if you hope to achieve top selling price. A three-minute read. If there’s one piece of property advice worth remembering, it’s this: be wary of anyone who tells you that selling a home is so easy that you should do it yourself. Many things in life are easy, like singing Baa Baa Black Sheep out of key or eating a whole packet of chocolate...
When a tenant gets in touch, don’t faff about – a prompt response will save you time and money in the long run. A three-minute read. Picture this: you’re frantically busy at work, scrambling to meet an urgent deadline when your phone pings. It’s your tenant raising what seems like a pretty minor issue, so you make a mental note to get back to them in a few hours when things calm...
Taking that first step on the property ladder is simultaneously exciting and terrifying. No matter how old you are, buying your first property will make you feel like a proper grown-up. Before you even find the right property, there’s lots to learn, so in this quick read, we’ve pulled together our top five tips for first-time buyers. Be mortgage savvy There are so many different options...
When they run smoothly, joint tenancies can be a good source of income for landlords. This three-minute read explains how to get the best out of them. Joint tenancies are a great way for friends or couples to live together and share the rental burden. (Think about best buddies and flatmates Joey and Chandler in Friends, they had a ball,right?) And joint tenancies can also be good news...
This two-minute read looks at parents’ integral role in helping young people get on the property ladder. There’s one financial institution that never seems to go out of fashion, and that’s the dear old Bank of Mum and Dad (or BOMAD for people who like acronyms). About half of all first-time buyers (FTBs) last year relied on BOMAD, with parents dishing out a record £9.8 billion to help...
Don’t make the rookie mistake of cutting corners with reference checks – it’s a sure-fire way to wind up with a nightmare tenant. A three-minute read. When it comes to tenant selection, there’s a saying that all landlords should heed: Go with the right tenant, not the first tenant. Sometimes, landlords are so eager to see rent payments rolling in that they treat the reference checking...