House prices to rise by 6% in 2010

British house prices are set to rise 6pc this year, the Centre for Economics and Business Research has said, revising its forecast of two to four percent growth made only a month ago.

The strength of the upturn has taken many economists by surprise and while the CEBR was one of the few forecasters to anticipate that 2009 would see house prices return to the growth it did not predict the rate of mortgage lending already seen this year.

Benjamin Williamson, one of the report’s authors, said “The fact the house prices have already risen since the bottom of the cycle has surprised more commentators.

“However, with the rate of mortgage lending more than doubling over this period of time, a shortage of new properties on the market, low interest rates and unemployment not rising nearly as fast as expected, it is easy to see how prices have moved so quickly.”

Come in from the cold

Moving house can be a fraught process at the best of times, but the cold winter weather can make the process even more stressful – so we have put together some tips to help home movers avoid the pitfalls of moving in those cold winter months...

Look after your removal men
When you are moving house, you are putting all your worldly possessions in the hands of your removals men so it pays to take care of them. Laying on cups of tea, coffee and soup to fight off the winter cold is a little gesture that goes a long way.

Salt the garden path
If you are carrying heavy boxes, the last thing you want to worry about is slipping on icy surfaces. Put some salt down to stop the path, driveway and steps freezing over, both at the house you are moving out of and at the house you are moving in to. If the weather is really bad, keep a shovel handy to clear away any snow.

Don't pack all your warm clothes
With the removals men going in and out through wide open doors, there is no point having the heating on and your house will get cold very quickly. Keep aside some jumpers, scarves, gloves and hats to help keep your family warm. A waterproof jacket is also a good idea in case the weather turns.

Look after your pets
The stress of moving can really affect your pets so make sure you take care of them. Take dogs for a good walk beforehand if you are moving a long distance and make sure your pets have enough food and water for the journey. Above all, particularly with hamsters and guinea pigs, make sure that you keep them warm.

Take care of your plants
Take special care of house plants, which will not stand being in the cold for long. Ask your removals men to load them last as you leave and unload them first when you arrive and consider wrapping them in horticultural fleece.

Get there early
Dark closes in early in winter so try to arrive at your new house early before the light fades. It may be worth keeping a good torch to hand just in case. Also, the earlier you arrive, the less chance there is of the roads and paths being icy and the sooner you can get the heating on.

Check your heating
Lastly and most importantly make sure you have the appropriate certificates for both electricity and gas through your surveyor and solicitor, the boiler has been serviced and the chimney swept. You need to be able to put the heating on with confidence it will work properly.

The important thing is to think ahead.

Another successful month

The Bromsgrove office of Robert Oulsnam & Company have won the shield for the most successful office or department in October. The sales team are seen here receiving the company shield from partner Ian Williams. For the second consecutive month running, the Bromsgrove office had an exceptional sales month beating stiff competition from several other offices who all produced an excellent level of sales in October. Don't be discouraged from bringing your home to the market NOW as we still have many buyers looking to purchase. At Robert Oulsnam & Company we don't just focus on selling one type of property or location, we are interested in selling all types of property across all prices! Why don't you join in our success and contact Robert Oulsnam & Company to sell your home.

The Good News Keeps Rolling In

The national news may have told us that the country is still in recession with unemployment still rising and things could not be much worse but on the property front the good news just keeps rolling in.

Two recent reports from the Land Registry and from Nationwide Building Society have indicated that prices are still rising although only by nominal amounts which are hard to discern. Another report has indicated the cost of moving has actually fallen in the last ten years. This is this mainly a reduction in the cost of Conveyancing, surveys and removals all of which are down between 10-25% although there has been an added cost from the much maligned HIP. In addition up until the end of this year there is a stamp duty holiday for properties up to £175,000.

Another report out from the RICS has indicated that demand for first time buyers is rising whilst buy to let investors are now gravitating towards houses rather than flats. The latest RICS survey from chartered surveyors has reported a positive net balance for 11 consecutive months. Andrew Oulsnam commented “house price falls and lower interest rates have gone a long way to tempting first time buyers back into the market, however buyers still need to have great deposits to access the market with lenders remaining generally cautious. This is making it hard to translate this interest into hard transactions. Meanwhile the firmer tone to the market has also rekindled enquiries from buy to let investors, albeit in a more measured way than was visible prior to the onset of the credit crunch”.

A picture speaks a thousand words

Ignorance over inventories can cost a landlord time and money, but the digital revolution has resulted in more landlords logging lists of possessions correctly...

The most mundane of moving-in procedures can mean the difference between a stressful drawn out close to a tenancy agreement or a hassle-free changeover.

Digital cameras can provide landlords with a fail-proof solution to accurately log and store evidence, ensuring in more reliable inventories being undertaken.

Kerry Parker, manager of Oulsnam Lettings said, "The majority of tenants are respectful of the properties they live in so it is easy to become complacent after a few regular tenancies and fail to put in place the appropriate provisions in case of a dispute."

If a tenancy is escalated to a dispute resolution service, a landlord needs to be able to demonstrate that they are entitled to claim some or all of the deposit.

Check out these tips on how to handle evidence submission for a dispute:

Submit your evidence on time as you only get one chance
Minimise breakable items by keeping clutter to a minimum
Provide durable items; take wear and tear into account and kit out the property accordingly
Submit relevant and accurate evidence: photographic evidence can be an effective tool in proving a case
Ideally photos should be signed and dated by both parties; relevant and validly dated receipts/quotes are required
Take time at the beginning and end of the tenancy to accurately log the condition of the property
Vacating Instructions: it is advisable to supply the tenant with written guidance on how to present the property on vacation
Time is of the essence for a check-out report: it is advisable to conduct your check-out as soon as is practical during daylight hours
Wherever possible, both parties should be present for any issues to be raised, and detailed notes (signed and dated by both parties) must outline any disrepair or damage
Keep your paperwork in order including estimates, invoices and receipts

Kerry Parker added, "Pictures are increasingly used in inventories and check-outs as a comparison tool, so taking accurate, jointly verified photos before the tenant crosses the threshold could help you to avoid a dispute in the future.
"The burden of proof lies with the landlord to show that they are entitled to claim some or all of the deposit if the termination of the tenancy is escalated to a dispute service," she said.