y l d n e i Fr Don’t settle for an online estate agent, use qualiďŹ ed and experienced estate agents in the local area that know everything there is to know about it. They actively promote your property, not wait for potential buyers to stumble across it online and unlike online agents, they happily handle all aspects of marketing your property with no additional fees!
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
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Why you should use a local high street estate agent Selling your home has never been more competitive with estate agents vying for your custom – but there are some factors to consider when deciding to go online or via the high street WHEN you are thinking of putting your property onto the market who would you turn to first? Should you stick with the traditional high street agent or perhaps risk using an online or call centre agent. Whichever route you decide to choose, it’s important to consider the significant differences between the high street and the online agents. Local estate agents are backing a campaign to use high street agents, amid criticisms being made by the advertising watchdog for certain online agents “making unsubstantiated and misleading claims” in their advertising. A report last summer by Which? magazine highlighted Purple Bricks, HouseSimple, Hatched and other online agents for falling foul of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). HouseSimple was reprimanded by the ASA on August 16, 2017 for stating that its customers saved £5,000 on average in fees, in TV advertising and in similar claims on its website, without providing robust evidence to support its claims. This is the third time in the past year that HouseSimple has been rebuked by the ASA. Housesimple was criticised for stating that customers could sell a home for £495, but not making clear that they had to use its conveyancing and mortgage advice services to get that price. They also claimed they were ‘three times quicker’ at selling properties than other estate agents in an advert displayed on the London Underground. However the ASA didn’t feel its evidence was robust enough to prove that assertion. Whilst Purplebricks also has had three rulings upheld or partly upheld against it since March 2016, with the most recent being issued July 2017. Again they were criticised for making what the ASA said were misleading and unsubstantiated claims about how much its customers could save in estate agent fees. In a TV ad and on its website, they
said that customers had ‘nothing to pay upfront’ to sell a property with them, without making clear that there is a mandatory fee that would need to be paid at a later date. What do online agent fees include? You can expect a package to include at least the basics needed to sell a home, such as listings on the main property portals. But extras, such as the agent conducting the viewings for you, are likely to cost more. When do you have to pay? With some online agents you will need to pay an upfront fee (meaning you have to pay even if you don’t sell your property). Some will let you defer payment, but you may still face a fee even if you’re property doesn’t sell. You may also have to enter into a credit agreement with the firm. Companies that allow you to only pay on completion will often charge more for this option. How long will they market my property for? Packages can be time-limited such as 10 or 12 months, rather than your property continuing to be marketed until it sells. Pros of using an online estate agent ■ Fees: In some cases using an online estate agent could be cheaper than using a high street agent. ■ Convenience: It can sometimes be easier to get hold of online estate agents. Their call centres are open during evenings and weekends, so they are able to deal with queries outside of working hours (although some high street agents now offer this level of service too). ■ Flexibility: Packages can be tailored to your specific requirements, and you can often track viewings and feedback online (although some high street agents offer this, too). Cons of using an online estate agent ■ Lack of local knowledge: Even online agents with regional reps could struggle to compete with a high street agent who knows your neighbourhood and its property market inside
out. ■ Legwork: Online estate agents may negotiate offers for you and act as a middleman to progress your sale to completion, but not all will. Taking charge of communications with buyers and solicitors without the help of an agent could be time-consuming and stressful. ■ Viewings: Unless you pay extra you’ll usually have to conduct viewings yourself, so you’ll need to be comfortable showing strangers around your home and be available during evenings and weekends. ■ Paying up front: If you opt for this type of package, you won’t be paying on results. In fact, you’ll have to pay even if that company doesn’t end up selling your house. ■ Selling price: Because most online estate agents charge a flat fee rather than commission there is less of an obvious incentive to get the best-possible price for you. That said, they have reputations to maintain, and many companies claim they usually achieve the desired asking price. However, according to research conducted by GetAgent, half of online agent listings haven’t sold after 14 months. Almost half of vendors who switched from Purplebricks did so in the first two months. And out of those properties re-listed, 65 per cent had asking price changes. Purplebricks completed on just 57 per cent of the listings from January 2016, as of February 2017. HouseSimple completed on 58 per cent, Tepilo were even lower with a 48 per cent completion rate. GetAgent looked at 500 new listings by Purplebricks and other online agents from January 2016. They analysed the success of each of these listings from January 2016 through to February 2017, allowing 14 months. GetAgent also sent out a questionnaire to customers who have used online estate agents to help us understand their motives and their level of satisfaction. Finally they conducted telephone interviews with some of the respondents, which provided some in depth analysis.
OFFERING SO MUCH MORE A NORTH Lincolnshire estate agency says it is able to offer much more than an online agent. Beercocks, on High Street in Barton-Upon-Humber, offers many different services all under one roof with a more personal approach. Principal, Robert Beercock, pictured, said the kind of people that use online services like Purplebricks are the ones who have a “DIY approach” to estate agency. He said: “You get what you pay for. If you want the service and the security and the back-up of a huge team on the ground, then you will choose us. “We have nearly 120 people locally and everything is all inclusive. You don’t get the risk. “We put our money where our mouth is. We have to perform and get a result, otherwise we don’t get paid. “A lot of these online services say they have people on the ground but they don’t have enough people on the ground. “We keep a typical ratio of 25 properties per person. They are running on a ratio of eight to ten times that amount.” Mr Beercock said you don’t get a “proactive” estate agent with online services. “Unless someone ticks the right box, your house is invisible. It is about opening people’s eyes,” he said. The principal said there is also the “hassle factor” when it comes to property. “There is someone there that can take care of the whole process. We even do the legal service. We organise the finance as well. “It is a one-stop shop,” Mr Beercock said. He said you also get charged at the start of the process by the online estate agents. Beercocks was formed in the late 1990s as Beercock, Wiles & Wick. Mr Beercock has been in the estate agency business for nearly 40 years. The estate agency rebranded to Beercocks to modernise the business. The Barton branch was opened around four years ago and a total of six staff work there. Beercocks has 10 branches across the country including Beverley, Cottingham, Hedon, Hessle, Holderness Road, Kingswood, Newland Avenue, North Ferriby and Willerby.
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
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PICK AN AGENT THAT KNOWS YOUR AREA
IT’S IMPORTANT to pick an estate agent that knows your area, says Mi Living’s Steve Cunningham, pictured. Offering a fresh, modern approach to selling and letting homes in North Lincolnshire, Mi Living is one of the area’s newer estate agents.
And with 22 year’s experience in the industry, Steven says that not all the glitter is gold when it comes to using online agents. “Bombarded by continual television and radio advertising of online estate agent marketing, it is not surprising some people are seduced so easily,” he said.
“In order to effectively carry out an accurate appraisal of your home, an estate agent needs to know a lot about your local area, a good high street agent such as Mi living will make it their business to know what is going on, as opposed to online agents who often have to rely on research which can be outdated to the fill the gaps in their knowledge, making the job of valuing and marketing your home that bit more difficult.” He added that online agents also offer an “hands off ” approach to selling compared to high street agents. “A high street agent with many year’s experience will know exactly what to say to
prospective buyers to make your house as appealing as possible,” he said. “Using a high street agent means you will get the opportunity to meet the team handed the responsibility of selling your home,” Steve added that it is important to know that your estate agent is suitably qualified and accredited. “It might be surprising to many but did you know that practically anyone can create a website and effectively call themselves an estate agent,” he said. “There are a minefield of laws and regulations surrounding estate agency and knowing your
estate agent is suitably qualified and accredited is vitally important. “Mi Living are fully accredited and qualified and subscribe to the Property Ombudsman giving you peace of mind.” Mi Living have a combined experience and expertise of 45 years and have a variety of local knowledge. They use the latest industry software to ensure they can market your home to the widest audience and capture every opportunity to sell your home. For more information on Mi Living, pop into the office 35 Oswald Road, Scunthorpe, or call 01724 298888.
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
PERSONALISED SERVICE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS
IN THIS modern world of technology, e-mails and texts it is apparent that customers still prefer to have face-to-face contact with their estate agent in order to feel they are getting the best customer service, says Your Move’s Chris Bell. Now with nine years of service in Scunthorpe, Your Move offers customers the best personalised service to suit homeowners’ and tenants’ needs.
Chris Bell, pictured, Director at Your Move, has over 20 years experience in the industry and says that customers prefer to be able to see someone about their enquiries. “I think that the majority of people still prefer to be able to see someone to discuss their selling/buying needs,” he said. “They like that face to face interaction, it helps to personalise their experience.” Ideally located and easy to find in Scunthorpe town centre, Your Move covers a large geographical area incorporating Bottesford, Ashby, Broughton and Brigg to Messingham, Scotter, Burton upon Stather, Winterton and Crowle. Whether you are looking to buy/rent a new home or sell your existing property the team at Your Move has got it covered. For Chris, the key to having customers come into the branch instead of using the internet, is to make the experience more personal for them. “We like to offer that personal and friendly experience so that the customer feels valued,” he said. “I know the area inside out so customers can feel confident that they are dealing with a knowledgeable and established estate agent.” Your Move offers expert advice and service to help you buy, sell, rent or let out your property. With customer service at the heart of what Your Move do, the team understands that their needs are fulfilled from the initial enquiry through to moving into their new home. For more information about Your Move, call into your local branch at 29-31 Oswald Road, Scunthorpe. The branch is open from 9.00am until 5.15pm Monday to Friday and from 9.00am until 1.00pm on Saturday. You can also contact them on 01724 860463.
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is our specialist subject
SOLD 01724 860463 your-move.co.uk
We have local staff with sound knowledge of the local area no wonder we’re in the hot seat...
We help a customer move into their new home every *five minutes. Let us help you too. *Includes sales and lettings.
facebook.com/yourmoveuk
twitter.com/yourmove_uk
29 / 31 Oswald Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 7PN 01724 860463
Your Move Tyreman & Bell is a trading name of Tyreman & Bell Estate Agents Ltd registered in England/Scotland No. 5749551 at 29/31 Oswald Road Scunthorpe DN15 7PN. Your Move Tyreman & Bell is an independently owned and operated business, operated under licence from your-move.co.uk Ltd.
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SELLING HOUSES
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
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FACE-TO-FACE SERVICE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS THE best place to start your property search is with your high street estate agent, says Howard Hewson, owner of the local, family-run branch of Newton Fallowell which prides itself on offering face-to-face service to its customers. “There is no screen between us and our customers,” said Howard.
“We like people to come and discuss their full range of property needs so that we can inform them more fully of their options. “With the internet, it is all just yes or no. “When I first started there was no Rightmove so we had to specialise in customer service.” The branch, which is situated in the unique and historic market town of Brigg, opened in October 2016 and offers a full range of sales and lettings services including, financial services, conveyancing, surveys and auctions. With over 40 years of combined, local experience, Howard and his wife Julie say that the internet has a place but cannot beat personalised service. “We fit our service to the person. People can look at our website for properties but for more in-depth expertise they can come in and talk to us. We help them every step of the way from initial enquiry through to collecting the keys.” Howard and Julie have marry the traditional values of customer-led service with modern innovation to suit the customers’ individual needs. Their branch covers many areas in North Lincolnshire to help give the best choice of properties. “It’s about intimately knowing your area as a property expert. This allows you to answer their queries as fully as possible.” “You can’t do that from behind a screen.” As Howard says: “Believe in more.” For more information on Newton Fallowell, visit their branch at 2 Wrawby Street, Brigg. They are open from 9am until 5.15pm, Mondays to Fridays, and 9am until 1pm on Saturdays. You can also call them on 01652 783030.
Newton Fallowell’s branch in Wrawby Street, Brigg.
Key factors to consider Ask the right price – it might sound obvious but it’s important to establish the price you want to achieve first. Check out relative values so you’re not unrealistic about what your property is worth. The price your home sells for can depend on the area, the pocket it lies within and the street your home is on. The Land Registry records what the home actually changed hands for, whereas the Rightmove house price index uses asking prices. Get valuations from three estate agents and take the average of all three, rather than opting for the highest or the lowest. Prepare your home – Put yourself in the shoes of a buyer – would you want to see last night’s dinner pots cluttering the kitchen or your children’s toys strewn from room to room? First impressions really do count, so make sure you do a thorough house clean and a neutral lick of paint won’t go amiss. De-clutter and do any obvious maintenance jobs too. You might want to stand outside your home and compare it to your neighbours’ properties. Could the front door or window frames use a new coat of paint? Do the gutters need clearing? Is there moss growing on your driveway? If you have pets – it’s best to put them out of the way for viewings.
Expertise and experience of the staff visiting and valuing your home – Choosing the right estate agent will certainly maximise your results. You need an agent who uses latest proven market techniques and can generate the most viewings whist offering best value for money. Ask your family and friends – perhaps they could recommend an agent to you without hesitation. Check out the agents’ official hallmarks. Are they members of a professional trade association such as the National Association of Estate Agents? Do they belong to an accredited, independent ombudsman service? It’s important to find out their viewing policy – will they accompany potential buyers when you are out or away? Do they phone and send around potential buyers as soon as possible and do they weed out time wasters? Find out if the agent advertises in their local paper and how long your property will be showcased in the showroom window for. The buyer – Safer buyers include those who have already sold their home and are in rented accommodation. Chain free, first time buyers and cash buyers who don’t need a mortgage are also lucky finds.
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If you are looking to buy, sell or rent a house our door is always open. We are available to speak to you, giving expert local knowledge and sound advice, face to face.
Visit us at
newtonfallowell.co.uk or call us on 01652 783030 2 Wrawby Street, Brigg, DN20 8JH
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
‘TANGIBLE, VISIBLE, LOCAL, ACCESSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE’ A SCUNTHORPE estate agent has highlighted the importance of using your local high street service, rather than an online firm. Martin Hornsby, pictured, the principal at Hornsby Independent Estate Agents & Chartered Valuation Surveyors on Oswald Road, said the local family estate agency has been established since 1960.
He said one of the advantages they have over an online estate agent is they are “tangible, visible, local, accessible and accountable”. “You get a face-to-face personal service. We have been here a long time. We are well-known and we are well-reputed,” Martin said. He said they “know the local market, local people and local property”.
“We are here and accessible for clients whether they are selling buying renting or letting and have real people to deal face to face with our client’s needs.” Martin said property is a “complex commodity” that is not like buying a or selling a car or a washing machine. “The process of selling a house effects the whole family and we are here to help people move on with their lives,” he said. “Lots of issues can arise during the process particularly between offer agreed and completion of the legal work, where the support of a good estate agent is essential.” Martin said with the online agents, “you never know who you are dealing with”. “The communication within these
organisations is not terrible good,” he said. Martin became the principal at Hornsby Independent Estate Agents & Chartered Valuation Surveyors in 1990. The firm employs nine staff including residential sales, lettings, property management and commercial property. Martin said the team bring a wealth of professional knowledge, experience and dedication to clients, face to face by telephone or online via email or the internet. “Any company is only as good as its staff. Most of my team have been working for Hornsby for several years. Maggi, my estate agency manager, has been here for 25 years. We are always working to improve standards and I have a great deal of confidence in my team.”
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
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QUICK AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FOR CUSTOMERS
JIM COLVER, pictured, is a partner in one of the oldest established firms of property agents in the region with branches at Scunthorpe, Doncaster, Epworth and Haxey, and covering not only house sales and lettings but also business/commercial, rural/farming, auctions and planning/development. The partners at Grice & Hunter are qualified chartered surveyors and registered valuers able to provide specialist survey and valuation expertise.
Asked about the importance of using a High Street estate agent over an online agent, he commented:
extras for additional services and interest on loan arrangements to cover the up-front charge. Invariably, they sell on your details to information gathering third parties and direct marketing firms ■ With Grice & Hunter, customers get a quick and professional service and have a familiar professional minded and experienced team to reply upon who are willing to liaise with all connected people involved and keep the parties in the loop. ■ Your trusted High Street agent can make reliable finance and legal introductions and thoroughly check out viewers before they get access to your home. ■ Your local High Street agent guarantees local knowledge – personal service – national/international online connections – respected professional expertise – no hidden extras – and are paid out of the proceeds of sale at the end of the transaction with no major up-front charges.
■ There is a claim that online is cheaper but in our region High Street agents charge low fees anyway of 1 per cent/1.5 per cent ■ Onliners charge an up-front fee – for what? To get your home on the internet probably with non-regulated descriptions and information and inferior photo images (possibly provided by the customer!) ■ With most online agents, you may have to conduct the viewings yourself and also negotiations and then you may have to monitor the sale process from offer to completion with little or no help or support when problems occur (and most transactions involve dependent chains and various queries which need experienced solutions) ■ Online agents and the legal service firms they get you involved with are commonly reluctant to get involved in providing a personal service ■ Online agents supplement their up-front fees by charging
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move fast, as the seller will want to see progress, so avoid any property really is worth the extra unnecessary delays in getting oney. ates aremlow and the surveys and legal work done. If there are few similar properties you livefor insale is in the area,since The lender will arrange for a chances are the expensive, will upperthe valuation to be done on the longer selleryou has the hand. But if If you buying an older repair work is required, use this tois on property. tiate a much higher the property the market, theare lower property, one that needs repairs or justify a lower offer.the In tougher overview of the price you will get for it, so you will times, when there are fewer buyers, just for your own peace of mind, property market to to be more flexible when you could consider getting a more sellers mayin be morehave willing k out the prices considering offers.detailed survey than the basic neg otiate.of lender’s valuation. Ask your estate the seller has accepted your recently Once through agent or dislike find a surveyor at offer, ask them to take off thehow much ction databases. No it matter you the www.rics.org for a quote. market. They don’t have to agree, people who are about to the buyseller’s your point of view From but doing so will shut out other is in poor condition, beloved home, cash buyers yourare estate agent will try to secure potential buyers. You then need to if they
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and offer you a high price, it would be stupid to let this transaction fail.
as high a price as possible for you, but make sure you keep all lines of communication open and discuss every development. If you conduct the negotiations you will find that the initial offer is usually 5 per cent to 10 per cent below your asking price. These are the rules of the game, and buyers expect you to know this and to have set the asking price artificially high. When it comes to negotiating, don’t make too many concessions without getting something in return. If the buyer and the seller eventually meet in the middle, it should be because both have budged a bit, but as the seller, you are naturally in the stronger position. Find out the buyer’s position through a little bargaining. You don’t have to make a decision straight away. It is perfectly normal to take a day or two to think things over and then let the buyer know. Even when you accept an offer, it is not legally binding until contracts are exchanged. However, if you intend to change your mind as soon as a offer comes along, you should
tell the buyer so before accepting the offer. Although not illegal, it is poor practice to simply drop a buyer after he or she has paid out legal and administrative expenses. When choosing a buyer, there are several factors you should take into consideration: While the price is obviously the most important consideration, other factors will also influence your decision. Check the buyer has agreement in principle with a mortgage guarantee issued by the lender. This assures you that the buyer actually has the necessary funds to buy your house. If buyers rely on the proceedings from a sale this poses a disadvantage to you, since one fault in the chain can cause a breakdown and upset your entire time-scale. First-time buyers, buy-to-let investors and cash buyers are likely to be your best bet. The more potential buyers, the more likely that you can play them off against each other or even trigger a bidding war. Demand is usually highest if you are selling in early or late summer.
But if you have a good property, there will be many potential buyers irrespective of the season. If you need to sell your property quickly, for instance, if you need the proceeds to buy a new house, your position is obviously weakened. In this case, the seller not being in a chain may be more important than the amount of money they offer. When interest rates are low and the neighbourhood you live in is becoming more expensive, you will be able to negotiate a much higher price. To get an overview of the condition of the property market in your area, check out the prices of properties sold recently through property transaction databases. If your property is in poor condition, interest will obviously be lower. It is not advisable to wait for too long, since the longer the property is on the market, the lower the price you will get for it, so you will have to be more flexible when considering offers. No matter how much you dislike the people who are about to buy your beloved home, if they are cash buyers and offer you a high price, it would be stupid to let this transaction fail.
13 STE-E01-S4
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
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WHITEGATES ‘WITH YOU FROM START TO FINISH’ A SCUNTHORPE estate agency is able to offer much more than an online agent, according to its branch manager. Whitegates on Mary Street offers many different services all under one roof with a more personal approach. Branch manager Daniel James said: “We offer a more personable approach and a breadth of experience across the office.
“You deal with us from start to finish.” Daniel said you tend to get “passed from pillar to post” with the online agents. He said you can contact them at any time and there is a live chat service online, which runs 24 hours a day. The branch manager also said there are no “add-ons” with Whitegates. “We don’t charge for viewings and we even do professional
photography as standard which makes all our properties stand out from the crowd,” he said. Daniel said they don’t want people to feel they are tied up in contracts. He said if people want to deal with him, they can, and he is available out-of-hours. “It is nice to go beyond someone’s expectations,” he said. The branch manager said they offer customers the “security” of being on the High
Street, rather than “just some entity”. Whitegates was formed in 1978 and the company has occupied several premises in the town, before settling in its new office on Mary Street a year last August. Staff are on-hand to help with any queries you may have and the estate agency deals with sales, lettings, property management, auctions and financial services.
15 STE-E01-S4
72 Mary Street, Scunthorpe DN15 6LA 01724 846125
Sales Lettings Management Financial Planning
Best price in town
We Have a Passion for Exceptional Service!
5/5
CALL TODAY TO ARRANGE A FREE VALUATION
01724 846125
They make moving so easy
Daniel was realistic in the valuation of the property and had done his research of the area. When the property went on the market the demand was above what we all expected. We ended up getting above the asking price. So many thanks to Whitegates they exceeded my expectations. Thanks
Marten
*****
I have recently purchased a property through Whitegates, and I cannot recommend them enough. After trying to buy a property through another less helpful agency, I couldn’t believe the ease of the process with Whitegates so I’m extremely thankful that the vendors chose a well organised, professional team to sell their property. Thank you again to all the team!
Found a tenant in 2 days
Craig
*****
Very good service. Whitegates found me a tenant within 2 days. They sorted all the references and did the necessary checks for me. The rent is always paid on time.
Mark
*****
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
STE-E01-S4
HOME ADVICE With Alex Neill of Which?
As property prices have boomed, many people are finding they are sitting on a cash-flow solution
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ebruary is a short month. But it can be a tough one financially. If you overspent during Christmas and the New Year, bills now coming in could have the word “overdueâ€? (or something similar) in increasingly big type. Most home buyers have seen property values rise. So one solution to these demands – and other big items such as weddings, home improvements, educational fees, nonNHS medical costs, and dream holidays – could be to raid extra cash from your home’s new worth. There are two main schemes – remortgages, and home equity loans (usually called second or second charge mortgages). Both give extra money from property price increases. With remortgages, you simply start again either with a new lender or the one you have. Either way, you’ll have to convince a bank or building society it’s safe to lend to you. You’ll have to show your income – or that of you and your partner – is enough to support the additional amount you want to borrow. You’ll also have to budget for any penalties on leaving your old mortgage. Second mortgages, used less often, run alongside existing loans. The interest rate will probably be more expensive because second lenders can only take what’s left after paying off the first loan if you can’t pay the original borrowing. The maximum you can borrow is the gap between what you owe on a first mortgage and the current value of your property. If your home is worth ÂŁ300,000 and you have a ÂŁ120,000 first mortgage, then ÂŁ180,000 is available although in practice, it will be less as lenders build in a margin in case house prices fall or your home goes into disrepair. There can be several upfront expenses to pay – appraisal fees (like a survey), origination costs (set-up fees), credit checks and legal fees. Sometimes, these are built into the loan you take or you pay for them through higher interest.
use the equity in your home IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Second mortgages often run for shorter periods than standard remortgages. Some second mortgage firms offer “home equity lines of credit� – these offer more flexibility so you can borrow up to a maximum amount but repay or not use the credit when it works for you. Interest rates tend to be lower than credit cards but don’t forget up-front costs and longer loan periods. Second mortgages can work better for the self-employed with up and down earnings. You’ll still be thought of as higher risk but you’ll only pay the extra interest on the additional amount rather than all your borrowing.
You might have good reason to remortgage, such as a big wedding to pay for, but don’t overstretch yourself and end up in debt
make sure you understand what’s involved ■■Look at all the costs involved. A personal loan could have higher interest rates but work out better once charges are added. ■■Whether remortgage or second charge, your home is at risk if you fall behind with payments. ■■You’ll have to pay off the second charge if you move home or change mortgage. ■■Never borrow an amount over a long period
to buy something that won’t last that long – so don’t take out a 20-year loan to buy a new car. ■■Neither remortgages or second mortgages are magic solutions if you already have financial difficulties. They could make matters worse so see a debt advisor. ■■Which? Mortgage Advisers can help you through the lending maze. 0800 316 4071
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Don’t settle for an online estate agent, use qualiďŹ ed and experienced estate agents in the local area that know everything there is to know about it. They actively promote your property, not wait for potential buyers to stumble across it online and unlike online agents, they happily handle all aspects of marketing your property with no additional fees!
17 STE-E01-S4
g n i k r o W
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SCUNTHORPE TELEGRAPH Thursday, February 22, 2018
visit our website scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk
‘WE ARE ALL ABOUT ONE-TO-ONE SERVICE’
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Scunthorpe estate agent Paul Fox. A NORTH Lincolnshire estate agents has highlighted how experience and local knowledge makes them better than their online rivals. Paul Fox is a well-established estate agents with offices in Scunthorpe, Brigg, Barton and Epworth. Managing director Paul and his team of experienced staff are on-hand to help with a variety of different services.
“The estate agency is very much a personal thing, offering a one-to-one service. You can pop into the office,” he said. Paul said the firm has 30 employees. “There is no issue we cannot solve,” he said. Paul also said there are no hidden fees involved with them and there are no “upfront costs”. “You find online agents often have an extra bolt-on. “They often have no incentive to get people
sold. From my experience, the service afterwards is often poor,” he said. The managing director said his team offers “advice and guidance” on sales. “We take them through the whole service. We are problem solving.” Paul said issues can often arise during, for example, the sale of a house, and they can help deal with them. He also said they are available 24/7 for people
wanting to get in touch. “They can ring us up about anything,” he said. The estate agents was set up in 1991 but Paul has been working in the property industry for 26 years. He previously worked for Henry Spencer, before setting up Paul Fox. The managing director said he encourages his staff to know what is going on in the town. He said they support the town and raise money for charity.
19 STE-E01-S4
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Don’t settle for an online estate agent, use qualiďŹ ed and experienced estate agents in the local area that know everything there is to know about it. They actively promote your property, not wait for potential buyers to stumble across it online and unlike online agents, they happily handle all aspects of marketing your property with no additional fees!