With reported slumps in house sales nationally, Harrison Murray estate agents and valuers are rising above the gloomy figures and are bucking the trend.

The HM Revenue & Customs has just announced that the volume of house sales in the UK fell by one per cent during 2011 (to 869,000), making it one of the lowest totals on record.

However, in contrast to these national statistics, Harrison Murray has reported that its 18 branches arranged the sale of an impressive seven per cent MORE properties in 2011 than in the previous year.

Harrison Murray's managing director, Nick Salmon explained how the firm has bucked the national trend: "When the downturn in the financial markets began in 2007/2008 we knew it would seriously affect the property market so we put in place intensive and ongoing training for all our staff to teach them how to cope.

“The result has been that we created an extremely able team of professional staff with a positive attitude to selling property in what are undoubtedly very challenging times. We are succeeding because we intimately know our markets, give sensible and realistic advice to sellers, and take the time to find out exactly what a buyer needs so that we can guide them to the right property.

“Then, when a sale is arranged we keep everyone focused on getting the mortgage and legal details finalised quickly and efficiently.”

Nick added: “You can't learn these skills overnight, which is why, after four years of honing the staff skills we are outperforming the market. And it's why we are the market leaders in many of the areas in which we operate."

 

In the ongoing challenging market conditions, customer satisfaction is paramount - and estate agents Harrison Murray have gained exceptional marks in an independent survey.

Industry watchdog, The Property Ombudsman, recently carried out a survey among buyers and sellers using the services of the East Hunsbury branch in Northamptonshire. The results show that almost nine out of 10 customers would recommend Harrison Murray to their friends and family.

The survey asked buyers and sellers to rank the estate agent in a number of areas, including professionalism, friendliness, helpfulness, and knowledge of the local area and market. Harrison Murray faired well in all these area, with friendliness and professionalism ranking among the top scores.

Customers were also invited to leave their comments which included: ‘It was a pleasure to deal with Harrison Murray’, ‘Fantastic service, wonderful knowledgeable staff’ and ‘excellent service.’

Harrison Murray director Su Snaith oversees the East Hunsbury branch. She said: “Home buying and selling is inevitably an emotional process for those involved and it is almost impossible for an estate agent to please all of the people all of the time, so I am delighted that a very high proportion of our customers would choose to recommend Harrison Murray to their friends and family.

“I also strongly believe that estate agents should have a sound knowledge of the local area, as well as the market. It gives customers confidence and coupled with a friendly and professional manner, helps to provide the whole package of customer service. We are very pleased that this has been highlighted in the report.”

Harrison Murray also conducts its own regular independent survey in its ongoing commitment to customer care and satisfaction.

 

With just two months to go before the axe falls on Stamp Duty exemption for first time buyers, Harrison Murray is urging buyers and sellers to act now to avoid missing out on savings.

The independent estate agents and valuers are warning that time is running out for first time buyers - who are looking to reap the benefits of the Stamp Duty exemption - to snap up a suitable property. And sellers should also act now to meet the new year rush of first time buyers looking to move.

At the moment, first time buyers who purchase a property of up to £250,000 are not required to pay Stamp Duty – which is normally set at between one and three per cent of the price of the home.

In his autumn 2011 statement however, the Chancellor George Osborne announced there would be no extension to the break on paying Stamp Duty, which will end on 24 March this year. 

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “We would urge first time buyers to act promptly if they want to benefit from the current Stamp Duty exemption before the axe falls in March.

“Likewise, sellers putting their ‘first time buyer suitable’ properties on the market will also need move quickly to find a buyer who can take advantage of any Stamp Duty savings.

Harrison Murray are members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Property Ombudsman scheme, with branches in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and the Home Counties.

Kicking off 2012 in style is estate agent Harrison Murray’s Wisbech team – the latest winners of the company’s coveted Challenge Cup.

The Cambridgeshire-based office has been awarded the trophy for its outstanding performance for the month of December 2011, and plans to use this as a springboard to continue its success in 2012.

The office beat off competition from the company’s other 17 branches to clinch the title. The award, for the best performing office of the month, was presented to director Charlie Green as Wisbech took over possession of the cup from the Syston branch.

The award takes into account general performance for the company as well as customer service. The Challenge Cup operates on a company league table, with all branches eligible to enter.

Charlie said: “We had a remarkable 2011 and the award further compounds our commitment to our customers and the high level of service we aim to offer. The Challenge Cup is a great achievement for the team and reflects the hard work and commitment shown by everyone. We are delighted to have won this for the month of December and it really does springboard us into the New Year on a high!”

Helping to get the party started for residents of the Swan House Care Home in Chatteris were estate agents Harrison Murray.

The team at the Chatteris-based branch was keen to extend its festive cheer into the community, and offered to sponsor the entertainment at the residential and care home’s Christmas party. All 39 residents were invited to the seasonal celebrations, which included a silent Christmas cake auction, raffle and plenty of mince pies.

The only care home in Chatteris, Swan House sits under the Four Seasons Healthcare umbrella – with many of the residents local to the town.

Harrison Murray branch manager Teresa Foreman said: “Swan House is a well-established and well-regarded part of our community which makes it such a worthwhile venture to support, particularly at Christmas.”

Swan House care manager Julie Twidle said: “A huge thanks to Harrison Murray on behalf of all the residents and staff for their kind and generous festive gesture.”

Pic cap:

Harrison Murray’s Sarah Hills and Teresa Foreman with Swan House’s Leanne Godsman and residents Daphne Robinson and Vera Fresher.

 

What sets your home apart from others and how do you think it stands out from the crowd?

Perhaps it benefits from a superb location, offers unique or quirky features, is close to an excellent school or has an interesting history that would make potential buyers sit up and take notice.

Maybe your converted windmill, stylish Victorian terrace, sprawling country pad with stables and paddock or former railway cottage has the ‘X Factor’!

If you feel that your home would win a potential buyer’s vote, independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray can help to make the best of your property when it comes to marketing  and attracting that all important winning offer.

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “We are no strangers to marketing and selling properties with a definite X Factor!

“In the recent past these have included a converted church in a Cambridgeshire village, a Northamptonshire home with connections to the late Princess of Wales’ Althorp Estate and a Fenland windmill! If someone believes that their home has what it takes to get it noticed, then the teams in our 18 offices will work closely with the seller to ensure it is marketed to its full potential – which could even see it hitting the headlines in the newspapers!”

Harrison Murray are members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the industry watchdog, the Property Ombudsman scheme.

With Chancellor George Osborne announcing no extension to the Stamp Duty holiday, estate agents Harrison Murray are urging buyers and sellers to act now to avoid missing out on savings.

In his autumn statement, the Chancellor announced there would be no extension to the break on paying Stamp Duty, which will end on 24 March 2012. 

At the moment, first time buyers who purchase a property of up to £250,000 are not required to pay Stamp Duty – which is normally set at between one and three per cent of the price of the home.

Therefore, Harrison Murray is warning that time is running out for first time buyers, who are looking to reap the benefits of the Stamp Duty exemption, to buy a property – and that sellers should act now to meet the potential rush of first time buyers looking to do so.

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “While the announcement is disappointing in terms of getting people onto the housing ladder – it does act as an urgent prompt for first time buyers to spur themselves into action before the end of the Stamp Duty holiday next March.

“Likewise, we expect there could be a flurry of sellers putting their ‘first time buyer suitable’ properties on the market in the coming weeks to catch the  opportunity to find a buyer that this announcement presents to them.”

Estate agent Harrison Murray’s Syston team has lifted the coveted Challenge Cup, further cementing its reputation one of the company’s most successful branches of 2011.

The Leicestershire-based office beat off competition from the company’s other 17 branches around the region to clinch the title for the month of November.

The cup, awarded to the best performing office of the month, was presented to director Richard Bocock – as Syston took over possession of the trophy from the neighbouring Wigston branch.

The award takes into account general performance for the company as well as customer service. The Challenge Cup operates on a company league table, with all branches eligible to enter.

This follows the team winning some of the most sought-after awards at Harrison Murray’s recent end of financial year presentation, including runners up in the highly contested Branch of the Year category.

In addition, Syston’s Paul Battisson received a special commendation from the Harrison Murray directors for his high level of business during the year, and David Seabrook took the title of Mortgage Consultant of the Year.

Richard said: “We’ve had a remarkable year, both as a branch and also recognising individual achievements that ultimately lead to a team success.

“The Challenge Cup is another great achievement for the team and reflects the hard work and commitment shown by everyone. We are delighted to have won this for the month of November and will be doing our best to hold on to it next month too!”

 

Pic Cap: The winning Syston team.

 

We may still be counting down to Christmas – but don’t wait until the last of the turkey has been eaten or the festive trimmings recycled before you start to think about a move in January.

This is the advice from independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray, who are encouraging sellers to get ahead of the game if they want to secure a sale in early 2012.

Christmas is seen by some as a quiet time when it comes to the housing market – but as January kicks in and buyers look to the start of a New Year to move, acting now could secure that all important sale.

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “I can assure sellers and buyers that we do not stop working during the Christmas period. This is a time when as well as our usual valuations and sales, we receive a lot of enquiries from potential buyers who have highlighted the New Year as a time to move.

“If sellers are serious, it is imperative that they get ahead of the game and put their home on the market before Christmas to attract interest from potential buyers searching the market between Christmas and New Year.”

There are plenty of ways to dress your home to impress if you are putting it on the market:

-    Bedrooms add value. If there is a room that you use for storage, or a playroom that could be used as a bedroom, clear it out and put a bed in. If you want to demonstrate dual usage, put in a sofa bed to show how easily it could be converted.

-    The fabric of the home. Not everyone shares the same taste in interior design or soft furnishings. Disguising patterned carpets or sofas with plain rugs or throws will add a new dimension and a fresh look.

-    De-clutter. It may not be easy at this time of year, with a new batch of Christmas toys taking up space or family staying over – but de-clutter where you can. Draw up a room by room list and work through methodically.

-    Make your home welcoming - Fresh flowers always make a lovely touch and show you care about the home.

-    Kerb appeal. First impressions count. Make sure the front of your home looks appealing. Some planted up containers add a splash of much-needed colour during the winter months.

 

The champagne corks have been popping for estate agents Harrison Murray in Harpenden – who once again took the top slot at the recent company awards.

The award ceremony is one of the most important dates in the company calendar, charting the success of the 18 branches during the past financial year.

Branch partner Neil Sims and the team scooped the coveted title of Branch of the Year, being presented with a magnum of champagne and certificate for their efforts from Harrison Murray group managing director David Collins.

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “Many congratulations to Neil and the team at Harpenden who continue to deliver first class results for the company. Despite the continued gloomy headlines about the economy, this is evidence that Harrison Murray is continuing to work hard and successfully fulfil our customers’ needs.”

Pic cap:

Clinching the top title of Harrison Murray’s Branch of the Year, Harpenden branch partner Neils Sims with Harrison Murray group managing director David Collins.



 

They say the customer is always right – and estate agent Sarah Hills is reaping the benefits of some fabulous feedback from sellers and buyers in and around Chatteris.

Sarah, a senior negotiator at Harrison Murray, has scooped the company’s award for Customer Services Employee of the Year 2011.

Having started with the company as a weekend admin assistant in 1999, Sarah has spent more than a decade working with and for customers in the Chatteris area.

Her roles within Harrison Murray have included senior negotiator, valuer, assistant manager and sales progresser.

Sarah (28) said: “The award was a wonderful surprise and, although it was totally unexpected, to receive this kind of feedback from customers is overwhelming.

“I am a people-person and feel privileged to be the first port of call for many customers contacting Harrison Murray.”

Sarah received a magnum of champagne and  a certificate in recognition of her achievement.

Valuer Jeanette Duggan was also recognised for her efforts in bringing 100 separate pieces of business into the company during the past financial year.

Branch manager Teresa Foreman said: “A huge congratulations to Sarah on her well-deserved award. She is an energetic and hard working member of the team who always goes the extra mile for customers in her approach and service delivery.

“Well done also to Jeanette, who has proved that despite the continued gloomy headlines about the economy, Harrison Murray is working hard to successfully fulfil our customers’ needs.”

Pic cap:

Harrison Murray’s Customer Services Employee of the Year – well done to Sarah Hills from Chatteris.



 

The champagne corks have been popping for estate agents Harrison Murray in Leicestershire – with a number of branches sweeping the board at the company’s annual awards.

The award ceremony is one of the most important dates in the company calendar, charting the success of the 18 branches during the past financial year.

And some of the most coveted awards were snapped up by the Halford Street (Leicester city centre), Syston, Wigston and Melton Mowbray offices.

Runners up in the highly contested Branch of the Year award, for the second year running, were Syston and Melton Mowbray offices – pipped to the first-place position by the Harpenden branch.

Also included on the roll of honour were:

-    Richard Cleaver from Leicester’s Halford Street office taking the title of Lister of the Year.

-    The award for Sales Negotiator of the Year went to Jovana Celebicanin from Halford Street.

-    Syston’s Paul Battisson received a special commendation from the Harrison Murray directors for his high level of business during the year.

-    Mortgage Consultant of the Year, is David Seabrook, winning another award for Syston.

All the winners were presented with a certificate and bottle of champagne by Harrison Murray group managing director David Collins.

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “Huge congratulations to everyone throughout the Leicestershire offices who won either an individual award or contributed to a team achievement. Despite the continued gloomy headlines about the economy, this is evidence that Harrison Murray is continuing to work hard and successfully fulfil our customers’ needs.”

Pic cap:

Well done to Halford Street winners Jovana Celebicanin and Richard Cleaver



 

Landlords from around Wisbech have been picking up professional advice about letting their properties – thanks to the know-how from estate agents Harrison Murray.

The Wisbech branch recently hosted an opening evening to give new and existing landlords from around the town the chance to talk about the lettings process and find out about the legislation involved.

Ashley Taylor from Harrison Murray’s Cambridgeshire lettings service was joined by Association of Residential Lettings (ARLA) qualified Debbie Mallin from lettings central office in Leicestershire to chat with visitors about various aspects of the lettings service.

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “The evening was a tremendous success, and attracted first time landlords as well as those who were looking to keep up with the latest legislation.

“There was no obligation and the evening was really informal, with members of the lettings and residential teams on hand to answer questions and offer information.”

Harrison Murray also has a thriving lettings service in Leicester, Northamptonshire and Melton Mowbray. It includes full property management and rent collection services, as well as a tenant-find-only service.

The open evening is now being extended into other branches following the success in Wisbech.



 

There's plenty to celebrate at Harrison Murray estate agents in Wigston – with the branch building on its recent success with a record-breaking month, and a new member of the team.

The Leicestershire-based office has been serving the local area for more than a decade, and its latest sales figures reveal October 2011 as its best month ever. The news is further evidence that the housing market in and around Wigston continues to thrive for Harrison Murray, despite national reports of jitters in the market. To crown this winning month Wigston has been awarded Harrison Murray’s coveted Challenge Cup for the month of October – based on the overall performance, and beating off competition from the company’s 17 other branches.

Branch manager Jennie Andrews said: “We have been extremely busy with valuations and instructions throughout the summer and into the early autumn which has resulted in us celebrating our best October on record. There is much debate locally about the market, but our experience shows that it remains buoyant and with the right agent working for you, the results will always speak for themselves.”

Jennie and the team are also celebrating the arrival of a new member  - trainee negotiator Ella Winterton. Ella (19) of Willoughby has joined the branch after deciding to switch careers from nursery nursing to estate agency. Having become part of the highly professional and successful team, Ella will be undergoing training towards the National of Estate Agency (NAEA) technical award in the New Year.

Jennie added: “We are delighted to have Ella on board. Her enthusiasm for the role and keenness to learn have really shone through during the short time she has been with us. We are committed to offering customers the best possible service, and being an NAEA licensed branch means that we are able to perform and adhere to standards set by the leading industry body.”

Harrison Murray’s Wigston and other Leicestershire branches in Enderby, Melton, Leicester City Centre and Hinckley and Syston are all members of the NAEA as are Harrison Murray branches in other counties.

Pic cap

Wigston record breakers – left to right Kameron Hutchinson, Lizzie Henson, Ella Winterton, Jo Vavasour, Jennifer Andrews and Steven Reynolds.



 

 Well done to Wisbech estate agent, Harrison Murray and their customers for raising over £170 for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Colleagues at Harrison Murray in the town entered into the spirit of the national Wear It Pink Day campaign, helping to raise awareness of the disease and boost funds to aid with research.

As well as donning campaign T-shirts, the team organised a raffle and a competition to guess the name of the pink piggy bank!

Around £170 was raised, thanks to the generosity of staff and customers. Harrison Murray director Charlie Green said: “A huge thanks to the team for getting into the spirit of things and helping to put together a fun event in aid of a very worthy cause. And a very big thanks to our customers who dug deep into their pockets too. The total will be added to the amounts raised by the other Harrison Murray branches around the region and the company’s donation to the campaign.”

To find out more about the Wear It Pink campaign and how you can still donate, visit

http://www.wearitpink.co.uk/

In all the excitement and organisation of selling your home and moving, it may sometimes be difficult to remember that the young children in the family are also facing a change.

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “Selling the home and moving house can seem very daunting for some children, leaving them facing a huge change in their lives with new surroundings and possibly a new school. However, if the children are old enough, get them involved and enlist their help in showing the home to its best effect during the viewing and selling process.”

Here’s how to get the children involved:

-    Initially, chat to them about the family’s plans and get them on side when thinking about moving to a new home in a new area – with lots to explore.

-    The same basic rule applies to children’s rooms as to other rooms in the house – clear out the clutter. Many children are expert hoarders, so introduce some eye catching storage boxes and challenge them to leave only a few favourite toys on display.

-    Try to encourage them to keep posters and stickers off doors and mirrors. Limit wall posters to one or two tasteful ones if they insist on keeping them.

-    Children’s carpets can often suffer many years of wear and tear. If you cannot afford to replace them, disguise any tatty or stained carpets with a bright, plain rug.

-    Ensure clothes, shoes or even cups and plates from last night’s snack are tidied away. Ask your children not to use cupboards as a dumping ground in case viewers want to inspect storage space.

-    Keep pets out of children’s rooms when showing your property. Cadged rodents or reptiles may not be everyone’s cup of tea!

-    A few days before the move get them to design stickers for their boxes of possessions.

-    Compromise with the children. Don’t turn their room into an impersonal desert.

-    On arrival at the new house, encourage them straight away to put out a few initial belongings in their rooms to help make their mark on the new home.

Not started the Christmas shopping yet? Well, if you are looking to buy a new home and move in for the festive season – there is still time.

Buyers are urged to act quickly if they want to be in their new home for Christmas, say independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray.

Development director Jackie Scotten said: “By having everyone focussed on an end-date of December, we can ensure a more pro-active, speedy and achievable end result. However, the onus is really on the buyer to get out there and start looking at what is on the market. Autumn is a fantastic season when it comes to house hunting and our advice to both buyers and sellers is ‘if you are serious about moving, take steps to make it happen.’

And the message to sellers who are looking for an autumn sale is to be realistic about pricing.

Jackie added: “The current market is still price-sensitive, but with realistic pricing and an estate agent who is willing and able to act in your best interests – sellers and buyers could look forward to enjoying Christmas in a new home.”

Once a sale or purchase is agreed, Harrison Murray can work closely with both parties, solicitors and conveyancing partners to ensure a smooth exchange of contracts.

 

Estate agent Harrison Murray’s Enderby team has lifted the company’s coveted Challenge Cup – thanks to an outstanding performance.

The Leicestershire-based office beat off competition from the company’s other 17 branches around the region to clinch the title for the month of September. The cup, awarded to the best performing office of the month, was presented to branch manager Sara Quatermass.Enderby took over possession of the trophy from Harrison Murray’s Melton Mowbray branch, August cup holders.

The award takes into account general performance for the company as well as customer service. The Challenge Cup operates on a company league table, with all branches eligible to enter.

Sara said: “This is another great achievement for the team and reflects the hard work and commitment shown by everyone. We are delighted to have won this for the month of September and will be doing our best to hold on to it next month too!”

Pic cap:

Top team – left to right, branch manager Sara Quatermass, Trilby Brown, Valerie Putnam and Reiss Draper.

With the onset of autumn and the darker nights just around the corner, don’t be tempted to go into hibernation when it comes to house hunting – or indeed selling your home.

With children firmly settled into a new school year and the focus for many on a new start for 2012 - now is the perfect time to be looking for a new home, say independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray.

“Autumn is a great time to get out there and see what is available before everyone gets bogged down with thinking about Christmas,” said Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon.

 “Our message to buyers and sellers is ‘don’t hold back’ – if moving is on your mind then take steps to make it happen!”

Throughout its 18 branches, Harrison Murray assists numerous customers through the selling and buying journey, with instant access to up-to-the-minute mortgage deals and lender information helping to make it as smooth as possible.

Here are some tips that may help:

- Sell your property through a reputable agent, preferably one who is, like Harrison Murray, a member of the Property Ombudsman scheme and the National Association of Estate Agents.

- Decide on a definite location – how far are you willing to commute, what are the local schools like, is there a GP surgery on your doorstep, is there a bus service into town?

- Always take a list of questions with you to ask at a viewing.

- Do your homework - take a drive around the area as well as checking out the local amenities.

- If you know it is right – move fast and put in an offer.

- Above all, liaise closely with your estate agent.

Getting the home of your dreams may seem a tall order – with so many boxes to tick in terms of price, location and a property that meets your needs. However, a wealth of information about the local housing market is at the fingers tips of the modern home hunter thanks to the internet.

Armchair house hunting can be a good starting point, but it’s no substitute for getting out into the area you are looking at as this will give you a clearer picture of what is available, and at what price.

Independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray can help in a buyer’s fact-finding mission when looking to move house.

Managing director Nick Salmon said: “Sales staff in all of our 18 branches have a sound local knowledge of their respective areas. They will be able to provide buyers with information on everything from house prices locally to schools and other amenities in their preferred area. However, there is a simple check list that buyers can follow if they want to conduct their own  all important market research.”

Buyers’ homework:

Check the property pages of the local newspaper where you are interested in living. This will give you a good guide to asking prices in these areas.

Take a drive around areas you are considering. Look at the types of properties around; take a note of what facilities are nearby and how close any train or bus routes are, particularly if you commute to work.

Work out a timeline of when you want to move – taking into account whether you have an existing property to sell, any financial considerations or imminent personal arrangements. 

Then visit an estate agent, preferably one with a strong local board presence and one that is a member of the National Association of Estate Agents and Property Ombudsman Scheme, like Harrison Murray.

Arm yourself with any questions that you cannot answer yourself. Tell the agent your guide price range, but prepare to be flexible as there may be room for negotiation.

While showing off your property’s best assets is a vital element of the selling process – allowing strangers into your home without an appointment could place you in a vulnerable position.

A For Sale board it is a great way of marketing a property but occasionally it may mean someone knocks on the door and asks to view there and then. 

Independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray have some top tips for conducting a safe and confident viewing.

Development director Jackie Scotten said: “There is a very fine line between showing off your home in the best light possible without divulging all your personal information. We are able to advise our sellers of some basic do’s and don’ts if they want to conduct the viewing themselves. Otherwise, we have our own staff in our branches who are happy to conduct the viewing on the seller’s behalf, particularly if they are nervous about strangers coming into their home.”

For a safe and confident viewing:

If someone turns up to view your home without an appointment, politely refer them to your agent to arrange a time that suits you.

-    Be sure to obtain the viewers details from your agent when arranging times and dates.

-    Check you have the right name and contact details of each viewer and ask them to confirm the details on their arrival.

-    If you are going to be alone in the house during a viewing, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or neighbour to accompany you.

-    Be friendly whilst conducting viewings, but don’t give away too much personal information and be cautious of conversations that may tell people your holiday, work or other plans of when the property is likely to be empty.

-    If in doubt – always ask your agent to conduct the viewing on your behalf, ensuring they have the keys and that your home is prepared for a viewing at any time of the day.

-    Don’t be afraid to ask your agent for advice about conducting viewing if you want to go it alone.

 Estate agent Harrison Murray’s Melton Mowbray team has lifted the company’s coveted Challenge Cup – thanks to an outstanding performance.

The Leicestershire-based office beat off competition from the company’s other 17 branches around the region to clinch the title for the month of August.

The cup, awarded to the best performing office of the month, was presented to branch partner Mike Ford for the team’s excellent work – boosted in the last few weeks by the introduction of a lettings service. Melton Mowbray took over possession of the trophy from Harrison Murray’s Duston branch, July cup holders.

The award takes into account general performance for the company as well as customer service. The Challenge Cup operates on a company league table, with all branches eligible to enter.

Mike said: “This is another great achievement for the team and reflects the hard work and commitment shown by everyone. The new lettings service has really taken off since it was introduced earlier this summer, enabling Harrison Murray in Melton to build further on its exceptional customer service standards.  

Picture shows Melton Mowbray branch partner Mike Ford – whose team has lifted the Harrison Murray Challenge Cup for August.

 

Moving into the catchment area of a good school is becoming more and more important for homebuyers, according to a new report.

People looking to move to the catchment area for their preferred school for September 2012 should think about putting their property on the market now. That is the advice from independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray, on the back of a study carried out by Santander Mortgages.

The deadline for primary school applications for next September is around mid-January 2012. So if you have identified a preferred school – selling or buying your home and moving to the catchment area before Christmas could be the key to securing a place.

Development director at Harrison Murray, Jackie Scotten said: “School catchment areas have always been an important issue for homebuyers, but it seems that they are becoming more of a priority for many parents. With primary school applications for 2012 admission just a few short months away, now is a perfect time to move into the catchment area for a preferred school to get the family settled before the process begins.”

The findings of the study reveal that 37 per cent of people with a child aged 10, or under, placed securing a home and school of their choice as a top priority when moving. They would be willing to pay an extra £12,141 to do so. In addition, one in four people with a child aged 11-17 see schooling as a major concern and would be willing to pay an £11,564 premium for the privilege.

People planning a move in general would be willing to pay an extra £5,663 on average to be able to set up home in a good catchment area.

 

The Government has already committed to saving UK households thousands of pounds through a new ‘Green Deal’ intended to revolutionise the energy efficiency of British properties.

A framework is currently being devised to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost - and to recoup payments through a charge in instalments on the energy bill. The first Green Deals are due to appear in autumn 2012, with formal consultation currently ongoing.

In the meantime estate agents Harrison Murray are urging sellers to look at their own energy efficiency, and to tighten up where necessary before the onset of bad weather later this year.

Managing director Nick Salmon said: “Technically we are still in summer and the weather is mild, so people naturally don’t want to think about winter just yet.  However, by putting a few measures in place now, particularly if you are looking to sell your home, then you and your buyer could be reaping the benefits of taking energy efficient action early and heading off any larger than necessary bills this winter.”

Nick added: “The coalition Government’s Green Deal initiative is an excellent one, but it still some time away from being implemented. Now is a great time for sellers to get energy smart.”

 Figures from the Department of Energy & Climate Change show that a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions come from the energy used in homes.

Here is some advice how to save energy and money:

-    Check your loft insulation is thick enough and in good condition. A depth of 11 inches is recommended. Loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double-glazing can all help protect your home and save money on heating bills. You may be eligible for a grant to help with this work.

-    Bleed radiators to get rid of any air inside which may lead to increased bills if the water can’t heat up effectively.

-    Turning the room thermostat down by just one degree can save around £30 a year.

-    Use energy efficient light bulbs that use less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard bulbs.

-    Turn off household appliances such as microwaves, TVs, videos, music systems, and computers when not in use, as they continue to use energy when they are left on standby.

-    Defrost your fridge frequently and check the door seals.

-    In summer, dry your clothes outside rather than using a tumble dryer. But if you do need to dry your clothes indoors, use a clothes rail instead of a radiator as this stops the heat from reaching the rest of the room.

-     If you live in a hard water area, limescale can affect the efficiency of your kettle. Look out for a buildup of limescale in your kettle and treat with vinegar or descaling solutions.

-    Consider turning the thermostat on your hot water tank down to 60 degrees centigrade, which is a comfortable temperature for most people and will save on your heating costs.

-    If you have a standard shower it will use around 40 per cent of the water required for a bath.



 

Many of us are less than confident when approached in the street and asked for directions, and invariably we hesitate or seem unsure.However, when it comes to selling your home it is vital that you and your agent are 100 per cent confident about not only the house, but the surroundings, local amenities and what it costs to run your home.

Harrison Murray estate agent development director Jackie Scotten said: ‘As an agent it is our role to market and portray a property to its full potential on behalf of the seller. However, what really puts the seller in the driving seat when it comes to a viewing is the extra information they can pass on to a potential buyer – often as essential as having the details of the fabric of the home.”

Things to be familiar with:

-    The location of local amenities; schools, libraries, post office, GP surgery, hairdresser – basically anything that you yourselfwould want to know about a new area.

-    Local transport; how regularly the bus services run into town, how long it takes to get to the train station and even how long it takes to get to London or key cities by rail.

-    Your home’s running costs. Give potential buyers an idea of how much you pay for your gas / electricity bills and let them know if you are on a water meter.

Jackie added: “Giving potential buyers those extra snippets of information will not only impress them, but may also provide that key piece of information to persuade them your house is the one for them.”

 

When it comes to selling your home and moving on, how do you decide what to leave behind? Equally, when you move into a new home – what do you expect the former owners to have left?

There is no doubt that the issue of fixtures and fittings can be very contentious, particularly as the law is not specific about what should be left in or removed from the house once it has been sold. Unless items are specified in the sales particulars or the contract for sale the seller isn’t obliged to leave any fixtures or fittings – and some have even been known to unscrew all the light bulbs and dig up plants from the garden prior to their departure. This may not be illegal, but would probably cause upset to the buyer when they became aware!

Independent estate agent and valuers Harrison Murray say it is really a case of common sense, and advise sellers to draw up an inventory stating what is included in the price and what they intend to take. Ideally this should be done before an offer is accepted.

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “Without an inventory it is assumed that fixtures will be left but fittings removed unless previously included in the agent’s details. Conflict between seller and buyer can be avoided by creating an inventory that states exactly what is included in the sale price and what will be taken away.”

Nick added: “The general rule of thumb is that a fixture is any item that is bolted to or permanently fixed to the floor or walls and a fitting is an item that is free standing or hung by a nail or a hook.”

For example:

Fixtures



-    Light fittings

-    Central heating boilers / radiators

-    Kitchen units

-    Bathroom suites

-    Plugs

-    Murals

-    Built-in wardrobes and cupboards



Fittings



-    Carpets

-    Curtains and curtain rails

-    Free standing ovens, fridges and washing machines

-    Lampshades

-    Bed / sofas and other free standing items of furniture

-    Television aerials and satellite dishes

-    Paintings or mirrors that are not bolted but hung or screwed to a wall.



Nick added: “Think about which fixtures and fittings you actually need. There is no point in arguing to keep a particular curtain rail if it doesn’t fit in your new home or you are just going to get rid of it later on. Ensure you have everything in writing and agreed – and above all, be friendly. The other party is much more likely to accommodate your wishes if they like you!”

Harrison Murray is happy to assist and advise any seller in putting together an inventory list. Visit www.harrisonmurray.co.uk to find your nearest branch.



 

School leavers and university graduates looking at their future careers may not have considered estate agency in their thinking, but for those who are prepared to work hard, enjoy dealing with people and who want to earn well, the industry can be very rewarding.

It is unfortunate that estate agency has acquired the perception of attracting sharp-suited, smooth-talking operators in search of a quick and easy buck. Forty years ago, it was seen as an honourable profession but, in the intervening years, some larger firms have focused on pushing mortgage and insurance products, rather than the real needs of homebuyers and sellers.

Fortunately, there are still many excellent independent estate agency businesses that are passionate about quality and service, and provide an excellent long-term career prospect for young people. Starting as a trainee, the options are to become a negotiator or valuer and then progress to senior negotiator, assistant manager, and then manager.

So, would estate agency suit you? To answer that, candidates need to be able to say ‘yes’ to a number of questions.

Are you a good communicator? Do you get on with people from all sorts of backgrounds? Would you enjoy a demanding sales environment? Are you a quick thinker? Do you enjoy success? Would you like to be well rewarded for the results you achieve? Do you have the drive to work long hours and in the evenings and at weekends? Can you overcome adversity and always maintain a positive attitude?

Contrary to popular belief, estate agency is not money for old rope and nor is it about just selling houses. Primarily, estate agency is a ‘people business’ and those joining an independent firm will be dealing with buyers’ and sellers’ emotions just as much as with their properties. The technical knowledge required to be an estate agent can be taught to anyone, but the key ability of the exceptionally good estate agent is to be able to build rapport with customers. This skill can be developed, but the trainee must possess the inherent ability to communicate fluently with everyone they come into contact with.

Lots of people enter the estate agency business, but few succeed – mainly because they find it is too much like hard work! The exceptional candidates make very successful careers and enjoy the financial rewards this brings.



Harrison Murray is always willing to consider suitable candidates for trainee positions in one of this independent company’s branches. Nick Salmon, HM’s managing director, invites those who think they have what it takes to become an exceptional estate agent, to send their CV to him at the firm’s head office at Home Farm, Orchard Hill, Little Billing, Northampton NN3 9AG, or email it to nicksalmon@harrisonmurray.co.uk

Growing demand from people looking to rent or let a property in and around Melton Mowbray has led estate agents Harrison Murray to extend their lettings service into the town.

With more than a decade’s lettings experience in Leicestershire and Melton itself, Gillian MacSwan has joined the company as lettings co-ordinator on a full time basis.Gillian has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the lettings market, with an ethos of always going the extra mile to meet the needs and expectations of landlords and tenants alike.

Harrison Murray already has a thriving lettings service in Leicester, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire, and demand has led to that service being expanded into Melton Mowbray – offering a professional service in a buoyant market place.

Gillian said: “I absolutely love my job and get huge enjoyment from placing tenants with the correct landlord and vice versa. Through my experience in this field I am able to offer a complete lettings package – from locating the right properties to enabling tenants to buy the property they are renting.”

Harrison Murray’s lettings service offers full property management and rent collection services, but also includes a tenant-find-only service.

Development director Jackie Scotten said:  “The lettings market is buoyant and we anticipate high levels of local interest from landlords on the introduction of this service in Melton. We are delighted to welcome Gillian to the team and are confident that her enthusiasm, professionalism and lettings experience will develop the service at a fast pace.”

Jackie added: “As a member of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA), Harrison Murray is delighted to offer a professional local service with the backing of our central lettings office in Leicester.”

Harrison Murray Lettings is also a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Pic cap:

Harrison Murray lettings co-ordinator Gillian MacSwan – helping to expand the company’s lettings service into Melton Mowbray.

 

 

In the ongoing financial climate, buying a house and arranging a mortgage is as daunting as it has ever been.

With latest figures from the Bank of England suggesting that mortgage approvals recently fell to a record low – home hunters are feeling the pressure, not only to find a mortgage that suits them and which they can afford, but in working their way through the jargon.

Helping to guide customers through the mortgage maze is the plain-speaking Mortgage Advice Centre (TMAC), a service working in association with Harrison Murray estate agency. TMAC has mortgage consultants in many of Harrison Murray’s 18 branches, offering the human touch to what may seem a daunting and confusing prospect – arranging a mortgage.

Ian Gibbons, managing director of TMAC said: “Often, the starting point is understanding the wide range and ever changing types of mortgages available and what suits an individual’s personal and financial circumstances.”

Here is a TMAC guide to help you navigate the mortgage minefield:



Remortgage

Simply switching your mortgage loan from one lender to another without moving house.

Buy to Let Mortgage

A mortgage that is used to purchase a property intended for rental. Most Buy to Let mortgages are not regulated by the FSA.

Interest Only Mortgage

A mortgage where you only pay the interest charges of the loan each month. This means you are not reducing the loan amount (or capital) itself, and this will need to be repaid in some other way.  It is your responsibility to ensure you have sufficient funds to pay off the mortgage at the end of the term.  

Repayment Mortgage

A mortgage that pays off both the initial loan and the interest that accumulates on that initial amount over the term of the mortgage.  This assumes all monthly mortgage payments are made as required by the Lender.

Capped Rate Mortgage

A mortgage that is variable but fixed not to go above a set level (the cap or ceiling) during the period of the deal.

Cashback Mortgage

A Cashback mortgage normally offers a cash amount that is paid by the lender to a customer at the beginning of a mortgage contract. There are usually early repayment charges, which can mean you are locked into a rate for a set period of time.

Discounted Rate Mortgage

This has a discounted variable rate of interest for a set period, after which the rate will increase. Restrictions may apply.

Fixed rate Mortgage

A fixed rate mortgage will charge a set rate of interest over an agreed period of time. This period varies - one year, two, three years, five years and occasionally longer. At the end of this fixed rate period, your mortgage will normally revert to the lender's standard variable rate.

A fixed rate mortgage can offer very favourable terms initially, but early repayment charges may limit the flexibility you have to switch to another lender.

Flexible Mortgage

A flexible mortgage allows the borrower to make overpayments when they have funds spare. A number of flexible mortgages also allow the borrower to reduce or miss payments altogether when funds are low (usually only if overpayments have been made in the past). For this reason, a flexible mortgage can be useful for the self-employed where income fluctuates. Restrictions may apply.

Tracker Mortgage

A tracker mortgage links the interest rate payable on the loan to a benchmark, such as Bank of England base rate. When the Bank of England base rate moves either up or down, your interest moves with it.

Standard Variable Rate Mortgage

A loan at the lender’s normal mortgage rate – i.e. without any discounts or deals. It moves up and down at the lender’s discretion.

Secured loan

An additional loan obtained through an alternative lender other than the existing mortgage lender. Both lenders retain a legal interest in your property. When a loan is ‘secured’ on your home it means the lender can repossess you home and sell it to get its money back if you don’t keep up your repayments.

For more information contact your local branch of Harrison Murray to speak with your local TMAC adviser or call 0845 0740571 or email contactus@themortgageadvicecentre.co.uk



YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. THERE MAY BE A FEE FOR MORTGAGE ADVICE, THE PRECISE AMOUNT WILL DEPEND ON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, OUR TYPICAL FEE IS £399.

 

 THE big day is looming, the excitement is mounting and then you realise you can’t put it off any longer – the packing!



Have you got enough boxes? What about the breakables and family heirlooms? How will you find the kettle? 



Having drawn up a ‘to do’ list well in advance, it should be plain sailing. 



However, independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray has some top tips to help reduce the potential for a stressful moving day:



-       Don’t leave everything until the day before you move. Consider what you don’t need to take with you, what will need careful packing and that you are covered for potential breakages.



-       Make a priority list and take your time. As it is a fresh start only take what you really need and use a couple of those boxes to store charity or car boot items.



-       Ensure you have enough boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap and marker pens to label things up. Boxes of all sizes will ensure you don’t overload the larger ones.



-       Pack an ‘essentials box’ for the first night in your new home – the kettle and tea bags amongst them – and prepare an overnight bag for the family with household necessities.



-       Start early and begin at the top of the house and work your way down, labelling boxes for each room as you go.



-       Pack important documents together and keep them in a safe place.



-       If you have children or pets, try and get a neighbour or friend to look after them whilst you are packing.



-       Don’t forget to contact Royal Mail to get your post redirected to your new address.  



-       Take readings from gas, electricity and water meters – taking digital photographs of the meters to back up your readings. 

 

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “As well as the huge excitement of moving to a new home, there is also the enormous task of packing. However, with an organised approach and a strict action plan to follow, it may not be as daunting as you think – and what’s more, it will make unpacking at the other end a lot smoother.”

 

Visit www.harrisonmurray.co.uk <http://www.harrisonmurray.co.uk>  for more information.

Note to editors

 

Harrison Murray are leading independent residential estate agents with 18 offices throughout Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire.  Visit the website at www.harrisonmurray.co.uk <http://www.harrisonmurray.co.uk> 

 

For more press information contact Cetti Long at Media Matters on (01733) 371363 or email: cetti@mediamatters-pr.co.uk or Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon on 07831 805455.

After taking over the reins at Harrison Murray’s Western Park office less than three months ago – sales manager Teana Tarren has steered the team into the branch’s record books.

Dedicated to delivering a first class service, the Hinckley Road-based team is now well on the way to achieving its goal of becoming the area’s number one choice of estate agent – having in the last two months alone broken the office’s record for instructions and sales since its opening in 2005.

Teana credits much of the branch’s success to excellent customer care and a sound knowledge of the area.

She said: “With a new team in place less than three months ago, we are delighted that our sheer hard work in raising the profile of the office and further enhancing the journey for our buyers and sellers has paid off – with the result breaking all other branch records. We pride ourselves very much in getting to know our customers, and treating them all as  individuals. Any of our customers can walk through the door at any time and the team will recognise them instantly – personal and friendly contact is so important.”

The Western Park office offers a one-stop-shop when it comes to buying or selling a home. During the last month, around a quarter of the housing stock was sold.

“We operate a no-sale-no-fee system, so we are able to give seller and buyers a reliable, honest and professional service. We are increasingly seeing customers who have had their property on the market with another agent for what they feel is an unacceptable length of time coming to Harrison Murray – and we are achieving a quick sale for them, in some cases at the full asking price,” said Teana.

She added: “It is a real team effort and a success that we all want to continue to build upon.”

Pic cap:

Record breakers! Meet the Harrison Murray team - Back left to right Zena Williamson, administrator and Matt Toon, sales negotiator.

Front left to right Joanne Porter, sales negotiator; Teana Tarren, branch manager and Jenny Chamberlain, mortgage consultant.

Growing demand from people looking to rent across Cambridgeshire has led to estate agents Harrison Murray further expanding its lettings service.

Ashley Taylor (24) has taken on the role of lettings co-ordinator for the company’s Cambridgeshire branches in March, Chatteris and Wisbech. Ashley, who originates from Chatteris, has gained extensive experience of the lettings market through the time he spent working as a negotiator in London.He is supported by a team of six negotiators across the three local offices.

Ashley said: “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in demand for our lettings service, particularly over the past couple of months where we have witnessed a 56 per cent rise in our managed portfolio.This increase in people looking to move into rented accommodation is due to a number of reasons. We are seeing more and more people ‘testing the water’ by opting for rented accommodation before they commit to living in a particular area. This is particularly relevant to people looking to move here from some of the more Southern counties.”

Ashley, who is based at the Wisbech office, added: “At the moment, the demand for rented accommodation in the county is greater than the supply we have – so we are always looking for landlords to come and talk to us if they have a property to let. We have a large applicant base, but not enough stock.The comprehensive and professional service that we offer means that both landlord and tenant can benefit from our commitment to provide an outstanding working partnership".

Harrison Murray’s lettings service includes full property management and rent collection services.

Development director Jackie Scotten said:  “The lettings market is buoyant and we anticipate increased local interest from landlords, particularly as we are also able to include the rent collection option and offer a free rent guarantee insurance. As a member of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA), Harrison Murray is delighted to offer a professional local service with the backing of our central lettings headquarters.”

Jackie added: “Our experience shows that people move into rented accommodation for a variety of reasons. Financial constraints are one of the main reasons however some people use rented property as a stepping stone to buying their own home. We are delighted to say that some tenants then progress to the residential sales market or go on to buy the accommodation they are renting.”

Harrison Murray is also a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Pic cap:

The new look Cambridgeshire lettings team, left to right Natalie Preston, Ashley Taylor and Monique Ketteringham.

 

Harrison Murray estate agency has appointed Dan Smethurst to take over the reins at its March branch.

The new-look team, headed up by 28-year-old March man Dan, is continuing to reap the benefits of realistic pricing and the current demand for homes in rural Cambridgeshire.

Dan believes in leading from the front, and conducts many of the branch’s valuations – supported by a dedicated team of an administrator, two negotiators, a recently appointed senior negotiator, mortgage advisor and viewing representative - ensuring that all areas of estate agency are covered under one roof.

He said: “We are enjoying a really successful period at the moment, and many of our properties are selling within a short time of coming onto the market.

Dan added: “The market is stable at the moment and people are looking at properties which are competitively priced. For those moving to the area – being referred to us from our offices in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire for instance, there is plenty of opportunity to get more property and land for your money.

Dan has spent eight years working in estate agency, primarily in and around Huntingdon, Cambridge and King’s Lynn – having started as a negotiator before being promoted to various managerial roles.



Pic cap: New look March team, left to right Katie Gale, James Foreman, Jill Metcalf, Dan Smethurst, Bill Ashford, Ben Bicknell and Barry Harrison.



 

The excitement and relief of getting that first offer on your house is immense. But after the initial jubilation there often comes an element of doubt. It’s the first offer – should you accept it?

While many sellers may be tempted to wait for a better offer, particularly if they have only recently put their house on the market, the advice from estate agent Harrison Murray is that if you have chosen your agent carefully, trust their advice and accept.

Managing director Nick Salmon said: “The most important part of the whole property selling journey is choosing your agent wisely in the first instance, and then to trust their professional advice. It is, after all, their reputation which is at stake. Your agent should be fully aware of what is happening in the market locally, and as the expert should be able to advise you on the most realistic selling price."

Nick added: “There are agents who will deliberately over-value a property, which leaves the seller feeling uneasy about accepting an offer that doesn’t match the valuation or expectation. Naturally, as a seller you want to get the best possible price for your most valuable asset.Realistic pricing – agreed between the seller and agent – will achieve a positive outcome for both parties. While many sellers may be tempted to ‘hold out’ for a better offer, I believe that a reasonable first offer needs serious consideration and means sellers have a clearer idea of how much they can afford to spend on their next purchase."

“There is a saying in the estate agency industry which goes: ‘The first offer is often the best offer’ and it’s as true today as it has ever been. That doesn’t mean that a first offer, if it’s way below the asking price, should be accepted without negotiation and a good agent will always attempt to extract the best price from the buyer. However, in this market a willing and able buyer is a relative rarity and sellers should not necessarily expect another one to be just around the corner. ”

Harrison Murray have 18 branches across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and the Homes Counties.

As the end of the football season approaches – it’s not just FA Cup and Champions League that have been the sport’s talking point.

In Northamptonshire the success of the long-running Welland Valley football club is continuing, with the newly formed Mens’ Team (made up of experienced and new players) creating a buzz on the playing field. However, the club has added another sporting string to its bow, thanks to the ongoing sponsorship and support of independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray.

With four branches in and around Northampton, Harrison Murray has been offering annual sponsorship to the club for more than a decade. The 2010/2011 donation has helped to form the club’s first ever girls’ team.

Club chairman Mick Watts said: “The Harrison Murray sponsorship has helped the club not only to buy new kit displaying the company’s blue and yellow logo for some of the adult and youth teams, but to meet demand in putting together an Under 11s girls team. The interest so far has been great, and we have already signed up a number of players to work alongside a very enthusiastic coach to train in preparation for next season.”

He added: “The money also helps to maintain our ground and buy new training equipment. Without the help of Harrison Murray we would not have the teams we have now – and as a result, the 200 players, managers and coaches who are involved with the club.”

Su Snaith, Harrison Murray area director based in Northamptonshire, said: “It’s wonderful to see how our sponsorship is being used not only to sustain the success of the club, but to help it grow and develop – particularly with the establishment of the girls’ team. We are delighted to maintain our links with the club and to see first hand all the fabulous things it is achieving within the Wootton community and beyond.”



Pic cap:

Creating a new footballing buzz – members of the Welland Valley FC girls’ team – sponsored by Harrison Murray – pictured with area director Su Snaith.



 

Taking home buying and selling to the next level – estate agent Harrison Murray is giving customers the chance to snap up a property on the move, thanks to a dedicated mobile website.

The user-friendly service is the latest product in Harrison Murray’s continued development of its commitment to improve the home buying experience. The website can be used on any smartphone web browser – there is no need to download a specific app. Floor plans, property images and other details can be viewed via the mobile website, making the home buying experience more flexible and interactive.

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “The potential for this service is great. Someone can now see one of our For Sale boards and use their mobile phone to instantly download details of that particular property and then call us to arrange a viewing.

“At Harrison Murray we are putting substantial resources into improving customers’ experience of buying their next home, and the vendors of selling theirs.

By utilising the flexibility that mobile computing power (in the form of smartphones) provides, we can very quickly get suitable property details to our customers’ attention. The mobile website is the next chapter in our continuing improvement programme.”

Highlights of the Harrison Murray mobile website are:

• There is no need to install several 'apps', the website is accessed through the smartphone’s built-in web browser

• It will work with all smartphones that have a web browser - now and in the future - with no new 'app' needed for each new smartphone type as it appears

• The mobile site is lightweight and responsive

• The website is very easy to read on small screen devices

• When a visitor reaches www.harrisonmurray.co.uk, we determine if they are using a smartphone web browser, and if so, automatically and seamlessly redirect them onto the dedicated mobile site at www.hmea.mobi/mobi

 

Harrison Murray has strengthened its sales team in Luton with the appointment of Chris Downey as branch manager for Bushmead.

Chris (28) already has 10 years’ estate agency experience to his credit – much of it in his home town of Luton, but he has also worked in the Home Counties, Milton Keynes and in the property sector in Spain. Keen to use his local knowledge and Bushmead’s ongoing reputation within the community to make Harrison Murray the number one choice in and around Luton, Chris aspires to the office becoming a Harrison Murray ‘super branch.’

Chris, who pursued an apprenticeship in bricklaying, opted for a career change when he was made redundant. “I started working in estate agency as a stop gap until I found something else. I thoroughly enjoyed it – and 10 years later here I am!” said Chris – who now heads up the four-strong Bushmead team.

Harrison Murray is already a well-known name locally, and has again pledged support through sponsorship of two Bushmead school fetes this summer.

Chris added: “My aim is to make Harrison Murray the number one choice locally, increase our stock level and encourage even more people to come to us for all their estate agency needs – turning us into a super branch!”

Pic cap:

Taking over reins at Harrison Murray’s Bushmead office – branch manager Chris Downey.

 

Lifting the trophy to mark the title of Harrison Murray’s best branch of the year is the winning Syston team.

The Leicestershire team fought fiercely not only be crowned Challenge Cup winners for two consecutive months, and celebrate its best business month on record, but to lift the coveted trophy. The Harrison Murray Challenge Cup – set up to reward the best performing branch for the financial year – was presented to director Richard Bocock by company chairman David Collins.

The Challenge Cup is based on a company league table, with all 18 offices eligible to enter, and takes into account a branch’s general performance for the company, as well as customer service.

Coming a respectable – and very close - second place was the company’s neighbouring Melton Mowbray branch, with Halford Street taking the third spot.

Richard said: “We are thrilled that the Syston branch has won the Harrison Murray Challenge Cup for the year.It is a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication of the team that earlier this year led to the best quarterly figures the office has ever produced." 

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “All our branches perform exceptionally well and the idea of the Challenge Cup was to officially recognise the team who had the edge for the previous month. Congratulations to Syston who thoroughly deserve this accolade. The challenge has really captured the imagination of all our branches, and as the first month of the new Challenge Cup year gets underway – we are hoping for the much of same during 2011/2012.”



Picture shows Harrison Murray chairman David Collins presening director Richard Bocock with the Challenge Cup, awarded to the company’s Syston branch.

 

As yet another Bank Holiday Weekend approaches - there are a couple of things that are almost certain - rain and DIY!

According to latest figures, homeowners are spending almost twice as much money upgrading their kitchen than any other part of the home. On average, a study suggests homeowners have spent £33 in every £100 of their home improvement budget on the kitchen in the last year.

Spurred on by numerous DIY makeover television programmes, UK consumers have been rushing to buy home improvement items in an attempt to retain or boost the value of their property. And according to a new report from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) – the number of homeowners carrying out DIY installations and home improvements is set to increase over the next few months.

However, independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray are urging caution to ensure DIY dreams don’t turn into a DIY disaster.

Managing director Nick Salmon said: “If you are planning to put your home on the market, don’t bite off more than you can chew.

“Numerous homeowners do enjoy DIY, but while there is bags of enthusiasm and a will to succeed - some may lack the basic skills required to carry out larger more complex projects.  Don't forget that only qualified contractors should alter gas or electrical installations.

“A few simple DIY and housekeeping tricks may have the desired affect without tapping into the home insurance.”

- Spruce up your paintwork with a fresh neutral look throughout, simple and effective.

- Hire a carpet cleaner machine for the weekend and give your carpets a deep cleansing shampoo.

- Give your kitchen cupboards and units a new look with some replacement doors and handles, far cheaper than a complete kitchen overhaul.

- Replacing the grouting around sinks and baths will give an instant brighter and cleaner look.

- Make sure the doorbell and smoke alarms are in good working order but replace the batteries if necessary.

- Hire or borrow a pressure washer to make the patio gleaming again following the wintry weather.

The most popular home improvement categories – according to price comparison site Idealo.co.uk:

- Greenhouses

- Sinks

- Power drills

- Painting and decorating

- Tool boxes

- Lamps and lighting

 

Despite a continuing fight against breast cancer, brave mum Jill Swales will be raising awareness of the disease at this year’s Race For Life event.

Jill, who works for Harrison Murray Surveyors in Market Harborough, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2010 – after experiencing pain in her breast. Tests revealed a 36mm lump, and a three-month intensive course of chemotherapy followed. Jill (44) said: “It came as a complete shock, but I’ve had amazing support from family and friends and remained positive throughout the treatment.

“Staff at both the Glenfield and Leicester Royal Infirmary hospitals have also been fantastic.”

Jill, whose family has a history of breast cancer, is now hoping to raise awareness of the disease by taking part in the Race For Life at Leicester’s Western Park on Sunday, 10 July – and boost funds for Cancer Research UK. Her 20-year-old daughter Kathryn will be taking part in the 5km event with her mum.

Jill – who has carried on working throughout her treatment - said: “We already have our pink outfits, and this event will be a first for me. I’m so keen to raise awareness of cancer, breast cancer in particular, and to encourage people not to be afraid to talk about it openly.”

Harrison Murray has sponsored Jill for her efforts. Residential managing director Nick Salmon said: “Jill is a remarkable lady and her positive attitude and determination is an inspiration to us all. We wish her all the very best with her ongoing recovery and the Race For Life.”

If you could like to sponsor Jill visit http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/jillswales1066



Pic cap:

Harrison Murray’s Jill Swales and daughter Kathryn – hoping the family’s inspirational story will help raise awareness of breast cancer and raise money for Cancer Research UK.



 

After February’s record business month and being crowned Challenge Cup winners, Harrison Murray’s Syston team have done it again – lifting the company trophy for a second consecutive month. And what’s more, the Leicestershire-based team is just one month away from taking the title of Harrison Murray’s best performing branch for the financial year 2010/2011.

The Syston office is headed up by director Richard Bocock, and beat off stiff competition from Harrison Murray’s other 17 branches around the region to take the title of best performing office once again for the month of March.  The Syston office held on to the cup, despite the neighbouring Leicester city centre office coming in second place, with a third Leicestershire branch – Enderby – ranking in the top five.

The Challenge Cup is based on a company league table, with all offices eligible to enter, and takes into account a branch’s general performance for the company, as well as customer service.

Richard said: “We are thrilled that the Syston branch has won the Harrison Murray Challenge Cup for a second consecutive month – particularly with the best quarterly figures the office has ever produced, even bettering sales figures when the market was at its peak. It is recognition of the hard work and commitment the team has put into making the office a success and drives us forward to continue to give our clients the best possible service.”

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “All our branches perform exceptionally well and the idea of the Challenge Cup was to officially recognise the team who had the edge for the previous month. Congratulations to Syston.”



Pic cap:



Syston Challenge Cup champions – left to right Alice Lucas, David Seabrook, Rachel Kerr, Richard Bocock, Erica-Jane Snape and Paul Battisson.



 

Keeping on track with his New Year’s resolution is keen cyclist James Evans – whose latest challenge has a right Royal theme!

Assistant sales manager James, who is based at Harrison Murray’s Harpenden office, will be joining around 3,000 other cyclists from around the country for the Palace-to-Palace challenge in September. The event will be raising money for the Princes Trust, and involves a 45-mile cycle ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle.

James said: “I have cycled a fair amount but not for some time! My New Year’s resolution was to cycle 500 miles in 2011, so this - and the training needed - should easily get me there. I am certainly finding that a good cross county ride on a weekend is a great way to wind down from the busy week! "

James will be joining family and friends for the event, and is looking forward to taking in some of London’s famous landmarks along the way.

He added: “The route passes some stunning sights through London, Surrey and Berkshire. The journey will start on The Mall, passing St James’s Park and heading towards Buckingham Palace, before continuing along The Thames and over Putney Bridge.”



To find out more, or to sponsor James, visit 

http://my.artezglobal.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=342670&langPref=en-CA



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Saddling up for his Palace to Palace cycling challenge – Harrison Murray’s James Evans from the Harpenden branch.

 

Excellent customer care and dedicated to delivering a first class service – that’s the mantra of the latest members to join the Harrison Murray sales team at Hinckley Road.

Teana Tarren has recently taken over the reins at the Western Park office, appointed to the role of sales manager. Joining Teana is a former estate agency colleague, Joanne Porter, strengthening the team through her sales negotiator post. The two have previously worked together in Leicester town centre, and both have enjoyed a highly successful career in estate agency to date.

Teana, who lives locally, will be overseeing the four-strong team at Hinckley Road, and is relishing the opportunity to use her local knowledge to build on the current success of Harrison Murray in the area.She said: “I’m thrilled to be working with such a great team who share my drive and vision for the branch. Despite being current market leaders, it is important to me that we maintain and exceed our current success and continue to focus on delivering a first class service with excellent customer satisfaction.”

Teana was bitten by the housing bug after buying her own property, and started her estate agency career in Lincolnshire in 2004. From sales negotiator, she rapidly climbed the ladder to the posts of valuer, senior lister and negotiator, and sales manager.

Similarly, Joanne has always worked in the property and customer relations sector, and has had experience of running her own estate agency office.

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Sales manager Teana Tarren (left) with sales negotiator Joanne Porter.

Wanting a larger home and craving a bigger outdoor space? – These are the two main reasons for moving or buying a house, according to a new report. According to the findings of the Legal & General’s Moving Intentions Survey (MIS), the criteria form part of changing lifestyles within the family and the difficulties prospective homebuyers currently face.

Leading independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray are encouraging prospective buyers to challenge themselves to look beyond those first impressions.

Managing director Nick Salmon said: “Buyers will have an opinion as soon as they set foot through the door – the décor may or may not suit their palate, the furniture may not be arranged how they would do it themselves, or the kitchen cupboards might not be to their taste.

“All these things can be easily remedied, but the size of the rooms is something that cannot be readily altered – unless the buyer already has plans to ‘knock through’.

“The challenge is for prospective buyers to see beyond those first impressions, take a step back and not be frustrated by what appears to be a lack of space.

However, making the most your existing home when you come to sell it could make the world of difference to buyers - simply by ensuring that those first impressions count for all the right reasons.

As a seller there are many tips you can put into practice which create the illusion of more space.

-    When you have a small kitchen, every inch of space counts. We probably all have more gadgets than we need or use, so put them away out of sight and leave worktops clutter-free. Making the most of drawer or cupboard space, and installing space saving ideas like tilt-out bins is a great move. Shelves and racks can also address the storage issue.

-    There are plenty of things you can do to create the illusion of space and enhance the visual square footage of a modest-sized living room. Arrange furniture diagonally, as viewing a room from corner to corner lengthens it. Even something as simple as repositioning the sofa could make a big difference.

-    Choose your décor carefully. Lighter/ neutral colours for walls and furniture will create a feeling of space, where darker / bolder colours may bring the room in, making it feel smaller and less welcoming.

-    Mirrors are a great way to reflect light and trick the eye. Placing a large mirror in a narrow hallway will instantly make it feel larger and lighter.

-    Bedrooms can easily be cluttered, as dressing tables seem to be a catch-all for those items you meant to put away in their proper place. Pay careful attention to your choice of colour scheme, and keep pictures on walls and ornaments/ lamps to a minimum. If it’s not needed, don’t use it. If storage is an issue, beds with built in drawers are an excellent space saver. A tip for a child’s room – if you have more than one child – is to use bunk beds with lots of storage.

-    Flooring is an important but easily overlooked area. Lighter colours for flooring – either wood, tiling or carpeting – work on the same principle as wall décor. Limit the number of rugs, as they draw the eye and can make a room appear smaller than it is.

-    Declutter – to ensure that the home is clean and tidy in preparation for viewings.

-     The garden. Make the most of whatever outdoor space you have and make it pleasing on the eye. Ensure the lawn is neat, plants are cared for and the space looks appealing – with tools or toys stored out of sight. If you have an outdoor dining area, enhance it as best you can with a patio table and chairs and some pot plants to create the feeling of bringing the indoors outdoors. 

Nick added: “We all know that first impressions count, and for a seller this is very important. However, buyers sometimes need to look beyond what they are initially presented with and view the potential of the home, where a few easily applied techniques can add to the apparent square footage.”

The Budget gives first-time buyers a helping hand to raise the deposit required to purchase new-build property, and extends the life of the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme to 2013.  Both are welcome measures but sadly will have a limited effect upon the general residential housing market.

Restricting the 'First Buy' initiative (where first-time buyers can get financial assistance to achieve a 10% deposit) to new-build property is clearly designed to try and boost the demand for new housing and to stimulate the building industry. Regrettably this will not help the secondhand homes market as, of course, when a new property is sold there is no seller moving on to buy another home. In effect it is a dead-end transaction. It is also questionable whether it is prudent to encourage first-time buyers to stretch themselves into such high levels of loan-to-value. Borrowing 95 per cent of a property's value leaves very little room for comfort if values fall.

Also in the Budget is the promise of a review of Stamp Duty Land Tax for buyers of property portfolios. These investors acquire multiple rental properties that individually may be worth less than £125,000 (the level at which 1 per cent SDLT payment is triggered) but together could be worth more than £1 million - and that means a 5 per cent SDLT bill of £50,000.

It is a great pity that the Chancellor has not taken the opportunity to extend the review to the overall SDLT regime as it affects ordinary people. This iniquitous tax, that blights properties with values near to the threshold of each tax band, is a major expense for home buyers and discourages mobility in the housing market. SDLT is long overdue for reform but of course provides substantial revenue to the Treasury, which perhaps accounts for Mr Osborne limiting the review to what affects a relatively tiny proportion of property buyers.

Overall we welcome the measures announced but would have liked to have seen more general stimulus to growth - particularly in respect of measures to increase mortgage lending - which could have helped the entire residential property market."

It's a sad fact the way we buy and sell property in this country leads to about one-third of transactions failing between acceptance of offer and exchange of contracts. Unfortunately, until contracts are exchanged, both buyer and seller are at liberty to withdraw from the deal without penalty.

However, there are some simple steps that can be taken to decrease the chances of a sale falling through. It just requires some proper preparation that will reduce the time taken to get to exchange of contracts.

The longer the period, the more the chance of the transaction falling through. Sellers should instruct their solicitor to start preparing a ‘contract package’ when the property goes on the market. This ensures there is no delay in getting the contract out to a buyer when an offer is accepted. The seller should not wait for a buyer to appear before getting out and finding their next home.

Unless the seller has found the place to buy how can they know what they will have to pay? At the same time, if they need a mortgage, they should talk to an independent financial adviser about the availability and costs of finance. With a property in mind to buy, and sound financial advice, the seller is in a position to quickly decide whether to accept an offer on their own home.

Buyers also need to make preparations, particularly in respect of their finances. The lending market is still very difficult and there is no substitute for advice from a whole-of-market independent adviser.

Online websites should not be relied upon as an indication of how much a buyer can borrow. Getting an ‘Agreement in Principle’ from a lender means the buyer knows how much they can afford and that, providing the chosen property meets the lender’s criteria, a purchase is viable.

At Harrison Murray we make it part of our professional mission to ensure that our sellers put themselves in the best possible position to sell. We offer free, independent, whole-of-market financial advice at all our branches and we also give free quotations for the legal costs of moving. Buyers are also able to access these services and all offers are fully qualified before being submitted to the seller.

We can’t always save every sale but by aiding our sellers and buyers to prepare themselves we help to cut the time between offer and exchange and to see transactions reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Nick Salmon. Managing Director, Harrison Murray Estate Agents.

Harrison Murray estate agents are joining health and safety experts in warning about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, in light of a recent EastEnders’ storyline on the ‘silent killer’. The soap has recently shown character Heather Trott fighting for her life as a result of inhaling toxic CO fumes leaking from a broken boiler.

Sadly, this story is not restricted to television drama – with figures showing that CO poisoning kills 20 people each year, and unnecessarily injures many more.

Harrison Murray estate agents and valuers are urging sellers to ensure their boiler, flues and chimney are professionally checked prior to putting their home on market, for their own safety and for that of their prospective buyer.

Managing director Nick Salmon said: “While we don’t want to scaremonger, we have seen evidence from the Health and Safety Executive figures that carbon monoxide poses a real threat as a result of faulty boilers or other appliances that have not been properly installed, maintained or are poorly ventilated.

“From a customer point of view, our advice would be for all sellers to ensure appliances are properly checked by a qualified technician. As an estate agent, we also have a legal obligation to ensure all our rental properties have an up to date gas certificate but unfortunately this doesn’t extend to sales properties.”

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless, poisonous gas. If undetected itcan kill in three minutes. For advice on gas safety and carbon monoxide awareness, visit

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/co.htm

 

Despite the gloomy headlines surrounding first time buyer affordability, independent estate agents Harrison Murray are helping customers to side step the first time buyer pitfalls.

New research this week suggests that nearly two-fifths (38 per cent) of aspiring first time buyers anticipate being 40 or older when they buy their first home. And according to the study, a further one in 12 believes they will never own their own home.

Many FTBs rely heavily on the Bank of Mum and Dad to help them get a place of their own, as national findings suggest they are typically spending eight years saving for a deposit. However, with a range of up to the minute mortgage and other financial advice, more and more would-be FTBs are realising their dream with Harrison Murray.

The independent estate agents and valuers have 18 branches across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and the Home Counties.

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “The national average age of a first time buyer is now 37, a substantially older age than a decade ago – and this latest study seems to echo that.

“We are seeing many first time buyers coming out of family or rented accommodation and investing in their first home. The age of the first time buyer reflects the difficulty they have in saving a deposit in the current mortgage climate.

“However, with no shortage of instructions being taken and houses on the market, we know that with the correct mortgage advice and the right property, we are succeeding in helping first time buyers achieve their goal of a home of their own.”



 

Syston estate agents Harrison Murray are celebrating a double – their best business month on record and lifting the company’s sought-after Challenge Cup trophy. The Leicestershire-based team is headed up by director Richard Bocock, and beat off stiff competition from Harrison Murray’s other 17 branches around the region to take the title of best performing office for the month of February.

The Syston office has taken over possession of the cup from the neighbouring Enderby branch, with the Melton Mowbray office taking the runner up place. With the Melton Mowbray branch currently leading the race for the best company performance at the end of the firm's financial year in June, Syston are now hot on their colleagues’ heels. The Challenge Cup is based on a company league table, with all offices eligible to enter and takes into account a branch’s general performance for the company, as well as customer service.

Richard said: “We are thrilled that the Syston branch has won the Harrison Murray Challenge Cup – particularly during what has been our most successful month on record. It is recognition of the hard work and commitment the team has put into making the office a success and drives us forward to continue to give our clients the best possible service.” Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “All our branches perform exceptionally well and the idea of the Challenge Cup was to officially recognise the team who had the edge for the previous month. Congratulations to Syston.”

Picture show Syston challenge cup champions – left to right Alice Lucas, David Seabrook, Rachel Kerr, Richard Bocock, Erica-Jane Snape and Paul Battisson.

 

 After taking up running less than a year ago, estate agent Alice Lucas is putting her best foot forward for her biggest challenge to date – next month’s New York half marathon. Valuer/negotiator Alice, who works at Harrison Murray’s Syston branch, will be fulfilling a personal goal, as well as raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

Alice began running last April, determined to shed a few pounds to look a million dollars in a new dress for a family wedding! Since then, she has been well and truly bitten by the bug and runs several times a week. Her inaugural running event was at last summer’s Rotary Club Watermead Challenge in Syston, sponsored by Harrison Murray, followed by the Leicester half marathon.

She said: “I love running – it’s free and good for you, and if I had the time I would run everyday! I’m really looking forward to the New York half marathon on 20 March, and my aim is to complete the full marathon next year.

“I applied last August and was selected from a lottery type process to take part. I’ve a 10km run planned for early next month in the lead up to the event.”

Alice will be combining the marathon with a spot of shopping in New York, with a well-deserved rest with family in the Big Apple following the 13-mile route.

If you would like to sponsor Alice, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/alicelucas or make a donation at Harrison Murray’s Syston branch.

Picture shows Harrison Murray estate agent Alice Lucas gearing up for the New York half marathon - putting her best foot forward for the British Heart Foundation.

The frosty mornings may be here for a while longer, but the emergence of buds and bulbs is a sign that spring is not too far away. Now is the perfect time to think about moving yourself, and your home, out of the winter blues if you are serious about selling. Some simple yet effective spring cleaning tips can prepare your home for a seasonal sale and give you the edge over other sellers.

Development director at Harrison Murray estate agents, Jackie Scotten, said: “There are so many fundamental and basic things sellers can do to get their home sale-ready.

“We all know that first impressions count, and viewers will make a snap judgement on what they see on the outside even before they set foot inside the property. A virtually cost-free mini makeover could make all the difference.”

Looking good – inside and out.      

As well as considering a neutral look for the interior of your home, think about the exterior of your property. Check and repair any garden gates or fences, paint window frames and clean window panes, clear paths of weeds and make the entrance to your home inviting with some freshly planted pot plants. Giving your home kerb appeal is the first step to engaging with a buyer.

Clutter control.

Spring is the perfect time to de-clutter your home and make some space (or at least give the illusion of more space). In preparation for a move, pack away any items that may make your home look crowded. Avoid hanging lots of clothes or other items on the back of doors. Potential buyers will want to imagine themselves in the property with their belongings. Ensure any drying laundry is hidden from view, and if you use part of your home as an office, clear away any paperwork.

Keeping it simple.

Less is more. You don’t have to spend a fortune to be on trend when it comes to interiors. A few strategically placed throws and rugs will keep interiors up to date. Create some optical illusions by placing furniture at angles around the room.

Points on pets – and unusual hobbies!

Your pet may be your pride and joy, but not all your potential viewers may be able to share your enthusiasm. Ensure your home is fresh, and perhaps it would be a good idea if you have a dog to get someone to take it for a walk if you are expecting a viewing. Likewise, any hobbies you may have could also impact on how viewers see your home. If for example you repair motorbikes or cars, keep spare parts out of the house - the same goes for those home-growing mushroom kits!

Garage Storage.

If like the majority of homeowners you use your garage for storing everything apart from the car, keeping it clutter free will give viewers an idea of how much space there is. They may have their own ideas for garage use – so keep tools, Christmas decorations and other items stored in boxes or hooked on the wall. Don’t hide this vital space under a pile of ‘junk’.

Outdoor Areas

Spring is a great time to get your outdoor entertaining area ready for those sunny days. Clean the patio and outdoor furniture. Whatever your style and space when it come to the garden, ensure it is looking at its best. Do some basic landscaping repairs to the lawn, shrubbery, and plants – and mow the grass for an easy on the eye appearance. If you’ve cleaned the windows inside and out, buyers can make the most of the view.

And with those finishing touches of ensuring curtains and blinds are open, the washing up is done, floors and surfaces are clear and the house is generally tidy – you will be prepared for viewings whatever the time of day.

Help and advice on how to make the most of your home for sale is available at your local Harrison Murray branch, or visit the website www.harrisonmurray.co.uk



 

After battling his way through 5ft deep ice-cold ditches, braving dark tunnels, barbed wire and wading through chest high ponds – Matt Storr is officially Harrison Murray’s ‘Tough Guy’.

Matt, a sales negotiator at the Duston branch in Northamptonshire, was among 3,000 competitors to take part in the gruelling Tough Guy endurance challenge.

A cold Sunday in January set the scene for the world-famous event at Wolverhampton (a favourite amongst army personnel) where Matt joined a group of friends to pit his wits against a host of physical and mental challenges.

Matt (25) said: “I watched some friends take part last year and decided to give it ago this year with some other friends - although I was a bit apprehensive about putting my head under the freezing cold water. We had a great time, helping each other out of many 5ft ditches filled with muddy water and ice, climbing over 30ft high climbing frames, across ropes, through many waist high, some chest high ponds, into dark tunnels, under barbed wire, and generally fighting off the cold and cramp.

“It was horrendous and I wanted to give up at several points, but the thought of getting that finishing medal kept me going.”

Matt, who met the £140 entry cost took part in the challenge for charity – raised around £200 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

He added: "I have never done anything more demanding in my life but the sense of achievement far outweighs the pain and cold I went through. I am very lucky to have my health and completing this gruelling assault course and making a difference for others puts things into perspective. Cancer touches the lives of so many people and I just wanted to do my small part to help.”

Matt’s sponsorship amount is still rising, and customers visiting the Duston branch are welcome to donate.

Picture shows Duston estate agent and fund-raising ‘tough guy’, Harrison Murray sales negotiator Matt Storr (right), with friend Carl Anderson during the challenge.

You've viewed the ideal property, your offer has been accepted and you are within a whisker of moving to your dream home. However, one of the final hurdles is the conveyancing - the legal process of buying and selling property.

Conveyancing, which put simply, is the act of transferring a property from one person to another, has by law to be carried out by a solicitor or licensed conveyancer.

Using their long-standing association with well-reputed local solicitors, Harrison Murray are able to offer a conveyancing service as close to home as possible – giving them the edge over many competitors.

Development director Jackie Scotten explained: “We offer a comprehensive conveyancing model alongside all our other estate agency services, which gives our customers the opportunity to fulfil the whole moving process with us.

“Buying or selling a home can sometimes be daunting, but to have the peace of mind that local solicitors - who know the area and the market - are being recommended, gives an element of reassurance. Normally by the conveyancing stage, the customer will have been on a lengthy journey and is keen to complete the move as swiftly as possible"

Unlike some corporate agents who operate a centralised conveyancing facility, Harrison Murray has access to solicitors close to its 18 branches.

And the service offered has gained such a good reputation among Harrison Murray customers, that even those not using the agents to buy or sell a home are tapping into the conveyancing element.

Jackie added: “This is as a result of word of mouth from our existing customers, and from people who have moved with us previously, who despite buying or selling in an area outside of our branch locations, still want to use our conveyancing service.”



To find our more, log on to www.harrisonmurray.co.uk

As well as picking up the keys to their new Leicestershire home, Dave and Pat Bennett got an extra surprise when they moved with estate agent Harrison Murray – a £2,000 luxury holiday.

The couple won the Thomas Cook holiday vouchers after choosing Harrison Murray’s Wigston branch to sell their existing home, becoming eligible for entry into a free prize draw.

All sellers who instructed one of Harrison Murray’s 18 branches between 1 September 2010 and 30 November 2010 were automatically entered into the draw, and the Bennett’s name came out of the hat.

The vouchers were presented to the couple at the Wigston office by Harrison Murray branch partner Jennie Andrews and managing director Nick Salmon.

"It was a brilliant move. Harrison Murray got a viewing straight away and we sold in just 29 days," said Pat. "I cannot believe how stress-free it has been."

Dave added: "We sold through Harrison Murray because we saw they had the place we wanted to buy in the local paper, which we went on to buy. Harrison Murray's ads are always well presented and make you want to stop and look at them."

Jennie added: "Mr and Mrs Bennett were motivated sellers who listened to our advice and worked with us as we negotiated a chain of three in order for the Bennetts to secure the bungalow they had set their sights on. It helped that Harrison Murray's recommended solicitors acted on their behalf in their sale and purchase, which went through swiftly and smoothly."

Harrison Murray's managing director, Nick Salmon said, "It has been a pleasure to hear how highly these clients regard the Wigston team and we wish them a splendid holiday - once they have finished unpacking in their new home!"

Harrison Murray sponsor the Welland Valley Football Club. Here, club chairman Mick Watts tells us about the Mens Team.

"Newly formed this season, from new and old players alike, the Mens Team has already achieved a superb record, considering its short time in existence.

Manager John Addington has, together with the coaches, Tony and Mark, an unbeaten record in the Sunday Conference League Division 2, having played 12, won 12, and scoring 76 goals along the way which is almost unbelievable!

The team has some great players who like to play football in the correct manner and boasts a Brazilian playing on the right wing adding magic and flair. The team is a mix of young and experienced players, most of whom have came through the youth system here at the club .

Peter Richardson, our youngest member of the squad at 16 years of age, has produced some fine performances this season and is a lad who the whole team and club can be proud of.

The men's team play on sunday mornings at Wootton Brook and kick off is at 10.30 am. All support is welcome so do please come and cheer the Welland Valley Men's Team on."

In the ongoing challenging market conditions, customer satisfaction is paramount - and estate agent Harrison Murray has gained exceptional marks in a seller and buyer survey. The leading independent estate agent has just released the results of its latest customer satisfaction survey, with the company’s 18 branches maintaining very high levels of approval from customers.

Keen to gauge exactly what customers think of its service, Harrison Murray asks all buyers and sellers to complete a comprehensive questionnaire when the sale of a property is completed. Previous results have shown that the company scores exceptionally well in giving satisfaction to customers - and the latest figures reflect that.

In terms of overall satisfaction, 94.5 per cent of respondents said they were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the service they received and in answer to the question, ‘Would you recommend Harrison Murray to family and friends?’ 93.4 per cent said ‘Yes’. In addition, 92 per cent said they would consider using Harrison Murray again in the future.

Although the overall performance of the company was excellent, several of Harrison Murray’s branches and staff stood out as exceptional performers. The East Hunsbury, Bushmead, Melton Mowbray and Enderby branches received praise for exceptional customer service by individual members of the team.

Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: "The results of our latest customer survey are a tribute to the efforts of all Harrison Murray staff. To achieve a satisfaction level in excess of 90 per cent from both sellers and buyers shows that the professionalism and service we provide is appreciated by the overwhelming majority of our customers. Home buying and selling is inevitably an emotional process for those involved and it is almost impossible for an estate agent to please all of the people all of the time so I am delighted that a very high proportion of our customers would choose to recommend Harrison Murray to their friends and family."

Christmas has come early for the team at Harrison Murray’s East Hunsbury branch, crowned Challenge Cup champions for their outstanding performance. The Northamptonshire-based office beat off competition from the company’s other 17 branches around the region.

The cup, awarded to the best performing office of the month, was presented to newly-appointed sales manager Ben Burge for the team’s excellent work during the month of November.

East Hunsbury took over possession of the trophy from Harrison Murray’s Harpenden branch.

The award takes into account general performance for the company as well as customer service. The Challenge Cup operates on a company league table, with all branches eligible to enter.

Ben said: “This is a great achievement for the team and for me personally, as I have only recently taken up the post as sales manager at an already thriving office. I believe this shows how committed and dedicated we are, as a force to be reckoned with in Northamptonshire.”

Harrison Murray director Su Snaith said: “All our branches perform exceptionally well and the idea of the Challenge Cup was to officially recognise the team who had the edge for the previous month. Congratulations to East Hunsbury.”

Pic ture: Challenge Cup champions from left to right Ben Burge, Chris Andrews, Annette Dyson, Julie Ashmore and Su Snaith.

 

Harrison Murray estate agents in Syston have clinched a double, with staff receiving two prominent company awards.

The champagne corks have been popping for sales negotiator Alice Lucas and mortgage advisor David Seabrook, who each received top honours for their respective roles – beating off competition from Harrison Murray’s 17 other branches.

Alice was presented with a magnum of champagne and certificate in recognition of being awarded one of the most coveted titles ‘Sales Negotiator of the Year.’

In addition, a case of wine and certificate was handed over to David Seabrook for the ‘Mortgage Consultant of the Year’ winner for the sixth consecutive year.

The branch itself was also runner up in the Branch of the Year category.

Harrison Murray director Richard Bocock said: “Team and individual recognition for the Syston office is richly deserved and we are delighted to have been recognised by the company for our continued hard work.

“Huge congratulations to Alice and David who are vital to the success and smooth running of the office, and vital to the service we offer our customers.”

 Christmas came early for the team at Harrison Murray’s East Hunsbury branch, crowned Challenge Cup champions for their outstanding performance.

The Northamptonshire-based office beat off competition from the company’s other 17 branches around the region.The cup, awarded to the best performing office of the month, was presented to newly-appointed sales manager Ben Burge for the team’s excellent work during the month of November. East Hunsbury took over possession of the trophy from Harrison Murray’s Harpenden branch.

The award takes into account general performance for the company as well as customer service. The Challenge Cup operates on a company league table, with all branches eligible to enter.Ben said: “This is a great achievement for the team and for me personally, as I have only recently taken up the post as sales manager at an already thriving office. I believe this shows how committed and dedicated we are, as a force to be reckoned with in Northamptonshire.”

Harrison Murray director Su Snaith said: “All our branches perform exceptionally well and the idea of the Challenge Cup was to officially recognise the team who had the edge for the previous month. Congratulations to East Hunsbury.”

Encouraging sellers to be realistic about their pricing and informing customers of the local housing trend form part of the successful work ethos of Harrison Murray’s Richard Cleaver. With more than a decade’s estate agency experience to his credit, Richard – based at the Halford Street branch in Leicester – has recently earned the title of Harrison Murray’s Lister of the Year.

Richard, who joined Harrison Murray in 2008 as a senior valuer, said: “I am very proud to hold this award.My role basically is helping sellers realise their dream of moving to a new home and to guide them through the journey. Some of the people I meet haven’t moved house for many years, and aspects of the process have changed during that time. Despite the challenges of the past 12 months, there are many people who want to sell their home, and I explain to them how the market works and offer advice about pricing. However, I wouldn’t have received this award if it wasn’t for the fantastic team at Halford Street that provides me with the appointments. Selling houses is a real team effort and we are an extremely pro-active team which is a trait I believe sets us apart from our competitors.”

A 'hands on' approach and going that extra mile for customers is the working ethos that has earned Rosemarie Wood a personal achievement award from estate agents Harrison Murray. As office manager for the St Albans branch, Rosemarie is an integral part of the hardworking team.Her enthusiasm and determination to get things done has affectionately earned her the company nickname of The Terrier!

“Once I get my teeth into a problem I do not let it go until it is resolved,” said Rosemarie, who has worked for Harrison Murray since 2007. She added: “We have an exceptionally low fall through rate in sales, and I think overall the reason I have received the Personal Achievement Award is because I always go that extra mile.

“I am extremely flexible in the hours I put in and can often be found at the office very late especially on a Friday or Saturday trying to put that last viewing together or tie up that extra offer. I would also say that the rest of the team have the same mindset, so I am surrounded by a good hardworking set of people that makes any personal success I may have easier.”

Presenting Rosemarie with her award, Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “Every office should have a Rosemarie. She is determined, hard working and extremely knowledgeable and her input into the daily running and success of the St Albans branch is invaluable.”

Leading independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray have announced new senior management level appointments.

Nick Salmon FNAEA (Honoured) has been promoted to managing director following three years as the company’s commercial director.

In addition, former branch partners, Su Snaith (Northampton), Charlie Green (Wisbech, Cambridgeshire), and Richard Bocock (Syston. Leicestershire) have been appointed as directors -  joining Nick and development director, Jackie Scotten on the board of Harrison Murray.

David Collins, chairman of Harrison Murray Estate Agents, says the new appointments will consolidate the management of the business and capitalise on the opportunities for growth and expansion in the future.

He said: “The board members have 100 years experience of estate agency between them and know exactly what it takes to be successful even when market conditions are challenging.“All of them have worked in times of boom and in recession, and understand the strategies that must be adopted to meet changing markets. Each of them has proven their abilities during service with the company and their collective strength will undoubtedly enhance the further growth of the business.”

Managing Director, Nick Salmon, is excited by the opportunities for the business that lie ahead. “We already dominate several of the areas in which we operate and the goal is to be the market leader in every location.“As we expand our branch network, the vision and skills of the Harrison Murray Board together with the high quality of our professional and dedicated staff will ensure solid progress for the company.   In future I see our reputation for excellent customer service making Harrison Murray the agent of choice in each location in which we operate; this in turn will lead to increased profitability and strengthen our position within the industry.”

Harrison Murray’s Younes Ech-Chadli is celebrating industry success, having passed the Technical Award of the National Association of Estate Agents.

The achievement follows months of hard work and study for the St Albans branch negotiator, who was tested on his knowledge of estate agency practice, property law, construction and customer service provision.

 Younes joined Harrison Murray as a part time viewing assistant in 2007 and became a full-time negotiator in 2009.

Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon, congratulated Younes on achieving the Award.

He said: “We actively support our staff in professional development because their achievements enable the company to give exemplary service to our customers.

“We are delighted that Younes has joined the growing number of our staff who have gained the NAEA Tech Award and we look forward to helping him progress his career with Harrison Murray in the future.”

WITH the onset of autumn and the darker nights just around the corner, don’t be tempted to go into hibernation when it comes to house hunting.

With a renewed confidence in the housing market, children firmly settled into a new school year and the focus for many on a new start for 2011 - now is the perfect time to be looking for a new home, say independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray.

“Autumn is a great time to get out there and see just what is available before everyone gets bogged down with thinking about Christmas,” said Harrison Murray commercial director Nick Salmon.

But while the independent estate agents and valuers are able to offer professional guidance and expertise, the advice is to ensure that you are serious about moving before embarking on the process.

“To many, buying a home can seem like a minefield,” added Nick. “Our first piece of advice would be to make sure that you are 100 per cent certain that you want to move – both emotionally and financially.

“With a clear picture in your mind, the house hunting process becomes simpler and more structured,” added Nick.

“Harrison Murray can assist you through the journey, with our instant access to up-to-the-minute mortgage deals and lender information.”

Harrison Murray tips for making house hunting as a smooth as possible.

-    Sell your property through a reputable agent, preferably one who is, like Harrison Murray, a member of the Property Ombudsman scheme and the National Association of Estate Agents.

-    Decide on a definite location – how far are you willing to commute, what are the local schools like, is there a GP surgery on your doorstep, is there a bus service into town?

-    Always take a list of questions with you to ask at a viewing.

-    Do your homework - take a drive around the area to get a feel for the people living there as well as checking out the local amenities.

-    If you know it is right – move fast and put in an offer.

-    Above all, liaise closely with the estate agent.

And any sellers instructing Harrison Murray from now until 30 November 2010 will have the chance to win a luxury holiday. A £2,000 Thomas Cook holiday voucher is up for grabs when sellers or landlords choose Harrison Murray to market their home.

Homeowners instructing any of Harrison Murray’s 18 branches in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire for a minimum of 12 weeks sole agency, will automatically be entered into a free draw to win the fabulous prize.

Estate agents Harrison Murray have issued a big ‘thank you’ to colleagues and customers for helping to boost charity coffers for Macmillan Cancer Research by more than £300.Cups of tea and coffee were brewed, poured and sold at Harrison Murray’s Enderby branch in Leicestershire in aid of the charity, as part of the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning.

And as well as popping the kettle on, there was a mouth-watering selection of cakes on sale made by staff and family – including an impressive display of cupcakes made by Jo Harbottle from Harrison Murray’s conveyancing department.Funds were also boosted by a raffle with staff  and local businesses donating the prize, and cash is still rolling in.

Enderby branch manager Sara Quatermass said: “A massive thank you to everyone who supported the coffee morning – from the customers who joined us for refreshments to the whole Enderby team for their help in organising the event.“We are delighted with the amount of money we have raised for such a good cause, and a cause which touches the lives of so many.”



Picture shows HM staff serving up coffee and cakes for charity. The Harrison Murray Enderby team, left to right Naomi Goudi, Sara Quatermass, Jo Harbottle, Mandy Baker, Trilby Griezel Brown and Natalie Worley.



 

As holiday memories fade almost as quickly as late summer evening light, there is still a chance of achieving a dream double with Harrison Murray.If the prospect of moving house or letting your property has put a halt on a summer break, there could always be a luxury skiing trip or family visit to Lapland to look forward to as the property market enters the autumn months.

Following a highly successful promotion earlier this year, leading independent estate agent Harrison Murray is repeating its campaign to give sellers and landlords the chance to move or let their home AND win a wonderful holiday! A £2,000 Thomas Cook holiday voucher is up for grabs when sellers and landlords choose Harrison Murray to market their home.

Homeowners instructing any of Harrison Murray’s 18 branches in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire between 1 September 2010 and 30 November 2010, for a minimum of 12 weeks sole agency, will automatically be entered into a free draw to win the fabulous prize.The draw is also open to landlords, on condition they instruct Harrison Murray to carry out rent-collection or full management services.

Harrison Murray’s commercial director Nick Salmon said: “We have decided to re-run this promotion due to the amazing response it attracted first time around.Many people looking to move home are faced with a choice of hanging on to their cash to pay for the move or spend it on a holiday. Often it is the holiday that takes a back seat.This promotion is a win win situation – and with Christmas not that far away, a winter break could be on the cards for one lucky customer.Someone is going to win this brilliant holiday and to be in with a chance they only have to instruct Harrison Murray. If you are choosing between estate agents, it’s a no-brainer to pick the one that could lead to the £2,000 prize!”

Raith and Amanda Perry, who instructed Harrison Murray’s Duston office in Northamptonshire to sell their home, were the lucky winners of the first holiday promotion. Following the sale this summer, prior to a move to Birmingham, Amanda said: “We’ve been really spoilt throughout our dealings with Harrison Murray. There’s no hard sales pitch, unlike other agents who try to push you to use their services. It’s the little extra things that Harrison Murray does that make the difference.”

Full details of the draw, together with terms and conditions, are available in Harrison Murray branches, or at www.harrisonmurray.co.uk

 

 

New  research indicates that over the last year, the majority of houses put up for sale in England, Wales and Scotland failed to sell.

More than 1.1 million homes remained unsold by August - compared with 725,000 sales that went through.

And the main reason for properties failing to sell is high asking prices (18 per cent) according to the recent study.

Locally, independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray work closely with sellers to ensure they don’t fall into the over-pricing trap.

Commercial director Nick Salmon said: “The teams in all our branches are highly pro-active at keeping sellers informed on a regular basis on what’s happening in market and making every attempt possible to sell their home within a month.

“However, it is a two-way process. Before instructing an agent, sellers should think realistically about their pricing. Look around the areas in which they want to buy so they will know what they will need to spend.

“If possible, do some homework of their own on local values and above all listen to the agent’s advice, particularly when it comes to initial pricing and what they would be willing to accept.”

Putting your home on parade is also crucial, and to be prepared for viewings at short notice.

Nick added: “If sellers serious about getting a result, they need to do their homework in choosing an agent; prepare the home to show at its best and accept that they - and the property - are ‘on parade’ for the duration of the marketing period.

“Get the house de-cluttered, tidied, and cleaned and spruce up the garden, especially at the front because that’s where the buyer will form their first impressions. Always be prepared to immediately say ‘yes’ to viewing every time unless it truly isn’t possible.

“Above all, strike while the iron is hot. Too many times I see sellers getting an offer on a Friday evening and saying ‘We’ll think about it over the weekend’. By Monday that elusive buyer may well have found something they like better.

“As we anticipate a rise in activity over the next few weeks, buyers continue to have a great selection of homes to choose from – so the message to sellers is ‘ensure that the one they view is yours’.”

The research also revealed:



-    There were also 755,000 people who tried to buy but could not, with 53 per cent unable to find buyers for their own home.

-    One in 10 buyers were unable to raise a sufficient deposit and one in four hundred could not get a mortgage deal. 



Source of research : Santander

Harrison Murray’s Leicester-based lettings service has celebrated its best business month on record – echoing the national trend that suggests the lettings market remains buoyant.

According to the latest RICS residential lettings survey, 26 per cent more chartered surveyors reported a rise in demand for property than a fall.

Tenant demand also increased across all regions, most notably in London and the East of England.

The survey also revealed that difficulty in securing finance and lender deposit demands are leading to higher numbers of homehunters looking to rent rather than buy.

In Leicestershire, Harrison Murray falls in line with the national trend, with the service achieving its best ever month across the county - particularly among people using rented accommodation as a stepping stone to buying a property of their own.

Demands on the service have been so great, that extra staff have joined the Leicester-based team and the service restructured over the past few months.

The lettings team of the independent estate agents and valuers says the range of properties is also growing daily, as is the number of landlords – which in turn is boosting the number of new tenants.

Harrison Murray group lettings manager David Thorpe said: “We’re finding that the lettings market is going from strength to strength – not only in Leicestershire, but also in neighbouring Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire where we are expanding the service.

“People move into rented accommodation for a variety of reasons. Financial constraints are one of the main reasons, with people using rented property as a stepping stone to buying their own home.

“We are delighted to say that some of those tenants then progress to our residential sales market or go on to buy the accommodation they are renting.”



Harrison Murray is a member of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

 

Harrison Murray estate agents and their customers have raised £838 to help injured industry colleagues meet their fundraising target.

The UK estate agency industry was shocked by news of last month’s serious accident that almost claimed the lives of Midlands-based Sean Newman and James Golding during their USA charity cycle ride to raise £100,000.

Leading independent estate agency, Harrison Murray pledged to donate £1 for every viewing the company arranged last week to help with the pair’s cancer charities quest. Customers visiting Harrison branches from St Albans in Hertfordshire through Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire and into Melton Mowbray and Leicestershire have all supported the cause.

Harrison Murray commercial director Nick Salmon said: “Our thoughts continue to be with Sean and James and their families and we wish them a speedy recovery from the awful accident. “During the week of July 26 our staff made an extra special effort to encourage buyers to book viewing appointments to see properties – and our customers haven’t disappointed us. In fact one lady in Melton Mowbray dropped in £10 even though she was not even looking for a property! We are delighted to donate £838 towards Sean and James’ worthy cause.”

Disaster struck the 3,500-mile charity ride by Sean and James as they were attempting to cross 3,000 miles of America when they were hit by a 70mph truck in Louisiana about 45 miles west of New Orleans, some three-quarters of the way into their marathon attempt. Both men are still being treated for their extensive injuries.

 

Harrison Murray estate agents were among the 180 runners who helped to make the first Watermead Challenge charity run in Syston a resounding success.

The five-mile run and three-mile run/walk at Syston’s Watermead Park was organised by The Rotary Club of Wreake Valley, and sponsored by leading independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray.

Around £1,500 was raised for deserving local good causes; the St John Ambulance, local youth groups/clubs and the Richard Engelgardt Trust Fund.

Richard is now wheelchair bound following an injury sustained playing for Birstall Rugby Club at the start of the 2009/10 season.

Chris Battye, director of Harrison Murray’s Leicestershire-based survey department, was one of the event organisers.

He said: “The turnout was great and our thanks to everyone who took part and who supported the runners and walkers along the route. We are delighted with the amount raised and are sure the local charities and good causes will be equally pleased.”

A number of Harrison Murray staff from around the county’s offices took part, with Syston branch partner Richard Bocock presenting the trophies.

Picture: Syston branch partner Richard Bocock presents a trophy to Matt Gore (13) winner of the three-mile Fun Run.

Being at the height of summer, the warm weather and those balmy evenings create an all-round feelgood factor.

But if you want to sell your home before the onset of autumn, leading independent estate agents Harrison Murray have some advice to ensure that you don’t rely simply on sunshine and pretty gardens to attract a buyer.

Commercial director Nick Salmon said: “While we may be in the middle of the selling season, and seeing more properties coming onto the market, consumer confidence among buyers is   fragile – particularly in view of very low levels of mortgage lending.

“However, there are buyers out there, and sellers can adhere to some simple but highly effective tips to warm up their chances of a summer sale.”

Top Tips:

Ensure that windows are sparkling clean both inside and out. Draw curtains well back so that buyers can take in the views of your carefully tended garden.

Show off every room to it full potential and original purpose. Although you may be        using the dining room as a playroom, clear away the toys and set the table to show how many people can be seated. Likewise, temporarily move the filing and home office equipment out of the spare room.

Let the fresh air in - musty-smelling rooms will have potential buyers running back to the front door. Summer allows you to open window without fear of making the house feel chilly.

Lighten up rooms that don’t benefit from natural light by adding table lamps, and also ensure that light switches are wiped clean.

De-clutter. Firstly, make the entrance hall inviting by removing coats and shoes and turn your attentions to the rest of the home – clearing away any unnecessary clutter. Likewise, ensure the carpet is clutter-free to give the whole home a feeling of space.

Keep your lawn in order. Summer-dried brown patches ruin the effect of a pretty garden, so keep your grass as green as possible. If you cannot avoid the problem, some strategically placed garden furniture may help! Regularly water summer containers and baskets to prolong their blooms.

Pet hates. Although your cat or dog may be the cutest thing ever, dishes of pet food or whiffy pet beds can be a complete turn off (particularly if the new owner doesn’t have pets of their own) so ensure bowls are clean and /or put out of sight. Some people are very nervous of dogs of any size, so it’s best to get your partner or neighbour to take the animal for a walk while the viewing takes place.



 

Harrison Murray estate agents are among those rushing to help industry colleagues – seriously injured during a charity bike ride in the United States – to complete their fundraising target.

The UK estate agency industry has this week been shocked by news of a serious accident that almost claimed the lives of Midlands-based Sean Newman and James Golding during their quest to raise £100,000 for cancer charities.

Now leading independent estate agency, Harrison Murray, with branches stretching from St Albans to Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire has pledged to donate £1 for every viewing the company arranges in the week commencing Monday 26 July.

The company expects the total to top £1,000.

Disaster struck the 3,500-mile charity ride by Sean and James last Sunday morning as they were attempting to cross 3,000 miles of America when they were hit by a 70mph truck in Louisiana about 45 miles west of New Orleans, some three-quarters of the way into their marathon attempt.

Both men are alive but badly injured. Mr Newman has a broken back, broken pelvis and both his legs are broken. He was rushed into intensive care after the smash but is now understood to be in critical care.

He has already undergone one operation and is believed to be undergoing further surgery now, on his pelvis. More operations will be necessary as surgeons assess the damage to his spine.

Mr Newman is a veteran charity campaigner, having completed several marathons, Iron Man challenges and the infamous Marathon Des Sables.

Mr Golding contracted cancer two years ago when doctors found a large tumour between his spine and his kidney. He originally had just a five per cent chance of survival, but was then given the all-clear almost exactly a year ago.

Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon said: “Our thoughts are with Sean and James and their families and we wish them a speedy recovery from this awful accident.

“During the week of July 26 our staff will be making an extra special effort to encourage buyers to book viewing appointments to see properties and we look forward to making a substantial contribution to the pair’s charities.”

The worlds of estate agency and Hollywood-style movie-making merged during a recent property photo shoot. 



When the St Albans branch of independent estate agent Harrison Murray needed some stunning photography to show off the location of one of its client’s properties, they turned to hi-tech gadgetry more often found in the world of films.



A pair of sophisticated radio-controlled model helicopters carrying state of the art digital cameras whizzed up into the skies above Napsbury Park, Hertfordshire, to capture unique images of the stylish development and its parkland surroundings.



To get the photographs, Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon, called in father and son team, Steve and Stuart Marsh of SKM Photography in Hemel Hempstead.



They were joined for the shoot by Jolyon Bambridge whose near-legendary expertise at remote control helicopter flying has led him to work on blockbuster films including 007 James Bond’s Goldeneye, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day; Lost in Space, and Mission Impossible.



Jolyon also happens to be the man who operated little R2D2 in Star Wars – The Phantom Menace.



While one operator flies the helicopter by remote control to the required height and position, a second operator dons digital spectacles that link via radio to the viewfinder of the on-board camera and they are able to pan, tilt and roll the camera mounting to line up the very best shots.



Nick Salmon said:  “We often use SKM to take photos of our properties from the top of their portable 15 meter mast and these images already cause a real stir among our sellers and buyers.



“However, for this venue we needed to get even higher and so were delighted when SKM told us that they have these amazing helicopter camera platforms that can operate almost anywhere. It’s quicker, infinitely cheaper, and just as effective as hiring a full size aircraft to obtain the images – and our clients love it!”



The property being sold by Harrison Murray St Albans is a high-specification, two bedroom, ground floor apartment with direct access onto the communal grounds. The price tag is £329,950  and more details are available from 01727 863114.



Pic - A bird’s eye view of the stunning Napsbury Park



 

Harrison Murray’s Kameron Hutchinson has become the company’s latest estate agent to gain the industry’s NAEA Technical Award for the Sale of Residential Property.



It follows months of hard work by the Leicestershire-based 20-year-old valuer and sales negotiator – who is believed to be one of the youngest agents in the country to gain the qualification. Kameron, who joined Harrison Murray three years ago following the completion of his A-levels,  has now successfully completed all four parts of the qualification. 



The National Association of Estate Agents is the leading professional body for estate agents, and membership of the Association can only be gained by passing the Technical Award exams. The award signifies that the individual has a sound grasp of the basics of residential property law, construction and all aspects of estate agency practice.



Kameron said: “I’m thrilled to have achieved this qualification, which has taken a great deal of time and hard work. It has certainly helped me to further my overall knowledge of the industry and build my confidence, all of which will ultimately benefit the customer during our service to them.”



As part of its on-going commitment to excellence in customer service and the career development of staff, Harrison Murray runs a sponsorship scheme to enable employees to study for and qualify in the various awards.



Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “We strive to give an excellent professional service to our clients and sponsoring our staff to take the Technical Award demonstrates our commitment to provide that service. We are delighted for Kameron, who has really embraced the whole process – and is the youngest ever member of Harrison Murray staff to gain the qualification.”

 

Harrison Murray are long-standing members of the NAEA and the Property Ombudsman scheme.

 

Harrison Murray customers Raith and Amanda Perry got more than they bargained for when they sold their Northamptonshire home through the agents – a £5,000 luxury holiday.

The family won the amazing holiday after choosing Harrison Murray’s Duston office to sell their home, and were then entered into a free prize draw.

There were smiles all round at Harrison Murray’s Northampton head office when the Perrys and their children, Maddison and Liberty, were presented with their prize during a champagne reception - travelling from their new home near Birmingham to collect the £5,000 voucher and £1,000 spending money. 

All sellers who instructed one of Harrison Murray’s 15 branches between November 2009 and April 2010 were automatically entered into the draw and the Perry’s name came out of the hat.

It was Raith who initially took the call from Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon, telling him of their win. “I was numb, I thought you were joking and I couldn’t believe it!”

The holiday destination has not yet been chosen but Florida is top of the list. Raith added: “When I heard we had won I went straight down to the travel agent and came back with a pile of holiday brochures!”

The Perry’s chose Harrison Murray as their estate agent because they had bought and sold through the company twice before and received an excellent service. Amanda explained: “We’ve been really spoilt throughout our dealings with Harrison Murray. There’s no hard sales pitch, unlike other agents who try to push you to use their services. It’s the little extra things that Harrison Murray does that make the difference. Our negotiator, Daniel Travill was always really helpful – he even called us from his home although he was off work with a broken his ankle!”

Nick added: “This is the first draw of its type we’ve done and it’s been really worthwhile. The winter months are normally when activity levels fall, but the holiday promotion meant that many sellers chose Harrison Murray over other agents.”

Pic cap:

Holiday smiles! Left to right: Su Snaith, Harrison Murray branch partner; Raith Perry; Liberty Perry; Amanda Perry; Maddison Perry; Paul Scinaldi, Harrison Murray branch partner in Duston and Nick Salmon, Harrison Murray commercial director. 

 

The champagne corks have been popping at Harrison Murray’s Wigston and Halford Street branches - with staff celebrating industry exam success.



Wigston branch manager Jennie Andrews and Leicester lettings manager Clark Gordon are the latest employees to be recognised in their respective estate agency fields. Jennie has been studying for the NAEA Technical Award for the Sale of Residential Property for the past six months, and has recently completed all four parts of the qualification. 



The National Association of Estate Agents is the leading professional body for estate agents, and membership of the Association can only be gained by passing the Technical Award exams. The award signifies that the individual has a sound grasp of the basics of residential property law, construction and all aspects of estate agency practice.



Meanwhile, Clark has passed the National Federation of Property Professional (NFOPP) Technical Award in residential letting and property management – the industry standard for all agents working in this area. It is also the required qualification for entry to the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA), which is the UK’s only professional, self-regulating body specialising in the private rented sector.



As part of its on-going commitment to excellence in customer service and the career development of staff, Harrison Murray runs a sponsorship scheme to enable employees to study for and qualify in the various awards.



Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “We strive to give an excellent professional service to our clients and sponsoring our staff to take the Technical Award demonstrates our commitment to provide that service. We are delighted that a substantial number of our employees have chosen to follow this process through, and have qualified as true property professionals.”



Harrison Murray are long-standing members of the NAEA and the Property Ombudsman scheme.

Although the icy weather is showing little evidence that spring is officially just weeks away - now is the time to think about moving your home out of the winter blues if you are serious about selling. There is some evidence that more properties are coming up for sale, and in the coming weeks competition among sellers wanting to move could become fierce.

But how can a seller have the edge over the neighbouring For Sale board and attract prospective buyers to their property?

The home makeover TV shows give advice in abundance, but with a little commonsense, a clear mind and the goal of selling your home – a virtually cost-free mini makeover could make all the difference.

Clutter control

Spring is the perfect time to de-clutter your home and make some space (or at least give the illusion of more space). Not everyone may share your taste for ornaments or family photos. In preparation for viewings, pack away any items that may make your home look crowded. Potential buyers will want to imagine themselves in the property with their belongings. Ensure any drying laundry is hidden from view, and if you use part of your home as an office, clear away any paperwork.

Looking good – inside and out       

As well as considering a neutral look for the interior of your home, with an all over lick of magnolia or something similar, think about the exterior of your property. Check and repair any garden gates or fences, paint window frames and clean window panes, clear paths of weeds and make the entrance to your home inviting with some freshly planted pot plants. Giving your home kerb appeal is the first step to engaging with a buyer.

Keeping it simple

Less is more, as they saying goes – and you don’t have to spend a fortune to be on trend when it comes to interiors. A few strategically placed throws and rugs to tone down patterned sofas or carpets will bring older interiors up to date. Create some optical illusions by placing furniture at angles around the room.

Points on pets – and unusual hobbies!

Your pet may be your pride and joy, but eliminate doggy or pet odours, and give carpets and sofas a quick hoover to get rid of any pet hairs – and get someone to take the dog for a walk if you are expecting a viewing. Likewise, any hobbies you may have could also impact on how viewers see your home. If for example you repair motorbikes or cars, keep spare parts out of the house - the same goes for those home-growing mushroom kits!

Garage Storage

If like the majority of homeowners you use your garage for storing everything apart from the car, keeping it clutter free will give viewers an idea of how much space there is. They may have their own ideas for garage use – so keep tools, Christmas decorations and other items stored in boxes or hooked on the wall. Don’t hide this vital space under a pile of ‘junk’.

Outdoor Areas

Spring is a great time to get your outdoor entertaining area ready for those sunny days. Clean the patio and outdoor furniture. Whatever the size of your garden, this is  vital outdoor space. Do some basic landscaping repairs to the lawn, shrubbery, and plants – and mow the grass for an easy on the eye appearance. If you’ve cleaned the windows inside and out buyers can make the most of the view.

Help and advice on how to make the most of your home for sale is available at your local Harrison Murray branch, or visit the website www.harrisonmurray.co.uk. You can also read and comment on this article at blog.harrisonmurray.co.uk

So, you’ve decided to sell your house, had several estate agents round to value it, and now the moment has come for you to instruct one them. Before you put your signature on the marketing agreement, make sure you read the small print - because if you don’t it could cost you a lot of money.

There are a several things to watch out for.

- If you are buying your Home Information Pack (HIP) through the estate agency for what seems like a ‘cheap’ price do they insist that you use their conveyancing service as well? Have you taken a close look at how much that conveyancing will cost? Is it really competitive or have they loaded the price to pay for the HIP?

- Is the HIP cost a small upfront payment with the balance to be paid by you when the property sells? What happens if the agent doesn’t sell it and you want to instruct another firm? Check very carefully how much the first agent will charge you to take the HIP away from them – you don’t own it until you’ve paid for it. There are some national firms who are charging clients almost £500 + VAT for their packs if the property is withdrawn from them.

- Will the agent make a charge if they don’t sell the property and you want to disinstruct them? Again, several national firms will make you pay around £150 for the privilege of taking the property away from them. Be aware that it doesn’t make any difference if the period of your agency agreement with them has expired. The small print makes it a ‘rolling contract’ and you can’t get out of it without paying their withdrawal fee.

If you’ve recently signed up with one of these agents, realise you are now liable for these charges, and don’t like it, you might be able to cancel the contract.

By law, if you signed the agreement in your own home when the agent brought the document to you (not if it was posted separately) you have a seven-day cooling off period during which you can change your mind without financial penalty. The agent should make you aware of this before you sign. You can choose to forego the cooling off period by signing a separate waiver document and this means the agent can get on with their job straight away, rather than waiting for seven days to elapse.

If you signed a waiver or signed the agreement in the agent’s office there is no cooling off period.

There’s nothing illegal about estate agents charging high prices for HIPs or for taking your property off their books but it is something that potential clients should be totally aware of when they sign up to these firms.

At Harrison Murray we often have clients coming to us wanting to take their property away from these national firms and they are livid when they realise they’ve got to pay them off before we can take the instruction. Our policy is not to charge withdrawal fees and clients who buy our HIPs own them outright from Day One. Our agency agreements are clearly worded, as brief as we can possibly make them, and there are no hidden charges, so clients can see exactly what they are signing up to.

 

With just under a month to go before the end of its ‘win a luxury holiday’ competition, estate agent Harrison Murray is gearing up for a last minute rush in instructions.

Since launching the promotion at the start of the year, Harrison Murray has seen an increase in the number of sellers instructing its 18 branches – in the hope of snapping up a £5,000 Thomas Cook holiday voucher plus £1,000 spending money. The knock on effect of this has been a greater choice of properties for potential buyer, a win win situation all round!

However, time is running out for homeowners to enter the free draw and stand a chance of winning the fabulous prize.

Sellers instructing any of Harrison Murray’s 18 branches in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire until 31 March 2010, for a minimum of 12 weeks sole agency, will receive automatic entry.

Harrison Murray’s commercial director Nick Salmon said: “At a time when many estate agents have been struggling to simply stay in business this terrific promotion is a major statement of our stability and confidence.

“Someone is going to win this brilliant holiday and to be in with a chance they only have to instruct Harrison Murray. If you are choosing between estate agents, it’s a no-brainer to pick the one that could lead to the £6,000 prize!”

Full details of the draw, together with terms and conditions, are available in Harrison Murray branches, or at www.harrisonmurray.co.uk

 

They say that the stress of home selling and buying is comparable with that of bereavement, job loss, or divorce and there is no doubt that the process could sometimes test the patience of a saint.

Part of the problem is that until seller and buyer exchange contracts there is nothing to bind one to the other. Either party can pull out of the deal without any penalty. This leads to tremendous uncertainty between an offer being agreed and the point where commitment is made and sends stress levels through the roof.

It is a well known that legal wheels grind exceedingly slowly, sometimes for no other reason than a timescale of four to six weeks to exchange and four more weeks to completion has become established as ‘normal’. Home Information Packs were supposed to speed up this process but in practice they have made little material difference. Depending on circumstances the usual timescale may suit a lot of people but it does leave open a dangerously wide window of opportunity for the sale to fall through – which it does in 20-30 per cent of cases. The most common reason for a failed sale is the buyer changing their mind or finding another property that they like better.

Some solicitors are excellent at dealing with conveyancing but there are still too many out there who appear locked in the era of the quill pen and who prefer to take things at a sedate pace. I’m not suggesting for a moment that any corners should be cut in carrying out the legal work in a sale or purchase but in the age of Internet and emails there is little excuse for the delays that do occur. It may surprise you to know that if everyone is able, agrees to it, and the correct legal documents are available, there is nothing to prevent an exchange of contracts taking place 24 - 48 hours after the offer is accepted. I have seen contracts exchange in less than one day during the height of boom markets.

Sellers often lull themselves into a false sense of security by believing that the acceptance of an offer means the buyer is now their new best friend who would never dream of reneging on the deal. Sadly, this just isn’t so. Estate agents send email and text alerts to the buyers on their books, the Internet is alive with property search sites, and it is very probable that between offer and exchange of contracts the buyer will still be getting daily news of properties coming on the market or having price reductions. A tempting prospect might just lead to a change of heart. It is therefore in the seller’s best interest to push for an exchange of contracts in as short a time as possible. Remember, getting the exchange is the critical point in the transaction. The completion date can be set to suit everyone and sometimes it can be much longer than the standard four weeks. So for sellers who have not yet found their onward purchase it still makes sense to try for an early exchange and a delayed completion.

At Harrison Murray we take sales progression very seriously indeed. It’s the unsung part of selling a property but it’s where a good agent really earns their money. With the co-operation of the solicitors for the buyer and seller we can help to tailor the transaction timescale to suit everyone, gently but firmly moving the buyer to the point where they can sign on the dotted line. Sometimes it isn’t possible to get a quick exchange because the buyer has a property to sell or because the mortgage lender drags their heels but for deals where everyone is able and willing to proceed we can help to narrow the period in which the transaction is at risk.

And that does wonders for the blood pressure of our clients

Estate agents around the country must have issued a collective groan when the New Year Big Freeze took hold.

Having anticipated that early January would see a lift in housing market activity, the arrival of a blanket of snow was the last thing anyone wanted and it would have been reasonable to assume that many buyers and sellers would postpone doing anything except the clearing of supermarket food shelves and trying to stay warm.

At Harrison Murray’s 18 branches we were therefore pleasantly surprised when the phones kept ringing and we found ourselves busier than ever. Hardy souls were prepared to brave the blizzards to go and look at properties for sale and a substantial number of potential sellers wanted us to come and value their homes. As a result there is every reason to expect that in the next week or three there will be an increase in sales stock. This is very good news all round because until now there have been a lot of people wanting to move but unwilling to put their own on the market until they could see something that they wanted to buy. This caused the market to be relatively stagnant and resulted in very low sales volumes throughout 2009. If the current wave of valuations turns into properties for sale there will be a much better choice for everyone.

An increase in the supply of properties for sale may have the effect of holding possible price rises in check but it remains the case that there are still more buyers than there are sellers and if mortgage funding continues its recovery there is every reason to expect a modest rise in values during 2010. My advice to sellers is, ‘By all means be optimistic with your asking price but don’t be too greedy – and get on the market before the general election is called.’

 

Now is the time of year when many people decide it is time to make a move.

Choosing the right agent will be the key to selling your home so it pays to do a little homework before deciding who to appoint. Buying or selling a property is one of the most important milestones in our lives – both emotionally and financially. So be sure to select the agent that will go the extra mile to help you achieve your goal.

As well as the correct valuation on your home, there is the marketing, negotiating and progressing of the eventual sale to think about.

“Choosing the right agent is paramount if you want a stress-free a sale as possible,” said Nick Salmon, commercial director at Harrison Murray independent estate agents and valuers.

“We all know that the industry is sometimes the subject of controversy, but reputable agents, like Harrison Murray, who adhere to professional codes of practice are scrupulous in their dealings with buyers and sellers.”

Harrison Murray is a long-standing member of the National Association of Estate Agents and of the Property Ombudsman scheme.

Working with your agent and listening to their professional advice can lead to great results.

Tips from Harrison Murray:

- Look for the sold boards in your area, always a sign of an agent is achieving results.

- Choose an agent which takes its code of conduct and professional responsibilities seriously, as members of industry and government-approved bodies.

- Ensure your property looks the best it can – both inside and outside.

- Hand over a key to your agent so they can carry out viewings on your behalf. Buyers sometimes want to look at very short notice!

- Listen to your agent’s advice on pricing your property realistically in the current market.

- Ask if the agent will give you prompt feedback after viewings.

 

Nick added: “For far too long, a few agents with a poor reputation have given the industry a bad name.

“Membership to industry and government-approved bodies gives our sellers and buyers confidence in the professional, thorough and reliable service that we offer.”

To further monitor and improve its services, Harrison Murray invites buyers and sellers from across its 18 branches to complete a customer satisfaction questionnaire.

Nick added: “These give us an accurate picture of the service we provide. We may believe we are doing a great job but it is all down to what our customers think of us and I am delighted to say that we continually first-class feedback to all our operating branches.”

There’s an added reason get on with selling.  If you instruct a branch of Harrison Murray before the end of March there’s the chance to win a prize draw for a £5,000 Thomas Cook holiday voucher plus £1,000 spending money. As Nick says, “Some lucky Harrison Murray seller is going to win this, and it could be you!”

 

At this time of year many estate agents speculate about how the property market will behave in the coming year. I hesitate to join in as the only thing that is certain about next year’s market is its uncertainty…

The end of 2009 has seen a rash of rises in house price indices, driven by too many people chasing too few properties. However, from the large number of valuations we have been carrying out in recent weeks we know that many sellers will be coming to the market in the early months of 2010 – many will be wanting to win the Harrison Murray draw for a £5,000 holiday voucher and £1,000 spending money!

The effect of more properties coming up for sale is that there will be a far better choice for buyers and it is likely that price rises will moderate. Without the driver of easy mortgages for first time buyers (or anyone else for that matter) the market will continue to be almost entirely dependent upon what is really a rather artificial supply and demand. Things won’t be helped by the ending of the stamp duty holiday which will make this iniquitous tax payable on purchases over £125,000. What a shame that the Chancellor’s greed outweighed the common sense of leaving the stamp duty entry level at £175,000. VAT is also going back to 17.5% so that’s another unwelcome burden on all our spending.

Despite these downsides I am quietly confident that 2010 will prove to be a steady market for property. Nothing spectacular in terms of prices rising or falling, but perhaps a healthy increase in the volume of transactions, which have been at all time lows for the last two years.

So, the good news is that if you want to sell there will be a reasonable market from January – but do get on with it because the General Election is looming and, when called, it will cause a lot of people to pause.

The teams in the Harrison Murray branches join me in wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year. We’ll be very pleased to help you with your home selling in 2010.

 

In years gone by it was expected that the property market would go relatively quiet during the months of high summer and deepest winter.

Sellers expected that fewer buyers would be around and so they delayed putting properties up for sale. However, in recent times the traditional dips in activity have all but disappeared and property transactions carry on at a pretty consistent level all year round.

In fact there is an argument to say that the buyers who are out and about when the nights are drawing in and the weather is at its foulest are very serious in their intent. The time-wasters have gone into hibernation leaving the hardy and committed purchasers a clear field to find their dream home.

With Christmas looming on the horizon you might be thinking about a sale in the new year but for a couple of good reasons my advice is to get on with it now.

Firstly you’ll catch those serious buyers but more importantly there is no telling what may happen after the turn of the year. At the moment there are plenty of people wanting to move and many of them are in a position to proceed, with the money in the bank, but there is no telling how long they will be around.

Some time soon the General Election will be called and if past experience is anything to go by there is every chance that the property market will immediately come to a grinding halt. After the election, regardless of who wins, I reckon we’ll see a lot more bad economic news being revealed as the new government gets to grips with the legacy of the recession and credit crunch. What that will do to confidence and spending power is anyone’s guess but I doubt that it will be comfortable.

So the best bet is to get on the market now and get sold before it all happens!

 

The East Hunsbury branch of independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray has welcomed back one of its most popular members of the team. James Vanstone is now back at the office in Butts Road, where he is working as senior negotiator.

James had worked for Harrison Murray for three years, working his way up from negotiator to assistant manager – a post he held until the time of his short break from the company last summer.

He said: “I am really thrilled to be back working with Harrison Murray, and grateful to them for giving me this opportunity in what have been challenging times.

“Working with the East Hunsbury team again is great, and I’ve already had some encouraging messages from customers and other colleagues.”

Su Snaith, senior branch partner added: “On behalf of myself and the whole team, I am delighted that James has rejoined us. We have certainly missed him, and so have our customers.

“With the market showing some really positive signs of improvement, and with James back on board, we are gearing up for a busy future.”

 

We are always being told that first impressions count – whether for a job interview, first date and of course when selling a property.

Your home may look palatial and spotlessly clean and tidy inside but potential buyers won’t see that if you don’t get them through the front door.

While TV property guru Sarah Beeny has just issued her own top 10 list of what she believes makes a property aesthetically pleasing, estate agents Harrison Murray have their own tips on how to bring the wow factor to your front door – quite literally!

Commercial director Nick Salmon said: “We are all aware of the on-going challenges within the housing market and the stiff competition among sellers to get the best price for their home.

“Winning over the viewer or potential buyer with something that is pleasing to the eye makes all the difference. Attention to detail is so important, even if it is your 10th viewing.”

Simple kerb appeal tips that won’t break the bank:

- If you’ve got a wooden front door, give it a lick of paint or varnish. Not only will it spruce it up, but will offer extra protection through the winter. The same applies to gates.

 

- Clear cobwebs from the porch area – a strategically placed conker will deter spiders from visiting.

- Lighting is important, particularly as the days get shorter. Invest in a good outdoor light, keep it clean and fit an energy-saving bulb.

- As summer planting is getting past its best, cheer up doorsteps and porches with a container of bright autumn bedding to last through the next few months.

- Clean windows regularly.

- Have the number of your house clearly displayed – buyers hate having to search for your home! If the numbers need replacing or updating, consider shiny new chrome ones.

- Make sure the doorbell works.

- Ensure that buyers aren’t put off by broken down vehicles parked outside your home, and move wheelie bins out of sight.

"These are all simply yet highly effective ways to make the best possible first impression,”added Nick.

 

Potential buyers are being urged to act now or face a huge bill when the Government’s stamp duty holiday ends.

The warning has come from independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray, as exemption on paying stamp duty on a property costing £175,000 or less comes to a halt on December 31 this year.

Last September, the Government announced axing stamp duty on properties costing between the previous level of £125,000 and £175,000 for one year – later extending the exemption until the end of 2009.

However, as it takes approximately three months to buy a home from start to finish, people wanting to take advantage of the higher threshold need to act fast.

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “Stamp duty is charged at one per cent of the property’s price on homes between £125,000 and £250,000. This will mean for example that someone buying a £175,000 house after December 31 will face a £1,750 bill.

“Buyer demand has increased over the last few months as house prices have begun to stabilise. We have already seen thousands of buyers benefitting from the stamp duty holiday, which has brought some much needed relief for the property market and first time buyers in particular.”

Jackie added: “Harrison Murray recognises that potential buyers will want to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday, but urge them to act now to avoid a large bill come January.”

Harrison Murray estate agents are inviting customers across Leicester to pop into their branches for a cuppa later this month, and help raise money for a worthy cause.

The annual Macmillan Coffee Morning – which aspires to be the biggest fundraising event of its kind in the world – will be held on Friday September 25.

Harrison Murray’s branches in Leicester, Enderby, Wigston, Syston and Western Park will be putting the kettle on throughout the morning, giving colleagues and customers the chance to join them for coffee, tea and cakes!

Last year, more than 45,000 people held coffee mornings around the UK, raising a staggering £7.5 million for the cancer care charity.

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “There are so many good causes that is it sometimes difficult to choose one in particular to support.

“However, the Macmillan Coffee Morning is one of the most popular, and is a great way of involving everyone – both at the office and our customers.

“We look forward to welcoming our customers with a cup of tea or coffee on September 25, and collectively raise a lot of money for such a worthwhile cause.”

Would-be property sellers often miss a vital bit of homework when preparing to come on the market.

They tidy the home, clean up the garden, get the estate agents in to give valuations and have a squint at the internet to see if there is anything around that they’d like to buy – but they don’t give much thought to their finances. They will have a rough idea of how much their property will sell for, a rather more woolly idea of how much is outstanding on the mortgage, and probably not a clue about what they can actually borrow for the onward purchase.

At Harrison Murray’s eighteen branches we make a point of tackling these financial questions with the seller when we put a property on the market because our mission is not only to sell their property for the best possible price but to make their onward purchase as smooth as possible. To do that we need our clients to be fully aware of their financial situation.

Calling on our team of independent financial advisors we arrange for the client to talk confidentially about how they will fund their cost of their new home, what type of mortgage is best for their circumstances, where the best deals can be had among lenders, and how much they will be able to borrow in the current climate of tight mortgage lending criteria. It is amazing how often the client finds that the reality of their situation is better (or unfortunately, sometimes worse) than they thought. Even simple things, like finding that it is possible to ‘port’ or transfer their existing mortgage to a new property, can make all the difference to their thinking.

With these questions out of the way we can get on with selling the property and when a buyer appears we carry out a similar process of establishing their ability to actually purchase.  We want to know exactly what their financial position is so that we can advise our client, the seller, about whether it is wise to proceed with a sale to this person.

These simple but vital procedures for sellers and buyers ensure that a transaction through a Harrison Murray branch has a greater likelihood of completing successfully than if, as some estate agents do, everything is left to chance.

 

The champagne corks have been popping at Harrison Murray’s Wigston branch, with staff celebrating an excellent sales month during June as well as individual exam success.

Branch manager Jennie Andrews and negotiator Kameron Hutchinson are the company’s latest employees to achieve the first stages of the NAEA Technical Award for the Sale of Residential Property.

The National Association of Estate Agents is the leading professional body for estate agents, and membership of the Association can only be gained by passing the Technical Award exams.

The award signifies that the individual has a sound grasp of the basics of residential property law, construction, estate agency practice, and the appraising of property values.

And as part of its on-going commitment to excellence in customer service and the career development of staff, Harrison Murray runs a sponsorship scheme to enable employees to study for and qualify in the award.

Jennie said: “Both Kameron and myself are grateful to Harrison Murray for giving us the chance to work towards this award, and we are now gearing up for the challenge of the next stage which will involve law relating to individual property sales.”

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “We strive to give an excellent professional service to our clients and sponsoring our staff to take the Technical Award demonstrates our commitment to provide that service

“We are delighted that a substantial number of our employees have chosen to follow this process through, and will be qualifying as true property professionals in the coming months.”

Harrison Murray are long-standing members of the NAEA and the Property Ombudsman scheme.

Picture - Shows branch manager Jennie Andrews and negotiator Kameron Hutchinson with their NAEA award certificates.

 

 There's an interesting change developing in the residential property market. That’s ‘interesting’ as in the old Chinese curse, ‘May you live in interesting times’. The pendulum of supply versus demand is swinging and pretty soon we could see a very unhealthy stalemate situation where many want to buy but few want to sell.

On the demand side there are those who have readily available funds, either because they have sold a property and are living in rented or because they have savings in the bank (which are earning them the thin end of nothing); and first time buyers who have scraped together a deposit and have a mortgage arranged. On the supply side we have a limited number of sellers who have a need to sell because of a job move, bereavement, divorce or other imperative.

But there is an even larger group – the people who would like to move but only if they can get what they consider an acceptable price for their existing property and can find something they want to buy. It is this group that holds a key to the recovery of the property market, particularly in terms of the volume of sales, which is presently at a low level compared to pre-credit-crunch years.

At Harrison Murray’s 18 branches we are often called to valuations where the client tells us, ‘We can’t find anything to move to…’ They hold back from putting theirs up for sale and in consequence deprive others of the opportunity to buy.

Others say, ‘We will put ours on the market when prices improve’. That’s hardly a logical approach as it is almost inevitable that as theirs goes up in value so will the one they want to buy. Do a deal at today’s lower values and the amount of mortgage you’ll need could be less than when prices have gone up again - and that will be a saving when interest rates rise, as they inevitably will.

It is in everyone’s interest that people who would like to move be brave and put their properties up for sale. That way overall supply will improve, everyone will get a wider choice, and we’ll get some fluidity back in the market. Which would be a Good Thing all round.

 

You've seen the house of your dreams - but a delay in putting your own property on the market means you’ve missed out because someone else has snapped it up. Likewise, kicking your heels over organising a viewing of a potential new home could also lead to disappointment. 

 

This is a scenario independent estate agents and valuers Harrison Murray see on a daily basis.

However, with forward planning and the right instruction, potential sellers need not miss out on selling their own property.

“Quite often, sellers and prospective buyers inadvertently create something of a stalemate situation – with the seller not putting their property on the market until they have seen something they would like to buy. In turn, this can mean less choice for prospective buyers, therefore halting their decision to move,” said Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten.

Buyers are currently in an excellent position - but by sticking to realistic asking prices and taking the time to prepare their home for viewing, vendors can also reap the benefits of the current trend.

Jackie added: “On a daily basis, people walk into the offices advising us they have no intention of placing the house in the market until such time as they have found a suitable property.

“This is a self-defeating prophecy. Realistically, the minute that their dream house becomes available, it’s going to appeal to those buyers who are ready, willing and able to proceed- who have sold subject to contract or who are currently living in rented accommodation.”

“Likewise, our advice to prospective purchasers who have seen a property they would like to view is to act immediately.

“The reality is that several people may be interested, so to get in first with a viewing puts them in the driving seat.

“It may sound like a cliche – but it is very much a case of view it or lose it.”

 

When Zara Laxman took her first tentative steps on the estate agency path she admits to not knowing the difference between a semi-detached and detached property!

However, that was a decade ago – and now Zara is celebrating success at the helm of Harrison Murray’s flagship Halford Street branch in Leicester.

Zara has notched up 10 years of service with the company and continues to run the branch she first started work at as a Sunday assistant back in 1999.

“I had two young children and hadn’t worked for a while, let alone attended an interview,” said Zara. “Although I had worked as a manager in a shoe shop I had no estate agency experience. I wanted to get back into the workplace on a very temporary basis and Sunday working suited me fine. I wasn’t expecting much more than that.”

However, Zara’s Sunday hours soon turned into holiday cover for colleagues and before long she took on a more substantial negotiator role, which fitted in with school hours. Promotion to assistant manager followed and Zara (38) has held the position of branch manager for the past four years.

“Harrison Murray have been so supportive and I can’t thank the company enough for all the training and their belief in me,” said Zara. “No two days are the same. The team here is exceptional and I couldn’t see myself working anywhere else. Apart from spending a few weeks overseeing the opening of a sister branch I have been at Halford Street from day one.”

She added: “We have a lot of repeat business and I like to think of myself as a people person. Our customers are very loyal.”

Harrison Murray development director Jackie Scotten said: “I am immensely proud of Zara and what she has achieved during her time with Harrison Murray so far. She is an asset to the company and the fact she has done this on her own merits – as a successful woman, and working mum, in what is still a male-dominated industry – is commendable.”

 

The best description I have ever seen of this nation’s obsession with house prices appeared a few years ago when a journalist on the The Standard newspaper described it as ‘property porn’.

For a decade or so, the more house price inflation increased the more the public salivated lustfully over the alluring figures.

A property was no longer just to live in; it became a route to near-instant financial gratification. The present recession threw a large bucket of cold water over the market but there are signs that the porn-pushers are peddling their wares again.

The media are reporting every tiny twitch in the house price index as if property is the only barometer of the health of the economy. Certainly property forms a very substantial proportion of the wealth of the nation’s individuals but price indexes only tell a small part of the story.

Far more important to most people is the volume of transactions - and these remain at historically low levels.

This summer is going to be interesting for the property market. There are fewer properties coming up for sale but demand remains high - for the moment.

In the short term the effect is to slow the rate of house price deflation. The bulk of the demand is coming from those who have cash savings. At Harrison Murray’s 18 branches, we have a steady and substantial number of these applicants registering every day.

But it won’t last forever. Eventually the cash-buyer demand will be met and then everything will depend on whether mortgage lending has improved because fundamentally it is mortgage-borrowing first time buyers who start the chains that build sales into the higher price ranges. If they cannot get finance the market will stall again.

So for now, if you want to sell, there is a good chance that you will be able to do so and you’ll have a reasonable choice of properties to buy. But I suggest that you don’t delay as by the late autumn the picture could be rather different – and it may not be quite as seductive as you’d like it to be…

 

Long ago I stopped being surprised at the number of home owners who put their property up for sale without really committing to a process that should lead to a transaction involving their single biggest asset, often worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

I’ve lost count of the occasions when we’ve had a red-hot buyer in the office asking to see a place right away and the seller says ‘Oh, we’re just going out shopping, could they come tomorrow?’. Chances are that by tomorrow that buyer will have found something else.

If you’re serious about selling you need to do your homework in choosing an agent; prepare the home to show at its best; accept that you - and the property - are ‘on parade’ for the duration of the marketing period; make a decision about the figure you will accept when an offer comes in; plan what you will do if a buyer wants to move quickly; brief your solicitor to prepare the contract package; and, odd as it may sound, treat the relationship between yourself and the estate agent as a partnership in which you are both playing for the same team.

To choose your agent, talk to friends and neighbours, scour the local papers, visit agents in the area to get a feel for their style and professionalism, see if they deal with your type of property.

Don’t necessarily pick the one that suggests the highest value for your home and don’t pick the one offering the cheapest fee. There’s a good reason behind the expression ‘pay peanuts and get monkeys’.

Get the house de-cluttered, tidied, and cleaned and spruce up the garden, especially at the front because that’s where the buyer will form their first impressions. Steel yourself to the fact that the property has got to stay looking its best and that viewings may be asked for at short notice. Always be prepared to immediately say ‘yes’ every time unless it truly isn’t possible.

Next, if you are buying on and need a mortgage, talk to a ‘whole of market’ independent mortgage adviser; we have them available to talk to at Harrison Murray branches.

Don’t rely on internet sites to find what you can borrow and be wary of advice from mortgage advisers based in the national ‘corporate’ estate agencies because they generally only have access to a limited panel of lenders.

The reason you’re doing this now is so that you know exactly how much you can afford to let your property go for when a buyer makes an offer. Of course the price you have to pay for the next property is a key factor but if you have worked out your sums the decision about an offer for yours can be made on the spot.

Too many times I see sellers getting an offer on a Friday evening and saying ‘We’ll think about it over the weekend’. By Monday that elusive buyer may well have found something they like better. Strike while the iron is hot!

Let your solicitor know you are coming on the market and have them prepare the contract. Just last week we had a client who nearly lost a sale when their solicitor took a month to send a contract to the buyer. There is no justification for such delay, which can cause a buyer to lose patience and pull out.

And finally, develop the relationship with your estate agent. At Harrison Murray we are here to act in your best interest and unless there is an ongoing dialogue between us then vital things can be missed.

Going on holiday? Tell us and let us have a key. You’d be amazed how many sellers just swan off without notice and wonder why their house hasn’t sold when they get back. Tell us the figure you’ll accept because we may be able to persuade a buyer to look at your property even though it appears out of their reach.

Sellers who show they’re sensible and keen will always be at the forefront of the agent’s mind. If you really want to engage the attention of the agent work out an incentive deal whereby if they get you a certain price you’ll pay them a bonus on top of their commission. Doing this will put your property at the top of the pile and you’ll be rewarded by the extra effort they’ll put in to finding you a buyer.

Selling a property needs real commitment from the seller and as any professional estate agent will tell you, too often with a rueful smile, ‘We are only as good as our clients!’”

 

Harrison Murray is reporting an increase in properties to let in Northamptonshire, as landlords opt to use the agent’s range of services available to meet all needs.

The lettings team of the independent estate agents and valuers says the range of properties is growing daily, as is the number of landlords – which in turn is boosting the number of new tenants.

Louise Wootton is Harrison Murray’s lettings supervisor, covering Northampton Town Centre, Duston and East Hunsbury. She said: “In the current market we are finding that rents are becoming increasingly competitive as more properties come on to the market. To secure a tenant, landlords are finding that they have to become competitive with rents to ensure that they gain tenant interest.

“We are seeing an increase in properties coming on to let. People who are re-locating for example may now choose to rent a property out for six to 12 month so that they can try their new location.”

Louise recently joined Harrison Murray from another local letting agent, and has helped to secure a new wave of business for the company. Making up the successful team is Louise’s assistant, Max Rhodes, a fully qualified RIC surveyor; and department administrator Anna Facer.

Louise has several years of lettings experience, having started as a repairs clerk for a neighbouring local authority, dealing with council tenant repairs. She said: “The job is fulfilling and it is my life - every day is a new challenge and it is rewarding to help our tenants find the home they want and for our landlords to know we are pro-active in letting their properties out. We provide an excellent service to both parties. 

“We feel the secret of our success is to always exceed the expectation of the customer. The proof of that is that we have many happy customers!”

Harrison Murray is a member of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Picture shows: Harrison Murray lettings supervisor Louise Wootton and valuer/viewer Max Rhodes at the Town Centre branch in Northampton

A NEW anti-Home Information Pack petition has been launched on the Number 10 Downing Street website by estate agent Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon.

Nick, who also head of the SPLINTA campaign (Sellers’ Pack Law is Not the Answer), is calling for the restoration of ‘First Day Marketing’.

Until April 6 this year, home sellers could have their property marketed as soon as the Home Information Pack (HIP) was ordered - but since then it has become necessary for the pack to be largely completed before any marketing can take place.

Estate agents are reporting that this loss of ‘First Day Marketing’ is detrimental to sellers, buyers and the property market in general. The need for the seller to fill in a seven page ‘Property Information Questionnaire’ (PIQ) is also causing difficulties, according to Nick.

He said: “One example I have been made aware of, is the case of a lady who has had a stroke. She needs to go into a home but has to sell her flat - and quickly. Telling her that the property could not be marketed before the HIP is compiled and that the PIQ must be completed first has caused great distress at a time when she could certainly do without it”.

The SPLINTA campaign is supported by over 2,000 firms of estate agents, surveyors and solicitors who believe there are better ways than HIPs to improve the home buying process and that the consumer is being disadvantaged by the legislation.

Nick added:  “Pre-HIPs, good estate agency practice was to alert potential buyers to a property at the earliest opportunity and when appropriate to arrange viewings prior to full marketing. Was the buyer or seller disadvantaged by this? Of course not.”

Members of the public can join the property industry in signing up to the petition on the Downing Street website. The link is: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/restorefdm/

With housing among the key areas of focus of today’s budget – Chancellor Alistair Darling has pledged an estimated £1 billon into getting the housing market back on its feet. While this means good news for many, leading estate and valuers Harrison Murray says it wishes the Chancellor had listened harder.

Despite the budget proposals to extend the stamp duty holiday for homes up to £175,000 to the end of the year – Harrison Murray claims this will continue to leave sellers out of pocket.

Nick Salmon, commercial director, whilst welcoming the Chancellor's budget announcement on the Stamp Duty Land Tax, has expressed regret that Mr Darling ignored calls to suspend or fundamentally amend the SDLT laws.

He said: "As we have come to expect, the Chancellor has failed to listen to property industry experts who have said that SDLT is a brake on the property market. It is regrettable that he has missed the opportunity to deal with this iniquitous tax on moving."

Other housing budget key announcements include:

A scheme to guarantee mortgage backed securities to boost lending.

Stamp duty holiday for homes up to £175,000 to be extended to end of year.

Extra £80m for shared equity mortgage scheme.

£500m to kickstart stalled housing projects.

£100m for local authorities to build energy efficient homes.  

£50m to upgrade housing for the armed forces.

 

Ahead of next week’s Budget, Nick Salmon, commercial director of leading independent estate agency, Harrison Murray, is calling on the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, to amend the rules on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

At present, the tax is paid on completion by the purchaser of a residential property.

One per cent is payable on purchases between £175,000 and £250,000; three per cent on a purchase between £250,000 and £500,000; and four per cent over £500,000.

Nick Salmon, a Fellow of the National Association of Estate Agents explains that the nature of the tax is causing home sellers to lose thousands of pounds during negotiations and in some cases is blocking potential transactions from being agreed.

“The problem is that the tax is not incremental. For example, if you pay a pound over £250,000 you pay three per cent on the whole of the purchase price. That’s £7500. Pay a pound less than £250,000 and the tax is only £2,499. Purchasers know this and in consequence any property on the market at between £250,000 and about £280,000 is blighted. Many buyers will not offer more than £250,000 because they don’t want to pay the higher rate of tax. It is iniquitous that this is causing such hardship in an already fragile market.”

Salmon believes that SDLT should either be scrapped or fundamentally amended.

“It is not only home sellers who are losing out. The Government is shooting itself in the foot by losing revenue from abortive transactions that would otherwise take place, and also losing out when sales are negotiated into a lower tax bracket. Ideally SDLT should be abolished as it is nothing more than an iniquitous tax on moving but the most pernicious aspect of the scheme is the banding which causes such a massive hike in the amount buyers have to pay if they step over the threshold of each level.”

“SDLT should be payable in incremental slices. Using the current percentages a buyer purchasing at say £255,000 would pay 0 per cent on the slice up to £175,000; a per cent on the amount between £175,000 and £250,000; and three per cent on the last £5,000.

“They would end up with a tax bill of £900 instead of the £7,650 they pay under the current scheme. If this were the case many more people would be prepared to pay a lot more for a suitable property. Alistair Darling has been called on many times to revise SDLT but probably has no real idea of what a brake on the market this tax is.”

Nick added: “Harrison Murray’s 18 branches, together deal with thousands of property sales each year and we are telling the Chancellor loud and clear that this issue must be addressed if he is serious about helping to bring this country out of recession. The property market is an engine of the economy and SDLT is one of the factors holding back the recovery.”

 Now please don’t stop reading if I tell you that the property market has dramatically improved in most areas over the last few weeks.

I really am not talking things up for the sake of it or in some vain hope that my words will instantly persuade you to decide to buy or sell a property, but the fact is that all Harrison Murray branches and some other agents have been very busy of late.

A lot of people have sensed that whilst we may not be right at the bottom of the property price slide we are getting very close to it and if they delay they fear missing out. The recent burst of spring sunshine has certainly made everyone feel a lot happier and we are registering more buyers than at any time in the last 12 months.

Home sellers are finding that if they price sensibly they will begin to get viewings and offers. Life is still tough for agents (please, no violins) and sellers but the breath of activity is a welcome relief for everyone.

Unfortunately silver linings usually have a cloud and this one is no exception. We can foresee that if the rate of sales continues at its present rate it will not be many months before there is quite a serious shortage of properties on the market for sale. It remains the case that most owners won’t come to the market unless they have a really good reason to sell and that group is not sufficiently numerous to satisfy overall demand. In ‘normal’ times we could expect that a lower supply and steady demand would result in rising prices but that is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future for one simple reason – restricted mortgage lending.

Unless and until the banks and building societies start oiling the rusty wheels of the property market by putting more money into mortgages, the ability of would-be buyers to fund their purchases is limited and that puts a brake on any price rises.

There’s no telling how long the current activity will last. Some people think it might be like taking the cap off a bottle of fizzy drink – the bubbles foam up out of the top and then subside. Others believe we really have turned the corner and the only way is up. I think the latter view is over-optimistic.

The credit crunch, general lack of consumer confidence and rising unemployment all have some way to go before it would be wise to shout ‘Recovery!’ but if you do need to sell it is my pleasure to report that you stand a much better chance of doing so than at the back end of last year.

Changes to the Home Information Pack (HIP) regulations on 6th April will mean that no marketing of a residential property can take place until a substantial proportion of the controversial pack is complete.

At present the marketing of a home can commence as soon as the HIP is ordered. Estate agents will now be prevented from doing the best for their clients. To achieve a sale as soon as possible an agent should be able to begin marketing a property immediately after receiving instructions from the seller but from 6th April it will be impossible to begin marketing until the major part of the pack is physically complete. A private seller also gets caught by the legislation and could face a £200 fine if they don’t comply.

A new 7 page document, The Property Information Questionnaire' (PIQ) will have to be in the HIP from 6th April. This form, completed by the seller, asks questions about their property such as rights of way and building works.

The government claims potential buyers will want to see this information before even viewing a property but the experience of most estate agents is that only a handful of buyers ever ask to see the pack. Nick Salmon, Commercial Director of Harrison Murray’s 18 branches says, 'The HIP is of no interest to buyers and most estate agents are not asked for the HIP until after an offer is accepted.' The seller does not have to sign the PIQ, so there can be no check on who completed the form or whether the answers are truthful, and a disclaimer tells buyers that the PIQ is not a substitute for legal documentation.

On top of all this, the price of Home Information Packs is set to rise as Local Authorities are being obliged to provide more documents for the pack and are allowed to charge for doing so.

Harrison Murray is urging sellers who are thinking of coming on the market to instruct the firm before the April 6th deadline.

Nick Salmon advises, ‘If clients want to avoid the extra red-tape and delays to marketing that will inevitably occur when the new rules come, and avoid the likely extra cost of the pack due to the changes, they should contact their local Harrison Murray branch without delay.’

An open day to showcase a range of contemporary key worker properties to rent has been hailed a success, with more than half being let as a result.

Harrison Murray, appointed as agents of the apartment development in the Abington area of Northampton, are expecting additional interest now that the properties are being made available to the general public.

All the properties are available under a 12-month tenancy and competitive rental, and customers currently have the choice of two locations –The Bank at Pytchley Street and Talbot Road. All boast fitted kitchens, and while they vary in styles and layouts, all offer the best in modern living and come complete with double-glazing and central heating. 

Harrison Murray branch manager at the Northampton town centre office, John Latimer, said: “We had massive interest in the open day, and have since let 20 of the 36 properties.  “As well as key workers, the apartments are now available to members of the public – and we expect addition interest following this announcement.” 

John added: “One and two bedroom apartments in Abington have historically always been popular, so we advise anyone who is interest to come and talk to us sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.”

The properties are located in Abington, one of Northampton's most sought after locations, with the surrounding properties are predominantly Victorian with a variety of smaller terraces and grand town houses.

Harrison Murray is marketing the new homes project on behalf of Pathmeads Octavia Hill.

 

In the current challenging market conditions, customer satisfaction is paramount - and estate agent Harrison Murray has gained exceptional marks in a seller and buyer survey.

The leading independent estate agent has just released the results of its latest customer satisfaction survey for six months, with the company’s18 branches maintaining very high levels of approval from customers.

For the last two years, Harrison Murray has asked all buyers and sellers to complete a comprehensive questionnaire when the sale of a property is completed. Previous results have shown that the company scores exceptionally well in giving satisfaction to customers - and in the six months from September 2008 to February 2009 this high standard has been maintained.

In terms of overall satisfaction, 99 per cent of respondents said they were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the service they received and in answer to the question, ‘Would you recommend Harrison Murray to friends and colleagues?’ 97.4 per cent said ‘Yes’. In addition, 96.3 per cent said they would consider using Harrison Murray again in the future.

Although the overall performance of the company was excellent, several of Harrison Murray’s branches and staff stood out as exceptional performers. 

The East Hunsbury and Duston branches in Northampton, and the Syston branch in Leicester scored a 100 per cent approval rating among buyers. Sellers gave top scores to St Albans, Duston and Melton Mowbray.

Top individual scores went to Mandy Digioia at Melton Mowbray and Daniel Travill at Duston. Both negotiators have received gifts from the company recognising their outstanding commitment to customer service.

Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon, said: “Our mission at Harrison Murray is to make home buying and selling as efficient and enjoyable as possible for everyone involved.  “There are bound to be times of stress during a transaction but this is when our well-trained and professional staff come into their own. Estate agency is a people business, and every branch works as a team to advise and guide the sellers and buyers. It is very gratifying that customers recognise the dedication of the staff involved in helping them.”

In the current challenging market conditions, customer satisfaction is paramount - and estate agents Harrison Murray has gained top marks in a seller and buyer survey.

The leading independent estate agent has just released the results of its latest customer satisfaction survey for six months, with the company’s 18 branches maintaining very high levels of approval from customers.

For the last two years Harrison Murray has asked all buyers and sellers to complete a comprehensive questionnaire when the sale of a property is completed. Previous results have shown that the company scores exceptionally well in giving satisfaction to customers and in the six months from September 2008 to February 2009 this high standard has been maintained.

The East Hunsbury and Duston branches in Northampton stood out as exceptional performers, scoring a 100 per cent approval rating from buyers who all said they would recommend the company to friends and colleagues.

Among sellers, Duston also gained a 100 per cent approval rating - and negotiator Daniel Travill picked up an award for being the staff member most often mentioned by customers as giving exceptional standard of service.

Branch partners, Su Snaith and Paula Scinaldi were delighted by the results. Su said: “We congratulate Daniel, and are very grateful to our customers for this brilliant vote of confidence. All our branches will go on striving to be the best of the best.”

Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon, said of results: “Our mission at Harrison Murray is to make home buying and selling as efficient and enjoyable as possible for everyone involved. “There are bound to be times of stress during a transaction but this is when our well-trained and professional staff come into their own. Estate agency is a people business and every branch works as a team to advise and guide the sellers and buyers. It is very gratifying that customers recognise the dedication of the staff involved in helping them.”

In the current challenging market conditions, customer satisfaction is paramount - and estate agents Harrison Murray has gained top marks in a seller and buyer survey.

The leading independent estate agent has just released the results of its latest customer satisfaction survey for six months, with the company’s 18 branches maintaining very high levels of approval from customers.

For the last two years Harrison Murray has asked all buyers and sellers to complete a comprehensive questionnaire when the sale of a property is completed. Previous results have shown that the company scores exceptionally well in giving satisfaction to customers and in the six months from September 2008 to February 2009 this high standard has been maintained.

The Syston branch in Leicestershire stood out as an exceptional performer, scoring a 100 per cent approval rating from buyers and sellers who all said they would recommend the company to friends and colleagues. 

Branch Partner, Richard Bocock expressed his delight at the result and said: “We are very grateful to our customers for this brilliant vote of confidence and we shall go on striving to be the best of the best.”

Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon, said of results: “Our mission at Harrison Murray is to make home buying and selling as efficient and enjoyable as possible for everyone involved. “There are bound to be times of stress during a transaction but this is when our well-trained and professional staff come into their own. Estate agency is a people business and every branch works as a team to advise and guide the sellers and buyers. It is very gratifying that customers recognise the dedication of the staff involved in helping them.”

Estate agent Mandy DiGioia, negotiator with the Melton Mowbray branch of Harrison Murray, has been given the thumbs up by home sellers for her exceptional customer service skills.

For the last two years Harrison Murray has asked all buyers and sellers to complete a comprehensive questionnaire when the sale of a property is completed. Previous results have shown that the company scores exceptionally well in giving satisfaction to customers and in the six months from September 2008 to February 2009 this high standard has been maintained.

Mandy scored a 100 per cent approval rating from the branch’s clients who singled her out as the person who deserved special recognition for the help she gave them during their sale. As a result Mandy has been given an award by Harrison Murray. The Melton branch also came top in team performance with every buyer and seller responding to the satisfaction survey saying they would recommend the branch to their friends and colleagues.

Branch partner Mike Ford is delighted with the result. He said: “Since opening two years ago we have worked really hard to make this branch the top performing estate agency in the area and it is really gratifying to see that customers approve of what we do. We all strive to go the extra mile for our buyers and sellers and it’s great to have that recognised.”

Harrison Murray’s commercial director, Nick Salmon, said of results: “Our mission at Harrison Murray is to make home buying and selling as efficient and enjoyable as possible for everyone involved. There are bound to be times of stress during a transaction but this is when our well-trained and professional staff come into their own. Estate Agency is a people business and every branch works as a team to advise and guide the sellers and buyers. It is very gratifying that customers recognise the dedication of the staff involved in helping them.”

Harrison Murray has been appointed as agents of a new homes/ apartment development close to Northampton town centre.

Located in Abington, the range of 34 contemporary properties to rent are aimed at key workers, giving those working in the public sector extra assistance in stepping onto the housing ladder. All the properties are available now under a 12 month tenancy and competitive rental, and customers currently have the choice of two locations – which they can see for themselves during an open day on Saturday, February 28.

The first is The Bank at Pytchley Street – which offers a mix of houses and apartments - while the nearby Talbot Road project is primarily made up of apartments. All boast fitted kitchens, and while they vary in styles and layouts, all offer the best in modern living and come complete with double-glazing and central heating. In addition, Harrison Murray anticipate marketing a further 30 apartments at The Print Works on Stimpson Avenue in the near future.

Harrison Murray branch manager at the Northampton town centre office, John Latimer, said: “After dealing with a similar local development last November, we envisage there being huge interest in these properties. The Abington Gardens development was fully let within three weeks, and we expect the first phase of apartments to be snapped up within a similar time frame. The popularity is sure to be high as the rental prices are so competitive in today’s market. This, along with the current economic climate, is sure to make these apartments attractive.”

John added: “One and two bedroom apartments in Abington have historically always been popular, so we advise everyone to come to the open day to avoid disappointment.”

The properties are located in Abington, one of Northampton's most sought after locations, with the surrounding properties are predominantly Victorian with a variety of smaller terraces and grand town houses.

Harrison Murray is marketing the new homes project on behalf of Pathmeads Octavia Hill. Property manager Verity Webb said: “We are really looking forward to working the team at Harrison Murray to release this great new product, and giving key workers in the Northampton community the opportunity to secure a high calibre home in such a tough economic climate.”

 

TWO statistics about the property market recently caught the headlines. Property portal, Rightmove, revealed that asking prices for properties on their website increased by 1.2 per cent in February, whilst Halifax announced that prices based on their mortgage approvals increased in January by 1.9 per cent.

Some might be tempted to latch on to these figures as the sign of a new trend, but they are such insignificant percentages that they don’t really amount to a germinating seed, let alone a green shoot of recovery. It is also very dangerous to rely on percentages when we don’t know the actual numbers involved. Mortgage lending is at such historically low volumes that the Halifax figures are probably based on relatively few transactions. It is also worth noting that 1.9 per cent on a £200,000 price is just £3,800 so don’t get too excited.

What is significant is that in some parts of the UK estate agents have seen a marked increase in buyer enquiries since the beginning of January. At the 18 offices of Harrison Murray, from St Albans up to Leicester and over to Cambridgeshire the activity has leapt up since the turn of the year, and I have no doubt that this will translate into more sales in the coming weeks.

I have been saying for two months now that the sentiment in the market is changing from the gloom of 2008 and everything points to this new trend continuing. There is a growing sense among home hunters that now is the time to jump in and buy. Although the lack of mortgage lending is strangling the volume of sales because many would-be buyers cannot afford to put down 25 per cent or 30 per cent deposits, there are very significant numbers of people able to finance the entire purchase.  Those who sold up a year or more ago, put the money in the bank and have been living in rented accommodation since are now out looking. First time buyers with a big deposit provided by their parents now see renting as more expensive than paying a mortgage. Cash-rich investors unable to get a decent return on their High Street savings or from the stock market are now acquiring property in the expectation of far better returns from rental yields and long-term capital growth.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that with all these buyers around property prices must be going up. Sorry, they are not.  A number of factors are holding prices in check. There’s a lot of property up for sale, some of it having been on the market for a long time, so there is a good choice for buyers. Secondly, these buyers are extremely well informed about values and are out to drive a hard bargain.  They do their research to see what similar homes have sold for, they trawl the property websites and estate agency offices, and they view lots and lots before making an offer.  And that offer will likely as not be 15 per cent or 20 per cent below the asking price – which owners will accept if they can get a similar amount off their ongoing purchase. Thirdly, the lack of mortgage lending reduces the overall number of buyers.  Lastly, there is the nagging concern about the state of the economy and the potential for more bad news and job losses which, taken together, sap some buyers’ confidence.

Barring unexpected and dramatically bad news leaping onto the newspaper front pages I believe we may near the end of the beginning of this particular property market cycle. Estate agency tipped into the downturn much earlier than the general economy – we felt the first effects of the crisis as long ago as September 2007 – and it is just possible that the industry is leading the economy onto the bumpy surface at the bottom of the recession, where it will remain for some time before those green shoots become a reality. It all points to a helpful increase in sales volumes but I cannot see prices doing anything other than continuing to moderate in the next six months. 

The good news is that if you need to sell and are prepared to be realistic and not greedy with your asking price the chances of getting a sale have considerably improved when compared to the last months of 2008.

With Spring just around the corner – estate agent, Harrison Murray is advising home-hunters to act now if they are looking to move in time for Easter.

As the housing market shows some early signs of improvement, Harrison Murray anticipate a flurry of activity in the lead up to the next wave of school and public holidays.

“Act now if you are seriously looking to sell your home and move in time for Easter – traditionally a busy time in the estate agency calendar,” said Harrison Murray commercial director Nick Salmon.

“Many people tend to have knee jerk approach to putting their property on the market – waiting until they see a For Sale board on a home they like, and then hoping to sell their own. “However, the danger is that the property may be snapped up by someone who doesn’t have anything to sell – and we are seeing more and more of that these days.”

Nick added: “A delay in putting your own home on the market could lead to the house of your dreams being sold to someone else. If you want an offer taken seriously, it is vital that you have a buyer for your own property – and that will only happen if you get it on the market.”

Harrison Murray’s 18 branches across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and the Home Counties offer a one-stop-shop to guide customers through the journey – from valuations and listing the property to progressing the sale, independent mortgage advice and conveyancing.