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Estate & Letting Agents covering Kingston
Amos & Dawton, 82 Castle Street, Canterbury, CT1 2QD, 01227 454111.
Halifax, 80 Castle Street, Canterbury, CT1 2QE.
Halifax, 15 Cattle Market, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9AW.
Humberts, 71 Castle Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2QD, 01227 782030.
Leydon Lettings, 46 Oakwood Road, Sturry, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 0LX.
Mann Countrywide, 81 Castle Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2QD.
Mann Countrywide, 3 Town Walk, Cheriton Place, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2BD.
Mann Countrywide, 131a Sandgate Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2BL.
Mann Countrywide, 27 Market Square, Dover, Kent, CT16 1NG.
Mann Countrywide, 5 King Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1NW.
Mann Countrywide, 12 Kearsney Avenue, Kearsney, Kent, CT16 3BU.
Martin & Co, 4 Castle Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2BY, 01227 455717.
Oakwood Homes, 128 High Street, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5JY.
Oakwood Homes, Stockwell House, Cecil Square, Margate, Kent, CT9 1BD.
Rule & Rule, 37 Broadway, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 1AD.
Tersons, 27 - 29 Castle Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1PT.
The Accommodation Shop, 23/25 Worthington Street, Dover, CT17 9AG, 01304 226666.
Ward & Partners, 120 High Street, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5JY, 01227 361226.
Ward & Partners, 32 St Margarets Street, Canterbury, CT1 2TQ, 01227 766669.
Ward & Partners, 107 Sandgate Road, Folkestone, CT20 2BL, 01303 256505.
Ward & Partners, 37507 Callon Street, Dover, CT 1BY, 01304 214876.
Ward & Partners, 8/9 Cannon Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1BY, 01304 214876.
Ward & Partners, 18a High Street, Deal, Kent, CT14 7AE, 01304 361420.
Ward & Partners, 10 Broadway, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 1AF, 01795 664651.
Your Move, 118 High Street, HERNE BAY, Kent, CT6 5JY, 01227 367161.
Your Move, 3 St Margaret's Street, CANTERBURY, Kent, CT1 2TP, 01227 454925.
Your Move, 103/105 Sandgate Road, FOLKESTONE, Kent, CT20 2BQ, 01303 850085.
Your Move, 30 High Street, Deal, Kent, CT14 6HE, 01304 375642.
Note: No guarantee is made to the accuracy of these details.
TIPS ON BUYING IN KINGSTON
Estate Agents
Let a good number of agents in Kingston know your needs - our
'one e-mail to all Kingston Estate Agents' button at the top of the homepage
is ideal for this.
Provide estate agents with all your contact details
and e-mail addresses - if what you are looking for comes on the
market in Kingston you want to be the first to know!
Work closely with the estate agents, they have local knowledge of the property market and house prices in Kingston. Make them want to help you.
The Property
Work out your budget:
- Standard lending ratios are usually three times
the principal earner's gross income plus one times the second,
or two and a half times joint gross income.
- Consider your existing equity, savings, moving
costs and your likely general credit rating.
Decide what you want to buy. Make a wish list of essential
criteria:
- Style, size, age, numbers of rooms, garaging, parking,
garden etc.
- Still remain open-minded - lots of people
surprise themselves with what they end up buying.
Consider the wider picture:
- Location, communications, local facilities, schools,
clubs
- Is this a long term move? How will your property
needs vary in future?
Viewing A Property
Arrive in the area early to get a good feel of the
neighbourhood, and prepare any local questions you may wish to ask.
Do not make an instant judgement. Do not be influenced
by the sociability of the vendors, their taste in furnishings or
the (un)tidiness.
Assess the accommodation that the property provides.
Assess the general state of repair: Roof, walls, windows
and doors, plasterwork, wiring, plumbing and heating, kitchen fittings
and bathroom sanitary ware.
Have improvements been carried out / will they be
required (e.g. double glazing, insulation, D.P.C., kitchen)?
Assess the neighbours, the street and the general
condition of other properties around - is this street reliably steady,
on the up, or going downhill?
Consider where the morning and evening sun will be.
If you are interested try to revisit at a different
time on a different day when the area may be busier.
Action for buying a house in Kingston
Buying a house can get stressful; get off to a good
start:
- Print this checklist, take it with you and make
notes.
- Press our 'one e-mail to all Kingston Estate Agents' button
now and get the best local agents sending you details through
- Do it now!
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TIPS ON SELLING IN KINGSTON
The Estate Agent
Ask a few Kingston agents to value your property. Be objective
about what they say and do not be unduly critical if is not what
you wanted to hear!
Do not necessarily choose the agent with the cheapest
fee; you want your property advertised and 'sold properly' in all
respects.
Choose an agent that belongs to a professional body
such as:
- The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
- The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
(RICS)
- Ombudsman Estate Agency (OEA)
Read ALL the small print if you decide to use
a sole agent. Multiple agents could cost you more, but may increase
your chances of selling your property.
State any fixtures and fittings to be included in
the sale.
Make it clear to the agent the minimum value you are
presently willing to accept from a buyer.
Your Property
Take a critical look at the outside and inside of
your home and decide what small items are realistic to quickly improve.
The exterior of your home will be the buyer's first
impression. Ensure the garden is neat and tidy, outside lights are
clean and working, all fixtures such as door handles are secure.
Prepare your home by cleaning, repainting (if necessary)
and completing any unfinished DIY job! Create more space. Pack away,
throw away or take to the charity shop any unnecessary items and
be ruthless. The more you do now, the less cluttered your house
will look, and the less packing you will have to do when you move.
Viewing A Property
Arrange viewing at times that you can realistically
have the property looking good, kitchen cleared, grass cut etc.
The property needs to be tidy.
Create a nice atmosphere, pleasant fragrances, and
flowers and turn the television off. In winter light any fires and
have the heating at a comfortable level. In summer open windows.
Be ready for questions about the property, neighbours
and the locality.
Be clear about your own reasons for moving-on, time
scales and flexibility.
Leave it to your agent do any serious negotiating.
Action for selling property in Kingston
We have listed your main local agents. E-mail them
a request to contact you for initial discussions about the possibility
of them being chosen to sell you property.
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TIPS ON RENTING IN KINGSTON
- Let lots of agents know what you are looking
for so you get a really good selection to choose from.
- Inform the agent of your criteria (location, budget,
furnished/unfurnished, occupation date requirement, tenancy period
and any other aspects that are important to you).
- Expect to pay a deposit of at least one months
rent, possibly more. Possibly some administration charges.
- You may be required to provide references.
- Ensure you read and understand the tenancy agreement.
The Citizens Advice Bureau may check this for you. Clarify what
is NOT included in the rental fee, such as council tax, utility
bills, ground maintenance etc.
- Examine the inventory prepared by the agent and
keep a copy.
- Check restrictions: sub-letting, pets etc. Can
you redecorate?
- Notify defects in writing as soon as they become
apparent (even if you do not want them remedied).
- Establish what is covered under maintenance (boilers,
refrigerators, radiators etc.).
- Usually, you will not have to deal with the landlord
directly. Should you have any problems or queries, direct them
to your agent first.
- Other issues to consider are, parking, neighbours,
noise levels, public transport availability etc.
Action to rent a house or flat in Kingston
Notify all the main local agents by sending 'one e-mail
to all Letting Agents' with your requirements. Do it now!
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TIPS ON LETTING OUT YOUR PROPERTY IN KINGSTON
Choose a letting agent that is registered with one
of the following:
- The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)
- The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS)
- The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
- The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- The UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA)
- Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA)
Get a good contract which will be the Tenancy Agreement.
Think about any restrictions you wish to place on the tenant and
the use of your property.
Try not to be too tough - if you exclude smokers,
pets, students, small children and short term lets, you will narrow
the market for your property considerably.
Ask for a rent that is realistic and affordable to
your potential tenants. The big difference in profit at the end
of the year will be dependent upon how long the property stood empty
- reduce the voids!
Examine our 'buyers tips' for guidelines on presenting
the property in an attractive manner.
Action to let property in Kingston
Notify the local Letting Agents your property is available
and find out the likely rent that could be attracted for your property.
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Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, are set to be available to all new tenants from October 1st 2008.
Outlining the energy efficiency rating and the environmental impact rating of a property, potential landlords will
be able to gain access to both the estimated running costs of a property, the carbon footprint created by the
property and also show any recommendations that could be made to improve the energy efficiency of a property.
The rating offered by the EPC will range from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient,
with the typical rating for a home being either D or E. These simple ratings will allow potential tenants to compare homes
of interest to gain an insight into the difference in potential running costs.
EPC Advice for Tenants
- Be sure to check the EPC rating before agreeing to rent a property, a house with a
poor rating could be liable to greater running costs compared to a similar house with a better rating.
- Be aware that landlords are under no obligation to improve the EPC rating of their property.
- Look into the possible grants and schemes offered by the Government to help tenants improve the energy efficiency of their home.
- Make sure that the EPC assessment has been made by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) - details can be found at www.epcregister.com
- Check how long the EPC has been in effect for, EPCs will be valid for up to 10 years.
For more tenant information on Energy Performance Certificates go to http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/epcsrentingtenants and view the Government released booklet that helps to explain EPCs in even greater detail.
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EPC Advice for Landlords
- Commission your EPC now: an EPC will have a shelf life of 10 years so if you have a high turnover of tenants, don’t wait until the current ones are about to leave - commission your EPC now to save time and hassle further down the line
- Use an accredited DEA: ensure you use an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) - details can be found at www.epcregister.com
- Be prepared: before the DEA arrives make sure you have all the information they will require, ready - date of when the property was built, info on whether the property has been extended or double glazed, whether walls have been insulated etc - a full checklist can be found at www.communities.gov.uk/epbd
- Follow the recommendations: take time to review the recommendations in your EPC - if your property has received a relatively poor rating (F or G) then take steps to improve its energy efficiency such as cavity wall insulation
- Get help: There are Government schemes available which will allow landlords to work with tenants to improve the EPC rating of their property.
- Get advice: if you’re not sure on what changes will provide the greatest energy savings contact the Energy Savings Trust who will be able to give you impartial advice - www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
For more information on Energy Performance Certificates go to
http://www.communities.gov.uk/
, and view the Government released booklet that helps to explain EPC’s in even greater detail.
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