Ask the Estate Agent

You can take steps to protect your property from being fraudulently sold or mortgaged.

You’re more at risk if:

• your identity’s been stolen
• you rent out your property
• you live overseas
• the property’s empty
• the property isn’t mortgaged
• the property isn’tregistered with HM Land Registry

Your property will be registered if you bought it or mortgaged it since 1998 – check the register if you’re unsure.

You must tell HM Land Registry if information in the register is incorrect, for example if you change your contact address.

You can track changes to the register or put a restriction on your title if you think you’re at risk.

You can sign up to get property alerts if someone applies to change the register of your property, for example if someone tries to use your property for a mortgage.

This won’t automatically block any changes to the register but will alert you when something changes so that you can take action.

You can get alerts for up to 10 properties – there’s no fee.

You can stop HM Land Registry registering a sale or mortgage on your property unless a conveyancer or solicitor certifies the application was made by you.

Fill in a request for a restriction if you’re a company owning property.

Send your application to the address on the form – there’s no fee.

Fill in a request for a restriction for owners not living at the property if you own the property privately – there’s no fee.

Fill in an application for a restriction. It costs £40.

Send completed forms to the HM Land Registry Citizen Centre.

HM Land Registry
Citizen Centre
PO Box 74
Gloucester
GL14 9BB

HM Land Registry will tell you when they add the restriction.

Contact HM Land Registry property fraud line if you think you’re the victim of property fraud.

HM Land Registry property fraud line
[email protected]
Telephone: 0300 006 7030
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Source for this episode: HM Land Registry

To contact us with your property questions for future episodes please see the links below:

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So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.

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Buying your first home is exciting, scary and emotional – usually all at the same time. What makes the experience different from any other house purchase is that you have no prior experience on which to base your expectations and can easily trip up on mistakes that a second-time buyer would know to avoid.

If you’re preparing to take your first step on the property ladder, here are seven common problems to know about before you even start viewing.

1. Viewing houses with your heart, not your head

Yes, you should absolutely love your first home. However, don’t get so caught up in a charming interior or ideal location that you don’t pause to think about more important factors, like budget and lifestyle.

If you fall for a period property, will you have enough time and money to handle its upkeep? Maybe you like the look of a high-quality new-build, but what will the development be like when it’s finished?

It’s essential to know what your “non-negotiables” are in terms of the property itself, its location and, most importantly, your budget. Remember to plan your finances and “must-have” criteria before you start looking at home, not the other way around.

1. Not getting involved during viewings

Would you buy a car without test driving it? A house is no different. If you’re serious about the property, don’t be shy to test things like taps, light switches and windows as you view it. Any little niggles or faults will become your problem when you move in. You can find lots of lists online to help you inspect each property properly.

1. Using every last penny for a deposit

Investing a healthy sum into the deposit will help you to secure a higher mortgage and a better property. However, many first-time buyers make the mistake of not leaving themselves any spare cash for extra costs. Don’t forget about:

• Your application fees
• Survey costs
• Stamp Duty (if applicable)
• The CHAPS fee
• Moving expenses
• Ground rent
• Repairs when you move in
• Maintenance costs

Just make sure that you’ve got enough left in the bank to cover these costs and give you a bit of contingency money.

1. Being put off by bad décor

Tacky wallpaper, worn-out carpets and an unappealing shower unit are all cosmetic problems and can be ripped out when you move in. It’s going to be a lot harder (and more expensive) to deal with structural issues like damp or timber decay – see the paragraph below about getting a survey!

Lots of buyers will be just as put-off by poor interior décor, which means that if you’re happy to take on a property that needs a bit of superficial work, you might be able to snag an excellent deal.

1. Failing to get a survey

When you’re trying to save money at every step, it’s easy for a property survey to seem like an unnecessary additional cost. Skipping the survey altogether is generally a bad idea though, as the right survey will warn you of any potentially expensive or severe defects hidden in the property before you agree to buy it.

Whether you arrange a Condition Report to assure you that your new-build is in perfect condition or invest in a full Building Survey to uncover problems in an older home, knowledge is power. If you know about an issue before you exchange contracts, it allows you to renegotiate the price, ask the sellers to deal with repairs or walk away from a property that will be too much work.

1. Not saying hello to the neighbours

The quickest way to find out the truth about a property or local area is to ask the people that live there. Your estate agent might not want to tell you about ongoing land disputes or an anti-social business nearby, but the people you’re potentially moving next-door to have no reason to hide what’s going on locally.

1. Planning too far into the future

Buying a house is a long-term investment, but don’t get too caught up in the life you want to be leading in ten years – it’s highly unlikely that your first home will be your “forever” home.

For example, stretching your budget to accommodate more bedrooms than you will conceivably need, or searching for a huge garden when you work too much to enjoy or look after it. When deciding what you want in a home, think about how it might impact your current social life, commute and hobbies. Make the choice about what suits you now, as well as what might support you for the next couple of years.

To contact us with your property questions for future episodes please see the links below:

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Website: www.asktheestateagent.co.uk

So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.

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Buying and selling a home can be affected by a number of factors. One of these factors is called a property chain. This is a description of buyers and sellers linked together because either one or the other needs to sell a home before being able to buy one. Ideally, the best scenario to be in when you are in the market either to sell or buy a property is that of a “no onward chain”. This situation happens when you are buying from a seller who has already vacated the property which means there is nothing holding back the seller and you can proceed with the purchase. Another scenario is when the house for sale is a new build.

How to avoid a property chain

The truth is, there is really no easy way to avoid chain scenarios but if you take the time to prepare and do your research, you can avoid getting into a property chain, or if you do get in one, at least only a short one.

• If you are the seller, and you already have a number of offers to choose from, check with your estate agent to see if they can help you choose a buyer who is also not in a property chain. An example of this is a first-time property buyer.
• If you are the one having trouble getting an offer accepted to buy a property because you are in a property chain and other potential buyers are not, you should consider moving to short-term accommodation. This will make you a chain-free buyer, thus making you more appealing to sellers.
• If you are the one buying and you have the time to look for the perfect property, choose one that is not linked to a long property chain. Much better if you can find a chain-free property to buy. A new build is one example of this, another would be a home whose previous owner has passed away.
• If you are in a hurry to buy a home and the vendor is still tied up because they aren’t able to find new accommodation yet, you may want to come to an agreement by asking the vendor to move out on a specific date. Sellers can be willing to move to short-term accommodation in order not to risk a good deal from falling through.

These complicated situations are the reality of the housing market, but it should not dishearten anyone who is looking to sell or buy a home. With the help of professionals, a property chain can keep moving to reach a point where it will no longer pose any problems for the parties involved.

To contact us with your property questions for future episodes please see the links below:

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Website: www.asktheestateagent.co.uk

So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.

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An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a guide that would-be buyers or tenants get when they look at a property.

As a general rule, an EPC is required every time a home is put up for sale or for rent. So, a newly constructed home will have one, a landlord will need one to show potential tenants, and a seller must have one to show to potential buyers.

There are a few exceptions. You don’t need one for a room that’s being rented out by a resident landlord and listed buildings may also be exempt as they can’t have upgrades like double glazing.

The requirement for an EPC has been the law since 2008 (2009 in Scotland), meaning that if your home has been let or sold since then it should have one. They remain valid for 10 years.

There’s a national register of EPCs, unless you’ve opted out, where you can take a look at your property’s previous certificates (as well as viewing similar properties in your neighbourhood for a comparison of how energy efficient your home is).

You should never be charged for an EPC when you’re looking to buy or rent, it should be handed over free of charge — otherwise the seller or landlord could be fined £200.

If you’re a landlord or seller, you’ll need to at least get this certificate ordered before you put the property on the market (you may be able to use the EPC given to you when you bought the property if it’s still valid).

If you own a commercial property that you want to sell or lease, you’ll also need to get an EPC organised.

If you’re interested in the energy performance of your existing home, and don’t match the eligibility criteria mentioned above, there is nothing stopping you from getting one commissioned for your home for personal use – but you will have to pay for it.

There’s no fixed fee for an EPC, it depends on a number of factors including what kind of property you live in and how many bedrooms it has. The area you live in can also affect the price considerably.

EPC prices typically start at £35, but a certificate for a large house in an expensive city could easily cost several times that.

An EPC is a relatively straightforward certificate. It will look a bit like the multi-coloured sticker that you get on new household appliances.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s included:

A section of your EPC will be dedicated to how energy efficient your property is. It’s graded from A to G, with A meaning an energy efficient, well-insulated, probably modern home, and G meaning a draughty old building where the wind rattles the walls.

Typically, you’ll find an older property with no retrofitted energy-saving technology will be around a D grade.

There will also be a number from 1 – 100, where a higher number signifies that the home is more efficient and the fuel bills will cost less.

Your EPC will give an indication of how much it will cost to heat and power your home. Details are also listed on potential savings that could be made should you improve the energy efficiency of your household running costs.

This section of the EPC will give you an indication of how energy efficient different aspects of your home are. It can act as a useful guide to help you work out which areas to focus on first when improving your home’s efficiency.

From April 2018, landlords will be required to achieve a minimum rating of E on the EPC for their rental property. Unless there is an accepted exemption, landlords face a penalty of up to £4,000 for failure to meet the minimum efficiency requirement.

The information provided on EPCs is also helpful for tenants looking to improve the energy efficiency of their home. As of April 2016, tenants can now seek permission from their landlord to undertake energy efficiency measures on their privately rented property.

An accredited domestic energy assessor will need to issue you with your EPC, it’s not something you can do by yourself.

You might be offered the services of one via an estate agent or letting agent, but you can find your own if you prefer or want to compare prices. You can also visit the EPC Register for recommendations.

If you don’t understand something on your certificate or you disagree with it, the first place to go is the energy assessor that carried out the EPC – their details should be available in the ‘About this document’ section.

But if they can’t resolve your issue, you can contact their accreditation scheme, and the details will also be listed in the same section of the certificate.

To contact us with your property questions for future episodes please see the links below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/asktheestateagent

Instagram: www.instagram.com/asktheestateagent

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Website: www.asktheestateagent.co.uk

So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.

Source: moneysupermarket.com

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Preparation is key to ensuring the photographer can capture your property in its best possible light. Potential buyers need to imagine themselves living in your property. They need to be able to instantly visualise the potential of your home, with their furniture and belongings, and to imagine themselves living there. As with so many things, presentation is key.

Following these tips will help you to prepare and present your house to its best before the photo shoot:

Start outside 

1. Ensure that any unsightly wheelie bins are hidden from sight.

2. Let your neighbours know when the shoot is going to take place and ask them not to park directly in front of the house. If you have a driveway, leave it clear of all vehicles.

3. If you have children, tidy any garden toys away and dismantle any large equipment, such as a large trampoline.

4. It may seem obvious but don’t forget to make the most of your garden by mowing the lawn, pruning any large bushes or shrubs, and possibly investing in some attractive containers and planting them with flowers.

5. Brush any debris away from patios or decking areas. Clean the outside of all windows and the front door.

Inside

1. Give your home the clean of its life! Estate agents report that cleanliness is often overlooked by sellers and grubbiness never fails to give a poor impression. When you live in a home, it is very easy to simply not notice those grubby marks on the door frame and lime scale around the sink, so ask a friend or family member to cast an impartial eye over the property, and point out any areas that need attention. This is your chance to create a positive impression and an unkempt home is unlikely to impress a potential buyer.

2. Kitchens and bathrooms, in particular, need to be absolutely pristine. Tuck away any cleaning products, keep work surfaces clear of clutter and leave the toilet seat down!

3. De-clutter as many personal possessions as you can, putting large unused items into storage if possible. Hide any gym equipment, such as a treadmill or rowing machine. You want to create an impression of space, airiness, and clean sight-lines.

4. Clean all reflective surfaces – windows, mirrors, taps, glass table-tops – anything shiny should look polished, gleaming, and finger-print free.

5. Open curtains and blinds to let in plenty of natural light. Dust around any dado rails and get rid of any cobwebs that can often be found lurking in ceiling corners.

6. Turn on hall and landing lights to instantly maximise space in areas that are often dark and shadowy areas.

7. Think of your home as a stage set and accessorise accordingly. You could add extra cushions and throws to sofas and bedrooms. Why not lay the dining room table and buy some fresh flowers?

8. If you have a dog or a cat, try and hide any sign of their presence. Not everyone is an animal lover.

9. All beds should be tidily made with clean bed-linen and kept tidy and clutter-free.

10. For more ideas of how to market your home before a photo shoot, you could take inspiration from homes featured in interior magazines, or you could browse similar homes for sale on estate agents websites; it’s always a good idea to be aware of your direct competitors!

To contact us with your property questions for future episodes please see the links below:

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Website: www.asktheestateagent.co.uk

So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.

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In this episode we look into whether you should buy the freehold to your flat. The process that is involved and the things to consider.

If you own a flat it is likely that you will not hold the freehold to the property. You will most likely be paying, not only your mortgage but also ground rent to the owner of the freehold. So what are the benefits and pitfalls of buying the freehold?

A freehold is the permanent and absolute ownership of property or land. If you own the freehold, it means that you own the building and the land it stands on.

A leasehold is where you hold the property on behalf of the freeholder for a fixed period of time. This means that you have a lease to use the home for a number of years until your lease expires. Leases are usually long term – often 90+ years but can be as high as 999 years.

You can ask the landlord to sell you the freehold at any time. By law, if landlords wish to sell the freehold, they must offer all leaseholder first refusal to buy it.

Buying the freehold isn’t something you can do on your own, however – to qualify you have to get your neighbours involved too. By law, at least half of the leaseholders in the building must come together to purchase the freehold.

At the end of the process, the flat-owners would:

• Together own the freehold of the building (often by forming a limited company – this company will be owned and controlled by the flat owners); and
• Separately, each would still have a long lease – but instead of this lease being from the old freeholder it would now be from the new entity that owns the freehold and that you and your neighbours now control

Once you jointly own the freehold, you can collectively set ground rents, shop around for the best insurance and generally be in control of your own destiny. You are also able to extend your lease so it is a long lease with the only cost being legal fees.

Generally, the requirements for a group of leaseholders to buy the freehold are:

• The building needs to contain at least two flats;
• No more than 25% of the freehold building can be used for non-residential purposes (e.g. shops/offices);
• At least two-thirds of the flats must be owned by leaseholders who own long leases (originally granted for at least 21 years); and
• At least half of the total number of flats in the building must be owned by leaseholders who want to buy a share of the freehold – so you don’t need to have all owners on board but you do need to have at least half of the flat-owners involved. If there are only two flats in the building, then both leaseholders must want to buy the freehold.

Freehold prices vary in the same way property prices do but certainly the shorter your lease, the pricier your freehold.

To buy your share of the freehold you will need to pay your flat’s share of:

• The purchase price for the freehold
• The cost for a surveyor to do an accurate freehold valuation so you avoid paying over the odds
• Legal fees for the leaseholders
• The freeholders legal and valuation fees
• Stamp duty land tax (if the purchase price is over £125,000)

Free lease extensions: You can usually extend the lease to 999 years at no extra cost (excluding legal fees).
You control service charges: You can choose value-for-money, quality providers.
No ground rent: You normally don't need to pay ground rent.
Fewer conditions: Leases can come with a number of conditions, for example, you may need the freeholder's permission to let the flat or have a dog.
It can add value to your home: Buyers generally prefer freehold flats to leasehold.

So that concludes todays episode on buying your freehold. I hope you’ve found it useful and that it’s given you a few pointers to take away and consider if you do down or are looking at purchasing a leasehold property.

As a listener we want your questions to answer. Whatever your worries, concerns or needs are, contact us via our social media channels or our website below and we’ll answer your questions in our future episodes.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/asktheestateagent

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Website: www.asktheestateagent.co.uk

We hope you find this resource useful and that helps to educate as well as dispel any myths or uncertainty around getting on the property ladder or making that next move.

So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.

Source: Propertymark

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In this episode we cover some key points you need to consider when renting a property.

1. Locating the right property – Utilise the portals Rightmove and Zoopla. Register with local estate and letting agents.

2. Choose your Landlord carefully – Always look for an accredited/licensed landlord or regulated lettings agency. Look for landlords that are licensed under local authority schemes or agencies that are regulated by organisations such as ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) or NALS (National Approved Letting Scheme)

3. Agree your tenancy terms – Negotiate the terms that suit you and don't feel pressured into signing something that doesn't suit you or that you don't fully understand.

4. Be prepared for referencing – Check your own credit file. Inform your employer and current landlord that they be asked for a reference. Have documentation, Passport, ID ready.

5. Have your finances in order – Factor in all applicable costs not just the rent and deposit. Tenant admin fees/referencing fees but also the costs of living in your chosen property such as Council Tax, Utility Bills,  Phone/Broadband etc. Work out all the costs and check

6. Thoroughly read the government ‘how to rent' guide – A great guide full of helpful advice and checklists. Here is the link to this guide: How to Rent 

7. Check all your documentation thoroughly – Tenancy agreement, additional documents such as EPC, safety certificates, deposit terms and conditions.

8. Inventory – Always have one and if your landlord or agency doesn't supply one then do one yourself for protection. Ideally take photographs and document as much as possible and then forward this to your landlord/letting agent.

9. Your Move in – Take your time, check everything thoroughly and report anything you think your landlord/letting agent should be aware of. Take meter readings so you have a record for yourself.

10. Enjoy your new home – Take your time to settle in and make it your home and then keep in good communication with your landlord/letting agent. Great communication is key to a successful relationship with your landlord.

To contact us with your property questions for future episodes please see the links below:

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Instagram: www.instagram.com/asktheestateagent

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Website: www.asktheestateagent.co.uk

So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.

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If you can't afford to buy a property outright, shared ownership can be a great way to get a foot on the property ladder as it allows you to buy a share of a home. In this episode we want to give you an overview of how shared ownership works.

This is great if you’ve found the perfect home, but you can’t quite afford to take out a mortgage on the full asking price, and as you only own a percentage of the property, the deposit needed is usually only around 5% which makes it a popular scheme for first-time buyers.

When it comes to the percentage split of the property, anything in your favour above 40% is a great starting point. You then have the option to ‘staircase’ your share in your home, this is the process of buying more shares, or even buy the whole property in the future.

Whilst the principle is similar across the UK, the rules can vary between Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales so make sure to double check this before signing on the dotted line.

Shared ownership properties in England are always leasehold, which means that whilst you will own a part share of the property, this is only for a fixed term and you will not own the land on which it sits.

Shared ownership schemes are open to anyone with a total household income that does not exceed £80,000 a year outside London, and £90,000 within London. You don’t even need to be a first-time buyer to qualify, so long as do not already own a home or you will have sold your current home before you purchase.

If you choose to make an up-front payment, you will pay a percentage based on the total market value of the property at the time of purchase. Once you’ve paid this, you will not pay any more on the property sale, even if you decide to staircase your ownership later on.

If you decide to pay in stages, HMRC charge SDLT on the premium you paid for the grant of the lease. Whilst this means that you’ll pay less, to begin with, you may have to make further payments if you increase your share of the property at a later date.

The total sum you and the housing association will receive will depend on the market value of the property at the time.

When it comes to shared ownership, you are restricted to specific properties and availability can often be limited in the area you’re interested in. Also, not all mortgage providers cater to shared ownership schemes, so check with your agent before committing to a sale.

Generally, even with monthly mortgage repayments and rent fees, shared ownership is a cheaper option than buying a property outright, but there are additional charges you’ll be expected to pay that could drive up the cost. As well as your monthly ground rent payments, you will also have to pay a general service charge for caretaking and maintenance of communal areas. Service charges can vary from year to year and they can go up or down, so be prepared for possible increases in the future.

Whilst the housing association will be responsible for all structural maintenance of the property, you may be asked to make a financial contribution towards major repairs, so it’s a good idea to ask for a list of any planned works beforehand.

If you’re planning on renting that second room to a friend, think again. Sub-letting is generally not allowed in shared ownership homes, and there are likely to be restrictions letting the property out as a whole.

When it comes to increasing the stake in your property – or staircasing – it’s not just the price of buying the share you need to think about. Other costs involved include:

• A valuation fee –  you will need to pay for an independent survey of the property to confirm the current market value of the property.
• Legal expenses – staircasing will involve changes to your existing lease, which will require a solicitor.
• Stamp Duty – if you opted to pay your land tax in instalments initially, you may need to pay stamp duty on the additional share you’re purchasing.
• Mortgage fees – If you are applying to change lenders to buy the additional share, or to obtain a better interest rate, you will have to pay the lender’s valuation fee and you may be required to pay a mortgage arrangement fee, plus any penalty your existing lender charges for terminating your mortgage with them.
• Arrears – if you have any arrears these must be cleared before completion of the staircasing transaction.

Always check for restrictions within your lease. You are likely to have to ask permission in writing before making any improvements or structural alterations. In some cases, the lease will require you to ask permission for redecorating as well.

Source: Propertymark

To contact us with your property questions for future episodes please see the links below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/asktheestateagent

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Website: www.asktheestateagent.co.uk

So don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now.

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Even though the demand for property is greater than the level of supply, and there are more buyers than sellers in the market, selling your home is challenging. Homeowners often struggle to be found by buyers in the market or to grab the attention of likely buyers, never mind persuade someone who has shown an initial interest to make an offer for the property.

Homeowners need to use every advantage they can find when selling property and one way in which a homeowner can attract attention and impress prospective buyers is to add smart gadgets and devices to their home.

There are more effective ways of adding value to your home than adding gadgets, so don’t choose this option if you are fixated on adding value. Improving the insulation qualities of your home or adding more space are much more effective solutions for this issue.

However, if you want to differentiate your home from comparable homes in the local market, smart devices and gadgets are a hugely effective way of standing out from the crowd. Buyers often find that homes look the same, especially when they review a lot of homes. If there is a feature in your property that clearly marks your home out as being different from the rest, your home becomes the property that the buyer is likely to remember. Sometimes, this additional level of recognition will make all the difference in selling your home.

If you are investing in a smart gadget to help sell your home, don’t think about what gadget appeals to you, think about the most likely buyer and what gadget is likely to appeal to them. This is an area where working closely with a local estate agent, who has knowledge of the local market and who is buying property, helps.

When there is a likely buyer for your home, stage the property to their needs and the addition of a smart gadget that will make their life easier will be effective. A downsizing couple in their golden years may not appreciate a start of the art sound-system but every buyer is likely to find benefits from owning a heating system that allows them to control temperatures and save energy.

By investing in the right style of gadget for the likely buyer, you increase your chances of selling your home.

Heating & Hot water – Smart thermostats such as Nest and Hive.

Smart Security – Smart door bells, Wireless CCTV and motion detection

Entertainment – Surround sound system – inbuilt TVs

Home automation – Lighting, curtains and blinds

Home assistants/concierge – Amazon Alexa, Google Home

Coming soon – smart appliances that re-order your products for you.

All of the above are designed to save you time in your every day life!

While having a smart gadget or device set up at home, it is best to have the market leader or an expected name. While there are many smart gadgets that connect homes to the internet, Amazon has stolen a march on their rivals. This device allows people to set reminders for tasks, to play music, to check your diary and shop online, offering a vast range of benefits around the home and making home life easier to manage.

There are many option to choose from but given the ubiquity of Amazon and the fact that so many people are instantly aware of the firm and their services, this is the smart gadget that will appeal most to the buyer.

Also, having a main brand makes it easier to switch accounts or upgrade the services. The convenience that comes from choosing a brand name in your chosen sector is likely to impact on the buyer so if you are going to invest to sell your home, invest wisely.

The features of smart gadgets can make life easier, and it is important that you make sure prospective buyers are aware of these features. With the right sound-system, it is possible to pipe music throughout the use with just one button or one system. With the use of the right heating system, you can remain in control of the temperature at home from your smartphone, even if you are out of the house.

These features are important, and will impress some prospective buyers, but you’ll find that the benefits are even more important. After all, what homeowner doesn’t want to save money on their energy bills? This is something that every homeowner wants and with a Nest heating system, it is possible to reduce energy bills by around 10% to 15%.

This is a feature that will make prospective buyers pay attention and if they have been considering your home alongside a range of local properties, this benefit may be enough to ensure that your home has become the front-runner for the buyer.

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