Posted on

Simple Tips for Beginning Your Property Search

1. Begin early

Start researching well ahead of when you plan to buy – at least 6-12 months prior. This will give you plenty of time to research different areas and finances.

2. Research thoroughly

Read up on the different areas you are looking to buy in. Look at local amenities, school districts, and property value trends.

3. Understand your finances

Use a mortgage calculator to help you work out how much you can afford to borrow and how much you can afford to pay back each month.

4. List your must-haves

Make a list of what you want and need in a property. Having a clear list will help you narrow down your options.

5. Get a pre-approval

Get pre-approved for a mortgage to show sellers that you’re serious and financially capable of purchasing the property.

6. Talk to an estate agent

As much as the online portals can give you a good overview of a local property market, they don’t tell the whole story. Being on the books of estates agents is key. This will give you a first chance look at new properties as they come onto the market as well as access to the nearly 40% of properties sales that take place off market. 

Posted on

3 Tips for Finding the Best Estate Agent

Property agent in Ascot

When choosing an estate agent, it is important to consider a variety of factors to make sure you
have the perfect partner to aid you in this important part of your life.

Our three top tips on what to consider are:

• The estate agent’s experience and track record of success should be a primary factor, as this
will give an indication of the quality of their service and their suitability to best handle your sale.

• It is important to consider the fees and services offered by the agent, and to compare these
across different estate agents. Whilst important, be aware that the correct estate agent can
more than make up the difference in fees, with the correct negotiation on your behalf throughout
the sales process, or more pertinently a cheap agent can cost you a lot more, by not marketing
and negotiating correctly for you. Ask agents what is their average sold price vs asking price.

• Another important consideration is whether the agent who you meet is the person who will look
after you. Remember with large agents, very often the lovely person you meet initially will not be
the person who looks after you going forward. They will instead leave you in the care of a team
of less experienced sales people, who might not best understand how to help you move or be
experienced in the complexities of the markets.

At Fisher & Partners you will be looked after by a managing partner, who will look after a limited
number of clients at anyone time. This means you have a constant point of contact, who will have
a detailed understanding of your needs and property. As such, they will be able to best negotiate
on your behalf and manage the whole process seamlessly, so you can enjoy the process and let
us do the hard work.

We cover a large number of areas throughout Berkshire and Surrey, including but not limited to, Ascot, Windsor, Sunningdale, Wentworth, Virginia Water, Bray, Sunninghill, Cookham and Windlesham. If you are considering a move, or are struggling with your current estate agent please contact us and we’d be delighted to help.

Posted on

How to Prepare Your Winter Garden for Spring and Summer 2023

As we come out of Winter and the early signs of life in our gardens are signalled by bird song and daffodil shoots, we want to share with you a few tips to help you prepare, so you can make the most of your garden this Spring and Summer.

1. Start your garden early

Most vegetables and annual flowers will provide a bountiful harvest if they are planted early in the spring, starting as soon as the soil can be worked. Start prepping and planting in mid to late March, once the threat of frost has passed.

2. Amend the soil

Before planting, amend your soil with fertiliser, compost or manure, to give your plants a nutrient-rich environment to thrive in. Start with a soil pH test to determine acidity, and adjust as needed with lime and/or fertiliser.

3. Get mulching

Mulch helps retain moisture and keep weeds at bay, so cover flower beds, gardens and trees with several inches of mulch to protect their roots.

If you found this useful and would like any further advice on prepping and styling your garden – particularly if you’re looking to put your property on the market – then please do get in touch using our contact page.