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Following on from the article last month James Carver successfully managed the the Great North Swim!

Tell us your feedback on the service you have received to be in with a chance of winning a magnum of champagne!

Following the success of our last competition to win an overnight stay at Rockliffe Hall, we are delighted to offer another opportunity to win a fantastic prize! 

The Crab Manor is a themed manor house in North Yorkshire. To win an overnight stay including a bottle of champagne all you need to do is like our page on Facebook and share the original post regarding this competition.

Guess the weight of Nick's marrow and win a £50 Sam Turner voucher!

To help launch our new Hurworth office, we are giving one of our Facebook followers the chance to win an overnight stay for 2 at Rockliffe Hall with use of the spa, dinner and breakfast!

To enter all you need to do is Like our Facebook page and SHARE the original post about the competition, one lucky follower will then be picked at the beginning of September.

Being a landlord is rewarding, but it comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities.

Over the years, we’ve seen and helped solve most of the mistakes landlords can make.

To help you navigate this complex terrain, here are the five most common mistakes we’ve encountered and how to avoid them, ensuring a more profitable and stress-free experience.

In September our Duke Street branch hosted the Carver Bake Off for Macmillan's Coffee Morning.

With a fantastic array of entries our judge certainly had their work cut out for them when deciding which entry was the best! 

If your dreams of buying a new home rely on the sale of your existing property, then there’s one fundamental question you need to answer.

Are you going to look for a new home first and then list your property – or do things the other way around?

While both scenarios can work out in the end, we think one option is far more favourable – and that’s getting your current property on the market first.

Buying a property with a partner can be an exciting next step in a relationship.

Swapping paying rent or living with family for cosy nights with your beloved in your own home can be a blissful prospect.

But before you arrange a series of viewings in a giddy rush of excitement, it’s worth sitting down and talking a few things through with your partner.

Unless you’re one of those super-organised types who spend the year secretly buying stocking fillers and stashing them under your bed, Christmas is probably the last thing on your mind right now.

But there is one reason why it may be worth thinking ahead to Christmas.

If you have plans to sell your home and hope to be in a new place by the end of the year, then act now. It can take time to get all the elements in place to finalise a property sale, but if you put your foot on the gas, you can still do it.

Here are four reasons to market your property now.

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been a nosy neighbour at some point, haven’t we? 

A ‘for sale’ sign goes up on a property in your street, and within minutes you’re online to find out what it’s on the market for. 

Soon enough, you’re marvelling or shuddering at your neighbour’s taste in décor and deciding that your home is bigger, smaller, smarter or scruffier than theirs.

There’s nothing wrong with this; in fact, if you plan to sell up yourself, it’s useful market research. But it’s also important to keep things in perspective, or you could develop what is known in the property industry as Next-Door Syndrome.

It’s often said that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but then (confusingly), it’s also said that first impressions count… Why are all these clichés so important? Well, when marketing a property, it’s a bit of both: how a property looks will catch a buyer’s eye before they pore over the finer details. 

In this quick read, we look at how to prepare your home for photographs and what to expect.

The number of downsizers active in the housing market has skyrocketed in recent months*, and is it any wonder? 

With steep hikes in energy bills, interest rates and inflation, many people feeling the squeeze are rethinking how – and where – they want to live. 

Downsizers are often stereotyped as empty nesters flying the coop to enjoy retirement. But due to economic issues, a wider variety of homeowners are now looking to make a change.

Whatever the motivation for making the change, for those thinking about downsizing, here are five factors to consider.

Choosing a Letting Agent: What Landlords Need to Know 

Landlords use letting agents for all sorts of reasons. Some need help navigating red tape and lettings legislation, while others want a third party to deal with inspections, inventories and disputes. And some just want peace of mind and to know that their investment property is being managed by a safe pair of hands. 

Whatever your motivation as a landlord, once you’ve decided to use a letting agent, it’s important to choose a good one.

Should You Renovate Your Property Before Going to Market? 

Before selling your home, you might be thinking about ways to add value or unlock potential so buyers can get a feel for what it would be like to live there themselves. But renovations are costly and may not pay off. So, what can you do to make a change without spending too much?

Whilst it’s always a good idea to spruce up a property before it goes on the market, the key is to know exactly what changes really add value before making any big decisions.

In this quick read, we look at ways to increase value without spending thousands of pounds.

This September James Carver will be running the Teesdale Way in a day - approximately 100 miles along the River Tees.

It will certainly be a challenge for him but he is motivated as he is raising funds for TeamLuke Foundation and helping to support them with the amazing work they do.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to remortgage your property, getting a good mortgage deal is probably top on your list of priorities.

You could lose hours scrolling through comparison sites, frantically searching for high street lenders’ deals, and trying to find your latest payslips. Or you could do the sensible thing and get a professional’s help.  

In this quick read, we look at why a mortgage broker could help you buy your dream home while saving you time and hassle.

Want to guard against the disappointment of having your property deal collapse? Then go with an agent who is skilled at sales progression.

With industry insiders estimating that 30% of deals collapse before completion, it’s clear that having an expert handle sales progression is important.

Here’s a list of how a good agent can help get a deal across the line.

Switch on any property show and you’ll see a beautifully styled home with no clutter, immaculate worktops, artfully thrown cushions and shelves full of dust-free ornaments – a dream home (even if completely incompatible with a busy life).

However, beautiful home interiors aren’t just for TV. More and more property sellers are choosing to ‘stage’ their homes to appeal to as many buyers as possible.

Is your loo putting buyers off? This week we take a look at ways to spruce up a bathroom and keep buyers interested, without breaking the bank.

It’s every seller’s worst nightmare. You’re on the cusp of finalising the sale of your property when your buyer gets cold feet and runs for the hills.

Just like that, your plans go out the window. And it’s even more frustrating if you had several offers on the table but opted to go with a buyer who was adamant that your home was ‘The One’ for them. 

So how can sellers avoid this sad scenario and recognise the committed buyers from the chancers?

While no sale comes with an ironclad guarantee, here are four signs that your buyer means business.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s the view some landlords take on the question of renovating a buy-to-let. 

They do the absolute minimum in terms of maintenance and repairs and only manage to meet their legal obligations by the skin of their teeth. So, is this the best way to get the most out of your property investment We’d argue that instead of running your buy-to-let down to its bare bones, often the smarter option is to be proactive and refurbish or extend. We’re not talking about budget-busting Grand Designs-style projects. And, of course, it’s important to take the age and condition of a property into consideration before you make changes.

But carefully costed refurb works that appeal to your target demographic will pay for themselves in the long run. Read more to find out why. 

Selling a home after the breakdown of a long-term relationship can be a daunting prospect that throws up a mix of emotions and challenges. 

You may be sorry to say goodbye to your home but eager for a fresh start. Or keen to stay put but unsure of the financial practicalities. 

Whatever your situation, there’s a lot to sort out and some big decisions to make. But you don’t have to figure it out alone.  

Here at Carver Residential, we’ve helped many clients sell a home in the wake of a divorce or separation.

We’ve compiled this simple explainer to help you understand what’s involved. 

If 2023 was the year you were going to buy a new home, it’s fair to say that the gloomy news headlines might have you rethinking things a bit. Is it the right time to buy? Should you rent instead? Should you move in with your nearest and dearest and hope they don’t mind? 

It’s a tricky one. But when the housing market is rockier than a Bon Jovi concert, you might feel more apprehensive than usual about investing your cash. 

In this quick read, we look at three reasons why buying a property this year is still a good idea and why it’s important to stay positive.

Repairs and maintenance of your rental portfolio can be costly and stressful, so having trustworthy contractors is invaluable. You need someone who you know will get the job done and (hopefully) won’t charge you exorbitant fees to do so. For newer landlords, finding a good contractor should be at the top of your to-do list.

In this quick read, we look at some questions to ask yourself (and your contractor) to ensure they’re right for the job.

Situated in the sought-after village of Middleton St. George, Oak Meadows is a unique development bringing contemporary luxury housing to the region offering 12 home styles to choose from created by award winning architects.

This truly unique property offers extremely flexible living accommodation, with a separate annexe and a detached garage block and a holiday let to the first floor, which benefits from the beautiful south-facing views over the adjoining countryside

'Stage it like a show home for every single viewing'