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What do Tinder and Bumble have in common with Rightmove and Zoopla? If your answer is not a lot, then think again.

The digital dating and property worlds are not as different as you might think.

In fact, there are many similarities.

Let us explain why.

The UK housing market is experiencing a period of steady recovery, according to the latest data from leading property portal Zoopla.

The Zoopla House Price Index is a statistical tool used to measure changes in the price of residential properties.

Along with other indexes, including ones created by Rightmove, the Land Registry and several mortgage providers, it’s a helpful indicator of trends in the property market – and that’s why homeowners should take note of it.

Property experts often advise sellers to style their home before they put it on the market.

Go the extra mile with presentation, and buyers will be impressed by what they see and smell, or so the theory goes.

But do the same styling rules apply to landlords hoping to attract top tenants to their buy-to-let?

At Carver Residential, we take immense pride in the dedication and loyalty of our team members. Our success over the years is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our incredible team. Today, we celebrate nine remarkable individuals who have each dedicated over a decade to our business, with an impressive average tenure of 15 years among them and look forward to working with the younger generation of the company!

Buying a home is a huge undertaking that many property hunters find exciting – but also a bit scary.
With so much at stake, what if you make an offer you later regret?

Or what if you don’t make an offer and miss out on a great deal?
If you often feel indecisive at viewings, here’s some advice on letting your five senses guide you. 

After a steady market over the winter there have been signs of a spring bounce just lately. More sellers have been listing their homes for sale, and buyers have been buying, especially where properties are well priced. 

Property prices seem to be holding up well overall, according to recent stats. The latest Nationwide House Price Index says that, even after a small monthly fall, they rose 0.6% over the last year. The Halifax House Price Index says they rose 1.1%. 

The prospect of an interest rate cut sometime soon has also added some spice to the market.

Then the 4 July general election was announced pretty much out of the blue – with most people expecting it to be in the autumn – and put a whole new complexion on things.

It’s an exciting moment when a buyer puts a good offer on the table. After all your hard work to prepare your home for sale, it feels like everything is finally falling into place. But before you agree a price in a rush of giddy delight, it’s important to ask a few questions – especially if more than one buyer is interested.

Getting on the housing ladder in the UK is no easy feat, with property prices and inflation meaning it can take first-time buyers (FTBs) years to save the deposit for their first home.

As a result, the average age of an FTB in this country has risen to 34*. For context, it was 29 in 1981.

So, how does this compare to other countries? Are FTBs in Spain, South Africa or Switzerland older or younger**? Let’s take a look.

Most home sellers want three things: to get the best possible price for their property, to complete the sale in good time and to avoid bucket-loads of stress.

These three goals may sound simple and achievable, but you’d be surprised how many sellers lose their way during the marketing process. 

As a result, they waste time and money and cause themselves more anxiety than necessary.

To help you avoid a few common pitfalls, here’s a guide to how not to sell your home.

We seem to have a common theme on Our Darling Town. Food! Episode 7 welcomes Andy's Candy Bar!

If you’re looking for a new family home, viewings will play a key role in your quest to find ‘The One’. 

While marketing photos and virtual tours serve an important purpose, nothing rivals seeing the décor, layout and location with your own eyes. 

Viewings also give buyers the chance to discuss the property with the agent and learn more about its history and the seller’s situation. 

With all this in mind, where does that leave parents? Should they take their offspring to viewings or make other arrangements for their children? 

There’s no right or wrong answer: it depends on your circumstances and your children.

You can always tell when someone is really interested in buying your home by the number of questions they ask.

There are the usual suspects but it also pays to prepare for some unexpected questions.

Springtime is not just when the natural world comes back to life but also when the local property market shakes off any winter blues.

And if you’re mulling over a move in 2024, the spring months between March and May could be the perfect time to sell your property.

Here are six speedy springtime tips

As a landlord, maintaining your property in top condition is paramount. It’s your investment and your tenant’s home.

At this time of year, condensation can be an issue. And it can cause mould in your property if ignored.

The good news is we’re sharing six steps you can take to prevent these problems before they become an issue.

If you’ve decided to put your home on the market in 2024, then there’s one burning question you need to ask yourself.

When should I list my property?

You may have heard that spring is the best time to list, as traditionally, this is when estate agents do the most business due to a surge in buyers and sellers coming to the market.

But dig a little deeper and consider what’s driving buyers in December and January, and you may come to a different conclusion.

It’s a massive decision to sell up and buy elsewhere.

When families are involved, our advice is to make your children feel part of the process, and listening to their thoughts, concerns and ideas helps them (and you) get your head around things.

We asked a 16-year-old whose family recently sold and moved to another home what was on his mind during the process.

Remember those post-lockdown days when selling a property was as easy as putting it on a property portal and waiting for the phone to ring off the hook? Those days are behind us.

The selling market has become increasingly challenging, demanding more than just a ‘For Sale’ sign outside and that property portal listing.

Today, selling a home requires skill, expertise, hard work and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing landscape and financial climate.

The good news is if you are thinking of selling within the next couple of months, we’re here to help.

Below are five ways exceptional estate agents can help you sell your home in this challenging market.

Want to fast-track your property sale by getting your marketing just right? 

Then spend some time thinking about the type of buyer most likely to fall in love with your home, and ensure you target them.

Once you’ve identified the type (or types) of buyers looking for a property like yours, you can tailor your presentation and marketing accordingly.

If you’re a first-time landlord about to rent out a property, or an established landlord looking to purchase a new investment, one of the main questions you’ll have is how much rent you can charge per month. 

Of course, you can (and should) take the advice of your agent, but it’s also worth understanding exactly what factors impact the amount of rent you can sensibly charge. 

In this quick read, we explore the factors you need to consider before pricing your rental property.

As a landlord, you’ve probably experienced that feeling of dread when your tenant’s name flashes up on your phone, reporting a problem. 

Or how about the horror of receiving the news that you’re going to have to pay for urgent (and expensive) repairs? 

If either of these situations sound familiar, it could mean you’re not inspecting your rentals enough.

By the time you are reading this I will be preparing for the big day on Friday, or well into my 100 miles raising money for Team Luke foundation.  

Renting a property with a friend or acquaintance? Never lived with anyone before? We’ve got you covered with some top tips to help manage your new living situation.

These days, renting isn’t cheap and whether you’re a student or professional, those monthly payments can feel like a stretch. So, if you’re about to move in with a flatmate, it’s worth sticking to some basic rules to make sure your tenancy works out for the both of you.

In this quick read, we look at ways to make your flat share feel like a happy home.

As a landlord, as well as managing the finances, the property and any repairs or maintenance, you also have to remember to look after your tenants. Whilst nine times out of ten you’ll never have to deal with anything too difficult, sometimes relationships can be testing. 

So, what’s the best way to deal with issues that arise during a tenancy? In this quick read, we look at ways to deal with such problems.

Bank of Mum and Dad: What Buyers (and Their Parents) Need to Know 

Every year, the Bank of Mum and Dad comes to the rescue by helping tens of thousands of first-time buyers get on the housing ladder. Last year alone, 46% of first-time buyers received financial help from their parents to purchase a property, with £8.8 billion changing hands (source: Savills). But for parents planning to assist their offspring, or children hoping to get a helping hand, there are a few issues to consider first.

Is building your own home really worth it? 

Come on, we’ve all done it. Switched onto a property programme and fallen into the daydream of building our very own house. A walk-in wardrobe, a home cinema, a room just for shoes… sounds great, doesn’t it? But what’s the reality of a self-build project?   

On the one hand, building your own home seems like a great way to get everything you’ve ever wanted out of a property. On the other, are you really prepared for all that comes with building a house? 

In this quick read, we look at why building your own property isn’t for the faint-hearted.

With summer officially starting in a few weeks, most people will have banished all thoughts of winter and the dark, damp days that go with it. 

But there’s a good reason why landlords should look beyond the sunny skies of the here and now to the colder months. 

And here’s why.

The two are often bundled together because if you’ve got condensation, there’s a good chance it won’t be long before you’re battling mould. So how can landlords and tenants combat condensation and mould? Read on to find out.

Spring officially starts next week, and with it comes a host of joys: longer days, trees in bud and flowers in bloom.  And if you’re selling a property, there’s something else to celebrate – a spike in buyers looking to make their next move. 

Traditionally, spring is the busiest season for property sales (pre-pandemic data shows that properties listed in March sell the fastest*). While successive lockdowns and the Stamp Duty holiday disrupted this seasonal order, normal activity is now resuming. 

So, what’s the appeal of selling in spring? Here are four reasons why it makes good sense.

Whether your rental property is a blank space you just sleep in, or it’s a new family property, it’s important to make it feel like home. So, how can you fall in love with your rental without breaching tenancy rules?

You could be a long-term renter or maybe a flat-sharer, but one thing is for sure, making the space your own will immediately change the way it looks and feels. 

In this quick read, we look at ways to love your rental without falling foul of any tenancy agreement rules and stipulations.

One minute, the housing market is at an all-time high, the next, newspapers are warning it will plunge faster than a block of concrete in a swimming pool. Finance bods and property experts love to talk up a crisis, but what’s the reality for those wanting to sell? 

Well, it’s quite simple: the best way to sell your property in the current market is to bag yourself a trusted, reliable estate agent to do the hard work for you.

So, your home is on the market, you’ve decluttered, the sink is sparkling, and you’re patiently waiting for potential buyers to come and view your property. A few people arrange appointments, but no one seems interested; it’s been weeks. Have you been hit by the curse of an overvaluation?

If you’re planning to sell your property, the first question that you’ll inevitably ask is how much it’s worth. Your home may be invaluable to you and your loved ones, but it’s also got a market value. Find out what we take into account when we come to value your property.

The Carvers are always keen to help raise money for charity, especially if it involves pushing themselves in the process! On the 10th September Gordon, Henry & James Carver along with their good friend Andy McDaid will be competing as a team at Race The Sun in the Lake District raising funds for Action Medical Research.

Pumpkin season is definitely upon us and we've come across Baydale Pumpkin Patch, right here on the outskirts of Darlington 🎃 

Find out more on their Facebook page👇