Author: lawler admin
Lawler & Co. celebrate 10 years in business
2024 marks the 10 year anniversary of Lawler and Company Estate
Agents, we have been successfully selling property in the Stockport area
since 2014.
The agency, which was initially set up by Directors Leigh Lawler, Carl and
Adele Bateman in early 2014 with a view to improving the sales process for
local residents. With over 60 years combined property experience and a
passion for excellent customer service we opened our first office in the
leafy suburb of Marple.
Following the branch’s success and the reputation that Lawler and Co
quickly gained the company proceeded to open our second branch in
Hazel Grove a few months later. Due to the phenomenal success of this
office 3 years later we had to relocate this office into larger premises.
2017 saw the opening of the Poynton Branch which quickly established
itself in the area.
Exceptional service has led us to become multi-award winners for customer
service and leading agent for selling in the areas we cover.
Leigh Lawler comments: “When we set up the agency in 2014 I never
thought we would grow so quickly. We have a fantastic team which has
helped us grow the brand and it gives me a lot of pride receiving feedback
from clients on their successful moves”.
Carl and Adele Bateman add “We would also like to take this opportunity to
thank our incredible teams, across all 3 branches. Without their hard work
and passion, the growth of Lawler & Co. Estate Agents wouldn’t have been
possible – here’s to the next decade, keeping our clients moving”.
www.lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Should you decorate before you put your house on the market?
Opening the doors to strangers to come and judge your property. Scrutinising every inch of the property and deciding if they like it is a nerve-racking experience. We can feel defensive if someone doesn’t like our house, and it is vulnerable to let people come and look at our property, which is usually such a private space.
When selling a property, viewers will look at everything with a very critical eye. And as a nation of house-loving homeowners, it is understandable that many of us want to get our homes ship-shaped before launching them to the market.
But how far should you go? Should you fully redecorate your house? Fit a new kitchen? Landscape the gardens? Or is the best thing to do nothing more than a deep clean?
It is possible to get bogged down with the preparation that it becomes a form of procrastination, and sometimes you can end up with a snagging list as long as your arm, and you never launch the property to the market. The longer this process takes, the further you are from your new dream home, and your perfect buyer might be missed.
So what should you do instead?
Make a list – rather than randomly doing all those jobs you’ve been putting off, make a list. This way, you can tackle the jobs methodically and group similar tasks together to save time and possibly money.
Decide what to do – Look objectively at the list and decide what needs to be done and what is not necessary. There are often tasks that you want to do to the property, but they will not help you sell your home or, indeed, might not make any difference to a potential buyer.
Check with your estate agent – show your list to your agent and get advice from them about tasks necessary to make your home saleable and attractive to a buyer. After all, our team knows what a buyer is looking for and what they will absolutely not care about, so you can cross off any of those tasks that won’t make any difference and get the ball rolling with your launch to the market.
There needs to be a line drawn as, unless your property is all brand new, you could invest lots of money and time refurbishing the whole house, and you won’t benefit from it because you will have moved.
It is highly likely that the huge list of jobs you have made for yourself, overwhelming yourself in the process, might end up being only a few small items. And then, without delay, you can attend to these things and get your home on the market for sale, putting the wheels in motion for your sale and moving to your new dream home.
For more advice on preparing your home for sale, speak to our team of experts with absolutely no obligation.
www.lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Do you want to beat the January rush? Here are our top tips for sellers!
If you are thinking about moving in the New Year once Christmas is over with, then you are not alone.
January is normally a busy time for the sales market, and people will start to look early. So doesn’t this mean you want your property to be one of the first ones they see? Yes! Not only do you want to beat the rush but need your property to stand out.
How do you stand out as a seller? Make sure your price is right from the start and do seek several valuations on your home from several agents. In choosing the right estate agent not only for price advice but ensuring that you have a quality marketing package.
January can be a busy period for the housing market and due to this influx of new buyers and sellers, we will also have those who are already on the market.
So how does a seller beat the January rush? Get your valuation booked in during December. Why? You will want a few different valuations on your property to confirm prices and see what agent suits you for your home. Once you have chosen an agent to start the marketing process, they will then need to book time to come back to your home and arrange for photographs, videos etc and agree a launch date.
Would you like a valuation on your home? Please contact any of the Lawler & Co offices for more information.
Marple Office
36 Stockport Road
Marple
Stockport
SK6 6AB
Tel: 0161 914 7620
marple@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Hazel Grove Office
128 London Road
Hazel Grove
Stockport
SK7 4DJ
Tel: 0161 300 7144
hazelgrove@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Poynton Office
60 Park Lane
Poynton
Cheshire
SK12 1RE
Tel: 01625 448 001
poynton@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Lawler & Company donate £1,500 to East Cheshire hospice
Back in September, two of our directors Leigh Lawler & Carl Bateman competed in the Rightmove regatta and managed to secure with no previous sailing experience a respectable second place resulting in £1,500 each for two local charities. One of the charities that Lawler & Company were keen to support and donate to was East Cheshire hospice.
Managing Director Leigh Lawler said “Giving back to the community especially the East Cheshire hospice is so important to us. The hospice supports patients, families and carers and is such a vital service for so many”.
Why move to Poynton?
Why being market ready is so important
Anyone that is looking at buying a selling a property at the moment knows that the housing market is the busiest that it has been for many years. Every house that comes to the market either won’t let you view unless you are in a position to proceed, already has a block viewing or “open house” going ahead which is fully booked or is sold before it even goes on-line. As a First Time Buyer or someone in rented accommodation, this is difficult enough of a position to be in; but what if you are trying to sell one and buy another? How you do work through trying to find a property and being in that ‘proceedable position’ whilst not feeling the pressure of a buyer who is desperate to move into your home and pushing for you to move out?
At Lawler & Co we understand the pressure that this brings. We understand the difficulties that sellers have in trying to find properties whilst selling their own and we understand how difficult it is to be in line for properties when they become available. We understand this from a personal perspective as we currently have a family member who is going through the process and is having the exact same issues.
Catch 22
Traditionally, when looking at buying and selling, there has been a “catch 22” scenario that always plays through a sellers mind – do you sell first and then try to find somewhere or do you find somewhere and then try to sell? An “All or Nothing” scenario. With the market conditions as they are, this has been somewhat taken out of sellers hands and they are almost ‘forced’ into selling first and being in the best position when a property does become available. However, sellers also know that most properties will sell quickly, with their own being no exception. Here at Lawler & Co, we have come up with an innovate solution that a number of our clients are taking advantage of at the moment.
Market Ready
This position we have called “Being Market Ready” or “Low Key Marketing”.
This is for those clients who have decided that Lawler & Co are the Estate Agent that they know will do the best for them, but you are slightly more cautious about putting their property fully live on the internet because they know it will sell quickly. For these clients we will position them in “Low Key Marketing”.
This means the client will sign contracts and will instruct Lawler & Co to be their Agent of choice. We will take all of the photographs, complete the 360⁰ virtual tour, we will complete the floorplan and write the description in readiness. We will ask you to approve it all and then we wait. If the client would like us to contact certain, specific buyers then we will; we won’t if they don’t. If the client would like to accept viewings from buyers in specific positions, then we will organise for them to be done; if they don’t, then we won’t. Then we will wait and we will help the client to find their next home.
Whilst a client is on “Low Key Marketing”, they are, absolutely, on the market.
What are the advantages to the client?
There are many advantages to the client that allow the buying and selling process to run a little more at their pace. These include:
· One of the first clients to be informed when a new property comes to the market that would meet their purchasing criteria
· Finding a middle ground between the “All or Nothing Catch 22” scenario that we discussed earlier
· Allowing the client to pick and choose who views the property and when, or not having anyone view in the first instance
· Putting the client into a strong position to view properties where agents won’t allow viewings from buyers who are not on the market
· Ensuring that when the client DOES find a property that they like, and DOES want to start fully marketing and DOES want to go live on the internet; then with the flick of a switch and the press of a button, all of that can happen within an instance and their home will be launched through the websites and onto property portals saving valuable time and putting them in the strongest position to purchase the house of their dreams.
It works!
“Low Key Marketing” or “Being Market Ready” has worked incredibly well for a number of our clients who we have been successful in selling their own home quickly and to the right buyers, finding them their dream home and taking out some of the pressure that comes with the whole buying and selling process.
For more information on how this process could work for you, please contact any of the Lawler & Co offices
Marple Office
36 Stockport Road
Marple
Stockport
SK6 6AB
Tel: 0161 914 7620
marple@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Hazel Grove Office
128 London Road
Hazel Grove
Stockport
SK7 4DJ
Tel: 0161 300 7144
hazelgrove@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Poynton Office
60 Park Lane
Poynton
Cheshire
SK12 1RE
Tel: 01625 448 001
poynton@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Is now the right time to sell your property portfolio?
Alan Cooper MARLA Hazel Grove Branch Manager talks about whether now is the right time to sell property portfolios.
We have been approached recently by a number of landlords enquiring about whether now is the right time to sell their portfolio of properties and whether there is a demand for properties with sitting tenants.
We have therefore looked at this and tried to give a balanced view.
Having dealt with rental properties for many years, we understand the pressures that landlords have been under in recent years. Legislation has been on the increase:
* The removal of tenants paying referencing fees;
* Mandatory EPC’s having to have a minimum of an ‘E’ rating;
* EICR Electrical reports now mandatory every 5 years;
* Installation of smoke and CO alarms;
* Changes to the “Right To Rent” legislation due to Brexit;
* Changes to Capital Gains Tax;
* Changes to “second home” stamp duty and
* Changes to the Digital Tax Regulations (MTD).
Whilst the EPC, EICR, and smoke/CO alarm changes (in conjunction with the Gas Safety Record) have certainly helped to ensure that rental properties are in a better, more efficient and safer condition, there is always an expense to be paid which (quite rightly), falls on the landlord.
The rental market through this period has remained strong and some of that expenditure has been absorbed due to the increase in rent.
However, there is more legislation being proposed and the “Renters Reform Bill” is due to be heard in parliament through 2022. If these do get passed it would be heralded as the most dramatic changes to tenant/landlord legislation since the the Landlord & Tenant Act in 1985. Some of the changes that are being proposed are:
* The scrapping of “no fault evictions” – in essence the scrapping of The Section 21 Notice and changes to the Section 8 notice with the process moving through the courts.
* Lifetime Deposits meaning tenants can move their deposit from one property to the next
* Rogue Landlords Database which can be accessed by tenants and agents
* Increasing the minimum EPC rating to “C” from the current “E”
* An amendment to the Dogs & Domestic Animals Accommodation Protection Bill which relates to tenants having pets at the property
These are due to be heard in Parliament this year but, at the time of writing, no date has been set.
Whilst the legislation has been changing, so have the rental figures that are being achieved and whilst the legislation can be seen as a “con” there are also “pro’s” to balance this out.
* You have a property that will continue to increase in value and can be sold
* You get a regular income on a monthly basis
So, is now the right time to sell your property portfolio?
House prices have never been higher and the demand for properties does not seem to be diminishing. We expect mortgage interest rates to continue to rise through this year and the phasing out of Mortgage Insurance and Tax Relief will continue to put additional pressure on landlords.
As a result, Lawler and Company have now established a section of our business to specifically cater for this section of the market. We can offer advice on whether to sell with a sitting tenant or whether to sell as an empty property; What sort of impact this has on the type of buyer that you are aiming the property at and how that impacts on the price that will be achieved; Whether to sell your portfolio as individual properties or to sell them as one portfolio; What method of sale will best suit your needs and we are able to offer special rates for landlords selling more than property.
Should you sell your rental portfolio? Our teams at Lawler & Co. are on call to help with this and any other queries you may have.
Marple Office
36 Stockport Road
Marple
Stockport
SK6 6AB
Tel: 0161 914 7620
marple@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Hazel Grove Office
128 London Road
Hazel Grove
Stockport
SK7 4DJ
Tel: 0161 300 7144
hazelgrove@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Poynton Office
60 Park Lane
Poynton
Cheshire
SK12 1RE
Tel: 01625 448 001
poynton@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Focus on Marple; What does Marple have to offer?
It’s been nearly 8 years since Lawler & Company opened their first office in the great location of Marple. During that time, we have sold properties to people of all ages who have happily settled into the wonderful community Marple has and enjoying the great amenities Marple and the surround areas have to offer :-
Marple Canal- A popular choice with families and walkers alike, you can find The flight of 16 locks which is one of the steepest flights of Britain, the amazing Marple Aqueduct and choose to walk and take in so many beautiful scenic routes.
Memorial park/ Skate Park and Bowling Green- The go to place for all ages- the views looking out over the countryside make it the perfect picnic spot!
Marple precinct- Boasts a range of amenities to accommodate all your needs. From popular high street names to small local businesses. Lovely places to eat or stop and have a coffee, the café culture here is certainly popular.
Marple Golf Club– One of the oldest clubs in the area, offering excellent facilities in a traditional and relaxed environment.
The Regent Cinema– A piece of Marple history, experiencing the new blockbuster movies in a traditional setting.
The Ridge- Quite simply views you will never tire of.
Marple Train Station- Have the best of both worlds, enjoy rural life whilst having easy connections to an abundance of major cities.
In our Marple office, we have a fantastic team led by Manager Claire Seaton and we asked them to give us a few of their favourite Marple hotspots.
“Marple canal is my go to place. Whether it’s taking a walk in my lunch break or walking my dog Elliott, it really is the most beautiful place come rain or shine.”
“My favourite place in Marple has to be the golf club. Having been a member for two years, I love nothing more than playing a few rounds after a busy week at work.”
“I really enjoy all the different restaurants and cafes Marple has to offer. Some of my favourite places include- The Bulls Head public house, Woodstock pizza and Kambuja”
Thinking of making Marple your place to call home, give our dedicated team a call today 0161 914 7620 to see what fantastic properties are on the market right now or click here to register online to be first in the know of any new homes coming on.
The end of the Stamp Duty holiday..what happens now?
The stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland came to an end on 30th September 2021. Hundreds of thousands of house buyers have taken advantage of savings that have been on offer since the tax break was introduced in July 2020.
Since July 2021, the amount buyers have been able to save reduced. But homes priced at or below £250,000 buyers did not have to pay stamp duty.
And now it changes again. Are you aware of the new changes?
What are the stamp duty rates from 1st October?
From 1st October 2021, if you are buying a main home in England, you won’t need to pay any stamp duty on the portion of the property priced at or below £125,000.
If you’re buying a main home from 1st October 2021, you won’t pay any stamp duty on the portion of the property priced at or below £125,000. The next £125,000 to £250,000 you will pay 2% tax. Anything you spend between £250,001 and £925,000 will incur 5% tax, rising to 10% for properties priced between £925,001 to £1.5 million. If you spend above £1.5 million, you will pay 12 per cent in stamp duty tax, as below:
Stamp Duty Land Tax rates from 1st October 2021 | SDLT rate |
---|---|
Up to £125,000 | Zero |
The next £125,000 (the portion from £125,001 to £250,000) | 2% |
The next £675,000 (the portion from £250,001 to £925,000) | 5% |
The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million) | 10% |
The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million) | 12% |
If you’re buying a property, you can work out how much you’ll pay by using the Rightmove stamp duty calculator
Tax rates are higher for those buying a second home.
Will first-time buyers pay stamp duty tax?
Great news! First time buyers in England and Northern Ireland won’t pay any tax on homes priced at or below £300,000. 5% on a property priced between £300,001 and £500,000. However if your first home is priced above £500,000 you won’t be eligible for a saving.
Still not sure on how much stamp duty you will have to pay? Our teams at Lawler & Co. are on call to help with this and any other queries you may have.
Marple Office
36 Stockport Road
Marple
Stockport
SK6 6AB
Tel: 0161 914 7620
marple@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Hazel Grove Office
128 London Road
Hazel Grove
Stockport
SK7 4DJ
Tel: 0161 300 7144
hazelgrove@lawlerandcompany.co.uk
Poynton Office
60 Park Lane
Poynton
Cheshire
SK12 1RE
Tel: 01625 448 001
poynton@lawlerandcompany.co.uk