Finding and Buying UK Property - Martin Roberts

Recent articles

Martin's Blog 04/07/11 - Finding a Plum Plot Jul 4, 2011: Earlier this year the Government unveiled plans for the Right To Build scheme, and has said it will make publicly owned land available to ordinary people to build their own homes. There is renewed interest in the self build market, but finding the right plot to build on, isn’t easy.

Martin's Blog 30/05/11 - When the Gavel Falls May 30, 2011: Ever fancied buying your next home at an auction? If so, you’d be one of a growing number of ‘auction novices’ who’ve ventured into the auction rooms to buy property. Buying in this way is exciting and rewarding - not least because once the gavel falls, you know you’ve got the house - no gazumping and to-ing and fro-ing between the vendor. Auction rooms are also great places to find property bargains, but you need to have your wits about you.

Martin's Blog 23/05/11 - Electric Dreams - Plug in to Rules and Regulations for Safe Electrical Work May 23, 2011: You might be a dab hand at fixing things but carrying out household electrical jobs, unless you are properly qualified, could not only land you a hefty fine, it could mean your property isn’t considered safe. Domestic electrical work falls under the remit of Building Regulations (‘Part P’) and DIY electrical work cannot be carried out as freely as it could be years ago.

Martin's Blog 21/03/11 - Conservation Areas Mar 21, 2011: Is your dream home a quintessentially English cottage set amongst beautiful countryside? Whilst I don’t want to shatter this romantic ideal, be prepared that your chocolate box home might be wrapped in red ribbon…I mean tape.
Many ‘idyllic’ properties that benefit from beautiful surroundings have very strict laws protecting them and the area around them.

Martin's Blog 07/03/2011 - Renovate or Run a Mile? Mar 7, 2011: If you’re looking to buy a property to renovate you’ll need your wits about you and be able to spot the difference between major defects and cosmetic niggles.

Here are my top 10 things to look for in a property when assessing its merits as a renovation project:

Martin's Blog 28/02/11 - Stamp Out Damp Feb 27, 2011: If ‘yer Granny always told you that ‘a stitch in time can save nine’, then you need to take note if you’ve got any signs of damp in your home. It’s one of the most common problems in property in the UK. Ignore it at your peril - it can quickly lead to mould and mould can lead to rot.

Martin's Blog 21/02/2011 - Devil in the Deeds Feb 21, 2011: If you don’t fully understand the Legal issues when you buy a property, then you are courting problems. It’s like buying a car and not checking the log book. But whilst buying a duff car is annoying, it may not be as catastrophic as discovering that your home has a legal ‘Nasty’. Here Martin explains some of the Legal ‘Nasties’ that can be contained within the Deeds of a property.

Martin's Blog 07/02/2011 - Self Build It Feb 7, 2011: Have you ever dreamed of building your own house? Maybe 2011 will be the year to do it! Under a new Community Right to Build scheme, the Government has said that it wants to encourage people to build their own homes. Restrictive red tape, unhelpful planning rules and lack of access to land and finance, look set to be reduced. The hope is that normal folk will feel confident enough to embark on self building - often a cheaper way of getting a dream house than buying it.

Martin's Blog 31/01/2011 - Swat up on Surveys Jan 31, 2011: Not having a survey done on a property you intend to buy could spell disaster. A professional surveyor can uncover hidden problems or faults with a house that you don’t have the knowhow to spot. If you are taking out a mortgage to buy a home, the lender will insist that a basic survey is carried out - so they know what they are getting as security. Even if you’re not borrowing money, you should still get a proper survey done. The cost is a small price to pay compared with the bill you could face if you buy unaware of serious defects.

Martin's Blog 02/12/10 - Help the Sale Dec 2, 2010: With property sales transactions hitting a post-war low, need I say, that if you are trying to sell your home right now, times are tough. There are several reasons why the property market has ground to a halt; the severely restricted mortgage market demanding much higher deposits, uncertainty over jobs especially in light of the government spending cuts and the general gloomy outlook for the economy. But if you need to move – due to relocation, retirement or other factors, you are probably going to have to be a bit ‘creative’ to get one of the few ready buyers out there to choose your home.