2.)    Viewing The Suitable Properties In Person

This service will involve us actually viewing the properties from the shortlist in person to assess their suitability further. 

This will be with the specific aim of drawing up an even shorter list of suitable properties that require viewing by the client. 

This will be based on the following factors:-

 Suitability

Location

Local services

Transport links

Value for money

Price

Rental income

Yearly profit

Competition

Feel good factor

Discount opportunities

List & costs of works required (if any) 

Ongoing maintenance 

COST - prices start from £200+VAT per calendar month

Moving Costs Checklist

It may help you to consider the following checklist when you are considering moving buying a new home.

Legal Fees

Solictors

These vary from place to place. It's worth asking your solictor will offer an no buy, no charge deal. When you buy, expect to pay the solictors around 1% of the total agreed price ( this can be negiotable) however check the range of services they'll provide for that fee. It's often worth choosing a solictor on the recommendation of a friend or colleague - otherwise contact the law society.

Land Registry Fee

This is a charge on the purchase of the property and is related to the buying price - your solictor will have a list of charges.

Local Authority Searches

These are checks to amke sure there's no reason why the sale can't go through, and can bring up problems such as roads planned near the property which might affect your decision to buy. Fees will depend on the property location.

Other Searches

These are to check on things like mineral rights, flooding, subsidence, landfill sites and pollution in the area. Homecheck provides much of this information free of charge.

Mortgage Lender Fees

Valuation Fee

This is usually included in the mortgage arrangement charges.

Mortgage Arrangement Fee

This varies from one lender to another, especially if you are taking out a fixed rate mortgage.

Mortgage Indemnity Policy

This is a one-off charge lenders make in case they have to repossess your property and sell it at a loss. It's approximately 8% of the difference between your loan and what the lender thinks the future price of the property might be - and you only pay it if your loan is for a high percentage(between 95-100%) of the purchase cost of the property.

Mortgage Redemption Charge

You only pay this if you change lenders and break the terms of the mortgage (i.e. - if you have taken out a discounted rate mortgage for aperiod of say 2 years and then you swap to another lender after only 1- it can apply to all types of mortgages.

Bridging Loan

If you complete the sale on your new property before you sell the one you already own, you may have to take out a bridging loan. There are two types - the closed loan and the open loan.

With a closed loan you know in advance when you can repay it. With an open loan, there's no set repayment date and it carries a higher risk-so it's more expensive. An alternative may be taking out a flexible short-term loan from your bank.

Survey

Keep in mind that when you buy a home, you want independent advice, giving you the detail you need. A valuation from a mortgage lender may be free, but it only really tells you whether the house is worth the they're prepared to lend you. A survey from a RICS member will tell you a great deal more and could save you thousands in the long run - especially in older properties or where you want to make alterations.

Surveyors' fees vary, so compare prices before choosing and negotiate the fee to match the size and type of the property. Ask the surveyor exactly what's covered in the survey, so you know what you're paying for and can ask them to look for extra things.

Estate Agent's Fees

The charges are likely to vary from one agent to another, so get a range of agents to provide a quote for you, 3 should be enough. Sole agency fees are likely to be less that mutiple agencies.

Stamp Duty

This is a tax levied by the government on buying property and is related to the price you pay. Here's a guide:

Up to £175,000          - Exempt until Sept 2008

£250,001 - £500,000    - 3%

More than £500,001    - 4%

For more information call the inland revenue on T+44 (0) 845 603 0135

Buildings Insurance

From the moment you exchange contracts, you need buildings insurance on your new property. Insurance rates vary between companies, so it's worth getting quotes from several different insurers - and make sure you know exactly what's covered in the policy.

Services

You don't usually have to pay to have gas, electricty or water reconnected but there may be a charge to reconnect the phone.

Moving Expenses

The cost of moving varies according to how much stuff you have, how difficult it is to pack, how far you're moving and the time of the year. Shop around for the best deal and remember it's worth checking to see if the quote includes insurance.

Storage

If you're not moving straight into a new home, you may have to consider storage. The cots for this vary according to the quantity of stuff involved - as a rough guide, a two-bedroomed house will probably fill up to four containers and a three-bedroomed house could fill as many as six.

Specialist Advice from RICS Members

Any RICS member specialising in construction, restoration or conservation can help you with:

• Property extensions - contacting your local authority for permission to caary out the work and advising on any likely restrictions and costs.
• Re-planning property - advising you how to demolish or erect structural walls and other building elements
• Any work affecting boundary or party walls with your neighbours
• Safety features, including means of escape.

Further Information

Here are some useful contact numbers and website addresses for advice when you're buying a home:

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

www.rics.org/buyingahome

Which?

http://www.which.net/

Homecheck

www.homecheck.co.uk

Inland Revenue

www.hmrc.gov.uk

Land Registry

www.landreg.gov.uk

Land Registers of Northen Ireland

www.Irni.gov.uk

General Consumer Council Northern Ireland

www.gccni.org.uk

Council of Mortgage Lenders

www.cml.org.uk

Law Society

www.lawsociety.org.uk