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Japanese Knotweed – all you need to know if you are selling your house

2016/08/30

japanese knotweedWe have recently seen a couple of properties in Hertfordshire with Japanese Knotweed in the garden. This invasive plant can be a big problem when you come to sell – unless you follow the right procedures – because mortgage lenders may not agree to lend if it is present and isn’t being treated correctly. We have experience in this area and know the right experts to call in so if you suspect that you have Knotweed growing in the garden and you are thinking of selling then please do call us! For more information on Japanese Knotweed please look at this excellent article from RICS: http://bit.ly/2c7Umrv

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Hot tips for moving day!

2016/08/25
  1. Change all of your details!

Remember to swap your utilities to your new address. There are normally quite a few different companies to contact, including:

  • Gas
  • Electric
  • Water
  • Phone
  • Broadband
  • Your bank
  • Any loans/credit
  • Driving licence
  • Supermarket Loyalty Cards
  • Benefits

Most of these are pretty simple to change and some you can alter for free online.

 

  1. Get your boxes ready

This all depends on your removal company. Some will provide and pack for you, some will leave you to it. We advise that you ask your removal company in advance to organise and know exactly what you’re paying for.

If your packing materials aren’t included ask supermarkets, shops or businesses to see if they have any spare boxes and start collecting these weeks before your move. You’ll be surprised how many you’re going to need!

 

  1. Keep your wires tidy

Wires and cables can be a nightmare to organise if they’re all in one box. A clever way around this is to get some old…

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If you have any property problem, small or large, call the Property A Team!

2016/08/17

2649-PropertyAteam_4ppA5_v1 front coverAt BigBlackhen.com we are very happy to be members of The Property A Team – a group of local trades and property professionals dedicated to solving any property issues, big or small – from fixing a leaky tap to adding a new extension – and everything in between. For details visit our web site:

www.thepropertyateam.com

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Our new probate property service to give you true value

2016/06/17
value from the new probate valuation service

Losing a loved one, especially if it’s a parent, is a very difficult time. Unfortunately, it also means a lot of work for the executors – most of whom will be family members – who are required to deal with the estate’s Probate. One of the first things executors will have to do is to value the deceased’s property, and this includes their home. Big Black Hen has launched a new Probate Properties service to help shoulder this responsibility at a very sad time.

Free valuation

It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re intending to sell the property, you will need a valuation for tax purposes. If there is a surviving spouse, they’ll probably want to continue to live in the family home, and in such cases, a lot of estate agents will charge to do a valuation. However, we are happy to value the house free of charge…

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Seriously, how to not sell your house!

2016/05/24
how to not sell your house

If you’re not that keen about selling your house, or you’d really prefer to sell it for a lot less than it’s worth, there are a number of easy steps you can take to make sure this happens. Here’s the BigBlackHen guide to Not Selling Your House… or keeping it on the market for as long as possible.

Don’t tidy it

Let your potential buyers see the house how it’d actually look like if they moved in and didn’t lift a finger. Leave the washing up piled up in the sink to give it that authentic ‘Withnail & I’ look. And why bother to put your dirty socks in the washing machine when the house looks a lot more lived in if they’re scattered all over the floor.

Don’t clean it

Quentin Crisp was famous for not bothering to dust his apartment, reasoning that “after four years you don’t notice the dust”. By…

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