Wednesday 28 December 2011

2012

Choosing the right estate agent is often difficult and bewildering because it is so important; does one select an agent with the best local knowledge, the most experience, the finest track record, the best network across the county, a London office or the highest number of national and even international offices?

Well Arlington & Hall is happy to say that it covers all of those factors, as a firm no one know more about the area and its property. We are also the exclusive representative agents for the whole of the Poole area for the renowned Mayfair Group. With over 300 offices across the UK operating in 47 counties. This means that sellers are assured of the very best coverage to gain the best results. The Mayfair Office provides a shop window in the West End, holds sales particulars for casual or prior appointment callers, is a source of London based buyers and maintains connections with national relocation and property search companies.

With a central London marketing office masterminding national and international property publicity, celebrated national and international websites and 16,000 properties to choose from across the globe, buyers naturally are attracted to this cornerstone of the property world.

So if you are thinking of selling your property along the South Coast in 2012 think no further than Arlington & Hall as they will be going further than anyone to sell your home.  

'Selecting the right estate agent is so important,' says Cliff Hall. 'Some people do still choose the cheapest agent or the one that promises a tempting but unrealistic and over-optimistic price. But the cheapest option and deluded pricing are, in this day and age, reckless grounds to appoint an agent. With the economy in the state it is, now is the time for sensible, honest, reliable yet assured and innovative estate agency. This is where we come in. We can make sense of the market and publicise your property in such a way that you will reach the widest audience. Our experience will play an important part in how your property is presented to maximise its effect on buyers, and our negotiating skills are honed to perfection though years of practice to ensure we attain the top price'.

Now that the choice has been made easier why not call Arlington & Hall today and arrange a free, friendly and no obligaton appraisal.

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Artists in Demand

Complementing our already fine portfolio of property, Arlington & Hall is proud to showcase some of the local areas most talented artists.

Exploring the relations between poetry (the Janpanese haiku) and image, contemporary artist Jan Dagley presents her original and most sought after collection 'Suspended Moments'. The experience expressed in a haiku is a single, isolated one. It is one moment, recalled, retained and never forgotten. The artists work is about the preservation of such isolated moments, symbolised in some of the work by the suspension of the images at the top of Perspex cubes, just as the memories and feelings expressed in the haiku are suspended moments in the consciousness.

Patricia Lane is one of those artists whose work we are most happy to discover. Her work reinforces the idea of change and the decomposition and transformation of objects due to the forces biological and meteorological. Whilst using a variety of painting styles, each project by methodology is consistent with the subject matter of each body of work determining the form of the piece.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Back To The Future

Cliff Hall reflects on the current market place;
Having been in property sales for some 30 years, the present market conditions take me back to the early 1980’s where neither buyer or seller were in ascendancy. For the majority of estate agents this is a market never experienced.
The buyer’s market that we have seen over the past few years has now been stabilised the availability of mortgages has freed up but stock levels remain historically at a low point meaning buyers do not necessarily have it their own way.
There are so many elements to a successful sale and it is certainly far more than a ‘one trick pony’ of pricing although this stands out as by far the most important feature. A tight organisation running effectively behind the sale is vital. All agents have access to internet property portals whether they be Primelocation, Rightmove or others, but there is much more effective marketing which involves high quality presentation, advertising, but as important enduring values on attention to details, response to buyer and clients alike and an inbuilt knowledge of how to handle tricky situations with delicacy and above all professionalism.

These are unsettled times with buyers and sellers constantly re-accessing their actions. As a good estate agent, reassurance, diplomacy, honesty and total transparency is key to a successful sale.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Stocking Filler

Cliff Hall takes a look at the property market this December and suggests that this is just the time to pick up a seasonal bargain.

December can sometimes be a bit of a non-month in the estate agency year. People seem to have a lot more things to think about than moving, and the Christmas break seems to go on for so long nowadays. The weather is often far from ideal and most people who wanted to move before Christmas made their buying decisions by the early autumn.
But that is what makes December such a good month to go house hunting. There are not so many other homebuyers about, and as it’s so quiet some sellers can be only too keen to listen to the sort of offer they wouldn’t have considered a month or two ago.
In years past the market used to pick up in the spring. But in more recent times it has kick-started into life in January. With the financial world still in so much disarray there is great uncertainty about what will happen in 2012. But that is what helps makes this December such a good time to be prowling the market for property.
There are plenty of very good houses and flats for sale right now with owners anxiously looking for buyers. There are some first time buyers creeping into the market - especially now that it often makes more sense to buy a property rather than rent one. This helps second and third time buyers, and with lenders slowly starting to take the choke off mortgage availability there is movement in the market when property is properly priced and attractively presented.
So instead of hitting the shops so much this December in a pre-Christmas frenzy, or getting ready for the early sale bargains, why not hit the estate agents and grab a property bargain. Unlike so much we buy at this time of year a property is not just for Christmas it is for life. It is surely one of the best stocking fillers we could give our families and ourselves.

Thursday 3 November 2011

Would you like someone to make sure your second home is as well serviced as your first?

Offering a personal service tailored to you, Coutisson VA is a niche virtual assistance agency. Making life easier, Coutisson VA specialise in all aspects of business and lifestyle management, concierge and relocation. From credit control, invoicing and diary management to event co-ordination and conference call scheduling, helping you to move house, installing an intelligent home-automation system so the heating and lighting is taken care of or even just stocking the fridge – these days all of this can be organised virtually. Coutisson VA work with clients all over the globe and offer personal communication by phone, email and skype.

Fireworks Fun

Remember remember the 5th of November! It’s that time of year again so wrap up warm and enjoy one of the many bonfire and firework displays in our local area.

Bournemouth

The Littledown Park
The Littledown Centre
Chaseside
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH7 7DX

Ticket Line – 0844 5764500
Tickets are also available to buy on the night at the gate but family tickets and discounts will not be available.

The gates to the firework display will open at 5.30pm

On the night, there will be a family funfair, Go-karts, an indoor family zone with under 18s disco and performing arts displays.

Corfe Castle

The Greyhound Inn
The Square
Corfe Castle
Wareham
Dorset
BH20 5EZ

Tel: 01929 480205
Starting at 7.30pm firework display and BBQ. Families welcome.  

Poole

Poole Quay
Poole
Dorset
BH15 1HJ

A fantastic free fireworks display on the water at 8.00pm. The whole length of the Quay will be packed with entertainers and live music keeping the crowds entertained.

Wednesday 5 October 2011

Land Registry Fraud Awareness

Property Ownership Fraud - Your property is probably your most valuable asset. As such, it can be an attractive target for fraudsters, which is why you need to do what you can to protect your ownership.

If you aren’t living in the property, it’s important to keep Land Registry updated of your contact address. This helps to reduce the risk of property fraud occurring. Up to three addresses are allowed including email addresses, addresses abroad and the address of someone you trust. You can find out more at http://www1.landregistry.gov.uk/property-information/property-fraud

Friday 30 September 2011

Top of the Class

Everyone knows that selling houses is like shelling peas. Right? Estate agents have it easy. They just put up a board – that advertises themselves - and the property is as good as gone at its ambitious asking price. And estate agents charge a fortune. Right?


Wrong!

What about selling property at a time when not so many are interested in buying? When buyers are strapped for cash; when the lenders aren’t lending much; when the country is in the grip of a harsh austerity period and at a time of growing unemployment and public sector uncertainty. What about selling property when an owner may be demanding more than the market will stand? What about selling property when people have more pressing things to think about? And how about selling a property for someone whose personal circumstances – joyous, sad or desperate – crucially depend on an estate agent’s efforts, despite all the negative market conditions.

Then selling property is not quite so easy as many might suggest.

But, cometh the moment cometh the estate agent. Of course when the market is in spate it is easier to sell property. But now, in many areas, there is a drought and matters are more serious. Selling property in this market needs an estate agent with experience, with heart and foresight and skill and purpose. One with a steady hand who understands that moving home is often played out over two legs. There’s the home leg, selling, and the away leg, buying. This is a time to play the long game and to see and understand the bigger picture - and to be able to communicate this to anxious clients. There comes a time when selling property has to be put into the hands of someone who is seriously good at what they do. This is not the time to seek out the cheapest option and feel good about it. This is the time for hiring the top of the class.

If you want the cheapest agent or the one who – even against your own optimistic judgement – has valued way higher than every one else, do go ahead if that makes you feel good. But what will really make you feel good is selling your property and moving on. And for that, right now, you need a professional.

Red Adair, the famous oil well fire fighter said it perfectly, "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur!"

Friday 23 September 2011

A Friend in Need


One expert says that house prices will rise next year and then continue to do so for some years to come. Another says that house prices are 30% overvalued and will fall. Meanwhile prices are soaring in central London, are stable in other places and still losing ground in a few more.

But should we care so much about what is going on in general across the UK? And how useful are their comments in helping to keep the wheels of the property market turning? Certainly I don’t think we need to heed these market pundits too much when they are commenting on such a broad basis. What I am fairly certain of is that many of these people often don’t fully understand what is happening in Sandbanks and the south coast right now. There is a big difference between the media experts who talk about the market and the estate agents who actually have to deal with it. It is easy for the media to make grand over-arching pronouncements and predictions but estate agents have to move people whatever the market conditions.

And estate agents know how to do this because they are dealing with these matters every day. We understand how national, regional and even local financial issues affect our own local market and we work constantly to find ways of dealing with these conditions - whatever they may be.

Prior to 2007, when the market was storming away, it was much easier for owners and estate agents to sell property – of course it was. But now it is not. Yet despite this there is an active market bubbling under the lugubrious surface. There are always buyers about whatever the market. Well-located property, in good order and at a sensible market price, will find a buyer – it always does. The skill here is in getting the best price. For other property, perhaps where the years haven’t been so kind, which is less pleasing on the eye or not in quite such a sought-after location, things get a little more tricky - but far from impossible.

Personal circumstances do not dance to the tune of the property market. It is when the chips are down and one really has to sell and move on - even in an adverse market - that sellers find out who their real friends are. A market commentator in those circumstances won’t be a lot of use. On the other hand an effective estate agent could - surprise, surprise - become a very good friend indeed.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

2011 PSP Southampton Boat Show

Princess International are making a big splash at the 43rd PSP Southampton Boat Show with the world premiere of three exceptional new boats with MD Chris Gate personally launching  the magnificent 98' Motor Yacht in collaboration with Fendi part of the luxurious LVMH brand. The Princess V72 an exhilarating sports yacht and the dynamic Princess 60 will also be making their debut on the world stage at the show.  The company also intends to expand at the affordable end of the scale including the highly anticipated V39 which will launch in London next year.

Come and see our good friend John Watts on the Princess International Stand E56 / Berths M491-M502.

Founder of Sunseeker Mr Robert Braithwaite launched the Manhattan 53 incorporation with Armani/Casa. He was joined on board by ‘Mr Formula One’ Eddie Jordan who announced that not only would he be adding the Manhattan 53 to his fleet, but he also had his eye on one of the 155’ yachts that Sunseeker plans to build next year.

View the impressive new Manhattan 53 available on stand C040.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Welcome to our Blog

Our new blog is now live thanks to Make_Studio for their help in this and we're hoping to create a section here that will contain useful information that's going on in the industry, keeping you upto date with changes in legislation and anything of financial and property interest. We'll also be looking to make more of a local connection featuring events and news from the area, and possibly spotlight focus on upcoming projects and developers to help promote new endeavours.

So keep us bookmarked as we'll be building up the posts over the next coming months.