A Confident Start to 2011
Tom Gladwin : 21 January 2011
The New Year has certainly started with a bang, and some areas are already showing an increase in confidence. At Parkheath we have taken more new enquiries in January 2011 than in any single month throughout 2010. Instructions are up too. This January we agreed three times the number of sales agreed in January last year.
So does this mean any uncertainty in the London property market is behind us? Well, that’s something I can’t predict, but working every day in the property market does give me a good view of developing trends. What is certain is that prime London areas will fare better than other parts of London in down times and always be the first to bounce back, usually stronger than ever. The key areas of Belsize Park, South Hampstead and West Hampstead are premier residential areas with a special relationship with City workers, and on the doorstep of some of the most desirable green spaces the capital has to offer. Nestled between, Regents Park, Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath, yet a mere ten minute journey into town, the area is blessed with superb transport links into the City, Canary Wharf and the West End. Restaurants and shops range from award-winning eateries and high end boutiques to charming markets, cafes and village stores and pubs. For all these reasons, Belsize Park and South and West Hampstead attracts affluent and knowledgeable buyers not only from the UK, but also from Europe, and Asia. In 2010, prime London house prices rose and more properties sold.
This positive sentiment appears to be growing as confidence breeds confidence. An increase in properties coming to the market is still being outweighed by an ever increasing number of buyers. What will happen to prices? Parkheath forecast that in 2011 prime London areas such as Belsize Park and South and West Hampstead will continue to buck the trend of the rest of the UK and property prices will rise by 3-5%.
Parkheath Property Market Report: December 2010
Tom Gladwin : 10 December 2010
2010 has been an interesting year for the property market in our prime areas of North West London.
Our local market has continued to buck the trends seen across the country. Low supply and a huge demand for high quality property in this area has meant that prices have actually risen, and I believe that they will continue to rise next year.
I know that this goes against the data produced by the Halifax and other building societies which show a declining market. These figures are triumphed by the pessimistic press and those economists who wrongly predicted 30% falls in house prices. But it is impossible to be accurate about a specific area when only looking at National averages.
There are some journalists who interpret data sensibly and
specifically to show the true state
of the local market. In an article
in the Times last month, journalist Ruth Bloomfield writing in 'Bricks and Mortar' showed that the London
Borough of Camden has emerged as the only London
borough where property values have actually increased in comparison to the
property peak of 2007.
I think that now, more than ever, it is vital to look at the micro market in a specific area. Should you postpone buying, based on the National property prices falling, you will end up paying more if your local market rises. The fact that house prices are falling in Leeds and Sheffield does not mean that house prices are falling in Belsize Park and West Hampstead.
I would like to wish you all a very happy Holiday season, and a successful and productive New Year.
Tom Gladwin, Managing Director, PARKHEATH
Camden and the London Property Market: The Times 12.11.10
David Stern : 12 November 2010
In today's Bricks and Mortar published by The Times, journalist Ruth Bloomfield shows that Camden is top of the league in terms of prices. Here are extracts from her report:'LONDON'S GREAT PROPERTY RECOVERY, which looked so promising in the spring, has gone off the boil, leaving buyers in something of a quandary. New research published today (based on analysis of Land Registry figures since the heady days of 2007) shows that only one borough can honestly claim to have bounced back...
As things stand, it is Camden, with its fine period stock and sought-after suburbs, such as Hampstead and Belsize Park, which is the post-downturn winner. Prices stand 3 per cent higher than at their 2007 peak, at an average of £559,000.'
THE TIMES
Friday November 12 2010
London Market Update
Tom Gladwin : 08 October 2010
THE SUMMER MONTHS WERE VERY POSITIVE FOR THE PARKHEATH LONDON SALES OFFICES. We continued to give our clients the correct advice in terms of pricing and marketing, and did not resort to the practice employed by some other agents of quoting over-inflated prices to gain instructions. This only serves to make a property stale and tainted to the buying market when it is subsequently reduced to the correct level. To get the maximum price for your property, it is crucial to market it at the correct level to begin with. Prime areas of London once again seem to be acting independently to the rest of the country. Almost daily we hear that property prices are softening, have fallen, or are even about to crash. This is certainly not the case in Belsize Park. South Hampstead and West Hampstead; I cannot state this clearly enough! The local property market maintained its strength as we moved from spring into summer, due largely to a lack of stock. Although this stock is now growing it still does not come close to fulfilling demand. In the niche, village areas covered by Parkheath there are a finite number of highly covetable properties. This ensures that demand - and prices - remain strong. The rental market is also gaining momentum. The spring and early part of the summer were very active, but the historically strong months of July and August were a little quieter due, on the whole to lack of stock. As we moved into September we recorded record months for both New Tenants and our Renewals departments. I am anticipating the next 3 months to be very strong on both sales and lettings as people work to hit their deadline of moving into a new home for Christmas. We seem to be less affected by the forthcoming government cuts, and actually we are experiencing an increase in confidence and optimism. As always we are working to help you to achieve your property goals.
Parkheath More Than Triples Its Fundraising Target For North London Hospice
Annette Ross : 01 October 2010
PARKHEATH MANAGING DIRECTOR Tom Gladwin rallied his troops in a determined effort to raise funds for a local charity, and exceeded all expections Whilst the 5K Belsize Fun Run may not be quite on the scale of the London Marathon or the Great North Run, the enthusiasm of those taking part in it easily matches those more venerable institutions. Belsize Eco Week has become a much looked forward to event in the local calendar, and the 5K Fun Run through the streets of Belsize Park is a particular highlight. Blessed with good weather and following an impromptu warm up session given by local fitness instructor Denis Dehaney, the teams from Parkheath, along with around 50 other runners, were smartly off the blocks at 2pm Saturday September 25th for the start of the race. Annette Ross, Head of Lettings at Parkheath’s Belsize office, explains ‘This is our second year of sponsoring the event, and we were determined to raise funds for a charity which has recently touched the life of one of our negotiators. She told us how North London Hospice has been an incredible support for her and her family during a very difficult time, and when we found out that 80% of the Hospice’s funding needs to be raised from fund-raising efforts and donations we all agreed that we would run as fast and as hard as we could on their behalf ‘. With practically all of the staff of the Parkheath London offices pledging to take part, fund-raising began in earnest, and the total amount raised of just over £3,000 is more than triple the target they had set themselves. Continuing contributions are welcome. Visit Parkheath’s fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/parkheathbelsizefunrun
Parkheath Lettings shortlisted for Estate & Letting Agent Awards 2009
Jane Gardner : 25 March 2009
Estate & Letting Agent Awards 2009
Best Letting Agents In The Uk – Shortlist Announced
Parkheath Lettings of Rickmansworth are already holders of The Negotiator Magazine’s UK Lettings Agency of the Year award, and so they were delighted to hear that they were on the shortlist for the Estate & Letting Agent Awards 2009 to be presented by Location, Location’s Phil Spencer, on 8th April @ London’s Marriott Hotel in Mayfair.
Lettings Director, Jane Gardner, says "it was a huge achievement for us to win the Negotiator Award in November 08, and it was a massive surprise to be short-listed for this award, because it is voted by all of our customers, so it’s great to know that we are appreciated! The lettings market has been so tough of late, with the threat of rent arrears and bad credit referencing on our mind at all times. Because of this, we enrolled & studied to become Homelet (UK) appointed insurance representatives, so that the lettings team can offer Rent Guarantee & Legal Expenses Insurance to Landlords. We do this as standard now, it is included in our Lettings Service and this gives peace of mind to every Landlord; just in case the tenant defaults on their rent in this treacherous financial climate, they will not be out of pocket!”
"It is great to be able to report a positive few months within the industry as a whole. Not only have rental prices started to increase again, but the sales team have seen a massive upturn in applicant registration, viewings and OFFERS, many of which are being tied up at increased prices! It feels as though we can finally breathe again, and fingers crossed, we may have something great to celebrate about come April…..!”
Parkheath Estates in the Community
Head Office : 30 June 2008
Parkheath Northwood is keen to play an active role in the life of the community and is delighted to support local charities, schools, sports and cultural activities. This year they are the proud sponsors of the Hillside School Summer Fete on the 28th June 2008.
Hillside's aim, jointly with parents, is to encourage responsibility and self-discipline in all the children. The staff, parent helpers and governors work very hard to try and set a good example through their relationships with each other and with the children. In this way, they hope that the children will respect themselves more and will develop a sensitive and caring attitude towards others.
Managing Director Andreas Christodoulou states, "Our community strategy has received an overwhelming response. We are always looking for ways to help our local area and aim to continue this in future years to ensure as many people as possible benefit. We are very proud to be associated with Hillside school. As local estate agents we care about the community in which we do business and where possible we will endeavour to support local causes."
Parkheath had more to celebrate this weekend than the usual 5 deals in a day!
Rickmansworth : 25 June 2008
Our Lettings Manager Abbie Martinez tied the knot on Saturday with John McEneaney after many years in the planning. Everything went smoothly, Bride and Groom both turned p (good start) and the rain held off for the important part of the afternoon so the Bride stayed looking as beautiful as ever and our hairdo's remained intact til the end of the day!
The ceremony was held at the Holy Trinity Church in Northwood and the reception at the range just a little further down the road (which is apparently the oldest standing building in Northwood or so we were told by the Toast Master). The food was great, the drink lowed generously and by the time they got round to the speeches I think almost every Woman in the room had at least a tear, or in some cases quite a few, in their eyes, which prompted a mass rush to the ladies tore - apply any smudged eye make up (apart from the clever few who had gone for the waterproof option!)
After the meal it was DISCO time! This went down very well with a good few members of the Parkheath team (naming no names - as I do value my life, but you know who you are!). I never realised how much hidden 'talent' there was lurking underneath my well presented, and always impeccably behaved colleagues, it is a wonder why none of them have starred on ‘You’ve Been Framed!’ Luckily the whole day was captured on camera by professional photographer Alan Knox (www.alanknox.co.uk) so as well as the pictures set for the mantle piece at home I am sure there will be plenty coming back to haunt many of us!
The happy couple are now honeymooning in Borneo while the rest of us are back to the daily grind, so congratulations to Abbie & John and I am sure everyone will join me in wishing hem all the best for the future!
Meet my team
Rickmansworth : 18 June 2008
It is rare to find a bunch of such dedicated people but I want to introduce you to Parkheath’s Lettings Team. These guys work exceptionally hard to find great tenants for Landlords in the local area and ensure that the properties they offer to Tenants are top quality and perfectly priced. If you want to find a great new home to rent and you do not want to waste time viewing a lot of substandard or over-priced properties, then this is the team to turn to. As a Landlord, if you want a realistic rental valuation, or some great advice on the lettings market, up-to-the-minute legal information and a fantastic tenant in the quickest possible time, then look no further than the Parkheath Lettings Team, located in Rickmansworth High Street or The Parade, Watford.
Our Team Are:
Back (L to R): Rochelle (Property Manager) has been a team member for 6 years, looking after hundreds of managed properties for us; Emily (Negotiator) is one of our tenants turned employee with an abundance of local knowledge; Ben (Senior Negotiator) has many years of lettings experience, both locally and in London; Abbie (Manager) came to Parkheath 3 years ago from the travel industry and she is about to get married at the weekend, so CONGRATS! to Abbie and her future husband John; Jess (Management Co-ordinator) is our Antipodean contingent and is a very welcome new member of the management team.
Front (L to R): Debbie (Negotiator) is our newest member but you’d never think so from her quick ability to learn the ropes; Me – Jane (Director) in my 23rd year of property and still finding it fascinating; Susan (Senior Negotiator) firstly a landlord before joining the team, Susan has been with us nearly 3 years and she takes dedication to another level.
To ensure that all our clients get 100% accurate information on this ever hanging market and the legal implications of letting; we ensure that the staff undertake rigorous training and are affiliated to ARLA, the industry governing body. “The Association of Residential Letting Agents” set the guidelines (and the legal examinations) for their members and I am proud to say that almost all of the team have sat and passed their Basic Legal Comprehension Exams and Rochelle, myself and our company MD Alex Sewell, have passed the Advanced Examinations (and have been in the industry long enough) to become Fellows of ARLA, a worthy achievement.
If you would like to meet us in person, feel free to come and visit, or call us on 01923 721900 (Rickmansworth) or 01923 224333 (Watford).
A Note From Jane
Rickmansworth : 16 April 2008
My turn to write to you all, and, to be honest I have so many subjects I want to write about, I am trying hard to decide which to choose! This lettings business throws different challenges every day, that’s what makes it such an interesting and satisfying job, albeit frustrating at times! I think that one of the most frustrating issues of the job is the explanation about different types of letting agents and the varying services you can get. If you are going to purchase a car, you fairly much know the difference between buying from a specialist manufacturer like Ferrari or Aston Martin, a top of the range Mercedes or BMW, or choosing a popular Ford, Vauxhall or a Fiat.
I think most of you would agree that you’d expect to pay a tad more if you purchased the Ferrari than if you purchased the Fiat and generally speaking you get what you pay for in this world. Now when it comes to choosing a Lettings Agent, it seems that a lot of people focus on the fee they pay, rather than the service they receive. Of course, I totally understand that money is an issue, and everyone wants to get the best deal possible, but to be perfectly honest, when you pay a higher letting fee it means you’ll get a better quality service! You’ll get a quicker rental (remember that having your property vacant a month longer or even a week longer, is a loss of rent that’s considerably more than the money you save in fees!) In addition, it could also mean a higher rental amount, a better quality tenant, a topnotch tenancy agreement, excellent extensive tenant references, choice of more qualified staff dealing with your property (and believe me, the lettings law changes SO OFTEN, you need to be confident that your lettings advisors know what they are talking about!!).
Are you really prepared to put one of your biggest investments in the hands of a sub-standard agency?
Please think carefully, if an agency earns less money, they will have less to spend on staff, training, marketing, advertising, legal advice and all the other things that the letting fee pays for. Choose the best, choose Parkheath Lettings…. You’ll be very glad you did.
The Parkheath Brand
Watford : 27 March 2008
I thought that I would do a slightly different write up this week and tell you a little more about the beliefs and values of our company…
The word "quality" is often banded around in this industry but seldom do you find an agent that measures up to their promises. We are that exception! Parkheath have taught me, from day one, that if you stick to their principles you rarely go wrong. Firstly,
QUALITY: On most occasions a property is a person’s biggest asset and should be treated that way. Quality of service is essential and will lead to quality of tenant. The landlord, as our client, should never have to settle for second best.
SPEED: There is no reason for a property to be standing empty. If it is valued correctly and, in this market where there is an abundance of waiting applicants eagerly waiting to view them, each day empty is lost income and we are fully aware of this.
ENERGY: There is no substitute for hard work and dedication, you need to know we care and I can assure you that we do. Sitting back and waiting for things to happen is simply not an option for us. Your goals and expectations are our focus and achieving them is our aim.
Add a bit of enthusiasm, some kept promises and a welcoming smile and you have the ingredients needed to be the best. I honestly feel, after writing this, that there is no decision for you to make when choosing your agent.
It's got to be Parkheath all the way. I look forward to hearing from you.
Corporate Lets
Rickmansworth : 12 March 2008
It is all very well quickly securing a tenant for your property but just as important to secure a high quality tenant, one that will not only pay the rent but also look after your property as you would!
In a buoyant market where properties are flying out of the door, quality of tenant can be easily overlooked. If Parkheath act as your letting agent, we make it our priority to rent your property in next to no time, to a high calibre applicant. As an ARLA agent we reference each and everyone of our prospective tenants using a comprehensive referencing company who look thoroughly into their credit history, employment and how they are conducting their current tenancy, ensuring peace of mind for all our landlords.
Parkheath Lettings also deal with a huge number of corporate clients; in the last week we have agreed 3 corporate lets to major companies in and around the area. It is a general rule that company lets will achieve you higher than average rentals, longer lets and less wear and tear on your property, as the tenants usually travel home at the weekends! As Watford’s premier agent we are top of the list for a huge number of relocation agencies, and recently dealt with Players Relocation (www.playersrelocation.com) who specialise in finding top class property for sporting professionals, even dealing with a number of famous clients (naming no names!).
So if you are a landlord with a property available to rent and quality appeals to you, then why look anywhere else?
A Welcoming New Look for Parkheath’s Belsize Park Office
Head Office : 07 February 2006
