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Details: Published: 23 May 2023; Hits: 388

One of the top concerns that many families have when moving is finding the right school for their children. Many home moves are explicitly made so that families can move closer to the catchment area of their dream school.

But what happens if you find your dream house first and then need to find the best school close by?

As your local estate agent, we know the area exceptionally well and receive so many questions about this that we decided to give you our best advice to help keep you informed. In this article, you’ll find our top tips to help you find the right school for your children when moving.

Work out what your priorities are

Let’s face it, it may be tough to find a school that has absolutely everything that you’re looking for and all schools have their own strengths.

When looking for a school we recommend making a list of your priorities. For instance, are you looking for a school with a tremendous academic record or one with a specific subject focus? Are extra-curricular activities essential or does your child have any special needs that the school should cater for? Are you looking for state schools or private schools? Day or boarding? Single-sex or co-ed? There are lots to consider before you even kick off your search.

Writing down all your priorities like this will help you focus your search, as this is an area that’s packed with lots of great schools to choose from!

Start your school research well before your move

Once you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for in terms of priorities, it’s time to start researching. We recommend doing this as early as you possibly can. You will probably want to visit several schools in the area before you decide on the best fit, so make sure you leave enough time for multiple appointments and open days.

It’s straightforward to access all the information you need on schools as you can do this online, even if you’re currently located in a different part of the country.

Start gathering critical information online using reputable sites such as The Good Schools Guide and check the school performance tables on Gov.uk. Read through online school reviews and scour the Ofsted reports.

School research can be a time-consuming process, which is why we recommend starting early. Once you’ve whittled it down to your top three schools, pay each of them a visit with your child. Which brings us on to our next point…

Pay your top choice schools a visit

Although this might not be immediately possible, we highly recommend visiting schools when you can. Take a tour and get a good feel of the environment that your child will potentially be spending lots of their time in. Talk to the staff and pupils and ask them questions.

Here are some of the key things to observe on a school visit:

How do the students and teachers interact with each other?
Are the facilities clean and well-maintained?
Do the teachers seem enthusiastic and happy to chat through all your questions?
Is the environment and community friendly and welcoming?
Do the children appear happy and engaged?

If it’s not possible for you to physically visit the school before you move, don’t despair. Check out their website. Some schools now offer virtual tours of their campuses. You could also hold a Zoom call with the headteacher to get a better feel of the school, and it’s teaching style.

Find out where your new neighbours are sending their children

If you have the chance to say hello to your new neighbours before your move, ask them about their personal experiences with the local schools. Chatting with another parent could save you research time, as they will have done the same research when they moved and may also have first-hand experience of a school if they are sending their own children to one of the schools that you’re interested in.

Make sure you have a back-up plan

Once you have found the perfect fit, find a back-up! It’s always sensible to have a Plan B in case your chosen school doesn’t work out. Creating a list of your top two or three schools means that you can quickly fall back to another option if needed, although of course, we hope your child gets into your first choice!

Our staff at Warren Powell-Richards are local and have extensive knowledge. If you are moving to the area soon, start your home search with us, and we’ll be happy to advise you on all aspects of your move. Please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or pop into one of or offices for a chat with the team.

Details: Published: 15 May 2023; Hits: 340

Over a million homes in the UK are fitted with solar panels[1], so it’s not unusual to find one on the market. And with most new builds being constructed with energy-efficient appliances, finding a solar-powered home for sale is only going to become more common.

Just like any home you buy, it’s good to weigh up the pros and cons to see if it’s the right choice for you.

If you’re debating whether you should buy a house with solar panels, here’s everything you need to know before you commit.

What Are the Benefits of Buying a House With Solar Panels?

Buying a house with solar panels has many benefits, including:

Cheaper bills: Solar power is renowned for providing cheaper energy bills. Depending on the terms of the lease, you may even get your energy completely free!
Low maintenance work: Except for routine cleaning (which isn’t costly) solar panels are very low maintenance. Plus, warranties usually last for 20+ years. If the seller has only just had the panels installed, you could be covered for any faults for a long time.
Resale-ability: The homebuying market is becoming more eco-conscious. Some buyers are even willing to pay more for a sustainable home[2]! When it comes to selling in the future, your property could have an edge that others don’t.
An eco-friendlier life: Solar power is a renewable resource, so it’s much better for the environment than fossil fuels will ever be. In turn, they help you live an eco-friendlier life.

Things to Consider Before Buying a House With Solar Panels

Despite the benefits of buying a house with solar panels, there are some things you should consider before you commit, including:

Whether You Can Still Get a Mortgage

It’s uncommon, but some lenders take issue with a property leasing its roof to a solar power company, purely because it’s not owned by you. Before you make an offer, check with your lender or speak to your mortgage advisor to see if you can still get the mortgage you need.

What Permissions & Restrictions You’ll Have

Since most houses with solar panels have a lease on the roof, there may be restrictions about what you can and can’t do with your home. Some leases require you to seek permission to extend or even sell your home in the future. Always review the lease in detail before you buy to make sure you know about (and are comfortable with) any restrictions.

There Could Be Removal Fees

You shouldn’t buy a house with solar panels if you plan on removing them. Plus, some leases won’t ever allow you to remove them anyway. But if you need to have work done on your property and the panels need to be taken down temporarily, you may need to pay hefty fees.

Are You Looking to Buy?

If you’re looking to buy a property locally Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts!

Check out our available listings on our website at https://www.wpr.co.uk or pop into one of our offices for a friendly chat with our team about what you’re looking for.

Details: Published: 15 May 2023; Hits: 311

Many homeowners desire more space for a whole host of reasons.

You may have a growing family, a change of personal circumstances, or have simply outgrown your current home.

A difficult decision then lays ahead. Do you extend and renovate your current property or sell on and purchase a new home?

The Advantages Of Building an Extension

Familiarity of Your Neighbourhood

The very fact that you are considering extending your current home means that you are probably happy with the local area. It may be that you have friendly neighbours, excellent local amenities, or brilliant nearby schools.

Added Value to Your Property

A bigger kitchen, extra bedroom or purpose-built office space will add a considerable amount of value to your home.

When the time eventually comes to sell the property, you will have a significantly larger asking price to look forward to. However, consider the impact of a decreased outdoor space on the value of the home.

Personalised Plans

One of the greatest advantages of building an extension is that it can be designed and constructed precisely to your needs.

Most people will decide to redecorate their entire home after the upheaval of having an extension built, meaning, the entire property will then be finished to your personal tastes.

The Disadvantages of Building an Extension

Extensions Can Be Expensive

The costs of architects, contractors and planning permission can quickly mount.

A contingency budget is always recommended for those carrying out an extension to cover any unexpected expenses.

Investment is Not Always Linear

Extending and renovating your current home will undoubtedly add value to the property. However, this price is not always wholly reflective of the funds and time your family dedicated to the build and finished project.

There Are Limitations

The size of your outdoor space will place the most obvious restrictions on the scale of your extension.

Planning permission may also impose restrictions on your build. Additionally, your neighbours will need to be informed, who have the choice to submit an objection should they feel that it will negatively impact their home.

Extensions Can Bring Stress

Having a team of builders, electricians, plumbers, and other contractors in your home will undoubtedly bring stress to your family.

A two-story extension can turn your whole home on its head and means your family will essentially have to accept living on a building site for a number of months and this is why many home owners opt to move home instead.

The Advantages of Moving Home

It’s a Fresh Start with New Opportunities

Moving to a new location presents a wealth of new opportunities for your family. It gives your children the chance to make new friends and experience new schools and areas. It may also present fresh career prospects for yourself.

You’ll be Forced to Declutter

Many of us avoid a thorough home declutter for years. However, a move forces it.

Most home movers cannot afford to transport years of trinkets and storage items. Therefore, moving home has the unexpected benefit of forcing movers to re-evaluate their possessions.

There’s Unlimited Scope

Renovating or extending a home has obvious limitations. These might be caused by garden size or the availability of planning permission.

Granted, most families will have a budget and may have work limitations, but the scope of moving is otherwise generally vast. Moving allows you to choose a home that is substantially smaller, larger or a completely different style from the one you have currently.

It Makes Financial Sense

The housing market is currently moving at a rapid pace and is very lucrative. Even those who have done little to no renovation work will notice their home has grown in value.

The profits might even be enough to allow you to purchase the home of your dreams. This is especially apparent for those who have owned their home for a substantial amount of time.

The Disadvantages Of Moving Home

Moving Home Can be Stressful

Various surveys have shown that most adults in the UK rank moving home as one of their most stressful life events.

The logistics of viewings, packing and relocating the family often fills individuals with anxiety and dread.

At Warren Powell-Richards we aim to make your move as smooth as possible, helping you with every aspect of your move from marketing your home to offer to completion.

It’s an Upheaval For Children and Pets

Children can often feel the most nervous surrounding a home move.

Once they are settled into a school, it can be tricky to take them out of their friendship circles and routine. However, thoroughly researching the local schools and amenities will ensure a smooth transition into the new area.

Moving Away from Friends

Additionally, if some distance is involved, it can be incredibly difficult for adults to move away from their tight social circles.

Especially for those who currently live in the same area where they grew up, the upheaval of leaving friends and family can become overwhelming. On the positive side, you’ll get the opportunity to return for visits and your friends can visit you and experience a new area too!

Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts. Call into our office or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.

Details: Published: 05 May 2023; Hits: 428

An open-plan home with shared living, dining and kitchen spaces can have many benefits. It can even help give your home an edge when it comes to selling it later down the line.

But there can be cons as well as pros. It’s important to weigh up your options and consider both negatives and positives to determine what’s right for your home.

If you’re thinking about whether you should make your home open plan, here’s a summary of the pros and cons to help you decide.

What are the Benefits of Having an Open Plan Home?

It’s Sociable

Since open-plan homes have shared dining, living and cooking spaces, it’s easy to see how it makes your home a more sociable space. Preparing food in the kitchen as the host of a dinner party doesn’t have to mean you’re cut off from the conversations. Plus, you can chat with the family wherever you are on weeknights.

It Maximises Available Space

Open-plan living means knocking down walls, which doesn’t just give the illusion of more space, it actually increases your available square meterage. With shared living, kitchen and dining areas, you can maximise your space and make a smaller home look bigger.

It Boosts Sunlight

No matter which floor plan you opt for when opening up your home, you’re bound to boost the natural light in all your key spaces. A healthy dose of sunlight can easily make a space appear bigger. Plus, it’s a top selling point for most homes!

What are the Drawbacks of Open Plan Living?

Noise

Even though an open plan home can make a space more sociable, it can feel noisier. If someone’s cooking in the kitchen while you’re trying to watch TV in the living room, you may not be able to hear your show over the clattering. The slightest sounds can carry across the entire house in an open plan home and make it harder to enjoy the quiet.

Heating

Naturally, open-plan homes are harder to heat since bigger spaces can take longer to warm up than smaller ones. However, there are lots of ways to combat this, as an open plan home doesn’t necessarily mean a cold one. Ensuring you have good insulation, double-glazed windows and efficient energy options (like underfloor heating) can make it easier to keep your open plan home warm.

Lack of Zones

With the rise of home working, having ‘zones’ is becoming a desirable feature for many buyers. Before making your home open plan, consider the working arrangements of your family. Noise travels far in open-plan spaces, which can make it harder for multiple people to work. Plus, having separate ‘work’ and ‘play’ spaces can be more desirable when selling your home.

Need Advice?

Choosing to make your home open plan is a big decision. There are many factors to consider about how you utilise your space currently and what makes sense practically for your family. Plus, resale value should always be taken into account.

If you’re looking at making your home open plan for re-sale purposes, Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts. Our friendly team would love to chat about the value of your home.

Details: Published: 05 May 2023; Hits: 441

When you’re selling your home, you may be considering what fixes you need to do and what you should leave for your eventual buyer to do themselves.

It’s always best to ensure your home is in tip-top condition before you put it on the market, but if there are lots of niggly jobs to do, you should prioritise those that will make the biggest positive impression on potential buyers.

In our experience, garden fences are often one of the things that sellers query, particularly if they are in poor condition.

To help you, in this article, we’ll explore four key things you should consider if you’re a seller, wondering, “Should I replace fences before selling a house?”

Where is the fence?

Let’s take it from the top! Firstly, where is your fence, and how visible is it? Is it hidden behind a shed and shrubbery? Or is it in your front garden and rather obvious to everyone passing?

While a fence in poor condition is likely to be noticed by a potential buyer during a viewing, it’s important to consider how obvious it is before deciding whether to repair it.

Take into account too that for security reasons, a broken fence in the back garden can be more of a concern than one at the front of the house.

What is the condition of the fence?

Be honest, how bad is the fence?

If it’s a back garden fence, is the entire fence falling apart? If it’s in the front garden, does it severely impact your kerb appeal?

Ask yourself how concerned you’d be with the fence if you were a viewer to your home.

Does it Impact Security?

This is an important aspect to consider. Does the broken fence make your property less secure? Does it make it easy for burglars to gain access to your back garden and, therefore your house?

A fence in poor repair at the front of the house may be less of a concern for potential buyers as a side or back garden fence will be – particularly if your property backs onto fields, a park or an alleyway.

Who is your target market?

Is your property targeted at first-time buyers?
Families?
Property developers?
Or someone looking for a fixer-upper?

Understanding your target market will help you determine whether it’s worth the upgrade to your fences or not.

For example, if your target market is property developers, someone looking for a fixer-upper, or even a first-time buyer, these buyers may upgrade things themselves.

However, if your target market is a family with children and pets, a back garden fence with holes in it could be a serious concern.

Get Expert Advice

At Warren Powell-Richards, we are your local property experts. If you’re thinking about selling your home and are currently preparing it for sale, our friendly team are happy to answer your questions and help you determine your target market. Pop into the offices or send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more.