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Published: 29 December 2023

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Mortgage rates continue to fall, the best cities for investment returns have been revealed, and the UK's 10 happiest places to live have been announced. Plus, we wrap up 2023 Spotify-style! Read on to find out more.

Two-year Mortgage Rates Fall Below 5%

Mortgage rates are continuing to head in the right direction for buyers and homeowners whose deals are due for renewal, with average two-year fixed deals falling below 5%.

The drop in rates follows confirmation from the Bank of England that the base interest rate is being held at 5.25% - the second straight freeze - and competition between the UK's major lenders has intensified as they battle to keep existing customers and attract the small pool of new homeowners who are coming into the market.

10 Happiest Places to Live Revealed

A survey by property website Rightmove has revealed the UK's 10 best places to live, as voted for by residents. The company's Happy at Home Index has been running for 12 years, and for the first time, it's a London area that's taken the top spot.

Richmond upon Thames took the crown from last year's winner, St Ives in Cornwall, which dropped down to 9th. Winchester and Farnham took the runners-up spot, while Monmouth in Wales finished in third. 

The survey asked more than 26,000 people to rank things in their area, from community spirit and a sense of belonging to public transport connections and essential local services.

Click here for the complete top 10.

Top 10 Cities for Rental Yields Revealed

If becoming a landlord is on your list of New Year's resolutions for 2024, you might want to check out the findings of a study by property website, Zoopla. 

In it, they've revealed the top 10 cities and large towns in the UK for buy-to-let returns. The average gross rental yield in the UK is currently 5.49%, but Zoopla's list of towns and cities smashes that figure, and could be a good indicator of where to invest your money in the new year if you're looking to buy a second property.

Top of the list is Sunderland in the North East, where the average gross rental yield is a very impressive 8.5%. Not far behind is Dundee in Scotland, which also passes the 8% mark at 8.07%, while Burnley in Lancashire takes third place, with a return of 7.96%.

All of the top 10 are in Scotland and the north of England, and they all return more than 7% each year. 

Click here for the full list.

2023 in Review

With 2023 drawing to a close, it's the perfect time to take a look back at the year that was. Thanks to the statisticians at Zoopla, we can now share some of the key stats from the past 12 months:

One million homes were sold, and house prices fell 1.2% on average across the UK. The biggest falls were seen in the East of England and the South East, at -2.6% and -2.4% respectively. Scotland and Northern Ireland were the only regions in the UK where prices have risen over the past 12 months.

The most popular types of homes to be sold were terraced houses, with 140,000 changing hands in 2023, followed closely by semi-detached houses. 130,000 of these were sold over the past year. 148 farms and 57 houseboats were sold too. 

The Bank of England raised the base interest rate five times across the year. When we saw in 2023, the interest rate was 3.5%, and as we close the year out, it sits at 5.25%. 

This led to a huge knock-on effect on mortgage rates, which peaked at an average of 6.44% for a two-year fixed rate in July and 6.37% for a five-year fixed rate in early August. Both are now below 5%, and it's hoped they've seen their peak and rates are projected to fall further by March 2024.

At the start of the year, selling a house took 36 days on average, and as 2023 draws to a close, it's only slightly increased to 38 days. It dipped briefly in April to 29 days but has crept back up in line with rising inflation and mortgage rates.

And lastly, what about renters? It's been a difficult year for tenants, with new lets rising by at least 10% for the past 20 months in a row. However, demand hasn't suffered - it's remained at 51% above the five-year average for most of 2023.

We are delighted to bring you our regular property market updates. If you are thinking of buying or selling a property in Alton, Farnham, Godaming, Grayshott or Haslemere please get in touch with us on 01428 604016 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Published: 18 December 2023

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Whether you're selling your home or looking to rent or buy, choosing a great estate agent is a hugely important part of the process. Pick the right agent and your transaction is much more likely to go off without a hitch. You'll be able to find the house of your dreams or get your property off the market much more quickly.

The question is, how do you distinguish between a great estate agent and a mediocre one? It can be hard to tell at the initial stage when the agent will be on their best behaviour trying to pitch their services to you. Luckily, there are some signs to look out for. Read on to find out how to spot a great estate agent:

1. They'll have excellent online reviews

Thanks to Google and other estate agent review sites such as Allagents; it is no longer possible for any service provider to get away with lousy service. Customers and clients can easily leave bad online reviews which will affect their future business. Look online before you decide on an estate agent. If they don't have their own reviews section, Google Business usually has honest reviews from customers.

Search for reputable estate agents that have verified reviews. If they've delivered exceptional service in the past, it's likely, they will again. The same applies to those who have delivered bad service and have poor reviews - avoid them!

2. They'll often come recommended

One of the best ways to start your hunt for a great local estate agent is to ask around for recommendations. If anyone within your friends and family circle is personally vouching for an estate agent, they're likely to provide excellent service. It also adds an element of credibility, as the recommendation is coming from someone that you know and trust.

3. They've been doing this for a while!

Find someone equipped with the experience you need to navigate the property market. Gain an understanding of how much experience your estate agent has before choosing them for your home move.

The more experience an agent has navigating the housing market, the more easily they'll be able to spot any issues and help you circumvent them. They may also have partners that they can recommend to help you with your move, such as independent surveyors and removal companies. If you're buying or renting, we'd recommend opting for someone just like us as we have great local knowledge.

4. Their average selling time speaks for itself

One of the signs of an effective estate agent is how quickly they can work to move your property off the market. While you want to ensure that they don't rush the process and achieve a good price for your property, you also don't want to wait too long when you're ready to sell your house. A great estate agent will be skilled on how to market your property and will be able to find interested buyers and line up viewings until they get your house sold.

So, how do you find out whether your estate agent will be effective at selling your property? Ask them what their average selling time is. Beware of those with very short selling times, as this could have been done at the expense of price.

5. They offer a fair property valuation

To value a house accurately is a lot more work than you may think. All estate agents know that the property valuation you offer them could lead to you choosing to hire them or not, and they may adjust their valuation accordingly. Some agents may decide to overvalue the property to tempt you into working with them, only to reduce this to a more realistic valuation once you've chosen them. Opt for an estate agent that gives you a realistic valuation from the start that is aligned with the market value.

It's perfectly okay to ask an agent to explain their valuation if you think it's too high or too low. A great estate agent will happily explain their reasoning for their valuation and break down why they've given those numbers.

6. They have good communication skills

This is less easy to 'measure', but it's one of the most important things that make up a great estate agent. They should be friendly and communicative so you can be sure that you will be kept informed throughout the process.

Suss out their communication style with a simple phone call or video call, although keep in mind that all agents will be putting their best foot forward at this stage!

If you are planning on moving to the Alton, Farnham, Godalming, Grayshott or Haslemere area's soon, why not get in touch. We'll be happy to advise you on all our available properties in the area. Contact us on 01428 604016 for more information and an expert, friendly service.

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Published: 13 December 2023

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If you're looking to sell your home in Alton, Farnham, Godalming, Grayshott or Haslemere, the first question you might have is, 'how much is my home actually worth?'

Technically, the answer is whatever someone is willing to pay for it, but that answer may not be satisfactory, because you have to put a price on your property once it is listed for sale and you don't want to undervalue it. The answer you're probably looking for is what the value is, based on the market, or what an estate agent says. But why not also calculate it yourself to see if it compares? If you know the value of your own home, it puts you in a better position to sell, as well as refinance or tap into the equity of your home. It also helps you understand your financial health overall, and if you're selling your home, it can determine the kind of new home you can purchase on your budget. Here are some tips on how to find your home's value. 

Remember, It's Not an Exact Science! Managing your expectations for your home's valuation is important so you can properly consider all the aspects surrounding the value. There are many factors that can affect the valuation, including:

• Freehold versus leasehold
• The size and layout of your home
• What kind of repairs or upgrades have been completed recently or are needed soon
• Neighbourhood crime rates
• Risk of natural disasters, like flooding
• What amenities are nearby, including transport

'Hidden factors' can also affect the value, like the home's wiring, the state of the boiler, any plumbing issues, or any other problems that are not obvious right away. In general, the more improvements you make to your home, the more the value is likely to increase. 

Research the Homes in Your Area Use property portals to check out listings in your area, and if possible, specifically on your street, to see what the going rate is and to get an idea of what the houses in your area are selling for. You can also monitor these properties to see how fast they sell, and whether or not they sell at asking price or more. If a property on your street that is comparable to yours is listed at a certain price and sells within a week, and for more than the asking price, you can gather that the market is hot, and that particular property is either in-demand or may have been undervalued. This gives you an idea of where to start for your own home. If you want to take your research further, visit an open house in your area, if possible. Compare the state of that property to your own, including if the layout is similar, if any upgrades or renovations have been made, and what kind of differences there are that may affect your home's value against theirs. This is a great way of getting first-hand information about where to start valuing your home. Use Tools Online A quick Google search of the term, 'how much is my home worth?' will give you pages of results of home value estimators that you can use online, as well as services you can hire to come to your home and get a third-party opinion. If you're using an online home valuation tool, also called an automated valuation model or AVM, the only information you may be asked for is your postal code, how many bedrooms your home has, and what type of property it is. The valuation given to you is estimated based on information available from public land registry data, so keep in mind it's only a guide to help give you a starting point to get the right market value. 

Get a Valuation from a Professional Estate Agent The best way to determine the value of your property is to enlist the services of an estate agent who has excellent local knowledge. An estate agent will come to your home and conduct a market appraisal ensuring you get a thorough, accurate valuation. When you instruct a market appraisal through Warren Powell-Richards, we will evaluate the current market, your property and comparable properties to give you a good overall picture of where your valuation comes from. To book a valuation on your property, contact our friendly team at Warren Powell-Richards via https://www.wpr.co.uk/valuation

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Published: 08 December 2023

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Meet the dynamic team at Warren Powell Richards Estate Agents in Grayshott.

In the ever-evolving world of estate agency, change is not just inevitable but often welcome.

We are thrilled to announce a new chapter in our journey, as we introduce our dynamic team, set to redefine the way we serve our clients and community. We are proud of our fresh talent, diverse expertise and a shared passion for selling houses.

Meet the Team:

At the helm: Daniel Vasey, who leads the team, has a proven track record of success as a partner for WPR and having worked in the area for over 20 years. He brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence that sets the tone for the entire team.

Your local expert: Ian Smith joins from another nearby agent and, having spent the past 40 years working in Grayshott and the surrounding areas, he is your go-to expert for all things local. Ian has an in-depth understanding of the market trends and is well-equipped to guide you through the intricacies of buying and selling houses in the local area.

Lettings Expert: Claire Seward has worked for WPR for over four years, managing the lettings division and ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for both our landlords and tenants alike.  Claire is also assisted by a valuable central support team who handle all maintenance matters, allowing Claire the time to walk clients effortlessly through the rental process.

Strong client-agent communication: Dean Henderson is a negotiator having entered into agency more recently, but having had a successful career working in London in a different sector.  Dean brings exceptional people skills and a passion for property and prides himself on his communication with his clients.  He is particularly keen to ensure his clients are valued throughout the process.

The dedicated support team:  Petra Rabstein assists in all aspects of the office and, having lived in Grayshott for many years, has extensive knowledge of the village and surrounding area.  She has a clear understanding of clients’ needs and requirements and, as a real people person, likes to establish a high level of rapport and trust.

The backbone: Susy Brooks completes the team and is the backbone of the operation.  She provides dedicated support to the team and clients and works tirelessly to keep the operations running smoothly.

Daniel says: “We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to exceeding the expectations of our clients.  Our team is deeply invested in client wellbeing and I believe that a successful estate agency is not just about property transactions, but about building lasting relationships that extend above and beyond.

Our door is always open and whether you are buying, selling or letting, or simply curious, do come in and say hello.”