
We want to put our house up for sale but is there any way we can vet who comes?
By Orchards Estates on 13th Mar 2022,Q. We want to put our house up for sale but is there any way we can vet who comes to look around it? A. I’m interested in...

Distorted Opinions?
By Orchards Estates on 6th Feb 2022,The issue of house prices is a hot topic and close to every homeowner’s heart. Everyone has their opinion, but even that of experienced estate agents is...

What are the top 10 dream home features for children?
By Orchards Estates on 23rd Jan 2022,A new survey conducted by home developer, Strata, which quizzed over 2,000 children aged between 3 – 11 has revealed some pretty great ideas. The quiz...

I’m thinking of converting my front garden into parking space.
By Orchards Estates on 16th Jan 2022,Q. I’m thinking of converting my front garden into a parking space. Can I just go ahead and do it? A. The short answer is no. Of course, you are...

Should I accept the first offeron my house?
By Orchards Estates on 2nd Jan 2022,ASK THE EXPERT Q. I only put my house on the market a few days ago and I’ve already had an offer. I am tempted to wait for a better one,...

The properties of Christmas movies
By Orchards Estates on 25th Dec 2021,The tree is finally up and decorated, the festive jumpers are on, gifts are wrapped and all that is left to do, is to settle down with a cup of mulled wine...

Tis the season to be jolly but is it the season to sell your home?
By Orchards Estates on 5th Dec 2021,Tis the season to be jolly but is it the season to sell your home? The answer in the simplest terms is YES! Since 2014, there has been an increase of...

Tis the season to be jolly but is it the season to sell your home?
By Orchards Estates on 5th Dec 2021,Tis the season to be jolly but is it the season to sell your home? The answer in the simplest terms is YES! Since 2014, there has been an increase of...

How to choose the right estate agent for you
By Orchards Estates on 15th Nov 2021,Q) I’m selling a house for the first time and need to choose an estate agent. What do I need to ask, how do I differentiate them and how much trust...

How do I make an offer, and get it accepted?
By Orchards Estates on 25th Oct 2021,So you’ve walked round approximately 10 houses and, much like when you were dating, finally met ‘The One’. Now comes the nerve-wracking part: offer,...
The Magnificent Seven – Tips for home buyers
By Orchards Estates on 11th Oct 2021,At Orchards Estates we love helping people find their ideal home. Over the years we’ve built up loads of knowledge about the process and what to do, and...

How do you get your home photo-ready?
By Orchards Estates on 27th Sep 2021,How do you get your home photo-ready?...

Get your home winter ready
By Orchards Estates on 20th Sep 2021,The leaves are turning on the trees and we’re starting to think about snuggly jumpers and warm fires. What does your home need to ensure it is ready for...

The Kitchen is the Heart of the Home
By Orchards Estates on 26th Jul 2021,A recipe for success: smarten up your kitchen. During the many years I’ve been an estate agent I’ve seen plenty of buyers fall head over heels...

It was like a Pig Sty!
By Orchards Estates on 12th Jul 2021,“It was like a pig sty” The headline for this blog isn’t an announcement that we’ve moved into selling farms or rural properties. And it isn’t a...

Time to Declutter
By Orchards Estates on 21st Jun 2021,Less is more so kill the clutter. If you put your hand onto a hot stove you would not be surprised to burn it. ‘That’s obvious!’, I hear you cry. And...

Treasury Consensus Forecast for UK House Price growth
By Orchards Estates on 17th Oct 2018,HM Treasury has recently updated its consensus forecast for UK house price growth over the next five years. Property prices are expected to rise by 2.8%...

Ask The Expert - Should I put my home up for sale in Autumn
By Orchards Estates on 26th Sep 2018,I was planning to put my home up for sale this month to catch the Autumn rush, but the way things are I’m wondering whether I should postpone things for...

How can I catch the Autumn Rush?
By Orchards Estates on 25th Aug 2018,Q. I was planning to put my home up for sale this month to catch the Autumn rush, but the way things are I’m wondering whether I should postpone things...

Changes to Houses of Multiple Occupancy COMING SOON!
By Orchards Estates on 23rd Aug 2018,Changes to Houses of Multiple Occupancy COMING SOON! Video explanation....

Ask the expert - Q: We’ve decided that we want to move but....
By Orchards Estates on 5th Aug 2018,Q: We’ve decided that we want to move but our friends are giving us differing advice… should we put our house up for sale before we start looking for...

Overpricing - how much does it cost sellers
By Orchards Estates on 7th Jul 2018,I have just had my house valued but I think it is worth more than the agent suggested. Is there anything wrong with testing the market by putting it up...

Ask the experts - How do I deal with Bats living in the loft?
By Orchards Estates on 23rd Jun 2018,Q. We have seen a house we really like, but apparently there is a family of bats living in the loft! How do we deal with that?...

Ask the experts - Why did my three valuations differ so much?
By Orchards Estates on 16th Jun 2018,Valuing property is not – and can never be - an exact science. The simple fact is that your home is not necessarily worth what any estate agent says it...

Generation Rent
By Orchards Estates on 3rd Jun 2018,Generation Rent is a popular term used to describe young adults, normally between the ages of 18 – 35, who live in rented accommodation because of high...

My ‘cash buyer’ actually has a property to sell.
By Orchards Estates on 16th May 2018,What is a cash buyer? It turns out that my ‘cash buyer’ actually has a property to sell. How can this sort of thing happen, and what can I do?...

How to enhance your home's appeal
By Orchards Estates on 5th May 2018,Basically, we’re talking about ambience. This can be very important, because whether we realise it or not, we are all sensitive to the “feel” of a...

How much does a village green affect your property value?
May Day – a much coveted long weekend, and a time for dancing, singing and fetes on the village green, but what is the price premium attached to living...

National fall through rate at a record high
By Orchards Estates on 9th Apr 2018,The latest data and analysis from independent home buyer, Quick Move Now, has revealed that the number of house sales falling through before completion is...

January 2018 Market Comment
By Orchards Estates on 30th Jan 2018,Is the property market up or is down? This month, more than ever, the answer depends on who you speak to....

“Distorted Opinions?”
By Orchards Estates on 2nd Jan 2018,The issue of house prices is a hot topic and close to every homeowner’s heart. Everyone has their opinion, but even that of experienced estate agents is...

The value of a sale - Black Friday
By Orchards Estates on 20th Nov 2017,Black Friday and how it affects the value of your home...

October property market report - South Somerset
By Orchards Estates on 20th Oct 2017,There is a very different vibe to the property market from last month...

Why clutter can cost you thousands and what to do about it in three steps
By Orchards Estates on 19th Oct 2017,Why clutter can cost you thousands and what to do about it in three steps...

Another Successful Open Home
By Orchards Estates on 14th Oct 2017,Another great open home in the Villages today, this time in Stoford...

Get moved by Christmas
By Orchards Estates on 13th Oct 2017,Looking to sell your home in Martock, South Petherton, Ilminster, Yeovil, Crewkerne or any of the south Somerset villages?...

What are my gas safety responsibilities as a landlord?
Did you miss Gas Safety Week in September? Do you know your responsibilities as a landlord? Here are six simple steps to help keep your tenants safe and...

Rightmove's Best in Country is local
By Orchards Estates on 26th Sep 2017,Over 25,000 estate and lettings agency branches have been assessed by Rightmove to create the Best Estate Agent Guide, designed to help you to choose an...

iPhone cost rising faster than property prices
By Orchards Estates on 13th Sep 2017,The release of the latest iPhone handset brings with it the hefty price tag of around £1300 and for those keen early adopters, a likely long queue in the...

How much does a sea view cost?
By Orchards Estates on 9th Sep 2017,From the early 1700s, the English coastline became popular to visit for “medicinal dips”. King George III in 1789 even went skinny-dipping in Weymouth!...

I’m not Willy Wonka and Orchards Estates isn’t a chocolate factory
By Orchards Estates on 9th Sep 2017,Last year marked what would have been the 100th birthday of the World’s No 1 storyteller – Roald Dahl. The man was a genius, with an imagination...

Insiders Guide Part 4 - How to choose an Estate Agent - Top Tips 4
How to avoid the pitfalls and tricks of the trade when choosing an estate agent. In this episode we look at when and where buyers are looking for your...

What's in a name?
By Orchards Estates on 26th Aug 2017,The top 50 most popular house names in the UK have been announced following research by the Royal Mail. Here are the top 5 house names in the UK in 2017:...

Rents Rise 19.6% since 2005! - How is the new tenant Tax going to impact rents?
By Orchards Estates on 13th Apr 2017,how rents have risen since 2005...