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The relationship between parents and their children is commonly lifelong but there comes a time when the apron strings are cut and the brood flies the nest. It’s a stage in life when many parents, perhaps reaching retirement age, make a number of lifestyle changes.

There can’t be a seller in the land that doesn’t want their property to sell for the highest price. Although a lot rides with the buyer, their budget and how much they’re prepared to pay, sellers can help themselves when it comes to achieving as close to the asking price as possible.

September was a month of disruption. With a new Prime Minister and Chancellor at the helm, changes marked the inauguration of this new partnership. First up alterations to the stamp duty thresholds.

Irreverently known as the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’, cash contributions from parents and even grandparents are on the rise. In fact, an estimated £25 billion is expected to be lent to children over the next three years, with almost half of all first-time buyers having to rely on family to fund part or all of their deposit.

August is usually a time for lazy days and annual holidays but this year, the month failed to read the script. There has ­not been the traditional pause in home moving activity this summer. As a result, there are some surprising statistics to digest.

For many of us, three little words have become the focus of our finances: energy price cap. This guide to the current energy situation answers many of the most commonly-asked questions and features advice for confused households.

Moving home presents an excellent opportunity to change purchasing habits, especially at a time when many people need new items. The small but conscious choices made can make a big, collective impact on the environment, and there’s no need to compromise on style either.

The majority of homeowners and prospective movers will have a mortgage as part of their property plans, therefore it’s important to keep tabs on both interest and mortgage rates. In August 2022, the Bank of England increased the interest rate by 0.5 percentage points to 1.75% – the biggest increase in 27 years. 

July provided the experts at Zoopla with the perfect opportunity to evaluate how the last two years have affected the UK property market. Its headline statistic – pandemic housing boom creates 270,000 property millionaires – won’t apply to the majority of homeowners but the rest of its analysis will.

We use the expression ‘first impressions count’ for good reason and potential buyers faced with an exterior that’s cracked, flaking and grubby will make quick assumptions about your property.

If you follow politics, you’ll know it’s a case of ‘all change’ at the Conservative party. While the headline news is the resignation of our Prime Minister and the voting-in of a new leader, there was a reshuffling within the lower ranks that may have an effect on the property market.

It won’t have escaped your notice that outside space on its own is one of the best ‘added value’ aspects of property, with a well-kept garden widely believed to add between 10% and 20% to a home’s value.