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Details: Published: 14 June 2022; Hits: 694

What Are House Buying Searches?

One of the first steps to buying a house after your offer has been accepted is to order searches on the property.

If you’re not sure what house buying searches are, we’ll explain in this article:

What they are

Why they’re important

Whether you need to purchase them

What Are House Buying Searches?

House buying searches are checks carried out on a property before you buy it. They usually cost a couple of hundred pounds (approx. £200-300) and can provide highly valuable information about the property.

For example, searches can tell you, and your lender, if the house:

Sits on a floodplain and regularly floods

Has any debts that you’ll take over when you buy it

Sits on top of a mineshaft which, if it collapses, could cause severe damage to the property

Is in an area where a new road, train line, housing estate, wind farm or other types of development will be built

Sits on contaminated land from being previously owned by an industrial site – which can include things like asbestos, solvents, gases or arsenic

You’ll normally have to pay for searches shortly after your offer has been formally accepted and you’ve instructed your solicitor to commence work.

What Are the Most Common Searches That Need to Be Done?

There are three main searches your solicitor will order for you when you buy a house:

Local authority searches

Environmental searches

Water and drainage searches

Local authority searches will check the following for issues:

Planning

Building control

Highways

Pollution

Environmental searches will check for issues related to:

Flooding

Landslides

Subsidence

Contaminated land

Water and drainage searches will check things like:

Who owns and maintains the nearby sewers and drains

Whether the property is connected to a water supply and sewer

If the water supply is on a meter or not

Where the public sewers, drains and pipes are on the property

If you’ll need permission from a water company to extend the property

Are Searches Necessary When Buying a House?

If you’re buying a property with a mortgage, the lender will almost always require you to pay for searches on the property.

This is because they need to know how much the property is worth and what issues they may be liable to pay for if they repossess it in the future (if you don’t keep up with your mortgage payments).

However, if you’re buying in cash, you don’t legally have to pay for searches, unless you want to.

But remember, there are still benefits to ordering searches when you’re a cash buyer. They are much more in-depth than a homebuyer’s survey and can provide a detailed picture of what risks there are in buying the property.

Conclusion

Generally, you’ll always need to pay for searches when buying a property with a mortgage. If you buy a property with cash, it’s usually your decision whether you pay for searches, but it’s important to remember that not paying for them can cause significant risk and issue later down the line.

If you’re considering buying a property and want advice about the process, our friendly team of agents at WPR are happy to help.

Give us a call today or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to start the conversation.

Details: Published: 10 June 2022; Hits: 324

Should I Keep An Original Fireplace In My Home?

If you’re buying a house you may find that an original fireplace is a feature of your new living space.

At one time, fireplaces were a key feature in any room. However, thanks to modern heating, finding one in modern homes is becoming increasingly unlikely since chimneys are a significant source of heat loss. Furthermore, fireplaces are often inefficient when it comes to heating a property.

Since we are all working towards reducing our carbon footprints these days, it may sound counterintuitive to keep a feature that will counteract those efforts. Yet, there’s another side to consider. Many people who come to us here at WPR are looking for a new home with a fireplace when making their next property purchase.

So, this raises the question – is it best to keep a feature fireplace, or get rid of it?

The Fireplace Problem

Although you may want to get rid of a fireplace in your new home, there’s an important factor to consider. Fireplaces form a structural component of your home’s build. That means that removing them requires structural changes to be carried out to the house and that necessitates help from a skilled and experienced construction professional. It’s often easier to leave the fireplace in situ and use it for other purposes.

A Focal Point

If you choose to keep a fireplace in your new home, you don’t need to use it for its original purpose. It’s possible to install more efficient options in the space such as a modern log burner that will allow you to retain the fireplace as a focal point. If you plan to do this, you’ll need a chimney liner installed – a task you can either do yourself or arrange for a professional to complete.

Decorating A Fireplace

If you’re buying a period property you should certainly think twice before getting rid of the fireplace. It will be a major selling point when you decide to sell the property in the future. The best course of action is to decorate the period fireplace so that it looks attractive and in keeping with your room décor but still retains the original feature.

You can decorate a period fireplace by adding a modern surround or by changing the mantelpiece to one that is more to your taste. Many people choose to make a fireplace a stand-out feature of their room by emphasising its period design by adding traditional fire irons and screen.

It’s worth bearing in mind that a surprising number of prospective home buyers come to us looking for properties that already have a fireplace installed. In fact, many people who purchase new-build properties choose to install a faux fireplace in their living rooms to recreate the traditional feel!

Whatever you’re looking for in your new home, the team here at is here to help. Get in touch with us today or visit our website at wpr.co.uk to discover the exciting properties that are available right now!

Details: Published: 07 June 2022; Hits: 397

What Does ‘Under Offer’ Mean?

When browsing property listings online and in estate agent offices, you may come across the term ‘under offer’. If so, you may be wondering what this means and whether you can still view or make an offer on the property.

In this article, we’ll answer the question, “What does ‘under offer’ mean?” and provide an overview of what you need to consider if you plan on making an offer on an ‘under offer’ property.

What Does ‘Under Offer’ Mean?

Put simply, a property that’s ‘under offer’ means that a buyer or multiple buyers have made the seller an offer to purchase the property.

Usually, estate agents cancel viewings on properties under offer. This is to ensure the buyer who made the offer has a fair chance of being accepted without being gazumped (which means losing the property to someone else after their offer has been accepted).

Once the vendors have accepted the offer, the status of the property will change to ‘STC’ or ‘Subject to Contract’. This means that the sale of the property is progressing with the buyer whose offer was accepted. The sale isn’t legally binding until contracts exchange – which usually doesn’t happen until at least a couple of months later.

Can an ‘Under Offer’ Sale Fall Through?

Technically, a property that’s ‘under offer’ hasn’t sold, so it can’t fall through. But just because the home is under offer, that doesn’t mean it will be sold. The seller could reject the offer or the buyer could pull out.

If you have your eye on a property that’s under offer, keep an eye on the listing to see if the status changes back to ‘for sale’ or to ‘subject to contract’ and ask the local estate agent to be kept in the loop for updates.

Can I Make an Offer on a House that’s ‘Under Offer’?

Put simply, yes you can make an offer on a property that’s listed as ‘under offer’. In fact, it should be seen as your last opportunity to put in an offer on a property.

Just be aware that if you do this, you could enter into a bidding war with the other buyer that’s made an offer – which can mean you’ll need to make a competitive bid that’s higher than the market value.

How to Find the Perfect Property

If you’ve missed out on a property, we truly believe everything happens for a reason and there’s another home just around the corner for you!

Here are our tips on how to find the right property for you:

Browse property portals

Subscribe to alerts for properties that match your criteria

If you’re looking for a property, WPR are your local property experts. Give us a call today for a chat about what you’re looking for and we can send you information about relevant homes for sale.

Call us now or send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a call back from one of our friendly team of agents.

Details: Published: 01 June 2022; Hits: 314

Moving to the Country? Pros and Cons of Living Rurally

Moving to the countryside is a big decision. It can mean you have less access to work and entertainment complexes, but it can also lead to a slower pace of living where you are more in touch with nature.

If you’re thinking about moving to the country, here are WPR’s list of pros and cons to consider before you make the move.

What are the Cons of Living Rurally?

Limited Work Opportunities

Many people view moving to the country as a retirement option, since job opportunities can be more limited than if you live in a city. If you’re not retiring, considering how you will get to work is an important factor about where you move to. Choosing a home near a train station may be best if you plan on commuting.

Access to Leisure and Entertainment

Many rural locations have an abundance of leisure facilities, but it’s unlikely they will be as close to your home as they would be in a city. Days out at the cinema, gym or shopping mall may require a much longer drive than you are used to.

Distance to Shops

Rural living still means you will have access to convenience stores. However, depending on where you move to, large supermarkets may be few and far between. You may need to drive long distances or rely on small local shops for your produce. If you prefer to get your food shopping delivered, it may also be more expensive.

Ease of Travel

Travelling around can be much more difficult in rural areas. Country lanes without pavements are common in many rural locations, so you may need to drive everywhere instead of relying on walking or public transport. The impact of this is particularly important to consider if you have children.

What are the Pros of Living Rurally?

Access to More Wildlife

Living rurally usually means you have more access to local nature reserves and forests. Plus, most homes in the country have gardens that are full of wildlife, so you can expect to share your garden with deer, badgers, rabbits, hedgehogs, foxes and other nearby wildlife.

Less Stress

City living is known to provide a more stressful environment for many people. Living rurally with greater access to nature, wildlife and the countryside is often associated with a slower pace of life and less stress.

Increased Privacy

Many homes in the countryside are more spaced out than homes in the city. Your nearest neighbour could be at the end of your street or another mile away, which can mean you have more privacy in your garden with no nearby houses overlooking yours.

Better Value for Money

Generally, properties in the countryside offer more for your money than a home in the city. Since rural living is considered ‘off the beaten track’, you can often live in a larger home with a bigger garden for a smaller budget.

Are You Thinking About a Countryside Move?

Moving home is a big decision and where is right for you is a huge part of that process. If you’re thinking about a countryside move, WPR are your local property experts. We can help talk you through the properties available and whether it’s the right move for you.

Get in touch today for a chat with our friendly team or send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request a call back.

Details: Published: 31 May 2022; Hits: 335

3 Tips to Make Your Garden Bee-Friendly

If you’ve been reading the news or watching the amazing legend that is David Attenborough, you’ve probably heard that it’s getting harder for bees to survive in our UK cities.

Just like humans, there are three main things bees need to thrive: food (i.e., pollen), water and shelter. Unfortunately, our gardens aren’t always full of these things, especially in warmer months.

However, there are many simple things you can do in your garden to make it a more attractive place for bees to visit.

If you want to invite more local bees to your garden this summer, here are three top tips to make your garden more bee-friendly.

Plant Bee-Friendly Flowers

One of the best things you can do for your local bees is to plant flowers full of pollen or nectar for them to enjoy.

Even though most flowers bloom in spring and summer, there are some species you can grow in winter and autumn that’ll continue to attract the bees in colder seasons. As a bonus, they’ll also make your garden look full of life at the end of the year, which can help your garden stand out if you’re selling in winter.

Here’s a quick guide to some of the flowers you can grow in each season:

Spring: Pansies, Bluebells, Primroses, Hawthorn, Peonies, Crocus and Rhododendrons

Summer: Lavender, Foxgloves, Snapdragons, Phlox, Echinacea, Poppies, Globe Thistle and Hollyhock

Autumn: Ivy, Witch Hazel, Borage and Zinnias

Winter: Snowdrops, Winter Clematis, Winter Honeysuckle and Winter Heather

Build Bee Hotels

We love this idea! Building a bee hotel for your garden can provide a shelter for local bees to rest in. Creating one is also a great family-friendly activity that ends up with something nice for you and the bees, since they can also become a rustic garden feature.

A bee hotel doesn’t need to be very big, and should be placed around 1-4 feet off the ground and ideally in a position that gets full sunlight.

Visit the RSPB UK website for a full guide on how to make your own bee hotel.

Create an Outdoor Herb Garden

Even though we often think bees only like flowers, this isn’t true. They also love many different garden herbs. If you want to make your garden more bee-friendly, consider creating an outdoor herb garden in spring or summer.

Common kitchen herbs like thyme, chives, sage and creeping rosemary are ideal for attracting the bees. Plus, they’ll make your garden smell amazing and you can use the cuttings to make fresh meals in the kitchen!

Conclusion

Making your garden bee-friendly is a great way to help the planet. It can make your garden and local area a more environmentally friendly place to live. Plus, having an eco-friendly home can sometimes help with your resale value and attractiveness to future buyers.

To learn more about how desirable a greener home is, WPR are your local property experts.

Get in touch with our friendly team today by calling or emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a chat about your property and how we can help.