Some property related services to consider

We're not bad at baking, either

We have staff with many, many years of experience of living, and working as estate agents, in South East London and Kent.  In that time, we've come across many people who provide services we rely on and who, in our experience, have shown that they do a good job for our clients.

This blog post will, over time, mention more and more of these service providers.  We can't guarantee that they will be perfect for all our clients and we know there are other good service providers out there, but we do suggest the companies listed below are worth considering:  

•  Property related legal services: Fortress Law - www.fortresslaw.co.uk 

•  Removals: Coppards - www.coppardsrelocations.co.uk

•  Professional inventory preparation services for landlords and agents to ensure a property’s condition is fully recorded at the start of any new tenancy- Marie – Luminous Inventory Services on 07792 383 929 or email marie@luminousinventory.co.uk. Website www.luminousinventory.co.uk  

Of course, if you're an individual or a family moving home or a landlord letting a property or properties, you should talk to us, because we're friendly, passionate, professional and innovative.  

Those are our values and it is because we live up to them that people choose us, so remember us too - http://www.edwardashdale.com

QR codes and you

Our very own Edward Ashdale QR code

Edward Ashdale Estate Agents is a 21st century estate agents with old-fashioned values.  We described what those values are in an earlier blog here.

Two of our values – professionalism and innovation – mean that we have to keep up with the latest developments to best help our clients.  Where possible, we want to take the lead in what we do.

With our use of QR codes, we are a leader.  We’re ahead of the majority of other estate agents, large, medium, and small, many of whom do not use them in any of their marketing as yet. In fact, we've been using them for months!

So, what is a QR code?

In short, a QR code is a type of barcode that can be easily scanned with smartphones. It will take you straight to a webpage, without the hassle of typing in long and complicated web addresses.  The letters QR stand for Quick Response.

Our webpages include the details of the properties we have to buy, sell, and let.  So it is helpful to our clients that, for instance, anyone looking at one of our “For sale” signs or at our newspaper property advertisements can easily use a QR code to go to our website if they have a smartphone handy.

We have used this ahead of many other estate agents because we want to be professional and innovate so our clients really enjoy our service.

However, our old-fashioned values mean we enjoy the old ways too.  So, once you learn about us through this blog or a QR code, drop in to see us and say hello.  We will be able to help you if you’re a landlord or seeking to rent, buy or sell a home, and if you do you can be sure of a Quick (and friendly) Response.

You can see our staff here (we've recently been joined by Hayley who will be added to the page soon) and this is where you can find us: 


56 Beckenham Lane
Bromley
Kent
BR2 0DQ

And:

381/383 Norwood Road
London
SE27 9BQ

We look forward to seeing you.

The Edward Ashdale Team

New partnership, new newsletter for Edward Ashdale Estate Agents

Our newsletter had a flowery first page. Photo: David Coyne

We’re a relatively new partnership that brings together two respected, established businesses, but already Edward Ashdale Estate Agents are creating the foundations for success.  We believe that our greatest success will be simply to further build our reputation for offering a really excellent service for all our clients.

One part of our service is to keep our clients and anyone who is interested in us well informed about what we’re doing, what we offer, and why you should choose us.  As a result, earlier this year we launched our first Edward Ashdale Estate Agents newsletter.  It is being published quarterly, and can be collected by one of our branches in Bromley or Tulse Hill (do say “hello” when you drop in) or e-mailed or sent to be read on smartphones. And a copy is available via our website, here.  Just contact us  and you can sign up.  We won’t share your details with anyone else and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Our Summer newsletter is coming soon, but what was in the Spring issue?  Lots of great content including:

-  Most important of all, a thank you to our clients who have written to us, unasked, to thank us for what we’ve done for them. That puts a smile on our faces;

-  News and views and our predictions for the year;

-  A profile of Derrick, our friendly Senior Negotiator at Tulse Hill, who was recently delighted to receive a call from a client landlord in Australia who had remembered him and wanted to call on his help again;

-  An update on property sales and lettings;

-  Our best moments since our businesses got together.  Job satisfaction and coffee and food seem to dominate this article;

-  A legal update on Deposit Protection.  If you’re a landlord, this is important;

-  A dreadful pun about this being the season to be the Springboard into a new era.

Would you like to suggest something for the next issue?  Have a word and we’ll see what we can do. 

And finally, best wishes to our readers from the Edward Ashdale team.

Welcome to the new Edward Ashdale blog - 21st century estate agents with old-fashioned values

John Adamthwaite, John Campolini, and Sam Samuel

Edward Ashdale Estate Agents is a new company that brings together Edwards Property Consultants of Tulse Hill and Ashdale Estate Agents of Bromley.

Now, both offices work together on the same business - local property sales, lettings and property management. We have a great deal of technical and practical experience and local knowledge. Our agents are highly regarded in presenting property across a wide spectrum, from studio flats to executive homes.

However, we’re much more than a business with two offices.  We’re a group of people with shared values.  These are:

1. Passion.  We love our work.  We enjoy doing our best to help our clients in moving home or managing property.  We really want our clients to enjoy our service and come back again;

2. Professionalism. We work professionally to deliver a top quality service for our clients in everything that we do.  For example, our brochures are prepared with professional photography to help them stand out and we always accompany our clients on viewings;       

3. Friendliness. We’re all friendly people who know how stressful property transactions can be.  We want to help our clients in every way possible;

4. Innovation.  Passion, professionalism and friendliness are our old-fashioned values.  Innovation is our 21st century value.  We know that to be truly professional we must keep up with the latest developments in property management, sales and lettings best practice.  Better still, we want to be leaders.  As a result, we are using social media, such as this blog, and mobile tools to help us to deliver a better service.  And that is just the start.

If you have a property transaction or management need, get in touch and we’ll show you that we are living up to our values.

John Adamthwaite, John Campolini, and Sam Samuel.   

Directors, Edward Ashdale, July 2012

Nostalgia corner - this and previous posts are from pre-Edward Ashdale days

Spring had sprung when we did this

This post celebrates some things that we don't want to lose simply because we're now a successful, merged company.  

Our Ashdale business in Bromley previously gave a taste of Summer to local residents with our sunflower flyer, right.  We have some even more tasteful flyers going out as Edward Ashdale and they may appear in future posts.

Ashdale Estate Agents also had its own blog, which can still be read  here. 

Historic posts 2 - testimonials

We've always enjoyed helping to move people happy

Before we became Edward Ashdale, we had a proud record of impressing our clients and we had fun creating advertising like the now historic flyer to the right. If anything that is even better now that we're Edward Ashdale.  This post is a little trip down memory lane, with just a couple of the some received testimonials from the Ashdale days.  More current ones will be added separately, and many already  appear on our website here.  And we'll also look out some from our Edwards side.

July 2008

 Dear Sam,
Just a short note to thank your firm and Ian Clark in particular, for all the hard work in achieving and completing the sale of the Croydon property. I have no doubt that without Ian´s efforts, way above and beyond the call of duty, this transaction would have floundered a long time ago.

I have been involved with many estate agents relating to numerous sales & purchases over the past 30 plus years, and have more often than not been disappointed in their level of professionalism, that cannot be said of your firm. I would have no hesitation in unconditionally recommending your firms services to others.

Many Thanks

Regards
Mr Colin O

July 2008

Dear Ian & team,

Many thanks for all your help with my house rental. I very much value the swiftness and efficiency in which you arranged the letting and your efforts and hard work in organising everything, which has meant that the transition has been smooth and stress free for me.

I feel safe in the knowledge that, despite being oversees, the property will be in good hands with your on-going management services.

With best regards,

Mrs L

Historic posts 1 - Ashdale's first newsletter before the merger that created Edward Ashdale Estate Agent

Only the e-mail address has been changed in this snapshot from our history.

Spring 2008 Ashdale newsletter

Greetings, and welcome to Ashdale Estate Agents’ first newsletter, following the launch of our smart new office in Bromley. At the beginning of each season we will keep you up to date with all the latest developments concerning the property market and an honest view from agents on the ground. I appreciate time in the modern age is invaluable. Our news will be short and informative. If you have any specific queries, comments or you require advice please feel free to contact me sam@edwardashdale.com

Mr Sam Samuel MNAEA CRLM - Director

PROPERTY SALES MARKET

We opened our new office in December 2008). Amidst our opening was of course the furore surrounding Northern Rock and the ‘credit crunch’. In my opinion the media seems committed to slowing the property market. Some rumours I have heard suggest the media is acting as a puppet of the City who use doom and gloom news to encourage the government to cut interest rates.

There are probably many reasons to bandy around doom and gloom, not least to prevent the imprudent public from spending unscrupulously. The upshot is of course, and an ever developing trend in the South East, a huge shortage of land and property.

The spiraling social trend over decades of years gone by where the City expands further year on year is not one likely to be reversed.

This coupled with global population growth should stabilize property prices in the future. No one will argue against the speed in growth of property being unsustainable over the last five years. With this hype comes the dishonorable Estate Agent who would over value the property by 10% to 15% just to win your instruction, further inflating the market. What we are witnessing now is a correction and stabilization in property prices. Land continues to be developed and new properties likewise are sold. The market remains favourable to buyers as some vendors circumstances force them to move.

PROPERTY LETTING MARKET

I was involved in lettings prior to the ‘buy-to-let boom’ in the late 90’s, early millennium, around to see the over supply after the boom and now witness rent levels at an all time peak buoyed by demand. Employment levels in the City are stable and international banks are seconding people back to work here. All of which are making for a steady lettings market.
The problem has turned full circle back to the climate 10 yrs ago when there was a huge shortage of property to let. Particularly 1 bed flats, where 5 years ago we could rent them comfortably for £650pcm, we can now let the same property for £725pcm.

At the turn of the New Year we saw a huge demand for larger executive and country style properties from various organizations, this has subsided now but usually demand in this area is seasonal and I expect come the summer for demand levels to rise again. Rents across the board have risen by 10% to 15%, do not forget to take into account rising levels of inflation! Buying property to let can still yield profits in the long term and are still safer than a pension in my opinion.

A little relief for Landlords should arrive on the 6th April 2008 in Capital Gains tax currently at 40%, with the Government committed to reducing this to 18% through the removal of indexation allowance and taper relief. This should also simplify the complicated mechanism that surrounds Capital Gains Tax.

It is nearly a year since the introduction of the legal requirement to register tenant’s deposits. Seemingly the scheme can be applauded by all parties as it has prevented a lot of improper Landlords from mistreating tenant’s deposits and likewise tenants that cause damage beyond wear and tear.

A heads up for Landlords this year is the introduction of Energy Performance Certificate’s from October for all properties on the market to let. If you do not get an EPC you will not be able to proceed with letting the property. Whilst we may lament now, this could ultimately be better for all as it should minimize the level of maintenance required to a property. The Energy Performance Certificate will be valid for a period of 10 years.

PROPERTY OVERSEASAshdale Estate Agents’ focus in the property market is sales and lettings within our core catchment of BR postcodes. I have however teamed up with an extremely reliable client who resides in Spain and who specializes in the property business there. Colin Ovenden of CASAS-4-YOU has contributed some news on the market abroad. Casas-4-You are able to offer high quality advice if you are looking to purchase property in Spain. Most of his contacts are in the quieter village areas where you are more likely to find a deal and what CASAS-4-You provide is a personal one on one service second to none, so any fears you may have can be quickly allayed.

Spain still a great choice for long term investment
The boom is officially over! The dramatic price rises seen in the last 5 years have given way to much lower year on year price increases in both new & resale property throughout Spain.
The Spanish market now represents perhaps the best “value for money” for the longer term investor. Short term investment now seems to focus on the Balkan areas or South America (Brazil in particular). Whilst these may seem attractive, they nearly all suffer from the same combination of risk factors. Namely instability both economic and political, and a lack of infrastructure to support essential services such as Health, Education, and Transportation.
Not so with Spain, the political and economic climate is sound, and the investment in key support services, is second to none in Europe. So if an overseas investment, holiday home, or even relocation is what you are looking for then look no further. Fabulous climate , lower cost of living, lower property costs, and a choice of lifestyles to suit all - what more could you want?
We hold information within our office at 56 Beckenham Lane, on properties and the regions of Spain covered in our office. Feel free to pop in for a coffee to discuss further or alternatively contact Colin direct at info@casas-4-you.com

If you are interested in contributing to our next newsletter please contact Sam at the office 0208 466 8445 or e-mail sam@edwardashdale.com

Landord and letting agents help 1 - Gas safety FAQ

Questions lead to answers on the Health and Safety Executive website here.

 

Who is a landlord?
 
What are my duties as a landlord in relation to gas safety?
 
What are my duties as a letting/ managing agent in relation to gas safety?
 
Do I have to use a CORGI-registered installer to complete gas work?
 
Should I provide my tenants with a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm?
 
What gas appliances do I have responsibilities for?
 
What checks should be done between tenancies?
 
How far do I need to go if the tenant prevents access for a gas safety check?
 
What should I do if my tenant’s heating and hot water has been switched off following a gas safety check or maintenance visit?

Can I keep the Landlord's Gas Safety Certificates electronically?
 
Can a room containing a gas appliance still be used as a bedroom?
 
I have LPG appliances in my properties, do they need to be checked?
 
What if I use a managing agent?
 
What if I have shared ownership of my property with another housing company?
 
What if I break the regulations?
 
How much will a landlord’s gas safety check cost?
 
What should I do if I smell gas or I am concerned about the safety of any gas appliances?
 
What support is available to help me understand my duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998?

Schools in focus 5 - Highfield Infants' School, BR2

A foundation school for mixed gender children aged 5 – 7 years, Highfield Infants' School has 270 pupils in three year groups, at the heart of the Shortlands community. It is ciurrently rated as Outstanding by Ofsted (2011).

They have a well-equipped and furnished classrooms, a networked information and communications technology (ICT) suite, interactive whiteboards, a children’s reference library and a multi-purpose hall. The children enjoy a range of outdoor facilities too, including an attractive and well-maintained pond and wildlife area, a garden specially designed for its appeal to the spectrum of senses and plenty of mature trees. 

Children who attend Highfield Infants' School have a guaranteed place at Highfield Junior School where they continue their education from Year 3 to Year 6.  Ofsted page/reports here.
 
Admission is via the Bromley Local Authority.

Head Teacher – Mrs Ann Golding

Highfield Infants’ School
Highfield Drive
Shortlands,
Bromley
Kent BR2 0RX

Tel: 020 8464 7804
E-mail: general.office@highfield-info.bromley.sch.uk
Website here

Information last updated October 2012 

Schools in focus 4 - Clare House Primary School

Clare House Primary School opened in January 1997 and is a single storey, light, open-plan building designed for an intake of seven classes with 30 children in each year group. It also has a reputation as one of the best schools in the South East.

The teaching areas for each class open onto shared areas, used for groups to work and for special needs support. There is one for infants and one for juniors. There are two halls, a sound-proof music room, computer suite and canopied courtyard, where infants work and play. The school benefits from large school grounds with a playground, grassed area with a playing field and equipment for climbing and imaginative play, wild areas and a garden, where children grow fruit and vegetables. Head Teacher: Dr Bev Feather

Clare House Primary School ______Tel: 020 8658 4633
Oakwood Avenue _______________E-mail: admin@clarehouse.bromley.sch.uk
Beckenham ____________________Website: http://www.clarehouse.net/
Kent. BR3 6PJ

Schools in focus 3 - St Mark's Church of England Primary School

St Mark’s school is a Voluntary Aided Co-educational Church of England Primary School for children aged 5 – 11 years. It is a two form entry school with 406 pupils in 7 year groups. It was founded in 1871 by Christian people who wanted to serve the local community here in South Bromley. They maintain close links with St Mark’s Church and are administered jointly by the Diocese of Rochester, The Parish of St Mark, the Local Education Authority (LEA), Parents and Staff. As a Church Aided School, however, the majority of the Governing Body are Foundation Governors who represent the Church. They have a slightly different admission procedure to most other schools where they try to admit children of all local parents who wish a church school education
The School benefits from a new reception block which opened in 2003, as well as a Music Room, a Food Technology Room, a Media Suite and an information and Communication Technology Suite. There are also two halls – the Performing Arts Studio and The Gymnasium.

The School is situated close to Bromley South mainline station and numerous bus routes.
Head Teacher: Mrs K Owbridge B.A.(Hons) QTS, NPQH

St Mark’s Church of England (Aided) _____Tel: 020 8460 0524
Primary School _______________________E-mail: admin@st-marks.bromley.sch.uk
Aylesbury Road _______________________Website: http://www.st-marks.bromley.sch.uk/
Bromley. BR2 0QR

Schools in focus 2 - Valley Primary School, Bromley

Valley Primary School is a popular two form entry school which has recently benefitted from a £1.75 million refurb and new build programme. The facilities are excellent and include two libraries, two computer suites, a sports hall, and a drama/music studio. It benefits from a 12-acre site including a conservation area and extensive playing fields.
The School is situated in Shortlands, close to the centre of Bromley and is easily reached by British Rail (Shortlands Station) or by bus (227 or 358).
Head Teacher: Mrs S.F.Head

Valley Primary School ___________Tel: 020 8460 1121
Beckenham Lane _______________E-mail: admin@vally.bromley.sch.uk
Bromley ______________________Website: http://www.valley.bromley.sch.uk/
Kent BR2 0DA

Schools in focus 1 - Highfield Junior School, Beckenham

Highfield Junior School is a mixed, Foundation Junior School catering for pupils between the ages of 7 and 11 years. Pupils are admitted at the beginning of the academic year in which they will reach their 8th birthday. Highfield is one of the most sought after schools in the South East.
The school is situated in South Hill Road, in a pleasant residential area less than a mile from the centre of Bromley. There are currently 381 children on roll accommodated in twelve classrooms. There is also a maths room, PSHE room, a library, a conference room, a music room and a computer room installed with thirty-two new computers. The school has a large hall, tuition rooms, a cooking area and a medical room. The spacious school grounds contain three hard playgrounds, an adventure trail, willow sculptures, shaded areas and a large playing field with pavillion on site.
A daily Breakfast and After School Club is run for both infant and junior children during term-time. Acting Head Teacher: Mrs Karen Bigg

Highfield Junior School __________Tel: 020 8460 2597
South Hill Road ________________E-mail: admin@highfield-jun.bromley.sch.uk
Shortlands, Bromley
Kent. BR2 0RL