This map shows the value of property in London’s West End and West London roughly equating to Zone 1. It gives Londoners the ability to question property developers, estate agents and landlords about whether they are living close to a ‘good value’ tube station or ‘poor return’ tube station.

Property marketing makes clever use of imagery and smart marketing suites to tempt buyers. However, one thing it cannot do is change the name of the local tube station so the tube-linked data provides a good starting point.

West still best
To create the Wetherell London-Underground Property Map, Wetherell estate agent in association with Dataloft undertook an extensive survey, analysing sales and rental values for two-bedroomed apartments (as reported by the Land Registry, Lonres and Zoopla) over 12-months.

• The Piccadilly Line is London’s most prestigious, as ranked by the average value of a 2-bed apartment, £1.36 million.
• The next best is the District Line (£1.06 million), Circle Line (£1.02 million) and Central Line (£995,452).
• Unsurprisingly, ranked by property values, Knightsbridge is London’s most expensive tube station. Others in the top 10 include Hyde Park Corner, Sloane Square, Green Park, High Street Kensington and Regent’s Park.

The map shows that East London still has a long way to go before it can rival West London in offering the most sought-after places in which to live.

Wetherell London-Underground Property Map a journey through London’s property values. 

Figures (reported in ChiswickW4.com) from the Land Registry for the first quarter of 2013 show that prices have decreased – down by 5.9% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the previous three months. However, average prices are still up by 6.6% compared with the same period last year.

The principal problem in Chiswick appears to be a shortage of houses coming onto the market, in what is already a very competitive area with so many estate agents chasing sales. The volume of property is down by nearly 25% compared to the same period in 2012.

Asked to comment on the number of sales, Christian Harper of OliverFinn said: “I believe that with a level of uncertainty in the air, W4 homeowners have decided to stay in their current homes and are building loft extensions, side returns and garden offices.  I have never seen so many skips outside houses in W4 as I am seeing currently. I believe that this is caused by a combination of events…”

Read the full article.

Christian Harper of Chiswick estate agents OliverFinn: “Obtain at least three valuations from Estate agents.Do not just go for the highest as some agents just price high to justify their high fees, once they have your business; they will look to reduce the price a few weeks later.” Here is some good advice from NAEA:

Seek an accurate valuation
With competition on the increase, it is crucial to ensure that the valuation is competitive in current market conditions. As well as potentially decreasing the chance of selling, an inflated asking price may result in mortgage providers refusing finance for would-be buyers if they believe the valuation to be unrealistic.

Energy efficiency
As heating costs rise, many households are making their homes’ energy efficiency a priority. Despite the return of warmer weather, some buyers may use an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as a bargaining tool when looking to negotiate the price down. Taking simple steps such as installing draft excluders or improving the roof or boiler insulation will improve energy efficiency.

Show off your best bits
It is the smaller and often overlooked factors which help secure a sale. Often clearing up clutter is one of the best ways of increasing your home’s saleability. Make sure the garden is well presented and redecorate to improve the attractiveness of your home to would-be buyers. An open day is a useful way of showcasing your home to several buyers at once. It minimises disruption and is a great opportunity to display your home at its best.

Refresh, review and repair
If necessary, re-paint key rooms like the lounge and kitchen. Neutral decor generally appeals to buyers as they can project their own vision for the property on to this ‘blank canvas’. Cleaning marks from worn walls, re-grouting bathroom surfaces and replacing any broken fixtures really helps to perk up a property.

It is worth taking the time to ensure things like door bells and light bulbs function as they should. If you have a viewing in the evening, think carefully about how best to light each room – while natural light is usually a good thing, too much artificial lighting can seem stark.

Choose the professionals
Selling your home is the biggest financial transaction of a person’s life and can often be stressful. When deciding on the estate agent always use an NAEA member, who will provide the knowledge and professionalism to give you peace of mind throughout the sale process. All members are signed up to the NAEA’s client money protection scheme.

More guidelines for sellers from OliverFinn.

The owners have designed the accommodation to ideally suit professional sharers.

The accommodation comprises: private front door leading to entrance hallway with storage cupboards, 17’5 kitchen/living room with views over private garden, master double bedroom with en-suite shower room, two further double bedrooms, bathroom and 50′ Southwest facing private garden with patio area.

Beaumont Road is located within an area of Chiswick known as Chiswick Park which is well known for its numerous amenities including Chiswick Business Park, a variety of award winning pubs and bistro bars, good shopping on Chiswick High Road and excellent transport connections into and out of town.

Are you looking to let/rent your flat in Chiswick? We would love to help
Are you interested in looking at other flats to rent or to let in Chiswick and surrounding areas including W3, W4, W6, W12 & TW11?
Do you require any buy to let mortgage advice prior to letting, buying or selling your flat?
We look forward to being of service.
Recent instructions offered by OliverFinn Chiswick

At OliverFinn Chiswick we love to know as much as we can about the areas that we work in. We believe that we can only call ourselves experts, if we truly are.

ARLA figures indicate that a lack of housing supply is taking firm hold. Ian Potter, Managing Director: “Our data suggests that tenants are increasingly sitting tight in their property and either reluctant, or unable to move.

“This stagnation means fewer and fewer properties are freed up.” However the ARLA figures have no relationship to London or Chiswick figures where the situation is the complete opposite.

Corporate tenants for example, are demanding much more aggressive break-clauses in tenancy agreements says Christian Harper of Chiswick lettings agent OliverFinn: “Organisations often terminate the tenancy ahead of time. In my experience, financial pressures have forced many firms to re-post employees well before expected termination. Only today we have been served notice by two corporates that are outside the three-year expectation.”

Expert assessment
However, there is a good supply of rental property in Chiswick, but the supply of good quality tenants at strong rental prices is proving harder.

Estate agents rarely report this to potential clients says Harper: “There are over 30 agents competing for the same market and therefore feel that they still need to trot out classic lines like ‘We deal with all the corporates and have a unique database of desperate high paying tenants’. This is cobblers!”

According to ARLA the demand for rental discourages many existing tenants from moving, which in turn reduces the number of vacancies on the market. In contrast, Rightmove is currently offering over 600 properties to rent in W4. Are there equal numbers of desperate high paying potential tenants?

No, says Harper: “It is beginning to turn into a tenants market locally, as Chiswick has become somewhat saturated with flats that represent pensions and investments for their owners – many of whom target excellent corporate clients.

“In this economic climate, targeting employers will not give landlords the best chance of securing A1 tenants. I believe that now is the time for landlords to seek expert assessment of tenants, combined with asking a fair rent for good quality stock. “At OliverFinn we pride ourselves in honest and professional assessment and this is borne out by our market share, which for 2013 appears to be blowing a hole in the ceiling!”

No one should have to make a cardboard box their home, and buying cardboard moving boxes could be a way of ensuring that nobody has to.

A youth homelessness charity Depaul UK has launched a new business, selling cardboard boxes to home movers. Profits will go towards helping young people off the streets.

The enterprise aims to capture a lucrative share of the UK’s multi-million pound house-moving cardboard box market, and at the same time, give a leg up to youngsters who are homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Although the home removal boxes look, cost and work in the same way as other firms, these boxes change lives. There is a real and often distressing association between cardboard boxes and those sleeping rough. But when you buy your boxes from The Depaul Box Company, you’ll be helping to make sure a young person won’t have to sleep on one.

The company sells cardboard boxes at £30 per pack of ten, £40 per pack of 20 and £60 per pack of 30.

Chiswick House and Gardens
Visitors are welcome to picnic in the Gardens and there are several dog-free areas for informal picnicking.

Dukes Meadow
Bring your picnic to Chiswick’s riverside park, which is bordered by a loop of the River Thames. The park contains a beautiful water play area and adventure playground, there is large meadow for general activities, like kite flying or just walking your dog.

Acton Park
Acton Park contains and provides all sorts of facilities: recreational, ecological, horticultural, landscape, heritage and utility values. It is well respected and loved by the local community. Amenities include a bowling green and pavilion, tennis courts, games area, play ground and pond.

Gunnersbury Park Estate
Gunnersbury Park is a large leafy park set between Brentford and Acton. It has a range of attractions including formal gardens, green open spaces, lakes, historic buildings, a museum, play and sports facilities and a network of tree lined paths.

Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens is not just for gardeners! There are plenty of family-friendly activities and you are also welcome to bring your own food. Picnics are allowed anywhere except in the cafes and restaurants, or inside the glasshouses.

Richmond Park
You are welcome to picnic in all eight Royal Parks, including Richmond Park, where picnicking is popular especially during the summer.

Green Park
If you’re craving the innocence of childhood, head down to Green Park this afternoon at 2pm (May 4) for a Teddy Bear picnic and pyjama party.

Alternatively, what could be better than enjoying your picnic in the garden? If the sunshine disappears, you can also disappear back inside for a picnic on the carpet!

The accommodation comprises: entrance hallway with storage cupboard, 15’3 reception with vaulted ceiling, 14’1 mezzanine kitchen/dining room, two double bedrooms, family bathroom and 21’6 decked flat roof.

Ivy Crescent is located within a highly desirable area of Chiswick known as Chiswick Park that offers an excellent choice of amenities including: Chiswick Business Park, a variety of award winning bistro’s & restaurants, shopping on Chiswick High Road and excellent transport connections in to and out of town.

Are you looking to sell your flat in Chiswick? We would love to help
Are you interested in looking at other flats to buy in Chiswick and surrounding areas including W3, W4, W6, W12 & TW11?
Do you require any mortgage advice prior to buying or selling your flat?
We look forward to being of service.

Recent instructions offered by OliverFinn Chiswick

At OliverFinn Chiswick we love to know as much as we can about the areas that we work in. We believe that we can only call ourselves experts, if we truly are.

The complete accommodation comprises: entrance hallway, 27’4 reception room, fully fitted kitchen area, mezzanine study and storage room, guest cloakroom/shower room, 16’2 bedroom with en-suite bathroom, mezzanine dressing room and underground parking.

Chiswick Green Studios is regarded as Chiswick’s most luxurious residential development offering a secure environment with gated entrance and porterage, private residents gymnasium and underground parking whilst enjoying excellent access to local amenities and transport links into and out of town.

Are you looking to sell your flat in Chiswick? We would love to help
Are you interested in looking at other flats to buy in Chiswick and surrounding areas including W3, W4, W6, W12 & TW11?
Do you require any mortgage advice prior to buying or selling your flat?
We look forward to being of service.

Recent instructions offered by OliverFinn Chiswick

At OliverFinn Chiswick we love to know as much as we can about the areas that we work in. We believe that we can only call ourselves experts, if we truly are.

The figures show that prices of property for sale in W4 appear to have remained stable, as reported in the local news website www.ChiswickW4.com.  Of the 53 property sales in the W4 postcode area reported so far to the Land Registry in 2013 the average price has been £698,879. Of these nine have changed hands for over £1,000,000, the most expensive of which was on Dukes Avenue costing its new owners £2,150,000.

Christian Harper of W4 estate agent OliverFinn said that demand for property in W4 far outstretches supply. “For this reason I expect to see at least a 10% increase in Land Registry figures over the next couple of months.

“My primary concern is the complete lack of stock. If supply continues to drip feed the market I predict that prices will continue to rise sharply. This has the potential to replicate the conditions of the early 1990′s, which none of us want.

“Fortunately it looks highly unlikely that interest rates will rise, which will assist in preventing catastrophe.” According to the Land Registry London property prices continue to lead the rest of the country. The average price of a home in the capital is now £370,819.

For more detail read the full news report.