Welcome to Cockrams Surveying Blog

If you have trouble selling your house, you should consider giving it a name rather than a number, according to a survey. The name “Rose Cottage”, “The Lodge” or “Woodlands” conjures up images of a rural idyll and property full of character, far more than if the same house merely had a street number, according … Read More »

What next for house Prices? Last week The Telegraph asked a panel of industry experts if they agreed confidence in the housing market had strengthened. RICS Chief Economist Simon Rubinsohn said, “I think that confidence has improved since the end of the year but it remains fragile and has a strong regional dimension. Our headline … Read More »

In general terms since mid 2007 the buying and selling of houses has very much reduced. Around 2006 and 2007 the number of houses exchanging hands each month was approx 110,000 but then dropped quite quickly towards the end of 2007. By mid 2008 the number had halved. If we only look back over the … Read More »

House prices edged upwards in March, according to the latest Rightmove House Price Index, although activity is largely limited to the upper end of the market. According to the company’s research, the need for larger deposits means that purchases are heavily focused on owners with equity already built up in their properties. Meanwhile, first-time buyers … Read More »

Buying a flat or apartment can be a lot more complicated than buying a house: who is responsible for communal areas? Is the building insured? What if something in the hall or stairwell gets broken? Residential development managing company Chainbow has just launched a free online guide for first-time buyers to answer all these questions. … Read More »

Q: “I live in a rented property and, until now, have always paid my rent direct to the landlord. I recently received a letter from an estate agent saying that from now on, I should pay my rent to them, and that the property may be repossessed when my tenancy ends in August. “I phoned … Read More »

Quidos Accreditation has always strived to maintain the highest quality standards within the energy assessment industry, and in September 2010 took a stand against “reverse auction” panels after it became apparent that quality is being compromised by cost with the launch of these panels. “We should not devalue the industry, the EPC and ourselves ” … Read More »

Buying your first home can be an exciting time, but it’s always a good idea to plan ahead and start thinking about your home insurance before you’ve even got the keys. It can be a very busy time in your life, as you spin the various financial plates at once to secure that property you’ve … Read More »

Rent increases rapidly across the UK Strong tenant demand and falling supply is pushing rental prices higher according to the latest RICS UK Residential Lettings Survey. Rents rose at a rapid pace in the three months to the end of January, as falling supply of rental properties and strong tenant demand continued to drive prices … Read More »

BBC1’s Cowboy Trap! Do you have a story to tell? The BBC are working on their 3rd series of BBC1’s Cowboy Trap and are currently looking for stories of homeowners who have been stung by builders who have carried out work on their home. The aim of the programme is for our team to help … Read More »