<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- Generated on Sat, 25 May 2013 11:30:20 +0100 -->
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <atom:link href="http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <title>Latest News from Find A Home Online!</title>
    <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog</link>
    <description>Latest News from Find A Home Online!</description>
    <language>en-gb</language>
    <copyright><![CDATA[ Copyright 2011, AMI Creative Ltd. ]]></copyright>
    <webMaster>web@amicreative.co.uk</webMaster>
    <pubDate>Sat, 25 May 2013 11:30:20 +0100</pubDate>
    <generator><![CDATA[ AMI Creative RSS ]]></generator>
    <image>
      <url>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/i/bg/findahome_logo.png</url>
      <title>Find A Home Blog - Esatet Agents Blog</title>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog</link>
      <width>529</width>
      <height>92</height>
      <description>Find A Home Blog - Esatet Agents Blog</description>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-raises-500-for-the-donna-louise-trust</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Online Estate Agents Tom Williams and James Pattinson have raised &pound;500 for the Donna Louise Trust. They completed the 5k fun run on Sunday 12th May at Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent.

	Many thanks to those who have sponsored Tom and James.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2729/online-estate-agent-raises-500-for-the-donna-louise-trust</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 15:42:52 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2729/online-estate-agent-raises-500-for-the-donna-louise-trust</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-estate-agents-partners-with-izettle-offering-card-payments</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We are delighted to announce that we have partnered with iZettle and are&nbsp;now offering payments by debit or credit card on our upfront selling packages. Payments are taken securely via our chip and pin machine. Receipts are emailed instantly.

	Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams says &quot;Moving into accepting&nbsp;electronic payments is a natural progression for our company. We have&nbsp;listened to customers and are moving with the times. With the addition of the iZettle chip and pin machine, we now offer every type of payment method possible. We believe card payments will be popular as it means clients can take advantage of our low fixed fees whilst spreading the cost using a credit card.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2728/findahome-online-estate-agents-partners-with-izettle-offering-card-payments</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:07 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2728/findahome-online-estate-agents-partners-with-izettle-offering-card-payments</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-director-tom-williams-interviewed-on-abc-radio-australia</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	ABC Australia interviewed&nbsp;Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams&nbsp;on the &pound;1 houses for sale in Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent.

	Here is the radio interview:

	http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/am/201305/20130504-SAM6-UKHOUSES.mp3
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2727/findahome-online-director-tom-williams-interviewed-on-abc-radio-australia</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 10:55:57 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2727/findahome-online-director-tom-williams-interviewed-on-abc-radio-australia</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>1-houses-for-sale-in-cobridge-stoke-on-trent-attracting-worldwide-attention</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The sale of &pound;1 houses in Stoke-on-Trent was all over the news last week as the local council released details of the scheme. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is hoping to regenerate the Portland Street area of Cobridge and bring many of its derelict and empty houses back into use. They are offering to sell the houses to the public for &pound;1, providing the buyers sign up for a &pound;30,000 loan from the council to renovate the properties and bring them back up to a reasonable standard. So far, there has been a huge amount of interest from those wanting to get onto the property ladder.

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s Area Manager, Steph Dunn-Fox was quoted on the BBC news website last week after the story had broken. Steph was positive about the idea, but did see some flaws in the conditions that the council has set for would-be purchasers. This is how Steph&rsquo;s comments appeared on the website:-

	Steph Dunn-Fox, from Stoke-on-Trent-based estate agents findahomeonline.co.uk, said that Cobridge was presently an unattractive area for home buyers and was &quot;full of empty homes&quot;.

	She said: &quot;I think it&#39;s a great idea in principle and they&#39;re probably thinking it&#39;ll appeal most to first-time buyers.

	It&#39;s the sort of area and offer that could appeal to property developers, but they&#39;re excluded from this.

	It&#39;s difficult - unless you&#39;re from the area. Who wants to live on a rundown street, carry out a lot of work and know you have to stay there for at least five years?&quot;

	She said she could see a typical terrace house, redeveloped to a good standard, reaching a potential value of &pound;55,000 to &pound;60,000.

	The interest in the story has been so great that an Australian TV company is running a piece on their news channel. They are visiting Findahome Online&rsquo;s Staffordshire HQ on Wednesday 1st May to interview Director, Tom Williams. Tom will give his honest opinion on the scheme and offer a balanced view.

	Findahome Online wish Stoke-on-Trent City Council all the best with the scheme. It is a fantastic opportunity for local first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder. If it works, we would like to see the scheme across Stoke-on-Trent, as there are other areas which have not yet been regenerated and would benefit. Our only concern, as stated in Steph&rsquo;s comments, are the conditions set by the council, some of which we feel may not be achievable.

	One that has caught our attention is the council&rsquo;s condition relating to the potential buyer&rsquo;s required income. The minimum yearly salary of &pound;18,000 may be hard to achieve. Stoke-on-Trent is one of the lowest paid areas in the UK as it is not uncommon for people to work full-time and earn &pound;10-12,000 per annum. With this in mind, single people earning an average local wage will be unable to apply as they don&rsquo;t earn enough.

	Another concern is that people, who earn the sort of money the council are looking to attract, may not want to purchase a home in what is currently perceived to be a deprived area.

	This is a topic which is full of debate. Time will tell how successful or unsuccessful this new scheme turns out to be. It has to be tried, and we applaud Stoke-on-Trent City Council for its forward-thinking and innovative approach towards effecting change and improving the area.

	We will update you when the TV company has visited our offices.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2726/1-houses-for-sale-in-cobridge-stoke-on-trent-attracting-worldwide-attention</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:19:49 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2726/1-houses-for-sale-in-cobridge-stoke-on-trent-attracting-worldwide-attention</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>high-street-estate-agents-react-badly-to-competition-from-online-and-internet-estate-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	It has come to our attention over recent months that some of Findahome Online&#39;s competitors have been making disparaging comments to potential home sellers. This has not gone down very well with clients, who have found the other estate agents to be unprofessional. Should estate agents need to make derogatory comments about the competition when they are in someone&#39;s home trying to win new business? Of course they should not, they should be only concerned about what they can do and offer as part of their service.

	The fact that these estate agents feel the need to rubbish Findahome Online, we take as a massive compliment. If this is the only way they think they can win business, then they are wrong, and in fact the reverse is happening. A couple of our home sellers who raised this issue with us stated that there is no way they would consider using an estate agent who openly slates the competition. A massive own goal all round for the estate agents involved in this.

	Findahome Online are delighted to be a threat to traditional high street estate agents, especially pleasing is that one of those involved is the self styled &#39;leading local estate agents&#39;. Long may it continue!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2725/high-street-estate-agents-react-badly-to-competition-from-online-and-internet-estate-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:18:37 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2725/high-street-estate-agents-react-badly-to-competition-from-online-and-internet-estate-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>leading-online-estate-agent-reports-a-sale-a-day-in-april-2013</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Leading Staffordshire and Cheshire Online Estate Agents, Findahome Online have reported a brisk start to April 2013. They are currently selling a house a day. To date in April, 19 sales have been agreed, which works out at just over a sale a day.

	Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams says &quot;The spring market of 2013 has been excellent so far. We had a brilliant&nbsp;March and April is continuing in the same vain. I am delighted that we are getting such&nbsp;good results and saving our clients valuable money. Business is so good that we have expanded and employed more staff.&nbsp;Long may&nbsp;it continue.&quot;

	Findahome Online would like your property in Staffordshire and Cheshire to sell. Please call today for your free valuation 01782 564515.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2724/leading-online-estate-agent-reports-a-sale-a-day-in-april-2013</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:32:04 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2724/leading-online-estate-agent-reports-a-sale-a-day-in-april-2013</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-estate-agents-dust-off-their-running-shoes-for-donna-louise-trust-run-may-2013</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Staffordshire and Cheshire&#39;s Leading Online Estate Agents, Findahome Online are taking part in the Donna Louise Trust Run on Sunday May 12th 2013 at Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent. &nbsp;Director Tom Williams and Sales Negotiator James Pattinson have dusted off their running shoes and are raising money for what it is a very worthwhile cause.

	Tom says &quot;The Donna Louise Trust do an amazing job caring for children. James and I are pleased to be taking part in the run and making&nbsp;a contribution to a&nbsp;local charity. We aim to raise as much money as possible and hope the event is well attended.&quot;&nbsp;

	Findahome Online are proud to be supporting The Donna Louise Trust.

	Good luck to Tom and James!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2723/findahome-online-estate-agents-dust-off-their-running-shoes-for-donna-louise-trust-run-may-2013</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:54:11 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2723/findahome-online-estate-agents-dust-off-their-running-shoes-for-donna-louise-trust-run-may-2013</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-easter-opening-hours</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Happy Easter to all our clients, friends and family.

	Easter Opening Hours

	Good Friday March 29th 2013 - Closed

	Easter Saturday March 30th 2013 - Open as normal 9am - 2pm

	Easter Monday 1st April 2013 - Closed

	Tuesday April 2nd 2013 - Open as normal 9am - 5.30pm
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2722/findahome-online-easter-opening-hours</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:57:40 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2722/findahome-online-easter-opening-hours</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>staffordshire-estate-agent-requires-an-experienced-sales-negotiator-at-its-newcastle-under-lyme-hq</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Sales Negotiator to join their bright and vibrant team! The areas leading online Estate and Letting Agent prides itself on offering all employees a bright future with excellent career prospects. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, self motivated, have a hunger for success and some experience in dealing with both sales and lettings. High level customer service and computer skills are essential. To apply, please forward your CV to Manager, Steph Dunn-Fox by email &ndash; steph.dunn-fox@findahomeonline.co.uk. Closing date Friday 15th March 2013.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2721/staffordshire-estate-agent-requires-an-experienced-sales-negotiator-at-its-newcastle-under-lyme-hq</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:33:52 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2721/staffordshire-estate-agent-requires-an-experienced-sales-negotiator-at-its-newcastle-under-lyme-hq</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>properties-in-prime-locations-still-selling-in-days-case-study-trentham-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams, went out to appraise a bungalow in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday, 23rd February 2013. The sellers of the bungalow had received one of our leaflets, been recommended to us and seen our sold boards all over Trentham. Tom looked at the bungalow and gave the sellers a price which he thought would be reasonable as a marketing figure. He did not need to quote fees, as online estate agents like Findahome Online have transparent fees, which are clear and visible. Tom&rsquo;s valuation was in line with what two other estate agents had quoted. All three agents stated that they thought they would get a buyer swiftly. His selling fee, though, was considerably different!! One of the estate agents wanted &pound;5,000 inclusive of VAT and the other one had quoted &pound;3,500 inclusive of VAT. The sellers wisely chose Findahome Online&rsquo;s premium marketing package at only &pound;599 plus VAT. The property was uploaded to the internet and made available for online viewing on the Saturday afternoon. (We get them on the market quickly). On Sunday, 24th February 2013 numerous Rightmove viewing requests were received via e-mail at Findahome Online&rsquo;s Newcastle-under-Lyme HQ. On Monday, 25th February 2013 around 7 viewing appointments took place at the bungalow. By close of business we had agreed a sale!! Not bad going for 48 hours work!! The moral of the story is that any of the three agents could have sold the property. The difference is the speed at which the online agent works (the property was online in hours from instruction) and the fee saving. &pound;4,281 (based on selling with the agent charging &pound;5,000) is a lot of money to pay an estate agent for 48 hours work!!

	If you have a property that you think will sell quickly, please call Staffordshire&rsquo;s leading online estate agents. You could also save yourself &pound;&pound;&pound;&pound;&pound;.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2720/properties-in-prime-locations-still-selling-in-days-case-study-trentham-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:10:30 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2720/properties-in-prime-locations-still-selling-in-days-case-study-trentham-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>good-luck-to-andrea-and-jo-on-the-launch-of-their-business-39a-passion-for-homes39</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online would like to wish Andrea Morgan and Jo Ridout all the best with their new business which is launched tomorrow, Thursday 14th February 2013. &#39;A Passion for Homes&#39; is being launched in Central London and opened by Kevin Green a property investor who has appeared on C4 TV show,&nbsp;&#39;The Secret Millionaire&#39;. Andrea and Jo are property enthusiasts who will be showcasing properties and offering a platform for all property related matters. They have some fantastic contacts who have already signed up to feature on their website.

	Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams has to got to know both Andrea and Jo on the social media website, Twitter. Tom says &quot; I wish Andrea and Jo all the best of luck with their business, but having got to know them on twitter i don&#39;t think they will need it. They have a great idea and as well as having a passion for homes, they have a passion for business and determination to succeed. I am sure they will do very well and look forward to seeing &#39;A Passion for Homes&#39; grow.

	This is the link to &#39;A Passion for&nbsp;Homes&#39;&nbsp; http://apassionforhomes.com

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2719/good-luck-to-andrea-and-jo-on-the-launch-of-their-business-39a-passion-for-homes39</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:45:57 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2719/good-luck-to-andrea-and-jo-on-the-launch-of-their-business-39a-passion-for-homes39</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>rented-properties-moving-fast-in-north-staffordshire-february-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The rental market is extremely buoyant in North Staffordshire at the moment. This week alone we have let properties in Caverswall, Cheadle, Fenton, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Porthill.

	Head of lettings, Steph Dunn-Fox says &quot;We are delighted to see that the local market is still so buoyant. I take a personal pride in our letting department and really enjoy moving new tenants in. We offer Landlords value for money and a personal service.&quot;

	If you have a rental property or house to let in North Staffordshire, please give us a call for you free no obligation letting valuation.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2718/rented-properties-moving-fast-in-north-staffordshire-february-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:55:36 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2718/rented-properties-moving-fast-in-north-staffordshire-february-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>good-luck-to-tom-williams-in-his-level-4-nfopp-exams</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Good luck to Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams who has his first exam for the NFOPP Level 4 Certificate in Residential Sales tomorrow, Thursday 7th February 2013.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2717/good-luck-to-tom-williams-in-his-level-4-nfopp-exams</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:59:34 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2717/good-luck-to-tom-williams-in-his-level-4-nfopp-exams</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-raise-100-for-cancer-research</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are pleased to announce that Director, Tom Williams has&nbsp;raised &pound;100 for Cancer Research. Tom took part in the first &nbsp;&#39;Dryathlon&#39;. He abstained from drinking alcohol for the whole of January 2013.

	Tom says &quot; I was pleased to take part in such a worthwhile event. Giving up drinking for a month is a small price to pay for&nbsp;helping such a good cause. I am proud to have taken part and will be doing it again&nbsp;next year.&quot;&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2716/findahome-online-raise-100-for-cancer-research</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:42:01 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2716/findahome-online-raise-100-for-cancer-research</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>happy-home-seller-from-trent-vale-stoke-on-trent-saves-over-1500</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Another satisfied customer!! Findahome Online Manager/Valuer, Steph Dunn-Fox is pictured with happy home seller Mrs Broad and the Findahome saving cheque.

	We need more properties of all types to satisfy demand. If you want to sell your home and save money, please give us a call. We are Staffordshire&#39;s fastest growing estate agent.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2715/happy-home-seller-from-trent-vale-stoke-on-trent-saves-over-1500</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:37:10 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2715/happy-home-seller-from-trent-vale-stoke-on-trent-saves-over-1500</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agents-delighted-that-rightmove-is-officially-the-6th-biggest-website-in-the-uk</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online, Staffordshire and Cheshire&#39;s leading Online Estate Agents are delighted to report that the UK&#39;s Number One Property Website, Rightmove is placed 6th out of all websites in the UK.

	The league table of Britain&rsquo;s busiest websites is compiled by independent traffic auditor Experian Hitwise.

	The full Hitwise top ten (for the week ending January 19) is:
	
	Facebook
	Google
	YouTube
	eBay
	Amazon
	Rightmove
	BBC News
	YouTube Mobile
	Bing
	BBC Main

	Zoopla, Rightmove&#39;s biggest rival is currently in 48th position.&nbsp;

	To&nbsp;be in the top 6 of all websites in the UK demonstrates how big a player Rightmove is in the UK property market. Rightmove and other property websites will only get stronger as time goes on. Online&nbsp;marketing and Online Estate Agency is the future. It&#39;s here to stay........

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2713/online-estate-agents-delighted-that-rightmove-is-officially-the-6th-biggest-website-in-the-uk</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:13:18 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2713/online-estate-agents-delighted-that-rightmove-is-officially-the-6th-biggest-website-in-the-uk</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-nominated-for-apprentice-of-the-year-in-the-sentinel-business-awards-2013</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online&#39;s Sales Negotiator, James Pattinson has been nominted for the Apprentice of the Year in the Sentinel Business Awards 2013.

	See the full article here http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/James-building-bricks-career-property/story-17938220-detail/story.html

	We wish James all the very best of luck and hope he wins the award.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2712/newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-nominated-for-apprentice-of-the-year-in-the-sentinel-business-awards-2013</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:55:53 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2712/newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-nominated-for-apprentice-of-the-year-in-the-sentinel-business-awards-2013</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>sales-coming-in-thick-and-fast-despite-the-arctic-conditions</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We may be in the middle of winter and encountering arctic conditions, but we are pleased to report that there is no chill in the housing market.

	Since opening our doors at the beginning&nbsp;of the year, we have been averaging almost a sale a day. This week we have sold properties in Cliffe Vale, Loggerheads, Sneyd Green and Westbury Park. I wonder what we will sell tomorrow?

	If you would like to sell your home and save money, please give us a call today on 01782 564515 or visit us online www.findahomeonline.co.uk

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2711/sales-coming-in-thick-and-fast-despite-the-arctic-conditions</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:41:46 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2711/sales-coming-in-thick-and-fast-despite-the-arctic-conditions</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>we-must-be-doing-something-right</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are an estate agent who love &nbsp;selling houses and saving customers money.

	I am pleased to report that our collection of &#39;Thank You&#39; cards is growing from our happy and satisfied customers.

	In 2012 we saved customers over &pound;300,000 in estate agency fees on properties that we sold. 2013 should see this double. The year has started particularly well with 9 sales agreed already, equating to a sale a day.

	Call today for your free valuation. We are Staffordshire&#39;s fastest growing estate agent and getting fantastic results for our home sellers.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2710/we-must-be-doing-something-right</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:03:58 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2710/we-must-be-doing-something-right</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-off-to-a-flying-start-in-january-2013</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Newcastle-under-Lyme based Estate Agent, Findahome Online have got off to a flying start in January 2013. Since re opening on January 2nd 2013, the areas leading Online Estate Agent has agreed sales on no fewer than 6 sales. This equates to a sale a day.

	Findahome Onlines Manager/Valuer, Steph Dunn-Fox says &quot;We were open for a couple of days in between Christmas and New Year which has benefited us greatly. It has&nbsp;meant that people could view properties over the&nbsp;holiday period, resulting in offers and sales being generated. The market is buoyant and correctly priced property is selling.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2709/findahome-online-off-to-a-flying-start-in-january-2013</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:02:58 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2709/findahome-online-off-to-a-flying-start-in-january-2013</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-smash-fee-saving-record</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We are delighted to report that we have smashed our previous fee saving record. The Farm at Stone Road, Tittensor, Staffordshire&nbsp;has just completed. Our happy home sellers have saved a staggering &pound;6,901 in estate agency fees&nbsp;(based on selling with us, instead of another estate agent who would have charged them 1.5%)

	Almost &pound;7,000 is an amazing fee saving and proves how effective our online estate agency model works.

	Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams says &quot;We set up our business as an online estate agent to sell homes quickly and with a fee saving for our clients. It is particularly pleasing when we save such a huge amount for our clients. The previous record was set in 2011. We look forward to breaking this current&nbsp;record and saving our clients even more money.&quot;

	Findahome Online are Leading Low Cost Online Estate Agents based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2708/findahome-online-smash-fee-saving-record</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:51:21 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2708/findahome-online-smash-fee-saving-record</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>free-zoopla-premium-listings-on-findahome-onlines-premium-package</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are delighted to announce that we are now including a Zoopla Premium Listing on our Premium Sales Package.

	Head of Marketing, Sharron Williams says &quot;This is a fantastic addition to an already comprehensive sales package. Findahome Onlines&nbsp;Premium sales package offers the home seller absolutely everything they could want. Included in this package are Rightmove and Zoopla Premium Listings, Listings on all major property websites, a For Sale board, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) a Virtual Tour and 3D Floorplan. At only &pound;599 plus Vat, this package offers fantastic value.&quot;

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2707/free-zoopla-premium-listings-on-findahome-onlines-premium-package</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:51:10 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2707/free-zoopla-premium-listings-on-findahome-onlines-premium-package</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-support-cancer-researchs39-39dryathalon39</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online, Staffordshires Leading&nbsp;Online Estate Agent&nbsp;are supporting Cancer Researchs&#39; Dryathalon&#39; campaign for January 2013.

	Cancer Research have launched &#39;Dryathalon&#39; and are encouraging people to participate who want to stop drinking alcohol for the month of January. Those abstaining from drinking alcohol will raise money for Cancer Research, a very worthwhile cause.&nbsp;

	Director, Tom Williams has joined the national campaign, pledging not to drink any alcohol from January 1st - January 31st 2013.

	Tom&nbsp;says &quot; I am always looking to support charities and worthwhile causes. This charity is particularly close to my heart as I have lost family members to cancer. It is a great idea by Cancer Research, I am hoping they get a good response and it becomes an annual event. I will be saving money that I would normally spend on beer and asking friends and family for sponsorship.&quot;

	Anyone wishing to donate to Tom can do so here https://www.justgiving.com/account/your-pages

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2706/findahome-online-support-cancer-researchs39-39dryathalon39</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:43:06 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2706/findahome-online-support-cancer-researchs39-39dryathalon39</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online&nbsp;would like to wish all our clients, friends and family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

	We hope everyone has a lovely time and rest&nbsp;over the festive period.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2705/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:56:58 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2705/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>what-is-an-online-estate-agents-motivation-to-sell-my-home</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	If I had a pound for every time I have been asked this, I would be donating a nice sum to charity!

	Online and Internet estate agents sell properties - this is a fact. At Findahome Online, we operate in the same way as any other conventional estate agent. We just have different payment options, which are heavily weighted towards the home seller. Let&rsquo;s face it, &pound;399 plus VAT for 12 months&rsquo; marketing and a full estate agency service is a bargain, isn&#39;t it?

	In 2012, we have sold well into three figures of properties, saving clients over &pound;300,000 in estate agency fees! If online estate agents were not motivated to sell houses, how would we have managed to sell all these properties and saved all this money?

	Findahome Online are the leading online estate agents in the Midlands and in the top 10 of all estate agents in our local area of North Staffordshire. It is no accident that we are in this position. We offer a great service at a low cost. If we were not selling good numbers of properties, people would not use us. Take cost out of it. The public put their homes up for sale, to sell them. Cost is irrelevant if you can&#39;t sell your home.

	Houses are like any commodity. If they are offered at the right price and marketed in the right places, they will sell.

	Two recent sales are the perfect illustration of our motivation.

	The first one in Newcastle-under-Lyme has been on the market since January 2012 - nearly 12 months. We have worked all year, tirelessly trying to sell it. The property has had 14 viewings in that time. After each viewing, the sellers were given viewing feedback as well as constructive advice throughout the process. All at Findahome Online were delighted when a sale was agreed a couple of weeks ago. The owners of this property paid their fee &#39;upfront&#39; on instruction in January 2012 and I am sure they would testify that we were &#39;motivated&#39; to sell. When their property completes, they will have saved approximately &pound;3,000 in estate agency fees. The fee that they paid of &pound;599 plus VAT was most certainly money well spent for 12 months&rsquo; marketing.

	Another one I would like to share with you is a property I put up for sale in Stoke-on-Trent last week. The sellers had done their research and found us on the internet. Ordinarily, when they have sold properties in the past they have done it privately themselves. Weighing up the costs, they found selling using an online estate agent to be more cost effective, which it is.

	During the appointment, the seller asked me what was our motivation to sell after we had accepted the fee. I told him that houses sell themselves and that price and coverage (Rightmove, Zoopla etc.) were the key. I also explained that we rely heavily on recommendations and having a good reputation.

	Within 5 hours of our being instructed, the property was placed onto the market. Phone calls came in thick and fast and I can report that the property was sold to a first time buyer on Saturday, 15th. December 2012, days after coming onto the market!&nbsp; This provides another example of a successful sale from a motivated online estate agent. Was there any skill or art involved, or do houses really sell themselves? &nbsp;I will let you decide! ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2704/what-is-an-online-estate-agents-motivation-to-sell-my-home</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:14:25 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2704/what-is-an-online-estate-agents-motivation-to-sell-my-home</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>has-the-internet-ended-the-need-for-estate-agents-branch-networks</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	On Saturday, 15th December 2012, we sold a property in Stoke-on-Trent to a family from Portsmouth, Hampshire. Portsmouth is 200 miles away from Stoke-on-Trent. Our buyer predictably found the property in question on the internet. Living so far away, this is where they did all their research.

	I have been prompted to write about this, as it proves that branch networks are no longer needed. The internet has taken away the need for an estate agent to have hundreds of branches all over the UK. Buyers look for their new homes on the internet rather than walking into High Street estate agents&rsquo; offices. 

	The branch network is unnecessary and not there for the buyers. It is only of benefit to estate agents to give them more market presence and share.

	Many of Findahome Online&#39;s competitors sell the fact that they have hundreds of offices (mainly the large corporate estate agents) across the UK. They state that they can attract buyers from other parts of the UK and that these buyers will walk into their High Street estate agency offices in their home towns to inquire about the properties in other areas. I find this hard to believe, especially in this day and age. Buyers simply go to the internet. Our sale this week in Stoke-on-Trent proves this to be the case. After all, we have not got a Portsmouth branch!!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2703/has-the-internet-ended-the-need-for-estate-agents-branch-networks</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:10:35 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2703/has-the-internet-ended-the-need-for-estate-agents-branch-networks</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-passes-her-nfopp-exams-with-flying-colours</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online&#39;s Manager/Valuer, Steph Dunn-Fox has passed her NFOPP Technical Award in Residential Sales with flying colours. She passed one unit with a 100%. It is rare that people pass all four units on the first attempt.

	Tom Williams Director says &quot; We are extremely proud of Steph passing her exams at the first attempt. She is a very experienced estate agent having worked in the industry for 7 years. Steph now has a professional qualification to go with all that experience. There were cheers in our Newcastle-under-Lyme based HQ when she returned to the office yesterday. She will now become a member of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)&quot;

	Findahome Online are an internet estate agent based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2702/newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-passes-her-nfopp-exams-with-flying-colours</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:40:32 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2702/newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-passes-her-nfopp-exams-with-flying-colours</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>bbc-property-expert-henry-pryor-produces-top-335-property-tweeters</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Those who watch BBC One News will know Henry Pryor as a familiar face. He is the BBC&rsquo;s property expert and features often on the BBC Breakfast News when the housing market is discussed. Henry is well-respected and deservedly a property expert.
	Mr. Pryor is also a keen user of twitter, the social media platform.
	At the end of October 2012, Henry Pryor produced a league table of estate agents and property professionals who use twitter. The chart was compiled using an independent body which assessed these users on their influence and expertise in the property industry.
	Findahome Online are delighted that Director Tom Williams has been listed in 11th place out of 335 estate agents and property professionals. Tom has been a keen twitter user for nearly 3 years. He has tweeted over 3000 times and has over 2000 followers on the platform. Twitter works effectively for Tom and Findahome Online. In the three years that we have been using the platform, we have had direct business coming from the social media site.
	Please see this link to Henry Pryor&rsquo;s blog, which lists the league table of &lsquo;property twits&rsquo;
	http://henrypryor.com/blog/2012/10/top-agency-twits-on-twitter/
	A massive &ldquo;Thank You&rdquo; to Henry for rating us so highly in his chart. If you ever need any information on the North Staffordshire housing market, Henry, please get in touch. You are always welcome for a cup of tea at our place too!!
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2701/bbc-property-expert-henry-pryor-produces-top-335-property-tweeters</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:20:14 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2701/bbc-property-expert-henry-pryor-produces-top-335-property-tweeters</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>can-i-sell-my-house-with-an-online-estate-agent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As online estate agents, we are, of course, going to say a resounding &ldquo;Yes&rdquo;! Findahome Online are stuck with the online estate agent tag, but are, in fact, estate agents. The only difference between us and a High Street agent is the &lsquo;High Street&rsquo;.
	We are based on a Business Park, which is accessible by bus. We offer free parking and our offices are in a modern, &lsquo;state of the art&rsquo; complex. High Streets and shops are not our business. Estate agency has moved off the High Street, like many other businesses. Findahome Online are one of the leading estate agents in North Staffordshire. We have sold three figures of properties in 2012 and I can proudly report that not one property has been sold using&nbsp; High Street premises because we have not got one! Mainly (90%) of our sales have come from the internet. Are you surprised? Or are you one of the very few who walks from High Street agent to High Street agent looking for properties?
	Now, you can sell your home with Staffordshire&rsquo;s leading online estate agent relatively easily and with an excellent fee saving or you can use one of these so called national online estate agents. Beware! 75% of these companies are call centres. They are not estate agents; they will not visit your property.&nbsp; More likely, they will take your money and send out their photographer or EPC assessor to put your property up for sale. You will not see an estate agent! These Online Estate Agents simply market your property on the leading websites and hope that your property sells.
	Regardless of what you pay, whether it be &pound;399 plus VAT or 2% plus VAT of the final sale price, you want to sell your home. That&rsquo;s surely what it&rsquo;s all about?
	If you are looking to sell your home, do yourself a favour by using an online estate agent who does the job properly. Pay an internet estate agent like ourselves at Findahome Online to sell your home and save you thousands!!
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2700/can-i-sell-my-house-with-an-online-estate-agent</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:13:39 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2700/can-i-sell-my-house-with-an-online-estate-agent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>steph-dunn-fox-nfopp-techincal-award-in-the-sale-of-residential-property-exams</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online&#39;s Manager/Valuer, Steph Dunn-Fox is studying hard for her NFOPP Technical Award in Residential Sales. Her exams are booked in for Wednesday 12th December 2012.

	We are confident that Steph will pass these exams with flying colours and we wish her all the luck in the world!

	This award will make Steph a professionally qualified estate agent. It is an NVQ Level 3 which is the equivalent of A-Levels.

	On successful completion of the exams, Steph will join the NAEA(National Association of Estate Agents)

	Good luck Steph!!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2699/steph-dunn-fox-nfopp-techincal-award-in-the-sale-of-residential-property-exams</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:14:11 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2699/steph-dunn-fox-nfopp-techincal-award-in-the-sale-of-residential-property-exams</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-raises-over-250-and-still-collecting-movember-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Newcastle-under-Lyme based Estate Agent, Tom Williams has raised over &pound;250 so far for prostate cancer - Movember. We are still collecting and hoping to raise even more. A big thank you to all those who have sponsored Tom.

	Here is the latest photograph of Tom taken on the 29th November 2012.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2698/newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-raises-over-250-and-still-collecting-movember-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:34:15 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2698/newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agent-raises-over-250-and-still-collecting-movember-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahone-online-sponsor-leading-stoke-on-trent-under-1339s-football-team-foley-fc</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are delighted to announce that they have sponsored leading Stoke-on-Trent based under 13 football team, Foley FC.

	Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams says &quot;We were approached by Foley FC, their under 13 team were in desperate need of a new kit. We were very happy to help. Our branding goes perfectly on their new Nike strip. We wish them all the best for the 2012/2013 season.&quot;

	Findahome Online are an estate agent who are committed to supporting community projects and donating to local charities.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2697/findahone-online-sponsor-leading-stoke-on-trent-under-1339s-football-team-foley-fc</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:56:01 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2697/findahone-online-sponsor-leading-stoke-on-trent-under-1339s-football-team-foley-fc</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>sell-your-house-in-november-with-newcastle-under-lyme-based-online-estate-agent-and-we-will-donate-some-of-the-fee-to-charity</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Newcastle-under-Lyme based Estate Agent, Findahome Online is pledging&nbsp;to donate money from all of its new sales instructions&nbsp;(during November 2012) to Prostate Cancer and associated charities.

	Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams says &quot;Anyone who instructs us to sell their property&nbsp;during November&nbsp;2012 will be contributing to our &#39;Movember&#39; fund for Prostate cancer. The donation will come directly from the fee that we charge. People instructing us to sell their home will not only be getting excellent value for money by using Findahome Online, they will also see some of the money that they have paid&nbsp;going to charitable causes.&quot;

	Findahome Online of Newcastle-under-Lyme are proud to be taking part in &#39;Movember&#39; 2012
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2696/sell-your-house-in-november-with-newcastle-under-lyme-based-online-estate-agent-and-we-will-donate-some-of-the-fee-to-charity</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:56:01 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2696/sell-your-house-in-november-with-newcastle-under-lyme-based-online-estate-agent-and-we-will-donate-some-of-the-fee-to-charity</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-never-misses-a-photo-opportunity</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Newcastle-under-Lyme based Online Estate Agent, Findahome Online have had an extremely busy day today (Friday 9th November 2012) on house sale completions.

	Never ones to miss a photograph opportunity, we grabbed one of our home sellers when he was dropping&nbsp;his keys off. We&nbsp;took a picture of Adam with the Findahome Saving Cheque. Adam saved a whopping &pound;1,441 in estate agency fees and we sold his property in only 3 months. A good result all round!

	Pictured are Findahome Online, Office Manager Steph Dunn-Fox and Adam Davenport.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2695/online-estate-agent-never-misses-a-photo-opportunity</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:41:18 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2695/online-estate-agent-never-misses-a-photo-opportunity</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>november-gets-off-to-an-explosive-start-internet-estate-agent-reports-strong-start-to-the-month</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Newcastle-under-Lyme Internet Estate Agent, Findahome Online have reported a strong start to the month of November. Since the month began Staffordshire&#39;s leading Online Estate Agent has been instructed to sell 6 properties and has sold 7. Not bad at all for the time of year.

	Sales have been agreed in Basford, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Fenton in Stoke-on-Trent, Fulford, Staffordshire, Meir Park, Parkhall and&nbsp;Trentham in Stoke-on-Trent and Werrington in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

	Findahome Online Office Manager, Steph Dunn-Fox says &quot;I am extremely pleased with&nbsp;the start we have had to the month. Conditions are still difficult and the time of year&nbsp;is not ideal. We do our best to sell and let properties all year long. If feels almost like an &#39;Indian Summer&#39;. Long may it continue!&quot;

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2694/november-gets-off-to-an-explosive-start-internet-estate-agent-reports-strong-start-to-the-month</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:39:05 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2694/november-gets-off-to-an-explosive-start-internet-estate-agent-reports-strong-start-to-the-month</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>movember-2012-newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agents-grow-moustaches-for-prostate-cancer</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Director Tom Williams and Sales Negotiator James Pattinson are taking part in Movember 2012. For&nbsp;anyone who is unaware, &#39;Movember&#39; takes place annually and is a fundraising event for prostate cancer and other assoicated charities. Men all over the world grow a moustache (no beards are allowed) from the 1st - 30th November.

	Director Tom Williams says &quot;James and I are looking forward to raising money for a worthwhile cause while having a laugh at the same time. Our moustaches are coming on well and i have had quite a few people smirking at me. Our local paper The Staffordshire Sentinel are aware of our participation in Movember and are visiting at the end of November to take a photogaph of us. It wont be a pretty site!&quot;

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2693/movember-2012-newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agents-grow-moustaches-for-prostate-cancer</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:09:10 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2693/movember-2012-newcastle-under-lyme-estate-agents-grow-moustaches-for-prostate-cancer</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>money-saving-estate-agents-are-you-a-money-saving-expert</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In the course of my day to day job I speak to many people, often asking them how they came to hear of our company and online estate agents. Some of these people are very savvy and have sought us out as an alternative to expensive High Street estate agents. Martin&#39;s Money Tips and Money Saving Expert are websites that people visit when they are looking to save money. Martin Lewis is a consumer champion who set these websites up a few years back to save people money. It has not been all one way though. Martin Lewis is believed to have sold his website for multi millions of pounds earlier this year.

	Although we are a business, saving people money is also something that we like to do. Since our business was launched, Findahome Online have saved home sellers a staggering quarter of a million pounds in estate agency fees. These savings are based on properties on which we have completed sales. The saving is calculated on what clients would pay to a High Street estate agent, charging 1.5% plus VAT of their final selling prices.

	Selling your house does not have to cost the earth anymore. It is possible, in the digital age that we live in, to sell your home online and to include a solicitor&rsquo;s services (on the sale) for slightly less than &pound;1,000. This compares favourably with the current fees corporate estate agents in our local area are seeking. Their fees for sale and solicitors (on the sale) are averaging out at a whopping &pound;4,000 plus VAT.

	From a money saving expert&rsquo;s prospective, it&rsquo;s a landslide! The online estate agent (offering exactly the same service as the corporate estate agent) is the clear winner saving the consumer &pound;3,000!!

	Now, what could I do with &pound;3,000? &nbsp;I know what my wife could do with it - that is frightening!!

	Findahome Online are Staffordshire and Cheshire&#39;s Online Money Saving Estate Agents.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2692/money-saving-estate-agents-are-you-a-money-saving-expert</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:33:52 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2692/money-saving-estate-agents-are-you-a-money-saving-expert</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agents-home-sellers-moving-and-saving</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Internet Estate Agent, Findahome Online has had another busy day today(Friday 12/10/2012)&nbsp;with house sales completing. We have handed keys over to buyers, for properties that we have sold in Heron Cross(x 2), Meir Park and Packmoor. All of these properties are situated in our home city of Stoke-on-Trent.

	As well as having&nbsp;delighted buyers, our sellers are&nbsp;pretty pleased too!! In addition to&nbsp;selling their properties with Staffordshire and Cheshire&#39;s Leading Online Estate Agents they have also saved a combined total of &pound;8,853 in estate agents fees!! That&#39;s some saving!!

	Findahome Online are committed to selling and letting properties and saving consumers money. We are proud to be the Leading Online Estate Agents in Staffordshire and Cheshire.

	 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2691/online-estate-agents-home-sellers-moving-and-saving</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:18:36 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2691/online-estate-agents-home-sellers-moving-and-saving</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>stamp-duty-exemption-does-your-property-qualify-in-newcastle-under-lyme-and-stoke-on-trent-in-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As a local estate agent in North Staffordshire, it is our job to keep up to date with what&rsquo;s going on in the local housing market. I have been aware for a while (it has been on and off for years) that certain areas of North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are classed as disadvantaged areas and properties in these areas are exempt from stamp duty. This means that when the properties are sold, the buyers do not have stamp duty to pay. This is a massive bonus to anyone who is buying a home in these areas, and a great saving.

	I have a link to the HM Revenue website, which indicates which areas are currently taking part in the scheme. Simply, all I have to do is key the postcode in.

	My knowledge helped me gain a new property to sell, too. I went out last week to value a property in Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent. The value of the property is in the region of &pound;125,000 - &pound;130,000. Another agent who visited the property was adamant that the seller should not market the property at any more than &pound;125,000, due to the stamp duty kicking in at &pound;125,000 and above. In normal circumstances, the other agent would have been correct. I was delighted when, after turning on my ipad and keying in the postcode, to find that the property in question was in an area which was stamp duty exempt. The seller was impressed that I had found this information and instructed me to sell their home. The lack of stamp duty to pay has meant that we have been able to market the property at &pound;129,950. I am pleased to report that&nbsp; we have already had viewings booked on the property after only a couple of days of marketing.

	Findahome Online are currently marketing properties in Bradeley and Meir Park in Stoke-on-Trent and Silverdale in Newcastle-under-Lyme which qualify for stamp duty relief.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2690/stand-duty-exemption-does-your-property-qualify-in-newcastle-under-lyme-and-stoke-on-trent-in-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:25:05 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2690/stand-duty-exemption-does-your-property-qualify-in-newcastle-under-lyme-and-stoke-on-trent-in-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>latest-house-prices-statistics-in-crewe-congleton-nantwich-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-stafford-stone-staffordshire-cheshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The cost of homes in Stoke-on-Trent rose in August 2012 after five months of falls.
	Data from the land registry shows the average home in the City of Stoke-on-Trent in August cost &pound;67,962, up 1.3% compared with July 2012.
	On an annual basis prices were down 3.6% from &pound;70,526 in August 2011.
	Stoke-on-Trent is a very affordable place to buy a home, it is the third cheapest place to buy a home in England and Wales.
	In August 2012, only Hull in Humberside and Blaenau in Gwent, Wales were cheaper places to buy a property.
	At the other end of the spectrum Kensington and Chelsea in West London are the most expensive places to buy a property in the UK. The average home there costs an eye watering &pound;1,082,172.
	Across Staffordshire which includes Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford and Stone the average house price in August 2012 reached &pound;132,233, up 0.2% from July 2012 but down 0.5% from &pound;132,956 in August 2011.
	The average price in Cheshire East which includes Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich is &pound;148,969 for August 2012, down 0.3% from July 2012 and 1.2% from the same time in 2011.
	The average price in England and Wales now sits at &pound;163,376. This is some way down from the housing markets peak in 2007.
	Data should not be ignored, but the basic principals remain. A house is only worth what someone is prepared to pay.
	Staffordshire and Cheshire&rsquo;s Leading Online Estate Agent, Findahome Online cover all areas of Staffordshire and Cheshire including Crewe, Congleton, Nantwich, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Stone and Stafford.
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2689/latest-house-prices-statistics-in-crewe-congleton-nantwich-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-stafford-stone-staffordshire-cheshire</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 07 Oct 2012 09:21:39 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2689/latest-house-prices-statistics-in-crewe-congleton-nantwich-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-stafford-stone-staffordshire-cheshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>sales-surge-at-findahome-online-after-a-sluggish-start-to-september-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Leading Staffordshire Online Estate Agent, Findahome Online,&nbsp;is pleased to report that they have had&nbsp;a surge in house sales in the last 10 days. September started slower than anticipated, but has sprung into life in the last 14 days.

	Findahome Online have agreed sales in the last 10 days in the following areas: Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire Mooorlands x 2, May Bank, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Packmoor, Stoke-on-Trent, Stallington Village, Staffordshire, Tittensor, Staffordshire, Waterhayes Village, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Westbury Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

	We are delighted to have agreed the 9 sales above and to have saved our sellers &pound;&pound;&pound;&pound; when their properties complete.

	If you have a property to sell, please contact Staffordshire and Cheshire&#39;s Leading Online Estate Agents.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2688/sales-surge-at-findahome-online-after-a-sluggish-start-to-september-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:26:18 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2688/sales-surge-at-findahome-online-after-a-sluggish-start-to-september-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>newcastle-under-lyme-based-online-estate-agent-reaches-the-final-of-newcastle-under-lyme-business-boost-awards-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I am delighted to announce that Findahome Online have been selected to compete in the finals of Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Boost Competition 2012. We have entered the competition in the &#39;Entrepreneurial&#39; spirit&#39; category.

	The finals of the competition are being held on Thursday the 4th October 2012. We will be doing our very best to win. Director Tom Williams will be making a presentation to a panel of judges. Fingers crossed for a Findahome win!!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2687/newcastle-under-lyme-based-online-estate-agent-reaches-the-final-of-newcastle-under-lyme-business-boost-awards-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:44:17 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2687/newcastle-under-lyme-based-online-estate-agent-reaches-the-final-of-newcastle-under-lyme-business-boost-awards-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-saves-a-happy-home-seller-a-combined-total-of-6986-on-two-properties</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Leading Newcastle-under-Lyme based Online Estate Agents, Findahome Online&nbsp;have a saved a happy home seller &pound;6,986 in estate agency fees.

	Investor Carl Lovatt has now succesfully sold two properties using Findahome Online, with the most recent one completing today.

	&nbsp;Findahome Online never miss a photograph opportunity!

	Pictured with the Findahome saving cheque are Carl Lovatt and Findahome Online&nbsp;Director Tom Williams.

	Director, Tom Williams says &quot;As well as selling and letting properties, we love to save our customers money. I would like to thank Carl for using us to sell his properties.&quot;

	If you have a property to sell, please call Findahome Online today to see how we can save you money and sell your home.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2686/online-estate-agent-saves-a-happy-home-seller-a-combined-total-of-6986-on-two-properties</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:03:49 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2686/online-estate-agent-saves-a-happy-home-seller-a-combined-total-of-6986-on-two-properties</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>staffordshire-and-cheshire39s-leading-online-estate-agents-join-zoopla</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, are delighted to announce that from the 1st October 2012 all their sale and letting properties will feature on leading UK property website, Zoopla.

	Findahome Online Director, Tom Williams, is pleased to add Zoopla to Findahome Online&#39;s web partners. Tom says, &ldquo;Zoopla is the final piece of our marketing jigsaw. We have always advertised on all the other major property websites, Rightmove, Findaproperty.com and Primelocation and now felt it was time to feature on Zoopla too. 

	Zoopla have increased their market share in the property portal website sector and are doing everything they can to rival the UK&#39;s leading property website, Rightmove.

	With all our properties featuring on Zoopla, we are giving our clients&rsquo; properties the very best coverage possible.&rdquo; 

	No estate agent can offer any&nbsp;more coverage than Findahome Online. It&#39;s not just about web coverage, as Findahome Online also advertise regularly and consistently in our local newspaper, The Staffordshire Sentinel, as well as in the Sentinel&#39;s free glossy magazine.

	We look forward to a good response from Zoopla, hoping for increased For Sale and To Let properties to add to our already extensive list, thus giving more choice to present and potential clients.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2685/staffordshire-and-cheshire39s-leading-online-estate-agents-join-zoopla</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:01:26 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2685/staffordshire-and-cheshire39s-leading-online-estate-agents-join-zoopla</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>staffordshire-and-cheshire39s-online-estate-agent-makes-new-appointment</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are delighted to announce the appointment of&nbsp;Sales Negotiator, &nbsp;James Pattinson. James has joined the company on the goverment backed apprentice scheme.

	James has a keen interest in the local property market and has excellent knowledge of the local area. He has lived in the Westlands area of Newcastle-under-Lyme most of his life.

	Outside of work James enjoys playing football and tennis. He supports local Premier League football team, Stoke City.

	We wish James all the best in his career with Findahome Online and warmly welcome him to our team.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2684/staffordshire-and-cheshire39s-online-estate-agent-makes-new-appointment</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:04:52 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2684/staffordshire-and-cheshire39s-online-estate-agent-makes-new-appointment</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>rightmove-spend-a-day-with-online-estate-agent-findahome-online</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Staffordshire and Cheshire&rsquo;s leading Online estate agent had a visitor on Monday 20th August 2012. Rightmove&rsquo;s very own Lisa Attwood-Lloyd visited Findahome Online&rsquo;s Newcastle-under-Lyme HQ, in Staffordshire. The reason for Lisa&rsquo;s visit was to spend a day seeing what an estate agent does on an average day. She spent the morning in the office seeing how that worked, then went out on sales valuations with Director, Tom Williams in the afternoon. We very much enjoyed spending time with Lisa, who is more of a friend than a Rightmove account manager. It was a pleasure for Tom taking her out with him, as Lisa interacted with Findahome Online&rsquo;s potential vendors and talked about Rightmove, which is, of course, the nation&rsquo;s top and favourite property website. We hope Lisa enjoyed her day with us and look forward to reading her blog.
	Thanks for coming Lisa!
	&nbsp;
	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2683/rightmove-spend-a-day-with-online-estate-agent-findahome-online</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:43:42 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2683/rightmove-spend-a-day-with-online-estate-agent-findahome-online</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-saves-home-seller-27000</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	
	Last week, one of our sales completed in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent. &ldquo;So what?&rdquo; , you may say. Well, this one was one of our most memorable ones!
	Findahome Online valuer, Tom Williams, went out to the property and gave an appraisal. Pleasingly, the vendor of this house wanted to use an online estate agent, but did not fancy using one from out of the area. They were happy to find that they had an internet estate agent on their doorstep in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
	Now, Tom Williams has worked in the North Staffordshire/South Cheshire area as an estate agent for the last 15 years, so he has a good knowledge of the market.
	He valued the property in question at &pound;330,000 as it was a super property which had been extended and was finished to the very highest of standards. Tom had a good feeling about it. Another local high street agent had also been out to value the property, who felt that they would not achieve anymore than &pound;300,000 for the property.
	The property went onto the market at the price, agreed between Tom and the vendor, which was &pound;330,000. Within 5 days, a sale was agreed at &pound;322,000. All at Findahome Online and the home seller were ecstatic.
	Our seller chose our fantastic &pound;599 plus VAT package (which includes the EPC and other enhanced virtual selling tools). The home seller wisely paid us upfront using this package and saved a fortune!
	Had the seller chosen the other agent, who had been out to value the property, then they would have received &pound;22,000 less on their selling price and they would have paid over &pound;5,000 in estate agents fees!!
	Staffordshire and Cheshire&rsquo;s Online estate agent saved the home seller &pound;27,000! And yes, we are pleased about it!!
	We enjoy selling homes and saving people money!!
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2682/online-estate-agent-saves-home-seller-27000</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:41:47 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2682/online-estate-agent-saves-home-seller-27000</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agent-releases-you-tube-promotional-video</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online, Staffordshire&#39;s leading online estate agents have released their first video on social media video platform, You Tube. The video showcases Findahome Online&#39;s estate agency services and gives people an insight into the online estate agency revolution sweeping the UK.

	We are delighted with the video and would like to thank Beat Lane Productions of Madeley,&nbsp;for producing it. They have done a fantastic job, thanks to all the team at Beat Lane.

	Please follow this link to the video and our You Tube Channel. We hope this will be the first of many.

	http://www.youtube.com/user/FindahomeOnlinecouk

	We hope you like the video as much as we do. Any comments will be very much appreciated.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2681/staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agent-releases-you-tube-promotional-video</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Aug 2012 21:02:42 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2681/staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agent-releases-you-tube-promotional-video</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>staffordshires-leading-online-estate-agents-supports-national-oatcake-day-august-8th-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are based in North Staffordshire and are today supporting and celebrating National Oatcake Day. Oatcakes are Staffordshire&rsquo;s very own delicacy and eaten by the masses in North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
	You may be wondering what an oatcake is? Here&rsquo;s a brief explanation - A North Staffordshire oatcake is a type of pancake made from oatmeal, flour and yeast. It is cooked on a griddle or &#39;baxton&#39;. The oatcake is a local speciality in the North Staffordshire area of England. They are normally referred to as Staffordshire oatcakes or possibly Potteries oatcakes by non-locals, because they were made in this area. In and around Staffordshire and Cheshire they are often simply known as oatcakes.
	It was once common throughout the Potteries for oatcakes to be sold directly from the window of a house to customers on the street. The last producer in this style closed on the 25th of March 2012; however, there are many small commercial premises who sell oatcakes. Larger commercial enterprises exist that sell oatcakes to supermarkets and other large distribution chains.
	Oatcakes can be a form of fast food. Catering outlets in the area usually offer oatcakes with fillings such as cheese, tomato, onion, bacon, sausage, and egg. They can also be eaten with sweet fillings such as golden syrup, jam or banana, but this is less common and frowned upon by traditionalists. They are traditionally re-heated by steaming between two plates over a saucepan of water or nowadays by microwave, though some may prefer frying in butter or grilling.
	A North Staffordshire oatcake is a type of pancake made from oatmeal, flour and yeast. It is cooked on a griddle or &#39;baxton&#39;. The oatcake is a local speciality in the North Staffordshire area of England. They are normally referred to as Staffordshire oatcakes or possibly Potteries oatcakes by non-locals, because they were made in this area. In and around Staffordshire and Cheshire they are often simply known as oatcakes.
	Everyone at Findahome Online loves an oatcake or two, especially on a weekend.
	Bacon, cheese and tomato is our stand out favourite!
	We hope everyone enjoys National Oatcake Day and that the planned events go well. Please support this event and visit your local oatcake shop.
	Those on the digital world can show their support at mid day today. The organisers want to get #OatcakeDay trending on social media platform twitter. Spread the word and support Oatcake Day!!

	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2680/staffordshires-leading-online-estate-agents-supports-national-oatcake-day-august-8th-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 2012 08:53:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2680/staffordshires-leading-online-estate-agents-supports-national-oatcake-day-august-8th-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>home-seller-seeks-out-steph-dunn-fox-to-sell-his-property-in-forsbrook-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In November 2011, a gentleman walked into our former Staffordshire Moorlands base looking for Findahome Online&rsquo;s Manager Steph Dunn-Fox. He had used Steph previously to let a property on his behalf and was very impressed with her customer service skills and attention to detail. He, in fact, went into Steph&rsquo;s former estate agency looking for her and asking where she had gone.
	The member of staff in the other estate agency, who will remain nameless, kindly directed our seller in the right direction.
	We placed the seller&rsquo;s property onto the market and sold it reasonably quickly. Unfortunately, the first sale fell through due to unforeseen circumstances - it happens. Undeterred, we continued booking viewings and marketing the property to the best of our ability. Importantly, Steph kept the vendor updated.
	Findahome Online resold the property in May 2012. Steph has worked tirelessly chasing the sale up to completion and updating all parties. Not only chasing our buyer, but also his buyer (he sold privately) and solicitors. It completes on Friday 03/08/2012.
	The seller of this property rang in today to thank Steph for all our hard work. He is also going to write a review on independent estate agents review site Allagents.co.uk.
	A truly superb job completed by Steph from start to finish.
	Traditional estate agency values and practices are still very much in evidence and upheld&nbsp; at Findahome Online.
	Online estate agents are persistent and follow things through. We are so much more than a &lsquo;website&rsquo;. Please call us today to see how we can sell your home and save you money.
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2679/home-seller-seeks-out-steph-dunn-fox-to-sell-his-property-in-forsbrook-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Aug 2012 07:54:06 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2679/home-seller-seeks-out-steph-dunn-fox-to-sell-his-property-in-forsbrook-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>estate-agents-using-social-media-incorrectly</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Social media is something that grows on you and that you learn as you go. When we first started using social media in the early part of 2010, I made the mistake that many estate agents do and started listing my property stock on there. I used twitter and facebook as an extension of the property portals that we use. This was a big mistake and I soon learnt how things are done on these sites, particularly twitter which is where Findahome Online does most of its social media work.
	Your followers (twitter) and fans (facebook) want to interact with you; they want to see special offers or talk to you about the housing market or topical issues. They do not want to see your new sales or letting instructions. If they were looking for properties, they would visit the necessary platforms, namely the property portal websites such as Rightmove or findaproperty.com.
	Findahome Online try and keep their facebook and twitter accounts as up to date as they can, but it is tough. In an ideal world, businesses would have a full-time social media person to fulfil this role. I know for a fact that the big companies do, and this works for them.
	Facebook and twitter are modern day notice boards for companies and need to be treated as such. The modern day user of social media craves new information and, as this evolves, we are seeing companies extend their social media platforms to include weekly newsletters to complement their social media offerings.
	I have been prompted to write this blog by our local newspaper, which ran a piece on an estate agent who is now using social media platforms to promote their business. I looked at the agent in question&rsquo;s twitter account and found the same old problem. All they had on there were new property instructions. Their followers do not want to see new properties, they want interaction! This particular estate agent may find how it works, or they may not. I know of many estate agents who have tried social media and then given up. They just don&rsquo;t get it! It takes time, effort and interaction.
	Findahome Online can certainly do more with our social media accounts. We do neglect facebook sometimes, but are very active on twitter. Tom Williams [Partner] interacts with people, both locally and through the length and breadth of the country. Pleasingly, in the last week, one of Tom&rsquo;s followers asked him if Findahome had any properties in the ST6 area of Stoke-on-Trent to rent. We hadn&rsquo;t got any, but should we have any then Tom&rsquo;s twitter follower will be the first to know. This is how it is supposed to work and Tom was &ldquo;chuffed&rdquo; that people do notice what we are doing!
	Findahome Online&rsquo;s favourite property website Rightmove&rsquo;s staff are very active on twitter. Tom is in regular contact with his account manager, who through twitter is now a friend. Relationships are built on these platforms. Quite simply, this is how many people communicate in 2012. Social media is here to stay and estate agents need to embrace it. Some, though, may need a helping hand!!
	&nbsp;

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2678/estate-agents-using-social-media-incorrectly</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:05:48 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2678/estate-agents-using-social-media-incorrectly</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agent-is-recruiting</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Due to continued success and expansion we require a full time sales negotiator/administrator based at our busy Newcastle-under-Lyme HQ.

	Please apply in writing enclosing a CV or email Office Manager Steph Dunn-Fox on steph.dunn-fox@findahomeonline.co.uk
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2677/staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agent-is-recruiting</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:22:45 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2677/staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agent-is-recruiting</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>is-it-cheaper-to-buy-in-the-city-of-stoke-on-trent-than-to-rent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	There is more evidence that it is cheaper in the long run to buy rather than rent. A new study showing that the cost of home ownership is cheaper than renting in 42 of the top 50 towns and cities, up from last year&#39;s figure of it being cheaper in 40 of them.

	It now costs 14% more per month on average to rent a home compared to servicing a mortgage on an equivalent property.

	Stoke-on-Trent, Milton Keynes and Dundee top the list of places where owning beats renting by a large margin according to property website Zoopla.

	At the other end of the spectrum, in Aberdeen, Bournemouth and Swansea renting is by far the better option from a cost perspective.

	In London, renting is 21% more costly on average than servicing a mortgage with the average asking price for a two bedroom flat in the capital a whopping &pound;474,979. The average rent on an equivalent property in London is a staggering &pound;2,500 per calendar month. With an&nbsp;interest only mortgage at 5% per annum, home owners are &pound;6,250 per year better of than renters in the capital city.

	It&#39;s great to see Stoke-on-Trent featuring in this study. Stoke-on-Trent is a very affordable and cost effective place to live, lets hope we get more people coming to live in the City.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2676/is-it-cheaper-to-buy-in-the-city-of-stoke-on-trent-than-to-rent</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jul 2012 20:24:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2676/is-it-cheaper-to-buy-in-the-city-of-stoke-on-trent-than-to-rent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>st-modwen-to-build-on-the-site-of-stoke-citys-old-ground-at-last</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Today&rsquo;s North Staffordshire Sentinel (04/07/2012) has revealed that it is looking likely that Birmingham based developer St Modwen is going to start building houses on the former site of Stoke City FC, the Victoria ground. Work was due to start on the site in 2007, but the credit crunch put paid to that. The site has been vacant since Stoke City moved to the Britannia Stadium in 1997/1998.
	Putting properties onto this site will be a massive improvement, as it is a vast derelict piece of land, which is a gateway to our city. Seeing such a big site empty for approximately 15 years is not a good thing for visitors to our city, nor for local residents&nbsp; to see.
	There are similar problems throughout the city of Stoke-on-Trent where regeneration funding has been withdrawn, leaving us with derelict buildings and barren areas. As I have said many times, the council and government have to be accountable for this. Other areas of the country look far more appealing to visit. Money has to be spent in Stoke-on-Trent to make our city a place people want to visit.
	As a Port Vale supporter, seeing houses on the old Victoria ground won&rsquo;t bother me. I feel it will be a different story for the red and white half of the city. Seeing houses on the site will be the end of an era for many of them. Stoke City may be in the Premiership now and the new ground may sell out every week, but any long time Stoke City supporter will tell you that there isn&rsquo;t the same atmosphere as&nbsp; there was at the old Boothen end of the Victoria ground.
	As an away supporter who has visited both grounds, I can confirm that the old ground was more intimidating and atmospheric than the new one is. Football has changed, though, for the better and things move on. Hopefully now, with the house builder Persimmon involved, we will see the ghost of the Victoria Ground laid to rest.
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2675/st-modwen-to-build-on-the-site-of-stoke-citys-old-ground-at-last</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jul 2012 21:35:17 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2675/st-modwen-to-build-on-the-site-of-stoke-citys-old-ground-at-last</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-branded-car-does-the-business-for-a-home-seller</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online partner Tom Williams finally had some time in the office yesterday to catch up on some much needed paperwork and phone calls. Tom rang a prospective client, whose property he appraised a couple of weeks ago, to see if he was ready to sell his home.
	&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve sold it!&rdquo; said the would-be home seller, &ldquo;and I&rsquo;ve got you to thank. My next door neighbour saw your branded Findahome car and knocked on my door and asked if I was selling, as their parents would be interested in buying. The sale is now proceeding.&rdquo;
	Comfortingly, the seller told Tom that should the sale fall through, that we were his preferred choice of estate agent.&nbsp;
	We are pleased that the seller has agreed a sale and can confirm that the Findahome branded car has sold its first house!!!
	As a business we hope that this is not a regular occurrence!!!
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2674/findahome-branded-car-does-the-business-for-a-home-seller</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jul 2012 21:34:05 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2674/findahome-branded-car-does-the-business-for-a-home-seller</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>being-straightforward-and-honest-are-the-best-policies-for-estate-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams, went out to appraise a property in Stoke-on-Trent last week. The seller was undecided on what to do. Should he extend or move to a new build property?&nbsp; Now, as much as Findahome Online don&rsquo;t like to do ourselves out of business, we are honest with our clients.
	Having seen the plans for the proposed extension, Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams, advised the seller to stay where he was and extend. This was a better proposition for him and his family, as the purchase of one of the newer properties they were looking at, could possibly have resulted in them losing money.
	How many estate agents would go down this route? Many would I know, but there are the minority, mainly the commission-based estate agents, who are paid for what they put up for sale. Many of these estate agents put properties up for sale at whatever cost and with little regard for&nbsp; whether the property sells or not.
	This particular seller was grateful for my honest advice and will hopefully use us in the future or recommend us to others.
	Not everyone appreciates our honest approach. I still visit properties where the sellers have unrealistic expectations. Many still believe that their properties are worth what they were in 2007. Sadly, this is not the case.
	Findahome Online try and be as straight as we can with sellers. We will, of course, try any price, but if we feel something is unrealistic, we will express this to the seller. This is not us being negative about the property, it is us being realistic about the market. It can be difficult for an estate agent to ask a seller for a price reduction, if they have stated an inflated price in the beginning. Properties are selling in 2012, but pricing, as ever, is key.
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2673/being-straightforward-and-honest-are-the-best-policies-for-estate-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jul 2012 21:07:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2673/being-straightforward-and-honest-are-the-best-policies-for-estate-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>sales-frenzy-on-saturday-30th-june-at-staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agency</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Saturday the 30th June 2012 was a busy and prouctive day at Finahome Online HQ in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. We put two new properties up for sale in Hanley and Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent and pleasingly sold three properties. Two of the properties sold were in Stoke-on-Trent and the other one&nbsp;was&nbsp;in Tamworth, South Staffordshire.&nbsp;

	&nbsp;At Findahome Online we are pleased when we sell any property, but we are particularly happy to have sold the property in Tamworth, as it is outside of our immediate geographical area. A sale has been agreed in only 10 days. This is further evidence of how effective using an Online Estate Agent like Findahome Online can be. When the property completes our seller will have saved over a &pound;1,000 in estate agency fees.

	If you have a property to sell, we want to sell it. Findahome Online are a National Online Estate Agent who covers all areas of England and Wales, specialising in our local areas of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

	Unlike many online estate agents we actually visit your property and do everything you would expect a good estate agent to do. Please call us today to see how we can sell your home and save you money.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2672/sales-frenzy-on-saturday-30th-june-at-staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agency</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 2012 18:26:38 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2672/sales-frenzy-on-saturday-30th-june-at-staffordshire39s-leading-online-estate-agency</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>national-association-of-estate-agents-naea-membership-vital-for-estate-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I have been a member of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) for the last 11 years. I am a great supporter of the NAEA and a firm believer that all estate agents should be members.
	It appears that there are still &lsquo;cowboys&rsquo; operating. Therefore, our industry needs licensing by the Government so that consumers are treated fairly when dealing with estate agents. The NAEA operates its own licensing scheme and Findahome Online are proud members.
	The reason for my blog today is to praise the NAEA for the benefits that they offer member estate agents. The NAEA offers free legal and compliance advice to all member agents. They use a firm of expert property solicitors. It is an excellent system.
	I had a query this morning over a letting matter. I lodged my query with the NAEA on their website and within a couple of hours their associated law firm had answered my query.
	As a busy estate agency, having this support adds great value to the service that we can offer. Our clients can rest assured that we are doing our job compliantly and sticking to the rules.
	I personally have worked as an estate agent for the last 15 years and am experienced in sales and lettings, but there are still things that come up that I need to query to ensure that we can offer the best possible service and advice.
	If I was a home seller, I would not use an estate agent who was not a member of the NAEA. I would compare it to using a travel operator who is not registered with ABTA [Association of British Travel Agents]. Would you book your holiday with an unregulated tour operator? The same has to apply to selling your most prized asset.

	
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2670/national-association-of-estate-agents-naea-membership-vital-for-estate-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 Jun 2012 18:31:22 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2670/national-association-of-estate-agents-naea-membership-vital-for-estate-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>are-online-estate-agents-more-productive-than-their-high-street-counterparts</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	This week a journalist from our local newspaper, the Staffordshire Sentinel, called in to our new offices to interview me over our move to Lymedale Business Centre, in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Many people are fascinated by the online estate agency business model and our lack of interest in trading on the High Street. I explained to John Swift from the Sentinel how it worked. I went through the reasons why we don&rsquo;t trade on the local High Street: high and unjustified business rates, lack of accessibility and parking, tied to a town or location which results in only getting properties in that area. There are a number of reasons, and I am passionate about online estate agency, so I could go on and on!
	Productivity is also a major issue. When I worked in a High Street Estate Agency (most of my career) we would often get customers coming into the office and consequently taking up a lot of our time. Anyone in the estate agency industry will know the types. They would never use you for any services, but would come into your office as you were in a prime position in the middle of town. I would often miss calls and lose valuable working time when dealing with their queries. As we are an internet estate agency, people have to drive to our office (we offer free parking) so we can concentrate on our work and the telephone and emails throughout the day. Online estate agents are not distracted by people walking in off the street.
	A High Street estate agent encouraged me to write a blog on this, after they commented on Estate Agent Today (an internet forum for estate agents) after Findahome Online&rsquo;s Office Manager Steph Dunn-Fox had won a Floorplan speed drawing competition. They commented that Steph had more time than High Street Estate Agents as she did not have customers coming into the office and disturbing her, so that she could practise. This, of course, was not the case, as Steph practised her floorplans after working hours. Believe me, there is no time for anything else but work at Findahome Online as we are always extremely busy.
	There is a misconception that online estate agents just put people&rsquo;s properties onto the internet. This is far from the case. We work as hard as any high street estate agent, longer than many, as we strive to be the area&rsquo;s leading estate agent. We are already Staffordshire&rsquo;s top online estate agent.
	Are online estate agents more productive than our high street counterparts? Yes, if they work effectively and efficiently. Having customers walking into the office can be a distraction and can tie up a lot of time. Ask yourself this, when did you last walk into a high street estate agent? I bet you looked at properties on the internet more recently.
	I am truly convinced that online estate agency is the future, but not everyone is.
	One of the large independent estate agents in my area has recently renovated&nbsp; a large premises. They hope to get more footfall than their previous office. With most people working at least 40 hours a week and with less free time than ever, do you really think they will get the quality buyers, sellers and tenants or landlords through the door? With the strength and growing popularity of the internet, will their website get more visitors? Pay to park and walk into town to the estate agent or visit their website and Rightmove from the comfort of your sofa? I will let you decide. One thing I am certain of, you will not see Findahome Online renovating a town centre premises!&nbsp;

	 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2669/are-online-estate-agents-more-productive-than-their-high-street-counterparts</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:37:22 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2669/are-online-estate-agents-more-productive-than-their-high-street-counterparts</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>the-diamond-jubilee-2012-and-its-effect-on-the-housing-market</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Firstly, we would like to congratulate the Queen on reaching this milestone. Secondly, we hope everyone has a lovely weekend and break from work. Everyone at Findahome Online is getting in the spirit of things; we have even attached Union Jack flags to the Findahome branded car. Please give us a wave if you see us in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and the Moorlands.
	Whilst we are looking forward to the festivities (we are open as normal on Saturday 2nd June, but closed on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June) we are not impressed by the slow down in the housing market caused by the impending Jubilee and next week&rsquo;s schools&rsquo; half-term holiday. Findahome Online have noticed a real difference this week in our viewing figures and sales agreed. People are still looking at properties, but not in their usual numbers. We are roughly a third down on what we normally do. Such a contrast from the week before, when we agreed sales in Blythe Bridge, Bucknall, Rode Heath, Trentham and two properties in Stone.
	We will enjoy the Bank Holiday and break, but will be raring to go when we return to work and get back to what we do best -&nbsp; selling and letting properties.

	
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2668/the-diamond-jubilee-2012-and-its-effect-on-the-housing-market</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:34:45 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2668/the-diamond-jubilee-2012-and-its-effect-on-the-housing-market</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-move-offices-to-lymedale-business-centre-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are delighted to announce that we have moved to larger&nbsp;offices at &nbsp;Lymedale Business Centre, Lymedale Business Park in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

	Findahome spokesman, Tom Williams says &quot;We have outgrown our former headquarters and due to continued success and expansion have moved to Lymedale Business Park. It is a fantastic office complex and we can offer free parking to clients. Conveniently situated just off the A34 in Newcastle-under-Lyme it is accessible to all the areas that we cover in North Staffordshire. Although we are an online estate agent, we do still welcome customers to our offices and now we have moved feel that we will be that bit more accessible.&quot;

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2667/findahome-online-move-offices-to-lymedale-business-centre-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 07:55:51 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2667/findahome-online-move-offices-to-lymedale-business-centre-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>are-you-looking-to-sell-your-house-in-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-or-the-staffordshire-moorlands</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In the last 2 months Findahome Online, North Staffordshires Leading Online Estate Agents have agreed record numbers of sales. We are the estate agent of choice&nbsp;in our local areas of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and the Staffordshire Moorlands.

	Sales have been agreed in the following areas:

	Cheadle Road, Forsbrook, Staffordshire Moorlands

	The Moat, Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent

	Greenacres Avenue, Blythe Bridge, Stafforshire Moorlands

	Douglas Avenue, Oakhill, Stoke-on-Trent

	Michael Close, Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent

	Terrington Drive, Westbury Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme

	Crossfield Avenue, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire Moorlands

	Willdale Grove, Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent

	May Avenue, May Bank, Newcastle-under-Lyme

	Mill Close, Caverswall, Staffordshire Moorlands

	Heron Street, Heron Cross, Stoke-on-Trent

	Chatterley Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent

	Badgers Croft, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme

	New Inn Lane, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent

	Clermont Avenue, Hanford, Stoke-on-Trent

	Tregew Place, Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme

	Selborne Road, Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands

	Forrister Street, Meir Hay, Stoke-on-Trent

	Newington Grove, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent

	Lister Grove, Stallington Village, Staffordshire Moorlands

	Forrister Street, Meir Hay, Stoke-on-Trent

	William Avenue, Catchems Corner, Stoke-on-Trent

	Carverswall Road, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire Moorlands

	Cardigan Grove, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent

	Trecastle Grove, Lightwood, Stoke-on-Trent

	Grange Gardens, Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands

	Meadowside, Saverley Green, Staffordshire

	Wallbridge Drive, Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands

	Aldeburgh Drive, Westbury Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme

	Richmond Avenue, Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent

	Parkway, Forsbrook, Staffordshire Moorlands

	Stone Road, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent

	Greenway, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent

	Beechtree Grove, Heron Cross, Stoke-on-Trent

	William Close, Forsbrook, Stoke-on-Trent

	Comfrey Close, Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent

	If you have a property to sell and want to save valuable money, please call us today for your free sales valuation.

	Online and internet estate agents are the present and the future!!

	The sales above are evidence that you do not need a high street shop to sell properties in North Staffordshire and the Moorlands. Give an online estate agent a try, you will be pleasantly surprised!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2666/are-you-looking-to-sell-your-house-in-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-or-the-staffordshire-moorlands</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 10:06:57 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2666/are-you-looking-to-sell-your-house-in-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-or-the-staffordshire-moorlands</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>estate-agents-shop-window-a-thing-of-the-past</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	When I started in the estate agency business in 1997, the world was a different place. Mobile phones were not commonly used, nor was the internet. Most High Streets were well populated with shops and businesses.
	Estate agents made up a proportion of these businesses. Back in 1997, only High Street estate agents existed. In those days there was no alternative. The frontage and window of an estate agent&rsquo;s was crucial to the estate agent&rsquo;s success and branding. Properties were only advertised in the window (and in the shop) of an estate agent&rsquo;s and in the local newspapers&rsquo; property section. The bigger estate agents also produced glossy magazines which were available to pick up from their High Street offices. Apart from these means of marketing that was your lot. If you wanted to sell your house using an estate agent, this was the way to do it. Many sellers would call into our &lsquo;shop&rsquo; and ask to be placed in prime position in the window. Others would call in and complain that their property was next to a far cheaper, unattractive property. We would then have to move it immediately and place it next to more suitable properties. Would someone really not buy a property or look at it because it is next to one that&rsquo;s of a different price or style? The fundamentals of selling a house have not and will never change. It doesn&rsquo;t matter if your property is in the biggest window of the biggest shop in the biggest city. If that property is at the right price and desirable, someone will buy it.
	&nbsp;Let&rsquo;s fast forward 15 years.........
	The internet has taken off beyond belief. Many of our high streets have record levels of empty shops. Many would-be high street shop owners&nbsp; now trade online. High business rates and the ease and openness of the internet have sent them down this route. Also, long working hours in the UK means many people don&rsquo;t have the time they once had to walk around high streets looking in shops and estate agents&rsquo; windows. It is far easier to shop online and to look for properties on the internet. Our website is an example of this http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/ Estate agents&rsquo; websites carry far more information than the shop window can ever do.
	I chuckle to myself when I hear of other estate agents who still sell through their shop window. In some cities and towns in other parts of the country, I&rsquo;m sure there are some people who look in the windows. It is not common though anymore in parts of our home city of Stoke-on-Trent. In one town we cover, the busiest venue in the town, sadly, is the job centre. Unfortunately, many of our towns in&nbsp; Stoke-on-Trent have very little footfall. Findahome Online sell and let houses online for all the reasons I have stated above. I am a great believer that all estate agents will eventually trade online away from the high street. How long can estate agents justify paying high rents and business rates just to have a prime position on a high street that doesn&rsquo;t get the visitors it once had? More and more online estate agents are entering the market, many of whom like Findahome Online are proving that the location of an office is not important when selling a property. We are knowledgeable in our local area of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and the Staffordshire Moorlands and are the original and leading online estate agents in this area. We are living and breathing proof that you don&rsquo;t need a big double fronted high street premises in North Staffordshire to sell or let properties.
	Looking back on my days in high street estate agents &lsquo;shops&rsquo;, one thing I don&rsquo;t miss is changing and updating the window displays!&nbsp;

	
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2665/estate-agents-shop-window-a-thing-of-the-past</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 20:21:51 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2665/estate-agents-shop-window-a-thing-of-the-past</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>estate-agents-most-satisfying-sales</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Most estate agents are proud of themselves when they sell a property in a short space of time. When this happens, in most cases, they will not have to do a lot of work for their money. Possibly one advert in the paper, a set of sales particulars, erect a board and upload on the internet.
	Are these type of sales the most satisfying for the estate agent? Yes, if their only concern is getting as much income in as possible, whilst doing the minimum amount of work.
	At Findahome Online, we believe that these sales are not the most satisfying. Quite frankly, they are easy. Any estate agent can put a board on some properties and achieve a quick sale.
	In our opinion, the best sales are of those properties that are harder to sell. These are the properties where sellers know that their homes are not that saleable or where they have been on the market a long time.
	Findahome Online are particularly proud when we have done something another estate agent has failed to do, namely to sell properties which have been on the market with that previous agent for a long period of time. We have had this success recently in Northwood and Blythe Bridge.
	An estate agent&rsquo;s job is to sell clients&rsquo; properties and make their dreams come true. There is nothing more satisfying than selling a property which has been tough to sell.
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2664/estate-agents-most-satisfying-sales</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 20:14:31 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2664/estate-agents-most-satisfying-sales</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>housing-benefit-tenants-relocating-from-newham-to-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I have read reports in the national media today that housing benefit tenants from Newham in East London could be moving to Findahome&rsquo;s home city of Stoke-on-Trent.According to various sources, a housing association in Stoke-on-Trent has been approached to see if they can rehome 500 families. The reason given for relocating these families is that the coalition government has put a cap on housing benefit and people in Newham, East London, who are on housing benefit, have been priced out of the market.London and its boroughs are the most expensive places to rent in the UK.Stoke-on-Trent, on the other hand, is one of the most affordable.

	What&rsquo;s Findahome Online&rsquo;s view of this suggested potential mass migration from the London Borough of Newham to Stoke-on-Trent?

	Firstly, there are few jobs in Stoke-on-Trent, with high levels of unemployment. An influx of 500 families would only add to existing difficulties.Another point that needs serious consideration is where are these people going to live? The city of Stoke-on-Trent already has a housing shortage, with a reported 3000 on housing waiting lists.Many parts of the city are still waiting to be redeveloped after the &lsquo;Renew&rsquo; regeneration funding was pulled when the change in government took place.Finally, there is the question of education for the children and young people within these families.

	London should have the infrastructure in place to rehouse the families there. I am sure the families in question will not want to move to the North Midlands away from their families and friends. I wonder about the legality of such a proposal being carried out, bearing in mind the human rights issue.

	If the government was going to create thousands of jobs in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, then that might be different, but sadly I can&rsquo;t see that happening!

	Findahome Online Lettings are a letting agents who cover the fine city of Stoke-on-Trent.

	&nbsp; 
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2662/housing-benefit-tenants-relocating-from-newham-to-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:32:31 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2662/housing-benefit-tenants-relocating-from-newham-to-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>steph-dunn-fox-wins-the-metropix-floorplan-speed-drawing-competition</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I am pleased to announce that Findahome Online&#39;s Office Manager, Steph Dunn-Fox has won the Metropix Speed Drawing Floorplan Competition. Steph was crowned champion after completing the floorplan of a three bedroom house in only 2 minutes and 48 seconds. Steph has won the top prize of an Apple I Pad 3.

	An ecstatic Steph says, &quot;I am so happy to have won the I Pad and finish first. I have only been drawing floorplans for the last 6 months, so this is&nbsp;a real achievement. I do draw quite a lot of them, one of our selling packages includes a 3D floorplan. I particularly enjoy drawing the 3D floorplans and they are popular with customers. I would like to thank Metropix for giving me the opportunity to enter the competition.&quot;

	Congratulations to Steph from all at Findahome Online, we are delighted&nbsp;for you. I can confirm that when the result was announced a massive cheer went up around the office. Make no mistake if Metropix run this competition again, Steph will most definitely be entering!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2661/steph-dunn-fox-wins-the-metropix-floorplan-speed-drawing-competition</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:32:22 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2661/steph-dunn-fox-wins-the-metropix-floorplan-speed-drawing-competition</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-enters-metropix-flooplan-drawing-competition</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online&#39;s Office Manager and Floorplan drawing expert, Steph Dunn-Fox&nbsp;has entered a national competition set by the UK&#39;s leading Floorplan provider, Metropix.

	Metropix are getting into the Olympic spirit and are looking for estate agents who can complete their Floorplans in the quickest time. They are offering some excellent prizes to the winners including the latest Apple I Pad.

	We are confindent that we have our very own Usain Bolt&nbsp;of the Floorplan drawing world. No pressure Steph, but we are expecting you to win!! Good luck Steph,&nbsp;everyone at Findahome Online is rooting for you!!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2660/online-estate-agent-enters-metropix-flooplan-drawing-competition</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:52:31 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2660/online-estate-agent-enters-metropix-flooplan-drawing-competition</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>sun-worshipping-home-hunters-its-all-about-the-satellite-dish</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	It&rsquo;s amazing how much information and tips you pick up over the years as an estate agent. Estate agency is like most jobs. You learn the job and the trade as you are doing it, picking up things along the way.
	As we move into the summer months and finally start to see some sunshine, home buyers are viewing properties and those who particularly like gardening or sunbathing are scrutinising gardens. Does the property get the sun? Is it south facing? Now unless you are a farmer (they always seem to know which way they are facing) or you have a compass, it can be difficult to determine which way a property&rsquo;s rear garden faces. Or can it? Some time ago someone informed me that you could determine if a property was southerly facing from which way the satellite dish faced. This is absolutely right, satellite dishes are placed so that they are south/south westerly facing.
	Over the years, whilst out on market appraisals and viewings, I have often commented to viewers or home sellers if the garden is south facing. Some have been impressed that I have known this, even on the darkest and wettest of days. As I am not a &ldquo;smart Alec&rdquo;, I have always come clean and let them know how I am aware of which way south is. Most people have satellite dishes these days and if they don&rsquo;t, you can always rely on a neighbour&rsquo;s dish to point you in the right direction! If there are no satellite dishes in evidence, then it&rsquo;s back to the compass or the good old fashioned way of seeing where the sun is, if it&rsquo;s out!!

	&nbsp;

	
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2659/sun-worshipping-home-hunters-its-all-about-the-satellite-dish</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 15 Apr 2012 09:31:44 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2659/sun-worshipping-home-hunters-its-all-about-the-satellite-dish</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>top-10-buy-to-let-hot-spots-in-the-uk-a-true-reflection</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I came across an article on the Telegraph newspapers website titled The UK&rsquo;s top 10 property buy &ndash; to &ndash; let hot spots.
	The article was focusing on the top 10 towns and cities that offer the best rental yield. Now for those unsure what a rental yield is, it is the percentage income worked out from the average house price against the yearly rental income. The Telegraph has been assisted in this matter by high end estate agency Savills and the UK&rsquo;s number one property website, Rightmove.
	The top 10 is as follows:

	1.&nbsp;Newham, East London
	Average House Price: &pound;222,000
	Rental Income: &pound;16,800
	Gross Yield: 7.6%

	2.&nbsp;Oxford, Oxfordshire
	Average House Price: &pound;237,000
	Rental Income: &pound;14,900
	Gross Yield: 6.3%

	3.&nbsp;York, North Yorkshire
	Average House Price: &pound;149,000
	Rental Income: &pound;9,400
	Gross Yield: 6.3%

	4.&nbsp;Ealing, West London
	Average House Price: &pound;289,000
	Rental Income: &pound;17,000
	Gross Yield: 5.9%

	5.&nbsp;Southwark, South London
	Average House Price: &pound;364,000
	Rental Income: &pound;21,400
	Gross Yield: 5.9%

	6.&nbsp;Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
	Average House Price: &pound;191,000
	Rental Income: &pound;11,000
	Gross Yield: 5.8%

	7.&nbsp;Brighton, West Sussex
	Average House Price: &pound;225,000
	Rental Income: &pound;12,700
	Gross Yield: 5.6%

	8.&nbsp;Canterbury, Kent
	Average House Price: &pound;168,000
	Rental Income: &pound;9,200
	Gross Yield: 5.5%

	9.&nbsp;Guildford, Surrey
	Average House Price: &pound;259,000
	Rental Income: &pound;14,100
	Gross Yield: 5.4%

	10.&nbsp;Wandsworth, London
	Average House Price: &pound;400,000
	Rental Income: &pound;20,000
	Gross Yield: 5.1%

	The above average house prices and rental incomes are based on two bedroom properties in those towns and cities.
	I feel that there are some towns and cities that have been overlooked in this buy-to-let &lsquo;hot spots&rsquo;, namely Findahome Online&rsquo;s home city of Stoke-on-Trent.
	The average price for a Two Bedroom House in Stoke-on-Trent is approximately &pound;55,000 - &pound;60,000. A Two Bedroom House in Stoke-on-Trent will achieve in the region on &pound;400 per calendar month. On my calculations, this gives a gross yield of approximately 8%. On these figures, this would put Stoke-on-Trent at the top of the buy-to-let &lsquo;hot spot&rsquo; chart. High rental yields are not uncommon in the North of England and the Midlands. Other areas that I would expect to have good rental yields are Burnley, Blackburn, Chester and Hull. I could go on and on!
	I enjoyed reading the Telegraph&rsquo;s article, but do suspect that the places have been chosen on what they look like and where they are based geographically. There does seem to be some bias towards the South East. Would an article showing photographs of northern industrial cities and towns have had the readability that this article had, with attractive photographs of the areas featured?
	I very much doubt it. Had the Telegraph looked at the facts, I think we would have had a very different looking top 10. Am I right, or just a biased Northerner?
	You decide!!
	Findahome Online Lettings are a Letting Agent based near the fine North Midlands city of Stoke-on-Trent.
	&nbsp;
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2658/top-10-buy-to-let-hot-spots-in-the-uk-a-true-reflection</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:28:39 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2658/top-10-buy-to-let-hot-spots-in-the-uk-a-true-reflection</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>bank-holidays-the-debate-begins</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	It has recently been commented in the news about the cost to the economy of Bank Holidays.&nbsp; There have been suggestions that the Government ought to look at rationalising the number of U.K. Bank Holidays to avoid financial losses to businesses.&nbsp; However, the U.K. has one of the lowest number of Public Holidays in Europe.&nbsp; In fairness to employees, there needs to be a work/life balance.
	Driving around on Easter Saturday (7th April 2012), I was surprised to see numerous high street estate agents in my local area had their shutters down and had not opened.
	Now everyone needs time off, I appreciate that. We would like a four day break, but it is not possible in my opinion. Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents were closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, but we did open in between on Easter Saturday and worked our normal hours.
	In fact, due to being closed on the Friday, we reported much brisker business than we get on a normal Saturday. When we opened, there were no fewer than 23 messages on our answer phone from clients. I can imagine some of those clients would be none too happy had we not returned their calls until the Tuesday, when normal working hours are resumed. Our team booked numerous viewings and also agreed sales in Blythe Bridge and Leek. It was well worth opening for us. In a tough market, estate agents need to be accessible and work long hours.
	With so many properties on the market, it is essential that if someone enquires and wants to view a property that the estate agent arranges the viewing almost immediately. If they don&rsquo;t, the would-be buyer or tenant will find something else! It&rsquo;s simple really. An old saying that sums it up for me is &lsquo;the early bird catches the worm&rsquo;!
	Findahome Online are Staffordshire&rsquo;s leading online estate agents, accessible to all and working every day of the week except Sundays and Bank Holidays. Our team is unstinting in our efforts to give excellent service to our clients all the year round.

	
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2657/bank-holidays-the-debate-begins</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:21:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2657/bank-holidays-the-debate-begins</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>panic-buying-at-the-petrol-pumps-estate-agents-would-give-their-right-arms-for-panic-buying-in-the-housing-market</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We have seen panic buying at the petrol pumps in the last 10 days with many garages running out of fuel. It has been a supply and demand issue with some of the UK population filling their cars up, unnecessarily fearing a fuel shortage. There hasn&rsquo;t been a fuel strike confirmed, yet after the government suggested people should fill up &lsquo;jerry&rsquo; cans in case they ran out of fuel, fuel buying exceeded the supply.
	Estate agents across the UK would welcome panic buying in our industry. Unfortunately, in most areas of the UK supply of properties outweighs demand. This, coupled with the tight lending criteria set by the banks, means that panic buying is not common in the UK market! However, properties in certain areas can still sell quickly, with a good number of people looking to buy them. Findahome Online Estate and Lettings Agents have, in recent weeks and months, sold properties within days of them coming onto the market.
	Houses and fuel are commodities with supply and demand affecting prices.
	People need somewhere to live and they need fuel in their cars. The difficulty buyers have had getting mortgages in the last few years has resulted in more people moving into rented accommodation. An alternative to putting fuel into our cars is not really available at the moment as electric cars have not really taken off. Until a credible alternative appears, fuel will always be in demand.
	The UK housing market has seen panic buying in the past. I remember in 2002 &ndash; 2004,&nbsp; people were literally buying any houses, where I was working at the time, in order to let them. The prices of properties in my area of Stoke-on-Trent rocketed and the demand soared. Panic buying was very much in evidence as people jumped on the buy &ndash; to &ndash; let bandwagon.
	Panic buying of fuel when prompted will continue, as well as when we get a bit of snow on the ground bread sales go through the roof!
	I would not welcome panic buying again in the housing market. What I would like to see is easier lending from the banks so that people can get mortgages. A stable market where properties are moving is far better than a panic stricken market where prices soar.

	
	&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2656/panic-buying-at-the-petrol-pumps-estate-agents-would-give-their-right-arms-for-panic-buying-in-the-housing-market</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:14:51 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2656/panic-buying-at-the-petrol-pumps-estate-agents-would-give-their-right-arms-for-panic-buying-in-the-housing-market</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>leading-online-estate-agents-report-busy-start-to-the-easter-holidays</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Staffordshire&#39;s leading Online Estate Agents, Findahome Online have reported a busy start to the Easter holidays.

	Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams says&nbsp;&quot;We had expected to be quieter over the Easter holiday period with the schools being closed. How wrong could we be! Since yesterday morning (Monday 2nd April 2012) &nbsp;we have been inundated with offers and have agreed sales in Forsbrook, Leek, Lightwood, Trentham and Weston Coyney. In addition to agreeing these&nbsp;sales, we have also been instructed to sell properties in Fenton, Milton, Bradwell and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Long may it continue!

	Internet Estate Agents like Findahome Online are becoming increasing popular with the people of Staffordshire and are a viable alternative to traditional high street estate agents. Online estate agency works, give it a try!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2655/leading-online-estate-agents-report-busy-start-to-the-easter-holidays</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:50:31 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2655/leading-online-estate-agents-report-busy-start-to-the-easter-holidays</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-raises-363-for-sport-relief-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Partner&nbsp;Tom Williams ran 3 miles&nbsp;for Sport Relief last sunday&nbsp;at&nbsp;the Trentham Monkey Forest in Stoke-on-Trent.

	Tom completed the run in 25 minutes. He has has raised &pound;363.20 for Sport Relief.

	Tom says, &quot;I was pleased to be involved in this fund raising event and very much enjoyed the run. The weather was excellent, which helped. I would like to thank all those who sponsored me and my family for supporting me. It is a very worthwhile cause and something that Findahome Online are pleased to support. I hope to be involved again next year. I am also looking at doing some more running events and supporting charities in our local area of Stoke-on-Trent.&quot;

	Findahome Online are Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire&#39;s regional Internet and Online Estate Agents, we are proud to support Sport Relief.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2654/online-estate-agent-raises-363-for-sport-relief-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:52:51 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2654/online-estate-agent-raises-363-for-sport-relief-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>busy-completion-day-at-findahome-online-on-friday-30th-march-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	It&#39;s going to be a busy day at Staffordshire&#39;s leading online estate agency tomorrow. We have six properties completing across our area in&nbsp;Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and The Staffordshire Moorlands. &nbsp;

	Findahome Online Office Manager, Steph Dunn-Fox has put a lot of hard work into the progression of these sales, as she does will all our sales. Steph says &quot;Some of the sales can be challenging to progress. I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction when the sales complete and our clients can move into their new homes. Our clients are very kind too, i have had chocolates sent into the office from one of the sellers who moves tomorrow. This and the reviews we receive on the estate agency review website AllAgents makes our job worthwhile and fulfilling.&quot;

	Staffordshire&#39;s leading internet estate agent is getting results. Six successful completions tomorrow has saved our sellers a combined &pound;13,414. Online estate agency works and saves people money!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2653/busy-completion-day-at-findahome-online-on-friday-30th-march-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2653/busy-completion-day-at-findahome-online-on-friday-30th-march-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>house-price-statistics-for-north-staffordshire-and-cheshire-east-february-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	House prices were on the up in Stoke-on-Trent last month. Latest data from the Land Registry shows the average home in the City of Stoke-on-Trent cost &pound;72,309 in February 2012. This is up 0.7% on January 2012 and 1.3% up on February 2011.

	Staffordshire as a whole saw prices drop to an average of &pound;131,419 down 0.2% compared with January 2012 and 2.6% down on February 2011.

	In Cheshire East, which includes Alsager, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, the average price for February 2012 was &pound;147,831. The prices in South Cheshire are down 0.9 compared to January 2012 and 4.4% down compared to February 2012.

	In England and Wales as a whole the average price in February 2012 was &pound;161,588, up 0.1% from January 2012 but down 0.6% compared with February last year.

	For most home buyers and sellers the average house prices will not affect them. The figures are very up and down. There are rises in the prices in Stoke-on-Trent and slight drops in Staffordshire and South Cheshire. At least the market looks to have a stabilized, we are not seeing house prices falling dramatically as we did in 2008/2009.

	Findahome Online have had an excellent month in March 2012&nbsp;selling properties, as always successful sales come from realsitic pricing, especially in this tough market.

	Everthing is relative, you buy and sell in whatever market you are in. If you are not getting as much for your property now as you would have done in 2007, then you will be not paying as much for your next home either. This is why average house prices are pretty irrelevant to your average home buyer or seller.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2652/house-price-statistics-for-north-staffordshire-and-cheshire-east-february-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:41:06 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2652/house-price-statistics-for-north-staffordshire-and-cheshire-east-february-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>poor-performing-high-street-estate-agent-contradicts-themselves-on-online-estate-agency</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	A friend of Findahome Online is doing the rounds this week with local estate agents. They will of course be using us, but firstly want to get a feel for the valuation of their home by other estate agents.

	Our friend mentioned to one small town, two branch estate agent that he was having his local online estate agent out to look at the property.

	&ldquo;What do you want to do that for? An online estate agent doesn&rsquo;t offer the coverage we can give you&rdquo;, replied the small town estate agent. The estate agent in question then went on to push the internet, stating that virtually all their business came from the UK&rsquo;s number one property website, Rightmove, and not from their premises.

	The irony has not been lost on us. Online estate agents like Findahome Online offer extensive coverage on the top property websites as well as in the local newspaper. Aside from having premises on the local high street, you will not find an estate agent in our area who offers more coverage. In addition, our visual selling tools are unrivalled in our area with 3d floorplans, virtual tours and Rightmove premium listings.

	With 11 sales agreed already this month and, being only half way through, I think that is evidence enough that online estate agency most certainly works.

	I would bet my bottom dollar that the other estate agent mentioned has not agreed 11 sales this month!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2651/poor-performing-high-street-estate-agent-contradicts-themselves-on-online-estate-agency</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:22:55 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2651/poor-performing-high-street-estate-agent-contradicts-themselves-on-online-estate-agency</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>internet-estate-agents-branded-audi-a1</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In keeping with Findahome Online&#39;s modern image, we have today unveiled our new Audi A1 fully branded car. Covered from top to botttom&nbsp;in our unique branding, the car will further raise our profile in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheadle, Leek, Staffordshire and Cheshire.

	Included on the body work is a QR code which directs people onto our website, www.findahomeonline.co.uk&nbsp;when scanned with&nbsp;a smart phone.

	A big thank you to the team at A 2 B Graphics of Kildare Street, Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent for all their hard work.&nbsp;

	Look out for us in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire, I don&#39;t think you will miss us!!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2650/internet-estate-agents-branded-audi-a1</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:53:45 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2650/internet-estate-agents-branded-audi-a1</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>leading-staffordshire-online-estate-agent-offers-3d-floorplans-on-their-premium-selling-package</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Staffordshire&#39;s Leading Online Estate Agent, Findahome Online has today announced that is including a 3D Floorplan in its Premium Selling Package.

	Head of Marketing Sharron Williams says &quot;We have had feedback from clients that they like to see 3D Floorplans when looking online at properties. After a meeting today at Findahome HQ, we have&nbsp;decided to offer 3D Floorplans to all our new clients choosing our fantastic &pound;599 plus Vat Premium Package. In addition to a 3D Floorplan also included in this package is a Rightmove Premium Listing, Virtual Tour, Press Advertising (North Staffordshire area) and an Energy Performance Certificate(EPC). This package is amazing value and unrivaled to our knowledge by any high street or online estate agents.&quot;

	Findahome Online are growing in popularity as more and more&nbsp;people sell and let their homes with us. We are at the forefront of the online estate agency revolution sweeping the UK. Findahome Online will continue to come up with new ideas and innvoative ways to market properties for sale and to let. We take a pride in showcasing properties and making them stand out from the crowd. Introducing 3D Floorplans is another way of doing this.

	If you are looking to sell or let your home, please call Staffordshire&#39;s Regional Online Estate Agent.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2649/leading-staffordshire-online-estate-agent-offers-3d-floorplans-on-their-premium-selling-package</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:19:23 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2649/leading-staffordshire-online-estate-agent-offers-3d-floorplans-on-their-premium-selling-package</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>an-estate-agents-former-tool-of-the-trade-the-street-a-z-of-north-staffordshire-and-south-cheshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I was rooting around in my loft room the other day and found my street A-Z of North Staffordshire and South Cheshire. The areas included in this A-Z are all the ones Findahome Online cover to include Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Leek and Cheadle in the Staffordshire Moorlands and parts of South Cheshire including Alsager and Congleton.

	It was nice finding my old and trusted A-Z, it took me back to my days as a rookie estate agent in the days before sat navs and internet directions. The A-Z helped me no end in my early days as an estate agent before I had mastered an area. Although I have lived in South Cheshire and North Staffordshire all my life and worked as an estate agent in the area for 15 years, there are still areas that I know better than others.

	Knowledge of an area and how to get to it, comes with time and practice. Thankfully now I rarely get lost when out and about, but as most estate agents will testify I have got lost trying to find properties on countless occasions. The hardest properties to find are those on country lanes with no road signs and no numbers. They all seem to be house names!

	These days if I am unsure of where a property is, I go online and simply type in the property postcode. If I need directions, I then print them off and away I go.

	I resisted buying a sat nav several years ago, as I don&rsquo;t want a computer to do all the work for me. If you are unsure of where you are going, I believe you need to learn and, if that means getting lost a few times, then so be it. You won&rsquo;t get lost the next time.

	I am not throwing my A-Z away, if the computers break down then I may well need it. Also, I am very nostalgic and when I retire in 40 years or so, I will look back at my A-Z with rose tinted glasses and remember how it got me around North Staffordshire and South Cheshire in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

	Findahome Online of Staffordshire are Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme&rsquo;s Online Internet Estate Agent.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2648/an-estate-agents-former-tool-of-the-trade-the-street-a-z-of-north-staffordshire-and-south-cheshire</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:00:53 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2648/an-estate-agents-former-tool-of-the-trade-the-street-a-z-of-north-staffordshire-and-south-cheshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>staffordshire-online-estate-agent-in-need-of-new-properties</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme&#39;s online estate agent is in desperate need of new sales instructions, due to successful sales.

	The week has started brilliantly with sales agreed today (Monday 5th March 2012) in Blythe Bridge and Forsbrook in the Staffordshire Moorlands and Westbury Park in Newcastle-under-Lyme. We have also been negotiating offers on properties in Blythe Bridge and Chesterton in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

	If you have a property to sell in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire or Staffordshire, please give your local online estate agent a call and see how we can sell your property and save you money!

	Findahome Online are Staffordshire&#39;s leading and original Online Estate Agent.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2647/staffordshire-online-estate-agent-in-need-of-new-properties</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:11:16 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2647/staffordshire-online-estate-agent-in-need-of-new-properties</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>internet-estate-agent-reports-a-surge-of-activity-march-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Staffordshire&#39;s leading Internet Estate Agent&nbsp;have had an excellent start to March 2012. &nbsp;We have finished the week on a real high with sales agreed today in Birches Head and Oakhill which are both&nbsp;in&nbsp;Stoke-on-Trent and one&nbsp;in &nbsp;Blythe Bridge in the Staffordshire Moorlands. The letting market in North Staffordshire is equally busy, we have moved tenants into properties this week in Blurton in&nbsp;Stoke-on-Trent and Westbury Park in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

	Findahome Online are pleased to be busy selling and letting properties. We are becoming increasingly popular as people realise that the internet is the future when it comes to selling or letting properties. Our cost effective fees and high standards of customer service help too!!

	For more information on Staffordshire&#39;s leading Internet Estate Agent, please visit http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2646/internet-estate-agent-reports-a-surge-of-activity-march-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 03 Mar 2012 14:26:30 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2646/internet-estate-agent-reports-a-surge-of-activity-march-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>signs-of-buyers-returning-to-the-housing-market-spring-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We have had an excellent day.&nbsp;Findahome Online have agreed sales today in Hanford, Stoke-on-Trent and in&nbsp;Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. Pleasingly, the property in Newcastle-under-Lyme has only been on the market for 6 days. When it completes our seller will have saved approximately &pound;2,500 in estate agency fees. Saving customers money and selling properties is what Findahome Online are all about.

	After a quiet start to the week things have really picked up today as people&nbsp;book their viewings for the weekend. As we near the end of February things are&nbsp;looking good for March and the spring housing market.&nbsp;There&nbsp;are signs that buyers are&nbsp;returning to the market which&nbsp;is great news!

	Roll on spring!!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2645/signs-of-buyers-returning-to-the-housing-market-spring-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:07:45 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2645/signs-of-buyers-returning-to-the-housing-market-spring-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online39s-latest-thank-you-card-from-happy-sellers-in-meir-hay-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We have just received a thank you card and client satisfaction questionnaire back from one of our recent completions. The property is this one on Ravenna Way in Meir Hay, Stoke-on-Trent http://www2.housescape.org.uk/cgi-bin/full.pl?&amp;fnd1&amp;&amp;FND1000136

	Office Manager, Steph Dunn-Fox worked particularly hard on this sale liasing with the buyers and both sets of solicitors. Steph had a very broad smile on her face&nbsp;on completion day. A very satisfying sale. The seller also saved a staggering &pound;1,661 in estate agency fees, by choosing to use Stoke-on-Trent&#39;s&nbsp;Online&nbsp;Estate Agency, Findahome Online.

	Mr and Mrs Bates&nbsp;our happy sellers said &quot; You were great! Supportive, professional and above all patient.&nbsp;Findahome Online provided an excellent, value for money service. Thank you!!&quot;

	Please see below the card&nbsp;we have received from Mr and Mrs Bates. Finally, thank you to Mr and&nbsp;Mrs Bates for&nbsp;using our services.&nbsp;Findahome Online hope that we can assist you and your family&nbsp;and friends in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2644/findahome-online39s-latest-thank-you-card-from-happy-sellers-in-meir-hay-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:18:24 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2644/findahome-online39s-latest-thank-you-card-from-happy-sellers-in-meir-hay-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-tom-williams-running-and-raising-money-for-sport-relief</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams is running 3 miles on the 25th March 2012 in aid of Sport Relief.

	Tom is currently training for the run and is out running twice a day with his dogs; &#39;Roger&#39; and &#39;Rosie&#39;. Both of whom are very much&nbsp;enjoying the extra exercise, although &#39;Roger is getting on in&nbsp;years and cant quite keep up these days!!

	Findahome Online Partner, Tom says &quot;I booked my place on this run about a month ago as i have been looking for good causes to raise money for. Sport Relief appeals to me as they&nbsp;support charitable courses in the UK, as well as&nbsp;overseas.&nbsp;If this run is successful, i may look at doing a few&nbsp;more this spring and summer. It would be nice to raise money for local charities.&quot;

	If you would like&nbsp;to sponsor Tom, please click on the link below.&nbsp;

	http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/findahomeonlinetomwilliams

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2643/online-estate-agent-tom-williams-running-and-raising-money-for-sport-relief</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:38:16 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2643/online-estate-agent-tom-williams-running-and-raising-money-for-sport-relief</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>stoke-on-trent-one-of-the-cheapest-places-to-buy-a-property-in-the-uk</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I read with interest the front page of last Monday&rsquo;s [13thFebruary 2012] Staffordshire Sentinel newspaper. It reported that, according to new findings, Stoke-on-Trent was one of the cheapest places to buy properties in the UK. Only Hull in Humberside, Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales and a place I have never heard of in Wales were cheaper places to buy houses. The Sentinel interviewed local first time buyers as well as the area&rsquo;s leading local auctioneers, who have had a successful recent auction. By the sound of things, out-of-town investors are back on the scene, taking advantage of the cheap properties available in Stoke-on-Trent. Like everywhere else, property prices have fallen in the city of Stoke-on-Trent from the highs seen at the height of the market in 2007.

	From what I read, the newspaper and the estate agent interviewed were making out that Stoke-on-Trent is a great place for first time buyers to buy property, which in principle it is. But, let&rsquo;s look at the facts. People in Stoke-on-Trent are on low wages. We have been heavily hit by the recession with widespread redundancies and above average unemployment. This is why properties in Stoke-on-Trent are some of the cheapest in the country. The Sentinel interviewed first time buyers living outside the city in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands. One of whom, a lady from the Staffordshire Moorlands, recently bought a property in Stoke-on-Trent as it is marginally cheaper to buy a house in&nbsp; Stoke, than in the Moorlands. Whilst it is good that people are moving into Stoke-on-Trent to buy properties, this from my experience is not that common. The majority of first time buyers in Stoke-on-Trent come from the area. If Stoke-on-Trent had inward investment with jobs created, then we may see more people moving into the area and buying properties in the city.

	I personally do not see it as a benefit that Stoke-on-Trent is one of the cheaper housing areas. For me, this further illustrates the fact that we need investment and new jobs for the area. When this happens, house prices will increase. The article in the Sentinel was a positive one, which in some ways is good. What it did not seem to mention, are the problems local first time buyers are encountering trying to save up for a deposit, in most cases, 10% of the property value. This is not easy especially if you are on a low wage. &nbsp;

	I hope that the returning buy-to-let investors snapping up Stoke-on-Trent properties at the auctions, put some money back into the local economy by employing local tradesmen to improve their properties.

	Findahome Online are proud to be a local online estate and letting agents serving the fine city of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.

	 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2642/stoke-on-trent-one-of-the-cheapest-places-to-buy-a-property-in-the-uk</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:35:13 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2642/stoke-on-trent-one-of-the-cheapest-places-to-buy-a-property-in-the-uk</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>snow-joke-for-the-housing-market</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I apologise for the poor joke in the title. I have had it from a downmarket tabloid newspaper that I have seen in the last week.

	The poor weather of snow and ice, which we have had for the last week, has affected the housing market. Last weekend we had various viewers not turning up to view properties due to the weather conditions.&nbsp; Some of whom, when we called after the weekend, have not returned our calls. They are either in hibernation or have found something else, or have given up their home hunt temporarily! It is disappointing for everyone concerned as our sellers want to sell their properties and prepare their properties over the weekend for viewings. In general, since the bad weather has hit, our viewings are down. The tail end of this week has been particularly quiet.

	In our area of North Staffordshire, this coming week is the half term school holiday, which, coupled with the bad weather, may also mean that we have a further quieter week.

	Thankfully, the spring housing market is just round the corner and the daffodils will soon start making an appearance. Findahome Online do not like the market going quiet. We have had a fantastic start to the year, with many new properties coming up for sale and, more importantly, houses selling. If you look at some of our previous blogs, the statistics show that things have improved in the housing market.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2641/snow-joke-for-the-housing-market</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:03:31 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2641/snow-joke-for-the-housing-market</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>internet-and-online-estate-agents-beware-of-cheap-imitations</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I keep up to date with the goings on in the local Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire housing market. I look on Rightmove to see what has come up for sale in the local area. As North Staffordshire&rsquo;s Online Estate agent, we get most of the properties in the area, when the home owner is looking for an internet estate agent. Annoyingly, some people do not call their local online estate agent http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/and instead contact one of the numerous &lsquo;national&rsquo; online estate agents that you find at the top of all the Google searches.

	Beware of these &lsquo;national online agents&rsquo;, many of them will not even visit your property. They pay and send out the local EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) provider to do the very briefest of details. This is contravening the Property Mis descriptions Act, as the EPC person is not an estate agent and the agent selling the property should visit the property personally.

	I have been made aware of this practice by quite a few different people and I can pick up on it myself. When an EPC person has been out, the photographs are generally of an awful standard and all that is on the sale particulars are room measurements.

	It is very lazy estate agency practice and gives online estate agents, on the whole, a bad name. The agents in question, who employ these tactics, are playing a very dangerous game as I know Rightmove take a very dim view of this practice. If a complaint came to light, Rightmove would, as per their contract with estate agents, kick the offending agent off their website!

	These &lsquo;national online estate agents&rsquo;, some only charging &pound;299 plus VAT, &nbsp;are cheap for a reason - they don&rsquo;t come out to your property, potentially sending anybody out.

	This is not the case for all online estate agents, some of the larger companies have local agents and others travel the length and breadth of the country putting properties up for sale.

	If you have a property anywhere in England and Wales, Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams, will personally visit your property and put it up for sale. With 15 years experience, he knows a bit about selling and marketing properties.

	Please, if you are in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheshire, Derbyshire or Staffordshire do yourself a favour and call your local online internet estate agent, Findahome Online, and beware of cheap imitations!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2640/internet-and-online-estate-agents-beware-of-cheap-imitations</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:24:41 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2640/internet-and-online-estate-agents-beware-of-cheap-imitations</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>record-visitors-to-internet-estate-agents-website</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I am pleased to announce that our website http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/ had its most daily &nbsp;visitors yesterday, Thursday 2nd February 2012. This comes after January 2012 saw the most website visitors we have ever recorded in a month, surpassing October 2011 which previously held the record.&nbsp;

	Findahome&#39;s is in line with the UK&#39;s top property websites. Rightmove saw its most ever visitors in January 2012.

	These statistics are further evidence that people searching for properties are using the internet more now than they ever have before. Looking for a property online is the easiest way to find a house to buy or rent. Millions of properties available at the touch of a button and from the comfort of your own home.

	Findahome Online Staffordshire&#39;s Internet Estate Agent are delighted that so&nbsp;many people are visiting our website and viewing all our properties to sell and let.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2639/record-visitors-to-internet-estate-agents-website</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:55:25 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2639/record-visitors-to-internet-estate-agents-website</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agents-proving-a-hit-in-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-and-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online have reported a surge in activity in January 2012. The figures for January 2012 are in. New property &nbsp;instructions are 80% over the target Partner, Tom Williams set at the start of the month, with sales also exceeding the target by 100%.

	Impressively, in January 2012&nbsp;new property instructions are up 260% on what Findahome did in January 2011 and 300% over the recorded sales&nbsp;for the same time last year.

	Findahome Online Office Manager and Statistician, Steph Dunn-Fox says &quot;We are delighted with the start to the year that&nbsp;we have had. We are pleased that the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent are using us to sell and let their homes. In addition to our excellent value fees, we also offer a personal service. Our clients are not made to feel to like a&nbsp;number, we know everybody by name and they are valued. February has started well, i have sold and let a property today and our diary is filling up with valuation appointments for next week. We are very positive about what this year will bring, it is not all doom and gloom. Findahome are successfully selling properties in areas to include;&nbsp;Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire. We need properties of all shapes and sizes. Please call us today to see how we can sell or let your home and save you money.&quot;

	Findahome are pleased to report positive news about the housing market, we are a target driven estate agency who aim to excel at all aspects of our job.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2637/online-estate-agents-proving-a-hit-in-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-and-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:22:50 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2637/online-estate-agents-proving-a-hit-in-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-and-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>an-online-estate-agents-experience-using-the-ipad</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In the summer of 2011 I read a lot in the media about the ipad 2. Having not owned an Apple product before, I did some research looking on the internet at forums, to see how the ipad would aid an internet estate agent in their work. I also liked the look of it, but I kept this to myself when I informed my Partner, that Findahome desperately needed an ipad for the business. Sharron&rsquo;s reaction to my wish to buy an ipad was expected, &ldquo;You won&rsquo;t use it! We&rsquo;ve already got a laptop!&rdquo; I convinced her and purchased one. I opted for the one which comes with 3G capability, wi-fi and 32gb of memory. 3G was necessary so that the Ipad has internet access at all times. Some people whom I visit are not on the internet and so, without the 3G, I would not be able to show them the range of properties that are available on our website, http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/&nbsp;and the property portal sites.

	I soon got to grips with the ipad, adding e-mail and social media accounts and exploring the thousands of &lsquo;apps&rsquo; available. &lsquo;Apps&rsquo; are applications that sit on your tablet&rsquo;s desk top and can be fun ways to view a product or service, rather than using a website to access information.&nbsp; There are also many apps which can vary from games to pretty much anything.

	The ipad, I found to be far more convenient than using my lap top on valuations. For a start, it is a lot smaller and lighter. The battery lasts approximately 10 hours (rather than the 90 minutes my lap top can manage) and there is no dongle required to go onto the internet, as it uses 3G automatically. As an internet estate agent, many of my clients assume that I use technology such as this, so it fits quite well. Some of the public believe that, because we are an internet estate agent, we are naturally &ldquo;computer geeks&rdquo; with all the latest gadgets and technology. Nothing can be further from the truth. It is only really since Findahome Online was founded that I have embraced the new technology on offer. It has been a real learning curve, but a good one because we use all the modern technology, that a modern online estate agent needs today.

	Going back to using the ipad on appointments, it has proved invaluable for showcasing comparable properties and looking at the Land Registry figures on sold prices. I look at both these prior to going out on the appointments, but home sellers often want to see the evidence themselves. This cuts down on paper and printing, as I would ordinarily print this information out for them before the appointment.

	Does the ipad get used at home?

	It did not take long for my children to cotton on to the fact that the ipad is also something they can use. Within days of my purchasing it, the kids had hijacked it. Most kids&rsquo; games and apps are downloaded on it. When I walk into the house, I am often greeted with &ldquo;Can I go on the ipad, Dad?&rdquo;

	The eldest of my children knows my Apple password, which is deadly as not all the games and apps are free. I often get statements through from Apple stating that a new game has been bought, mostly without my consent! The children are now under strict instructions not to buy games, as the cost was adding up. The majority of the kids&rsquo; games on the ipad are educational, so I encourage them to use the ipad. Like anything else, in my opinion, computer games can be good for children in moderation.

	Now, after all Sharron said about buying the ipad, she is also a keen user of it, particularly for surfing the web, where she is mostly on Rightmove. You would think she sees enough of houses in the day!

	To sum up then, I would definitely recommend buying an ipad. Not only does it benefit me in my job as an estate agent, it also doubles up as a great tablet/computer for the whole family to use. We are most certainly getting value from it. The ipad has also inspired me to update my mobile phone as I now have an iphone which works well with the ipad.

	Findahome Online are Stafforshire&rsquo;s Online Internet Estate and Letting Agent, using the Ipad and other forms of technology to showcase our properties for sale or to let.

	 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2636/an-online-estate-agents-experience-using-the-ipad</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:30:48 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2636/an-online-estate-agents-experience-using-the-ipad</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>do-i-need-to-use-an-estate-agent-who-advertises-on-rightmove</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Rightmove is the Bentley/Rolls Royce of property websites. It is the best known and most widely used property website in the UK. It is also in the top 10 of all UK websites. Quite simply, it is the best.

	Should you use an estate agent who does not advertise on the UK&rsquo;s number one property website? Absolutely not!! If you do use an estate agent who doesn&rsquo;t advertise on Rightmove, you are severely cutting down the number of people who look at your property. The other property portal websites are good, but have nowhere near the pulling power, advertising power or usability that the Rightmove website has.

	Rightmove is not the cheapest property portal, which is why some estate agents choose not to list their properties on it. I am a firm believer in you pay for what you get. As an online estate agent, the internet and the property portal websites are important to Findahome Online. We have been members of the Rightmove site since our creation. Many people we speak to only use Rightmove when searching for properties to sell or let.

	Irony was not lost at Findahome Online&rsquo;s Staffordshire HQ last week when a lady enquired via the Rightmove website about some of our properties. One of the Findahome team asked the lady if she had a property to sell. Unfortunately, the lady has just instructed another estate agent to sell her property. When we found out who it was, we found it quite ironic. The home hunter searched for properties online on the Rightmove site, but was selling with an estate agent whose properties were not listed on Rightmove.

	An estate agent who doesn&rsquo;t list their properties on Rightmove, is a bit like a supermarket which only sells bread and milk and nothing else! An estate agent should market all properties to their full capacity and that includes listing their properties on the UK&rsquo;s number one property website, Rightmove.

	For more information on how Findahome Online, Staffordshire&rsquo;s Premier Online Estate Agent can market your property on Rightmove, take a look here http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/rightmove-premium-listing

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2635/do-i-need-to-use-an-estate-agent-who-advertises-on-rightmove</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:55:43 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2635/do-i-need-to-use-an-estate-agent-who-advertises-on-rightmove</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-welcomes-independent-review-site</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Staffordshire&rsquo;s Internet Estate and Letting agents are pleased to have had their first reviews posted on new independent estate agents review site, All Agents.

	Thank you to Phil, whose property we sold in Hazelhurst Street in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and to Dawn, a Landlady from Comet Avenue, in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

	To see the reviews, please click on this link http://www.allagents.co.uk/findahome/

	Findahome Online welcome reviews and feedback, whether positive or negative. Reviews are vital to businesses so that service standards can be maintained at the very highest levels.

	Many people look on review sites prior to instructing an estate agent. The&nbsp;All Agents site is great for the consumer, it is independent and the majority of estate agents in the UK are listed on it.

	If you have a property to sell or let, take a look at the All Agents site. Some of it makes for some very interesting reading. Use the review site as a guide, our advice as always is to pick three estate agents and invite them out to your home.

	Findahome Online are looking forward to seeing more of our Buyers,&nbsp;Sellers, Tenants and Landlords reviewing our service.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2634/online-estate-agent-welcomes-independent-review-site</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:47:39 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2634/online-estate-agent-welcomes-independent-review-site</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-joins-social-networking-site-google</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Staffordshire&#39;s Internet Estate Agent has joined new social networking site Google +.

	Findahome Online&nbsp;Partner, Tom Williams says &quot; Google + is still relatively new as a social media platform, it has been set up to rival traditional social media sites Facebook and Twitter. As a forward thinking, innovative, online estate agency we are always looking of new ways to promote our business and sell and let more properties. We feel social media is an excellent platform to promote our business and raise Findahome Online&#39;s profile. If you have joined Google +, please connect with us.&quot;

	The&nbsp;link to&nbsp;Findahome Online&#39;s Google + page is: https://plus.google.com/117940355839440769644

	 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2633/findahome-online-joins-social-networking-site-google</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:37:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2633/findahome-online-joins-social-networking-site-google</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>government-help-needed-to-revitalise-and-bring-jobs-to-market-street-longton-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The nearest big town to Findahome Online HQ is the pottery town of Longton, in Stoke-on-Trent. Longton has suffered, like many towns, in the recession and over the years with the demise of the traditional pottery industry. The town has in the last 10 years had some money spent on it. Just outside the town centre, we have seen a Tesco supermarket built, with a large car park and &nbsp;alongside, other retail outlets such as Next, Argos and Carphone Warehouse. The arrival of Tesco and the other shops has brought new jobs to the area and brought people into the town. Whilst people are visiting Longton, they are not walking round the whole of the town. The main footfall is close to the Tesco store and free car park. This is affecting the other side of the town, a once busy area. The market street area once saw lots of footfall and was home to the largest store in the town, Woolworths. This large retail unit has been empty since 2008, when Woolworths went into administration. This isn&rsquo;t the only unit on Market Street to be empty, Lowden Noall estate agents has also been empty since 2008. Now, I know a bit about Lowden Noall and their premises, as I had a successful 6 month spell as branch manger in 2005/2006. They were a subsidiary of the large corporate estate agent, I used to work for. Sadly, when the recession hit in 2008, Lowden Noall&rsquo;s three branches in Longton, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Congleton were swallowed up into the larger network, which already had branches in the three towns.&nbsp;

	The rents for both premises are astronomical, which is why other businesses have not opened their businesses on Market Street. Also, I wonder what confidence people would have opening a business on a street where so many shops are empty.

	The government needs to step in. New businesses need to be incentivised to open up their businesses on the high street. Without this, premises like the ones mentioned could lie empty for years.

	Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s local MPs need to be raising these matters in Parliament. This is a problem across the city and also in other towns and cities in the UK.

	Not only is the economy slow, but the high street is also struggling to compete with online and internet traders who don&rsquo;t have the overheads. Although Findahome Online is an internet estate agent trading away from a town centre, it does not mean that we want to see the demise of the high street. A prosperous high street is good for all of us and the wider economy.

	Would Findahome Online go back onto Market Street in Longton, to where the former Findahome Estate and Lettings Agent company was operating in the 1980s? No we would not, as times have changed and estate agents no longer need a high street pemises to sell and let properties. High street office rents of between &pound;10,000 and &pound;20,000 are also a very big deterrent.

	Findahome Online are proud to serve the people of Longton in Stoke-on-Trent.

	We would like to see the government spend some money on parts of the town that have been neglected and need improving.

	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2632/government-help-needed-to-revitalise-and-bring-jobs-to-market-street-longton-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:00:31 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2632/government-help-needed-to-revitalise-and-bring-jobs-to-market-street-longton-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>do-you-have-a-semi-detached-house-to-sell-in-meir-park-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In the last week, two of our semi-detached houses on the Meir Park development in Stoke-on-Trent have exchanged contracts, with new buyers moving in.

	Both properties came onto the market in the Autumn of 2011 and sold within 8 weeks.

	The sellers of the properties on Gosforth Grove, Meir Park and Avion Close, Meir Park have made a combined saving of &pound;4,000 in estate agency fees, by using Findahome Online instead of an expensive 1.5% high street estate agent.

	In addition to these two properties, we also have a semi-detached house on Glaisher Drive, Meir Park, which is also close to completion.

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s mailing list is growing and we have buyers waiting for semi detached houses in Meir Park.

	Please call today for your free sales or letting valuation.

	Findahome Online, Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s internet estate agent covers the Meir Park area in Stoke-on-Trent.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2631/do-you-have-a-semi-detached-house-to-sell-in-meir-park-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:53:05 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2631/do-you-have-a-semi-detached-house-to-sell-in-meir-park-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>solar-panels-on-properties-do-they-aid-saleability</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	A resounding yes from me, but does everyone feel the same?

	I went out a week or so ago in Stoke-on-Trent to appraise a property, which has solar panels. I was very impressed that the property had them fitted, the home owner explained how it worked to me. They benefit from free electricity during the day and were fortunate enough to have had the solar panels fitted for free. The company which fitted them has ownership of the panels and claim payment from the National Grid.

	Now, I saw the solar panels as a big selling feature to the property. For those who are in during the day (retired people, shift workers and stay-at-home parents) free electricity is a real bonus.

	It took me by surprise when the homeowner told me that a local estate agent had visited the property and been less positive about the solar panels. The agent in question was discerning about the solar panels appearance and felt that they would put off potential purchasers.

	This amazed me as I would be astonished if anyone in this day and age would turn down free electricity! I appreciate that they visually change the appearance of your roof, but how many people spend time studying your roof? They don&rsquo;t. Aesthetically, it did not look too bad on the property in question as the semi next door had also had solar panels fitted. If anything, it looked quite futuristic.

	After visiting this property, I have spoken to numerous people who would give their hind teeth to have solar panels fitted, especially for free!

	Should Findahome Online, Staffordshire&rsquo;s leading and original online estate agent, find ourselves instructed to sell a property with solar panels, we will literally be singing it from the rooftops!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2630/solar-panels-on-properties-do-they-aid-saleability</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:49:29 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2630/solar-panels-on-properties-do-they-aid-saleability</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online39s-advert-in-the-sentinel-thursday-january-12th-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We are very much looking forward to seeing our full page advert in tomorrows Sentinel newspaper. With 16 new sales instructions and a good selection of rental properties, there is something for everyone. Findahome Online cover the whole of North Staffordshire, so look out for properties in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Leek, Alsager, Stone and Stafford.

	Findahome Online are hoping for a good response from our first advert in 2012. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2629/findahome-online39s-advert-in-the-sentinel-thursday-january-12th-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:35:22 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2629/findahome-online39s-advert-in-the-sentinel-thursday-january-12th-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>selling-a-house-in-westbury-park-newcastle-under-lyme-findahome-online-newcastle-under-lyme-wants-to-sell-your-house</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	After three successful sales in Westbury Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme at the end of 2011, Findahome Online are heavily targeting this area of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Do you have a property to sell in Westbury Park? If so, we can help.

	The last property we sold on the Westbury Park development was on Darsham Gardens. We booked 10 viewings on this property in the first 7 days of marketing, with a sale agreed that week. Our seller was particularly pleased, as he was about to go onto the market with a Newcastle-under-Lyme estate agent. They were going to charge him a fee of 1.25% plus VAT. He saved over &pound;2,000 by using Staffordshire&rsquo;s Internet Estate Agent, Findahome Online. We have also successfully sold properties on Aldeburgh Drive and Ashridge Avenue.

	There is a good demand for properties in Westbury Park and other areas of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

	Keep and eye out for our leaflets, which are being delivered in Westbury Park and surrounding areas.

	If you have a property to sell in Westbury Park, please give Staffordshire Online Estate Agent http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/estate-agents&nbsp;a call and see how we can sell you house in Westbury Park and save you thousands!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2628/selling-a-house-in-westbury-park-newcastle-under-lyme-findahome-online-newcastle-under-lyme-wants-to-sell-your-house</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:52:19 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2628/selling-a-house-in-westbury-park-newcastle-under-lyme-findahome-online-newcastle-under-lyme-wants-to-sell-your-house</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-increase-advertising-space-in-the-staffordshire-sentinel-newspaper</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Staffordshire&rsquo;s leading internet estate agent Findahome Online begins its 2012 advertising campaign, in the Staffordshire Sentinel on Thursday 12th January.

	Unlike some estate agents who are cutting back on advertising, Findahome Online are increasing their advertising. From the 12th January, Findahome will have a full page every 2 weeks in the Staffordshire Sentinel Newspaper.

	Findahome Online Head of Marketing, Sharron Williams says &ldquo;The Sentinel newspaper has made improvements to the property section, giving the supplement greater readability. We are still firm believers that the local newspaper has value as a marketing tool for estate agents. Not everybody searches for property online. In our area of Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, The Sentinel newspaper remains popular and is read by many. Some of our clients like to see their properties in the property supplement. Two of our sales packages include free newspaper advertising http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/estate-agents

	Findahome may not trade on the local high street, but you will not find a more &lsquo;traditional&rsquo; online estate agent anywhere in the UK. To my knowledge, we are the only major internet estate agent in the UK who advertises in the local paper.&rdquo;

	For fantastic marketing at a fraction of the cost of the High Street, please give Findahome Online a call for the complete estate agency service.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2627/findahome-online-increase-advertising-space-in-the-staffordshire-sentinel-newspaper</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:34:09 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2627/findahome-online-increase-advertising-space-in-the-staffordshire-sentinel-newspaper</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-sell-a-house-3-doors-away-from-sir-stanley-matthews-birthplace-seymour-street-hanley-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	One of the Findahome Online team kindly bought me an historic book about Stoke-on-Trent for Christmas. I very much enjoyed reading it and stumbled upon a photograph of the street in Stoke-on-Trent where local legend Sir Stanley Matthews was born. I instantly recognised the photograph of the street as Seymour Street, in Hanley, close to the City Centre.

	Findahome Online have just sold 83 Seymour Street (it has completed today)

	Sir Stanley Matthews was born at 89 Seymour Street, Hanley in 1915. He is Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s favourite son and in my opinion the greatest sportsperson this country has ever seen. His achievements are well documented, here are my picks:

	
		Joined Stoke City at the age of 14
	
		Turned professional at 17
	
		Served in the RAF in World War 2
	
		Left Stoke City in 1947 and went to play for Blackpool for 14 years
	
		Won an FA cup winners medal with Blackpool in 1953
	
		His performance in the 1953 FA Cup final was so good it is known as the &lsquo;Matthews final&rsquo;
	
		European footballer of the year 1956
	
		He played his last England international in 1957 aged 42
	
		He rejoined Stoke City in 1961 and was an instant success. His re signing put thousands on the gate and Stoke City&rsquo;s performances improved dramatically
	
		Played his last game for Stoke City aged 50
	
		Received a Knighthood in 1965 and became Sir Stanley Matthews
	
		Managed my beloved Port Vale from 1965 &ndash; 1968
	
		Passed away in&nbsp; February 2000 aged 85


	&nbsp;

	Sir Stanley Matthews will always be a hero to the people in Stoke-on-Trent and quite rightly. He has legendary status throughout football and the world. I had the privilege of meeting him in the 1980&rsquo;s at a Port Vale match and found him to be a&nbsp;real gentlemen.

	His achievements in football are astonishing, considering that he served in World War 2. To still be playing top flight football at the age of 50 (Today&rsquo;s Premier League) is amazing and shows how fit he was.

	&nbsp;

	After a successful sale, I would normally report how quickly we had sold the property and how much money was saved. This information is available here http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/property-sold-and-saved

	Once, I knew Sir Stanley Matthews was born on Seymour Street, I thought it was only fitting to write about the great man himself.

	Findahome Online are proud to sell houses in Hanley, in the fine city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2626/findahome-online-sell-a-house-3-doors-away-from-sir-stanley-matthews-birthplace-seymour-street-hanley-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:48:40 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2626/findahome-online-sell-a-house-3-doors-away-from-sir-stanley-matthews-birthplace-seymour-street-hanley-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>internet-estate-agent-findahome-online-positive-about-the-housing-market-in-2012</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online have had an excellent start to 2012. Our phone lines have been red hot today with new enquiries. Applicants have returned in good numbers after the Christmas break and numerous viewings have been booked today. In addition a sale has been agreed and we have received an application on one of our rental properties. Our diary is filling up this week with sales and lettings valuations. People are saving money in the January sales and also looking to save money by instructing an online estate and letting agent like http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/estate-agents

	After a record breaking year in 2011, Findahome Online are looking to sell and let even more houses. We are committed to saving our clients money and offer an excellent service to all our clients.

	Unlike some in the estate agency world, we are positive about the market in 2012. Call the online estate agent getting results today!

	We are looking forward to 2012.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2625/internet-estate-agent-findahome-online-positive-about-the-housing-market-in-2012</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:56:04 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2625/internet-estate-agent-findahome-online-positive-about-the-housing-market-in-2012</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>internet-estate-agent-launches-premium-listing-package-which-includes-epc-rightmove-premium-listing-and-newspaper-advertising</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Leading Internet Estate Agent Findahome Online has launched for 2012 a new Premium selling package. This new package has everything any home seller would want. It is packed full of premium products which include an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Picture Plus Floorplan, Virtual Tours, upgraded Rightmove Premium Listing and, in the North Staffordshire area, free advertising in the Sentinel newspaper. We have literally thrown the kitchen sink at this package and it includes everything you could possibly want when selling your property. In addition we offer an excellent estate agency service.

	Findahome Online Partner, Sharron Williams says, &ldquo;A large number of our clients choose us, as we offer such excellent value for money. Many buy additional products to enhance their properties&rsquo; listings. Particularly popular are Rightmove Premium Listings and Picture Plus Floorplans. Our new Premium Package offers everything you could possible think of as well as an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and press advertising. We do not know of any other online estate agents who advertise properties online and in the local newspaper. Anyone choosing this Premium Package will save thousands of pounds when our package is compared with what traditional estate agents are offering.&rdquo;

	For more information on our internet estate agent&rsquo;s premium package, please go to http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/estate-agents

	Staffordshire and the Midlands leading online estate agents offer real value for money estate agency packages. We operate throughout England and Wales.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2624/internet-estate-agent-launches-premium-listing-package-which-includes-epc-rightmove-premium-listing-and-newspaper-advertising</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:04:12 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2624/internet-estate-agent-launches-premium-listing-package-which-includes-epc-rightmove-premium-listing-and-newspaper-advertising</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>no-white-christmas-in-2011-great-news-for-tenants-landlords-and-letting-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Everyone likes to see snow at Christmas time, don&rsquo;t they? Now the snow is nice to look at, but also causes problems with icy roads, boilers breaking down and burst pipes in properties.

	The big Christmas break of 2011 has been one of the mildest on record. Aberdeen in the North East of Scotland recorded a temperature of 15 degrees on Christmas Day, with Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire seeing around the same.

	Thankfully, this meant Findahome Online Lettings and Management did not have any tenants with maintenance issues on their properties over the festive period. It may also mean that some emergency plumbers enjoyed more of the Christmas period than they normally would.

	There are some early signs of Spring appearing, as nature seems unsure what time of year it is. I am not complaining though, as my chickens have started laying again due to the warmer temperatures. With January, February and March to go, I believe the worst is still to come. A mild December, though, has been very welcome.

	Findahome Online Lettings offer full management of properties whatever the weather and time of year. Full management in Staffordshire and Cheshire from only 8% plus VAT.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2623/no-white-christmas-in-2011-great-news-for-tenants-landlords-and-letting-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:45:50 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2623/no-white-christmas-in-2011-great-news-for-tenants-landlords-and-letting-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year-from-findahome-online</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	

	&nbsp;Findahome Online, Staffordshire&#39;s Online Estate Agents would like to wish everyone&nbsp;a Merry Christmas and a&nbsp;Happy New Year.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2622/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year-from-findahome-online</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:54:46 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2622/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year-from-findahome-online</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>sales-market-strong-in-december-2011-at-internet-estate-agent-findahome-but-letting-market-still-in-the-ascendancy</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online have had a fantastic month in December 2011, selling 7 houses. Office Manager, Steph Dunn Fox, says &ldquo;For this time of the year, this is an excellent result and a great Christmas present for our sellers. The sales market isn&rsquo;t as good as it was at the peak of the market four or five years ago, but sensibly priced property is still selling. We communicate with our sellers regularly and are honest with the advice we give them. If we believe their property to be overpriced, we inform them. All property will sell at the right price. Area is important though, too, as certain areas are performing better at the moment than others.&rdquo;

	The letting market is still outperforming the sales market. To date, Findahome Online Lettings only have 2 rental properties available, with tenants moving into properties right up until we close for Christmas.

	By way of an example of how strong the letting market currently is, our recent experience is as follows: amongst our property nationally, we were marketing a house for sale in Chester. The seller decided last weekend to switch the property in Vicars Cross, Chester, over from sale to rental. Within an hour, via the Rightmove website, we had a viewing enquiry. Twenty-four hours later, another 8 people had requested viewings. When we opened on the Monday morning, our phones were &ldquo;red hot&rdquo; with people wanting to view the property. Viewings have been arranged for today and tomorrow. This property will be let by the end of the week.

	Lettings have made up a good portion of our income this year. We look forward to gaining more letting instructions in 2012. If you are landlord, please call Findahome Online Lettings of Staffordshire to see how we can find you a tenant. Fully Managed Letting Service from only 8% plus VAT.

	Findahome Online are Staffordshire Multi-Skilled Internet Estate Agents. Quite simply we sell and let properties.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2621/sales-market-strong-in-december-2011-at-internet-estate-agent-findahome-but-letting-market-still-in-the-ascendancy</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:29:33 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2621/sales-market-strong-in-december-2011-at-internet-estate-agent-findahome-but-letting-market-still-in-the-ascendancy</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-1981-1994-tom-williams-interviews-former-findahome-partner-may-chatfield-and-looks-back-on-the-last-30-years-in-the-estate-agency-world</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	This is a nice interview for me to do as I already know May very well. She is my mother-in-law. When I was planning to set up Findahome Online, the first thing myself and Sharron (my wife and Partner in the business) had to decide on was a trading name. Various names were discussed including the usual boring stereotypical estate agency names; Tom Williams Estate and Lettings, Williams Property, Williams and Company. You get the picture! Sharron then had a &ldquo;Eureka moment&rdquo;. Why don&rsquo;t we call the business Findahome? Findahome was her Mum and Aunt&rsquo;s estate agency business in Stoke-on-Trent in the 1980s and 1990s. Findahome Online was launched and we haven&rsquo;t looked back.

	What has changed in the last 30 years and how did Findahome start out??

	Tom interviews May in December 2011 to find out how it all began

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; What made you set up Findahome in 1981 and what challenges did you face?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; We wanted to offer the people of Longton, in Stoke-on-Trent, something different from the traditional estate agents who were around at the time. Pam and I (Pamela Vaughan, May&rsquo;s Partner in Findahome) were the first two female estate agency owners in Stoke-on-Trent, and were early pioneers in what was a very male dominated industry. I was also a Partner in Castle Homes, a building company which built properties in and around the Longton area. I needed an agent to market them, so setting up Findahome seemed the natural thing to do.

	It was hard setting up in 1981 as this was around the time of the miners&rsquo; strike and the country was witnessing civil unrest in certain areas. Interest rates were also high. There is never a good time to set up, though, and if you can be successful in a bad market then you are doing something right. Setting up in what was a male dominated industry, there was some prejudice shown to us from other estate agents. Getting the brand name known was challenging in the first 12 months.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Where were your first premises?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; We started out at 65, Sutherland Road, Longton, a property I owned. The office was small, but big enough to get us started. We then progressed down the road to Market Street in Longton, where we took over a Birmingham Midshires branch combining the building society with the estate agency.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; What marketing did you use to sell properties?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; Traditional methods that you would expect from an agent at the time. Photographs in our office window and sales sheets that were given out to potential purchasers. We also operated a mailing list and would call clients with new instructions. Findahome advertised in the local newspaper, The Sentinel, and the free newspaper, The Advertiser. The first For Sale boards we made ourselves and my father Charlie Banks assisted me in putting them up outside our properties. Once we became busier, our boards were supplied and erected by Speedy Signs in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, who I know you still use today.

	In the early days, clients would ring Pam and I at home in the evenings. It was a different world then, as there were no mobiles or computers.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Did you do Lettings?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; Yes, but very few. Back in the 1980s, there were not many people who bought properties and let them out. You have to remember that a lot of people still rented their homes from the council or the coal board. Home ownership was not as popular as it is today and, with money being tight for many, buying another property was not an option.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Which areas of Stoke-on-Trent did you cover and what types of property did you sell?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; Our main office was situated on Market Street, Longton. We also had further offices in Stoke and Blythe Bridge. These two other offices were added towards the end of our trading time. The Longton office is the one most people remember. We had a Birmingham Midshires Building Society counter in there and offered mortgages and insurance policies to clients. The mortgage side of the business was particularly lucrative. One year, we were the top performing Birmingham Midshires branch for mortgages in the country. This was before regulations came into force in the financial services world. Pam and I were able to process the mortgages ourselves.&nbsp;

	We mainly sold properties in Longton and the South of Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding areas. Our main selling areas were Longton, Fenton, Stoke, Fenpark, Meir Heath, Meir, Meir Hay, Adderley Green, Blythe Bridge, Forsbrook, Hilderstone, Weston Coyney, Caverswall, Werrington, Hanley, Sneyd Green, Bentilee, Abbey Hulton, Trent Vale, Trentham, Hanford, Penkhull and Oakhill. Findahome sold all property types from flats and terraces up to detached country properties.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; What changes did you see in the industry in the 13 years you were trading?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; Things didn&rsquo;t move quite so fast during the 1980s, although we did see changes. When we first started, it was mainly family run independent estate agents. As the decade went on the corporate estate agents entered the market. Estate agents were being bought out by banks, building societies and insurance companies. In Stoke-on-Trent up sprung General Accident Property Services, Bradford and Bingley, The Halifax, Nationwide and others. Banks and insurance companies went into estate agency for one reason only and that was to make money out of their financial services. It has worked for some who are still trading, others have folded or sold out. The corporate agent still exists, but from what I can see there are not as many these days. It&rsquo;s nice to see independent estate agents doing well.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Where did your building company Castle Homes build most of its houses?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; We had sites in various parts of Stoke-on-Trent. There was Oakridge Park at Adderley Green, Hanford, Goms Mill, Longton and Kingsley Holt.

	Findahome benefited from Castle Homes building new homes, as it meant lots of part exchange properties for us to sell.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; In addition to Castle Homes new builds, did you sell on behalf of any other builders?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; We sold properties for Deal Mead and Character Homes. They built the Weston Park/Meir Hay development in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. Such was the relationship we had with Character Homes, Pam has only just retired from working for them. She was employed as their on-site sales person.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Tell me about the property boom in the late 1980s?

	May &ndash; It would have been around 1988 &ndash; 1989. Properties suddenly jumped in price very quickly. They were literally doubling in value. It started in London and the South East and, like most things that start there, it moved north. Pam and I would work in the office all day and then would go out and do valuations in the evening, we were that busy. At this time, we were the busiest Birmingham Midshires Branch for mortgages in England. It didn&rsquo;t last too long though, and certainly not as long-lasting as the one you experienced in the last decade, Tom.

	By the early 1990s, Black Wednesday, the stock market collapse had happened and we were in recession.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Were you and Pam members of any professional bodies?

	&nbsp;

	May - Yes we were both Fellows of the National Association of Estate Agents. I feel it is very important to be regulated and be part of a professional body.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Is it true that you used to put a hat on when you were going out to do valuations?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; Yes, it is. The people of the area really liked my hat and it gave me confidence. In a male dominated industry, I felt the hat gave me an air of authority. People took my advice on ways that they could improve their properties. This was years before anyone had heard of the &lsquo;House Doctor&rsquo;. Clients would say, &ldquo;What can I do to sell my house, May&rdquo;? I would be honest and offer constructive advice, like decluttering or slapping paint on walls.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Did anyone famous work for Findahome, May?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; Not as such, Tom. I know you are a massive Port Vale fan and can confirm that former&nbsp;Port Vale football player Robin Van Der Lann&rsquo;s wife, Alex, worked in our Longton office. They lived at Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent.

	&nbsp;

	Tom &ndash; Finally May, what do you think of Findahome Online today?

	&nbsp;

	May &ndash; Pam and I are so pleased that you and Sharron have restyled and brought Findahome back to life in its current form. It&rsquo;s a joy seeing the For Sale and To Let signs around the area and to see how successful the business is. Online estate agency is certainly the way to go. I am very happy when you tell me about some of your clients who have used us and can remember Findahome, the first time around. I thought we had seen the last of Findahome in 1994. It&rsquo;s fantastic to see you in the newspaper and I wish your business all the best for future growth. Thanks for bringing it back!

	&nbsp;

	A massive thank you to original Findahome Partner, May Chatfield, for taking part in this interview. It has been very interesting hearing how things have changed in the last 30 years in the Stoke-on-Trent estate agency scene.

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2620/findahome-1981-1994-tom-williams-interviews-former-findahome-partner-may-chatfield-and-looks-back-on-the-last-30-years-in-the-estate-agency-world</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:16:11 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2620/findahome-1981-1994-tom-williams-interviews-former-findahome-partner-may-chatfield-and-looks-back-on-the-last-30-years-in-the-estate-agency-world</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>finally-a-small-house-price-increase-in-stoke-on-trent-and-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	House prices in Stoke-on-Trent increased slightly in October 2011 following three months of falls.

	Latest data from the Land Registry shows the average home in Stoke-on-Trent cost &pound;71,538 in October, up 0.3% compared with the month before.

	On an annual basis, prices were down by 4% , from &pound;74,523.

	Across Staffordshire, the average home cost &pound;133,416 in October up 0.8% from September. In Cheshire East, which covers Crewe, Nantwich, Alsager and Congleton, the average price was &pound;150,887, down 0.1% compared with the previous month.

	Findahome Online Staffordshire and Cheshire&#39;s internet Estate Agents take a keen interest in house prices in&nbsp;Alsager, Congleton,&nbsp;Crewe, Nantwich, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and the Staffordshire Moorlands.&nbsp;

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2619/finally-a-small-house-price-increase-in-stoke-on-trent-and-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:41:32 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2619/finally-a-small-house-price-increase-in-stoke-on-trent-and-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-shopping-up-by-17-christmas-2011-what-will-the-figures-be-for-online-property-searches-internet-estate-agent-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Early on this month figures were released stating that Online shopping this Christmas in the UK is up by 17% on last year. This does not come as any real surprise, given the increasing popularity of the internet and ease of use. Speaking to members of the Findahome Online team, they have fully embraced the internet shopping revolution with two of the team telling me that they have bought all their Christmas gifts online.

	I, personally have not started my Christmas shopping yet and whilst being a big user of the internet, I do still prefer to visit my local city centre and do my shopping there. For me it is the experience of visiting the shops and getting into the spirit of things at Christmas. I&rsquo;m sure it&rsquo;s the same for many others. I do, however, see all the benefits the internet shopping experience offers.

	As an internet estate agent, I am hoping someone looks at the figures and increase of traffic to the major property websites over the Christmas period. I am certain that we will see increased numbers visiting property websites this year, as people bore of the festivities and start thinking about moving in the New Year.

	Why will we see more visitors looking for properties online over Christmas 2011?

	&nbsp;

	
		Record numbers of laptops and PC tablets sold. When a programme or film that you dislike is shown on the TV, you are more likely to go onto your tablet/laptop and surf the web. If you have an interest in property, the likelihood is that you will be visiting the Rightmove website or one of the property portals.
	
		Boredom and habit. Many people visit the property portals every day of the year. An enforced holiday over Christmas will not change this.
	
		Brand awareness. All the major property portals have extensively advertised on the TV and other forms of media in the last 12 months.
	
		Non- existent press advertising. Most people search online for properties these days, but some still look in the local newspaper. 90% of estate agents in the UK do not advertise over the Christmas period.
	
		Divorce and separation. Sadly, many people divorce or separate after Christmas. This results in many separating couples looking for alternative properties over Christmas. Divorce rates are up, therefore more people in this position will be looking for a new property after Christmas.
	
		Accessibility. It has never been so easy to search for a property. No more trawling the high street, going from estate agent to estate agent and relying on only one photograph. Thankfully, those days are gone.


	&nbsp;

	I await the figures which I am sure one of the major property websites will produce. I will also be checking our website visitors over the next month, to see how many people are visiting http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/

	As an online estate agent, we are encouraging any home sellers thinking of leaving it until after Christmas to think again. We firmly believe that this Christmas will be a record year for online property viewers.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2618/online-shopping-up-by-17-christmas-2011-what-will-the-figures-be-for-online-property-searches-internet-estate-agent-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:22:08 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2618/online-shopping-up-by-17-christmas-2011-what-will-the-figures-be-for-online-property-searches-internet-estate-agent-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>thank-you-letters-like-this-one-make-selling-and-letting-properties-worthwhile</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online like nothing more than successfully Selling or Letting a property. We do our best for all our Sellers and Landlords. Particularly, pleasing is when we receive Testimonials and letters of thanks from our clients. We were delighted to receive this one from one of our Landlords:

	Dear&nbsp;Tom and Steph,

	I am just writing to you to thank you for all the help and support in helping me to move home and let my property.

	Initially, i went to another estate agents, but after three weeks i did not feel like a valued customer. I could never speak to the original person who came out to my property.

	A friend of mine recommended yourselves. I decided to give you a call and i was pleasantly surprised with what you could offer me and how helpful Tom was.&nbsp;I would also recommend using your associated mortgage adviser Nikki. She has been very reassuring and calming throughout the whole process. Both Tom and Nikki, i found explained everything so clearly that i knew what i was doing.

	Also, a special thanks to Steph who was always bright and pleasant when dealing with me and answered the smallest of queries i had.

	I have settled into my new property and am really pleased with the tenants you found me for my old house. I am managing it myself, but know that you are only a phone call away if i need any advice.

	Once again, a massive Thank You! 

	Sarah Johnson, Stoke-on-Trent

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2617/thank-you-letters-like-this-one-make-selling-and-letting-properties-worthwhile</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:35:31 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2617/thank-you-letters-like-this-one-make-selling-and-letting-properties-worthwhile</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>another-prestige-property-sold-grindley-lane-blythe-bridge-internet-estate-agents-saves-the-home-seller-5575</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Internet Estate Agent, Findahome Online are delighted to have sold another Prestige Property in Grindley Lane, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire. A sale was agreed on the property in just under 4 weeks, with completion taking place last week.

	Our sensible home seller chose his local Internet estate agent,&nbsp;Findahome Online rather than the local expensive High Street Estate Agents. With a sale agreed in only four weeks, this is further evidence of how effective selling property online is. Quite simply, you no longer need a high street premises to sell or let properties.

	If you have a Prestige Property in Staffordshire, do yourself a favour and call your local Online Internet Estate Agents, Findahome. We will save you Thousands of Pounds!!

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2616/another-prestige-property-sold-grindley-lane-blythe-bridge-internet-estate-agents-saves-the-home-seller-5575</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:05:16 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2616/another-prestige-property-sold-grindley-lane-blythe-bridge-internet-estate-agents-saves-the-home-seller-5575</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>staffordshire-online-estate-agent-showcases-sold-properties-and-the-huge-savings-that-home-sellers-have-made</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme&#39;s internet estate agent&nbsp;have launched a new page on their website.

	Simply called &#39;Sold and Saved&#39; the page displays some of Findahome Onlines completed &nbsp;house sales and the huge savings that customers have made. The savings are staggering,&nbsp; don&#39;t just take our word for it, please&nbsp;take a look yourself http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/property-sold-and-saved

	Findahome Online Partner Sharron Williams says &quot;I came up with the idea for this page a couple of weeks ago. I wanted people visiting our website to see examples of successful sales and the huge savings our clients have made. As you can see on the sold and saved&nbsp;page, we sell properties of all shapes and sizes, in all price ranges.&quot;

	Findahome Online are committed to selling properties and saving the consumer money. Our average customers saves &pound;2,000 in estate agency fees. For you free sales valuation, please call one of our friendly team on 01782 728038
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2615/staffordshire-online-estate-agent-showcases-sold-properties-and-the-huge-savings-that-home-sellers-have-made</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:23:19 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2615/staffordshire-online-estate-agent-showcases-sold-properties-and-the-huge-savings-that-home-sellers-have-made</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>bbc-inside-out-14112011-has-the-government-forgotten-about-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	It was quite poignant that this programme was aired last night. I took a bus ride through the City of Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday, on the way to watching my local side Port Vale take on Grimsby in the FA Cup. Now, I haven&rsquo;t used public transport that often in the last 20 years since passing my driving test. What struck me as I travelled through the city was how certain areas had deteriorated and were neglected. With shops and houses boarded up, some of it did not make for a pleasant sight. In 20 years, areas should improve, not get worse. Other cities in the North of England have had government money thrown at them, with Manchester and Liverpool being noticeable examples.

	It emerged during the programme that the present Coalition government has withdrawn the regeneration funding for projects in Stoke-on-Trent. What I would like to know is, is the government going to do anything about the problems Stoke-on-Trent is encountering with lack of funding to complete regeneration projects?

	This BBC news programme came on just at the right time, as I was going to write a blog on the subject anyway sometime this week.

	I waited with bated breath!

	The programme visited two parts of the City; the Ludlow Street area of Hanley and the Middleport area in Burslem. It focused on the now defunct &lsquo;Renew&rsquo; project which was launched by the Labour Government in order to demolish existing properties in bad repair. These properties were going to be knocked down and replaced with new properties, which would keep close knit communities and families together.

	Lots of demolition has been done, but sadly not finished. This has left people living in areas that resemble war zones. In addition to this, no one seems to be telling the people of Stoke-on-Trent when this project is going to be completed and with what outcome.

	I really felt for the people who featured on the programme, living under these circumstances. I would like to see the Prime Minster David Cameron visit Middleport and walk the streets, taking time to speak to the local community. It seems to me that, &lsquo;out of sight, out of mind&rsquo; is applicable in this situation.

	Prince Charles visited Stoke-on-Trent only a few weeks ago. He questioned why certain areas had had properties demolished. This says it all really. Do the hierarchy of this country still think the people of Stoke-on-Trent all work in the mines and the pottery industry? &nbsp;Stoke-on-Trent, like many other towns and cities (mainly in the North of England) is a former industrial heartland, with local industry in decline. What it needs from the Government is help, such as investment and job creation.

	I wonder whether there are political undertones though, as Stoke-on-Trent has traditionally been a Labour stronghold.

	Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, has said that he will do everything he can for people in areas blighted by a lack of regeneration funding. I don&rsquo;t mean to be a cynic, but I have heard it all before. Mr Cameron visited a pottery factory in Stoke-on-Trent earlier this year, claiming that it was almost a certainty that Stoke-on-Trent would become an Enterprise Zone, creating thousands of jobs. Stoke-on-Trent missed out again. South Staffordshire was the lucky recipient.

	As a local estate agent covering the Stoke-on-Trent area from Goldenhill in the North to Meir in the South, Findahome Online take a keen interest in the local economy. We want to see the City of Stoke-on-Trent improved. It may never get back to the glory days when the pottery industry was at its peak, but the people of Stoke-on-Trent deserve much better from the government.

	Estate agency, like other businesses, has been affected by the decline in the Stoke-on-Trent area. Two estate agents in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, have closed their doors in the last 18 months. People will not buy houses in areas that have not been developed.

	As I stated earlier, I would like to see Mr Cameron and also Mr Shapps in Stoke-on-Trent looking at and addressing the problems. Until something like this happens, I can&rsquo;t see things moving on and improving anytime soon.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2614/bbc-inside-out-14112011-has-the-government-forgotten-about-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:01:38 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2614/bbc-inside-out-14112011-has-the-government-forgotten-about-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>bbc-inside-out-monday-14th-november-2011-has-the-goverment-abandoned-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Stoke-on-Trent&#39;s leading Online Estate Agency will be tuning in to the BBC Inside Out programme at 7.30&nbsp;this evening. The programme&nbsp;features Stoke-on-Trent and asks if the Goverment has forgotten the regeneration the area&nbsp;was promised. Many parts of the City have been neglected, with regeneration started but not completed.

	According to the BBC Midlands News, the Goverment has refused to comment. Well, we would like answers. Stoke-on-Trent deserves better and has been by passed too many times. Come on Mr Cameron, Stoke-on-Trent surely deserves some Goverment money. After all, the enterprise zone promised earlier this year was not forthcoming.

	Full article to follow after the programme.

	Findahome Online take an interest in the Stoke-on-Trent housing market and wider economy. We are proud to serve the people of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2613/bbc-inside-out-monday-14th-november-2011-has-the-goverment-abandoned-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:05:41 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2613/bbc-inside-out-monday-14th-november-2011-has-the-goverment-abandoned-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>scrimp-on-your-letting-agent-and-pay-the-price-in-the-long-run-local-letting-agents-charging-only-4-for-a-fully-managed-letting-service</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Lettings visited a property last week in Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent. Findahome Online&rsquo;s Tom Williams appraised the property and outlined to the potential landlord Findahome Online&rsquo;s fees. We charge a tenancy set up fee and 8% monthly of the gross rent. The couple had two other agents out, one was the local corporate whose fees I am aware of. The other letting agent to visit was a local independent. Now to say I was shocked at the fees they quoted is an understatement. Their fully managed package was 4% of the gross monthly rent!! This works out at less than &pound;20 per month, based on the property&rsquo;s rental value. The potential landlord was also surprised at such a low figure, having had my quote and the corporate agent&rsquo;s.

	Reading this, you may wonder how Findahome Online can comment on low letting fees as our selling packages are at such a low cost. Simply, the sales market is completely different to the letting market. All estate agents, whether high street or online, do exactly the same thing with a sales property. It is not rocket science selling a property. The internet mostly does all the hard work these days. Properties have, and always will, sell themselves. Letting is different. You cannot possibly offer a good service if you are charging only 4% to fully manage a property. There is a lot of work involved in the management of rental properties. The marketing is pretty much the same as sales. It&rsquo;s the aftercare service and legalities that make the work for the letting agent.

	The letting agent I have mentioned charging 4% is not regulated by any professional body, nor registered with the Property Ombudsman. I will let you read into that what you may. The bare bones of it are that if the tenant or landlord has any problems with this agent, they have no redress at all. I do hope the ombudsman clamps down on agents&rsquo; failure to join the compulsory ombudsman scheme, as it is unfair on estate and letting agents like Findahome Online who pay out hefty annual subscriptions.

	If you are looking for a letting agent to fully manage your rented property, get three agents out and do your homework. I would suggest that, in this instance, picking the cheapest agent is not the right option.

	Findahome Online is a letting agent based in Staffordshire. Our fully managed letting service is available throughout North Staffordshire, the Staffordshire Moorlands and South Cheshire. As a fully licensed National Association of Estate Agents agent, we abide by their rules and operate a Clients&rsquo; Account which is audited and insured. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2612/scrimp-on-your-letting-agent-and-pay-the-price-in-the-long-run-local-letting-agents-charging-only-4-for-a-fully-managed-letting-service</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:10:42 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2612/scrimp-on-your-letting-agent-and-pay-the-price-in-the-long-run-local-letting-agents-charging-only-4-for-a-fully-managed-letting-service</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>record-sales-month-at-findahome-online-october-2011</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We are pleased to report that we had a record month in October 2011 in all areas, with 22 new sales instructions and 18 sales agreed. The letting arm at Findahome Online was also extremely busy with 7 lets agreed.

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s Office Manager, Steph Dunn-Fox, says &ldquo;Month on month our sales and letting figures have been increasing up to this sort of level. We are delighted for our clients, who have saved thousands of pounds by using our services. Pleasingly, we have sold a number of properties very quickly, in days rather than weeks. November has also started well with 3 sales agreed already, which for this early on in the month is a great achievement.&rdquo;

	In these difficult times, it&rsquo;s pleasing that Findahome Online have agreed so many sales, especially at this time of the year. Good quality properties, at the right price and in popular areas are still moving.

	If you have a property to sell, don&rsquo;t be fooled into thinking you need a high street agent to sell your home. Contact an online estate agent like http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/estate-agentsand see how we can sell or let your home and help you to avoid paying thousands of pounds in estate agency fees.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents are the choice for the discerning home sellers of Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, Cheshire and beyond&hellip;.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2611/record-sales-month-at-findahome-online-october-2011</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:08:45 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2611/record-sales-month-at-findahome-online-october-2011</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>the-letting-market-hots-up-and-some-letting-agents-turn-a-blind-eye-to-dangerous-polystyrene-tiles</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Lettings visited a rental property recently to give a rental valuation, with a view to the property coming onto the market.

	The appraisal was going well until we spotted polystyrene tiles on the ceiling in one of the living rooms. We informed the Landlord that these tiles would have to be removed as they are a serious fire hazard. The landlord informed us that he had two other well know letting agents out and neither had commented on these dangerous tiles.

	We told the landlord that we would not offer the property on the rental market unless the tiles were removed.

	The property in question has gone onto the market with one of the large franchised national chain of letting agents, who have taken it on without the tiles being removed. I know this as the landlord has not had much interest and was considering bringing his business to us. He wanted to instruct us without removing the tiles. I have stuck to my principles as I would not sleep at night, if I thought a tenant was living in a property with a serious fire hazard.

	With the letting market being as competitive as it is, why is it that letting agents are ignoring serious fire risks?&nbsp; My view is that they are desperate for any work they can get and are therefore cutting corners. Is it really worth taking something on when you could potentially be putting lives at risk? No, it isn&rsquo;t.

	Or is it ignorance on the part of the person who went out to inspect the property. Are they even aware that these tiles are a fire risk? If it is has been an oversight, then the big franchised national letting agents need to look at their training.

	Findahome Online Lettings take tenants&rsquo; safety seriously.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2610/the-letting-market-hots-up-and-some-letting-agents-turn-a-blind-eye-to-dangerous-polystyrene-tiles</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:15:20 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2610/the-letting-market-hots-up-and-some-letting-agents-turn-a-blind-eye-to-dangerous-polystyrene-tiles</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>properties-in-certain-areas-of-newcastle-under-lyme-selling-within-days-not-weeks</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Newcastle-under-Lyme have had great success in recent weeks selling properties in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Two houses that we have been instructed to sell in May Bank have sold in days, rather than weeks or even months.

	There is a good demand in certain parts of Newcastle-under-Lyme and we have buyers waiting on our database.

	Particularly pleasing is the savings that sellers have made by using an online estate agent like Findahome Online. Imagine selling your home in only a few days, then on completion getting stung, in some cases, for 2% of the selling price!! Ouch!! Choose an online estate agent, with fees from &pound;399 and keep it local. Findahome Online want to sell your home and save you money. Call one of our friendly team today and book your free sales or rental valuation.

	Findahome Online sell and let properties in the North Staffordshire market town, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2609/properties-in-certain-areas-of-newcastle-under-lyme-selling-within-days-not-weeks</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:14:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2609/properties-in-certain-areas-of-newcastle-under-lyme-selling-within-days-not-weeks</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>travel-agency-needs-a-portal-website-like-rightmove-or-findapropertycom</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I have been looking online for a holiday. Not surprisingly, I haven&rsquo;t been trawling the High Street picking up holiday brochures from Travel Agents.

	Frustratingly, I have to go from site to site and company to company looking for different deals and holidays. Why doesn&rsquo;t the travel industry have a portal website like the estate agency world has? We are very fortunate, having the big property portals where all estate agents showcase their properties. This makes things much easier for the consumer.

	I would think there is some commercial reason why the leading tour operators haven&rsquo;t agreed for all their holidays to be showcased on the same website.

	Our travel agency friends could take some tips from their estate agency contemporaries, who are proving that Online Estate Agency works well when using Property Portal Websites.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2608/travel-agency-needs-a-portal-website-like-rightmove-or-findapropertycom</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:41:57 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2608/travel-agency-needs-a-portal-website-like-rightmove-or-findapropertycom</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agent-or-high-street-estate-agent-is-there-a-difference</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	About 6 years ago, a friend of mine had seen a property in the Tean area of the Staffordshire Moorlands. He wanted to view the property and asked me if I had heard of the estate agent. I hadn&rsquo;t and simply dismissed them as an internet estate agent. They were based in Essex some 150 miles away from the property in Tean. They are the first and biggest Online Estate Agents in the UK. But, at the time, they were completely unknown.

	I dismissed them without taking much notice at all. I was a local estate agent covering the Tean area and could not see the benefit of someone using an out-of-the-area estate agent. At the time, I did not realise that the charges of online estate agents could be up to 10 times cheaper than those of their high street counterparts.

	The above mentioned online estate agent sold the property and will have saved that seller a considerable amount of money.

	Now, the purpose of this blog is to look at what the difference is between a high street agent and an online agent. Personally, I don&rsquo;t see one at all these days.

	All estate agents are online. There are very few who don&rsquo;t have their own website. All upload onto at least one property portal. All estate agents have an office, even if they are working from home. The majority of estate agents will have an office either on the high street or elsewhere.

	Customers still like to visit an estate agent&rsquo;s office, wherever it may be. &nbsp;Some people&rsquo;s perceptions of how online estate agents operate is way off the mark. It is not possible to work out of your back bedroom effectively!!

	The online and internet tag was given to online estate agents who were the first to set up in the middle of the last decade and it has stuck. Findahome Online have even included online in our name.

	The fact is that the majority of the public see us as an estate agent. I look like an estate agent; my friends call me an estate agent (not an online one). We advertise in the local press. We are regulated by the Property Ombudsman and are Licensed NAEA estate agents. I could go on and on&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;

	I am looking at holidays at the moment. When I trawl the web, looking at various websites, I do not call travel agents online travel agents if I don&rsquo;t think they have a shop on the local high street (many don&rsquo;t these days). I simply call them travel agents.

	So next time you book a viewing or look to sell your house, remember you are dealing with an estate agent, wherever they may be.

	Findahome Online are Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s National Estate Agent.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2606/online-estate-agent-or-high-street-estate-agent-is-there-a-difference</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:40:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2606/online-estate-agent-or-high-street-estate-agent-is-there-a-difference</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>latest-figures-from-the-land-registry-in-north-staffordshire-congleton-crewe-nantwich-and-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	According to figures that Findahome Online read yesterday House Prices in Stoke-on-Trent have dropped for the second successive month.

	Latest data from the Land Registry shows the average home in Stoke-on &ndash;Trent cost &pound;72,034 in August 2011, down 2% compared with July 2011 and 4.4%, from &pound;75,367 in August 2010.

	Staffordshire as a whole prices reached an average of &pound;132,551, down 0.3% from July 2011 and 3.3% from &pound;137,127 in August 2010.

	In Cheshire East which includes the towns of Alsager, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich average prices experienced a monthly and annual drop. The average price in August 2011 was &pound;151,171, down 0.2% compared with July 2011 and 2.6% down on the average price in August 2010 which was &pound;155,273.

	Across England and Wales the average price during August 2010 was &pound;162,347. This was down by 0.3% compared with July 2011 and 2.6% down on the reported figures in August 2010.

	Findahome Online cover all of England and Wales. Based in Staffordshire, we are the regional online internet estate agent specialising in Alsager, Cheadle, Congleton, Crewe, Leek, Nantwich, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2605/latest-figures-from-the-land-registry-in-north-staffordshire-congleton-crewe-nantwich-and-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:57:10 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2605/latest-figures-from-the-land-registry-in-north-staffordshire-congleton-crewe-nantwich-and-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>health-clubs-changing-their-business-models-much-like-estate-agents-moving-with-the-times</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	At the end of the 1990s going into the Millennium, we saw Health and Fitness clubs opening up everywhere. Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme were like many areas, new clubs opened and we were soon over provided with these clubs. National chains Esporta, Total Fitness, Fitness First and Greens all opened clubs in North Staffordshire. With the economy being in good shape at this time (pardon the pun) these clubs were all very popular.

	Then came the recession in 2008&hellip;. When times are tough, people tighten their belts. Is an expensive gym membership a necessity? With so many clubs in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, the economy was bound to affect the health and fitness clubs. Earlier this year, Esporta at Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, closed its doors resulting in redundancies, as did Fitness First in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, with the same result of jobs lost.

	I am pleased to report that both clubs are reopening. Esporta has been re-branded and improved by local businessman, Mo Chaudry, the owner of Waterworld. He knows a thing or too about running successful businesses. Pleasingly, from what I have read in the newspaper, he will be re-employing the staff who worked there previously. The former Esporta health club will remain a top end prestige club.

	The former Fitness First club has re-branded as Klick Fitness. They have completely changed their business model, by losing the sauna, staff offices, and other rooms and by making their gym open plan. By taking out the luxury items that you would associate with a gym, they have just included the bare essentials. In doing this, they have slashed their prices. A month&rsquo;s gym membership starts from only &pound;9.99. This gives the gym user an approximate saving of &pound;40 per month. This saving is based on the client going to Klick Fitness rather than one of the premium clubs listed above. It will be interesting to see how Klick Fitness fares. You can see what they are trying to do, though, keeping the prices low to entice people in. They are not the only gym to employ this idea. Another gym, on the old MFI site in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, called Pure Gym, is offering membership from &pound;9.99 with 24 hour opening. Again, saunas, steam rooms and the like are not offered.

	Health clubs offering an alternative is a similar situation to the Online Estate Agency revolution currently sweeping the country. Internet estate agents like http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/

	http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/estate-agents

	sell and let properties in exactly the same way as expensive High Street agents. The difference of course is that our fees start from only &pound;399. Like the health club model, our fees are low because we don&rsquo;t have a large double fronted high street office and we don&rsquo;t have a fleet of company cars. We have recognised what is important when selling or letting a house and that is not having an office on every local high street. We cover all areas of the UK from one central office, as, these days, one office is all that is required.

	The recent recession has been a long and hard one. I personally feel we have got a long way to go before a full recovery can be made. What we will see when we come out the other end is many businesses employing new business models, like online estate agents and no frills health clubs. If this recession has taught us anything, it has shown some of us the value of money. Services that save people money will prosper when times get better.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2604/health-clubs-changing-their-business-models-much-like-estate-agents-moving-with-the-times</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:38 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2604/health-clubs-changing-their-business-models-much-like-estate-agents-moving-with-the-times</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>what-the-happy-sellers-of-findahome-online39s-record-6791-fee-saving-had-to-say</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Sharron, Tom and all at Findahome

	I just wanted to thank you both for your outstanding service and professionalism with selling our house. Your company overtakes any long established estate agencies in every aspect possible. The sales packages you offer are absolute value for money. Both yours and Tom&rsquo;s friendly nature also made us feel at ease when dealing with you and we have already recommended you to friends that have also sold their properties with you. Considering the housing market is very sluggish at the moment, I believe that by your approach through marketing and advertising you have pushed all properties to their full potential. May I wish you every success in the future, I am confident that Findahomeonline will keep on expanding!

	Samantha and Simon Hope, Staffordshire
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2603/what-the-happy-sellers-of-findahome-online39s-record-6791-fee-saving-had-to-say</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:22:49 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2603/what-the-happy-sellers-of-findahome-online39s-record-6791-fee-saving-had-to-say</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>the-churnet-valley-in-the-staffordshire-moorlands-features-on-countryfile</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As a regular viewer of the BBC TV programme Countryfile, it was nice to see our local area, the Churnet Valley in the Staffordshire Moorlands, feature on Sunday 18thSeptember. John Craven visited the area to highlight the growing popularity of tourists visiting rural Britain. The Staffordshire Moorlands looked beautiful with the Churnet Valley Railway and the local waterway featured.

	Local tourism is booming even though we are quite a distance inland. Many local people and farmers are taking advantage of this surge in tourists by operating Bed and Breakfast businesses or letting out holiday cottages. The Staffordshire Moorlands is very fortunate to have the UK&rsquo;s number one theme park Alton Towers nestling in our countryside in the pretty village of Alton.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2602/the-churnet-valley-in-the-staffordshire-moorlands-features-on-countryfile</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:19:48 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2602/the-churnet-valley-in-the-staffordshire-moorlands-features-on-countryfile</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>great-news-for-stoke-on-trent-14-million-investment-and-extension-at-the-potteries-shopping-centre-hanley-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	It was very pleasing in last week&rsquo;s Sentinel newspaper to see the plans that have been submitted to extend the Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. If approved, the extension will be completed in 2013 and create 200 vital jobs. The extension will give the Potteries Shopping Centre a cinema, restaurants and more shops.

	Findahome Online are delighted that Hanley City Centre is getting some investment which will create jobs and bring more people into the City Centre. Too many people from Stoke-on-Trent travel to Birmingham, Manchester and The Trafford Centre. Hopefully, now with this investment in our City Centre, people will visit Hanley and spend their money in our city without travelling to other areas.

	Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s local economy is vital to us all.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2601/great-news-for-stoke-on-trent-14-million-investment-and-extension-at-the-potteries-shopping-centre-hanley-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:19:04 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2601/great-news-for-stoke-on-trent-14-million-investment-and-extension-at-the-potteries-shopping-centre-hanley-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-stoke-on-trents-internet-estate-agent-saves-a-home-seller-a-record-6791-in-estate-agency-fees</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Staffordshire based Online Estate Agent Findahome have broken their record for fee savings. Our property on Aynsleys Drive, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, has completed today. Our happy home sellers have saved an astonishing &pound;6,791 in estate agency fees. In addition to the huge saving made by using Findahome Online, we also sold the property in a very short space of time. Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams, only put the property onto the market at the end of May 2011. To say the Findahome Online team are pleased about this sale is an understatement. We are over the moon, not only have we sold this property, but to save the sellers such a huge amount is particularly pleasing. The sellers have recommended us to two couples &nbsp;for whom we are currently selling properties. Satisfyingly, they too have sales going through on their properties.

	Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams, tell us his thoughts on this record breaking sale. &ldquo;The sellers of this property found us on the internet. We were the last estate agent to visit the property. They had 4 or 5 other estate agents in to view, but were not impressed with what they were offering. The fees quoted were extortionate, with a couple of agents quoting 1.5% plus VAT. At the initial asking price of &pound;450,000, they would have been charged in excess of &pound;7,000 in estate agency fees. The sellers&rsquo; reasoning was that their property would not cost any more to market than a smaller house, yet they felt they were being penalised by being charged a significant amount more - at least &pound;5,000 more!

	I valued the property and the sellers instructed us to sell. They chose our unbeatable &pound;499 package and also opted for a glossy brochure. The property was presented to the very highest of standards and our superior marketing showed it off in its best light. So well received was the property on the internet by the viewing public that it had top click through rates on the UK&rsquo;s number one property website Rightmove.

	On average our customers save around &pound;2,000. To sell a property and save our customers nearly &pound;7,000 has taken things to another level! I am absolutely delighted and more determined than ever to continue to save the consumer &nbsp;a significant amount of money. If you have a property at any price, Findahome Online will sell it for you. If you have a big country or prestige property don&rsquo;t be fooled into thinking you need a so called &lsquo;prestige estate agent&rsquo;. This sale proves that online estate agents are capable of selling any property at any price.&rdquo;

	&nbsp;

	With nearly &pound;7,000, our sellers could have bought a Luxury Holiday, a New Kitchen, 14 Lap Tops, 11 Years Gym Membership at Greens Health Club in Stoke-on-Trent, a Deposit on a Buy-To-Let Property in Stoke-on-Trent or 10 Years&rsquo; Worth of Sky TV.

	&nbsp;

	The team at Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents love helping clients save money whilst selling and letting properties.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2600/findahome-online-stoke-on-trents-internet-estate-agent-saves-a-home-seller-a-record-6791-in-estate-agency-fees</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:16:58 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2600/findahome-online-stoke-on-trents-internet-estate-agent-saves-a-home-seller-a-record-6791-in-estate-agency-fees</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>estate-agents-withdrawal-fees-and-cancellation-charges-sign-of-the-times</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	When I began my career in estate agency in the 1990s withdrawal/cancellation fees were common place. For those who don&rsquo;t know, a withdrawal fee is a charge that a home seller would pay to their estate agent if they wanted to take their property off the market. This is payable even if the property doesn&rsquo;t sell.

	I remember asking my Branch Manager at the time, why a property had been on the market for over 4 years. His response was that the property was over priced and that the seller had a &pound;400 withdrawal fee. The seller would not take the property off the market, so he did not have to incur the penalty charge. It made things particularly awkward when I had to talk to the home seller. To say he wasn&rsquo;t very responsive is an under statement! With demotivated sellers, it makes things difficult for estate agents to sell properties.

	When the housing market boomed from 2001 &ndash; 2007, many estate agents dropped their withdrawal fees. No Sale &ndash; No Fee contracts were widespread as properties sold quickly and transactions were at record levels.

	Since 2008, the market has slowed down and withdrawal/cancellation fees are back. Findahome Online have had approaches from home sellers wanting to use our services but they have been unable to, due to the hefty withdrawal charges that their current estate agents are charging them. Some of these fees are more than Online Estate Agents like Findahome Online will charge for their full service! Anyone who signs up with an agent charging cancellation fees is pretty much stuck with the agent, even if they are unhappy with the service. I would not recommend any would be home seller entertained an agent who didn&rsquo;t offer No Sale &ndash; No Fee without a cancellation fee or a tie in period. If you look around for a suitable estate agent, you will still find many are operating on a No Sale &ndash; No Fee basis.

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s&nbsp; No Sale &ndash; No Fee selling option has no tie in and no cancellation charge. It is also very competitive and excellent value for money.

	Findahome Online are Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme&rsquo;s innovative internet estate agent. We cover all of England and Wales. Call us today to see how we can save you money and sell your home.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2599/estate-agents-withdrawal-fees-and-cancellation-charges-sign-of-the-times</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:34:58 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2599/estate-agents-withdrawal-fees-and-cancellation-charges-sign-of-the-times</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>abbey-clancy-moving-to-stoke-on-trent-with-stoke-city-footballer-peter-crouch</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The red and white half of Stoke-on-Trent has been buzzing with the arrival of England International footballer, Peter Crouch. He joined Stoke City on transfer deadline day and is arguably the biggest signing in the club&rsquo;s history (aside from Sir Stanley Matthews&rsquo; return from Blackpool)

	Peter Crouch&rsquo;s &lsquo;Wag&rsquo; wife Abbey Clancy has caused controversy this week in the tabloid newspapers by allegedly ticking off Harry Redknapp for sending Peter to Stoke City. She is settled in the London area and by the sounds of it, wasn&rsquo;t too keen on living in the industrial northern city of Stoke-on-Trent. Abbey, I believe, soon came round to the idea when she realised that Stoke-on-Trent was not too far away from the leafy Cheshire suburbs of Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Hale. This is where she and Peter previously lived when he had a spell with Liverpool FC. Abbey really should have been breathing a sigh of relief as the other club rumoured to be interested in signing Peter from Spurs were Sunderland. Now that is a long way from London, and some three hours away from the &lsquo;Wags&rsquo; of Cheshire ! &nbsp;

	It would be great to see some of Stoke City&rsquo;s big stars living within Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s city boundaries. It&rsquo;s a lovely place to live and work with some of the friendliest, most down to earth people in the UK. I suppose though these days, with footballers being as famous as pop stars and actors, it would be difficult for them to live a quiet life. They are household names and I&rsquo;m sure would be mobbed in certain areas of Stoke-on-Trent, if they ventured out for a bottle of milk!

	Times have changed since the 1970s when Stoke City enjoyed their last period of success when many of the players lived in the area, amongst the fans. These days many of the players commute from Cheshire, parts of Staffordshire and the West Midlands. Wychwood Park at Weston, near Crewe in Cheshire, is popular with the Stoke City Players and the Manager Tony Pulis who I believe has a home there.

	Abbey, next time I&rsquo;m in Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Hanley, I will be looking out for you. Although, I don&rsquo;t think I will see you in Home Bargains or Primark!!

	Findahome Online are an Online Estate Agent which covers the fine City of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2598/abbey-clancy-moving-to-stoke-on-trent-with-stoke-city-footballer-peter-crouch</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:06:08 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2598/abbey-clancy-moving-to-stoke-on-trent-with-stoke-city-footballer-peter-crouch</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>10-years-since-september-11th-2001</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Today we are taking a few minutes to remember those who lost their lives 10 years ago in one of the worst terrorist attacks the world has seen. In addition to those who lost their lives on September 11, we are also remembering those who have died since, serving their countries in Iraq and Afghanistan and all the families who mourn them.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2597/10-years-since-september-11th-2001</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:05:05 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2597/10-years-since-september-11th-2001</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-sales-of-rightmove-premium-listings-selling-like-hot-cakes-september-2011</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	National Online Estate Agents Findahome Online&rsquo;s customers can&rsquo;t get enough of Rightmove Premium listings. Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams says, &ldquo;We have had such a big demand for Rightmove Premium listings in recent weeks, that we have had to go to Rightmove and order more as we had run out! In a tough market, the Rightmove&nbsp; Premium listings really make a property stand out and can give a property a real edge, especially if it is well presented. With more properties coming onto the market and low sales transactions, the search pages on Rightmove can be overloaded. If a property has a Premium listing it is more likely to be clicked on and will stand out from the crowd. On our option 1, &pound;499 package, a Rightmove Premium listing is included as standard. This offers excellent value for money. If you look nationally at Online estate agents, I don&rsquo;t think you will find too many, if any, offering a Rightmove Premium listing on a selling package for less than &pound;500 inc. VAT.&rdquo;

	Findahome Online market all their properties on the UK&rsquo;s leading property website Rightmove.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2596/findahome-online-sales-of-rightmove-premium-listings-selling-like-hot-cakes-september-2011</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:41:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2596/findahome-online-sales-of-rightmove-premium-listings-selling-like-hot-cakes-september-2011</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>moving-house-in-2011-is-still-possible-even-if-you-havent-sold-your-property-findahome-online-explore-the-options</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The housing market is tough at the moment. Sales are still in short supply, with certain areas being affected more than others. Some areas are struggling due to high unemployment and low wages, meaning people in these areas are finding it very difficult to save for that all important deposit.

	Estate agents are also suffering, I know of 4 in the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme area who have closed their doors in the last 12 months. This is directly linked to low sales transactions.

	Right, enough of the doom and gloom! This news story is about how it is still possible to move even if you haven&rsquo;t sold. Findahome Online are thinking out of the box. If we have a client, who is keen on moving and has not sold, we are recommending them to our associated Mortgage Adviser Nicky Boulton. If Nicky can work her magic and there is enough equity in the property, then our sellers will rent out their existing property, enabling them to still move into their dream home. Findahome Online have had a number of sellers go down this route recently. They move and are happy, with the added benefit of an investment property that they can either keep, or try selling again when things improve. In a difficult market, all avenues have to be looked at and explored to keep the housing market moving. Sitting there waiting for sales to happen is a thing of the past. The estate agents who are getting results at the moment are those who are thinking out of the box.

	If you are a home seller with a good amount of equity in your property, please give Findahome Online a call and see how we can get you moving. From there we will put you in contact with our recommended, experienced, qualified mortgage adviser Nicky Boulton, Principal of Nicky Boulton Financial Services.

	Findahome Online and Nicky Boulton Financial Services are specialists in our chosen fields in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2595/moving-house-in-2011-is-still-possible-even-if-you-havent-sold-your-property-findahome-online-explore-the-options</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:40:11 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2595/moving-house-in-2011-is-still-possible-even-if-you-havent-sold-your-property-findahome-online-explore-the-options</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>like-findahome-online-national-online-estate-agents-on-facebook</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	National Online Estate and Letting Agents Findahome Online invite all clients to Like our Facebook page. In the coming weeks and months, those who like our Facebook page will qualify for any special offers we have available.

	We are great believers in the social media revolution and feel that it is going to play a massive part in our lives and business in the future.

	We can be found here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Findahome-Online-Estate-and-Letting-Agents/119525511406569

	We are also active on twitter and can be found under @blogfindahome

	In addition to special offers, we will also be profiling Findahome Online staff. Facebook and twitter have taken over from the traditional notice board.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2594/like-findahome-online-national-online-estate-agents-on-facebook</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:44:38 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2594/like-findahome-online-national-online-estate-agents-on-facebook</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>seasonal-activity-in-the-housing-market-in-evidence-staffordshires-online-estate-and-letting-agency-shares-its-experiences</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As expected, Findahome Online&rsquo;s house sales slowed down as we entered the school holiday period. However, as August has progressed we are seeing more activity in the market. This has resulted in recent successful sales. We are optimistic about what September and October holds as they are both traditionally busy months in the housing market calendar. All those, who are buying and selling, hope to move in before Christmas. This proves virtually impossible if a sale is agreed in November or December, as the legal process can take considerable time.

	Price is still key in selling in the current market. Some of our recent sales have been agreed with offers coming in at below asking price. This pattern will continue as buyers have such a large number of properties to look at and choose from. The buyer is definitely in the position of power at the moment. We, at Findahome Online, don&rsquo;t anticipate this changing in the foreseeable future.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, are committed to selling and letting properties for all 12 months of the year, whatever the market for property selling or letting .
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2593/seasonal-activity-in-the-housing-market-in-evidence-staffordshires-online-estate-and-letting-agency-shares-its-experiences</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:43:52 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2593/seasonal-activity-in-the-housing-market-in-evidence-staffordshires-online-estate-and-letting-agency-shares-its-experiences</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>nicky-boulton-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-experienced-qualified-mortgage-and-financial-adviser</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, are delighted to be working in association with well-known local mortgage and financial adviser, Nicky Boulton. Nicky has extensive experience in financial services and will be a familiar face to many in the Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent area.

	Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams, says, &ldquo;We are extremely pleased to be working alongside Nicky. I have known of her for over 10 years. It is a major coup for us at Findahome Online to be working with someone of Nicky&rsquo;s calibre. We are in an excellent position, confident that, in referring buyers and sellers to Nicky, we know that they are in the very best of hands.&rdquo;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2592/nicky-boulton-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-experienced-qualified-mortgage-and-financial-adviser</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:41:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2592/nicky-boulton-newcastle-under-lyme-stoke-on-trent-experienced-qualified-mortgage-and-financial-adviser</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-qr-codes-bring-record-visitors-to-property-website</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online, Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme&rsquo;s internet estate and letting agent, advertised their QR code in last Thursday&rsquo;s Findaproperty Section in the Staffordshire Sentinel Newspaper. We are the first estate agent in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme to add a QR code to our advert and lead the way for new and innovative technology in our local area. Our website www.findahomeonline.co.ukreceived its highest number of visitors on Thursday, proving that scanning the QR codes is proving popular with home hunters. Findahome Online&rsquo;s QR code coming to &nbsp;For Sale or To Let boards near you soon&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;..
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2591/findahome-online-qr-codes-bring-record-visitors-to-property-website</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:39:57 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2591/findahome-online-qr-codes-bring-record-visitors-to-property-website</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>bbc-breakfast-news-depicting-a-modern-day-first-time-buyer-looking-for-a-property-rightmove-on-a-lap-top</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	&nbsp;

	I watched BBC Breakfast News with interest on Saturday 13th August 2011. They featured a would-be first time buyer in his 20s and compared his experiences and hardships, trying to buy a property, against those of his mother who bought with relative ease as a so-called &lsquo;Baby Boomer&rsquo;. She was born after the war and was able, at a young age, to buy a property at a relatively low price, without the financial constraints modern day first time buyers are encountering.

	There was nothing featured that was anything I didn&rsquo;t know. Times are tough for first time buyers; we are all well aware of that. The interesting thing for me, was how the BBC depicted this first time buyer looking for property. He was on a lap top computer, searching for properties on the UK&rsquo;s number one website Rightmove. It was a bold step by the BBC. They appear to have recognised that would-be home buyers now virtually all go online to search for property, in particular visiting Rightmove. Prior to this point, any news features on the housing market the BBC has shown has always included a visit to an estate agent&rsquo;s office or shown a street of For Sale boards.

	As an online estate and letting agent, I am delighted that the BBC realise that the internet and not the high street is the place that properties are found in the modern day. I am also impressed that the website the first time buyer was looking at was Rightmove as this made it very true to life.

	Findahome Online are a traditional estate agent who no longer trades on the high street. All our sales and letting properties are listed on the UK&rsquo;s number one property website Rightmove.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2590/bbc-breakfast-news-depicting-a-modern-day-first-time-buyer-looking-for-a-property-rightmove-on-a-lap-top</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:38:33 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2590/bbc-breakfast-news-depicting-a-modern-day-first-time-buyer-looking-for-a-property-rightmove-on-a-lap-top</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>rent-out-a-room-in-stoke-on-trent-and-share-your-house-in-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Letting Agents of Staffordshire are offering a new service to the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme area. In addition to the full letting and management service already available to Findahome customers, we are now, due to demand, giving people the opportunity to rent out a room or share their home.

	This service is being rolled out initially near to Findahome&rsquo;s HQ in Staffordshire, but, like our selling and letting services, is available nationwide.

	Findahome Online Lettings spokesman, Partner Tom Williams says, &ldquo;With the economy as it is, many people are looking at ways to bring more money into their households. If they have the space, renting a room or a house share is an excellent way to make money and help with the spiralling costs we are all experiencing in these difficult economic times.

	In recent months, we have had several enquiries from would be house sharers in the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme area. Renting a room in a shared house is a cost effective way of living, without breaking the bank. As always at Findahome Online, we are looking at ways to help our customers. Not everyone, wants or has the money to a rent a full property.

	We feel that this new service benefits both landlord and tenant. It&rsquo;s the perfect match. Findahome Online will give the rooms we let wide coverage on top property websites: Rightmove, findaproperty.com and Primelocation. Formerly, a landlord, wanting to let a room, was limited to advertising in the local newspaper. No longer! Findahome Online Lettings will display the room to rent on the top websites with internal photographs, showcasing the room in its best light.

	Findahome Online Lettings&rsquo; fees for marketing of rooms to let start at &pound;60 depending on the level of service required. I believe this is excellent value for money, given the extensive coverage the room will receive.&rdquo;

	For more information on Findahome Online&rsquo;s Rent a Room letting service, please call our Letting department today on 01782 728038 or email us lettings@findahomeonline.co.uk
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2589/rent-out-a-room-in-stoke-on-trent-and-share-your-house-in-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:54:34 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2589/rent-out-a-room-in-stoke-on-trent-and-share-your-house-in-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>london-riots-a-blight-on-the-areas-affected-and-house-prices</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I, like many people, have watched in disgust as rioters have brought terror to the capital&rsquo;s streets. What has disturbed me most is the damage to property and the fear that local people in these areas must be experiencing. Rioting we have seen before, but this appears to be organised, which is very concerning. According to media reports, much has been organised using modern day devices: the internet, smart phones, facebook and twitter.

	The areas that have been targeted by the rioters so far are ones you may expect Tottenham, Croydon, Peckham and Hackney, some of which are parts of the capital that are deprived and run down. I was surprised when I saw Enfield was an area that also experienced problems. Enfield is an area that you would not associate with the more deprived areas. I do hope that Enfield&rsquo;s wider economy isn&rsquo;t affected by this, such as the local housing market. People have long memories; this may affect where they choose to buy a home. I can still tell you, some 25 years later, where the riots were in the 1980s and I was only a child then. With 24 hour news and social media, those in the UK who watch and listen to the news will remember for a long time where the riots of 2011 have taken place. I do hope things in these areas get back to normality soon and the areas affected are not blighted by the mindless, selfish rioters.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2588/london-riots-a-blight-on-the-areas-affected-and-house-prices</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:53:33 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2588/london-riots-a-blight-on-the-areas-affected-and-house-prices</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agents-moving-with-the-times-qr-codes</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online have today unveiled their QR code. This code is going to be linked to Findahome&rsquo;s stationery, newspaper advert and For Sale boards.

	For those who don&rsquo;t know, our QR code when scanned by a Smart Phone, or PC Tablet (I Pad or Android) takes you directly to our website www.findahomeonline.co.uk&nbsp; This is a fantastic tool and will appeal to the younger I phone/facebook generation who have massively embraced the new technology that is available to us all.

	Tom Williams, Partner at Findahome Online, says, &ldquo;QR codes are going to have a big influence on many things. They will benefit the estate agency world as people start using them.. I am particularly pleased that we can add them to For Sale signs. This means that the consumer can be directed straight onto our website where they can see more details of the property that they have scanned. Access to our website will also mean that more of our properties can be viewed. We are the first estate agent in our immediate geographical area to use them, even doing so before large corporate estate agents who, I have to say, I am surprised haven&rsquo;t picked up on it. So, if you see one of our boards in the Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands, South Cheshire, Stone, Uttoxeter or Stafford areas with a bar code on it, please feel free to go and scan it!&rdquo;

	Internet estate agent Findahome Online sells and lets property nationally and in its local area of Staffordshire. We are at the forefront of new technology in the estate agency world and always looking for new ideas to give our properties greater exposure.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2587/online-estate-agents-moving-with-the-times-qr-codes</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:11:05 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2587/online-estate-agents-moving-with-the-times-qr-codes</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>two-house-moves-in-30-years-findahome-sell-both-properties</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Those who are regular readers of my blogs, will know that a while ago I went out to a property and that the people there sold their last property with Findahome 30 years ago.

	We have just sold their latest property (Saving them &pound;2,031) which completed last Friday. Findahome Online were delighted to help this family and sell their home, some 30 years after Partner Sharron Williams&rsquo; mother and aunt sold their last home.

	You cannot beat a bit of nostalgia. For anyone who likes to look back at where Findahome Online originated from, please take a look at this http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/online-estate-agents

	Findahome Online National Online Estate Agents of Stoke-on-Trent sell houses for new and existing clients. We especially like repeat business, even if it is every 30 Years!!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2586/two-house-moves-in-30-years-findahome-sell-both-properties</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:09:39 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2586/two-house-moves-in-30-years-findahome-sell-both-properties</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agents-findahome-online-selling-houses-and-achieving-the-best-possible-price</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	At Findahome Online we take satisfaction in a job well done and doing our best for our clients. The online estate agents&rsquo; business model of selling a property is different from our high street counterparts. If our sellers choose our upfront payment options, they have paid for our service in full, regardless of how long the property takes to sell.

	This differs from the traditional and what we consider outdated model, where agents are paid on completion of the sale. How does the new online model benefit the consumer, you may ask?

	I will use a recent example of a property Findahome Online have sold which has recently completed. The seller has three high street agents out, prior to Tom Williams&rsquo; visit. All the agents were negative about the market. Due to low transactions and a poor economy, all the high street (pay at the end) estate agents who visited were very downbeat about the market. All three told our seller that they would get no more than &pound;215,000 for the property in question. Findahome&rsquo;s Tom Williams did not agree. His thoughts were that the high street agents, who are under a lot of pressure to sell properties, had undervalued the home. The property in question is in one of Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s best and most sought after areas. In addition, it has been extended and was in excellent condition throughout. Tom advised the vendors to expect around &pound;225,000 for their home. The property was instructed and Findahome Online agreed a sale within 6 days and had several interested parties. The property completed last week..

	I&rsquo;m delighted to report that we achieved &pound;10,000 more for the property than the seller was told by other estate agents and that we saved them over &pound;3,000 in commission.

	The moral of the story is that an online estate agent is paid straight away, thereforewe are prepared to try a price we think is achievable and not undersell properties for a quick sale. The seller of this property benefited from using Findahome Online in two ways- achieving a good selling price &nbsp;and saving on commission. This win-win situation for our clients is something that I am extremely pleased about.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2585/online-estate-agents-findahome-online-selling-houses-and-achieving-the-best-possible-price</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:08:37 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2585/online-estate-agents-findahome-online-selling-houses-and-achieving-the-best-possible-price</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-appoint-office-manager-steph-dunn-fox</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are delighted to announce the appointment of Steph Dunn-Fox as Office Manager based at their Staffordshire HQ. Steph has over five years estate agency experience and has previously worked with Findahome Online Partner Tom Williams.

	Tom and the rest of the team are looking forward to Steph joining what is becoming a growing business. Tom says, &ldquo;I am very happy that Steph has joined the firm. Having worked with her in the past, I am fully aware of what she can do and know she will be an asset to Findahome Online. She is experienced in sales and lettings and will be taking the NFOPP Technical award in Residential Sales in the next 6 months. I am a great believer in estate agency professionals gaining industry qualifications.&rdquo;

	Steph, who is local to the Staffordshire area, has excellent local knowledge of the housing market in Leek, Cheadle, Buxton, Stone, Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

	Findahome Online are a National Online Estate Agency based near Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2584/findahome-online-appoint-office-manager-steph-dunn-fox</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:17:04 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2584/findahome-online-appoint-office-manager-steph-dunn-fox</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-national-estate-agents-explore-myths-and-mystery-in-the-estate-agency-world</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As an estate agent, I do from time to time get a frosty reception when I visit people&rsquo;s home. This can often happen when I am visiting a property where the owner has had a bad experience with an agent. Fortunately, I am a likeable enough sort of chap who is offering a full estate agency service at a fraction of the cost of other estate agents. Everybody likes a bargain (me included) and the public have welcomed Findahome Online with open arms. We have saved our vendors thousands of pounds and will continue to do so. The charges incurred when you sell your home are amongst the biggest myths and mysteries in estate agency . Most estate agents charge a percentage of the sale price on completion. This method of charging sellers a percentage penalises those people with higher priced properties. This contributes to the public&rsquo;s loathing of estate agents, as many of them feel the charges are excessive. I am an estate agent and can confirm that it doesn&rsquo;t cost anymore to sell a property at &pound;500,000 than it does a property at &pound;100,000. The same work goes into it, yet the owner of the property at &pound;500,000 will pay at least &pound;4,000 more in fees when their property sells. Ouch!

	This is where the Online estate agent http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/estate-agentsoffers such great value for money. On Findahome Online&rsquo;s upfront selling options we do not discriminate against higher priced properties. We will list any property of any value on our &pound;399 and &pound;499 selling options. We do offer a No Sale &ndash; No Fee option and yes that is on a percentage of the sale, but that is the customers&rsquo; choice whether they take this option. The upfront options are of course, better value for money.

	Offering excellent value for money gives Findahome Online a great selection of properties in all price ranges.

	Another myth is that an estate agent has to be situated in the geographical area to sell or let a property. The internet has removed the need for estate agents to have an office in every town. People now go online, as opposed to trawling the high street. This change in how properties are found has resulted in the emergence of online estate agents entering the market. Findahome Online have sold a number of properties outside of our immediate geographical area without any trouble. The home hunter tends not to be particularly interested in which estate agent is selling the home they want to buy.

	Findahome Online offer national coverage http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/areas-uk-coverage

	As I always say, whatever the market conditions, if the property is offered at the right price, it will sell.

	If you have any doubts on using an online estate agent, take a look at the end of your road. Is there an estate agent on the corner of your road ? Probably not, therefore is your local agent, really local? Enough said.

	Findahome Online are traditional and professional estate agents now trading on the internet as a fully licensed online estate agents. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2583/findahome-online-national-estate-agents-explore-myths-and-mystery-in-the-estate-agency-world</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:51:11 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2583/findahome-online-national-estate-agents-explore-myths-and-mystery-in-the-estate-agency-world</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>plans-for-executive-homes-to-be-built-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I have read with interest in Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s local daily paper &lsquo;The Sentinel&rsquo; plans by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to free up land to developers with a view to building executive homes worth in excess of &pound;400,000. The council are hoping to attract &lsquo;High flying Executives&rsquo; who now live outside the city walls. Many of these people live in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Shropshire, Derbyshire or South Cheshire. The council is aware that many high flyers who work in the City of Stoke-on-Trent, don&rsquo;t actually live in the city.

	I personally believe that, in the current economic climate, this is a very ambitious bid by the city council. Will the business people and footballers the council are trying to attract risk selling their country homes to move into the middle of the city during what still is a very rocky economic climate? The only way I can see this working is, if the properties were heavily discounted, with numerous incentives. The infrastructure in the city would also have to be in place for this to be successful. Wine bars, Costa coffees and the like would have to spring up in the proposed developments&rsquo; areas.

	What&rsquo;s prompted Stoke-on-City Council to think about this idea, is the low number of properties that have sold in the last 12 months over &pound;400,000. Stoke-on-Trent has one of the lowest average house prices in the UK.

	I wish the council well with their proposed developments, although I have my doubts of how effectively the properties will sell if it comes off. If people purely bought properties and lived in the cheapest areas, London would be a ghost town and areas like Stoke-on-Trent, Burnley, Blackburn and Middlesbrough would be the largest popularized in the UK.

	I read in the press in the last couple of weeks that a property in Burnley had sold for only &pound;10,000.&nbsp; Yet in our capital city, garages can sell for six figure sums. The North &ndash; South divide is still very much in evidence. You only have to look at the controversy surrounding the BBC&rsquo;s Breakfast News move up to studios in Salford. Many of the newsreaders have pulled their faces at moving North to Manchester. If they were to move, they would certainly get a superior home for their money more so than if they were to stay in London.

	I, for one am happy and proud to live in the Stoke-on-Trent area. In the modern day when everything is so expensive, it&rsquo;s nice to get something (my home) and not have to pay through the nose for it!!

	Findahome Online are a National Online Internet&nbsp; Estate Agents based in the Stoke-on-Trent area of Staffordshire, UK. We cover all areas of England and Wales including Stoke-on-Trent, Burnley, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Salford, Manchester and London .
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2582/plans-for-executive-homes-to-be-built-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:23:08 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2582/plans-for-executive-homes-to-be-built-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>google-launches-social-networking-site-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Google, the world&rsquo;s biggest internet search engine, has launched its own social networking site &lsquo;Google +&rsquo;. This site has been set up in an attempt to rival Facebook and Twitter.

	You may wonder what this has to do with estate agency or online estate agency. Well, those who read my blog regularly or know me, will be aware that Findahome Online are already active on social media sites, Facebook and Twitter. We see where the future is and from what we can see, social media is here to stay and growing stronger month by month. The next time you watch a TV advert or see one in the newspaper, have a look to see if you can see a Facebook icon somewhere on the advert. 9 times out of 10 you will see one. It amuses me, when I have seen the most boring products and services with the Facebook logo . Do people go on and &lsquo;like&rsquo; these pages? They must do, or failing that,&nbsp; whichever social media expert the company has had in has convinced them that it will work.

	My belief is that, before too long, in the estate agency world we will see viewing and details enquiries coming via the social media sites. I think, given time, they will rival emails. They are only really emails anyway, just in a different format. Think about this, when was the last time you emailed a friend? I bet you can&rsquo;t remember! However, I bet you can recall the last time you talked to them on Facebook or sent them a tweet.

	I&rsquo;m sure you won&rsquo;t be surprised to hear that Findahome Online have already put their name down to become a member of Google +. We look forward to connecting with customers on there. You never know, we may even sell a property on one of these sites very soon&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;.

	Findahome Online are a sociable local and national Online estate and letting agency who enjoy networking on social media websites.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2581/google-launches-social-networking-site-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:21:44 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2581/google-launches-social-networking-site-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>qr-codes-on-estate-agents-for-sale-signs-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I have seen a lot in the industry press recently in relation to QR codes on estate agents&rsquo; For Sale and To Let boards.

	&lsquo;What is a QR code?&rsquo; you may be asking yourself. Up until a few weeks ago, I would have been saying exactly the same thing.

	QR codes are bar codes that can be scanned by smart phones (in layman&rsquo;s terms, a smart phone user effectively photographs the code and then is given information on the product). They are used in shops by customers, scanning bar codes, and then the smart phone comes up with information telling the user about the product. In a shop environment, I believe the smart phone will inform the user if there is a similar product for sale nearby for comparison.

	This is all pretty new to me. I now have an ipad 2, which I am going to use to test these QR codes out.

	What, you may ask, do these codes offer estate agents? Well, have you ever seen a For Sale or To Let board and wanted information on the property in question? Many people drive around looking for properties on a Sunday. The majority of estate agents are closed on Sundays. We certainly are at Findhome Online. We&rsquo;ve got to have one day off a week! A house hunter may also see a board at night when the agent is closed. So what is the solution?&nbsp; How does the home hunter get further information on the property they have seen, without writing down the address and looking it up? Enter QR Codes. It&rsquo;s quite straightforward - a QR code is attached to the For Sale sign. The ones I have seen so far advertised are by way of stickers which are stuck onto the board. Any users of smart phones or tablets are able to scan the QR code and get instant property details and photographs of the property. As well as exposing the property, this is also good for estate agents marketing their business.

	QR codes may not be everyone&rsquo;s cup of tea in our industry. It will take a while for it to take off and for the public to realise what the bar codes are for!

	The younger iphone generation will, I&rsquo;m sure, be the greatest users of QR codes.

	Findahome Online are looking at QR codes at the moment and will trial some in the near future.

	Findahome Online are committed to being at the forefront of innovation in the online estate agency world and always looking for new ideas to make property searching easier for our clients.

	If you have read this and see a bar code on an estate agents&rsquo; For Sale or To Let board, at least you will now have an idea what it is. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2580/qr-codes-on-estate-agents-for-sale-signs-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:29:14 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2580/qr-codes-on-estate-agents-for-sale-signs-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-national-online-estate-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are excited to be visiting a property in Devon this weekend to offer our professional services of valuation, online marketing and sales with our usual emphasis on customer care.

	Sellers see the benefit of the low cost online estate agency revolution that is sweeping the UK. With all Findahome Online&rsquo;s properties advertised on top property websites: Rightmove, Findaproperty.com and Primelocation, we offer full market exposure, the same as any agent in any area. In addition to standard advertising on the property websites, Findahome Online also offer fantastic visual selling tools: Virtual Tours and Floorplans.

	As a national online estate agent, we will travel anywhere in England and Wales, unlike some internet estate agents who don&rsquo;t visit the property. All Findahome Online&rsquo;s properties are visited by our qualified partner, Tom Williams. He is our most experienced professionally trained valuer. &nbsp;Wherever your property is situated, we want to sell your home.

	Call Findahome Online today for your free online sales valuation.

	Findahome Online are an internet estate agent based near Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme in the Midlands. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2579/findahome-online-national-online-estate-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:28:08 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2579/findahome-online-national-online-estate-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>internet-estate-agents-successfully-selling-houses-previously-advertised-privately</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online is selling good numbers of properties in what it still a reasonably difficult market. Pleasingly, around half of Findahome Online&rsquo;s sales pipeline (current sales going through at the moment) is home sellers who have tried to sell privately, before instructing Internet estate agent, Findahome Online to sell their home. Eighty percent of these sellers, have tried the traditional route of&nbsp; private adverts in the local paper.

	The advantage of using an internet estate agent, like Findahome Online of Stoke-on-Trent, is that in addition to offering all the services you would expect from an estate agent, we also advertise in the local paper as well as on top property websites Rightmove, Findaproperty.com and Primelocation. Findahome Online&rsquo;s average customer saves at least &pound;2,000 when their property sells.

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s success at selling properties, which would have been private sales, illustrates how effective Online Estate Agency is.

	Only this week, we have taken a call from a vendor, for whom we have just sold two properties, informing us that a relative of hers is now thinking of selling a property. Saving people money, doing a good job and getting recommendations is what the staff at Findahome Online thrive on.

	We are Staffordshire&rsquo;s, Cheshire&rsquo;s and Derbyshire&rsquo;s best kept secret. If you live in any of these counties, please give us a ring and let us sell your home http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/estate-agents

	or let your home http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/letting-agency

	In fact, please give us a call wherever you are in England and Wales as we cover all areas.

	http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/areas-uk-coverage

	&nbsp;

	Estate agency is changing like many things in the world today, are you changing with it?? We are! ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2578/internet-estate-agents-successfully-selling-houses-previously-advertised-privately</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:59:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2578/internet-estate-agents-successfully-selling-houses-previously-advertised-privately</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>facebook-and-twitter-vital-sales-areas-for-modern-business</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are massive social media fans and realise the importance that social media has on our business. Anyone who reads our blogs regularly will know that we have gained new business from Facebook.

	Social media is growing in popularity. Businesses need to make their social media interesting. With this in mind, Findahome Online are looking at ways to improve their facebook page. In coming weeks, we are going to add some interesting snippets of news on the housing market and also brighten the page up and include other things, not just new properties.

	Findahome Online internet estate and letting agents listen to our customers and always welcome new ideas. If you have a suggestion for our facebook page, please contact Tom Willams, either by email tomwilliams@findahomeonline.co.ukor tweet him on twitter; @blogfindahome

	Findahome Online are modern, innovative online estate and letting agents who have embraced new technology and social media websites Facebook and Twitter. We can be found on facebook here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Findahome-Online-Estate-and-Letting-Agents/119525511406569?ref=tsLike our page today!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2577/facebook-and-twitter-vital-sales-areas-for-modern-business</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:20:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2577/facebook-and-twitter-vital-sales-areas-for-modern-business</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-business-companies-diversify-into-the-online-world</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	&nbsp;

	As an Online estate agency, http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/need no convincing that consumers in all walks of life are embracing companies&rsquo; online services. In the modern day that we find ourselves in, people are working longer hours than ever.

	Everybody wants things instantly and patience is in short supply. Companies that have switched parts of their business to online are reaping the rewards. Findahome Online bank with one of the leading high street banks which offers an excellent online service. Apart from paying cheques into the bank, Findahome Online have no reason to visit the bank. This works well for us and also benefits the bank and keeps their staffing levels down. If customers like Findahome Online are able to bank online, we are not having to visit the local branch, wasting our time. Online banking is a vital tool for letting agents too. Findahome Online are able to use this and pay our Landlords promptly and with ease. I&rsquo;m not surprised that banks have invested heavily in online banking for the reasons stated above. Now the internet is a safer place to be, I am very much in favour of it. There will always be a place for the high street bank of course, as you have to pay your money in somewhere. What I think we will see a shift towards in the coming years is fewer staff in branches, as more folk move towards gaining information on the internet. When I visit the branch, I often smile when I see staff being pestered by customers asking the most simple of questions, information which they could get on the bank&rsquo;s internet site.

	Another industry doing well trading in the online world is fashion. Pockets designer clothes shop with stores in Stoke-on-Trent, Nantwich and Newcastle-under-Lyme &nbsp;is doing particularly well selling its clothes online. Their website is excellent and showcases all its clothes in an easy to use and highly visible format. Similar to online estate agency, fashion is something that I can see growing in the coming years, mainly due to the fact that you can see the product you want instantly and make an informed choice of whether it is suitable or not. Properties or items of clothes are generally either liked straight away or dismissed straight away. I visit the Pockets website like some people look at property websites. I speak to clients who go onto Rightmove and other property websites on a daily basis. There is even a poster on social media website Twitter called @rightmove addict, such is the pulling power of these websites. I would not call myself a clothes shop website addict, but I do go on rather a lot! This though, if Pockets were aware, is exactly what they would want - regular visitors going onto their website. I certainly go onto their website more than I ever visit their stores.

	It would be interesting to see what the breakdown is from the stores trading on the high street compared with their online operations.

	Another sector that has diversified is Yellow Pages. They have their own website where people can find telephone numbers and businesses. Interestingly, as the internet has grown, I have seen Yellow Pages and phone books delivered to my home, shrink in size over time. Even though they have a dedicated web site, I will watch with interest how they progress in the future as I do fear for them, especially as most people just &ldquo;google&rdquo; a business or telephone number these days. Again, this comes back to ease for the modern person. Why go onto one website for the information, when you can just go straight onto google. Property portal websites are good exponents of this. You only have to look at Rightmove, the UK&rsquo;s number one property website http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/rightmove-premium-listing&nbsp;They have all the UK&rsquo;s leading estate agents listing on their website. The home hunter need look no further.

	Findahome Online estate and letting agents of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire have diversified into trading as an internet estate agent. When Findahome Online launched, we toyed with the idea of having a high street office, joining the other estate agents locally and making up the numbers. We decided against this as we didn&rsquo;t see the point in having high street premises. We wanted to offer our clients something different whilst, most importantly, saving them money. Findahome Online was born and hasn&rsquo;t looked back. We are the leading online estate and letting agents in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheadle and Leek. As a national online estate agents we will cover all areas of England and Wales as we are not tied to any particular High Street! Findahome Online are proud to be an internet estate agents at the very front of the online estate agency revolution.

	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2576/online-business-companies-diversify-into-the-online-world</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:19:54 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2576/online-business-companies-diversify-into-the-online-world</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>how-not-to-conduct-an-accompanied-house-viewing-findahome-onlines-tom-williams-views-a-house-with-his-friend</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	One of my friends is in the process of moving house. He has naturally used Findahome Online to sell his property. We have agreed a sale on it, which is going through. He and his wife have found another property which is empty. A couple of weeks ago, my friend asked me if I would accompany him to have a look at his new property. He wanted to run a few things past me, including his ideas for improving the property.

	We met one lunch time. My friend had driven a considerable way to get to the appointment and only had an hour. We met the agent who was accompanying the viewing. Now, if we look at the title of this blog, it states how not to conduct an accompanied viewing. The estate agent in question really should take note. From start to finish, all the agent did was rabbit on about what he would do to the property. He followed us around every room and did not give us chance to discuss anything. There was nothing we could have stolen in the property as my friend is the buyer and I had a suit on!

	Had I been conducting the accompanied viewing, I would have taken a much different approach. Here are my top tips when accompanying a viewing. This can apply to an estate agent or a home seller:

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

	
		Only walk round every room with viewers if there are valuables in the property
	
		Talk to the viewer but don&rsquo;t hard sell the property
	
		Be polite, give the viewers space
	
		Remember properties sell themselves
	
		The best sales person in the world will not talk someone into buying &nbsp;a property


	&nbsp;

	For more information, please see Findahome Online&rsquo;s selling tips

	http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2500/guide-to-selling-your-home

	&nbsp;

	Accompanying a viewing is not an art. It just takes common sense and courtesy.

	My friend and I met up again recently and had a laugh about our experience. We spent over half an hour in the property he is buying and didn&rsquo;t learn a thing!

	Anyone who knows me, will tell you I can talk a bit. However, even I draw the line at chewing someone&rsquo;s ear off on an accompanied viewing!

	Sometimes, silence is golden&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;..
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2575/how-not-to-conduct-an-accompanied-house-viewing-findahome-onlines-tom-williams-views-a-house-with-his-friend</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:29:04 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2575/how-not-to-conduct-an-accompanied-house-viewing-findahome-onlines-tom-williams-views-a-house-with-his-friend</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>technology-evolving-in-the-estate-agency-world-findahome-online-of-stoke-on-trent-look-at-the-changes</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	New technology has been on the agenda at&nbsp; Findahome Online&nbsp; team this week as they look at new ways of working. The particular device that is being looked at it is the Apple IPad 2. This &lsquo;Tablet&rsquo; (hand held laptop) should be what every estate agent is using over the next twelve months. It is an ideal opportunity for an estate agent to, finally, ditch the clip board. Theoretically, everything when visiting a property can be done using the Ipad. In Findahome&rsquo;s view the only things that you would still need to take to an appointment, are the camera and laser measuring device. The IPad is an amazing piece of kit, but to our knowledge cannot measure rooms yet!

	As a forward-thinking, modern online estate agent, Findahome Online feel compelled to invest in an Ipad, for the things it can offer, and also for our image as an online estate agency. Quite simply, our customers expect to us have one. Findahome Online will save money using an Ipad. We will now be able to showcase our properties on the IPad and no longer have to print off comparable properties to show home sellers. We will save paper, save money and do our bit for the environment. Findahome Online get most properties onto the market within 24 hours after instruction. This should speed up further, due to the Ipad as Findahome Online&rsquo;s Tom Williams will input information&nbsp; on the spot. We will keep all our blog readers posted on how the use of the Ipad 2 goes.

	This week has also seen Findahome Online making a successful Skype (video call) to Australia to a potential home seller. It went really well. Our customer could quite easily have been in the next road and not on the other side of the world! The fantastic thing about Skype is that it&rsquo;s free to use!

	We have moved on a long way since Tom Williams started as a Sales Negotiator in an Estate Agents in Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1997. Tom recalls how differently things were done then. &ldquo;The office I worked in had no computers. We had a secretary who typed all the sales details and all our work was done on paper. We took photographs on a traditional camera and sent the films off to be processed. They would then come back to the office a few days later and I would stick the mini photographs onto the sales details. You were pretty much stuck in those days, if you had taken a poor photograph. Thankfully, nowadays you can re-take a photograph with ease using a digital camera. We did not have that luxury then.

	I am a great fan of the new technology. I think it&rsquo;s brilliant that we are now using computers, literally walking around with a PC in our hands. In 1997, I bought my first mobile phone, which was about the size of an Ipad. This was long before one could even text on mobiles. I don&rsquo;t think I would have believed you then if you had told me that, in 14 years&rsquo; time, I would be carrying a PC around in my hand!&rdquo;

	Findahome Online are a modern, innovative national online estate agency situated near to Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2574/technology-evolving-in-the-estate-agency-world-findahome-online-of-stoke-on-trent-look-at-the-changes</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:28:47 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2574/technology-evolving-in-the-estate-agency-world-findahome-online-of-stoke-on-trent-look-at-the-changes</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-onlines-tom-williams-visits-rightmove</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	On Friday 10thJune 2011, Findahome Online&rsquo;s Tom Williams visited Rightmove&rsquo;s Milton Keynes office. Rightmove account manager Lisa Gray had arranged for Tom to visit so that members of the Rightmove team could get an open and honest insight into how a modern online estate agent works. Tom was invited in particularly due to the fact that Findahome Online as a company are very pro Rightmove and promote its services alongside their own business. Rightmove account managers can often get a frosty reception from some estate agents. These estate agents resent Rightmove and their huge influence on the housing market and how properties are marketed. In Tom&rsquo;s own words, he will now tell us all about his afternoon at Rightmove HQ:

	&ldquo;As expected, Rightmove are based in plush offices on the outskirts of Milton Keynes Town Centre. In a modern building, they take up the entire 3rd floor. When I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by my account manager Lisa Gray and quickly put at ease. Her colleagues were also equally friendly. On first impressions, it looked a nice place to work, with a friendly team in place, all working towards a common goal. After a quick chat with everyone, we then went into one of their meeting rooms. I talked to the account managers about my business and previous experience in the industry. The floor was opened and the question and answer session started. This lasted for around 3 hours, with all parties including myself having learnt a great deal. I found the Rightmove team to be knowledgeable, enthusiastic and willing to listen. They were all genuinely keen to find out what makes a modern agent tick and how they can help their member agents, in what remains a difficult housing market. I was particularly impressed with their knowledge of what&rsquo;s going on in the market place.

	I found it interesting, when they talked about how they have to deal with estate agents who have not bought into Rightmove. These are the estate agents I have talked about previously who are members on the site, but are only there because they feel they have to. They continually complain about the prices Rightmove charge and then don&rsquo;t use all the extras Rightmove provide, such as the reports which are only available to member agents. I struggle to understand the estate agents who are anti &ndash; Rightmove, especially as many of these estate agents still advertise in their local papers. This form of advertising is far less effective and, if you are going into the local paper weekly, in most cases, much more expensive.

	Ultimately, your customers decide where they want their property marketing. 9 times out of 10, estate agency customers want to see their property on Rightmove. As an estate agent, you have to go with the tide and not fight against it. I am a firm believer that with Rightmove you pay for what you get. It is hugely successful and where the consumer looks for properties. If I am looking at properties, there is only one site I use &ndash; Rightmove, of course!

	I was absolutely honoured to have been invited in to see the Rightmove team. One of the things that pleased the most about being asked to go in, is that Rightmove treat all their customers in the same way. I&rsquo;m not the chief executive of a huge corporate estate agency, I am a partner in an Online estate agency in Stoke-on-Trent, yet when I call Rightmove, I am treated no differently than If I was CEO of a big corporate. Rightmove&nbsp; is the biggest player in the UK property industry today. As an online estate agency, membership of the site is crucial to us and gives us the opportunity to compete against the bigger estate agents who also use the site.

	I will be writing to Rightmove to thank them for inviting me in to see them. The good impression I had&nbsp; of them, prior to going in, has gone up another couple of notches. since I met the staff. With the enthusiasm, friendliness and professionalism, I&rsquo;ve seen it is no wonder that they are the UKs number 1 property website.

	Findahome Online are an independent internet estate agents based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Findahome Online are proud member agents on Rightmove.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2573/findahome-onlines-tom-williams-visits-rightmove</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:45:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2573/findahome-onlines-tom-williams-visits-rightmove</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-onlines-sellers-going-the-extra-mile-to-get-a-sale</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online build excellent relationships with their clients. We are a friendly bunch and like to get to know our clients. One of our sellers had us doubled up with laughter on Monday. This particularly cheered up Tom Williams after his missed train escapade. Our sellers are a lovely couple, who have an exceptionally well presented property. In addition, their garden is something they also take great pride in. Unfortunately, when you are selling your property you are reliant on your neighbours looking after their properties and gardens. If they don&rsquo;t, this can reflect badly on your house.

	The occupants of a neighbouring property are not quite as house proud as our sellers. Their garden is in need of weeding. Prior to a recent viewing, our seller not wanting to put a potential purchaser off, took it upon herself to get up at 5am and weed the next door neighbours&rsquo; garden! The neighbours would then have woken to a fully weeded garden. The Findahome Online team thought this was brilliant. Our seller was &ldquo;thinking out of the box&rdquo; and maximising their selling potential. Our seller also employed some other excellent selling tactics. We are not going to divulge these, as it may give the game away as to who it is!

	In a difficult market, it is important to do whatever it takes to get a sale and that may include weeding someone else&rsquo;s garden!

	For tips on how to selling your house see our website and follow this link http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2500/guide-to-selling-your-home
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2572/findahome-onlines-sellers-going-the-extra-mile-to-get-a-sale</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:15:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2572/findahome-onlines-sellers-going-the-extra-mile-to-get-a-sale</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>what-a-plonker-findahome-onlines-tom-williams-misses-the-train</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Anyone who reads Findahome&rsquo;s blogs will know that Partner Tom Williams was due to go into Rightmove&rsquo;s HQ in Milton Keynes for a meeting. To say the Findahome Online team were excited about this is an understatement, as we saw this is as a real honour to be asked in to do a question and answer session with Rightmove.

	Tom was due there on Monday morning. All was going well. He had arrived in good time at Stoke-on-Trent railway station. He checked the train time. The Milton Keynes train was on time. Tom checked the platform on the screen and sat himself down on the appropriate platform, or so he thought! Time went by and a Manchester train appeared, Tom didn&rsquo;t like the look of this. He was alarmed and then descended into a John Cleese style panic. Those who have seen the 1980s film Clockwise will know what I am saying! After consulting a platform attendant, the penny finally dropped with Tom. He had missed his train as he had been sitting on the wrong platform. When checking the screen at Stoke-on-Trent station he had been looking at the arrivals screen and not the departures screen!

	Apologies to Rightmove. Fortunately, they did see the funny side and are making arrangements for Tom to go again. As for Tom, he won&rsquo;t make that mistake again. &pound;70 in train fares down and feeling a right &ldquo;Plonker&rdquo;!!

	Findahome Online are Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s Online Estate and Letting Agents.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2571/what-a-plonker-findahome-onlines-tom-williams-misses-the-train</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:14:18 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2571/what-a-plonker-findahome-onlines-tom-williams-misses-the-train</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-onlines-tom-williams-invited-to-rightmove-hq-for-a-meeting</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are delighted to announce that Partner Tom Williams has been asked to go to Rightmove&rsquo;s, the UK&rsquo;s Number 1 property website, headquarters in Milton Keynes. Tom will sit down with members of the Rightmove team who have got a question and answer session for him.

	Tom is honoured to have been asked to visit Rightmove. He says &ldquo;I&rsquo;m over the moon that Rightmove have asked me to go down to Milton Keynes to see them. Findahome Online are huge Rightmove fans and fully support them and push their brand in association with our own.&rdquo; http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/page/rightmove-premium-listing

	The link above&nbsp;is taken from our website and is evidence of Findahome Online&rsquo;s and Rightmove&rsquo;s extensive marketing. Rightmove is the most visited property website in this country. If estate agents are not pushing it and using it to their advantage, then they are missing out.&rdquo;

	Once Tom Williams has visited Rightmove he will update us all on http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog. Watch this space............
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2570/findahome-onlines-tom-williams-invited-to-rightmove-hq-for-a-meeting</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:56:26 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2570/findahome-onlines-tom-williams-invited-to-rightmove-hq-for-a-meeting</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>new-proposed-railway-links-cause-misery-for-homeowners-the-churnet-valley-oakamoor-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	There was an article in last week&rsquo;s Sunday papers, highlighting the misery that some home owners are experiencing in the Great Missenden area of Buckinghamshire. A very affluent area within easy reach of London, house prices here are normally shielded from any turbulence in the market.&nbsp; Sadly, no more! The reason for this is the proposed route of the HS2 (The high speed rail line form Birmingham and the North to London Euston). If the plans are approved, work will begin in 2017. Whilst I am in favour of change, and much needed improvements to the transport network in the UK, it is impossible not to feel sympathy for those affected. To have your main asset lose thousands of pounds is a very bitter pill to swallow. Especially, if when you purchased the property, this would only ever have been a bad dream!

	This subject is poignant for Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents, as in our area there is something similar happening.. Findahome Online are based in the Staffordshire Mooorlands, close to the Alton Towers theme park. Anyone who has ever been to Alton Towers will know that it is only accessible by car or bus. There is no direct rail link, the closest railway station is Stoke-on-Trent. If you were to travel by train , you would therefore have to take a bus to the theme park. This is a long, tiresome journey. The bus and car journeys to the park are&nbsp; taking their toll on the narrow country lanes in the local area.

	Quite simply, the park has grown hugely over the years and&nbsp; the necessary improvements to &nbsp;the road infrastructure have not been made. The pretty village of Alton resembles a car park in the mornings and afternoons when people are travelling to and from the park. Villagers in Alton have long petitioned for a new road to be built to ease congestion in their village. Oakamoor is another village in the Moorlands that has problems with congestion at peak times. The residents here are &ldquo;up in arms&rdquo; at the moment as there are proposals to re- use an old railway line and make a direct link from Stoke-on-Trent railway station to the Alton Towers Resort. This link will pass directly through the beautiful Churnet Valley village of Oakamoor. The residents of Oakamoor are fearful that this will affect their house prices and the tranquility of the village. Oakamoor has been without a railway line for around 50 years, since the widespread closures of branch lines in the 1960s. It&rsquo;s a &ldquo;no win&rdquo; situation for this part of the Staffordshire Moorlands. If the rail link from Stoke-on-Trent is put in, the people of Alton will be delighted as this reduce the traffic through the village. However, it will then leave the people of the village of Oakamoor unhappy as the new railway line passes directly through their once peaceful village.

	AltonTowers is a fantastic theme park and employs a good number of people from the local area in Staffordshire. Its success is vital for the local economy. It has grown from its humble beginnings as a stately home and gardens into one of the UK&rsquo;s leading theme parks. The problem is the infrastructure around the park is not in place to cope with demand. Findahome Online&rsquo;s view is that the rail link will be introduced, as the park&rsquo;s popularity is growing year on year.

	Findahome Online are Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire&rsquo;s leading Online Estate and Letting Agents. We cover Alton and Oakamoor in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2569/new-proposed-railway-links-cause-misery-for-homeowners-the-churnet-valley-oakamoor-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 22 May 2011 18:44:11 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2569/new-proposed-railway-links-cause-misery-for-homeowners-the-churnet-valley-oakamoor-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-agreeing-sales-and-saving-vendors-money</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online have agreed a sale this week on a property in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent which we listed only last week. Our vendor opted for Findahome Online&rsquo;s option 2, which is a selling fee of only &pound;399.

	In addition to having Findahome Online in to appraise the property, our vendor also had a number of High Street agents in to look at the property. One of these estate agents wanted to charge our vendor 2% of the final sale price plus vat. Their total fee would have been a staggering &pound;2,808 including vat. When the property sale completes, our vendor will have saved a whopping &pound;2,409 by using Findahome Online&rsquo;s services. The buyers of this property found it online at [you&rsquo;ve guessed!] Rightmove, the UK&rsquo;s number 1 website.

	Online estate agency works and is a cost effective way to sell or let your home. Call Findahome Online today to see how we can sell your property and save you money.

	Findahome Online are a low cost online estate agent situated in the Stoke-on-Trent area of Staffordshire. We require more properties in all areas including Trentham in Stoke-on-Trent.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2568/findahome-online-agreeing-sales-and-saving-vendors-money</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2011 12:17:12 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2568/findahome-online-agreeing-sales-and-saving-vendors-money</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-record-website-visitors</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are pleased to announce that our website had a record number of visitors yesterday. This is further evidence that the Spring market is in full flow. Findahome Online have had an excellent couple of weeks with a good number of new sales instructions, which has resulted in successful sales.

	The high number of visitors going onto www.findahomeonline.co.uk&nbsp;on a daily basis is far greater than we would be seeing coming through the door if we were on the local high street. The internet is the place of choice for the modern day home hunter. Online estate agency is revolutionising the way people search for and buy homes. Findahome Online are at the forefront of this revolution. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2567/findahome-online-record-website-visitors</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2011 11:31:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2567/findahome-online-record-website-visitors</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-of-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-licensed-estate-agent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are pleased to announce that they are now a fully licensed estate agent. The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is committed to providing the highest standards of residential estate agency services though its licensed agents. They have introduced licensing for members, as the government have failed to bring in compulsory licensing for the UK&rsquo;s estate agents. Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents believe all agents should be licensed to protect the consumer. Findahome Online partner Tom Williams is delighted to have joined the scheme.He believes licensing should be mandatory for anyone practising as an estate agent. He says &ldquo;Something needs to be done to regulate the industry as anyone can set up as an estate agent in this country. I don&rsquo;t think this is right, as estate agents are often dealing with a person&rsquo;s main asset; their property. By using a licensed NAEA agent the consumer is guaranteed to be consulting with a qualified and trained agent who can give professional up to date advice and guidance. They will also be dealing with an agent who follows the Code of Practice and Rules of Conduct laid down by their professional body and has Professional Indemnity Insurance. Should anything go wrong, the consumer has a route for redress.

	I would like to see the scheme heavily publicised so that consumers demand to use an NAEA Licensed Estate Agent. Many consumers are unaware that all estate and letting agents should subscribe to the Ombudsman Scheme. I know of estate agents who are not members of any scheme. This is something that needs addressing in order to protect the consumer. I look forward to seeing what impact the licensing makes.&rdquo;

	Findahome Online are a fully licensed NAEA Online Estate and Letting Agents situated near to Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents are also regulated by the Ombudsman Scheme for Sales and Lettings.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2566/findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-of-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-licensed-estate-agent</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2011 20:10:21 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2566/findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-of-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-licensed-estate-agent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>stoke-city-fa-cup-2011-a-gallant-effort-putting-stoke-on-the-map-and-in-the-news</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Stoke City may have lost in the FA Cup Final on Saturday, but the players and Tony Pulis deserve great credit for reaching the final and putting Stoke-on-Trent back in the news. Although Stoke lost narrowly to Man City, just getting to the final will have given the local economy a boost. I hope Stoke&rsquo;s Cup run brings some much needed investment to the area.

	David Cameron, the Prime Minster visited the area in April. Stoke-on-Trent has not had a Prime Minster visit since Margaret Thatcher in 1980. Whether Stoke City&rsquo;s success prompted Mr Cameron to visit, who knows? When he visited he took a tour of&nbsp; the Portmeirion Pottery Factory. Here, he answered some very difficult questions put to him by our local newspaper The Sentinel. They quizzed him on issues affecting Stoke-on-Trent and its people. Fair play to The Sentinel, they asked him questions that he would probably rather not have been asked. Some questions were not answered.

	It was good to see that he visited one of the few remaining pottery factories. I&rsquo;m sure it would have been a different story in 1980 when Mrs Thatcher visited.This was before China and other countries started producing our pottery!!

	I hope &lsquo;the Potters&rsquo; success impacts on the City as a whole. Pleasingly, I read in the Sentinel last week that Housing Minister Grant Shapps has pledged money to Stoke-on-Trent to complete the housing regeneration that Renew started. In addition to Stoke-on-Trent, other &lsquo;so called&rsquo; deprived areas will also benefit from this government money. They are Burnley and Blackburn in East Lancashire, Hull in Humberside and Middlesbrough in the North East.

	Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s success as a city is vital to all of us.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2565/stoke-city-fa-cup-2011-a-gallant-effort-putting-stoke-on-the-map-and-in-the-news</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2011 20:09:12 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2565/stoke-city-fa-cup-2011-a-gallant-effort-putting-stoke-on-the-map-and-in-the-news</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>quick-sale-estate-agents-a-recent-phenomenon-or-just-lazy-estate-agency</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Since the credit crunch began in 2008, we have seen so called &lsquo;quick sale&rsquo; estate agents enter the market.

	Properties offered for sale by these companies are offered for sale in most UK towns and cities. Firstly, so we are all clear, I will tell you how these &lsquo;quick sale&rsquo; agents operate and then will express my thoughts on them.

	A &lsquo;quick sale&rsquo; estate agent is generally an online estate agent who does not have a high street premises. Like Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents, they work from a central location. Now unlike Findahome Online, who operate like a traditional estate agent, these companies appraise their properties and give clients a valuation below market value. Their justification behind this is that they will attract more buyers and achieve a quick sale. When &lsquo;quick sale&rsquo; estate agents advertise their houses on Rightmove and the like, they draw attention to the fact that the property is marketed under value.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents&rsquo; view of &lsquo;quick sale&rsquo; agents and their practices:

	As a traditional estate agency, it doesn&rsquo;t sit well with us that these companies go out &nbsp;purposely with the intention of offering a valuation that is far lower than the market value. Yes, pricing is key in this market in order to sell. But, any estate agent can appraise and offer to the market a client&rsquo;s property under the market value with a view to getting a quick sale.

	An estate agent&rsquo;s job should be always to get the best possible price for their vendor &ndash; the fee payer.

	One other thing to bear in mind, is that even if the property is placed under the market value is does not guarantee a sale will be achieved quickly. I know of properties, local to Findahome Online in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, that are still on the market with these so called &lsquo;quick sale&rsquo; agents and have been so for a considerable time! Hardly, a quick sale!

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents&rsquo; advice is to get your estate agent of choice&nbsp;out. If you are wanting a quick sale, tell them and they will appraise your property accordingly. However, if you are wanting a quick sale, good service and to save a considerable amount of money, please give an online estate agent like Findahome Online a call.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents are internet estate agents based near Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2564/quick-sale-estate-agents-a-recent-phenomenon-or-just-lazy-estate-agency</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 09:22:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2564/quick-sale-estate-agents-a-recent-phenomenon-or-just-lazy-estate-agency</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-selling-houses-30-years-ago</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents are going this week to value a property, where the seller has lived &nbsp;for the last 30 years. When booking the valuation, Findahome Online&rsquo;s Tom Williams asked the seller how he had heard of us. He replied that he found us on the internet on a Google search. He also said that he thinks Findahome sold his last property in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent some 30 years ago. In those days Findahome was based on Market Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. It would make a very nice story if Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents are instructed to sell this family&rsquo;s property, 30 years after we sold their last house!

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s Partners are delighted that people in the Stoke-on-Trent area remember the Findahome name.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents are a traditional estate agent now trading in the virtual world. They offer a full estate agency service at a fraction of the cost of their high street competitors.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2563/findahome-selling-houses-30-years-ago</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 07:07:20 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2563/findahome-selling-houses-30-years-ago</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>how-your-postcode-affects-your-house-price</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The area where Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents is based is called the Staffordshire Moorlands. Just outside Stoke-on-Trent and within easy reach of the Peak District, the local council has had a brainwave in recent weeks and have suggested changing the name from the &lsquo;Moorlands&rsquo; to the Staffordshire Peak District. I can see where they are coming from. They believe that a change in name could result in more tourists visiting the area and possibly new businesses being attracted. I suppose it could also attract home hunters to the area. The Staffordshire Moorlands really is one of the Midlands&rsquo; best kept secrets. Properties are considerably cheaper than in other surrounding towns and cities.

	This proposed name change prompted me to write this blog, as there can be big differences in average house prices when you are looking at Findahome Online Estate Agency&rsquo;s surrounding areas. In this modern day, house price statistics are easily available online. The data I have collected is from the Mouse Price website.

	The average house price in the UK is currently (March 2011) &pound;162,912 according to the Halifax house price index.

	Average house prices are as follows for areas close to Findahome Online Estate Agents and areas covered by Findahome: (All average prices taken from the last 3 months)

	Ashbourne, Derbyshire - &pound;229,977

	Birmingham B1, West Midlands - &pound;206,290

	Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent - &pound;154,244

	Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands - &pound;142,644

	Manchester M16, North West - &pound;153,807

	Nantwich, Cheshire - &pound;212,275

	Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire - &pound;74,848

	Stone, Staffordshire - &pound;184,919

	&nbsp;

	Some varying prices there. Prices double when you come out of the Stoke-on-Trent postal code and go into the Moorlands. The average price is higher again when you look at Ashbourne and Nantwich. As both these towns have average prices over &pound;200,000, they are above the national average and costly places to live. Manchester and Birmingham are around the levels I was expecting as both are major cities.

	In my last estate agency post, I managed both the Ashbourne and Cheadle offices of the company I was working for. It fascinated me that 15 miles up the road in Ashbourne properties were so much more expensive. I had to keep my wits about me, in order that I didn&rsquo;t get my valuations wrong. Ashbourne is a lovely town, which is commutable to Derby. With easy access to the Peak district, house prices have always been high and will remain so. I&rsquo;m surprised by Leek&rsquo;s average price, which is slightly lower than Cheadle&rsquo;s. It was my impression that buying a home in Leek was generally more expensive than in Cheadle.

	Stone in Staffordshire and Nantwich in Cheshire are similar historic market towns. Both are above the average UK price and nice places to live.

	So many factors dictate why some places are more expensive to live in than others- schools, access to the motorway, employment, crime rates - the list is endless. Everyone has a different reason for wanting to move into an area.

	I hope, if there is a change of name for the Staffordshire Moorlands, that the new name will bring prosperity to the area.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents will keep an eye on average prices in the above areas. It would be good to see investment in Stoke-on-Trent. This would hopefully result in Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s average price coming more in line with some of the other areas.

	When money is spent and jobs created, it is proven to raise the average house price. The area in London, close to where the Olympics are going to be held, is already reaping the benefits.

	Buyers will continue to purchase property in their chosen areas, regardless of cost. They always seem to find the money somehow for their dream home. There will also still be a small minority who compromise on their chosen area and move to another area to get better value for money.

	Findahome Online Estate Agents of Stoke-on-Trent sell properties online in all of the above areas which are: Ashbourne, Birmingham, Cheadle, Leek, Manchester, Nantwich, Stoke-on-Trent and Stone.

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2562/how-your-postcode-affects-your-house-price</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 07:04:30 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2562/how-your-postcode-affects-your-house-price</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>rightmove-competition-findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-entry</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Rightmove, the UK&rsquo;s leading property website, is currently running a competition on Facebook. They are giving away five I-pads to the successful entrants. The competition is pretty straightforward. Rightmove is looking for ideas that it can employ from its Facebook fans.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents&rsquo; Partner, Tom Williams, has submitted his idea. He has suggested that Rightmove launches a television channel on Sky TV. We asked Tom where this idea had come from.

	&ldquo;It is something that I have thought about for a while. With Rightmove&rsquo;s huge online presence and popularity, I feel a TV channel dedicated to them would be a great success. In addition it would save some money on advertising as they would have their very own TV channel, which would be available at all times to its viewers. The channel could feature properties and interviews could be conducted with estate agents and property sellers. I believe Rightmove has got the financial backing to create a TV channel, should they want to pursue it. With the rapid speed at which new technology is evolving, my view is that it won&rsquo;t be too long in the future before we are surfing the internet through our televisions. This will yet again change the way we search for property.&rdquo;

	Tom&rsquo;s idea has been sent and we will keep you posted on whether he has been successful or not. He has other less ambitious ideas that he is also considering putting forward. Not that he&rsquo;s keen to win an I-pad! Not much!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2561/rightmove-competition-findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-entry</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2011 22:03:02 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2561/rightmove-competition-findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-entry</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-pleased-to-be-back-into-work-and-selling-houses-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Finally, after what seems like Bank Holiday after Bank Holiday, we have returned to normal! With the sunny weather and endless time off, it has been difficult to tie work up. Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents have been extremely busy today, chasing viewings from the weekend. I&rsquo;m pleased to report that Findahome Online have agreed two sales in the last week with others in the pipeline. Online estate agency is proving a very effective way to sell and let property in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. On completion, our two happy sellers will have saved &pound;2,880 and &pound;2,250 respectively. These savings could be used to pay for the stamp duty on their next home or to go on a holiday or cruise.

	Findahome Online are committed to saving the people of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire money and also offering them first class customer service.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents cover all areas of England and Wales. We are specialists and have experience in the following towns: Ashbourne, Alsager, Crewe, Cheadle, Leek, Nantwich, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Sandbach, Stoke-on-Trent and Stone.

	Online and internet estate agents are a cost effective way to sell your home. We are not computer people playing at selling and letting properties. Findahome Online are traditional estate agents who have embraced new technology and are pioneering a new way to sell and let properties. Give Findahome Online a call today for your free valuation and see how we are selling and letting properties online in Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2560/findahome-online-pleased-to-be-back-into-work-and-selling-houses-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2011 22:01:36 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2560/findahome-online-pleased-to-be-back-into-work-and-selling-houses-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>the-duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge-could-they-set-up-home-in-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The Royal wedding was a marvellous occasion, enjoyed by millions across the UK and the globe. For those interested in property, many of us can&rsquo;t help but wonder where the happy couple will set up home when they leave Anglesey in two years&rsquo; time.

	The Findahome Online team would love to see William and Kate set up home on their doorstep in the historic village of Caverswall, Stoke-on-Trent. However highly unlikely, Caverswall would be a suitable location for them as it has its own castle, which is currently on the market for &pound;2.5 Million. I&rsquo;m sure it would be easily within their budget!

	Here&rsquo;s the Castle&rsquo;s Wikipedia entry:

	CaverswallCastleis a privately owned early 17th century mansion built in a castellar style upon the foundations and within the walls of a 13th century medieval castle. It is a Grade I listed buildingin Caverswall, Staffordshire.[1]

	In ancient times, the manor of Caverswall was held by the eponymous Caverswall family, who in 1275 were granted licence to crenellatetheir manor house[2]. The resulting medieval moated castle was approximately rectangular in plan with four angle towers and a keep within the curtain walls.[2].

	In the 15th century the castle, which was owned by the Caverswall family, was the seat of the Montgomery family, three of whom served as High Sheriff of Staffordshire[3]. During the English Civil Warit was garrisoned by parliamentary forces[4]and was much decayed and neglected by the end of the 17th century.

	The neglected castle was purchased in 1615 by Matthew Cradock of Stafford, a local wool merchant, first mayor of Stafford in 1614 and Member of Parliament for Stafford in 1621. (He was a cousin of Matthew Cradock(d. 1641), coloniser of Massachusetts.) He built the present mansion house retaining the old castle walls, to a design, it is said, of Robert Smythsonor John Smythson[1]. The three storey house has five bays each with stone mullionedand transomedwindows. There is a castellated parapet and an entrance porch[1]

	The Cradock male line failed and the estate was sold in 1655 to William Joliffe (High Sheriffin 1663)[3].Thereafter the castle had several owners. In the early 19th century it was occupied as a nunnery by a Benedictine order. In 1891 it was purchased by WE Bowers who carried out extensive renovations and much improved the property.

	The house remains in private ownership.

	If Kate and William bought the Castle, they would find the locals to be friendly and hospitable. Alton Towers is on the doorstep, Hanley City Centre only a few miles down the road and beautiful Staffordshire countryside everywhere you look. Should they become homesick, Stoke-on-Trent railway station is only a short drive away. They could be back in London Euston in 2 hours.

	&pound;2.5 Million has to be good value for someone&nbsp; used to London house prices.

	I won&rsquo;t hold my breath on seeing royalty moving into Caverswall Castle! You never know though!

	If I was the high end estate agent selling Caverswall Castle, I would most certainly send a copy of the sales particulars out to the Palace for William and Kate&rsquo;s attention. It&rsquo;s got to be worth a try!

	Findahome Online are an internet estate and letting agents based near to Caverswall Castle in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2559/the-duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge-could-they-set-up-home-in-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 May 2011 08:19:39 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2559/the-duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge-could-they-set-up-home-in-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>diy-sos-visits-meir-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents are local to Meir, Stoke-on-Trent. It was good to see a house in the Meir area featuring on DIY SOS, the Big Build, Stoke, last week.

	I knew that the programme was due to air, as I had seen Barnes&rsquo; Blinds, a local company, talking about it on twitter. It was inspiring to see so many local tradespeople working hard, and as a team, to get the property ready for the owners. What a transformation! The couple, who lived in the property in Meir, were genuinely grateful for all the hard work that had been put in - a nice end to the programme.

	Stoke-on-Trent is in the news and in the public spotlight for all the right reasons at the moment. Firstly, DIY SOS &nbsp;was filmed in the city and secondly, the Premier League football team Stoke City are in the FA Cup Final. This takes place at Wembley on the 14thMay, the first time that the club has reached the final in its history.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2558/diy-sos-visits-meir-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 May 2011 08:18:18 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2558/diy-sos-visits-meir-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>congratulations-to-prince-william-and-catherine-middleton-royal-wedding-april-29-2011</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Estate and Lettings Agents of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, would like to offer their congratulations to the happy couple, Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

	We are looking forward to watching the wedding on television and a hard-earned day off!

	In difficult economic times, this high profile event is an excellent boost to the nation and its economy.

	All at Findahome Online take a keen interest in property related matters. We are looking forward to seeing where William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, set up home in London.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2557/congratulations-to-prince-william-and-catherine-middleton-royal-wedding-april-29-2011</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:26:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2557/congratulations-to-prince-william-and-catherine-middleton-royal-wedding-april-29-2011</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>overpriced-property-doesnt-pass-the-test-of-time</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Cast your minds back to 2006. Tony Blair was the Prime Minister, England played in the World Cup finals managed by Sven Goran Eriksson and the economy was still in good shape. The credit crunch was still over two years away.

	This week, Tom Williams Findahome Online&rsquo;s valuer has been doing his usual research on Rightmove prior to going out on sales valuations. Amazingly, he has found two properties that have been on the market since 2006! Tom visited both properties in 2006 and gave the owners a realistic market valuation of their properties. The home sellers were disappointed with the selling price Tom quoted. Prior to the appointments, Tom had done his homework and took details of comparable properties with him, to back up his valuation. One of the properties went on the market at &pound;150,000 more than Tom had valued it at, the other for &pound;30,000 more. In the ensuing years, the properties&rsquo; asking prices have been reduced. The higher value one is now only &pound;30,000 more than Tom suggested, the cheaper one is &pound;7,000 higher than Tom&rsquo;s original valuation. It is particularly disappointing for the vendor of the cheaper property, as it is in the first time buyer bracket. First time buyer properties are of course much harder to sell now, compared to 2006.

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s Tom Williams is not the sort of person who would say &ldquo;I told you so!&rdquo; &nbsp;The vendors themselves must have had an inclination that their properties were excessively priced. The estate agents who originally listed the properties have also got to accept some accountability. They either did not do any research or just went along with what the seller wanted. Most estate agents will try a higher price and test the market. The key then is to communicate with the vendor if there has been no interest. After a certain period of marketing without any interest, a price reduction is a necessity if the seller wants to sell.

	Every property sells if it is at the right price and marketed to its full potential.

	If a seller invites an estate agent into their home to give them a sales valuation, they must be receptive to what the agent has got to say.

	Both the properties mentioned should sell one day, but I&rsquo;m afraid the vendors will be disappointed with the eventual selling price!

	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2556/overpriced-property-doesnt-pass-the-test-of-time</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:50:13 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2556/overpriced-property-doesnt-pass-the-test-of-time</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>new-epc-legislation-is-there-any-difference-findahome-online-stoke-on-trents-online-estate-agents-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I am waiting for confirmation from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) on the slight changes speculated to be coming in on the 1stof July 2011, to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) legislation.

	The changes relate to the length of time an estate or letting agent has to provide an EPC. Currently an agent has 28 days from commencing marketing. The new laws will stipulate that an EPC has to be ordered on commencement of marketing. Should a trading standards officer wish to view it, they will be able to do so within 7 days of the property being put on the sales or letting market.

	They are also proposing changes to how the EPC is displayed on estate agents&rsquo; sales and letting particulars, possibly asking for more detail to be displayed.

	What does Findahome Online think about the proposed changes?

	Firstly, Findahome Online, like the majority of estate agents, ensure that an EPC is ordered, or in place on commencement of marketing anyway. We will see no change there. Findahome Online are pleased that the government is looking into this and tightening up on when the EPC is ordered. We have heard of some estate agents who have told vendors that an EPC is not necessary until they have actually got a sale! This is something we would never do at Findahome Online, as marketing without an EPC is breaking the law and is punishable by a fine of &pound;200 per property!

	In response to the other change which involves adding more detail to the EPC, our view is that it should be left as it is. The majority of the public, buyers or tenants pay very little interest to the EPC. I have not spoken to anyone who has been deterred from either buying or renting because they have not been happy with the energy rating of the property in which they were interested.

	What I would like to see is the government and trading standards officers enforce agents who don&rsquo;t include the EPC on their sales and letting particulars. This is a minimum requirement and takes very little effort on the agent&rsquo;s behalf. Again, I have seen agents who fail to provide this basic information on their sales and letting details.

	I will keep you posted on any further developments and, as ever, give you Findahome Online&rsquo;s view.

	The only survivor out of The Home Information Pack looks like it&rsquo;s most certainly here to stay. Many people are still not in favour of the EPC. Our view is that they serve a purpose and are something that we all have to get used to.

	Findahome Online blog about the latest property news, estate agency, property related matters and past experiences they have had working as estate agents.

	Findahome Online are a National Online Estate Agents based in the Stoke-on-Trent area of Staffordshire in the Midlands.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2555/new-epc-legislation-is-there-any-difference-findahome-online-stoke-on-trents-online-estate-agents-view</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:52:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2555/new-epc-legislation-is-there-any-difference-findahome-online-stoke-on-trents-online-estate-agents-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>solicitor-makes-an-error-and-the-wrong-house-is-repossessed-tom-williams-past-experiences-as-an-estate-agent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	From 2003 &ndash; 2006 Findahome Online Partner Tom Williams was employed as a Branch Manager for an estate agent in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. In this blog he will tell us in his own words how one mistake from a solicitor resulted in the wrong property being repossessed.

	&ldquo;It was spring time in 2004 when I received a letter from a solicitor from outside of the area asking me to attend a repossession in Congleton Road, Butt Lane, Stoke-on-Trent. There was nothing unusual about this as I received instructions to sell on average about 5 repossessed properties a month. Generally though, these instructions came from corporate clients working on behalf of banks, rather than this one which had come directly from a solicitor. Selling repossessed properties is not something that I enjoyed doing, given the fact that people had to leave their homes. Thankfully though, when I would attend these evictions, the previous owners were normally long gone and it would just be me, the bailiff and the locksmith.

	Not this time! We all arrived at the Congleton Road property on time, from memory I remember it to be an early appointment, probably 10am. The bailiff knocked on the door, no signs of life and all the curtains were closed. The locksmith started drilling in order that we could gain access.

	As soon as we entered the house, the bailiff said he didn&rsquo;t like the look of it. All the furniture was in place, recently used crockery still in the lounge. This was not the usual sight we were used to seeing when taking possession of a property. Ordinarily, the properties are empty, sometimes with kitchens, bathroom, light fittings etc ripped out!

	After a few shouts of &ldquo;Hello is there anyone here?&rdquo;, we made our way upstairs. Due to all the curtains being closed, the house was very dark. Had there not been the three of us, I have to say I would have been quite apprehensive going up the stairs.

	We opened the first bedroom door and could see there was someone in bed asleep!

	Within a few seconds, a middle-aged lady screamed, shocked to see three men having seemingly broken in!

	We quickly tried to explain who we were, led by the bailiff who showed the lady his paperwork. After establishing quite quickly that we had come into the wrong house, we were soon back where we started outside the poor lady&rsquo;s front door! The police were called and we were all standing perplexed outside the property. The bailiff called his office, who duly contacted the solicitor involved. It turned out that the property had originally been one house, with its deeds changed over the years. The property next door was the one we should have been repossessing! When we finally got in there, it was empty and the previous owner long gone!- typical!

	What would normally have been a 5 minute job for me, turn up, sign the bailiffs paperwork then on my way, turned out to be an hour and half out of my day, once I had spoken to the police and comforted the lady. It was time I didn&rsquo;t really have in those days as I was doing 5 sales valuations a day and selling between 6 and 8 properties a week. In addition to the time spent at the property, the solicitor, who had made the mistake ,asked me to produce a statement giving my account.

	It featured in our local paper The Sentinel and the poor lady received around &pound;1000 in compensation, deservedly so! We ended up selling the house without any further incidents or controversy! For those involved, well I&rsquo;m sure they won&rsquo;t forget it in a hurry! In fact every time I have seen the bailiff since it has always come up in conversation&rdquo;.

	Findahome Online blog about the latest property and estate agency news as well as experiences they have had working in estate agency.

	Findahome Online sell and let properties in Butt Lane, Kidsgrove, Talke, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2554/solicitor-makes-an-error-and-the-wrong-house-is-repossessed-tom-williams-past-experiences-as-an-estate-agent</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2011 07:36:50 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2554/solicitor-makes-an-error-and-the-wrong-house-is-repossessed-tom-williams-past-experiences-as-an-estate-agent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>rightmoves-television-advert-free-advertising-for-estate-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	This week has seen the airing of Rightmove&rsquo;s new television advert. Much improved on the last one, which was geared towards finding an estate agent, this new advert depicts the way in which people now search for a property using Rightmove.

	For those that haven&rsquo;t seen it, it starts with a couple in bed looking at properties on Rightmove whilst their kids jump all over them! A typical family really! Another family are then featured with a father again on a lap top looking at properties in his living room. The advert then moves on to two people looking on Rightmove using their smart phones.

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s view is that this is an excellent advert and gets across to the wider public what an important website Rightmove is and what a huge influence it has on the way people search for a property. It&rsquo;s interesting to see that Rightmove have recognised how important new technology is and that it is being used widely. Many people use lap tops, i-pads and smart phones to search the internet for properties. Smart phones are especially useful if you are out and out about looking for properties.

	Estate agents often complain that Rightmove charge them a lot for listing their properties on the site. What agents have to remember is that included in that charge is all the marketing Rightmove do on their behalf. There are not many estate agents in this country who could afford to advertise on prime time television. As an online estate agent, I always promote Rightmove. Most of my vendors are Rightmove fans and tell me it is the first place they look for properties. Some have even told me that they would not have used our services if we did not advertise on there. This illustrates Rightmove&rsquo;s pulling power to the man on the street.

	I welcome Rightmove&rsquo;s advertising campaigns because, in the long run, it means more business for Findahome Online.

	Findahome Online are a National Online Estate Agency based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire in Central England. We cover all areas of England and Wales. Findahome Online list all their sales and lettings properties on Rightmove.co.uk, the UK&rsquo;s number one property website.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2553/rightmoves-television-advert-free-advertising-for-estate-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:23:44 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2553/rightmoves-television-advert-free-advertising-for-estate-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-successfully-selling-first-time-buyer-properties-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-case-study-northwood-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online take great satisfaction in a job well done. What makes us happiest is knowing that we have offered a great service and saved our vendors some hard cash!

	We have successfully completed a sale today on a first time buyer property, which is close to Hanley City Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The reason for me doing a case study on this property is to highlight the ups and downs you can encounter in the current market, especially when trying to sell a first time buyer type property. Persistence and patience are vital for all those involved!

	I originally put this property on the market at the end of October 2010. The vendor had seen Findahome Online advertised in the local paper and liked the look of what we were offering and was pleasantly surprised at our low cost fees.

	I was delighted to get the instruction, taking comparable property details with me to meet the vendor. We agreed on a realistic selling price. I stressed to the vendor that, given the market conditions, it was unlikely that she would have lots of viewings. As mortgage lending is tight, when she did get a viewer, they were likely to be serious rather than a &lsquo;carpet treader&rsquo;. I assured the vendor that we would keep her updated, regardless of whether we had lots of viewings or not.

	The property was very well presented and looked great on the internet. Findahome Online marketed it with numerous photographs, a floorplan and a virtual tour. We also upgraded its listing on Rightmove to a &lsquo;Premium Listing&rsquo;.

	As we moved into the winter months of November and December, we didn&rsquo;t arrange any viewings on the property, despite Findahome Online&rsquo;s extensive web and newspaper coverage. Crucially, during this time we still kept in touch with our vendor, giving her regular updates. We may not have booked any viewings, but our vendor was made to feel valued and that we genuinely cared &ndash; which we do.

	We moved into the New Year with renewed optimism. At the beginning of February, we sent out details to a couple who had requested them via Findaproperty.com. They were sent out immediately and then followed up. A viewing was booked that week and the couple who viewed were as we hoped they would be, very impressed with the property. After seeing Findahome Online&rsquo;s recommended mortgage adviser, the couple placed an offer. After some negotiating by Findahome Online&rsquo;s Sharron Williams, the sale was agreed with all parties very happy!

	Throughout the sale, Sharron at Findahome Online has kept all parties informed and this has led to a successful completion. Our vendor has saved around &pound;1,000 by using our services.

	Findahome Online are by no means close to the property&rsquo;s locality as our office is around 15 miles away. Selling this property, Findahome Online have proved yet again that Online Estate Agency really does work and that you don&rsquo;t need an office in the city centre to sell properties in that area.

	The best part of it all is that our vendor has said that she is already recommending us to friends, family and colleagues. Word of mouth is stronger than conventional advertising platforms.

	The moral of this story is that in a difficult market, you must be patient. If the marketing is right, your price is right and you&rsquo;re selling with an estate agent who works proactively, your property will sell. It may not sell overnight but it will sell.

	Findahome Online are an Online Estate Agent based in the Stoke-on-Trent area of Staffordshire. We will cover all areas, but are particularly knowledgeable of properties in &nbsp;Cheadle, Leek, Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Ashbourne, Alsager, Uttoxeter, Crewe, Sandbach and Nantwich.

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2552/findahome-online-successfully-selling-first-time-buyer-properties-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-case-study-northwood-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:20:27 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2552/findahome-online-successfully-selling-first-time-buyer-properties-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-case-study-northwood-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-of-stoke-on-trent-save-home-sellers-52282</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Estate and Letting Agents&rsquo; home sellers, who have put their properties up for sale since Jan 2011, will save a staggering &pound;52,282!!

	This savings figure is rising all the time as Findahome Online take on new sales instructions.

	This figure has been calculated on the savings made by Findahome Online&rsquo;s sellers using Findahome as opposed to High Street Estate Agents, who may charge as much as 1.5% plus VAT.

	Findahome Online Partner, Tom Williams says, &ldquo;We are delighted to be saving this money for our clients. In recent years, estate agency selling fees have gone through the roof, unjustifiably in my opinion. Findahome Online are fortunate to be an online business, therefore we do not have high street premises, which are expensive to run. Any savings we make are passed on to our customers. In addition to offering great savings, Findahome Online also offer an excellent personal service.&rdquo;

	Findahome Online are determined to change the public&rsquo;s perception of estate agents. Nothing gives us more satisfaction than doing a good job and saving clients money.

	The savings Findahome Online&rsquo;s average customer makes will pay for the stamp duty on their next property or go toward solicitor&rsquo;s costs, or a holiday!

	Call or e-mail Findahome Online today for your free sales or rental valuation and find out how much you can save by using the services of Findahome Online. You will not be disappointed!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2551/findahome-online-of-stoke-on-trent-save-home-sellers-52282</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:07:45 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2551/findahome-online-of-stoke-on-trent-save-home-sellers-52282</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>april-2011-housing-market-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-findahome-online-estate-agents-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	April is turning out to be a month of two halves. The month started well, with good levels of viewings and new sales instructions. We have now reached the Easter holiday period and things have quietened down. Another factor to bear in mind is that our local Premier league football team Stoke City are at a Wembley on Sunday for the FA Cup Semi Final. Some 32,000 North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent people are following &ldquo;the Potters&rdquo; to Wembley. I will not be joining them as I am a Port Vale fan!

	It&rsquo;s going to be a strange end to the month too, as we have three Bank Holidays,one of which is the Royal Wedding.

	Both Stoke City going to Wembley and the Royal Wedding have been good for the local economy here in Stoke-on-Trent. It&rsquo;s pleasing to see some of our world famous pottery manufacturers involved with the production of royal memorabilia.

	The feel good factor generated can only be positive for the local area and economy. With the traditional pottery industry declining in recent years, it&rsquo;s great that Stoke-on-Trent has something to shout about. Even though I&rsquo;m a Port Vale fan, I do wish &ldquo;the Potters&rdquo; success as I&rsquo;m in favour of anything that aids the wider local economy.

	Whatever the time of year and market conditions, Findahome Online are always working proactively to sell or let homes in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and surrounding areas. Findahome Online are committed to offering excellent service and putting the customer first. To find out how Findahome Online can sell or let your home in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, or in fact anywhere in England and Wales, please give one of our friendly team a call.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2550/april-2011-housing-market-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-findahome-online-estate-agents-view</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:54:59 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2550/april-2011-housing-market-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-findahome-online-estate-agents-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>some-good-news-for-a-change-jcb-cheadle-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I flicked on the BBC Midland News last night and was pleased to hear some good news for a change. It&rsquo;s been quite depressing watching the news in my region in recent years due to the recession.

	JCB Earthmovers, a big employer in my area, are recruiting for staff. They have ridden out the recession and have a number of large orders from emerging markets in the Far East. This is excellent news for the local economy here in Staffordshire and should fill people with confidence that we are slowly coming out of the recession.

	I applaud the Bamford family, who continue to run JCB from its original Staffordshire base. Many a company in the last 20 years have relocated to cut costs.

	I wish JCB continued success as a big proportion of the population in my home town work there!

	Findahome Online take a keen interest in the local economy in our home city of Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding areas which include Cheadle, Rocester and Uttoxeter.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2549/some-good-news-for-a-change-jcb-cheadle-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:36:43 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2549/some-good-news-for-a-change-jcb-cheadle-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-onlines-marketing</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Marketing is important for every business. Findahome Online are always looking for new ways to promote the business. In addition to advertising on the internet with our own website www.findahomeonline.co.uk, we also feature on top property portal websites Rightmove, Findaproperty.com and Primelocation. Findahome Online also advertise in print in the Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Sentinel.

	Findahome Online have had 10,000 leaflets produced and have employed a local company based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire to deliver them.

	The Findahome Online team are excited at the prospect of new business generated from the leaflets. Findahome Online Partner Tom Williams says, &ldquo;We are delighted with the quality of the leaflets and the message that they give. They are particularly targeted at people who have a property to sell or let.&nbsp; We are open and honest with our charges. As an internet estate agent, our selling and letting fees are very competitive.&rdquo;

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s leaflets are being delivered throughout Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and North Staffordshire. Areas where the leaflets will be delivered include Meir Park, Westlands, Westbury Park, Baddeley Green, Lightwood and Waterhayes.

	Findahome Online are a forward thinking, progressive Online Estate Agents situated in the Stoke-on-Trent area in Staffordshire.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2548/findahome-onlines-marketing</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:42:39 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2548/findahome-onlines-marketing</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-internet-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s Internet Estate Agent. It&rsquo;s been very interesting this week talking to customers. They have struggled to find differences between Findahome Online and High Street agents. The two differences identified were Findahome Online not having expensive High Street premises that few customers would visit and Findahome Online&rsquo;s very reasonable fees. How can we be so affordable? One client asked Partner, Tom Williams, who replied, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very simple. We have one central Head Office and not numerous High Street outlets. Covering all areas, Findahome Online are not just tied to one town or city. We will literally travel anywhere.&rdquo;

	The customers who commented on the Online Estate Agency revolution that Findahome Online are pioneering in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, stated that the first place they search for properties is the UK&rsquo;s and Findahome&rsquo;s favourite website, Rightmove.co.uk

	Findahome Online are a traditional estate agent now trading in the virtual world as an internet estate agent. Offering virtual tours and floorplans, Findahome Online are leading the way with their visual selling tools which enhance a property&rsquo;s saleability.

	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2547/findahome-online-internet-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:41:46 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2547/findahome-online-internet-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>interest-rate-rises-on-the-way-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	With inflation at a high level, interest rate rises in the near future are inevitable. We have had record low interest rates for around 18 months. This has benefited many of us, in a time when jobs have been lost and pay frozen. Low mortgage rates have been most welcome for some but not for everyone, though. Savers have been hit hard, many taking their savings out of the banks and investing elsewhere.

	Findahome Online do appreciate that rates have to rise, but what we don&rsquo;t want to see is them rising at such a rate that it has a harmful effect on an already fragile economy.

	If rates rise too quickly, we will see a rise in repossessed houses, as well as people deterred from taking out new mortgages due to the high rates of interest.

	Another worrying factor for the wider economy is that many people are on variable mortgages and are benefiting from the lower base rate. If rates rise, people will be paying more money on their mortgage and will have less to spend on the local high street. This is bound to affect small businesses.

	Findahome Online want to see the Bank of England show caution when the rates rise. What we don&rsquo;t want to see is a gung-ho attitude like the government has adopted in relation to public sector cuts. The well-being of the UK economy is important to all of us.

	If interest rates rise too highly, the sales market will continue to struggle. This will have a knock-on effect on the letting market, which will gather momentum.

	Findahome Online don&rsquo;t believe we will become a nation of tenants in the long term, but we will certainly see the letting market gather pace in the coming years.

	Findahome Online are a great alternative to expensive high street estate agents. With selling fees starting from only &pound;399, Staffordshire&rsquo;s Online Estate Agent offers excellent value for money for the consumer in these difficult economic times. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2546/interest-rate-rises-on-the-way-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:14:55 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2546/interest-rate-rises-on-the-way-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>estate-agents-enquiries-online-enquiries-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online received a viewing request via an e-mail sent from Rightmove for one of our properties earlier this week. Within 10 seconds, the prospective viewer was telephoned and the appointment was booked. The viewer was pleasantly surprised that we had got in touch with them so quickly. This is how we operate at Findahome Online.

	Nowadays, with smart phones, there is no reason why an e-mail cannot be acted upon straight away.

	I still hear regularly, though, from buyers and sellers who make e-mail enquiries to agents and then don&rsquo;t hear back until &ldquo;a week next Thursday&rdquo;. In the modern day, it is simply inexcusable as a tremendous number of leads come through via e-mail.&nbsp; It is the preferred choice for many would-be buyers, sellers, tenants or landlords.

	As an embracer of new technology, I will be pleased when Twitter and Facebook are used in the same way.

	Findahome Online are an estate and letting agent who will respond to your e-mail and either call you or e-mail back to answer your enquiry.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2545/estate-agents-enquiries-online-enquiries-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:48:33 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2545/estate-agents-enquiries-online-enquiries-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-increase-advertising-space</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online have increased the number of boxes in their advert in the Findaproperty section of The Sentinel Newspaper. There is a good selection of properties in all prices ranges. As an online estate agent not tied to any particular area, Findahome Online&rsquo;s properties are dotted all over North Staffordshire.

	Findahome Online partner Tom Williams says, &ldquo;Unlike the majority of online estate agents, we still advertise and support our local newspaper. Not everybody has the internet, so press advertising still has a part to play in how estate agents market their properties. Our customers like to see their properties in the newspaper and The Sentinel is a popular newspaper in this area. I have been an avid reader myself for over 20 years&rdquo;

	Featured in our advert today are properties in Stoke-on-Trent, Cheadle, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Leek.

	Findahome Online are committed to offering our clients the very best possible marketing for their homes.

	To see how we can market your home, please call Findahome Online today for your free valuation. Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s online estate agents.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2544/findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-increase-advertising-space</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:56:01 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2544/findahome-online-estate-and-letting-agents-increase-advertising-space</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>falling-house-prices-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-crewe-and-nantwich-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In the business news in this week&rsquo;s Sentinel Newspaper(Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire&rsquo;s local paper) it states that, according to new Land Registry figures, house prices in Stoke-on-Trent have decreased by nearly 9%. This has been calculated over a 12 month period.

	Staffordshire as a county has faired better with only a 0.5% decrease on last year&rsquo;s figures. Across the border in South Cheshire, Crewe and Nantwich have had similar fortunes to Staffordshire with a drop of 0.6% from last year&rsquo;s house prices.

	Findahome Online partner Tom Williams does not see any real causes for concern. He says, &ldquo;What people must remember is that house prices in the city of Stoke-on-Trent are traditionally low, so a 9% drop is not as hard hitting as if they were at a higher level. If we look at this simply from the latest figures, the average house price in the city of Stoke-on-Trent is currently &pound;72,157. (Feb 2011) At the same point in 2010 the average price was &pound;79,054. When broken down like this, it is doesn&rsquo;t look quite so bad. It looks to me in line with what you would expect, given the current market conditions. Another factor, which will have influenced the drop, is the continued lack of mortgage availability for the first-time buyer and buy-to-let investor. Both were previously very active in the Stoke-on-Trent housing market.

	I&rsquo;m not surprised at the other figures. The South Cheshire and Staffordshire markets are quite strong and resilient even in a tough economic climate&rdquo;.

	Whilst difficult market conditions reign, pricing as ever remains key. Price your property too high and it won&rsquo;t sell. Take advice from your estate agent and research the market yourself.

	Findahome Online Estate Agents are committed to serving the people of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. We also sell properties in the South Cheshire towns of Crewe and Nantwich.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2543/falling-house-prices-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-crewe-and-nantwich-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:11:46 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2543/falling-house-prices-in-stoke-on-trent-staffordshire-crewe-and-nantwich-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>student-rental-market-strong-findahome-online-recent-successes</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online have recently let two properties to students within walking distance of Keele University in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. We have literally had students queuing for the two properties, situated on the Charles Church development &lsquo;Milliners Green&rsquo;. Investors are flocking to the site to purchase the new build properties. An excellent long term investment, letting to students over time can be quite lucrative, especially considering the rental achieved per room, per week. Both of the properties Findahome Online have let are achieving more letting to students compared to what they would realise in the private rented sector.

	The letting market is strong in all areas at the moment. With our recent experiences, letting to students is something I would recommend to any investors who are looking to put money into property. Two bedroomed apartments at Milliners Green are great value, starting at only &pound;99,995. Findahome Online have just let one of these at &pound;150 per week. Not a bad return at all! With interest rates still at historically low levels, savings may be better placed in bricks and mortar.

	If you are a landlord, or considering purchasing a buy-to-let property please give Findahome Online a call. Our friendly team are always happy to give free advice on all property related matters.

	Findahome Online are an estate and letting agents based in Staffordshire. We deal with lettings, property management, student and private lets.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2542/student-rental-market-strong-findahome-online-recent-successes</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:35:32 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2542/student-rental-market-strong-findahome-online-recent-successes</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>joint-and-multi-agency-is-it-necessary-anymore-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	For those that don&rsquo;t know, joint and multi agency agreements involve more than one estate agent marketing a property. Dotted around, you see properties with two For Sale boards, sometimes more, in certain areas.

	There is one nearby to where Findahome Online is based. The property in question is being marketed by two local estate agents. Both are single office operations in the same town around 100 metres away from each other. Both agents advertise in the same local paper and go onto the same property portals. Without questioning the vendor&rsquo;s motives and judgment, is there, in the modern day, any benefit selling with two agents whose marketing exposure is exactly the same? Quite simply, if someone is interested, they will find the property and contact whoever is marketing it. It really is an unnecessary extra cost for the vendor, especially if it is on a joint basis.

	I can see some small mileage in having two agents if, for example, one of them didn&rsquo;t advertise on Rightmove and the other did. This would be worth looking at, as some of the smaller portals are not seeing the traffic attracted by Rightmove.

	If a vendor is receiving poor service, this can also encourage them to list with another agent. My view on this is, if the service is poor, disinstruct. Don&rsquo;t give them another chance. The likelihood is that things will not improve, so why should you pay for a service if you are not getting one?

	The alternative that I am advocating is, of course, listing your property with Findahome Online, an excellent service at a fraction of the cost charged on the high street.

	Estate agency has become a very simple business in the last 5 years. People search the internet for their dream home. If it is on the right websites, with good photographs, floorplans, virtual tours and most importantly marketed at the right price, it will sell.

	You could have 10 estate agents selling it, it doesn&rsquo;t matter. If it fits the criteria above, it will sell.

	Findahome Online are a traditional estate agent now trading in the virtual world.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2541/joint-and-multi-agency-is-it-necessary-anymore-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:32:39 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2541/joint-and-multi-agency-is-it-necessary-anymore-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>floorplans-a-minimum-requirement-when-marketing-property-findahome-onlines-view</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Five or six years ago, you did not see too many of them about, generally only on the higher end properties. I certainly wasn&rsquo;t using them or offering them to clients.

	In the last few years, we have really seen floorplans take off. More and more agents are offering them. This is a good thing. The buyers and sellers I speak to, all like looking at them. Some are disappointed if they see a property for which a floorplan is not available. Findahome Online offer a floorplan to every client. If you look on our website www.findahomeonline.co.uk, all our properties have one regardless of the price or size. Findahome Online&rsquo;s view is that every agent should offer them. Numerous customers come to us, as they are impressed with our visual selling tools, which are far more impressive than many of those of our &lsquo;bigger competitors&rsquo;.

	I was on Rightmove earlier today looking at properties (sad I know, it is my job!) and I was amazed to see a local property on the market for &pound;800,000 without a floorplan.

	I would imagine the agent is likely to be in receipt of a fee of at least &pound;8,000, yet they haven&rsquo;t included a floorplan.

	I often tell customers, it isn&rsquo;t always just about advertising the property. When you list a property as an estate agent, you are also selling yourself and your company. Clients will become aware, if an agent is not offering visual selling tools or if their photographs are poor. First impressions count so make sure your chosen estate agent offers floorplans. As previously stated, Findahome Online offers floorplans on all properties. For a free valuation, please give Findahome Online a call and see how we can market your property.

	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2540/floorplans-a-minimum-requirement-when-marketing-property-findahome-onlines-view</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:31:30 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2540/floorplans-a-minimum-requirement-when-marketing-property-findahome-onlines-view</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>record-month-for-findahome-online-in-march-2011</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online based in the Stoke-on-Trent area in Staffordshire have surpassed the record sales and new sales instructions that they achieved in February 2011.

	Findahome Online partner Tom Williams is delighted. &ldquo;It has been an excellent month at Findahome Online. We have been consistently busy throughout March on both the sales and lettings sides of the business. Positive feedback has come in from customers on both the quality of our website and also on the service levels that we offer. Many people are surprised at how much we offer for such a low fee. I have even had new tenants comment to me this week on how reasonable they thought our application fees are compared to other letting agents. They were quoted nearly double by another letting agent. Our fees are reasonable and what we believe to be a fair amount for the work involved. I am looking forward to continued growth in April and hopefully more sales and successful lets.&rdquo;

	If you have a property to sell or let, please give Findahome Online a call today for your free valuation. We cater for all types of properties and cover all areas
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2539/record-month-for-findahome-online-in-march-2011</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:30:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2539/record-month-for-findahome-online-in-march-2011</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>private-house-sale-websites-for-sale-by-owner-versus-online-estate-agents-whats-the-difference</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Since the late 90s, the UK has become obsessed with the property market. Fuelled by popular prime viewing TV programmes such as &ldquo;Location, Location, Location&rdquo;, &ldquo;House Ladder&rdquo;, &ldquo;Homes under the Hammer&rdquo;. The list is endless! Many people the length and breadth of the country will have tried their hands at property development. Some of these people will have sold their properties privately themselves to maximise profits. When the market was good a lot of this went on. Many a time a developer would get me out to value their property, only to sell the property themselves. They would market the property in the private advert section in the local paper and by erecting their own For Sale board.

	Selling privately in a good market is easy as buyers are plentiful. In a tough market it is not so easy. In recent years, internet marketing has taken over in main stream estate agency with websites like Rightmove, FindaProperty.com and Zoopla being the first place buyers look for a property. Private sale house sale websites have also sprung up in recent years. Their purpose is to give the &lsquo;For Sale by owner&rsquo; private seller a platform for their property to be seen online with photographs and sales details. These sites are often confused with Online Estate Agents like Findahome Online. There is a huge difference. Firstly, these sites are not estate agents. Secondly, they are not regulated by anyone and do not conform to the Property Misdescriptions Act. The sellers of the property write the descriptions, so you have to expect some exaggerations. An example of this would be a property close to the flight path at Manchester Airport being described as being in a quiet location! Quite simply, an estate agent such as Findahome Online would not be able to put in a false statement like that.

	The most famous &lsquo;For sale by owner&rsquo; private sale house website is owned by TV property celebrity Sarah Beeny. Free to list on, it is a great place for those who do not want to incur any costs when selling their properties. An easy to use site, it has google maps on good property descriptions and phone numbers. In addition to Tepilo, there are some more sites that the private seller can list on for free. One thing that does concern me is that a number of private house sale sites actually charge the seller for listing on them. Depending on what package the seller wishes to go for, these can range from &pound;50 plus VAT up to &pound;199 plus VAT. I am amazed that people pay to go on these sites, when Online estate agents like Findahome Online will offer a full estate agency service including Rightmove, FindaProperty.com and Primelocation all for under &pound;400 inclusive of VAT. It is a fact that property buyers visit the main property portal websites before going anywhere else.

	As far as I am concerned, it is really a &ldquo;no-brainer&rdquo;. For only a couple of hundred pounds more, a private seller can have all the benefits of an estate agent from an online agent that a private sale website cannot offer.

	I believe that there is room in the industry for private house sale websites. What I can&rsquo;t see the value in is paying for the privilege of putting your property onto them.

	Findahome Online are a National Online Estate Agency based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire covering all of England and Wales. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2538/private-house-sale-websites-for-sale-by-owner-versus-online-estate-agents-whats-the-difference</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:29:27 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2538/private-house-sale-websites-for-sale-by-owner-versus-online-estate-agents-whats-the-difference</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>can-we-live-without-our-mobile-phone-one-of-the-findahome-online-team-loses-her-mobile</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	One of the Findahome Online team lost her mobile at the weekend. I&rsquo;m not going to embarrass the individual involved. Let&rsquo;s just say she left the phone on top of her car and drove off. The mobile was partially recovered, in small pieces &frac12; a mile down the road!

	Aside from the shock of losing it, the main problem was that we are now so reliant on our mobiles. You don&rsquo;t see many people these days carrying around diaries or Filofaxes (remember them from the 80s - horrible things). Most people store their contacts&rsquo; phone numbers and e-mail addresses in their mobiles. Without your mobile, you can feel cut off and helpless. We really have become that reliant on them. They are no longer devices that are just used for telephoning people. Nowadays, the modern mobile also has social networking sites linked to them. Basically, if you are the owner of a smart phone (Blackberry, i-phone etc.) you are carrying round a very small PC.

	Findahome Online are modern estate agents, relying heavily on our Blackberry phones for their functionality. The technology that modern mobiles provide is vital for our business as estate agents, enabling us to react quickly when new leads come through via e-mail.

	I&rsquo;m pleased to report that we were only one Blackberry down for 24 hours, as a replacement was despatched very quickly from our mobile provider. It&rsquo;s the same with a lot of everyday things in modern life. It is only when suddenly something is not there that you realise how much you use and rely on it. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2537/can-we-live-without-our-mobile-phone-one-of-the-findahome-online-team-loses-her-mobile</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:11:23 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2537/can-we-live-without-our-mobile-phone-one-of-the-findahome-online-team-loses-her-mobile</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-receive-an-enquiry-from-a-london-based-landlord</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online received an enquiry today from a London based landlord, who was interested in using our services. We are really pleased that someone outside our immediate area has found us online and is interested in our products and services.

	The Landlord in question was looking for a fully managed service. Unfortunately, we can only offer this in Staffordshire. Impressed that we advertised on major property portals Rightmove, Findaproperty.com and Primelocation, the landlord had been prompted to call us after visiting our website www.findahomeonline.co.ukand seeing that we only charge 8% for a fully managed letting service.

	A tenant finding service is available outside Staffordshire. Please call one of the Findahome Online team for more information.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2536/findahome-online-receive-an-enquiry-from-a-london-based-landlord</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:10:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2536/findahome-online-receive-an-enquiry-from-a-london-based-landlord</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-exceeding-customers-expectations</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We have some good enquiries this week from people considering using Findahome Online to sell their properties. Two customers were amazed that we could offer them an enhanced Rightmove Premium listing and a floorplan for under &pound;500.

	Both had been quoted over &pound;2,000 by corporate estate agents. Findahome Online offer more for less. We are proud to exceed customers&rsquo; expectations. Findahome Online recognise that we are in very difficult economic times and our low cost fee options reflect this. If you are looking for excellent personal service and value for money, please give one of our team a call today.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2535/findahome-online-exceeding-customers-expectations</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:09:10 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2535/findahome-online-exceeding-customers-expectations</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>public-sector-protests-more-misery-for-the-housing-market</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I, like many, watched with disgust as anarchists ruined yesterday&rsquo;s peaceful public sector demonstration against the government&rsquo;s public sector cuts.

	A small minority brought carnage to the capital&rsquo;s streets, causing criminal damage and clashing with police.

	Now you may wonder why this is detrimental to the housing market. It&rsquo;s quite simple. What was a peaceful protest over the cuts, has now been catapulted up to the top of the news bulletins due to all the unrest caused by the minority. I sat and watched it all unfold on the various news channels yesterday evening. Would it have had all this coverage, if there wasn&rsquo;t the trouble? I doubt it very much.

	Incidents like this highlight to the masses the unrest and uncertainty that we are experiencing in the UK at the moment.

	The fact that 250,000 people made the effort to attend a demonstration in London tells its own story.

	The government has to realise that cutting jobs in the public sector affects us all. If you are in fear of losing your job, moving house, going on holiday or upgrading your car are all going to be things that do not top your priority list.

	I understand&nbsp; the need for the government to make cuts. However, their implementation needs to be looked at sensibly and not done as a knee jerk reaction.

	Geographically it depends where you are in the UK, as to how badly you are affected by the public sector cuts. Findahome Online are based near to Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. A large proportion of the population work in the public sector, since traditional industries of mining and pottery have declined.

	I know of families who all work in the public sector and are genuinely in fear for their jobs. Are these people going to be thinking of moving house at the moment?

	Findahome Online are proud members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) This is our union, I am going to look this week to see if the NAEA are in talks with the government to get the housing market moving again.

	I would like to see the government do something to get the market moving. On the onset of the credit crunch/recession, the last government made an effort. We saw stamp duty raised temporarily so it only applied to properties over &pound;175,000. VAT was also at 15% for a short time.

	Now I&rsquo;m not advocating re-introducing the two incentives above (it won&rsquo;t happen). &nbsp;I would like to see some sort of scheme to get the market moving.

	In our area, activity is down on sales and viewings. It&rsquo;s not only at Findahome Online. I speak to other agents in our area and they are reporting the same.

	A large local estate agency has been running an offer throughout March. Offers in March by this agent, a few years ago, would be unheard of. Quite simply they would not need to put an offer on at this time of year. I can see why they are doing it, though. The more properties they offer to the market, the more they will hope to sell.

	I hope the people involved in the trouble yesterday are brought before the courts and prosecuted. I would be very surprised if any of them work in the public sector. I don&rsquo;t think they were there for the protests. Given the fact that they were wearing hoods and covering their faces, I think that their motive for visiting London yesterday was to cause damage and clash with the police there.

	Something has to be done by the government, in order that the economy gets back on to an even keel. Otherwise I can only envisage more unrest and demonstrations.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2534/public-sector-protests-more-misery-for-the-housing-market</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:18:46 +0100</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2534/public-sector-protests-more-misery-for-the-housing-market</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-onlines-view-of-open-house-viewings</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	The local newspaper in which we advertise, the North Staffordshire Sentinel, ran additional advertising this week for estate agents who wanted to take part in their Open House event.

	For those unsure &nbsp;about it, an open house event is where people can theoretically walk in off the street and view a vendor&rsquo;s property. No appointment is needed as people literally just turn up! In the advertisement, a set date and time is given.

	The way the newspaper sells it to agents, is that they can ask the vendor of the property for either the full amount of the advert cost or this can be split between the vendor and the agent.

	I believe open house events have some merit if you are show-casing an investment property or repossession and there is a lot of initial interest. Most agents in these situations would do an open house of sorts anyway. Agents would do a block viewing, to create a sense of urgency and to save their time. A busy estate agent, does not want to be coming and going from a property, if they can help it. An open house is also something worth doing in a buoyant market.

	In the current market that we are in (a tough one) I don&rsquo;t think open houses are the way to go. If someone is interested in a property, they are going to ring the estate agent and book an appointment. In a depressed market, if people do attend, they are most likely to be &ldquo;carpet treaders&rdquo; going for a &ldquo;nosey&rdquo;! The &ldquo;carpet treaders&rdquo; of this world welcome such opportunities, as it means that they are not pre-qualified by estate agents. I would imagine it will be pretty demoralising for vendors and estate agents this weekend if they get a poor response, especially as they may have both contributed to the advertising cost.

	I hope the agents and vendors involved get a good response. It would be nice to see a success story in the newspaper. If &nbsp;the open house weekend was successful and I was involved with the paper,&nbsp; I would certainly be publicising it.

	Findahome Online have not got any properties in the Open House weekend,&nbsp; because we already offer extensive marketing on the web in addition to press advertising. I also would not feel comfortable spending our vendors&rsquo; money on advertising that I didn&rsquo;t think worked. It&rsquo;s not to say that I would not organise an open house on one of my vendors&rsquo; property if they requested it &ndash; I would. What I would make sure I did first though, was to ensure that they understood the pitfalls of opening up their house.

	A serious home hunter will view, whether it&rsquo;s an open house or not!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2533/findahome-onlines-view-of-open-house-viewings</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 26 Mar 2011 09:05:29 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2533/findahome-onlines-view-of-open-house-viewings</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>does-the-media-have-its-part-to-play-in-the-recession-uk-housing-market</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Since the Northern Rock collapse in the Autumn of 2007, the media in this country seem to have insisted relentlessly on reporting on the economic hardships we have encountered since.

	Three and a half years on, when I put the breakfast news on in the morning, most days there is some doom and gloom about the economy.

	We have seen more pressing news stories in recent weeks - the earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan and the conflict in Libya. With the news dominated by these stories, the economy and the housing market have had some respite.

	I am a great believer in that, if you hear something repeated enough times, you start to believe it. This doom and gloom on a near daily basis about the housing market and economy, is bound to put off would be house buyers. Many will be fearful of entering the market, with uncertainty of whether house prices will fall further. I am not saying that the market is buoyant by any stretch of the imagination, but here at Findahome Online we are still selling property. We will continue to do so, whatever the conditions.

	I&rsquo;m certain that there are people who are in stable, well paid jobs hanging fire at the moment and staying put in their properties. The wider, associated economy is affected by this too. Carpet fitters and removal firms, for example, are likely to have less business. When the housing market slows down, all these other associated businesses face tough times . It&rsquo;s not just confined to us, estate agents.

	The blame for the economy and the housing market cannot solely lie with the media. However, I think they have added significantly to current financial anxieties. Now I know they have a responsibility to inform people of the news. What I object to is when they appear to have an agenda.

	I may have been far too busy (I was), but I can&rsquo;t recall, during the boom years in the housing market (2001 &ndash; 2006), such coverage when things were going well!!

	Perhaps, I&rsquo;m getting cynical.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2532/does-the-media-have-its-part-to-play-in-the-recession-uk-housing-market</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:22:40 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2532/does-the-media-have-its-part-to-play-in-the-recession-uk-housing-market</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>motivated-buyers-sellers-and-estate-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We&rsquo;ve just had the first day of Spring. After one of the longest winters in recent times, I am very pleased to see the back of the cold, dark, winter months.

	March and springtime traditionally herald the busier months in the estate agency calendar. Evenings are lighter and gardens are moving into full bloom.

	Findahome Online are seeing things improve as we move into spring. There are certainly new properties coming onto the market, which is encouraging. Lack of buyers able to proceed is still a major concern. As I have said in previous blogs, the main problem is the bottom end of the market, where mortgage lending is very tight.

	In tough times, we are not just looking for motivated buyers. They are there at the moment, if they can get a mortgage! What we need are motivated sellers and estate agents. Sellers need to realise that it is unlikely that they will get exactly what they want for their property. If they are motivated, they will drop their price and then look for a price reduction on the property they are buying. Flexibility is crucial in this market. Estate agents have their part to play too. They must speak to buyers and sellers and negotiate like never before, to agree that all important sale.

	Findahome Online Estate Agents talk to our clients. In the last week, we have sent sellers out searching for their new homes. They have offers on their properties which we are waiting to agree.

	We are keeping our fingers crossed that our sellers encounter motivated sellers and motivated estate agents.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2531/motivated-buyers-sellers-and-estate-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:59:26 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2531/motivated-buyers-sellers-and-estate-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>findahome-online-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-join-skype</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online Estate Agents based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire have joined Skype. Found under Findahome136, the Findahome Online team is excited about this new service which is offered to all customers.

	&nbsp;Findahome Online Partner Tom Williams says &lsquo;As a national online estate agency we have to be accessible to our customers. Skype is an excellent way of communicating with our clients and is currently a free service to use. Still a relatively new service, I can see Skype becoming very popular especially for business use. It will make crowding round a telephone for a conference call a thing of the past.&rsquo;

	Findahome Online are pleased to be at the fore front of implementing new technology in estate agency. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2530/findahome-online-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-join-skype</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2011 10:30:09 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2530/findahome-online-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-join-skype</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>empty-commercial-property-to-be-turned-into-housing</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I&rsquo;ve read an interesting article in the Telegraph this week about the government&rsquo;s plans in the forthcoming budget to relax the planning laws. The scheme is aimed at increasing the supply of new homes as since the recession house building has almost ground to a halt. The proposal would make it easier for people to covert commercial properties into living accommodation.

	Since the credit crunch of 2007/2008 many of our High Streets resemble &lsquo;Ghost Towns&rsquo;. The reasons for this are pretty obvious. Firstly, would be entrepreneurs in time of recession may be put off opening a high street shop due to lack of trade and opportunity. Secondly, out of town shopping centres and the supermarket chains are taking much of the trade from the High Street as they buy in bulk and can easily under cut the independent trader.

	&nbsp;It&rsquo;s very sad to see boarded up shops on the High Street and hardly makes it a nice place to visit and do your shopping. In my area the local towns all have their fair share of boarded up shops and commercial properties. Like everything, it is area dependant. I&rsquo;m sure in other parts of the country, High Streets are fairing better.

	&nbsp;In the short term, it may be good idea to utilise these buildings for housing. However, what future does it hold for the High Streets in these towns and the retailers that are based there? Customers want to be able to walk from shop to shop and not have to walk long distances to buy what they need.

	If you notice in most towns and cities the estate agents are all grouped together. When estate agents were still seeing a decent foot fall (pre internet days) the agents that were not in the main section used to struggle, as quite simply people could not be bothered to walk to them.

	I personally believe that the number of homes in the town centre should be limited, to avoid the high street becoming a thing of the past. Retailers are already experiencing tough times, with dwindling numbers visiting the shops and competition from online retailers who don&rsquo;t have the associated overheads that comes with having&nbsp; high street &nbsp;premises.

	&nbsp;As Findahome Online have demonstrated with our online estate agency, we don&rsquo;t need a high street shop to sell and let property. &nbsp;If high street retailers are not supported by the government, how many more businesses will trade online? Travel agency is another business that has successfully moved into online trading.

	The government would be better liaising with the banks and getting them to slacken their strict lending. We then may see more builders being able to complete their projects and build some much needed houses. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2529/empty-commercial-property-to-be-turned-into-housing</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:53:24 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2529/empty-commercial-property-to-be-turned-into-housing</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online are Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s and Staffordshire&rsquo;s leading online estate agents. We have had another great week, with more instructions coming onto the market and some good activity on the sales and letting side. Only half way through March, we are already set to break the records we set in February.

	Online estate agency is new to Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. We are pioneers in this area. Local people are embracing the concept and welcoming Findahome Online with open arms. We are a refreshing change for the consumer and a great alternative to High Street agents. Findahome Online offers more for less. I don&rsquo;t know of any high street estate agents in Newcastle-under-Lyme or Stoke-on-Trent who will sell your property for under &pound;500 and include a Rightmove Premium Listing. In addition to our value for money fees we also offer an excellent service.

	If you are looking for an online estate agent, please look locally and you will find us. There is now no need for anyone in the local area to use an online estate agent from another geographical area. Findahome Online are on your doorstep and are experienced in the local area. We are local people with that all important local knowledge.

	The moral of this story is if you are looking for an online estate agent, do your bit for the local economy, save the environment (no need for an online agent in Essex to travel up the M1!) and give Findahome Online a call. We are your local online estate agent.

	&nbsp;&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2528/online-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:59:45 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2528/online-estate-agents-stoke-on-trent-newcastle-under-lyme-staffordshire</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>consumer-protection-estate-and-letting-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	On BBC &#39;Breakfast&#39; this morning, Christopher Hamer of the Property Ombudsman , was interviewed about the record number of complaints received about Estate and Letting Agents in 2010.

	Law dictates that all Estate Agents selling properties must belong to the Ombudsman scheme. Membership of the scheme is voluntary for Letting Agents and only 60% of Letting Agents are members.

	Findahome Online, operating as an Estate and Letting agent, has full membership. We aim to give the best possible service and total protection to all our clients - buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants.

	In the interview, the Property Ombudsman outlined difficulties in the letting sector particularly for prospective tenants as a result of poor referencing and failure to return reservation deposits.

	Findahome Online Estate and Letting agents fully support the Ombudsman in its quest to regulate our industry and protect the consumer.

	More information on the Property Ombudsman can be found online.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2527/consumer-protection-estate-and-letting-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:45:18 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2527/consumer-protection-estate-and-letting-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-gambling-bet-365-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Running an online estate agents, I have in recent times taken an interest in all things related to online businesses and working practices.

	One company that I have admired is Online Gambling firm Bet365.

	For anyone who doesn&rsquo;t know, they are Stoke-on-Trent based and owned by the Coates family, who also own Premier League football club Stoke City.

	The brainchild of Denise Coates,&nbsp; Bet 365 left the High Street having sold its chain of shops. Now completely online, the company has gone from strength to strength in the last 10 years and is Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s biggest private sector employer.

	A global brand, the future is bright for Bet 365.

	I greatly admire Denise Coates&rsquo; vision. She has shown courage and determination in taking her business off the high street and making such a success of it online.

	I&rsquo;m sure she had many people, at the start, speculating whether it would work or not. When her company was launched, the internet was nowhere near as popular as it is today. Now the internet is in so many British households, online gambling has opened up to people who may never have ventured near a smoky (as they were up until 2007) betting shop. People can now sit in the comfort of their own home and gamble away online.

	People like Denise inspire me. As someone who is a great believer that estate agency no longer needs to be on the high street, it&rsquo;s interesting to see how another business and industry has had someone who has had the foresight to move their business online and make a success of it.

	I wish the Coates family and Bet 365 all the best for the future and hope their business continues to prosper. The success of Bet 365 is vital to our local economy, here in Stoke-on-Trent. Keep people in work and they will buy and sell houses!

	I&rsquo;m looking forward to watching online estate agency evolving. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2526/online-gambling-bet-365-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:45:52 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2526/online-gambling-bet-365-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>online-estate-agents-advertising-in-the-local-paper</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As most of you reading this will know who read my blogs, Findahome Online are a traditional estate agents now trading in the virtual world. The only difference to a &lsquo;normal&rsquo; agent is that we don&rsquo;t have a high street shop front. There has been much debate at Findahome Online HQ this week in relation to advertising and where the leads we are getting are coming from.

	One of my recent instructions came directly from Rightmove. The prospective vendor found us on there, liked the look of us and what we had to offer as a selling agent. As a company, we do monitor where leads are coming from, so that we can ensure we are being seen in the right places.

	What sparked our recent debate about advertising was the fact that we felt we were getting little back from our local newspaper. We are quite rare in the online estate agency world, as we still advertise in the paper. Many online agents list with the property portals and spend money advertising on Google to get themselves up the rankings. The reason that we still go into the paper is because we want to offer our sellers and landlords as much as we possibly can. As I&rsquo;ve said before, there are still people who don&rsquo;t have access to the internet.

	I still hold firm with what I have said in previous blogs - &nbsp;90% of all our enquiries do come from the internet. However, I still believe there is space for press advertising in estate agents&rsquo; budgets.

	I&rsquo;m pleased to say that today I have booked a viewing directly from our press advert in last Thursday&rsquo;s paper. A new property has come up for sale from our vendor, who saw our advert. I have two sales valuations booked this week from the same advert.

	My faith is restored in newspaper advertising. Findahome Online will continue to advertise in the local paper, whilst it is bringing in good results for us, our vendors, buyers, landlords and tenants. The key to achieving good marketing is simple &ndash; ask your customers how they found you!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2525/online-estate-agents-advertising-in-the-local-paper</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:25:52 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2525/online-estate-agents-advertising-in-the-local-paper</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>new-letting-related-websites</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Since the credit crunch, we have seen the letting market prosper as the sales market has slowed down. Letting agents have popped up everywhere. There is no sign of this slowing down as we go through 2011.

	With the increase in letting activity and more agents coming into the market, we are also seeing new letting related products and websites coming in.

	Two interesting ones that I have seen are Rate or Hate and Tenant ID.

	Rate or Hate is a website for tenants to go onto and review their landlord and letting agent. Whilst in principle this sounds like a good idea, I fear it will be mainly dissatisfied tenants that use the site and write a review. As a letting agent, you may have 99% of your tenants who have not got a bad word to say about you. It would only take 1% to give you a bad name. The internet is such a powerful tool, review sites like this are useful and can certainly unearth some of the rogues in our industry. My only fear is that they may portray some of the good agents in a bad light too. Time will tell and I will keep and eye on the site.

	Tenant ID is a website that looks at tenants&rsquo; previous record when renting. Did they pay the rent on time? Were there any issues of antisocial behaviour? etc.

	They state that they are not a referencing company. I&rsquo;m not quite sure how they get their information on tenants. I would imagine they get it from their member agents. They charge letting agents a monthly subscription.

	Again, in principle, it looks a good idea, but is it necessary for agents to subscribe when, most like Findahome Online use a professional credit and reference agency? The company that we use are very thorough and take up credit checks, contact current/previous landlords and speak to the prospective tenant&rsquo;s employer.

	You have to weigh up, as a letting agent, whether, after they have been accepted by your referencing company, you then need to do further checks. I personally do not feel the need to take this extra service. If prospective tenants get through our strict referencing, then that&rsquo;s good enough for me.

	I wish both these companies well and every success with their businesses.

	They have come to my attention on social networking site Twitter, where both are very active. Thus, further evidence is provided that engaging with people on Twitter is a very powerful way of launching your business.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2524/new-letting-related-websites</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:19:21 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2524/new-letting-related-websites</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>celebrity-house-sales</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	There has been a lot recently in the tabloids about celebrities with properties up for sale. Robbie Williams, Kate Moss, Katie Price and Jermaine Defoe are all reported to have their houses on the market.

	With the marketing power of the internet, it is possible to see inside these celebrity homes and dream for a while&hellip;&hellip;..

	The newspapers hype the fact up that these homes are up for sale. What they don&rsquo;t tell you is that it is very unlikely that Robbie Williams or Katie Price will actually accompany you round when you go to view! I would imagine you would have to also provide your inside leg measurement to the selling agent if you wanted to get through the front door. Quite rightly so, as I&rsquo;m sure every fan of the above would be dying to have a peek through the keyhole!

	As the modern day celebrity has a huge entourage, I would be very surprised if, on the day of completion, the celeb would be handing the keys over either!

	Amusingly this week, I read a tweet from another online agent who has replied to a tweet from former footballer and now radio pundit Mark Bright. They were offering their services to Mr Bright as he had tweeted that he had a flat to sell. They were offering to sell his London flat for under &pound;500. Now as much as I am in favour of the online agent and the business model, I would be very surprised if a celebrity with plenty of money would consider using one of us. I don&rsquo;t think the Knight Franks of this world will be quaking in their boots somehow! The top end agent will always get the celebrity seller.

	I would love to tell you that in my career, I have sold property for celebrities. Sadly, I haven&rsquo;t had the experience. The nearest I have come, is selling a property to the former footballer, and now England Youth Coach, Kenny Swain. Those old enough to remember him, will know that, as a player, he won the first division title (now Premier League) and a European Cup (now the Champions League) with Aston Villa in the early 80s.

	I was a rookie sales negotiator in the late 1990s when I sold to the Swain family. It was an empty property they bought and I did the lot on the sale, accompanied viewings and sales progression through to completion. They were a nice family and very down-to-earth.

	I remember with fond memories my one and only experience with a minor celebrity. Will I encounter any more through my career? I will have to wait and see&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;..

	Any estate agents reading this, have you ever sold or had dealings with a celebrity??

	I welcome your replies. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2523/celebrity-house-sales</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 13 Mar 2011 13:33:14 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2523/celebrity-house-sales</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>rental-demand-outstripping-supply</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We have taken applications today on two of our rental properties. Our available rental stock is now&nbsp;very low.

	Findahome Online need rental properties in all areas.

	Please call us today for your free rental valuation.

	Our average Landlord saves a months rent over a 12 month period by using us as oppose to a High Street Letting Agent.

	Fully managed from only 8%!
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2522/rental-demand-outstripping-supply</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:41:08 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2522/rental-demand-outstripping-supply</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>renew-north-staffordshire-middleport-stoke-on-trent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I was pleased to read in The Sentinel newspaper that Renew North Staffordshire are starting work again in Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent. It is reported that they are demolishing 150 houses, with work commencing next month.

	The site has been earmarked for commercial use. This has&nbsp;to be good for the area which is in desperate need of new jobs.

	I hope that work gets underway soon and that the site is put to good use.

	&nbsp;&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2521/renew-north-staffordshire-middleport-stoke-on-trent</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:55:37 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2521/renew-north-staffordshire-middleport-stoke-on-trent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>can-an-estate-agent-sell-out-of-their-geographical-area</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Back in 2007, I was working in Cheadle, Staffordshire on the high street for a&nbsp;traditional estate agent. Geographically we covered properties in a 5 mile radius and went no further, quite frankly like many high street agents we didn&rsquo;t think we were capable of selling properties outside of our immediate target area. One particular day, my head office rang. They had someone who wanted a valuation and it was too far for them to cover. They asked me if I would go. &ldquo;Of course&rdquo;, I said, &ldquo;where is it?&rdquo; Far from being Timbuktu or the like, it was only actually in Newcastle-under-Lyme which is 15 miles away from Cheadle. Having worked in Newcastle in the past, I was familiar with the area.

	Grateful as I was to be passed the work, the infuriating thing was that my head office would normally quite happily encroach on my area depriving me of valuable instructions, but now wanted me to go out and do one for them as they deemed it too far out!

	As much as I had agreed to go out, I was sceptical with thoughts of could we sell this with it being so far out? Off I went. The valuation went well and the house was in one of Newcastle&rsquo;s most desirable areas the &lsquo;Westlands&rsquo;. In addition to me, they had three other agents out and I was pleased to get the business. The property came on at over &pound;250k. From memory, the asking price was around &pound;269,950. The other agents that they had in were charging &nbsp;lower percentage fees, so I ended up doing the vendors a deal on the fee. I think I settled on a fixed fee of somewhere in the region of &pound;2,000.

	I went back to the office with doubts still in my mind. Would it stick on the market due to it being just over the stamp duty threshold? I&rsquo;m in Cheadle, do they need a Newcastle agent?

	I needn&rsquo;t have worried. I had agreed a sale within a week, very close to the asking price. A family moving into the area bought the property. They found it on Rightmove.co.uk.

	The internet had come up trumps for me and my lack of presence on Newcastle high street had not been a deterring factor.

	Ironically the seller asked if they could have a fee reduction due to the fact I sold their house so quickly! I did not reduce my fee and the sale went through to a smooth completion. If they were dealing with me now, they would of course have looked at my &nbsp;fee options and probably chosen one of our low cost selling options, saving them a lot of money.

	At least selling the property so quickly and painlessly, I had a small victory over my head office. They at times tended to treat other branches like competitors and not the same company!

	Findahome Online have agreed a sale this week 20 miles away from our office, proving yet again that you don&rsquo;t need an expensive premises on the local high street to sell property.

	Providing the property is offered at the right price and presented well, it will sell.

	Our client, whose property we have agreed a sale for this week, will save a whopping &pound;2,443. We are capable of selling a property of any price, in any location.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2520/can-an-estate-agent-sell-out-of-their-geographical-area</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:06:19 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2520/can-an-estate-agent-sell-out-of-their-geographical-area</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>kate-moss-property-sale</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I read with interest in one of the Sunday newspapers that the model Kate Moss has her property up for sale.

	She purchased it for &pound;8 Million in 2007. According to the report she has already reduced the price down to &pound;7 Million due to a lack of interest. The article cited the fact that the property was situated just away from the most sought-after addresses in this particular part of London.

	My view is that, given the market conditions, Ms Moss could do with reducing further to attract a buyer. It appears that even buyers at the top end of the housing market are feeling the pinch!

	What is scary is that your average home seller may drop their price by &pound;5,000 - &pound;10,000. In Kate Moss&rsquo;s world, price reductions are in the &pound;500,000&nbsp; - &pound;1 Million bracket. How the other half live&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;&hellip;.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2519/kate-moss-property-sale</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:56:46 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2519/kate-moss-property-sale</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>bickering-amongst-estate-agents</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As you are all aware, I put quite a bit of effort into social media. &nbsp;I am a prolific tweeter and also dip my toe into facebook and linkedin. I also write blogs on estate agency news stories. I am genuinely interested in the property business, always looking for new ideas and keen to keep up to date with all the latest goings on. Social media has opened up a big world with individuals and companies putting their views across and giving the public an insight into their business.

	One thing that I have noticed recently is more and more back-stabbing creeping in, with Estate Agents slating each other and criticising each other&rsquo;s business models. It really isn&rsquo;t good to see, as we are all in the same business. Worse still is that clients and potential clients can also see the rubbish that is being typed. As I&rsquo;ve said in previous blogs, you can tell a lot about someone&rsquo;s personality from how they behave on social media websites. Running my own business and working 6 days a week, I don&rsquo;t get much time to access these sites. It amazes me that these people spend so much time on social networking sites - let alone slating each other!

	The people involved in this are not people to whom I am connected in social media. I have only come across them as, from time to time, they appear on the radar.

	If these agents spent more time concentrating on their own businesses, they may see better results. It&rsquo;s not good to see this practice creeping into the virtual world. There&rsquo;s enough of it going on in the real world. Estate agents reading this, may well have had a rival publicly slagging them off at one time. Sadly this goes on. Real bad practice and something no client likes to hear, you cannot get much lower. The same principle applies in the virtual world, you never know who&rsquo;s watching!!

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2518/bickering-amongst-estate-agents</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:55:22 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2518/bickering-amongst-estate-agents</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>house-prices</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Every month, the latest house price statistics are released. (It seems more often, I have to say.) Normally reported by banks, they generally differ. One lender will say they have dropped, another will state that they have risen. Who do you believe and where do they actually get the data from?

	The only data that should count is the price of the properties which are selling. This is the only true reflection of the market, as asking prices can often be inflated.

	We, as a nation, seem to have this preoccupation with house prices. Why? I don&rsquo;t know, as you are only ever going to realise the value of your home if you ever come to sell it. If you do sell and it&rsquo;s worth, for example, less than it was last year, why should this matter, as the cost of the one you buy will also have dropped.

	The only people who lose out are those who are selling investment properties or those selling and moving into rented accommodation.

	As I keep saying to my sellers, &ldquo;You buy and sell in whatever market you are in.&rdquo;

	One of my favourite sayings is &ldquo;A property is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it&rdquo;- so true, and should not be forgotten, whatever the market conditions.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2517/house-prices</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2517/house-prices</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>is-your-estate-agent-regulated</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In the next month or so, my professional affiliation memberships are up for renewal. Findahome Online are members of The National Association of Estate Agents and Ombudsman Schemes for Sales and Lettings. I personally feel that being regulated and having professional affiliations is very important, not just for my business but also for the consumer. If a vendor or purchaser is dealing with a regulated agent, at least they know there is some form of redress.

	I strong believe the government has to bring in some form of compulsory regulation. As it stands now, anyone can set themselves up as an estate agent. I know of agents who don&rsquo;t bother at all with any professional affiliations and therefore are not regulated. People still use these agents without realising that should something go wrong they have no redress at all.

	I will be renewing my subscriptions, but it doesn&rsquo;t half annoy me knowing that others can carry on running estate agencies without the necessary policies and safeguards in place to protect the consumer. The sooner compulsory regulation is brought in the better.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2516/is-your-estate-agent-regulated</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:47:30 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2516/is-your-estate-agent-regulated</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>looking-forward-to-spring</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	February has been our best month since Findahome Online launched. We have achieved record sales and had our best month for income generated.

	Our letting arm is also going well. As buoyant as the current rental market is, we would welcome more rental properties to satisfy demand. Please call us today for your free sale or rental valuation.

	We are proud to be Stoke-on-Trent&rsquo;s first and only virtual estate agency.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2515/looking-forward-to-spring</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:10:43 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2515/looking-forward-to-spring</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>social-media</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	&nbsp;

	On the 30th April 2010, I joined twitter and typed my first tweet. I had read various pieces in the national press that social media was going to be the new big thing and great for businesses to advertise their name free of charge. What started off as an experiment has now turned into an everyday part of my life. I would say on average I send 5 tweets a day. For anyone who doesn&rsquo;t understand twitter, here&rsquo;s a basic guide:

	&nbsp;

	
		The twitter user types in 140 characters with what&rsquo;s on their mind. This can be anything - things they are doing, how they are feeling, their plans, or a topical news story.
	
		You follow like-minded people or friends. By following, I mean you get access to their tweets and see what they are doing or talking about. I follow estate agents the length and breadth of the country as well as my friends locally.
	
		There is twitter etiquette [a form of &ldquo;netiquette&rdquo;]. If someone follows you, you follow them also. You do this regardless of their location or interests. The only people I draw the line at following are people who spam you or people involved in the adult entertainment industry! If you reciprocate in following and are friendly, you will gain more followers. Many people, who fail to follow in return, lose followers very quickly. If I find someone has stopped following me, I stop following them too.
	
		When you have some followers, you interact with them and reply to their tweets. You find yourself building friendships in the virtual world. It&rsquo;s crazy really, but after a while you have your own set of twitter friends whom, the majority of the time, you have never met! Your relationship with them has been built on &ldquo;talking&rdquo; to them, using 140 characters a couple of times a week. In my local area of Stoke-on-Trent and I&rsquo;m sure they are going on all over the UK, we have recently seen a &lsquo;tweet up&rsquo; organised. This is an event where people go to meet people they know on twitter but have never met in person.
	
		As a business, I am very careful what I tweet about. You will often find twitter accounts stating that the views are of the person, not of the company they are representing. This is put in place in order that the company is not sued if something inflammatory is tweeted. Swearing is also a big no &ndash; no. It&rsquo;s some thing I would never do on twitter and I don&rsquo;t like seeing it from other people.


	&nbsp;

	The content you post on twitter has to be varied, and interacting with your followers is key. Some estate agents don&rsquo;t use it properly. All they actually tweet is their new property instructions. This is very faceless and short-sighted. Have these agents actually looked and seen how many of their followers are looking to buy? Very few, I would think.

	I&rsquo;m not advocating not listing properties on there (we do). It&rsquo;s just better to vary what content you put on.

	Social media is a very powerful tool and all about networking. When you look at networking, it&rsquo;s probably the laziest form available. You don&rsquo;t even have to leave your desk to interact. Either that, or sitting on the sofa using your smart phone. Most modern mobiles have social networking sites available to use.

	Social networking is about familiarity. If I needed a service, and had interacted with someone on twitter, I would be likely to use their services.

	I follow Barnes Blinds, a blinds company from Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, and regularly interact with Adam Barnes, one of their managers. &nbsp;Last week I had a query on some blinds in a property for one of my descriptions. I sent Adam Barnes a tweet and within 5 minutes he had tweeted me back a reply and the answer to my query. This shows the power of twitter. It&rsquo;s most likely that he responded off his smart phone. Twitter is accessible anywhere! I have never met Adam in person, but if I needed blinds, or had a property that did, I would not hesitate in contacting him. Who&rsquo;s responsible for this - twitter!!

	As an independent estate agent, I enjoy networking on twitter with other like-minded estate agents. In the past before we moved into this digital age, I was a manager in corporate estate agency. There I would just pick the phone up and speak to a colleague and have a chat. Now I will get onto twitter and interact with other agents with whom I have something in common.

	Twitter can be cliquey. There are a lot of people on there who claim to be experts when in fact they know very little! In fact, it&rsquo;s very much like the real world. You will get people showing off, rude people, nice people and people with a sense of humour. It&rsquo;s amazing, but after a while you can see people&rsquo;s personalities coming through even in a virtual world.

	Every Friday, twitter users recommend their twitter friends to others. This is called Follow Friday or #ff (the shortened version that twitter users use). All your followers see this, in addition to the people you are recommending.

	&nbsp;

	It would be nice to think that buyers or tenants would use twitter and facebook to find a property. I can&rsquo;t see this happening soon. Twitter and facebook are social media platforms and not property portals. I would be interested to hear if anyone had ever sold or let a property this way. I suppose one thing about the social media sites is that it is instant. So if someone did see a new instruction on there, they may have seen the property quicker than if they waited to see it on the property portals. (It can take 24 hours to upload onto Rightmove.)

	&nbsp;

	As I have previously stated, we have recently taken on our first sales instruction directly from facebook. This came from a lady who had worked with one of my colleagues over 10 years ago. We would probably not have had a call to this property if it wasn&rsquo;t for facebook. Familiarity comes into play. People like dealing with people they know. My cars are looked after by a friend of mine &nbsp;with whom I used to play rugby. I would not go anywhere else. Trust and wanting to give someone you know the work, plays a large part.

	&nbsp;

	I hear Linked In is going to be the next big thing. This is another networking site where people connect. I am on there. I haven&rsquo;t done a great deal with it, but it looks and feels a lot like facebook.

	&nbsp;

	More and more companies are offering their facebook and twitter followers incentives to use their services. I think this is quite a good idea and will encourage more people to follow their company on social media. In this day and age, it&rsquo;s all about exposure.

	Rightmove have stated this week that they are getting 3 times more people now coming onto their site from social media. This tells its own story.

	&nbsp;

	I am pleased to see more and more estate agents using twitter and facebook. Those that don&rsquo;t are, quite frankly, missing an opportunity. Times are changing and moving on. We&rsquo;ve got to move with the times.

	&nbsp;

	There are also celebrities and public figures who use twitter. Twitter, a site used for banter, comments and light-hearted observations, gives us the opportunity to look into the lives of celebrities and others.

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;It&rsquo;s almost a year since I made those tentative first tweets, I am now pleased to say I have tweeted over a 1000 times and I have nearly a 1000 followers. We are putting a lot into facebook at the moment, especially since we had our first instruction from there last week.

	Be proud of what you do and what you offer and utilise the powerful world of social media.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2514/social-media</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 26 Feb 2011 19:39:36 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2514/social-media</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>letting-market-february-2011</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	We have successfully taken applications on two of our rental properties this week. Tenants were found for both properties within a few days of going on the market.

	Rightmove and Findaproperty.com provided the leads.

	If you have a property to let and don&rsquo;t want to pay extortionate High Street fees, then please give Findahome Online a call today.

	We offer excellent personal service and will save you considerable money.

	See our letting a home page for details of our service.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2513/letting-market-february-2011</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:29:06 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2513/letting-market-february-2011</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>new-year-special-offer-ending-soon</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Findahome Online&rsquo;s New Year special offer ends on the 28th &nbsp;February 2011. Call us today for your free valuation. Instruct us before 1st March 2011 to qualify for this fantastic offer.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2512/new-year-special-offer-ending-soon</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:21:08 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2512/new-year-special-offer-ending-soon</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>first-time-buyers-in-2011</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Being a first time buyer in 2011 is not easy as big deposits are required. This is at a time when everyone&rsquo;s income is stretched due to the cuts we&rsquo;ve seen and the rising cost of living.

	How times have changed in the last few years. In the middle of the last decade, I ran a High Street estate agents in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. 80% of the properties we sold were to first time buyers. On the back of these sales, my office normally got the buyer&rsquo;s mortgage. We had a full-time mortgage adviser. Around 90% of the mortgages written were 100% mortgages, the majority of these were placed with Northern Rock.

	Reckless irresponsible lending could not continue and we all know about the near collapse of Northern Rock and the subsequent bail-out by the government.

	As an estate agent back then, I, like other agents, was certainly not complaining about the reckless lending; it was fuelling my property sales and keeping the market moving.

	I can see why the lending criteria has been tightened, but&nbsp; find it frustrating as it has sent many first time buyers into hibernation! The lack of first time buyers not only affects the bottom end of the market but also sends a ripple right through to the top end. Every chain has to start somewhere.

	We have agreed sales on three first time buyer properties in recent weeks and I can tell you I have taken great satisfaction in agreeing those sales, in such a difficult market.

	Typical minimum deposits required for first time buyers are 10%. It is very hard for people to save such a deposit especially in certain parts of the country where property values remain high. Many people are relying on parents to assist them financially, others are having to save themselves.

	I have a good friend who is looking to buy his first home. He, by his own admission, should have bought years ago, as he is now frantically saving for a deposit.

	He earns a good wage and with the banks old lending criteria he would have easily bought a house by now. I will keep you posted on his progress as a first time buyer in 2011.

	As an estate agent, I want to see the banks lending more. However this has to be done sensibly.

	If one good thing is to come out of the recession/credit crunch, it is that perhaps first time buyers are now learning the value of money and having to save up to buy their first home.

	We&rsquo;ve seen rising numbers of repossessions in recent years. Hopefully, tighter lending restrictions will see the number of these decrease. This can only be good for all parties concerned.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2511/first-time-buyers-in-2011</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:19:41 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2511/first-time-buyers-in-2011</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>new-instruction-from-facebook-social-media</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I am going to put a property up for sale tomorrow which has come directly from one of the Findahome team&#39;s Facebook account.

	Social media is far reaching and i believe its going to be a real growth area for businesses in the years to come. Any business that isn&#39;t embracing social media will get left behind.

	&nbsp;Facebook and Twitter are very powerful platforms,&nbsp;I would&nbsp;think some people spend more time socialising&nbsp;in the virtual world than they do in the real world.

	People like familiarity and people they trust, if you&#39;ve got a friend or acquaintance in a certain profession; 9 times out of 10 you will&nbsp;use them&nbsp;if you require a service they offer.

	I think social media is an excellent way of getting your business name out there and i am a big fan. Full blog coming soon on social media and the impact it has made on the estate agency world. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2510/new-instruction-from-facebook-social-media</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:38:31 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2510/new-instruction-from-facebook-social-media</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>the-importance-of-inspections-on-rented-properties-cannabis-farms</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As a landlord or letting agent, it is vital that you visit any properties that you manage at least every three months. Speaking to a landlord this week, they informed me that a letting agent they had used to manage their property had not visited for 12 months! This is unacceptable as there could have been serious damage to the property over that period of time. On the letting agents&rsquo; part this was very bad practice. I&rsquo;m sure they were very happy to take their % of the rent on a monthly basis.

	One of the main reasons the rental property needs to be inspected regularly is the increasing problem of people growing cannabis. 15 years ago most of the cannabis in this country was imported from Europe. Times have changed; now 90% of cannabis in the UK is grown here, much of it in residential properties.

	If people are growing cannabis in a unnatural environment the damage to property can be catastrophic. In addition to this, the electrics in the property are also normally tampered with which can result in serious damage to the electricity supply. People who either grow it to smoke or to supply cannabis may look like any normal tenant, this is why it is vital to visit the property a minimum of every three months. &nbsp;When inspecting the property, you must go into every room. Going into all rooms is important as there could be damage that the tenant is trying to hide. I know of a rental property where every time the agent went to inspect, one of the tenants was in bed; he was apparently a night shift worker. When the tenants moved out, the agent found there to be damage in that particular bedroom. In this situation, the agent would have been better picking another time to inspect when all rooms were accessible. If it is explained to tenants when they sign the lease that as a letting agent this is what you are going to need to do every three months, then there should be no problems.

	When we do our three monthly inspections we get a nice warm welcome from our tenants. They understand that we are acting on behalf of the Landlord and as part of the agreement need to make sure everything is in order. Our inspections are also there for the tenant to tell us if there are any maintenance issues that they may want us to raise with the Landlord.

	Inspections are there for a reason and something every Landlord or Letting Agent should do as a matter of course. I am often seeing reports in my local paper about the latest Cannabis farm they have discovered. 9 times out of 10 they are in rented properties. For every report I see, a letting agent or landlord is responsible for that property. Letting agents and landlords must tighten up, otherwise the cost in the long run to them could be significant.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2509/the-importance-of-inspections-on-rented-properties-cannabis-farms</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:49:40 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2509/the-importance-of-inspections-on-rented-properties-cannabis-farms</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>eastenders-faulty-boiler-storyline-heather-trott</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	It was interesting to see Eastenders tackling the issue of faulty boilers in last nights episode. For anyone who didn&#39;t see it;&nbsp;poor&nbsp;Heather&nbsp;Trott (played brilliantly by Cheryl Fergison) was intoxicated by poisonous fumes coming from her central heating boiler.&nbsp;

	I hope the Eastenders scriptwriters show the Landlord being&nbsp;punished if they were at fault.&nbsp;Was Heather given a valid&nbsp;Gas Safety Certificate when she moved in?

	If Eastenders get this story right, it might encourage Landlords to check when their last&nbsp;Gas Safety Certifcate was&nbsp;issued.&nbsp;If this storyline can save lives, then it can only be a good thing. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2508/eastenders-faulty-boiler-storyline-heather-trott</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:33:43 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2508/eastenders-faulty-boiler-storyline-heather-trott</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>mary-portas-secret-shopper-estate-agents-the-aftermath</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	I wasn&rsquo;t intending to write a blog on this programme as, quite frankly, I don&rsquo;t think there was a great deal for anyone to learn from it. However, I&rsquo;ve been pushed into writing to put my side of things across. I made a comment on Twitter during the programme which was &lsquo;Mary&rsquo;s really missing the point here, we work for the seller!! Who points out the negatives? That&rsquo;s why the buyer gets a survey.&rsquo;

	I posted this comment after Mary had challenged the agent on why they had not included in the sales particulars that there was a crack in the wall. An agent does not need to include this in a set of particulars, nor would they take a photograph of it. If a property needs updating, an estate agent will give this information verbally and state it on the sales particulars. If an agent misleads verbally or on the particulars then they are liable for prosecution under the Property Misdescriptions Act. What Mary didn&rsquo;t seem to grasp was that it is our job to sell the property and market it the best way we can. I don&rsquo;t mean by lying or misleading. Every property for sale at the moment in the UK will have negative points, no property is perfect. It&rsquo;s down to the buyer to research what these negative points are in order to make an informed choice. The estate agent is instructed and employed by the seller.Whilst a duty of care is offered to buyer and seller, ultimately the agent&rsquo;s loyalty lies with the seller. Estate agents the length and breadth of this country will tell you that vendors are their prime concern, without compromising their professionalism.

	If I asked all of my vendors if they wished for me to point out the negatives on their property, I know what 100% of them would say, a bit fat NO. The current market is hard enough at the moment, without estate agents stating what&rsquo;s wrong with their property stock.&nbsp; &nbsp;

	I thought the programme was poor from the start. &lsquo;Random&rsquo; people interviewed on the street and guess what?-not a single one of them had a good word to say about estate agents-what a surprise! I could see the way the programme was going . As I said at the beginning of this, I didn&rsquo;t get a lot from this programme at all. Being based in London, it was not a good reflection of estate agents in the rest of the UK.

	Yes,I&rsquo;m sure there are other estate agents with spiked hair (the main negotiator) and a weeks worth of stubble, but on the whole estate agents are pretty normal looking people. Okay, he exaggerated by over stating the number of viewings he had booked etc.and I wonder about his motive for doing this- was it to provide &lsquo;good television viewing&rsquo;?

	The training on how to conduct a viewing was a good idea in principle, but in reality with large property stocks, very hard to implement. In my view, the vendor is the best person to show a potential viewer around as it is their home. In my experience, viewings are only generally accompanied if the vendor insists or it&rsquo;s an empty property. People in my locality in the Midlands would laugh me out of the door if I conducted a viewing in the way shown on the TV last night. Where I am it&rsquo;s a very straight-talking area.

	The programme ended with news that a viewing had taken place after the negotiator&rsquo;s training, resulting in an asking price offer. This was so convenient and a great result for C4. Would the prospective buyer have offered anyway &ndash; of course they would!

	The biased and negative view of estate agents throughout the programme certainly rubbed off on the viewing public. I wrote one tweet in support of agents and their role working on behalf of the seller and suddenly I was getting grief from all comers.

	Anybody who believes an estate agent should point out negatives to a buyer is very misguided. An agent should act honestly and with integrity but their loyalty is to the seller. Always has been and always will.

	It&rsquo;s one of the first things that you are told in training &lsquo;We work for the seller&rsquo; &lsquo;They pay our bill&rsquo;

	I got so much grief last night, I believe, because I dared to speak up against the programme and their belief that estate agents are not to be trusted. I treat buyers and sellers in an equally professional way. Many of our buyers are now sellers so that tells its own story.

	It really makes me wonder what people on Twitter think we estate agents do to buyers. Tie them up and force them to buy; march them down to the local mortgage adviser; force them to sign the contract?!

	It just shows you how powerful the media is and how much people actually believe that what they see on television is reality.

	There are good and bad in all professions. Some of us estate agents are actually quite normal, just trying to go about our business, serving our clients be they vendors, buyers, landlords or tenants.

	As an estate agent of 14 years and a member of the National Association of Estate Agents since 2002, I simply would neither attempt nor get away with treating buyers in a bad way. It does annoy me that the media have put out this programme and that some people are foolish enough to believe it totally.

	
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2507/mary-portas-secret-shopper-estate-agents-the-aftermath</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:18:14 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2507/mary-portas-secret-shopper-estate-agents-the-aftermath</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>what-is-a-modern-day-estate-agent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	As we go into 2011 and make our way into a new decade, estate agency models and ways of doing business are changing.

	I&rsquo;ve seen a lot written recently on blogs and on Twitter in relation to this matter.

	Some people welcome the changes, others are sceptical.

	I believe that a modern day estate agent can pretty much work anywhere: High Street, Business Park, or home based. It&rsquo;s what the agent does that sets them apart from the competition.

	What you should look for in a modern estate agent:

	
		Good Online coverage on major property portals
	
		Newspaper advertising&nbsp; - Some buyers still don&rsquo;t have access to the internet
	
		6 day a week opening- Amazingly in this day and age, I know of estate agents who close on Saturdays &ndash; crazy
	
		A friendly, enthusiastic, motivated sales team. These are the people who will be selling your home. You don&rsquo;t want a damp squib on the other end of the phone.
	
		Recommendations- Speak to friends, family or colleagues. Look at testimonials on agent&rsquo;s websites.
	
		Accessibility of the person who came out and conducted your market appraisal. You may have built up a rapport and trust with them. You need to ensure that they are available should there be any problems.
	
		After sales service- A good agent will follow your sale through to completion and keep you regularly updated.
	
		Have they sold anything in your area? If so they should have buyers/contact waiting. Ask them if they have.
	
		Ensure your agent markets properties in their best light. Good photographs and visual selling tools (Floorplans etc) are vital in the modern day.&nbsp;
	
		A modern estate agent should be approachable via social media. Are they on Facebook and Twitter?.


	&nbsp;

	A modern estate agent comes in all shapes and sizes.

	My advice is to go in with an open mind and get at least 3 estate agents out to make an appraisal.

	Judge everyone on their own merits. Just because an agent charges 2% and has a double fronted High Street premises does not guarantee a good agent. The same can be said of online estate agents who charge circa &pound;500. They may be cheap yet could still offer a far higher level of service than their fees suggest.

	&nbsp;

	I am glad the estate agency business model is changing; it is opening up the industry and giving vendors a wider choice of who they can use. Some estate agents became complacent when the market was stronger and their service levels dropped. The credit crunch/recession has been tough on everyone; one good thing that has come out of it is seeing estate agents working harder. During the good times many people high up in estate agency spent a lot of time on the golf course or in the wine bar. When you look around now there are a lot of company directors back on the front line fee earning.

	&nbsp;Now in a tougher market agents need to go out there and get the business and do a good job once they&rsquo;ve got the instruction.

	A modern day estate agent is working more hours than ever before. I&rsquo;m certainly having to work more hours now than I was 5 or 6 years ago and the market then was far more productive. I would put this down mainly to the fact that in those days estate agents had staff for every possible role in the office. The modern day estate agent is a multi tasker. If&nbsp; I use myself as an example, I&rsquo;ve been typing my own sales details since 2004. There is no way old fashioned estate agents would even contemplate typing sales details themselves. Another thing that is extending agents working hours is the development of smart phones. E-mails coming through to mobiles, means an agent doesn&rsquo;t really switch off in the evenings. At one time you closed the office at 5.30 and then were not contactable. Some nights a modern agent will be responding to e-mails or making phone calls.

	In the present economic climate a modern agent will deal with both sales and lettings. Gone are the days when an agent could just specialise in one field. The income generated from both disciplines is vital for any estate agency business.

	If you are looking for a fresh approach to your marketing give a modern agent a call,&nbsp; email them, facebook them or tweet them!! Embrace the modern agent, they may be a refreshing change from the boring old estate agent you remember.

	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It&rsquo;s a big market place, I welcome the new models and the new improved modern agent.

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2506/what-is-a-modern-day-estate-agent</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:19:21 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2506/what-is-a-modern-day-estate-agent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>how-the-internet-has-changed-estate-agency</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	How The Internet Has Changed Estate Agency

	&nbsp;

	I remember in 2000 when I was working for a large corporate estate agency, one day, computers arrived in our office. Prior to this point, we were like most other estate agents and worked completely from paper and had a member of staff who typed the brochures on a typewriter.

	&nbsp;Like most people, I am not a great fan of change. So when these computers turned up, I piped up &lsquo;This will never take off. &nbsp;&nbsp;What do we need these for? &lsquo;

	In those days, not many people had PCs in their homes and although the internet was up and running, few people had access to it.

	The agent I was working for had teamed up with some other corporate estate agents and built and designed a new website which would display every property each agent had up for sale. The new computers would give us access to this site, in order for us to show our properties to potential buyers.

	Rightmove was launched.

	At the time, we could not understand why our company would want to team up with some of its fiercest competitors to set this site up. Ten years on, it of course makes perfect sense.

	The internet has revolutionized the way properties are searched for and viewed. Everything is so accessible now, gone are the days when you would trawl the high street picking up a mountain of brochures, some with only one photograph on. Nowadays, the internet is the first place you look. On here you can find multiple photographs, full details, virtual tours and floorplans.

	Rightmove and the other property portal websites are so easy to navigate. Having all the properties for all subscribing estate agents on one site is genius, a buyer&rsquo;s dream, saving them a lot of leg work.

	The buyer can see and do everything they need on these sites. In theory a buyer need not step into an estate agent&rsquo;s office prior to purchasing a home. It amazes me that it has taken so long to get to this stage. After all, estate agencies are not like other high street shops where you physically buy something. All they have ever had on display are photographs of homes; you can&rsquo;t pick them up and take them home with you!

	The internet&rsquo;s influence on estate agency will continue to grow as time moves on. Already we are seeing the major property portals introducing &lsquo;apps&rsquo; for mobile phones, this would have been unheard of 5 years ago. The future looks bright for our industry and any improvements in technology can only aid our main objective, which is selling or letting a home.

	I was a technophobe and frightened of change. I am not any more and have embraced the new technology available, even building a business on the back of it.

	It will be interesting to see what changes, we will see in the next 10 years.
 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2505/how-the-internet-has-changed-estate-agency</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:46:32 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2505/how-the-internet-has-changed-estate-agency</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>choosing-an-online-estate-agent</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	Before I start I want to make one thing clear, a good online estate agent is no different from a High Street agent in the way they work, or market their properties. The only difference is the obvious one which is a lack of presence on the High Street. I really don&rsquo;t see this as a deterring factor as many High Streets these days resemble ghost towns and have more shops empty than occupied. This is a sad fact, due to people&rsquo;s shopping habits having changed in recent years, the recession/credit crunch, out of town supermarkets and the rise in online purchases.&nbsp; There are more and more online agents popping up as internet marketing really takes over in our industry. Five years ago Online Estate Agents were virtually unheard of, only a couple of notable ones were around, namely Home Sale Network and Hatched. These two agents along with House Simple and the Little House Company have taken instructions off &lsquo;High Street&rsquo; Agents the length and breadth of the country. In the last 7 years Home Sale Network claims to have saved successful home sellers a staggering &pound;13,321,524.

	Findahome Online&rsquo;s average customer saves &pound;1500 - &pound;2,500. It&rsquo;s easy to see how big amounts of money saved soon add up!

	As online estate agents we don&rsquo;t have expensive High Street offices to service, our savings are passed on to our clients. Most online agents are set up with similar business models; pay a small fee upfront and that pays for your marketing until you sell. Most online agents&rsquo; lowest fees are from &pound;349 +Vat - &pound;450 +Vat. This fee would be payable on instruction and pays for the service in full. If a seller chooses to pay this way there is normally no fee on completion. Findahome Online&rsquo;s lowest selling fee is &pound;399.(Any Property/Any Area/Any Price) We also offer two further options one of which is the traditional model of No Sale &ndash; No Fee.

	The majority of online agents offer three options, most of which include some form of upfront fee. The rule of thumb is the more you pay up front the less you pay in total and on completion.

	When choosing an online agent, have a look at their website. Is it user friendly and attractive to potential buyers as well as sellers?

	Ring the online agent, your main port of call with them will be by phone or e-mail. Is the person who answered the phone professional and enthusiastic?

	Look at where they are based. If they are in Essex and you are in the North, find an online agent closer to where you are. They are more likely to arrive on time and know a bit more about the area.

	*Important* - make sure the agent visits your property. It has come to my attention this week that some online agents are not visiting properties if they are out of their immediate area. Instead, they are asking independent Energy Assessors to measure up and take photographs on their behalf. This is contravening the Property Misdescriptions Act. Online sales valuations are not acceptable, the agent should visit.

	Findahome Online will travel anywhere in England and Wales and will do a proper old-fashioned sales valuation, gathering comparable evidence from Rightmove and the Land Registry.

	Make sure your online agent has a good range of visual selling tools. Many do Floorplans, &nbsp;but make sure these are offered as standard. Findahome Online offer Floorplans on all packages as well as Virtual Tours on all rooms with two of our options.

	Check that the agent offers regular updates whilst you are on the market and chases the sale once it&rsquo;s sold.

	Advertising on the major property portal websites is a necessity especially Rightmove which is the UK&rsquo;s number one and quite rightly so.

	Ensure that you have a rapport with the agent. If your home doesn&rsquo;t sell quickly you will need to build up trust with your agent as your property may be up for sale longer than you had hoped for.

	Many Online agents are members of professional bodies, so look out for NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) and the Ombudsman Scheme/OFT logos.

	Findahome Online are members of the NAEA and the Ombudsman Scheme for Sales and Lettings.

	Another misconception is that online agents are computer &ldquo;geeks&rdquo;. This is not the case and many are like Findahome Online, traditional estate agents who are now trading over the web. Ensure the agent you use has traditional values.

	Online estate agency is the future, the High Street model in most areas is no longer sustainable. Tesco and their estate agency arm, isold, would not have got involved in our industry if they didn&rsquo;t see a potential business opportunity. We will see how well they do in time.

	Rather than taking a walk down your local High Street looking for an agent to sell your home, why don&rsquo;t you go online and take a look at the range of Online estate agents. You might be surprised at what you see and if you sell with one of us, you might save yourself a load of money into the bargain!!

	&nbsp;

	&nbsp; ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2502/choosing-an-online-estate-agent</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:57:20 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2502/choosing-an-online-estate-agent</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>home-buying-guide</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	

	This home buying guide is particularly for the first time buyer.

	A step by step guide to buying a home.

	
		Arrange an appointment with an independent mortgage advisor. Take with you details of your salary and how much money you can put down as a deposit.


	Why not take advantage of our FREE &quot;Agreement in Principle&quot;? It is produced by one of our recommended &quot;whole of market&quot; qualified independent mortgage advisers, guaranteed to find you the cheapest and most appropriate mortgage to suit your circumstances. One of our negotiators will forward on your details with your consent.

	This will save time and disappointment further down the line and put you in a much better negotiating position.

	
		Once you know what you can borrow, decide on an area where you want to buy.
	
		Register with estate agents. Look at properties on the internet, visiting the major portal sites.
	
		View properties. When choosing a property, consider its location, size, how long you intend to live there and resaleability.
	
		Once you have found a property of your choice, arrange to see your mortgage advisor again.
	
		Choose a mortgage deal that best suits your circumstances.
	
		Shop round for a conveyancing solicitor. Instruct a solicitor and pay for a survey to be carried out. A home buyer&rsquo;s survey is more in-depth than a mortgage valuation.
	
		Having one of these will give you more peace of mind. If you have fears about the property&#39;s structure, then get a full structural survey.
	
		Your solicitor progresses the sale.
	
		The agent you are buying through should keep you updated on how your purchase is progressing.
	
		You will get your mortgage offer.
	
		Sign the contract, pay the deposit and set a completion date.
	
		Exchange contracts.

 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2501/home-buying-guide</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:57:17 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2501/home-buying-guide</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>guide-to-selling-your-home</title>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
	In a tough market, it is important to get your property to stand out from the crowd. Here are our top tips for selling: Research the market prior to inviting estate agents out to the property.

	

	
		Use websites such as Rightmove.co.uk to see what has sold on your road and for what price.
	
		Look to see if there are any similar properties up for sale and see how they compare to yours.
	
		Invite 3 estate agents out to value your property (including us of course!) Findahome Online (National) Estate &amp; Letting Agents are qualified members of the National Association of Estate Agents, and are regulated by the Ombudsman Scheme&frasl;Office of Fair Trading for sales and lettings.
	
		Find out what internet coverage each agent can offer. You need to be on all the major property portals. 90% of buyers use the internet.
	
		Have a look at each agent&#39;s website, imagining you are a buyer.
	
		Don&#39;t be flattered by the highest valuation. Remain realistic with your pricing. Properties that are overpriced won&#39;t sell quickly and can become stale.
	
		Once you have chosen an agent, the marketing can commence.
	
		Make sure the exterior has kerb appeal. Keep lawns cut and complete any necessary outside painting. Lots of viewers drive past before booking a viewing. They won&#39;t buy if they don&#39;t get over the threshold!
	
		Book viewings at a time that shows the property in a good light. For example, plan your viewing time carefully if the property is on a busy road or by a school.
	
		When someone comes to view, make sure the house is presentable and free of clutter. If there&#39;s lots of clutter, it can make the biggest of rooms look small.
	
		If you have a small 3rd bedroom, put a bed into it so people can see that it is functional.
	
		Open windows prior to the viewing to let air in. Keep pets out of the way. Most of us love pets but some people are not keen.
	
		Stay relaxed when people are looking around. You may like to offer them a cup of tea. Answer honestly any questions they ask.
	
		Once they have viewed, avoid discussing offers. Leave that to us.
	
		Do not disclose too much information. If the viewers think you are desperate to sell, they may put in a low offer.
	
		Findahome chases every viewing the next day and will report the feedback to you straight away.

 ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2500/guide-to-selling-your-home</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:56:43 +0000</pubDate>
      <author><![CDATA[ Find A Home Online ]]></author>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.findahomeonline.co.uk/blog/2500/guide-to-selling-your-home</guid>
    </item>
  </channel></rss>