SOUTH KENSINGTON ESTATE AGENTS - Find property, houses and estate agents in South Kensington.

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Estate & Letting Agents covering South Kensington

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Adam and Sons Estates, 11 The Vale, Acton, London, W3 7SH, 0208 743 7234.
Adam Smith Residential, 22 Craven Terrace, Hyde Park, London , W2 3QH, 020 3005 7555.
Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings, 5 Thackeray Street, Kensington, London, W8 5ET, 020 7938 3522.
Birch and Company, Suite 8, Westminster Palace Gardens, 1 - 7 Artillery Road, London, SW1P 1RL, 020 7734 7432.
Black Katz, 78 Borough High Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 1LL, 020 7403 5010.
Black Katz, 24 Shepherds Bush Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 7PJ, 020 7371 2333.
Brik, Fulham Studios, 17 - 21 Wyfold Road, Fulham, London, SW6 6SE, 020 7385 0870.
Brompton Ltd, 36 Kings Road, Sloane Square, London, SW3 4UD, 020 7589 2002.
Chesterton, 116 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London, W8 7RW, 020 7262 5060.
Choices, 36 Park Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 2JE, 020 7514 5233.
Coutts De Lisle, 66 Pembroke Road, Kensington, London, W8 6NX, 020 7603 4444.
Dominics Sales & Lettings, 38 Gloucester Road, Kensington, Greater London, SW7 4QT, 020 7581 0154.
Douglas & Gordon, 22 Gloucester Road, Kensington, London, SW7 4RB, 020 7581 1152.
Farley & Co Ltd, 44-48 Old Brompton Road, Kensington, Greater London, SW7 3DY, 020 7589 1234.
Faron Sutaria, 115 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 3LG.
Fiveseventen, 232 Old Brompton Road, Earls Court, London, SW5 0DE, 0207 244 9090.
Gerald Kay, 25 Thurloe Street, South Kensington, London, SW7 2LQ.
Greater London Properties, 49 Broadwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 9QR, 020 7734 4062.
Harpers, 53 Abingdon Road, Kensington, London, W8 6AN.
Harrods Estates, 82 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, Chelsea, London, SW3 1ER.
Hicks Lamme Residential, 117 Sydney Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 6NR.
Hobart Slater, 6/8 Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London, SW7 1EZ.
Hogarth Estates, 16b Hogarth Place, Earls Court, London, SW5 0QT, 020 7373 5222.
Holmans Estate Agents, 9 Milner Street, Knightsbridge, London, SW3 2QB.
Intercapital Estates, 58a Crawford Street, Marylebone, London, W1H 4JW.
Interlet, 14 Abingdon Road, Kensington, London, W8 6AF.
John Hollingsworth, Fulham Office, 632 Fulham Road, Fulham, London, SW6 5RT, 020 7731 3888.
Kaye & Carey, 4 Yeomans Row, Knightsbridge, London, SW3 2AH.
London House Hunters, 11 Lexham Mews, Kensington, London, W8 6JW.
London Land, 1 Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London, SW7 1EX.
London Space, 54 The Grampions, Shepherds Bush, London, W6 7LY, 020 7348 9191.
London West Properties & Finance, 1 Redan House, 23 Redan Place, Bayswater, London, W 2 4SA, 020 7612 4434.
Lurot Brand, 5 Kynance Place, South Kensington, London, SW7 4QS.
M2 Property, 6 Rolands Garden, South Kensington, London, SW7 3PH, 020 7043 8431.
Malverns, Malvern Court, Onslow Square, London, SW7 3HU.
Mantra Estates Ltd, 1 Hammersmith Grove, London, W6 0NB, 020 3008 6403.
Marsh & Parsons, Rawlings House, 2a Milner Street, Chelsea, SW3 2PU, 020 7591 5570.
Martin & Co, Worlds End Studios, 132-134 Lots Road, Chelsea, London, SW10 0RJ, 020 7349 7117.
Maybank Property Services, 10 - 16 Tiller Road, Docklands, London, E14 8PX.
Mimi Waterbury & Co, Vicarage House, 58-60 Kensington Church Street, Kensington, London, W8 4DB.
Mountgrange Heritage, 13b Stratford Road, London, W8 6RF.
My-Flat, 2nd Floor, Berkeley Square House, Berkeley House, Mayfair, London, W1J 6BD.
Orbiton Estates, 219 Old Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW5 0EA.
Palace Gate Property Services, 11 Palace Gate, Kensington, London, W8 5LS.
Pinnacle Property (London) Ltd, 22 Great Queen Street, Holborn, London, WC2B 5BH, 020 7067 2406.
Prime Portfolio, 45 Charles Street, Mayfair, Greater London, W1J 5EH.
Property Investment, 212 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HG, 020 7917 1837.
PropertyTime, 88b Belsize Lane, Belsize Park, London, NW3 5BE, 020 7794 2008.
Rawlings & Co, 355 New King�s Road, Chelsea, London, SW6 4RJ.
Royal Estates Ltd, 32 Uxbridge Street, Notting Hill, London, W8 7TA, 020 7229 1888.
Russell Simpson, 5 Anderson Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 3LU.
Safinia Property Consultants Ltd, 5 Milner Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 2QA.
Stern Studios, 109 Glousester Road, London, SW7 4SS.
Sworn & Co, 194 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London, W4 1PD.
Thames Valley Estates, 12b Hammersmith Broadway, Hammersmith, London, W6 7AL.
Tylden-Lofts & Calvert, 8-9 Hogarth Place, Earls Court, London, SW5 0QT.
Victoria Soames, 26 Old Church Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 5BY.

To visit any of these agents websites, click on their logo at the top of this page.

Note: No guarantee is made to the accuracy of these details.

Tips on Buying | Tips on Selling | Tips on Renting | Tips on Letting |
Energy Performance Certificates

TIPS ON BUYING IN SOUTH KENSINGTON

Estate Agents

Let a good number of agents in South Kensington know your needs - our 'one e-mail to all South Kensington Estate Agents' button at the top of the homepage is ideal for this.

Provide estate agents with all your contact details and e-mail addresses - if what you are looking for comes on the market in South Kensington you want to be the first to know!

Work closely with the estate agents, they have local knowledge of the property market and house prices in South Kensington. Make them want to help you.

The Property

Work out your budget:

Standard lending ratios are usually three times the principal earner's gross income plus one times the second, or two and a half times joint gross income.
Consider your existing equity, savings, moving costs and your likely general credit rating.

Decide what you want to buy. Make a wish list of essential criteria:

Style, size, age, numbers of rooms, garaging, parking, garden etc.
Still remain open-minded - lots of people surprise themselves with what they end up buying.

Consider the wider picture:

Location, communications, local facilities, schools, clubs
Is this a long term move? How will your property needs vary in future?

Viewing A Property

Arrive in the area early to get a good feel of the neighbourhood, and prepare any local questions you may wish to ask.

Do not make an instant judgement. Do not be influenced by the sociability of the vendors, their taste in furnishings or the (un)tidiness.

Assess the accommodation that the property provides.

Assess the general state of repair: Roof, walls, windows and doors, plasterwork, wiring, plumbing and heating, kitchen fittings and bathroom sanitary ware.

Have improvements been carried out / will they be required (e.g. double glazing, insulation, D.P.C., kitchen)?

Assess the neighbours, the street and the general condition of other properties around - is this street reliably steady, on the up, or going downhill?

Consider where the morning and evening sun will be.

If you are interested try to revisit at a different time on a different day when the area may be busier.

Action for buying a house in South Kensington

Buying a house can get stressful; get off to a good start:

Print this checklist, take it with you and make notes.
Press our 'one e-mail to all South Kensington Estate Agents' button now and get the best local agents sending you details through - Do it now!

TIPS ON SELLING IN SOUTH KENSINGTON

The Estate Agent

Ask a few South Kensington agents to value your property. Be objective about what they say and do not be unduly critical if is not what you wanted to hear!

Do not necessarily choose the agent with the cheapest fee; you want your property advertised and 'sold properly' in all respects.

Choose an agent that belongs to a professional body such as:

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Ombudsman Estate Agency (OEA)

Read ALL the small print if you decide to use a sole agent. Multiple agents could cost you more, but may increase your chances of selling your property.

State any fixtures and fittings to be included in the sale.

Make it clear to the agent the minimum value you are presently willing to accept from a buyer.

Your Property

Take a critical look at the outside and inside of your home and decide what small items are realistic to quickly improve.

The exterior of your home will be the buyer's first impression. Ensure the garden is neat and tidy, outside lights are clean and working, all fixtures such as door handles are secure.

Prepare your home by cleaning, repainting (if necessary) and completing any unfinished DIY job! Create more space. Pack away, throw away or take to the charity shop any unnecessary items and be ruthless. The more you do now, the less cluttered your house will look, and the less packing you will have to do when you move.

Viewing A Property

Arrange viewing at times that you can realistically have the property looking good, kitchen cleared, grass cut etc. The property needs to be tidy.

Create a nice atmosphere, pleasant fragrances, and flowers and turn the television off. In winter light any fires and have the heating at a comfortable level. In summer open windows.

Be ready for questions about the property, neighbours and the locality.

Be clear about your own reasons for moving-on, time scales and flexibility.

Leave it to your agent do any serious negotiating.

Action for selling property in South Kensington

We have listed your main local agents. E-mail them a request to contact you for initial discussions about the possibility of them being chosen to sell you property.

TIPS ON RENTING IN SOUTH KENSINGTON

Let lots of agents know what you are looking for so you get a really good selection to choose from.
Inform the agent of your criteria (location, budget, furnished/unfurnished, occupation date requirement, tenancy period and any other aspects that are important to you).
Expect to pay a deposit of at least one months rent, possibly more. Possibly some administration charges.
You may be required to provide references.
Ensure you read and understand the tenancy agreement. The Citizens Advice Bureau may check this for you. Clarify what is NOT included in the rental fee, such as council tax, utility bills, ground maintenance etc.
Examine the inventory prepared by the agent and keep a copy.
Check restrictions: sub-letting, pets etc. Can you redecorate?
Notify defects in writing as soon as they become apparent (even if you do not want them remedied).
Establish what is covered under maintenance (boilers, refrigerators, radiators etc.).
Usually, you will not have to deal with the landlord directly. Should you have any problems or queries, direct them to your agent first.
Other issues to consider are, parking, neighbours, noise levels, public transport availability etc.

Action to rent a house or flat in South Kensington

Notify all the main local agents by sending 'one e-mail to all Letting Agents' with your requirements. Do it now!

TIPS ON LETTING OUT YOUR PROPERTY IN SOUTH KENSINGTON

Choose a letting agent that is registered with one of the following:

The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)
The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS)
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
The UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA)
Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA)

Get a good contract which will be the Tenancy Agreement. Think about any restrictions you wish to place on the tenant and the use of your property.

Try not to be too tough - if you exclude smokers, pets, students, small children and short term lets, you will narrow the market for your property considerably.

Ask for a rent that is realistic and affordable to your potential tenants. The big difference in profit at the end of the year will be dependent upon how long the property stood empty - reduce the voids!

Examine our 'buyers tips' for guidelines on presenting the property in an attractive manner.

Action to let property in South Kensington

Notify the local Letting Agents your property is available and find out the likely rent that could be attracted for your property.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, are set to be available to all new tenants from October 1st 2008. Outlining the energy efficiency rating and the environmental impact rating of a property, potential landlords will be able to gain access to both the estimated running costs of a property, the carbon footprint created by the property and also show any recommendations that could be made to improve the energy efficiency of a property.

The rating offered by the EPC will range from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient, with the typical rating for a home being either D or E. These simple ratings will allow potential tenants to compare homes of interest to gain an insight into the difference in potential running costs.

EPC Advice for Tenants

Be sure to check the EPC rating before agreeing to rent a property, a house with a poor rating could be liable to greater running costs compared to a similar house with a better rating.
Be aware that landlords are under no obligation to improve the EPC rating of their property.
Look into the possible grants and schemes offered by the Government to help tenants improve the energy efficiency of their home.
Make sure that the EPC assessment has been made by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) - details can be found at www.epcregister.com
Check how long the EPC has been in effect for, EPCs will be valid for up to 10 years.

For more tenant information on Energy Performance Certificates go to http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/epcsrentingtenants and view the Government released booklet that helps to explain EPCs in even greater detail.

EPC Advice for Landlords

Commission your EPC now: an EPC will have a shelf life of 10 years so if you have a high turnover of tenants, don�t wait until the current ones are about to leave - commission your EPC now to save time and hassle further down the line
Use an accredited DEA: ensure you use an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) - details can be found at www.epcregister.com
Be prepared: before the DEA arrives make sure you have all the information they will require, ready - date of when the property was built, info on whether the property has been extended or double glazed, whether walls have been insulated etc - a full checklist can be found at www.communities.gov.uk/epbd
Follow the recommendations: take time to review the recommendations in your EPC - if your property has received a relatively poor rating (F or G) then take steps to improve its energy efficiency such as cavity wall insulation
Get help: There are Government schemes available which will allow landlords to work with tenants to improve the EPC rating of their property.
Get advice: if you�re not sure on what changes will provide the greatest energy savings contact the Energy Savings Trust who will be able to give you impartial advice - www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

For more information on Energy Performance Certificates go to http://www.communities.gov.uk/ , and view the Government released booklet that helps to explain EPC�s in even greater detail.

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