News

18/05/11 Sellers return to UK Housing Market

Supply of property increased during April, as sellers returned to test the Spring housing market, according to the latest RICS UK Housing Market Survey.
Demand also showed signs of steadying, with new buyer enquiries moving to a net balance of zero per cent, taking the series out of negative territory for the first time in ten months. However, surveyors continue to report that a lack of mortgage finance is hindering many.
Significantly, average sales per surveyor over the past three months rose to 15.2, the best level since December. Adam Elwell commented "Character properties are selling particularly well at the moment in Chelmsford, whilst the first time buyer market is still very price sensitive."

11/04/11 Adam Elwell completes Brighton Marathon in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust

Adam Elwell successfully completed the Brighton Marathon in a time of 4 hours 32 minutes in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. Adam said afterwards "This is the most difficult marathon I have run yet. My training was interrupted by an injury and my legs started to seize up after 11 miles!" He has managed to raise £1,150 for the charity and you wish to sponsor him its not too late -you can find his fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/Adam-Elwell

10/03/11 Rents Rise

Strong tenant demand and falling supply pushes prices higher according to the latest RICS Residential Lettings Survey for November 2010 - January 2011.
Rents rose at a rapid pace in the three months to the end of January, as falling supply of rental properties and strong tenant demand continued to drive prices upwards.
40 per cent more chartered surveyors reported rents rose rather than fell in the three months to January - which is the highest positive reading in the survey’s history. As rents increased, gross rental yields have also risen sharply – they have now increased in each of the last four surveys.
Continued difficulty in securing mortgage finance and large deposits required by lenders remain a barrier to home ownership. As result, many have turned to the rental market and tenant demand has grown rapidly since late 2009. In the latest survey, 32 per cent more surveyors reported seeing a rise rather than fall in demand, with houses more in demand than flats.
Adam Elwell said “We too have seen strong demand for rental properties in Chelmsford, with most of our clients having a choice of tenants when re-letting their properties”.

17/12/10 Balch & Balch merge with Elwell Taylor

Elwell Taylor is delighted to announce that Balch & Balch Chartered Surveyors merged with Elwell Taylor on 17^th December 2010. Balch & Balch (not to be confused with Balch estate agents who have been trading independently for 20 years) started business in 1924, initially in Witham and since the early 1930’s in Chelmsford. Their name has been synonymous with the property market in Chelmsford. Douglas Balch is one of the most experienced surveyors in Chelmsford and his expertise is in residential surveys and valuations for purposes such as the purchase of a property, inheritance tax, capital gains tax or matrimonial settlements. He is also extensively involved in property management, Landlord & tenant and other professional matters. Adam Elwell commented “We have continued to grow our business throughout the recession, which is not an easy feat when most of our competitors our down-sizing”. Adam puts this down to the hard work of his team and the number of clients who recommend them. “To have such a prestigious firm such as Balch & Balch merge with us really is the icing on the cake and we are all looking forward to 2011”. Douglas Balch can be contacted at Elwell Taylor’s office in New London Road or on 01245 266088 if anyone is in need of a residential valuation or survey in the Chelmsford area.

Adam Elwell, Douglas Balch & Nick Taylor

Elwell Taylor is delighted to announce that Balch & Balch Chartered Surveyors merged with Elwell Taylor on 17^th December 2010.

Balch & Balch (not to be confused with Balch estate agents who have been trading independently for 20 years) started business in 1924, initially in Witham and since the early 1930’s in Chelmsford. Their name has been synonymous with the property market in Chelmsford.

Douglas Balch is one of the most experienced surveyors in Chelmsford and his expertise is in residential surveys and valuations for purposes such as the purchase of a property, inheritance tax, capital gains tax or matrimonial settlements. He is also extensively involved in property management, Landlord & tenant and other professional matters.

Adam Elwell commented “We have continued to grow our business throughout the recession, which is not an easy feat when most of our competitors our down-sizing”. Adam puts this down to the hard work of his team and the number of clients who recommend them. “To have such a prestigious firm such as Balch & Balch merge with us really is the icing on the cake and we are all looking forward to 2011”.

Douglas Balch can be contacted at Elwell Taylor’s office in New London Road or on 01245 266088 if anyone is in need of a residential valuation or survey in the Chelmsford area.