Search our extensive property portfolio for your ideal home, or have a look at our featured properties and new developments.

Explore Nantwich and the surrounding areas with our interactive map.

Moving home?
Be sure to download our checklist!

Glossary of Terms

Auction (under the hammer)

When a property is sold by Auction the successful bidder will have to sign the contract there and then and pay a 10% deposit with completion to take place 28 days thereafter, when the remainder of the monies will have to be paid in full.

Bridging Loan

Temporary finance 'bridging' the period between completion on the purchase of a property and the sale of an existing property, funds from which are intended to finance/part finance the new purchase.

Chief Rent

Annual payment made on freehold land to the original freeholder in perpetuity.

Commission

Fee paid to your estate agent, usually following exchange of contracts.

Conveyancing

Name given to the legal procedure required to transfer ownership of a property from one partner to another.

Deeds

Legal documents relating to a property, usually held by the building society or bank if the property is subject to a mortgage.

Easement

Right of access for a particular purpose, granted to someone who is not the owner of the land in question.

Exchange of Contracts

Point at which vendor and purchaser exchange binding contracts with the payment of a deposit, at the same time agreeing to a completion date.

Financial Services

Comprehensive guidance is available through an independent financial advisor.

Fixtures and Fittings

Non removable items within the property. These are items that are permanently fixed in position e.g. the bath, toilet, light fittings, doors and radiators.

Freehold

Legal ownership of land.

Gazumping

Popular term for the situation whereby a vendor has accepted an offer but subsequently goes on to accept a higher one from a different purchaser.

Ground Rent

Amount paid annually by a leaseholder to a freeholder.

Home Information Pack (HIP)

On the 1st August 2007, the way in which residential properties are marketed when they are put up for sale changed. The new legislation, subject to a very few exceptions, requires all homes to have a Home Information Pack (HIP). Every agent acting on your behalf will be required to take responsibility for ensuring the HIP is in place. Failure by the agents or seller to comply with the legislation carries repeated statutory £200 fixed penalty fines.

A HIP must contain the following documents:

A list of the contents of the HIP
An energy performance certificate (EPC)
A sale statement (summary of the terms of the sale)
Evidence of your title to the property
Copies of searches of the local land charges register, local enquiries and drainage and water enquiries
Tenure details, including copies of lease, details of services charges and insurance etc

Landlord

The owner of a property being let to a tenant.

Lessor

Person responsible for granting a lease - normally the landlord.

Mortgage

A lender of money, to be secured on the property in question.

Mortgagor

Conditional pledging of property, as security for the repayment of a loan.

Private Treaty

Formal name given to the method by which most estate agents will undertake the sale of residential property. This term covers the whole range of services normally associated with the sale process, culminating in 'exchange of contracts' and 'completion' between vendor and purchaser.

Probate

Legal term applied to the process of proving that a will is valid.

Purchaser

The buyer of the property.

Searches

Procedure undertaken by a solicitor or legal representative during the conveyancing process to establish whether any issues exist which may adversely affect the property which is to be purchased.

Stamp Duty

A government tax levied on the purchaser of a property and calculated as a percentage of the purchase price. The stamp duty rates are:

Purchase Price		Stamp Duty Rate

Below £125,000		No duty payable
£125,001 to £250,000		1%
£250,001 to £500,000		3%
Above £500,001		4%

Subject to Contract

Agreement between vendor and purchaser subject to a contract normally prepared by the vendor's solicitor.

Survey and Valuation

The three main types are:

Valuation
Prepared for house purchase, mortgage purposes, insurance or probate.
Homebuyer Survey and Valuation
Carried out by a Chartered Surveyor and designed to focus on urgent or significant matters requiring attention.
Building Survey and Valuation
A more detailed inspection suitable for larger or older type buildings.

Tenant

Person occupying a property, normally subject to the terms of a lease agreed with the landlord.

Tender

In the process known as 'for sale by tender' the asking price will not be stated. Instead, written offers will be invited and a closing date for such offers published. All offers are normally opened at the same time, usually with the vendor's solicitor present. Generally, the vendor is not committed to accepting the highest or any offer.

Vacant Possession

A well used estate agency phrase which means that the property being offered will be vacant upon completion for the sale. The property is therefore being offered from any such encumbrances as a sitting tenant of service tenancy.

Valuations

We can provide valuations for banks, building societies, and insurance companies as well as for personal probate, matrimonial and tax related matters.