Homeowners really are staying put.

"no longer a familiar site"

Homeowners really are staying put.

A kitchen manufacturer which sells to the trade reported a 5.1% increase in sales compared with 2009. The last quarter saw sales rise by more than 6%, prompting further confidence in the home improvement market as yet more proof that homeowners really are 'staying put' and improving what they've already got.

What's good news for one sector is bad for another as Estate Agents continue to struggle. Property transactions slumped to an 8 year low in December (source: Finance Markets) with the average estate agency branch selling four properties during December.

November saw an average branch sell just seven properties.

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photo credit: bixentro

Online register of 'dodgy' estate agents from Office of Fair Trading

Office of Fair Trading launch online register of dodgy estate agents....

The Office of Fair Trading has just launched an online version of its register of dodgy estate agents.

Estate agents listed have all been given warnings or been banned from estate agency work. The list can be viewed at www.oft.gov.uk/estateagentregister

Users can browse alphebetically or by date; the register provides details on how to report suspected breaches by a firm of an existing warning or prohibition order.

Those estate agents listed will have committed certain specific offences in relation to their business such as fraud, other dishonesty or violence; discrimination on the grounds of race or gender or failing to belong to an approved redress scheme.

Reputable estate agents are now desperately seeking new vendors with the National Association of Estate Agents recently reporting that there are four house hunters for every property on the market.

This is at a time when properties on estate agents books are at historic lows and the UK property scene is far from being a sellers market.

If you've recently moved home and you're thinking of improving it or perhaps you've decided to stay put and improve what you've already got? Home Improvement Quotes can help by providing instant online quotes for a variety of home improvement projects - from double glazing to loft conversions, kitchens to paving.