Tag Archives: Dawsons Property

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Expanding South Wales Estate Agents make key Sales Director appointment

Leading Estate Agents Dawsons has made a significant appointment by announcing Joanne Summerfield-Talbot as Director of Residential Sales.

It is a challenging new role that Dawsons has created due to the need to provide ‘excellent customer service’ in conjunction with improving sales success and the overall expansion of the company.

“Joanne will be responsible to research and communicate with other estate agents across the country, looking to utilize new ideas to improve the overall ‘buying/selling experience’ of the Swansea estate agency market within Dawsons,” said Dawsons Senior Partner Chris Hope.

“We already have a Director of Residential Lettings in Ricky Purdy and we felt we needed to counter balance that with a Director of Residential Sales and Joanne fits everything we were looking for in someone with expertise in both sales and management. She is a perfect blend to direct the sales department.

Joanne, 49, began her career in estate agency in 1983, working her way through the ranks to senior manager at a well-known independent agency heading up their Swansea Sales operation.

She joined Dawsons 12 years ago, initially in their Auction Department before becoming manager at the firm’s Gorseinon Branch in 2007, enjoying great success year on year.

“Due to the continued success and expansion of the company the role of ‘Director of Residential Sales’ has been created and I am so thrilled to be given the opportunity by the Partners,” said Joanne.

“Of course there will be challenging times ahead as in all industries.  However, I feel I am more than ready and capable to meet the demands.

“I have a particular interest in training and the development of staff and systems so as to collectively ensure what organisation changes/business policies and legal compliance are necessary, in our ever changing industry.  So as to maintain our number one position as Swansea’s leading estate agent competing in future property markets. “

Joanne’s daily activities will include being the day-today point of contact for Dawsons’ eight sales branches, as well as recruitment, training and continuous development of all sales staff, reviewing and implementing new business policies and ultimately driving Dawsons forward to maintain Dawsons as Swansea’s leading agent.

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From run-down house, to dream family home – one family tells their home story of a self-build project

We were so glad to hear from one of our families who bought a property from us and transformed it into their dream home. They saw potential in a small run-down house in the village of Pwll and began to convert it into their ideal home that ticked all of their boxes. Now they reflect on their journey through the whole process.

Elgin Road in Pwll, an area that wouldn’t first come to mind when searching for a dream home, is where our vendor found their “forever home” after exhausting the property market to no avail.

After what our vendor would describe as a moment of madness by her husband, the pair found themselves in a little village called Pwll facing an “old tiny run-down house.” Our vendor’s reaction was “why on earth would he bring me here?”, but her husband asked her to look beyond the house and there it was, a breathtaking view that sealed the purchase of this tiny run down house within just five minutes of being there!

This was the moment in which they decided this was the location for their dream home, and that they were going to build that dream home to match and to enjoy with family and friends.

The benefit of building your own home, according to our vendor, is that you can make your criteria ‘tick sheet’ a reality. Our vendor’s tick sheet was quite lengthy and included many factors that had prompted their plans to move, factors such as needing space for their three young teenagers to hang out with friends, whilst also wanting to be close to their ageing parents.

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Elgin Road is a home that offers something for all members of the family; it boasts generous room sizes and a self-contained living accommodation that’s ideal for a teenager or relative to live in. This is all without mentioning one of the main focuses of the build, the property’s outstanding views. The lounge and bedrooms have their own balconies where the family can sit out and admire the same view that convinced them to buy what they will always know as “the tiny run-down house”.

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The family are now able to enjoy a once unthought-of location that has links to the millennium costal path, beach walks for the dogs, and strolls to the local pub for a quiet evening meal and drink, all within just a five minute walk.

Has this family’s venture got you thinking about your next property?

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Overpayment – is it something worth considering?

With the ongoing mortgage rate war, there is some debate over whether now is a good time to pay off your mortgage early. Here the UK’s leading independent mortgage broker, Mortgage Advice Bureau, discusses the ins and outs of early repayments and overpayments.

“Credit cards and unsecured loans are prime examples of debts that charge high rates of interest, with some having interest rates that are much higher than that of your mortgage. It is always more beneficial to pay off these sorts of debts before considering paying off your mortgage, being mindful to not revert back to them once you have paid them off,” said David Treharne from Mortgage Advice Bureau.

Those contributing to a pension scheme may also be considering using their savings to pay off their mortgage a little earlier. The government now tops up your contributions with tax relief, and if the company you work for participates in specific pension schemes, they may also match your payments into a pension pot.

David added, “The sooner you begin to pay into a pension pot, the quicker your retirement pot will grow. So, if you find yourself with money to spare, it may be worth considering using your savings to add to your pension for the future rather than pay off your mortgage early.”

Have you thought about what the monetary consequences would be for your family if you were to pass away? If you have dependants who rely on your income to cover your mortgage, life insurance can help provide for them if you were to die, so this may be something worth putting your spare money into instead of paying off your mortgage.

If you are serious about overpaying your mortgage then it is important to consider any charges that may be incurred. Ensure that you check your mortgage deal carefully, you may need to pay an Early Repayment Charge (ERC), though some lenders allow you to overpay by up to 10% a year without any penalties.

“When interest rates are as low as they are now, overpaying on your mortgage will mean that you will have a smaller amount to be charged on when rates do eventually rise. It doesn’t just mean that you may have to pay less in the future, you could possibly pay off your mortgage completely – sometimes years earlier than the original end date. With prices constantly changing, it is important that you seek the advice of a professional mortgage adviser who can talk you through what is right for your personal circumstances,” concluded David. Continue reading