So, what it is like to work with Lex Allan Grove - Land & New Homes?

To give you a sense of what we’re like to work with, we asked one of our clients, Darren Cutler of Eden Properties, to share his experiences…

What were you looking for in an agent and why did you choose us?

We had completed a few developments and were looking to use a different agent for our next project in Halesowen. We spoke to three or four companies, but it quickly became clear that you understood and had experience of marketing new build properties. It’s a very different beast selling off-plan with nothing concrete to show to buyers, and your team soon proved themselves more than capable. It’s a different skill-set.

Have you enjoyed working with us?

Absolutely. We clicked from the first meeting and, as we got to know all the team back in the office, it was clear to see that you all share a set of values and a way of working. Also, sometimes, you see the agency owner for the initial pitch and then you never see them again, but you are all very much involved in every stage of the process.

Tell us about your approach…

As a company, we often like to work alongside the agent and to take a hands-on role when it comes to the after-sales care. Lex Allan Grove understood exactly what we were trying to accomplish and you bent over backwards to accommodate this more collaborative way of working.

Similarly, when it comes to the marketing, we have our own views and our own opinions and it was particularly refreshing that we could all sit down as a team to get the results that we were all looking for.

Did the project present any challenges?

Not this particular site, but we have certainly had times where the build has been delayed for whatever reason and Lex Allan Grove have had to communicate that to the buyers.

It’s a tough thing to handle, but the team have always taken any challenge on the chin and their customer service is second-to-none. They know how to communicate with the buyers and manage their expectations.

And how has your working relationship with us developed?

We’re small to medium-sized house builder and are typically looking for sites that can accommodate anything from 10 to 30 properties. Over the past few years, we’ve developed a really strong relationship with the new homes team and they are constantly giving us decent sites to consider for future developments. That’s very rare among agents and for us, it’s very valuable.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Lex Allan Grove to any developer or house builder. You ‘get’ what we’re trying to achieve, and it really feels as if you’re going to the extra mile to help us make it happen!

Darren Cutler
Eden Properties

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Following in His Father's Footsteps

‘Lex Allan’, the brand, has become synonymous with the sale and management of residential and commercial properties and many would be forgiven for thinking that the name Lex Allan is a corporate reference rather than the name of an individual.

There is however a real life Mr. Lex Allan, indeed there are now two Lex Allans within the company.
Lex Allan Jnr. (a much better looking and younger version) is now making waves within the business based at the Halesowen branch which trades as Lex Allan Grove Estate Agents.

Lex Allan Snr. set the business up some twenty seven years ago, predominantly dealing with residential lettings and initially working out of a first floor one bedroom flat in Amblecote. The business grew rapidly and offices were taken in St. Johns Road and then nearly 20 years ago Lex acquired the Auction House with a partner, which is the Head Office for what is now known as the ‘Lex Allan Group’.

Multi-faceted Group

The Group comprises Lex Allan Estate Agents, Lex Allan Lettings, Lex Allan Grove Halesowen, Lex Allan Grove Village in Hagley, Lex Allan Grove - Land and New Homes; and the most recently established division is Hexagon Commercial Property.

Lex Allan Snr. commented, “I can’t remember experiencing such a vibrant dynamic within our business as that which currently exists. We have a raft of 20 somethings who are capable, enthusiastic and ambitious and are being really well received by existing and new clients.”

Lex Allan Snr. went on to say “Our Land and New Homes Division and Hexagon Commercial Property are expanding at a rapid pace and we are recruiting actively for capable property professionals within these respective arenas.”

Lex Allan Jnr., who is 25, started his career at the company within the Residential Lettings Division and six months ago switched over to estate agency, which is where his real passion lies.

Lex Allan Jnr. commented “It’s great to be part of a business with so many components facets. Estate agency is where I’ve found my true vocation. The job satisfaction derived from helping people find, and then move to their dream home is amazing I can’t imagine working in any other arena.”

When not at work both old and young Lex Allans keep fit with triathlons and gym work respectively and with Mum and brother look after a small farm on the outskirts of Kinver. Lex Allan Jnr. has a strong music background, is a capable drummer and a sought after private function DJ.

Lex Allan Snr. concluded “I get immense satisfaction from running a business with so many motivated and capable individuals on the team. It’s great to see Lex Jnr. developing his skill-sets and getting such positive feedback from his vendor and purchaser contacts. It is comforting indeed to be assured that the Lex Allan brand (and name!) is in safe hands for the foreseeable future and for generations to come.”

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Welcome to the 2nd Edition of Property Matters - March 2019

Welcome to the 2nd (March) edition of our new monthly property newsletter, Property Matters.

In this issue we meet two Lex Allans, a wonderful property in Wombourne, announce our Help to Buy event on Wednesday 27th March at the Hagley Office, look at Black Country Foodbank, introduce one of our Community Partners in Hagley - Flowers of Hagley and finally, Jess Bryan from our Stourbridge Office.

Your can download the PDF by CLICKING HERE!

Happy Reading!

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A Foodbank isn't just for Christmas!

As well as the regular Macmillan Coffee Mornings we hold at all three of our offices, in 2019 we will be supporting the Black Country Foodbank.

Here's some information about the Foodbank and how you can help them too - you can even drop donations into our offices in Stourbridge, Halesowen and Hagley and we'll make sure they go to the right place.

What do we do?

Black Country Foodbank is a Christian based charity. It was set up in 2006 to provide 3 days of nutritionally balanced food to vulnerable individuals and families in crisis whilst they are engaged with an agency to tackle the underlying problems and develop a longer term solution. From small beginnings when 450 meals were provided in the first year, Foodbank has grown and now provides over182,000 meals annually.

How does it operate?

Food vouchers are distributed by local organisations. These various agencies act as referral partners and use their expertise to issue vouchers to those they consider to be in need.  The clients then take the voucher to one of the many Distribution Centres located in the Black Country where they exchange it for enough food and toiletries to last 3 days.  At the centre they will be offered a drink and the opportunity to chat to one of the volunteers.

Where do the supplies come from?

The food distributed by Foodbank is non-perishable/long-life and is obtained through donations which can be taken to the individual Distribution Centres or the main storehouse in Brierley Hill. As well as private individuals many churches, schools, businesses and Voucher Holding Agencies throughout the Black Country support Foodbank by regular collections and also at special times of the year such as Harvest.

Here is a sample of some of the items we collect - a full listing can be found at www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk

Milk (UKT or powder, preferably semi-skimmed)    Tinned meat/fish

Fruit Juice (carton long life)    Rice pudding

Tinned vegetables    Jars of pasta sauce

Shampoo/Conditioner    Shower gel/foam

Shaving foam    Deodorants (male/female)

Toothpaste    Shampoo/Conditioner

Ready meals - macaroni cheese/curry/stew    Tinned fruit

                                                          If you feel you would like to help Foodbank by collecting for us, maybe at your place of work, church or school please email admin@blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk and we can send you some information to help get you started.

Fundraising

Raising funds to support Black Country Foodbank is vital.  Besides various fundraising events it is also possible to donate by visiting our webpage www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.ukFor further information about Black Country Foodbank and to see a list of our Distribution Centres please visit our web page www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk

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Help to Buy Event - Wednesday 27th March 2019

Lex Allan Grove - Land and New Homes and Infinity Financial Services will be hosting a 'Help to Buy' event on Wednesday 27th March 2019 from 5pm to 7pm at Lex Allan Grove's Hagley offices.

If you'd like more information on how to make your deposit go further to get onto or move up the property ladder, this is the ideal event for you. There will be advisers from Inifinity available to talk to you about applying for Help to Buy support, as well as staff from Lex Allan Grove to give you information on current developments that qualify for Help to Buy.

Please contact us on 01562 270072 or e-mail lnh@lexallangrove.com to book your place.

You can also register your interest in the event on our Facebook Event Page at https://www.facebook.com/events/331127314191537/

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What makes Hagley such a desirable place to live?

If you were to ask a local about what makes Hagley such a desirable place to live, it's a good guess that the quality of the local schools will be one of the first things they would say.

New figures released by the department of education have helped confirm what locals have known for a while. Haybridge High School in Hagley has recorded the best 2018 GCSE results in the whole of Worcestershire with an 'Attainment 8' score of 58.5 in last year's exams, far above the national average score of 46.5.

You may be wondering, what does 'Attainment 8' actually mean? It's a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to eight GCSE Qualifications.

It is also great news for the neighbouring Hagley RC High School, who ranked within the Top 10 schools in Worcestershire for their GCSE results, with an Attainment 8 score of 51.6, still way above the national average.

With both of the local high schools gaining such great achievements, it has got us wondering if there is something in water...

If you'd like to know more about Hagley and it's surrounding villages, or the available housing stock, our knowledgeable, local staff at Lex Allan Grove Village will be happy to help. Give us a call on 01562 270270 or e-mail us on hagley@lexallangrove.com

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Get started with a helping hand, talk to us today about Help to Buy

Thanks to the Government’s ‘Help to Buy’ schemes, your small deposit could turn into something much bigger.

If you’re looking to get on or moving up the property ladder but you’re struggling to raise a large deposit, the Government’s ‘Help to Buy’ initiatives could make your money go that little bit further.

If you are a first-time buyer or homeowner looking to move, and the property you are looking to purchase on costs £600,000 or less, you could be eligible for an ‘equity loan’, where the Government will lend you up to 20% of the value of your newly built home. This means your dream home could become reality, with just a 5% deposit.

The mortgage advisors at Infinity Financial Advice in Stourbridge have worked closely with Lex Allan Grove - Land & New Homes for a number of years. They are experts when it comes to helping people get on, or to move up the property ladder.

Call the team at Infinity Financial Advice on 0330 223 1113 to find out if you’re eligible for Help to Buy.

Lex Allan Grove - Land & New Homes are acting as agents on a number of new developments that qualify for Help to Buy in the Stourbridge, Halesowen and Hagley areas.

The Old Library in Stourbridge, Tavern Fields in Colley Gate and Park Mews in Wollescote are three quality developments that are ideal for first-time buyers and all qualify for Help to Buy.

For more information on any of these developments, please call Lex Allan Grove - Land & New Homes on 01562 270072.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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Our NEW Newsletter - Property Matters

Welcome to our new monthly newsletter - Property Matters.

In the February issue there's news on The Old Library development in Stourbridge, a gem of a property in Clent to take a peek at, the launch of our new online service - Direct, advice on how to prepare you home for sale, an article on the benefits of curry in cold weather, our sponsorship of West Hagley Football Club and a focus on our Commercial Property Director, Harvey Pearson.

Every month, there will be stories from all three offices - Stourbridge, Halesowen and Hagley; as well as all our disciplines - Property Sales, Lettings, Land and New Homes, Commercial and Online Sales - Direct. So there'll be something for everyone!

You can download a PDF version of Property Matters by CLICKING HERE, but you can pick up a printed copy at all three offices.

Happy reading!

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Curry, the Ultimate Winter Warmer!

Spring seems a long way away with the cold weather we have been having recently. Unfortunately, with the chilly nights comes the dreaded colds that seem to be making the rounds.

Before you resign yourself to a night in with a hot lemon drink and a box of tissues there may be another solution to help ease your cold… How does a curry sound?

Perhaps not the first thing you would think to do when you’re feeling under the weather, curry has been known to help ease the common cold. For it to take effect, you will have to swap a masala for a madras as it’s the spice which works wonders.

Backed by researchers, a spicy curry clears the airways and also helps to get rid of germs from the system.

As they say, variety is the spice of life and there is plenty of variety when it comes to quality curry houses. Hagley itself is home to two superb Indian restaurants Shenapur and The New Delhi, a sure-fire way to start a good debate is to ask a local which they prefer!

The neighbouring villages also have their own offerings, Clent has the picturesque Jaipur Cottage, located by the stunning St Leonards Church and Belbroughton features the highly regarded Five Spice Restaurant.

With an array of fantastic restaurants to choose from, ill or not a curry is always a good idea!

The staff at the Lex Allan Grove Village offices in Hagley are all local people, so why not pop in to see them and find out which their favourite curry house is?

Lex Allan Grove Village
129 Worcester Road,
Hagley, Worcestershire DY9 0NN

01562 270270

Blog by Gabriella Sanghera
Lex Allan Grove Village

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Preparing to sell your home - our step-by-step guide

So, you’re thinking about moving home. How exciting! Perhaps you’re planning a move to a larger house that fits your family better, or maybe now your children have flown the nest, and it’s time to move into a more appropriate-sized home. Or it could be a job move that’s prompting you to take the plunge.

Regardless of your reasons for moving house, you firstly need to make sure everyone is on the same page:

Step One: Make sure everyone’s on board

If one partner is very attached to the lovely family home that they have enjoyed for a decade or two, they may be rather hoping it WON’T sell.  In fairness, they may not even realise that they are sabotaging the sale; perhaps by not remembering to tidy up after themselves, forgetting to pass on messages from the estate agent, or deciding to cook a curry the night before a viewing.  This may be totally subconscious, of course, but no less effective at deterring a potential buyer for that.

Same goes for teenagers: they can be really effective at sabotaging a sale if they are reluctant to move away from friends and perhaps the home they grew up in.  best to clear the air beforehand, arrange a family meeting, and have a frank and honest chat with all the family, to make sure you understand everyone’s respective point of view.

When you’re about to put your home on the market, it could be time to have a big clear-out - not literally, but emotionally - to make sure nothing is consciously, or unconsciously, sabotaging your sale.

Step Two: Find out the current value of your home.

There are many online valuation tools on the internet, but until your local expert estate agent has given you their opinion, guided by experience and knowledge, you won’t really know what’s realistic to expect. We’d love to help you out with that. Even if you’re not quite ready to move, getting an up-to-date valuation of your home will help you make an informed decision when the time comes to move on.

Just pop us an email or call us at:

Stourbridge - sales@lexallan.co.uk 01384 442464
Halesowen - info@lexallangrove.com 0121 550 5400
Hagley - hagley@lexallangrove.com 01562 270270

we’d love to hear from you.

Step Three: Plan your move-by date

What’s the date you’d really like to be in your new home? Perhaps you have a deadline, like a job start date, a school term or an impending new arrival. But even if you don’t have a specific date in mind, chances are you don’t want to spend months, or longer, languishing on the market, so planning for an ideal timescale can be helpful.

Once you have decided when you want to sell by, you need to work back, and account for three factors:

• Pre-launch - the time it takes to put your property on the market
• Marketing time - the time it takes to achieve a successful offer
• Sale process - the conveyancing time: in other words, the time it takes two solicitors to complete the sale

Let’s estimate these realistically, so you can plan your move.  Of course, the unknown timescale is the number of weeks or months that it could take your home to sell, but let’s take the average as a guide.

Pre-launch - this is the time to fix that leaky tap, repaint you garden gate, and generally attend to all those little maintenance jobs you may have been putting off. Once you’re ready to put your house on the market, your estate agent needs to photograph it, prepare your floor plan and property description, and finally, upload your property advert to the relevant portals.

Marketing time - the average house sale in the UK takes between seven and fourteen weeks, according to TheAdvisory. However, if you have a home you regard as unique - like a listed property, a thatched cottage, or an exceptionally large house - it may take much longer to sell. Your estate agent will be able to guide you on this, based on their experience of selling similar homes.

Sale process - conveyancing in the UK takes on average, around ten weeks, from offer to completion (handing over your keys).  However, this time frame does not take into account any delays caused by surveys, particularly if you have a leasehold property, or one with special covenants attached. Also, long property chains can hold things up, but a good agent will help expedite this process, by maintaining good communication with all parties as the sale progresses.

Taking all of the above into account, you may find that planning for a six-month timescale is about right, but your estate agent will give you their best advice based on the market, current demand and your particular type of house.

Planning this far ahead will leave you ready for the curved balls that will inevitably be thrown your way, and make sure you remain unstressed and feel fully prepared.

Step Four: Sell!

If you’ve chosen the right estate agent, prepared your home for sale and chosen a realistic asking price, selling should be the next natural step. Try to enjoy the process, look forward to your move and focus on the goal of your lovely new home.

If you’re selling your home - or thinking of it, we’d love to have a chat with you. You can pop us an email or call us at:

Stourbridge - sales@lexallan.co.uk 01384 442464
Halesowen - info@lexallangrove.com 0121 550 5400
Hagley - hagley@lexallangrove.com 01562 270270

We also have lots more information about selling your home here www.lexallangrove.com 

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