Latest News
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The Importance of a High Street Presence
Going back to the 90’s there has been talk about whether a High Street or customer facing office is really important in estate agency.
Aldreds have always been based in High Street locations. In the last 25 years footfall into offices has fallen slightly but a huge amount of what we do day to day is still carried out face to face.
Just yesterday at the same time in our Gorleston office we had a client booked a valuation with Louis, a young couple registering and booking viewings with Tim and a seller in conversation with Melissa…..all at the same time.
Having our staff together helps us collaborate and work as a team. This was demonstrated the best during Covid lockdowns two and three when our staff worked in the office with precautions and social distancing while delivering truly incredible results for our customers.
You are always free to pop in and see us in Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Lowestoft or Stalham offices!
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A lot has changed in 25 years in estate agency..but some things are the same!
Director Dan Crawley joined Aldreds on 1st August 2001. 25 years ago this week
Dan says ‘when I joined Aldreds as a negotiator in 2001 email was not used at all, property marketing online was yet to take hold, mobile phone use was limited, and two big bags of post left the office every day. Times have changed and technology has brought innovation and speed to the sale and letting of homes with email and mobile phones speeding up contact, online marketing giving buyers access to properties at their fingertips and digital photography, floorplans and video enhancing and maximising property marketing.
‘When I first started. we knew that the Advertisers were being delivered as the phones would light up as the newspapers hit the letter boxes on a Thursday afternoon’
‘Some things have stayed the same, however, with contact with clients, keeping people informed and negotiating and working hard for the client being the basis for all we do’
‘I’m not sure I will do a Mark Duffield and hang about for 50 years…but I’m not going anywhere just
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New Starter!
A big Aldreds welcome to Amy Swain who has joined our Lettings Team in Great Yarmouth office.
Amy is a Gorleston girl and joins us after a successful career working in hospitality.
Amy can be contacted on 01493 849111 or
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New Starter!
A big Aldreds welcome to Emma Devlin who has joined us in our Lettings Department. Emma has already hit the ground running, dealing with enquiries and getting tenants moved in.
We look forward to working with Emma!
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Performer of the Month
Performer of the Month this time is Team of the Month!
Great Yarmouth office put in a huge month on new sales in what continues to be challenging market. Well done to Chris, Mollie, Michael, Lewis and Jackie!
July has already started strong so here is to a great summer!
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If you are looking to start a career in property this could be your opportunity.
Lettings negotiator or trainee lettings negotiator to join our team in Great Yarmouth Office!
We are looking for a keen individual to join our team in Great Yarmouth. This a full time or near full time position working both in the office dealing with customers enquires and out in the field meeting prospective tenants, carrying out viewings etc.
Own car that can be used for work is essential. This role includes working some Saturday mornings.
You will have enthusiasm, want to provide an excellent service, be great on the phone and have solid administration skills.
Interested? Send your CV to
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The Biggest Shake-Up to Buying a Home in Decades: What the Government's New Proposals Mean for Buyers
For many people, buying a home is one of life's biggest milestones. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most stressful.
In England and Wales, the average property transaction takes around five to six months to complete, and roughly one in three sales falls through before contracts are exchanged. The result? Buyers and sellers lose time, money, and often their dream home.
The government has now unveiled a series of proposals aimed at modernising the house-buying process, making it faster, fairer, and more transparent. If implemented, these changes could transform the way homes are bought and sold across the country.
So, What's Changing?
1. Legally Binding Agreements Earlier in the Process
One of the biggest frustrations for buyers is "gazumping" – when a seller accepts a higher offer after already agreeing to sell to someone else.
Under the new proposals, buyers and sellers would enter into legally binding agreements much earlier in the transaction. This means that either party could face penalties if they pull out without a valid reason.
The goal is simple: provide greater certainty and prevent buyers from spending thousands on surveys, legal fees, and mortgage arrangements only to see the deal collapse at the last minute.
2. Mandatory Sales Packs Before a Property Is Listed
The government wants sellers to provide key information upfront through mandatory "sales packs."
These packs could include:
- Property condition reports
- Information on leasehold charges and restrictions
- Local authority searches
- Details about building works and planning permissions
- Information on the property's chain status
Providing this information at the beginning should reduce surprises later in the process and help buyers make informed decisions more quickly.
3. A More Digital Home-Buying Process
Buying a property still involves a surprising amount of paperwork and manual administration.
The reforms propose a much greater use of technology, including:
- Digital identity checks
- Electronic signatures
- Digital property logbooks
- Secure sharing of information between solicitors, lenders, and estate agents
- AI-assisted conveyancing processes
The government believes these changes could cut transaction times by around four weeks.
What Does This Mean for First-Time Buyers?
First-time buyers stand to gain the most.
The government estimates that the new process could save first-time buyers around £650 per transaction by reducing failed sales and unnecessary costs.
In addition, wider housing proposals continue to support those trying to get onto the property ladder, including:
- Permanent 95% mortgage guarantee schemes to support buyers with smaller deposits.
- The First Homes Scheme, offering eligible buyers discounts of 30% to 50% on selected new-build properties.
- A review of first-time buyer savings schemes, including reforms to the Lifetime ISA.
Together, these measures are designed to make home ownership more accessible at a time when affordability remains one of the biggest challenges facing young buyers.
Will the Reforms End Property Stress?
Not entirely.
Buying a home will always involve significant financial and emotional decisions. However, creating a more transparent and reliable process could remove many of the frustrations that have plagued buyers for years.
Critics argue that legally binding agreements may put additional pressure on buyers whose circumstances change unexpectedly. Others question whether the reforms can be implemented quickly enough and whether the industry is prepared for such a major digital transformation.
Nevertheless, there is broad agreement that the current system needs modernisation.
The Bigger Picture
The government's proposals represent the most significant overhaul of the home-buying process in decades. By reducing delays, improving transparency, and providing greater protection for buyers and sellers, these reforms could make purchasing a property less risky and far less stressful.
For first-time buyers in particular, the changes offer hope that getting onto the property ladder may become a little easier.
While the proposals will take time to become law, they signal a clear intention from the government: to build a housing market that is faster, fairer, and fit for the modern age.
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Interest Rate Decision Tomorrow!
UK inflation stayed at 2.8% last month with slower food price rises contributing to holding the rate steady.
The Bank of England meet tomorrow to review the base rate. Currently at 3.75% it is expected that the monetary policy committee will vote for a freeze.
More recently mortgage lending rates have been falling back slightly after rising sharply after the US war with Iran and the knock on effect of higher fuel and petrol prices.
All this is good news for borrowers, house hunters and the housing market in general
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Mortgage Rates Fall
In news, which is good for borrowers and house hunters, the mortgage lending rates of many banks and building societies have started to creep downwards over the last few weeks.
Although we will have to wait for Bank of England base rate decision next week, it now seems that it is more likely that the base rate will stay at 3.75% rather than be raised. Lenders are feeding this news into their mortgage lending rates.
Lower mortgage rates usually mean a more healthy housing market and as we move through 2026, we expect prices and activity to stay consistent with supply and demand roughly meeting across the areas we cover.
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Database Sale!
We were recently approached by a client looking to secure a buyer for their property buy without advertising online or erecting a board. They had very personal reasons for asking for this approach.
Although this is never what we would recommend as we feel that full exposure is best method to sell a property for the best price, we got to work!
We quickly contacted registered buyers on our database and secured a viewing. The viewer was very impressed and made a cash offer that was accepted.
This shows that there is still strong value in good old fashioned estate agency, putting buyers and sellers together in a proactive manner rather than replying on the internet to find the buyer.
At Aldreds we have a large database of registered buyers looking in this area. If you are thinking of selling call us today and we can discuss getting you sold!
