Below are a list of frequently asked questions. If your question isn’t answered here, please feel free to get in touch.
It’s imperative that you choose a property sourcing company that is compliant. Not doing so could result in significant financial loss with no comeback. You can rest assured that Prosperty Group is:
Insured for Professional Indemnity;
Registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for Data Protection;
Registered with the Property Redress Scheme (PRS); and
Registered by HMRC for Money Laundering supervision.
You can check us out by clicking the links above or we can show you the appropriate documentation during our initial meeting.
No. Nor are we permitted to offer financial or investment advice to investors, whether or not the intended investments are regulated or unregulated.
You will not have access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) or the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Packaged property deals are for the prospective purchasers only. Moreover, we recommend that advice on legal, commercial and tax related matters is obtained before entering into a legally binding contract to purchase a property deal.
As a fully compliant property sourcing company, Prosperty Group is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This means that your personal data is handled and stored in accordance with UK Data Protection legislation. Therefore, any information you pass to us is used only for:
The purposes of establishing your service requirements;
Enabling us to send you details of prospective deals; and
Enabling communication with members of our power team where appropriate.
We absolutely will not share with, or sell to, any unauthorised third parties. Furthermore, our equipment, and data transfer and storage methods are secure and encrypted.
A non-disclosure agreement is a legal document that forms a trusting relationship between the seller, the buyer and HIM Sourcing (the property sourcing company). By signing it, you agree not to disclose confidential information to any unauthorised third parties. It is designed to protect our business and your deal (and any future deals).
Whilst we specialise in properties in the South of England, we find great deals all over the UK. Sign up to our mailing list to see the kinds of properties we offer.
We commit to finding our clients a suitable property within 1-4 weeks.
It is company policy that we will not release the full property address or estate agents details until the full finder’s fee has been paid. If you view the property once the fee has been paid and find it to be not as we described, you will be entitled to a refund – please see our full refund policy for more information.
Extensive due diligence is carried out on each deal to ensure the numbers presented to you are as accurate as possible. Our investment experience and knowledge of the area are fundamental in providing you with the key information. We insist that you also carry out your own due diligence to verify the numbers and ensure you’re completely happy with the deal and it’s right for you.
Numbers are calculated in NET and exclusive of VAT (unless stated otherwise). This is because different investors have different criteria that could mean they are not affected by VAT.
We use the information provided on the subscription form to ensure we have a good understanding of the kinds of deals our investors are most interested in.
Yes, indeed! This is what we do all day, every day. 80% of the opportunities we find are residential properties.
It’s impossible to put a cost on our service without knowing your requirements, but we always ensure a win-win deal. Naturally we charge for our service, but you are sure to get a property with a potential value uplift or yield greater than our fees. Our fees are negotiated up-front so you will have no surprises further down the line.
We actively generate a steady stream of opportunities, but they never hang around for long, so your best way forwards is to join our mailing list and let us know about your requirements. Then when a suitable property is available, you’ll be first to hear.
The properties we source generally fall into one of two categories: 1) they are available at below the fair market value for their type and location or 2) they are available at a fair market value, but have untapped potential to add value (for example, properties with land that can be built on).
Our market insight is invaluable in understanding the location, pricing, cost to refurbish and resale evaluations. We build in our predictions for any investment opportunity to ensure maximum profit sharing and mitigate risk of market dips.
One of the most beneficial aspects of aligning yourself with our leading property sourcing team is that you benefit from access to the most lucrative “silent sales”. This means the properties our clients have access to are pre-release deals – often not available to the public market.
We reject deals for many reasons; such as the property is over-priced, the yield is too low, the building is in bad condition, the surrounding properties are all owned by investors only and an array of other negative influences. We look at all the factors that will have an adverse impact on the capital growth of the property therefore are not a suitable investment for our clients.
Yes, we offer a renovation management service starting from £2,000. We can make it as hands-free for you as possible, including getting the best quotes, managing contractors, collecting keys, holding keys, arranging cleaners, arranging a local lettings agent if needed for long term management, furnishing, arranging gas & electrical checks. So from the time the keys are collected once purchased, to the time the keys are handed over to the letting agent at the end, we will project manage the work to a high standard as if it was one of our own properties. We will take photos along the way to show you progress too.
No. As an investor you will be familiar with the process of buying a property. We will introduce you to our mortgage broker prior to reserving any properties to establish the level to which you may borrow. This ensures a quick transaction for both our investors and the vendors we engage with. Our brokers are experienced in property financing and will have a clear understanding of your criteria and, therefore, what level of finance is available to you.
Prosperty Group works on your behalf to negotiate the lowest possible purchase price of the property. An estate agent, on the other hand, works on behalf of the seller to sell at the highest possible price.
Our team also offers property investment-specific services and advice, tailored to your needs.
For every property deal that we present, you have 48 hours to decide if it’s right for you and pay the reservation fee to secure it. Each deal will contain a comprehensive report, which includes:
Purchase price;
Property details and history;
Site and floor plans (current and potential layout);
Market value and comparable sales in the local area;
Analysis of local comparable and local average rental income, including details of previous similar deals in the area;
Economic forecast of the location focusing on deals of economic and future growth;
Meticulous breakdown of the financial details, including monthly cash flow, achievable rent, service charges and expenses, yearly maintenance and average void rates;
Detailed overview of the area (including amenities, transport links, schools) and its suitability to rent to students or professionals;
Refurbishment estimate;
Schedule of works;
Uplift value and expected rental income per month following refurbishment;
Re-mortgage and refinance forecast;
Pictures of the property and condition report;
Our recommendations for uplift; and
Recommended strategy for the property.
Costs depends on several factors such as the scale and nature of the project, the precise location, type and size of your property, as well as the level of specification or finish you are looking for. Having worked out a preliminary layout with you, we immediately give you an accurate estimate of how much your renovation or refurbishment will cost. If you have a fixed budget, we work with you and discuss options that are achievable for that cost. We always respect budgets and are set up for agile project management to control costs and time effectively.
Yes, we have relevantly qualified surveyors backed up with contract management and administration teams to carry out the initial survey to provide accurate and concise findings/recommendations/quotations and then programme to complete the work.
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this question. We must allow sufficient time for planning applications, costing, designing and checking of your property to be completed properly. The process of obtaining the license from a managing agent in an apartment building, or securing planning permissions in conservation areas and listed buildings can be very complex and protracted.
For the building work alone:
One thing that is guaranteed to ruin a project is to try to rush. Less haste and more speed is the mantra. There is also a strong relationship between the three main project variables: quality, cost and time.
If you want a high quality finish to be achieved quickly, it will usually be hugely expensive. If something has to be sacrificed, we would recommend being patient so quality is maintained and budgets managed.
Yes we do, your property will be in good hands as our team are focused to delivery good quality work and customer service. Good things take time and that is why we ensure that every property receives the correct level of craftsmanship before the project is completed.
With bespoke renovation, every project is unique. Prosperty Group, however, have the experience and expertise that will deliver excellent results.
Whether you choose to work with Prosperty Group or not, remember that the key to successful property refurbishment is experience and knowledge. We provide specialists property reports that include both internal and external inspections findings, recommendations, quotation and fully marked up drawings.
If you choose to work with our local team, then we will help you to improve the condition of your home or property and take you through your property refurbishment, step by step.
We are transparent with our clients from the very early stages of a project to the very end of it. As with all building works there can be unexpected costs. This can be due to many factors i.e. the client changing the design/ material choice or finding a structural fault during the down takings of the project. We will make sure that you are informed of these costs throughout the project, making you as well informed as possible.
Yes, if the relevant planning and building warrants are in place. We have completed a number of home renovation projects, find out more about the property refurbishment services here.
Of course. We have worked with several leading architects and interior designers chosen by our clients. We recommend working with our architects as communication and understanding between the architects and our team of local builders is outstanding.
Whatever style preferences you have, we place great emphasis on layout and storage. We work with you to create practical, beautiful spaces for you to enjoy living in and be proud of. As we work routinely with leading interior designers and architects, we are adept at creating solutions specific to residential property that meet and hopefully exceed your expectations.
Unfortunately not. We only carry out decoration work as part of a renovation or refurbishment we are working on.
We have dedicated project managers in house capable of managing all aspects of your project. We work with a select pool of sub-contract trades that we have built up over many years of construction experience. We roll these teams from project to project, thereby ensuring our teams all have similar working values, understand the working process and deliver exceptional quality in the process. Should you have specific tradesmen you would like to use, we will always try to incorporate their services within our team structure.
Initial Consultation: £75
Project Hourly Rate: £125/hour
After stopping out at your place for an initial consultation, we will pull together an estimate for your project. In the estimate, we will list all of the tasks that need to be completed (typically by room) along with the number of hours we think it will take to complete that phase of the project. Your hourly rate is based on the number of hours we think the overall project will take.
Estimates will not include costs for materials (e.g. furniture, materials, artwork, accessories) or the cost for contractors to complete any necessary tasks. At this point in the project, it is too early to tell how much a specific item will cost.
All projects require at least 5 hours of design services.
* Please note, that due to the distance and amount of time needed to travel to some locations, a trip surcharge may apply. Also a surcharge of £30 will be applied to all weekend appointments.
Due to the extensive library of wallpaper & fabrics available to us we offer consultations by appointment only. This ensures we give you the best possible service & can prepare & source suitable samples in advance. We ask that you complete a short questionnairre detailing your requirements. Once we receive your questionnaire we will contact you to book an appointment.
When hiring an interior designer you are embarking on a valuable journey, utilising skilled professionals who spend dedicated time developing designs & are able to draw upon knowledge with refined capabilities & experience to execute ideas into a reality.
No, our approach is to take each project on its individual merits and prepare a design that understands & interprets a client’s needs and wishes reflecting their individual style taking into consideration lifestyle, personality & aspirations.
The sooner the better. the earlier you engage an interior designer, the smoother the project will run. Collaborating from the beginning with contractors and architects will ensure your design scheme will remain cohesive throughout and all details of your project are accounted for from the onset.
As no two projects are the same, we are unable to give you an exact figure at our first meeting. It is important for you to approach your project with a realistic budget. Once your interior designer understands your requirements they will be able to advise if your budget aligns with your aspirations. It does take time to develop a design and identify the specific costs, once these have been identified we will provide you with a detailed summary and will keep you updated throughout the process so that there are no surprises at the end.
We have developed and streamlined a process to help you decorate or renovate your home. Though this process may vary slightly from project to project, once you sign on with us, your project will typically follow these steps.
After the project scope has been defined and the contracts have been signed, we can now start the design process for your project. During the project kick-off, you will meet the main interior designer responsible for your project. The lead designer may be different than the designer that stopped by at your initial consultation.
The on-site designer will start off by taking necessary measurements of the job site and an inventory of any existing furniture and accessories that will be used in the new design. We will also work to refine your design vision and the scope of your project, so that no detail is left out of the design.
We will work on the development of your new space. Now that we have a deeper understanding of your design tastes, we will create a complete design that includes the necessary floor plans, elevations, furniture selections, material samples, paint colours and sketches necessary to convey the design to you and any contractors that may be involved in the implementation of the design. Our goal is to give you enough information to understand what the space will look like and confidently make a decision about the direction of the design.
After your final approval of the design, it is time to start the purchasing of materials. During this phase, necessary products and merchandise will be purchased by Prosperty Group, yourself, and any contractors that may be involved with your project.
Once the products and materials have been received and the team responsible for managing the implementation has been engaged, implementation/construction can begin. This may be as simple as arranging furniture and hanging artwork, or as complicated as remodelling your kitchen. It all depends on what type of project you have. Depending on your project size and scope, implementation may be completed by Prosperty Group, yourself, the contractor(s), or any combination of the three.
Even before the dust starts to fly, management of the project is critical to keeping it on track and on budget. Depending on the size of the project, you may elect to manage the project yourself. However, most customers hire us to manage things. We may recommend establishing timelines and payment schedules to motivate the timely completion of your project. We may also help to review work of the contractors, painters, installers, and arrange delivery of furniture and other merchandise during the implementation phase, all in an effort to help things move along smoothly. During this phase, it is critical to keep an open-line of communication and to inspect the construction as it is progressing. We heavily utilise email, text messaging, picture messages, and phone calls to expedite communication and to maintain the timeliness of you project. Often times, weekly status meetings are required.
Once the dust has settled, the paint has dried, and the last piece of furniture has been moved into place, we will review the project to make sure that you are happy with the final result and come on site to take some professional photos of the completed project. Our goal is to make sure that we have met or exceeded your expectations and that you are happy with the look and feel of your new home.
Space planning is the bare bones of any architectural or interior project. Without it the concept can not be implemented, fixtures and fittings not calculated and leaving the space compromised. A mis managed space produces an aftermath of which potentially the whole project revisited and constructed again. Having space planning at the very early stages will stand any project in good stead for future alterations as the ‘foundations’ of good planning are already in place.
Fundamentally the user.
How they move, live and enjoy the space. How they plan to use it in the future, not just for today. Create a multifunction space that can change with lifestyle changes.
Size, architecture and structure considered as a whole.
For example, a spacious area doesn’t naturally suggest that the space will work well, without effort. It may need to be ‘zoned’ to become usable, cosy and welcoming.
Architecture and History.
There is never a more pleasant situation when architecture and history can play an integral part in the planning stage whether the room/building is existing or not. We ask – is it typically this style or typically that style. Does it lack certain elements and can they be reintroduced somewhere else? Architectural details are a blessing, offering inspiration, and guidance, which in turn maintain historical Architecture and our protect our Heritage.
Available light, windows and focal points.
What can this bring to the initial survey and structure? If there is height and no width, then can it be compensated by length? Just because there are apertures of light does not necessary mean they are aesthetically correct, could we do without them? Focal points are important but only if they are in the correct place.
Balance.
Are all the elements balanced to one another? Proportion is important. Buying a sofa in a large showroom and then trying to place it in a small room in your home proves the point of this! Will items placed jar the eye on entering the room? Sometimes if piece of furniture doesn’t ‘feel’ right – turn it to another position, and it works.
A serviced apartment is a type of fully furnished housing, which includes a range of home-like amenities and hotel-like services, all included within the overall rental price. Serviced apartments are designed to act as ‘homes away from home’, with more space and facilities compared to regular apartment rentals and hotels. Serviced accommodation is also available for long and short term stays, allowing guests to stay overseas for business trips without hassle or lacking facilities. There are many types of serviced accommodation too, which come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from small studio suites to ten-bedroom houses.
The check-in and check-out procedures of our featured apartments are varied depending on the building and location. Buildings may have receptions, which can be open for up to 24 hours, or allow guests to simply self-check in. Another possibility is that a guest may be advised to ‘Meet and Greet’, where they are handed the keys to their accommodation and anything else that is deemed necessary. Ultimately, all the necessary information will be confirmed by a member of our team at the time of the booking, and full instructions for check-in will be sent to the guests along with an in-apartment information pack. Instructions may include reminders to the guests to bring identification and booking confirmation to the check-in destination.
Each apartment configuration is different. So too are the facilities. There are, however, certain facilities you can expect to find in every property:
With the majority of our featured serviced apartments, all these facilities and services are included in the overall rental cost. However, some apartments are also equipped with additional features, such as communal on-site gyms, swimming pools, restaurants and conference rooms. Across the board though, facilities are variable depending on where you stay, with some requiring additional charges.
Our featured serviced apartments have a housekeeping service included within the cost of your accommodation. Housekeeping services can range from daily to fortnightly, but typically, cleaning and maintenance are conducted in our apartments once a week. Clients should be aware that housekeeping standards are internationally diverse, and what is included in the cost may differ depending on where you stay. Be sure to contact a SITU team member for any enquiries about housekeeping.
Security measures are variable across our featured apartments, and standards may differ depending on where you travel. In-room safes, key-code apartment access and 24-hour doormen are just a few examples of security measures which may be relevant to your apartment. It is always worth looking over the accommodation’s security standards and facilities on our website or contacting a member of our team, before placing a booking.
We always do our best to meet our guests’ needs. Any special requests will be noted at the time of the enquiry, and a further follow-up from our team will reveal whether any request can be accommodated.
If you need to amend your reservation, please contact our team ASAP. All extensions are generally subject to availability. If you wish to shorten your stay, you may be subject to cancellation charges if you don’t provide sufficient notice. Details of the cancellation policy for your apartment are included in your booking confirmation.
No. Some properties are available on a nightly basis. Please note that the minimum length of stay varies from property to property. Our team will inform you of any such restrictions during both the enquiry and reservation stage. A greater selection of serviced apartments will be available to you if you book for seven nights or more.
Reservations are billed at the point of booking and must be paid in full before check-in. Our team will agree a payment date with you during the reservation stage.
Whether you receive a refund is dependent on if you cancel your booking in accordance with the apartment’s cancellation policy.
The number of our featured apartment operators who accommodate pets is growing. Be sure to please check with a member of our team who will be able to advise on the pet policy in place and any potentially related charges.
Across the majority of our featured apartments, smoking is not permitted. Whilst there is a chance that smoking is acceptable in communal areas, on balconies or even in gardens, it is better to check for any restrictions first. Contact a member of our team for more information about your apartment’s smoking policy.
Serviced apartments feature a number of benefits that are not included with a fixed tenancy: one of the most significant is the fact that there’s rarely a deposit fee. This minimises any upfront costs, which is often a big hassle when beginning a fixed-term tenancy. Other benefits of serviced apartments include:
All of our new tours are compatible with the iPad/iPhone, Android Smartphones/Tablets, some Smart TV’s, and other connected devices.
Our high quality tours are competitively priced and we are happy to provide quotations on request. Tell us about your project and we will be happy to help.
A clickable button or other on screen icon/text that allows the viewer to move from one viewpoint to another. For example a hotspot located over a doorway may move you to the next room when clicked.
To book a virtual tour with us, please contact us and arrange a time and a place. In addition you could arrange a meeting to come into the office and have a talk through your virtual tour needs and objectives. As some jobs will vary depending on size, conditions and location, we can’t give you a quote until we know your specific requirements.
Your property or location should look exactly how you want it to look to your audience! You should make sure your property is tidy and with minimal people around to ensure the shots are taken as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
For any property you promote on your site or other sites, you present it in a more attractive and explorable manner through a virtual tour. Studies show that properties sell 20% faster and a 9% higher price.
You will also have a 24/7 marketing tool that lets prospects visit when they want even when you can’t be there. It will also help to expedite the decision making process since prospects have previewed a virtual tour and it will save you time in showing the property to only truly interested prospects.
Definitely! You can easily place it on your business website with the instruction we provide. It is just a matter of adding one line of code. You can also link it to share on social media networks, blogs, email and wherever else you can think of placing it.
It is a onetime fee with no additional charges relating to the virtual tour. Hosting for the first year or until the property is sold or leased is included for custom/real estate tours. An additional year of hosting is only £50.
Mattertags annotate points in 3D Space for Real Estate, Travel & Hospitality, Media, and Other Industries. When a viewer mouses over or clicks on a Mattertag marker, a billboard appears with a short text description of the tagged feature, object, or area.
It takes approximately 45-60 minutes to scan 1,000 square feet.
A traditional virtual tour isn’t really virtual. It’s just a gallery of stationary panoramic photos. Although techniques vary, most traditional tours don’t allow the viewer to move around within the space. At the very most, traditional tours offer 10-15 individual locations to view the space. Traditional photographers use DSLR cameras to capture multiple photos which are then stitched together to form a panorama which is viewed from a player.
Our 3D virtual tours allow the viewer to explore the space in up to 300 locations that are seamlessly stitched together. We use high tech 3D cameras which have 12 cameras and sensors to not only capture photos but to create a polygon mesh. This mesh is rendered into a dynamic 3D model which can be explored online or even with a virtual reality headset such as an Oculus Rift or Samsung Gear VR.
The pricing depends on your specific requirements. The good news is, we offer pricing and packages that suit your needs and budget.
The amount of time it takes to do real estate photography, whether it is a home or a commercial building, varies. Moreover, the number one most important factor is the property’s size.
Generally, prepare for about an hour. Nevertheless, expect long hours, especially for larger buildings, homes, or properties.
Meanwhile, we can discuss the time required for your photoshoot at the time you book it.
Photos will be delivered two days after the photoshoot. If you need a rush, please let us know.
Photos will be delivered two days after the photoshoot via an online gallery with an online invoice that can be paid with a debit card or credit card. The invoice is due on receipt.
If you have any special instructions that the photographer needs to know, please let us know as soon as possible before the photoshoot.
We don’t charge for cancellations and reschedules as long as they are done 24 hours ahead of the scheduled shoot date/time. Under a 24-hour window, a cancellation/reschedule is £60. If we show up to a property and can’t get in or the agent or seller cancels the shoot, we will charge £60+ 50% of the quoted amount.
If full payment has been made, you have the right to use the products, and it means you agree that the right to use the products has been given ONLY to you. You agree that you cannot transfer, assign or sublicense your rights to use the products, the photographs, video, or other kinds of media included therein to anyone without the copyright holder’s written permission.
Your rights allow you to use our photographs, videos, and other media for marketing purposes. However, your Rights do not authorise third parties to display, copy, or distribute our work to provide services competitive with our products unless our written permission allows you. For real estate, these rights are valid without limits, as long as you have the listing. If you no longer have the listing, the rights to use the products are also gone.
If someone asks you about your rights to the products, you would need to refer them to us. If we allow others to use our products, an additional licensing fee may be necessary.
Since most appointments are made based on your availability and the sellers’ availability, there are preferred times of the day for better photographs.
West-facing homes are best captured in the early afternoon, while east-facing homes are best photographed in the morning. Meanwhile, north-facing homes are best shot early in the morning. Regardless of the direction of a home, it can benefit from being captured during twilight.
We can use a contractor’s lockbox (with an alphanumeric code) to enter the home for a photography session with the homeowner’s permission. Unless you or the homeowner needs to be on-site to allow use in at the appointment time.
Of course, it is their home afterall. However, we can produce better photos during the limited time we are on the property when distractions are minimal. Whether you or the seller are on-site, it would be great if you ensure all staging and cleaning is done before the appointment. Also, please keep all children and pets away from equipment during the appointment.
Generally, homes are more attractive if they are furnished or staged before the photography session. However, we can take photos of an empty house.
That said, it is highly encouraged that you hire a home stager if the home’s vacant. At least, try to stage essential rooms like the master bedroom, bathrooms, the living room, and the kitchen.
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