What has the Modern World come to, on Sunday night I was just settling in for Top Gear and there was a knock at the door, who was it ? A couple of 16 year old hoodies singing ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas ‘. What a load of tosh, I sent them off with their tails between their legs and settled back down to watch Clarkson and the boys. Anyway guess what ? Next day Mrs D found most of our front garden ornaments in the lake. Still, not as bad as Debby Swift from up the school, She only gave them a quid and was told she was a tightwad amongst other things, how bad is that !

 Factfile : Benjamin Robert Roy James

Position : Negotiator - Hoddesdon

Nickname : Bradley ( off Eastenders )

Joined ADL : March 2005

Lives : Hertford

Marital Status :  Lives with Emma

Football Teams : Spurs

Favourite Restaurant : Lussmans, Hertford

Favourite Drink : Guinness / Fosters

Favourite TV : Men Behaving Badly, Dragons Den

Music : Q Music Channel ( 716 on freeview )

Highlight of ADL Career to date :  Multi tasking and fitting 20 ft load into Mercedes A Class

Now, running out of petrol was quite common when I was young, mostly due to the cars we used to have not having a working petrol gauge. But, just imagine, you have a shiny new Audi, are driving along by the George and you think the yellow light is a reminder to get to the hairdressers. Well it is not Mrs D !, it is a petrol warning light and being as I rescued you in the rain and was recognised by half of Hoddesdon as a businessman with a can consider yourself blogged !                              

Enzo Giardina : Factfile

Position : Junior Negotiator - Hoddesdon Branch

Nickname/s : Enzio, Del Piero, Rhydian, Gonzo, Carlos Kickaball

Joined ADL :  8th May 2007 ( free transfer from undisclosed Enfield Agency)

Lives : West Cheshunt

Starsign : Libra

Marital Status : Single but considering application for girlfriend

Football teams : Dynamo Chelski and Italy

Favourite restaurant : La Porchetta - Muswell Hill

Favourtite Drink : Anything over 10% alcohol

Favourite TV : Lost, Prison Break, Sopranos, Smallville, Top Gear

Music : Enzo FM  / R n B / funky house & Electro !

Highlight of ADL career to date : Competing in office olympics ( currently in last position )

Many of our clients are aware that myself and Tony have a very strong knowledge of property abroad. I am often asked if we are ever going to offer advice on properties overseas. The answer has always been no or not yet, I am a great believer in doing what you do well and not diversifying too far.

That said if we can find the right agents / developers to work  with overseas and the projects are viable with capital growth it is something we might look at next year. Watch this space………………

Otherwise know as HIPS were introduced by the government in the summer of 2007, compulsory initially for houses with 4+ bedrooms and now including houses with 3+ bedrooms.

It is now necessary to compile the Home Information Pack when you want to put your 3+ bedroom house on the market for sale. It comprises of obtaining initial searches for the house and obtaining an energy efficiency rating for the property. A property can only be listed for sale with evidence the Home Information Pack has been applied for.

The cost is usually £ 300- £ 400 ( plus vat ), this can vary between the provider you choose and the Estate Agency you are listing with. We have access to several providers and have been using  local solicitors Breeze and Wyles who can compile the HIP with prices from £ 279 plus Vat ( if you use their conveyancing services for the sale of the property ) or £ 379 plus vat if using an alternative solicitor.

It is expected that Home Information Packs will be extended to the whole of the market and all properties in from 14th December 2007In all honesty the impact of providing a HIP has not been as controversial as first thought within the industry. It remains to be seen whether the actual process of buying a property will be speeded up and of course there will be probably less properties coming on to the market, thus keeping supply low whilst demand is still high. Will house prices be sustainable in 2008 ? that remains to be seen but personally I think they will remain level for some time yet…….. Rich