• Using Google Search Trends, GoodMove has revealed the UK’s 12 most searched property terminologies over the past 12 months
• To give a helping hand, experts have drawn up a comprehensive property jargon buster, covering all the terms you might hear in a conversation as you buy or sell your home

Do you find some of the property jargon used by estate agents difficult to understand? Has Google become your closest ally during the property buying process?

If this is you, then fear not, property experts at GoodMove have revealed the 12 most searched for property terms according to Google Search Trends^1,  Plus, experts have created a property jargon dictionary to help buyers understand difficult terminology and avoid expensive little mistakes!

1. Gazumping (1,500+% increase)

Gazumping is a buyers horror story – it occurs when a seller verbally accepts an offer from one buyer before raising the asking price. It can also refer to a seller accepting a higher offer from another buyer after already accepting yours. Unsurprisingly, it was the UK’s most searched term with a 1,500% increase in queries.

2.Buy-to-let (1,500+% increase)

Renting out property is an incredibly popular motivation, and considering the generation-rent phenomenon, it’s a pretty wise one too. Buy-to-let refers to a property purchased with the intention of renting out, rather than living in it yourself. Over the year search terms for “how does a buy-to-let mortgage work?” have increased by over 1,500%!

3.Power of attorney: (450% increase)

In some scenarios it may be necessary to make financial and legal decisions on behalf of somebody else; in this case, you may need the power of an attorney. An example of this is the family of an elderly relative who is moving into a care home taking control of their estate.

4.Leasehold (250% increase)

With a 250% increase in search queries for “What does leasehold mean?” this is another term buyers struggled with. In brief, a leasehold property is one that is situated on land owned by somebody else (the freeholder). A leaseholder owns the property for the duration of a lease but doesn’t have any claim to the surrounding land.

5.Capital gains tax (200% increase)

One thing buyers may not be aware of is the profit gained on the sales of a property, that is not your primary residence, can be taxed. This is known as capital gains tax and the amount you pay depends on several factors: including the price of the property and your income.

6.Freehold (180% increase)

On the other hand, freehold means that you own the entire estate you live on, including the property and its surrounding land. You are free to make any changes you like, within the parameters of planning permission.

7.Probate (100% increase)

When somebody dies, their estate is distributed between the beneficiaries outlined in their will, a ‘probate’ is the legal administration process that accompanies this. Please note that if this is something you experience, taxes and debts in relation must be paid beforehand.

8. Property chain (100% increase)

Occasionally individuals will be stepping into the shoes of both the buyer and the seller. This process is more commonly known as a property chain. A property chain can cause a sale or purchase to stall or fall through, so consider the benefits of getting in touch with a quick house sale company.

9.Gazundering (100% increase)

On the flip side of gazumping is gazundering. This is when a buyer initially agrees to an offer on a property, before reducing it prior to contracts being exchanged. For many sellers, refusing the offer could lead them back to square one with the entire chain falling apart. Often this means they can feel forced to accept.

10. Conveyancing (90% increase)

Following the property boom over the pandemic, there was a 90% increase in searches such as “how does house conveyancing work?”. To put it simply, conveyancing refers to the legal transferring of property ownership from one person to another – most commonly from the seller to the buyer.

11. Survey (60% increase)

We’re all aware that a survey refers to the assessment of information – however, with a 60% increase in search queries, not many of us knew its context in property. A property survey is a professional inspection of a property to determine its conditions, and any problems with the structure.

12. Ground rent (50% increase)

If you are living in a rented property, you will be paying what is known as ground rent. In short, ground rent is an agreement that stipulates the leaseholder of a property to pay a regular fee to the freeholder to occupy the land, for a specific length of time.

Commenting on the research, Nima Ghasri, Director at Good Move says: “When purchasing a property, the jargon used by estate agents can be somewhat confusing if people are not regularly buying, selling or renting. This can mean that very often buyers can make costly mistakes by misunderstanding estate agents. Therefore, we hope that by providing some clarification on terminology it can assist with a smoother and less stressful buying process.”

For more property jargon busters head over to: https://goodmove.co.uk/blog/the-ultimate-property-jargon-buster/

Brits are being offered an ultimate guide to creating new plants, from ones which they may already have in their home.

The plant experts at Gardening Express have shared advice on how to propagate common houseplants.

Most of us will be familiar with using seeds, but this isn’t the only method that can be used to fill a home with greenery.

Other easy techniques to grow plants include taking cuttings, dividing the roots, and cutting pups. 

Using propagation methods are a great way to save money and boost the number of houseplants kept around the home.

A spokesperson for Gardening Express said: “Decorating the home with houseplants is a simple way to keep your space looking and feeling fresh.

“A lot of people feel intimidated by this process, as it can be slightly fiddly, but it’s not as hard as you may think”

“Propagating is a great skill to add to your gardening routine, as it will allow you to grow any collection quicker. The beautiful babies you grow will make a great gift or addition to another corner of your home.”

Gardening Express’s guide to propagating houseplants:

Cuttings

1. Pothos

Pothos plants require little maintenance and will even grow in low light conditions with minimal amounts of water. To propagate, simply identify any healthy stems with four or more leaves on them, use a pair of sharp shears to cut below the root node at an angle and place in some water.

2. Heartleaf philodendron

This houseplant is super easy to care for. All it needs is a bit of indirect sunlight and it can be grown in soil or just water. Remove any stem that is three to six inches long and get rid of all the leaves attached to it. Once ready to get growing, place it in water or moist houseplant soil and watch the plant bloom from a stem.

3. Jade plant

For better and faster results, the Jade plant should be propagated during warmer months. Once you have your clipping, place it in some moist soil in a small container. Gardeners can speed up the process, by dipping the cutting into a rooting hormone before placing it in the soil.

Root Division

4. Snake plant

The snake plant is typically easy to care for. All it needs is a bit of water once the soil starts to look dry.To propagate, take the Snake Plant out of its pot and find a stem that is attached to the main part of the plant, then carefully pull at the stem to separate the roots. If the process is proving a bit tough, a knife can be used. Once the stem is separate, simply re-pot it.

5. ZZ plant 

The quickest and easiest method to propagate a ZZ plant is through root division. This plant will flourish in indirect sunlight with water needed every two to three weeks. Again, the roots will need to be separated carefully and then, the plant can then be re-potted.

6. Boston fern

A Boston fern should be watered around two times a week to keep the soil nice and moist. If the roots are divided by hand, the propagated part of the plant can be placed directly into a houseplant soil. However, if a knife was used, it will need a few days for the cut to heal

Pups

7. Ponytail palm 

Plants that produce pups to propagate do most of the regrowing themselves. The Ponytail palm is an extremely forgiving plant. They are happy in low light, however, the brighter places they are kept, the better. Soil should be left to dry significantly in between watering. Let the pup grow a few inches in size on the plant and then simply cut them off and re-pot.

8. Bromeliad

The same rules apply when dealing with bromeliad pups. Allow them to grow to a few inches before cutting off and re-potting.This plant requires slightly more maintenance and should be kept moist in direct sun and in a light, airy setting.