Kirstie and Phil launch House Hunter app
Released on: June 30, 2011, 2:11 pm
Author:
BBC Worldwide
Industry:
Real Estate
Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, the TV property gurus, have
launched new research revealing UK home hunters overspent their
combined budgets by a staggering £3.7 billion last year, despite
falling house prices and what should be a buyers’ market.
The survey of 2,000 home buyers, announced to coincide with the launch of the new
iPhone app 'Kirstie & Phil's House Hunter', has
revealed that almost half (49 per cent) blow their budget on average to the tune of
over £10,000.
For one in ten home buyers (10 per cent) the situation is even more extreme, with
finances stretched to cover an additional spend of up to £50,000, whilst for a
frivolous few (2 per cent) it topped the scales at more than £100,000.
One in five buyers (20 per cent) admit to getting caught up in the excitement of the
moment, letting their heart overrule their head, whilst one in ten (10 per cent)
don't factor in the cosmetic work required to make their new house a home. A
similar number (11 per cent) are caught out by the level of legal and estate agent
fees they need to build into their buying budget.
Stamp duty is another major issue, with more than half of house hunters (58 per
cent) saying they are clueless as to the level they are required to pay when
shopping and budgeting for their new home.
The House Hunter iPhone App is packed with videos and audio tip guides from Kirstie
and Phil and contains a definitive guide to
finance, mortgages, dealing with agents and legal processes.
Kirstie Allsopp said: "Going over your intended budget isn't always a bad thing if
it means getting your dream home for a price you can still afford. However with
house prices as low as they are at present it should be a buyers' market, and so
it's worrying to hear how many people are spending too much either because they're
not striking a deal or because they're not on top of their finances."
Phil Spencer added: "We know from helping hundreds of people through the buying
process that the same problems and pitfalls arise time and time again and that's
why we've created the app. It's the first to combine an extensive property search
function with great tools to help buyers manage their individual search."
Kirstie & Phil's House Hunter app is available from the iTunes store now and
integrates the Zoopla search engine to enable users to search for properties
anywhere in the UK.
House Hunter is packed with Kirstie and Phil videos as well as house buying tips and guides from Kirstie and Phil providing a
comprehensive guide to buying a home.
The app has been jointly developed and produced by The Talent and Brand Ventures
team at BBC Worldwide and Raise The Roof Productions.
Further details about the app can also be found on Kirstie and Phil's website, the
Kirstie and Phil Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/KirstieandPhil) and YouTube
Channel which features an exclusive introduction to the app from Kirstie and Phil.
Notes to Editors:
The survey of 2,000 UK home buyers was undertaken by One Poll in February 2011.
About BBC Worldwide:
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of
the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value
of the BBC's assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public
service programming in return for rights. The company has six core businesses:
Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, BBC Magazines, Consumer
Products (including DVD publisher 2 entertain) and Brands, Consumers & New Ventures,
with digital ventures incorporated into each business area. In 2009/10, BBC
Worldwide generated profits of £145 million (operating profit before specific items)
on sales of £1074 million (including Group revenue and the Group's share of
joint-ventures' revenue).
Contact Details: PR contact:
Emma Campbell
Town Centre House
Cheltenham Crescent
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 1DQ
0845 4567 251
www.acceleris-mc.com
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