The LSL Property Services/Acadametrics Scotland House Price Index for March 2012 has been released today, the same week as the YOUR MOVE website has launched a new Scottish section to collect together information for sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants in Scotland.

The Scottish House Price Index shows that in March 2012 the average house price in Scotland was £146,633. This is a 0.5% monthly change and the increase in house price was attributed to increased activity in the market as first time buyers rushed to beat the March stamp duty deadline – transactions were up 15% in March 2012.

Gordon Fowlis, Regional Managing Director for Your Move in Scotland, comments: "The end of the stamp duty holiday for new buyers sparked a glut of last-minute-merchant activity from first-timers rushing to beat the deadline, and prices rose for the second successive month as a result.

"That so many first time buyers were able to piece together a deposit in the midst of economic downturn is testament to the strong underlying demand from buyers desperate to get onto the property ladder. Despite having to cross a relatively high threshold to get a mortgage, there is still strong appetite from buyers who are anxious to avoid remaining stuck in expensive rental accommodation that can be a black-hole for personal finances.

"But that doesn't hide the fact March’s surge in first time buyer activity was a one-off caused by the stamp duty rush. Banks and building societies are having to contend with increasing funding costs imposed by the problems in the financial markets, and will be forced to scale back their lending to borrowers with low deposits. As a result, activity levels in the early summer will fall back to the suppressed levels we've become accustomed to. The prospects for the housing market over the coming months will be tightly bound to the fallout from the European financial crisis, which could hamper banks and building societies’ ability to satisfy the high demand for mortgages.

"The positive headline figure for March does camouflage regional volatility of prices. Local house prices have had mixed fortunes: only 15 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland have seen house values rise over the last year. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh metropolitan areas have seen prices fall by 1.9% in the last year, despite a wave of activity from buy-to-let landlords looking to snap up flats to use for rental accommodation. On a local level, the fortunes of house prices are heavily dependent on the performance of their immediate economies, particularly the impact of public sector austerity and the threat of unemployment."

If you are interested in selling or letting a property in Scotland then please contact your local YOUR MOVE estate agency in Scotland. Our agents can discuss the selling and letting processes, home reports, marketing packages and arrange a property valuation for you.

Last week Mark Barnett, who is working with our Premier team in London, gave his top tips for taking property photographs. This week Mark has put together some tips for vendors and landlords for preparing a property prior to having it photographed for listing.

Your local YOUR MOVE estate agent is on hand to offer help and advice if you are selling your home – our agents are on hand of offer tips prior to a viewing or advice on marketing your home.

We offer a Stand Out Marketing package to help you market your property to the best of its potential. The package includes larger window cards in the branch displays, high quality glossy brochures, feature adverts in local papers as well as premium listings on the YOUR MOVE and Rightmove websites.

For prestigious homes we also offer our Premier Service, which offers a distinctive package to position your home in the premier division of the property market.

To find out more about YOUR MOVE’s marketing packages and how we can help you sell your home contact your local estate agency branch today.

For this week's "Blog Property of the Week" we have raced back down to the south coast from the North East and find ourselves in the seaside town of Worthing in West Sussex. Popular as a seaside resort since the Victorian times the town is situated in a wonderful location on the south coast, between Bognor Regis and Brighton.

This week's feature property is a beautiful 3 bedroom flat in Clarence Court on Brighton Road - two features in particular make this property stand out, the first is the art deco period building and the second is the interrupted view across the promenade to the sea. If you are looking for the perfect marriage of style and views then this apartment could be the ideal property.

Clarence Court is typical of the Art Deco period; sleek lines and linear geometry are typical of this instantly recognisable style and design movement. It’s not hard to imagine Poirot sitting in the living room with Captain Hastings unravelling a mystery! There are so many reasons to buy this excellent property which has been fully modernised in recent months. The views are simply stunning, the ever changing colours and moods of the far reaching English Channel and promenaders at leisure, strolling, meandering, enjoying the sea air.... all outside your window.

Rob Newman from the Worthing office says about the apartment; "One of the best flats in Worthing without a doubt, on the top floor with no-one above you, only seagulls! 3 bedrooms, secure underground parking all in beautiful condition and all with wonderful views"

This 3 bedroom, seaside apartment in Worthing is on the market for £285,000 with the YOUR MOVE Premier estate agency in Worthing, the office is based on Chapel Road.

The Art Deco period apartment is situated on the top floor of Clarence Court and has been the subject of an excellent re-modernisation program. The property has 3 bedrooms, a southerly facing lounge with a feature Art Deco style fire surround and those stunning sea views! In addition there is a refitted kitchen and bathroom as well as underground garaging and storage.

For more information about the property or to arrange a viewing please contact our Worthing estate agents who will be happy to discuss the apartment further and the range of properties for sale in Worthing from the branch.

Mark Barnett Photography is a successful professional photography company, which has combined forces with YOUR MOVE Premier London to offer a bespoke high-end property photography service.

Mark Barnett prides himself on his attention to detail and providing a quality service, having worked in the property industry for over 22 years. Mark has a wealth of understanding of the property market and has a firm belief that when marketing a property, the photographs are very important in attracting potential purchasers or tenants to a property and also giving the owner a lasting image of their property. Mark is consistently trying to extend the boundaries, searching for new technology and professional techniques, which enable his company to offer the best photography services for his clients.

Top Tips for Property Photography from Mark

Photographs often provide the client's first impression of a property, and can intrigue a prospective buyer as easily as they can turn a buyer off completely if not taken correctly.

1. Exterior: I shoot exterior shots from many different angles, also low down and if possible from an aerial position to show how the property stands in its plot.

2. Photograph all rooms: I make sure to include shots of the property’s main elements. Features that shouldn’t be left out include the front and back elevations of the property, bedrooms, livings areas, dining room, kitchen, bathrooms and any other special attributes, such as a swimming pool or a feature fireplace.

3. The more photos, the better: I include as many photographs as possible and from multiple angles. A floor plan is also a great inclusion.

4. The weather: I try wherever possible to take photographs on a bright day. Camera settings can help when the weather is not its best along with my photographic software.

5. Photograph all of the room: Photographing just one half of a room, even if you are trying to focus only on its best attributes, can make potential buyers suspicious as to what lies outside the frame, so where ever possible get the whole room in shot.

6. Angles: I photograph large rooms from different angles, which gives the client a sense of perspective.

7. Flash: Using a flash will help enhance the photograph, always avoiding taking shots in front of a mirror due to reflections.

8. Creating a scene: I try to create a sense of what life is like in a home. Removing clutter is a great idea, but obviously over constructed scenes can create a sense of falseness.

9. Get to know your camera settings and your tripod: Knowing the different settings on my camera is essential, for example aperture, shutter speed, ISO. All of these help to create the perfect photograph.

10. Different settings: Shooting interiors at a slower shutter speed for instance can make the shot look better. A garden can look better in shade, and in harsh sunlight using flash can help.

Premier Photography for a Premier Service in London

Mark will ensure photographs of your property are properly composed and the correct light and balance are achieved in the composition of every photograph. He will highlight particular attractive elements of the room or building to show the full potential of every property.

He believes every property is unique, whether that be in the way it is decorated or furnished which means there isn’t always a set way of taking the best photograph and Mark prides himself on the ability to capture the uniqueness of each property in his photography and believes a well-taken professional photograph is worth a thousand words.

To find out more about our Premier property photography service in London please contact Stuart Ripley at stuart.ripley@your-move.co.uk or contact your local YOUR MOVE estate agency in London.

This week we are in the North East of England for "Blog Property of the Week", and we are pleased to feature a three bedroom maisonette apartment for sale from the YOUR MOVE estate agency in Durham, the newest of our branches!

The apartment is located in St Annes Court, which is within walking distance of Durham city centre; the property is on the market for £465,000.

St Annes Court was formerly a convent dating back to the 1600s and is now a Grade II listed building. The city is famous for its Norman Cathedral, 11th century castle and university so this property of the week is perfectly in keeping with the history of Durham.

The apartment has been sympathetically restored and includes many of the original features, doors and sash windows. There are also spectacular views over Durham’s castle and cathedral. Ian Cavagan, the Sales and Valuation Manager for the Durham branch comments;
"I love this particular property so I was extremely pleased when we were asked to sell it on behalf of the owner. It really is something very special, a very well known building in the very heart of Durham city. It offers potential buyers a beautiful City Centre home that is steeped in history, as well as being close to other large cities like Newcastle you are also a few minutes away from open countryside."

Accommodation in the apartment is offered across two floors and includes three bedrooms, stunning lounge, fitted kitchen, bathroom and separate shower room. Secure, allocated parking is also offered with the property.

If you would like to know more about the property or to arrange a viewing please contact the Durham branch – call 0191 386 2070, email durham@your-move.co.uk or visit the team on Old Elvet.

The Durham branch is the newest branch in the YOUR MOVE Chris Stonock network across County Durham and Tyne & Wear. The Durham branch opened at the start of 2012 and has got off to a great start. The branch has a range of properties for sale in Durham and the team is on hand to help and assist buyers looking for a new home in the city and local area.