Changing the shape of British retirement
Free Phone 0800 043 33 66 About us Welcome to Homewise Like many people, you may have spent years looking forward to a dream retirement lifestyle, perhaps wanting to move closer to family and friends, to a more suitable property, or to a better location, only to find you can t afford the home you would really like. At Homewise we can help. Whatever your reason for wanting to move home, let Homewise make moving easy and affordable through one of our two core products... Lifetime Lease A Lifetime Lease is a simple solution for those aged over 60 wanting to enjoy financial freedom, clear their existing mortgage or to afford a property that is currently outside of their budget. In fact the benefits don t end here. Read on for more detail on page 4! Fast Track Home Sale Service Need a quick sale? Moving home can be a stressful business; our Fast Track Home Sale Service may well be the answer... a guaranteed buyer for your property. See page 9 to find out more... A professional team with a vision to change the shape of British retirement. At Homewise we have, collectively, over 200 years of experience in helping thousands of people move home and afford a better retirement. In an age where pensions are typically performing badly Homewise offers sensible and practical property solutions to help you enjoy those autumn years. Homewise is a nationwide company, based in West Sussex and was first established some 30 years ago. We offer property and financial expertise and conduct business based on clear, ethical standards. Homewise s team of friendly and knowledgeable consultants are always on hand to help guide you through their range of options... - you will indeed deal with the same dedicated advisor. Homewise was initially a family run company and through the understanding nature of all the staff employed the original family values are still ever present. Mark Neal, Managing Director says: When you reach retirement, it should be a time to enjoy life to the full without financial pressure. Homewise aims to change the shape of British retirement by providing you with choices aimed to relieve the stress of moving home, saving you a significant sum of money, easing financial pressures, leaving you to pursue your dreams. After all, why pay more when you can enjoy all the same benefits for so much less? Our mission: We do not accept the norm when it comes to retirement in the UK. We aim to deliver a retirement with a difference for the over 60s. We will provide unique ways to enable our customers to achieve the lifestyle, home, financial, family and leisure goals that they deserve. 2 3
Helping you make the most of your retirement What is a Lifetime Lease? Things to consider when choosing your new home A Lifetime Lease is a fantastic option exclusively available for those aged 60 or over. By choosing a Lifetime Lease you will save a significant sum of money on the value of your new home in exchange for a lifetime s enjoyment. A Lifetime Lease is available on almost any property for sale across the country you tell us where you want to live and we will make it happen for a lot less than a conventional purchase. The average discount is around 42% therefore, a typical customer could live in a 200,000 property for the rest of their life by purchasing a Lifetime Lease for 116,000, a saving of 84,000. This sizeable saving is calculated based on using your age, gender, marital status and the type of property and location that you have chosen to live in. A Lifetime Lease has helped a great number of people make their retirement more comfortable. Many have managed to afford a property that was originally outside of their budget. Other customers use the Lifetime Lease option to raise money perhaps to pay off an outstanding mortgage or existing debts. Some are looking to move to a better location, commonly, to be nearer to friends and family or back to an area they know well. As you pay less to move into your next home you may raise a significant cash sum from the sale of your current property, which you can use to achieve your retirement goals whether that s going on a once in a lifetime holiday, buying a brand new car, treating the family or just putting money aside for financial security. A Lifetime Lease offers you flexibility. You have the option to retain up to 50% of the equity in your home, which you can draw from in later years or to leave as an inheritance to your estate. If you are thinking about moving and are interested in how much money a Lifetime Lease could save you then contact us today on Freephone 0800 043 33 66 Looking for a new home can be a challenging yet exciting experience. However, with some careful planning and consideration of the type of property you want we will ensure that your new property fulfils all your requirements, for now and the future. Make a wish list for your new home Before embarking on your search for a new home, we recommend you make a wish list noting all of the key criteria that needs to be met in order for you to feel comfortable and settled. Considerations might include the following: The age and condition of the property The size of the property and garden areas The location of the property Accessibility to major travel routes Local amenities and healthcare Is the property on level ground? Is it within easy reach of family and friends? Are there any supermarkets nearby? Does the town centre offer good shopping facilities? What amenities and entertainment facilities exist nearby? Do the immediate surroundings suit your requirements? Is the garden easy to maintain? Would you prefer a shower cubicle in the bathroom as well as/instead of a bath? Is off road parking important to you? Does the property have a pleasant outlook/views? For help with compiling your wish list why not speak to our friendly Home Finder Service team that would be only too happy to help you. Call us now on Freephone 0800 043 33 66 4 5
Free Phone 0800 043 33 66 Seven steps to your Lifetime Lease Lifetime Lease Questions From the moment you first contact us to the day you celebrate moving in, you can rely on Homewise for a genuinely helpful and professional service every step of the way. The guide below outlines clearly each stage. A Lifetime Lease has become a popular alternative to home ownership for the over 60s. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers: Are there monthly payments to make? NO. There are no hidden payments. The Lifetime Lease is not loan based; therefore there is no interest to pay. How long does it take to arrange a Lifetime Lease on my new home? We would normally expect the process to take 8-10 weeks. It may be quicker if your solicitor is familiar with the Lifetime Lease. I want to leave an inheritance to my estate. Is this still possible? YES. You have the option to retain up to 50% of your chosen property s value. Upon your demise your home will be sold and your estate will receive your chosen percentage of the net sale proceeds. What happens if I need to move into long term care? To fund your long term care the social services department will make an assessment of your care needs and assess your income or savings. If these are low, the local authority may pay in full or part for the costs of your long-term care - this varies dependent on the local authority. In regard to the property, it will be sold and any percentage of the proceeds you have retained will be paid on completion to you or any nominated person having your authority. Step 1 Want to know more? Great! Call us on Freephone 0800 043 33 66 to contact one of our friendly advisors who will be happy to discuss your requirements and, if necessary, arrange a no-obligation home visit for you. Step 2 During your home visit one of our professional advisors will consider your personal circumstances and establish your goals. They will use this information to guide you through how a Lifetime Lease can work for you and will freely answer any questions you may have. Step 3 You have decided a Lifetime Lease provides the solution to your future retirement lifestyle. Your dedicated customer support consultant will assist you in selling your current property, if applicable, and help you in your search for your ideal new home through our free Home Finder Service. Step 4 You have found the perfect home and you are ready to move! We will provide you with a formal, personalised Lifetime Lease illustration showing the substantial saving you will achieve. We will then negotiate the purchase of your new home on your behalf. Any savings we make are passed on to you. Step 5 You choose a solicitor to act on your behalf or we can recommend one to you from our panel. Once I have entered into the Lifetime Lease is it possible for me to move home again? YES. We understand your lifestyle needs may change at a later stage and we guarantee your ability to move into a more suitable home subject to meeting the company s criteria at the time. You will be responsible for the costs involved. If you would like further information we would be delighted to hear from you. Contact us today on Freephone 0800 043 33 66 to speak to one of our friendly team. Step 6 Our sales progression team will support you during the legal transaction, communicating between solicitors and estate agents to help reach a swift conclusion. You will be kept regularly updated throughout the process. Step 7 You move into your new home and any surplus money is yours to enjoy or invest as you wish. 6 7
Helping you make the most of your retirement Homewise s Home Finder Service Fast Track Home Sale Service Are you daunted by the prospect of moving? Have you lived in the same family home for many years and now need to downsize? Do you want to relocate closer to family and friends but don t quite know where to start in your search for a new home? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, Homewise is here to help you. We have a team of fully experienced home finder specialists that operate across the country. We understand that finding the right home in the right location can be a challenging and sometimes stressful experience. We at Homewise aim to take this stress away, deal with everything for you and save you time and money in the process. That s what we do. Homewise have access to an average of 800,000 properties for sale at any one time. Once we understand the type of property and location you are looking for, we will send you a shortlist of properties that meet your criteria, to assist you in the viewing process until you find the perfect home. Financial planning for retirement If you are looking to raise funds to supplement your pension or to perhaps clear a mortgage, loans or any other debt without sacrificing your standard of living then a Lifetime Lease could be a real benefit to you. By taking advantage of the substantial discount on the value of your next home through a Homewise Lifetime Lease you may be able to raise a significant cash sum and this money can then be used to realise your financial goals. We suggest you seek professional guidance when considering your options to help you make the right choices to keep you financially secure for years to come. We have helped many of our customers do just that. For more information please contact us on Freephone 0800 043 33 66 With Homewise s Fast Track Home Sale Service we offer the simple, stress-free way to sell your home. We understand that selling your home can be an overwhelming experience. Instructing estate agents, showing prospective buyers around your home and the uncertainty of whether the sale will go through to completion can prove to be a stressful process at any time of life. To alleviate all of these potential stresses our Fast Track Home Sale Service provides you with a cash offer for your current property enabling you to move quickly into your new home. We instruct an independent valuation of your current home free of charge We provide you with a no obligation cash offer typically within 3 days You ll have no estate agent s fees to pay You ll experience no last minute delays or haggling over the price You ll achieve a worry-free move to your new home To avoid the frustration of waiting for the right buyer to come along, our Fast Track Home Sale Service can provide you with a quick exchange of contracts, giving you the freedom to move ahead with your retirement plans. This service is also ideal for people who have found their ideal new home but can t sell their existing property and want to move swiftly. What s more, you do not have to be over 60 or purchase a Lifetime Lease in order to take advantage. Why not contact us for your free, no-obligation cash offer after all, you have nothing to lose! 8 9
Free Phone 0800 043 33 66 Homewise International Hear what our customers say about us Home and away buy two homes for the price of one with a Lifetime Lease. Recent press coverage has highlighted the rising popularity amongst Brits to retire abroad - almost a million Britons already draw their state pensions overseas. If you are considering moving abroad you might be looking to downsize in Britain to retain a bolt-hole to use when coming back to visit friends and family. A Lifetime Lease could save you a huge sum of money on your UK property and give you a bigger budget for your purchase abroad. Contact us now to discuss your options. Many of the people that take up our Lifetime Lease have been recommended by a friend or family member. We are privileged to receive many thank you letters and comments from those who we have been able to help. Below is a selection of the latest, genuine customer testimonials: Being a lady on my own, moving to another area I sincerely thank you for your help and feeling of security, it was such an easy, stress-free move. I am so happy in my home and this opportunity has given me a new lease of life! My family joins me in sending thanks to all members of the Homewise team, whose individual responsibilities came together in a first class performance. Is there any way back from a move abroad? A Lifetime Lease can assist you in coming home. Whilst many are looking to move abroad there is also an increase in those looking to move back home. Some are discovering factors such as finance, poor health or missing their family are driving the decision to return to the UK. A recent survey by NatWest reported 76% of retired ex-pats said they felt homesick some or all of the time, missing family and friends, traditions and culture and the British sense of humour. The decision to move back to England is not an easy one. Many find that the excessive increase in property prices means they can no longer afford to buy back the type of property they left behind. Some people have to downsize, live in properties away from their ideal location or rent until they find something suitable. A Lifetime Lease can overcome the financial barriers when choosing to return to Britain by providing a substantial discount on your ideal property. Homewise s Lifetime Lease gives you the option to pay much less than the property s value and live in your new home for the rest of your life. Our friendly and knowledgeable team understands the difficulties of finding a new home whilst you are abroad. Through our Home Finder Service we can carry out a free property search and arrange viewings for you. If you, or someone you know is interested in moving back to Britain please contact us on... +00 (44) 1903 276 450 You have provided a first class service - without this move I couldn t have travelled care free, enjoyed door-todoor transport or known such contentment. The service has been outstanding. Everyone we ve spoken to has dealt with all our queries with speed and efficiency. We would recommend your company to anyone. Due to the rise in house prices we found it virtually impossible to afford to move back to the village that we love, but, thanks to the Homewise Lifetime Lease, we are now very happy to be living back there. Thank you so much. The Homewise team have been very pleasant and helpful both during the initial stages of decision making and with the purchase and moving in. We love our new flat. We would like to thank you and your staff for the quick, efficient and polite way in which they dealt with our Lifetime Lease. We now have a secure financial future and can start planning the world cruise we always wanted. I am delighted with my new home, which is in such a beautiful part of the country. Homewise organised the whole move for me, including dealing with solicitors and estate agents, so the whole process was very easy. 10 11
Changing the shape of British retirement Freephone 0800 043 33 66 Columbia House Columbia Drive Worthing BN13 3HD info@homewise.co.uk