New Home Hub is one-stop shop in Lanarkshire property market

A leaflet drop has seen the launch of a new business in East Kilbride to help those navigating the minefield of the property market.

Mortgage broker, Kevin McCarthy, who successfully runs the town’s Mortgage Advice Bureau, has teamed up with fellow EK lad Craig McIntosh to create The Home Hub after he put a flyer through his door.

It offers estate agency, financial and legal services – effectively a one-stop shop for all home sales and buying needs in the town and across the wider area.

They aim to make moving as hassle-free and stress-free as possible.

With COVID hitting the property market during lockdowns, Kevin and Craig say homes in East Kilbride and beyond are now moving quicker than ever.

The duo have exciting plans for expansion in the future, looking to take on more staff and down the line building small developments of new homes for niche markets not catered for by the industry giants, such as bungalows which can be adapted if need be.

Craig, 46, told Lanarkshire Live : “My background is in financial services, having worked for large blue-chip firms over the years.

“But I also built up a portfolio of properties in East Kilbride and elsewhere, including properties for assisted living, working with local authorities to provide homes for those with disabilities for example.

“But I wanted a change and having been a client of Kevin’s we realised we could complement each other and the Home Hub was born.

“Going through the process of buying and selling can be a nightmare, there are so many steps to go through, from conveyancing to dealing with lenders, the legal side, setting up utilities, you name it.

“With my experience building a property portfolio and Kevin’s expertise, we are in the know and can take the pressure off. Everything is dealt with from the day we are instructed to the transfer date is completed.”

The Home Hub will also handle organising home renovations for a seller to get the best market value if they so choose, helping them with the finance if necessary, or simply stage a home for sale.

And with not only the sales market but the rental market on fire in East Kilbride, Craig and Kevin can organise short-term lets for those not wanting to be tied to a mortgage or those looking to release the equity from homes and rent instead.

Kevin, 37, told us : “Customer service is at the forefront of it all.

“We aren’t in this to get as many properties on the market as we possibly can, we want to provide a service,” he said.

“That way clients know they can come to us and trust us to deal with the whole process, and be here whenever they need us.

“We want to generate employment for East Kilbride and are looking to bring in financial advisors, admin assistants and estate agents.

“We have also been approved for the Government’s Kick-Start Scheme and hope to have our first employee with us soon.

“So we aren’t only helping people navigate the property market, we very much want to provide employment in the local community too.

“We are both born and bred in East Kilbride, so are passionate about helping in any way we can and know the town inside out.”

And with COP26 coming to Glasgow, Craig and Kevin also put the environment and sustainability at the heart of their business.

They have invested in an electric car to reduce their carbon footprint and any properties they may build or renovate will be made as energy-efficient as possible.

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