THERE are so many questions in life but who has all the right answers? Last week David Cameron said: There is no money tree. He is, of course, right but there is always the Bank of Mum & Dad!

Many parents face the difficult dilemma of offering up their nest egg (retirement savings) for their children to put down as a deposit on their first property or having them live at home until they are in their 30s before they can afford to take the first step onto the property ladder.

As I said earlier who has all the answers?

Do we rent or do we buy? is another question for which there is probably no correct answer.

One person will say its money down the drain to rent, while another will say renting doesn t tie them down to one area so they can move jobs without having to think about selling a property.

All we can offer you at Alexander Sales & Lettings is good, honest and local advice.

I was born in Delves Lane and was brought up in Consett. My dad was a steel worker while my mum worked in Shotley Bridge Hospital.

I have been in estate agency for 25 years, including 20 years working for one of the big companies. Now I am the director of my own company, which is based in Lanchester.

Our website alexander-lettings.co.uk offers mainly County Durham properties for sale and to let. We cover a large area, from Durham to Consett, Stanley and Chester-le-Street.

If you have become an accidental landlord in other words, you have had trouble selling a property on the open market and have decided it has been standing empty too long so you now want to let it talk to us on 01207 529900 or e-mail info@alexander-lettings.co.uk. We will give you free marketing advice to let you know what we would recommend in your particular situation.

We believe we are different and are proud not to be like the run-of-the-mill estate agents who quote a fee of 1.5 per cent, plus VAT, for your business.

We understand that things are difficult out there they are difficult in our house, too. Thats why we are willing to do a deal on letting and selling fees, and we won t tie you into long-winded contracts telling you you can t go joint or multiagency with any other agents.

Other agents probably wont be impressed with my comments, but I did say we were different.

Finally, we do think the market has gone as low as it can go and that now is the time to hit the market with Spring just around the corner.

Property is starting to sell further down the country and we believe we will start to feel the benefit of a ripple effect up here in the North.

Call or e-mail us if you would like marketing advice on your property. We d be happy to help.