December Newsletter

House hunting takes time and effort, so when you've finally found a property you want, it can be crushing to lose out in favour of another buyer.

In a competitive market such as the one we've experienced so far in 2021, homeowners have their pick of offers and buyers, but there are a number of factors that you could consider in order to stand a better chance of being chosen.

First and foremost, whilst it's a negotiation, you want to be careful not to lowball them and risk offending the seller, especially where the house is fairly and accurately priced.

It also helps to have already sold your property or purchase without a chain holding you back. By being in this position, you will benefit from the following:

Sellers will take you more seriously

Having your current property listed on the market or Sold Subject to Contract (SSTC) will demonstrate your motivation to progress quickly with the sale.

You'll be able to avoid making any hasty decisions

If you secure your new purchase before finding a buyer yourself, you might find that you're willing to accept offers far below your expectations.

You have a better insight into your budget

If you anticipate selling at £250,000 but your agent helps you sell above asking price, you have additional funds to put straight into your next purchase, meaning you may be able to afford the home you want rather than settling.

In need of our expert advice? Contact us today to discuss selling, whether you're looking to start right away or in the new year.

With Christmas not far off, many homeowners and buyers will now be readying themselves for the new year, new home surge that will inevitably see high demand and interest levels across the UK.

Having spent one last Christmas at home, many people make the decision to buy shortly after the festivities have calmed down, which helps explain why website traffic to sites such as Rightmove see such phenomenal figures.

After Christmas Day in 2019, Rightmove reported a 231% surge in visitors looking at available properties for sale.

As a buyer, it's very likely you'll be competing for properties in January and February, as stock will gradually build up but not at the same rate as interested would-be homebuyers.

How can you make yourself the ideal buyer?

Having your finances sorted will put you in good stead with any seller, whether that is as a cash buyer or with an approved mortgage and lender behind you.

Property chains can be very fragile, so leaving things until the last minute or causing delays by not having the proper paperwork could lead to your sale or purchase falling through.

If you're proactive in your search, you'll also be better informed about local market conditions.

Your agent will be able to fill in most of the blanks, but having a good idea of how prices compare against each other will ensure you make sensible decisions and don't overvalue a property.

Are you looking for your dream home? Begin your journey by contacting us today.

What are your house guests most interested by?

Through the use of eye-tracking technology, new research has shed light on the key factors that guests will notice the most when visiting our homes.*

As could be expected, an office space is one of the most eye-catching areas of a property, which makes sense considering the rise in working from home in the last 18 months.

Top 10 areas that guests find most eye-catching

- Office chairs

- Kitchen floors

- Child’s cot

- Throws on a bed

- Kitchen cabinets

- Bathroom mirror

- Drawers under the sink

- Home office computer

- Child’s bookcase

- Bedroom chest of drawers

After the home office space, kitchens were the next room to draw attention from guests, with the choice of flooring attracting 100 more views than for the cabinets or sink.

Whilst it still remains essential to present your cooking area in the best light during any property viewings, the findings actually showed that hobs and extractor fans were the least interesting spots in the kitchen.

Are you ready to consider your next property sale or purchase? Talk to us about your home's core unique selling points.

*Confused.com

When is the right time to put up your Christmas tree?

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, there's no right or wrong answer but everyone seems to have a different date where it's seen as acceptable to make a start.

Last year was unlike any other, with a last minute lockdown disrupting plans for households across the UK.

With the pandemic under better control in 2021, research suggests that Brits will be hitting the holidays even harder this year to make up for lost time with friends and family.

So, when is the right time to dress the tree?

Right after Halloween

Whilst too early for some, the putting away of pumpkins is the signal to switch gears and stage the room for the festive season.

Of those who opt for a post-Halloween set up, 22% find that decorating ahead of time relaxes them and 32% can get more excited for Christmas.*

Decorations are going up even earlier this year

Online searches for Christmas items have surged by 225% on major consumer websites like Selfridges and John Lewis, with shoppers keen to purchase lights, wreaths and trees before the risk of them selling out.**

Are you looking to sell or list your property before the end of 2021?

Even if there's a small possibility you'd be looking to get your home market-ready before the new year, it would be recommended to hold off the decorations until you've had your home appraised and the marketing photos taken, as these could date your property on the market.

For more information, contact us today.

*Not on the High Street

**House Beautiful

Best seller's market in a decade

Over the past year, the housing market has had its fair share of ups and downs.

A lot of people were worried about buying and selling, leaving the market vulnerable at times. Yet despite this, market conditions are keeping to a continual high and exceeding expectations, making it the ultimate market for sellers.

Why is December a good month for home sellers?

The main reason is because the quality of buyers looking to find a home is higher than any other time during the year. If you also combine that with the low supply in available properties on the market, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to grab the attention of potential buyers.

This time of the year is a hectic one, with people spending quality time visiting family and friends. On the property front, it’s also busy, especially with homeowners keen to move within the first few months of the new year.

The main catalyst behind this is that people experience a change in their property priorities, pushing them to seek a new home.

In fact, 78% of UK sellers felt certain that they would sell their property within the next three months and purchase a property during that same length of time.*

Are you eager to match your home with serious buyers?

Get in touch with our team today to make sure your property journey is a valuable one.

*OnTheMarket 

Market predictions for the new year

The trio of low mortgage rates, the stamp duty holiday and changes in buyers’ priorities have all contributed to the incredible demand within the housing market in 2021. That is why we’ve managed to see an incredible leap of 30% in buyer interest across the five-year average.*

As the new year draws closer, we explore a few factors that are in store for the property market for 2022.

1. The return of first-time buyers

Whilst the demand is there, the range of buyers has changed.

At the start of the pandemic, most buyers were in the wealthier bracket of society and owned higher valued properties. Now that we’re seeing an improvement in mortgage affordability, the door has opened back up to first-time buyers!

If you’re a first-time buyer, we don’t expect the market to slow down anytime soon, so you’ll need to ensure you’re prepared to move quicker than normal when you find a property you like.

A good way to stay ahead of the game is by getting a mortgage in principle before you start house hunting.

Mortgage in principle (MIP) = this is a statement from a lender that they would lend you a certain amount and can assure a seller of your financial standing.

2. Race for space continues

Another domino effect from the pandemic is how homeowners began to prioritise space as one of their main needs in a property.

The combination of being cooped up inside, as well as businesses moving to remote working meant that people naturally discovered how much they valued space.

If you’re thinking of moving to find a property with more room, the time is now to get a move on with the process – especially with demand being high and surpassing supply.

Stay one step ahead of the game and book your up-to-date property valuation with us this month.

Property prices likely to continue rising

After the rollercoaster year of 2020, 2021 was a difficult year to predict in the housing sector. With a return of stability to the market, we can look at the forecast for the new year.

More than 22% of homeowners plan to move in the next 18 months, due to direct results of the pandemic. In a recent survey, it has been revealed that those most likely to move were younger people who live in cities, suburbs or large towns, and those who have had working patterns shift from COVID-19.*

According to Zoopla, the main drivers for the sector will be “an ongoing re-evaluation of housing needs, increased housing equity and moves in parts of the labour force to more hybrid working.”

The portal forecast a 3% increase in house prices across the UK in the next 12 months, which is predicted to affect around 1.2 million property transactions.

With the expected house price gains, it is likely that we are going to see more sellers coming to market in the coming months, but a continued low supply will support price inflation.

Housing remains affordable in many markets and competition with mortgage lenders will keep rates low, leading to a sturdy appetite in the sector for 2022.

There will always be waves of demand across the country, with the biggest price increase expected to continue in the North West’s flourishing market at +4%.

Zoopla has also suggested that because mortgage rates are at a record low of 0.1%, buyers are becoming accustomed to these low rates. It has been predicted that rates will reach an average of 3% by the end of 2022, giving buyers a push to act sooner rather than later to secure cheaper borrowing conditions.

If you are looking to take advantage of current property conditions, book your valuation now and put yourself in a good position for 2022.

*Zoopla

Why January is a great time to sell

It’s a common misconception that market activity lulls in January, ready to resume in the spring. But with demand levels still on the rise, this couldn’t be more wrong for 2022 predictions.

Many see the new year as a chance for a fresh start, and that can mean homeowners are on the hunt to physically change or improve their surroundings.

The number of people window-shopping on Rightmove on Boxing Day last year was 50% higher than the year before.*

To help you decide whether to take action, here are some of the top reasons why you couldn’t pick a better month than January to sell.

People are on the move

Statistics indicate that January is the busiest time of the year for employee redistribution or staff members moving around.

With many of us spending Christmas at home, it can also be the final push needed for first-time buyers looking to move out or a household to decide they need somewhere with more space for the year ahead.

There is less competition

After the holiday season has come to an end, conditions are optimal for serious sellers, as many homeowners tend to take their time listing their property.

This means that if you work with an agent over the next month, you could get ahead of the competition and really stand out on the market.

Show off your home

Intelligent buyers house hunt in winter, as properties tend to look their worst in these months.

So, if your home looks spectacular and is well presented by your agent, then it will impress viewers as they will assume your property looks even better in the summer! This mentality will draw in potential buyers.

Placing your home on the market in January shows confidence in your home – a fantastic starting point in convincing people to buy the property.

If you are looking to take advantage of the lucrative new year market, please book your valuation today.

*Rightmove