Tag: vendors

High Value Of Homes For Sale – How Can Vendors Stand Out?

Posted on by colin_williams

The total value of property currently for sale in Britain stands at £117bn, which is all the indication you need to know there is still life in the housing market.

How can vendors stand out from in a competitive marketplace?

In order to make their house more appealing to buyers and encourage higher offers, homeowners can take some steps to stand out from the competition. Homeowners can start by ensuring that their house is in good condition before putting it on the market. This includes repairing any damage, painting any faded areas, and decluttering. They should also stage their home in a way that makes it look inviting and appealing to potential buyers. Additionally, homeowners can make themselves available to show their home to interested buyers at their convenience. By taking some extra steps, homeowners can increase their chances of selling their house quickly and for a good price.

How does a good estate agent help homeowners connect with house buyers?

A good estate agent will help homeowners connect with potential buyers who are interested in their property. They will be able to provide homeowners with advice on how to make their house more appealing to buyers and can answer any questions that homeowners may have. Additionally, a good estate agent will be able to negotiate on behalf of the homeowners to get them the best possible price for their property. By working with a good estate agent, homeowners can increase their chances of selling their house quickly and for a good price.

These are things we pride ourselves on, and if you’re looking for guidance or support, we are more than happy to help you as best we can.

Colby Short, Co-founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, commented: “The housing market is yet to show any signs of running low on steam and it seems as though every week there are reports of property values reaching new record highs. This house price performance is being driven by a sustained level of market activity from the nation’s homebuyers and this demand, coupled with a lack of stock, is the driving factor behind house price inflation. So when you consider that there are almost 380,000 homes currently listed for sale across Britain, worth a huge £117bn in the current market, and this still isn’t enough, it really does put our appetite for homeownership into perspective.”

How are house prices in Petersfield faring?

According to Rightmove, as of the end of August 2022, house prices in Petersfield are as follows:

“Properties in Petersfield had an overall average price of £425,588 over the last year.

The majority of sales in Petersfield during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £249,030. Terraced properties sold for an average of £409,566, with detached properties fetching £669,550.

Overall, sold prices in Petersfield over the last year were 14% down on the previous year and 4% down on the 2019 peak of £445,153.”

Contact Williams of Petersfield for all your 2022 housing market needs

At Williams of Petersfield, we aim to support the Petersfield community as much as we can, and we know this is an extremely trying time. A lot of people are looking for support and guidance, and if you have any property or housing related questions, we are more than happy to assist you, so contact us today.

What Comes Next In The 2022 Housing Market?

Posted on by colin_williams

At Williams of Petersfield, we are happy to help as many people as we can in the Petersfield housing market. We have assisted many buyers and vendors, and we know what people are looking for locally.

For the national market, we stay in touch with what is being said by the experts, and this helps us to help you make an informed decision.

What do the experts think will happen in 2022?

Grainne Gilmore from Zoopla was speaking with colleague Richard Donnell (as reported by the Property Industry Eye website), saying; “Richard, our latest house price report reflected what has happened in the market over the past 12 months. Prices are up 7.1% on the year, and 6.6 million homes have risen in value by more than £30,000. This is not what many would have predicted at the start of the pandemic back in March last year.”

Richard responded by saying; “Yes, the market in 2021 has been remarkably busy for agents, considering we are in a global pandemic. But, the pandemic itself has been one of the drivers of buyer demand, with many households taking lockdowns as an opportunity to reflect on where they were living, and the space in which they were living. Add to this the stamp duty holiday, and we have seen transactions rise to 1.5 million – translating into around one in 16 privately-held homes changing hands in 2021.”

What will buyers look for in 2022?

One of the biggest factors in shaping buyer activity in the past couple of years has been the need for space. It is likely that this will continue as we move forward, especially when there is still so much uncertainty over the pandemic.

Grainne said; “The rise of Omicron is causing more uncertainty for the households, and the wider economy, in the coming weeks. Our data shows a slowing in buyer demand, but it is very much in line with the usual seasonal trends. We expect a bounce back in demand in the days following Christmas and into the New Year. However, could Omicron have any impact on supply?”

Richard said; “The housing market is usually busiest in the first couple of months of the year with a spike in new listings as well as a surge in buyer interest. Starting last year with restrictions and schools closed put off many sellers. So long as schools remain open and we don’t see widespread restrictions then we would expect a strong flow of new instructions.”

What other factors will influence the 2022 housing market?

One of the reasons it is so hard to predict what will happen next in the property market is because there are so many factors involved with the process. This is why there is a need to consider as many of the factors that will shape buying processes and supplier demand as we can.

Grainne said; “There will be more economic headwinds next year, but the ‘pandemic-led’ search for space has further to run. Office-based workers will still be recalibrating their working practices and their home life, and some may choose to make a move because they no longer have to live so close to their workplace. This will continue to put upwards pressure on houses situated in wider commuter zones and more rural and coastal areas. There is more room for prices to grow in the more affordable areas, and we forecast average price rises of 4% next year, and 1.2 million transactions, roughly the same level as between 2014 and 2018. How long do you think the pandemic will continue to impact the housing market?”

Richard said; “When we look back at the pandemic in five to ten years we will recognise it marked a major turning point in the link between home and work and people’s attitudes to their home. The pandemic has engendered some seismic changes in how people want to work, and how they will work in the future. This trend has further to run, as more office-based workers decide how far they can live from the office if they do not have to be there every day into 2022 and 2023. Together with other structural factors such as an ageing population, the result should be a greater proportion of homes trading each year, bucking the decline over the last five to ten years and supporting the size of the market for agents and lenders.”

Contact Williams of Petersfield for all your 2022 housing market needs

At Williams of Petersfield, we aim to support the Petersfield community as much as we can, and we know this is an extremely trying time. A lot of people are looking for support and guidance, and if you have any property or housing related questions, we are more than happy to assist you, so contact us today.

Will Downsizing Impact All Buyers And Vendors?

Posted on by colin_williams

When it comes to looking at the housing market, it is natural people only pay attention to the issues that they think impact them.

Property news about locations where they don’t wish to live or buy a home carries no relevance to them. Similarly, property news regarding property types or sizes that don’t interest will be unimportant to them.

However, the way the property market is connected might mean these matters have a bigger influence on your attempts to move than you think.

You might not think downsizing is relevant for your next move. It could be you think downsizing is only for elderly people looking to buy a more manageable home, or people looking to move to a more affordable property.

These circumstances are common, but there is also connectivity to other buyers and vendors.

If you are looking to buy a larger home, your ideal house might be one placed onto the market by a downsizing household.

If you are looking to sell your home as you move to a larger property, the ideal buyer for your current property might be someone who is downsizing to your current size.

Therefore, downsizing is a key issue in the housing market, and at Williams of Petersfield, we will keep you informed with what is happening right now.

A study by Audley Group indicates a growing number of older homeowners are considering downsizing sooner than they intended to. Admittedly, this research has been carried out by a retirement homes developer, so there is a likely bias to their findings.

The survey of people aged 55 or older found:

  • 34% of respondents wished to live in a better area
  • 29% of respondents wanted to live closer to their family and friends

There is growing demand for retirement property

According to the Associated Retirement Community Operators, again a body who have a vested interest in the market, suggests 85% of retirement property providers experienced an increase in sales and lettings in autumn 2020 compared to the previous year.

The same study also provided the following returns:

  • Higher sales and lettings in 2020 compared to 2019 were stated by 30% of respondents
  • 25% of respondents said they saw sales and lettings at least 50% higher in this field

Rightmove information also suggests a movement in this manner

While there has been considerable focus on larger homes, Rightmove information suggests bungalows have been in significant demand. Their findings suggest:

  • The number of properties sold in 2020 was 7% higher than for 2019
  • There was a shortage of bungalows listed for sale, falling 10% on the 2019 figures
  • By comparison, the drop for houses was only 3% in this time period
  • The average asking price for property rose by 4% to £317,583

At Williams of Petersfield, we aim to support the Petersfield community as much as we can, and we know this is an extremely trying time. A lot of people are looking for support and guidance, and if you have any property or housing related questions, we are more than happy to assist you, so contact us today.

Vendors Must Keep In Touch With Buyer Demand

Posted on by colin_williams

While vendors should focus on what they want to achieve when selling their home, there is a lot to be said for being aware of what buyers are looking for. If you can tailor your home or offer to better meet the needs of likely buyers, you will find it easier to connect, hopefully assisting you in the sales process.

At Williams of Petersfield, we are keen to help buyers and vendors connect. We know the local market, and we know what buyers are looking for. With our help, Petersfield vendors can connect with buyers, and enhance their chances of selling their home.

NAEA Propertymark figures offer insight into house hunters looking for homes

There has been a lot of information and statistics issued in the housing market since it re-opened after lockdown, but some bodies and organisations are more highly regarded than others. When NAEA Propertymark issues information, people listen. This is because it provides realistic information from estate agents across the country.

Some of the leading statistics revealed by the organisation include:

  • The number of house hunters registered per NAEA branch member increased by 7% between February and May
  • The number of house hunters registered per NAEA branch member rose from 322 pre-lockdown to 344 post-lockdown
  • In May, 70% of properties sold at a price that was lower than the initial asking price
  • The average number of properties available, per branch as of May 2020, was 35
  • This figure is a fall from the figure of 41 per branch recorded in May 2019
  • The supply of homes, based on year-on-year, figures fell by 15% between March 2019 and March 2020
  • Sales to first-time buyers in May stood at 32%, increasing from the 22% sales to first-time buyers in February

Mark Hayward is the Chief Executive of NAEA Propertymark, and he said; “It’s great to see the market up and running again, bringing some much-needed confidence back. With estate agents following new socially distanced protocols and the demand for viewings soaring, we are set for an exciting summer.”

Mark continued by saying; “It will be interesting in the coming months to see if the lifestyle changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic will have an impact on house sale locations, especially in and around commuter towns.”

More support for first-time buyers?

There have been calls from MPs for more to be done to support first-time buyers looking to step onto the property ladder. Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols said; “The Government must be proactive in ensuring that the banks assist first time buyers rather than wealthy landlords to access homes on the market. Too many young people are losing life opportunities to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this must not be another instance of that. I have written to the Secretary of State for Housing to ask what measures will be taken to support first time buyers.”

Eleanor Williams is a Finance expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, and she said; “First-time buyers are a vital part of keeping the mortgage market moving, and so it comes as great news that lenders are again starting to relaunch products in the higher LTV tiers. Concern has been raised about the possibility of house price falls and consequential potential negative equity situations, making lenders understandably more cautious about lending in these higher-risk circumstances.”

Eleanor continued by saying; “Lenders have also found though that they have been overwhelmed by the level of demand for these brackets of products, resulting in some needing to withdraw deals only recently relaunched in order to manage their workload. Consumer demand is clearly evident, and the re-introduction of more deals for those with a 10% deposit, or even less, by more lenders would hopefully provide prospective purchasers with the choice they need to move forwards with buying a home.”

At Williams of Petersfield, we aim to support the Petersfield community as much as we can, and we know this is an extremely trying time. A lot of people are looking for support and guidance, and if you have any property or housing related questions, we are more than happy to assist you, so contact us today.

Petersfield Vendors – Stage The Outside Of Your Home And Sell It

Posted on by colin_williams

With buyers placing even more importance on garden space and the outside of homes, vendors need to tailor the way they present their home. Many homeowners are more than happy to stage the inside of their home to attract buyers, and given the increased level of demand on garden space, we believe vendors should consider staging the outside of their home.

At Williams of Petersfield, we are pleased to say we have assisted many local homeowners to connect with buyers. By knowing how to make your garden more appealing, you can enhance the chances of selling your home quickly, and for the best possible price.

The demand for outdoor space is obvious

The first monthly market survey report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) since the housing market re-opened provides a number of reasons why vendors must focus on the outside of their property.

The RICS survey collects opinions of agents across the country, so it offers useful insight into what property market professionals expect to see in the industry. The survey reported:

  • 81% of agents predict an increase in desire for homes which have a garden or a balcony
  • 74% of respondents predict an increase in demand for homes located close to a green space
  • 68% of respondents believe properties with privacy and less communal space will be in greater demand

Simon Rubinsohn is the Chief Economist at RICS and he said; “There are already signs that those looking to buy a house are responding to the conditions created by the pandemic by seeking out properties with gardens or balconies and nearer green space. These and other similar features are likely to increasingly command a premium over higher-density urban locations, according to respondents to the survey.”

Gardens matter for property buyers

There has also been backing for these predictions from one of the leading property portals in the United Kingdom. Their studies suggest that while gardens have always been a popular search term for buyers, there has been an increase in prospective buyers looking for outdoor space in their next home.

Rightmove’s housing market analyst Miles Shipside said; “During lockdown people have been re-evaluating what their must-haves are, and both buyers and renters are craving a home with its own outside space rather than a flat. Usually home-movers tell us the kitchen photographs are the most important when they’re looking at a property advert, but now agents should consider giving greater prominence to pictures of gardens and outdoor spaces to attract the attention of prospective renters and buyers.”

There is consensus that outdoor space is important. Of course, when outdoor space becomes a common feature in the market, there is a need to ensure your garden stands out for the right reasons.

This is why staging outdoor space is going to become a critical feature in the property market.

Consider these areas when staging outdoor space to sell your home

  • Always start with the decluttering and cleaning process, as this creates space and makes the area look more attractive
  • Carry out repair work, focusing on paths, property walls and property doors and windows
  • Create borders around different types of plants and flowers
  • Mow the loan and ensure all borders are tidy
  • Ensure all border barriers, such as fences, are in good condition
  • Consider adding lighting to the outside of the property as this will enhance security, safety and functionality
  • If you have space for people to gather, consider adding garden furniture

At Williams of Petersfield, we aim to support the Petersfield community as much as we can, and we know this is an extremely trying time. A lot of people are looking for support and guidance, and if you have any property or housing related questions, we are more than happy to assist you, so contact us today.

Petersfield Vendors – Legal Kerb Appeal Sells Your House

Posted on by colin_williams

One of the most important things you can do when selling your home is to make buyers feel confident. If a buyer feels positively about your home, and that they will receive value for money with the purchase, they are more likely to make an offer.

Therefore, it makes sense to show your home is in good condition. You also want to prove you have every legal issue taken care of. At Williams of Petersfield, we are pleased to say we have helped many local homeowners sell their home, and we believe taking care of the legal kerb appeal makes a positive difference in the sales process.

What is legal kerb appeal?

Legal kerb appeal, in the words of Chris Salmon, who is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Legal Services, is; “Simply, legal kerb appeal is the strengths of the property when considered from a legal perspective. Legal kerb appeal could also involve proactively addressing any potential legal issues before a buyer is found.”

In an interview conducted on the Property Road website, Chris was asked about what vendors should look to do to ensure they are ready to sell their home in the near future.

Chris responded by saying; “If you are on or are thinking of going on the market, we’re pushing the concept of ‘legal kerb appeal’. Sellers will be entering a buyers’ market, and must do everything they can to improve their chances not only of finding a buyer, but also completing the sale.”

He continued by saying; “For example, if the property has a roof terrace without planning permission, the buyer’s solicitor will pick this up. Instead, the seller’s solicitor can identify a suitable indemnity policy and offer it as part of the sale. This proactive approach will reassure buyers and avoid delays later in the process.”

How will the housing market move forward?

Chris was also asked about what he thinks will happen in the property market when the industry moves forward. He said; “The consensus is that the pent-up demand that emerged shortly after the 2019 election will gradually resume. It’s very likely that in-progress transactions will suffer a logjam as capacity challenged property services firms struggle to fulfil a rush of requests for searches, surveys and managing agent information. We anticipate significant delays for up to a few months after the lockdown eases.”

Steps in managing legal kerb appeal

With so many sources discussing the importance of legal kerb appeal, most vendors will be keen to incorporate it into their sales process. Here is a list of steps you should follow in managing legal kerb appeal before and during the sales process:

  • Complete all property transaction forms
  • Anticipate which problems are likely to occur, and resolve them
  • Involve external parties and management agents as quickly as possible
  • Collate all documents as early as possible
  • Start the process of recovering or replacing missing documents as early as possible
  • Agents, vendors and legal professionals should work together to find solutions

The earlier you start, the better

As with most things in life, and certainly as with many things in the sales process, the sooner you start, the better. When it comes to legal kerb appeal, the sooner you start to put things in order, the better for you.

At Williams of Petersfield, we aim to support the Petersfield community as much as we can, and we know this is an extremely trying time. A lot of people are looking for support and guidance, and if you have any property or housing related questions, we are more than happy to assist you, so contact us today.

Property Demand Remained High During Lockdown

Posted on by colin_williams

The re-opening of the housing market in mid-May saw a high level of activity in the housing market, but this shouldn’t have been a surprising outcome. There were many households whose lives had been put in limbo due to the housing market being paused. These people would have been keen to conclude their deals as soon as the market was up and running again. Continue reading “Property Demand Remained High During Lockdown” →

Tips To Sell Your Home Effectively In 2020

Posted on by colin_williams

In the aftermath of the General Election in December of 2019, there was a significant spike in mortgage searches. It is likely this increased level of buyer demand will continue in 2020, which means if you are considering selling your home, 2020 is the year to do so.

Of course, more buyers usually lead to more sellers in the market, so it will likely still be a competitive time in the property market. Therefore, if you plan on selling your home, you should be looking for ways to enhance your chances of selling your home quickly and without too much effort.

At Williams of Petersfield, we are pleased to say we have assisted many clients in selling their home, and here are our top tips to sell your home effectively in 2020.

Choose a traditional agent, not an online estate agent

There is no denying online agents have affected the property market, and that some vendors have found their service to be of benefit. Over time, the importance of online agents will increase, but right now, the market isn’t quite in a position where you should opt for an online agent over a traditional agent.

Online estate agents are still more likely to list your property and expect you to sell it, as opposed to selling your home for you. This isn’t a suitable standard of service for most vendors, and we believe you will be much better off relying on an agent who has helped many people sell their home.

We believe choosing an agent with demonstratable experience and expertise in your local area, with your type of home, and with buyers who are likely to show an interest in your home is the ideal starting point in selling your home quickly and effectively.

List your property at a realistic price

While selling your house for as high a price as possible would be a tremendous outcome, this shouldn’t be a strategy you start off with. If you place too high an initial price on your property, you will struggle to attract attention.

Therefore, it is best to call on a local agent to evaluate your home before coming up with a value. External factors such as supply and demand, and local facilities, influence property price as much as the condition of the property. Therefore, it is best to call on an expert who understands the local market, and who can place an accurate value on your property.

Evaluate each offer on its own merits

If you are fortunate enough to receive more than one offer, don’t just assume the highest offer is the best offer for you. You should consider if the highest offer is part of a chain, or it comes from a first-time buyer. A buyer who isn’t part of a chain is likely to be a more appealing buyer to you, as chains add risk when selling your home.

If you are looking to sell your home in 2020, contact Williams of Petersfield, and we will be more than happy to assist you.