Advice to help in your property journey!

Welcome to our February newsletter, are you currently in the process of moving house? We've put together some top tips to help speed up your home move, helping you to reduce delays and move you along quicker. If you're attending property viewings at the moment, make sure you're keeping safe by reading our article on how to conduct viewings safely.

Further into our newsletter we take a look at the latest Zoopla data revealing the most searched for keywords by tenants as to what they really want during the pandemic. We are finally pleased to announce market activity remains high despite the stamp duty deadline, as the market is still seeing healthy levels of interest.

We hope you enjoy this months edition!

Tips to speed up your home move

 

As the stamp duty holiday reaches its deadline, a huge number of sales are being agreed.

 

This means that the time taken from having your offer accepted to being given the keys could take longer than usual.

There are some elements during a home move that are out of your hands. That said, if you're prepared and communicative, you can certainly have an influence on the overall process and reduce any additional delays.

Respond in a timely manner

This might be an obvious tip, but it’s not uncommon for buyers or sellers to take their time when responding to something simple.

 

When you receive documents to fill out, it’s important that you don’t dwell on the task for too long.

 

It can be tempting to leave paperwork to the last possible minute, but if possible, you should set aside time within a couple of days of receiving them.

 

Be flexible

Right now, there are many things that could force you to compromise and deviate from the initial plan.

 

For example, if you’re scheduled to move in the next two weeks, but the buyer would like this to be earlier, are you able to compromise?

 

It might be worth considering outlining your limitations from the beginning so everyone can plan accordingly and avoid any surprises later on.

 

Organise your questions beforehand

If you need to make an urgent call regarding your home move, write down all the questions you might need to ask before you pick up the phone.

 

This will allow you to get the answers you need in just one call, instead of having to go back multiple times as and when you think of new queries or concerns.


Ask away when choosing your solicitor

Whether you've been recommended a solicitor or you've found one for yourself, it's always a good idea to call them before making your choice, as you need to determine if they're the right fit for you and your property.

 

If you’re unsure about what you could ask, use some of the following questions:

- What should I expect from the process?

- How will I know when tasks are completed?

- How will you communicate with me?

- Are there any delays that might come up that you’re aware of?

If you’re looking to move home, browse our latest properties or speak to us today. 

 

 

 

How to conduct property viewings safely in lockdown

 

Since the first lockdown last March, the housing market has managed to successfully adapt to the changes being made and evolve to offer homeowners safer ways to buy or sell.
 

From face coverings to dealing with the possibility of cancellations, viewings during the pandemic will present many new challenges, but we're here to help you navigate each and every step, meaning that we can ultimately safeguard the wellbeing and health of all involved parties.


View virtually, where possible

The safest way to view any property during the pandemic is to do so from the comfort of your own home.

 

Many agents have turned to the latest technology during these uncertain times, allowing their listings to be viewed at every angle, so it is worth exploring your options online to narrow down your search.

 

By using virtual video tours or FaceTime sessions, prospective buyers can see a 360-degree shot of every room before deciding whether they're interested in proceeding with an in-person viewing or not.

 

Be flexible where you can

In these testing times, there are many things that can throw a spanner in the works.

 

As a result of this, it’s worth preparing for any cancellations that could occur due to rising infection rates.

  

It’s also worth noting that if you have symptoms of COVID-19, you must postpone a viewing and self-isolate in accordance with the government guidelines.

Adhere to safety practices

So that we may continue meeting your property needs, it's essential that everyone takes responsibility in ensuring that the latest guidelines are followed to minimise risk and spread. Some of these include:

- Having no more than two households inside a property at one time

- Making sure that masks are worn at all times

- Avoiding contact with doors and surfaces, sterilising before and after viewings where unavoidable

- Keeping at a two-metre distance

- Washing hands before, during and after the viewing

If you’re looking to move and would like to know more about our current buying or selling processes, get in touch. 

 

 

 

Market activity remains high despite stamp duty deadline

 

Initially announced in 2020, the stamp duty holiday was intended to aid homeowners through the buying process during the pandemic.

 

As expected, many took this opportunity to upgrade to their dream home or purchase their next investment, as savings of up to £15,000 were up for grabs.

 

Although it was thought that activity would begin to peter out at the end of last year, that hasn't been the case as the market is still seeing healthy levels of interest and activity.

 

As of mid-January, there were around 613,000 properties at 'sale agreed', waiting for legal completion ahead of the stamp duty holiday deadline on March 31st.*

 

Amongst these, it is believed that 100,000 may not complete in time to secure stamp duty savings.

However, buyers and sellers alike appear mostly unfazed and are continuing to buy and sell regardless of the deadline, which may be as a result of the increasing availability of mortgage products with 10% deposits.

 

According to Rightmove, those looking to sell in January were also pricing their properties competitively, allowing for quicker sales.

 

One possible explanation for this is that property priorities have changed in the past 12 months due to sellers needing more space and falling out of love with their current home, making their need to move more urgent.

Similarly, buyer activity has continued to surge, with market levels exceeding that of January 2020.

  

During a 10-day period in January, there was a reported 12% increase in estate agency enquiries and a 9% increase on sales agreed from 2020.

 

Combined with the fact that Rightmove are seeing ever-increasing website visit numbers, which in January were 33% higher than last year, these statistics give homeowners and buyers a promising opportunity in 2021.

Rightmove’s director of Property Data, Tim Bannister, suggests: “As we entered the new year and a new lockdown, the housing market remains open but is focused on the imminent end of the stamp duty holiday and on the challenges of the pandemic.

 

These major influences on mover behaviour are clouding the 2021 outlook, but Rightmove’s early January market-leading indicators of buyer demand and the number of actual sales being agreed are looking robust, showing that there are many compelling reasons other than the stamp duty savings to make buyers enter the market in 2021.”

If you are looking to upgrade your home this February, our team of professional agents are here to help.

 

As your trusted agent, we specialise in local knowledge and attention to detail when valuing your property. For more information on what we can do for you, contact us.

 

*Property Reporter 

 

What do tenants really want during the pandemic?

 

The latest data from Zoopla has revealed the most common search terms from tenants between July and September 2020, with the findings showing a shift in attitudes as more people look for places they consider to be 'pandemic proof'.

 

Last year saw large disruption to our daily lives following the introduction of new tier systems and multiple lockdowns, forcing people to spend more time indoors and re-evaluate their list of property non-negotiables.

 

Garden

Zoopla found that being able to have a garden was on the top of the list as the most desirable feature to have in a rental home.

 

Not only has this been popular across the lettings market, but a recent study also revealed that the price of homes with gardens has hit a four-year high.

 

Parking and a garage

In close second was enough garage space, with the main purposes being for parking over extended lockdown periods and for an additional room to convert into a home office or gym zone.

 

Balcony

Balconies were another feature that ranked highly for tenants, specifically in London, where gardens are not always an option.

 

Pet-friendly

Rental properties that are pet-friendly ranked in fifth, as the word ‘pet’ was one of the most used keywords.

 

Whilst as few as 7% of landlords advertise their homes as being suitable for household pets, this could change in the near future, as a new agreement has been introduced that prohibits landlords from automatically banning pets.

Last year saw a 20% increase in demand compared to the year before, with a variety of factors contributing to this growth.

 

If you want further information on how to make your rental property more attractive to tenants, or you'd like help finding your next rental, then please contact our team.