Our aim with our quarterly newsletter is to update and inform people interested in the property market locally and nationally. As one of the leading agents in the area and having been established for over 30 years in Storrington and Pulborough, we have seen many highs and lows as market conditions ebb and flow.

Read our full MarketView here.

 

The best time to move is the time that best suits you. But whether you are a first-time buyer, looking for your perfect forever home, or a property investor, it seems now is a good time to move.

Many early birds are moving home
Many people have been watching the market closely and were preparing to move well before Christmas last year, getting their homes’ sale-ready, and addressing anything that helped to maximise their selling prices’. As interest rates stabilised, home movers decided to get an early start and take advantage of reasonably priced homes, thanks to a slower 2023 market, before prices start to rise again.

Sellers know they will find a buyer quickly
In January, the number of homes for sale was 13% higher than the previous year and agreed sales were up by 16%* in the first six weeks of the year compared with 2023. This momentum is growing, increasing demand for your home. Spring home movers make this time of the year one of the busiest and with early bird buyers kicking off the beginning of the year, the market is in better shape than is often described in the news.

Home movers who delayed their move last year are moving in 2024
An increasing number of buyers who were waiting to see what happened last year have been entering the market. Eager to move and start enjoying a better property means homes are not on the market for long. Wanting to take advantage of lower stamp duty rates at 0% for homes up to the value of £250,000 and for first-time buyers up to the value of £425,000,** is also a big factor.

The market is ripe for picking properties
With house prices generally not increasing last year while maintaining good levels of value, many people are getting on the move. They know that they can get a good price for their current property without overpaying for their next. As more and more 'sold' signs sprout up under the warming sky, more buyers return to the market. They bring fresh, sale-ready, and often move-in-ready homes that attract a lot of interest.

Springtime is a good time to move
Springtime is perfect for moving. Summer is on the horizon and your garden will be foremost in your mind. As warmer, lighter, and longer evenings appear, you have more time for house viewings and making your home look beautiful. You don’t want to move when the weather is too cold, but you want to move in time for summer. And as the economic climate improves, a positive mood purveys without the franticness of previous years.

Better mortgage deals and an acceptance of a new normal
You buy a home because you love it and will be happy living in it. It is also an investment. Since January, mortgage approvals have been increasing as mortgage rates decrease. It’s little wonder more people are moving. While interest rates are not as low as in the past, many people are accepting that they will not return to super-low levels. Waiting for interest rates to fall will probably mean paying more for the home you want as house prices rise.

 

When deciding whether you’re going to use a letting agent as a tenant or a landlord, it shouldn’t be a difficult decision. It’s estimated that only 20% of all homes in England are privately rented.* This shows how many tenants and landlords choose to use and work with letting agents. We are here to demonstrate the countless advantages you would receive when using a letting agent as a landlord or a tenant.

Benefits of using a letting agent as a landlord

When becoming a landlord, you can face a lot of responsibilities and challenges. You are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all your properties, inside and out. These responsibilities then begin to consume all your free time, and being a landlord can become more of a burden than you thought.

Hiring a letting agent would create less responsibility for you as a landlord, meaning you’re not required to manage your tenants. This will cause fewer problems and allow you to maintain a healthy relationship with your tenants, as the letting agent will act as the middleman.

Fast turnover between tenants
When trying to discover new tenants for a property, it can be very difficult for a private landlord. Tenants usually go to letting agents to find rental properties on the market. So, to prevent your property from having vacant spaces between tenants, using a letting agent can guarantee more exposure to the public, ensuring your property is filled quickly.

Required regulations
Letting agents are great at establishing a checklist for letting out your property, ensuring you meet all the required regulations and specifications.

These include:

• Gas safety certificate
• Electrical safety certificate
• Energy performance certificate
• Proof of tenancy deposit protection
• Fire safety measures
• HMO licence
• Landlord insurance

After your property has been filled with new tenants, you may think that your letting agent is no longer necessary, but this is where they can become the most beneficial. Letting agents look after your tenants and remaining the middleman keeps the relationship professional.

The only downfall of a letting agent is that they undoubtedly charge a monthly fee. The typical cost can be up to 15% of the total monthly rent.

Benefits of using a letting agent as a tenant

When trying to discover and rent a property in the UK, it can sometimes become one of the most complicated situations, especially if you rent through an independent landlord. We are here to ensure you recognise the simplicity of renting through a letting agent instead of an independent landlord.

Renting through a letting agent will ensure you are choosing the property you desire to rent and not choosing a property because of the better landlord. It allows an element of professionalism in renting a property as they maintain a professional relationship throughout the process.

Stress-free renting

Renting through a letting agent guarantees you will receive high standards and conditions for the rental property, as the letting agent wants to keep a positive reputation within the rental sector. The letting agent also ensures that everything is legally in order. Allowing you to rent stress-free. Agents in England are not required to be registered, so we always recommend looking for agents who are part of NALS (the national approved letting scheme). Agents being registered with the NALS ensures that they are part of the client money protection scheme, ensuring your deposit and monthly rent payments are kept safe and recorded.

 

We highly recommend using a letting agent as a landlord and a tenant. It simplifies both ends of the relationship and creates a smoother process for both.

Whether you're a tenant or a landlord get in touch with us today and discover how to rent the right way

 

Parkers Properties*