Valuing your property safely

Following the Government's announcement on Monday, we can now visualise how a slow but sure exit from lockdown will look like over the coming months.

The positive news and the relaxation in guidelines will affect all of us in many ways, but if you still have concerns over moving, we can hopefully answer some of them below. And if we don't answer yours, just pick up the phone and speak to a member of our team, who can help you map out your road to a new property!

What's happening in the housing market?

The housing market has been extremely busy and this increased demand for property shows no sign of slowing down. Latest Rightmove data shows that buyer demand is growing - the first week in February saw their website visits up 45%. In fact, the number of people contacting estate agents about homes to buy is up by 18% compared to this time last year.

This high buyer demand is outstripping new supply and therefore helping to push up prices despite the challenging economic backdrop.

As it’s now far too late to realistically complete a deal before the stamp duty holiday is due to end on the 31st March, it would appear that many buyers’ desire to move is not dependent on the potential tax saving - this is great news for sustainability.

Some of your questions answered....

Can I continue to move home?

As we have done throughout, we still follow the current Government guidelines to ensure that our customers can move safely. Current guidance is updated on our website and the latest update for England won’t affect home moves as the property market continues to remain open. As we move into the different stages of the lockdown roadmap, viewings done in person, with less restrictions will start to increase.

Can I view properties in person now?

We are operating virtual and in-person viewings, but before you undertake the viewing, we will ask you a few questions and provide you with some guidelines to keep everyone safe.

Can I have my house valued by video still?

Yes. If you’re looking to sell, or rent your property, or have any questions please just give us a call. We can undertake a virtual valuation or one of our team can talk to you over the phone or carry out an in-person valuation following the guidelines.

If I need work done or removals men round, can I do that?

We would recommend contacting removal companies as early as possible before moving home. If removal firms are not available, one other household can help you with your belongings if absolutely necessary. You can arrange for tradespeople and surveyors to visit your property prior to moving in, but only one person at a time can visit the property.

I’m a tenant, can I still move home?

Yes, tenants can still look for properties and move home. You can also bring in a professional cleaner if you need to before the end of your tenancy. Tenants viewing properties, must follow the guidelines as mentioned above and outlined here.

Click here to read What's happening in the housing market?.

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 the pandemic impacted the housing market

It would be somewhat of an understatement to say that the pandemic led to confusion and uncertainty for businesses last year.

The property market went through a lot in 2020, with huge repercussions on the way in which people now buy, sell, let and rent.

Not only did the various stages of buying and selling change, but we saw a massive U-turn in the way that the population thought about their homes, with Santander releasing data in September on record numbers of homeowners applying for loans to increase space and renovate.

More buyers were searching for bigger properties, including for larger family homes and increased outdoor space.

Something else that changed over the last 12 months – according to Editor of Luxury Daily, Alam Khan – is the way that affluent buyers are approaching the market; not only in how it will look but where they want it to be.

Prior to the pandemic, many high-powered business owners and working professionals would choose to live in their primary residence closer to the office.

However, many people have found remote working easier than anticipated, with companies able to save money and likely to close their physical premises completely.

It is safe to say that – overall – the pandemic has impacted the property market for the better.

Are you looking to move this year to better suit your working situation or lifestyle?

Browse our properties or speak to our local team for a valuation of your home.

House-buying behaviour continues to be shaped by working from home

With the number of vaccine jabs administered in the UK now over 10 million, we can start to imagine a future beyond the pandemic, but it's expected that the 'new norms' many of us have adopted will have lasting effects in our day-to-day lives.

Working from home has gone from being an infrequent luxury to a very real reality – whether we've wanted it that way or not.

Jobs advertising remote working tripled since November 2019, going up from 26,600 to 80,700 listings in November 2020.*

With remote working now an expected part of life, the desire for a home office has skyrocketed, leading to interesting levels of activity on the market for larger properties.

COVID-19 has impacted the behaviour of homebuyers, as well as the priorities of employers and businesses, who now recognise that proximity to the office is no longer a prerequisite for their team members, allowing for greater flexibility on where people choose to live.

In a recent 'Home Moving Trends' survey, 35% of participants cited an office space as being more important since the emergence of the pandemic.**

The survey also showed that broadband was high up on homebuyers’ agendas, with 37% wanting enhanced Internet speed when searching for a new home.

If you're no longer restricted to a property based near your work premises, we'd like to help you.

Browse our latest properties or talk to our team about your home-buying criteria.

*New Street Consulting Group

**Conducted by the Property Academy on a national level