Where to begin, 2020 has been a very strange year and for some it’s sadly been the worst year possible; people are facing huge disruptions and changes to their lives which none of us could have predicted. If we go back to 12 months ago, I don’t think any of us could have even imagined where we’d be now, in and out of lockdown and not knowing what the future holds…
For many businesses 2020 has been a hard year for them, facing months of not being able to trade and with the restrictions currently in place even when open most businesses are looking at largely reduced capacity meaning ultimately reduced income and trying times ahead. Estate Agents initially closed up shop just like everyone else when the lockdown was announced on 23rd March and the market essentially ground to a halt. Without being able to conduct any appointments including viewings, valuations and all other important stages of the house buying process we were all left motionless… however this was 100% the right thing to do in order to make a change and fight the virus.
During the lockdown we carried on working in the background from home and took the time as an opportunity to reflect on ourselves, iron out the creases and make sure that when we do return to our offices, we hit the ground running and are more streamlined than ever. Part of this included the introduction of Video Tours, something which we are very proud of as we designed, created and perfected them ourselves. The quality of our video tours is something which we have received many compliments for and they were instrumental in securing a large number of lets and even a handful of sales before the lockdown restrictions were lifted for Estate Agents in May.
Thanks to our preparations, the week we reopened we were inundated with potential buyers and vendors looking to sell their homes; and after just 5 days back in the fold we secured some 15 sales on properties ranging from £100,000 all the way to £500,000… it was fantastic! This initial flurry did not stop, and honestly has not stopped yet. Every week we are securing more sales than ever, the prices we are achieving for our clients are higher than ever and we’re seeing record breaking achievements across the board and in all areas of Plymouth.
In order to thank our wonderful NHS and other key workers who were out there face to face with the virus whilst we were safely in our homes, the managers and directors of Cross Keys decided to implement a discount on our sales and lettings fees of a 50% reduction for NHS and keys workers as a huge thank you from all of us; this deal was to last until the end of 2020 and is potentially going to be extended into 2021. This has been a huge part of our success this year and we are thrilled that so many people have benefitted from something which we are very proud to offer.
As 2020 draws to a close most of us are looking forward to Christmas and the new year with optimism and are also looking forward to leaving what has been a tough 12 months behind us. So on behalf of all of us here at Cross Keys, we’d like to thank our clients both old and new for your continued support; and we’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are looking forward to working with you all in 2021 and for many more years to come!
As many of you will know, the rainy season is already upon us and we have seen some heavy downpours in the last month or so. You may be one of those people that likes the autumn and winter more so than spring and summer but for the majority of home owners / renters / sellers this is the time of year that sees where the faults in your property are.
Have you had a slate from the roof come off? Is there a crack in your render that has now allowed an unsightly damp patch to appear? Has your chimney had any water ingress? Do your windows have cracks in the frames that might be letting water in?
If the answer to these questions is “NO” then count your blessings and move on to the next section where we will talk about energy efficiency. If the answer to any of these questions is yes then please take my advice and deal with them sooner rather than later. A small problem now that is left unresolved can result in catastrophic issues in time to come.
A small crack in your render can easily be chased out and filled rather that in a few month time needing the whole wall being hacked off and re-rendered. Replacing a slipped tile may only take a day or two to get fixed but water coming for a prolonged period could result in the timber starting to rot or ceiling collapsing or the electrics failing where the lighting is.
Water will always find a way, your job is to make it as hard as possible for the water to get in. If the water does get in and the temperature starts to fall, then consider the ramifications of moisture in the fabric of your house. If this moisture freezes, then untold amounts of damage can occur and usually this will lead to expensive and unwanted bills at a time of year where we normally have other important things to spend our hard earned cash on.
Maintenance is not a sexy subject that grips everyone and get them excited but there is an old saying “Prevention is better than a cure” and regular updates on your property is highly recommended to ensure that they are in the best possible condition in order to withstand one of our winters.
Moving on from maintenance, we need to consider the effects of not having enough insulation in our properties. Insulation is relatively cheap but highly effective at keeping our homes not only warm but also energy efficient. There are currently a lot of schemes around that are offering either free or hugely discounted fees for installation of the best quality insulation. Keeping your home warm isn’t just for your comfort but also helps ensure that your property is being looked after because at the end of the day, warm and dry will always be better that cold and damp.
I really hope that you have found this blog informative and helpful, it may seem like these subjects are trivial but trust me, they do help to make sure your property is in its best possible condition for both living in and for selling. If you are a tenant, it is also really important to inform your managing agent or landlord if you have any of these issues or other minor problems, especially if it concerns water or moisture inside of the home. A dripping tap left dripping for a long time could escalate from simply needing a washer to be replaced to needing an entire kitchen unit or worktop needing replacing.
Like they say in Game Of Thrones “Winter is coming” be prepared.
So here we are, like a butterfly coming out of its chrysalis, well may be that is over the top a little bit but hey, it feels like we have been held captive in our own little bubble with no joy or freedom for a while now.
Some families have realised that with all the fantastic weather that we have had they now want to change up so that they have a suitable garden for them to enjoy.
Since the government stated that we could reopen our doors on Thursday 21st May, Cross Keys have been inundated with lots of leads on all kinds of properties across the board from larger flats to maisonettes, from terrace houses to detached ones but the most common theme that comes through has been that they all want to upsize either accommodation or outside space. This is the same for the rental market.
One of the consequences from spending so much time in your home is the question “Does this home work for me?” With lots of people taking the opportunity to work from home, a lot of you are considering changing up your property so that you have a dedicated office space. Some families are looking to change up so that their children can have a dedicated play room or even a room to home school.
With all that being said, I want to take some time to talk to all the vendors and landlords that are out there currently with your properties on the market or about to place your properties up “for sale” or “to let”. Consider what it is about your property that might make it appealing to the general public. Are you looking to upscale? If this is the case what can you do with your property that will make it stand out? What special features can you accentuate? The main thing to remember is that presentation is key.
According to a news article, Landlords and Vendors putting their homes on the market are being told to show off gardens in marketing photos as house-hunters search for that coveted outdoors space.
Usually most browsers have previously been interested in what the kitchens, bathrooms and interior features look like, but this period of lockdown has altered our perspectives on what is important to us and what we are now looking for according to research by the property portal Rightmove.
Unfortunately small flats just do not have the space that we now desire, combined with fact that there are so many flats and apartments currently on the market without any outside space at all, means that they are now losing out to houses which have now become more popular with the buying and rental market, especially four and even six bedroom houses.
Some house hunters are taking the decision to move further out from the town and city centres. Suburbia and further in to rural areas are proving more and more popular as these places have been purposely designed for family life with larger houses and generously proportioned gardens usually coming as standard. Many people would usually have been priced out of larger homes with big gardens, but indications suggest they are willing to accept a slightly longer commute to work in order to cast their nets wider for that more affordable and suitable property.
Some of the more sceptical elements of the press believe that this surge in demand will be short lived due to the possible financial problems that the shutdown will have on the economy in the not too distant future, however, Cross Keys are not seeing any signs of this nor do we expect to as here in the West Country, we tend to be shielded from the larger problems that the capital and other larger cities experience.
Some of the adverse effects of this lockdown has had on the public include relationship break ups, loss of employment or the 20% loss of income due to the furlough scheme which have led to the rise in rental enquiries.
Rightmove research for the BBC, based on the website’s data and a survey of 4,000 potential movers, has suggested 49% of renters and 39% of buyers have changed what they are looking for as a response to living in lockdown.
As half of those asked wanted to work from home, a third of movers wanted a better domestic workspace with good internet and a spare room now higher up on wish-lists.
Searches by buyers for homes with gardens on Rightmove were up 42% in May compared with the same month a year ago, and increased by 84% over the same period among renters.
