Yorkshire Property: Are you in safe hands?
Date : 12 July 2011
Does anyone really know what the next 12 months holds for the residential property market in Yorkshire? I suspect the answer is probably no, especially when economic bulletins suggest “only time will tell”.
So where does that leave those wanting to buy or sell this year? Well I hope not in as much of a state of flux as some might have you believe. So I have a few suggestions that might see you through the choppy waters that could lie ahead:
- Price – Always the obvious one but you cannot defeat the evidence whatever you may think your house is worth and similarly buyers should recognise that not all sellers are desperate. Ultimately we are talking about the sale of homes, not of financial commodities.
- Presentation – Condition and presentation are essential but often overlooked by many owners, be it of a modest terrace house or significant country home. However, I urge buyers to remember that some damp or peeling paintwork in a 100 year old house is reasonable and not grounds to justify a major renegotiation on price, creating unnecessary ill feeling.
- Pragmatism – If you have to sell quickly fix your price at a level where a sale can be guaranteed. If you have time on your hands, you can be patient until the right buyer comes forward. For purchasers if you like it, and if you can afford it, why not buy the house you have always wanted!
So where do us Yorkshire estate agents fit into all of this? If you are selling, work with the agent, understand what the marketplace is telling you and react accordingly to the advice he or she may give you.
For buyers, understand what the property in question has to offer in terms of its attributes, how you can improve or alter it to suit your requirements or taste. Keep an open mind and be prepared to pay for quality or individuality.