Property is a hot topic

Fri 24 September 2021

Autumn is traditionally a busy period for the property industry and despite the distractions of the summer holidays and the end of the Stamp Duty Holiday looming, there continues to be strong activity in the market.

Rightmove’s September edition of the House Price Index reports a 1.2% increase in the average asking price for homes in the South East region within the last month and that buyer demand is more than double pre-pandemic levels.

RH & RW Clutton’s Estate Agency and Rural Agency teams specialise in the sale of country properties which have become increasingly desirable, owing to the changes in working trends and the want of a better lifestyle.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Data, has said there has been a 14% increase in new sellers coming to the market in early September, which is welcome news for the record number of buyers looking to find their next home.

The housing market remains fiercely competitive and in a strong sellers’ market, vendors are favouring purchasers who are in a position to move quickly.

Buyers can increase their chances of having an offer accepted in various ways:

Have a Mortgage Agreement in Principle (MAIP)
If you require a mortgage to part fund your purchase, we would recommend you obtain a Mortgage Agreement in Principle (MAIP) at the earliest opportunity. Estate Agents will ask for evidence of your deposit and MAIP to support any offer you make so it is important to have this information readily available.

Sell before you buy
If your move is dependent on you selling your own property, our advice would be to put it on the market now. Whilst it can be daunting to agree a sale without having found a new home to buy, any offer you make when you find the right property is likely to be viewed more favourably.

Some sellers choose to move into rented accommodation on completion of their house sale so they are chain-free and ready to move quickly when they find the right property.

Be a cash buyer
An offer made by a cash buyer is more attractive to sellers as a sale is likely to proceed quicker compared to an offer made by a buyer who may be reliant on obtaining a mortgage and/or selling their current home.

Have a conveyancer lined up
The property buying and selling process can be quite complex so appointing an experienced and well-qualified conveyancing solicitor to handle your sale and/or purchase is very important.  Having a solicitor lined up will show a seller that you are interested in moving quickly.

If you are considering moving home and would like to discuss your property search requirements, or book a free market appraisal, please contact our Estate Agency teams:

East Grinstead Office - James Tillard MRICS

Petworth Office - Peter Hughes

You can also find details of our sale and rental instructions at www.rhrwclutton.com.

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