The Property Sales People

This was the title of an article in The Independent on 24th  February 2010. Read it here : http://bit.ly/aqVQoM My response is below! House Prices Face Double Dip If 2009 saw a ‘boomlet’ then it passed me by and probably the rest of East Cambridgeshire too. I would accept that house prices in and around Ely stabilized and generally stopped falling - most likely because of supply not matching demand. This was also a feature of the late 80’s and early 90’s when if people could avoid selling at prices they didn’t like then they did just that! To get a true impression then we need to stop looking at the UK residential property market as just one countrywide market. It is a series of micro-markets all reacting differently to the overarching conditions of recession, (un)employment, mortgage availability, type of property available and the likely buyers. After all, the likely ‘punter’ for a riverside apartment overlooking the Thames in central London won’t be the same as th...

I received this in an e-mail newsletter from the Guild and felt I simply had to re-publish it here... A Call To Arms.... We know that the UK estate agency market is the most competitive in Western Europe, with the fees levied being only a fraction of those applicable in most developed countries (even when compared to the supposed paragon of the free market, the USA). We also exemplify the specialist skills involved in successfully selling a property, and help mitigate the significant risks involved to the buyer and vendor from acting without professional advice and guidance. Finally, if the rate of consumer dissatisfaction has fallen by half to 12% since the last report, then the service is clearly rapidly improving of its own accord (given the current absence of licensing and mandatory qualifications). The market statistics also speak volumes. Too many estate agents chasing too few transactions has meant that only a small minority are making healthy profits. With over 2,000 offices ...

What a Monday! We have fantastic levels of interest in 5 bedroom, 2 en suite detached homes in Ely at around £330,000. 3 ready, willing and able buyers after the same house is wasteful so if you have something like this and are thinking of moving please let me know. We have more than one buyer for 3 bed terraced or semi houses in Witchford and Stretham up to £170,000. Free valuations and realistic commission levels  - call 665020.

Appearing in this week's local papers: PROPERTY SALES NEGOTIATOR / ESTATE AGENT David Clark & Company are an established independent estate agency in Ely, Cambridgeshire and are now looking to recruit a sales negotiator/ estate agent to assist in driving the business forward in 2010. Ideally you will have some experience in a property related industry covering sales and assessing property for sale and consideration will be given to individuals looking to take the ‘next step’ in their career. You will be computer literate and with very good communication skills as we have a reputation to maintain as Ely's 'friendly and approachable' estate agent. Remuneration will be by basic salary and commission. This is a full-time position and involves working Saturdays etc. If you would like to discuss this opportunity call David Clark on 01353 665020 or e-mail your CV to recruitment@clarkhomes.co.uk

As a preamble to my first property related piece of 2010 I wish Ginette and Christine at 'Yarn on the Square' good luck and best wishes as they are now trading from my old premises at 22 Market Place, Ely. Check them out at www.yarn-on-the-square.co.uk or better still pay them a visit for all your wool, needles, crochet hooks, stitch markers, knitting kits and workshops to learn new skills. I have held onto my thoughts until January was over and we've reached the mid point of February. January was, in my opinion, a worrying month. Most buying activity seemed to stall until thelast few days of the month. I have deliberately waited until now to make that comment as I would have been labelled 'negative'! Why did it happen? Stamp Duty threshold reversed to £125,000 from £175,000 VAT back to 17.5% from 15% The weather! I believe the major factor was the weather. Rightmove and our own website produced activity statistics that were more than 100% up over the mo...