Selling Property | Topics | Elizabeth Davenport Blog

If You Hear “I Can’t Believe my Home is Worth That Much!?”, Then it Probably Isn’t!

You’ve just won £250,000 on the lottery but need to pay £500 to have the cheque couriered to you! A relative has left £1.1 Million to you but it’s in a holding account in Nigeria! We Buy Any Car have told you your car is worth more than you could sell it for yourself on Auto Trader! You think your house is worth about £250,000 but an Estate agent with a low volume of agreed sales tells you it should be marketed at £325,000!

If these declarations sound too good to be true, it’s because they are! Since January 1st 2017 we have agreed sales on an incredible amount of new instructions. Sensible sellers, once the facts are presented, understand that if their home is worth “more” they will likely “get more”. Supply and demand in a market place with little stock dictates that buyers may have to pay the “asking price” but if the property is overvalued to start with, then they’ve no idea of the true value anyway. This is when property just sit’s there. And that’s no good for anyone.

If priced “reasonably” the public demand increases and in 70% of the cases this year, our properties have sold for the asking price or above.

Our advice, to enable a smooth sale remains the same. If the buying public think an asking price is reasonable, then the buying public will come. They won’t come one at a time either. You will have a choice of buyers to suit your needs and it’s this balance that makes for as little stress as possible. It’s also this balance that enable’s you to move onwards and secure you new home.

“Over Value & Risk Under Selling”, Consumer Watchdog Which? Reports!

We always try to explain to our clients that if their home is worth more than the valuation we have placed upon it then the public will surely make that decision.

Since January 1st 2017 we have agreed sales on homes valued at a total of £7,967,950. The actual total of sales agreed is £8,010,006.

The consumer watchdog “Which?”has found that 1 in 5 houses had been reduced from there initial asking price . Most interestingly houses that were sold after a 5% reduction sold for an average of £19,000 less than those that were sold from their original asking price.

The indication here is that by overvaluing, greedy agents and sometimes greedy vendors will cost themselves 8% of the value of their home.

A fascinating indictment of these facts was realised by Paul Higgins, chief executive at The Homeowners Alliance. “Sellers shouldn’t just consider the price that agents claim they can get. They should be thinking about how the agent is going to sell the property and whether they are asking the right questions!”

Richard Headland of “Which?” states that if the valuation is not realistic you could end up thousands of pounds worse off and wasting a lot of time.

We completely agree. Think about your onward move with one hand and your proposed sale with another. Don’t get too caught up with the minutiae. Don’t hold out for another £500 for a light fitting if there is a risk of upsetting the sellers of your dream home. Ask your agent for advice. Don’t play games. Just be logical and hopefully your agent will guide you with the bigger picture in mind, not just the initial instruction.

How South Coventry Benefits From Kenilworth & Vice Versa

Sometimes, reactions surprise you. Our stylish window changes within our Kenilworth office have been really well received and comments from one customer in particular were fascinating. She was looking at an attractive “South Coventry” property we were marketing for a Kenilworth resident. “This is great, my children can’t afford to buy in Kenilworth so I’ll send them your way!”. This was unexpected to say the least. I hadn’t even thought of that market at all. Residents of Kenilworth have children (and by children I’m talking 21 – 40 years old here!) who can’t often afford to buy in Kenilworth. That’s why advertising the occasional South Coventry gem in the Kenilworth branch can be so effective. It works and people are so interested.

On the flip side of this equation we have current sellers in Coventry looking to move to Kenilworth to downsize and also families within Kenilworth moving to Earlsdon.

This is a fascinating market in itself because on the face of it quite honestly the prices in Earlsdon and Kenilworth are surprisingly similar. A three to four bedroom period terrace in both towns are often comparable. The advantages of one over the other though are completely subjective.

The schooling in Finham, Stivichall and Kenilworth is certainly outstanding whilst the infrastructure with the A46 and A45 being so close allows easy access to the motorway networks. What’s for sure is that homeowners with property in Kenilworth, Finham, Stivichall, Earlsdon, Burton Green, Gibbet Hill and Westwood Heath could not find greater coverage for marketing their home than Elizabeth Davenport.

New Years Resolutions and A Commitment To Service

Once I’d stopped eating for more than 8 hours I realised that at some stage Christmas would end and that my routine over the last week would require a serious review. I was one of the lucky ones though. I remained in good health whilst some of the family were poorly. On a much greater scale though we’re all so much luckier than many of our international neighbours. It’s been a difficult year when we look at the World as a whole.

Whilst the festivities raged there was always the knowing that in a matter of days 2016 would be over and that all of the hard work undertaken that year would simply have to begin again come January 1st 2017.

All the successes achieved have now past. Buyers have bought and moved in and sellers having sold and moved on. There have been many lovely reviews posted on Google and plenty of grateful and enthusiastic thank you cards received. But immediate success means an immediate conclusion and once those keys have been collected, the show must go on.

We, like many businesses, are nothing without happy clients and customers. 2017 will only see our service standards to you improve with further commitment to greater staffing levels, better technology and certainly, without exception, more smiles and more handshakes.

To Clients and Customers alike, thank you for making 2016 such a good year and let’s try to make the New Year a much better one for all of us, globally, in 2017.

Christmas, Boxing Day & New Years Day! Do We Really Look At Houses Over The Festive Period?

Whether you can believe it or not some of the most recent statistics released from Rightmove have revealed some really surprising and unusual activities over our Christmas holiday’s! I’m not talking about “Pie Face” or “Charades” here, I’m simply talking about online property views.

Rightmove reports show a whopping increase of over 20% activity levels between Christmas and the New Year.

The last published statistics revealed that on On Christmas Day there were nearly 14 million page views and over 10,000 people took time out from the festivities to send emails to agents.
On Boxing Day it gets traditionally busier, with page views jumping to over 25 million.

Views peak on New Year’s Day, with an average of over 38 million page views (This is no doubt due to many being unable to even step out of their armchairs!).

What does this really tell us? Well, unarguably it shows that when we have time, we use it. Christmas and more specifically the New Year, with the hopes and ambitions it promises (who can’t fail to at least have hopes and ambitions for the year ahead whether realised or not!), is time for prediction and planning. Physical viewings are not so common, but planning ahead and looking at what’s available, can be the spark that lights the fire. Having your property on the market over the Christmas period doesn’t mean that Mr and Mrs Smith are going to disrupt your Figgie Pudding and Brandy Snaps. It means simply that they will likely plan to visit your house after Christmas.

Seeing your home for sale may persuade them to sell their own property and enable them to move forwards. Yours could be the property that instigates those decisions. And more importantly, yours could be the property they buy as well.

Don’t Believe Everything You Hear!

There are plenty of times in your life when friends and family tell you exactly what you want to hear. “Did I do well at my School Play Dad?”, I asked nervously, “Of course you did Son, well done”. I was a Barn Door (better than a sheep though!). We’re already ten minutes late and my wife says “Are you sure this looks OK?”…….I think you know where this conversation is heading!

So if you want to buy a house for £350,000 and you need to sell yours for £270,000 to make this possible please don’t tell the Estate Agent. If you do, you know what will likely happen. The agent will know there is little chance of an instruction without persuading you that your house is genuinely worth, you’ve guessed it, in the region of £270,000.

At Elizabeth Davenport we know that the right advice and what you want to hear are often two different beasts. What we do know is that in order to attract the most interest and at the highest price possible you certainly don’t need to start marketing unrealistically high. It just doesn’t work.

Rightmove statistics have shown that since 1st January 2016 we have reduced a lower percentage of our properties than any other agent in Coventry and Kenilworth.

As the very bespoke nature of property alludes, we can’t always get it right but we certainly won’t advice you of the impossible just to win your instruction. Beware of listening only to what you want to hear! I’m not talking about my wife now ( I made that bit up!).

Proudly Sponsoring Local Schools In Finham & Kenilworth

Kenilworth School plan to conquer all comers in Canada next year with thanks to Elizabeth Davenport Estate Agents. April’s expedition is the biggest single Rugby and Football tour that Kenilworth’s only secondary school has ever undertaken. With a total of 56 children, many partaking in both disciplines, the need for the best essay writing service reddit and sponsored support is paramount. Two of the Directors of Elizabeth Davenport have a particular affinity for the School with Mark Walmsley having a daughter in Year 8 and Nick Luntley being a former pupil himself. Having played and toured with both Rugby and Football for Kenilworth School, Mark and I approached George very quickly when we heard about the opportunity to purchase a thor outlaw for sale and all of the sports kits for the pupils forthcoming trip to Canada.

Year 8’s football team have been very successful and sit currently as district league and cup champions whilst the Year 9 Rugby team are undefeated and have won the prestigious Solihull School Rugby 7’s tournament. “As Kenilworth’s only Secondary School and with the kids genuinely achieving so much success at both Rugby and Football at the moment raising the money for the tour is a massive ask. Pupils and staff are undertaking all kinds of fundraisers to support this trip of a lifetime and any support we can offer we are delighted to do so” Mark Walmsley said.

The purchase of Sports kits, similar to a bowstring, doesn’t come cheap with the quality having to be first class. Canterbury, who produce the British Lions and the England & Ireland Rugby kits, have been chosen as the supplier who despite being more expensive than most will hopefully offer the pupils an advantage when it counts. “The choice of kit is vital” stated Paul Flowers, “they’ve got to last, they’ve got stand the wear and the tear they’ll be put through. Our pupils are going to be representing our School as well as the Sponsors and they’re really going to look the part. We can’t wait to see them. They’re due in January so not long to wait!”

“We’ve got a lasting relationship with Kenilworth School now” stated Mark Walmsley. “Nick’s been working with Dave Peacey who used to teach him which is really full circle, and obviously my daughter’s a pupil now too. There will be opportunities for Netball, Athletics and Dancing events too so if we can give the support then we certainly will”.

With children at Finham Park School Elizabeth Davenport have also been supporting the local PTA with donations from completions sold in the Finham area. Every house sold by way of an introduction from parents or relatives at the school will see at £100 donation to this worthwhile cause.

Now Is The Right Time!!

There is No Such Thing as a Wrong Season to Sell! Just The Wrong Light Bulbs!

Some people say there is no wrong weather, only wrong clothes. I don’t know about this. I really don’t like the dark evenings or the dark mornings. I don’t like mud stained carpets either!
Autumn has always been a popular time to place your home on the market for sale. With the onset of the new season we’d like to present a few exciting tricks and treats (get it!?) that can be implemented to make your house attractive for buyers as the nights draw in.

I used to have friends who had a very neutrally decorated home but contrasting soft furnishings for Summer, Autumn and Winter. The grey and blue Rugs, Scatter Cushions and the throws would all be replaced by oranges and browns and although it seemed such a hassle, the effect was executed perfectly.

Don’t neglect your Gardens and your frontages either. Everyone can say “My Garden looks great in the Spring and Summer” but if in Autumn your Garden is clean and tidy, cut back, dead headed and presentable you don’t need pretty flowers. Just make it look cared for. Remember if the competition hasn’t bothered then you’re one step ahead already!

Think about your lighting. In the Summer, natural light is the order of the day. Properties with bright and airy rooms draw the most attention. Now, in the Autumn and Winter, we can do cosy and warm. Uplighters, Lamps and fireplaces are welcome but let’s make sure that your floorings, having suffered Summer long abuse with inside out living, have been steam cleaned or mopped ready for the new season.

We’ve got some real tricks up our sleeves for stunning dusk and night photography as well so don’t be put off! There are lots of buyers who need to be resettled for Christmas and the New Year and we’d be delighted to help you find them.

For Sale Boards! To Do Or Not To Do! Now That’s A Question!

A common discussion with absolutely no rights or wrongs is the value of a “For Sale” or “To Let Board” at your home. ‘To Let’ Boards are more straightforward as the emotional factor of telling your neighbours and the passing public that your house or a house you own is “available” is far less relevant. The percentage of owner occupiers renting there own home is obviously less than the number of investment properties on the market. The issue regarding security though may still be a relevant one. If the property you own is empty then does a board signal “Empty! Easy Opportunity”. Well, Ne’er-do-wells don’t burgle empty houses. So a Board does not a burglary make. These security issues are the most common negatives that a seller or buyer will concerned about, and quite fairly too.

The positives though can of course can be great. Desirable areas will lead potential buyers to drive around and research where they hope to live. If there is no “For Sale” board then they may not see your house. No matter how impressive the brochures and web details, no one should buy a home without seeing it in the light of day. A “For Sale” Board isn’t just helpful for the seller of course. It’s an immensely powerful marketing tool for the Estate Agent too. If your agents For Sale boards are faded, in bad repair or remain fallen down or broken, what does this say about them as well?

Present Well and See the Returns!

One of the most popular questions I am asked at valuations is “Is there anything I can do help my property sell?”. The answer is normally yes! One of the main aspects of our service that we are often complimented on is the quality of our photographs. There is strong evidence that suggests the higher quality of the photographs directly translates into more enquires from potential buyers.

There are many techniques together with the clever use of technology that help capture great photographs but the most obvious element is the subject matter itself. We often advise our clients on how best to stage their property to help us capture the best possible images. Everything from giving rooms a fresh lick of paint to arranging for fresh flowers to be present on the day that we come round to photograph, all help us achieve the desired results – better photographs!

At Elizabeth Davenport we like to think we are different from most other agents, different in the sense that we go the extra mile to help you present your home to get you the best results. All the evidence suggests that a well presented home reflected well with top quality marketing will sell for a higher price due to the increased level of buyer activity.

Please give us a call if you would like some free advice on how to best to present your home and we would really welcome the opportunity to show you some of the results we have achieved.