January 2010

After a quiet Christmas period with buyers and vendors focusing on the holiday period, January appears to have begun slowly. Estate agents are reporting that more stock has been coming on to the market but, as we predicted, at the moment this will not be enough to satiate demand.

Buyers are still proceeding with caution, particularly after price rises in the last 6 months despite a still fragile economy. Stacks London are becoming increasingly important to buyers, as agents offer properties which are not yet on to the market- giving our clients an advantage.  It is also key to have the correct advice on the area, the price and buying a property which has as many positive points as possible in order for future re-sale to be as un-compromised as possible.

However, we still recommend proceeding with caution- the estate agents are having to be highly competitive in order to win their instructions, therefore causing the asking prices to be inflated further. The next few weeks will be vital in order to ascertain whether these prices will be sustainable, or in fact a little caution from buyers will level the rises slightly.

Finding the time to view properties at the moment, appears to be another reason for clients to come to buying agents with it being the beginning of the year and many people having particularly large workloads, it can be very frustrating finding the time to view properties which then do not fit the criteria previously outlined to the agents.

If you are finding it hard to fit in the viewings around work, or that you are not managing to view properties in time, or if you are finding that you are not sure of the area you are looking in, then this may be the moment to employ a buying agent who can help advise and manage your complete search for you.

For any enquiries, please contact either Adam Keville  or Sara Ransom on 020 7385 4101 or London@Stacks.co.uk