So here we are again, Halloween is just around the corner and there are Christmas adverts on the television already. Buyers are trying their best to buy properties to be moved in to by Christmas, companies are organizing much missed office festivities and life does seem to be back to the way it was prior to the pandemic hitting us. Even though it may seem and feel familiar to days gone by, there are a few changes that we are having to live with and incorporate in to our lives thus making things the new norm.

Stamp duty, or the lack of it, up until recent weeks, has been a major driving factor for the huge growth in both property values and property sales. The original stamp duty holiday was due to end on March 31 2021. However, Mr Sunak decided to extend the deadline until October, opting for a more phased approach. The rate of stamp duty which applies to your purchase depends on the date that you complete your property purchase and not the date that you exchanged contracts.

From March 31 to June 30 2021, buyers paid no tax on the first £500,000 on a property in England and Wales. Buyers could have saved up to £15,000 in tax thanks to the holiday. From July 1 to September 30, the threshold was tapered down to £250,000 which means no stamp duty is paid on a residential property bought for up to this amount. October 1^st saw the nil rate band return to the standard amount of £125,000 and for first time buyers, this is set at £300,000.

In my opinion the other reasons for this unprecedented bolstering in the market has simply been life style and the way in which it has changed for everyone. Previously people bought a property because they thought it would be a great fit for their lifestyles, but when you think back our way of living has changed. Previously we woke up, showered, maybe grabbed breakfast, ran out the door either to work or to school. We came home late in the afternoon or early evenings, walked the dog, cooked dinner, did some homework or housework, maybe watched Coronation Street, Emmerdale or EastEnders and retired to bed only to repeat this pattern again day after day after day.

With the Lockdowns came an enforced new way of living. We found we had time, time that previously been taken away from us with the daily commute, the school run and doing the weekly shop. What could we do with this new found luxury? We baked, we learnt a new skill or even a new language, we did a lot of gardening, some of did a little bit more drinking than previously and some did the opposite and took up fitness and well being tasks. Our homes became our work places, our classrooms, we created man caves and hobby/crafting rooms. Lots of us made bars at home, had virtual diners or quiz nights with friends that we couldn’t physically be with. In short, the need of our homes changed, we required them to be more than a place to eat, sleep and clean.

Our homes now needed to be all things to all people and this is where a lot of people realized that they needed more and in some cases much more from their homes. As a result of this thinking, buyers are now looking to future proof their new homes, if they only needed two bedrooms previously, they are now looking at 3 or 4 bedroomed properties, if they had a courtyard before now, they are looking for a garden, if they had a garden, they are now looking for bigger gardens and so on and so on. This has inevitably led to property prices going up sharply as has the demand for them. The larger and usually more expensive properties are now the ones with the most interest from buyers and since lending is at one of its cheapest rates ever, borrowing does not seem to be as much of an issue as it has been previously. With us not being able to go out, travel, dine or shop, a lot of us have managed to save up for good deposits.

From 1918 up to 1920 we had the Spanish flu and after this came the roaring 20’s. Could we be seeing history repeating itself even if it is in a slightly reduced way?

I will end with this, here at Cross Keys Estates, we are selling more properties within the first few days of marketing than ever before and most of them are exceeding their asking prices by quite some way due to the current demand.

If you are thinking of selling or if you simply want to know the current value of your property, please do not hesitate to give one of our qualified and experienced members of staff a call.

With the first two months of 2021 now over and done with, here we are in March and Spring is upon us. This time of year usually means the weather gets brighter, the sun stays out for longer and that summer is on its way… generally it’s a time associated with positivity and good things to come. In tradition this is reflected in the housing market as with the better weather and winter behind us many tend to see Spring as the perfect time to put their properties up for sale and start the process of moving, whether it be for more space inside and out, or to downsize into something more manageable. 2021 could possibly be a little different than usual given where we are in the world right now and the country just beginning to see the lockdown gradually lifted; this has of course had an effect on the property market and I’m sure there are many out there waiting for things to ‘blow over’ before making any decisions. We at Cross Keys have seen continued extremely high levels of activity right the way through from May last year once lockdown #1 was lifted until now, during lockdown #3. In the month of January alone we agreed around 60 sales… so this is evidence enough that now is not the time to hold off and if you’re thinking of selling, we advise you get the process started as at present we are still seeing record breaking prices, lots of activity and most importantly there are lots of buyers out there actively searching for their new homes!

It has now been suggested that the stamp duty holiday, something which has been instrumental in keeping the property market going during the pandemic, is likely to be extended by the government in the coming weeks. This is good news for all concerned as it will likely mean the continuation of high levels of activity and also allow those homeowners who would like to move and save money by taking advantage of no stamp duty a little more time to jump on the bandwagon and complete their sale and purchase in time. Watch this space for more news on this.

In line with the potential stamp duty holiday extension, we also wanted to help the people of Plymouth looking to move also save some money … in 2020 we decided to offer discounts on both our sales and lettings fees to our NHS Staff and Key Workers in order to thank them for all their hard work during the pandemic and lockdown. This offer was due to expire at the end of 2020, however since the pandemic hasn’t expired with the new year, neither have our discounts! Therefore, if you are a key worker and are looking to sell your home, we are continuing to offer a 50% reduction on our selling fees based on our standard rate of 1.5% plus VAT, meaning our fee will be just 0.75% plus VAT! (Subject to a minimum fee of £1,200). This includes our high quality professional photography, 2D and 3D floorplans and a video tour for your property as standard.

If you are a landlord with a property to let, we are offering 50% off of our standard Fully Managed fees for 6 months, along with a free Landlord Transfer Service to bring your property (or properties) across to us! This is based on our standard managed fee of 14%. If you are looking to use our tenant find only service, we are also offering a 20% reduction on our fee making this service just £400! Also including our high quality photography, 2D & 3D floorplans and video tours as standard.

Especially during these unprecedented times, we really want to share the love in any way we can, so these discounts are essentially a big thank you from us and a promise to help as many people as we possibly can with their moves and also make it as affordable as possible.

Before you all cringe at the thought of late night shopping and the crowded shops, getting dark at 4pm, forgetting which relations to buy for and which ones disappointed you with their present for you last year, spare a thought for your house.

Many people take the festive season to consider if it is time to move. Some families actively look for a new home at this time as it is the only time some couples / families have off together.

If you are looking to place your home on the market over Christmas, remember these few pointers to help you market your property successfully.

1. Make sure your photographs are done before you put up your Christmas decorations – If your property does not sell in the time period expected and is still on the market in the New Year, the photos will tell that the property has been on the market for some length of time.
2. If your chosen agent is coming to take the photos, ensure that they are there in plenty of time to make sure that the photos are done in natural daylight – there is nothing worse than photos with all the lights on or when you look at the windows, they are all dark outside.
3. Even though it is now winter conditions, your garden is another room of the property – If your outside space looks untidy or unkempt it will give the impression that you either don’t use it or that your maintenance is lacking and could lead them to have a less than positive impression of the property overall. Kerb appeal sells properties.
4. Check that your gutters have not filled up with the autumn falling leaves – This could lead to overflows that can cause damp to come in to the property. Nobody likes the sound of water splattering down on you from up high. Some properties have lead lined valley gutters, if these fill with leaves and begin to overflow, the water usually comes over the lead and into the property directly causing considerable damage.
5. If you have any viewings booked on your property or if you are going to view property yourself, try to get there during the daylight hours – You will see more of the property and also be able to see if there are any obvious defects which might not show up in darker evening conditions such as damp patches or staining.
6. If you have a big Christmas tree, remember that it does take up a lot of space in the room – Lots of Christmas decorations tend to make rooms look and feel smaller than they really are. If you have a small property, try to keep your festive decorations to the same proportions as the room. If you have ceiling decorations they can also make the room feel lower and sometime slightly claustrophobic, also if you have low ceilings with decorations and tall people coming to view then the two don’t go together very well.
7. If you are lucky enough to be able to get away for a festive break, remember to let your agent know so that they can book appointments accordingly – Another good reason not to put your wrapped Christmas presents under the tree too early as this can say a lot about your property and your plans, remember there are some not so honest people out there that will target properties that have trees with lots of lovely looking gifts under them.
8. If you are moving property around the Christmas / New Year period, try to plan your packing ahead – Take it from me as one who has moved in the first week of January, trying to pack a house is difficult enough as it is let alone trying to clear up and pack away from the Christmas season. I for one don’t think that I will move again during the festive period.
9. What opening hours your solicitors are working – Yes even solicitors deserve some time off over Christmas. If you have to go to your solicitors to sign any documents or to fill in any forms, remember that they may have differing opening hours to normal due to the Christmas holiday period or having staff off during this time period.

As Plymouth’s gold award winning agent for customer service, Cross Keys Estates will always be happy to advise and guide you on this journey. Buying or selling can be one of the most stressful times of your life, trying to remember all the things that you need to do, informing the utilities companies of your move, meter readings, removals, finances, redecorating that may be required, cleaning or even signing documents at your solicitors can be quite demanding as it is, but add the stresses of Christmas and family commitments to that and you might find it a bit more challenging than you initially imagined, your agent should be understanding and as helpful as can be.

For any advice or even if you just want to talk about your property or plans for moving, please feel free to give our dedicated staff a call, we are here to help.

May I personally take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy, healthy and prosperous 2020.