edwasj

I'm an estate agent living locally, working in Clapham; and the market has definitely changed and now more than ever price is the most important factor in marketing your property. The last 18 months have been great for us and it wasn't far off the reality that you could open a door, have 6 people view a place and get sealed bids with any property. The market is far more saturated with available options at the moment and this in turn has taken all of the flurry out the market. People can afford to be much more picky and don't have the fear of increasing prices pushing them into making a decision. That said it's not all doom and gloom! We've been in a buoyant bubble for the last year or so and what we are coming into now is more consistent with a 'normal' market; if such a thing exists in London! There are plenty of people out there looking who are very serious about buying a property. In this sort of market if you are over priced you simply won't get the levels of interest as there will be better priced competitors appealing to applicants. Agents have a tendency of over valuing stock in order to get the business - it's hard when someone is promising to get you 'x' amount not to go with that agent but if the place next door, in near enough the same condition, sold for 200 grand less - think realistically!! Also don't get carried away with the prices achieved in the bubble - sealed bids do crazy things applicants and records prices were coming in. If you really want to sell think long and hard about price - this will be your main issue - not the time of year, market or dare I even say agent. Property sells throughout the year regardless of condition - it's always about price!!