For all the latest news visit us at www.the-negotiator.co.uk


Nick Tart FRICS reports from Nick Tart Estate Agents in Bridgnorth, Telford, Ironbridge, Albrighton and Tettenhall.


Our group’s offi ces are situated towards the eastern edge of Shropshire running over slightly into the West Midlands with a branch on the western edge of the City of Wolverhampton. The company deals with


a broad range of property from modest one bedroom apartments in the former new town of Telford at £40,000 to period homes in more central Shropshire that are for sale over £850,000. Taking the fi rst three weeks


of March our average sale price was £220,000 with an average fee before VAT of £2,875.00. We undertook 335 sales viewings and reduced 15 per cent of sales stock by an average of 4 per cent. Whilst the market for the fi rst three months of March has been


busy, sales are down on the previous period in 2011, although general activity has risen. The Spring is traditionally the busiest period in the country house market and from the activity we have seen so far, viewings, web site hits, etc, this year appears to be no diff erent. In fact, we are of the opinion that there is considerable potential activity that will manifest itself later in the year. The reversion of the


Government’s Stamp Duty tax break for fi rst time buyers has resulted in a higher level of completions before the 24th March well above last year’s fi gures. The photograph shows the beautiful bridge in the town of Ironbridge – where our the fi rst branch was opened in 1991.


Michael Comyn and Simon James are joint partners of Comyn and James Estate Agents in Pulborough West Sussex.


After a patchy start to the year the residential market is slowly improving with sales volumes increasing.


The relegation of last year’s


remorseless negative fi nancial front page news to the inside pages of the media this year has diminished the negative atmosphere in the market. Prices are still fl at with small


reductions still required in a number of cases. Sellers (especially those who have not sold for many years) are often unaware that buyers have access to a considerable amount of information regarding prices. The big question now is


whether enough properties of www.the-negotiator.co.uk


the right type are going to come up for sale through the spring season. Recent evidence from exasperated potential buyers indicates a frustration with lack of supply. There is a welcome increase in buyers moving out of London although the local market is mainly concerned with trading up/down by local residents. Buyers quite rightly demand


value for money and are far more cautious compared to pre-2008. If mortgage lenders will


co-operate suffi ciently there is hope for a period of steady prices and interest rates which would restore much needed confi dence to the market. ●


TheNegotiator ● May 2012 ● 27


Shropshire


Average sale price: £220,000 Average fees: 1.3 per cent ex VAT


Price reductions: 15 per cent of sales stock reduced by average 4 per cent.


West Sussex


Average sale price: £425,000 Average fees: Sales £5,500


Price reductions: 3 per cent of sales properties, average reduction 2 per cent.


Viewings: 78 (6 x sales) (Figures apply to the fi rst 3 weeks of March 2012).


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44