ESTATE AGENCIES
PETER GARDNER MANAGING DIRECTOR
e are predicting a relatively stable market in Dartmouth this year and therefore a good time to consider moving. The uncertainty, created by the impending May General Election and resulting stock market volatility, will be largely offset by a background of low interest rates and inflation for the foreseeable future. Harder to predict are the effects of lower oil/petrol prices and recent Stamp Duty changes; certainly the latter are a genuine attempt to reduce the negative side effects of the previous stepped system.
W RICHARD BLAKE OWNER
What sets the agency apart? We’ve six offices across South Hams, a Cornish franchise alongside a London presence and have been helping buyers and sellers for 25 years. That’s given us a very strong position in the local property market. In 2014, we successfully achieved exchange of contracts
As part of our commitment to the local community, in 2014 Marchand Petit became involved with Dartmouth’s Flavel Arts Centre through sponsorship of their Live Performance initiative; this has proved to be an extremely popular addition to the town’s activity. We take our contribution to the community extremely seriously and in 2015 we will continue to offer support through sponsorship and advertising to a number of local events including:
• Dartmouth Music Festival • Dartmouth Fishing Festival • Dartmouth Shakespeare Week • Dartmouth Regatta • Dittisham Regatta • Dittisham Arts Festival
on over 40% of the property available to buy within South Hams (marketed at £250k and above), our closest competitor having 16% (source Savvy Agent). At the higher end of the market (above £800k) our share grew to 60%. We’re a leading agency in letting properties across the region. We invest heavily in marketing our clients’ properties, advertising extensively in local and regional publications and generating strong press coverage across a wide range of national newspapers, magazines and website
We look forward to an active 2015. Please feel welcome to contact our Dartmouth office to discuss current market conditions, your specific property needs or more general enquiries regarding sales and rentals.
Peter Gardner Director
MARCHAND PETIT
1-3 Hauley Road Dartmouth TQ6 9AA Tel: 01803 839190
dartmouth@marchandpetit.co.uk www.marchandpetit.co.uk
Which way is the market pointing? There seems to be more confidence in market – we successfully completed a series of auctions, which shows that buyers and sellers are more willing to take risks. We notice an increase in interest from people moving here to work – improved internet connections have helped – or possibly to retire. The second home market does, however, remain the main driver of the market. With the election out of the way, the top end has picked up a bit – more volume is appearing but prices have not moved much. There are still stamp duty issues but the stepped nature of this tax has become more progressive and this distorts the market less. The legal process has become more torturous – mortgage lending is so much more risk averse – and this slows everything down as more boxes have to be ticked. It’s beginning, however, to ease up.
Do you see much change in activity? Prices are fairly stable as most vendors are willing to consider a fair cash offer especially if they are looking to move outside the area. Low interest rates and good employment levels should keep the market stable for the foreseeable future. Dartmouth remains popular but the supply of stock
hasn’t really increased. We expected a bit more activity as the election recedes. Good prices are being achieved and it’s even possible to sell off market if an agent knows you’ll consider selling when the right buyer appears. We do notice that the quality of local housing stock has improved – owners are spending more on their homes and doing more to maintain them. One of our strengths of our company is that the
Dartmouth market is not the only market we focus on. Our experience and contact with vendors and buyers dealing across all our offices in the South Hams means we can reach into a wide network of interested buyers and sellers and better match the two. It’s very important for buyers and seller to keep in close contact with agents – it’s a specialist market here and you need a local agent to give that specialist advice.
How has the Richard Blake agency been performing? I am very pleased by the way the business has progressed since we launched it in 2009. In the last two years we have been responsible for more transactions locally than any other agent. In the last year, we moved into a more prominent location opposite the Market Square, we’ve invested in quality window displays and the quality of our marketing materials generally. We have moved our properties from Zoopla to the new
Onthemarket.com portal which is working well for us – it’s very visible and, importantly, very easy to use.
DARTMOUTH £2,200,000
A fabulous detached waterside family home built by ‘Pillars’. Existing planning permission to extend the house further. Separate flat. Direct water access, a running mooring subject to consents and its own single garage. EPC Rating: C
NR BLACKAWTON £650,000
A beautiful former farmhouse occupying a lovely rural location. Four bedrooms, farmhouse style kitchen, 2 reception rooms, private garden & separate productive garden with poly tunnel, communal orchard. PARKING. EPC Rating: E
DARTMOUTH £595,000 DARTMOUTH £695,000
A particularly spacious Grade II listed town centre property with Gallery and accommodation. Recently rebuilt to exacting standards. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, storage and Gallery/ Shop area. EPC: Not Required.
A stunning spacious home with income potential. Superb master suite, separate annexe, wonderful views of the Dart Valley, River Dart and out to sea. 6 bedrooms. Parking. Gardens. Early viewing advised. EPC Rating: E
DARTMOUTH An extensively refurbis bedroom, 2 bathroom Modern kitchen, sittin courtyard garden with 2nd garden area w and parking. EPC Rat
Does Richard Blake specialise in any part of the market? No, we deal across the full range of property bands. Our success has been built on the hard work and experience of our staff (I personally have 20 years experience of the local market) and our focus on service and professionalism. We are licensed estate agents (through the National Association of Estate Agents) – the NAEA oversees a voluntary licensing scheme, introduced 3 years ago, which gives our clients peace of mind that we are qualified professionals and follow strict rules of conduct. With just one office, we have to be hungrier and leaner to
DARTMOUTH £495,000 KINGSWEAR £365,000
A beautifully presented and successful holiday let. 4 bedrooms, master en-suite & family bathroom, 1st
floor sitting room,
lounge. Kitchen/dining room. Courtyard garden. Steps to the terraced garden with stunning river views. EPC Rating: F
A family 4 bedroomed detached house occupying an end of cul de sac location.2 bathrooms, cloakroom, separate lounge, dining room, conservatory, parking, with views to Waterhead Creek. EPC RATING: D
STOKE FLEMING A spacious detached sea and coastal view from modernisation. as 2 apartments. So village location. Ga car port & parking. E
compete against agents with a portfolio of branches. This has served us well. We are, however, the locally appointed member of the National Homes Network – a nation-wide group of 250 independent agencies that help each other market their properties nationally. Each hand-picked estate agency firm is recognised for their professionalism and standards of service. This has proved important for an independent agent like ourselves as we get a large number of referrals of buyers and vendors.
DARTMOUTH A well presented Gr centre maisonette s Street, one of Dar locations. Large 2nd Three bedrooms, two terrace. EPC Rating: D
3a Market Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9QE
What is your view of the market over the next year? We think there’s every prospect that the market will push ahead. The general election over, there is more certainty in the market and the top end should start to move again now the distraction of a Mansion Tax has receded. London buyers should be more confident of taking money out to buy second homes. The improved news from London should eventually filter down to Dartmouth. It’s a better time now for vendors to list their properties. But price expectations have to be sensible – nowadays mortgage and survey valuations have to be nearer to the open-market value for transactions to proceed. Frustratingly, we do find that the conveyance process has got much slower. There’s understandable caution all round but only now are lawyers staffing up to deal with demand following the cuts they made after the financial crisis. Good preparation by both buyer and vendor is important. We do as much as we can, however, to find out what the potential roadblocks may be that will delay the conveyance process and advise all sides so that solutions can be speedily found.
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