As you are know our new website was launched at the beginning of the year - even Napoleon was impressed! Seriously though we had a marvellous surprise, following its launch in that over 70 NEW INDIVIDUALS registered with us on the site either as cash buyers or mortgage approved requesting viewings on various properties. I’m not sure if part of this was due to the new website or whether it was just a significant number of first and second time buyers making the decision to move early in 2014. Perhaps it was a bit of both. Either way it was a bubbling start to the year and one that we welcome.
In grading these new entries to the market a third could be classed as HOT in that they have made a decision to buy within a certain time frame whilst the others are prepared to look a little longer and make the choice during the first quarter of the year. The problem we are facing in catering for this large number is stock. We do not have enough two/three bedroomed units in the preferred areas in prices ranging from £170,000 to £250,000. We have sold a significant number of houses in this sector but require more. This stock generally comes to us in the first part of each year whereby, just as buyers have made the decision to step onto the ladder or indeed move up, sellers have also made the decision to move on. All in all though a very good start and always a good thermometer reading for the year ahead. Had the year started off slowly that trend would generally feed through the first quarter which would not have been as encouraging.
On the rental side demand here too is out stripping supply with the main need being furnished and unfurnished family homes near to schools, two and three bedroomed units with monthly rental values from £850 to £1000 per month.
Finally do look at our new website if you haven’t already, it is constructed with you in mind and the statistics for the first month are very encouraging. Over 28,000 visits occurred of which 14,000 plus were unique visitors. One interesting fact is that more than 7,000 were either from iPads or smart phones. Obviously hand held devices are becoming the order of the day and we recognised this when building our site. It is responsive to those devices i.e. you get the full site no matter what size device you are using.
Enjoy the journey.
DM CREANE CHAIRMAN COWLEY GROVES HOLDINGS LTD.
