Trying Not to be Smug

September 4, 2017 by Rob Khal

I am always very analytical of where the business is and more generally looking at market conditions. This year so far (touch wood) has already been a fantastic year. In the 8 months to date so far we have already surpassed what we did in the whole of 2016. We have sold more houses, valued more properties, dealt with more applicants and interestingly sold more of the properties at the top end of the market.

In a rising market it is inevitable that any estate agent will sell more expensive houses but this year so far has been very noticeable. I personally have always had an enviable reputation of being able to sell the more expensive properties but it seems that now new people are also keen to use Scott & Stapleton to sell if their property is worth in excess of £1,000,000. Obviously impressed with the marketing in the newspapers and ion-line, sales brochures and probably more importantly the professional manner and personal service that clients selling or buying receive.

So far this year we have sold properties a bit further out like the property in High Road, Hockley which we sold for £1,150,000 but our bread & butter for this type of property has always been Leigh on Sea and once again the Marine Estate has proved the most popular area with the number of houses changing hands for over £1,000,000 breaking all records once again.

We have recently completed on the property in Harley Street for £1,400,000. The landmark property on the junction of Marine Parade and Thames Drive has just exchanged contracts and various others. I have always been extremely proud of my personal record of being able to sell the most expensive houses on the Marine Estate so was rather peeved when Home of Leigh Estate Agents pipped me to the record selling the property in Salisbury Road for £1,415,000. Thankfully their record didn’t stand for long as about a month after that I sold the property on Marine Parade for £1,425,000 and so far this is still the most expensive house on the Marine Estate to have sold.

I believe though it is only a matter of time before this record is broken again. There are a number of properties on the estate that I feel are worth in excess of £1,500,000 and it wont be long before one of these is sold. It will be interesting to see when the first house will sell for more than £2,000,000! (ps I still hold the record for Leigh on Sea in general when a good few years ago I sold a house for £2,150,000, smug face!).

A property that I sold this year is of particular note. A large detached house in Vernon Road that sold for £1,350,000. This was a property where the vendors didn’t want their property emblazoned in the local press and on-line. The idea of endless weekends showing people round and having to tidy up quite rightly didn’t really appeal. They preferred to instruct me on a low key basis asking me if I knew any potential purchasers who may be interested in buying their home. Well as you can guess I always have a list of people who I think may be interested in moving in to some of the larger properties. Some (or most) of them aren’t even thinking about moving but I know that when a particular property comes to the market they will always be tempted. It was just this scenario and I had a delightful young couple looking to upsize from their current property on to the Marine Estate and of course they snapped it up.

They appreciated that the opportunities to purchase that type of property in their desired location are few and far between so they very patiently waited for the vendors to find an alternative home safe in the knowledge that if they have to wait a few extra months it didn’t really matter as they fully intend to be in their ‘forever home’ for 20 years or more.

So if you have a large property in Leigh on Sea or the surrounding areas you may be pleasantly surprised on the current value. Amazingly £1,000,000 no longer buys you acres of land with indoor swimming pools and tennis courts. It may be just a 4 bedroom detached house on the Marine Estate or Chalkwell.

Also if you are looking to buy one of these types of properties don’t be disheartened if you cant find what you are looking for on rightmove or in the newspapers. Give me a call or e-mail me with your criteria I may just have something in my back pocket, low key that I can offer you or I will always try and find that perfect home for you. It may take a little while but trust me it will be worth it, we have a long list of satisfied purchasers in their new homes and vendors very happy with the prices that we have achieved.

Scott & Stapleton

42 Broadway Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS9 1AJ

rob@scottandstapleton.co.uk

scottandstapleton.co.uk

01702 471155