Stacks Press Coverage
Journalists frequently ask us for our opinion on the national and local property markets, and we are widely quoted in the press. You can browse a selection of our recent press coverage below.
Our directors have been interviewed on the radio and on TV. There’s very little in the property world we don’t have an opinion on! Much of our advice (naturally) focuses on helping the buyer make an informed decision, and we are often asked to provide an opinion to balance estate agents’ views.
We are always happy to help journalists with their research. You can contact Amanda MacCaw at our press office on:
01386 700068 / 07977 238175; mac.amanda@virgin.net
The Times, 27.1.12
How to sell your home now
Nick Wooldridge of Stacks Property Search, a buying agency, says that deals have a one-in-three chance of falling through. “People are running scared for the smallest of reasons. They pull out at the first sign of trouble,” he says.
“Rarely has there been so little pressure on buyers to make a quick decision. The longer someone has to think about a transaction, the more likely it is to fall through. My advice to sellers is to go for a speedy exchange. However certain it looks, don’t relax until you’ve exchanged contracts.”
the guardian – 19/01/2012
HS2 and house prices: what the high-speed rail link means to you
“More than 65% of the responses to HS2 consultation mentioned property. Here’s what the go-ahead could mean for your house’”
Country Life – 13/01/2012
Buying a cottage in the countryside
“Today, many buyers are ruling out the ‘long-weekend’ house, in favour of the ‘weekend cottage’, argues James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search. ‘Turning up at the office late on a Monday and disappearing Friday lunchtime is considered rash practice, so the weekend home really is for weekends, with just enough space for the family.’”
Daily Telegraph, 10.12.11
How to get on the fast track Transport improvements in the Autumn Statement will create bargains for canny buyers.
The Chilterns
The Government’s HS2 high-speed rail link may be modified in a way that will help local housing markets, with a tunnel through the Chilterns tipped to be announced in January. Owners in Great Missenden, Princes Risborough and Wendover have been under threat of long-term noise and damage to the countryside. If the blight is lifted, the recently depressed house prices will rise next year.
Insider tip: Catherine MacAllister of Stacks Property Search, advises: “Look at topography when buying in the area. The distance from the route isn’t the only factor; hills, trees and other buildings affect sight and sound.” A four-bedroom semi here will set you back £1.25m. Read full story here.
Financial Times, 3.12.11
A culinary commute Heston Blumenthal and others deliver an added attraction to a picturesque Thames-side village.
Nick Wooldridge of Stacks Property Search says locals are keen to preserve Bray’s heritage. “The physical character of the village is protected by a conservation area, but the community came together recently to campaign successfully to protect the historical village almshouses from development.”
Grand Designs
Addons that don’t- add up
A swimming pool or sauna may be at the top of your wish list, but if you’re hoping to add value to your home, choose wisely or it could be money down the drain.
James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search says, “If you’re selling a medium-sized house that initially had three or four bedrooms, and you’ve turned it into a house with two spectacular bedroom suites, it will be marketed as a two-bedroom house and will not be so attractive,” he explains. “And making a house top-heavy by creating more bedrooms than the reception space can support can create problems.”
Briony Mathams of Stacks Property Search recently saw an outdoor swimming pool that had been demoted to a fishpond. “They found that maintaining it as a swimming pool was hard work, and removing it was too expensive, so in came the fish.”
Daily Telegraph, 29.10.11
West Country special: Homes for celebrities
Drawn by its remote charms, actors and musicians are flocking to the West Country. Graham Norwood learns how buying agents help the stars to stay incognito while finding their dream homes
Another buying agent, Gideon Sumption, who handles celebrity queries in Devon for Stacks Property Search, says well-known buyers love their bling at first, but then give in to the laid-back West Country lifestyle. “They come for peace and the chance to get muddy without anyone staring. Their homes are often comfortable but unflashy farmhouses, well-protected by land. To start with many are kitted out in a glitzy, un-Devon way, but after the arrival of children, the sound system usually makes way for stables,” he says. Another reason celebrities love the West Country is that the locals are unfazed by fame.
Though they might use their profile to help local charities, celebrities choose the West Country because it allows them to lead a relatively normal life. This is according to Stacks buying agent, Amanda Ake.
“You’ll see them on the touchline at school sporting fixtures shouting loudly for their team and embarrassing their children. Just like non-celebrity parents,” she says.
With this kind of attitude, celebrities are unlikely to change the unspoilt nature of the West Country that attracted them in the first place.
The Times, 4.11.11
How to buy – or sell – in a chilly climate, The insider secrets of the successful deal, How to offer less
Don’t be afraid to haggle. Lawson says that there are key ways of judging how amenable a vendor will be to a below-asking-price offer: “How long has the house been on the market? Have they had other offers? How desperate is the seller — are they moving for a job, schooling, divorce?” he asks. And, to keep relations friendly, always be courteous — and justify your behaviour.
James Greenwood, of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition, says: “Present a good case for your low offer — pointing out as many flaws as possible. Ridiculously low offers are acceptable these days, but you have a much better chance if you’re charming about it.”
At the same time, Greenwood says that you need to show that you really mean business. “Show a physical interest — go around again and again, so when you come in with your low offer the vendor knows that you’re really serious about wanting the property. Make it clear that you’re not going to be tricky once a price has been agreed. Have your solicitor and surveyor lined up and offer confirmation of your financial position. Be strong and firm in your intent.”
Daily Telegraph, 29.10.11
West Country special: Homes for celebrities
Drawn by its remote charms, actors and musicians are flocking to the West Country. Graham Norwood learns how buying agents help the stars to stay incognito while finding their dream homes
Another buying agent, Gideon Sumption, who handles celebrity queries in Devon for Stacks Property Search, says well-known buyers love their bling at first, but then give in to the laid-back West Country lifestyle. “They come for peace and the chance to get muddy without anyone staring. Their homes are often comfortable but unflashy farmhouses, well-protected by land. To start with many are kitted out in a glitzy, un-Devon way, but after the arrival of children, the sound system usually makes way for stables,” he says. Another reason celebrities love the West Country is that the locals are unfazed by fame.
Cornwall Life – 25-10-2011
How light your home is can have a serious effect on SAD.
Nicola Oddy of Stacks Property Search in Cornwall says, “How light your home is can have a serious effect on SAD, but it’s easy to ignore matters of light when viewing property. And even if you don’t suffer from SAD few people would dispute that a bright house is more desirable than a dark one.
Financial Times – 14.10.11
Movers and acres
Farmland prices in the UK have doubled in recent years while country house values have dropped.
Further away from London in the once-popular coastal towns and estuary ports of south-west England, “the inflated second homes market has collapsed,” according to Gideon Sumption of buying agency Stacks Property Search. Selling agents in northern areas such as the Lake District say large high-end properties are still selling to downsizing owner-occupiers but not to holiday home purchasers. Read full story here.
Sunday Times – 16.10.11
Made to measure country homes
Like the idea of a bespoke country house, but can’t face the hassle of a self-build? Look out for off-plan developments that let you have it your way
Whether it is possible to do a deal will probably depend on the developer’s financial circumstances. Bill Spreckley, regional director of Stacks Property Search, recommends checking out the company’s accounts to see how healthy they are. Finding out when they bought the property and when they achieved planning permission might be a clue as to how keen they will be to unload it.
The Independent, 7.10.11
Homebuyers are looking for splendid isolation and a pristine view of a star-filled sky
Shorter days, longer nights and the clocks going back all mark the onset of winter. But while most may prefer it lighter for longer, what degree of darkness do we really enjoy – and what chance do you have of living in a location that enjoys “true” night-time darkness and a sense of real remoteness?
If you believe such an issue has little or no bearing on the housing market, think again. Jayne Perks of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition, a buying agency, found a house for a client who would not move to a property if there was unacceptable light pollution. She says: “Finding the perfect house was a challenge. The deal nearly came unstuck when we realised the night-time outlook was spoiled by light pollution from a nearby garage. Its lights remained on throughout the night. Fortunately, they were understanding and agreed to turn their lights off when the garage closes for the day.” Read full story here.
Daily Telegraph, 1.10.11
Use a biomass boiler to keep your home warm
Eco-conscious property owners are turning to biomass boilers to keep their houses warm, explains Caroline McGhie .
Buyers’ agents like Nicola Oddy, regional director of Stacks Property Search, approach with more caution. “I’ve shown several clients houses with woodchip boilers recently, and they have been genuinely fascinated and excited by the prospect of low-emission values, high efficiency and general eco-friendliness,” she says.
“My advice would be to research it well, find out how it works, what input is required from the householder, how long it’s guaranteed for and who will supply the fuel.”
Birmingham Post, 29.10.11
Knowing your wheat from the chaff
Angie Osborn, associate director of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition for North Worcestershire/Birmingham South West, assesses the current property market from the buyer’s perspective. Read full story here.
Evening Standard, 28.09.11
Come home to the cows in only 40 minutes
Modernists and traditionalists have a choice – a pretty cottage in a Buckinghamshire village, or life in a new town. Both benefit from an easy commute.
Financial Times – 10.9.11
On the waterfront
Water frontage and direct access to the sea can add as much as 100% to the value of a home. “Houses with stunning water views offer the trophy view above all others, and can add as much as 25 to 50 per cent to a property’s value – even though sometimes the best views are from houses set back from the ‘frontline’” says James Greenwood, managing director of the property search company Stacks. However, buyers still need to do their research over issues of privacy, and to protect their homes from encroaching tourism.
Daily Telegraph – 17.9.11
Buy in Weymouth in time for the Olympics
The Olympics are still more than 10 months away, but Britain already has winners. The people and the housing market of Weymouth in Dorset are basking in glory.
Gideon Sumption of Stacks Property Search, a buying agency, agrees. He says that the Olympics heralds the arrival of Weymouth as a genuine alternative for those looking to the West Country for holiday homes or retirement. “Many purchasers in the higher-priced estuary and coastal hot spots of Devon and Cornwall have had their fingers burned, as the inflated second-homes market there has collapsed,” he says. “Weymouth’s new status makes it a destination for real sailors. Together with the good value of local property, this means its renaissance is assured.”
Daily Telegraph – 20.7.11
Wandsworth – house prices on the rise in Nappy Valley
Sara Ransom, regional director of Stacks Property Search explains the market, her professional view, and personal interest in Wandsworth.
Daily Telegraph – 12.7.11
The Next Property Hotspots
New roads, developments and rail lines are helping some towns buck the recession, says Caroline McGhie
Properties within reach of Kemble station are already “hot”, according to Jo Aldridge of Stacks Property Search. “Buyers love being able to catch a train from the village and appreciate the easy parking. The area to watch, however, is the belt beyond Kemble towards Stroud, where prices are lower but the countryside is as spectacular as it was when Laurie Lee described it in Cider with Rosie.”
Tesco Home Magazine – 11.6.11
Save by living in town
Rising bills are making budgets tighter all round, so if you’re thinking of moving home, consider the benefits that relocating from the country to town might bring. “With the price of fuel rocketing, permanent ferrying of children is adding dramatically to the bottom line,” says Charlotte Walker, regional director of Stacks property Search. “By moving into town, children can cycle or walk to school and to out of school activities; commuting members of the family can walk to the train station; and shopping and social life is on the doorstep.”
Think about the type of property you buy and its effect on heating bills too. “It tends to be cheaper to heat a house in a town than in the country, and heating bills are becoming a serious drain on family finances,” says Charlotte. “Semi-detached or terraced houses have a great deal less exterior wall space, and towns are always several degrees warmer than the countryside.”
Country and Townhouse – 18.6.11
Home Truths – Chewton Mendip, Somerset
Stacks search specialist, Amanda Ake, calls this area Somerset’s Golden Triange. It’s convenient for Bath, Bristol and Wells (even London is manageable, as long as it’s not every day), and yet its surrounded by some of the best countryside the south west of England has to offer.
“It’s a real haven,” she says. “You get commuter belt convenience but with that quirky, country feel the Chew Valley has to offer. When you’re at home you’re definitely at home.
Neaerby alternatives to Chewton Mendip include Litton (“a horseshoe shaped village off the main road, and so a bit quieter”), Ston Easton and East Harptree (“where everyone wants to be, for its lovely community feel”).
Daily Telegraph – 18.6.11
West Country special – holiday letting
With house prices in seaside towns rising dramatically and good rental income almost guaranteed, buying a holiday home is an increasingly popular way to make money.
“Since April’s bank holidays and heatwave, interest has picked up rapidly,” explains Nicola Oddy of Stacks Property Search. She says many clients are those who would previously have bought overseas. Now, thanks to budget constraints and deterred by events such as ash clouds, they want something more convenient.
“Key requirements for holiday-home purchasers are location – in or near a recognised holiday destination – and privacy. Purchasers always want property that isn’t overlooked,” says Nicola.
Daily Mail – 20/05/2011
Avon Calling!
According to buying agents, Stacks, Bristol is one of the top choices for country-dwelling families who are fed up with spending all their time in the car.
Country Life – 18/05/2011
Premium prime prices
James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition advises against entering a competitive bid. “Interest rates are likely to rise and economic cuts will get deeper,” he explains. “Paying a dividend for a property this spring and over-stretching your finances could be a huge mistake”.
Sunday Telegraph – 15/05/11
Sideways Shifters
From climbing up the property ladder, we have switched to shifting sideways. Catherine McAllister of Stacks Property Search says buyers are developing the trick of ‘gaining more space but staying in the same economic bracket’. They swap period for modern, gaining as much as 15% more space at the same price. Or they move from pristine to down-at-heel, or smart country to second tier.
“By moving from Gloucestershire to Warwickshire, Dorset to Somerset, west of the River Severn instead of east, you can add as much as 25% to the size of your property” she says. “If you are going to move to a less prime area, pick a location where you can see the seeds of improvement have already been sown. If you can, buy a property that has potential for adding value”.
The Independent, 13.5.11
The property sweet spots that won’t bust your budget
They are the rivers, roads, county borders and other magical location lines that make all the difference – over 20 per cent of the asking price for similar properties, in some cases.
It’s a case of looking sideways, and time for a new generation of buyers to “re-boot” the location clichés, says Catherine McAllister of Stacks Property Search. “The trick is to find a way of gaining more space while staying in the same economic bracket,” she says. “It’s a bit radical as, traditionally, property in prime areas has increased in value more rapidly, and held its value.” But if you need more space and can’t afford to increase your mortgage, then cross that line. “Look to where developers are investing away from the hotspots,” she adds.
Independent, 06.05.10
Home suite home: Old seaside hotels are being turned into luxury flats.
“They have been accustomed to being very formal but that market now is really only wanted by pensioners who visit. Younger, trendier people want something very different. The hotel buildings and the people running them aren’t necessarily able to adapt to that new market,” explains Nicola Oddy, a buying agent working in Cornwall for Stacks Property Search.
She says there are disadvantages to hotel conversions. Some are turned into small apartments because the developer needs a larger number of units to justify the cost of the conversion.
“Quite often these older hotels, especially if they are centrally located in a town or village, have almost no parking. That’s not attractive to a potential developer and if a conversion does happen, it’s not a selling point for the individual homes,” cautions Oddy.
Grand Designs Magazine - 10.04.11
Searching for a site
Finding land to create a new-build is becoming more and more difficult, but with hard work, unlikely contacts and an ear to the ground, you may just stumble upon your perfect plot.
Linda Jeffcoat of Stacks Property Search was charged with finding a plot for an artist client new Pewsey, Wiltshire, and placed a classified ad in a local paper. “We secured a plot of an acre and a half without it ever coming on to the market and our client now has planning permission,” she says.
Jeffcoat also recommends calling smaller developers in your target area. “They’ve been happy to build up a land bank, but the recession has been painful,” she says. “If they are offered a decent price and a quick sale for a small plot they are often happy to dealand get a bit of cash back.” This method isn’t for the fainthearted, and you will have to be a bit of a negotiator, but that goes for all self-builders doesn’t it?
The Times – 18.3.11
Meet the downsizers
Empty nesters are the most powerful people in the housing market now
James Greenwood, managing director of Stacks Property Search, a firm of buying agents, believes that the surge in the number of family homes coming back on to the market is a positive thing. “One of the biggest frustrations for buyers is the shortage of good family homes. Many are being lived in by two elderly people who put off the moment that they downsize until their own families have families of their own,” he says.
Good stock, however, is still in short supply and Greenwood advises downsizers to avoid the trap of hanging on for more money. “Waiting for the market to improve is tempting but we currently have a good market for selling in, there’s a shortage of property and sensible prices are being paid. We don’t know what is round the corner.”
Nottingham Post, 10.3.11
Where do we have right to roam?
Charlotte Walker, regional director of Stacks Property Search, advises buyers about buying property near woodland.
Sunday Telegraph 20.02.11
Let some light into your life
Percy Lawson Johnston, regional director of Stacks Property Search in Warwickshire, offers some timely advice on how to secure the best deal.
Birmingham Post, 13.1.11
Discover the secrets to better bargaining
Percy Lawson Johnston, regional director of Stacks Property Search in Warwickshire, offers some timely advice on how to secure the best deal.
Daily Telegraph, 29.1.11
Lights, Cameras, Auction
Independent, 28.1.11
Many hands make light work
Moving home is renowned as being one of life’s biggest cause of stress.
“Ensure you get cancellation protection in case the date is changed at the last minute and label all boxes, says Linda Jeffcoat, regional director of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition. “A sensible belt-and-braces approach to this is colour-coding boxes and rooms.”
Independent, 31.12.10
Buy a house, get a free television
“There are key times when developers ar under more pressure than usual to secure sales, so that’s the tme to buy,” says Nick Evans of Stacks Property Search a buying agency monitoring thew new-build market.”
Independent, 10.12.10
Trust me, I’m an estate agent: How underhand technology is being used to sell homes.
Stacks Property Search, a buying agency, has compiled a list of euphemisms found in details. “It’s worth understanding agents’ jargon so that you can identify potential problems and question agents more closely rather than waste time on a viewing” says Stacks’ Jo Aldridge.
Independent, 03.12.10
North Leicestershire
Some of the areas within the East Midlands are undervalued. Take North Leicestershire, which Charlotte Walker, regional director of Stacks Property Search, calls “a well-kept secret”. She says: “People get as far as Market Harborough, but no further. It’s beautiful countryside with a down-to-earth farming community, and prices are way cheaper than a little further south. You might have to look a bit harder to find the property of your dreams, but there are some amazing villages, the schools are terrific, and it’s 90 minutes by train to London.”
Stop in Melton Mowbray and look at villages such as Upper Broughton.
The Scotsman 07.10.10
William Kyle writes an advisory article that weighs up the pros and cons of renting in the current market.
Telegraph 26.09.10
West Country property: St Endellion rises from obscurity
St Endellion therefore looks like a bargain.”Visitors may not know St Endellion by name but they have probably visited the parish because it is popular for walking,” says Nicola Oddy who runs the Cornish branch of Stacks Property Search.
Daily Mail 17.9.10
St Leonards is Exeter’s fashionable living quarter.
Substantial Victorian and Georgian villas on tree-lined streets give little clue that this enclave is home to the West Country’s artistic and literary elite.’
Detached St Leonards houses with parking go for between £800,000 and £1.2 million.
Telegraph, 27.8.10
How to sell your house in the Autumn market
“Don’t assume national statistics apply to the area and market level you’re trying to buy in. Always research locally,” is the advice of Nicola Oddy of Stacks, a buying agency in Cornwall, where many prices are remaining buoyant.
Sunday Times, 22.8.10
Seek and they shall find
Buying agents are no longer the preserve of the super-rich. What do they offer and are they worth the money?
Daily Express, 13.8.10
Reclaiming the past
“You can end up with a house full of stuff that’s inappropriate,” warned James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search. “Be careful when buying heavy-wear pieces in particular. Old doors rarely fit properly and having them modified can be expensive and not always satisfactory.
Sunday Times, 1.8.10
to the garden
“There’s a big fear about downsizing,” says Jayne Perks of Stacks Property Search. “But if people can move within their own curtilage, they don’t have to change friends, doctor or shops.”
Scottish Field, August ’10
Field Facts
Key areas to consider when purchasing a country estate, by William Kyle, director of Stacks Property Search:
DailyMail, 31.7.10
Developers need to shift new homes and buyers are looking for bargains
“Developers are pulling out all the stops to sell unsold stock, so there are plenty of financial incentives on offer,” explains Nick Evans of Stacks Property Search. He warns that new homes carry a hefty premium comparied with similar sized older homes in the same location – so drive a hard bargain.
Independent, 17.7.10
How not to lose out to your landlord
“If you’re cash rich, offering the full rent for a six month period in advance can be a good way of negotiating down the price. A large injection of funds can be an attractive proposition for a landlord,” says Catherine McAllister.
Sunday Telegraph, 20.6.10
Letting homes near festivals
“Home owners can rent out rooms or the whole house, or hire out fields for camper vans, tents, yurts or parking. Some have bought with the specific intention of capitalising on the festival,” says Amanda Ake of Stacks Property Search.
Financial Times, 19.6.10
Remote but buoyant – Lyme Regis
“Half of my clients are young families moving down from London because of the schools and quality of life,” says Gideon Sumption of Stacks Property Search. “Many families come down with £700,000 to £1.1m, hoping it will buy them a rectory and a bit of land, but generally it is not quite enough.”
Sunday Times, 30.5.10
The ideal home expedition: seaside and country retreats
James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search believes the next year is ‘the best time to buy in the country for half a generation, as the recession begins to bite even in popular locations’. His tip? Get in the car now and monitor the market, but ‘don’t be seduced by the first thing you see’.
The Times, 28.5.10
Energy certificates keeps the heat on sellers
Nick Evans of Stacks Property Search advises caution. “Most new houses are generally in category C. To get into band A, a property would need to generate all its own energy – they are few and far between.
Financial Times, 15.5.10
Good manors
Gideon Sumption of Stacks Property Search recently secured a 25 per cent reduction on an estate marketed initially for £22m in 2007 and says this is a typical result on any over-rpiced property that lingers on sale.
Daily Telegraph, 8.5.10
House prices in Exeter
“Families love it because it offers such a good life,” says Nick Evans of Stacks Property Search who buys for house hunters with budgets of £400,000 and above, more than 60 per cent of whom come from the South East or abroad.
Daily Telegraph, 1.5.10
Manifesto for the property market
James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search believes there should be a three year stamp duty holiday. In his manifesto there would also be a social housing scheme whereby owners had a right to sell back to the council, who would in turn rent the properties to those in financial difficulty.
Daily Mail, 30.4.10
Second home owners are renting out and cashing in
Emma Baber runs Stacks Property Search, a buying agency on the Isle of Wight and in the New Forest, two of the busiest holiday home areas. Many of her clients want second homes and she lists six golden rules to consider.
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