“If you’re searching for your perfect home, but still haven’t found it, don’t be disheartened. If you’ve already refined your brief, that’s much of the hard work already done. Now it’s a matter of not allowing yourself to be deflected, or discouraged. If you’re dealing with constricted supply, don’t be tempted to change your parameters, but speak to the agents direct; relying on the portals may mean you miss out. During winter, and uncertain times, some vendors are inclined to ‘rest’ their properties. That may be more so than usual this year, but the agents will know about them, and have a direct line to the vendor.

“Properties that are being ‘rested’ may come back in March, so you need to find out whether a property has gone from the market for ever or just temporarily. If it’s the latter, be ahead of the game when it comes back on.

“March is likely to be watershed in the property game. It’s the end of the influenza season, the end of the Stamp Duty holiday (although we’re hoping this may be extended), and historically marks the beginning of the busy property season. The property industry has proved itself to be robust, low contact and low risk, and unlike Lockdown 1, viewings and removals are permitted to continue, with appropriate safeguards in place with which the industry is now well accustomed to.