Snow in the UK? – Quelle Surprise…

.. and I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised by reports from many of the country agents.  There are fewer properties coming to the market this year than was expected.

The market for UK country property is still geared to a Spring-opening.  Frankly, why any vendor would want to wait until the Spring to tell everybody that their house is for sale is an art understood by estate agents, but has never made any sense to me.  The sophisticated buyer is able to see through winter garden and grey skies to the beauty of a Spring garden – and would like to be there enjoying it if they can.

But there is some rhyme and reason – people take stock at the end of the year, meet their families over Christmas, have a sit-down and a think.  And often will make the decision – 2009 is the year we will move.

But many are not.  And this is both a good and a bad thing.

The fear of many was a tsunami of property onto the market, and freefalling prices.  And they have been in freefall, but prices should stabilise.

But there may be less choice.

Our advice to anybody looking to move this year is:

a) talk to your estate agent – it may be easier to sell your property this year than you thought

b) get into the market – things have changed a lot since you last bought a house

James Greenwood