Spring time: Boom time: Action time.
Traditionally, Spring is the time when sellers (not dictated to by life changes: jobs, re-locations for schools etc.) tend to launch their properties to market.
And buyers come out to play.
It’s also usually when the “cream of the crop” or “best in class” properties choose to go to market with the premium agents – when their walled gardens are starting to bloom, the estate oaks are at their greenest & the birds sing sweetest over the orangery.
Most importantly of all (especially after this Winter…), the rain (should) stop, the temperature will rise & the plentiful possibilities of a rich life away from hibernating by the fire seem real.
The path to Summer is set…
With boots on the ground here in Norfolk – Flint Homes know for a fact that there is a beefy back log of brilliant buys about to bounce into the market in the coming weeks & months.
Brace yourselves…
Without exception, estate agents, developers & other sources of great homes for our clients are calling us to talk about what’s on the white boards & what the key & VIP property launches are this Spring.
And there’s genuine optimism in the air – as the price correction of the past 12 months has sunk in, sellers are being more realistic (in the main) over pricing & the reality gap between sellers expectations & buyers’ offers closes. All of this means more deals should be getting done, quicker – keeping the property machine rolling forward smoothly.
Here at Flint Homes HQ, we have got wind of some absolute stunners – in all our core markets: from the top end in the glorious £2-5M market, filtering down to the vibrant 500K-£1M category.
We’re talking country estates, classic Norfolk barns, incredible new build coastal homes, stunning farm houses, chic town houses, classic brick & flint Norfolk cottages, cute boltholes & more.
It’s mouth watering – with so many doors to walk through.
But before you go into battle… a quick update on the current house selling & legal completion stats too.
The average offer time right now, from going on the market to going under offer/SSTC – for well-priced homes, with quality agents – is approximately 29 to 38 days, sometimes even faster.
This means buyers need to act fast, especially in hot zone areas & as Spring competition heats up.
Want a top tip…?
Before you start, get your ducks in a row.
Have a really good mortgage broker (we can help here) & your mortgage DIP (Decision in Principle or AIP, Agreement in Principle) to hand, or proof of funds if you are mortgage free (a letter from IFA/bank statement).
Have a really good solicitor (we can also help here), signed-up, primed, briefed & deposit funds on account to peak their interest & show you mean business.
Set out your non-negotiables & wish lists & a clear brief & stick to it, but be prepared to be surprised what you actually fall for.
Do your sums, so you know exactly what you can (& can’t) afford, factoring in stamp duty of using the Gov’s stamp duty calculator.
Take as much advice from people in the know, with open ears.
As for completion timelines, it’s very much dependent on the quality of your legal team, the seller’s estate agency after sales team, the length of your chain (if any) & how much you stay focused & keep the pressure on etc.
This is not a time to be passive.
But, as a rough guide, put on your patience pants: as from offer to legal completion, you should budget for 18 to 22 weeks (roughly 5 months), shockingly.
IKR.
Please God, let reform happen here… it’s a C18th paper-driven system in a C21st digital world.
Finally, remember the (paraphrased) phases: find your house, get an offer accepted, instruct your lawyer, turn your DIP into a mortgage offer with your broker, then hit the paperwork frenzy hard & fast, before the black hole era; waiting for searches & surveys swallow you up.
Keep the faith.
Then be ready for the increasingly edgy approach to exchange of contracts, before the final push to completion a week or two later... if you’re lucky.
Sadly, so many chains are collapsing & sales falling through, sometimes down to bad luck, but more often than not, down to flaky human behaviour, or even mis-management…
You have been warned!
Then there’s the removals to sort out, the local tradesmen you will need, all that boxing up… the list goes on & on. My goodness it’s a lot to think about, before you can go for that walk on Brancaster beach, with that dog you dreamt of getting. Woof.
Of course, you can make it a whole LOAD easier, simple, faster & more successful – by hiring Flint Homes; Norfolk’s freshest buying agency, aka “Norfolk’s Kirstie & Phil.”
Think Location, Location, Location, without the TV crew.
We will shield you, saving you so much time, money & stress that you will not know what to do with yourself & wonder what all the fuss was about.
We have seen a few (cash, no chain) sales over the line in 6-8 weeks in recent weeks, no worries. It’s doable, with the help of a collaborative, quality estate agent, great lawyer, top broker & good old fashioned hard work.
And we have even managed to get people into their dream house, after viewing No.1. It can happen.
Trust in the process.
Stop bashing Rightmove, unsuccessfully (save it for a fun app to look at stuff you can’t afford, like sensible folk do…).
Don’t slip to the bottom of the list at your favoured estate agency & miss your dream home.
Delegate.
Then sit back & let Flint Homes take the strain, do all the hard work, steer you through the complexities & save you money in the process – not to mention finding you things others can’t & getting early access to the very best Spring launch properties.
And a lot more besides…
It all starts with a DM.
