We were delighted to read in the Telegraph recently that Stamford has been named as having one of the best high streets in the country, taking fourth place.
One of the key draws for Stamford is that it is a great place to shop. The high street is pedestrianised (no cars allowed!) and there is an array of fabulous independents in many of the town’s 600-odd listed buildings which range from medieval to Georgian. From speciality food stores and cafes to antique shops, furniture shops and clothing boutiques, many got a mention in the national newspaper which is fantastic exposure for them. Burghley House was also featured due to its appearance in the latest series of The Crown, but its Orangery serves up some splendid afternoon teas.
What is the property market doing in Stamford?
Stamford is still very much on the map for property hunters. Recent findings by house selling weather forecast, PropCast, show that this historic town is still in a hot sellers’ market with a market heat temperature of 45°. This means it is much easier to sell a property, and quickly. Meanwhile, Zoopla confirms that the average sold price for a property in Stamford in the last twelve months is now £384,998, whilst Rightmove’s latest data shows that overall, sold prices in Stamford over the last year were similar to the previous. This indicates that despite concerns and worries of prices tumbling due to the cost of living crisis, the good quality houses are still holding their value.
All in all, it’s great news for sellers or those thinking about selling up soon. However, it is important to ensure your chosen estate agent implements the best marketing strategy for your home. Here are a few things to think about to ensure a quicker sale…
8 tips for a fast sale
- Don’t be fooled by low fees
It can be very tempting to choose your estate agent based on who is charging the lowest fee, but you really do ‘get what you pay for’ in the property industry. Any agent can sell a house, but a skilled one will be able to attractive plenty of interest quickly, negotiate and sell for a high price due to a combination of in-depth local market knowledge and a good marketing strategy. For example, in 2022, we sold a house which achieved the highest price on the open market that year.
2. Price your home correctly from the offset
Stamford is in a hot sellers’ market still, however, buyers are more cautious than they were just a few months ago, so you need to make sure you do not overprice your home. If you do, you seriously risk going stale on the portals and either not selling at all, or selling at a lower price than if the price was right from the start. Trust what your estate agent advises, and get at least three different valuations to give you an idea of what your home is worth. There is a very short window from when you launch to when things can go stale. Here are 6 reasons why you shouldn’t overprice your home.
3. You need professional photography
Excellent imagery of interiors, gardens and the exterior is a must. Bad images can easily put buyers off if they’re not up to scratch, and you only get one chance to make that all important first impression. This is even more important in winter when gardens are looking bare and the skies dark. A high level of quality cannot be achieved with a smartphone, and so every single one of our sellers receives beautiful imagery from our professional photographer.
A 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home presented in beautiful order on the south side of Stamford
4. Embrace modern technology and maximise marketing exposure
How people find and view homes has changed, so you need to make sure your house is being marketed beyond a shop window, website or portal. Other platforms such as social media and the national press are excellent ways to attract the attention of property buyers, with tools such as PR, blogs, social media and video tours all playing their part in creating attractive content around properties, as well as ensuring widespread exposure. These are all channels we utilise.
As a national and international brand with a wide network of over 300 locations worldwide, our properties are also showcased amongst a worldwide audience, whilst we have recently signed up to ListGlobally, which is a platform that feeds Fine & Country property listings directly onto 106 international portals across 54 countries, reaching up to 295 million buyers.
5. Beautiful brochures
Sophisticated presentation is paramount when selling a home, and your brochure is no exception. You need beautifully written brochures with fabulous imagery. We also include vendor interviews in ours so that buyers can read about the lifestyle of a home as well as what it’s like to live in the local area. See an example of what our brochures look like here.
6. Prepare your home for sale
A dirty, messy property inside and out whether in photographs or on viewings is not going to entice buyers to make a good offer, if one at all. Things to consider include decluttering, having a deep clean, tidying away toys and tools, ensuring plenty of light, mowing the lawn, hoovering and fixing minor repairs. Fine & Country have an interior design and staging expert, who has been interviewed about decluttering by Hello Magazine. Here are some of our tips for selling in winter.
7. Highlight key features
The pandemic has brought about a change in what is at the top of a buyers’ house hunting check list. Outside space, home offices, commute connections, spacious rooms, energy efficiency and good broadband speeds are all being prioritised now, so make sure these are being highlighted in your property’s description.
8. Be flexible
Buyers love a flexible seller. Consider the position of your buyer because if they are chain free or are purchasing in cash for example, they should allow for a quicker less complicated sale. Be flexible on completion dates, and consider a lower offer if you have found the best buyer. A purchaser is more likely to make an offer if they feel the seller is going to be easy to deal with. You’d be surprised at how many purchasers pull out of a sale because they feel a seller is being difficult.
Find Out More
Moving home is one of the most important decisions you will make; your home is both a financial and emotional investment. We understand that it’s the little things – without a price tag – that make a house a home, and this makes us a valuable partner, whether you’re buying or selling. Our marketing is award winning having won nine awards in 2021, so do contact our Rutland, Stamford & South Lincolnshire office on 01780 750 200 or the Oundle and North Northamptonshire office on 01832 808 008 for more information.
Rutland and Stamford Luxury Property Blog 