There is no doubt that 2020 has been a challenging year. As a nation and an industry, we have had some fantastic highs and monumental lows and we think it’s fair to assume that most people will be glad to see the back of this tumultuous year.
What started off as a positive year turned into one of the most difficult in recent times; the property market took some hefty hits and saw some unprecedented obstacles put in its way but from a professional point of view it has ended positively and we are delighted to announce that we won an award at the International Property Awards for our website!
So, if you are thinking of making your move in the new year, we are always adding to our amazing catalogue of properties for sale in Virginia Water and the surrounding areas so, visit our award-winning website or call us on 01344 843000 and email us.
The Market in 2020
The year started on a high with buyer demand getting a boost after the general election and first-time buyer numbers at record highs. In March the world was hit with the ferocity of the Coronavirus Covid-19 and the UK went into lock down to try and protect the NHS. Like other businesses, we were forced to close our doors until the Government deemed it safe to reopen.
As the lock down eased the property market was the first to be allowed to reopen for business and we were delighted to be able to get back to completing on transactions which had been paused. The prime property market has been leading the recover and, boosted by new Government schemes aimed at encouraging buyers and vendors to come to market with a new Stamp Duty holiday has meant that buyers can save up to £15,000 on their property transaction.
We made sure that all of our transactions and dealings with clients were made in a Covid compliant manner and put in safety measure at our head office in the form of hand sanitiser and Perspex screens to keep our clients and staff safe and prevent the spread of the virus.
One of the most pertinent noticeable trends we experienced this year was the deluge of people selling their properties in the City in favour of finding more space in the commuter belt. The lock down was a difficult time for those confined to small City apartments; while these high value properties are great for working in London, the lock down made these home owners long for more habitable space and access to outdoor areas and green space.
A helping hand
Despite the lock down we still made sure that our clients knew how they could make the most out of the dire situation. Our articles on how to prepare your home for sale and how to actually complete the move during a lock down enabled people to feel safer about returning to their normal lives.
We looked at how you could save money by moving and taking advantage of the new Government schemes; as well as looking at the little reported issue of the trade up gap and how moving from your first home to your second can be more challenging than getting on the ladder in the first place. impossible.
We also took a look at how the summer lock down gave people the opportunity to get busy in their homes. The UK DIY industry was almost as busy as the wine supply industry through the spring and summer of this year. We heard from people who had spent more time in their gardens than ever before and there was a huge boom in making homes more eco-friendly as utility bills increased with the increased usage.
While it has been a very challenging year for our business, we are delighted to be playing such a key role in the continuing recovery of the economy and we hope that the New Year will bring further opportunities to get back to ‘normal’, whatever that will be.
Get in Touch
If you are thinking of moving to the area, make sure you take a look at our amazing catalogue of properties for sale in Virginia Water and the surrounding areas.
If you’d like to speak to someone about properties to let in Virginia Water, a member of our expert team would be happy to help. You can call us on 01344 843000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
