Coopers launches new interactive chat service
evidence that pre-election jitters were putting home buyers off, it is seemingly unable to prevent house sales, as more homes were sold in the latest financial year than in any year since the last visit to the ballot box.
According to recent new government figures, just over 1.2m homes were sold in the last financial year, more than in any year since the coalition came to power and the highest number since 2007–08, when 1.47m houses changed hands.
HMRC figures show there were 100,790 sales in March, down slightly from 100,940 in Februar y but above the levels of the previous four months and only 2.5% lower than sales in the same month last year.
As a yardstick to these statistics, HM Revenue & Customs repor ted that the number of monthly proper ty sales peaked at almost 150,000 in the boom years before the credit crunch and fell as low as 51,740 in 2009.
Brian Murphy, head of lending at the Mor tgage Advice Bureau, said, “After a quiet winter, it is encouraging to see that the growth obser ved by HMRC in Februar y has been sustained.” However, he stressed that ‘maintaining affordability and addressing the imbalance between supply and demand remains a priority’.
Interestingly, Rightmove announced that March had been its busiest month, with visitors to its web site up 20% on the year to 115 million. It also revealed the highest average national asking price, of £286,133, in April, despite recent signs pointing to a slowdown as would-be buyers wait for the outcome of the election.
Asking prices were 1.6% higher than in March and 4.7% more than in the same period a year earlier. The increase was driven by demand outpacing an acute lack of homes for sale, and the number of new sellers has fallen by 4% this year compared with the same period in 2014.
In the south of the countr y, the price of proper ty coming to market was up by an average of nearly £85,000, or 27.5% since the last election. The high demand for homes in London and lack of supply fuelled this increase, with a £195,420 price rise, or 49% improvement, in the capital over the past five years.
Paul Gillespie; 020 8426 1972; pgillespie@gibbs-gillespie. co.uk; www.facebook.com/ gibbsgillespie;Twitter: @ gibbsgillespie
CHAT SERVICE:
Coopers new 24/7 chat feature means that clients can now ask questions or book viewings at any time of day.
THE majority of people will spend lots of time browsing properties online before even considering making direct contact with an estate agent. Peak times are typically evenings and weekends when estate agents’ offices are closed.
Coopers have recently launched their new live chat feature which is available 24/7 providing a powerful round the clock marketing tool. Potential sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants are able to ask us a question or book a viewing and receive an immediate answer no matter what time of the day it is.
“Research shows that live chat is the preferred method of communication by 20% of website visitors, many of whom would never
pick up the phone and call.
“This statistic proved that we were missing out on a key tool when marketing our properties, therefore we decided to introduce live chat to our website to help generate more hot leads than ever before.”
As well as answering questions immediately, Coopers’ live chat will assist in the booking of valuations and viewings capture contact details and property requirements of buyers and tenants and can also provide links to useful sites giving information on the local area such as schools, shopping centres and other facilities.
Head on over to Coopers website at www.coopersresidential.co.uk.
If you are thinking of selling or letting a property, we would be delighted to help. Contact us on 01895 625625.
FOR SALE:
This end terrace two bedroom house in Brixham Crescent, Ruislip, is within walking distance of Ruislip Manor and Rusilip high streets and ready to move into – £460,000. Call Coopers on 01895 677400.