COUNTDOWN TO NATIONAL ESTATE AGENCY CONFERENCE BEGINS!

We’ll soon be travelling to London to attend a national estate agency Conference. Hosted by Relocation Agent Network, an estate agency organisation across England Scotland and Wales, the annual event is a great opportunity for Network members, like Coast & Country, to meet up.

Taking place on Friday 16 November at London’s Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, the Conference will include a trade exhibition and business expert speakers such as co-founder of Innocent and star of BBC 3 show, Be Your Own Boss, Richard Reed; Chief Economist for Lloyds Banking Group, Patrick Foley; and expert on the psychology of persuasion and influence, Philip Hesketh.

This year’s Conference will officially launch Relocation Agent Network. We used to be called Home Sale Network, but decided to change our name to reflect the scope of services that each member offers their customers. No longer just an organisation selling homes, network members, like us, are Relocation Agent specialists in each of our local areas.

The event always culminates in a glittering black tie evening Awards Dinner, where the guys and girls from Coast & Country don their finery to celebrate the year’s successes and may even throw a few John Travolta moves afterwards. This year’s ceremony is even more exciting because Rory Bremner, the BAFTA-winning comedian and impressionist, will be the evening’s host and after dinner speaker.

We always leave Relocation Agent Network’s Annual Conference with fresh and exciting business ideas that benefit our customers and we’re sure that the 2012 event will be no exception!

Happy Halloween!

Enter the Rightmove Halloween Competition at

 http://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/rightmove-news/halloween-hunt-win-iphone-5

 for a chance to win an iPhone 5 smartphone!

A Charming Country Cottage

Nestled in the heart of the village of East Ogwell  is this wonderful semi-detached cottage which is brimming with many character features. The Grade II listed property has been sympathetically refurbished over recent years to offer the discerning buyer a comfortably proportioned characterful home which embraces a rural style yet seamlessly incorporates the comforts of modern day living.

The rustic entrance of the centrally heated cottage welcomes you into a warm and inviting sitting room with large recessed stone fireplace enclosing a multi fuel stove.  The windows to the double aspect room have been crafted from individually made timber frame double glazed windows with window seats whilst the beamed ceiling and brace and latch doors nod to the age of the property. The kitchen / dining area is fitted in a farmhouse style with bespoke solid pine fronted units, Stanley™ range cooker, Belfast sink and solid stone floor and this theme is continued into the utility porch  located  just off the kitchen.  A stairway  with strip timber rail and spindles leads off the dining area up to the first floor accommodation where brace and  latch doors open to the master bedroom with beamed ceiling and modern en suite shower room fitted in a period style with quadrant shower. There is also a second bedroom which overlooks the rear garden and an additional shower room fitted with a matching suite.

 A hidden gem to the property is its generously sized cottage style enclosed rear garden. Presented in three main areas with a mixture of natural stone walls, timber fencing and natural boundaries the garden boasts a large two tier flagstone patio  which immediately adjoins the side and rear of the cottage to provide a sheltered and secluded alfresco dining area.  A stone wall stepped pathway leads up to a higher paved patio area  and charming lawned garden with mature shrub planting and a tiered vegetable garden with raised planters.

If your curiosity has been roused by this embracing village cottage and you would like to know more Michael Griffiths, partner at independent estate agents Coast & Country, urges you to contact him for further details and to arrange an appointment, not just to view but to ‘try it on for size’. Offered for sale at an asking price of £299,950.

sales@cacia.co.uk  |  01626 366966  | View this property on our website

Coast & Country are Winners Again!

COAST & COUNTRY ESTATE AGENTS

WINS A PRESTIGIOUS UK PROPERTY AWARD

A select number of the UK’s property professionals are about to be rewarded for their excellence. The UK Property Awards 2012 have now been judged and Coast & Country has been informed that it is amongst the winning companies.

Successful entrants have been invited to attend a high profile gala presentation dinner at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square on Friday, October 12th where the official announcements will be made. All UK winners and entrants are also invited to attend a Property Summit at the same venue on Monday, September 24th. Attended by presidents, CEOs, managing directors, chairmen and other decision makers, the daytime event presents an ideal opportunity to make connections and generate new business. It is also open to all industry related companies and suppliers in addition to award participants.  Michael Griffiths & Tom Wotton collecting the award for Best Real Estate Agency, Devon at the 2011 Property Awards Ceremony. The UK Property Awards are part of the long established International Property Awards and its award winners’ logo is recognised as a symbol of excellence throughout the global industry. Attaining one of these coveted awards is indisputable evidence that Coast and Country is capable of beating some exceedingly strong contenders within the highly competitive UK property arena. Later this year, the highest scoring winners from the UK Property Awards will compete against other winning companies from Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, the Americas and Arabia to find the ultimate World’s Best in each category. Stuart Shield, president of the International Property Awards, says, “We introduced a new Landscape Architecture category this year and this has been well contested as have several new Interior Design sub-categories. Guernsey in the Channel Islands has also taken part in the Best Estate Agency category for the first time this year. “The quality of entries has been extremely high once again and there’s no doubt that any company to win one of these awards has shown exceptional levels of professionalism and competence in their respective field.”

For further information on the winning company, please contact Coast & Country Tel: 01626 366966  |  Email Coast & Country  | Visit Coast & Country Website For further information on the International Property Awards and Property Summit please contact the events team:  Tel: +44 (0)1245 358877 | Email Property Awards  |  Visit The Property Awards Website

Summer sees buyers and sales increase

Summer sees buyers and sales increase

The weather may not have been perfect this summer, but at least Home Sale Network – a national estate agency organisation – has found some good news for buyers and sellers. According to a recent survey, property sales and buyer enquiries have increased over the summer months, when compared to the same time last year.

The majority of Network respondents (a staggering 87%) saw up to a 20% increase in property sales and buyer enquiries during this year’s summer months compared to summer 2011. So if you’re looking to enter the market, now may be the right time to do so as activity appears to be increasing.

However, the market continues to present challenges, with mortgages presenting the two biggest influences according to Home Sale Network. Nearly half (47%) of respondents indicated that a lack of mortgage availability was the biggest challenge in preventing more buyers from entering the market. An additional 40% stated that it was the lack of a mortgage deposit that’s preventing more people from entering the market.

How We Can Help

We have been handpicked by Home Sale Network to represent them in the Teignbridge area, because – in their opinion – we are your local property market expert. So if you’re thinking of buying or having trouble entering the market, contact us today. If you’re looking to sell, as a Home Sale Network agent, we work with our fellow members across the UK to help relocating families move into the Teignbridge area, which offers our sellers an additional channel of prospective buyer.

Give us a ring on 01626 366966 to find out more about how your local Home Sale Network member can help you.

Home Sale Network is a national network of  handpicked, independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales.

Each member is handpicked after thorough checks, which in Home Sale Network’s opinion indentifies them as the Local Expert in their area for buying or selling a property.

Old(er) Buyers Overtake First Timers

A recent survey taken by Home Sale Network amongst its member estate agents has found a shift in the type of buyer entering the market today, compared to 10 years ago.

In 2002, the majority (48%) of survey respondents said that the homebuyer population was mostly made up of young buyers entering the market for the very first time, but 10 years on, this figure has dropped to just 1% of respondents indicating so.

As first time buyers grow scarce, an older group of buyers appears to have taken their place. A massive 64% of respondents now identify married couples under 50 as the main buyer type and a further quarter of respondents say married couples over 50 are.

So how does this affect sellers? We’re still experiencing a healthy market, but as the buyer demographic evolves, so too should the approach of estate agents and the sellers they help. Generally, although the older buyer is prepared to pay for a higher quality property, 85% of survey respondents state that a realistic asking price remains key as the older buyer continues to be price-conscious. If you try to sell your house for more than the market value, you may end up selling it for less than you would have if you priced it correctly from the start of the process.

For sellers out there, as a member of Home Sale Network, the national network of independent estate agents, we work with our fellow members from across the UK to help relocating families move into the South West area - offering you an entirely new channel of prospective buyer. If you’re thinking of buying (whatever your age!), we have been handpicked by Home Sale Network, who consider us to be Newton Abbot’s Local Expert for buyer property.

So whether buying or selling, contact us today!

Summer 2012

Home Sale Network can help you search for a new home and sell your existing property. Each member has been hand picked, by Cartus the premier provider of global relocation, to help you move. So whether you are looking to trade up, downsize or relocate to a new area, contact your local Network member!

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Coast and Country is a member of Home Sale Network, a national network of specially selected, independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales. Focusing on Home Sale Network’s ‘selected status’, our Summer 2012 promotion demonstrates that each Network member has been hand picked after thorough checks identify them as the best independent estate agent to represent Home Sale Network in their area.

As Newton Abbot’s selected Local Expert, we can help to sell your property and find the right home for you. Home Sale Network’s website - www.home-sale.co.uk – offers national coverage for your home and can potentially be seen by buyers all over the country and overseas. Summer is a great time to put your property on the market, so if you’re thinking of moving in the next few months, contact us today for help and advice on selling your existing property and finding your ideal home. In the meantime, make sure you’re prepared for that summer sale…

Handy Hints for Summer Selling

• Make the most of your summer garden – trim your lawn and use bright flowers and shrubs to create a welcome entrance (front garden) or relaxing getaway (back garden).

• Let that summer sun light up your home – pull all your curtains back when prospective buyers are visiting the property to create a light, airy space.

• No one likes a musty room, so in rooms that are rarely used, ensure you open windows to let the fresh air in.

• Windows are typically a room’s focal point and many prospective buyers will be looking out of them, so make sure they’re clean and welcoming.

Spring into action with us, your local Home Sale Network member

Looking out the window you wouldn’t think it, but Spring time is here and according to a recent Home Sale Network survey NOW is the time to enter the property market – as Coast and Country and the majority of our fellow Network members say that levels of activity increase during the Spring months when compared to other times of the year.[1]

The promise of warmer weather and lighter evenings will make house hunting far more appealing. Indeed, nearly half of Network members surveyed said that they had seen an increase in the number of new buyer enquiries recently compared to the first quarter of the year.[2] So why not put your house on the market now to make sure you don’t miss out on those potential buyers. As a member of Home Sale Network, we’ve been picked, in Home Sale Network’s opinion, as the Local Expert in Newton Abbot and can help you with buying or selling.

 
Home Sale Network is a national network of  handpicked, independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales.

Each member is hand picked after thorough checks, which in Home Sale Network’s opinion indentifies them as the Local Expert in their area for buying or selling a property.

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[1] 48% of Home Sale Network survey respondents indicated that the spring months saw increased activity when compared to other times of the year.

[2] 48% of Home Sale Network survey respondents reported that they had seen an increase in the number of new buyer enquiries in April compared to the first quarter of 2012.

Buyer Enquiries & Instructions On the Up

It may be chilly outside, but in the 2012 property market, things seem to be hotting up, with a recent Home Sale Network survey carried out amongst its members indicating an increase in both buyer enquiries and sales instructions.

A staggering 90% of respondents have seen an increase in the number of buyer enquiries and instructions in January 2012 compared to December 2011. In fact, the majority of members surveyed (38%) said that they have seen over 50% more instructions; suggesting, that as we progress into 2012, lots more people are deciding to enter the sales market.

Survey results also indicated that over half (51%) of respondents reported the trade up purchaser as the most common buyer type at the moment. This would appear to indicate that despite the challenges in the mortgage market, stable property prices are attracting those who have the ability to purchase. Also cited by a fifth of member respondents as the most common buyer type was the buy to let purchaser - great news for prospective tenants who are currently outnumbering landlords in the UK rental market.

So whether you’re buying, selling or renting, get in touch with us. As members of Home Sale Network, we’re part of a national network of handpicked, independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales and are your Local Expert for buying, selling and renting property in Newton Abbot.

Home Sale Network Predicts a Happy New Year for Sellers (And Urges First Time Buyers to Get on the Ladder Now!)

Despite the current economic climate, there’s at least some good news for buyers and sellers this Christmas, with a recent survey carried out by Home Sale Network amongst its members indicating that the New Year is a good time to sell. Bah Humbug?? Not according to the vast majority[1] of Home Sale Network estate agents, who took part in the survey.

Due to the continuing low interest rates, 95% of Network estate agents state that early 2012 is a good time to sell your property. Indeed, ALL survey respondents believe that interest rates will continue to remain low during the first quarter of next year, so if you’re thinking of selling, contact Coast & Country on 01626 366966, www.sales@cacia.co.uk.

And for all those first time buyers out there... make sure you don’t miss out on the Stamp Duty holiday that is due to end on 24 March 2012. Giving first time buyers a reprieve from the 1% levy on properties purchased for £250,000 or less, the holiday is a good way to save a few pounds when buying your first home.

So whether you’re buying, selling, relocating to another part of the UK, or just thinking about entering the market, contact us today. As members of Home Sale Network, we’re part of a national network of  handpicked, independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales and are your Local Expert for buying and selling property in Newton Abbot.

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[1] 95% of survey respondents indicated that early 2012 is a good time to sell property.

² Subject to meeting the HMRC’s qualifying criteria