Buying and Selling with Stags in a Covid market- Let’s get moving
Are you worried about viewing property? But need to find a new home? We understand that at this uncertain time, you may have many unanswered questions. Below are the answers to 5 crucial questions that you may have about buying and selling in these unprecedented times.
1.What steps will Stags take to protect their clients and staff?
Following the government’s relaxation of lockdown for the property market, we have all had to adapt and adhere to updated guidelines, which ensure we can keep the property market moving whilst continuing in the fight against the virus. Our primary concern is keeping our staff, clients and local community safe, whilst still keeping the market moving.
Please be rest assured that we have strict policies in place for owner/occupiers, visitors and staff to maintain the safety of everyone involved whilst appointments, viewings and valuations take place.
You can find our Stags’ guidelines for property visits here:
2. Is now the right time to put my property on the market?
As restrictions within the property market are relaxed and we ease out of the lockdown, the new ‘normal’ in the property sector is emerging and you may be wondering whether there are willing and able buyers in the market looking to move home.
Engaging with buyers from the West Country and other parts of the UK, it feels as if many people have realised that their lives have been busy but lockdown has given them the space to think and reflect about what is important, what they want their lives to be like in the future and where they want to live in the future.
Part of this reflection has incorporated a review of their current living environment. These potential buyers are now considering moving, particularly those who currently live in the home counties and London, and they are registering with Stags to head West to this glorious part of the country.
The opportunity to move to the West Country has been further enhanced by the shift in working patterns to remote working, meaning people might no longer need to live close to their usual office location, and are therefore free to look wider afield for their perfect home. The Stags teams are increasingly fielding such enquiries from new buyers far and wide.
3.What selling strategy will you use to sell my home?
Although we have had to adapt many of our practices, our strategy remains as strong as ever and we still operate with the same level of commitment and utilise our principle aims to ensure that you can trust Stags to sell your property. We continue to adhere to our core principles of:
Attracting appropriate buyers- Our extensive marketing, both regionally and nationally, attracts buyers from far and wide.
Encouraging quality viewings (whilst maintaining social distancing)- Our experienced Stags sales teams and proactive staff will ensure your property receives lots of good-quality viewings, conducted safely.
Obtaining positive offers-The best time to generate an offer is immediately after a viewing. Many buyers need to be assisted through this process and Stags will make certain no opportunity is missed.
Negotiating the price- Our negotiators have many years of experience in the industry. Their expertise will ensure you receive the very best price for your property.
Achieving a successful sale- Our detailed knowledge of the legal process of property transactions and proactive approach will guarantee that your sale has the very best chance of reaching a successful completion.
4. How and where will you market my property?
We understand that the way in which people search for property within the Covid market has adapted. And although still relevant, traditional methods of marketing properties have been temporarily put on the back burner in order to adapt to this change.
We already utilised a range of online marketing tools prior to Covid-19 however, these have become more important than ever. We understand that the majority of our audience are online and therefore have adapted or strategy to focus in this area, using a range of methods and tools to ensure that your property is viewed by as many potential buyers as possible.
Our strategy includes but is not limited to: Property websites- As one of the country’s largest regional estate agencies, Stags will promote your property extensively on Rightmove and OnTheMarket. Your home will be seen regionally, nationally and internationally by prospective buyers.
Stags.co.uk- Our website, stags.co.uk, attracts an average of 200,000 visits each month. Your property will be showcased to thousands of buyers who search daily on stags.co.uk.
Social media- Stags has a dedicated marketing team in its head office. We attract prospective buyers to our properties via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. With everything from photo galleries to videos, competitions and pay-per-click advertising, we aim for Stags properties to come up first in property searches.
Photography- In today’s visual world, a picture is worth a thousand words, especially online. We work with expert professional photographers to make sure that your home looks its best and captures the attention of buyers browsing online.
Strong West Country coverage- We have an interlinked network of 21 offices across the South West, all of which can access our entire database of more than 17,000 registered buyers. It is surprising how many buyers register at one of our Stags offices and end up buying through another, which means no potential purchaser is missed.
London and Home Counties presence -Stags has a strong presence in London and the Home Counties through our membership of The London Office, which is based in St James’s Place, Mayfair.
5. Are Stags able to conduct viewings on my behalf?
We encourage having an Estate Agent to accompany a viewing, our negotiators have a plethora of experience and knowledge that is invaluable when it comes to achieving a successful viewing. Under government guidelines, Stags operates under a strict policy and we require owners/occupiers to follow these guidelines to help us ensure each viewing is conducted safely. To view our policy, click here:
Although we can now carry out viewings and valuations we understand some people may still be shielding or cautious about having people in their homes, therefore we continue to offer virtual valuations and viewings. You can find more information by clicking on the below links.
If you are considering a move now, or in the near future, please get in touch. We are here to help and advise you through the process from start to finish.
