Property-whichproperties areindemand?

Types of houses and locations in demand by Helen Say

What happened during the pandemic COVID-19, political instability, and climate change have destabilised the UK, and these factors seem to have effected what we prioritise when we’re looking to move home. During the pandemic, buyers and renters swapped cities for the open space of the countryside, bought bigger homes or expanded spaces for hybrid working arrangements. Some of these trends are staying, others reversing. A return to city centres Property companies are seeing a slowing down of “race for space” prompted by the pandemic. A recent survey by Nationwide found that the number of people looking to escape urban life had declined substantially. City centres are opening up again and estate agents are reporting a rise in demand for flats and houses close to train stations. Estate agents report a 20% increase in demand for properties in cathedral cities, citing ”Bridgerton Effect” as the cause. Bungalows growing in value and popularity According to Rightmove, single-storey homes grew 10.5% in value last year. Bungalows are becoming popular for younger people and families due to: flexible space as they tend to have a bigger footprint, easier maintenance with no high windows to clean and easier access to guttering and roof, often more eco-friendly as they use less energy to heat, usually built on large plots with sizeable gardens where children can play while not being overlooked by neighbours. Serviced apartments in demand Serviced apartments prove preferable to a hotel room for those who moved away from their place of work and only return to the office on occasion. Serviced apartments are fully furnished, selfcontained apartments in a building with fully equipped kitchen and private keys. They can be a studio flat or have 1 or 2 bedrooms and come with utilities included in rent and housekeeping service. You only pay for nights you stay there. Helen Say copywriter/blogger - cblservices.co.uk

Property of the month

14 Downsview Avenue, Storrington RH20 4PS £550k

A 3 bedroom detached family home occupying this generous corner plot location situated within approximately 1 mile of the village centre. Internally, the property offers scope for potential extension and modernising and is presented in good order throughout. Accommodation comprises: sitting room/dining room, uPVC conservatory, kitchen, ground floor cloakroom and family bathroom. Outside, there is extensive parking to the front leading to an attached double length plus garage and attached single garage. The rear garden offers good privacy with large terrace and lawned area. Fowlers: 01903 745844

pulborough@cubittandwest.co.uk cubittandwest.co.uk 01798 875151

“I’ve been an estate agent for more than 20 years, the last 12 of which have been here at Cubitt & West.

My family and I live in West Chiltington. I love living and working in this beautiful area and feel privileged to have helped hundreds of people to move into and around the surrounding villages.

I’ve sold many properties two or three times over, always endeavouring to deliver exceptional customer service.

As part of the largest independent estate agency in the region, I have access to a growing number of active buyers and really effective marketing resources. I’ve always been very proactive in the way in which I help people to move house, focusing on what’s most important to buyers and sellers alike. Much of my working day is spent matching people to properties and it really is a delight to witness someone falling in love with what will be their new home. Negotiating the best possible price for my clients is a finely tuned skill and a very key part of my role. Unlike some agents, I work extended hours including every Saturday. My team and I are available to carry out viewings from 8am to 8pm most days and

I’m often to be found out on valuations on Sundays too! If you are looking to make a move this autumn, please do call me to arrange a free market appraisal of your home. I’d be delighted to help.”

- Martin Lundy-Lester

Martin clearly knows the market and, more importantly, knows how to sell a property. Cubitt & West replaced another estate agent who had provided a poor service, and managed to get an offer on my property within a week for £25k more than expected. Excellent service, very friendly and very responsive! Having recently sold our flat through Cubitt & West Pulborough, I can’t recommend Martin and his team highly enough. We had issues with our chain and other local estate agents and that really highlighted how Cubitt Pulborough really go that extra mile for their clients.

The right approach to moving

Henry Adams proud of Feefo customer service Platinum Award

Buying or selling a property is said to be among the most stressful things to cope with. C h a i n s , s ea r c h es t h a t uncover restrictive covenants, gazumping can all block even the most straightforward deal. Utilising the services of a professional and knowledgeable estate agent can go a long way towards alleviating some of the pitfalls. Gareth Overton (pictured above), Head of Sales at Henry Adams Estate Agency, has 20 years experience in residential sales and spoke to Sussex Local about their approach. Effective marketing he said, is a key priority in helping clients to find their ideal property or sell to their best advantage. He explained that the highly trained team will progress a sale or purchase from the start to exchange and completion which is often the trickiest part but vital for a successful outcome. Henry Adams was founded in 1990 by the late Henry Adams, in partnership with Simon Lush who is still a consultant with them today. As well as property sales and lettings, Gareth told us that the company provides a range of other services including domestic and commercial property valuations, development land agency, rural and farming consultancy and advice on the management of equestrian property. Gareth is immensely proud of his team - “they are simply great!” and he is confident that consistent dedication to customer service is the key to continued success in the future. “We continue to streamline our processes behind the scenes so that we can focus on what matters most to our customers. Everything we invest in is designed to help our clients or our teams, as you can see from all our reviews on Feefo where we’ve received the Platinum Award for consistent excellence in customer service.” Henry Adams Estate Agency & Chartered Surveyors. Offices across the county www.henryadams.co.uk