Member Article

East Kent’s property market sees increased buyer and seller demand

Buyer and seller demand across East Kent was reinvigorated this March, following the extension of the Stamp Duty Holiday which has seen residents eager to join the property market.

Mark Brooks, CEO at Miles & Barr, said: “In the first week of March 2021, we saw a one in five increase in the number of buyer applicants and a one in five increase in the number of viewings. We’ve also had a three percent increase in valuations.

“When we look at our overall results for March, the East Kent property market saw positive growth with sales agreed growing by 37.6% and viewings up 49%, when compared to February 2021.”

Buyers are finding that their homes no longer meet their needs – working from home means less commuting, but an increased demand for office space. Miles & Barr has offered expert insight into the process of buying a house to encourage buyers to get a head start on their move.

Mark noted: “On average, it takes around 20 weeks from the start of the property search through to completion – assuming everything goes smoothly. Understanding what happens when and being prepared for it could help the sale progress faster.

“98% of house hunters will use the web to find their dream home. We recently launched i-Packs on our website, which are online information packs for each property listing. These provide everything from land registry details to warranties. Getting to grips with a property you like in the initial stages is very important.”

When it comes to viewing a property, virtual 3D walkthroughs are highly encouraged where physical tours can’t be arranged. For relocators, working with an estate agent from the National Relocation Network means you can start by touring homes virtually before visiting physically.

Miles & Barr is part of this network and specialises in helping people move to Kent. The leading estate agents held more than 96,000 digital viewings between January and March 2021.

After viewing a property and deciding to make an offer, Miles & Barr suggest ensuring that all documents are in order and that a mortgage in principle has been arranged. With the launch of 95% mortgage schemes on April 19th, it is now easier than ever to secure your dream home.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jess Hodgson .