Christies Estate Agents joins new property website OnTheMarket.com

Christies are proud to announce we are featuring all of our properties at OnTheMarket.com, a new property website which launches on Monday, January 26th 2015 as a direct competitor to Rightmove and Zoopla.

OnTheMarket.com is a mutual organisation focused on providing an outstanding service for property searchers, estate and letting agents, vendors and landlords. The venture already has the support of more than 4,600 estate and lettings agency branches nationwide, including those of leading national, regional and local firms. OnTheMarket.com is expecting many more to join in the coming weeks after they have seen the website.

Estate and letting agents who have joined have moved hundreds of thousands of properties to OnTheMarket.com from other websites to create a unique set of listings which cannot be found elsewhere. In addition, many are choosing to launch their properties exclusively there first, at least 48 hours in advance of the other portals.

Neither Rightmove nor Zoopla can now claim their property listings cover the entire market because many estate and letting agents have left them to join OnTheMarket.com as the best platform to showcase their properties in the clearest and simplest way.

The property search at OnTheMarket.com is slick, simple, fast and state-of-the-art, compatible with the latest technologies. The website adapts seamlessly to fit the screen of any device being used to view it. There is no clutter from irritating and distracting third party adverts, nor any spam email.

Every property at OnTheMarket.com is marketed by a locally-based estate or letting agent because OnTheMarket.com knows the majority of the public recognises the benefits of having a local professional in place who can manage the sales or lettings process on their behalf. Also, there is no substitute for their detailed knowledge of a property, the local area, the current market conditions and the vendor’s/landlord's personal circumstances. OnTheMarket.com does not feature properties marketed by online-only agents.

We believe OnTheMarket.com will rapidly grow to become a major player in the portal market because it will provide a clean, crisp and simple search function and a highly effective platform for our vendor and landlord clients and be a great place to launch new properties onto the market.”

Ian Springett, Chief Executive of OnTheMarket.com, said: “We are delighted Christies has committed to OnTheMarket.com and we look forward to matching motivated buyers and tenants with all the properties our member agents are marketing for their clients in and around Cheam, Sutton, Carshalton Beeches, Banstead, Epsom, Ewell, Stoneleigh, Worcester Park and all the other area covered by Christies” Please visit www.OnTheMarket.com now to register.

Please contact us on 020 8643 7777 or email at sales@christiesworld.com

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Christies Estate Agents join leading UK auctioneers Network Auctions

Long established estate agents, Christies based in Cheam, have joined forces with leading UK auctioneers Network Auctions to offer regular auction sales under the branding Christies Network Auctions.

Founded in 1938, Christies provide a comprehensive range of estate agency services and by joining forces with Network Auctions are now able to offer clients a market leading auctioneering service with the benefits of local expertise and national coverage.

Christies Network Auctions have six auction sales planned in 2015 from their central London auction room which, in conjunction with local marketing, provides sellers with access to the largest market possible.

Network Auctions enjoyed a superb year at the rostrum in 2014 with sales of 281 lots raising £24.75m going under auctioneer Guy Charrison’s gavel at their six London auctions.

In addition, there were a further 47 lots, raising £4.61m were sold at their four auctions held in Birmingham in conjunction with Pennycuick Collins during the year.

Jeremy Richardson, Director of Christies said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Network Auctions and look forward to providing a comprehensive auction service to clients across Surrey and South London.

With a national network of like-minded partner agents and a London auction room, clients can be assured of maximum exposure and the best opportunities for a sale on any lot they enter into our auctions. In addition Christies membership of the Mayfair Office provides clients with access to a UK network of 300 plus offices and a global network outside the UK of another 200 associates.

The experience and local knowledge of Christies combined with the wide coverage and auctioneering expertise of Network Auctions is undoubtedly a winning combination.”

Network Auctions auctioneers Guy Charrison and Richard Worrall are highly respected practitioners and the huge databases of investors and other buyers that Network Auctions have at their disposal greatly increases the chances of a successful sale.

Toby Limbrick, Managing Director of Network Auctions added: “Christies are a fantastic addition to our network and their expertise and knowledge of both the Surrey and South London marketplace and global reach through the Mayfair Office is a great asset to our ever growing rank of partner agents.

We very much look forward to including more lots from the Surrey and South London area in our forthcoming auctions.”

The next auction is on 3rd March at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane and lots are being taken for inclusion now.

If you are thinking of disposing of a property by auction, Jeremy Richardson can be contacted on 020 8643 7777 or by email at sales@christiesworld.com

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Market Review - January Update - Christies House Price Index - Local property prices increased at least 16% last year

The latest Christies House Price Index, uses the most up to date reliable data from the Land Registry, and also confirms that property in the local area continues to represent an outstanding investment.

Local property prices increased by at least 16% in 2014. Medium and long term gains are even more exceptional. Based on past performance potential buyers will be very encouraged to see that prices have risen by 38% over the previous five years, by slightly more over the previous ten years and by an astonishing 160% over the previous 15 years.

What is perhaps even more impressive is that prices are now also 16% higher than at the previous peak of the market in early 2008.

The comparison is based on the average price of all local properties sold including flats, maisonettes, all types of houses and bungalows. Figures for December onwards are not yet available - the Index will be revised as soon as the data is released so please check this page regularly for any updates.

Date..............Average Price.........Average Price Nov 2014.......YEARS............INCREASE

Nov-99..............£121,090.........................£314,691.....................15....................160%

Nov-04..............£227,122.........................£314,691.....................10.....................39%

Nov-09..............£228,573.........................£314,691......................5......................38%

Over the years, and particularly in recent times, demand for properties in Cheam, Sutton, Carshalton, Worcester Park, Ewell, Epsom, Banstead, Chipstead, Kingswood, Tadworth and surrounding towns and villages has increased dramatically. Much of this demand is due to the location of the properties we sell, which are ideally situated on the fringes of London, bordering rural Surrey greenbelt countryside with picture postcard villages and market towns full of rich heritage and character.

Buyers flood into the area to take advantage of a wide range of leisure and shopping amenities. The local schools are nationally renowned and attract large numbers of enquiries, ensuring that property sale levels and prices have remained well above quoted national averages.Cheam, Sutton, Carshalton, Worcester Park, Ewell, Epsom, Banstead, Chipstead, Kingswood and Tadworth all enjoy flourishing local communities with many popular cafés, restaurants and varied independent shops and businesses; this, coupled with many high street names, creates an enviable mix of retail and food outlets.

Combined with excellent road and rail links, demand for property remains constant and represents an exceptional investment. Christies have an unparalleled understanding of the area and are dedicated to ensuring customers are always informed – not just on the property market and prices, but also the area and amenities. When looking at buying a new home, we believe it is imperative that our purchasers are fully informed about all aspects of the potential move.

Your estate agent should be able to answer any of your questions regarding this. We are proud to represent this area and convey that passion to anyone looking to move here.

Please contact us on 020 8643 7777 or email at sales@christiesworld.com

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2015 - Off To A Great Start

Nick Churton from our Mayfair Group global networkhits the ground running in 2015 and looks forward to an active property market throughout the year ahead – only punctuated by one rather important event in May.

In housing market terms 2015 could be a contradictory year. In some ways the market is looking healthier than it has for years with more first time buyers than at any time since 2007. 

Early post-New Year signs are of sustained activity. These factors are clearly a reflection of increased confidence in the economy and higher employment across the UK.

This is very good news. The only cloud on the horizon might be the general election in May. If we thought the Scottish referendum – which for a time had a negative effect on market activity in England and Wales as well as Scotland - was a difficult one to call, the 2015 general election will surely prove to be impossible to forecast. And it is just this sort of uncertainty that markets don’t like. So we may see a slight cooling off in activity levels and transactions the nearer we get to May. But we think that buyers and sellers will want to make a head start on the market and try and make some hard decisions early in the New Year. Certainly these are the clear signs now.

Towards the upper end of the market there will be many with strong and very valid concerns about the introduction of a mansion tax – on top of the added stamp duty for this price sector imposed by the chancellor in his autumn statement. For those selling in and around the £2 million mark the market will be highly sensitive and pricing below this point may be advisable if a quick sale is required. We are not suggesting selling low: simply that sellers should accept that the next few months might not be the perfect time for optimistic or inflated asking prices for properties in a mansion tax entry level bracket.

But for some this will be a period of great opportunity in the property market. Once again, we would urge buyers not to rely on the property portals too heavily. The portals deal in hard data and certainties. Use them as a guide by all means. But the best opportunities often come from uncertainties. To find out about property off-market or for help in discovering that special place or great deal through hard-won local experience then there is nothing better that a good, reputable and knowledgeable high street estate agent like our firm. Come rain, shine or general election Christies will be ready with great ideas and sound advice.

Please contact us on 020 8643 7777 or email at sales@christiesworld.com

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An Estate Agent’s Christmas Carol

Nick Churton from our Mayfair Group global network takes a humorous look at a traditional tale as Christmas approaches - with apologies to Charles Dickens! 

Scrooge had been trying to sell his house all year - but to no effect. He was fed up with cold winters and longed to move to Spain where he had found a flat at a knockdown price being sold by a desperate developer. Now it was Christmas again and there was still no sign of a buyer for his own house. Scrooge hated Christmas.

Bob, at the local estate agent, Cratchit and Co, had almost given up on ever selling the house. Scrooge was far too mean to put the lights on inside or light the fire to make the house look cosy and inviting. Instead it was unwelcoming and cold.  A better word would be frigid. 

He refused to let people see the house when they wanted to and only allowed viewings when it was convenient for him. The few offers he had received he had treated with derision - even though the asking price was really far too high - which put everyone off taking it any further. Scrooge was even insisting that any buyer would have to purchase, at extra cost, the threadbare carpets and even some wet logs at the end of the garden which he described as firewood.

That night Scrooge had three disturbing dreams. The first vividly showed him what life had been like before he had become so mean and his wife had left him. The second dream showed Christmas dinner at his estate agent's house. It was a jovial family affair with Bob, his wife and their small son, Tim, all enjoying themselves. But slowly the scene changed to show what life would be like if Bob couldn't sell any houses and had no money. The third dream showed Scrooge's grave. He had died an embittered old man who had never sold his mausoleum of a house or moved to sunny Spain.

Waking up in his bed Scrooge realised that wasn't too late. He raced round the house putting lights on and setting the fire ablaze in the living room. He then rushed down to see Bob at Cratchit & Co, and told him to reduce the price immediately and to tell everyone that he would heartily entertain any reasonable offers. Scrooge even told Bob that he would increase the commission if the house was sold quickly.

So Scrooge did sell his house and moved to Spain where he enjoyed many long years in the sun. He even met an attractive widow in the local tapas bar that he went to often. Scrooge never forgot to send Bob a Christmas card, as without all Bob's hard work he would never have had his new life.

The moral of this story is to be as accommodating with potential buyers as possible and always try and find a estate agent like Bob. Christies Estate Agents in Cheam is just such a firm as Cratchit & Co. Call us - we might change your life.

Happy Christmas everyone.
Please contact us on 020 8643 7777 or email at sales@christiesworld.com

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A Slab of Christmas Cake

Nick Churton from our Mayfair Group global network takes a look at the agreeable change in stamp duty brought about in the Autumn Statement.

Few people like taxation. Most understand that we have to have taxes. But when they are as unfair as our stamp duty was then taxation seems to be doubly disagreeable. 

In his Autumn Statement the Chancellor, George Osbourne, at a stroke righted many wrongs concerning stamp duty - and perhaps put a serious dent in the opposition's mansion tax plans at the same time.

This is too late for millions of buyers under the old system, but a wonderful Christmas present for thousands who are in the process of buying a property at the moment.  And it is a massive windfall for buyers next year and beyond.  A huge 98 per cent of home buyers will benefit from the Chancellor doing away with the slab system, where buyers would be charged the allotted percentage on the whole purchase price even if it was only £1 over the various thresholds. Now buyers will only be charged tax on a slice of the purchase price.

So great news for the many.  But not such good news for the few.  Those buying at higher levels - over £925,000 - will pay more for the privilege.

The old stamp duty was a bad tax - or rather it increasingly became a bad tax.  As property prices rose more and more people were dragged into the net.  Buying a home is expensive enough without the government of the day cashing in on what was seen to be a purely opportunistic raid on people's pockets. Good riddance to it.

What will the knock-on effect be - apart from home buyers having more money to help with a deposit or all those extra expenses connected to property purchase?  The new stamp duty rates will not raise the same concerns pundits and commentators had over Labour's proposed mansion tax which would have hit owners of expensive homes every year.  That really was threatening the value of their houses.  The new stamp duty does not seem so reckless in this respect. Nor will there have to be a mass re-evaluation of property for tax purposes.

At the lower end of the market it could add fresh impetus to what is generally seen as a cooling market. But any forecast in this respect should also take into account the negative effect any future interest rate increases may have on the market.

So good news for the market below £1,000,000 and even those in the upper sector should feel pleased that the threat of a mansion tax is perhaps a step further away now than it was on Wednesday.
Please contact us on 020 8643 7777 or email at sales@christiesworld.com

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The Market Rocks

Nick Churton from our Mayfair Group global network takes a look at the property year and considers what may have a positive or negative effect next year.

As 2014 draws to a close and we look forward to the New Year there is much to think about in the property market. In most regions it has been a generally good year overall with a fine start but a quieter finish.  Price gains have slowed considerably and the heat has certainly come out of the market. There is not the frenzied buying now that there was this time last year. Even central London has cooled off.

Each year we seem to experience events that rock the housing market to greater or lesser extents. This year the heavy rains that flooded the Somerset Levels at the end of last winter had a marked effect on that region. The highly successful Commonwealth Games in Glasgow during the summer caused a small lull as attention was drawn elsewhere for a couple of weeks. And, staying with the Scottish theme, it was the Scottish referendum that had the single greatest effect on the market across the entire United Kingdom, as both buyers and sellers all seemed to hold their collective breaths for a month or more before the vote.

In the end it was all right and soon the property market was back to normal. But these events only serve to highlight how susceptible the market is right now to both local and national events.

No doubt the future will have a few surprises for us in 2015 also – in addition to those events we already know will affect the market such as the general election. This election more than anything else, short of a national or international disaster, will define the property market next year. Our minds will be on the ramifications of any new ruling party or coalition.  The move to greater devolution and regional control has yet to make itself felt. So too have big infrastructure projects like rail links and new roads which can have such an effect on local property prices.

But we estate agents are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new property website late in January.  We think it will completely change for the better the way people search for houses. It is called OnTheMarket.  Look out for it. We are going to tell you more about this next year.

Meanwhile all of us at Christies wish you a happy Christmas and a far from rocky New Year.
Please contact us on 020 8643 7777 or email at sales@christiesworld.com

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