You can't always get what you want!

May 3, 2015 by Rob Kahl

You can't always get what you want!

So, here is another little insight in to the estate agency world that not many agents will tell you. We have a saying for purchasers, ‘buyers are liars’.

This however, is not quite as it seems though so bare with me!

It is not a derogatory statement that we don’t trust anyone (perish the thought)., it is just that when people are looking for properties, their criteria changes and more often than not, they end up buying a property completely different from their original idea.

So, if you have just gone onto the mailing lists of the local agents, they keep sending you properties that aren’t suitable and you’re are thinking they are not listening to you, it quite possibly, is not the case.

There are a limited number of properties in Leigh on Sea available so most buyers do end up having to compromise at some point. With this in mind, we send out details that may catch your eye that you may not have considered previously.

Compromise is the best word when looking for properties locally. More often than not something has to give when trying to find a new home. Most peoples criteria consists of things like location, size and price. Form here, then people can be a little more specific when asking for things like parking or garage, size or aspect of a garden to even a style of home I.e Victorian or Edwardian or specific accommodation like number of bathrooms or open plan kitchen/family rooms.

Everybody starts off with a wish list as long as your arm which is the right way to to go about it, but once you start viewing properties and narrowing down a short list it may be that you have now considered a property that you completely discarded when you first started looking.

Back in the day, when the market was at its very height in the mid to late nineties lots of people used to compromise on price. It was easy to get another £50,000 or £100,000 on a mortgage so people used to stretch themselves. Now, even though the mortgage rates are as low as they have ever been, with the new affordability calculations, it is a lot more difficult to secure the extra funds so price is something that not many people are prepared to compromise on.

Location can be something that people are prepared to give a little on but not a lot. There are certain times when people will only look in very specific areas. If someone is looking for a certain school catchment area for example, this is something that people aren’t prepared to even consider compromising on. Smaller schools like North Street in Leigh have very small catchment areas so it can really narrow down searches. Also, if people commute in to London and have to start early, understandably they don’t want to be too far from the station, so within walking distance is a must.

So, if these two points aren’t going to give, it will then maybe have to be accommodation? It maybe that a property is smaller or even larger than you originally wanted. This can obviously be remedied with building works, but these can prove hugely expensive (see Rob’s renovation blogs for the painful truth) and a massive upheaval. It could be that the property is not in the condition that you were expecting and you may have to update with new kitchens, bathrooms and decoration. Believe it or not, some people actually enjoy this and specifically search out properties that need modernising  (mad if you ask me). The thing to remember is that most things are achievable in properties if you have the right amount of vision or cash!

It may be difficult to believe, but if you are lucky enough to be looking at the top of the property market then compromise is even more likely. You may think that if you have £1,000,000 plus to spend on a new home you can get acres of land with stables, tennis courts, swimming pools, cinema rooms, snooker rooms, triple garage and god knows what. The reality however, can be a little different in our little corner of Essex. £1,000,000 will just about buy you a 5 bedroom detached house on the Marine Estate or Chalkwell, it may not have a garage or big garden and may need work doing to it. You may be a little disappointed if you are looking for something for your pony!

So to compromise or not? Remember there usually is something for everybody out there, but it is important when you are looking for a new home to have an open mind and remember compromise is not a bad thing.

This article is by Rob Kahl @ Scott & Stapleton Estate Agents
Tel: 01702 47 11 55