Welcome to my new property news column – a means to share with you what’s happening in the property market in the Sheldon and Yardley area.

Last weekend saw some really sunny weather – great news if you wanted to spend some time in the garden with your family but not quite so good if you are trying to sell your house.

Over the years I’ve often heard it said that estate agents are a bit like farmers when it comes to the weather- it’s either too good for us or not good enough, but it is a fact of life that a really hot and sunny weekend does tend to deter people from looking around houses as does cold, wet weather. My comments this week are mainly for vendors, it’s the buyers turn next week.

The national press has been full in recent weeks of how the Government is trying to cool down the ‘over-heated ’property market and the most recent rise in interest rate is proof of their concern. My own view is that there is already a certain amount of self correction creeping in – evidence on the ground is that properties are taking a little longer to sell and that there is not quite the same interest in certain properties as we might have experienced this time last year. There are lies, damn lies and statistics and it should be borne in mind the property journalists by and large write for national newspapers based in London and their anecdotal market comments are based on their knowledge of the South East, not South Yardley.

As agents it is our job to try to achieve for our vendors the best possible price for your property and when we put a house on the market we always ask for the top price that we can and try to negotiate the most money from purchasers that we can obtain. (Sorry to any buyers reading this - but you knew that anyway, didn’t you!)

If your house is up for sale and hasn’t sold yet, just give the following thoughts some consideration.

Is your house being marketed well?
At SteeleS, as well as regular press advertising and mailing out weekly of full colour sales particulars, we also advertise on the two top portal internet sites, as well as our own inter active website, so anyone seriously looking for your type of property in the area can’t fail to know about it.

Do you have a ‘For Sale’ board?
SteeleS for sale boards are very distinctive and draw attention to the fact your house is on the market. Selling your house without one is like having a fight with one arm tied behind your back (incidentally, selling your house with more than one agent’s board is telling the market that you’re desperate!)

Is your house the most competitively priced in the road?
If you are serious about selling fast, your house has got to be a ‘better buy’ than the others in your road. Are you or your agent asking too much? Agents want to achieve the best price for their clients and sometimes they can be over optimistic. At SteeleS we will usually value your property and then tell you a marketing figure at which we feel we can induce interest and find a buyer. We’re not always right, but after 28 years experience, we’re not usually wrong!

Is your house ‘dressed’ to sell?
People don’t buy smelly or untidy houses. SteeleS will always offer a ‘House Doctor’ service to ensure your house is presented in the best light. I’ll tell you more in future weeks

Are you too anxious?
Vendors are often the right people to show purchasers around houses but sometimes can give off the wrong ‘vibes.’ At SteeleS we open 7 days a week, so we are always happy to show purchasers around houses that are up for sale with our agency.

No – one can force some one to buy your house, but if you get all the above things right and are a little patient, it won’t be long before all the trials and tribulations of moving house are a distant memory – until the next time!

Peter Steele