Welcome to Astley & co estate agent.

Every time I am selling a property and it is going to attract the young folk, I just know, that it is going to be an uphill struggle to get the feedback! People really do not like to ‘talk’ these days. It is quicker to send an email or a text, so if that is our only way of communication, then we rely on a written message and if we are lucky, we get a reply. I must be old fashioned because if a viewer has taken the time to telephone to book the appointment and then go to the viewing, to be gracious with the host, then why can't they answer our call to give their thoughts rather than 'ghost' the agent. I feel 'chucked' (a term from the olden days)! Good job, I can rely on my mature viewers to take my call to have a good 'talk' about it and at the least the youngsters are good at spelling! Happy safe viewings people... 

Thank goodness en-suites are being phased out! It was a thing of the 1980's where house builders would squeeze in an en-suite in every cupboard! Why have more toilets than people living in one residence. Its only more cleaning. At one time, our family lived in a Bovis home and it had two en-suites and a family bathroom, that is three toilets for the upstairs. No, take them away. I don't need a B&B!  I am all for a large walk-in luxury bathroom with space for a storage cupboard, space to get dressed, maybe a freestanding bath, maybe a view, a walk-in double shower, a plumbed in radio, maybe a TV, lots of mirrors and good lighting. Quality over quantity is the way forward. Whenever, I see newly built homes, and I'm invited to the planning stage, I recommend one en-suite if necessary, and even that isn't essential, but I much prefer a room as the main bathroom, not the cupboard over the stairs!

Yes, it is out there. It is going on now as I write. People are viewing in their droves and offering thousands of pounds over the asking price. It feels like 2003 when ‘flipping’ was all the rage. Anyone could buy a run-down property, do it up and put it back on the market just a couple months later and make a handsome profit. So, where it isn’t as crazy as that now with increasing prices, it is going in that direction. The only difference now, all the houses whether in great condition or a bit tatty, are selling for such strong prices that there isn’t profit left for the ‘flippers’. Confidence is back and the buyers and sellers are enjoying the moment creating business and opportunity for all aspects of the housing market helping the economy. Long may it last.