July 2, 2020
The Marple Post Lockdown Property Market
What have we learned in the first month?
From talking to most of the Marple estate and letting agents and our own findings, it might surprise many of you that new enquiries from homebuyers, tenants, landlords and home sellers have been at record levels since lockdown was lifted from the property market in mid-May.
There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, we had the pent-up demand for Marple property from the Boris Bounce in January and February. Next, many Marple people were planning to move this spring yet were prevented doing so because of lockdown, and finally, surprisingly, an advance wave of home movers seeking to bring their Marple moving plans forward because of a fear of a second Covid-19 wave later in the year.
So, what does all that look like and how does it compare to the last 12/18 months?
Data from Yomdel, the live chat and telephone answering service for a quarter of UK estate and letting agents, is able to track objective and more current information from across the UK on what is really happening. Each week, they are dealing with thousands of enquiries including:
- Seller enquiries (i.e. house sellers looking to put their property on the market)
- Buyer enquiries (i.e. people looking to view a property on the market with the intention of buying it)
- Landlords enquiries (i.e. landlords looking for tenants for their rental property)
- Tenant enquiries (i.e. people looking to view a property on the market with the intention of renting it)
They have created a rolling weekly average of those enquiries for the whole of the UK for the 62 weeks before the country went into lockdown. Then they compared that 62 week average with specific time frames, namely the 10 weeks of the run up to the General Election, the 8 weeks of Post Boris Bounce in January and February 2020, the weeks of lockdown in March, April and early May and then finally, from mid-May, the post lockdown.
You might ask why tracking estate and letting agency enquiries is so important?
Enquiries in letting and estate agencies are the beating heart of the property market – they are the ECG machine of the estate and letting agency. Of course, house price data has its place and is lauded by the national press as the bellwether of the property market, yet it takes 6 to 9 months for the effects of what is happening today to show in those house price indexes, whilst these enquiries are what is happening now.
Have a look at the data in the graph and table, it can be seen in the 8 weeks up to the General Election, every metric was down. Next, the post Boris Bounce saw house seller and house buyer leads increase yet note how low tenant enquiries were (hardly any change from the run up to the election), everything dipped during lockdown as expected, yet look at all the metrics post lockdown … amazing! (e.g. if a number in the graph/table below is say -25%, that means its 25% below the rolling 62 week average, yet if it were +20%, then that would mean it would be 20% more than the rolling 62 week average)
| General Election Run Up | Post Boris Bounce | Lockdown | Post Lockdown | |
| Seller Enquiries | -27.0% | 20.6% | -41.9% | 94.3% |
| Buyer Enquiries | -19.9% | 12.9% | -9.3% | 163.7% |
| Landlord Enquiries | -10.9% | 1.0% | -27.6% | 78.5% |
| Tenant Enquiries | -34.9% | -27.2% | -23.1% | 92.5% |
The numbers speak for themselves!
So, what is happening in the Marple property market? Well, there is plenty of activity in the Marple property market, yet that doesn’t mean everything is back to normal. Enquiries are an important metric, yet another way to judge the health of the property market is to look at the number of property transactions (i.e. people moving).
Now the Land Registry data isn’t quite as exhilarating, yet it is less volatile. Nationally, it shows that property transactions were at their lowest level since its records began in April 2005. The seasonally adjusted estimate of UK residential property transactions in April and May 2020 was 90,210, 53.4% lower than the 193,500 transactions of April and May 2019. Again though, this was because of the restrictions on moving during Covid-19. The stats for Marple are still to be released, yet rest assured I will share them in due course.
Looking again at what is happening now, when I look at the number of properties for sale…
116 Marple properties have come onto the property market in the last 14 days alone, and of those, 13 are already sold subject to contract
So, what of the future of the post-lockdown Marple housing market? While a stern recession seems almost guaranteed, a housing market crash is not. Many newspapers are predicting property values to fall in 2020, then rise reticently from the ashes in 2021. The fact is, nobody knows. The property market is driven a lot by sentiment. Buying a home is not like buying stocks and shares – it’s a home to live in … and those Marple landlords who are looking for an investment opportunity, often let their heart rule the head (again sentiment) when investing in property.
Property always has, and always will be, a long-term investment. Many of you Marple people reading this, especially potential Marple first time buyers, have been putting off buying your first home because of Brexit, now its Covid-19, and in a few years, it will be something else. There will always be ‘something else’… and you could get to your 50’s and 60’s, still renting, waiting for the ‘next thing’ to pass before you buy … and end up buying nothing.
Nobody knows what the months or years ahead will bring … yet what I do know is, people will always need a place to live. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Tell us what your experiences are as a Marple landlord or homeowner, tenant or buyer so we can all learn from each other.
April 20, 2020
Essential Tips For Working From Home
For a small number of people, working from home will be the norm. But for the majority of the nation, the current climate has caused us to quickly adapt our working practices to home working for the safety of ourselves and those around us. In doing this, it is important to create healthy working practices to maintain motivation and routine throughout the day.
We’ve gained advice from those who regularly work from home so that we can share some top tips for the coming weeks ahead. Continue below for our top tips on how you can get the best out of home working:
1. Get ready for the day
Get up and ready for work as you normally would. Getting dressed out of your pyjamas and fresh for the day helps you to maintain a routine and get ready for a day of work. Doing this will signal to your brain that you are going to work and create a good mindset.
2. Have a routine
Working from home can get lonely, so a routine will prevent the day blurring into a mix of work and relaxation time. Creating a morning routine that will guide you into your work chair each day so that you can signal the separation between home and work. Start and finish work at your usual times so that you do not become overworked.
3. Create an office space
If you have a separate office space to work in, then that’s great. But even if you don’t, it is still important to create an area in your home that you can designate and associate with work. Whether that be at a desk, or if it has to be your dining room table, this will support you to keep a routine. At the end of the day, shut down your equipment and put it away. This will signal the end of your working day and the start of your own time.
4. Keep to your regular hours of a working day
With all your work equipment at home, it can be tempting to try and get ahead by setting yourself mammoth tasks that take you all evening to complete. Set yourself achievable goals (as you would when you go into work) so that you maintain your usual work hours and maintain your positivity and optimism. This will also allow you to keep a work life balance.
5. Have regular breaks
When you are in the office, you naturally take short breaks throughout the day. Whether that be to go and make a drink or go and discuss something with a colleague. These breaks away from the computer are crucial for your productivity and health. Breaks away from the computer screen help to break bad posture habits, help with concentration and productivity, and prevent fatigue. This should be no different at home. You can call a colleague for a chat, go and make a drink, or spend some time in a different room for a few moments.
6. Get some exercise
Living and working in the same space can be challenging at times so you may find it important to get a change of scenery. Stepping outside for a walk not only allows you to “leave the office” but also allows you to get valuable exercise (providing this is in line with Government guidelines). Some fresh air and natural light will do you the world of good. With people rarely leaving the house, a short walk could be all the exercise you get in a day so place importance on this. Alternatively, you may want to do a short home workout. There are tons of guides online to help you do this. Let’s not forget about those all-important endorphins.
7. Take your lunch break
You are still entitled to your full lunch break and it is important to take this. Ensure you continue to eat well and take time away from your work space to break up the day. Using this time to get some exercise (as advised in step 7) is a great idea too.
8. Get on the phone
Communication is so important during this time. Working from home can be isolating (especially if you live alone). To overcome this, ensure to keep up with regular team meeting via group calls. Check in with your colleagues throughout the day – even for a general chat not related to work. This is what you would usually do in the office and it is important to maintain this to make the day more enjoyable. Call people instead of email so that you can have proper conversations during the day which is so much more personal that email communication. You could even use Facetime for a more personal touch.
April 20, 2020
marple covid 19 mutual aid group page
A Facebook page has been made for the community of Marple. The group provides a space to co ordinate community help for the most vulnerable residents and the group comprises of residents of Marple and surrounding villages as well as our approved volunteers. Mutual Aid group provides assistance by approved volunteers.
For more information on their page, you can click here.
The page also confirms what local businesses are open and when so you can support local as and when you can!
April 20, 2020
Strines Cafe helping out during Lock down.
Just to give you the heads up….next wkends menu will be
Breakfast Baps – bacon, sausage and/or egg.
Homemade mince and onion gravy pie with chips and peas.
Homemade cheese and onion pie with chips and beans.
1/4lb Angus cheese burger and wedges.
Chicken Breast Burger, cheese & bbq sauce with chips.
All £6.50
Sunday Roast Beef Dinner, mash, 3 veg, roasters, gravy and yorkie. £6.95
Rhubarb Crumble and custard. £3
(orders for Sunday Roast only to be in before 2pm Saturday).
The Sunday Dinner does go quick, so i would suggest ordering sooner rather than later.
Telephone orders 07860133175
Take care everyone and stay safe 🌈 ❤
April 20, 2020
Spider-Man is spreading joy around Stockport for kids stuck in isolation
You can always count on a superhero when times are hard. And not one but two versions of Spider-Man have been spreading joy around the streets of Stockport. Using their hour of exercise a day, pals Andrew Baldock and Jason Baird have been using their time in the best possible way. Working separately, they have been visiting streets around Stockport to wave to children who are stuck indoors because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The pair have been using social media to let families know where they are heading around lunchtime each day and children have been waving and sharing messages from their windows.
In fact a Facebook group to follow their whereabouts, and for people to share photos of their little ones getting in the superhero spirit, has already amassed nearly 800 members in just a few days.
Jason, 34, owns and runs Jason Baird’s Black Belt Academy in Reddish and Andrew, 44, is a full-time instructor there. With Andrew covering Bosden Farm and Jason in parts of Bredbury, both are sending the message to children to stay indoors and wave from their windows to avoid breaking any social distancing guidelines.
April 20, 2020
Window Display at the Marple office.
As we continue the lock down across the country we are showing our support for the wonderful work our great NHS are doing to safe lives. Stay home and stay safe.
March 26, 2020
A detached property in Romiley for £120,000
Yes you saw that right! A two bedroom detached property in central Romiley is currently on the market for £120,000.
As described by the agent, Thomas Lardner – ” The Coach House is a detached characterful property situated within the conservation area close to the Peak Forest canal and within walking distance of local facilities including Romiley Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool, the Railway Station and a range of independent shops. With gas central heating and double glazed windows the accommodation includes a large 23 ft open living room and fitted kitchen on the ground floor together with a landing, two bedrooms (one with French windows) and modern fitted bathroom on the first floor. The property does require some TLC but offers plenty of potential for the next owners. There is a narrow driveway to the side of the property and a patio area to the rear. Offered with no onward chain”.
It looks like it needs some cosmetic work internally but once completed you would look to achieve around the £650 pcm mark offering a fantastic 6.5% yield. Benefiting from off road parking and with it being detached it will definitely appeal to more tenants.
Please click the link for more info: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69009078.html
March 20, 2020
Discover Mellor 10km Adventure Walk
Distance approx 9km (5.5miles) 09:30-12:30
A chance to discover the varied scenery of the village of Mellor, which lies between Marple Bridge and New Mills and extends from the start of the old turnpike road at the boundary of Marple Bridge to the current county boundary with Derbyshire.
We’ll briefly visit the Iron Age Hill Fort by Mellor Church, before going through fields to the Memorial Gardens, we then head to Bottom’s Hall before heading up to Mellor Cross where we should get fantastic views over Cheshire.
With an optional Lunch at The Devonshire Arms after we finish our walk.
March 20, 2020
The Fisherman’s Table, Marple Takeaway menu.
So we’ve tried out our delicious food in takeaway tubs and so far with great results! So From this evening we will be offering a call and collect system! With 25% off your FULL BILL including all drinks & wine! So simply call the restaurant either wait in the car out side and we will bring it to you pay over the phone or cash ❤️🐟 Lunch 12-2:30pm Dinner 6-9pm 01615364389 Please SHARE 👏🏻 #supportlocal #staylocal
March 20, 2020
National Trust to open gardens and parks for free
The National Trust has announced that many of their beautiful gardens, parklands and coastal locations will be open to the public for free in a bid to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors during the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
While their pay-for-entry indoor sites – including houses, cafés and shops –will have to close by Friday 20th March following government advice, they aim to keep many outdoor spaces open.
In an official statement on their website, the organisation said: “Following the Prime Minister’s advice on Monday 16th March, the National Trust’s Director-General Hilary McGrady said that our pay-for-entry sites including houses, cafés and shops, will close by this Friday 20th March.