Everything is better in summertime. Well in Clapham & Brixton it's definitely the rent!

So, you're letting your property? Now is the time. Take advantage of that summer market whilst you still can. What's that you say? Property available in November? Well get marketing. Now. Because whilst there are stragglers around from the busy summer period you will do very well, despite your property being available in what is usually a slow time of the year.

How does that work? Simples... 

August is the busiest month in lettings. This has always been the case. After that there are some stragglers left over in September, snapping up anything that is left. Even properties with move dates far in advance are taken, simply because they can't rely on anything else coming on to the market. You know the student saying "if you leave it to late EVERYTHING will be gone." Not true of course, there will be plenty of greedy landlords with sky high prices, but nobody rents those. Well-priced, well-presented properties let. Beds in sheds do not. Regardless of imminent homelessness. Which is never really the case. Tenants would much rather sofa surf than lock in for 12 months to a dingy bedsit in an understairs cupboard.

So when is the best time to market? Ideally you want your property available in September to take advantage of the peak in August. People need a little bit of notice to move, they don't walk around with their belongings in a knapsack and move in on the day they view. So with foresight, plan your tenancies to come up middle of September. I say middle, because invariably you will have a few days' void for painting and decorating and fixing things, and over the years that will spill in to October eventually. No disaster, but see if you can negotiate slightly early departures in the long-term to get that desirable availability date back. Why? So that you can expose your property to the biggest audience in the shortest space of time and achieve the best rents, that's why.

Want to hear more? drop me a line or feel free to pick up the phone and give me a call. Happy to talk. Or if it's easier drop me a line on jeroen@claphampropertyblog.com.

Want your property in Clapham sold? Price it with a 0 in mind...

No, don't sell it for naught, that would be daft. How often have you bought something at £3.99? £2.99? There's always a penny taken off the price to make it appear magically cheaper. Great marketing tactics for a tin of baked beans, a top, a pair of shoes, all good.

What about property?

If you are selling arguably your most expensive asset surely you'd want the best price? Is that the highest price? Maybe. But you certainly want the best target audience, and that would most certainly be the biggest audience.

Imagine this. You are selling a flat for £500,000. Most agents would market this at £499,950 or £499,995. To make it look cheaper. Wrong approach I say. Why? Well go to rightmove in your area and punch in that you are looking up to £499,950. You can't. You can go up to £500,000 though. And guess what shows up first. That's right! The flat at £500,000. Well the flats plural. There's a few. And like the second page of google nobody visits, the flats at 499,950 are on page 2. Which gets less hits. And less viewings. And less interest. And less offers... you see where this is going?

You want your property in people's faces when you are selling. And conversely if you are after a bargain... look at page 2 in your search results. Chances are there will be less eyes there than on page one!

If you'd like some pointers with your purchase, investment, sale or letting feel free to pick up the phone and give me a call. Happy to talk. Or if it's easier drop me a line on jeroen@claphampropertyblog.com.