2
Aug
Do You Feel Lucky?
Adrian Tod of Hayward Tod Associates in Carlisle comments on the
property market as the autumn market approaches.
Some people are naturally gifted with clothes or plants or DIY
or cooking. Others are less so. Some people are really good at
buying and selling property. The process seems easy to them. But
others can find it stressful, difficult and emotional, and they
hardly enjoy the process.
Its understandable to think that an estate agent’s job is
simply to find a buyer and that is it, job done. But in truth the
role is as much about project management as sales. Finding someone
who says they want to buy your property is a far cry from their
being able to buy your property. Then there is chain management
– several house sales and purchases may all be
interdependent. Here a lot can go wrong. Most properties need
surveys, many need mortgages and all will be subject to the
emotional rollercoaster of property transactions that may, in the
end, rest on a group of strangers all behaving well and sensibly
towards each other.
A few brave souls would happily build a new house without the
services of a project manager to bring together all the
professionals, tradespeople and suppliers that are inevitably
involved. But most people wouldn’t dream of being without
one. Property sale and purchase is the same. Doing it yourself or
getting the service on the cheap could save you a bit and work out
reasonably well - if you remain focused, detached, flexible,
reasonable, compassionate, completely understanding of your fellow
man and have some luck.
But if you have little time, little relevant experience, little
patience, don’t wish to gamble on luck and lack that natural
gift for coolly buying and selling hugely important and valuable
items of personal importance, it may be better to leave it up to an
experienced and talented project manager to bring it all together.
Successful house sales and purchases don’t usually happen all
by themselves. They happen because skilful, experienced, patient
and tactful people behind the scenes make them happen.
An estate agent might be expected to say this, but time and
again it proves to be true. Valuable and important items like fine
art or wine, stocks and shares, cars, yachts or land and houses are
often best sold through a third party - and the better the third
party the better.
So if you are intending to sell your house this autumn,
don’t compromise. Insist on the best sales and project
manager you can get. It is the sure way you will get the best
result. Or do you feel lucky?