It’s odd how different words can make a huge difference to our decisions and our thought process.

Having spent now 40 years in property and this year will be my twentieth year as a buying agent, I have watched the ups and downs and a lot of change especially recently: Brexit, Covid, and now the Economy.

We all forget where prices were only three years ago so why the word correction is not being used more is puzzling. We like to see our property investment rise by huge amounts, but when there may be a slight adjustment it is seen in a completely different light, perceived as a downward spiral or bad news which throws panic into our thought process.

For many of us our home is our one and only property, therefore it’s all relative with these ups and downs which we have seen before will see again. However, now is the time to negotiate and sellers are coming to terms with the expectation of taking a reduction.

In 2023, we will see a lot of house transactions in every walk of life as decisions have been delayed during the Covid pandemic especially. This has changed the way we think and work and now we have so many new opportunities, our location can be our new office for instance. Moving is in the forefront of our minds with many exciting prospects.

Acting for buyers and a life time of property knowledge in West Sussex, has resulted in being able to help prevent expensive mistakes which can be easily made without prior knowledge. The large majority of homes we acquire are quietly off market, and one of our main attributes is good negotiation skills and knowing the market inside out.

Whatever the reason for moving, careful thought and planning is necessary in the coming year and there is every reason why buying well is a possibility.

Having been in favour of sellers over the last few years, the property market in West Sussex is now becoming a buyers’ market, giving house purchasers more of an opportunity to negotiate on price. When to gauge the property market is always a game of chance, as none of us have a crystal ball. However, in my experience, often opportunities are missed as the tide turns like this, as a difficult market for sellers can prove to be a great opportunity to trade up as a buyer.

How many of us see a fall in prices and think they will not recover? History tells us they do. If we look at statistics year on year, property has always provided us with a capital growth of approximately 6-7% a year which isn’t a bad return (looking a ten year period with ups and downs). The only issue with this is as for most of us we are property rich and cash poor, but it has its advantages as we grow older as we can sell in retirement or have something to leave to our children.

If you are buying a similar value house to add value, or better; buying a more expensive home and trading up market (as long as you have done the maths on your mortgage repayments), then don’t wait for the market to be at its lowest. You may miss the current opportunity as the tide can turn back in a flash – as we have all experienced recently with the mini budget.

In the eighties and nineties moving was far more frequent, money was easy to borrow and stamp duty land tax didn’t exist, but the obsession with property over the past twenty years has grown and it gives us all a feeling of wealth and importance.  In my experience as an estate agent seeing the dip in the early nineties, then as a buying agent since 2003, then again in 2008; could 2023-24 offer us many opportunities if we are willing to grasp the nettle and see if history repeats itself?

Life revolves around our dogs more than ever before. With 27% of UK adults having a dog according to a recent 2022 report, it’s of no surprise that many of our village house buyers own one (or a few) themselves. As dog lovers ourselves, we understand how they play a big part of family life, so it’s very important that we find our clients a home that has adequate space for everybody.

There is a very strong dog community in West Sussex, so here are some dog-friendly features that I recommend you keep in mind when looking for a house in this part of the world…

Dog showers

We have seen many dog showers in people’s homes over the last couple of years, to include some really luxurious ones. They tend to be either in a utility room, boot room or outside, but they’re especially useful in winter when walks are muddy and wet and you don’t want your lovely furniture or clean floors to be covered in mud. I have just shown a buyer round a house in Midhurst where the owner is currently building one, but the best one I have ever seen was a low-level shower, nicely tiled with a door, where it had two different hand held shower attachments. I must admit, I’d love to have a dog shower myself. If I were to move, it would be a serious priority on my list.

Enclosed large garden

Having a completely fenced off garden is an absolute must, but having a bit of land for dogs to roam around has become a more popular request too. These not only provide hours of fun, but also a safe environment for them to roam. Since Covid-19 in particular, the size of a garden has become very important, with buyers asking us to find them something with at least half an acre.

Kitchens

Large kitchens are perfect for creating a dedicated area for dog beds and feeding, as well as the animals themselves. Some kitchen companies are now creating very clever integrated cabinets to keep dogs, beds, bowls and food tucked away, such as under the counter tops or within an island.

Utility rooms

Large utility rooms with access to the garden, have become a must for dog owners, as they provide the perfect space for washing stations and storage for all the leads, toys, crates, treats, food and so on. We actually had a buyer turn down a house because the utility room was too small for their dogs, despite the house itself ticking all of their other boxes.

Dog doors

Pet flaps are most known for cats, but we have started to see some seriously impressive dog doors being installed. This is most helpful if you have to be out of the house all day and need to leave your dogs at home. With a dog door they have the freedom to go outside when they need to, and for security reassurance, homeowners often install a camera above.

Local walks

It’s not just about the house when considering pets. You’ll want to know that there are some great local walks too. Luckily in West Sussex, you really are spoilt for choice, especially in the South Downs National Park. Most villages also have a village green or a recreational ground. Some of our favourite places to take our dogs for a stroll include Cowdray, Petworth Park, Kingley Vale and Stoke Clump.

Local amenities 

Most pubs and cafes are dog-friendly, but if good access to local amenities are on your house hunting list, then make sure you find out if they will allow you to bring in your canine companions. Many will provide dog water bowls and even doggy treats which are guaranteed to keep those waggy tails wagging.

Proximity to vets

Don’t forget to find out how close the local veterinary practices are. We’re quite lucky in West Sussex as there are plenty to choose from.

Avoid busy roads

Location is always important when buying a home, and this certainly applies when owning a dog. Stay away from busy roads because if your furry friends were to escape, there could be deadly consequences.

Despite concerns about the economic outlook and rising energy bills, interest rates and the general cost of living, buyer demand has not really changed in our part of West Sussex, particularly in the upper end of the housing market and for the good quality homes. This means buyers still need to be prepared to compete for the best country houses if they are to have a chance of finding one, let alone purchasing one.

At Property Acquisitions, we are still just as busy as we were during the pandemic’s property buying frenzy, with offers still going over asking price amidst competitive bidding wars. This is supported by recent research from house selling weather forecast, PropCast, who tracks buyer demand across the country and often quoted in the national press. When looking at a county level, the free online tool has found that demand has remained stable over the last quarter in West Sussex.

We are finding that period homes with large gardens, outbuildings and high spec are still highly sought after, commanding a premium. Bidding wars and sealed bids are still very much going on as a result. This is especially true in the golden villages surround Chichester, Midhurst and Petworth such as Bosham, Witterings, Selham, Tillington or Lickfold. Recently for example, a really lovely Grade II listed house launched in one of the villages. We had made an appointment for a client for the next week, but received a call from the estate agent asking if we could bring the viewing forward as 40 viewings had been booked and they had already received two bids approximately 20% higher than the asking price. This is not uncommon at the moment – buyers are literally having to fight to secure the best country houses still.

Where we are starting to see a slight drop in demand are for the average houses, those that aren’t in such prime locations, or those that don’t have the period features, space, pools, outbuildings and amazing views that buyers still seek. Last year buyers were so panicked to buy a country house that they would take what they could find, but now they are a little bit more wary about anything they feel has a negative trait. For example a home near pylons or road noise, or somewhere that is too small. Houses where a sale has been agreed but then falls through are also taking longer to sell, because buyers presume that something is wrong with it. Meanwhile, although the rising cost of living doesn’t really affect our end of the market, buyers are more price sensitive, so overpriced houses are taking longer to sell. There was one in a hugely desirable village not long ago with an amazing view and lots of land, but because the house was small, it hasn’t sold yet. It’s priced over £2million and the estate agent has told us they haven’t had the uptake they expected and so will probably have to reduce the price.

So, whilst buyers may have been hoping for a drop in house prices by now, you still need to be prepared to battle it out on the playing fields for the best country homes in West Sussex. Here are a few of our top tips:

Be organised – Have all of your paperwork ready, know your budget and have your finances in place.

Sell your current home asap – Most estate agents won’t agree to a house viewing with a buyer unless they can prove they have the funds ready to go. My clients are a mix of cash buyers or those who have at least exchanged contracts already, putting them high on the list when it comes to just getting their foot through the front door.

Be realistic on your offer

There’s not much negotiation going on right now for houses over £1million, so be realistic on what your best offer should be to stand a good chance of having it accepted – but don’t overspend!

Agree to a long completion

Sellers still want buyers who can be flexible on the completion date. This is generally because they are worried about how long it’s taking them to find another house. After all, they’re up against tough competition too. Offering them time to find something else combined with all of the above points should stand you in very good stead as a buyer. It can even encourage sellers to accept a lower offer if they feel you are a good choice.

Retain a buying agent

If you really want to be ahead of the curve, then a good local buying agent will be able to find you the off-market houses first, before the general public get to know about them. For us, these are often the hidden gems in the golden villages surrounding Chichester, Midhurst and Petworth. A buying agent usually only works with proceedable buyers, which is why estate agents tend to speak with us first about what they have coming up for sale. Buying agents can also advise on what your maximum offer should be, which is especially useful if you are in a bidding war scenario – it is very easy to get carried away and spend too much.