Our Patch June 2014 | Page 22

[email protected] 020 8819 0510 [email protected] 020 8819 0511 THE BIG DEBATE Sales manager Martin Clements and lettings manager Ashley Clements offer their expert opinions TIME TO SELL? OR TO LET? BUY NOW Martin Clements Ravenscourt Place, W6 £675 per week Atwood Road, W6 • Four bedrooms • Gated development • Two bathrooms • Off street parking • EPC rating = C • Close to Ravenscourt Park £515 per week • Two double bedrooms • Additional study • Recently redecorated • Patio garden • EPC rating = E • Brackenbury Village In the nine years I’ve worked in Hammersmith the market is now the strongest that I have ever known, both in terms of price and demand. The profile of the local buyer is now very different. We’ve often found prospective buyers to already live or work in the area. But these local buyers are now competing with hopefuls pushed out of Zone 1. Now is very much a good time to sell. The spring market has always been the strongest time of year for selling a home. When the clocks go forward we always find that there is more activity leading up to the summer months when things tend to slow, before a resurgence in September. “The spring market has always been the strongest time of year for selling a home” The question remains whether we’re nearing the peak of the market. With mortgage finance fluid and interest rates low, many who have been planning a move see this as the ideal opportunity to take advantage. However, I would strongly advise against selling and moving in to rented accommodation for fear of being priced out of the market were it to continue to improve. In terms of letting your property, the yields in many cases are as low as they’ve ever been so we’re finding buy-to-let investors buying for capital appreciation rather than for the level of rent which they are going to achieve. Banim Street, W6 £495 per week Ashlar Court, W6 • Two double bedrooms • Study or guest bedroom • Courtyard garden • Double reception room • EPC rating = F • Brackenbury Village £330 per week • Newly refurbished • One bedroom • Modern bathroom and kitchen • Available now • EPC rating = C • Ravenscourt Park location The highest pound-per-square-foot values are being achieved in Brackenbury Village and Brook Green. LET NOW Ashley Clements The lettings market is currently performing well in terms of the rental values we are currently achieving on our clients’ properties. We’ve had an excellent first quarter, with a record-breaking March. It’s a good time to let your property. Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush are only continuing to grow in popularity as central London grows westward and the many new local developments and improvements are putting W6 and W12 firmly on the map. We have seen a trend this year of many tenants wishing to secure long-term tenancies, which is of course a great benefit to many of our landlord clients. As we have seen considerable growth in sales values recently, many of our new landlord clients are choosing to let their “We have seen current property as a longa trend this term investment, while taking year of many advantage of mortgage products tenants wishing to allow them to still buy their to secure next home elsewhere. Unless long-term selling a property to release tenancies” funds, many would question selling a property today that could potentially be worth more tomorrow. One of the nicest parts of working in this area is that all of the neighbourhoods are popular and have their own special appeals. The close proximity to large companies, being a short commute into the centre of town and the excellent reputation of local schools are just a few reasons why there is always a strong demand for all varieties of local homes to let. Ready to buy, sell or let? Visit Horton and Garton at 176 King Street, Hammersmith W6 0RA today! @hortonandgarton www.facebook.com/hortonandgarton www.hortonandgarton.co.uk