Why Today’s Lancaster and Morecambe Home Buyers Are Very Different

Think back to 2016.

Leicester City had just won the Premier League, the iPhone 7 had arrived and, in property, a smart kitchen and a conservatory could often be enough to get buyers talking.

Ten years on, the way people search for a home has changed completely.

Most buyers now do a huge amount of research before they ever contact an estate agent. They will have looked at recent sold prices, checked the EPC, researched schools, studied the floorplan and probably had a good look around the street on Google Maps.

By the time they arrive for a viewing, they already know quite a lot.

What they are really asking themselves is whether the home feels as good in person as it looked online.

That is why the first impression starts long before the front door opens.

Across Lancaster and Morecambe, buyers can easily compare one home with every similar property currently available. Poor photographs, missing information or a price which feels out of step with the market can quickly put them off.

They may not ring to ask why. They will simply move on to the next listing.

Buyers are also thinking more carefully about work.

A dated kitchen or bathroom will not automatically stop a sale, but people want to understand what they are taking on. With building costs, mortgage payments and everyday expenses all higher, fewer buyers are willing to walk into a project without knowing roughly what it may involve.

Honesty helps.

It is far better to show a home clearly, explain any work that may be needed and price it accordingly than to leave buyers feeling there may be hidden surprises.

Speed matters too.

When somebody requests a viewing or asks a question, they expect a quick response. Interest can fade surprisingly fast, especially when they are already looking at several other properties.

This is probably the biggest difference I have noticed over the years. Buyers now arrive informed, prepared and with a clear idea of value.

Selling a home is no longer about simply putting it online and waiting.

It is about getting the price right, presenting it properly, answering questions honestly and making the whole process feel straightforward.

Buyers have changed over the last decade.

Good estate agency has had to change with them.

At JDG, that means giving clear advice, marketing homes properly and being honest, even when the conversation is not always the easiest one to have.

That is what ethical estate agency should look like.