What is very clear to see, houses (cottage types are popular) that have great walks and countryside all around are selling well in terms of speed and values achieved. At the Bishop Auckland office, we have seen a great deal of interest in well presented terraced houses in the outlying villages such as Evenwood, Cockfield, Ramshaw, Hunwick and Wolsingham as these types of properties are generally well priced (sub £100,000 generally) but they offer the ability for owners to enjoy the lifestyle that has become much more important to most people as a result of going through the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.

Personally speaking, I spent the first lockdown in my garden with my wife and child (The weather was warm and sunny) and like most people, despite what was happening in the outside world, I remember that time fondly as it was time that would normally have been spent apart from each other, obviously due to being at work. So now, on a weekend, instead of going out for a meal, a show and a few drinks perhaps, we now spend our money on improving the garden by laying a new patio, adding some better lighting, some new outdoor furniture and a hot tub. When carrying out valuations in clients homes, I see the same trend time and time again and urge anyone considering spending any money on their home, to do so outside on things like better lighting, or perhaps a built barbeque, or pizza oven as this adds a facility to our homes and in turn makes them more appealing to buyers. If your decking is old and rotten, replace it. If that gravel has weeds coming through, lift it up, put some weed killer down and some plastic to stop them coming back. If the fence is broken, replace it, if the wood needs a new coat of stain, then do it. We recently sold a rural property that not only had this in abundance, but our clients created an outside entertaining space that had seating, and a firepit - all arranged to make the most of the incredible views. Ideal for entertaining and somewhere truly unique, and to be quite honest did not cost the earth to do but added so much.

Make the most of what you have, and do it well. The costs and efforts will be worth it when your house sells quickly, and in our experience, either for your asking price or higher!

Martyn Hunter
Bishop Auckland Manager