There are a number of factors that will have a bearing on your chances of successfully selling your property, from its presentation and condition to the ever important matter of location.

“Ultimately, it is the balance of supply and demand that determines the key variable in the equation: the price,” says Alex Broadfoot, senior valuer at JW Wood’s Consett branch, pictured right.

“The latest Land Registry House Price Index report indicates that the average price of houses sold in County Durham over the last year has fallen by 0.9 per cent, a fact which underlines the need for a well-informed and realistic valuation of your property in the current market.

“At JW Wood we have experienced, knowledgeable and helpful valuers who can provide advice on all the important aspects of marketing your property, including the crucial question of price.

“Using our professional judgement and the evidence of comparable properties in the local area, we will recommend an asking price that we believe will lead to a successful sale, taking into account the circumstances of the sale, such as the preferred timescale.

“In Consett we have agreed sales at an average of 97 per cent of the asking price over the last 12 months, which indicates the importance of striking the right balance between a realistic valuation and achieving the best possible price for our vendors.

“Everyone would acknowledge the importance and power of the internet in estate agency in the 21st century, which has led to an emphasis on such factors as the functionality of property search engines and higher quality photographs – something we, at JW Wood, pride ourselves on – but if the critical aspect of the asking price is not agreed on the basis of a well-informed and considered recommendation, the marketing may count for little.

“Contact JW Wood to arrange for one of our experienced valuers to visit you to provide further advice on marketing your property.”