The Warrington housing market, like many others, has experienced a notable shift in 2023.
The percentage of home sales agreed and moved (completed) compared to those withdrawn from the market unsold has decreased relative to 2022.
Looking at independent data for the Warrington area (WA1 to WA5) โฆ
๐๐ป๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ, ๐ณ๐ฏ.๐ด% ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐๐ต๐ฎ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐ณ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ, ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ
(3,556 Warrington area properties exchanged and completed vs 1,260 properties that withdrew from the agentโs books, unsold).
๐๐ป๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ, ๐ฑ๐ด.๐ฐ% ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐ณ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ, ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ
(2,516 Warrington area properties exchanged and completed vs 1,792 properties that withdrew from the agentโs books, unsold up to the 20th December 2023), meaning there has been a โฆ
๐ฎ๐ฌ.๐ด% ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ
It’s interesting to compare that with the North West regional and national stats for both years.
In the North West, 68.58% of properties were exchanged, completed, and moved in 2022, compared to 55.28% in 2023, a drop of 19.4%. Nationally, 65.55% of properties were exchanged, completed and moved in 2022 compared to 52.39% in 2023, a decline of 20.1%.
This could raise concerns among Warrington homeowners and potential sellers. As a seasoned estate agent in Warrington, I have observed these trends closely and offer insights into this phenomenon and strategies to enhance your home’s saleability in 2024.
๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป
Economic Influences: much like the rest of the UK, Warrington has been subject to financial pressures such as inflation and Bank of England interest rate increases. These factors have affected buyer affordability, leading to a more cautious approach to home purchasing.
Market Saturation and Buyer’s Market: 2023 saw a surge in Warrington properties on the market. This increase changed the Warrington property market from a strong seller’s market to a balanced market or even a buyer’s market in some parts of Warrington throughout 2023, where the availability of choices led to a more selective purchasing behaviour.
Changing Buyer Preferences: In Warrington, buyer preferences have evolved. There’s a growing demand for properties that offer flexible living spaces, energy efficiency, and modern amenities, which not all available homes meet.
Local Economic and Social Factors: Warrington’s local economic and social developments, such as job market shifts and community developments, have also played a role in influencing the housing market dynamics.
๐ฆ๐ถ๐ ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ๐๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ‘๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฐ
Warrington properties are still selling, yet not at the rate they were in 2021 and 2022.
Just under 12 out of 20 Warrington people in 2023 have sold and moved (i.e., the 58.4% figure mentioned above). If you want to avoid being in the 8 out of 20 Warrington people who were unable to sell and move this year, there are some things that you can do to stack the cards in your favour.
To start with, the saleability levels in Warrington in 2023 are very similar to the saleability rates between 2014 and 2019.
- Strategic Pricing: Understanding the Warrington market is critical. Homes priced correctly from the outset are more likely to attract serious buyers. This requires a deep understanding of the local market trends, something a knowledgeable estate agent can provide.
- Tailoring to Buyer Preferences: Align your Warrington home with current trends. This could mean investing in creating flexible work-from-home spaces, upgrading energy systems, or modernising key areas like kitchens and bathrooms. However, before you start spending tens of thousands of pounds on this, please do pick up the phone so I can give you the best advice for the type of property you own in Warrington. I have lost count of the number of times I’ve seen a Warrington homeowner spend money on the wrong things without advice, only to find the money they spent did nothing for the value of their home nor made it more saleable.
- Effective Marketing: Utilise a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes high-quality photography, possibly virtual tours, and leveraging online social media and portals. As experts in the Warrington property market, we can target the correct demographic and present your home in its best light.
- Preparing for Viewings: First impressions matter. Ensure your Warrington home is well-presented, clean, and decluttered. We can offer personalised advice on the presentation of your home to appeal to potential buyers.
- Flexibility and Negotiation: Be prepared for negotiation and show flexibility in terms of viewing times and conditions of sale. This approach can make your property more appealing compared to others on the market.
- Capitalising on Local Knowledge: Warrington’s unique charm and amenities should be highlighted. As a local market expert in the town, I can help showcase these aspects effectively to potential buyers.
The decrease in the saleability rate in Warrington reflects broader economic trends and evolving buyer preferences. However, with the right approach and strategies, selling your home in 2024 can be a realistic and successful endeavour.
By understanding the Warrington market, pricing strategically, aligning with buyer preferences, and utilising effective marketing and presentation techniques, you can significantly enhance your chances of a successful sale.
As a Warrington property market expert, I offer more than just transactional advice; I provide insights into what makes our local Warrington market tick. By partnering with a knowledgeable estate agent, you can confidently navigate these challenging times and maximise your chances of a successful home sale in 2024.