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Signs of recovery? Perhaps.
Despite talk of rising interest rates, job losses in the public sector, increasing fuel prices and the continuing lack of suitable bank finance, the last four auctions held on Merseyside in the last fortnight have shown some signs of improvement with success rates of 34%, 59% and 76% with one sale unreported. Modesty prevents me from saying who achieved the highest success rate but from personal experience the room was fuller and bidding livelier an a number of lots sold well in excess of the guide price.
There continues to be demand for houses, bungalows and flats in need of refurbishment and whilst owner occupiers remain in short supply, there are several investors, builders and dealers anxious to take advantage of the lower prices knowing that there is still strong tenant demand and the potential of rental growth.
Whilst there is a feeling of treading water and consolidation in the property market, both residential and commercial agents I have spoken to over the last couple of months are reporting a slight increase in activity levels but we all know there is a long way to go yet!
I have attended conferences recently where agents are thinking long and hard about their normal business activities and whether these can be increased or extended to give them a competative advantage. There are some clever and forward thinking people out there and it is true that one never stops learning.
Auction House have now moved to be the fourth largest in the country and the largest auctioneer outside London. We are finding that there are an increasing supply of repossession properties coming to the auction market and we are busy compiling our catalogue for the April sale.
E-marketing is assuming greater importance. Blogs and Twitter are being increasingly used together with phone apps and podcasts,. all of which are new to me but which I am sure will have increasing importance in the way we market ourselves from now on. Being a complete luddite and totally at home with paper and pen, I am being dragged kicking and screaming into this brave new world.
Lets hope it doesn't all end in tears.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the increased levels of interest in our next property auction, particularly for small houses needing repair and refurbishment.
I still think that this is a great time for first-time buyers to get involved in buying property as prices remain low.
We've been seeing more young couples attending our auctions, clearly prepared to look at buying their first home and making it onto the property ladder ...
Knowsley Authors
Lesley Martin-Wright
Chief Executive, Knowsley Chamber of Commerce.
Lesley Martin-Wright is the newly-appointed chief executive of Knowsley Chamber of Commerce.
Gaynor McGrail
Director at Knowley payroll services firm i_Paye.
Gaynor McGrail is co-founder of i-Paye, which offers payroll and financial services help for contractors, freelancers and self-employed professionals. She founded the company in 2005 with her husband Shaun and last year it topped the LDP Business Hot 100 list of the region's fastest-growing businesses.
Manufacturing Authors
Tony Caldeira
Managing Director, Caldeira Cushions.
Tony Caldeira is managing director of Caldeira Cushions. The company operates manufacturing sites both in Merseyside and in China.
Edward Moss
Public Relations and Communications, Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Edward Moss, Public Relations and Communications, Manufacturing Advisory Service.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (www.mas-nw.co.uk)offers manufacturing companies practical, hands-on support in all aspects of manufacturing to help achieve improvements in productivity and competitiveness. Since 2002, MAS North West, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered in the region by The Manufacturing Institute, has helped manufacturers to generate financial returns totalling ã739 million and to safeguard 8790 jobs. The Manufacturing Institute (www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk) is an independent charity - driven by manufacturers for manufacturers. For 15 years, The Manufacturing Institute has helped transform manufacturing performance, working with over 4000 companies to gain competitive advantage from high impact skills building and productivity improvement programmes.
David Ost
North West regional director for EEF
David Ost, North West regional director for EEF.
David Ost is the North West regional director for EEF, the organisation for manufacturing, engineering and technology-based businesses, which operates a regional office in Warrington.
Property Authors
Chris Johnson
Managing Partner, Smith & Sons in Birkenhead
Chris Johnson is managing partner of Smith & Sons in Birkenhead. The firm is one of Merseyside's most prominent commercial property agencies and property auctioneers.
Andrew Owen
Head of business space, Mason Owen
Andrew Owen is head of business space at Liverpool commercial property agency, Mason Owen. The firm operates across the UK with a number of high profile clients.
Maritime Authors
Stuart Wood
Former Liverpool senior pilot interested in the maritime world
Stuart Wood, former Liverpool senior pilot, retired last June after 41 years holding his pilotâÂÂs licence. He interested in all aspects of the maritime world, principal of which is his perpetual love affair with the River Mersey.
Jim Teasdale
Chief Executive of Mersey Maritime
Jim Teasdale is chief executive of Mersey Maritime, overseeing all activities including marketing, lobbying, business development, and training and education. He was formerly chief executive of Birkenhead-based Laird Foundation, a centre of Vocational Excellence in Marine Engineering, and also represented Sea Vision UK in the North West region. Mersey Maritime lobbies for the Merseyside's maritime cluster.
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PROPERTY AUCTIONS
By Chris Johnson on Mar 9, 11 0