Wiltshire


<p>These days it seems like moving house is more complicated than ever &#8211; the market’s all over the place, the banks can’t make their minds up and all the good houses seem to have disappeared. It’s a stressful world to try and navigate on your own (who’s got the time anymore?!), so we’ve called in the big guns in the form of Alice White and Lucinda Prince, Wiltshire’s answer to Kirstie and Phil. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_9885-1.jpg" alt="Lucinda and Alice, White Prince property finders, moving house" class="wp-image-31395" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_9885-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_9885-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_9885-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_9885-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Co-owners of <a href="https://www.whiteprince.co.uk">White Prince Property Finders</a>, Alice and Lucinda have over 30 years of experience in the housing biz, and act on their clients’ behalf to find the best properties (some of which don’t even make it to market), perform viewings and negotiations on their behalf, and even ensure the handover process goes as smoothly as possible. Result! Plus, as busy mums who have been based in the area their whole lives, they know exactly what families are after when they’re scouring Wilts, Hants and beyond. Muddy pinned them down to ask our burning property questions &#8211; take it away, ladies. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-housing-market-is-crazy-at-the-moment-is-it-a-bad-time-to-sell-your-house">The housing market is crazy at the moment. Is it a bad time to sell your house? </h2>



<p>Luckily, we live and work in a beautiful area of the country where there&#8217;s often a shortage of good family homes coming to the market. So, although the UK market is a bit turbulent right now, if you have a good agent and the property is sensibly priced then there are plenty of buyers still out there in Wiltshire. The exceptional prices you might have achieved 12 to 18 months ago are less likely to happen currently, but if you&#8217;re buying and selling in the same market and upsizing then a falling market can often help you out. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Do you think the market will pick up again any time soon? </h2>



<p>Sadly we don’t own any crystal balls! If you&#8217;re thinking of moving house then the key is to get expert advice to see what the market conditions are currently and how this might effect your property sale or purchase.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">House flipping is a bad idea right now, right? </h2>



<p>Unless prices are rising at a rapid rate then flipping houses quickly always comes with risks. As a buyer you pay Stamp Duty, which needs to be factored in along with professional fees as it can be a considerable cost. If you are buying a ‘doer upper’ with the intention of flipping, then make sure you get a detailed quote from a builder and have a 20% contingency fund just in case.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Which areas in Wiltshire and Hampshire are you seeing most demand in? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/09/View_from_Great_Bedwyn_bridge.jpg" alt="Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire" class="wp-image-31710" /><figcaption>Great Bedwyn</figcaption></figure>



<p>Access to transport links as well as good schools are often key requirements for our clients, so the villages around Marlborough, Andover, Hungerford, Great Bedwyn and Pewsey are often very sought after. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">You both have children &#8211; do you think that gives you an insight into what busy families are trying to find while they juggle?</h2>



<p>We have both worked in the area since leaving university, and we think that local knowledge combined with all the contacts you make once you have had children really helps. What’s important in a house definitely changes as your family grows, so it’s key to be able to understand the needs of our clients. As working mothers we understand the juggle and how time is precious, so we help save our clients both time and money by cutting through the chaff and bringing suitable properties to them. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">As buying agents, do you get the chance to see houses before they come to market? </h2>



<p>Yes! Our network of contacts means that we often hear about properties months or weeks before the hit Rightmove (if they ever make it on to the web, that is!). If you&#8217;re looking to buy a property above £1,500,000 in particular, a good proportion of sales happen off-market. These properties are often only offered to buying agents like us, and therefore having an agent is key so you don’t miss out on your dream home. </p>



<p>We have an excellent relationship with the selling agents, where we get a lot of leads from. However leads can come from a variety of other sources too, such as our local property network as well as our own personal connections.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It’s not about just having good relationships with selling agents &#8211; who else is in your Rolodex?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_8766-2.jpg" alt="White Prince property" class="wp-image-31394" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_8766-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_8766-2-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_8766-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/07/White-Prince-IMG_8766-2-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Our little black book includes everyone from planning consultants, surveyors and solicitors to gardeners, removal services and cleaners, so we can point our clients in the right direction if they’re in need of local experts while they’re moving house. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Land registries and solicitors are still dealing with the backlog from Covid &#8211; can you help with that? </h2>



<p>A large part of our job is ensuring the process from going under offer to completion happens as smoothly as possible. We find out if there are going to be any delays due to the land registry or solicitors and try and avoid these if possible. There are various options, such as ordering private searches and ensuring that our buyers have a good conveyancing solicitor acting on their behalf. </p>



<p>If you are selling, then it’s important to instruct a solicitor early in the process so they have a bundle of documents&nbsp;ready to go as soon as you have found a buyer. Searches can be ordered in advance, although some only last a few months, so it’s important to take advice from your solicitor about the best route for you. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Finally, what are your top tips for anyone considering making the move in the near future? </h2>



<p>First and foremost, give us a call to see if we can help with your search. Every house move is different so it’s important to make sure you have your ducks in a row to make the process as seamless as possible.</p>



<p><em>Thank you to Lucinda and Alice from <a href="https://www.whiteprince.co.uk">White Prince</a> for their tips &#8211; if you’re considering moving house within Wilts, give them a call on 07795 275098 (Lucinda) or 07841 746988 (Alice). </em></p>


Should you move house in Wiltshire right now?

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