Blog

We are constantly learning and enjoy sharing our expertise and insights. Here is where we will talk about hot topics, give ideas and advice on marketing, and tackle customers common questions and challenges.

We enjoy helping our sellers to secure the maximum selling price for their biggest tax-free asset! After all, that is one of the main reasons you need an estate agent for, right?

The difference between a good estate agent and a great estate agent, is often down to the proven results they religiously achieve for their customers.

Since launching as a business, we are very proud to have consistently achieved on average 3% over our sellers’ asking prices, which based on our average house price has meant £6,750 more equity secured for our sellers, and that is after our fees are paid!

This year alone, we are consistently achieving on average 5% over our sellers’ asking prices, which based on our average house price has meant £11,250 more equity secured for our sellers, after covering our fees. Impressive!

We would love to work with you and make sure you are one of our next success stories!

Details: Published: 01 July 2020; Hits: 1760

Harper Williams Estate Agents has been recognised for delivering outstanding customer service to its clients, making the shortlist of The ESTAS for the second year running - the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property industry within their regional category, but also within the most prestigious award open to all categories ‘The People’ award.

Details: Published: 24 May 2020; Hits: 1998

My estate agency journey started almost sixteen years ago now. I worked weekends for a small independent agency while I was at college and then increased my hours on the days off from my studies.

Being quite a bookworm (I still am!), the path I am sure back then that my parents would have wanted for me, would have been to go University, get a degree and become a solicitor or a journalist.

But it was sixteen years ago that I fell in love with this wonderful industry and my passion to help people at such a tricky time of their lives grew from there.

With years of hard work in between, countless sacrifices and lots of blood, sweat and tears (a blog for another day), there still is not a day goes by that I regret my decision to pursue a career as an estate agent and have dedicated the time in between to constantly learning and improving my craft to serve my customers and my teams as best I can. And will continue to do so!

Harper Williams was born two and a half years ago with the sole mission to keep our customers happy, by making a positive difference to people’s home buying and selling experience within our local markets. When you’re happy, we’re happy!

I think it is fair to say that within this short space of time, we have done just that by simply living and breathing our core values daily.

The curve ball that COVID-19 has thrown most businesses along with families worldwide is likely to be testing most people’s/ company values right now.

However, I am firm believer that tough times do not create character, they simply reveal it.

Details: Published: 24 April 2020; Hits: 1709

There is something exciting about the lighter nights and brighter mornings, the warmer change in the weather and the array of colours with the blooming of daffodils and tulips that naturally puts a spring in our steps!

This is traditionally why it is a great time for house buyers and sellers alike, who are eager to move before the end of summer and early autumn sets in.

Although this spring is very different with the COVID-19 cloud still lurking over us, I thought it was worth sharing our top ten tips, for those of you still thinking of moving this year after the lockdown period to accommodate your need to move, whatever the reason.

Time is our most valuable asset that usually we pray we had more of, so while we are in the lockdown period for another three weeks, here’s our top ten tips on what you can be doing to get yourself and your property market ready as soon as the restrictions are lifted, to ensure you use the extra time wisely.

Details: Published: 06 April 2020; Hits: 1916

As we all continue to smile through the confusion of the COVID-19 pandemic and adjust to lockdown lifestyle, I wanted to shed some light for transparency on how this affects the housing market, the adjustments estate agents and property professionals involved in the moving process have had to make and what this means for homebuyers and sellers, that are still keen to move this year!

Firstly, let’s cut through some of white noise from the ‘negative nellies’ out there on the government’s latest guidelines for estate agents and house movers.

The Government guidelines regarding the outbreak of coronavirus, basically advise all those involved in moving home to adapt and be flexible in order to alter their usual processes. But rest assured, it is still business as usual with an agile twist, to accommodate our customers where possible.

They specifically state that there is no need to pull out of transactions, but everyone needs to ensure we are following guidance to stay at home and away from others at all times, including the specific measures for those who are presenting symptoms, self-isolating or shielding. Prioritising the health of individuals and the public must be the priority.

Details: Published: 20 March 2020; Hits: 1908

During this challenging time, we wanted to wish everyone good health and to let you all know we are here to help where we can.

We have assessed what we can do to reassure you that we are taking the current coronavirus issue seriously to minimise the risk to our customers, the general public and our team.

As a business, we have two key priorities:

1. The safety and wellbeing of our team and clients.

2. To ensure our clients’ moves are not affected more than necessary (without conflicting the above point).

Whilst we are maintaining a calm and common-sense approach to this ongoing issue, as a team we are operating ‘business as usual’ although adhering to the best practice guidelines provided by the Government and Public Health England.

Should the government increase control that impacts our ability to perform as normal for a period, we have the following measures in place.

Details: Published: 22 December 2019; Hits: 2043

And just like that 2019 is almost over!

Christmas is the perfect time to enjoy the festivities celebrating with family and friends, reflect on the highs and lows of the year just gone and start looking forward to 2020 and what the New Year will bring!

Although I feel like my feet haven’t touched the floor again this year, what an amazing second year in business we’ve had.

We have grown our turnover by just shy of 500%, and therefore have helped so many more sellers and buyers on their moving journeys. Making even more friends for life and repeat customers in the process, (which will always be the main reason I personally love estate agency as much as I do), for the many relationships we get to make and cherish along the way!

So, the big question you are probably wondering…. how the hell have we done it?!?

Details: Published: 21 June 2019; Hits: 1883

Harper Williams has been recognised for its outstanding customer service to its clients by the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property industry – The ESTAS Customer Service Awards.

Not only have they been shortlisted within their own category, which is a massive achievement in itself during their first year since launching, but the Sales Director Leanne, has also been shortlisted for the 'People Award' in which the top 25 agents have been selected out of over 4,000 brilliant agents! Wow!

Details: Published: 09 June 2019; Hits: 2271

I have been keen to write this blog for a while, to share our views and shed some light on estate agency etiquette when it comes to getting your home valued. There seems to be a historic myth that if you ring an estate agent to request a valuation/ market appraisal of your home, that you must only do so if you are looking to sell your property!

Why would you waste their time otherwise…seems to be the consensus!

Well, let me poor cold water on this myth once and for all and share with you, some of the key reasons/ circumstances that we would be happy to assist in carrying out a professional appraisal of your property.

Details: Published: 19 May 2019; Hits: 2514

The Warrington based agency received the ‘Best in County’ title for Cheshire and Leanne their Founder was also one of the winners of the toughest category ‘The People Award’ at the prestigious ESTAS 2019. The award was announced by Phil Spencer, the TV property expert at a lavish luncheon & ceremony at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane London on 10^th May attended by 1,000 of the UK’s top property professionals.

The awards, celebrating their 16^th year determine the best estate and letting agents in the UK based purely on feedback from customers who are asked a series of questions about the service they have received from their agent, over 45,000 surveys were completed by customers during the competition.

Details: Published: 10 March 2019; Hits: 2082

Can ‘Property Photography’ help generate more interest on Rightmove & Zoopla?

Estate agency is a complex mix of valuation, marketing, lead generation, selling and negotiation skills along with local plus legal industry knowledge. Anyone who has ever sold a house will tell you, generating the right number of viewings is critical, but doing that can be tough when there are so many other competing properties for sale in your area. A recent review by ‘Estate Agent Today’ found that the bulk of agents say that homes which invest in specialist property photography receive more viewings than those without. This is something which home owners shouldn’t ignore, so what exactly are the benefits of professional property photography?

Put simply, “it helps you sell quicker and for more”. Professional property photography helps your listing to stand out when a buyer reviews their search results on portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla.

This has been shown to improve the “click through rate” (the number of times your listing is clicked on by buyers) and more importantly, the number of viewings requested. This obviously will increase the chances of your property selling quickly. But more importantly it can also increase the eventual selling price by creating interest from multiple parties.

Details: Published: 09 December 2018; Hits: 2143

There is something quite joyful about making a new luxury purchase!

Whether it is a new statement watch you’ve been saving for, that once in a lifetime exotic holiday or the new prestigious car you’ve always dreamed of…there is something very exciting about making an indulgent purchase.

Especially if endless hours of hard graft, time and patience have gone into making it happen!

For most people, owning a home will always be your biggest asset, so therefore the ultimate prestigious purchase has got to be investing in a luxury new home!

Why?

Details: Published: 04 October 2018; Hits: 2673

There is something magical that happens in the world of selling houses around this time of year, and this magic happens once September is out of the way, the kids have gone back to school, and Mums and Dads are back into their school routines after their busy summers and holidays, and it is as if there is a sudden mindset shift towards house moving.

Plus, autumn itself has a very majestic feel with the array of colourful leaves falling to the ground, the crisp mornings, darker nights setting in and the temperature changing, winter candles purchased and heating and fires on turning our homes into our cosy haven from the cold. Not to mention the excitement of Halloween, Bonfire night and Christmas along with all the festivities to enjoy.

And so, the magic begins….

Details: Published: 11 August 2018; Hits: 1955

I have been asked this question quite a lot recently, so I thought it was the perfect time to put the answer out there!

Selling or buying a house is considered the third most stressful thing you will ever do in life behind death followed by divorce and sadly for some customers, they are trying to deal with a couple of these at once.

This is exactly why empathy and accountability are two of our core values at Harper Williams, which we live and breathe every day.

Estate agency isn’t a typical 9am-5.30pm office job. It is a lifestyle! It is something you constantly think about and a responsibility that if you are passionate and love what you do, will never really leave you.

People generally hate estate agents…. And I mean really dislike us! We are up there with some of the most hated professions…tax inspectors, parking attendants and politicians just to name a few.

This depresses me!