Harrogate could be set for property boom as housing market starts up again

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The town could be set for a property boom as potential buyers can now visit estate agents, view properties and move house after seven weeks of the market being frozen - something gladly welcomed by those in the industry.

Agents across Harrogate said they have already received an abundance of calls from customers, with the potential for a spike in the market looking a real possibility.

Paul Baxter, of Dacre Son & Hartley, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the wheels have been set back in motion - and the safety of our customers and team members will continue to come first.

“This is a restructured restart of the market. We do not want another spike in the virus.

“There has been much talk about falling prices in the housing market, but in my 38 years in the job I have never seen such high demand for property in Harrogate - it is going to be busy.”

But one of the biggest property questions being asked at the moment - will house prices fall - is one that experts are still unsure about.

James Verity, director of Harrogate-based Verity Frearson, said: ”There has been a lot of speculation about how housing prices will change after lockdown.

“In reality, only time will tell. But what we can say is our phones have already been really busy with a demand of people wanting to view houses.”

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Dacre, Son & Hartley has said it has already seen a huge spike in people using its website looking for properties across the country - agreeing its first sale at 9.15am on the day after the Government announcement to get the industry back up and running.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacres, added: “We adapted quickly and have made sure we kept ongoing sales moving forward. We have plenty of evidence of good levels of demand and over the last few weeks, we have had lots of calls from buyers wanting to arrange viewings and potential sellers requiring sales and marketing advice. Our virtual viewings and valuations have been very popular and we will continue with these alongside a return to physical valuations and viewings.”

And while estate agents are reopening and the industry is starting to pick up again, experts have warned that it could take a little while for things to settle and agents to find their feet after the lockdown closures.

Patrick said: “The whole sphere of buying and selling a property is very personal, and it can be a worrying time as well as a joyous one.

“However, it’s important to note that the market doesn’t simply turn on and off like a switch, and it will need a few days to re-boot.”

More than than 450,000 buyers and renters in the UK have been unable to progress in their move since March.

But as the industry begins to power up again, companies have said they are doing all they can to adhere to Government guidelines and ensure customers are kept safe.

Letting and sales agency Linley & Simpson, which has an office in Harrogate, said boxes of PPE, including facemasks, gloves, hand sanitisers and wipes have been delivered to its offices across Yorkshire.

Each Linley & Simpson branch will only allow a certain number of visitors, including contractors, into the office at any one time, dependent on the physical space available in each location.

These rules will be displayed on the entrance door and within the office space.

The company has also posted information for landlords and potential clients about its new working practices, including viewings and valuations, on its website.

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Companies across Harrogate are employing similar practices to protect both customers and staff.