Diary of an agent: Jamie-Leigh Harvey and Simon Barker

Jamie-Leigh Harvey (JLH) is a lettings manager based in Knight Frank’s Esher office where she covers Esher, Cobham and Weybridge. Simon Barker (SB) was born and bred in Sherborne, Dorset and has more than two decades of experience in sales.

With the housing market having reopened under strict social-distancing rules and Knight Frank introducing protocols to keep everyone in the process safe, they talk about the prospects for the remainder of the year now the market is open once more.

Now the market in England has resumed, what are you seeing?

JLH - We couldn’t transact for a few months – although we did complete some lets ahead of lockdown as people looked to escape London - so there’s pent-up demand that’s been building throughout. Coming out of this, I think a lot of people are looking to make a lifestyle change. They have had time to reevaluate and come to the realisation that the Home Counties really aren’t that far from central London. We’ve had more than double the number of potential tenants registering since reopening that we’d normally expect at this time of year.

SB – Without doubt, far more Londoners coming down to Dorset as we will attract a lot of family buyers interested in the education offered by the local schools. Sherborne and the surrounding area remains a very popular place to retire, as well.

How is sentiment as we emerge from lockdown?

JLH - We traditionally handle a lot of tenants via the local relocation agents, who work on behalf of corporates, usually in the oil companies and manufacturing industries. As part of their packages, families relocate and make use of the excellent schools in the area such as ACS International Schools and Danes Hill School. This market has been quieter as a consequence of lockdown and a lack of budget for these types of moves. However, there is still a good level of demand from local tenants, or tenants from London looking for a lifestyle change with a bigger property and garden.  

SB – We were on a roll, and the year was looking fantastic. With the Brexit decision made and the election behind us the floodgates had opened. While Covid-19 has put paid to that, there will still be a market this year, albeit with slightly less stock available.

What do you think the remainder of the year will be like?

JLH - We do the vast majority of our business in the summer months – June, July and August, typically in time for tenants to have settled by the new school term. However, as the school calendar has changed this year, I expect to see less of a spike and a more balanced year of tenants moving into the autumn. Our sales team remain incredibly busy, and we are seeing quite a lot of their vendors who have secured a sale coming over to rent for a period to allow them to become proceedable to purchase in the future, or whilst they build their own house. 

SB – Traditionally July and August are quieter but, in part as international holidays look like they could be off, people will be at home. I would expect the market to progress through to the autumn.  

Given the lockdown experience, what insight have you taken from it?

JLH - I’ve just agreed two large rentals in St George’s Hill in Weybridge. Both of the parties saw the property online – Instagram and Rightmove, respectively – so I’d say that it’s never been more important as a landlord to make sure you are online.

SB – Good houses will always find their market. That will continue to be true even after Covid-19. Pricing remains the unknown. However, I’m not expecting, nor have I experienced to date, a rash of undervalue offers.

What are your final thoughts?

JLH - I feel positive about this year. Whilst there is no doubt we are in unprecedented territory, the balance of stock and demand has remained about right in order for the market to continue to move. This should maintain a lack of stock, which will in turn support prices. I also think more tenants will be looking to move as I’m sure that those small irritating niggles about their current properties have been amplified by being locked in the house for so long. 

SB – People are looking to move to the country, especially in the £1m-plus bracket. For the right product there will be strong demand regardless. I launched a property onto the market at £1.2m last week and it attracted seven viewings in the first day.