The 9th May 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the Liberation and to help us remember and celebrate this special day, Swoffers is challenging every islander to decorate their home, school, office or place of work with DIY recycled bunting.
‘There are lots of way to make your own bunting and lots of material you can use to make it – without damaging the environment,’ said Swoffers director Shauna Clapham.
‘As a 100% locally-owned company, our Guernsey community is really important to us and we want to do our bit to help commemorate this special anniversary.’
The Swoffers team has already been busy making bunting out of all sorts of recycled materials and is decorating the windows of its St Peter Port office with its creations.
‘We’ve used Guernsey milk cartons, out of date magazines and business cards and staff brought in some old clothes and scraps of fabric for us to turn into bunting,’ said Mel Tostevin from Swoffers creative team.
‘It’s been great fun to make and we really hope that as many people as possible have a go at making their own bunting out of whatever they can find.’
Swoffers has produced an animated video guide with some top tips on how to make your bunting and there’s also a special template and simple instructions on the website https://www.swoffers.co.uk/bunting4lib/
Members of the Swoffers team are also happy to visit any community groups who would like some help making their bunting.
‘Liberation Day is such a special day in our history and one that the whole community can commemorate and celebrate. All of us at Swoffers want to play our part,’ said Shauna.
Swoffers is also encouraging people to share their creations and any tips on how to make DIY bunting on social media using the #bunting4lib
It’s been another successful Random Acts of Kindness Week. The Smile for Georgie Foundation partnered with Swoffers and Island FM to provide a different act of kindness on each day.
On Monday, new mums on Loveridge Ward were all given a special pamper pack to help spread some happiness and smiles.
On Tuesday is was the turn of bus users on the number 11 route who had a welcome surprise when Smile for Georgie picked up the tab for their journey.
It was fun for free at Oaty and Joey’s Playbarn on Day 3 of Random Acts of Kindness Week and on Thursday cupcakes were given to each recipient of Meals on Wheels.
Finally on Friday, office workers looking for their morning caffeine fix were surprised with a free coffee from the Beanies mobile coffee van.
The week ends with a music night featuring local band City Limits at the Aero Club on Saturday evening.
‘The Smile for Georgie Foundation aims to make a difference within the local community through our random acts of kindness and smile raising initiatives,’ said Annie Le Prevost from Smile for Georgie.
‘Shortly after the charity was launched in 2018, Random Acts of Kindness Week, supported by Swoffers, aired on the radio and the connection between Random Acts week and the purpose of the charity itself was clear to see.
‘The charity approached Swoffers with a view of working together in future years to fulfil our mutual aims. Swoffers kindly agreed with our proposal and here we are another year later. As a result of our joint initiative, Random Acts of Kindness Week is going from strength to strength, with a greater public awareness and an increasingly impressive range of goodwill gestures that benefit the wider community and make people smile.’
Swoffers and The Smile for Georgie Foundation look forward to working together in future years to ensure each Random Acts of Kindness Week is more memorable than the last.
https://www.smileforgeorgie.org.gg/
It’s been a super-busy couple of weeks for the sales teams at Swoffers, as 2020 continues where 2019 – a record year – left off.
Our local market team agreed 16 sales in a single week at the beginning of the month and our open market team negotiated 8 of the 10 sales that completed in January.
This level of sales activity is continuing.
‘We have seen a big increase in the number of people asking for valuations of their homes with a view to placing them on the market in the first half of the year,’ said Simon Martin, local market negotiator.
‘This is a free service we offer. We visit your home and use our local knowledge and market research to formulate a realistic valuation of your property. The team has lots of experience of the Guernsey property market and we compare your house or apartment against other similar properties that have recently sold before discussing a market value with you.
‘Our aim is always to get the best deal for our clients, and we aim to get back to you within 24 hours of our visit with our no obligation valuation and recommended marketing figure for your property.
The local market team is currently seeing big demand for three and four-bedroom family homes; sensibly priced, well-maintained properties in the £300k to £600k bracket are extremely sought after right now.
‘Our advice to buyers is to be quick. Make sure you are registered with us to receive our emails or texts when a new property comes to market and then contact us to book in a viewing as soon as possible or you might miss out,’ said Simon.
‘Now is a great time to put your property on the market with buyers waiting in all price ranges. Just give as a call.’
The recently published Q4 property prices bulletin confirms that 2019 was a busy year on both the local and open markets.
The total number of local market sales in 2019 was 845, 35 more than in 2018 and the highest annual total since 2007.
‘Swoffers had a record year in 2019 and that trend is continuing in 2020,’ said Scott Ingrouille, local market sales negotiator.
‘January and February have been extremely busy both with sales and new instructions and buyers need to be quick, as well-priced family properties are not hanging around long. The best thing to do is register with Swoffers and you will receive all the latest news and properties straight into your inbox.’
In the fourth quarter of 2019, the two-bedroom house category had the highest proportion (18%) of transactions. Three-bedroom bungalows were also popular, representing 15% of all sales.
‘In our experience there is still a big demand for larger family homes. We have a number of people looking for three and four bedroom properties but at the moment there is limited supply,’ said Scott.
The average sale price of a property is not necessarily a clear indication of the performance of the market, but the mix-adjusted average purchase price for local market properties was £441,295 in the fourth quarter of 2019, 3.5% higher than the previous quarter and 0.8% higher than the fourth quarter of 2018.
It’s been a solid start to the year on the open market too, with 10 sales in January, eight of which were sold by the Swoffers team.
You can read the full Guernsey Residential Property Prices Bulletin online
This is your chance to win a holiday worth £3,000 through World Travel. Simply list your house for sale with Swoffers between now and the end of March to enter our draw. Terms and conditions below:
- Eligible for all properties currently listed for sale and all properties listed on or before the end of March 2020.
- If your property is sold by Swoffers during the period of the competition you will still be eligible.
- If a listing is taken off the market in the period other than for a sale the entry will be withdrawn from the draw.
- One entry per property listed.
- The £3,000 holiday prize is a voucher from World Travel & is not redeemable for cash.
- Any entrant who enters or attempts to enter the competition in a manner which in Swoffers’ determination is contrary to these terms and conditions or by its nature is unfair to other entrants may be removed from the competition at Swoffers’ sole discretion.
- The prizewinner will be selected in a random draw week beginning 1st April.
Local Market property sales in 2019 were the highest since 2007 according to the latest figures from Unusualities of Guernsey, an independent compiler of local conveyancing statistics.
Local market sales were up by 51% on 2015 – the height of the financial crisis. In total, there were 879 local market sales in 2019 – 34 more than in 2018, equating to an annual rise of more than 4%.
‘It has been a record year for our Local Market sales team,’ said Spencer Noyon, Swoffers director and local market negotiator.
‘The market picked up in 2018 and this has continued throughout the last 12 months. Every indication is that this level of activity will continue as long as we see a good supply of sensibly-priced properties coming to the market for sale.’
Within the open market, Swoffers negotiated the top ten most expensive individual sales in 2019 and already has a good number of sales due to complete in January. There were 71 open market sales in 2019 compared to 75 in 2018, and the proportion of high value properties sold was high. There were 25 Open Market sales over £1.5m of which 18 were over £2m, confirming renewed interest in relocating to Guernsey.
‘The turbulent political situation across the water in the UK has certainly influenced a number of new clients who have moved to the island in the past year,’ said Shauna Clapham, Swoffers director and open market negotiator.
‘Although Guernsey continues to be somewhat of a hidden secret, we have been continuing to target potential buyers and relocators through our innovative use of digital marketing and by joining delegates from Guernsey Finance on a recent We Are Guernsey marketing trip to Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
‘We are optimistic for 2020 as we have sales in the pipeline and offers being considered. Guernsey’s stable tax regime and well-regulated, supportive business environment are important factors in the decision-making of relocators along with the island’s safety and security.’
Swoffers’ lettings and management team has also had a record-breaking year as the rentals market remains strong.
‘We have grown our property management and lettings team over the last year to cope with the increased level of demand and are proud to have the largest and most experienced team of property professionals to look after our clients’ needs,’ said Andy Biggins, Swoffers director and property manager.
‘The rentals market continues to be very busy with quality, well-priced properties being snapped up within 24 hours. Renting out property remains a sound investment and we expect 2020 to continue to be busy.’
With all the political uncertainty, both in the UK and further afield, it’s safe to say that Guernsey remains an attractive jurisdiction to settle in.
The island not only offers favourable tax options when relocating but provides a wonderful lifestyle and quality of life that rivals most other jurisdictions.
It’s a safe place to live; it’s a secure and stable jurisdiction. The island is very welcoming. It’s easy to relocate to; it’s as simple as just buying or renting a home. It has an entrepreneurial culture and is a great place to do business.
Clients who have moved to Guernsey tell us it is a real hidden secret!
But how do we get that message across to a global audience?
The team at Swoffers is always looking for new ways to spread the word about Guernsey and highlight our vendors’ homes so they are seen by as wide an audience as possible, all over the world.
We have been working with our digital marketing partners on some innovative ways of targeting potential buyers and relocators in the UK and Europe and as far afield as the Far East and Arabia. As a 100% locally owned company we certainly punch well above our weight when compared to our international rivals.
But we’ve taken it one step further by joining delegates from Guernsey Finance on a recent We Are Guernsey marketing trip to areas where ex-pats are living and might be considering a move closer to home.
Swoffers Managing Director, Craig Whitman, travelled to Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai for a series of Private Wealth roadshows, presentations and meetings.
‘I was immensely proud to be promoting our Open Market and everything that Guernsey has to offer to a global audience including private wealth managers, lawyers, trust professionals and potential investors and relocators,’ said Craig.
‘I really didn’t know what to expect but the response has been phenomenal. So many people were impressed that we were out there in person and were interested in talking to me and finding out more about what the island can offer both them and their clients.’
Craig attended the STEP Asia Conference in Singapore where We Are Guernsey exhibited and, together with delegates from Investec, Walkers, Cazenove Capital and Collas Crill, hosted a lunchtime presentation about private wealth structures, investments and the island as a potential new home for both clients and their businesses.
‘It was the first time an estate agent has joined one of these marketing trips and it gave me the opportunity to talk about what Swoffers does, why we are the leading property specialists in Guernsey and how we can help anyone looking to relocate,’ said Craig.
‘Our message was that although there’s competition from other jurisdictions, Guernsey’s wealth of experience in the offshore arena stands us in good stead as a reliable, safe and stable jurisdiction to do business, and to buy a home. That message was well-received.’
The next stage of the trip to Hong Kong was also successful although interrupted by some of the political unrest that has recently troubled the region.
‘We still managed a pretty full schedule of individual and group meetings,’ said Craig.
‘I was delighted to meet with representatives from the British Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and various businesses and professionals representing high net worth clients. It was great that Jo Stoddart from Locate Guernsey was able to join us for this part of the marketing trip. Together we were able to give a full picture of the advantages of a move to Guernsey ranging from its tax benefits to its great work:life balance.’
After five days in Hong Kong the delegation moved on to Dubai for the STEP Arabia conference and another round of presentations and meetings.
‘I made some more great connections in Dubai and together with representatives from Beauvoir Trustees, Walkers and Skipton International we hosted a really well-received presentation raising awareness of what Guernsey can offer in terms of investment but also as the perfect destination to move your business and your family to.
‘Swoffers already commands more than 60% of all Open Market sales and 2019 has been another busy year with new enquiries from potential buyers in both the UK and further afield. But we can’t just assume that this will continue. We believe in continuing to invest in our brand, continuing to promote Guernsey and all it has to offer and exploring innovative ways to do this,’ says Craig.
‘But sometimes just sitting down and talking to people is the best way to get our message across and this was certainly true of my recent successful trip to the Far East and Dubai. This was the first time that Swoffers has ventured so far, but it definitely won’t be the last.’
Swoffers is delighted to be sponsoring an extension of junior hockey in the island for the next three years.
‘Supporting sport at grass roots level is something that is important to Swoffers and when the opportunity came up to sponsor hockey development in our primary schools we jumped at the chance,’ said director, Spencer Noyon.
‘The outreach programme offers a great opportunity for children to try a sport they wouldn’t normally get to try at school and gain confidence, encouraging a love of sport. It’s great that the coaches are in every primary school and I understand that over the year they will reach around 1,000 pupils. The outreach programme also supplements Guernsey Hockey’s Sunday morning Junior Hockey sessions and hopefully it should help the island increase the pool of players continuing to enjoy the game at senior level.’
Guernsey Hockey coaches Mike Kinder and Katy Taylor both love seeing the children get involved and learning all sorts of life skills through sport.
‘It is hugely rewarding coaching hockey in the primary schools,’ said Mike.
‘We are immensely grateful to Swoffers for their sponsorship of our programme which will enable us to continue this fantastic work. It is wonderful to see the children trying out new skills and gaining confidence. It is amazing the number of children who start out feeling awkward and slightly embarrassed who by the end of six weeks are really getting involved in the games.’
Katy says she enjoys helping the children become more confident and seeing individuals trying really hard.
‘The Swoffers outreach programme allows children to try out a sport they wouldn’t necessarily have considered before, which I think is a great thing. All the hard work in the schools culminates in two tournaments in the spring. We love these days as it gives us the chance to show the children our fantastic hockey facility at Footes Lane and for them to show us their new-found skills. The tournaments are always played in a really good spirit,’ she said.
Photo caption: Katy Taylor and Mike Kinder delivering one of their outreach sessions at Castel Primary School.
The third quarter of 2019 has continued to be positive for Guernsey’s property market with prices remaining stable and the volume of sales increasing.
- There were 249 Local Market transactions during the third quarter of 2019, 21 more than the previous quarter and just two fewer than the same quarter of 2018.
- The mix adjusted average purchase price for Local Market properties was £426,560 in the third quarter of 2019, 0.3% lower than the previous quarter but 1.6% higher than the third quarter of 2018.
Four-bedroom houses or bungalows had the highest proportion of transactions at 17% of total sales and properties between £400,000 and £499,999 showed the largest increase in the number of sales, up from 16% to 23% of all sales.
Q3 2019 was another record quarter for Swoffers.
‘We have continued Q3 where we left off in Q2 and again we’ve seen lots activity in the mid-range of the market, something which is reflected in the official figures and it’s good to see prices are remaining stable,’ said Swoffers director Andre Austin.
‘This will continue to give more confidence to those looking to buy and also for sellers to know there are plenty of buyers around ready to make the move. Stock levels continue to be an issue across all sectors of the market so it would be great to see more properties being listed for sale in the coming months.’
There were 18 Open Market transactions in the third quarter of 2019. One more than the same quarter in 2018 and six more than Q2.
‘Open Market enquiries continue to be strong, no doubt fuelled by the political situation in the UK and further afield,’ said Andre.
‘Guernsey is a safe, stable jurisdiction with favourable tax rates, no inheritance or capital gains taxes and a wonderful quality of life, and so offers a great alternative for those looking to relocate. We are continuing to promote Guernsey and all it has to offer to a wide audience around the globe through our innovative digital marketing as well as joining Guernsey Finance on their current We Are Guernsey marketing trip to Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai. So far, the response has been really good with people interested in finding out more about what the island can offer them both in terms of moving their business here as well as their home. We are confident this level of interest in the Open Market will continue.’
The official figures can be found on the States of Guernsey website
Swoffers Local Market Negotiator Scott Ingrouille provides some advice and guidance for First Time Buyers
Buying a property is one of the most important financial events of your life so it is important you choose an Estate Agent who has your best interests at heart.
As a First Time Buyer you might feel nervous or unsure about the process of buying your first home. Don’t be. The experienced team at Swoffers are here to help and will be with you from start to finish helping you find and buy your perfect home.
These are our top tips:
Determine how much you can afford
Speak to your bank, building society or a mortgage broker to get some advice on how much you can borrow. In most cases you will need to have a deposit, usually 10% of the purchase price, and you will need to take into account the legal and court fees as well as any bond fees and document duty. As a rule, allow approximately 4% of the purchase price to cover these buying costs.
Start your research early
Now you know what sort of price bracket you can look in, start considering your main requirements for your perfect home. How many bedrooms do you need? Are you happy living on a Clos? Do you want a house, bungalow or a wing? A detached property or a terraced or semi-detached? Is parking or a garden essential? Are you happy to do work to a property? What sort or area would you like to live in?
Register with Swoffers
With access to the internet so readily available, it may be tempting just to search for properties online via your phone, tablet or PC.
However, some properties are sold even before they reach the internet and only registering with Swoffers can guarantee you get to see properties first – and before they have been sold.
You can fill in our registration form via our website or call one of our experienced negotiators on 711766 and they will be happy to discuss your individual requirements and help with your property search.
Viewings
The best way for one of our experienced agents to gauge your real demands from a property is to meet you in person. By meeting you we can build up a clear insight into your individual requirements and what you like and don’t like.
If in doubt, book a viewing at a property that seems to meet your requirements and meet one of our team.
It is rare that you will find your perfect home on your first viewing, but the more viewings you undertake, the more you will understand your own property needs.
We will keep in regular touch with you by phone, text or email, notifying you of any properties new to the market. We recommend you keep checking our website as well in case anything else catches your eye.
Making an Offer
Once you have found your perfect home you need to make an offer. Talk to your negotiator about the offer you want to make, and we will contact the vendor on your behalf. Your initial offer may not be accepted and so you will need to consider whether you wish to increase your offer or continue searching.
Once your offer has been accepted, we will guide you through the buying process and prepare all the necessary paperwork.
You will need to appoint an advocate (we can provide you with a list of local advocates but recommend you call around to request some quotes) and let your finance provider know that you have had an offer accepted.
Survey, Conditions of Sale and Deposit
Your finance provider will instruct a surveyor on your behalf and they will contact us to arrange access for the survey. Your advocate will visit the property, prepare a title report and liaise with your finance provider to ensure that what you are buying is what you think you are buying. When they are happy with everything, they will ask Swoffers for Conditions of Sale, arrange for you to sign them and then you need to pay the deposit into Swoffers’ holding account. The vendor will then sign the Conditions of Sale. As agents for the vendor we will hold on to the deposit until completion.
You now have an unconditional sale and you can prepare for completion day.
Completion Day
With the deal signed up, you must now appear in Conveyancing Court on the day of completion at 9.30am when the property will become yours and you collect the keys to your perfect home.
Congratulations!
