Given the restrictions of the last couple of years, the appetite for travel has probably never been greater. Wanderlust is back and a relaxing holiday could be closer than you think.
There are lots of reasons to choose Swoffers to sell your property, but to mark the start of our favourite season we thought we’d add a little sweetener with this competition. The lucky winner will get a £3,000 voucher from World Travel to spend on a holiday of their choice.
Tempted? Whether your perfect trip involves shrieking from the top of a huge rollercoaster, reading a book on a tropical beach, or perhaps a cruise – this prize can take you anywhere you want to go.
Launching today, Friday 20th May, the competition will run until the end of June.
To be in with a chance of winning this epic prize, here’s everything you need to know:
- Eligible for all properties currently listed for sale and all properties listed on or before 30th June 2022
- 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- If a listing is taken off the market in the period other than for a sale the entry will be withdrawn from the draw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 and 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 4th July
The market picked up where it left off last year and the average local house price has risen again – up 12.4% year-on-year and up 4% on the previous quarter.
The mix adjusted average purchase price for local market properties now stands at £573,155, which is a record high.
January to March saw the highest number of first quarter local market transactions since 2007; there were 199 property sales in the first three months of this year, which is 36 more than the same period last year.
‘We started the year facing the same challenge as last year, with a shortage of stock across all areas of the market,’ said Local Market director, Andre Austin.
‘Although we saw a rise in interest rates, availability of credit is still very good and there are still plenty of buyers around. When you combine those factors, it is no wonder the market was so buoyant in the first quarter. With a recent rise in rates it will be interesting to see if there is any impact for the remainder of the year.’
On the Open Market, the raw median price (realty only) in the first quarter of 2022 was £1,216,313. There were 26 Open Market transactions over the three-month period in total – eight more than the same period last year. Average residential property prices on the Open Market tend to fluctuate more than Local Market prices due to the very wide ranging sale types and prices, and the small number of transactions.
Alex Stuart, Open Market negotiator, said: ‘We’ve seen a promising start to 2022, with continued high levels of activity for the Open Market. It was a particularly busy quarter for Swoffers, as we sold more than double the number of properties compared to our nearest competitor.’
The technology, the prices, and the marketing have all changed drastically, but as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, our traditional values of honesty, hard work, innovation and excellent customer service remain the same.
The technology, the prices, and the marketing have all changed drastically, but as Swoffers Estate Agents celebrates its 50th anniversary, the company’s traditional values of honesty, hard work, innovation, and excellent customer service have all stayed the same.
To mark the milestone, Swoffers has been digging back in its archive in the attic to look at how the property market has changed over the last half century.
The business opened its doors in 1972, and since then it has handed over the keys to thousands of homes.
It started on St Julian’s Avenue next to the Swan Inn, and after five years it moved up the hill into a tiny corner office of the current premises at Ann’s Place.
Within six months of opening the company had sold lots of properties, including 1, The Citadel at Fort George for £65,000, Val au Bourg above Saints Bay for £50,000, and Charnwood at Hauteville for £24,000.
Fast forward 50 years and the market values of those homes have increased by thousands of percent. From humble beginnings, Swoffers is now the biggest and most successful local agency, consistently selling and renting the most homes.
Today there is a workforce of more than 30, and it is 100% locally owned, with all five directors working in the business. Director Spencer Noyon has been with Swoffers for 25 years, and he said the technology had been one of the biggest changes he had seen.
‘When I first started a computer had just been introduced, it was a massive white box in the corner of the desk, and the directors at the time refused to use it because they had their Rolodexes to contact people,’ he said.
‘There were no mobile phones so I kept a collection of 10 pence pieces in the car, and in between appointments I would find a phone box to collect my messages and then ring clients back.’
In the 90s, photography was still being done on film, so Spencer would run down Smith Street to Boots each afternoon clutching camera rolls to be processed.
‘You’d see other agents running down the hill, and one hour later you’d run back down again and pray there was a decent shot there to stick on the particulars, and then at 5pm you’d be folding up the particulars into envelopes and putting them in the post.’
Swoffers was the first local agency to have a website, despite early scepticism that it would never take off. It is now the most powerful and most visited estate agency website on the island. We were also the first to launch a dedicated property magazine.
Despite embracing the massive changes over the last 50 years, some things have stayed the same. Director Shauna Clapham has been at Swoffers for 35 years. She put the company’s longevity down to innovation and good people skills.
‘You have to know when to listen and not speak, and you have to build trust,’ she said.
‘Reputation is everything on a small island, you have to be upfront, people coming from the UK really appreciate that. Another attribute is discretion. Buying and selling houses is often an emotional process and we have to be sensitive to all parties’ needs and wishes.
‘So, you’ve got to be all things to all people, and have patience, and above all, have a really good sense of humour.’
To celebrate the golden anniversary, Swoffers is stepping up its charitable commitments with the launch of ’50 acts of kindness’.
Members of staff are coming up with their own ideas for 50 ways to give back to the community.
Potted history
When the business opened in 1972 it was originally called Swoffer Read, and it was made up of three founders and a silent backer.
Pat Swoffer was the estate agent, Richard Read was the accountant, and Adrian Heyworth (who later took over the tenancy of Herm with his wife Pennie) was the chartered surveyor.
On Thursday 20 July 1972 their first advert appeared in the Guernsey Press.
There were three listings, including a terraced building which was deemed ‘ideal for shop and offices with flat over’. It was ‘very reasonably priced’ at £6,000.
Within a few weeks the number of listings was growing, the adverts in the newspaper stated that the company offered a ‘courteous, prompt, efficient service’, and the telephone number had ‘three lines’.
The business has undergone various name changes, including Swoffer Read, Swoffer Read & Heyworth, Swoffer Shields, Swoffer Shields Whiteman, the Estate Agency Group of Guernsey, and nowadays it’s simply Swoffers.
Swoffers continues to dominate property sales on the Open Market.
Latest figures show that out of 26 agent sales so far this year, Swoffers negotiated 14, representing 54% of all agent sales and more than double the number sold by its nearest competitor.
The picture was similar in 2021 too, with Swoffers negotiating half of all open market sales and 57% of all sales of £3m and over.
Traffic to the open market section of our website continues to grow, with more than 30,000 page views so far this year and more than 90,000 during 2021.
‘Despite the pandemic, these last few years have been extremely busy for us, on both the local and open markets. We continue to see a robust rate of enquiries from potential relocators. Our Open Market is resilient and well placed to offer an attractive option in the light of tax and other pressures being faced in the UK and similar jurisdictions,’ said Craig Whitman, director of open market sales.
‘Whilst global conditions remain uncertain, Guernsey as a low tax jurisdiction with a well-regulated finance industry, will continue to attract HNWs looking for an easily accessible location offering wealth and asset protection.
‘In the last few years, we have seen a more diverse selection of relocators, from individuals looking to retire, to young entrepreneurs.
‘Benefitting from good connectivity and the ongoing roll out of fibre broadband across the island, coupled with the benefits of tax caps, low income tax, no inheritance tax, no capital gains tax, Guernsey is certainly a jurisdiction to be favoured right now.’
Craig said that Swoffers’ success as a business was down to a wide range of factors.
‘Namely industry experience – we’ve been doing this for almost 50 years – great local knowledge and contacts, a strong reputation, and active marketing campaigns. Our digital footprint is growing all the time, with the use of clever online advertising.
‘We are also in the process of updating our website which will bring an even greater user experience.’
The island’s leading estate agent has agreed to sponsor the RGGC junior section, helping to fund a series of competitions both on and off island.
‘Support like this is invaluable to a sport like ours,’ said Lindsay Boyd, director of golf at Royal Guernsey.
‘Our aim is nurture young players and introduce them to competitions here and enjoy being part of our club. We would like to thank Swoffers for their generous support which will help a number of children.’
Swoffers’ funding will help youngsters take part in eight competitions throughout the season. The competitions are open to all junior players on the island who have handicaps.
The company will also be offering a prize for the junior player of the month during the season.
A potentially life-saving defibrillator has been installed outside the Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club’s premises, following support from four local businesses.
Swoffers, Gower Financial Services, Matt Walsh Box Cardio Tech, and the Guernsey Dental Laboratory, got together to buy the defibrillator so that it would be on hand in an emergency.
Swoffers director Spencer Noyon said the importance of accessible defibrillators was brought into sharp focus last summer when Danish footballer Christian Eriksen collapsed during a game at the Euro 2020s.
‘It really struck me that a cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.
‘Christian Eriksen was resuscitated on the pitch using a defibrillator, and this underlined the need for sports clubs and organisations to have the emergency life-saving equipment.
‘Last year Swoffers, along with other businesses, paid for three defibrillators at local football grounds, and this year we’re more than happy to extend that to the boxing club.’
The Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club was established in 1935 and, at its premises in the Route des Coutures in St Martin’s, it provides a safe place for personal training sessions and for learning and progressing in boxing.
The island’s boxing development officer Amanda Hobart said they hoped they would never have to use the defibrillator, but it was reassuring to know that it was there.
‘We were so pleased to receive it, it’s great to have it not just for the club, but for the community of St Martin’s.
‘We don’t all know what our genetic make-up is, a cardiac arrest could happen to any of us, someone just walking past the club could have a heart attack, so the more people that know it’s there the better.’
Defibrillators analyse a heart rhythm and, if necessary, automatically give a high energy electric shock to the heart to restore a more stable rhythm.
The compact devices are easy to use and don’t require prior training, the machines guide the lay person through the process by audio instructions and visual prompts.
Very little routine maintenance is required because they are designed to be stored for long periods without use.
Mike Froome from the Guernsey Cardiac Action Group said having a defibrillator close to hand could mean the difference between life and death because time is vital in these situations.
‘There’s a delay if you have to wait for an ambulance to get somewhere like the boxing club in St Martins, and every minute of delay means a 10% less chance of survival from cardiac arrest.
‘The more that we can put around the island, especially in public places, the better.
‘There are lots of houses around the boxing club, there’s a school nearby, there’re people walking up and down the street, so it’s a fantastic place to have one.’
Image L to R: Mark Clapham (Guernsey Dental Lab), Dave Haddlington (Boxing Club President), Scott Rowe (Gower Financial Services), Matt Walsh (Matt Walsh Box Cardio Tech), Spencer Noyon (Swoffers)
The development of Belle Greve Bay has long been contentious, but a leading international property developer has come up with an ingenious plan which will see a floating village in the bay as early as next year.
The development will compromise 200 floating maisonettes with 100 Open Market and 100 Local Market properties. Spokesman for the developer, Primero de Abril, said: ‘These state-of-the-art homes will possess luxury specification throughout, and more importantly, be carbon neutral. The Open Market homes will enjoy panoramic views of all the islands and the Local Market homes will be underwater.’
The development consists of four blocks with a local theme; Conger Rise, Ormer Heights, Winkle Way and Pollock Place, all connected via floating gangplanks.
Mr de Abril added: ‘We were aware when original plans for Belle Greve were proposed that many existing residents were upset they could lose their views. To get around this we decided that the floating village will vacate the bay first thing every morning, leaving an uninterrupted view of the Little Russel for the rest of the day. Then, under its own power, the development will sail around the island down to the south coast for lunch, ending up every evening at Cobo on the west coast where residents will be able to enjoy Sundowners at the Rocky if they wish.’
Reservations for the development are open from today.
.
Not even a storm with over 100mph winds could stop the fourth annual Random Acts of Kindness week, in aid of the Smile for Georgie Foundation, from going ahead. Whilst the weather was anything but sunny, islanders days were certainly brightened with small acts of kindness co-ordinated by teams at the foundation, IslandFM and Swoffers throughout the week. Here’s a snapshot of what was achieved throughout the week-long initiative:
Monday 14th February – Valentines Day saw 50 lucky lovebirds receive a morning pick-me-up, in the form of a box of Cadbury Milk Tray, at North Beach and Smith Street.
Tuesday 15th February – Customers at the White Rock Café ate, drank and smiled for free all morning.
Wednesday 16th February – Staff at multiple vaccination units were in for a pleasant surprise with Senners pastries delivered as a token of appreciation.
Thursday 17th February – Les Voies School was next on the list, surprised with a pizza party and climbing wall, provided by Outdoor Guernsey, as well as a £50 Outdoor Guernsey voucher won by a pupil.
Friday 18th February – Beanies Café-goers had their caffeine fix for free and were entered into a very special prize draw.
As we reflect on the past week, the encouragement and joy from all involved shows just how important the power of kindness is, and how we can all work a little harder to spread a simple smile.
The quarterly residential property prices bulletin has been released and it makes interesting reading for both the Open and Local Market.
The average Local Market purchase price appears to be levelling out, with a slight fall of 0.6% in average prices (£550,893) compared to the previous quarter. Such was the increase in average house prices over the previous 12 month, this still represents an increase of 11.7% compared to Q4 in 2020.
There is further evidence that the market may be starting to slow down with 30% fewer local market transactions taking place in in Q4 compared to the previous quarter, and 42% less transactions than the same period last year.
Andre Austin (Local Market Director) remarked “In truth we expected there to be a slowdown in transactions, especially year on year. The bounce back from the two periods of restrictions during the pandemic was record breaking and unlikely to be sustainable. House buyers are facing new challenges with recent increases in interest rates and hikes in energy bills, all will undoubtably be a factor for those looking to purchase a new property”
However, Andre is keen to highlight that the market is still buoyant “we are still experiencing extremely high demand for properties and have a number of potential buyers waiting in the wings for the perfect property to come on the market. Figures show that sellers are getting sales much closer to their asking price than previous years and that’s something we have been experiencing with our vendors”.
This point is further backed up by the fact that time between properties appearing on the market and subsequently being sold continues to decrease, meaning buyers are having to be quick if they are to secure their next property.
The Open Market saw a total of 35 properties sold in Q4 for an average price of £1,584,375 which is a significant increase on the previous quarter (14.9%) and resulted in the average medium across the whole of 2021 being 12% higher than that of 2020.
Craig Whitman (Open Market Director) commented that “Guernsey is an increasingly attractive place for buyers looking to relocate to. The unpredictable nature of the last two years has seen a sharp increase in interest from those looking to settle on the island and that trend looks set to continue in the New Year. As an agency we have continued to dominate in this space, with 50% of all Open Market sales being facilitated and executed by Swoffers in 2021”
To read the full bulletin click here
We are looking forward to the annual Random Acts of Kindness Week in aid of the Smile for Georgie Foundation, which starts this coming Monday (14th February).
The charity aims to to make a difference and bring smiles to the people of Guernsey through random acts of kindness, which Swoffers has proudly been a part of since its registration in 2018.
Previous years have seen bus users have their journeys paid for, new mums on Loveridge Ward gifted special pamper packs, and free coffees and croissants for office workers to name just a few. The Random Acts of Kindness Week initiative strives to honour Georgie’s memory by spreading happiness island-wide, and we’ll be doing exactly that every day next week. You’ll have to wait to find out what we’ve got in store for this year’s celebration, but keep your eyes peeled as we will be scattered around the island – hopefully spreading plenty of smiles!
Read more about the Smile for Georgie Foundation and its fantastic work.
