A new year is upon us and like so many of you, for me it is a time to take stock. Several of our country rambles over the holiday period (like the one pictured above) provided ample opportunity for reflection and planning for the business in 2009.

The latter part of 2008 saw continued anxiety in the housing market. Sellers remained somewhat unrealistic about sellling prices and buyers struggled to obtain mortgages or were concerned not to overpay for properties which would not hold their value. Everyone is more optimistic at the start of this year and whilst I do not expect there to be a recovery in the market for some time, sales are being completed successfully.

Buyers are still nervous and the whole process, stressful at the best of times, can be overwhelming. The extra help we have been able to offer clients has made a huge difference - whether that’s finding a  removal company at short notice, checking out the local school and nursery provision or finding reliable local tradesmen for all those jobs which need doing as soon as you’ve moved in. In a number of  cases over the last few months these ‘extras’ has been more important to clients than the job of finding a suitable home. This has  been the easy bit after all!

All in all it has been a hectic couple of years at Country Gate and things are not likely to settle down for a while as we are on the brink of taking on an exciting new project. Keep an eye out for full details of the direction Country Gate will be taking in 2009.