As seasoned specialists in Cornish property transactions, Jackson-Stops has an impressive track record in facilitating the buying and selling process.
As a national estate agency, Jackson-Stops has been established for over 100 years; so behind the Cornwall team there’s a legacy of more than a century’s experience within the market. Recent expansion has seen three new directors Dean Lonergan, Daniel Ball and Richard Holder really drive the business forward. Jackson-Stops has always covered the whole of Cornwall, but with the arrival of this new trio of directors, the agency has seen further growth into the north coast, at the heart of which is the Newquay office, which has been integral in forging the way for this expansion in prominent locations including Padstow and St Ives; whilst popular choices remain on the more tranquil south Cornish coast, such as Fowey, St Mawes, Falmouth and the Helford River.
In terms of buyers and sellers and where Jackson-Stops sits within the market, sales consultant Zara Roberts explains: “We operate in the premium sector of the market covering prime coastal and rural property across the whole of Cornwall. With a head office in Truro and a second in Newquay, we have quite a wide spread from the Tamar down. Our Cornwall office’s reach is further strengthened by our eight other West Country offices, which in turn is part of a network of over 40 national offices, including eight in London. In terms of our buyers, we tend to see quite a strong proportion of out-of-county buyers mixed with active in-county buyers that want to move within Cornwall. So, we have quite an assortment due to the large geographical area that we cover.”
Director Dean Lonergan expands: “Our buyer portfolios tend to be clients who are looking for a lifestyle change, whether that’s a second property, or a total relocation. Those currently looking to purchase are in a strong position as we are sitting in a buyer’s market. March to May has been very buoyant for us with plenty of instructions coming on.” While this upturn in the market is certainly music to the ears for buyers, sellers need to be realistic about pricing in order to get maximum return as Dean confirms: “It’s important to get the price right before you launch. The pandemic days of people bidding over the asking price have gone and so we now need to change tack to get the most for our clients. We know we can get the level of marketing right, and we know we can get properties in front of the right audience, but ultimately, it comes down to presentation and price. It’s always easier to talk a price down than up.”
Zara agrees: “In the current market, it’s important to listen to the vendor to discover what their motivation for moving is. Dean’s right, in order to garner the best initial interest in a property it has to be priced correctly. There’s actually quite a short time window of opportunity in which to capture interest once a property launches, and if you launch at the wrong price, that interest can dissipate quickly.”
Being part of a national brand, Jackson-Stops is able to offer its clients a high level of marketing. Alongside listings on estate agency portals such as Rightmove, On The Market, Prime Location and Zoopla, these are supported by Jackson-Stops own website and social media platforms as well as high-end local and national print advertising. Traditional brochures are supported by professional images, with drone photography and drone fly-throughs showing virtual tours of properties also now an option. Such attention to detail has seen the Cornwall office recently win the Innovative Marketing accolade at the Jackson-Stops awards night.
“At Jackson-Stops we pride ourselves in offering a truly personalised service,” says Zara. “When you meet with one of us, you will continue with that same person throughout the process. So, if I meet a client for a market appraisal and take that property on, the client will have direct contact with me throughout. If we have a vendor or a buyer that needs to ask a question, we are always very responsive and like to keep our finger on the pulse to make sure that clients feel both informed and connected. Keeping this single point of contact and open channel of communication has received a lot of positive responses from clients, and results in much fewer stressful transactions.”
As a Cornish agency, Jackson-Stops has been operating with the county since its inception in 2000. “As an agency we knew we needed to evolve to keep pace with modern methods and approaches and so bringing on the new directors, Daniel, Richard and myself, has been a natural progression for the brand,” says Dean. “I would echo that strongly,” adds Zara. “I think the agency has gone from strength to strength. The enthusiasm and energy has resulted in a greater presence now than we ever had before, and it’s this growth and expansion that will be fundamental for the brand going forward.”
Due to the level of property within the Jackson-Stops portfolio, buyers and sellers are discerning, seeking the security of dealing with a knowledgeable and an experienced agent both geographically and in terms of property type. “Being part of a national brand we are quite unique in that we have this combination of a national presence and identity, as well being a local agency. Inter-office referrals are common and having such a wide and trusted network is great for both buyers and sellers. Our database of proceedable clients searching for their dream Cornish homes also puts us in a very positive position,” adds Dean.
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