Highlights from 2023 at Rickitt Partnership
Well, as we wave goodbye to 2023 and usher in a sparklingly fresh new year, we thought we would take a quick look back over the last twelve months before focusing our sights firmly on the future and heralding 2024 with a few predictions for the housing market in the upcoming year.
In many ways 2023 was a strange year in the housing market, although it has not been as challenging as some experts would have us believe. Undoubtedly there was a real lack of quality housing stock for much of the year, yet we found that there were and are still a large number of cash and highly motivated buyers around, meaning that properties have tended to move quickly through the market.
We have acted for some delightful clients this year and have sold a wide variety of houses ranging from city townhouses to suburban family homes through to rural cottages, not to mention one or two rather sizeable country houses. Each and every sale is unique and the relationship we have with our clients is what makes each one so memorable. When things run smoothly, it is easy to keep smiles on people’s faces but, inevitably, not all sales run to plan and those are the ones that need just a little more nurturing. Just such a sale happened recently when Tim, Rickitt Partnership’s Managing Director, skilfully steered a sale through despite a buyer pulling out of the sale on the day of exchange. Tim found another buyer within 48 hours – a couple relocating to Cheshire. After an understandably stressful few days, our client was thrilled with Tim’s proactivity, the resolution and the sale price, whilst the purchasers were delighted to be able to move into their dream family home in Chester.
Rickitt Partnership is a very personal business with both Tim and Emma being heavily involved in the day to day running of the agency. We pride ourselves on being a truly boutique agency and it is testimony to their hard work that our reputation precedes us as an agency which offers exceptional customer service and extensive knowledge of the housing market. Awareness of Tim’s larger than life personality and expertise in the market has even spread as far as the BBC and we were all very proud to see Tim being interviewed for the second time by Faisal Islam. His expert opinion on the housing market aired on both the 6 and 10 o’clock National News programmes.
Tim and Emma have a strong sense of community and so, unsurprisingly, many of their highlights of the year involve our “extra curricular” activities. We were especially proud to be one of the main sponsors again for The Farndon Soapbox Derby. Tim also took part in the race with our kart, “Ralph’s Rocket” and came a very respectable 5th out of 34 karts. In between the racing we loved hosting our guests who enjoyed a glass (or two) of fizz and a rather delicious hog roast. But ultimately we were just thrilled to be able to play our small part in helping to raise over £47,000 for The Hospice of The Good Shepherd – what a spectacular day!
It does appear that racing might be Rickitt Partnership’s “thing” as Tim went shopping one day and came back with his very own Classic Formula Ford which he races under the Rickitt Partnership banner. We were all super proud to see him race at Oulton Park and despite it being a rather cold and blustery July day (yes July!) we were thrilled that so many friends and clients came to support him. We are looking forward to seeing him race again in 2024 – hopefully on a slightly warmer day!
And of course a review if the year would not be the same without mention of the inimitable Ralph Rickitt, Tim and Emma’s adorable pug and Head of Customer Relationships for Rickitt Partnership. Ralph had rather serious spinal surgery in 2022 and we are all thrilled that he made such a great recovery and continues to do so well – we think that sending him off to do his Ralph’s Reviews keeps him fit and active!
All in all, the lesson from this year certainly seems to be that navigating a rather tricky housing market requires experience, proactivity and not a little charm! As we head into 2024 we are seeing a change in the housing market with a slowing and harder market now coming into play. In Tim’s 30 years experience in estate agency, he has seen and experienced most market conditions. He feels that one thing has never been more pertinent than in the current market – you need an agent who goes out and finds the buyers, sitting and wait for them to come to you will not be enough in 2024.
If you would like to discuss putting your property on the market, please feel free to give Tim a call on 01244 322322 or email him on tim@rickittpartnership.co.uk and he would be delighted to chat to you.
