Our Richmond Sales Director, Patrick Glynn-Jones, on why an EPC A rated property is good for the environment - and your wallet.

This week I’ve been preparing to launch a new sales instruction to the market, an aspect of my job I always enjoy. There’s a lot to think about before a property ‘goes live’ to a discerning audience, along with a palpable sense of enthusiasm and anticipation within the team as we work towards that time. It’s crucial to liaise closely with our client to ensure the property is presented in its best light: if it’s being marketed openly, the photographs must be tip-top; brochure descriptions accurate and approved; our PR agency must be aware; portals primed; website listings must to be spot on including the location pin; colleagues across our network need to be briefed and our social media team must be ready. If a client has requested discreet marketing we need to know exactly what it offers to the right buyer at the right time. It’s vital to have a thorough understanding of our client’s situation, selling motivations and timescales, to be aware of any ‘quirks’ or features of the property that should be highlighted and to make sure our knowledge about its micro-location (usually the street it sits on) is second to none. We need to hit those phones fully prepared with all the right information for buyers registered with us to buy a property like this. As I say, it’s an exciting time.

Often, however, the property will offer its own ‘stand-out’ feature which makes our job, as salespeople, so much easier: a beautiful period home will always sway people to buy with their period feature-loving hearts (ornate cornice detail above a romantic Victorian fireplace, anyone?); a convenient location will always attract the busy commuter, whilst a low maintenance, ‘lock-up-and-leave’ will appeal to downsizers splitting time between Richmond and far-flung locations in their retirement. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a property that doesn’t offer something to attract a buyer - its location in or around Richmond alone will always make it an attractive proposition.

One of our latest sales instructions  is a two double bedroom apartment situated on Garden Road, on the first floor of an attractive purpose-built development half a mile from North Sheen mainline station. To me, a rare feature is its EPC rating A, which is of economic and environmental benefit to potential buyers. The property has a current energy efficiency rating band A of 93.

If you consider that the average energy efficiency rating for a dwelling in England and Wales is band D (rating 60), then that’s a great selling point. It was particularly pleasing for us – and our client – to read the assessor’s recommendations for improvements which could be made:

Many buyers express concerns about the environmental impact of properties: low and zero carbon energy sources release very little or no carbon dioxide into the environment and eco-friendly heating, lighting and water heating systems all contribute to a higher efficiency rating. Financially speaking, these energy sources are more efficient too, which leaves more money in a buyer’s pocket once the utility bills have been paid.

Of course, there will always be a hungry market for houses with rattling sash windows, open fireplaces and stripped wooden floorboards. A lot can be done within these properties to transform them into more eco-friendly homes that are kinder to the environment and to your wallet. We have seen many examples of clever improvements made by sellers and are always happy to discuss this in greater detail.

In the meantime, if it’s a fabulous, EPC A rated contemporary apartment that you’re after, do get in touch to arrange an appointment for our open viewing day at Garden Road on Saturday 9th March, between 11am – 1pm (by appt only). 
 
Patrick Glynn-Jones, Director, Richmond Sales
020 8940 6789
patrickglynn-jones@jackson-stops.com
3 Lichfield Terrace, Sheen Road, Richmond, TW9 1AS