LoginSubscribe to Alerts

New homes agent profile - Q&A with David Smith, Myddelton & Major

Posted 27 March 2017 by Keith Osborne

WhatHouse? speaks exclusively to David Smith about his company, the local property market and the new homes he is currently promoting...

We look to Hampshire for this edition of our exclusive interviews with some of the new homes estate agents from across the UK. This time, we speak to David Smith, who set up his own agency just a couple of years ago and who is now marketing a collection of new homes in Andover, last year named one of of the country’s best High Streets for the second year running.

Hi David, please tell us a little about yourself and Myddelton & Major.

I have worked in Andover for over 35 years (a very young man when I first arrived!). Initially I was a partner at Pearsons and then later a senior partner at Dreweatt Neat and Carter Jonas.  I started a new business for Myddelton & Major in Andover in January 2015. Myddelton and Major is a multidiscipline business that’s based in Salisbury and it was the company’s wide-ranging professional skills which attracted me to them. We agreed to start a new office in Andover with our business strategy based on the same broad range of services which Myddelton and Major offer in Salisbury.

How has the property market been in your area in the first part of 2017 and is it much different from last year?

Despite the widespread gloom following Brexit in June 2016 our experience is that the property market has more activity now than this time last year during the build up to Brexit. Andover in particular has a number of new home developments, and the demand is such that we know there are waiting lists for new houses to be released. 

Have economic circumstances and the existence of schemes such as Help to Buy increased interest in new build homes with your clients?

There is very low unemployment in Andover, and the excellent road network makes it an appealing location, not only for those in Andover but for those who commute to work in Winchester, Southampton, Basingstoke and Newbury. The Help to Buy scheme has certainly enabled the new homes market to thrive and it is very good news that this has remained unaltered following the recent budget.

You have a new development coming to market, The Lawns – can you tell us some details about that?

The Lawns is an exciting development being undertaken by Perbury Developments. It was previously the home of the Andover Lawn Tennis Club who have relocated to a brand new facility together with indoor courts. On behalf of the Tennis Club I sold the land to Perbury Group who are now developing 14 houses on this site – eight three-bedroom houses and six four-bedrooms houses. My firm is very pleased to be involved with the marketing of these houses especially as they are being constructed to a very good standard with the developers taking note of the importance of good kitchens and high standard bathrooms. En suites are provided in every house type, including the three-bedroom mid-terrace, to the main bedroom. Prices for these homes at launch range from £305,000 to £485,000, with all homes having at least one allocated parking space and many having an additional garage or car barn.

For people unfamiliar with your area - can you tell us what should attract homebuyers to consider it to move to?

Andover is a town which is attractive to buyers because it is readily accessible by road, has a mainline railway station and a good range of junior and secondary schools as well as private schools within a short distance. The countryside surrounding Andover is outstanding with the beautiful Test Valley running to the south and the downlands to the north.

How have stamp duty and tax changes affected the buy-to-let market?

When the new stamp duty and tax changes were brought in there was certainly an immediate effect on the buy-to-let market but now with interest rates remaining at the levels they are there is still a strong market for buy-to-lets. If interest rates should rise this market might fail but at the moment the steady rental income together with a growth in asset value is an attraction to a number of investors.

Online/hybrid agencies are making headlines these days – how are traditional estate agents such as you tackling the new competition?

My estate agency is along the traditional lines and we pride ourselves in offering a genuinely personal service giving honest advice. It is a people business and fundamentally that is what matters. It is much better to talk to somebody about a house than to form an opinion online because that does not always tell the whole story.

How do you see the property market in your area performing in 2017?

I believe the property market in Andover is set for a very good year but of course odd events and economic crises cannot always be predicted, but not withstanding that I see it being a year of steady growth for house prices in Andover and its surrounding villages during 2017.

Alan Watt of Barratt Manchester
2 February 2024
We hear from Manchester head of sales and marketing Alan Watt about what great incentives Barratt is offering first-time buyers this year...Read more
Sterling Place (Barratt London)
22 December 2023
Stuart Leslie of Barratt London looks ahead to what London's property market may look like in 2024...Read more
Queens Cross (Mount Anvil)
18 December 2023
WhatHouse? speaks with Lucy Hopkins, marketing director at Mount Anvil…Read more
Sign up for email alertsGet the latest properties and updates sent directly to your inbox daily, weekly or immediately you are in control.
Subscribe to Alerts
Search news and advice

Click here to see your activities