Cheffins Cements its Status as Leading Property Company in Cambridge

Martin Walshe, head of New Homes, explains how the company offers a one-stop shop for those looking to sell land locally - and why now is the perfect time to buy a new home.

Please tell us about your role and responsibilities as head of New Homes at Cheffins

As well as dealing with those looking to purchase a new build property, I work closely with housebuilders throughout every stage of the development process. This ranges from single unit schemes to those seeking planning permission for larger sites. I deal with city centre, village and rural developments of all shapes and sizes and work alongside housebuilders from start to finish.

Why did Cheffins decide to set up a dedicated New Homes function just over 18 months ago?

Cheffins has always been one of the most active agents in the region when it comes to new homes sales, however just over 18 months ago we decided to set up a dedicated New Homes, Planning & Land department. This has allowed us to provide a one-stop shop for anyone looking to develop their land for housing with the department able to handle the process from planning permission to the sale of the final homes. We have specialist expertise under one roof which ensures our clients are provided with the best advice throughout the whole process, from land purchase, to obtaining planning permission and finally the sales of the new properties. In addition, the new department helps to give both developers and buyers a main point of contact throughout the process. 

How does your new website help buyers searching for new homes?

Our new website has a dedicated New Homes page where buyers can search all of the developments with properties available in one place. In addition, the website hosts a series of information for developers looking for a new homes’ agent.

Do you offer advice to buy-to-let investors as well as those looking for a home?

Cheffins New Homes department offers comprehensive advice for buy-to-let investors looking to pick up a property to add to their portfolio. Cheffins also has a particularly strong lettings team with over 2500 properties currently under management. This is often a draw for buy-to-let investors, particularly in Cambridge where the lettings market is particularly transient.

Tell us why Cheffins has just rebranded and how that will enhance your service offer to clients?

The Cheffins rebrand has been important in securing the future of our business, especially following 194 years in operation. The new brand does not only constitute of a smart new logo, corporate colours and a new website but also improved internal culture and shared values which all will result in even better customer and client service. The rebrand has helped to modernise our business and ensure that we are fit for the future. Cheffins operates in a busy area with a number of agents, so ensuring our differentiation from other firms is essential, particularly in today’s market. 

What advice do you have for anybody looking to buy a new home?

Now is a fantastic time to be looking for a new home. Increased stock levels on the market have led to developers offering some excellent incentives which give buyers the opportunity to acquire a beautiful brand new home for the first time in many years in the thriving Cambridge market. We expect the property market to bounce back in the next year, following Brexit, and prices are bound to start to increase again, so for those looking now I would recommend they move quickly to make the most of the deals on offer.

How does Cheffins get involved with the local community?

Cheffins has a significant presence in the local community. Not only do we sponsor the majority of the region’s fetes, fairs, fun runs and so on, but we also offer auctioneers from our Fine Art and Machinery departments for charity auctions on a regular basis. We are heavily involved in the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and the numerous projects which the organisation carries out throughout the region.

Do your new home developments tend to attract a typical ‘type’ of person?

The new developments we sell vary hugely from schemes of small one-bedroom apartments to collections of large five- or six-bedroom homes, so the buyers we deal with are hugely mixed. We work with a great deal of first-time buyers, as well as job movers and those who are upsizing or downsizing. As Cambridge continues to grow as a key employment hub for those in the biotech, tech and AI industries, we deal with many who have recently moved to the area for work and who often look for a hassle-free new build rather than an older property.

Do your new build schemes offer any incentives to buyers?

The new build schemes we are marketing can include a variation of Help to Buy, assisted moves, Part Exchange and Stamp Duty provisions. These incentives can definitely be a good way to draw in prospective purchasers, especially first-time buyers or those who are looking to up or downsize but who are struggling to sell their current property.

What are your predictions for the housing market in 2019?

Uncertainty created by Brexit in 2018 has caused an increase in stock levels throughout all market sectors. This has led to fewer transactions and prices levelling off, creating a buyers’ market for both new-build and second-hand homes. Whilst the upper end of the market has been hit hardest by fluctuations, this is likely to be the sector which will bounce back the fastest in 2019. Cambridge is still set to see thousands of employees move to the area with the likes of Samsung, AstraZeneca, ARM and others, and this brings with it opportunities for all of the necklace towns and villages.