THE COAST IS NOT quite as popular as it once was.
Back when Boris Johnson ordered us all to “stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives” we did as we were told and hunkered down. During the lockdown of 2020, I only went out for a run or to visit a supermarket with a mask on.
Because most of us were working from our spare bedrooms then, we didn’t need to be in the heart of things. What’s the point of living in a city – or even near a city – when you can Zoom into work via your laptop?
Living the dream
Suddenly, coast and countryside looked a lot more attractive than dead cities. Homes outside urban areas offered cleaner air, better views, wholesome runs and walks. Often, they also came with a lot more interior space than you’d expect for similar money in a metropolis.
While the position of properties hasn’t changed, bosses’ mindsets have. They want bums on seats. Office seats. Most people have been told to get off their kitchen stools and clock back in at work. Yes, hybrid is still an option. But even that arrangement is much less attractive than it once was for those who moved away from cities.
According to Rightmove, “many short-term trends brought about by the unique circumstances of lockdown have reversed.
Coastal homes taking a battering
“Coastal homes are taking longer to find buyers, and price growth has stabilised as more supply has come on to the market – some likely from movers heading back to the city. At the same time, fewer people are looking to escape cities as life has returned to normal and the debate continues about remote versus office working.”
If you’re an agent selling coast and countryside homes, you’re probably going to have to work even harder to shift them.
Area sales
One way of doing that is to sell the area as much as the property itself. Professional photographs of what’s on offer on the doorstep for potential buyers could help tip the balance. As we all know, people don’t just buy bricks and mortar when they buy a new house. Their emotions get involved. Nobody thinks, “blimey, that place is made of a lot of good-looking bricks”. People want a place they can see themselves in. Where they can imagine creating memories, going for walks and inviting people round to. They want something that connects with the lifestyle they hanker after.
Lindisfarne, Northumberland
Photos tell stories
Professional property images can capture all the lovely, gooey warmth and atmosphere people yearn for. And professional shots of the natural surroundings can transport people from where they currently live to the one they dreamt about when they were buying a Lottery ticket.
If the photos are seductive enough, those people could be forgiven for overlooking the fact that buying the property means a slightly longer commute to work a couple of days a week.
Speaking from personal experience
Photos worked for us. We bought a house in Northumberland this year, not because of the colour of the bricks. Not because we fell in love with the cement between them. But because it’s in a gorgeous area. Close to life-affirming walks through woodlands and along riversides. It’s also a short drive to some of the most sumptuous sandy beaches in the land. Photos helped convey the lifestyle we now feel very lucky to be able to enjoy. They can do the same for others…
***
Please drop me a line if you have any questions. I’d be happy to chat to you about capturing properties – and their surroundings – in the best possible light.
Let’s create content with even more kerb appeal.
– Lucas
07956 155 899
All photos copyright: Spick Brick Pics