Spotlight on: Hodsons Estate Agents

Our Home and Property team recently engaged with James Clarke, the managing director of Hodsons Estate Agents to gain advice from the professionals that you should consider when buying a home.

How long have you been an estate agent?

26 Years

What do you like about your job?

It’s a bit cliché but every day is different, I’m out and about looking at nice houses and meeting nice people. Whilst our industry gets a lot of negative press I can honestly say that the relationship we have with our customers is one I enjoy.

What is the one thing that you would say puts off most buyers when looking at properties?

Every case is different and I’m not sure there is one particular factor. Often buyers will say they just didn’t get the right feel and even they aren’t sure what is the reason. From experience though I would say asking prices and property presentation are the two biggest influencing factors that help to generate interest in a property.

If you could give first time buyers one piece of advice, what would it be?

Start saving for your deposit as early as possible.

When you value a house, what would you say adds the most value to a house?

The two rooms in any house that will add to value and saleability is the Kitchen and bathroom. Other rooms can be improved at relatively low cost but if a kitchen needs to be refitted this can put off buyers unless the asking price reflects the work involved.

Are there any up and coming areas locally that you would say will be hot property in 2017?

Wakefield is generally a popular area with excellent transport links, services and schools so provided the asking price is competitive the property should sell and that applies to all areas of the City.

When would you say is the best time of year to sell your house? Is there any particular time that houses sell better than others?

We don’t see the peaks and troughs of the market like we used to. Spring used to be the best time to sell your home but over recent years we have found that as soon as Christmas and New Year are out of the way, activity levels pick up quite quickly. If I was looking to sell in 2017 I would be putting my house on the market in January.

What has been your proudest moment of 2016?

Opening our new Pontefract office in April and it is already selling a good number of properties.

And finally, if you could live anywhere, where would you live and why?

I grew up in Collingham near Wetherby and it was a great Village where everyone knew each other and there was a real community spirit so if not Wakefield probably there.