The Market Isn’t Dead, Kirsty! — It’s Challenging. Here’s How North Devon Sellers Keep Control.

Kirstie Allsopp made headlines this week calling the property market “dead.” That headline travels fast—and it captures the mood music around rates, taxes and confidence. But headlines don’t sell houses; decisions do. In North Devon, sellers who act with clarity on price, presentation and pace are still getting good outcomes. The proof is in the doing, not the doom.

What you control (and what still works)

1) Launch price that creates competition
Your first 2–3 weeks decide the story. A precise, evidence-led guide price widens your buyer pool, builds early momentum and reduces time on market. Don’t price for the offer you wish for—price to attract the viewings that create it.

2) Presentation that earns the click
Strong preferably staged daylight photos, clear floorplans, an honest but compelling write-up, and a crisp “why this home works for you” narrative aimed at your ideal buyer. Presentation doesn’t replace pricing, but it amplifies it’s impact.

3) Tempo: fast feedback, quick adjustments
If the first fortnight is soft, don’t wait for “the right buyer.” Decisive, timely price adjustments protect momentum and net outcome.

4) Friction-reducers
Up-front paperwork, clarity on fixtures and fittings, sensible flexibility on dates—these convert interest into offers when buyers have choice.

A real result: price alignment generates better results

• Launch: Our North Devon clients followed advice and priced sensibly, generating steady interest—11 viewings over four months (many viewers were unsold, which is typical right now).

• Month 3: A proceedable buyer made a low offer, but then withdrew their interest for personal reasons.

• Pivot: Readjusting to the market, the owners agreed to re-set the asking price to meet live demand.

• Outcome: Within 1–2 weeks, fresh viewings and 5 buyers competing to win the race to secure the property; within 3 weeks a new sale was agreed £20,000 higher than the earlier (withdrawn) offer—after lowering the asking price!

Lesson: Aligning price to the market didn’t “give money away”—it created more of it, by restoring momentum and buyer competition.

Why the noise feels louder (and why you can ignore most of it)

Yes, sentiment took a knock this week: Allsopp’s “dead market” headline, tax speculation and budget rumours are without doubt spooking higher price bands. But none of that removes the basics: well-priced, well-presented homes still sell—often faster in North Devon than those clinging to yesterday’s numbers. Control the controllables, and the macro becomes background static.

Your quick fix playbook

• Start with Solds, not listings. Use the last 3–6 months in your North Devon micro-patch; adjust for condition, plot, outlook, parking, EPC. ( We can help with this)

• Price to create competition, not silence. A lower, defensible guide will beat a “try high, reduce later” approach —on both speed and net. Every time!

• Pre-agree your move. If underperforming weeks pass by, make a decisive, swift adjustment. Speed protects your value.

• Tell the usability story. Light, flow, storage, work-from-home space, garden orientation—buyers pay for how a house works, not just what it measures.

Bottom line

You don’t need a perfect market to get a strong result; you need a realistic and workable plan. Price like a strategist, present like a pro, react to the data—and keep control of both your timescale and your outcome.

If you’d like this applied to your North Devon home—pricing read, micro-market comps, and a fast launch plan—drop me a line and we’ll map it out, today.

All the best

Nic Chbat – Director