Sharpen the blade! – A North Devon Homeowners guaranteed path to selling in this sluggish market.

Published on October 12, 2025 On Property News, Selling

The property market in the South West — particularly North Devon — has entered a delicate chapter. House prices are growing more slowly here than in most of England; Zoopla’s September index places the region among the weakest.

Meanwhile, buyer demand is softening: according to RICS, new buyer enquiries in the South West posted a net balance of –43% in August (down from –28% the prior month). Add to that a growing stock of homes for sale (supply rising ~10% year-on-year in parts of the region) and many sellers face a stiffer environment where price positioning matters more than in the past. In North Devon specifically, average values have sagged: over one 12‑month stretch, prices fell around 4.1%.

If you are selling right now you will have felt the change, less activity, viewings that come and go with no real outcome. These trends reshape the calculus for anyone trying to sell here. The old model — pick a high “aspirational” asking price, host a blitz of viewings, and hope the market ladders you up — is futile.

However, that hasn’t killed momentum; it’s just changed how it’s created.

In Stephen Coveys best-selling book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, Habit 7 is: Sharpen the blade/saw. Don’t just keep hacking or sawing away with a blunt saw, take some time to sharpen the blade and the result will come more readily.

The sellers winning right now share two traits: flexibility and a willingness to take action or sharpen the blade—in presentation, in advice, and in how they negotiate once the offers come in.

Mindset first: remove reasons for Buyers to say “no”, create reasons for buyers to say ‘Yes’!

Buyers have options. Your job is to reduce friction and entice them at every step.

Practical Steps to take now:

1) Get your price right.

Position or re-position your price to make sure it is enticing to buyers right now.
If using ‘Offers in excess’ or ‘Offers over’ consider dropping this in favour of a guide price as a first step.
If you haven’t changed you price for 3 months or more and have little activity, drop your price by 5-10% to re-ignite Buyer interest.

2) Create presentation that invites action when the viewings come.

Show function: stage a work-from-home nook, tidy storage, define odd corners.
Bring the outside in: Maintain clean windows, trim hedges, make terraces usable in all seasons.
Fix the little stuff (handles, bulbs, sealant, scuffs).
Neutralise “project” signals: finish half-done jobs, clear surfaces, declutter by editing furniture.

3) Provide and allow access that matches modern schedules (if possible)

Offer evening and early-morning viewing slots.
Hold a tight block of weekend viewings to build pace and social proof. (Open House Strategy but only if demand allows – Get step 1 done first)
Keep short-notice flexibility for out-of-area buyers—your next offer may only be in the area for one day and will have several other homes to view.

4) Negotiation beyond just price

Not every negotiation is about price. Trade on:

Timescales: consider a quicker completion, or a longer completion, if needed.
Contents: offer key items, white goods, curtains/blinds, outdoor furniture, sheds.
Certainty: provide searches up-front (local authority, water/drainage, environmental). It’s inexpensive and removes a common delay point.
Assurances: Provide recent service certificates upfront (boiler, electrics, solar), building regs certificates, where relevant.
These concessions will cost far less than a purchase price negotiation and will keep the deal moving forward, once agreed.

Case studies: What flexibility and action can deliver:

Live instruction (now):

Sellers launched at a sensible guide and kept the house presentable, but viewings were sporadic—isolated one-offs over several months. As interest waned, we suggested tightening the marketing story, refreshing the price, and opening a broader viewing window (including after-work slots). We also prepped search reports and a simple “buyer pack” with Land registry docs in advance.

Result: in the last month, 7 fresh viewings and offers now pending. Same house, same market—but more enticing, more accessible and a clearer path forward.

Recent success (sale agreed):

After a proceedable buyer withdrew, the owners adopted our full plan: sharpened guide price, flexible viewing timetable, and cleaner paperwork. Within 1–2 weeks viewings surged.

Result: Within 3 weeks we had five buyers racing to secure it and a sale agreed £20k higher than the withdrawn offer. Lower noise, faster momentum, better outcome.

Once you get your pricing right, momentum will build, and activity will return so you have to be ready.

A Practical weekly rhythm for sellers:

Weekend: Clean windows and outdoor spaces ready for viewings in the coming week. Get yourself ‘30 minutes ready’ for a viewing
Monday: micro-maintenance list; 30-minute tidy; declutter day to day stuff – post, shoes bags coats etc
Midweek: twilight viewing window for working buyers; keep house “30-minute ready.” Tidy and declutter day to day stuff
Friday: Afternoon/evening – quick garden touch-up, windows/glass check, set room lighting, prep for Saturday viewings.
Saturday morning: Last minute tweaks – tidy and declutter, make sure the house smells nice, scented candles, bake some bread, last minute staging.

Why this works?

Action and Flexibility widen your buyer pool and speeds decisions. Getting the price aligned creates the activity. Easy access increases attendance. Up-front information clears the way forward. Negotiating on timescale, contents and certainty protects your sale price while solving the buyer’s real pain points making your home the preferred option compared to the competition.

Price still really matters and provides the spark—but in this market, flexibility is the fuel to get the fire burning.

Control what you can: make the home easy to like, easy to see, and easy to buy. Do that, and you convert interest into intent, intent into action and action into a result that works for you and your buyer.

Then you can finally move on.

P.S. I’m offering a no-obligation 15-minute Pricing & Strategy Check-In if it helps.

All the best

Nic Chbat – Director

Call me on 01271 410108 or drop me an email at nic@matchproperty.co.uk with the subject ’15 minute check in’. I’ll come straight back to you.