McCarthy Stone Resales Success
McCarthy Stone Resales is having a positive impact when it comes to supporting those who wish to resell their retirement properties, as well as helping new customers experience what a retirement living lifestyle is all about.
Mr And Mrs Walker, Martin Court, Grantham
Mr Walker’s mother and father lived at Martin Court for just under two years – making the most of the beautiful landscaped gardens and taking part in the social activities organised by the development.
When their health deteriorated, they moved to a nearby nursing home to receive the additional care and support they required. Mr and Mrs Walker undertook the responsibility of selling the Martin Court apartment and after a frustrating 12 months when the apartment was on the market with various agents, McCarthy Stone Resales secured a sale within three months – achieving the full asking price.
“We originally instructed a local agent to market the property, who conducted all the viewings. However, we didn’t feel they fully understood the Service Charges and what entitlements they gave potential buyers. The agent seemed uninterested in our property and gave us very little feedback. After 12 months and only three viewings we decided to change agents.
“We had been pursued by an online agent with promises of a quick sale, so we decided to go with them. As there was no local representative for the agent, my wife and I had to conduct the viewings, which brought added complications when potential buyers were not qualified properly for the development.
“After a disappointing 12 months of minimal activity, giving into their regular sometimes over bearing requests for us to reduce the price to encourage a quick sale they still did not come close to selling the property. Luckily, just around this point we were notified by the House Manager, Sally that McCarthy Stone were launching their own Resales service nationwide. My wife and I decided that given McCarthy Stone’s specialist expertise in retirement living and experience with this niche market they may be able to help us.
“Due to our negative experiences with our two previous agents, we’d lost all confidence that we were ever going to sell my parents property at Martin Court. However, when we instructed McCarthy Stone Resales they were like a breath of fresh air!
“Before re-marketing the property, Georgia our Property Consultant and Sally gave us some great advice about de-cluttering the property and dressing it ready for viewings. They suggested relatively inexpensive ways of giving the property a make-over, which made all the difference for the professional photographs.
“When the property went on the market again we were astounded by the level of activity we received almost immediately. Within the first week we had had more viewings than we ever had before. We were in regular communication with Georgia, who kept us updated with feedback from all potential buyers.
“The House Manager, Sally did a fantastic job of showing people round the development; explaining entitlements, lifestyle benefits, as well as the social scene at Martin Court. She was also able to introduce potential buyers to current homeowners and give them a tour of all the communal areas, including the guest suite. She knows the development better than anyone and was able to give visitors a greater insight into day to day life at Martin Court.
“Thanks to the expert negotiating skills of Georgia we were able to secure full asking price on the property within three months from instructing the Resales team. Georgia was professional throughout, always getting back to us, answering any questions or concerns we had and keeping us up to date on the progress of the transaction via email.
“We are so grateful to McCarthy Stone Resales for all their hard work- we have already recommended them to our family and friends. Georgia especially, made us feel like we were her only client, she controlled the whole situation with prompt action and outstanding communication, ensuring we achieved a satisfactory result.”
Ms Patterson, Lantern Court, Devon
When Ms Ann Patterson took responsibility for the sale of her aunt’s apartment at McCarthy Stone’s Lantern Court in Devon, our Resales operation secured an 11% uplift on the 2018 purchase price – with just 26 days from instruction to agreeing a sale.
“My Aunt was one of the first homeowners to move into the Lantern Court development when it was first built in 2013,” Ms Patterson explains.
“At the age of 88, she enjoyed many happy years there and made lots of friends.
“She especially enjoyed the social aspect of retirement living, regularly attending the organised activities and events run by the development. As she was close by, my sister and I would visit often, and we have many fond memories of the time we shared.
“Sadly, in 2017 my Aunt lost her battle with cancer and passed away. As Executor of her Will it became my responsibility to administer her estate and sell her retirement apartment at Lantern Court.
“We originally instructed a local estate agent to put my Aunt’s apartment on the market, as this appeared to be our only option at the time. Unfortunately, due to limited exposure and the agent’s inexperience of retirement living we had little success.
“In November, we were notified by Lantern Court’s House Manager, Richard that McCarthy Stone were launching their own resales service for preowned retirement properties. As we were already aware of McCarthy Stone’s reputation and their expertise in retirement living we felt they would be best placed to sell my Aunts apartment. We therefore cancelled our contract with the local agent and instructed McCarthy Stone’s Resales team. Within 26 days from instructing them we had agreed a fair sale price on the property.
“The transaction went through extremely smoothly and we contacted the buyers who were purchasing the property on behalf of a relative. We built up a great relationship and shared our own experiences of supporting my Aunt into retirement living.
“Overall, we were really pleased with the McCarthy Stone Resale service and only felt they should’ve done it sooner!
Ms Conway, Bilberry Place, Bromsgrove
The death of a loved one, particularly a parent, is such an emotional experience without the added stress of then being faced with needing to sell their home. This is what happened to Sue Conway after her mother Rhoda, unexpectedly passed away in September 2018.
Rhoda, 86, had been enjoying life at Bilberry Place, a Retirement Living Plus development in Bromsgrove, after moving from Surrey to be closer to Sue.
“Mum was really settled at Bilberry Place”, says Sue.
“She’d left all her worries behind in Surrey and it was like the weight of the world had been lifted. She was enjoying making new friends and the convenience of being so close to town meant she was very active, always out and about socialising or taking a stroll.”
Rhoda’s time was sadly cut short after an impromptu trip to Weston Super Mare left her with a nasty cold which unfortunately developed into pneumonia.
Sue recalls: “During such a loss the last thing any of us wanted to deal with was the property side of things, and all the paperwork and monetary implications of this.”
Despite the upsetting circumstances, Sue was pleased to have the support of McCarthy Stone Resales, which took care of everything and meant she didn’t have the hassle of dealing with estate agents. Something that was all too fresh in Sue’s memory after recently having sold her own home.
“The whole process with McCarthy Stone Resales was extremely efficient and we had viewings lined up more or less straightaway. The great thing about it though was that the House Manager, took care of all of these so I didn’t need to be there.
“It was upsetting to have to keep revisiting the apartment, so knowing this was all in-hand was such a relief. I’d get email and text updates on how things were going and I felt reassured everyone was doing their very best to secure a sale quickly for us.”
With the House Manager’s knowledge of the development and the area, and the fact she knew the other homeowners at Bilberry Place better than anyone, she was uniquely placed to take perspective purchasers round, and deliver exceptional customer service.
Sue explains: “I’d read that if you rely on local agents to sell a retirement property you can often be waiting for some time, with little or no interest. Like me, they wouldn’t have the understanding to communicate about the lifestyle benefits and the fantastic communal areas and facilities, which is so important to people when making this type of move.
“They want to know about the social activities on offer, how the restaurant operates, they want to be introduced to some of the current homeowners and get a real feel for the place; and this needs to be done by someone who truly understands their needs and abilities.”
Sue received an offer in January 2019 and had probate granted just before exchange meaning they were able to complete very quickly afterwards in May.
Rhoda had originally purchased the property using McCarthy Stone’s Part Exchange scheme.
Sue continues: “I hoped when we came to sell mum’s apartment that we wouldn’t take too much of a hit. I was pleased to more or less break even on the price she paid, which was brilliant and the best outcome we could of hoped for.
“The fees were very fair and McCarthy Stone doesn’t charge any exit fees like some other retirement providers, so this was also a relief to us.”
For more information on McCarthy Stone Resales, our specialist property service, please visit: www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/resales
