Move 2 You

There is no other topic more guaranteed to get people talking in this country than what is happening to house prices; ok maybe the weather.

When the market moves in the right direction we feel good and we feel more wealthy. And when prices fall like they have done over the last year or so we worry a lot about what the consequences might be and we feel harder up.

It’s in the DNA of the nation. We are a nation of home owners and where we live and what we do with our houses tells others a lot about who we are. We add decking to our gardens, we carry out loft extensions, we knock down walls, build conservatories, our home is an integral part of the lifestyles we lead. It matters to us.

On the one hand just take a look at the TV schedule in an average week. Even now with all the turmoil in the economy there are programmes on every day about people buying and selling houses or developing properties or doing properties up …. if there is an angle on the housing market then there is a programme being made about it.

And on the other hand in the broader press we have been hit with so many stories over the last year about about how much money we are losing on our houses.

Why is this?

Because we read it! We lap it up!

And what do you think is the effect of these headlines on the average man in the street, with a house and a mortgage?

Well it makes us worried doesn’t it? Of course it does. That’s because it is a natural reaction to hearing bad news. But more than that, we start to hesitate about what we should do with our homes. Those of us that want to move put plans on hold, deciding to see what happens to prices before committing to a move.

And this becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and this is where we have been in the last 12 months or so. We are told that house prices are going to fall, so fewer of us are in the market for a new house – i.e. demand falls and guess what – prices fall to compensate.

Now clearly there have been some real problems in the market, no-one can deny that. We have seen for example a massive reduction in availability of finance due to the credit crunch.

But even with this the doom and gloom that is spread just adds to our woes. We develop a “herd mentality”. We feel safe if we act as a group – it is an instinct that goes back as long as we have been walking the face of this earth. If everyone else is doing something then it must be the right thing to do.

Can you see how much of what we do is all about psychology? Our mind drives our actions and if everyone feels bad about the market we feel bad about it as well.

Sometimes the right thing to do is to ignore the widely held belief, to take some control back and to act in your own best interests based upon your own individual circumstances.

What is the market after all?

It is just a collection of individuals buying and selling. So if you want to sell your home and you do manage to find a buyer who will offer you the price you want would you still sit tight and refuse to act just because that was the perceived right thing to do?

Of course not.

That’s all for now but check back here soon for more about why the way we see the housing market is all wrong.

As reported in yesterday’s news article here, we had our first radio interview this morning in the studios of BBC Oxford.

What amazes and thrills me is the reaction of people when they “get it” – when they understand the idea behind move2you.

There just isn’t anything else like this site out there. For many websites there’s a good reason for being unique – because many sites are just simply bad ideas, dressed up to look good.

But (and here’s why we’re excited) the reactions from everyone who’s heard about the idea of move2you are almost universal: “Why hasn’t anyone else done this before? It’s simply a brilliant idea!”

Sure, we’re biased, but we think so too!

And the possibility we have of making a big contribution to reviving a thoroughly miserable housing market just feels fantastic.

As we said in yesterday’s article, we now need to get people to be aware of the site, and to understand the benefits (remember: it’s a way to help seller’s “test the water” before going on the market, and it’s a way for buyers and sellers to get in touch with each other directly).

As we said on the radio this morning, “it’s a bit like a dating site for houses”.

Simple.

But utterly new to the housing market.

So would you help us spread the word? Please tell all your family & friends about move2you – it doesn’t matter if they’re looking to move or not … they can pass the message as well, and they just might know someone who’s thinking of moving.

Together, we can help start the housing market get moving again. Join in … tell everyone you know.

After all, you’ll see more interest in your own place if you do … and wouldn’t it be good to know who wants to move2you?

A website is only helpful and successful if lots of people know about it and visit it. So our big challenge now is to get the site publicised so people get to hear about move2you.

After all, the more people who use the site, the better will be the level of interest in owners’ properties, and better for buyers who want a particular house or street.

So, we’re delighted that a local paper has picked up our story … you can see it here: http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/3861035.Homeowners_can_find_help/

And, on the back of that article being published, the BBC have found out about the story. And they’ve invited us to the studio for the Radio Oxford Breakfast Show (95.2FM) so we can explain more about this revolution in the housing market!

Yes, it’s a tough market … but with the right tools (move2you) you can find the right buyer, or the right seller – just log your detail into the site and take it from there!

And if you like the idea, please help us spread the word! Email all your friends and contacts, either using the “Tell Others” page on this site, or directly from your own email system. Many thanks!

Anyway, here’s hoping we get the message across well on the radio tomorrow!

Speak soon.

Chris

This is the day the move2you team has been waiting for – the site officially launches today.

This means that you can find out the existing level of interest / demand in your own house, even if you’re not on the market. If you’ve read previous news articles here, you’ll realise this is tapping into the “hidden market” as we call it. And if you do that, you’re more likely to find a good buyer or seller and you’ll be able to move quicker.

Or, you just feel comfortable knowing how many people would be interested in your place if you ever thought of selling it.

So, you can “test the water” before actually deciding to spend money on a HIP and before you need to sign up with an estate agent.

And if you’d like to track any movements in particular streets or properties somewhere, you can do that too – you get to “Find Out First” if a seller might be looking to sell.

Of course, the demand for your own place increases if there are more people using the site – so our challenge is to get the move2you.co.uk site talked about. The beauty is this: everyone who’s using the site will benefit if more people also use the site! So it would be fantastic if everyone’s happy to tell-a-friend and spread the word.

We’ll be adding more news, along with tips & ideas of how to get better results from the site in this area. We are also publishing a revealing and surprising new Report, “The Great House Selling Conspiracy” in the next few days. This could open your eyes to the way the housing market really operates at the moment – and how it doesn’t support you in the way that you really want.

You can get automatic updates when we add new materials here by clicking the RSS button or just clicking here.

Anyway – enjoy finding out first: the interest in your place, and tracking activity in a particular area. Log in or Register (free) and good luck!

If you have anything to add, either contact us or add a comment below.

Speak soon

Chris