HOUSE prices in Knutsford will remain buoyant this year, according to the experts at Wright Marshall.

The merger of two well established and successful Cheshire estate agents, Wright Marshall was launched last year.

Coinciding with the merge was the introduction of Fine and Country homes in association with Wright Marshall, offering the only national estate agency presence in Knutsford.

Fine and Country allows your property to be marketed to the widest possible local, regional and national audiences, focusing on those relocating from London and the south east looking for prestigious homes in and around Knutsford.

Lifestyles are changing, people are looking to live close to schools, local amenities, public transport links and to reduce running costs.

These factors contribute to making Knutsford an aspirational place in which to live.

Therefore, even in times of uncertainty, high demand with limited supply triggers an increase in sale prices. This has enabled Wright Marshall to sell properties well in excess of their asking prices – and it is expected that this trend will continue this year.

Wright Marshall says it has now firmly established itself as a main influencer in the Knutsford housing market, due to its wide range of marketing tools.

The estate agency added that in the upper tier of the housing market there are potentially only a handful of buyers for each property, making broad marketing through a number of different mediums essential.

When you put your home on the market with Wright Marshall, the service includes targeted marketing lists and displays in local and national newspapers, internet property portals, social media platforms and in its highly visible office in Knutsford.

Wright Marshall’s first year in business...

There was a high level of confidence displayed in the first six months of 2014, with a noticeable increase in transactions, steadily rising prices and a considerable positive media sentiment.

This pattern of activity did slow down in the last quarter of the year, with all key performance indicators dropping to lower levels.

The reason for the fall in the last quarter of the year can be attributed to the tightening of mortgage eligibility rules, which has lengthened the process of obtaining finance and also placed restrictions on the size of loans being granted.

On a more positive note, the significant reform on stamp duty, announced on December 3, has already had a galvanising effect on the market and been welcomed by both buyers and sellers across the board.

This year Wright Marshall is anticipating house prices in Knutsford to remain buoyant, with demand continuing to outstrip supply, particularly for properties within walking distance of the town centre. If you would be interested to know the potential market value of your property, contact Simon Middleton at Wright Marshall on 01565 621624 or via email at simonmiddleton@wrightmarshall.co.uk. You can follow Wright Marshall on Twitter @wm_knutsford.