Pennod 5 Ar Werth

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-Estate agents.

-This is no ordinary house.

-We rely on them.

-Oh, wow! Fantastic.

-In this series, we meet some

-of the industry's big characters.

-Talk business, houses and money.

-We see what it takes

-to be an agent.

-I'll have a nose.

-We experience the highs...

-Accepted, 245. Fantastic.

-..and the challenges...

-Move the door.

-..of putting your house up for sale.

-Subtitles

-We all have our reasons

-for selling our homes.

-Estate agents must be ready

-to deal with all situations...

-..and all kinds of people.

-One man with great people skills...

-..is Iestyn Leyshon from

-Lloyd Herbert & Jones, Aberystwyth.

-Today, Iestyn

-is in Aberystwyth town centre...

-..to do a viewing

-with potential buyers.

-Victoria is looking to buy

-her first family home.

-Her mother has come with her for

-this second viewing of this house.

-The house, which is currently used

-as student accommodation...

-..is on the market

-for just under 150,000.

-These viewers want to buy

-a family home in the town.

-This is suitable but they'd have to

-adapt it to their needs.

-This is Victoria's second viewing

-and something may come of it.

-But Victoria sees a little problem.

-I know you've got questions

-over the size of the yard.

-Yes. I've got a Chihuahua.

-It's big enough for two Chihuahuas!

-Have another dog.

-There's not much room

-for more people out here.

-It's the ideal bin storage

-and for the Chihuahua.

-It's a bit small,

-with having children as well.

-Let's so upstairs

-and see if I can convince you.

-Fewer and fewer landlords buy

-properties to let in Aberystwyth...

-..and Iestyn

-has a theory about that.

-There's a lot of student

-accommodation in the centre of town.

-The number of students

-who live in town is dropping.

-The college has built brand new,

-lovely halls of residence.

-That means

-they get the pick of the tenants.

-The houses in town are old

-and in need of work.

-They need new kitchens, bathrooms,

-carpets and matching furniture.

-The landlords

-must compete with the university.

-This is a great,

-six bedroom student house.

-If you get 65 per week per room...

-..you're talking about

-over 18,000 a year in rent.

-People with money in the bank, come

-and buy houses in Aberystwyth now!

-We need you.

-The third floor

-appeals to Victoria...

-..but one little thing

-is still on her mind.

-The only problem

-is the little garden.

-This Chihuahua's having more fuss

-than the kids and the people.

-The bedrooms are great

-but it isn't ideal for the dog.

-The dog is more important

-than the children!

-She needs a bigger garden

-for the dog.

-This massive house

-isn't good enough for the Chihuahua.

-Victoria won't buy this house but

-Iestyn has another option for her.

-They've seen a student house

-on Mill Street...

-..but this one has a bigger garden.

-They prefer it

-because of the garden.

-Cheerio! Bye-bye.

-They're going that way.

-I'm going this way.

-Ruth Tottey from Dafydd Hardy

-sold thousands of properties...

-..during her 20 years

-with the company.

-Ruth is out of the office and on

-her way to a meeting with a client.

-I'm going to see Mabel,

-who's one of my vendors.

-I love talking to her and she pops

-into the office quite regularly.

-The market is a bit slack

-on Anglesey at the moment...

-..and I'm going to suggest we reduce

-the asking price on her house.

-We have a good rapport

-and I think she'll listen to me.

-We're good mates, to be honest.

-Mabel's home has been on the market

-for a few months.

-It's a three bedroom house

-on the outskirts of Llangefni...

-..with an asking price of 167,000.

-Hiya, Mabel.

-Hiya, Mabel.

-

-Hello, Ruth. How are you?

-Is the kettle on? Tea and a cake?

-Is the kettle on? Tea and a cake?

-

-Why not?

-Mabel has lived here

-for almost 50 years.

-The decision to sell the house

-was difficult for her.

-Moving is a big step.

-I've always lived here,

-in the countryside.

-But I took that decision

-and I really want to go now.

-You're ready to move.

-Yes, and it would be good to move

-closer to my daughter in Llangefni.

-As you get older,

-that's the most important thing.

-Having to move from your home

-can be an emotional experience.

-How do our estate agents

-deal with it?

-Everyone's different.

-Some people worry from the second

-the house is for sale.

-Others start worrying

-when the sale is agreed.

-A sale takes three to four months

-to go through...

-..and it's a difficult time.

-You're with a little family

-for a long time...

-..and it can be really emotional.

-But nothing beats handing over

-the keys when the sale is complete.

-It's brilliant.

-I've looked at the other

-detached houses with a garage...

-..which are on the market

-in this area.

-If we can reduce the asking price

-to 157,000...

-..we'd hope to find a buyer.

-Yes.

-Are you happy with that?

-Are you happy with that?

-

-Yes. We'll try it.

-I'll go back to the office

-and talk to the girls.

-When I've done that, I'll ask Admin

-to change the asking price.

-It will appear on the website with

-the new price the following day.

-Let's hope it pays off for Mabel

-and Ruth manages to sell her home.

-I'm very pleased because

-she listened to my reasoning.

-She's got faith in us.

-At this reduced price,

-I hope to drum up some interest...

-..and let's hope we get

-an offer on the house very quickly.

-Thank you

-for the cuppa and the cake.

-You're welcome.

-Ta-ta!

-Sophie Williams works in the

-Caernarfon branch of Dafydd Hardy...

-..and she's always delighted

-to find new homes for her buyers.

-Sophie is showing a potential buyer

-around a bungalow...

-..in the village of Dinorwig.

-This area

-is very close to her heart.

-I like Dinorwig. It's fantastic.

-I come from Deiniolen...

-..but I really like Dinorwig.

-It's really lovely.

-Unfortunately, the location

-hasn't sold the bungalow.

-It's been on the market

-for a year...

-..and the price was recently reduced

-to just under 140,000.

-Sophie hopes the new price

-will appeal to buyers.

-It will appeal to someone who wants

-to live in this quiet area...

-..and who enjoys

-walking and climbing.

-The people are lovely.

-Come on, Deiniols!

-Amy has shown an interest

-in the bungalow.

-Hiya, Amy. Come on in.

-Let's go.

-This project would leave Amy

-with lots of renovation work to do.

-This is the living room.

-This is a lovely fireplace.

-You could strip off the woodchip.

-It's really dated now, isn't it?

-They used it

-to cover many sins years ago.

-Is it just wallpaper?

-Is it just wallpaper?

-

-Yes, so you could strip it.

-I'd knock it back to the stone

-to get the character back.

-Let's go into the bedrooms.

-You've got a view of the mountains

-plus the sea from here, Amy.

-You'd have it on a clear day

-but not today.

-Not really.

-What do you think of the size?

-Is this the bigger bedroom?

-The other one's quite big too.

-Come and take a look.

-You'd get rid of those.

-What's the view like?

-It's too close to the road

-to have it as a bedroom.

-You've got to shop around and see

-what's available for the price.

-It's worth looking.

-Amy clearly has mixed feelings.

-How common is this for Sophie...

-..and how does she deal with

-buyers' wish lists?

-You know when they like it

-because the viewing flows.

-If it's not the one for them,

-they're quiet.

-I never take silence personally

-because people's minds are ticking.

-Men are terrible. They don't speak.

-They just go around knocking walls.

-They don't give anything away ever.

-Have you seen everything, Amy?

-Have you seen everything, Amy?

-

-Yes, that was great.

-I'll phone you in a couple of days

-to get some feedback...

-..and we'll take it from there.

-Thanks. Ta-ta!

-Amy decided that the bungalow

-was too big a project for her...

-..so Sophie

-is still looking for a buyer.

-Marc Morrish from Seal & Co is one

-of Cardiff's leading auctioneers.

-This isn't in my job description.

-Marc usually sells property

-at auction...

-..and 30 properties

-go under his hammer today.

-We're setting up for the auction and

-making sure there are enough chairs.

-The boys taking telephone bids

-will be here.

-My spotter, who looks out

-for bidders, will be here.

-What's the secret

-of Marc's success as an auctioneer?

-This is my gavel.

-My uncle made it for me

-before he passed away.

-It has real sentimental value.

-I enjoy using it.

-Let's see

-if it does well for me today.

-People take their seats

-in the auction room...

-..and Marc gets ready.

-Will he taste success today?

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-Subtitles

-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-Buyers at auctions

-are bargain hunters...

-..but prices can exceed

-the guide prices.

-In Cardiff,

-the auction room is jam-packed...

-..and Marc hopes to see huge

-interest in two houses in Cathays.

-First, a two bedroom

-terraced house on Daniel Street.

-Its guide price is 85,000 but can

-Marc nudge the price higher?

-A guide price of 85.

-Do I see 85 at all bid?

-85. Thank you, sir. Looking for 86.

-86. Thank you. 87? 87. 88? 88.

-Things are hotting up...

-..as Marc pushes hard

-to get the best possible price.

-93, 94, 95.

-96, 97.

-Marc is in his element, but

-what's the secret of his success?

-Creating a good atmosphere

-and a good flow in the room.

-When people see that, they start

-to bid and the auction goes well.

-Marc sells the house for over

-15,000 more than guide price.

-Can he repeat that success with

-the property on Monthermer Road?

-Someone who's sold many houses

-in challenging locations...

-..is the main man, Dafydd Hardy.

-Half a village near Corris was

-put up for sale for 1.5 million...

-..some weeks ago.

-The houses are all occupied...

-..and Dafydd is keen for the tenants

-to be allowed to stay.

-A London company has shown an

-interest in this solid investment...

-..which brings in

-an income of 70,000 a year.

-They've asked for even more details.

-It's quite complicated

-because there are 16 houses there.

-They want further details about

-the tenants - their ages, and so on.

-I just e-mailed the company acting

-on behalf of the interested party...

-..inviting them to come and see

-the location and the houses too.

-They may want to see the properties

-and meet some of the tenants.

-I feel quite positive,

-especially looking at the economy...

-..and the fact

-we're coming out of Europe.

-Brexit has had an impact

-on the market to some extent.

-In the context of investment...

-..perhaps property

-is a better investment than shares.

-Back in Cardiff, Marc has started to

-sell the house on Monthermer Road.

-This four bedroom house would make a

-great family home or a buy-to-let.

-It has a guide price of 135,000.

-136 I'm looking for. Thank you. 136.

-137?

-The bidding starts low.

-The telephone buyer faces

-competition on the auction floor.

-142? 142. 143? 143.

-144, 145, 146.

-The price keep climbing...

-..and when it reaches 165,000

-the telephone buyer seems to stall.

-Be quick.

-165 I've got, so I'll sell.

-166, thank you.

-A new bidder in the room

-pushes up the price again...

-..giving the telephone bidder

-time to reconsider.

-180 is bid. 181?

-180 is bid with you, sir.

-Give me a minute.

-The bidder in the room

-is keen to seal the deal...

-..but he has fresh competition.

-181. 182? No.

-181 with you, sir.

-At the last minute,

-another bidder joins in.

-Anybody else coming in?

-I've got 181 so I'll sell at 181.

-182. 183?

-The telephone bidder

-refuses to let it go.

-184,500.

-185? 185?

-The telephone bidder

-is under pressure.

-I'll sell it.

-185, with the phone at 185.

-Do you want half again? 185,500.

-I'll sell at 185,500.

-I'm looking for 186.

-I sell at 185,500. Sold. 185,500.

-Marc managed to get 50,000

-above the guide price for the house.

-What fate awaits

-the final property to be sold...

-..Bethel Chapel, Maesycwmer?

-Dafydd hasn't yet sold

-the Aberllefenni properties...

-..but he has another big project

-in the pipeline.

-Dafydd has crossed the bridge

-to Anglesey...

-..to carry out a valuation on a

-cluster of cottages in Rhostrehwfa.

-What we have here

-are nine cottages...

-..which were created when the

-outbuildings here were converted.

-They're luxury cottages.

-Some of them are holiday lets...

-..and some are long-term lets...

-..for people who want to stay

-for six months or longer.

-With so many cottages for sale

-in one location...

-..how will Dafydd market them?

-I'll try to sell them

-as a single lot...

-..rather than break them up

-into separate units.

-We're looking for an investor who

-wants to buy all nine cottages...

-..and draw an income from them.

-They're all being sold

-fully furnished.

-Whoever purchases them can buy them

-and let them the next day.

-Some already have tenants,

-of course.

-How on earth does Dafydd settle on

-the market value of nine cottages?

-The prices in this area aren't

-as high as somewhere like Beaumaris.

-That's why you must be quite

-conservative with the asking price.

-I tend to be realistic

-when it comes to prices these days.

-Every vendor is convinced

-their house is worth more...

-..than anyone else's property.

-The best plot on the site!

-To be fair,

-this is a really stunning plot.

-But is a great view

-enough to sell a property?

-Anglesey is flat...

-..but we're on high ground here,

-looking over the whole of Snowdonia.

-You can see Snowdon,

-so the view is magnificent.

-Dafydd will think hard about how

-to market such expensive property.

-When it comes to a lot like this...

-..you've got to find

-the marketing angle.

-In this case, it's the location

-and the income it generates.

-I think every single element

-must do that.

-In the case of Aberllefenni,

-those houses are unique...

-..and they're in the great setting

-of the Corris area.

-When it comes to marketing,

-this calls for something different.

-You can't

-just put it in the newspaper.

-What's the most expensive property

-sold by our estate agents?

-We started off at 750,000

-and we ended up at 1.7 million.

-Around 650,000.

-It was an incredible house

-with an amazing view...

-..in the middle of Anglesey.

-It was really nice.

-We sold one for just under

-one million two years ago.

-Those properties

-are few and far between.

-A few weeks have passed since Mabel

-agreed to lower the asking price.

-Hi. Good morning.

-The three bedroom house is still

-for sale but there's positive news.

-We had a viewing with Mr

-and he loved the house.

-Mrs went there with him

-over the weekend...

-..and we're waiting for them

-to get back to us.

-He loved it, so let's hope

-his wife felt the same.

-Cross fingers.

-Sometimes, we have

-dozens of viewings with no sales.

-It can be hard

-to judge people's reactions.

-The people

-who get most excited in the house...

-..are the ones who just walk away.

-Sometimes, a person who's

-really quiet during a viewing...

-..has put in an offer before we

-have time to get back to the office.

-Lot number 21.

-Bethel Pentecostal Church,

-Mount Pleasant, Maesycwmer, Hengoed.

-Back in Cardiff, Marc reaches

-the final property on the list.

-He's about to try to sell

-Bethel Chapel.

-There was little interest shown

-prior to the auction...

-..but Marc hopes

-that's about to change.

-The guide price is set at 69,000.

-It needs extensive renovation.

-Do I see 69 at all?

-65 then?

-65, thank you. 65 is bid.

-It doesn't look good

-and there's little interest in it.

-Nobody else here for it?

-OK.

-Nobody wants to breathe new life

-into Bethel, which disappoints Marc.

-How was the rest of the auction?

-It was 50/50 really and the

-EU referendum has put people off.

-We did receive a few enquiries

-after the auction...

-..and we can sell four or five lots

-after the auction has ended.

-A local businessman

-later offered to buy Bethel...

-..with the aim

-of turning it into a restaurant.

-Ruth is still seeking a buyer

-for Mabel's house...

-..and Iestyn

-is still seeking a landlord...

-..to buy the house in Aberystwyth.

-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones

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