When considering a property investment with clients we usually consider things like rental yields, capital growth and voids. Eventually you will want to cash in your investment so saleability is another factor to consider. What happens if we have another property slump how easy will it be to sell your property? That was exactly the concern of a client who visited our office last week. Their concern was if the property market crashed would they be able to sell their property.

Even during a slump you can sell anything if you offer it at a low enough price but the question posed got me thinking about saleability. I did some research and the results were enlightening.

A good guide to judge the saleability of property is to compare the number of properties for sale to the numbers that are sold, subject to contract. Looking at the data today (19th January) of the 4322 dwellings in Glastonbury there are 129 on the market for sale. Of those 129 properties, 80 are waiting for a buyer and 49 are sold subject to contract. That means 38% of property currently on the market in Glastonbury has a buyer. Compare this to 26% in Wells and just 25% in Street.

Further analysis of the data for Glastonbury provides further insight:
· Detached ~ 13 of the 51 properties for sale (25%) are sold, subject to contract

· Semi-detached ~ 8 of the 16 properties for sale (50%) are sold, subject to contract

· Terraced ~ 16 of the 39 properties for sale (41%) are sold, subject to contract

· Flats ~ 9 of the 17 properties for sale (53%) are sold, subject to contract

· Bungalows ~ 6 of the 12 properties for sale (50%) are sold, subject to contract

My analysis suggests semi-detached, bungalows and flats are the most saleable property types in Glastonbury.

Meanwhile it would appear detached properties are the most difficult to sell – at this time at least!

When choosing your next investment property you are right to consider rental yields, capital growth and voids but you may eventually want to sell your property so consider also how saleable your next investment might be.

About Tom Morgan

Founder of Jungle Property the multi award-winning letting agent based in Glastonbury, Somerset. I am passionate about property and Glastonbury and about providing the very best advice to anyone who wants the best return on a buy-to-let property investment. For an open and brutally honest opinion on anything in the Glastonbury property market please contact me via tom.morgan@jungleproperty.co.uk