A couple camped outside Bidmead Cook’s office for 24 hours so they could register to buy a new home at a popular housing development in Aberaman.
Marc Lewis and his wife Alison took the decision to queue in front of Bidmead Cook in Aberdare last Thursday morning in order to secure a plot on the site of an old comprehensive school, ahead of the release of six more units at 9am on Friday.
The pair narrowly missed out on buying an off-plan at the Cwm Heulwen development back in April when 30 units were released. See below.
Marc and Linda Lewis, along with Marc’s father and sister, took turns when it came to queuing.
Marc, 48, told the press: “I missed out when the last phase went on sale – I turned up too late, saw the massive queue and skulked off home with my tail between my legs,” said the train driver, who had his eye on a detached four-bed with price of £290k.
“And, in the 12 weeks or so since then, houses prices have shot up, as much as £30k in some instances.
“So I knew that if I didn’t jump on the chance this time around I’d be priced out of the market.
“Especially since only six houses were being released this time around – that’s less than half the amount that came up before.”
He added: “Yes, it turned into a proper family affair.
“Luckily, the weather was kinder this time around, so I put out the sun loungers and the parasols and made sure we had plenty to drink.
“We attracted quite a crowd too. Lots of people were giving us strange looks and came over to ask what we were up to.
“Which is understandable, I suppose.”
Cwm Heulwen is being built by Welsh property developer Davis Homes at the former Blaengwawr School on the outskirts of Aberdare town centre.
Angela Hall, Bidmead Cook’s new homes sales negotiator, commented: “That’s part of the reason they’re so popular.
“They’ve been snapped up faster than we can release them, and we expect the same for phase four in September/October.
“The increase in prices just reflects the changes in the market generally, which is really strong at the moment.
“Perhaps it’s due to Covid and people spending more time at home – they’re realising they want more space, a better outlook or a bigger drive – parking is certainly a big issue these days.
“And Cwm Heulwen has all that. It’s a really lovely spot.”
Maybe clever marketing drip feeding release ,restricting supply to ratchet up prices but with Aberdare in a COVID hotspot this publicity seeking stunt is irresponsible.
Having experienced a similar situation in April they could easily have organised this queue online
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One night? In 1972 the queue of overnight campers was for 3 or 4 nights. Now that was a real boom!
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“Having experienced a similar situation in April they could easily have organised this queue online”
This, 100% this. It is genuinely shocking that they have learnt nothing from last time. They probably think it’s great publicity or something… but why on earth would they not register people’s interest in a different format?!
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The people waited overnight. Nothing any agent can do about that I doubt they even knew they were there until the morning.
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They were fuly aware that a queue was going to form having experienced the same situation in April when they relased a handful in April which were snapped up leaving unsastified customers and pent up demand
This is what the agents said at he previous release
“It’s bouncing and it’s completely bonkers. It’s local people, people moving from outside the area, investors – it’s madness, our busiest offices are all the valleys offices”
Staff even provided coffee in April and press lined up for a photo opportunity
“Nothing any agent can do about that”
They could have released online to avoid on a first come first served basis if that is the way they are marketing the properties but I guess that doesn’t garner sufficent publicity
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“The people waited overnight” – If that were the case I might begrudgingly agree that there was “nothing the agent could have done” (even though this is a repeat of the same debacle in April). However:
“A couple camped outside Bidmead Cook’s office for 24 hours” They waited for over 24 hours. Meaning the agent knew this was going to happen as they could see them out there.
It’s great that we’re seeing properties go so quickly and people are benefitting. However why cause undue hardship (i.e. making people CAMP OUTSIDE) when they could simply register their interest over the internet and deal with it remotely? What was the need for this circus other than for publicity?
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“However why cause undue hardship (i.e. making people CAMP OUTSIDE) when they could simply register their interest over the internet and deal with it remotely?”
Let me ask you three simple questions.
1. How can someone ‘see’ where they are in an internet queue, A W?
2. What faith do you think some people might have to secure their next home, their name sitting on a list that no-one including them can see?
3. Would YOU have complete and utter faith in adding your name somewhere on an online “register of interest” for securing your next home… the place where future memories will – you hope with all your heart – be made?
Those are just the first three questions that came to mind. There are a myriad of others I could ask – but all will have the same answers. These aren’t hard-nosed investors; speculators or plain old chancers simply wanting to buy their next BTL or flip a gaffe for profit that this article relates to. These are real people. Families. They want to leave little or nothing to chance; to circumstances outside of their control.
They are the kind of buyer that make the average Estate Agent’s job worth doing. And they will do everything they can in their control to get what they want… …including a night ‘camping out’ – which probably seemed an incredibly insignificant price to pay – if what they get in return changes their lives hopefully for the better.
Those that don’t fit the above profile most likely emailed, registering their interest with the Agent…
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Unfortunately what you say is true which makes it even sadder
For developers its been Who Dares Wins up the valleys
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