More supply calls on estate agents to have a local pricing and expectations discussion
Do not turn a national signal into a national asking price
The useful approach is to begin every sales recommendation with the local submarket: property type, price bracket, condition, current competing supply and the response in the first weeks of marketing. NVM reports supply above 30,000 homes, more than 20% higher than a year earlier, but also says the market remains tight and homes still sell quickly in many regions. That is not a basis for a general price reduction; it is a reason to assess, for each property, how much choice a buyer actually has. NVM also notes that move-in-ready and energy-efficient homes remain popular, while other homes stay on the market longer. Therefore, discuss not only a market average, but also why this specific home is or is not directly comparable with the supply around it.
Compare the composition of sales with local competition
The Land Registry reports over 18% more home sales than a year earlier in the first quarter of 2026. At the same time, it points out that investor-owned homes sold are often cheaper, which means the average purchase price is still barely increasing. For a seller, this means that an average purchase price is not a valuation and that a national figure may reflect the composition of homes sold. In the sales advice file, therefore record which local comparables, which homes still for sale and which features of the property itself support the asking price. This makes the distinction between a market signal and a pricing decision clear.
Use a sales decision register
At the outset, schedule specific review moments: after the initial online period, after viewings and when serious offers fail to materialise. Then assess price, presentation, reach and position relative to the current local supply; only then adjust one targeted element. Use this tool: for each sales file, record the local comparables, the competing supply, the agreed review date, the person responsible for feedback and the decision with its rationale. This turns expectation management into a joint process rather than a discussion after the fact. This approach is not individual legal, financial, valuation or professional advice; the national passages provide no breakdown by neighbourhood, property type, price bracket or individual property.
