Published: 19/02/2019
As a company, in the last month Sowerbys have already registered 647 applicants, arranged 999 viewings, attended 197 valuations and agreed 59 sales. In terms of year on year comparisons, this equates to a 11% increase in valuations, 27% increase in viewings and 26% increase in agreed sales.Despite the challenges of the current market, we have been able to exercise good sales progression, communication and accurate valuations which means we are continuing to deviate from national trends. Indeed, in 2018 we registered 8% more applicants and arranged 8% more viewings than in 2017 which resulted in our best ever year for sales agreed and exchanges.
Applicants, viewings and valuations are at an all-time high, but it’s not just our expertise which is bringing in such robust figures. It’s the very county we live in and love. Norfolk is our trump card.

But why do people gravitate to the land of big skies?
The long and beautiful stretches of coastline, swathes of rolling countryside, picturesque villages and abundance of wildlife will often top the lists of reasons why people love Norfolk.
Part of this county’s charm is that it is harder to reach than many other parts of the UK but is still only a couple of hours from London. Commuters eschew it and instead the weekenders, work-from-homers and life-changers look to place roots here. They love the period charm, outdoor life and space this part of the country offers.

Norfolk has some of the best pubs and schools in the country. There’s the Broads which offer long days relaxing on the waterways, which have even offered celebrities an escape from the outside world. The fine city of Norwich offers a unique shopping experience and is a haven for creatives, being a UNESCO City of Literature. Renowned chefs have established iconic eateries including Galton Blackiston’s Morston Hall and Roger Hickman’s Restaurant. The rolling hills and flat vistas are a dream for cyclists, the nature reserves a second home for bird watchers and open spaces the perfect antidote to life in the big smoke.
But there’s much than first meets the eye. Towns across the county feature regularly in The Guardian’s ‘Let’s move to’ guides, which often point to the independent businesses, local producers and strong sense of community drawing the out of towners. Londoners are becoming enamoured with life in the countryside where they can keep chickens, grow fresh food in their gardens and breathe the crisp air. It’s all about seeking a new lifestyle, one that is calm, pleasant and easy.

We are busier than we have ever been, and it’s Norfolk, not just Sowerbys, doing all the hard work.
