We tend to stay away from new estates now. We canvassed one about 8 or 9 years ago at exactly the right time - not planned tbh. The contractors had just completed laying the tar roads and people started to believe that this signaled the end of building and that they could settle back into a relaxed life and everything would be rosy.
The estate contained some larger 4 bedroom houses, but by far and large comprised of small 3 bed semi's and some slightly larger 3 bedroomed detached houses. And then there were some houses bought by the council for low cost for disadvantaged families.
We stayed away from the council houses and canvassed the rest. We probably got 75% of the estate that evening.
Over the next few years we lost the majority of the customers in the small 3 bed semis due to payment issues, many due to not being able to afford the mortgage. A large number were repossessed by the banks. The new owners of these houses weren't any better than the first. Of these we only have 2 left, the first being a second owner - she's brilliant but the last remaining one is going to be dumped due to none payment - smokers who would rather spend money on the pack of smokes than pay the window cleaning bill.
We still have the majority of the 4 bedroom detached houses and they have been fine.
We have canvassed other new built estates but again have found by experience they weren't the type of customer we wanted.
We have found we are better off with the older established estates. The younger customers we have from these estates are good customers and they generally pay immediately directly into our bank account by bacs. We have also found that the older retired people are the best customers to have as they usually are always at home and pay on completion. They also tend to pay for their neighbours when they aren't at home.
The estate contained some larger 4 bedroom houses, but by far and large comprised of small 3 bed semi's and some slightly larger 3 bedroomed detached houses. And then there were some houses bought by the council for low cost for disadvantaged families.
We stayed away from the council houses and canvassed the rest. We probably got 75% of the estate that evening.
Over the next few years we lost the majority of the customers in the small 3 bed semis due to payment issues, many due to not being able to afford the mortgage. A large number were repossessed by the banks. The new owners of these houses weren't any better than the first. Of these we only have 2 left, the first being a second owner - she's brilliant but the last remaining one is going to be dumped due to none payment - smokers who would rather spend money on the pack of smokes than pay the window cleaning bill.
We still have the majority of the 4 bedroom detached houses and they have been fine.
We have canvassed other new built estates but again have found by experience they weren't the type of customer we wanted.
We have found we are better off with the older established estates. The younger customers we have from these estates are good customers and they generally pay immediately directly into our bank account by bacs. We have also found that the older retired people are the best customers to have as they usually are always at home and pay on completion. They also tend to pay for their neighbours when they aren't at home.
