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Apparently, more men take showers than baths and more women take baths than showers. That being the case, should you have both in your house to maximise the chances of a sale? Andrew Bush, director of Bush Property Services, is convinced.

“One of the many reasons we advise sellers not to spend vast amounts on their property before putting it on the market, apart from the fact that they’ll very seldom get back the full value of their improvements, is that many buyers want to put their own stamp on their new home, which often involves ripping out either the kitchen or bathroom, or possibly both, and starting from scratch.

“From the buyer’s perspective, if they want to change the bathroom and they are a single man or single woman, the temptation to just put in what they enjoy most, be it a shower or a bath, can be quite great. After all, it’s only them living there and there is a cost saving to be made.

“The trouble is that when they come to sell the property again, a bath without a shower and particularly a shower without a bath just doesn’t feel complete. Immediately the buyer is thinking they’re going to have to spend money on the property in order to put in what’s missing. Although this may be completely irrational, given that they’re probably going to spend thousands putting their own mark on the place anyway, it is undoubtedly something to put negative thoughts into buyers’ minds, just at the time when you need them least.

“My advice would always be to have a bath and a shower in the bathroom. That way you can sell to either sex with impunity without worrying you’re going to put any body off due to a lack of facilities. And besides, you might fancy a change yourself one day.”

Despite all the recent publicity given to house prices and the possible effects of the ‘Credit Crunch’, the underlying state of the housing market is still stable, as Andrew Bush, managing director of Bush Property Services, explains.

“It’s hard to open a paper or switch on the radio these days without hearing various prognostications about the future of the market and the likely impact of this ‘Credit Crunch’,” say Mr Bush.

“The fact is that as long as buyers and sellers stick to some basic principles, problems should be avoided.”

Mr Bush’s words come on the back of a report from a respected financial institution and a speech from an influential economist, both of which suggest that the recent difficulties in America shouldn’t have an effect on long-term stability over here.
In its latest report, Ernst & Young’s Item Club ‘does not expect (the crunch) to lead to serious correction in house prices’. And in a speech to the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Kate Barker, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, which sets interest rates, said, “[It] is not clear why recent events should prove a trigger which significantly alters previous expectations of continued robust house price growth.”
“The fact is that house prices in this country are still relatively stable. This means that for a first-time buyer, the circumstances in which they are purchasing are unlikely to change dramatically over the next year to 18 months. If anything, I would expect prices to nudge slightly higher, although there is no question that the recent growth spurt has largely died away.

“Equally, for those who are already in a property and thinking of moving, the relative value of your property against the one you’re moving to hasn’t changed. Given that if the value of your house rises or falls, so will the one you’re buying, the state of the market shouldn’t impact hugely on your decision.

“And don’t forget that bricks and mortar is a long term investment. Almost without exception, it’s still better to buy than to rent. Provided that people don’t borrow more than they can afford and stick to their limits, there’s no reason why, individually and nationally, the market shouldn’t continue to flourish.”

The opening of Christ’s Lane and the impending arrival of The Grand Arcade – not forgetting new developments at The Grafton shopping centre, can only be good for the Cambridge property market, says Andrew Bush, managing director of Bush Property Services.

“Cambridge has never been exactly short of reasons why it’s such an attractive city,” says Mr Bush. High-tech, the University, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the city’s many green spaces, its lack of heavy industry and the sheer beauty of the place, coupled with its closeness to London, have always made it a good option for people looking to live -and work- well.

“To all those benefits, Cambridge can now add another. An excellent place to go shopping. For years, the city has languished in the shadows of rivals such as Norwich and Peterborough when it came to providing residents and visitors alike with a top quality shopping experience. Finally, after many years of wrangling, we now have sparkling new retail developments that, when combined with existing facilities, make Cambridge a truly all-round city.

“The newly opened John Lewis and the completely remodelled Christ’s Lane (formerly Bradwell’s Court) have breathed new life into city centre shopping. The Grand Arcade, when it opens next year, will truly put Cambridge on the retail map.

“Alongside that, the Grafton now has over 70 retail outlets and is attracting some of the best names on the high street and the existing Lion Yard also has a huge amount to offer in the retail stakes.

“A lot of the credit for this must go to the council, developers and the existing shopping arcades for their Love Cambridge Shopping initiative. Between them, they have ensured that the city works together to make Cambridge a desirable place to shop and that all parties are promoted in the process.

“A happy side effect of this is the benefit it brings to the property market in the city. More retail prosperity attracts more money, jobs and people into city, which inevitably has a knock-on effect on housing.

“Cambridge has always had many advantages when it comes to property and this new retail offering makes it even more desirable.”