GOOD news could finally be on the cards for people who want to sell their homes in Redbridge.

Estate agents have said they have seen a huge increase in sales throughout August and into September, following an 18-month slump.

Guy Williamson, branch manager of Douglas Allen in Woodford Green, said: “It is an upturn in the market. It's picked up from March or April in terms of buyer levels.

“The number of properties on the market is limited, so it's driven prices up. There's a buoyancy in the market and there's an increase in confidence.”

And John Wagstaff, of Petty, Son and Prestwich in Wanstead, added that the Government's introduction of the Home Information Pack (HIP) has also helped.

He said: “It costs somewhere between £300 and £500 to get one so people aren't putting their houses on the market unless they're absolutely committed to moving.”

The HIP contains various documents such as registration from the land registry and was made mandatory for most home sellers last year.

Mr Wagstaff said fewer sales are now falling through because of this and fewer people are selling their houses “on a whim”.

He said: “It's keeping the prices at as high a level as I've seen for 18 months and the number of sales going through is at a very high level as well.

“It's a different world to this time last year. Estate agents were closing and going into administration and it was very, very negative, but this year, it's much more positive.”

Demand is now exceeding supply, he said, meaning sales are being agreed more quickly.

“If you've got a quality buyer and a seller who has spent the money on a HIP, there's a pretty good chance the sale will go through. It's a sellers' market,” Mr Wagstaff said.