Clonmel Voucher Scheme

As previously posted, I am taking part in the Clonmel Chamber sponsored exercise on improving the town.
The plan is that by “brain-storming” the various issues that arise around the town, a cogent report will be prepared that can be presented to the Borough Council for their consideration. As all the contributors are rate-payers, I hope we are listened to.
The first general meetings have focused on a Voucher shopping scheme for the town retailers.
A bonus, gift or payment up to a maximum of €250 per person per year is not liable for tax or PRSI (from employer or employee) provided it is not paid in cash.
To encourage those who get their earnings in Clonmel to spend in Clonmel, a Shopping Voucher Scheme will be introduced.
Clonmel Chamber will sell vouchers at face value.
Vouchers will be exchangeable for goods and services from participating Clonmel businesses.
Vouchers will not be exchangeable for cash.
Participating businesses will receive payment against valid vouchers at Clonmel Chamber in accordance with the terms of the Clonmel Shopping Voucher Agreement.
This has worked very well in other towns, so it will hopefully work just as well in Clonmel.
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Sasha in Liquidation

Clothing chain Sasha, has gone into liquidation.
The chain has a store in Clonmel, on Gladstone St, right opposite our office. The Clonmel store employed 7 people.
Nationally, the chain runs 42 stores and employs 300 people.
David Carson, of Delloite, the same man who handled the Waterford Crystal closure, was appointed examiner to the company that owns Sasha last December, however the High Court was told yesterday that due to a sharp deterioration in trading conditions, there was no longer a reasonable prospect of the company’s survival.

http://www.pfq.ie/

Still Alive!

St Peter & Pauls Church, Gladstone St.


We are still selling houses, despite all predictions of doom for the Irish housing market. Plenty of viewings are taking place, offers being made and properties being sold. The comparative monthly statistics for viewings and offers at our Clonmel office are as follows:

Jan 2008: Viewings 84 Offers 32
Jan 2009: Viewings 94 Offers 26

A reflection of the market is that more viewings resulted in less offers. In better times, there were many bidders for each house. Now, the bidders are more widely spread, with one or two bidders per house.
Activity is mainly restricted to the typical 3-bed semi, a first-time buyer’s house. Prices here range from around €185-215k, depending on condition and location.
First-time buyers seem to be the only ones who can get finance at present. Most banks are keen to lend to them and are cutting good deals. Some vendors are also keen to sell, for many reasons, and these two facts have ensured that the lower end of the market is still alive. With lower interest rates and lower prices, it is now cheaper to buy a home than at any time in the last 5 years. It is also cheaper to buy than to rent!
This has led to a shortage of suitable houses, as the supply of houses coming to the market over the last few months is traditionally slow. So despite media reports that housing is not selling, we are facing a shortage of well-priced, well-located starter homes.
I speak to other agents around the country on a weekly basis. Very few of them are having the same results as us. Those that are having the same results are following the same formula as us. It is the way we always did things.
Market knowledge means pricing houses correctly, not misleading vendors with inflated valuations. In better times, many agents played a game of over-valuing houses to get the instruction. They then sat on the property for 3-4 months, waiting for the market to catch up, or for the vendor to reduce in price, so they could get a sale. In a falling market, such as we now have, it is impossible to sell a house that is over-priced. To sell, you must match or undercut the current market. As the market falls, the longer a house stays on the market, the lower will be the eventual sale price, so the owner will lose money by an agent taking this approach.
Being available and facilitating to buyers... at all times. Our competitors have drastically reduced their opening hours. We have the longest opening hours of all. If someone wants to view a property, we will show it to them.
Being able to talk to and empathise with buyers is equally important. When we meet with prospective buyers, we build a relationship with them. They will be sellers (and therefore clients) one day. Many buyers tell stories of the bad attitude of agents from other firms. It’s easy to be nice!
http://www.pfq.ie/

Snow

No, not a picture of Clonmel in the recent heavy snow. While both Slievenamon and the Comeraghs had a good covering of snow, still there as I write, they do not have a lift system to enable us to ski!

Statcounter tells me that this blog has 9 Austrian readers. I wonder can any of them (or any of the rest of you) recognise the mountains and the resort? Special mention to anyone who does.

Hint: It is in the Austrian Tyrol. Recent downhill race there. My favourite Austrian resort.

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Flooding in Clonmel last week

I was away over the last few days, as areas of Clonmel flooded. By all accounts, it was the worst flooding for the last 5 years or so. The river rose over two meters higher than normal and up to 40 people had to be rescued from their homes. The familiar areas of Convent Bridge, Old Bridge and O'Connell terrace were worst hit, while The Quay and the main Waterford Road were impassable, as were all the town bridges. Serious flooding also took place in Ardfinnan and Knocklofty.

The Flood Relief works are about 50% completed, with c. €20m of a total package of €44m spent to date. It is due to be finished in 2012.

As I was away, I did not get any photos! Thanks to Barry Meehan who postedsome pictures and wrote about the floods here.


http://www.pfq.ie/