Alex Howard Jones - Caversham Estate Agent

08/06/2026

Is it just me, or does anyone else get disproportionately excited about a utility room? 😂

I can appreciate a vaulted ceiling.
I can admire a beautiful kitchen.
I can nod approvingly at five double bedrooms.

But show me somewhere to hide the washing machine, laundry basket, ironing board and general chaos of family life... now you've got my attention!

This gorgeous Caversham home has all the headline features you'd expect. I just forgot to mention one of my personal favourites in the reel!

We're showcasing this absolute stunner with an open house on Saturday 20th June. Comment VIEW to get details into your inbox and come along and have a look!

Tell me I'm not alone. Utility room: essential or am I showing my age? 👇

04/06/2026

📊𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 - 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐆𝟒 📊

I had a really interesting call with Rightmove yesterday, and I felt it was only right to share alongside the monthly 'Scores on the doors' with you all.

Here are the numbers:

• Available stock is higher than at any point since 2023 — lots of choice out there

• New listings are tracking below 2025 levels — fewer fresh homes coming to market

• Sales agreed have dipped below both 2024 and 2025

• Unique buyer enquiries have fallen to their lowest since 2023

What does this mean if you’re a seller? You might be noticing quieter viewing numbers, and the figures explain why. There’s a lot of stock sitting on the market, so buyers are spoilt for choice - yet, interestingly, very few new homes are coming through.

The pattern I keep seeing is “older stock” sitting still, playing a waiting game that rarely pays off. To me, that’s sellers holding out for yesterday’s market in today’s conditions.

I'm hearing frustration particularly from those whose homes were bought in the Covid “FOMO” market, where they paid very strong prices. If there’s a genuine need to move now, it has to be done with clear eyes: we’re in a market of caution.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜.

Headlines love drama; our job is to look at this calmly. Because there’s real opportunity in a shifting market. If you’re upsizing, this could be the moment - a bigger home, on a better road, at a more competitive price.

You may sell a touch lighter than a few months ago, but the move could put you in a far stronger position. And when you’re a buyer and a seller in the same market, your 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 matters far more than your sale figure.

On pricing: regionally, 30–35% of stock is being reduced, at an average of 6.2–7%. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞 is waiting for yesterday’s price. The data is clear - homes priced correctly from day one are 1.35% more likely to go under offer, sell in roughly a third of the time, and are half as likely to fall through.

So the real question is: does moving still make sense for your life? If yes, let’s work with today’s market.

💬 Thinking about a 2026 move? Drop me a comment or a message and let’s chat pricing strategy.

04/06/2026

Love this article explaining more about Reading Bike Hub by The Reading Reporter. It would be such a shame for them to have to move from the space they have created, although it sounds that they are passionate enough to be up for the challenge! It seems like this is already such a valuable Reading resource for the community. As they say, 'Use it, don't lose it'.

Reading Bike Hub is running out of time, despite bringing new life to a long-empty town-centre building

01/06/2026

Most family homes ask you to compromise.

The space is right, but the location isn’t.
The schools work, but the house needs updating.
The commute works, but the garden gets overlooked.

This one feels different.

Five bedrooms, two en-suites and a garden that feels like your own little treehouse in the heights of Caversham 🌳

DM me CHARLOTTE for more info!

OPEN HOUSE Saturday 13th June 🏡 book your private viewing space now 💫

01/06/2026

We've just had half term and a heatwave, so if your home has felt a little quieter recently, don't assume the sky is falling in.

The property market is also navigating higher mortgage rates, economic uncertainty and buyers who are taking longer to make decisions than they did a few years ago.

But here's the real question...

Is your agent helping you understand what's happening?

Because good agents don't go quiet when the market gets tougher. They communicate, share feedback, explain the data and adapt the strategy.

If you're wondering whether what you're experiencing is normal, or whether there's something more going on, my inbox is always open.

26/05/2026

Kidmore Road is sold. Here's what made the difference.

When the owners of this Kidmore Road home came to me, they didn't just want a sale. They wanted the right sale - the best possible price, with the confidence that it would actually happen.

That distinction matters more than most people realise.

We started with a structured marketing plan and an open house launch - because when both these things are done properly, it creates something most sellers never get: genuine competition. Multiple buyers. Multiple offers. Real leverage.

And it worked. They received several offers over the asking price.

But here's where the story gets interesting.

Winning offers are only as good as the certainty behind them. So we protected the sale with a reservation agreement - a commitment from the buyer that puts real weight behind their offer and significantly reduces the risk of the deal falling apart before it crosses the line.

Their home sold. Properly. For the price it deserved. With the security they needed.

The reservation agreement is just one of the tools I use to look after the people I work with. There are others - each one chosen because selling a home should feel like progress, not a prolonged exercise in hoping for the best.

If you've ever wondered what a more certain, more strategic approach to selling actually looks like, I'd love to have that conversation with you.

21/05/2026

‘Sold STC’ shouldn’t feel like a situationship.

Right now, around 58% of UK property transactions are falling through after the offer stage - costing people time, money, momentum and quite frankly, sanity.

That’s why I offer reservation agreements on my listings. They help create commitment from both sides and massively reduce the risk of everyone ending up back at square one.

Not every agent offers them. I think more should.

Comment MORE below and I’ll send you my simple info sheet explaining how they work 👇

17/05/2026

Just listed! DM me for more details!

17/05/2026

Not all apartments feel like a giant anonymous block of beige corridors… This one’s different.

This beautifully positioned two-bedroom apartment in Emmer Green sits on the third floor of a small, tucked-away development with far-reaching views across Reading, a bright Juliet balcony living space, two bathrooms, allocated parking, and no onward chain.

The kind of place where you can walk into Caversham for coffee, hop on the bus into Reading Station, and still come home to a sense of calm.

✨ Open House on Saturday 30th May ✨

Viewings are strictly by appointment, so please get in touch if you’d like to reserve a time slot before they’re gone.

14/05/2026

2 bedrooms.
Bathroom + en-suite.
No onward chain.
And tucked away in one of Emmer Green’s most desirable and well-connected spots 👀

I’m not sure if this is for you but… If you’re genuinely serious about buying locally - and not just endlessly refreshing Rightmove - keep reading.

This is the latest sneak peek shared inside the Caversham Buyer’s Lounge. Before you ask… no, this isn’t online yet.

Because the whole point of the Lounge is simple: the best opportunities are often seen by the right buyers before everyone else catches on.

Inside the Lounge you’ll get:
👀 Early access to new listings
🔑 Access to discreet off-market homes
🏡 A complimentary sourcing service
🥂 Invites to my local events
🤍 Perks with some brilliant local businesses

It’s intentionally not for everyone. Just buyers who are serious, motivated, and want an edge.

If this apartment sounds like your kind of thing, comment LOUNGE or send me a message before this one goes public.