Moving is a major part of everyone’s life … whether the first steps on a property ladder or down-sizing when the nest empties, none of us avoids the unenviable task of wrapping knickknacks in newspaper, parcel-taping well used cardboard boxes or the desperate search for a kettle when unpacking in a new home! As we look ahead to Spring, this is a season for searching …

At the end of this Blog, we list all of the businesses in Cupar who will be able to help with your search – whether renting, buying or selling. The town has a wealth of experience across all property-related sectors and we know all will be happy to help.

We’ve asked one firm to front this feature and we caught up with Dominic Wedderburn at Galbraith to get his take on the current market, his role in the company and their work in and around the town.

Dominic heads up residential sales at Galbraith’s Cupar office on St Catherine Street. Born in St Andrews, he was brought up on a farm just north of Cupar (Mountquhanie) where he cut his teeth in the farming and property world.

Dominic says: “I was educated at The High School of Dundee and graduated from St Andrews University in 1995.” During his time at Uni – and for a number of years after graduating – he was “very involved in the family farming and property business“. When he left in ’98, he wanted to continue his involvement in property. “In 1998, I chose to study for a Masters Degree in Land Economy at the University of Aberdeen. That led me to my first work away from Fife, specialising in the sale of prime country houses with a large national firm in Edinburgh.”

Dominic’s next move was further south … to the south of France where he brokered the sale of homes to the international market. In 2009, he returned to Scotland and joined Galbraith.

“I worked with the firm in Glasgow and, by good fortune, have been back in Fife in the Cupar office since 2013.” Roll the clocks forward, and Galbraith’s have just marked their 16th anniversary in Cupar.

We asked Dominic what is the best part of his role. He explains: “I get the chance to see some beautiful properties and meet a broad range of buyers and sellers.” He adds: “Having the opportunity to broker deals for individuals’ most important asset is a real responsibility and it is a job that I have enjoyed doing for over 20 years.”

Working for the dynamic Estate Agency and Property Consultancy has given Dominic the opportunity to progress his career and, importantly, “to bring up my family in my homeland” ... he is married and he and his wife have three children and “a very nice dog!”

Dominic is one in a team of eight in Cupar. They are one piece of a large jigsaw. Across Scotland, Galbraith has over 200 employees in a network of more than a dozen offices – from Inverness in the Highlands to Kelso in the Borders. On the marketing front, they “offer an unparalleled breadth of skills across all property sectors” adding: “We provide the highest standards of professionalism in everything we do.” Dominic adds: “Our reputation is built on trust and the ability to deliver results.”

And their reputation is helping to drive the business in what has been a very challenging time for so many. In 2020, Galbraith sold 26 per cent more rural property compared with 2019 – and they saw prices increase by 11.2 per cent on average, across Scotland as whole.

Dominic explains: “COVID-19 sent seismic shockwaves through the property market in terms of what buyers are looking for in their ideal house and the concept of “home” has never been more important than it is now.”  He adds: “In Fife and Angus, prices increased by 8 per cent on average. We conducted 400 property viewings in the last three months of 2020 alone.”

And the speed of sale has also increased: “The average time taken to sell reduced by 27 per cent – from 48 days in 2019 to just 35 days in 2020.” Dominic says the trend is reflected in the Cupar property market, which continues to attract “a huge amount of interest” from buyers from Edinburgh and beyond.

He says: “The Cupar area is still seen as good value and the town is well catered for in terms of services, schooling, transport, shops, sports clubs … and it has a good mix of property to cater for a variety of buyers.” They are seeing an increase in families looking to move out of the cities: “Many properties in and around Cupar provide the greater indoor and outdoor space that families are looking for – from home offices, home gyms and more garden space.”

 

There are other key factors that are driving searches. Dominic says: “Interest rates are at a record low and are likely to remain so for an extended period, which is allowing buyers to extend their budgets and aim higher to fulfill their life objectives.” He adds: “The shortage of supply will continue to be a factor which with increased demand is likely to see more growth in house prices in the area this year.”

One area very close to our hearts is the importance of digital connectivity. Dominic says: “Good internet connectivity is a significant attraction. It has become so important to allow for home working, study, gaming and media streaming. For many buyers, internet connectivity and mobile phone signal are as important in their search as water and electricity supplies.”

Away from work, we asked Dominic what he sees as his greatest achievements. They very much centre around his love of sport and the great outdoors. He was in the 1st XV for both his school and the Howe of Fife and has undertaken a variety of endurance sporting competitions. “I’ve taken part in biatholons, a marathon, half-marthons and various obstacle course races – my team the Dundee High School of Boys Club coming first in the Cateran Yomp 54 mile challenge in 2019.” And he has a head for climbing – with the 6,000m Mount Cotopaxi in Ecuador as his highest peak. Currently, Dominic is Vice President of the Dundee High School of Boys Club.

As with all who feature on our Blog, we asked Dominic what he would recommend for anyone visiting Cupar for the first time – or for the first time in a long time: “Walk from Cupar to Hill of Tarvit via Ceres. There is foothpath from Moor Road (next to Cupar Golf Club) which takes you into Ceres and then another footpath that leads you into the grounds of Tarvit House which is an NTS property. A steep walk with an excellent view over Fife and beyond from the top!”

 

Have we moved you?

Looking to rent or buy residential or commercial property in Cupar? Please use the following A-Z links: these firms – all in town – will be able to help you and answer any questions you may have.

Galbraith  |  DM Hall  |  Fife Properties

Joyce Lawrie Estate Agents  |  Martin & Co  |  Rollos

Thornton Low  |  Thorntons Law  |  Williams Gray Williams

Williams McCrae Solicitors

 

Our directory also includes more businesses who will be able to help in your plans relocation or expansion. Please use the following to access their details:

Architect  |  Builder  |  Building Supplies

 

Thanks for reading!