"There are retailers who come up with other promotions, including raffle draws and gift vouchers, but we prefer to offer
straight discounts on select items," he added.
"At the same time, where investors have approached developers and offered to pay in accelerated terms, in return, developers have offered
straight discounts. We can approximate that margins have been reduced by as much as 15 per cent.
Llanmoor is also offering tailored incentive packages for individual buyers which, depending on property type and availability, could include a contribution towards legal fees,
straight discounts, payment of stamp duty, agency assist scheme to sell existing homes and home appliances.
<p>In the spirit of cost cutting, Brown has also examined all of its IT contracts and gone back to vendors to ask for price breaks, whether it's
straight discounts or extending contracts for lower rates.
Nye views these promotions as different from
straight discounts, not only because she is happy with her final profit margin, but also because the program encourages customers to make multiple purchases.
"
Straight discounts are still popular and at 4.99 per cent (before the latest rise) Halifax's has undoubtedly been the market leader".
