Here at The Country House Company we were delighted to hear that the government has revealed a huge overhaul of the industry that will include mandatory qualifications for agents and greater transparency about referral fees. It is frustrating, when there are so many professionals in the business, that the reputation of an industry can be tarred by the actions of a few rogue agents. We do not charge referral fees and are careful to ensure that any referrals we make are only when a client has asked for information on a solicitor, surveyor, mortgage broker, insurance agent or such like. We would only recommend professionals we have worked with in the past or have been recommended and we are confident of their service.
In a previous blog I mentioned the amount of legislation that has to be dealt with by landlords and agents. Some of this legislation is for the good of the industry and the introduction of mandatory qualifications, greater transparency and more accountability is to be encouraged and supported across the industry.
Secretary of State for Housing Sajid Javid stated, “We will require estate agents to hold a qualification so that people are no longer at risk from a minority of ‘rogue agents’ and can trust the process when buying or selling their home”.
We are professional, qualified and are members of ARLA Propertymark, and looking forward to other agents having to reach the same standard; trust us to help you through the process.
Marishelle Gibson
Was the headline for an article in The Saturday Telegraph Property supplement sub titled ‘The commuter hotspots on London’s compass points’. Without even reading the article I was confident that Hampshire would feature which of course it did along with other obvious contenders, Berkshire, accessible parts of Essex and Kent and Hertfordshire to the north east of London. Each ‘home county’ has the benefit of beautiful countryside with accessibility to London but that also comes with a price tag for the property in it. As the article states ‘There is always a catch, the better value home may come with a longer commute’. Hampshire has its expensive hotspots and prices certainly went up when the the Hindhead tunnel opened making the journey into London under an hour by road or rail from Haslemere. However there are other beautiful spots south of Haslemere, close to Petersfield, or within the Meon Valley or the South Downs where property has the benefit of being within a commutable distance of London without the exceptional premium.
‘Woodside’ is a fine country house offering 5 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, 4 bath shower rooms, 2 bedroom annex with conservatory, double garage with games room/workshop and office and gardens of approximately 2 acres. Perfect for family life, it has beautiful countryside close at hand and Bohunt School, winner of the TES Secondary School of the Year, is within walking distance. Situated in a peaceful country lane it is only 1.5 miles from Liphook which has a mainline station and is close to the A3 giving direct access to London by road or rail.
‘Forest Gate’ is another beautiful country home with access to the South Downs, yet is just 12 miles from Petersfield where the mainline station and the A3 provide a direct link to London in just over an hour. Situated just outside the village of Hambledon it is a Grade ll listed handsome Georgian house dating from the 18th century with later additions. It offers 5 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, gardens and grounds of approximately 1.5 acres with tennis court, double garage and outbuildings.
So, no catch to property in this area just beautiful countryside, excellent schools, historic cities, wonderful market towns and all within easy access of London.
Marishelle Gibson
A report from Foxton’s recently pointed out that in the last five years over 150 new regulations have affected landlords; ranging from responsibility for tenants residency status to licensing requirements, enhanced maintenance criteria and increased financial sanctions.
This has created a potential minefield for landlords as they negotiate their way through preparing a property to rent and maintaining the tenancy. However this is exactly what we are trained to do. For a professional Lettings Agency like The Country House Company complying with legislation and keeping up to date with changes is vital to ensure we give a thorough service to all our landlords and that we take the stress out of letting a property. It may not be the most enjoyable aspect to letting but it is a challenge the team enjoy enjoy meeting.
The most enjoyable part of the job is showing the wonderful properties we have, matching the right tenant to the property and giving the landlords a stress free experience!
Marishelle Gibson
With Easter and spring around the corner now is a wonderful time to daydream of boxes of chocolate and ‘chocolate box’ cottages in quintessential English villages. We can help that dream by tempting you with some of the delightful properties we have available to rent or buy in the beautiful villages in and around the Meon Valley and South Downs.
How about a former groom’s cottage located within the listed stable yard of a substantial country estate? Situated in the village of Steep Marsh it is surrounded by wonderful parkland with far reaching views yet immediately accessible to the A3 and just 3 miles from Petersfield mainline station.
Or consider an idyllic thatched mid terrace cottage overlooking a river to the front and fields to the back. The cottage has chocolate box appeal on the outside and is delightful inside with beams, exposed boards and beautifully restored English oak doors.
Equally tempting could be a perfect rural retreat; a pretty 2 bed annex in the grounds of the neighbouring farmhouse with wonderful views and access to the South Downs.
So settle down with that box of chocolates, browse through The Country House Company website and see how the dream can come true!
Marishelle Gibsson
As the first signs of spring are showing, so are the signs for The Bluebell Ride (previously held at the Bereleigh Estate) which is again being held at The Longwood Estate, Nr Winchester on Sunday 22nd April. The Country House Company has supported this event for many years and we are always proud to see our signs across the area advertising the event.
The ride is an 8 mile Cross Country Course with approximately 40 optional jumps through beautiful bluebell woods in the Longwood Estate. There will be stewards around the course located at jumping areas. The Estate is located just to the South East of Winchester, a part of Hampshire which combines pleasant woodlands with lots of tracks and areas where there are stunning views across to the Isle of Wight on clear days. Directional signs will be put up to ensure easy approaches.
Proceeds will go towards The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Services www.hiowaa.org
For course details, entry form and full details please see www.bluebellrides.co.uk
For full details on The Country House Company please see www.countryhousecompany.co.uk
There has been some publicity recently on the rights of landlords to stipulate whether or not applicants with pets are allowed to be considered as potential tenants. No doubt this is an argument that will rumble along for a while and here at The Country House Company we have landlords with properties where they welcome pets, others where they allow dogs but not cats and visa versa, and others where they would rather not have pets at all.
We totally respect the wishes of the landlord. When we first meet a landlord a vital part of the conversation is the profile of the tenant they are looking for. The landlord usually has a clear idea of the suitability of the property be it for individuals or families with or without pets, and our job and expertise as a letting agent is finding the right tenant for that property.
We spend time with the applicants and the landlords to ensure the match is going to work for both parties. One of the keys to being a good letting agent is having the training and experience to know when an applicant is right for a property and the patience to wait and be thorough in finding the perfect match – one of the many enjoyable and rewarding aspects of this profession!
This 2 bedroom newly renovated apartment offers a unique opportunity to live in a magnificent Grade ll listed sandstone mansion that dates back to 1861. Designed by the eminent Victorian architect Samuel Sanders Teulon, it is in a breathtaking setting within the South Downs National Park amidst the chalk hangers, close to Hawkley.
The main house is approached via a long drive and hidden from the road. The apartment provides 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen and bathroom. The sitting room has French doors onto a balcony which could comfortably fit a table and chairs and from where you can enjoy the most wonderful views. The kitchen is modern and includes electric cooker and hob, integrated dishwasher, under counter fridge with freezer compartment and velux ceiling window above. The master bedroom has dual aspect windows and feature beams and the second bedroom has a feature fireplace. The apartment has been finished with contemporary décor while retaining some character features, creating a smart home for a single professional or couple.
Externally the property provides off road parking to the front of the house and use of the stunning communal grounds which extend to about 8 acres. They are mostly wooded and run down to a stream which is a source of the River Rother.
The area has a dramatic, unspoilt landscape dominated by The Hangers; ancient woodlands which cover the slopes at the edge of the Hampshire Downs and so called because the ancient beech, lime, yew and ash woodlands seem to hang from the tall slopes creating a wonderful canopy for walkers. Rich in wildlife and with spectacular scenery, the area is deeply rural and quiet, with small villages and scattered farms. Hawkley is a rural village with a quintessential village green, pub, church and village hall.
The market town of Petersfield is only 7 miles away with a mainline station and good range of shops and facilities. Chichester, Winchester and Guildford all offer more extensive shopping and leisure facilities. With easy access to the A3, connecting to the M25 and the rest of the motorway network, this property is, though rural, well placed for commuting. The closest mainline services run from Liss and Petersfield, with trains to London Waterloo on a regular service taking just under an hour. The area is well served for sporting and leisure facilities which include horse racing at Goodwood and Fontwell, polo at Cowdray Park, golf at Hindhead, Liphook and Petersfield and sailing off the South Coast at Chichester. The surrounding countryside is networked by footpaths and bridle paths providing excellent opportunities for walking (including the Hangers Way and the South Downs Way) and riding.
For full details on this property and others available through The Country House Company please contact Kate or Emilie on 023 92 632275 or email lettings@countryhousecompany.co.uk
February is likely to see a further uptick in invitations as those who seek a steer on what to do to their home before marketing to optimise ‘saleability’ and the sale price, get in touch. Others who are ‘match ready’, so to speak, tend to call us just a matter of weeks before going to market and so rather more spontaneous. The message for 2018 is that with no referendums or elections, the selling season is clear of major distractions and so far more likely to ‘spring’ into life. A competitive mortgage market means rates remain low and the economic effects of Brexit are far less negative than had been thought…partly because the global economies are strengthening. Accordingly if buying or selling, this could be the moment to ‘pop above the parapet’ and make that move….we’re ready, willing and able so do call!
Marishelle Gibson
Our enthusiasm as we entered 2018 was fuelled by a very successful closing quarter to 2017 allowing us to pass our annual targets. Our achievements over the year are now being heard by those considering selling. Invitations to advise are greater in number than for some time. Perhaps our ‘hybrid’ combination of attentiveness, experience and creativity but competitive because we aren’t on the high street is reaping dividends. Its become clear that resistance to the online agency experience is growing having spoken to those who have sampled this new concept. Apparently there isn’t the ‘hands on’ service, relationship building, or depth of experience and day to day handling so marketing campaigns and then the sale, once agreed, can drift. These agents simply cannot be viable unless they spend a limited amount of time on each contract. There’s no incentive to eek out every last £ of value in the negotiation process because they are a ‘sausage machine’ focussed on quantity rather than quality, often costing sellers many thousands of pounds on their sale and frequently far greater than the saving by using such an agent.
These opening months of a new year can be subdued as homeowners wait for spring conditions where longer days, more sunshine and growing gardens compel buyers to engage but we have a number of procedable, motivated buyers for all property types now. Mortgage lending volumes have increased significantly in recent months although re-mortgaging to secure longer term, inexpensive rates have made up a large proportion of this statistic.
Guide prices remain critical to a successful campaign but often over pitched by so many agents chasing so few houses…a temptation too great for the less scrupulous who overvalue to secure and then drive the price down to sensible numbers once they have their foot in the door. This shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of ambition in our assessments but with an average 98% of our guide prices still being achieved, we think we are getting our pricing about right. Please don’t be fooled by over exuberance that cannot be delivered. We’ll provide you with hard facts and factual evidence to justify our opinion.
February is likely to see a further uptick in invitations as those who seek a steer on what to do to their home before marketing to optimise ‘saleability’ and the sale price, get in touch. Others who are ‘match ready’, so to speak, tend to call us just a matter of weeks before going to market and so rather more spontaneous. The message for 2018 is that with no referendums or elections, the selling season is clear of major distractions and so far more likely to ‘spring’ into life. A competitive mortgage market means rates remain low and the economic effects of Brexit are far less negative than had been thought…partly because the global economies are strengthening. Accordingly if buying or selling, this could be the moment to ‘pop above the parapet’ and make that move….we’re ready, willing and able so do call!