Bury Property Edition December

DECEMBER 2013

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PROPERTY NEWS

Charm

A GUIDE TO WINTER SELLING

WELCOME

WELCOME TO

PROPERTY EDITION

T

hey say December is a tricky month for the property market, what with the colder weather making people reluctant to venture out for viewings, and the demands of Christmas shunting property-hunting onto the back burner, to be resumed in the spring. However, some savvy sellers (and buyers) are taking advantage of the traditional lull to snap up the property of their dreams, while everyone else grapples with tinsel and argues over whose parents are coming to stay this year. We spoke to two local agents in Bury who shared some tips on winter selling, and gave us their thoughts on the year just gone as well as their predictions for the one ahead.

Turn to page 11 to read the full article.

There’s proof in these pages that the property market is still ticking over nicely, and we’ve sought out several beauties for you this month. On the cover is a stunning house in Whepstead, offering large grounds and beautiful interiors.

The drawing room is truly breathtaking, with oak panelling, a large open fireplace and feature ceiling – a real stately home to call your own. Read more about it over the page.

Further on, find a barn-style home with paddocks, a 16th century cottage and a first-time buyer’s dream situated right in the centre of town. So, if you’re thinking of moving, act now and you might find you’ve landed your best Christmas present yet!

See you in the New Year!

JENNIFER SHELTON, FEATURES EDITOR

jennifershelton@bright-publishing.com 01223 499463

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Property Edition | December 2013 | 3

There are many keys to a successful move...

but only one master 01359 234444 www.allhomes.uk.com

MINDEN DRIVE 3 BEDROOM DETACHED CHALET VERY MODERN INSIDE GARAGE AND PARKING

WOOLPIT GREAT FAMILY HOME LOVELY FARMLAND VIEWS WELL SERVED VILLAGE

£345,000 EN SUITE AND CLOAKROOM VIEW TODAY SOUGHT AFTER LOCATION

£349,500 GENEROUS ROOM SIZES SHOWER ROOM AND BATHROOM GOOD A14 ACCESS

Selling a property? Need advice?

Call the local leading ladies

HARGRAVE

£300,000

3 BEDROOM COTTAGE ESTABLISHED 1/2 ACRE GARDENS DELIGHTFUL CONSERVATORY

MANY ORIGINAL FEATURES LOCATED SOUTH WEST OF BURY LOG BURNER

THURSTON

£395,000

BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED DETACHED BUNGALOW 4 BEDROOMS AND EN SUITE

Juliette

Diane

PRIVATE LOCATION WELL SERVED VILLAGE DOUBLE GARAGE

Elaine

Karen

PROPERTY

WORDS JENNIFER SHELTON

PROPERTY NEWS

Edition takes a look at the latest happenings in the buzzing local property market

COVER PROPERTY

COVER STAR Whepstead, Bury St Edmunds A quite exceptional property is currently on the market, ideal for anyone looking for plenty of space both inside and out. The Oak House in Whepstead is a wellpresented family house, Grade II listed, and set in around three acres of established grounds. It is on the market with David Burr for a guide price of £875,000.

The property displays an array of unique features, so an internal viewing is highly recommended. These include an impressive reception hall, drawing room with oak panelling, bay windows, deep stone fireplace and impressive detailed ceiling. There is also a grand dining hall, breakfast room, AGA kitchen, seven bedrooms and two bathrooms. The property is approached via a gravel driveway, flanked by woodland and paddocks. There is also a formal terrace, sweeping lawns and an ornamental river with bridge, plus a range of mature trees. A garage and workshop is also included.

A fantastic home for a family, with great opportunities for entertaining, The Oak House is surely one of the most notable properties on the market in the Bury area.

For more information, contact David Burr on 01787 883144. www.davidburr.co.uk

6 | Property Edition | December 2013

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PROPERTY

STARTER PROPERTY: MUSTOW STREET

COCKFIELD, BURY ST EDMUNDS A beautiful barn-style home offers all the benefits of modern living in a peaceful, countryside location. The versatile accommodation can be easily adapted to suit the owner’s needs. It currently includes a reception hall with tiled floor and handmade oak staircase, an attractive drawing room, dining/living room, sitting room, study, a light and spacious kitchen/breakfast room, with utility. Upstairs, you’ll find the principle suite with dressing room, en-suite and balcony. There are four further bedrooms, each with use of their own bathroom.

Outside, a double cart lodge provides ample parking, while the gardens are a particular feature, comprising a large terrace, lawn, paddocks and swimming pool – with the grounds reaching over 15 acres in total. It is on the market with a guide price of £1.15 million. Contact David Burr on 01787 883144. www.davidburr.co.uk

With a prime location, this property is new to the market, and would be perfect for a first-time buyer. The threebedroom terraced house has a guide price of £175,000 and is situated just moments from Angel Hill, overlooking the Abbey Gardens in Mustow Street.

It provides a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and three bedrooms, all presented in excellent decorative order. There is also a garden to the rear and permit parking. With such a central location, it’s sure to be snapped up.

Contact Sheridans on 01284 700018. www.sheridans.ltd.uk

THE STREET, HORRINGER This lovely property is in Horringer, right by the National Trust’s Ickworth Park, and just two miles from Bury town centre. Inside, the Grade II period cottage contains a living room, dining/garden room, snug, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, music room and study office, plus six bedrooms and a bathroom.

Known as The Old House, it exudes charm and character, with many original features intact. It enjoys a pretty outlook onto the village green and is believed to date back to the 16th century. The delightful gardens are worth mentioning too, reaching around 0.3 of an acre and containing a two-storey detached

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barn/outbuilding with garage. The guide price is £745,000. Contact Hall and Sworders on 01284 753049. www.hallandsworders.co.uk

Property Edition | December 2013 | 7

PROPERTY

MUSTOW STREET, BURY ST EDMUNDS

A unique property overlooking Abbey Gardens has come up for sale through Duttons. This three-storey townhouse requires some modernisation, but offers spacious accommodation including an entrance hall, cloakroom, utility room, first-floor sitting room with a balcony, plus a dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The property also comes with off-road parking and a garage, and has a guide price of £350,000. Contact Duttons on 01284 749433. www.duttons.uk.com

JERMYN AVENUE Overlooking an open green in the St James Park area of Moreton Hall, just on the outskirts of town, this property is presented in excellent order. It offers an entrance hall, spacious living room with fireplace, kitchen/breakfast room leading to the conservatory, a first-floor master bedroom with en-suite and two further bedrooms with use of a further modern bathroom.

A driveway and garage provides ample parking and there are gardens to the front and rear. This property has a guide price of £239,995. Contact Mortimer and Gausden on 01284 755526. www.mortimerandgausden.co.uk

WICKHAMBROOK This charming Grade II listed home stands in the village of Wickhambrook, offering superb accommodation for a family.

From the entrance hall there is a spacious living room, separate dining room, family room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, shower room, four first-floor bedrooms and a bathroom. A driveway and parking, plus a cart lodge and workshop are also included, with two further outbuildings at the rear. The beautiful garden is enclosed and mostly laid to lawn with mature trees and colourful borders.

A guide price of £415,000 is invited. Contact Jackson-Stops & Staff on 01638 662231. www.jackson-stops.co.uk

10 | Property Edition | December 2013

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PROPERTY

Emmerson Dutton

SELLING IN DECEMBER NEEDN’T BE DREARY… December has a reputation for being a particularly difficult month for the property market, but putting your house up for sale before the new year rush could have its advantages.

“Generally, our thoughts are turning to Christmas at this time, not trouping round houses,” says Matthew Cutting at Jackson-Stops & Staff in Bury. “That’s traditionally what happens, but there is certainly a market during December.

At this time of the year there’s a lack of competition, which is the main advantage. And if someone has to move, you might attract their attention, while others who are holding off until spring would miss out.”

As we speak, Matthew is launching three properties to the market, due to appear at or before the start of December. “If you’re a purchaser,” he advises, “keep looking.”

Emmerson Dutton of Duttons in Bury agrees: “The number of applicants registering for property, even in the thick of November, has brought with it many opportunities for sellers to

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capitalise on the lack of competition from other sellers. Less choice underpins the lack of supply and as a result fair prices are being achieved.

“Those buyers that are looking right now are doing so with serious motivation and intent, and as a result the decisionmaking process is concise. Viewing numbers will naturally decline as we enter the hibernation period, but the quality of viewings outweighs the quantity.”

This is also helped by the widespread murmurings of better times ahead for the UK property market. 2013 proved a positive year locally, as Matthew reports: “We had a slow start, mostly due to the weather – we had all that snow in March, when we traditionally look to launch properties, which put everything on the back foot. But the summer and latter months have been good.”

Emmerson adds: “Though talk of the nation’s capital’s price rises have not directly penetrated the area, Bury St Edmunds town centre is in excellent shape, regardless of winter setting in.

Demand is still really strong and anything

we offer fresh to the market in the town right now is causing a stir from those wishing to downsize.

“October was a record month saleswise for us, even though in terms of viewings, numbers were not as exaggerated. November is very much a surprise, as so far we have been very active in tying up sales.

“Whilst many will consider it a time to put things on hold until spring 2014, those that are putting up For Sale boards as well as their Christmas trees this year might get a very pleasant surprise in more ways than one,” Emmerson enthuses.

Looking ahead, Matthew concludes: “We’re quite optimistic about the new year: there’s been a genuine positivity come back into the market. That’s not to say prices will go up by huge amounts, but it’ll be upwards rather than anything else. Up until this year, people have been slightly cautious, but now I think all the experts and the general public know that the only way from here is up.”

Property Edition | December 2013 | 11