Lextons Magazine Volume 3

BRIGHTON & HOVE’S FINEST PROPERTIES LETTINGS LAND & NEW HOMES Introducing Lextons’ new departments

THE COAL SHED Meat & fish cooked to perfection

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Latest bathroom trends

HUGH JACKMAN ON HIS PATH TO STARDOM AND SOME OF HIS MOST FAMOUS ROLES TO DATE

PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

IN THIS ISSUE… 4/6

MEET THE TEAM The people of Lextons

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BRIGHTON & HOVE’S FINEST PROPERTIES A selection of our latest properties

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STORIES FROM OUR SELLERS What our sellers say

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BRIGHTON & HOVE’S FINEST PROPERTIES A selection of our latest properties

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CONTENTS

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LEE COOK A guide to tree surgery

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HUGH JACKMAN Hugh Jackman on his path to stardom, and some of his most famous roles to date

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ACUMEN PEOPLE An insight into the property purchasing process

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Latest bathroom trends

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PROACTIVE PROPERTY SALES IN 2019

Meat & fish cooked to perfection

How will 2019 shape up for the Brighton & Hove property market?

THE COAL SHED

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LETTINGS LAND & NEW HOMES Introducing Lextons’ new departments

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MEET THE TEAM

JAYNE LAVERICK Administrator

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ayne has joined us as an administrator. She loves anything creative, so finds writing the property descriptions and copy editing to be the most enjoyable part of her job. We asked Jayne about her role and life in Brighton:

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT WORKING IN BRIGHTON? Working in Brighton & Hove is great, there is always something new happening. From the Fringe Festival to Brighton Pride, the beach to the South Downs; with roughly 900 bars and pubs in this city, there’s always somewhere new to go.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOP IN BRIGHTON & HOVE? Growing up in Sunderland, with very few independent businesses, I’m spoilt for choice shopping in Brighton & Hove. But I have to say Snoopers Paradise is a little treasure trove; selling everything from books, vintage jewellery and even your nana’s favourite china set. There’s something for everyone.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU MOVED HOUSE IN YOUR LIFE? I lived in the same family home in the North East up until 2015. Then made the big move, 339.1 miles down to the South Coast. I’m definitely not a person to do things by half.

WHAT CAUSE OR CHARITY DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE MOST? WaterAid has always been an important charity to me. There are so many fantastic charities in the world, but for me, having clean drinking water is a basic human right.

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WHAT WOULD YOUR DREAM HOME BE LIKE?

WORKING IN BRIGHTON & HOVE IS GREAT, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW HAPPENING.

Period properties are definitely a personal preference. But all I’ve ever wanted is a home with a private balcony. To be able to sit outside in the Summer with a cup of coffee …or a glass of wine, sounds like heaven to me.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT AT SCHOOL AND WHY? History was always my favourite. As a subject it’s so varied and interesting; continuing to study History at degree level allowed me to appreciate the best and worst moments in humanity’s past. It can be both hilarious and heart breaking … a little bit like an academic soap opera.

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MEET THE TEAM

VICTORIA PHILLIPS Lettings Consultant

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s one of our letting’s consultants, Victoria builds strong relationships with our clients. She is responsible for all pretenancy administration, arranging and conducting viewings and negotiating the terms of the tenancy.

We asked Victoria about her role and life in Brighton:

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX? With three young children at home, I’m kept pretty busy! As a family we enjoy spending lots of time outdoors, Brighton Seafront and Hove Park are firm favourites. But when I do get some time to myself, I really enjoy yoga – it’s such a relaxing way to end the week.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN BRIGHTON & HOVE? There is so much choice in Brighton & Hove, but the Ginger Pig has definitely stolen the number one spot for me. The food is amazing and the gin cocktails … incredible.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT LEXTONS? I’m a real people person, so being able to get to know someone’s needs and assist them with their search is so rewarding. I genuinely enjoy advising landlords and matching the correct tenant to their property.

WHAT CHARITY DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE MOST? Chestnut Tree House is a fantastic Sussex based charity, that provides children’s hospice care services.

I am so pleased to be working for Lextons, as they have recently started sponsoring the hospice.

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I GENUINELY ENJOY ADVISING LANDLORDS AND MATCHING THE CORRECT TENANT TO THEIR PROPERTY.

DO YOU LIVE IN BRIGHTON & HOVE? IF SO, WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT LIVING HERE? I have always lived in Hove. With so much to do nearby it’s such a wonderful place to be. There are tonnes of options for families; from the Sea Life Centre to Volk’s Electric Railway, museums and ice-skating.

Regardless of the weather there’s no reason to be bored in Brighton.

WHAT WOULD YOUR DREAM HOME BE LIKE? When all the children have left home, I’d love a seafront penthouse.

Brighton is amazing in the summer and I can’t think of a better way to enjoy it.

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MEET THE TEAM

KAREN FRANKS Sales Support Manager

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working relationship with several local solicitors, surveyors and mortgage brokers, as well as the many clients I have dealt with over the years. Prior to working in sales progression I was a sales negotiator and before that a lettings negotiator. So clearly I love property, and have extensive experience working in all aspects of the industry. I’ve always been very personable yet professional; a skill I think really helps people during a stressful time in their lives.

aren has recently joined us as a Sales Support Manager. She is responsible for progressing sales; ensuring that the sales go through quickly and efficiently. A busy mum, Karen is an organisational dream and certainly well-equipped to make sales progression as stress and problem free as possible. We asked Karen about her role and life in Brighton:

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT LEXTONS? By far the greatest thing about working at Lextons is being a part of such a friendly and supportive team; we are all so dedicated to giving our clients the best possible service. Within my own role, I have always got great satisfaction from seeing a sale through from an offer being accepted to exchange and finally the key collection. Dealing with any obstacles and ultimately facilitating a quick, easy and stress free exchange is so rewarding.

DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF WORK? I spend a lot of time with my family, and our newest addition, Star, the Jack Russell puppy.

In our spare time we make the most of Brighton, and love going for walks along the beach at any time of the year. As a family we find the best way to end the week is indulging in a cozy Sunday roast together. On week nights I try to go to the gym as much as possible; I like swimming and running best.

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WHAT WOULD YOUR DREAM HOME BE LIKE?

DEALING WITH ANY OBSTACLES AND ULTIMATELY FACILITATING A QUICK, EASY AND STRESS FREE EXCHANGE IS SO REWARDING.

WHAT SKILLS DO YOU BRING TO THE ROLE? I have worked in sales progression for over 6 years, and so have a good

My dream property would be a large flat right on the seafront.

Ideally it would be a period property with floor to ceiling windows and a balcony or roof terrace for barbecues in the summer. I’ve always found listening to the sea very relaxing and would love to fall asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore. Maybe one day!

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT AT SCHOOL AND WHY? I loved English, and weirdly, Maths! I have always read a lot, but these days finding the time is sometimes a struggle. Holidays are always an excellent time to escape and relax with a good novel.

WHAT CAUSE OR CHARITY DO YOU CARE ABOUT MOST? I feel like any charity that helps children or animals is just so important.

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We know just the place...

Lake End House, West Sussex

ÂŁ1,399,000

A beautiful and well designed five-bedroom, three bathroom detached house, situated within a desirable private development within West Chiltington.

The grounds are beautifully kept, with a driveway that can hold multiple vehicles, a large flagstone patio, which links nicely to the reception areas, and a tennis court.

Pulborough station allows easy travel to London, which is just over 3 miles away.

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Tongdean Avenue, Hove

ÂŁ1,395,000

This charming four-bedroom cottage with private driveway and large gardens is located on the highly sought after Tongdean Avenue. The property has been thoughtfully renovated and decorated throughout to a fantastically high specification and offers several views of the sea.

Neatly tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Brighton, Tongdean Avenue is perfectly situated. The property is close to a wonderful range of amenities, with a selection of shops, pubs and cafes all available in the Preston Park area. Likewise, Hove Park can be easily reached on foot. For commuters, the property has nearby access to the A27 and Preston Park Station.

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STORIES FROM OUR SELLERS We love hearing stories and comments from our sellers.

We’re delighted to share a few with you here.

PENNY PENNY BOUGHT AND SOLD THROUGH LEXTONS; MOVING FROM A FIVE-BEDROOM DETACHED HOUSE IN WITHDEAN AND DOWNSIZING TO A BEAUTIFUL ONE-BEDROOM PROPERTY IN CENTRAL HOVE. WE HAD A CHAT WITH PENNY ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WITH LEXTONS.

ENTHUSIASTIC The team at Lextons are a complete pleasure to deal with, which was the primary reason I chose them to market my property. James and Peter are so enthusiastic and confident about their team’s ability to sell property well. As both a buyer and a seller with Lextons, I can certainly testify to that.

THEIR CONFIDENCE IS INFECTIOUS Working with Lextons was absolutely brilliant. The team worked tirelessly to ensure the process was a smooth one. Through the duration of buying and selling Lextons maintained regular contact with me, making certain that I was fully up-to-date at all times. What’s more the team’s constant positivity and confidence really assured me that they would be able to achieve the best results for me. The team also provided me with consistent, excellent advice; really steering me in the right direction.

Ultimately this helped me to reach my goal, getting my property sold and finding a new home.

NO SUGAR-COATING One thing I really love about Lextons is that they were always truthful with me. I never felt fobbed off, which is something I can’t say about other Brighton & Hove estate agents. Lextons concentration and appreciation for their clients really sets them apart from the stereotypical agent.

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COMPARED WITH OTHER AGENTS, LEXTONS BLOWS THE COMPETITION OUT OF THE WATER. I COULDN’T RECOMMEND THEM HIGHLY ENOUGH.

BUYING OR SELLING… I’D CHOOSE LEXTONS Compared with other agents, Lextons blows the competition out of the water. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

A FLAWLESS SERVICE In truth there is nothing I could fault about the service I received from Lextons. From start to finish they were superb, offering everything you could possibly want from an agent.

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SELLERS’ FEEDBACK

ALISTAIR & CLARA ALISTAIR AND CLARA SOLD THEIR TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT ON PRESTON PARK AVENUE AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH. THE COUPLE HAVE RECENTLY MOVED THEIR FAMILY INTO A BEAUTIFUL FIVE-BEDROOM PROPERTY IN THE WITHDEAN AREA. LEXTONS WERE OVER THE MOON TO ASSIST ALISTAIR AND CLARA WITH THEIR SALE AND ONWARD PURCHASE.

QUALITY STOCK The process of house hunting was so long for us, we were looking for a total of two years to find the perfect family home. Which we did with help from Lextons. The reason we came on the market with Lextons was because their service appeared to far outdo the other agents in Brighton & Hove. They were able to offer us properties that were of an excellent caliber.

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND The team at Lextons really went out of their way to find us the perfect property, and once we had, they worked hard to secure it for us. The entire process was excellent from start to finish.

Lextons made every effort to achieve the sale of our own property promptly. We really appreciated how candid the team were throughout the process; James in particular was unafraid to let us know when he thought we were heading down the wrong path. In fact, the communication from the whole team at Lextons was second to none.

THE BEST THING ABOUT LEXTONS IS THE TEAM I can confidently say there is absolutely no way any other agent would have been able to get our sale and purchase through.

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THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE WHOLE TEAM AT LEXTONS WAS SECOND TO NONE. SELL WITH LEXTONS I would absolutely recommend Lextons to anyone selling.

COMPETENT, COMPREHENSIVE AND CONFIDENT Our long property search put us in contact with many different agents and I have to say Lextons’ marketing

material was much better than all others we’d seen. Their brochures, attention to detail and highquality stock are indicative of their professionalism and astuteness.

Lextons are completely focused and committed to selling your property. They instilled in us a sense of confidence that the task could and would be done.

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SELLERS’ FEEDBACK

ALI ALI AND HER HUSBAND ROBIN SOLD THEIR STUNNING ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT ON FIRST AVENUE WITH HELP FROM LEXTONS. THE PROPERTY WENT UNDER OFFER AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF VIEWINGS FOR ASKING PRICE, AFTER BEING MARKETED PREVIOUSLY BY ANOTHER BRIGHTON AND HOVE AGENT. ALI AND ROBIN ARE MOVING TO A BEAUTIFUL THREE-BEDROOM HOUSE IN PORTSLADE. ALWAYS TRUST YOUR GUT My initial decision was to instruct Lextons to market my property; however the proximity to another prominent agent made me choose them first. And in truth, before this experience I’d dismissed all estate agents to be much of a muchness.

I couldn’t have been more wrong, the two experiences couldn’t have been further apart, from beginning to end the team at Lextons were professional, friendly and honest.

THE PROCESS WAS FAULTLESS The process of selling through Lextons was smooth from start to finish. The team worked tirelessly to create the best result for us, which made the situation a lot easier. Any time I had questions they were happy to explain things clearly to me, nothing was ever too much.

One difference I really loved about selling through Lextons was the premarketing process. The whole team came to my flat, introduced themselves and became familiar with the property… so they knew what they were selling. Lextons’ marketing was head and shoulders above the rest, their brochures are so professional.

BREAKING THE STEREOTYPE The team at Lextons are worlds away from the bad reputation associated with the profession.

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LEXTONS’ MARKETING WAS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST, THEIR BROCHURES ARE SO PROFESSIONAL They were consistently professional and genuine throughout, which was so refreshing. I truly felt that Lextons were working hard for me and actively doing their upmost to assist.

I COULDN’T RECOMMEND THEM HIGHLY ENOUGH I would definitely recommend

sellers and buyers in Brighton and Hove to use Lextons. James and George in particular were so helpful; easing what can be a highly stressful time in life.

The teams’ local and extensive knowledge was truly invaluable.

Every dealing I’ve had with Lextons has been pleasant and beneficial, from visiting their office to speaking over the phone.

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SELLERS’ FEEDBACK

DONALD DONALD SOLD HIS BEAUTIFUL FOUR-BEDROOM, SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE IN HOVE PARK THROUGH LEXTONS, AND HAS MOVED TO A CHARMING COTTAGE IN THE SOUTH DOWNS. THE PROPERTY SUCCESSFULLY WENT UNDER OFFER AFTER LESS THAN A WEEK OF MARKETING.

BRIGHTON & HOVE’S MOST PROMINENT AGENT In the weeks leading up to putting our property on the market, everywhere we went we noticed Lextons’ distinctive marketing. Their sold boards were spread far and wide across the city! So we knew we had to get the guys round for a comprehensive valuation.

CONSISTENTLY KEPT IN THE LOOP The process of selling with Lextons was seamless throughout. We couldn’t fault the team at Lextons; they were diligent, proactive and trustworthy from start to finish.

For the duration of the process, Lextons made sure to keep us updated. We never felt as though we had to chase the team for answers, and their long opening hours meant there was always someone on hand to assist us.

LEXTONS DON’T REST ON THEIR LAURELS The team at Lextons are so energetic and proactive. Before the property had even been fully marketed online we had a flurry of viewings booked in. It was fantastic to work with a team that were so passionate, they actively communicated with potential buyers and didn’t just wait for the phone to ring.

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THE PROCESS OF SELLING WITH LEXTONS WAS SEAMLESS THROUGHOUT. WE COULDN’T FAULT THE TEAM AT LEXTONS; THEY WERE DILIGENT, PROACTIVE AND TRUSTWORTHY FROM START TO FINISH. THE PROCESS COULDN’T HAVE BEEN SMOOTHER The process of selling and buying is normally filled with stress, but Lextons did everything to make the process as smooth and speedy as possible for us.

I’VE ALREADY STARTED RECOMMENDING THEM TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY Since receiving our offer, I haven’t stopped singing Lextons praises to family and friends. I honestly couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

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Hartington Road, Brighton

£650,000

Hartington Road is located just North of Hanover, the property is a four-bedroom, Victorian terraced house with a garden. South-West facing, the property is bright and thoughtfully decorated throughout. Lewes Road is only a few minutes’ walk and hosts a parade of shops including: a post-office, a chemist, Sainsbury’s, a selection of cafes and a few pubs.

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Brading Road, Brighton

£550,000

This beautiful four-bedroom terraced house with a garden is located in Brighton.

A wonderful family home, the property has been tastefully decorated throughout and offers an array of stunning period features. Brading Road is excellently positioned just off Elm Grove; closely situated to a range of amenities and within walking distance of Brighton Station.

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We know just the place...

Ruskin Road, Hove

ÂŁ600,000

This stunning four-bedroom terraced house with delightful garden is located in the much sought-after Poets Corner area of Hove. The property has been beautifully renovated throughout managing to create a wonderful balance between character features and contemporary living.

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Colebrook Road, Brighton

ÂŁ750,000

This charming four-bedroom, detached house with West facing garden, garage and private driveway is located in Withdean. The property also benefits from planning permissions to configure the first floor to hold four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a third floor having a playroom and additional shower room. Colebrook Road is a short walk from Westdene park.

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Hove Park Villas, Hove

£600,000

Hove Park Villas is a beautiful top floor, two-bedroom apartment with private parking and access to a fantastic communal roof terrace. Situated within a historical perfume factory, circa 1924, the apartment is well-lit, has wonderful high ceilings, numerous period features and is fantastically spacious.

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Marine Parade, Brighton

£300,000

This delightful one-bedroom, raised ground floor apartment is located right on Brighton seafront. Facing due south, the property is stylish and functional, presenting a creative blend of contemporary and traditional features, as well as sea views from every window.

Just on the edge of Kemptown, this section of Marine Parade overlooks the iconic Brighton Pier and the historic Volk’s Electric Railway.

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Clermont Road, Brighton

ÂŁ475,000

This lovely two-bedroom maisonette with stunning roof terrace is situated in the Preston Park area of Brighton. The property is adorned with a range of beautiful period features, located on Clermont Road, the apartment is moments from Preston Park Station, ideal for anyone commuting to London.

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Portland Avenue, Hove

ÂŁ900,000

A beautifully presented five-bedroom, detached family home, which has been renovated whilst keeping many original features. Located in the popular New Church Road area, close to many local amenities, the seafront and Wish Park. The seafront is a 0.6 miles away and Portslade Station offers easy access to London.

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Pembroke Crescent, Hove

ÂŁ900,000

This beautiful three-bedroom, semi-detached, double-fronted, Edwardian house with a garage, private driveway and series of gardens is located in the highly soughtafter Pembroke and Princes Conservation Area. Set on a charming tree-lined street, this stunning red brick property is adorned with a selection of lovely period features.

Pembroke Crescent is excellently positioned within Hove; the property is a moments walk from the fantastic array of amenities available on Church Road, including: Tesco’s and several independent restaurants, cafes, bars and shops.

Hove Station can be reached on foot within fifteen-minutes, perfect for anyone commuting to London.

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We know just the place...

Alma Street, West Sussex

£375,000

A delightful two-bedroom detached cottage, boasting both a lovely secluded garden and private driveway as well as many charming period features. The property is thoughtfully decorated throughout and beautifully filled with natural light.

Originally a fisherman’s cottage built in the 1860s; the property is situated in the seaside town of South Lancing. A stone’s throw away from Lancing beach where the Perch café is very popular, and Lancing train station is a short walk away with good connections into London.

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We know just the place...

Albany Villas, Hove

ÂŁ650,000

This stunning and extremely spacious (1308 sq ft) two-bedroom, end of terrace, maisonette is excellently located within central Hove. The property has been tastefully decorated throughout and is laden with a range of beautiful period features including: wooden flooring, delicate cornicing, sash windows and tall ceilings.

Albany Villas is perfectly positioned within Hove; less than fifteen minutes’ walk to Hove station, brilliant for anyone commuting to London. The property is situated between Church Road and Hove Lawns, which would give any future resident unrivalled access to the very best Hove has to offer.

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ASK THE EXPERT A Guide to Tree Surgery We spoke with the director of LMCook Trees, Lee Cook and discovered the excellent services offered by his company.

WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON ISSUE WITH BRITISH TREES?

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I HAVE A TREE PRESERVATION ORDER (TPO)?

Ash dieback is a serious disease that is killing Ash trees across Europe. The Woodland trust are greatly concerned about the potential damage it will do. At LMCook Trees we are monitoring the Ash we look after closely. If anyone has any issues, we are happy to come and have a look.

Details of all Orders are available at your local Planning Office, which can be made available for inspection by contacting the local Tree Officer. An official search of the local land charges register can be made before you purchase a property and this should reveal if there are any TPOs. This search will also indicate if the property is in a Conservation Area.

HOW CAN I TELL IF A TREE NEEDS TRIMMING OR CUTTING DOWN? It’s always best to get a tree surgeon to come take a look and make an assessment. A tree may require a trim because of its size or, if there’s a problem a tree may even need to be removed. If a tree looks unhealthy with unknown causes, a tree surgeon might recommend a full survey.

DO I NEED PERMISSION TO PLANT TREES IN MY GARDEN? Normally you do not need permissions to plant trees or hedges in your garden. But it’s always advisable to think ahead when deciding where to plant your trees, considering whether they will produce the desired effect.

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WHEN CHOOSING NEW TREES TO PLANT, WHAT TYPE GENERALLY GROWS QUICKEST? Weeping Willows, Lombardy Poplars and Silver Birches are among the fastest growing trees but it’s always a good idea to think ahead about how you will take care of them once they are bigger. It’s important to think about whether the tree will block light, either for yourself or for your neighbours. As well as taking into account the tree’s roots and whether they could grow under walls and fences, as this can cause damage.

WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS BEST TO PLANT TREES/DO WORK TO YOUR GARDEN? The best time to work on your

garden or plant trees really depends on what you plan to do. February to August is bird nesting season, so you need to be careful when cutting trees or hedges. For trees, a good time to carry out work is the dormant season which is between late autumn to early spring.

BRITISH WEATHER IS WELL-KNOWN TO BE PRETTY UNPLEASANT AT TIMES, WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO STICK YOUR WATERPROOFS ON AND GET OUT THERE? During the many years I have been working in this industry, the rain has never seemed to bother me too much … as long as you dress appropriately. I was definitely the envy of my friends during last year’s incredible weather.

LMCook Trees provide a wide range of services including: tree reductions, tree removals, surveys, pruning, dead wood removal, stump grinding, emergency call outs and supplying logs.

If you require further information contact Lee Cook at: lmcooktrees@hotmail.com Follow Lee on Facebook at: LMCook TREES

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JACKMAN

HUGH JACKMAN IS ONE OF THE MOST MUCH-LOVED AND RESPECTED PERFORMERS ON THE PLANET. THE AUSTRALIAN ACTOR, SINGER AND PRODUCER – WHO TURNED 50 RECENTLY – HAS HAD QUITE A JOURNEY FROM HIS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA TO HOLLYWOOD STARDOM.

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e took to acting while he was at university and went on to study at drama school once he had gained his degree in communications. Lately he has been enjoying huge success starring in another musical movie – ‘The Greatest Showman’, earning

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himself a Golden Globe nomination in 2017. Hugh is currently on a worldwide tour with his stage show ‘Hugh Jackman – The Man. The Music. The Show.’ Jackman has been married to his actress wife Deborra-Lee Furness for over 20 years. The couple have two adopted

children – Oscar Maximillian and Ava Eliot. In this in-depth chat with Hugh, he talks about his path to stardom, some of his most famous roles to date, his long-lasting marriage to wife Deb and why he’d be no good as a handyman…

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HUGH JACKMAN

SO LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING, YOU WERE BORN IN SYDNEY, A LONG WAY FROM HOLLYWOOD. WHEN DID YOU FIRST START THINKING YOU WANTED TO ACT FOR A LIVING? HUGH JACKMAN: Well, I got to it late. I’d done amateur musicals and plays at school. But it was in my final year at college… I did a communications degree majoring in journalism and then the very last semester I was two units short of my 24 that I had to do to graduate.

So someone said, ‘Do the drama class, it’s easy, you just turn up, it’s nothing.’ So I was like, ‘Alright, yeah OK’. So I turned up on the last possible day to qualify for the unit and he decided to do a play, this guy, for the first time in 10 years, and I got cast in the lead. He was literally drawing a line across the class list to the cast. And I got the lead and I begged and said, ‘Look mate, I’m in my final… I’ve got theses, I’m doing everything, I can’t do this.’ And he was like, ‘Then you’re out.’ And I said, ‘No but if I’m out I can’t graduate.’

And he goes, ‘Well then you’re the lead.’ So he must have been thrilled knowing his lead was begging to get out. [laughs] And I spent 90 per cent of my time on that. I’ll never forget it, we ended up touring with it, that’s making it sound far grander than it was, but we went to another college that was doing the same course that I was doing but the other half of the course was acting and we were staying with other students. And you know that feeling, I walked into the house, there were six or seven people living in this house and I was like, ‘I’ve just wasted the last three years of my life. These are my people’. You just know it. This is my tribe. And so that was it. I was 23 at the time. So I was like, ‘I think I want to go off and do acting’ and went and studied for four years and loved every single

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second of it. I spent seven years of tertiary education and three years at a normal college where I was an average student missing everything I could miss and still passed to being an acting student where I never missed one day. I just loved every single second of it.

MY DREAM WAS TO GO TO THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OR THE NATIONAL THEATRE IN LONDON AND YOU DID A YEAR COURSE AT THE ACTORS CENTRE IN SYDNEY, HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? HUGH JACKMAN: I completely fluked it. This course was great and it was a one-year part-time course, it was three days a week but it was intense. I wished it was five days a week and I got right into it. I haven’t told many people this but I auditioned and I got in and then the next day they sent me a letter saying, ‘Please send a cheque for threeand-a-half thousand dollars.’ Now, in Australia when I was graduating, all college was free. And I’d just finished a degree and I, of course, didn’t have three-and-a-half thousand dollars.

And I thought, ‘I can’t really ask my dad’ because he’d just helped me out getting through college. So I put it in the bin. And I am not joking, the next day I got in the mail a cheque from my father’s mother’s will for three-and-a-half thousand dollars.

REALLY? HUGH JACKMAN: I swear to you. And I was like, ‘It’s a sign’ but thought, ‘I should check with my dad how he feels about it.’ And I said, ‘Dad, I’m thinking of using it for this.’ And I remember him saying, ‘I couldn’t think of a better way for you to use gran’s money.’ He was always really supportive. He thought I was a bit too thin-skinned to be an actor, he was an accountant, he was at Price Waterhouse his whole life. So a kid who wanted to be an actor to him was just like another planet. And he goes, ‘Look I think you have the talent but I think you’re a bit thinskinned.’ I still don’t read reviews to this day! So he’s probably right. [laughs]

WHAT KIND OF CAREER WERE YOU HOPING FOR IN ACTING? HUGH JACKMAN: Probably stage.

My dream was to go to the Royal Shakespeare Company or the National Theatre in London. You have to understand my parents emigrated from England so the English thing was a very strong thing, because I was going back throughout all the time my mum lived in England. So I was going back and seeing theatre there. So when I was at the National Theatre…

I had a picture when I was a student outside the Cottesloe Theatre and I stuck it up on my wall… so I was 28 when I was at the National Theatre doing ‘Oklahoma’ and I remember thinking, ‘Oh that’s as far as I’ve dreamt!’ Literally everything else in the last 22 years has been an unbelievable bonus.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL JOB YOU GOT? HUGH JACKMAN: It was a TV series called ‘Correlli’, no, it was ‘Law of the Land’, which was about a female character who was a lawyer who went to the country, so she was a country lawyer. I played Chicka

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HUGH JACKMAN

who was an AFL football star. Now AFL is not the kind of football that I grew up playing so there is footage of me being the worst AFL player of all time. There were no doubles or anything like that. But I did that for a week and that was the first thing I ever did. But I knew already that I had a job, which was as a series regular in an ABC series by the BBC in Australia called ‘Correlli’.

‘Correlli’ was a prison drama. I played a prisoner and it was really a story about the prison psychologist, which was played by my now wife.

So certainly, the best thing about it I remember was meeting Deb.

YOU SHOT TO FAME IN HOLLYWOOD AFTER STARRING IN THE FIRST ‘X-MEN’ MOVIE AS WOLVERINE, OF COURSE – HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? HUGH JACKMAN: So I was in London doing ‘Oklahoma’ and I never forget the audition I had for it, it was a worldwide casting call and I was sent three pages and I never forget, my wife being an actor too, I run all my lines with her obviously for auditions.

And so I was going through and then she goes, ‘OK, Wolverine senses danger, his nostrils flare..’ And she was like, ‘Mmm’. And I never forget this, ‘Snikt claws come out of his hands.’ And she goes, ‘Hugh, you can’t be doing this.’ She’d never heard of ‘X-Men’ obviously. She was like, ‘You can’t, you’re at the Royal National Theatre with Sir Trevor Nunn, you can’t be having claws coming out of your hands!’ And I said, ‘Look, I’m going to audition’ so I went the next day and it was in between the matinee and the evening show and it was about a three-hour show, I literally ran off stage, whip off the leather chaps and run into Soho in London to do this audition. And I was playing Curly, so I had a perm in my hair. So I had a baseball cap on and the casting agent goes, ‘Er, you may want to remove the baseball cap?’

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And I was like, ‘I don’t think so.’ She goes, ‘No, you really should.’ So I took it off and she goes, ‘Yeah, you can put that back on.’ [laughs] And I got a call back. And I remember the callback instructions were, ‘Maybe next time you could lose the perm and lose the Southern cowboy accent.’

Because I was Australian doing my first American accent in ‘Oklahoma’.

So that must be a very embarrassing tape. I did about seven auditions in the end, it was about a nine-month process. Dougray Scott had the part. So I was in the early running and then Dougray Scott got it and then I was out and then I was back.

Anyway, it’s the only time my wife has ever been wrong – by the way! [laughs]

SHE WAS LIKE, ‘YOU CAN’T, YOU’RE AT THE ROYAL NATIONAL THEATRE WITH SIR TREVOR NUNN, YOU CAN’T BE HAVING CLAWS COMING OUT OF YOUR HANDS!’ DID YOU EVER HAVE TO AUDITION AGAIN AFTER ‘X-MEN’?

HUGH JACKMAN: Yeah. I auditioned for ‘Les Mis’ – three hours, a threehour audition. I asked for the audition.

Because Cameron Mackintosh wanted me to play Javert and Cam said to me, he’d asked me to play

Javert on stage, he said, ‘We’re doing it, you’ve got to play Javert’. And I was like, ‘I think I want to play Jean Valjean, for me, that’s the part.’ And so I said, ‘Let me audition, let me show you I can do it,’ And before singing I go and see my singing teacher and I’d planned it out, I wanted to warm up properly, feel great going in, but not long enough for me to cool down.

So I had 15 minutes from the end of my singing lesson to the audition, it was about ten blocks away in New York. I came out and the wheels had gone on my bike. So I carried the bike over my shoulder because I couldn’t fit it in a cab. And Tom [Hooper] was sweet, I was sweating. I guess the first 20 minutes was like an audition, but I was the first actor he’d seen so that’s when he started to develop the idea of singing live and I was singing and the pianist was Cameron Mackintosh’s pianist who had played ‘Les Mis’ for 20 years. So it was kind of like a rehearsal as well.

‘THE BOY FROM OZ’ WAS AN INCREDIBLE SHOW – HOW DID YOU HAVE THE STAMINA TO DO THAT EIGHT SHOWS A WEEK? HUGH JACKMAN: That was the hardest thing I ever did, for sure. It was 20 songs a night and dancing.

I started getting very sore in one of my feet and I went to the doctor, because I had dance shoes on and I was jumping off the piano so I was very sore on my foot and I went to the doctor and said, ‘I can’t get rid of this pain in my foot’. So he X-rayed it and I had multiple stress fractures in my feet. He goes, ‘Dude, you need six weeks off.’ And I was like, ‘Right’ [laughs]. And he was like, ‘No, really you need six weeks.’ And I was like, ‘I can’t’ So we re-choreographed so I had my strong foot for pirouettes and dancing and just lived in ice bars. I remember limping across the line. It was one of the shows that started with not so great reviews and then it kind of built. I think we

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HUGH JACKMAN

just made a profit about a month before we finished, which is not easy in Broadway. And we were profitable and the producers came and said, ‘Look can we extend for three months?’ And I said, ‘I can’t, I’m so sorry.’ It would have been like running a marathon and someone saying, ‘Can you just run back from the beginning?’ Nothing will be as hard as that but also so rewarding and a time I will never forget.

YOU WERE AMAZING IN ‘THE PRESTIGE’ IN WHICH YOU PLAYED DUAL ROLES – IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TELL THOSE CHARACTERS WERE BEING PLAYED BY THE SAME PERSON? HUGH JACKMAN: Some people argued to me when I said, ‘I played…’

– ‘No, you didn’t. No, you didn’t.’

AND CHRISTOPHER NOLAN IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE GREATEST DIRECTORS? HUGH JACKMAN: So my lawyer at this point was like, ‘I’ve worked really hard on this to get you a deal so the family can be with you…’ and this and that. And Nolan rang up and said, ‘Can you share a trailer?’ And my lawyer goes, ‘If you give up your trailer you’ll never have it again!’ Anyway, Chris rang up and he said, ‘Here’s the thing with the trailer…’ And I was like, ‘I come from Australia! You bring your own chair, you bring your own lunch.

It’s all good.’ He goes, ‘Here’s my deal – You and Christian [Bale] will share a trailer. I promise you, you will never sit in your trailer for more than two hours and I will never go over time on any single shooting day.’ And he was true to his word. He’s never done ADR, never gone over budget, never gone over time. Amazing.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR IN A DIRECTOR WHEN YOU SHOW UP ON SET? HUGH JACKMAN: It’s a director’s

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NOW, AS AN ACTOR, WHETHER IT’S AN ACTING TEACHER OR A DIRECTOR, YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO GETS YOU medium, that was a big adjustment for me. Because in theatre, of course there is a director but as soon as you open, for the next 12 months, you as a cast are running the show. So the balance of power is slightly different.

But I want to be able to just innately trust. It’s funny, Jason Reitman, who I just worked with on ‘The Front Runner’, he said to me something I’ll never forget, he said, ‘My job is to understand the psychology of every single person on this set, because I need to know how they work, I don’t want them to work in my way, I want them to work in their way but I need to know how to get the best out of them.’ Now, as an actor, whether it’s an acting teacher or a director, you want someone who gets you. But the frightening thing is when you work, it’s brilliant but it’s frightening too, when someone is so smart that they get you, even the bits you’re trying to hide. Because we all have bits, even as actors, that we feel uncomfortable with and try to hide them and hope no-one notices.

With Jason, there’s no hiding and it was such a relief to be able to say, ‘I’m really struggling with this scene.

I’m sorry I get it here, I just don’t get it here.’ Those kind of things I thought, ‘I can’t share that’, I thought it would be a burden for a director.

But actually what I learnt, and I’m using Jason as an example as there are several people who I’ve worked with like this, when you can just really trust them, not only with your performance but your process on how to work. That is the Holy Grail.

SO WE COME TO THE AMAZING SUCCESS THAT HAS BEEN ‘THE GREATEST SHOWMAN’, WHICH IS SOMETHING REALLY UNIQUE AS IT’S AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL? AT LEAST WITH ‘LES MIS’ EVERYONE KNEW THAT FORMAT WORKS? HUGH JACKMAN: Right. [laughs]

AND YOU SPENT YEARS GETTING IT RIGHT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRING MORE MUSICALS TO THE BIG SCREEN? HUGH JACKMAN: Yeah I would love it. If I could write the script of my life, like every three years, I only say three years because I think it does take time to develop them and to write the songs, but it was an absolutely thrilling experience. We had nine weeks, on both those films, we had nine weeks of rehearsal. Because obviously with dance and song, you need to be ready to go, you can’t be wasting time on the set, it’s too expensive with the crew there and everything. So it was heaven. It was a nine-week rehearsal period and then joyously filming. I absolutely love it.

FINALLY, YOU’RE SUCH A MULTI-TALENTED PERFORMER – IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’RE BAD AT? HUGH JACKMAN: Do not ask me to come and fix anything in your house. [laughs] I’m not just talking computers and so on, I’m talking light bulbs, like if someone comes round and there’s a drip, I go, ‘You can fix that! That’s incredible.’ My dad was terrible at that and I’m terrible. I am the worst handyman!

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ACUMEN PEOPLE WE HAD A CHAT WITH ANDREW HIESLEY, MD OF ACUMEN PEOPLE, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE TEAM TO GET SOME VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE PROPERTY PURCHASING PROCESS

F

or buyers and sellers alike, everyone needs a competent and efficient service from their solicitor during the conveyancing process. This is why it’s so important to instruct a reputable local firm to assist you with your sale.

ACUMEN PEOPLE have recently been shortlisted in the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2019 for Conveyancer of the Year.

Our expert Paula Lee has been nominated and recognised for her great work!

At Lextons, we regularly recommend the team at ACUMEN PEOPLE for the proactive help and support you need to achieve a successful transaction.

Prior to joining ACUMEN, Andrew was the successful MD of a national 200 people strong, conveyancing specialist law firm and so, has extensive experience in the legal

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field. In less than a year, the conveyancing department at ACUMEN PEOPLE has welcomed 3 experienced conveyancers and is about to recruit its’ fourth!

A Law Firm to suit all different kinds of personal legal needs, specialising in residential conveyancing, family law, Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney services.

ACUMEN prioritise helping their clients above all else.

www.lextons.co.uk

ACUMEN

HOW LONG DOES THE CONVEYANCING PROCESS USUALLY TAKE?

WHEN AND HOW DO I PAY THE DEPOSIT FOR MY PROPERTY?

Statistics from HM Land Registry show that an average transaction in the current market can take over 12 weeks to complete. This is higher than recent years and shows the importance of selecting a solicitor that is proactive and able to solve problems rather than exaggerate them.

Your deposit will be requested just prior to exchange of contracts.

However, it’s really important that you let your solicitor know where the money is coming from (savings, a gift or the sale of another property) and whether you have the full 10% of the purchase price. This allows us to prepare for exchange and ensure

WHEN SHOULD I INSTRUCT A SOLICITOR? If you are selling, it’s important to instruct us as soon as you put your property on the market. If you do that, provide us with the required information about the property and place us in funds to obtain the title documentation, we will then carry out some initial checks which, compared to other firms that don’t, can shave significant time off the process.

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there are no last-minute hold-ups due to your circumstances requiring supporting documents or an amendment to the contract which would have to be negotiated and agreed with the other party.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO USE A LOCAL SOLICITOR? Local solicitors have good knowledge of the area and will likely have good relationships with other parties who could help get the deal

through when faced with an issue.

Being local, we can also have face to face meetings and deal with things like identity documents quickly and without complication.

We have found working with ACUMEN PEOPLE to be refreshing … and the feeling is a mutual one.

To get in touch with ACUMEN PEOPLE call 01273 526507 or email hello@acumenpeople.co.uk

It’s been fantastic working with Lextons” says Acumen’s MD. “It’s great working with agents who, like Acumen, are proactive in helping to resolve issues. They go above and beyond to provide a great service, which fits with the aim of ACUMEN PEOPLE and that is to offer a top notch, quality service in an informal, straightforward style.

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Q&A

THE

COAL SHED TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE ETHOS BEHIND THE COAL SHED/ THE BACKGROUND OF THE RESTAURANT? Drawing on traditional methods of cooking on fire and charcoal, The Coal Shed uses a Josper oven to grill our meat and fish dishes.

With temperatures reaching 500 degrees Celsius, the locally sourced produce is cooked in such a way to keep all the flavour and create succulent dishes. We also use all organic Aberdeen

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Angus beef that is dry-aged for at least 35 days to give the meat extra flavour.

WHAT CAN DINERS EXPECT WHEN THEY COME TO THE COAL SHED FOR THE FIRST TIME? Diners will find us in the heart of Brighton, just outside The Lanes, and they’ll be greeted warmly by a member of our front of house team (most of whom have been with us since opening). After

being shown to their table in our intimate restaurant, a server will talk them through our specials board, which features the daily cuts of rare breed meat. All of our meat is butchered in house, so the weights of our porterhouses, chateaubriands and bone in sirloins change but they’re always served to share. Add a selection of our delicious sides – triple cooked chips, truffle mac ‘n’ cheese, or bone marrow mash – and they’ll have a feast for the table.

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THE COAL SHED

WHAT STYLE OF FOOD IS OFFERED ON THE MENU? The Josper is the star of our menu, and it’s what gives our meat and fish the distinct smoky, charcoal flavor that’s only possible when you’re cooking over open flame.

We specialize in rare breed meat and sustainable seafood, which is grilled over charcoal, and served simply. The heart of our menu is our steak, which is available as individual cuts (rib eye, fillet and sirloins) or in sharing cuts for the table (porterhouse, bone in sirloin and chateaubriands).

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE MENU? Our menus change seasonally, so we introduce a new à la carte menu four times a year. The menus are a collaboration between our director, Raz Helalat, and the head chefs at both Coal Shed sites. We always want to celebrate the produce available in the season, and we continually visit our beef and fish suppliers to ensure we’re serving the best.

IS THERE A SIGNATURE DISH? Our Jacobs Ladder starter has been on every menu since we opened; a delicious beef short rib, the garnishes of the dish change seasonally, but the meat is always served so tender that it falls off the bone.

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WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT RUNNING A BUSINESS IN BRIGHTON? Over the last couple of years, Brighton has developed a really strong independent restaurant scene. We love being part of such an exciting and varied selection of restaurants, run by people who love Brighton as much as we do! It’s also great to welcome a huge variety of people to the restaurant, from locals to day-trippers and tourists.

Brighton, we wanted the challenge of opening in London. As most restaurants tend to start in London and then open in the rest of the country, it was exciting to be a small company trying it the other way.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU? We are on: Instagram @thecoalshed Twitter @TheCoalShed1 and Facebook @TheCoalShedBrighton Find us at 8 Boyce’s Street, BN1 1AN

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A RESTAURANT IN LONDON?

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO BOOK?

After opening our second restaurant, The Salt Room, and becoming firmly established in

Guests can book online by visit www.coalshed-restaurant.co.uk or calling 01273 322 998.

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PROACTIVE PROPERTY SALES IN 2019 HOW WILL 2019 SHAPE UP FOR THE BRIGHTON & HOVE PROPERTY MARKET ?

PROACTIVE PROPERTY

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hilst the glorious British summertime is winding down and parents all across the UK eagerly count down the days before the autumn term begins, putting Brexit mainly on hold, now seems to be the perfect time for making the move in Brighton and Hove. So here at Lextons we thought that this would be a good opportunity to give some insight into the year so far for the local property market and the great things we expect to come ... other than those tans that we are hoping for.

It would be a disservice to discuss ... well ... pretty much anything involving the UK without mentioning Brexit. And despite the continued political turbulence from the initial months of 2019, we have enjoyed a very successful start to the year with an excellent level of applicants still flooding into this seaside gem we call home.

CURRENT MARKET CHALLENGES Whilst initial predications may have suggested that delays to Brexit would prolong the search of potential buyers in the hope of more stable times, what appears to have happened is that for some buyers, their need to move has overcome their desire to be pragmatic. The quarter preceding the delay announcement saw the commitment of buyers improve to excellent levels, specifically ones with families. Throwing caution to the wind has indeed been beneficial for the property market here in Brighton and Hove. The proof has certainly been in the pudding, as we at Lextons have witnessed a steady influx of highly committed buyers registering and eagerly buying. Which is why, for local sellers it is so important to instruct a proactive agent.

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Time is of the essence. With such committed buyers and sellers, wasting time, mismatching properties and applicants is not an option. Our bespoke service is tailored towards understanding our buyers’ needs on a highly personal level, by maintaining constant communication. So when the perfect property comes to market we already know the ideal buyer.

July alone has seen many sales achieved after only one viewing.

Our first hand understanding of the London property market, which has famously become tricky in recent years, has given us the ability to offer clients the best advice. Providing after working hours viewings and valuations really sets us apart from other agents, according to our sellers.

Ultimately, we understand that property searching isn’t an easy feat, so being proactive enables us to ease that process somewhat; which is why most of our buyers are only looking for property through OUR office.

RECENT ACTIVITY Since the beginning of April, we have seen an increase in buyers, who, once they make an offer on a property, remain dedicated to it. And for our sellers, they actively want to move.

With regards to achieving prices, there isn’t any distinct correlation.

Over the course of the year so far, we have had a mix of higher and lower accepted prices, which has ultimately (and as expected) been dependent upon the individual property.

We have enjoyed an extremely successful and busy first half of the year, experiencing our most productive months since opening in late 2017. The significance of having a proactive agent has been the difference between selling a property quickly and letting it

stagnate on the market for months.

This is a fact we can testify to based upon the number of sellers we have helped who had previously marketed their property with other Brighton and Hove based agents.

BUCKING THE TRENDS Mid-April 2019 saw the publication of a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors document that revealed their predictions for the property market in the next six months to a year. The article focused its attention on the South East and suggested that we were in line for a slower market with the achievement of asking prices looking seriously bleak. Not to ignore or disrespect the opinions of these professionals, but for us, at the centre of the property market, we would suggest that the Brighton and Hove market is bucking the trend for most of the country. We would argue rather that Rightmove’s blog post regarding the effect of Brexit on property sales is more reflective.

The post discussed how peoples’ need to move was surpassing the political uncertainty of the last two years and in short that they are bored with Brexit; an observation we have noted and acted upon since the early months of 2019. With June and July being two fantastic months for Lextons, things don’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.

PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEXT QUARTER The end of this year will prove that it is vital to have a proactive agent when selling your property or buying. Lextons do not wait around for the ‘perfect’ buyer to call or walk into the office. Actively searching and communicating honestly with buyers avoids disappointment for both buyers and sellers. Its also an excellent way to provide support and guidance for our valued clients.

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INSPIRED BATHROOM LUXURY

P

ier1 Bathrooms, a new business in Hove, creates bathrooms which exude luxury and quality with an endto-end service to match. The company provides and installs the finest products to suit all styles and practicalities, from impactful family bathrooms to grandmaster suites.

With award-winning expertise in bathroom design, the Pier1 team also have a firm understanding of the systems and procedures required to guarantee the first-class service expected when making an investment of this nature.

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Owners, Steph and Angus, are proud of their experienced designled team and welcome visitors to their beautiful flagship showroom at 114 Church Road, Hove. On display are the latest products and finishes, in baths, basins, showers and storage.

The company work with designers, developers and architects from both the residential and commercial sectors. Their customised design service will ensure your bathroom not only delivers the ‘wow’ factor but captures your unique style and personality.

There are so many new trends taking the bathroom design world by storm; we have to mention two of our favourites, British designers Kast and Victoria + Albert Baths. By keeping the client at the centre of the product, these unique brands enable total personalisation of your space; as can be seen above – the Hampshire bath in yellow, 1 of 194 RAL colours available - from Victoria + Albert Baths.

You can find more inspiration at www.pier1bathrooms.com

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PIER 1 TIPS FOR MAXIMISING A BATHROOM WITH MINIMAL SPACE

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OFF THE WALL Bathroom walls can be cleverly used for more than just picture frames and mirrors; consider a wall mounted vanity unit and WC. Leaving the floor area as clear as possible will create the illusion of space.

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TRICK OF THE LIGHT Thoughtfully positioning mirrors in a small space to reflect light where possible will open up a room.

For a touch of luxury, think about installing de-mister pads behind mirrors to prevent them steaming up.

SCULPTURED CONCRETE BASINS Kast is an innovative British brand whose refined production and casting techniques combines the highest quality with outstanding strength, durability and silk-smooth finishes.

With 28 colours in total, Kast have an unrivalled palette to choose from including subtle pastel tones as well as highly saturated hues.

This year sees the launch of three new patterned basins in their Kast Canvas collection: the Iva, Otto and Luna. The new basins feature highly defined, sculptural surfaces rich in dramatic shadows, which invite a sense of touch and reference retro influences from the 20th century.

With a bold and non-conformist attitude growing amongst interior and design trends, the new Kast Canvas collection encourages this mentality to experiment and push boundaries with design.

www.lextons.co.uk

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BULK BUSTING When choosing bathroom fittings and fixtures for small spaces avoid chunky suites, as this will minimise area wastage. For example, selecting an open ‘walk in’ shower with a minimal profile will free up space in a small room.

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CLEVER STORAGE Decluttering a room is an excellent way to maximise space. Investing in tall tiered units work well and don’t be afraid of losing space by creating stud walls; these enable recessed storage which can be a real feature.

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SEIZE THE RAINBOW Adding colour in a bathroom can be a really impactful way to open up a space.

By combining colour with directional lighting, you can give depth to a smaller bathroom.

Luna basin in white by Kast

For more details, visit pier1bathrooms.com or 114 Church Road, Hove.

Tel: 01273 713185

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LETTINGS DEPARTMENT

H

ere at Lextons we couldn’t be happier to introduce our new Lettings department.

The opening of which has been the result of significant and flattering demand.

The success of our sales department has put us in contact with a range of buy to let investors and developers, and we are delighted to boast that our service was so greatly received that we have had several requests to manage the letting of said properties. What’s most important to us going forward is to ensure the level of service we have consistently offered within sales is carried through into lettings. The personal

and efficient support we promote will be at the centre of this new venture.

At this time, we feel our significant local and national connections have primed us to be the best place to find your next tenant. We are proud to be able to assist any landlord looking for advice or help with their properties regardless of locality; we specialise in supporting international property owners. We are also now able to assist global companies and organisations in corporate relocation.

TO LET

For further information or advice about lettings contact us on 01273 56 77 66 or email us at lettings@lextons.co.uk

Church Road, Portslade

£575,000

Excellently situated, the property is located on the junction between North Street and Church Road in Portslade. The site is within walking distance from Boundary Road shops and Portslade Station.

The property was formerly set out as three houses; two terraced houses and a large open plan barn, which was then converted into and used as artist’s studio space. Towards the front of the property are eleven small rooms adjoined by a series of corridors. At the rear is a large open space, with double height. The property has planning permission to change the use from light industrial to residential with proposed plans to adapt the property into one two-bedroom flat and five one-bedroom flats. EPC: D, G

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www.lextons.co.uk

For local families.

For living.

e h t For Now.

Chestnut Tree House cares about making every day count.

At Chestnut Tree House we provide hospice care for local children with life-shortening conditions.

We understand that a child with a serious illness still wants a childhood. They want carefree fun and laughter. Playing with friends and family. The space and freedom to forget their problems and just be a kid.

That’s why we are so dedicated to helping children and : their families make the most of the • We take kids on special outings to the beach, the woods or the park. We invite them to be an astronaut in our multi-sensory room or experience the wonder of weightlessness in our hydrotherapy pool.

Donate. Fundraise. Get involved.

For Today. For Tomorrow. For the 01903 871820 / 01323 725095 fundraising@chestnut-tree-house.org.uk www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk #ForTheNow www.lextons.co.uk

• We also offer specialist round-the-clock care, both at home and here at the hospice. We support parents and carers while making sure they have time for themselves.

• And in the final moments, we are here with whatever help is needed.

This care makes a huge difference, and we offer it all free of charge. This means we depend on donations from kind members of the public. So please, support Chestnut Tree House today.

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BRIGHTON & HOVE’S

PREMIER ESTATE AGENT

01273 56 77 66 | www.lextons.co.uk