Property

Getting back to normal

DO you know that feeling when you’ve had a foreign holiday and the temperatures have been really high every day as you are basking around the pool? Then you get back home to a lovely English summer’s day somewhere in the mid-20s and you think “this is a little cooler but just right”. Well that’s how the property market in the Chew Valley looks right now.

We have had a very unusually superheated period when properties were literally flying off the shelves. I suspect there were many people who said that anyone could have been an estate agent in that market.

But now we are seeing a change and a return to what I consider, with my long experience in this profession, something more like normality.

To be honest, in some ways that is a relief to me. There is less pressure so that buyers can take a bit more time to have a think about a purchase before they commit to their perfect property and sellers can put their houses on the market knowing they have some leeway whilst they find their next home.

No matter what changes we see in the national property market there will always be places which are in great demand. The Chew Valley is one of those, being a beautiful rural area in close proximity to Bristol and Bath.

What has changed is that the heat has been turned down a bit. We still have lots of keen buyers who want to experience the lifestyle on offer, but they are being a bit more cautious before they commit to a purchase.

This is where my years of experience working in different market conditions comes into play. I feel sorry for young agents who have only seen recent conditions and will struggle to adapt. You can rely on me and my team to provide realistic advice when it comes to price and know that I will use my know-how to negotiate constructively to deliver the best outcome.

There are times when an agent needs to change tack, dig deeper and work harder. Those are the challenges that inspire my team as we adapt to changing circumstances. Our watchwords have always been Dedication, Imagination and Delivery and when you add Experience to that list you will find a combination you can trust, just when you need it.

JOANNA TILEY

Redrow offers houses in Winscombe ready for Christmas move-ins

SANTA has come early this year for house-hunters looking to move as housing developers Redrow Southwest are selling readymade, brand new, energy-efficient homes in Winscombe which are ready to move into by Christmas this year.

The Cambridge, a readymade fourbedroom home in Woodborough Grange, is complete with a well-designed floor plan and spacious open-plan family area.

A sophisticated lounge, a modern contemporary interior and an extensive inflow of daylight complement a marvellous en-suite to the main bedroom, a generous garage, and an equipped kitchen with an integrated dishwasher and downlights. Families can move into this readymade home by Christmas for the competitive price of £519,995.

Buyers can also benefit from Redrow’s Help to Sell scheme, receiving a tailored contribution to agency fees and assistance with selling their existing home and access to their Energy Efficiency Calculator, which has not only helped their homes become more energy efficient but also will help movers save additional costs to mitigate the rising energy prices.

Woodborough Grange, nestled in the beautiful and in-demand village of Winscombe, has accessible links to the centre, schools and surrounding green spaces. Just off the A371, it provides easy access to the nearby towns, especially Bristol which is only 14 miles away. With various three-, four- and fivebedroom homes on offer, it has a house to suit everyone’s needs.

A new home for Christmas?

To find out more about Woodborough Grange visit: https://www.redrow.co.uk/developments/ woodborough-grange-winscombe-242616

A warm welcome at the Golden Lion

SAMGlenn is busy gearing up for a very busy World Cup and Christmas period. It’s three years since he took over the Golden Lion in Wrington.

Newly-decorated and with a new roof and heating in the courtyard, it’s one of the busiest pubs in the area – and one of very few that doesn’t offer food.

There are bar snacks, Scotch eggs and pork pies, otherwise customers are free to provide their own.

Boxing Day will be an exception –with hot food served outside and a visit by Mendip Morris dancers. The pub will be open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 11am and will have extended hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

It will be open at 12noon every day in the week after Christmas.

Before that, there’s the World Cup to look forward to with four TV screens and a projector inside and three TV screens in the courtyard, which has infrared heating, gas patio heaters, lighting, music and enough seating for 50 people.

Sam ran various pubs before taking over the village stores in Wrington. When he left there, he got in touch with Wickwar Brewery, owners of the Golden Lion, and offered to take it on. Wickwar is run by an old friend, Mike Flavin, with Ian Frost.

It has their full range of beers, as well as ciders and guest ales.

Sam said: “It’s a hub for the whole village, family friendly and with a wonderful atmosphere. We’ve even been asked to host afternoon functions, which we are happy to do free of charge, as long as people supply their own food.”

The GOLDEN LION

Watch the World Cup with us

Christmas week open 12noon every day Late closing Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Proud to be a drinking pub –if you want food – feel free to bring your own Sam Glenn offers you a warm welcome

Open 2pm-11pm Monday to Thursday Friday 2pm-midnight Saturday 12noon-midnight Sunday 12noon-11pm ALL WELCOME

Broad Street, Wrington BS40 5LA • 01934 861189 goldenlion@wickwarbrewing.co.uk

GTH celebrates first year at Redhill

GREENSLADETaylor Hunt are celebrating their first year at Redhill, just south of Bristol. The firm opened the office, just off the A38, last year to expand their offering to both existing and new clients in the area. The office is conveniently located at the foot of the Mendip Hills, with good links to Bristol and the surrounding area.

From the Redhill office – the firm’s 19th - the leading property professionals provide a range of services including farm and rural agency. A delightful smallholding, Woodmans Cottage, Wrington, in the Wrington Vale has just been launched to the market by the office.

A comprehensive range of services is offered from Redhill including landlord and tenant advice, planning applications, Countryside Stewardship applications, professional valuations and renewable energy projects.

Since establishing the Redhill office the team has been augmented with the appointment of two graduate surveyors, Henry Worle and Annie Haxforth. They have become an integral part of the operation. They will both be sitting their professional chartered surveying (APC) and agricultural valuers (CAAV) exams in due course as part of the firm’s longstanding commitment to training the next generation of auctioneers and chartered surveyors.

The firm have also recently held their inaugural North Somerset collective land and property auction at Aldwick Estate, which was also livestreamed. It saw a 100% clearance on all lots offered, with prices being achieved in excess of the guide price.

Robert Baker, who heads up the Redhill office and conducted the auction at Aldwick, said: “We were delighted to hold a property auction at Aldwick Estate and it was good to see a 100% clearance rate on the lots offered.

“We witnessed competitive bidding both in the room and via the internet which now offers an added dimension to our property auctions and allows prospective purchasers from away to bid. We are very much looking forward to offering further auctions early next year.”

Robert Baker in action at auction

If you would like to speak to a member of the team regarding any property or rural matters, contact the Redhill office on 0117 203 5577 or robert.baker@gth.net