A particular take on property ISSUE ONE

All About your AreA: A locAl perspective from strutt & pArker

pp01-12_&Farnham_Cover_desFIN.indd 3 28/08/2013 11:09

Welcometo &Farnham, a magazine showcasing properties in Farnham and giving you a taste of the local area. Strutt & Parker is one of the most diverse property businesses in the UK, and the Farnham office is a focal point for the wide range of departments and services we offer. The residential team specialises in selling a variety of properties across Farnham and the surrounding towns and villages, while Strutt & Parker also provides unrivalled expertise in farming, land management, commercial property, planning and development.

Read on to find out morePage 03 Insight: Strutt & Parker discusses the local market

Page 04 First & foremost: the hottest properties and local highlights

Page 06 Portfolio: property showcase

Page 08 Trends & analysis: expert overview of the national market

Page 09 Why Strutt & Parker?

Page 10 Why we love Farnham: locals reveal why there’s no place like home

Page 11 Find us: local centre highlights

Published on behalf of Strutt & Parker by Sunday sundaypublishing.com. All information and pricing correct at time of going to press.

pp02-03_&Farnham_Intro_desFIN.indd 1 14/08/2013 11:29

INSIGHT

trutt & Parker has been a familiar sight in Farnham since 2007, following the acquisition of the previously well-established Lane Fox

business. Roger Wade and Richard Banes-Walker (both former partners of Lane Fox) have between them more than 50 years’ experience of the town and local market.

‘One of Surrey’s most historic towns, Farnham is a thriving commercial centre that benefits from its accessibility to London, the regional centres of Guildford and Reading, and the other local towns of the Blackwater Valley. Surrounded by a number of villages and neighbourhoods, it offers a range of housing styles right across the price spectrum, from traditional townhouses to palatial country homes.

‘The town and its surroundings has a broad mix of highly regarded independent and state schools, plus the renowned Farnham Sixth Form College and University for the Creative Arts.

‘About 50% of our buyers originate from south- west London. Typically this is young families moving to the country for the first time to find a house with a

bigger garden, to benefit from our excellent local schools and to have a sensible commute back up to town.

‘A frequent South West Trains service runs from Farnham Station to London Waterloo (about 54 minutes) and by road there is fast access to both the M3 and A3, which run directly into London and to the south coast ferry terminals of Portsmouth and Southampton. London Heathrow Airport is around 45 minutes away.

‘We are passionate about Farnham, our business and our clients. We can offer the care and personal attention of a small boutique agency but have the national and international coverage our clients require to expose their property to the widest possible audience.

‘We offer a number of different marketing strategies and work closely with our clients to meet both their requirements and expectations.’

Roger Wade, Partner, explains how our Farnham office brings a wealth of experience to the town’s robust property market

S‘

ph

oto

gr

ap

hy

(co

ve

r a

nd

th

is p

ag

e)

Noe

l Mur

phy

struttandparker.com/farnham 03

A particular take on property ISSUE ONE

pp02-03_&Farnham_Intro_desFIN.indd 2 21/08/2013 10:14

First & foremost

04 &Farnham

Culture ClubIt’s all happening at Farnham Maltings Cultural Centre, from a stand-up comedy club and performances from six resident theatre and dance companies, to lunchtime jazz and the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen selling their wares in the Cellar Bar. There’s plenty for children to do too, from guitar lessons to art classes. Meanwhile adults can catch up on the latest films, plus live and recorded relays from the National Theatre and Glyndebourne. farnhammaltings.com

A monk’s lifeOn a peaceful bend of the River Wey lie the ruins of the early 12th-century Waverley Abbey. It has a rich history: it was the first Cistercian abbey in England; King John and Henry III both visited it; and it was bought by Florence Nightingale’s family in the 19th century. From June to March, visitors can explore the abbey remains and wander around the grounds, both managed by English Heritage, while imagining what life would have been like for the monks here 900 years ago. Entrance is free.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/waverley-abbey/

sCeniC spotDeans Knowe, Dippenhall, Surrey A timber-framed country house built c. 1570, which was subject to extension and alteration by Harold Falkner in the 1920s. This family home is full of character, with period features and stunning countryside views. Inevitably there was a lot of interest in Deans Knowe and the new owners are delighted with this rare opportunity to completely renovate and restore the property.

£1,100,000 SOLD Contact 01252 821102

pp04-05_&Farnham_F&F_desFIN.indd 1 19/08/2013 13:17

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

struttandparker.com/farnham 05

Farnham as a settlement dates back to Roman times – remains of a Roman villa and bath have been found, along with pottery kilns, on the site of Roman Way. However, the modern town began life as a Saxon village

Jonny Wilkinson grew up in Farnham and started his rugby career here. He played junior level rugby at Farnham Rugby Club with his brother Mark

It’s thought that, inspired by the woods and grounds, JM Barrie wrote much of Peter Pan while staying at Black Lake Cottage in Farnham

FARNHAMUNCOVERED

For those partial to a good G&T, what better than a shelf groaning under the weight of 30 different bottles in the Nelson Arms Tavern & Fare? Whisky lovers are catered for too, with a separate Scotch corner displaying 15 or more golden single malts. To mop up the spirits, try the Nelson burger with hand-cut chips, slow-roasted leg of lamb, or a beef and horseradish sandwich with a jug of hot gravy. With its low ceilings and large open fi re, this 16th-century inn in the heart of Farnham is especially cosy in winter, and is currently having its courtyard redeveloped to host long, hot English summer evenings. nelson-arms.co.uk

WEDDING BELLESA dressmaker by trade, Sarah Grieves decided to open her own wedding company after carrying out alterations for other bridal shops. The Ivory Boutique launched in Farnham seven years ago, with a sister shop opening in Winchester in 2011. ‘We specialise in collections from a small number of high-quality designers, including Pronovias, Augusta Jones and San Patrick,’ explains Grieves. She uses words such as ‘feminine, lacy, fl oaty and soft’ – the right vocabulary to describe how every bride would like to feel on her special day. Alongside dresses, must-have accessories such as shoes, veils and tiaras can be found under the same roof. And Grieves, with her deft needle skills, can alter your frock to fi t perfectly. theivoryboutique.co.uk

HIGH SPIRITS

WO

RD

S C

hery

l Mar

kosk

yP

HO

TOG

RA

PH

Y A

uste

n Fl

ower

s (T

he I

vory

Bou

tiqu

e);

Lul

u L

ocke

t Ph

otog

raph

y (F

arnh

am M

alti

ngs)

Littlehanger, Farnham, SurreyBuilt in 1937, this charming detached house has an abundance of character and great potential for improvement. The property is in a premier location about half-a-mile from the mainline station. Our vendor had lived in the house since 1944 and was delighted with the family who bought the property, knowing they would continue to care and enjoy this home as much as she had. £750,000 SOLD

Contact 01252 821102

PERIODCHARM

pp04-05_&Farnham_F&F_desFIN.indd 2 19/08/2013 13:18

06 &Farnham

Tattingstone, Lower Bourne, SurreyAn exciting development of three magnificent five-bedroom family homes by award-winning developer Millgate. Prices from £1,495,000 FOR SALE

Sandstones,Farnham, SurreySet at the end of a private road within 1.5 acres, this is a beautifully appointed modern family house with a spacious annexe. £1,200,000 FOR SALE

Ward Hill House, Rowledge, SurreyA charming attached four-bedroom Edwardian house in the village centre. £815,000 SOLD

Westbourne, Farnham, Surrey

This beautifully renovated five-bedroom detached

house has fine views towards Rowledge. £750,000 FOR SALE

Pinehaven Cottage,The Sands, Surrey An attached Victorian four-bedroom cottage in a wonderful rural location next to Crooksbury Common. £650,000 FOR SALE

For further details of any of these properties, contact 01252 821102

pp06-07_&Farnham_Property_desFIN.indd 1 19/08/2013 13:18

PORTFOLIO

struttandparker.com/farnham 07

Bourne Ryse,Rowledge, Surrey A magnificent new

five-bedroom family house close to the

village and in 0.6 acres of landscaped gardens.

£1,700,000 FOR SALE

Lickfolds Road, Rowledge, Surrey

A well-appointed Edwardian house with farmland views set in

the heart of the village. £1,000,000 FOR SALE

St Johns Road, Farnham, SurreyA two-bedroom bungalow which has permission to create a four-bedroom home. Within a short distance of the mainline station. £450,000 FOR SALE

Burnt Hill Road,Lower Bourne, SurreyA contemporary four-bedroom detached house in the heart of The Bourne village. £775,000 FOR SALE

Tillswood,Tilford, Surrey

Set in private one-acre grounds, this detached

three-bedroom house has plenty of scope

for improvement. £600,000 FOR SALE

pp06-07_&Farnham_Property_desFIN.indd 2 19/08/2013 13:19

he country house market has weathered the worst of the recession and

although last year’s 2% rise in stamp duty did have an impact, James Mackenzie, Head of the Country Department at Strutt & Parker believes that this was a just a blip. ‘People take these things on the chin and move on, particularly when you’re talking about buying a family home.’

And while the hard winter of 2012/13 did little to encourage buyers out into the country, Mackenzie believes the market is making up for lost time. ‘It’s heading back to where it should be, with the potential to get stronger over the next 12 months.’

Little regional variation exists – it’s all about properties and prices – but the robust London market remains a key driving factor, with buyers recognising the potential that city budgets have beyond the capital. Equally, international and expat interest remains steady and it’s here that Strutt & Parker’s relationship with Christie’s International Real Estate comes into its own.

‘Many more international buyers are being pushed in our direction,’ explains Mackenzie. ‘Our auction house colleagues are also helping introduce potential sellers to Strutt & Parker. It’s simply a much bigger playing field for us now.’

Regional growth

C

T

25%of Strutt & Parker

vendors outside

London are looking

to move to smaller

properties

up to 32%of London buyers are

planning to move to

the country

ost considerations, lifestyle choices, local economic factors and government

efforts to kick-start the housing market are creating a complex UK residential property picture, according to Michael Fiddes, Head of Agency at Strutt & Parker.

‘There’s definitely been a stimulus at the bottom of the market because of what the government’s sought to do for first-time buyers,’ says Fiddes. ‘Secondly, while more people are selling up in London and benefiting from fantastic value outside of the capital because of the large price differential, buyers are becoming much more conscious of the costs such as commuting, property maintenance and heating, and education.’

Lifestyle choices, too, are resulting in more people living in an urban or suburban environment beyond London. That’s been good for Oxford, Cambridge, St Albans and

Guildford in particular. ‘These key regional centres are seeing more growth in residential value than their rural counterparts, although there are hotspots around the UK where different economic factors affect the marketplace,’ says Fiddes. ‘An example is around Aberdeen, where the oil industry creates a massive number of jobs.’

A complex market then, but one in which Strutt & Parker remains best placed to negotiate, with the interests of clients always paramount.

‘When people are moving house, they’re usually dealing with their most valuable asset, something that’s going to have one of the greatest effects on their lives,’ says Fiddes. ‘Selling a house is about getting the best possible deal for the client, but also about helping them on a journey. We always endeavour to look after them and proactively make things happen, rather than merely hoping they’ll happen.’ wo

rd

s D

ave

Flan

agan

ill

us

trat

ion

Den

nis

Car

rier

/ S

yner

gy

Getting stronger

Trends & analysisStrutt & Parker experts reflect on the

nationwide property picture

pp08-09_&Local_Comment Why S&P_desFIN.indd 6 22/08/2013 13:48

OVERVIEW

T he new research team at the company’s London head offi ce is making its

presence felt with vital insights into short- and long-term market trends. While many industry researchers have a narrow focus, this department takes a ‘holistic’ approach, keeping abreast of developments across the full range of Strutt & Parker’s interests.

‘Our work is about understanding the markets, knowing what the trends are, and identifying where the demand and stock is coming from,’ says Stephanie McMahon, Head of Research at Strutt & Parker.

But examining statistics is just part of the process. ‘We’re interested in the behaviour of buyers and vendors,’ explains McMahon. ‘It’s important to understand what’s driving their decision-making.’

Downsizing, or ‘right-sizing’ as McMahon calls it, is one of the trends currently being tracked by the team. ‘Outside London, 25% of our vendors are looking to move to smaller properties,’ she says. ‘And out in the country, over 80% of people are using their homes for primary use. Even in London, that fi gure is almost at 55%.’

McMahon is seeing evidence, fi nally, of movement in the mortgage market: ‘It’s becoming a little bit more accessible for some buyers, so that’s a positive sign.’ W

OR

DS

Dav

e Fl

anag

an I

LLU

STR

ATIO

N D

enni

s C

arri

er /

Syn

ergy

OUR BRAND

For more than 125 years, Strutt &

Parker has created a brand that

signifi es outstanding results

delivered through high-quality

and integrity-rich service.

OUR MARKETING EXCELLENCE

We are committed to constantly

evolving our marketing approach

to ensure that your property is

seen ahead of the rest. Our

dedicated in-house marketing

and PR team ensures that our

brand and your property is

consistently and strongly

represented in every media outlet.

OUR ONLINE PRESENCE

Strutt & Parker has built an

industry-leading website

for buyers of quality real estate,

with more than 200,000 visitors

to struttandparker.com

every month. We also have a

mobile-friendly website and use

QR codes and NFC technology to

give access to properties on the

go and from any mobile device.

OUR NATIONAL NETWORK

Strutt & Parker’s extensive and

growing network of 50 offi ces

covers the whole of the UK, from

Exeter to Inverness. Our 400+

sales professionals work as a

team to help achieve great

property results for you.

OUR BUYERS DATABASE

With 2,000 buyers registering

with us every month, we have

more than 26,000 active buyers –

all of whom are shared across

our network of UK offi ces,

showcasing your home to more

prospective buyers nationally.

OUR GLOBAL REACH

As the sole UK affi liate of

Christie’s International Real

Estate, we have access to 920

affi liate offi ces in 41 countries

worldwide, bringing global

buyers to your door.

OUR EXPERTS

We offer a total solution approach.

Our specialist teams include

Residential Sales, Lettings,

Building Surveying &

Architecture, Farms & Estates,

Land Management, Farming,

Commercial, Planning,

Development, Resources &

Energy and Professional Services.

A holistic view

WHY STRUTT

& PARKER?

Fiona Stewart, Head of Marketing & Communications at Strutt & Parker, explains why Open House Days are a must

BRINGING BUYERS AND SELLERS TOGETHER

Q What is Open House Day?A It’s a day when we throw open the doors of all the houses we’re selling, so that prospective buyers have the chance to view as many properties as they wish, without the need to make appointments. We run Open House Days twice a year, in the spring and autumn.

Q How does it help buyers and sellers? A Buyers like it because it gives them the freedom to see lots of properties on one day. They can plan their own route and it’s really time effi cient. They also like the opportunity to meet vendors. From a seller’s perspective, you’ve got a lot of prospective buyers coming through the door to see your

house on a single day. We know that 90 per cent of searches start online, but nothing replaces the value of seeing a property for real.

Q How effective is Open House Day?A We had 700 properties take part in our last event, with one in ten receiving offers on the day, to a value of more than £85 million. The results speak for themselves.

Q What do you have to do to get involved?A You can register to take part online at struttandparker.com/openday or with your local Strutt & Parker offi ce. Once you’ve provided your details, you’ll receive a registration card. You can then view as many houses on the day as you wish.

BRINGING BUYERS AND SELLERS TOGETHER

pp08-09_&Local_Comment Why S&P_desFIN.indd 7 22/08/2013 09:53

10 &Farnham

ILLU

STR

ATIO

N M

aps

Illu

stra

ted

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY

Noe

l Mur

phy

‘I was born in Farnham and have lived here all my life. It’s a lovely market town with great schools and just a short journey into London. I know a lot of people who own local businesses and we all make an effort to help each other. There’s a friendly community here – the tennis club, for example, is a particular favourite for my wife.

‘The main thing I love about Farnham is its proximity to everywhere else – in my line of work that’s very useful. I really like the Georgian town and the feel of the area, which is aided by all the greenery and so much open countryside to walk in – Frensham Ponds and Alice Holt forest are two particular favourite spots.’ Sally Wright, owner, Sally Wright Refurbishments

‘Farnham is the best of both worlds – a beautiful Georgian town set in glorious countryside yet only 40 miles from London, plus it has a great cosmopolitan mix of people.’ Dale Mitchell, owner, The Right House

‘I was born here and we’re fortunate to have a thriving business in the heart of this lovely old town. Farnham is a wonderful place, with its heritage, independent shops, fantastic pubs and restaurants – all surrounded by beautiful countryside.’

‘I bought my workshop in 2007 and we moved from London to Farnham shortly after. It’s a lovely Georgian market town. It’s big enough to have all the things you need, like great schools and pubs, but small enough for a friendly sense of community.’Nick Benwell, owner, Phoenix Green Garage

Why we love FarnhamWhat makes the town such a special place to work and live? We ask a few local residents

Martin Fisher, owner, Farnham Bathrooms

Robert Goodridge, owner, John Goodridge

pp10-11_&Farnham_We Love_Map NO FLAP_desFIN.indd 1 28/08/2013 10:01

FIND US

Strutt & Parker Farnham37 Downing StreetFarnham GU9 7PHTel: 01252 821102farnham@struttandparker.com

ILLU

STR

ATIO

N M

aps

Illu

stra

ted

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY

Noe

l Mur

phy

S&P

Strutt & Parker Farnham is part of a national network with 50 offices around the UK, including 10 offices in central London. As sole UK affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, we also work with a network of 920 affiliate offices in 41 countries around the globe.

To complement our Residential Sales team, we offer clients a complete service with experts across a wide range of disciplines, including:

Farming – our specialist agricultural advisers work with farmers and landowners to help manage their land and increase profitability.

Land Management – we offer advice to estate and land owners managing thousands of acres with diverse business interests.

Valuation & Enfranchisement Services – from property valuations to client support on planning processes, we offer many specialist property services.

Resources & Energy – we help clients seize the opportunities and manage the risks that energy issues present.

Commercial Property – our highly successful commercial team provides forward-thinking advice across all commercial property sectors.

Planning & Development – we advise on planning strategy and submit applications for clients, as well as advising on development value and selling land with consent.

struttandparker.com/farnham 11

Strutt & Parker network and services

pp10-11_&Farnham_We Love_Map NO FLAP_desFIN.indd 2 28/08/2013 12:04

struttandparker.com

To visit the Farnham office homepage, simply

hover your phone over the QR code (right).

Farnham37 Downing StreetFarnham GU9 7PHTel: 01252 821102

GuildfordSomerset House222 High StreetGuildford GU1 3JDTel: 01483 306 565

Haslemere18 High StreetHaslemere GU27 2HJTel: 01428 661077

Odiham82 High StreetOdiham RG29 1LPTel: 01256 702892

LondonTen offices in central LondonVisit struttandparker.com for details

pp01-12_&Farnham_Cover_desFIN.indd 2 28/08/2013 11:24