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

A particular take on property ISSUE TWO

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02 &Cambridge

Welcometo & Guildford, a magazine showcasing local properties and giving you a taste of the area. Strutt & Parker is one of the most diverse property businesses in the UK, and the Guildford 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 Guildford 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 Guildford: 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.

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INSIGHT

oving into Guildford’s High Street last year was about becoming part of the community. The office is a place where

friends and clients, past and present, can pop in to say hello and have a coffee.

‘On a wider level, our values mean that we support youth education and we care. We have a policy to sponsor local schools because that’s where we can make the most difference. We choose to invest in young people, which is a smart investment for the future.

‘We strive to differentiate ourselves in a world packed with estate agents. We worked out that to do this was not about gimmicks or aping the competition but about the people who work for us – young, intelligent, dynamic and with a broad-brush experience of life. People who can inspire trust and confidence and who have a real pride in what they achieve.

‘Guildford is a particularly attractive town to live and work in and that’s largely thanks to its diversity. It’s where London comes to the country and is welcomed with open arms; it really suits professionals with young

families looking to move out of the city. If London is the fast lane, Guildford is a clever shortcut across country. Our clients tend to want to move here and stay put.

‘For the times when you do want to travel, London Waterloo is 37 minutes by train, the A3 is on Guildford’s doorstep and the M25 is 10 miles away.

‘The Guildford property market is inextricably linked to what is going on in London, specifically in areas such as Fulham, Wandsworth and Wimbledon. Over the past three years these markets have been booming and buyers have been reluctant to jump ship on a soaring asset. This stagnation is beginning to unblock and the signs are that there is a revitalised appetite from these people to take their lives off hold and make the move they should have made two years ago.

‘If we are at the beginning of a recovery, we need to accept that the property market is a volatile one. Managing clients’ expectations is a vital part of the recovery. As agents clamour for market share by cutting fees (and levels of service) and inflating prices to win business, intelligent, professional advice will be at an ever-greater premium – and that’s where we come in.’

Mark Jamieson, Chairman of Central Region, explains how our Guildford office brings a wealth of experience to the town’s robust property market

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A particular take on property ISSUE TWO

The Guildford team

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First & foremost

Albury Peace, SurreyA beautiful village house in the heart of Albury. The property fuses together old and new with lovely working fireplaces and beams with the light and airy feel of a modern property. It has four bedrooms in the main house and a pretty one-bedroom cottage in the gardens, making Albury Peace the perfect family home. £1,500,000 FOR SALE

Contact 01483 306565

oldmeets new

seasonal appealIf you like your larder to be stocked with fresh local produce, head for Guildford’s Farmers’ Market, which is held the first Tuesday of every month, except January. Along with seasonal fruit and vegetables, you can fill your shopping basket with a string of garlic, speciality honey, bread, cheeses, cider, dried flowers and clothing. Emma Woodhouse from Strutt & Parker Guildford says the main draw for her is ‘treating myself to a barbecue lunch from locally produced beef and pork. It’s a must on a summer afternoon.’guildford.org.uk/markets.html

04 &Guildford

‘Drake’s is a smash,’ said Telegraph food critic Matthew Norman when he chose this Ripley-based restaurant just outside Guildford for his list of top 22 favourite restaurants in Britain. Having been awarded a Michelin star every year since 2005, chef Steve Drake keeps diners happy with simple but unusual flavour combinations. For instance, the Flavour Journey menu includes veal tongue with a pheasant egg and asparagus, while his Discovery menu highlights a medley of duck, cherry, broccoli and spiced liver. And who can resist the chocolate breakfast for pudding? To accompany such original dishes, Drake’s sommelier Thierry, who once worked at Gordon Ramsay’s Pétrus, can help you choose something special from a small artisan winemaker. drakesrestaurant.co.uk

Good taste

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LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

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In 1995 the remains of a 12th-century synagogue were discovered in the high street, believed to be the oldest remains of a synagogue in Europe

Lewis Carroll was a regular visitor to Guildford, spending much time with his family there and writing the follow up to Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There

Guildford Cathedral had a starring role in the 1976 movie The Omen

GuIldfordunCovErEd

A National Gallery in the heart of a village is how the Watts Gallery in Compton, outside Godalming, is described. Home to a collection of more than 100 paintings by Victorian artist George Frederic Watts, the gallery launched in 1904, but due to a lack of funding fell into disrepair. A recent restoration project has renewed the building and now it holds concerts and talks, as well as offering Mini Curators, where children take interactive tours. There are also outings to Watts’s country residence, Limnerlease, and teachers’ events to spruce up their lessons. wattsgallery.org.uk

rEstoratIon works

All the world’s a stage at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, which was started by the eponymous French actress back in 1965 when she set up home on nearby Effingham Common. Receiving and creating new shows on both the Main Stage and in the smaller Mill Studio, many productions here transfer to London’s West End. Currently under the direction of James Barber, upcoming events vary from The Woman in Black and Footloose, to Peter Pan and the National Youth Ballet. Before the show, audiences can have a drink in the Riverbank Café Bar, or a larger meal in the Riverview Restaurant. And for anyone aged seven to 18, Youth Theatre offers holiday workshops and theatre skills courses. yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

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The Old Vicarage, SurreyThe stunning Grade II Listed Old Vicarage is on the market for only the second time in its history, having been previously sold by the church. With seven stunning bedrooms and a classic Georgian drawing room on the first floor, the property exudes elegance and character throughout. £2,500,000 Contact 01483 306565

ElEGant vICaraGE

staGE struCk

FOR SALE

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06 &Guildford

Top Rodsall Cottage,Puttenham, SurreyA delightful four-bedroom cottage in a secluded spot in one of Surrey’s most sought-after villages. £995,000 FOR SALE

Witts End,Hambledon, SurreyIdyllic village life awaits in Hambledon. Witts End has five to six bedrooms, about 1.5 acres of garden and delightful views.£1,495,000 UNDER OFFER

Old Home,Dunsfold, SurreyThis quintessential period country cottage is set in a popular Surrey village with a delightful 0.5-acre garden. £950,000 UNDER OFFER

Hazels,Hambledon, Surrey

This charming cottage is set in beautiful and

tranquil surroundings with development opportunities.

£1,500,000 SOLD

Japonica Cottage, Dunsfold, SurreyThis four-bedroom Grade II Listed cottage sits on the common inDunsfold and has a stunning open-plan kitchen/dining room.£725,000 UNDER OFFER

For further details of any of these properties, contact 01483 306565

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PORTFOLIO

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Albury Park Mansion,Albury, Surrey

Releasing the first phase of exclusive apartments at

Albury Park Mansion, set in five acres of beautiful gardens and grounds.

Price on application FOR SALE

Whitmoor House,Guildford, Surrey

An historic principal portion of a country house with

seven bedrooms, a walled garden and an indoor pool.

£1,475,000 FOR SALE

Coppice Mead,Guildford, SurreyA traditional 1920s family home in the popular location of Abbotswood.£1,200,000 SOLD

Little Beeches,Guildford, SurreyAn elegant former coach house with a courtyard garden. £850,000 SOLD

Springfield Farm,Elstead, Surrey

A Grade II Listed family home on the village green in

Elstead, with delightful character features and

four/five bedrooms. £1,400,000 FOR SALE

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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

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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

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Getting stronger

Trends & analysisStrutt & Parker experts reflect on the

nationwide property picture

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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

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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

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10 &Guildford

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‘Guildford is a friendly and attractive town with fantastic bars and restaurants, which I enjoy hugely with friends. More than that, having lived here my whole life, it feels like home.’Jamie Treadwell, local resident

‘Here in this small hamlet just outside Chiddingfold I have such fantastic neighbours, a real mixed bag. We’re aged between 43 and 87 years old, but all get on well and socialise together – we even threw a Queen’s Jubilee street party. Everyone is so friendly and we have a great community. For example, when our neighbour was in hospital we all took turns to walk the dogs. We look after each other. Coming from London, where it’s very impersonal, Chiddingfold is so real.’Carol Arnell, costume designer

‘The people are all so friendly here when I’m out on my route. And I love the architecture on the high street – almost every building is different; if you look up you can see wood engravings above the shops.’Robert Frost-Bridges, local postman

‘Some of the many attractions of living in Guildford are the annual festivals; the sporting facilities; thriving general interest organisations such as the Decorative and Fine Arts Society; and the amateur orchestras and choirs.’Roger Nicholas, local resident

‘As an architect, I like Guildford because it has been established for so long that the mix of architecture creates a very characterful streetscape. Along with the undulation of the land it’s built on, and the river running through it, this produces some of the most interesting settings in the country.’Michael Wilson, Michael Wilson Restorations

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

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Strutt & Parker Guildford 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.

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FIND US

Strutt & Parker GuildfordSomerset House, 222 High Street Guildford GU1 3JDTel: 01483 306 565 guildford@struttandparker.com

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Strutt & Parker network and services

S&P

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struttandparker.com

To visit the Guildford office homepage, simply

hover your phone over the QR code (right).

GuildfordSomerset House222 High StreetGuildford GU1 3JDTel: 01483 306565

Farnham37 Downing StreetFarnham GU9 7PHTel: 01252 821102

Haslemere18 High StreetHaslemere GU27 2HJTel: 01428 661077

Horsham35 CarfaxHorsham RH12 1EE Tel: 01403 246790

Country House Department13 Hill StreetLondonW1J 5LQTel: 020 7629 7282

LondonTen offices in central LondonVisit struttandparker.com for details

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