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

A particular take on property ISSUE ONE

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02 &Cambridge

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

e at Strutt & Parker consider ourselves extremely lucky to work and live in Harpenden, which is such a quintessentially

English town and village. Few towns of similar size can boast two cricket clubs, a football club, a rugby club, bridleways for horse riding, ramblers’ paths, three golf clubs, two tennis clubs, a swimming pool, a bowling club and a sports centre. The 238-acre Harpenden Common stretches right up to the High Street and has a Green Flag Award, which recognises it as one of the country’s finest green spaces.

‘Yet the town is just 27 minutes by rail to London St Pancras and beyond to the City, and has direct links to the national motorway network, London Luton and London Gatwick airports. These transport links, as well as the excellent primary and secondary schools, attract many potential purchasers to Harpenden from London and even overseas.

‘As a result, we have seen the period semis in the town centre soar in value in recent years to rival the prices of detached houses. When the 7% stamp duty on properties of £2 million was introduced, it had quite a knock-on effect at the top end of the market. However, this appears to have calmed

down now, and we are increasingly seeing sales in excess of this level.

‘Strutt & Parker has been established in Harpenden for many years, and we are determined to dispel the myths of estate agency by giving our clients the sort of service that we ourselves would expect to receive. We approach every project and every relationship with an open mind. It’s never a case of doing what others do, or even what we did last week – each job is a new challenge that deserves a fresh approach. By being creative, we’re able to find new ways to solve problems and uncover hidden opportunities.

‘We love to build good relationships with our clients. This approach results in plenty of repeat business. Likewise, we have forged strong bonds with many local community organisations – we have been the main sponsor of Harpenden Rugby Club for nearly 20 years, and donate £1,000 to the club for every successful sale we complete for any of their members.

‘We are proud that transaction levels are holding up well in Harpenden compared with the national average. We know our marketplace and we continue to sell proactively, instead of simply waiting for a home to sell itself. This attitude is what sets us apart.’

Sally Noakes, Partner, explains how our Harpenden office brings a wealth of expertise to the local property market

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A particular take on property ISSUE ONE

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First & foremost

04 &Harpenden

Perfect Pitch

Byways, Harpenden Built in 1920, Byways is an elegant and highly individual country house that retains many period features and is set in over an acre of gardens. The property lies in a beautiful and secluded landscape with views over open farmland and backs onto Harpenden Common and Golf Course. Even so, Harpenden town centre is only a mile away. Byways has the added benefit of a separate two-bedroom cottage with large studio/games room. £3,685,000contact 01582 764343

Period style

It’s rare to have a chef and brewer in one restaurant, but Alec Goodhand, owner of That Little Place, takes on both roles. Along with brewing his own Harpenden Gold and ALE 5 beers, Goodhand also concocts locally sourced dishes. The menu even tells you how far the food has travelled. ‘My signature dish is the goat’s cheese strudel,’ he says. ‘In the morning, I collect the cheese on my bicycle, the walnuts come from my cleaner, and the quince from my book-keeper’s mother’s garden.’ Over the past three years, the 40-seater eatery has acquired a loyal clientele, both locally and from further afield.thatlittleplace.co.uk

little wonder

From humble beginnings in founders Gill and David Johnston’s living room in 1977, Harpenden Musicale is now a thriving centre for musical achievement. From simply hiring and selling instruments and sheet music, there is now a thriving adult wind band, activities for four- to seven-year-olds, and a violin club. In the summer, the Young Artists’ Programme is offered as part of the Harpenden Music Festival, with prizes for recital and concerto sections, while there are summer holiday camps in venues around the country. One participant summed up the joy of music-making, saying: ‘I can’t wait for next year!’ musicale.co.uk W

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FOR SALE

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LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

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a family affairThe shop that likes to say yes is Oui, Harpenden’s independently owned and family-run boutique offering smart casual clothing and related goodies. On the High Street (Mary Portas, take note), Oui has been in town for 18 years – check out the soft leather jackets, Danish jewellery and Emu footwear. Owner Fiona Grant explains, ‘I work closely with my mum, and my daughter says she wants to work with me when she’s older. My son helps out with graphics for ads – what would we do without 12-year-olds?’

go greenGreen Lawns, HarpendenSituated in a sought-after area accessible to both Wood End and Roundwood schools, this exceptional development of just nine houses has been built to a high specification with stunning interiors. The properties are arranged over four floors, some with cinema rooms, and all have a garage, off-street parking and landscaped gardens. Prices from £695,000Contact 01582 764343

Harpenden has had its fair share of famous residents, including eric morecambe and Stanley Kubrick

An unusually high number of houses in the town are owner occupied: 81.4%, as opposed to 66.2% nationally

many Harpenden streets are named after literary figures, including Byron road and Kipling Way

HarPendenunCovered

Common groundOver the decades, Harpenden Common has been used for horseracing, hunting, ice skating, athletics, circuses and fairs. Today, it is home to football and cricket clubs, art exhibitions and Harpenden Common Golf Club, which recently opened its new clubhouse. Picnickers find their way to Southdown Ponds, while wildflowers and grasses flourish at Hayfield. Although horseracing here is a thing of the past, riders can still hack around a trail that loops the Common. Nowadays, car enthusiasts celebrate the annual Classics on the Common, one of the largest classic motoring events in Europe.harpenden.gov.uk/harpenden-common

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06 &Harpenden

Kings Walden,near HitchinOn the edge of a popular village, this exceptional period house has been modernised to provide a stylish interior with beautiful gardens.

Milton Road, Harpenden,This desirable Victorian maisonette is full of character and within a short walk of the station and town centre. It has parking space for two cars. £450,000 FOR SALE

Kirkwick Avenue, Harpenden

A spacious Oakbridge-built family home with

stunning gardens. The property is in the sought-after Avenues

area, minutes from the high street.

£2,650,000 FOR SALE

For further details of any of these properties, contact 01582 764343

£1,450,000 FOR SALE

Prospect Lane,HarpendenA superbly maintained, spacious family house, situated at the end of a private cul-de-sac with stunning views to the rear.

£1,795,000 FOR SALE

Sauncey Avenue,HarpendenA well-extended family house situated on a large plot in a good residential area close to the town centre.£1,795,000 FOR SALE

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PORTFOLIO

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West Common, Harpenden

Stunning property of 8,500 sq ft built to

exacting standards. The property has a

leisure complex and lodge cottage and is

close to the town. £6,000,000 FOR SALE

East Common, Harpenden

A spacious property with charm and character

situated in a prominent location with views

over East Common. £3,950,000 FOR SALE

Harpendenbury,RedbournAn attractive detached Grade II* Listed farmhouse in five acres, surrounded by countryside on the outskirts of Harpenden.£1,950,000 FOR SALE

Townsend Road,HarpendenA beautifully presented detached family house in a sought-after location close to the high street and station. £1,800,000 FOR SALE

West Common,Harpenden

A beautiful family home in a most desirable location.

Extended and refurbished, it provides luxurious living

and entertaining spaces. Price on application 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

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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 &Harpenden

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‘There’s a great community in Harpenden supported by a range of excellent schools and sporting clubs. When you add in the speedy access to central London and the beautiful green spaces locally, I think you have a great place to live and bring up a family.’Rob Brown, treasurer of Harpenden Rugby Club

‘I love living in Harpenden for its village feel and the High Street. It’s brilliantly connected to London, and there are plenty of parks nearby for my young family. The Nickey Line is a firm favourite.’

‘Although some people still call Harpenden a village it’s so much more than that – there are plenty of coffee shops as well as the classic cricket scene on the green, and it’s just 15 minutes in the car to an airport. There’s a rural feel to the place and it’s a lovely safe area to bring up children.’ Liz Sibley, owner, Home County Rentals

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

‘I’ve lived here since my teens and loved growing up here. Now I live with my husband and two children age 10 and 12, and it’s a fabulous place to bring up a growing family thanks to the excellent schools and local family amenities.’ Fiona Grant, owner, Oui boutique

‘Harpenden is a lovely town to raise a family. The schools are great and there’s plenty of open spaces. We’re pretty sporty, so enjoy the high standard of sports clubs that offer good facilities, coaching and an active social side.’

Graham Blakesley, local resident

Helen Hindley,local resident

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FIND US

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S&P

Strutt & Parker Harpenden49 High StreetHarpendenTel: 01582 764343harpenden@struttandparker.com

Strutt & Parker Harpenden 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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Strutt & Parker network and services

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struttandparker.com

To visit the Harpenden office homepage, simply

hover your phone over the QR code (right).

Harpenden49 High StreetHarpenden AL5 2SJTel: 01582 764343

St Albans34 St Peters StreetSt Albans AL1 3NATel: 01727 840285

LondonTen offices in central LondonVisit struttandparker.com for details

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