Month: June 2016

Connells estate agency in Basingstoke reports a successful launch for new development Verum House with over 50% of new homes already reserved.  With high demand from customers for the remaining apartments, Connells is advising prospective buyers to get in touch should they wish to secure one of these fantastic new homes.

Located in the heart of Basingstoke’s town centre, Verum House, on completion, will offer a collection of 24 luxury one and two bedroom apartments.  Set in a character building with lift, apartments feature sleek, contemporary interiors, extra height ceilings, high specification bathrooms and kitchens with fully integrated appliances and flooring included throughout – all built with attention to detail. Each apartment comes with secure under croft parking.

“Verum House has proved incredibly popular with local buyers and we don’t anticipate the remaining apartments staying on the market for long,” says Viv Denyer, New Homes Business Development Manager at Connells.  “We successfully sold 50% of the apartments in just three hours at our initial launch and we’re receiving calls daily from customers expressing their interest in these new homes. 

“We are not surprised with the success of Verum House.  The development is brilliantly located in the town centre, just a short distance from the mainline station and the good range of amenities that Basingstoke offers.  The apartments are perfect for a range of buyers including those who wish to take their first step onto the property ladder and those who wish for the peace of mind that a new build offers with the 10 year builder’s warranty.”

Prices at Verum House start from £170,000 and buyers can utilise the    Government-backed Help to Buy scheme which provides greater assistance to first time buyers to get onto the property ladder.  For further information and to express your interest in reserving an……

This charming Grade II listed house is set in stunning gardens of nearly half an acre in the beautiful village of Hambledon near Petersfield. The area forms part of the South Downs National Park, has always been an area of outstanding natural beauty and offers an abundance of footpaths and bridleways including the South Downs Way.

The main façade of The Cottage is draped in wisteria and a brick path leads to the front door. The lovely gardens form a stunning backdrop with well stocked beds bordering lawns, a rose garden and a rockery, in all extending to just under half an acre. There is also a brick and flint former coach house which incorporates garaging and storage with additional space above.

The property had been the subject of extensive renovation and decoration which has greatly enhanced the fine proportions of the formal rooms and features such as exposed principal beams, fireplaces, working shutters and even the old call bells have been retained and restored.

The sitting room, dining room and study all lead off the reception hall and there is a formal drawing room with a door to the garden, whilst on the other side of the house the lovely kitchen has French doors opening to a brick terrace from where steps rise through a dwarf wall to the garden. The kitchen is exceptionally fitted with painted cabinets upon a flagstone floor and there is space for casual dining. The large utility room is a bonus and further storage is provided by the cellar which leads down from here.

The fine staircase rises through the centre of the house pausing on the first floor at three principal bedrooms and two superb bathrooms before continuing up to three further good size attic rooms and another bathroom.

Knight Frank quotes……

This truly delightful barn conversion enjoys a central village location. The property has a varied history dating from its origins as a 19th century threshing barn and has now been cleverly converted to create a family home of charm, practicality and space, right in the heart of the village of Colden Common. The house is enclosed by wonderful gardens on three sides, very much part of the appeal of this home.

Imagination and flair have been used in the conversion and the double front doors open to reveal a spacious hallway that suggests the style of the accommodation and the eye is drawn to the vast reception space arranged around a log burning stove in the centre of the room which rises through a galleried landing above. The reception room has flexible sitting and dining areas and has a large curved kitchen/breakfast room on one side and a conservatory on the other. Doors open out to the sunny side of the garden and there is also a utility room and a boot room with storage.

The staircase rises to a wonderful galleried landing from which three double bedrooms radiate. The master suite has its own shower room and there is a large family bathroom. The landing has an open aspect with two areas suitable for use as reading space or a study area. Steps also rise from here to a mezzanine library, another innovative idea and a great use of space.

The gardens are an absolute delight; with the south-east facing rear garden, including a paved terraced adjacent to the barn, leading onto the lawn bordered by mature shrubs and trees and a raised and covered deck in one corner to provide shade on sunny days. The garden extends round to the front via an old stone bridge over……

Lovingly restored and with a superb barn style extension this is a stunning Grade II listed detached home, full of character and wonderful accommodation. The mature and secluded gardens are an outstanding feature and enjoy a prominent south westerly aspect with various areas for interest and relaxation throughout the three quarters of an acre. Set within the village of Houghton, this is a great location for those who want to enjoy the wonders of the Test Valley and Stockbridge is a short distance away for all day to day requirements.

Lying centrally within the house the lovely sitting room has a wood burning stove set in a large brick inglenook fireplace, numerous exposed beams and timbers and wide oak floor boards. A formal dining room leads off on one side with the kitchen/breakfast room on the other. This is fitted with hand crafted cupboards arranged around an Everhot range and integrated appliances. A rear lobby leads off the kitchen with access to the garden and doors to a shower room, utility room and the magnificent barn room with a high vaulted ceiling, exposed framework, oak shelving, feature high level stained glass window and an open tread staircase rising to a mezzanine gallery

Two staircases rise to the first floor where the master suite has lovely views over the gardens to the front and rear, and a bathroom. A second double bedroom is currently used as a dressing room and has an enviable stretch of fitted wardrobes along one wall.

Two further bedrooms are both attractive with exposed framework and share the family bathroom.

Fir Tree Cottage is set back from the lane by lawns interspersed with specimen trees, lavender borders and colourful shrubs. A brick and flint wall with climbing roses is the backdrop and a gate opens to……

Connells confident in property market following EU Referendum

Local estate agency Connells in Basingstoke is pleased to report that the local property market remains buoyant following the result of the EU Referendum. As demand for property stays high and house prices continue to hold their value, the local branch is certain that home movers shouldn’t put their home moving plans on hold and the team is encouraging prospective movers to come in for some expert guidance if they are unsure of the next steps to take.

“Despite much speculation about the effect Brexit will have on our industry, we’re pleased to say that the market here is still strong, and we are confident that now is as good a time as any to buy or sell a house,” says Tom Bateson, Regional New Homes Director at Connells in Basingstoke.  “There are still lots of buyers out there in search of a new home which is keeping house prices buoyant and there are also some great mortgage deals available with low interest rates.  Of course, we understand why some people may be waiting for the dust to settle following the EU Referendum, so we’re keen to offer our guidance and services to those with any questions.  If you are uncertain of the effect Brexit will have on your plans to buy or move home, please don’t hesitate to come in and speak to one of our team.”

Tom continues:  “Connells is currently celebrating its 80th year of trading and, having experienced a variety of market conditions throughout the years, our success and levels of expertise have only continued to grow.  This means we are best placed to offer advice to our customers on potential challenges to the market, as well as giving the highest levels of customer service.”

Connells……

Southampton Mayor Cathie McEwing cut the ribbon and officially opened the marketing suite and show home at Mapmakers, the city’s newest community at Romsey Road.

The Mayor was delighted to be the first person to view the superb new show home and explained she had personal reasons for watching the development of Mapmakers over the past few months as she had worked in the offices previously on the site and her husband, Alex, still works for the Ordnance Survey.

“These are really beautiful new homes in a fantastic location,” said Cllr McEwing. “I love the fixtures and fittings and décor in the show home and would certainly jump at the chance to live here. “

The Mayor was joined by some of the first Mapmakers buyers who were all keen for an exclusive preview of the show home, having all purchased their homes from plans.

James Boyce, marketing manager at Kier, said: “We are incredibly proud of the success of the Mapmakers development so far and it is really exciting to be at the stage of having a completed show home. We wanted to thank our buyers at Mapmakers for putting their trust in us to build their new homes and so I am thrilled to be able to give them the first viewing alongside the Mayor of Southampton.”

One of the first couples to buy at Mapmakers were Veronica Monreal and Victor Trivino, a young couple looking for more space and relocating to Southampton from London. They bought their two-bedroom Mapmakers house at the initial sales launch earlier this year, so were delighted to see the new show home and cannot wait to move in.

“We love London but are really excited to be moving here,” said Veronica. “We need more space as we both work from home and……