Month: August 2016

The area around Andover is blessed with several vibrant village communities, among them Goodworth Clatford, one half of “The Clatfords”.

The village, together with Upper Clatford, the other half of the pair, stands, alongside the River Anton as it flows to join the River Test at Fullerton through an area of great scenic beauty and appeal.

Among the more modern houses in Goodworth Clatford is Yewbank, an attractive four bedroom detached home in the centre of the village available to let very soon. It has been beautifully refurbished by the owners and now includes a recently updated kitchen and bathrooms.

Part of the work carried out on the house has included opening the kitchen into the dining room to create an attractive living / working space with double French windows into the garden.

The external appearance of Yewbank is enhanced by the inclusion of three dormers on both the front and rear elevations while the tiled canopy over the front door continues across to blend with the high-pitched roof that has allowed space for a bathroom above the former garage, now a utility providing extra appliance and work space.

Inside, the house is equally as appealing. There’s an entrance hall with doors to both the sitting room and kitchen. The sitting room has an open fireplace with double doors opposite linking to the dining room to form a great entertaining space, especially when combined with the rear terrace and the conservatory opening off the sitting room.

The first floor has the master suite across the front. The bedroom has sets of double wardrobes along one wall while the shower room has doors to both the bedroom and main landing. The other three bedrooms are across the rear of the house overlooking the lawned garden.

The Clatfords share three public houses……

A modern take on traditional charm

Here at Catherine’s Walk at Abbotts Ann this detached house offers the perfect combination of modern living facilities with traditional charm. With a lower ground floor providing superb additional accommodation, this is a very spacious family home. Abbotts Ann is a pretty village with some local amenities and is close to Andover providing access to rail links into London.

Steps rise to the front door which opens to a lovely entrance hall flanked by a formal sitting room on one side and a superb kitchen/dining room on the other; both of grand proportions. These rooms, together with the study and cloakroom on this floor form the principal living space. However, the family room on the lower ground floor which is some 25’ square adds another dimension and is a great relaxed space which can adapt to different lifestyles. There is also a utility room and cloakroom on this lower level together with a door into the large garage.

The impressive master suite on the first floor has a walk-in closet and lovely bathroom with a bath and separate shower with four further good size bedrooms sharing the family wetroom. There are lovely views from this top floor

Access out to the garden is from the family room and the kitchen, with the garden being well tended with seating areas, lawn, a fire pit to extend the summer evenings and a children’s play area. There is private parking in addition to the garage.

Available on the market at a monthly rent of £3,250 this charming home is available for those seeking a quick move. Contact Hamptons International in Winchester for more details on 01962 853046…

Enjoy leisure time at this fabulous home

Not only does Rosewood House have superbly spacious accommodation, beautifully laid out but this property also boasts an array of leisure facilities which are sure to keep all the family satisfied. There is a stunning swimming pool at the rear, set within a decked terrace and this leads onto a separate area where there is a tennis court, leading in turn to the rest of the grounds which extend to some three acres.

And when the weather takes a turn for the worse, there is always the games room which lies above the garage and slightly separate from the rest of the house so keeping noise disturbance to a minimum.

Approached through a brick pillared entrance with electric gates there is a sweeping block paved driveway which provides plenty of parking and leads to the double garage. Wide steps rise to the front door which swings open to reveal an impressive interior with exceptionally spacious living areas including a sitting room, superb dining room with semi-circular bay window overlooking the garden, and a magnificent kitchen with granite worktops. These areas interlink and create a welcoming entertaining space.

A further room on the ground floor is currently arranged as a guest bedroom.

The master bedroom on the first floor lies adjacent to a large dressing room and bathroom and the bedroom has glazed doors to a south westerly facing balcony. There is a further lovely double bedroom with its own shower room, a third double room, a fourth smaller room and a large family bathroom. Leading off the split level landing is a well fitted study and stairs down to the large games room with its vaulted ceiling and feature windows across the front of the house.

The swimming pool is heated……

It has to be said that there are many improvements which need to be made at this Victorian cottage in Wickham to bring it up to modern expectations, but the essential elements of a fantastic location, an attractive exterior and good size garden are all in place. This property at Dairymoor needs a purchaser with a vision and determination to create a comfortable home full of character.

Located just around the corner from Wickham Square, with its wealth of amenities and a true sense of community, this is a good place to be for those who want to easily access local shops and to stop and have a coffee or lunch with friends. Built around 1890, the semi-detached cottage has retained some original features which could be restored and brought to life by a sympathetic renovation programme.

The accommodation is arranged on three floors including an attic bedroom. It might be imagined that the house would benefit from a ground floor extension which could create a large kitchen/dining room which would leave the reception room at the front as a sitting room. There is already a rear lobby which gives access from the kitchen to the rear garden.

An inner lobby has stairs to the first floor where there is a double bedroom at the front and a single room at the rear adjacent to the bathroom which is in need of a complete refit. The stairs continue to rise to the attic bedroom which has a window set in the gable end and sloping ceilings to the front and rear.

A low brick wall and railings mark the front boundary and a pathway leads along the side of the cottage to the garden. Also in need of repair is a brick outbuilding which could provide useful storage or……

Expectations of a slower summer may dishearten homeowners who are trying to sell. Latest news from Rightmove says the average asking price of houses coming on to the market has fallen 0.9pc since last month. But all is not as bad as it seems. Buyer demand in the weeks since the referendum is similar to demand levels during 2014. Stock shortages are driving momentum in key areas of the country, particularly safe havens in the British countryside.

If you are thinking of selling your home this summer/early autumn, George Burnand, Partner in charge of the Winchester office at Strutt & Parker, one of the UK’s leading independent property partnerships, gives advice for navigating through the current property climate:

Adjust to the market

“Although the market has been unsettled both before and after Brexit, the message remains the same – get the price right and you will find a buyer. The lack of stock coming to the market is not unusual during the summer holidays, and many should perceive this as an opportunity: less property available increases the likelihood of yours standing out form the crowd. But remember, time is precious for those buyers juggling family life now the kids have broken up from school, so always try to be accommodating and patient.”

Perfect presentation

“Think about the presentation of your home now the sun is shining. With longer evenings and more natural light flooding in, dust and window smudges are easier to spot. Give these a clean before a viewing. Adding a fresh lick of paint is a staple; stick to white and neutral colours to make rooms look brighter and bigger. Always keep in mind that these little touches add real value to the purchaser’s perception of your home.”

Get gardening

“The big one for the summer is of……

Stunning new home with all the character of a barn conversion

Northwood Barn is a newly constructed property, heavily influenced by the appealing architecture of barn conversions but with all the benefits of a new building. Created by local family run business, Coleman Building Company, this is their latest project in the region.

Located at Brambridge, this is a lovely semi-rural community about a mile south of Twyford and within easy reach of Winchester. Countryside surrounds the village and there are wonderful walks to be discovered, particularly along the banks of the River Itchen.

The house sits well in its plot of 0.7 acre with ample parking at the front, accessed via electric gates, and there is a detached barn style double garage with attached store. The house has an imposing façade with a superb double height entrance atrium which floods the ground floor with natural light. With a formal drawing room and a study off to one side, the rest of the extensive living space is largely open plan with a beautifully fitted Shaker style kitchen and a choice of areas for dining and relaxing with a mainly glazed garden room providing a view through the house to the landscaping beyond. Bi-folding doors at several points provide a natural flow out to the garden in the warmer months and there is a good size utility room providing secondary access into the house.

The galleried landing has doors to four double bedrooms including the master suite which has a walk through dressing room into the luxurious bathroom. There is a second en suite bedroom and a lovely family bathroom with bath and separate shower.

The garden has ample paved terracing across the rear leading onto the remainder which will be laid to lawn for ease of maintenance and……