News & Views

Micro-markets see a welcome boost

Winchester starts the New Year proving it has its own micro-market where housing demand continues to outstrip supply. This is a continuation of the trend seen over the last year, with asking prices in some sectors higher than a year ago whilst the rest of the country recorded a combined fall over the same period.

Micro-markets see a welcome boost

Winchester starts the New Year proving it has its own micro-market where housing demand continues to outstrip supply. This is a continuation of the trend seen over the last year, with asking prices in some sectors higher than a year ago whilst the rest of the country recorded a combined fall over the same period.

Depending on local market conditions, there are differing pressures on the direction of prices. The lack of property coming to market over the last year combined with buyer demand has helped to buoy new sellers' asking prices in some locations. Prices will also be receiving a further boost as estate agents compete to attract fresh stock for the year ahead.

There have been more than 44 million property searches on website Rightmove.com during the first ten days of 2012. While this doesn't necessarily indicate a surge in proceedable buyer numbers, it does highlight a strong pent-up demand to move and is also a reflection that value-seeking buyers who can proceed are taking extra care to research the market. January often sees the beginning of a 'spring bounce' in the prices of properties coming to market, and there is again evidence of this in 2012.

As we move into the more active spring market with a shortage of new supply, prices will rise where the local market or a particular estate agent is short of a type or style of stock. However, asking more for your property can only be successful if your target buying audience can raise the necessary funds. The market fragmentation caused by the credit crunch means that success in selling now requires a more careful and complex micro-market analysis, rather than a wishful price-punt to see what happens.

Its either 'Bunk beds' or time to move!

Just 1hr North of Winchester there will be some impact on property with winners and losers on both sides.

Its either 'Bunk beds' or time to move!

Did you know that nowadays children in one in four homes share bedrooms? Thousands of children are forced to share a bedroom with a sibling or other family member, according to new research.

In London , this figure rises to 35 per cent of households. Among young couples in Britain , the proportion is 38 per cent.

Nearly one in three parents think their home is too small, according to the study of 2,000 adults by property website FindaProperty.com.

The study also found that nearly a million people in the UK are expecting to become a parent within the next few months, and roughly 14 per cent of these are still living in homes that are too small to accommodate their new arrival.

Mortgage lending has seen something of a Winter spurt

Just 1hr North of Winchester there will be some impact on property with winners and losers on both sides.

Mortgage lending has seen something of a Winter spurt

Gross mortgage lending by the major UK banks reached its highest monthly level of the year in December, industry figures show. Lending of £9bn was 12% higher than in December 2010, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) said.

However, householders continued to take a cautious approach to other forms of borrowing. Repayments on unsecured lending matched the amount of new borrowing on loans, overdrafts and credit cards.

"The household sector generally is focusing on debt repayment amid inflated household expenses and a continuing air of uncertainty, so we see a reluctance to let net borrowing rise, with people preferring to use their bank account cash for expenditure," said BBA statistics director David Dooks.

There was a slight rise in the credit card sector of unsecured lending. The BBA said that this reflected the increase in year-on-year spending in the shops at Christmas. Even so, repayments still outstripped new borrowing on these cards.

The number of mortgage approvals for house purchases by the High Street banks did increase to 36,171 in December compared with November, although remortgaging did drop back slightly in the same period.

Private Sector Landlords are now eligible for Deposit Protection

Just 1hr North of Winchester there will be some impact on property with winners and losers on both sides.

Private Sector Landlords are now eligible for Deposit Protection

A new tenancy deposit protection scheme for private sector landlords has been launched by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, (TDS), in association with the Residential Landlords Association, (RLA).

Until now, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, which already protects £1bn-worth of deposits, the largest number of tenancy deposits protected by any deposit protection scheme, has been available primarily to regulated letting agents. Following extensive consultation with the Residential Landlords Association, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme will now provide landlords with much greater choice in the market.

The new scheme, to be marketed by the Residential Landlords Association as 'DepositGuard', will substantially undercut the other rates in the market that are available on a Pay-as-you-Protect basis. Neither does the new Scheme charge annual subscriptions or joining fees. The scheme complies fully with Government regulations under the Housing Act 2004.

Steve Harriott, Chief Executive of the TDS says: "TDS has been the Scheme of choice for regulated letting agents for some time, but we are delighted to be able to offer deposit protection directly to landlords. Landlords can save time and money by keeping hold of the deposit – as well as taking advantage of market-leading rates."

Alan Ward, the RLA Chairman welcomed the innovation: "DepositGuard enables the Residential Landlords Association to offer competitive deposit protection without compromising our position in representing landlords' interests. The systems and documentation are also ready for changes being introduced by the Government in April and are designed to give better protection to landlords.

DepositGuard permits landlords to hold deposits throughout a tenancy and to take advantage of the dispute resolution service. The TDS adjudication service seeks to issue adjudications within 28 days of receipt of evidence and, as the voice of authority in deposit protection, ensures that deposits are returned to landlord or tenant fairly.

Details of deposit protection for landlords can be found on www.rla.org.uk/depositguard and www.tds.gb.com

HS2 is going ahead

Just 1hr North of Winchester there will be some impact on property with winners and losers on both sides.

HS2 is going ahead

Just 1hr North of Winchester there will be some impact on property with winners and losers on both sides.

The Secretary of State has announced that the UK High Speed Two Rail network will go ahead, providing vital infrastructure links which will boost the economy for generations to come.

The new scheme will improve capacity across the rail network, shorten journey times between Britain 's major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.

Primelocation.com suggests that residential property prices in the Birmingham area could go up by £8.8 billion over the next few years.

The development of HS2 will provide significant new capacity, freeing up rail paths on the existing network. It will cut 30 minutes off a train journey time between London and Birmingham.

Whilst the approval of HS2 will be deemed dreadful news for some of the residents of Buckinghamshire who will be affected, the decision to build the tunnel along part of the route has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to some extent. On a more positive note, the fact that there is now some clarity may help to unlock some of the property that has been unsellable whilst there was so much uncertainty surrounding the line. The HS2 will bring good news, especially for the countryside around Banbury and Bicester, for buyers who want easy access to the Chiltern Line.

2012 set to be a strong year for tenant demand

When asked whether they thought rental income would increase during the next 12 months, 45 per cent of landlords surveyed said that levels will increase, whereas 53 per cent said that it would remain stable – only two per cent said that it would decrease.

2012 set to be a strong year for tenant demand

When asked whether they thought rental income would increase during the next 12 months, 45 per cent of landlords surveyed said that levels will increase, whereas 53 per cent said that it would remain stable – only two per cent said that it would decrease.

It is no surprise that landlords are expecting a healthy level of tenant demand in 2012, based on the levels of demand we have seen steadily increase throughout the past 12 months. 2011 was certainly a good year for the buy-to-let market, with not only increasing tenant demand but landlords investing in their portfolios, low levels of arrears and more available finance.

This year will bring its own challenges, especially with the uncertainty in Europe and the wider financial markets affecting overall confidence levels. Lenders and landlords will continue to do business, in particular if we see a greater level of product innovation.

We should look to 2012 with optimism as it is sure to bring further opportunities.

Shock rise in house prices

Figures from Nationwide showed how house prices recorded an unexpected rise.

Shock rise in house prices

Figures from Nationwide showed how house prices recorded an unexpected rise.

HOUSE prices have defied gloom-mongers to record an unexpected rise. They ended 2011 up by a healthy one per cent compared with this time last year.

The figures from Britain 's biggest building society show a marked improvement from 12 months ago, when prices were down 0.5 per cent year on year.

Robert Gardner, Nationwide's chief economist, said the housing market had performed remarkably well considering the very tough economic climate. Against a backdrop of anaemic economic growth and a deteriorating labour market, UK house prices were surprisingly resilient in 2011.

Thanks to continued low interest rates, the number of forced sales remained low. Together with a dearth in building activity in recent years, this prevented a glut of unsold homes from accumulating on the market.

The figures provide further evidence of the long-term investment strength of bricks and mortar, with property values far outstripping shares, which were six per cent down over the year.

The rise in house prices has been fuelled by record low Bank of England interest rates and increasing mortgage availability. A BBC poll of 27 leading economists provided further hope that rates will stay at their current 0.5 per cent through 2012 and beyond.

The Nationwide end-of-year report showed that nine out of 13 UK regions saw house prices rise during 2011.

London saw rises of 5.5 per cent but prices were down in north and north-west England and in Scotland . Northern ¬Ireland was the worst performing region with prices falling 8.7 per cent. Separate figures from the Land Registry yesterday showed a monthly house price rise of 0.3 per cent in England and Wales . They also revealed that 729 homes sold for £1million or more in September, one per cent more than the same time last year.

Price gains likely, for those £1m and upwards

More expensive houses are the ones most likely to go up in value, with owners and agents unafraid to up their asking prices.

Price gains likely, for those £1m and upwards

More expensive houses are the ones most likely to go up in value, with owners and agents unafraid to up their asking prices.

Research commissioned by Investec Specialist Private Bank using Primelocation data reveals there were 21,877 residential properties on the market at between £1m and £15m during the third quarter of 2011.

Those asking for between £5m and £10m saw the biggest increase in prices. The average asking price in this band was £6.78m, 3.5% higher than Q3 of 2010 (£6.55m).

The price bracket with the second biggest increase in asking prices was £1m to £2m, where there was a 1.43% increase.

In only the most expensive houses of all, those between £10m and £15m, was there an annual fall in asking prices – and at just 1.4% it was probably not enough to dent the fortunes of the sellers too much.

One of the main reasons why the million-pound property market has seen an increase in prices is that many are bought by very wealthy overseas buyers.

London , and the capital is still a very popular place for the world's wealthiest people to buy property and live.

With prime market stock continuing to rise and new year bonuses just around the corner, global interest in this sector and flexible finance options are likely to remain high.

A New Year's resolution

The NHBC are urging the Government to pledge a New Year's resolution. Figures just released from the NHBC show that the total number of new homes registered remained static in 2011 compared with 2010. With little relief for the housebuilding industry at the end of 2011, NHBC is urging the Government to keep housebuilding high on its agenda for 2012.

A New Year's resolution

The NHBC are urging the Government to pledge a New Year's resolution. Figures just released from the NHBC show that the total number of new homes registered remained static in 2011 compared with 2010. With little relief for the housebuilding industry at the end of 2011, NHBC is urging the Government to keep housebuilding high on its agenda for 2012.

The number of new homes registered with NHBC in the UK reached 115,020* by the end of 2011; a little below 2010 figures (115,458). And, in 2007, when house building was at a pre-recession high, this figure was almost double, with 200,700 new homes registered that year.

Following a relatively stable level of registrations through the first half of 2011, figures declined in the final quarter of 2011, to 21,152 (compared to 27,262 in Q4 2010).

Commenting on the year, NHBC Chief Executive Imtiaz Farookhi said "While December is always a short month in which registrations inevitably dip, the last quarter of 2011 was particularly weak, with little sign of the cautious growth the industry experienced earlier in the year"

Independent reports predict housing shortfalls over the coming years and a decline in the wider construction sector during 2012. Such figures are therefore a cause for concern and place even greater pressure on the successful delivery of the Government's Housing Strategy.

There is general consensus that the combined efforts of the housing and mortgage industries could have a positive effect on sentiment and volumes, but it is important not to underestimate the factors holding back new homes construction. Smaller builders in particular will continue to find the current situation difficult and will require increased access to finance. Figures also show that the number of small builders working in housebuilding is lower than any time in the last 20 years.

The question for 2012 therefore will be whether the Government's measures will be enough to actually achieve volume growth or only serve to stabilise the market. Either way, it is critical that housing remains high on the Government's agenda this year.

The figures do however indicate that there is regional variation in this picture and that, unsurprisingly, London experienced better growth than other parts of the UK ; but this may mean that the differences between London and the rest of the UK become more pronounced.

Charters join the revolution

In our business we simply can't avoid the need to travel to service our customers and clients alike. Branding our business on the move is one thing and Charters commitment to the local community now extends to the local environment as well.

Charters join the revolution

In our business we simply can't avoid the need to travel to service our customers and clients alike. Branding our business on the move is one thing and Charters commitment to the local community now extends to the local environment as well.

We are delighted to announce that we have recently acquired and branded two Fiat 500C TwinAir, known to be 'Gold Winner for Green Vehicles' in Top Environmental awards, and our cars will soon been seen zipping about Winchester as we conduct our business in a more eco-friendly manner.

The TwinAir engine was considered the most obvious choice for Charters, among other rival city cars, because it is a multiple award winner and it's got lots of environmentally-friendly credentials too.

Rental costs fall for the first time in 10 months

Rents have been rising for much of the year so far as the demand rises among tenants. The cost of renting a home in England and Wales fell for the first time in 10 months in November, the survey found.

Rental costs fall for the first time in 10 months

Rents have been rising for much of the year so far as the demand rises among tenants. The cost of renting a home in England and Wales fell for the first time in 10 months in November, the survey found.

A typical rental dropped by 0.4% compared with October, to £717 a month, LSL Property Services have said. However, a tenant still typically paid 3.5% - or £25 - more in rent than a year earlier. Landlords are naturally looking to avoid having properties vacant over the Christmas period, and can be less aggressive with pricing as tenant activity slows in the run-up to the new year.

Whilst there are some slight regional variations rents in London reportedly rose in November compared with the previous month. The fall in the cost of renting also coincided with a decrease in the number of tenants getting behind on their rent payments.

A large proportion of current renters are also now considered to be credit worthy buyers, were they able to provide a big enough deposit to satisfy tight mortgage lending criteria. These tenants are typically financially sound, and less likely to experience payment issues and will be looking to buy just as soon as they can.

Thanks to the Bank of Mum and Dad

Most first-time buyers have to wait a long time before they get the keys to their own home.

Thanks to the Bank of Mum and Dad

Most first-time buyers have to wait a long time before they get the keys to their own home.

Tradition has it that the keys to the family home are handed over to a young man or woman when they reach the age of 21! But that tradition has long become obsolete.

Nowadays, it may be more appropriate for sons and daughters to give the keys to their first homes to their parents.

That is because new figures show that nearly two-thirds of first-time buyers receive financial help to get on the property ladder. And, with the average first-timer pushing 40, that can affect the family dynamic long after children fly the nest.

The number of first-time buyers in the UK has plummeted compared with pre-financial crisis levels. There are now around 200,000 a year compared with around 500,000 before 2008, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) says. One housing group - Rightmove - suggests that those stepping onto the property ladder will be "endangered species" in 2012. The main reason, according to both Rightmove and the CML, is the level of deposit that careful lenders require buyers to raise. CML figures show the average deposit at present is 20% of the value of a property, which equates to a typical deposit across the UK of £26,000 - more than many people are paid in a year.

Housing minister Grant Shapps, who recently launched the government's housing strategy, says that an "entire generation" have been blocked from the housing ladder.

Thus many are taking that final option - going cap in hand to the Bank of Mum and Dad.

Typical deposits have risen from 10% in 2007 to 20% now. In the third quarter of the year, 34,000 - or 64% - of first-time buyers were financially "assisted" or returners to the housing market. The remaining 19,000 were unassisted. For those aged under 30, who have had less time to save, just 22% of first-time buyers entered the housing market under their own financial steam. The proportion is around 8% for those aged under 25.

Compare that to the same three months in 2007, when 32,000 - or 31% - first-time buyers were assisted or returners, and the other 71,000 received no financial help. Some 64% of those aged under 30 were unassisted, the CML figures show.

The tipping point, unsurprisingly, came at the time of the banking crisis.

In 2007, deposits averaged at 10%. Then, during 2008, deposits started to rise. Although prices started to fall, it made house buying less affordable for youngsters facing a more uncertain financial future.

In the first three months of 2008, some 58% of all first-time buyers were unassisted. By the final quarter of the year, this had dropped to 44%. The lowest point was 33% in the second quarter of 2009.

The regional variation across the UK tends to mirror house prices. For example in the North of England, 43% of first-time buyers did not require financial assistance from family or friends in 2011. In Northern Ireland , it was 44%.

This compares to 29% in Greater London, where prices have bucked the national trend and continued to rise throughout 2011, according to many surveys.

So how might business at the Bank of Mum and Dad look in the coming years? Can the bank of mum and dad go bust?

What a scandal

Who would have thought we would actually need a ban on subletting council homes?

What a scandal

Who would have thought we would actually need a ban on subletting council homes?

Council tenants who sublet their homes now face prosecution and possible prison terms in a blitz on abuse of social housing.

High earners could also be forced to pay the market rate for continuing to live in their council homes.

Housing minister Grant Shapps said it was a "scandal" that abuse was costing taxpayers between £5bn and £10bn a year. The Coalition is expected to have consultations ahead of legislation. Any money saved would go towards building social housing.

It is not now an offence to sublet a council house – a loophole that allows around 160,000 tenants to move out and charge rent.

Ministers will also give authorities powers to make wealthy tenants pay the market rate. If they refuse, they face eviction.

Officials estimate there are up to 6,000 people in social housing who earn more than £100,000 - can you believe it!

Has the penny dropped yet?

For the past few years there has been a phenomenal gap between asking prices and actual selling prices.

Has the penny dropped yet?

For the past few years there has been a phenomenal gap between asking prices and actual selling prices.

The gap, depending on which measure of selling prices you use, has suggested that some homes put up for sale by their deluded owners or some less professional estate agents have been as much as 40% over-priced.

The property website Rightmove says hower that new sellers are finally getting it and have been dropping their asking prices in the past couple of months.

Believe it or not, Foreign money still pours in and helps property prices to regain their buoyancy in places like prime central London and nearby commuter cities such as Winchester!

Positive Trading

Whilst economic recovery is the key to unlocking the housing market, a growing proportion of surveyors believe that economic uncertainty is solely responsible for holding back housing market activity. This was considered to be a bigger reason than say the availability of mortgages and worries about house price falls, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said.

Positive Trading

Whilst economic recovery is the key to unlocking the housing market, a growing proportion of surveyors believe that economic uncertainty is solely responsible for holding back housing market activity. This was considered to be a bigger reason than say the availability of mortgages and worries about house price falls, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said.

However, some positivity comes from the latest RICS survey as it shows a slight rise in buyer demand and sales in November.

New buyer enquiries "increased modestly" for a third consecutive month, the Rics survey showed. The average number of sales per surveyor branch climbed to 15.4 in the three months to the end of November, compared with 15 a month earlier. This was the highest level since last September. The majority of surveyors actually expected sales to increase in the coming months.

The government's own house price index shows a continuing variation in how property values are changing across the country. Across the UK as a whole, house prices were up 0.6% in October compared with the previous month, the Department for Communities and Local Government said.

On a regional basis, London registered a rise in annual house prices of 3.9% , whereas prices dropped by 4.6% over the same period in the north-east of England.

Is your home a 'piggy bank' or a 'cash cow'?

Either way you view it, Charters still believe that ones own home represents one of the best investments you could possibly have.

Is your home a 'piggy bank' or a 'cash cow'?

Either way you view it, Charters still believe that ones own home represents one of the best investments you could possibly have.

Whilst the housing market may be subject to fluctuations in the same way as any other market, very little else offers the security and potential for growth such as 'bricks and mortar'.

Saving rates are at rock bottom and other asset classes offer volatility, risk and often low returns. There are now few desirable places left to put one's cash.

As demand for property continues to outstrip supply it is easy to see why people carry out improvements such as loft conversions and building extensions to further enhance the value of their greatest asset.

The flat market may have stagnated more than most due to a lack of proceedable First-Time Buyers but if you are currently a LEASEHOLDER then here's a good investment idea for you. Why not consider a LEASE extension? The process of obtaining a lease extension is frequently viewed with caution and the idea is often shelved on the grounds that it is likely to be too time consuming or complicated. But in today's economic climate, it is an option which all leaseholders would be well advised to consider.

The concept of a lease extension is one which is slowly gaining recognition and with good reason. The process itself can take time but so long as the lessee is properly advised, carries with it very little risk. Perhaps more importantly, it is likely that by extending your lease, you will add considerable value to your property and this 'investment' will retain its value for longer than say a new kitchen or bathroom.

Good Mortgage News

Mortgage lending recovers to highest in over a year.

The number of mortgages lent for house purchase rose 7% in August from the month before, to reach 52,000.

Good Mortgage News

Mortgage lending recovers to highest in over a year.

The number of mortgages lent for house purchase rose 7% in August from the month before, to reach 52,000.

The figure was up 2% on August the year before, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has said.

The number of loans to first-time buyers rose 5% both from July and August last year, with 19,000 loans taken out by first-time buyers. Home movers took out 33,000 loans in August. Lending to both first-time buyers and home movers was at its highest for over a year.

Meanwhile, remortgaging activity rose sharply by 9%, with 34,100 remortgage loans advanced.

Lending criteria for both groups in August showed little change from the previous months. First-time buyers continued to put down on average 20% of their property's value as a deposit and borrowed 3.20 times their income, slightly up from 3.17 times in July.

Typical deposits for home movers stayed at 31% for a second month but in August home movers on average paid 9.4% of their income on mortgage interest payments – the lowest since monthly records began in 2002.

Charters' Predict That The Time To Buy Is Now, As The Mortgage Tide May Be Turning....

Charters estate agents feel that those buyers holding out and expecting mortgage rates to fall may have to rethink and get on with securing their purchase and that all important mortgage deal, now.

Charters' Predict That The Time To Buy Is Now, As The Mortgage Tide May Be Turning

Charters estate agents feel that those buyers holding out and expecting mortgage rates to fall may have to rethink and get on with securing their purchase and that all important mortgage deal, now.

Some mortgage brokers warn that rates look set start to rise again, as a result of the turmoil in the eurozone. Some major lenders, including Woolwich, Halifax and Santander, have now pushed up their tracker rates for new borrowers.

This increase follows a rise in the rate at which banks lend to each other, which has been inching higher amid worries over the eurozone crisis. The increase indicates that banks are less confident about lending to each other.

Although the average tracker rate has hardly altered since the summer, there are straws in the wind which suggest that the direction could be shifting from down to up.

On Wednesday, the Chelsea Building Society put up the cost of some of its most competitive tracker mortgages by 0.2%.

It does not mean that people looking for mortgages will have to pay thousands of pounds more, but those borrowers expecting rates to fall will have to rethink.

In recent weeks, the Halifax raised its two-year tracker by 0.15% to 3.34%, while Woolwich increased the rate its trackers revert to after two years by 0.4%. Santander pushed up its Abbey-branded lifetime tracker in two moves from 2.95% to 3.09%. Nationwide and ING have also raised some rates as well.

One indication of the pressure on lenders comes from Libor - the London Interbank Offered Rate - the short-term interest rate at which banks will provide funds to each other.

While some lenders draw mostly on their customers' savings to fund mortgages, others have to borrow large amounts on the money markets, hence the importance of rates such as Libor.

Since August, three month sterling Libor has risen from 0.83% to 1%.

This is a significant change compared with the Bank of England's key rate, which has been stuck firmly at 0.5% since March 2009. On Thursday, the Bank said it would keep rates on hold again following the latest meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee.

Charters reflect on the Autumn Statement 2011

What affect might it have on the Winchester Property Market?

Not so bad actually, considering homebuyers with mortgages will actually benefit greatly thanks to low interest rates, which the Chancellor said were the result of the Coalition Government's policies to tackle the debt crisis.

Charters reflect on the Autumn Statement 2011

What affect might it have on the Winchester Property Market?

Not so bad actually, considering homebuyers with mortgages will actually benefit greatly thanks to low interest rates, which the Chancellor said were the result of the Coalition Government's policies to tackle the debt crisis.

The Bank of England base rate has remained frozen at 0.5pc for 32 months.

Mr Osborne said that if international money markets lost faith in Britain – as they have done elsewhere in Continental Europe – a 1 percentage point increase in the rate at which HM Treasury can borrow would add £1,000 a year to the average family's mortgage costs!

Mr Osborne may have actually understated the benefit of low interest rates to homebuyers!

Lloyds Banking Group – Britain 's biggest mortgage lender since it rescued Halifax – reckons people with average earnings now spend less than a third of take-home pay on their mortgage compared to nearly half of their income four years ago.

Lloyds calculates that the cost of the average repayment mortgage has dropped by around £188 per month and those on tracker mortgages have done even better – on average they are just over £400 a month better off than they were when the credit crisis began.

Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, pointed out that higher interest rates would result in higher corporate insolvencies, unemployment and house repossessions!

And there's more….

Much needed stimulation for the housing market ?

George osborne also says that the right-to-buy scheme, which was introduced under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, was "one of the greatest social policies of all time" but had been "slowly and stealthily strangled by previous governments".

Under a package of reforms to stimulate the flagging housing market, the Treasury will also underwrite part of the risk of lending to first-time buyers.

Efforts will be made to kick-start house-building projects with a £400 million investment fund. The money will help finance developments that have planning permission but have been put on hold due to lack of capital.

Local authorities with "clear local support" have been invited to tender proposals for large developments, which could include garden cities or village extensions.

Mr Osborne said that for every house bought under the revived right-to-buy scheme, the Government would provide an affordable home on top of the 170,000 it has promised. He said the original scheme "brought home ownership within the reach of millions of aspiring families".

Now thats what we call good news, particularly when helping out at the bottom rung of the property ladder, say Charters.

Housing market activity predicted to surge

After a few stagnant years activity levels within the housing market are predicted to surge once more according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

Housing market activity predicted to surge

After a few stagnant years activity levels within the housing market are predicted to surge once more according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The OBR has also predicted that house prices would rise at levels above inflation reaching annual growth of 4.5% in 2015-16.

The latest figures from HM Revenue & Customs showed that 76,000 homes were sold in October, which was 1,000 more than in September.

Also in evidence in figures from the Bank of England showed that mortgage debt was reduced by £9.1bn in the second quarter of the year. Housing equity withdrawal has been negative since the spring of 2008, the Bank of England said, which was a direct result of very few transactions taking place. However, the OBR - the independent, but government-funded, economic forecaster - said that this would change in a few years.

It predicted that transactions would fall by 3% in 2011-12, grow by 1.5% 2012-2013, but then surge by 20.7% in 2013-14.

A week ago, the Centre for Economics and Business Research said the average UK home would increase in value by 3.2% in 2015.

Countdown begins to the end of Stamp duty concession for FTB's

Now is a good time for First-Time Buyers to really focus and buy a new home ahead of 24 March 2012 and benefit themselves by saving the needless payment of Stamp Duty Tax.

Countdown begins to the end of Stamp duty concession for FTB's

Now is a good time for First-Time Buyers to really focus and buy a new home ahead of 24 March 2012 and benefit themselves by saving the needless payment of Stamp Duty Tax.

The government has confirmed its plans for help for first-time buyers purchasing new homes by stating in the Autumn Statement that First-time buyers will no longer receive an exemption from stamp duty from March 2012, as the government says the relief is "ineffective".

Documents with Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement reveal the view that the tax relief failed to get more people on the property ladder. The temporary exemption had meant first-time buyers were free from the 1% stamp duty on homes costing under £250,000.

A lenders' group described the decision as "disappointing". The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said first-time buyers' purchases could be bunched up at the start of next year before the concession is scrapped on 24 March.

Stamp duty thresholds reminder

• 1%: Properties of £125,000 to £250,000, but first-time buyers are currently exempt until 24 March 2012
• 3%: £250,000 to £500,000
• 4%: More than £500,000
• 5%: More than £1m, residential property only

Surprisingly resilient

UK house prices have remained "surprisingly resilient" in recent months, with values rising again in November, according to Nationwide's mortgage data. It said the average home rose in value in November showing a 1.6% year-on-year increase.

Surprisingly resilient

UK house prices have remained "surprisingly resilient" in recent months, with values rising again in November, according to Nationwide's mortgage data. It said the average home rose in value in November showing a 1.6% year-on-year increase.

Meanwhile, the number of mortgages approved for house purchase, but not yet completed, has also risen slightly to its highest level for nearly two years. The Bank of England said there were 52,743 approvals in October, again up from the previous month and the highest monthly total since December 2009. The fact that approvals last month were higher than the average for the previous six months suggests that sales may pick up slightly in the coming months.

This apparent resilience of house prices clearly reflects the lack of supply in the market and we naturally welcome the governments encouraging efforts to boost first-time buyer activity.

The 'Green' House effect

'Charters' estate agents in Winchester encourage you to boost your home's value along with its 'saleability' with a little Eco vision.

The 'Green' House effect

'Charters' estate agents in Winchester encourage you to boost your home's value along with its 'saleability' with a little Eco vision.

Research by the Energy Saving Trust confirmed that on average homebuyers these days are willing to pay more for an eco-friendly home. Embracing a greener living environment could help you on your way to a speedier sale.

So what energy-efficient measures should you be considering?

Cavity insulation

Most homes built after the 1920s have external walls made of two skins of brick with a small cavity in between. Filling this gap is a relatively inexpensive and simple process (costing anything upwards of £300 and taking just a few hours), but can save you big time on your heating bills.

Window glazing

Single paned windows get the universal thumbs down in the energy performance stakes. But while good quality double-glazing can earn you energy brownie points, cheap PVC double-glazing alternatives will almost certainly devalue your property. Opt instead for earth-kind wooden double glazed units.

LPG

Referred to as the "rural fuel", Calor LPG has the lowest carbon emissions of all fossil fuels in non-mains gas areas and is increasingly being seen as the fuel of the future. Unlike oil, the storage of LPG doesn't pose any pollution hazards to soil or watercourses and installation and set up costs are on average less than oil.

Solar power

Running costs of solar are thought to be around 60% less than conventional water heating systems, with solar panels generating roughly a third of our hot water needs. A basic solar kit, with panels, heat transfer system and a hot water cylinder will set you back around £3,000. Panels don't have to be on the roof, any sunny location, even in your garden, will do.

Boilers

Boilers account for around 60% of CO2 emissions. Any new boiler you install must by law be one of the HE (High Efficiency)'condensing' boilers – they recover more heat from the flue than older models and can save you hundreds of pounds a year. A good gadget to accompany your new boiler is a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV), which regulates the temperature of your rooms. Relatively cheap to buy – they'll save you money by keeping underused rooms at a lower temperature.

Heat-exchange systems

Growing in popularity in the UK , HE systems work especially well for new build homes and are often combined with under floor heating, giving you savings of up to 40% off your annual bills. Ground-source heat pumps use pipes laid underground in a loop or by digging down deep into a borehole.

Thank you!

Dear Rob

On behalf of Western Primary School's PTA I would like to thank you very much for your kind donation in support of our Summer Fair last July (and apologise that it's taken me so long to write this)!

Thank you

Dear Rob

On behalf of Western Primary School's PTA I would like to thank you very much for your kind donation in support of our Summer Fair last July (and apologise that it's taken me so long to write this)!

The Sponsorship you provided along with the Mountain Bike and programme printing, contributed massively to our fundraising total.

The Fair, which took place on 8th July, was a lovely event; pretty good weather after a 'tricky' week with lots of activities and fun attractions for the children. Everyone had a fabulous time and it was really well attended and supported.

All families bought a Summer Fair Programme, which featured a list of our supporters.

The raffle raised just under £1500 and the Fair raised a few pounds short of £6000 in total; a great amount which is a fantastic help to support the children's learning. It's already been allocated to fund some great projects!

I hope you'll consider supporting us next year; I 'm sure I'll probably be bothering you early in 2012, so you've got a bit of advance warning if you want to avoid me!

Many thanks again from all of us at Western.

Kind regards

Kirsten Scott
On Behalf of the Western Primary School.

UK property proves to be highly desirable and a global favorite

In the face of all the assumption and qualms of a double-dip recession the investment sector in 2011 has shown signs of real positivity.

UK property proves to be highly desirable and a global favorite

In the face of all the assumption and qualms of a double-dip recession the investment sector in 2011 has shown signs of real positivity.

In a recent analysis (Property Frontiers' Investor Survey 2011) over half of the respondents revealed that they had made an investment in the last 12 months with the UK , USA with eco related products proving to be the most popular.

Capital Growth is still by far the most important investment criteria and the UK is the top destination for a third of potential property buyers. The investment agency asked their client base what they wanted to invest in, why and where in 2012. For 46% Capital Growth was of the upmost importance followed closely by High Yield at 33% and Security at 11%.

In terms of global destinations, the UK is professed to be a safe haven for real estate investment.

YES, Prime Minister

Welcome news, not just for 'Charters' estate agents this week, but for the whole property industry as David Cameron vows to 'get Britain building' stating ''We are determined...to get the market moving''.

YES, Prime Minister

Welcome news, not just for 'Charters' estate agents this week, but for the whole property industry as David Cameron vows to 'get Britain building' stating ''We are determined...to get the market moving''

Buyers of new homes will soon be able to borrow up to 95% of their value as part of plans the government says will help get " Britain building again".

The mortgage indemnity scheme, in which the government will underwrite part of the risk to lenders, could help up to 100,000 people in England . It is part of a wider strategy to build more homes and boost home ownership.

"Too little, too late" was Labors' retort but "Better late than never" say 'Charters'.

Building more homes is one of the government's economic priorities, with the number of new ones being built at its lowest level since World War II, and with rents and prices remaining high while mortgage lending is restricted.

Just 121,200 new homes were made available in 2010-11, half of what ministers say are needed.

At the heart of the coalition's approach is an indemnity scheme which will enable lenders to provide mortgages of up to 95% of the value of newly built homes to would-be buyers - most of whom are expected to be first-time purchasers - supported by government guarantees.

KEY PROPOSALS

• Mortgages of up to 95% of the value of new homes to be offered with government underwriting part of the risk
• £400m public fund to help developers "unblock" stalled housing schemes
• Largest discounts for social tenants wanting to own their properties under right to buy
• More public sector land to be made available for building
• Planning obligations on stalled projects reviewed
• Up to £150m to help bring empty housing back into use
• Consult on "pay to stay" so households with high salaries pay market rents

Addressing the CBI's annual conference in London , Mr Cameron said it was not his aim to create "another borrowing boom" but to help the many people who could not afford huge deposits needed to buy properties.

"When first-time buyers on a good salary cannot get a reasonable mortgage, the whole market grinds to a halt," he said.

"And that ricochets around the economy, affecting builders, retailers, plumbers - all the people that depend on a housing market that is moving.

"If we don't do something like this we are not going to get this vital market moving... We will restart the housing market and get Britain building again."

Ministers will also intervene to kick-start some of 130,000 building projects which are estimated to have been approved but delayed by funding problems.

Knowledge is power

Did you know that the average age of a First-Time buyer in the UK is now 42, compared to 33 in 2005.

Knowledge is power

Did you know that the average age of a First-Time buyer in the UK is now 42, compared to 33 in 2005.

However, and quite frighteningly, over one third of potential First-Time buyers still claim that they have never even heard of the Government's shared equity scheme 'FirstBuy' and of those that have many said they did not understand whether it would help them or not.

From 2005 to 2006 the number of households renting privately was 2.4 million but by 2009 to 2010 this number rose to 3.4 million.

What goes down must come up

Whilst house prices are reported to have dipped slightly over the last month, activity in the housing market has edged up again as sellers have become more realistic over house prices, the RICS have claimed in their latest survey. A 'rebound' in sales and buyer interest gave the survey its best reading since April 2010.

What goes down must come up

Whilst house prices are reported to have dipped slightly over the last month, activity in the housing market has edged up again as sellers have become more realistic over house prices, the RICS have claimed in their latest survey. A 'rebound' in sales and buyer interest gave the survey its best reading since April 2010.

However, if buyers are fortunate enough to access finance the banks are still taking a long time to agree lending terms, which is slowing down the process.

Interesting rates

The UK 's interest rates have now been held at 0.5% for more than two-and-a-half years (since March 2009) by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

Interesting rates

The UK 's interest rates have now been held at 0.5% for more than two-and-a-half years (since March 2009) by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

To be fair, worries about the strength of the economic recovery had meant that economists had expected these rates to remain unchanged and whilst it is clear that the Euro situation is unsettling it means that the UK 's growth is simply expected to stall over the winter.

Falling Bank rates

• 8 October 2008: 4.5%
• 6 November 2008: 3.0%
• 4 December 2008: 2.0%
• 8 January 2009: 1.5%
• 5 February 2009: 1.0%
• 5 March 2009: 0.5%

Tis the season to be selling

Now is a great time to think about some small jobs around the home as you will want your home to look extra special for any potential buyer and of course all those extra visitors expected over the Christmas season.

Tis the season to be selling

Now is a great time to think about some small jobs around the home as you will want your home to look extra special for any potential buyer and of course all those extra visitors expected over the Christmas season.

1. First impressions

This is so important when someone arrives at your home. Ensure the front gate closes correctly, and if it is wrought iron consider repainting it. A clean or well painted front door with shrubs or plants around it is another easy way to improve the entrance. Also try to ensure it is well-lit as it is obviously now much darker outside.

2. Cozy

Warm up and make your home more enticing and comfortable. If you live in an older house with sash windows they will often be draughty and rattle in the wind. You could try and reduce heating bills at the same time by adding draught proofing strips or secondary glazing film.

3. Interior décor

In warm summer months it is obviously much nicer to keep windows clear to allow the sun in but in the long dark winter months it is nice to see a heavy pair of curtains, a throw on the bed and comfy cushions. All this can instantly change the mood of any room.

4. Lighten up

The mood of any home is easily enhanced by lighting, and as the nights start to get darker your lighting becomes more important. Adding dimmers where possible will help to set the mood. Put a small lamp in the corner of a room to help to create atmosphere and if you install a timer to the fitting it will always welcome you home on the dark nights.

5. Service please

Before the cold weather finally arrives it is a good idea to get the central heating overhauled by a professional. A well maintained system will not only ensure that your home is warm, but a more efficient boiler will also reduce your bills. Ensure that your pipes are lagged where possible to protect them from the cold. Burst pipes are a major cause of home insurance claims but this can easily be avoided. Also set thermostats and radiator valves to provide a even temperature throughout.

6. Less is more

Often offered as advice but generally ignored, decluttering your home can make a huge difference. Tackling the task in small time chunks will ensure you get it done more efficiently but don't spend a whole day decluttering as you will soon lose interest.

7. Freshen up

Cleaning the carpets and upholstery is a very simple way to freshen up your home. The most effective way to do this is to ask a professional cleaning company to visit with a steam cleaner. Steam cleaning gives a very deep clean but it doesn't wear down the fibres in your carpets. A professional cleaner can also clean your upholstery and curtains.

8. Smelly

Smells can influence mood too. Bad smells can be off putting so remember to empty those bins, avoid strong food odors and remove the cat litter tray. Consider adding fresh flowers, scented candles or oil burners as these can help warm or freshen the feel of the home.

9. Take a walk on the outside

Check that your roof is sound with no missing tiles or visible damage and also look at the guttering - there will be more rainfall so will the gutters cope? Also pay attention to the brick work, air vents and drainage to ensure everything can cope with the colder weather.

10. And lastly…..

If you've done your bit and presented the property as best as you can, then go out and take the dog for a walk. Buyers don't always enjoy being pounced on by the owners. The estate agent will know very well what will or won't interest a particular client, so it's best to leave them to it.

Older, wiser and equity rich

A revival in rental yields is providing growing numbers of Retirees with some timely extra income.

Older, wiser and equity rich

A revival in rental yields is providing growing numbers of Retirees with some timely extra income.

Those who believe that 'Buy-to-Let' was killed off by the housing downturn should think again. Data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders shows 'Buy-to-Let' loans increased by 21 per cent between April and July this year. Much of that increase was due to older owner-occupiers remortgaging their homes to either invest in additional property or selling up entirely to free up equity for retirement or the next generation.

Encouraged by the high rent increases of the past two years (the average monthly rent in mid-2009 was £823, but is £876 now and still rising) and this is thanks to a 30 per cent fall in the number of homes available to let.

Renting is becoming increasingly popular, or necessary, across all types of household. The result is that rental yields are generating better returns than many cash or equity investments, making it an increasingly attractive prospect for those who can afford to invest.

Select the right type of property, at a good price, in an area where rental demand is high. The property should produce a rental profit each month, even if the overall value of the property does not increase in the immediate future.

The glut of retirees becoming amateur landlords has been created by the absence of alternative ways of boosting income and those retirees who invest wisely, believe bricks and mortar are the way to beat the long-term uncertainty over the value of pensions and savings.

It is believed that 40 per cent of all the equity in property is held by the over-65s. In stark contrast, just 5 per cent is held by under 35s, which explains why such a high proportion of the older generation is keen to release money to pass on to their children and grandchildren.

Increasingly, solutions which work for the young may also be applied to the old. If people are renting in their twenties and thirties, why shouldn't the older generation rent through their seventies and eighties?

Private sector rents 'at new high'

Average private sector housing rents in both England and Wales rose by another 0.7% last month, to hit a new monthly high of £718, a recent report has shown.

Private sector rents 'at new high'

Average private sector housing rents in both England and Wales rose by another 0.7% last month, to hit a new monthly high of £718, a recent report has shown.

It means that rents have risen by 4.3% in the past 12 months, with tenants paying an average £29 a month more than they were a year ago and rents have apparently risen fastest in the South East and the East Midlands.

Rents are in fact rising everywhere, due to the present high demand shown from those people who are currently unable to buy a home whilst they are desperately.

Leasehold and Freehold - what's the difference?

We all encounter the issue of whether a property is Leasehold or Freehold when looking to buy a home, but it is safe to say that the concepts can often cause confusion for many.

Leasehold and Freehold - what's the difference?

We all encounter the issue of whether a property is Leasehold or Freehold when looking to buy a home, but it is safe to say that the concepts can often cause confusion for many.

Here 'Charters'estate agents of Winchester highlight some of the differences between Leasehold and Freehold.

Having a Leasehold means a person has the right to use a property for a set period of time, usually in return for a rent. At the end of the term, the property reverts back to the Freehold owner. In contrast, a Freehold is where the property is owned for an unlimited period of time.

Example: "lease only has 35 years left to run, been advised that may struggle to sell the property because the lease is so short"

In this case, it will be difficult but not impossible to sell due to the short term remaining on the lease. This is because any prospective buyer is unlikely to obtain a mortgage to purchase the property. One way around this is to apply to the Landlord for a new lease, the other is to sell to a CASH buyer, but they may expect a reduction in price.

The Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 provides a framework to carry out a Lease extension. While there are various exclusions, most residential tenants who own leases granted for more than 21 years at the outset, and have owned the lease for at least two years, will generally be entitled to apply.

The legislation includes a procedure for applying for the new lease, as well as a mechanism for calculating the premium. This must be followed carefully. Based on the length of time left on your current lease, you will be entitled to a lease for a term of 125 years, while the terms will generally be the same as your current lease. You will also be required to pay a "peppercorn" rent under the new lease, which in reality is no rent at all.

Another example: "received notice from landlord who is planning to sell the freehold"

Landlords of residential flats are, in some circumstances, prevented from selling interests in the building without first offering to sell to qualifying tenants. The rules and procedures are governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, which also defines the criteria for a qualifying tenant.

The offer, which will detail the terms on which the landlord is proposing to sell the building, must be made by formal notice in the correct form. It must also give a period within which the qualifying tenants may accept the offer.

If it is not accepted, then the landlord may sell the freehold interest to a third party. However, he is restricted to selling within a limited period and broadly on the terms contained within the offer notice.

In order for the notice to be accepted, more than 50 per cent of the qualifying tenants must act together to accept the offer and set up a company to buy the interest. Although there are strict time limits. Your starting point is to liaise with the other tenants in your building, who have been served with the notices to decide whether you are interested in purchasing the freehold and, consequently, taking on the landlord's obligations for the building.

Another example: "block of flats in need of repairs, but landlord not responding to requests"

The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 gives certain long leaseholders of flats a right to force the transfer of the landlord's management functions to a company run by themselves.

Although concerns over mismanagement often lead tenants to take the step, there is no actual need to show this is the case. In addition, you do not need the consent of the landlord to take this course of action.

But it should be noted that this step should not be taken lightly, as landlords' obligations can be onerous and you may take on a number of responsibilities. These may include sorting out builders, dealing with defaulting tenants, complying with appropriate legislation etc. However, the upside is that you can bring an end to current problems.

In order to take this course of action, you would need to meet the Act's set of criteria on the issue. Following that, the process then involves serving formal notice in order to transfer the landlord's management functions to the company within a set period.

'O Come All Ye Faithful'

Step into Christmas and support St Faith's Primary School this Christmas time.

Situated in St Faith's Road, St Cross, Winchester, SO23 9QB, a fabulous CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING will be held on Thursday 24th November from 7:00pm until 9:00pm.

'O Come All Ye Faithful'

Step into Christmas and support St Faith's Primary School this Christmas time.

Situated in St Faith's Road, St Cross, Winchester, SO23 9QB, a fabulous CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING will be held on Thursday 24th November from 7:00pm until 9:00pm.

As sponsors 'Charters' independent estate agents of Winchester invite all to grace this festive and fun event with their presence that will play host to an array of local talent offering lots of Christmas gift ideas.

An entrance fee of £3.50 includes a glass of wine for over 18's whilst Children under 16 are FREE.

So go on and "have yourself a merry little Christmas"

St Faith's Primary School has embraced third party sponsorship for the first time this year and with big thanks to 'Charters' independent estate agents of Winchester. Since their inception in Winchester, 'Charters' have undertaken to support many local events.

We wish you a merry Christmas.....

Lemon Tree Trading: Children's Clothes ✠ The Perfect Pressie ✠ Oarsum Gifts ✠ Lindsey's Celebration Cakes ✠ Beauty from Forever Living ✠ Phonenix Trading: Christmas Cards ✠ Jamie at Home ✠ Organza Gifts ✠ Noodle Jewellery ✠ Gracenote Silver Jewellery ✠ Naomi House ✠ Jane Davies: Christmas Decorations ✠ Julia Becker Designs: Soaps ✠ Phillipine Community Fund ✠ Veronika Semerakova: Needlecraft ✠ Maggie B's ✠ Koko Bebe ✠ Daniel Musselwhite Jewellery ✠ and more…

Britain needs an estimated 200,000 New Homes, per year!

Housing minister Grant Shapps (speaking on the Radio 4 Today programme) has said that the Government needs to build more than 200,000 homes a year. He said that building more homes is the only way to prevent further rises in rents and meet housing need.

Britain needs an estimated 200,000 New Homes, per year!

Housing minister Grant Shapps (speaking on the Radio 4 Today programme) has said that the Government needs to build more than 200,000 homes a year. He said that building more homes is the only way to prevent further rises in rents and meet housing need.

He outlined the Government's three-pronged approach to stimulate house building, including reviving 'Right to Buy', releasing Government land on a 'build now and pay later' basis, and reforming the planning system.

Good Luck - best get building then!

Do my eyes deceive me?

What is this new phenomenon that we are beginning to see everywhere?

If you don't know about 'QR' codes then as always 'Charters' estate agents are here to help explain, because you may have noticed that we too have one on our website!

Do my eyes deceive me?

What is this new phenomenon that we are beginning to see everywhere?

If you don't know about 'QR' codes then as always 'Charters' estate agents are here to help explain, because you may have noticed that we too have one on our website!

This is not a fun rebirth of the wonder of 'Optical Illusions' whereby the information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a perception that does not tally with a physical stimulus source. Although in this fun example you can see my point.

Optical Illusion - Are these lines in fact straight and parallel?

No, 'QR' codes are something else entirely......

A 'QR' code (abbreviated Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code). The system has become popular due to its fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be made up of any kind of data.

QR codes are now (as of 2011) used over a wide range of applications, including commercial tracking, entertainment and transport ticketing, product marketing and in-store product labeling. Many of these applications target mobile-phone users (via mobile tagging). Users may receive text, add a vCard contact to their device, open a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), or compose an e-mail or text message after scanning QR codes.

QR codes storing addresses and Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) may appear in magazines, on signs, on buses, on business cards, or on almost any object about which users might need information. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the telephone's browser. This act of linking from physical world objects is termed hardlinking or object hyperlinking.

Are you any the wiser now? Try connecting to 'Charters' via our very own 'QR' code now and we will happily welcome you to the future.

Winchester has its part to play in the North-South divide

The term North–South divide widely refers to the economic and cultural differences between Southern England and the rest of Great Britain (Northern England, Wales and Scotland ). The divide cuts through the English Midlands and sometimes the term is widened to include the whole United Kingdom , with Northern Ireland included as part of "the North".

Winchester has its part to play in the North-South divide

The term North–South divide widely refers to the economic and cultural differences between Southern England and the rest of Great Britain (Northern England, Wales and Scotland ). The divide cuts through the English Midlands and sometimes the term is widened to include the whole United Kingdom , with Northern Ireland included as part of "the North".

In this case it is good news if you are a property owner here in Winchester, or the South in general, as asking prices in the South of England have now apparently reached more than double those in the North, creating a record divide, according to a recent report from Rightmove.

Southerners are typically putting their homes on the market for an average £336,743, compared with an average £164,347 in the Northern regions.

This chasm is the largest in monetary terms since Rightmove's house price records began in 2002.

The monthly index revealed an overall 2.8% increase in asking prices, a jump of £6,533 from mid September to reach £239,672 in mid October. But this rise was largely driven by the South, including areas such as Winchester together with London , the South East, the South West and East Anglia , which collectively experienced a 4.7% upsurge overall.

The capital's property market is seen as a safe haven from the global financial chaos.

Foreign investors are still flooding into London , which in turn is good news for affluent commuter cities such as Winchester , when we see the positive effects spilling out into our region.

The capital's property market is seen as a safe haven from the global financial chaos.

Foreign investors are still flooding into London , which in turn is good news for affluent commuter cities such as Winchester , when we see the positive effects spilling out into our region.

Houses in some parts of London are selling in just days! In many cases prices are rising? Families are chasing each other to buy? Internationals are snapping up houses without even seeing them? What on earth is happening in the London market? The summer months, usually so quiet, were busier than anyone could have imagined.

Charters estate agents of Winchester have noticed the trend themselves with more equity and cash rich buyers looking to spend in excess of £1m in our city.

Against the backdrop of global uncertainty and recession, fast sales seem almost inexplicable. It is equity, not borrowing, that is forcing the pace. The "champagne tower effect", is seeping through trendy parts of London and creating "wealth corridors" through the Home Counties.

What is behind it? A rush of capital has been coming in from abroad as international buyers store their riches during turbulent economic times. London is "awash with equity". It arrives at a rate of around £3.7 billion a year, heading for high-value houses and luxury flats.

The wealthy London heartland therefore has become a global village in which exchange rate fluctuations and wobbles on the New York stock exchange have more impact than domestic issues in Britain.

Reduce voids in tenancy periods! - Charters assist by telling you how

All rented property will encounter void periods at some point. It's a fact of life. But what can you do to shorten them or reduce their occurrence? And what are the solutions for earning money from a property during a void period?

Reduce voids in tenancy periods! – Charters assist by telling you how

All rented property will encounter void periods at some point. It's a fact of life. But what can you do to shorten them or reduce their occurrence? And what are the solutions for earning money from a property during a void period?

Void periods do occur, usually between tenant occupancies. The best way to avoid them is to keep the property in good order and make it attractive to replacement tenants. There are also void periods for student lets during the holiday periods although most landlords charge through those periods, so there isn't so much of an issue except during the long summer break.

Keeping tenants pays dividends

Picking the right tenant in the first place is key, although you'd have to be a mind reader to get it right every time. Take up references, don't just ask for them and do nothing, actually check them out. Most tenants don't want short term lets because moving is a hassle, but circumstances do change. Interview tenants for at least half an hour and look for genuine reasons for wanting the property for a significant period.

If a couple with a baby on the way are looking at your one-bed flat you can be pretty sure they'll be heading out as quickly as possible, once they realise what living with a baby is like. But tenants moving in because they have a new job in a new town, or a long-term training course (medical staff, for example) are more likely to be in for the long term.

If tenants do announce their intention to move out then it's worth finding out why the tenant is moving on. If it's something to do with the condition of the property or the accommodation then resolving the problem, if possible, may be cheaper in the long run. Don't forget that there are all sorts of costs associated with taking new tenants on so keeping good ones is worthwhile.

This is particularly worth considering if the tenants are moving out because of a rental increase. Do the maths; if you want to put the rent up by 5% and it causes the tenants to move out, in one month's void period you will lose twenty times the extra money you would have earned each month. So ask yourself if it's worth it before steaming in.

Invest in the property

If the problem is with the condition of the property it's worth getting the decorating equipment out and sprucing the place up. In fact even if that's not the reason the tenants are moving out, a deep spring clean and little repairs here and there will make the property more likely to rent out and shorten void periods.

If you have to put up with a void period, use it to invest in the property. You might even extend, or put in a loft conversion, to elevate the property into a different rental bracket, or even to make it more attractive to a buyer, if you think it's time to offload it.

Homes of Multiple Occupation

If you have a number of student lets and you are charging the tenants through the holidays then strictly speaking you should not do anything to earn extra money through those periods. Or, if you do, you should get their permission and reimburse the tenants for the rent for those periods. They would be justifiably annoyed if some holidaymakers has trashed the house or stolen their property.

It is common to charge for the longer summer holiday if the same tenants are coming back in the autumn and wish to reserve the house for their use. But if that's not the case and the current tenants are leaving in May then you can do what you like in the summer holiday period. This can be very useful in tourist cities, particularly if there is an event like a Festival, where there is a premium on rental property for the period.

Summer holiday

Even without an event like this or any real tourist season, it is often worth putting an empty property up for a short let in the summer. There may be demand from seasonal workers, foreign students or other directions. Failing that, use the empty period to do major works on the property while it is empty.

Charters say "It pays to have a one-hour commute to London"

Winchester easily connects to London by fast rail in less than one hour thus confirming that commuting to London is cheaper than living and working in the city.

Charters say "It pays to have a one-hour commute to London"

Winchester easily connects to London by fast rail in less than one hour thus confirming that commuting to London is cheaper than living and working in the city.

Those who live in the suburbs and the outer reaches of London are generally known to pay substantially less for their home, which more than offsets travel costs.

Charters say "Winchester residents, who travel an hour to work, benefit from lower house prices and together with higher earnings can more than substantially offset the average yearly average £4400 cost of a train ticket"!

Buying is now considered cheaper than renting

Low interest rates and falling property prices mean that buying a house or flat is cheaper, particularly for first-time buyers, than say renting a property is.

Buying is now considered cheaper than renting

Low interest rates and falling property prices mean that buying a house or flat is cheaper, particularly for first-time buyers, than say renting a property is.

Some recent research has shown that the national average monthly cost associated with buying a two-bedroom flat for a first-time buyer is around £567. This is £110 lower than the typical rent paid on an equivalent property.

Also, the cost of getting onto the property ladder has fallen by 40 per cent since 2008 due to low mortgage rates and a depressed housing market. By contrast, the price of renting has fallen by a fraction of that amount and has even started rising again over the last year. The current economic climate is therefore favourable for prospective first-time buyers.

Mortgage rates have reduced dramatically over the last few years due to record low interest rates of 0.5 per cent. The average mortgage rate for a new borrower is 3.8 per cent, down from 5.9 per cent in mid-2008. At the same time the average price of a typical first property has fallen by 14 per cent to £124,378

The 3 G's of House Buying and Selling explained by Charters

'Gazanging' is described as a new phenomenon in the property market where a sale falls through, not because of 'gazumping' or 'gazundering', but because the sellers have simply changed their minds and decided to stay put!

The 3 G's of House Buying and Selling explained by Charters

'Gazanging' is described as a new phenomenon in the property market where a sale falls through, not because of 'gazumping' or 'gazundering', but because the sellers have simply changed their minds and decided to stay put!

'Gazumping' is a term used when a seller of property accepts a verbal offer of the asking price from one potential buyer, but then accepts a higher offer from someone else. It can also refer to the seller raising the asking price at the last minute, after previously verbally agreeing to a lower one. In either case, the original buyer is left in the lurch, and either has to offer a higher price or lose the purchase. However there is a common misconception that you are 'gazumped' if you agree to buy a property for less than the asking price and then another buyer agrees to pay more than the initial reduced offer.

'Gazundering' is the practice of demanding a reduction in price to secure the sale of a property. This is usually done by the buyer during contract negotiation. The timing of this demand is usually intended to prevent the seller from rejecting the lower price, as the sale could collapse if they did, although it may also reflect a genuine downturn in property prices in an area. This is the opposite of 'gazumping'.

Can any of these 3 G's be avoided? Yes!

This highlights the huge importance of an efficient and quick process through both the legal conveyance and any mortgage application. If any of these processes drag then there is a much greater chance of either party changing their mind. So get on with it and keep on top of it. Speed is of the essence.

Just a lot of HOT air – after all isn't a property worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it?

The Office of Fair Trading has published new advice on how estate agents should act.

Just a lot of HOT air – after all isn't a property worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it?

'The Office of Fair Trading has published new advice on how estate agents should act.

In principle, compliant businesses have never had any issues with rules about good practice but estate agents are often are left wondering how these many issues will actually be enforced?

Whilst in general this kind of news is naturally welcomed by many professional businesses, including 'Charters' independent estate agents in Winchester, it all sounds very nice but where are the Police and how can you prove that an agent intentionally overvalued to gain an instruction? Surely the best estate agents around have such positive and mental attitudes which can in turn net the seller a premium sale price, which is in fact what estate agents are employed to do in the first place, is it not, to obtain the best price possible?

Many estate agents use "evidence" of what has actually sold to help set a guide price. However, it is just as important to consider what is currently failing to sell and why. This can be more relevant.

Consider "what if" - the same properties (i.e. both 2 bedroom terraces) in the same road……

Agent 1 - asking price £300,000 - eventually sold for £290,000!

Agent 2 - asking price £315,000 - eventually sold for £292,000!

The Buyer, via Agent 2, would think 'wow' I'm getting a better percentage off the price but also the seller got £2k more than via the agent who simply did not give it a go! Which agent actually did better in real terms?

Apparently agents who deliberately overvalue in order to gain an instruction will be guilty of a breach of the law, new guidance has underlined. It also emphasises that manipulating images could land an agent in trouble.

Breaches could mean a criminal record: magistrates have the power to levy fines up to £5,000 and Crown Courts to impose unlimited fines or up to two years' prison.

The Office of Fair Trading has launched a new consultation on guidance to estate agents which aims to help them comply with the law when selling land and property.

In it, the practice of 'recommending an asking price in the market appraisal that is unrealistic given current market conditions (in order to gain the instruction)' is specifically picked out as an example of breaking the law.

The guidance also says that 'significantly altering images to omit uncomplimentary features' is also an example of misleading activity.

The new guidance – which is also aimed at developers who market and sell their own developments, auctioneers and online estate agents – focuses on two pieces of law: the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) and the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 (BPRs).

Both sets of regulations are aimed at preventing agents from giving misleading information, or omitting information, that lead to consumers making decisions that they would not otherwise have done.

The guidance says misleading information can be given verbally, in writing or visually – the latter, for example, in photographs, video clips, floor plans, artist's impressions or models of show homes.

Misleading information that could land an agent in trouble could be a false claim that their business has a presence in a particular area, when it does not, or has more offices than it actually has. It is also misleading to claim in flyers that you have buyers lined up for particular types of property when this is not true.

Claiming that a property has been newly decorated or has double glazing, when the description only applies to part, but not all, of the property, is cited as another example of misleading activity, as is providing a seller with invented or exaggerated feedback from viewings.

Failing to mention 'significant' non-standard features that the agent is aware of – for example, a public right of way through the garden – would also be a breach.

In some cases, importantly, whether the agent knew they were concealing information would not be relevant, if the existence of the information was foreseeable and the agent failed to take reasonable steps to obtain it.

Aggressive behaviour by agents would also breach the CPRs. 'Aggressive' practices include pressurising buyers to act quickly or to take out associated services such as mortgages or conveyancing.

The BPRs guidance deals with misleading advertising. Some of this guidance seems obvious, parts of it less so. For example, agents are told that an advertisement can be deceptive if it contains false information or leaves out important facts, or 'creates a false impression (even where the information itself is literally true)'.

The advertising guidance also deals with the potential pitfalls of 'comparative' advertising – for example, where one agent claims to be better than others.

The guidance on trading practices is also intended for enforcers such as Trading Standards, trade bodies like the NAEA, and the Ombudsmen.

It follows the OFT's Home Buying and Selling Study which found that many estate agents said the industry needed more guidance on the law. The OFT is also planning half-day workshops during the consultation period.

The consultation closes on December 9. Click Here To get a copy of the draft guidance can be found at:

Stack the odds of selling IN YOUR FAVOUR!

After years of a property boom, the housing market across the country has stagnated and the vast majority of estate agents have seen a big rise in unsold houses. With deposit requirements up and mortgage approvals down, it is harder than ever to sell a house.

Stack the odds of selling IN YOUR FAVOUR!

'Charters' independent estate agents in Winchester are encouraging sellers to seek out relevant and pertinent advice to ensure THEIR home get's sold.

There presently seems to be a huge appetite out there for guidance on how to get homes sold. The main message from 'Charters' to all sellers is to work closely with your agent, listen and trust the advice to ensure the home is priced, promoted and presented to sell.

Working in close partnership with your estate agent can only increase your odds of attracting your buyer.

Have you been struggling to sell? Consider your neighbours as your competition!

How do you make your home a more attractive investment? Are there any rooms you should invest in prior to selling? Which rooms do you pay most attention to as a buyer?

Pricing a house realistically is the key to selling any property; many sellers might need to consider dropping their asking prices to attract buyers. When it comes to selling, good quality photos and marketing the property well online are all crucial factors and all of which 'Charters' do extremely well.

Keeping your house clean and de-cluttered, repainting and sprucing up the garden, if necessary, all helps.

How to research your local market

• Look at sold prices in your area
• Keep a regular eye on your local market
• Observe your competition
• Drive around and note the demand – 'Charters' have SOLD boards everywhere.

Secret Agent – Mission Impossible?

After years of a property boom, the housing market across the country has stagnated and the vast majority of estate agents have seen a big rise in unsold houses. With deposit requirements up and mortgage approvals down, it is harder than ever to sell a house.

Secret Agent – Mission Impossible?

After years of a property boom, the housing market across the country has stagnated and the vast majority of estate agents have seen a big rise in unsold houses. With deposit requirements up and mortgage approvals down, it is harder than ever to sell a house.

'Charters' independent estate agents in Winchester agree that getting homeowners to accept and understand why their house is not selling is a tough mission. Often homeowners will simply accept the highest valuation as proof of worth.

Misunderstood interpretation of customer feedback is a classic. For example, many vendors believe that just because 20 or more viewers have not actually commented on the price but instead said "the garden is too small" or "it needs too much work" fail to see the bigger picture.

Buyer's expectations of what they want for their money has no chance of being met in an overpriced home. If you say to most people "a house is only worth what a buyer is prepared to pay for it" then most will agree with this concept, until of course it is your own home that is overpriced and failing to attract a buyer!

Enter Phil Spencer this autumn, who will take on the role of secret agent and work with sellers and buyers to help get the market moving again. In Channel 4's Phil Spencer: Secret Agent, Phil will be sent in to sell houses stuck on the market. But before he meets the struggling homeowners he will don his surveyor's hat to assess the property, looking at it through the eyes of a buyer, as well as researching the local area and housing market.

Armed with all the information he needs to make a realistic judgement on why the house isn't selling, he'll surprise the owners as their new agent and outline his opinions - all the good and the bad - before recommending what needs to be done to get their home sold.

Phil will then represent them and face the challenge of getting the property sold. He'll seek out potential buyers, create shiny new details to attract interest and arrange an open house viewing to bring all the prospective buyers together and, hopefully, finally make a sale.

Phil Spencer said: "Taking on a project to help get the housing market moving again is incredibly exciting. By working right across the country advising both buyers and sellers I'll be trying to broker as many deals as possible. It's a big challenge, but my aim is to make a real difference in the market. And just to up the ante I'm always going to be focusing on one particularly hard home to shift."

Lifestyle Choices

A vast three storey townhouse in Hyde, new to the Winchester housing market this summer with 'Charters' estate agents, is centrally located in the City and whilst offering versatile accommodation it also offers a wide range of flexible lifestyle choices too.

Lifestyle Choices

A vast three storey townhouse in Hyde, new to the Winchester housing market this summer with 'Charters' estate agents, is centrally located in the City and whilst offering versatile accommodation it also offers a wide range of flexible lifestyle choices too.

With up to five bedrooms and approaching 1500sq ft, plus having a garage with direct rear garden access this is a great combination in a central city environment.

Choices, choices, choices - This type of property could easily support a range of varying needs from potential purchasers today. For example, a busy family could require a short walk to a mainline rail station for either commuting parents or independent teenagers. There is a family styled sports centre located on River Park opposite opening up a host of fitness or sport related activities for any age group living in residence.

Lock it up and leave it – This could also meet the needs of those fortunate enough to travel on a regular basis as this is a very spacious bolthole and very low in maintenance too.

Investment – Such a popular dwelling and location also has a place in any 'Buy to Let' portfolio.

Whichever category best describes you 'Charters' passionately recommend an internal viewing to be able to truly convey the belief and enthusiasm shown by the agent.

Priced just below the controversial Stamp Duty threshold at £499,950

Contact Charters - 2 Jewry Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8RZ t: 01962 830880

A cheeky slice of Itchen Abbas life

As you will see, backed up from the Nethouseprices table shown below, it is considered very rare to be able to purchase a property in this prime and very sought after village at such an affordable price.

A cheeky slice of Itchen Abbas life

As you will see, backed up from the Nethouseprices table shown below, it is considered very rare to be able to purchase a property in this prime and very sought after village at such an affordable price.

Betwixt the city of Winchester and the market town of Alresford 'Charters' estate agents currently have 'For-Sale' a small mid-terrace bungalow with small gardens to both the front and rear. Admittedly the property is overall quite small and yes it will only suit a niche market but if you happen to be that ideal individual person or couple for whom this dwelling will ideally suit then this is very good news indeed. This property comprises a sitting room, fitted kitchen with access to the garden and a store, a fitted bathroom and two double bedrooms.

Priced at just £210,000 - Call Charters today: 01962 830880

Nethouseprices free service provides the latest sold property prices recorded at the Land Registry - 23 rd August 2011

Avington Lane, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £650,000

Baring Close, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £299,950

Chillandham Lane, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £380,214

Itchen Down, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £490,000

Little Hayes Lane, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £450,156

16 Main Road, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £648,726

29 Old Station Road, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £361,250

Rectory Lane, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £486,944

School Lane, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £785,000

Shelley Close, Itchen Abbas, Winchester £515,255

Station Hill, Itchen Abbas Winchester £494,916

The Paddock, Itchen Abbas

Double Vision in Twyford

Two, right-handed semi-detached houses, in the same street in Twyford, are both presently 'For-Sale' with 'Charters' estate agents in Winchester.

Double Vision in Twyford

Two, right-handed semi-detached houses, in the same street in Twyford, are both presently 'For-Sale' with 'Charters' estate agents in Winchester.

Originally developed by Humphrey Farms on Northfields to the village's eastern edge, these two properties are being sold by their now owners for different reasons. They are very similar although there are some minor subtle differences, also reflected in their respective asking prices of £279,500 & £275,000.

Very simple and practical layouts in each help to fulfill wish-list criteria such as downstairs toilets and en-suites and both were built with garages attached although one of the properties has subsequently converted their garage into a downstairs study/bedroom 3 leaving a small forward section of the garage to still fulfill storage options.

Both houses would ideally suit young professionals and the first time buyer market whilst just as easily those considering downsizing too. Also the 'Buy to Let' investment market will see these as attractive solutions to long-term rental.

The nearby village centre offers its residents a thriving shop, post office, coffee shop and hair salon, an independent holiday and travel company, choice of pubs, church, primary school and nearby walks in the water meadows. Rail access in the neighboring village of Shawford grants free car parking and more chance of a seat into London's Waterloo for regular commuters.

Over 55's encouraged to think outside the box

If you are 55 years of age or more did you know that you qualify as a potential buyer of a very limited and heavily reduced sector of the real-estate property market?

Over 55's encouraged to think outside the box

If you are 55 years of age or more did you know that you qualify as a potential buyer of a very limited and heavily reduced sector of the real-estate property market?

Historically these types of properties have been sought by individuals or their family members who merely seek access to care wardens or house manager services. However, in more recent years 55 year olds have simply seen this more of a great loophole and an opportunity to buy a property or indeed a second home, at a fraction of the price!

For example – this 1 bedroom flat 'For-Sale' with 'Charters' has a living room, kitchen and bathroom and is positioned on the first floor at the rear of this building, overlooking the quiet and communal gardens. What's more is that the residents have car parking too, in central city!

'Charters' say "the flat does need and will benefit from some cosmetic modernisation but priced with a guide at just in excess of a mere £100,000 this is an opportunity that should be looked at more closely and not overlooked"

Guide Price £104,950

More Red Tape - It's Bureaucracy Gone Mad!

Some of the recent proposed changes to Energy Performance Certificates have at least been watered down, but it will not save estate agents on the use of extra paper. So much for improving the environment!

More Red Tape - It's Bureaucracy Gone Mad!

Some of the recent proposed changes to Energy Performance Certificates have at least been watered down, but it will not save estate agents on the use of extra paper. So much for improving the environment!

From next April, when the EPC is redesigned to flag up the Green Deal, the first page will also show the key recommendations and their cost implications.

Changes to the EPC regulations were due to come into force in July, but as usuall the regulations failed to get clearance in time.

Although Parliament has been in recess, it is likely that the new regulations will soon be laid out with the aim of bringing them into force from October.

The full proposed changes are listed below.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF BUILDINGS (CERTIFICATES AND INSPECTIONS) (ENGLAND AND WALES) REGULATIONS 2007 (THE EPB REGULATIONS)

1. Summary of the changes to the EPB Regulations

The changes to the EPB Regulations can be summarised as follows:

the changes will extend the current requirements to commission an EPC that apply to residential buildings to all residential and non residential buildings when sold or rented out;

the requirements for the provision of an EPC with written particulars will be extended to all buildings sold or rented out and the option to attach the asset rating will be removed. The requirement will only extend to the first page of the EPC (the EPC consists of two pages, accompanied by four pages of recommendations); and the requirement for the statutory lodgement of air conditioning inspection reports onto the central EPC Register.

The following summary details the main changes that will be made in relation to EPCs

2. Commissioning an EPC before marketing

A number of changes will be made to regulation 5A of the EPB Regulations. In general, the onus remains on the 'relevant person' (i.e. the seller or landlord) to commission an EPC before marketing. The main changes are as follows:

3. Power to Require the Production of Documents

Trading Standards Officers (TSOs) currently have the power to require the 'relevant person' (i.e. the seller or landlord) to produce copies of the EPC for inspection and to take copies if necessary. The power to require the production of documents will be extended to include persons acting on behalf of the seller or landlord – e.g. estate agents and letting agents. This means, for example, that TSOs will be authorised to require estate agents to produce evidence showing that an EPC has been commissioned where they are marketing a building without one.

4. Clarifying when an EPC is required

This technical amendment to Regulation 5 is intended to remove the erroneous belief that the provision of the EPC can be delayed until shortly before the parties enter into a contract for sale or rent. This will be achieved by deleting the words "before entering into a contract to sell or rent the building or, if sooner" in Regulation 5(2)(b) of the EPB Regulations.

5. Consequential changes

A number of consequential changes will be made to enable TSOs to enforce the new duties.

6. EPC Information in Written Particulars

Currently, for residential sales only, the relevant person or his agent is under a duty to either attach the EPC to written particulars or include the asset rating on those particulars. The amendments will require the EPC to be attached to written particulars in relation to buildings sold or rented out. The option to include the asset rating will no longer apply.

The existing definition of 'written particulars' will be expanded to ensure that particulars produced for rented out buildings and commercial properties are captured by the new requirements.

As an exception to this requirement, provision is made to allow the person subject to the duty to provide the written particulars to omit the address of the building from a copy of the EPC where the address has been omitted from those particulars.

7. Commencement

These proposed changes were expected to come into force on 1 July, with the exception of the change described in paragraph 6 which would have taken effect in relation to properties marketed after 1st October 2011. It has not been possible to introduce changes on 1 July, however, and it is now the intention to bring the changes into force as soon as possible, most likely October 1st 2011.

clAPP, clAPP, clAPP – APPlause for Charters

Evolution is a wonderful thing.

Successful businesses must move with the trends and times and 'Charters' independent estate agents in Winchester again lead the way by developing their own APP to allow their business to continue to reach the widest possible audience.

clAPP, clAPP, clAPP – APPlause for Charters

Evolution is a wonderful thing.

Successful businesses must move with the trends and times and 'Charters' independent estate agents in Winchester again lead the way by developing their own APP to allow their business to continue to reach the widest possible audience.

Very modern methods and very traditional values are at the core of Winchesters' leading estate agent.

Ironically the modern methods referred to in this article are these latest 21 st century developments known as APP s. The term APP has become a recent buzzword and is simply shorthand for "application software".

The traditional values referred to above are as young as 11yrs thanks to the likes of Rightmove, founded in just 2000, a British based online real estate portal whereby the whole property portfolio can be advertised to the w.w.w. (World Wide Web).

This latest development and service from 'Charters' estate agents allows users to browse and download their APP lication FREE from the iTunes Store.

hAPPy browsing, from The Charters Team

At 'The Heights' of Eco friendly

Sustainable brand New Homes 'FOR SALE' with Charters estate agents of Winchester.

12 exciting and dynamic new properties to choose from ranging from £255,000 to £495,000

2 Bedrooms - either mid terraced, end terraced, semi or detached versions
3 Bedrooms - either semi or detached
4 Bedrooms - detached only

Call 01962 830880 for more information

At 'The Heights' of Eco friendly

Sustainable brand New Homes 'FOR SALE' with Charters estate agents of Winchester.

12 exciting and dynamic new properties to choose from ranging from £255,000 to £495,000

2 Bedrooms - either mid terraced, end terraced, semi or detached versions
3 Bedrooms - either semi or detached
4 Bedrooms - detached only

Call 01962 830880 for more information

Designed to improve efficiency and to comply with the Code for Sustainable Homes this bold new development in Kings Worthy incorporates a number of specialist design features whereby the finished specification is in fact higher than that required by Building Regulations.

Assessed and monitored throughout by NHBC (who have also contributed to Building Control services as well as providing an ongoing warranty) 'Equality Homes' have introduced some very effective methods of construction.

Unlike that of conventional floors commonly seen, ECO SLAB has been used to allow air-circulation beneath whilst also providing a high level of insulation.

The inner leaf of external cavity walls is formed with YTONG concrete block, allowing 'Equality Homes' to achieve Level 1 compliance for the Code of Sustainable Homes (which actually requires a 10% improvement on that required for the Building Regulations). This aerated concrete consists of microscopic cells filled with air making the block very light and due to its excellent insulation capacity and high thermal inertia it protects the occupier against the cold in winter and conversely in summer prevents the entry of heat. High insulating power combined with the absence of any thermal bridges adds a serious contribution to savings in energy consumption.

An insulated sandwich roofing panel is used in this development. This roof system by UNILIN incorporates a vapour barrier for eliminating cold bridging, and full depth rigid insulation resulting in improved thermal performance. By using this system 'Equality Homes' have substantially raised the internal ceiling heights in many of the rooms and now benefits from the overall contemporary design.

A 30 year guarantee by ECNS for the Spanish roofing slates provides against any substantial deterioration in appearance from that observed when originally fixed, any excessive delamination or flaking whilst subject to normal weathering and usage.

An alternative choice of render finish, best suited for these contemporary homes, comes from K-Rend and it provides an attractive self-coloured textured finish whilst offering improved protection by incorporating a silicon water repellent, allowing water vapour to pass through whilst still allowing the substrate to breathe, and thus it is more resistant to algae growth and the natural phenomenon of lime bloom.

ThermoWood was selected for its durability and stability making it an ideal external cladding system. It requires minimal maintenance and is of course grown sustainably. It is prepared by heat treating to temperatures in excess of 200 degrees when both chemical and structural changes occur. Timber sheds are also provided with each new home including cycle security fixings together with a timber composting bin.

Sustainable gravel drives provide two parking spaces for each of the twelve new homes. Bodpave 85 is an interlocking cellular plastic product used in the drive construction to contain and reinforce loose gravel. The grid system is strong, chemically inert and non-toxic, enabling it to provide a durable, safe and sustainable eco-friendly surface. It is a planning requirement nowadays to contain rainfall within a development site to avoid flooding and thus these sustainable drives efficiently assist with the management of the sub-surface drainage system.

Gas fired under-floor heating to the ground floor accommodation works in conjunction with individually controlled zones. The heating pipes are cast into the reinforced slab, circulating hot water beneath each room and heating zone. Each zone has its own digital wall mounted thermostat providing control of temperature and timing. The heating system is designed to allow the boiler to run at a lower temperature, unlike that required for radiators. A heat recovery unit uses any surplus heat from around the home. For example, warm air is taken from the bathroom and ducted to the unit before being discharged to the outside as a cold stream of air.

Energy efficient appliances are specifically chosen for the Kitchens to again meet the standards required by the Code for Sustainable Homes and of course are intended to help reduce water and energy use.

Other ECO features used around the home include the use of dual flush mechanisms for all the WC's to reduce water use. A significant proportion of low energy light fittings include passive infrared motion sensors, to external lighting, to again reduce unnecessary electricity usage.

House Swap

Upsizing or Downsizing? – which category best describes you? There is in fact no right or wrong answer and there is certainly no catch! Whatever move you intend to make, remember there is always someone else making the opposite move.

House Swap

Upsizing or Downsizing? – which category best describes you? There is in fact no right or wrong answer and there is certainly no catch! Whatever move you intend to make, remember there is always someone else making the opposite move.

'Charters' estate agents have a very hands-on approach in their business and by building special relationships with all potential buyers they get an early feel about peoples true desires and wish-lists. Always primed and thinking outside of the box 'Charters' will spot any opportunity to match opposing buyers and create the ideal House Swap.

This is not as uncommon as you might think, so if this idea suits you why not have this discussion with 'Charters'.

Act now - 01962 830880

Schools out for summer

Winchester plays host to some of the country's top schools and given the exceptional performance standards achieved by the majority of Winchesters' education facilities 'Charters' estate agents find themselves at the heart of some very compelling family discussions.

Schools out for summer

Winchester plays host to some of the country's top schools and given the exceptional performance standards achieved by the majority of Winchesters' education facilities 'Charters' estate agents find themselves at the heart of some very compelling family discussions.

Typically families will try and get away now for their summer holidays, but whilst these families come together for some quality family time there will inevitably be those discussions about - the year ahead.

Many will be contemplating moving home in order to play the POSTCODE game, in favour of one school catchment over another. Others might be relocating into the area to take full advantage of the impressive academic results Winchester is turning out.

Whatever the reason this annual phenomenon brings with it the need to get the family home accurately valued and assessed so that all the options can be fully explored and determined viable.

Valuations are FREE at 'Charters' and our advice may just help facilitate the move as we help countless others with the very same request.

Call now to book your FREE valuation and consult with Winchesters' leading estate agent 01962 830880

Are we mad - Far from it!

Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

Are we mad - Far from it!

Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

We all know the common "If it ain't broke then don't fix it!" mentality, but just because something isn't "broke" doesn't mean you can't make it work better!

Charters independent estate agents are proving this theory in an industry where there is an increasing level of competitiveness as they continue to show that there is a better and far more successful approach to selling property in and around Winchester.

If you feel that your current estate agent is not up to thinking outside of the box then clearly it is time to talk to 'Charters'

Call us now and let us help you.01962 830880

Compton's best kept secret

Off the beaten track and in a spectacular valley surrounded by paddocks and farmland this individual detached cottage styled house offers the great escape to country life whilst amazingly it is only 10 minutes from Winchester.

Compton's best kept secret

Off the beaten track and in a spectacular valley surrounded by paddocks and farmland this individual detached cottage styled house offers the great escape to country life whilst amazingly it is only 10 minutes from Winchester.

Standing on the site of a once near derelict dwelling this property was rebuilt in the 1980's and the simplicity and geometry of its cottage style elevations delivers a surprisingly spacious and well balanced family home.

Everyone jokes about the phrase 'Location Location Location' but this one really does evoke something special.

• large entrance hall
• cloakroom
• utility
• sitting room
• dining room
• study/playroom
• kitchen/breakfast room
• 4 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• gardens
• location, location,location

Guide Price £775,000

For more information contact Charters estate agents on 01962 830880

The perfect marriage of indoor/outdoor living

Staying in or going outside, these are the tough decisions. An elegant dwelling with an attached storage barn offers further development potential (subject to planning) for increased living /annex or simply workshop/garages. Nestling in a small hamlet adjacent to an artificial lake there is a wealth of neighbouring countryside easily accessed from the front door via a network of bridleways and footpaths whilst the stunning and private gardens will likely draw you to sit on the poolside terrace or take a dip in the swimming pool.

The perfect marriage of indoor/outdoor living

Staying in or going outside, these are the tough decisions. An elegant dwelling with an attached storage barn offers further development potential (subject to planning) for increased living /annex or simply workshop/garages. Nestling in a small hamlet adjacent to an artificial lake there is a wealth of neighbouring countryside easily accessed from the front door via a network of bridleways and footpaths whilst the stunning and private gardens will likely draw you to sit on the poolside terrace or take a dip in the swimming pool.

Yet if the weather should force you back inside then there are far worse places to find yourself than within a beautiful character sitting room of epic proportions together with its vaulted and heavily beamed rooflines and log fireplace.

• 4 bedrooms
• 3 bathrooms
• (2 en-suite)
• sitting/dining room
• kitchen/breakfast room
• utility
• barn
• gardens
• swimming pool

Guide Price £995,000

For more information contact Charters estate agents on 01962 830880

Fact or Fiction - Correct pricing yields results

Asking price trends in very different demographic areas across the UK do help us conclude why the National statistics can seem confusing when you consider Winchesters' supply and demand phenomenon.

Fact or Fiction - Correct pricing yields results

Asking price trends in very different demographic areas across the UK do help us conclude why the National statistics can seem confusing when you consider Winchesters' supply and demand phenomenon.

Prices are up; Volume of Sales down; Prices are down; Volume of Sales up. If you ask a realistic guide price for your home you will certainly sell it, allowing you to then move on. This scenario, if copied and repeated, will build a chain of events that will see the UK's National property market functioning easily once again.

There are many examples where the asking prices have clearly been too high, and the fact that some actual base sale prices are rising in some areas, shows just how much too high they were.

Some estate agents are touting other agents' instructions by promising they can do what the other can't. As a seller, what are you going to do, lower your asking price to a realistic level, or give it to someone else who promises to keep your dream alive, even if it costs you more wasted time?

Perfect examples, sensibly managed by Charters

Romsey Road
Initially marketed in May 2011 with a Price Guide of £599,950.
Subsequently Reduced in price in June 2011 to £550,000 and then SOLD (stc) in the same month!

Downgate
Initially marketed in February 2011 with a Price Guide of £550,000 but subsequently Reduced in price at the end of April to £499,995 and then SOLD (stc) within a month!

Looking to sell your house? Then why not call 'Charters' on 01962 830880 to discuss your requirements.

Good service can be infectious

At 'Charters' our commitment to people and passion for property ensures WE stand out.

Good service can be infectious

At 'Charters' our commitment to people and passion for property ensures WE stand out.

With our unstinting energy, relentless enthusiasm and a wealth of experience we excel at what we do, always delivering an exceptional service. We are proud of Winchester and its beautiful surrounding areas and whether we are handling sales or lettings, cottages or apartments we deliver results.

Underpinned by integrity, professionalism is at our core. For us reputation is everything.

It can seem rare these days but when you experience exceptional service you just know it. We are all customers in one way or another and we all deserve the same respect. Little acts here and there might seem simple but they do inspire customers and the loyal ones return again and again. A happy customer provides the best free advertising imaginable – word of mouth!

Just recently a personal experience highlighted just how sensational an experience can be when you least expect it but also you can see here just how easy it was to achieve.

"An easy smile set the tone. Quick and efficient acknowledgement and an offer to help was given. Effective listening skills were clearly demonstrated (no one likes to be ignored and everyone wants to know that not only are they being heard but that they're being understood too). The request was reiterated back by way of solid confirmation. Everything felt friendly and genuine (a lack of sincerity can come across easier than you might think), true care was demonstrated at all times and nothing was too much trouble"

Keep Calm and Carry On

That's exactly what Charters estate agents in Winchester have done since setting up their business and trading through some uncertain times. They continue to demonstrate that knowledge is power as their own market share of the Winchester and the surrounding area continues to grow stronger and wider.

Keep Calm and Carry On

That's exactly what Charters estate agents in Winchester have done since setting up their business and trading through some uncertain times. They continue to demonstrate that knowledge is power as their own market share of the Winchester and the surrounding area continues to grow stronger and wider.

The solid team of sales negotiators with collective maturity and experience work harder and longer than any of their competitors, often conducting viewing appointments outside or normal office hours at 8am or 7.30pm and they are maximizing their trading potential also on Sundays!

Originally this statement was produced as a poster by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II. This phrase was intended to raise the morale of the British public.

Rediscovered in recent years it is now used as a decorative theme but the message is still loud and clear.

Call now and request a Free valuation appointment - 01962 830880

Perception isn't everything, but it sure can be convincing

When you believe something to be true, you tend to focus on whatever it is that supports that allusion. Perception is how we see the world around us.

Perception isn't everything, but it sure can be convincing

When you believe something to be true, you tend to focus on whatever it is that supports that allusion. Perception is how we see the world around us.

Recently, when talking to some local people about their impressions of the Winchester housing market, many proposed opinions such as "these must be very tough times"; "houses can't be selling" and more of the same doom and gloom.

Yet this is not the case at 'Charters'. Far from it. Quite the opposite in fact. Why then are people able to reach such conclusions?

Perhaps it is because the media always focus on the wider negatives and National statistics are not always relevant to our City. Thus it creates the wrong impression of what is happening right here, right now. It is easy then to understand why we often deduce certain irrelevant information to form a misguided opinion. The opinions we ascertain might be far from the truth and in most cases are, but unless and until you know them personally you cannot know what "is" the truth.

So if you want to move house how can you satisfy yourself and quantify what the market is doing in your neighbourhood ? It's simple, invite a successful industry expect such as 'Charters' into your home and they will talk openly about today's market conditions. Any advice or valuation discussions can be backed up by real-time statistics supported further by current evidence of other similar properties recently sold. It is this sort of accurate information and knowledge of the market that has seen 'Charters' presence flourish, with many more 'Sold' boards displayed reinforcing this positive statement.

Good News…..

The housing market in Winchester has continued to prosper in June thanks to some honest prices and greater realism from sellers over the price they are likely to achieve. It seems that many clients are not only selling with 'Charters' but they are buying their next property from them too, causing a very positive 'chain' reaction!

Good News...

The housing market in Winchester has continued to prosper in June thanks to some honest prices and greater realism from sellers over the price they are likely to achieve. It seems that many clients are not only selling with 'Charters' but they are buying their next property from them too, causing a very positive 'chain' reaction!

The number of new properties being put up 'For Sale' also maintains steady growth suggesting a busy summer lies ahead.

More Good News...

Mortgage rates are believed to have fallen to their lowest level in over 20 years. The apparent cost of both fixed rate and tracker rate mortgages are at their lowest and lenders have been unveiling ever better rates over the last few months in an effort to attract new business.

Mortgage rates had been rising earlier in the year amidst fears that the base rate might be about to increase. However, many experts now believe that the Bank of England will not hike rates until 2012, leaving lenders happier to lower the cost of their mortgages.

Existing and prospective Homeowners have been warned though not to leave it too long before securing a great mortgage deal, as rates are inevitably expected to rise again once the market senses the Bank of England will take action.

For specific property or financial advice please contact any member of the 'Charters' team on 01962 830880

The charm of yesterday and the comforts of today

Presiding over 10 acres in a wonderfully rural setting this must-see 5500 sq ft residence emanates elegance and grandeur without ostentation.

The charm of yesterday and the comforts of today

Presiding over 10 acres in a wonderfully rural setting this must-see 5500 sq ft residence emanates elegance and grandeur without ostentation.

Following the hottest kitchen trends the traditional farmhouse styled kitchen is the new living room, more of a social gathering place and certainly the hub of the home; both elegant and functional.

The present owners have created an architectural masterpiece by fastidiously extending and re-distributing space with awe inspired finishing detail and techniques.

An attached and integral Annex offers either independent living for any family member or perhaps a self-contained rental. There is also a heated swimming pool and on site equestrian facilities comprise paddocks, stables and loose boxes.

All enquiries via Charters of Winchester – 01962 830880

Guide Price - £2 million

Close, but no cigar!

For all the recent anticipation leading up to the glitzy and glamorous 'Winchester Business Excellence Awards 2011'; the ceremony held last week at the Winchester Guildhall; 'Charters' independent estate agents came very close, but fell just short of winning.

Close, but no cigar!

For all the recent anticipation leading up to the glitzy and glamorous 'Winchester Business Excellence Awards 2011'; the ceremony held last week at the Winchester Guildhall; 'Charters' independent estate agents came very close, but fell just short of winning.

Given all the usual ridicule, jokes and assumptions against the estate agent industry itself it was quite refreshing to see an estate agent not just nominated for such an award but getting well deserved recognition.

The 'Charters' team all turned up in their finest, cocktail dresses and dinner jackets respectively, to take part in the evening's celebrations. Many of 'Charters' past and existing clients were themselves up for awards in this year's event and there was some stellar competition across many different disciplines, local services and businesses.

Having just recently won another industry award it would have been wonderful to see 'Charters' receive a local business award too, but just taking part is an honour and 'Charters' have certainly been acknowledged for their excellence.

Service levels differ greatly across many different businesses, largely driven by cost and brand. For example a budget hotel chain can't possibly be compared to that of a luxury high-style establishment that provides the most devoted personal care. Similarly then this is much the same within estate agency and 'Charters' have certainly attained a strong and successful brand very quickly within the city of Winchester.

Anyone who is considering a move, either now or in the future is urged to contact and employ 'Charters' to do what they do best.

Charters Estate Agents: your property, our privilege.

Winchester Office

2 Jewry Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8RZ

t: 01962 830880

London Office

87 St James's Street, London, England, SW1A 1PL

t: 0207 8390888

Community Matters

"What goes around comes around" and living and working in Hampshire is fundamental to the growth and success of local independent estate agents 'Charters' of Winchester.

Community Matters

"What goes around comes around" and living and working in Hampshire is fundamental to the growth and success of local independent estate agents 'Charters' of Winchester.

By way of a token thank you towards the huge support already received from local families 'Charters' have revealed that this year their sponsorship programme is to assist many local school fete's and street parties.

Whilst donating financially towards some of these events 'Charters' have also instructed their marketing teams to help out by spicing up the design and print of related marketing material such as event programmes.

All of these individual events need the support of their local public and to help get the message out there 'Charters' have erected lots of signposts in various neighbourhoods around Winchester and the surrounding participating villages to specifically highlight individual events, times and locations.

"We hope that everyone will join in, get involved and have fun!"
With thanks
Robert Mott
Director for Charters of Winchester

EAST STRATTON FETE

4th June 2011

ST PETERS SCHOOL SUMMER FETE

18th June 2011

WEEK PRIMARY SCHOOL SUMMER FETE

18th June 2011

FAIRFIELD STREET PARTY

18th June 2011

OTTERBOURNE C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL

25th June 2011

WESTERN PRIMARY SCHOOL

8th July 2011

SPARSHOLT CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

16th July 2011

OLIVERS BATTERY PRIMARY SCHOOL

9th July 2011

Tips to help obtain a mortgage

Buying a property can be the biggest purchase most people make in their lifetime and simply qualifying for a mortgage can be a complex and daunting affair, especially when the Banks constantly change their lending criteria.

Tips to help obtain a mortgage

Buying a property can be the biggest purchase most people make in their lifetime and simply qualifying for a mortgage can be a complex and daunting affair, especially when the Banks constantly change their lending criteria.

First, get some impartial advice. Talk to an Independent Financial Advisor as they can access a wider range of Mortgage products and exclusive offers from most of the competing Banks and Building Societies. Speaking to your own Bank, just because they know you, will not necessarily provide you with the best recommendation.

You will need a deposit, a clean credit history and a regular income. The size of the initial deposit ultimately determines the monthly mortgage payments and interest rate. Practically all lenders nowadays use what is commonly referred to as a 'loan-to-value' calculation. Any unsecured debt is taken into consideration along with any credit card or loan payments and together these will have an impact, reducing the offer of the amount borrowed.

Banks are also clamping down on borrowers who attempt to take out 'interest-only mortgages'. It is now more likely that a larger deposit will be required to qualify for one of these types of mortgages, yet the interest-only option still does offer a more affordable way of actually getting on to the property ladder.

• Ensure you are on the electoral roll
• Meet all financial commitments. Missing a credit card or a loan payment can count against you.
• Reduce personal debt. This can help if you need to borrow more.
• Ensure you do not apply for additional credit whilst a mortgage application is in process.
• Keep all pay-slips and P60s
• Talk to an Independent Financial Advisor

Charters estate agents presently work in partnership with 'The Place 4 Mortgages'. For further details please contact Jon Walker on 01962 830880 or call into our office at 2 Jewry Street , Winchester SO23 8RZ

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

A fee of up to £500 may be charged depending on individual circumstances.

Currently Under Construction

Just two, individual detached cottages, of approximately 900 sq ft each in a popular village setting.

Currently Under Construction

Just two, individual detached cottages, of approximately 900 sq ft each in a popular village setting.

The scaffolding comes down as the windows and doors are to be fitted to allow the interior plastering works to commence, together with first fix electrics. There is never a better time to get involved. Negotiate early to buy one of these unique properties and you could initiate direct talks with the builder to ensure that the interior specification delivers exactly what you want.

With a Guide Price of only £250,000 each, these unique detached cottages will come with 2 parking spaces each and solar panels on the roof will generate endless hot water!

• Storm Porch
• Entrance Hall
• Cloakroom WC - together with Utility space for washing machine/tumble dryer
• Double aspect Living/Dining Room
• Kitchen - open to reception room
• Double bedroom with en-suite Bathroom
• Double bedroom with en-suite Shower Room
• Gardens and Parking
• Quiet cul-de-sac in rural North Hampshire
• Double Glazing
• 10 yr NHBC

For further information please contact 'Charters' estate agents on 01962 830880

Be the 1st

Brand new house offering parking for two cars comes directly to the rental market.

Be the 1st

Brand new house offering parking for two cars comes directly to the rental market.

The successful applicant will be the first resident to live in this house and be the first to use the integrated kitchen equipment, bath and shower rooms!

Being one of just four smart new homes, built to an exceptionally high standard by 'Bargate' earlier this year, this is a delightful development in a private yet highly convenient setting North West of the city centre.

Waitrose, Costa Coffee and Co-Op are all within an easy five minute walk together with a host of Take-away restaurants. Nearby Hampton Lane links footpaths and bridleways branching out over the Royal Winchester Golf Course, granting ease of access to the countryside, whilst the railway station and the city centre are within walking distance too.

Available Now - £1250 pcm

For further information please contact 'Charters' estate agents on 01962 830880

Inventive Infill

Resourceful, newly built 'DETACHED' house priced below the £250,000 Stamp Duty threshold! Quite incredible.

Inventive Infill

Resourceful, newly built 'DETACHED' house priced below the £250,000 Stamp Duty threshold! Quite incredible.

Whilst this looks like quite a modest little house it actually delivers rather well indeed. It offers naturally bright accommodation throughout as there are lots of double glazed windows, a nice open plan kitchen/dining and living room (all opening onto the rear garden), a downstairs toilet and then 3 bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. A double width driveway provides off street parking for 2 cars at the front whilst there is an enclosed rear garden that is presently paved to suit the current clients low maintenance preference yet this could easily be landscaped.

This is a smart and affordable purchase for someone and puts a detached home within reach given the Guide Price of just £245,000

For further information please contact 'Charters' estate agents on 01962 830880

And The Award Goes To........'Charters' of Winchester

'Charters' independent estate agents of Winchester have just been honoured in London at the highly prestigious ESTAS. (The Estate & Letting Agent Awards 2011)

And The Award Goes To........'Charters' of Winchester

'Charters' independent estate agents of Winchester have just been honoured in London at the highly prestigious ESTAS. (The Estate & Letting Agent Awards 2011)

Receiving Bronze Award for Southern Region 'Charters' were recognised for their excellent customer service, as voted for by their clients during the course of 2010.

But the celebrations didn't stop there for 'Charters'. Emily Kisten (Sales Coordinator) was singled out and was Highly Commended, winning the Top National Individual Award. This is the first time that an Individual category has been recognised and Emily won this award out of 400 estate agencies that entered nationwide!

The awards were announced by Phil Spencer, presenter of Channel 4's Location, Location Location at a lavish luncheon and ceremony at the Hilton in Park Lane, attended by 500 of the UK's top estate and letting agents. Phil Spencer said "The ESTAS are the most important and valuable awards in our industry. An ESTA is not an easy accolade to pick up, to win one requires a lot of hard work"

Simon Brown, owner of the awards added "ESTA agents believe passionately in providing the highest quality customer service. They are prepared to go that extra mile, prepared to take criticism as well as praise and prepared to invest and develop their businesses accordingly"

The results of the competition were determined by research carried out amongst customers who are asked a series of questions about the service they have received from their agent. Over 26,000 votes were received making it the biggest consumer survey of its kind in the property industry.

Nick Leeming, Director of Zoopla said "It is important that we understand what the public think of the service provided to them and that is what the ESTAs are all about. ESTA agents have a common desire to know how the public rate their businesses and develop and adapt accordingly"

The national scheme is also backed by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). David Dalby, Residential Director at RICS, said "This is the sixth year that RICS have been involved with the awards, which we support because the results are based solely on customer satisfaction rather than the opinions of a judging panel. To win an ESTA, a firm has to demonstrate a consistently high level of service and, to achieve this, they must ensure that staff follow those standards of efficiency, good communication and transparency that differentiate the exceptional agent from the ordinary one."

For further information please contact 'Charters' estate agents on 01962 830880

Sophistication in St Cross

If you want the perfect house then sometimes you just have to build it yourself. That is exactly what a clients of 'Charters' did.

Sophistication in St Cross

If you want the perfect house then sometimes you just have to build it yourself. That is exactly what a clients of 'Charters' did.

Longing for the perfect family home in a prime setting on the city limits they constructed a property of Mansion styled symmetry. Delivering a truly classical facade, together with an imposing portico styled entrance; this brilliantly executed family house is both opulent and grand on a smaller scale. That said, they successfully extracted in excess of 2000 sq ft from the overall design and rarely will you find such elegance and attention to detail.

The property has been skilfully flooded with a profusion of natural light as the overall design has allowed for large sash styled windows on all four sides plus additional skylights overhead. Thoughtful modern day creature comforts combine easily with traditional values and notably high ceilings. In all, a true triumph.

Now 'For Sale' with Charters estate agents in Winchester – 01962 830880

Guide Price £995,000

For further information please contact 'Charters' estate agents on 01962 830880

Downsizers Dream

Downsizing is without question one of the hardest moves anyone can make. Once a person appears to have been spoilt by having lots of space, a nice garden and a great location it is terribly hard to know which element has to be compromised on in the foreseeable move. Because it is a known fact that something has to give and there will be a compromise.

Downsizers Dream

Downsizing is without question one of the hardest moves anyone can make. Once a person appears to have been spoilt by having lots of space, a nice garden and a great location it is terribly hard to know which element has to be compromised on in the foreseeable move. Because it is a known fact that something has to give and there will be a compromise.

But let's be realistic for a moment. We are always going to have to redecorate to our own taste; therefore - what if that is the only compromise?

If you do not mind the thought of employing a team of decorators from the very outset or, better still, prior to moving in then you could gravitate toward the perfect property.

Set on the very edge of both Winchester and stunning open countryside 'Charters' estate agents are offering a detached purpose built chalet styled home with an incredible volume of space and versatility. It is also positioned in a quiet cul-de-sac affording a level walk into the city. However, the icing on the cake is that the property also has a lovely rear garden that offers the most magnificent views across the adjoining landscape.

Price Guide £450,000

For further information please contact 'Charters' estate agents on 01962 830880

Be Inspired

Buying a property should not require 'divine intervention'; however this impressive church conversion is sure to stir your emotions.

Be Inspired

Buying a property should not require 'divine intervention'; however this impressive church conversion is sure to stir your emotions.

Presently on offer, a unique duplex with a cavernous double-height vaulted living room. The bedroom is galleried and open to the dizzyingly high ceilings creating both atmosphere and grandeur.

You will be moved!

Located at the heart of Winchester city, together with a well equipped kitchen,bathroom and external lockable store.

For more information please contact Charters estate agents on 01962 830880 Price Guide £232,000

The Perfect Plan

Why not fast-track your way to 'Buy to Let' success and enjoy increased peace of mind, knowing there is already a target audience of tenant quite literally on your doorstep?

The Perfect Plan

Why not fast-track your way to 'Buy to Let' success and enjoy increased peace of mind, knowing there is already a target audience of tenant quite literally on your doorstep?

With this 2 bedroom ground floor flat For Sale at just £200,000 (it comes complete with an allocated parking space – rare these days) 'Charters' estate agents say they can simultaneously handle the Tenant find and application process for any potential Buyer/Landlord.

Given that this flat is situated in a prime setting, right on the edge of the Hospital complex, it is very likely that Nursing staff or Doctors may find this a real catch.

For more information contact Charters estate agents of Winchester on 01962 830880

'NEW' Sensations…

"Out with the old and in with the NEW". Many people believe that buying a newly-built home is a safer, worry-free option. What is certain is that it can be the best route to achieving your own personal affordable excellence. 'Charters' estate agents of Winchester currently handle numerous local developments in and around the city. These new homes currently offer buyers a wide range of stunningly practical and desirable homes at a broad range of price. However these properties are selling fast yet each development still has just one or two remaining gems.

Budget 2011 - Good news for first-time buyers

"Out with the old and in with the NEW". Many people believe that buying a newly-built home is a safer, worry-free option. What is certain is that it can be the best route to achieving your own personal affordable excellence. 'Charters' estate agents of Winchester currently handle numerous local developments in and around the city. These new homes currently offer buyers a wide range of stunningly practical and desirable homes at a broad range of price. However these properties are selling fast yet each development still has just one or two remaining gems.

With the demands of the buyer wanting fresh good looks and a high specification the spotlight is focusing attention on new homes once again. 'Charters' say "if timed correctly the buyer can have the power to control and influence the final finish and to stamp their own identity"…… "This can often lead to the buyer choosing such items as paint colour, tiling detail, sometimes even granite worktops over something of a lesser quality or even the bathroom and kitchen itself!"

Now is a great time to negotiate if you are a ready, willing and able buyer. We all have high expectations, plus an extensive wish-list criteria, but at least in this situation you stand a great chance of ticking all the right boxes.

What's more interesting (only if you are indeed a First-time buyer) you are finally going to get some help getting onto the property ladder thanks to a new shared equity scheme called 'Firstbuy' announced in the recent budget. At least 10,000 first-time buyers will be eligible for the scheme so long as they buy a newly-built home. The 'Firstbuy' scheme would see the government and house builders offer loan help but buyers must still save a deposit worth 5% of their property's value. The government and house builders then offer to put up 10% each through an equity loan, enabling people to qualify for a 75% loan-to-value mortgage.

Budget 2011 - Good news for first-time buyers

First-time buyers are finally going to get some help getting onto the property ladder thanks to a new shared equity scheme called 'Firstbuy'.

Budget 2011 - Good news for first-time buyers

First-time buyers are finally going to get some help getting onto the property ladder thanks to a new shared equity scheme called 'Firstbuy'.

At least 10,000 first-time buyers will be eligible for the scheme so long as they buy a newly-built home, as announced by Chancellor George Osborne in the recent Budget. The House Builders Federation has welcomed the move and said it would have economic and social benefits; however, the scheme will only last for one year!

First-time buyers have recently been struggling to get a foot into the housing market and the latest figures from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) showed that they required a large deposit to do so. The new scheme would be limited to just a third of one month's approvals, although it is the first-time buyers who are key to getting the property market moving.

The 'Firstbuy' scheme would see the government and house builders offer loan help but buyers must still save a deposit worth 5% of their property's value. The government and house builders then offer to put up 10% each through an equity loan, enabling people to qualify for a 75% loan-to-value mortgage. The equity loan would be interest-free for the first five years, with interest charged at 1.75% in year six, and at inflation plus 1% thereafter.

And now for something completely different!

Charters estate agents have two very opposing properties to showcase this week from their wide property portfolio. Winchester fortunately offers a huge diversity in property range and price to cater for all needs. Here, extreme opposites in terms of both style and emotions will appeal to two totally different audiences of buyer with very contradictory budgets.

And now for something completely different!

Charters estate agents have two very opposing properties to showcase this week from their wide property portfolio. Winchester fortunately offers a huge diversity in property range and price to cater for all needs. Here, extreme opposites in terms of both style and emotions will appeal to two totally different audiences of buyer with very contradictory budgets.

Crawley, Winchester – Price Guide £1.4m

A 'chocolate box' thatched cottage in Crawley truly melts the heart. Sitting on approximately one acre of grounds and overlooking the village pond (that boasts its very own thatched duck house) this most beautiful and unspoilt village is surrounded by rural country offering endless walking and riding. This extraordinary Grade II listed, now a detached dwelling, started life in the 1700's as four cottages and has retained all the inherent character and finery.

4 bedrooms : 2 Jack 'n' Jill bathrooms : shower room : drawing room : day room study : kitchen/breakfast room : dining hall : utility : double garage : gym gardens.

Kings Worthy, Winchester - Price Guide £425,000

A 'quirky' yet highly inventive uber modern townhouse gets the heart racing. Forming part of a stylish open courtyard development with a contemporary urban twist, this exceptional property maximizes the impact of natural light and space with lofty vaulted rooflines creating double height space. Together with sleek modern clean lines and a crisp minimalist interior the overall design embraces a sophisticated atmosphere. A central and internal courtyard of great privacy provides a convivial entertainment space that is dramatically open to the elements and sky above.

3 double bedrooms : bathroom and en-suite : living room : kitchen/dining room : cloakroom/utility : spacious hallways and landings : internal courtyard and rear garden vast integral garage with potential to create home cinema or gym.

Recognition for Business Excellence!

Recognition for Business Excellence!

'Charters' estate agents of Winchester have just been nominated for yet another award. On this occasion 'Charters' are just one of 6 finalists from over 140 entries in this year's 'Winchester Business Excellence Awards'.

Judges are said to be having a difficult decision this year given the high standards of this year's entries and as such have extended the usual 4 finalists to 6 this year. 'Charters' have been nominated in the 'Business of the Year Award' category which is to be judged between now and the end of April 2011.

'Charters' initial aim in 2009 was to introduce a far more personable, service-driven estate agency to Winchester with a focus on putting the customer first. A recent and independent survey reflected that 'Charters' had very quickly and firmly established an 18.7 per cent market share out of just 18 competing firms. The overall winner is to be announced at a glittering celebration dinner at Winchesters' Guildhall on Friday 10th June 2011.

Other challenging business finalist's nominated for this same category are; Jeremy France (Jeweller); Guy Kremer (Hair-Stylist); Anderson Sturgess (Vetinerary Specialist); Caracoli (Coffee house and food store) and Kirton Farm (Garden Nurseries).

It is very reassuring that even in these challenging times businesses are still going from strength to strength across a wide range of commercial activities in the Winchester area.

Awards Fever in Winchester continues.....

Awards Fever in Winchester continues.....

Colin Firth, with both education and family ties to Winchester, recently won a host of awards for his performance in The King's Speech causing the city of Winchester to be buzzing with excitement.

Now 'Charters' estate agents of Winchester have been shortlisted to win an award for the Southern region in the Estate & Letting Agent Awards 2011, a national Sales competition in its 8 th year. If successful 'Charters' will then also be entered into the National agent of the year too with the results to be announced on the same day!

For the first time there is going to be an Individual Category too. Just 27 individuals from over 400 agencies nationwide have been nominated, based solely on the comments received from clients. 'Charters' very own Emily Kisten (Sales Progressor) has been singled out and is herself shortlisted.

Presenter Phil Spencer from Channel 4's Location, Location, Location programme will announce Gold, Silver & Bronze winners on 15th April at the 8th Annual ESTAS ceremony at the Hilton Park Lane, London.

Buyers, sellers and landlords themselves judge the customer service performance of their agents and their ratings alone decide who will win an 'ESTA'. Simon Brown (MD for AWARDSFOR BUSINESS) says "This year's competition has been the toughest EVER. Record numbers of agents have taken part and over 26,000 questionnaires have been completed. Just taking part in the ESTAS says a lot about honesty and effort to provide the highest levels of customer service to clients"

Focus on: Winchester.

Focus on: Winchester.

Winchester has a perfect blend of heritage and vibrant modern living. It is a pleasant English city and a previous winner and subsequent runner up in Phil and Kirstie's "The Best And Worst Places To Live In The UK"

How it rates:

Winchester has a perfect blend of heritage and vibrant modern living. It is a pleasant English city and a previous winner and subsequent runner up in Phil and Kirstie's "The Best And Worst Places To Live In The UK". A wonderful cathedral city who's architectural and historic interest, together with quality education and swift rail links to London Waterloo have led Winchester to fast become one of the most highly desirable areas of the country. Naturally a limited property supply versus huge demand makes it seem expensive. Settlement actually dates back to pre-Roman times with Winchester once being the ancient capital of Wessex and the Kingdom of England. Today Winchester is the county town of Hampshire, located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of the River Itchen. Winchester Cathedral is a major landmark and one of the largest cathedrals in England.

Travel:

Well-served by trains running to and from London Waterloo, Winchester is a breeze to access from most parts of the country. Trains to Waterloo only take around 55 minutes and they run every 15 to 20 minutes at peak times. Winchester lies just off junctions 9 to 11 of the M3, connecting with London via the M25 network, Oxford via the A34 and from Salisbury and the West Country via the A303. The closest airport is Southampton International, which is just 15 minutes from Winchester either by road via the M27 and M3, or by direct train. London Heathrow is 50 miles away via the M4, M25 and M3, and London Gatwick 72 miles via the M23, M25 and M3.

Quality of life:

A good level of employment and a rich blend of urban and country life can be found in Winchester. Typically residents enjoy above average earnings, bigger houses, less crime and better GCSE results than the rest of the county. The size of average earnings is also a key factor in determining house prices. Residents enjoy better health and greater longevity leading to above-average life expectancy. Winchester also boasts some of the highest levels of sunshine in the country.

Smartest streets:

Quintessential cathedral streets, the likes of Canon Street and St Swithun Street, attract many but these are typically much smaller terraced homes. However you can still expect prices to approach £500,000. Astute Londoners though, especially those with young families, are selling their primary homes in the capital and buying good family houses on the outskirts of Winchester with prices approaching £1 million. Generally these properties are larger and offer much bigger gardens. The district of St Cross offers big Edwardian and Victorian villas whilst the kudos of living somewhere like Sleepers Hill will guarantee a more individual home in balance with its grounds and yet will still deliver a city lifestyle but with prices, on average, in excess of £1 million.

Restaurants:

There is a strong café and restaurant culture in Winchester and the city has attracted some leading chefs and high quality brands such as Raymond Blanc and Hotel Du Vin. Cafés offer a wide selection of settings to 'people watch' close to the centre of this compact city. Lock Fyne on Jewry St is in one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Chesil Rectory on Chesil St is a fine timber framed building dating from around 1450 AD. The Old Vine on Minster St is in prime position overlooking the cathedral and there is the typical range of Italian chain restaurants to choose from.

Education:

The city is home to some top rated institutions. 'Winchester College' is one of the best-known public schools in Britain and many of its pupils leave for well-respected universities. There are three excellent state secondary schools: 'Kings', 'Westgate' and 'Henry Beaufort' all of which have first-rate reputations. The sixth form 'Peter Symonds College' is the main college and it is rated amongst the top in the UK. Privately owned preparatory schools comprise 'Pilgrims', 'Twyford', 'Prince's Mead' and 'St Swithun's' which is a public school for girls. The University of Winchester (formerly King Alfred's College) is a British public university with origins going back as far as 1840. It began life as a teacher training college and is now centred on a purpose built campus near the city centre.

What's new:

The Winchester Discovery Centre is a new generation of library. This beautiful period building was recently extended in uber modern fashion and now offers a diverse range of programs from exhibitions to theatre, dance, music and talks, plus activities for children. Here you can uncover local history and culture, relax in the café or make use of free internet access and Wi-Fi.

Nightlife:

Winchester has a huge array of pubs and bars which offer a traditional pint to a cosmopolitan cocktail. The city also boasts an unusual cinema inside a converted military chapel that was funded by the National Lottery. There are two theatres in the city and a Guildhall.

Working life:

Winchester is a superb place in which to set up a business or search for a knowledgeable professional. There are many employers, the largest being Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council, however national high street retailers sit comfortably alongside the best in independent businesses.

Political life:

Winchester is currently represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom through the Winchester and Chandlers Ford Parliamentary Constituency by Steve Brine of the Conservatives. Mark Oaten a Liberal Democrat had previously won the seat during the 1997 general election in which he defeated the former Conservative Health Minister Gerry Malone from John Major's then ousted Government.

Upside:

For almost all rates for different types of crime this orderly city undercuts the national average.

Downside:

Council tax is slightly higher than the national average.

www.chartersestateagents.co.uk

London alliance.

London alliance.

'Charters' estate agents in Winchester are partners of 'The London Office' an organisation in central London. Recently these London offices have been relocated from Pall Mall to a beautiful Grade II listed building adjacent to St James's Palace.

Bob Bickersteth who heads up the London arm of Charters claims "the new window displays are generating a good and fresh response and by working collectively with other professional estate agents around the UK we can now provide a holistic overview of properties and prices nationwide"

Together they produce 'acquire' a publication with the sole purpose of featuring properties from all over the country. Reaching a much wider audience 'Charters' believe your property could be put in front of buyers in the city and those from much farther overseas.

Unlocking potential

Unlocking potential

Optimism made evident by the recent performance of Winchester's property scene sees 'Charters' estate agents react by launching their dedicated 'Land and New Homes' department.

Property market trends historically show that growth and development rapidly follow difficult and uncertain property markets. Times are changing though, especially in Winchester, and 'Charters' are once again ensuring that their business is poised and ready.

Property development interest has once again returned and together with some recently relaxed town planning policies 'Charters' are standing by to offer professional help and guidance to anyone who needs it, through what can often appear to be quite a daunting and complicated process.

Classic example: Someone may have a large garden which is proving too much to maintain. Rather than feel that the only option is to sell up entirely, downsize and move home, why not consider if there is just the slightest hint of potential? In this case 'Charters' can undertake an initial feasibility study and if pertinent deal with design and planning too. Ultimately our objective here is to help secure the right scheme and best price for you, unlocking its potential.

Similarly any grand or large scale development concept also needs just the right handling and exposure plus guaranteed access to a host of potential buyers to resourcefully unlock its equity. Our role is to identify and optimise land value with development potential.

In any scenario it is vital to have the best representation. The old adage "it's not what you know, but who you know" in this case refers to our depth of knowledge and contacts.

Recession, what recession?

Recession, what recession?

Charters estate agents in Winchester are again 'bucking the trend' and are happily reporting that February 2011 has been their greatest sales month ever! The number of individual property transactions has reached a sensational all time high, breaking all records.

Albeit a young and progressive company, none of the highly experienced directors or staff (with many years of collective awareness and skill) have ever seen results quite like it. It would be fair to assume that some of Winchesters other estate agents are annually delivering these kind of results compared to just one month of hard work from the Charters team.

These positive results are being attributed to the returning surge of interest from equity and cash rich buyers. There is a clear pattern of downsizing and relocation around the city centre together with investment driven purchases. It seems many of these buyers are keen to secure and lock into some favourable interest rates and mortgage deals ahead of an expected rise which must surely come.

Overall this is very encouraging and boosts optimism for the year ahead.

It won't cost a King's Ransom to live in King's Somborne

It won't cost a King's Ransom to live in King's Somborne

Being open minded and extending your search area can often reveal more house for your money. In this case you get a whole lot of outdoors lifestyle too.

2 Forge Close 'For Sale' in King's Somborne with 'Charters' estate agents is a modern and incredibly practical home offering unexpectedly roomy accommodation. It sits discreetly in a small and cunning infill development at the very heart of a truly charming and traditional picture postcard landscape

Enjoying the beautiful lushness of the surrounding Test Valley countryside this area was once clearly dominated by agriculture but now many local residents commute to work in the nearby royal city of Winchester or onto London's Waterloo via rail access. A brief 10 to 15 minute drive from the North West city limit of Winchester and you arrive, via some breath taking countryside, into a neighborhood which is bounded by the River Test and located between the popular market towns of Romsey and Stockbridge.

The village is centred on a wealth of character and thatched cottages and there are many fine listed buildings and structures. There are several churches of different faiths; a popular primary school; village hall; sports and recreational grounds. Residents are also served very well by not one but two village shops (one with a Post Office) and a friendly traditional thatched pub. Surrounding farmland and waterways are crisscrossed with footpaths and bridleways reaching to Farley Mount in the East, Michelmarsh in the South, Houghton and Mottisfont in the West/South West and Stockbridge in the North.

So, what's not to like?

Price Guide £375,000 - Freehold

For more information on this property, or to talk about widening your present search to include this area, contact Charters estate agents in Winchester on 01962 830880

London buyers to get a slice of Winchester life at The Move To The Country Show - London 2011.

Given the huge success of this event in the past 'Charters' estate agents of Winchester are pleased to announce that their Directors (Robert Mott and Elliot Trodd) are collaborating with The London Office, Country Life and one of south London's leading estate agents to help make it easier for London buyers to get a slice of Winchester life.

London buyers to get a slice of Winchester life at The Move To The Country Show - London 2011.

Given the huge success of this event in the past 'Charters' estate agents of Winchester are pleased to announce that their Directors (Robert Mott and Elliot Trodd) are collaborating with The London Office, Country Life and one of south London's leading estate agents to help make it easier for London buyers to get a slice of Winchester life.

Robert Mott (Director) of 'Charters' says "we believe that London money has without question influenced our local market here in Winchester. This is a great opportunity for 'Charters' to discuss real possibilities with those who are inquisitive about moving to the country, considering an investment in property outside the capital or simply looking for a different lifestyle".

"Showcasing our own clients' properties directly to this ever increasing London market and to be able to talk firsthand about our local schools, employment and the way of life here, can only benefit Winchester further from the exposure we will offer at The Move To The Country Show 2011".

Elliott Trodd (Co Director) of 'Charters' continues "We will be taking examples of properties we have 'For Sale 'and 'To Let' as we believe many London buyers are time poor and will appreciate the opportunity to look at our properties and to talk to our people in the know. Our own selection of quaint little country cottages will surely appeal to those who might be considering a second home. Our extensive range of central Winchester town houses and apartments will grab the attention of rail commuters and our supply of fine country houses will certainly satisfy those looking to finally escape the 'rat race'. These are challenging times right now and we know there is a greater emphasis on revaluating priorities. Taking advantage of the price differential between London and the country can help with quality of life".

Promoted locally, throughout London and nationwide attendance at The Move To The Country Show is expected to again be very high with dozens of new applicants potentially requiring the services of 'Charters' and hopefully viewing and buying all manner of local property. The benefits of such targeted marketing are enormous and Hampshire residents who are keen to have their properties exhibited are urged to make quick contact with 'Charters' to ensure they are not overlooked.

Supported by top publication 'Country Life', the event is taking place this year on Thursday the 14th April 2011 at The Grand Hall, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN. The exhibition will be held from 1.00pm to 7.00pm to enable those working in the city to attend.

For further information and to discuss how your own home might be included, please contact 'Charters' estate agents in Winchester on 01962 830880.

FREE - money saving 'tip' from Charters.

Charters estate agents in Winchester sell many properties with a price guide in excess of £1 Million, both in the City centre and the rural outskirts.

'FREE - money saving 'tip' from Charters.

Charters estate agents in Winchester sell many properties with a price guide in excess of £1 Million, both in the City centre and the rural outskirts.

Did you know that in order to help finance the Stamp Duty holiday given to First Time Buyers, the government have increased the rate for more expensive homes, specifically those in excess of £1 Million. From April 2011 all property sold in excess of £1 Million will be subject to the newer higher stamp duty rate of 5%, and this will be a permanent change. Thus if you are buying in this premium category then completing your house purchase before this change takes affect will save you a minimum of £10,000. (£1,000,001 @ 4% = £40,000.04 / £1,000,001 @ 5% = £50,000.05)

On the other hand, if you are indeed a genuine First Time Buyer then you have been granted a Stamp Duty holiday and currently 0% applies to property values up to £250,000. However, be warned, all good things come to an end and this benefit will be withdrawn in 2012.

New 2011 Stamp Duty Rates
Up to £125,000 : 0%
£125,001 - £250,000 : 1 %
£250,001 - £500,000 : 3%
£500,001 - £1,000,000 : 4%
Over £1,000,000 : 5%

'WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES'.

MEASURING SUCCESS - YEAR ON YEAR COMPARISON (2010 vs. 2011).
In any business the best way to assess performance is to scrutinise and recognise annual trends, both the highs and the lows. Clearly Charters estate agents of Winchester have cause to celebrate some positively outstanding high points!

'WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES'.

MEASURING SUCCESS - YEAR ON YEAR COMPARISON (2010 vs. 2011).
In any business the best way to assess performance is to scrutinise and recognise annual trends, both the highs and the lows. Clearly Charters estate agents of Winchester have cause to celebrate some positively outstanding high points!

ROPERTY INSTUCTIONS UP BY AN IMPRESSIVE 29%
The business of selling houses requires a steady supply of property, sensibly priced to sell and with client's expectations managed. In this sector Charters have observed a significant increase in their own market share of Winchester residential property. Instructions received in January 2011 is up on January 2010 by an remarkable 29%

PROPERTIES SOLD UP BY 12%
To satisfy the demands of sellers and buyers alike and to ensure the swift and timely conversion from 'For Sale' status to 'Sold' Charters have continued to invest a great deal in staff, increasing the number of employees to 16 by the end of January 2011 compared to just 10 in January 2010. Hence the actual number of properties Sold also increased by 12% in January 2011 compared to that of the same period in January 2010.

PROPERTIES SAFELY EXCHANGED UP BY 240%
What many people fail to understand is that an estate agents job is not finished just because the sign says Sold. It is very important to supervise the sale process through to a successful and legal Exchange of Contracts, handling copious issues along the way. Taking into consideration the consequences of this vulnerable time within the house sale process Charters estate agents employed their own dedicated member of staff to personally oversee this particular aspect. Hence the number of properties reaching satisfactory conclusion increased by a whopping 240% in January 2011 vs. January 2010.

Winchester VIP (Very Imposing Property) gets a 'FIRST CLASS' stamp, from Charters.

The Old Post Office in old Kings Worthy has over 4000 sq ft of history and mystery. This quintessential picture postcard property, now Grade II listed, was believed to be an open Hall House in medieval times. Later it served as a Manor House circa 1743-1748. Then circa 1845-1966 it served as a GPO (General Post Office) with its kitchen then alleged to have been the Bakery until 1929.

Winchester VIP (Very Imposing Property) gets a 'FIRST CLASS' stamp, from Charters..

The Old Post Office in old Kings Worthy has over 4000 sq ft of history and mystery. This quintessential picture postcard property, now Grade II listed, was believed to be an open Hall House in medieval times. Later it served as a Manor House circa 1743-1748. Then circa 1845-1966 it served as a GPO (General Post Office) with its kitchen then alleged to have been the Bakery until 1929.

Now a home of incredible character and having undergone indulgent restoration to the highest specification this inspirational property is rich in architectural detail whilst its beautifully modern and chic interior somehow keeps up with tradition.

A most interesting floor plan lends itself to highly versatile family orientated living, yet with scope to easily fragment to separate grown up children from their parents – or vice versa!

In an idyllic setting, adjacent to the picturesque St. Marys church, access to the property is quite rightly via a traditional white picket fence with gateway. The DINING HALL and REAR LOBBY both grant access to all areas. The DRAWING ROOM is an impressive 24' x 17' centring on a wood burning stove. There is a STUDY; a FAMILY ROOM with exposed brick detail and another stove; SHOWER ROOM/CLOAKROOM and a fine luxurious BATHROOM of a standard which you might only expect to find in a boutique country house hotel! A bespoke and uncompromised KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM features a gas AGA, French limestone floors, PANTRY, UTILITY and BOOT ROOM. There are 2 CELLARS; 6 BEDROOMS (master naturally en-suite); DRESSING ROOM; FAMILY BATHROOM and outside there are glorious GARDENS and a tiled barn providing GARAGE; OFFICE/STUDIO.

Contact the estate agents 'Charters' on 01962 830880 for more information. FREEHOLD - £ - Price on application.

'Hyde' and seek!

• Arguably still one of Winchester's most sought after districts 'Hyde' offers a unique blend of Community, Character and Convenience. Supply is however slow and intermittent and when a property does become available, it can often be snapped up.

'Hyde' and seek!

Arguably still one of Winchester's most sought after districts 'Hyde' offers a unique blend of Community, Character and Convenience. Supply is however slow and intermittent and when a property does become available, it can often be snapped up.

12 Hyde Abbey Road is just one example of this 'Hyde' phenomenon. On the market for just days with local independent estate agents 'Charters' this fine example quickly received multiple interest and is already Under Offer!

However, 'Charters' who claim to know their local market and react to the wishes of their clients and the demands of their buyers have already lined up another offering or two.

42 Hyde Abbey Road is new to the market this week offering an extended and highly versatile ground floor layout in addition to a converted loft room. Priced at £399,995 with 'Charters' the message is clear – "Miss this one and miss out".

Another 'Hyde' gem is Weavers Cottage tucked away in Hyde Church Path. A delicate labour of love over many years by the present owners has culminated in nothing short of perfection. However viewing this property comes with a stern warning "Prepare to weep". It may be small but it is simply beautiful and will suit a niche clientele. A chic city bolthole or holiday home? Or perhaps this one is for the more discerning downsizer who refuses to give up the finer things of life and a garden! Also 'For Sale' with 'Charters' and priced at £425,000.

Contact Charters estate agents in Winchester on 01962 830880 for more information and an appointment to view.