Thoughts, news and insights | London Property Consultants

Property buyers and schools

Very often it is the search for a school which motivates the search for a property and as a result, it can be a lengthy and challenging process, requiring a degree of flexibility and a hunt in all sorts of post codes. So far this year he has had clients from the UK and from France looking for homes to fit with the choice of school in Richmond and Kensington.

Without doubt it is the school that takes priority and typically clients will have their child’s name down with two or more schools and the property search will reflect these choices. This can mean that several houses need to be ‘lined up’ until such time as the child is accepted into the school and the decision has been made.

The Times Property: August 2013

As September looms, we bring you professional advice to help you to shift that property without lowering the price

Summertime is almost over and a new school year awaits. It’s time for some post-holiday discipline: watching your waistline, keeping an eye on those purse strings and, if you have a house still on the market, renewing your efforts to sell it.

But what do buyers really pay attention to when they poke around your property? “It’s not always what you think they’re looking at,” says Simon Barnes, a property consultant. “Forget the expensive gadgetry. It’s often the smaller things that catch buyers’ eyes. It’s all about giving the impression that you are handing over a house that will be easy to run, rather than something with all the latest technology.”›

The Times Property: August 21 2013 by Francesca Steele

To see full article please click here (subscription required) – http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/property/article3849014.ece

by Simon Barnes

Mews houses

Mews houses are certainly not to everyone’s taste, unless they are unusually large, or have the benefit of parking facilities. Mews houses have this image of being “cool” bachelor pads, but the reality is quite different, largely they are small quite cramped and with little natural light. They can command premium prices, where the buyer owns the main house (originally attached to the mews) which by connecting to their house, creates a better living space with integrated parking.

by Simon Barnes

Do famous owners increase value?

With regards to London property owned by famous people or featuring in films increasing its value, the answer is no. I very much doubt that my buyers would be shallow enough to pay more for a property which has been owned by a famous person, other than possibly with the exception of real historic value, or been used in a major film.

If anything it may detract from the appeal, as it becomes a “marked” property which is easily recognisable. If it is of architectural or special design interest and that is why it had been featured in a film, then this would have been reflected in the price from the outset.

by Simon Barnes

Simon Barnes on Basements

The London Borough of Kensington recently announced a review of its basement policy. Simon Barnes comments:

I believe this review is a great idea and not before time. Developers and builders have become swept away by the thought of making excessive profits through creating basements, based on this obsession with ‘square footage’.

A desire to enhance the square footage of the house believing this will greatly enhance the value is misguided. Squash courts located in a newly created basement going under the garden are practical and with purpose; creating vast basements, or double or even triple deep basements are not because in reality much of this space will not be used and a house then becomes divided by useable space and simply redundant space.
[Read more…]

Contact H. Barnes & Co – Tel: 020 7499 3434