Norfolk

Written by Marc Langdon.

The Bidwells Data Book published this week highlights encouraging evidence of the beginning of a cautious recovery in the some parts of the eastern region.

Focusing onNorfolk, the market is location sensitive, with prices on properties in good locations retaining their value, whilst weaker locations are trading with some discounts.

After a slow end to 2011 for country houses, January proved to be unusually buoyant.

There was a significant increase in the number of prospective buyers and market appraisals.

However, February proved to be more challenging.

Activity levels diminished, with fewer prospective buyers registering.

The arrival of spring, and the good weather enabled March to be an encouraging month, with the level of confidence from buyers increasing.

The number of viewing was up on previous months; however the supply of new property coming to the market was below expectations.

Moving on to new homes, the year has commenced with an increase in enquires although many buyers have properties to sell.

This bodes well for the peak selling period of the year ahead as these potential buyers progress to a position to proceed.

After two years of limited launches, 2012 offers new stock with very encouraging launches including Kier’sRoundHouseParkscheme in Cringleford, and Charles Church’s final phase of the conversion of theNorfolkandNorwichHospital, theIvoryBuilding, set to launch in the summer of this year.

The commencement of work on the dualling the A11 will inevitably attract additional interest in the area.

We await the second quarter figures with great interest.

The big question on investors and developers lips is what impact will the recently announced national planning framework policy (NPPF) have on the housing sector recovery. If the government is right it should be positive.

 Marc Langdon is at Bidwells on 01603 763939.

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Written by Collette Hanlon.

Despite the rain, our garden, like most, is looking as lush and verdant as we have seen in our 12 years living here, making the desire to sit out and enjoy it stronger than ever this year!

 May is traditionally the month of planting out, and there is an abundance of inspiration around as the horticultural world fires up.

 But it is often translating that fabulous design scheme into a small courtyard ,where some of us can come unstuck. Many new properties are built with very small gardens and many of our Victorian terraces have tiny courtyards, but I see so much potential in these spaces to create that “additional room”. How lovely it is to catch a glimpse of something in flower through the kitchen window!

 If you’re hoping to sell your home this summer you can certainly enhance kerb appeal by investing in a few container plants.

 If you have a little more time, you can radically improve your courtyard garden with some careful planning.

 Think like a designer: begin by creating a realistic wish of what you would like to achieve; then assess what you have already and whether it needs to stay or go.

 For example, do you have a sturdy but unattractive fence that needs disguising; are there existing trees or shrubs that can be incorporated? Meanwhile, decide on a budget and stick to it.

 It is worth drawing a plan. Graph paper makes it simple and will enable you to structure your design. At the moment there is a move towards very geographic layouts, which work brilliantly in smaller gardens as they add architectural interest which naturally extend the inside out.

 If it looks too graphic, the use of foliage can reduce hard edges by planting texture and colour.

 Vertical planting is a hot trend and, with the use of living wall planters containing moisture mats, you can create a living wallpaper. Succulents are an excellent plant that will thrive in dry conditions that mimic their natural habitat and cope with a hose pipe ban. Look for hardy evergreen plants that will add all year round shape and structure and then add some summer interest – try a few pots of edible salad and flowers.

 Finally, add some comfortable furniture. Outdoor sofas and low coffee tables are bang on-trend but timber benches look fabulous piled with cushions. Lighting adds another layer of interest and solar-powered lighting is easy to install.

 Our gardens big or small are a precious space that can enhance our wellbeing even on a rainy day.

 Collette Hanlon SBID is a Norwich-based interior designer and creative director. Home Stagers specialises in “Staging to Sell” homes, property presentation and show home rental furniture across the UK. Home Stagers offers marketing advice, photography and work with chosen estate agents. Email enquiries@homestagers.co.uk or call 0800 542 8952.

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 Written by Annie Benton.

Gripped by Jubilee fever? Well a lot of you must be… believe it or not, I’ve nearly sold out of special edition Royal Jubilee cushions, real collectors’ pieces of the future, and, with many of you marking the day with street party celebrations, our cake stands, teapots and bone china cups and saucers have seen a sudden surge.

 If you’re thinking of updating your home this month, a visit to our shop could be just the inspiration you need, with new arrivals of all things beautiful. A new selection of lamps in all styles and designs, prices starting from £29.95, and many new mirrors, from traditional to Venetian, large to small with a few stunning ones for the garden.

 Glassware also adorns new shelves, from pressed glass powder jars, cut glass perfume bottles and stunning Tuscan decanters, which double as diffusers with natural Tuscan scents.

 Weather permitting, the gardens could see some attention over the coming weeks, and with a large delivery waiting to be unpacked in our warehouse, our garden area will feature some new lines, brand new to us.

 Last time I wrote, I mentioned taking on a wedding list, which has been almost unbelievable. Having already gone through one, we are now on our second list, with the lucky couples’ pile of pressies growing fast.

 So, anybody else out there getting married, come and see what we can do for you: bespoke lists put together and mailed out, we hold all the stock, gift-wrap and deliver all at a time and place convenient to you.

 Lots of people have commented on how much easier it is here than having to go to Norwich, and I really feel we can give a more personal service than many of the larger department stores.

 I wrote some time ago about our website. It’s still being modified and should be up and running soon. I think I underestimated the amount of work needed to list, photograph and catalogue all our lines – an enormous task but hopefully worthwhile when we get the finished project.

 I was asked this week if I had ever had any training in interior design and that made me think, never do we blow our own trumpets, but sometimes we should, so here goes…

 In total, I have six years’ training in: interior design; garden history and design; and floristry. And I also have a Fine Arts degree (hopefully that’s a bit more credible than just “the lady that opened that nice interiors shop”).

 On a final note, we were very pleased to have had our planning application passed for an extension to the rear of our property, which will house “Hamptons Tea Parlour”, which will be coming soon. It really will be something quite different, offering a “step back in time” to a very traditional way of enjoying afternoon tea, a real must for girly days out… I’ll keep you posted.

 Hamptons Home and Garden, Norwich Road, Reepham. 01603 871050. Email info@hamptonshomeandgarden.co.uk

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A week in the life of centre manager STEWART WRIGHT

This week has been a busy week at SP. We’ve managed to let three large spaces and are currently fuller than we’ve ever been. It’s often that a week will go by with no results but to get three in a week is a pleasing outcome. Maybe we’ve just picked some low hanging fruit but I’d like to think there was more to it than that. Well I would say that wouldn’t I? Of course everything in life is transient and no one can be successful all the time.
Our largest tenant gave notice. It wasn’t unexpected, there had been rumours – Norwich is a small “town” after all. There’s no ill will or dispute on either side, they’ve simply outgrown the building. They are a large, reputable, national company and of course, their departure to pastures new will more than wipe out this weeks gain. It wasn’t long before the law of sod came into play! Anyway, what follows isn’t a plug for a new signing.. well, actually it is. But they’re called bathhub.co.uk and I just couldn’t resist the pun. A few months ago I did a deal on a top floor office with two young entrepreneurs who, due to the need to take on more staff, were looking for larger premises from which to operate their successful bathroom website. United by a common love of extreme sports Frankie and his business partner George formed the vision of bathhub.co.uk These guys have over 20 years experience designing and installing high end suites for local developers and builders as well as the public however, had always done the works on behalf of another company. Bathhub.co.uk is a UK-wide website that supplies a huge range of bathroom products and services to the both the general public and the trade. Their success in building relationships with the most prestigious of suppliers has enabled them to retail not only the standard bathroom ranges but also a large number of well known bathroom brands such as Aqualisa, TC, Moods and even Sovos Bathroom TVs all at extremely competitive prices. These prices can be further improved by signing up for one of BathHub’s easily accessible and very popular trade accounts for builders, developers and architects etc, which can offer up to a further 25pc off their already low prices. These guys also do Wellness bath jacuzzi systems – but don’t do what George once did at Center Parcs and pour in half a gallon of bubble bath. Apparently when he opened the door the foam was almost touching the ceiling and was subsequently presented with a bill that even Keith Richards would’ve been proud of. Where BathHub really come into their own however, is through product knowledge and customer service, I gather that one client changed their delivery date no less than seven times over the course of 48hrs and I’m told that’s not unusual!
■ BathHub is at www.bathhub.co.uk or call 0800 6899037.
Stewart Wright, centre manager at Sackville Place, 44-48 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR3 1JU is on 01603 616221.

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By Caroline Culot, Archant property editor

If you are like me, you are probably fed up with the old adage “location, location, location.” It got me thinking – what do people really look for in a property and with the current economic climate and less money in the bank, are potential buyers compromising more on their so-called “must-haves?” I asked members of the N&DAEA for their opinion – and also for fun, what their own wishlist would be when buying a dream home. Aidan Branch, from Durrants listed the following as being, in his view, the top five selling points of a property – and guess what comes first! “I would say in this order; location, a good kitchen, a good bathroom/s, presentation of the property and nearby schools.
“The most negative points I think would be a house with poor presentation, environmental odours, parking problems, the appearance of the locality and too much clutter.
“My own dream home would be of an ultra modern design within a good, but not exceptionally large, garden, within walking distance of a town/city centre and all amenities.
“I like well proportioned living space with plenty of versatility, at least two or preferably three bathrooms and large bedrooms.”
Chris Mitchell, managing director at Howards listed the following essentials on a potential buyer’s wishlist:
■ Kerb appeal – buyers like houses with kerb appeal, that stand out from the crowd and make them feel good when they come home after work.
■ Location – always near the top of the list however as this is dictated by price many buyers are not in a position to limit their choice to the location they would really like
■ A neutral colour scheme – this makes the property attractive to the many rather than the few and with the huge choice of neutral colours available all vendors can enhance their chance of selling with the right colour choice
■ Layout and accommodation – more and more purchasers are wanting flexible living space rather than individual rooms so a layout and accommodation that can offer this will have more appeal than one that doesn’t.
■ Updated kitchens and bathrooms – if the kitchen and bathroom have the right appeal many buyers will overlook other defects – getting the wow factor in to kitchens and bathrooms always helps achieve an early sale.
“And the worst five – things that would put off a potential buyer – bad smells, a dirty carpet, badly thought out extensions and alterations – these can easily ruin a property and reduce value rather than enhance it; buyers are easily put off by poor design and layout unless it can be easily remedied.
“Anti-social uses in close proximity – noisy or noxious users in close proximity can have a detrimental effect on the sale potential of even the most attractive property, poor quality or unpopular finishes and fittings including colours, kitchen and bathroom.
“In the current climate purchasers are also very wary of a house which needs repairs and are easily put off by surveyors’ reports which highlight this and lack of kerb appeal; many purchasers are easily put off by unattractive or poorly designed properties.
“And my idea of a dream home? Something situated halfway up a mountain overlooking a lake where you can enjoy warm dry days in the summer and snowy winter nights by a log fire.”

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More from Louis de Soissons, director and head of residential at Savills in Norwich, on a tour of the A-Z of property.

This week E is for Elizabethan, entrances and empathy.

■ Elizabethan – as the nation prepares to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the Queen, it seems appropriate to honour the architectural legacy left by her illustrious predecessor.
Against a backdrop of political intrigue and ruthless power struggles emerged glorious additions to our architectural heritage. Above all, Elizabethan houses were about showiness and ostentation. Fabulous brickwork, great numbers of elaborate, bold chimneys and extensive use of glass proclaimed that you were a person of means. Think of Hardwick Hall; more glass than wall. Incredibly, Norfolk seems to have no single, great Elizabethan house, although many buildings will have been embellished and altered during her reign. Earlier Tudor and later Jacobean examples such Blickling and Barningham abound. It will be interesting to see what architectural legacy the modern Elizabethan era leaves behind.

■ Entrances – From the most modest of porches to the most extravagant portico, having somewhere to shelter from the rain while you find your door keys has got to be a good idea, especially of late. But the value of an entrance is not normally measured in purely practical terms. If a house is to make a statement, the look and feel of its entrance is usually key – think of the grand elegance of towering, neoclassical columns. Whatever the style of house or apartment, however, making the entrance as light, bright and welcoming as possible helps ensure a favourable first impression. After all, the entrance hall is first and last thing people see.

■ Empathy – possibly one of the most important ingredients for a successful sale.
If vendors take a tour of their own home wearing purchasers’ shoes, it can go a long way to help prepare a property for the market. Faults and problems can stand out a mile when viewing a house to buy, but, of course, we easily become blind to them when they are closer to home.
It pays to scrutinise paintwork and plaster for signs of wear and tear and also to think about whether you are really displaying each room to its full potential.
Having a spare room to hide the clutter may be very useful, but is it as valuable as a functioning extra bedroom?

■ You can contact Louis de Soissons at Savills on 01603 229210.

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