What a generous bunch you are! Over £7,000 raised at the Frontiers Foundation charity auction

What a generous bunch you are! Over £7,000 raised at the Frontiers Foundation charity auction

by Steve James United Kingdom

As they say, charity begins at home and members of the overseas property industry did not disappoint with a staggering £7,750 raised for the Frontiers Foundation at a charity auction held at the OPP Gala Dinner earlier this week.

Hosted by guest auctioneer for the evening, Paul Owen, former Chief Executive of the AIPP and now Owner of sales training company, The Clear Path Company, the charity auction was a welcome addition to the prestigious OPP Awards of Excellence presentation ceremony.

Organised by the Frontiers Foundation, the charitable organisation founded by Ray Withers, Chief Executive of property investment agency Property Frontiers and Charlotte Ashton, MD of property PR agency, AB Property Marketing, the auction successfully raised the funds required to transform the Ket Wangi orphanage in Kenya, building 3 new classrooms and a toilet block.

Trustees of the Frontiers Foundations was overwhelmed with the generosity of the lots donated which included dinner in a top London restaurant, tickets to the Cartier polo, a professional photo shoot, signed novels, a weekend break in Cornwall, supercar track day and luxury holidays in Turkey / Florida and a French chateau! Sincere thanks go to Fish Market New Street, Barton Wyatt, Peter Ross, Transworld Publishers, Property Frontiers, Club La Costa and Barrasford & Bird for their generosity.

With spirits high and the wine flowing, bidding was prolific and at some points competitive but with each lot vastly exceeding its reserve, the target of £7,000 was smashed by the end of the evening.
Commenting on the success of the auction, Frontiers Foundation Trustee, Charlotte Ashton said,

“Tonight’s charity auction showed the very best side of the overseas property industry. Thanks go to Xavier Wiggins and the OPP team for allowing us to hold the auction, to all those fabulously generous companies who donated the lots and to all those who bidded, every penny raised will go directly to bettering the lives of the children of the Ket Wangi orphanage.”

Now that the required funds have been raised, the process of building the new classrooms and toilet block can begin and the Frontiers Foundation is already in contact with Emily Odera, Mother of the Ket Wangi orphanage regards the logistics and timings. Ray and Charlotte along with fellow Trustees are hoping to once again get their hands dirty by going out to Kenya and assisting with the construction work. Updates, pictures and progress reports can be found on the Frontiers Foundation Facebook page.

For more information about the Frontiers Foundation, the Ket Wangi orphanage or to find out how you can support the project please call +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit http://www.propertyfrontiers.com/who-we-are/frontiers-foundation.aspx

Virginia Water saturated in overseas professionals looking for the perfect quintessentially English lifestyle

Virginia Water saturated in overseas professionals looking for the perfect quintessentially English lifestyle

by Viv United Kingdom

Having a roof over your head and living in satisfactory housing conditions is one of the most important aspects of people’s lives according to OECD’s Better Life Index. This report intelligently plots living conditions and wealth to find the very ‘best’ places to live worldwide.

  • UK ranks top 10 country according to OECD’s Better Life Index
  • Global recruitment specialist, Hydrogen, names the UK #2 global destination for professionals
  • Barton Wyatt in Virginia Water lets properties to over 15 nationalities

The United Kingdom sits very comfortably in 10th position out of the 36 countries that are compared ranking well above average on jobs, earnings and housing but below average on education, skills and equality. Yet these areas with room for improvement do not appear to deter hundreds of thousands from wanting to come and live in England’s green and pleasant land as is proven by the net migration figures which, according to the Office for National Statistics, reveal that some 503,000 people came to live in the UK in the year ending June 2013.

There are indeed many appealing reasons for living in the UK and if the OECD’s Better Life Index is to be whole-heartedly believed then it is perhaps not our education or equality that is the pull.

According to global recruitment specialist Hydrogen, in their “The Global Professionals on the Move 2013” report, the UK ranks second only to the USA as the global destination for professionals to work due to its new technology hub status.

James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt, the multi award-winning estate agency in North Surrey, is in a prime position to comment on high net worth individuals seeking out the best destinations for their families to live. With two highly acclaimed international schools on the doorstep and a plethora of very well-to-do English public schools to choose from close by, he is literally inundated with clients from overseas keen to live in the area. Wyatt comments:

“Currently our rental stock is let to 73% overseas clients. There are a multitude of different nationalities from Chinese to Kazakhstanis, Americans to Indians, Dutch to Canadians. The South East is littered with global blue-chip companies that are attracting business people from overseas to the area. Indeed in the past 6 months we have found homes for professionals working in Shell HSBC Pepsico and Oracle.

“A great many of our clients have children and they are very excited to be giving their families a taste of British life although many do choose to use our international schools over the local schools for education to ensure that if / when they relocate again they can continue their International Baccalaureate curriculum.”

Whether you are a UK resident or international traveller then the Virginia Water area makes eminently good sense as a location to live. Its green leafy lanes and peaceful woods make the locality a star spot for raising children with Virginia Water Lake in the Royal Park providing endless entertainment in the summer. Local residents are blessed with one of the best sporting line ups on their doorsteps with the annual PGA golf championship, World class polo, Henley rowing regatta and Ascot all close by. With its easy access to London and international hub, Heathrow just a few miles down the road there really could not be a better spot to live.

If you would like to talk to Barton Wyatt about relocating to the Virginia water area please call +44 1344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk. 

7 sales in 7 days: Why Ascot is fast becoming the downsizers dream

7 sales in 7 days: Why Ascot is fast becoming the downsizers dream

by Viv United Kingdom

Whilst the UK Property market is receiving more column inches than ever, it is clear to see that market sentiment is on the up but the latest sales success from award-winning house builder, Millgate, reveals just how active the market is.

Westbrook House, the brand new collection of 2 and 3 bedroom luxury apartments in the centre of Ascot, Berkshire, was officially launched by Millgate on Saturday 25th January 2014 and within 7 days the developer had sold 7 of the units, 50% of the entire development!

It may have been Westbrook House’s rich history (the site was the former home of Hollywood siren Rita Hayworth) which appealed to buyers, the roof terraces complete with hot tubs and direct views over the prestigious Ascot Racecourse which ensured that the apartments were snapped up quicklyor the stunning communal entrance hall complete with marble flooring and antique furniture offering a warm welcome to every visitor which sealed the deal. The wide ranging appeals of this exceptional development are hard to resist.

Interestingly for all 7 buyers it has been Westbrook House’s careful and considered design as the ideal downsizer’s property which ensured the sale. Data released late last year by Lloyds Bank revealed downsizing to be a strong driver of property sales with almost half (45%) of homeowners planning to sell their property in the next 3 years saying they´d like to downsize.

Indeed with an ever growing older population, the appeal of downsizing to a smaller property in order to cut household bills and boost retirement income is one trend which Jonathan Cranley, Sales & Marketing Director at Millgate, has seen before in Ascot:

“Back in 2012 Millgate launched Brockenhurst House, a collection of well-appointed apartments close to the popular market town of Ascot. Due to their intelligently-designed, individual layout which included spacious bedrooms, bespoke fitted kitchens and sublime bathrooms, not to mention private patios, terraces and roof gardens on the penthouses, the Brockenhurst House apartments sold very quickly.  They were snapped up by those looking to downsize as the apartments met all of their current and future needs.

“Due to client demand we have once again, at Westbrook House, redeveloped a prime site within Ascot into a downsizer’s dream. Some may think that downsizing means compromise but I can assure you that owning an apartment at Westbrook House is no compromise!”

As a location, Ascot has a long history of attracting the great and the good. Not only home to the late actress Rita Hayworth, Ascot is home to some 300 millionaires (WealthInsight) and celebrities have included John Lennon and Ringo Starr who once resided in Tittenhurst Park.  The Girls Aloud singer, Sarah Harding was born in Ascot, as was Grey´s Anatomy actress Camilla Luddington and Marti Pellow, singer of Wet Wet Wet still resides here.  Other neighbours are said to include a number of wealthy Russians, Queen Noor of Jordan (the widow of the late King Hussein) and wealthy Saudis with their own Ghurkha security staff living within the grounds.

A delightfully English market town only 7 miles from Heathrow airport with a High Street featuring rows of small exclusive retailers, a host of eateries and a farmers´ market held on the third Sunday of the month, it’s easy to see why Ascot has been named one of the top places to live in the UK and a firm favourite with downsizers.

For sporting enthusiasts Ascot offers championship golf courses at the nearby Wentworth Estate, world class horse racing meets and polo at Smiths Lawn in the Great Park, not to mention an array of boating and water sports on the Thames.

So if you are looking for a downsizer’s dream home then why not consider Westbrook House in Ascot? Apartments are priced from £795,000 and the stunning Show Home is open to visit from 10am – 4pm daily. For more information or to arrange a viewing please contact the appointed selling agent Edwards & Elliott on 01344 87 6363 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk. 

Super Suburbs: Best Buys on the market in Virginia Water today

Super Suburbs: Best Buys on the market in Virginia Water today

by Viv United Kingdom

Both the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail have features in the last week about the property market in Virginia Water in Surrey.

The Telegraph identified “London´s super suburbs: the most valuable property markets” whilst the Mail cried out “Millionaire´s row spreads out of London as average cost of homes hits £1million in more than 40 areas”.

Virginia Water is well known locally for its leafy lanes hiding palatial mansions but this recent national press interest could spell good news for vendors in the area as more buyers from London are made aware of the green and pleasant lands of North Surrey.

Indeed many prime London property owners have made a packet on property in the past few years and are looking for new areas to live whilst still wishing to invest their money wisely.

Rupert Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt, the leading estate agency in Virginia Water comments on the headline news:

“It is of no surprise that Virginia Water has been identified as a Super Suburb; we have been saying this for a long time. Some of our buyers own several homes, a London pad, a ski chalet and somewhere in the sun but Virginia Water is where they come to actually live rather than float in and out of.

“With a choice of high quality international schools, a raft of top level sports facilities and speedy links to Heathrow, Gatwick and central London, Virginia Water ticks all the boxes for busy international business men and women. We are predicting steady rises in property prices over the next few years – we see no reason why gains such as 15-20% are not achievable and potentially these could be reached in the next couple of ears.”

So, which one of these five Virginia Water properties would you most like to own?

Trumps Mill Cottage is the oldest house in Virginia Water with parts dating back to 1483. It is set in informal gardens, with a wonderful mill pond. The remainder of its 14 acre grounds consists of magnificent woodland, with mature trees and carpets of bluebells

This unique former Mill is now converted into a spacious family home and retains many original character features.  It has been thoughtfully updated by the existing owners with modern kitchen and bathrooms throughout.

The property features a master bedroom suite with dressing room and luxury en-suite bathroom, guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom, two further bedrooms, family bathroom, WC, drawing room, dining room, family room, kitchen/breakfast room, entrance hall, utility/cloakroom, cellar and workshops.Priced at £1,950,000

Whickham is a recently completed, brand new classically styled and luxuriously appointed family home, ready for immediate occupation and fully furnished.  The house sits on a south facing corner plot on the exclusive Wentworth Estate.

The property has a superb layout ideally suited to the contemporary family lifestyle. The hub of the house is a stunning kitchen with state of the art appliances. On the first floor is a very generous master bedroom suite and encompassing a dressing room, large bathroom and sitting room area. Over the double garage is a well-equipped staff/au-pair suite with its own entrance and staircase to be self-contained if desired.

On the second floor, there is the fifth bedroom and bathroom as well as an adaptable games room which of course could also be a sixth bedroom. The property has been fully furnished by award winning interior designers, Alexander James, and is ready for immediate occupation for a superb lifestyle. Priced at £4,250,000

4 Virginia Drive was built in 2006 for the current owners by Huf Haus, the German construction company renowned for their build quality and precise engineering. The property has been immaculately maintained and is now presented for sale in beautiful condition throughout. The home offers a unique experience with a tremendous feeling of space and light, large windows being the theme throughout the house.

The accommodation is set over two floors. The ground floor reception rooms are mainly open plan with the garden being drawn to the house by the large windows which are all fitted with electric blinds for shading and security. Further ground floor rooms include a beautiful guest bedroom suite and a separate study/play room. On the first floor there is a very large landing area which doubles as a library/TV lounge and a gallery overlooking the dining area. The three first floor bedrooms all have large windows with vaulted ceilings. Priced at £2,450.000

Abbots Warren is a house ripe for someone who wants to put their mark on it.  It is in good order but would benefit from some changes.

The property currently has 4/5 receptions and a large kitchen/breakfast room.  The master bedroom suite has a wonderful balcony overlooking the gardens and pool, a guest bedroom suite also has a balcony.  Three further bedrooms and a family bathroom complete the first floor.  A triple garage with office/annexe over is ideal for a home office or staff.

The south facing rear garden has a large sun terrace, swimming pool and covered BBQ area and is a really lovely feature of the home. Priced at £2,750,000

Four Winds is a stunning brand new executive home, constructed to the highest standard of finish and specification throughout close to the Village and local schools.

The house has a contemporary design with luxury features such as an Italian bespoke kitchen, under floor heating, quality double glazing and a built-in sound system etc.

The property has 3,300 square feet of accommodation and includes a magnificent kitchen/breakfast room which is open plan to a conservatory overlooking the lawned rear garden. The first includes floor four double bedrooms and three bathrooms. On the top floor there is a further bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom.

The house is approached over a block paved driveway with electric wrought iron gates on brick piers. There is ample parking for a number of vehicles and there are side accesses to the rear garden which is fenced and lawned and has a lovely westerly aspect to catch the evening sun, ideal for BBQ´s or alfresco dining!  Priced at  £1,395,000

For more information on any of these properties contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visitwww.bartonwyatt.co.uk

Property Inspector: Generation rent: Madrid vs. London

by Georgina Spain United Kingdom

The state of the UK buy-to-let market is no secret: even as Help to Buy helps people climb the property ladder, tenant demand stays strong. But how does Britain´s rental sector compare to Spain? TheMoveChannel.com´s podcast compares the experiences of a Madrid renter to a London letter.

  • Buy-to-let booms in Britain 
  • Spanish housing crisis good news for tenants?
  • 9.1 per cent of Madrid rents reduced in October 2013
  • Rents in London up 4.9 per cent year-on-year in October 2013

TheMoveChannel.com´s Property Inspector: taking a closer look at global real estate each month.

The housing crisis has left a lot of UK house hunters stuck as tenants, with landlords able to snap up the houses that are available and charge high rates. For Spanish renters, though, the housing crisis may have been a good thing, judging by the Property Inspector´s chat with Silvia Platero Peña, as large supply and low prices appear to produce favourable conditions for tenants.

Indeed, according to idealista.com, 6.3 per cent of all homes listed for rent in Spain reduced their rates in October 2013, 11.5 per cent higher than the previous month. In Madrid, 9.1 per cent of rental prices were reduced.

In London, meanwhile, rents jumped 4.9 per cent year-on-year in London, according to LSL Property Services, while the number of new tenancies also increased – that demand has helped to push up rents throughout 2013. Help to Buy is helping to slow down that demand and stabilise rents, according to other indexes, but the broad conditions remain the same.

In terms of investment, another idealista.com report shows that the gross return on a rental property in Madrid was 4.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2013. In London, rising property prices have offset rental incomes, leaving the UK capital outside of HSBC´s top 10 buy-to-let hotspots in April 2013. Even so, the highest yields available in the UK capital were 6.15 per cent in the borough of Southwark, much higher than Spain´s capital.

The head of research at idealista.com, Fernando Encinar, says the discounted rental rates “clearly shows that property owners are aware that price remains the determining factor in closing a deal”.

Are Spain´s landlords more sympathetic to growing numbers of cash-strapped tenants amid high levels of unemployment?

Silvia´s friend recently moved flat in Madrid. Steve recently moved flat in London. We record a conversation between them discussing their experiences of renting property.

Click here to listen to the full discussion.

How hard was it to find a place to rent?
Silvia: It was easy for her. She wanted to move but she didn’t spend much time looking – finally, she found it by chance!

Steve: It was quite tough, mainly because there were so many people looking at the same time. Our specific budget, below £1,000 per month, is also pretty rare in London, which made it tougher.

Are there many homes/flats available on the market?
Silvia: Yes, there are many flats available on the market.

Steve: It depends on location and price. I think the main problem is competition for the supply that there is, with a lot of people renting because they can´t buy.

Are there lots of people fighting over the same rental property?
Silvia: People don’t fight over the same home, because there are many places to live.

Steve: Yes, competition is high. If we viewed a home one day, it could be gone by the time we made an offer.

Did you have to be quick to sign a contract before someone else moved in?
Silvia: No

Steve: Yes. To secure the flat, we made an offer on the spot while at the viewing and also paid a deposit to reserve it.

Was your landlord willing to negotiate on how much you pay?
Silvia: Yes, he let me negotiate but not too much.

Steve: Yes, he was willing to negotiate, although not by a huge amount.

Are rents more expensive now, in your opinion?
Silvia: No, the cost of renting rooms has dropped €100.

Steve: Yes, I think so. Our landlord is now trying to increase our rent when we renew the contract next month to keep in line with rising prices around the area.

Was it harder to move flat now than when she last moved?
Silvia: No, now it is easier because prices are cheaper and there are more houses available because of the crisis.

Have you ever considered moving to another city or country?
Steve: No.
Silvia: Yes, she would like to move to any country, she doesn’t care where.

Notes to Editors
Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with more than 800,000 listings in over 100 countries around the world.

The website address is http://www.themovechannel.com and the office address is 24 Jack´s Place, Corbet Place, Spitalfields, London, E1 6NN.

Contact Dan Johnson on 0207 952 7650 for further information.

The B to D of why investors are choosing Bradford as their angel of the north in 2014

The B to D of why investors are choosing Bradford as their angel of the north in 2014

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Welcome to Bradford. This often-overlooked city in the heart of the UK is fast becoming a boomtown for investment.

Ray Withers, Chief Executive of multi award-winning property investment agency, Property Frontiers, shares his reasons behind launching an exclusive new buy-to-let opportunity in the city in the “B to D of Bradford”.

B is for Bradford Broadway
Development of a new Westfield retail centre in the heart of the city is set to enhance the area’s popularity as a shopping destination. The city serves a catchment population of 919,391 with a weighted annual spend potential of £623 million, forecast to grow by more than an additional £250 million on completion of the Broadway development. The 555,000 sq ft retail outlet will host 70+ units, including Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Next.

R is for regeneration
£1.5 billion is being invested in Bradford’s regeneration, with government and the private sector joining forces in the Masterplan project. The city centre is set for an extensive makeover, with new public spaces, water features, improved transport links and restored historic architecture. Luxury city living apartments such as the new Aspire Citygate available exclusively through Property Frontiers are in development to meet the growing demand from people and businesses relocating to the area. A £35 million City Centre Growth Zone is also underway, designed to attract more business, expansion and investment in the area.

A is for affordable property.
Bradford offers a good, yet affordable standard of living and its migrating population has made the city one of the UK’s top residential property hotspots for 2014. Residents are attracted by Bradford’s cosmopolitan living, coupled with its location in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. House prices in Bradford are, on average, one third less than London and half the price of the south east. However, the growing demand in the area is pushing up prices in the property market, making it an excellent location for capital growth investments.

D is for digital
Bradford’s Airedale Digital Corridor is home to a number of major digital, electronic and creative companies including Pace, Echostar Europe, Radio Design, Teledyne Defence and Bradford Technonogy Ltd. Bradford is also home to the National Media Museum and the world’s first UNESCO City of Film.

Digital connections are also set to speed up, as a £21.96 million contract between four West Yorkshire local authorities and BT has been agreed. The Superfast West Yorkshire project plans to extend high-speed fibre broadband to 97% of households and businesses across West Yorkshire by autumn 2015.

F is for fast connections
Another reason for Bradford’s popularity is excellent national and international travel connections. The Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) is just 6 miles from the city centre and has thrice daily flights to Heathrow for London links. The airport underwent a major expansion in 2012 to include an exclusive business zone lounge to meet demand. The area is served by road links via the M1, M62 and A1 (M) motorways; with train links enabling travel to Leeds in 20 minutes, with London two hours by train and Manchester within the hour.

O is for opportunities for employment
With a variety of key business sectors, Bradford offers great opportunities for employment as well as business. The city is home to the renowned University School of Management and a number of corporate HQs, including Morrisons, Yorkshire Building Society, Santander and Hallmark Cards.

Bradford’s financial and business services generate over £13 billion pa, projected to grow circa 50% by 2022. There are over 250,000 people employed in the sector, with major employers including Provident Financial, Santander, Yorkshire Building Society, Congregational & General and Gordons LLP.

The city has the largest UK employment base in engineering and manufacturing, with 160,000 jobs in textiles, electronics, printing, medical equipment, automotive engineering, aerospace and energy components. A survey conducted by the Times Higher Education Authority revealed Bradford’s graduate employment was second only to Cambridge.

R is for rapid economic growth
A vibrant city with ambitious development plans, Bradford has the third largest economy in the Yorkshire and Humber region at £8.3 billion per year and this is projected to grow to more than £9.6 billion by 2016. Bradford is the fifth fastest growing area outside of London.

D is for diversity and contrasts
With a population over 524,000, Bradford is the fourth largest metropolitan district in England. Residents are attracted by Bradford’s cosmopolitan living and Victorian architecture, coupled with its location in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. It is a culturally diverse city, with a flourishing arts scene, museums, galleries, traditional pubs serving locally brewed ale and Michelin star restaurants. Bradford was named England’s Curry Capital in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Ray Withers concludes,
“As we see property prices in London even out, it is to the regions where both capital growth and significant rental income can still be achieved that savvy investors are heading in 2014. The new Aspire Citygate development, a collection of modern 1 and 2 bedroom luxury apartments available off-plan from as little as £50,000, presents one of the most attractive buy-to-let opportunities I have seen for a long time. With the below market value pricing delivering instant equity and a 9% Return on Capital available, this is one angel investment of the north not to be missed!”

For more information get in touch with Property Frontiers today on +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

From Barton Wyatt to Blizzard Beach – where children’s dreams do come true

From Barton Wyatt to Blizzard Beach – where children’s dreams do come true

by Viv United Kingdom

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park in Orlando, Florida is the stuff that dreams are made of. And for 192 children from the UK, this was where their dreams came true thanks to the Dreamflight charity and amazing support from people who just wanted to give something back.

Dreamflight is a registered charity whose purpose is to take deserving children on the holiday of their dreams to America’s capital of fun – Orlando!  The children are chosen from all over the UK and are either currently, or have been, seriously ill. Dreamflight is not just a holiday for them, these children get to realise that they are not alone with their illness and not the odd one out.  With a new independence gained from being away from their family, they see other children who have suffered, they gain perspective and strength and with the help of the team of volunteers experience things that they never thought possible.

The children on each trip are accompanied by a group of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and non medical escorts who make the journey possible by giving their time and energy to the charity, and it is not just for the 10 days that they will be away.  There is a great deal of preparatory work and fundraising to be done before the annual trip to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Jo Parris, Lettings Manager for Barton Wyatt Estate Agency in Virginia Water, Surrey was invited to be a non medical escort for the 2013 Dreamflight.  It was in fact a client of Barton Wyatt who introduced Jo to the charity almost ten years ago and together with Jo’s husband, Mike, a doctor, they decided to offer their time for the trip.

James Wyatt, partner of Barton Wyatt offered his own support by giving Jo the extra time off from the office and sponsoring T-shirts for the children of the ‘Pooh Bear’ Group to enjoy on their day in Blizzard Beach.  Barton Wyatt has sponsored the Pooh Bear group T-shirts for nearly ten years and looks forward to continuing to do so in the future.

Jo Parris comments on her experience:

“I was both nervous and excited about the trip before we went.  Excited by the experiences I was going to gain from being part of such a special group of people but also anxious to get my part right and make a worthy contribution to the trip.”

Jo was allocated two special boys to her care; Robert and Jermain, aged 8 and 9 years old. The holiday started in a hotel near Heathrow and once the goodbyes to the parents were completed, Jo’s duties began.

The Dreamflight flight itself was a revelation to Jo, a frequent flier herself.  “The flight started with a party and really went on like that,” she explains.  Silly string, face painting, nail bar, food on demand and the friendliest crew you’ll ever come across including a running commentary from the flight deck during take-off and landing made flying a real adventure for children, many of whom had never been near an airport, let alone travelled on a Jumbo-Jet!

Once at Orlando, Jo had a packed schedule starting at 7am and often not finishing until 11pm.  The group were taken daily to a different theme park on the ‘Pooh Bear’ bus aiming to ensure the children had maximum fun.  However, there was always a serious side to ensure the wellbeing, safety and health of the children and Jo found she grew eyes in the back of her head so that she always knew where her boys were and that their medication was given on time.

Jo describes the emotional side of the trip,

“A tremendous bond was made between the group, not just with the children and teenagers but with other escorts and arriving home was quite emotional.  Parents came to meet the plane and yes there were a few tears. I personally felt bereft for several weeks, continually looking round for ‘my boys’.

“I’ve not seen the boys since the trip, it’s not protocol. I have however sent them photo books and had email communication with one of the boy’s mums. In the New Year we will be showing the film of the trip to the whole Pooh Bear group and so I can’t wait to see all of the children then.”

Dr Mike, a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine had a very different experience as he was a ‘floating doctor’ not officially allocated to a group but going to where he was needed.  He spent his time with all twelve of the groups and was responsible for the health of the adult volunteers on the trip as well as the children.  Mike was also responsible for a sourcing a portable ventilator for the trip, an expensive and life saving piece of equipment but this was just one part of the multitude of tasks which together make the trip possible.

Jo concludes,

“Going on Dreamflight is a huge honour. It is also a huge responsibility and mentally and physically exhausting.  Dreamflight changes the lives of the children who go but I can also say that it’s changed me.  Would I go again?  In a heartbeat.”

For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

For more details on Dreamflight visit www.dreamflight.org

New for 2014: Millgate opens the doors to Westbrook House, Ascot

New for 2014: Millgate opens the doors to Westbrook House, Ascot

by Viv United Kingdom

Westbrook House is the latest property development to be launched by luxury house builder Millgate on Saturday 25th January. This incredible building comprises 14 top of the range apartments that are guaranteed to be the talk of the town.

  •  Saturday January 25th sees the launch of the latest luxury development by Millgate
  • Westbrook House occupies a prime Ascot location with superb racecourse views
  • 45% of homeowners planning to sell their property in the next 3 years would like to downsize (Lloyds)

With two luxury apartments already sold off plan, the development has been causing quite a stir ahead of launch with Richard Cracknell, Director of appointed selling agent, Edwards & Elliott, commenting,

“To have sold two apartments before launch is indicative of the buoyant market and of the lack of stock that we are seeing at this level.  Both the apartments have been reserved by downsizers, moving from large houses that they grew out of long ago. Folk such as these are looking for private accommodation that is of the absolute highest standard; they want to be able to get to shops and restaurants quickly but also the privacy of being away from the hub of the village.  Westbrook House is perfect for this.”

In November last year Lloyds released some data on downsizers in the UK which revealed that downsizing continues to be a strong driver of property sales, with almost half (45%) of homeowners planning to sell their property in the next three years saying they’d like to downsize. The report went on to say that more than a third of potential downsizers (37%) want to downsize to support their retirement plans and nearly half (43%) said they wanted to reduce their bills and outgoings.

Jonathan Cranley, Sales and Marketing Director for Millgate said:

“In 2011 we launched a similar project down the road in Ascot.  The apartments were a huge hit hence our delight in being able to build Westbrook House which we anticipate will sell equally well.  The Ascot Housing market demands a high quality product which is not a market that all  developers  are keen to work in. Westbrook House is uncompromising in design and specification.

Richard Cracknell of Edward and Elliott goes on to offer his view of the Ascot market in 2014,

“The marketplace is most definitely ‘hotting up’! We are seeing an immediate increase in the volume of enquiries both from vendors and purchasers at all price levels. This is normal just after Christmas but we’re  expecting it will be more sustained this year and continue into a buoyant spring. There certainly  is a lot more confidence and feeling from purchasers that they must buy before prices start going up even more!

“There are, of course, reminders every day that the economy is not completely out of the woods yet but people seem to be much more optimistic that their jobs are more secure and that now is the time to make that move that they have been putting off during the recession. I think, all things considered, that this year will see a return to ‘normality’ in the property market in this area with mortgages more easily available and continued growth – hopefully gentle, sustainable growth in house prices!

“The only fly in the ointment is supply. Stock levels are generally low although hopefully this will ease as we move into the spring.  Millgate’s Westbrook House is opening at a perfect time.”

Westbrook House  offers  14 exceptional classically designed  two and three bedrooms apartments from 1,380 sq ft to over 3,000.  Designed with large terraces and balconies, owners will enjoy great views towards the racecourse. Bespoke luxury kitchens create the very best in indulgent living and feature Siemens appliances, granite worktops and hand-painted cabinets, a larder style fridge, freezer and dishwasher with washer/driers in the utility rooms.  Bathrooms are superbly equipped also with white Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware and chrome furnishings.

The development also has secure underground parking with space for two cars per apartment.

For more information on these Millgate apartments contact the agent, Edwards and Elliott on  01344 624700 or  visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.

Spread your wings and indulge in a new luxury Millgate home with this stunning bird’s eye view

Spread your wings and indulge in a new luxury Millgate home with this stunning bird’s eye view

by Viv United Kingdom

It’s not often that you’ll find a new home situated on such a prime site that it literally takes your breath away but award-winning luxury house builder, Millgate, have done it again.

After much anticipation, Saturday February 1st 2014 will see the opening of Trevereux Hill, a collection of traditional country homes alongside a striking contemporary residence and luxury apartments located in the charming village of Oxted, Surrey.

Setting a new benchmark in building excellence, Trevereux perfectly embodies the three core values of Millgate – vision, design and craftsmanship – and sees the sympathetic transformation of a former Marie Curie Research Institute into 6 spacious 3 bedroom penthouse apartments boasting grandstand countryside views.

In addition, the private gated development will offer premium family accommodation in the form of two 5 bedroom detached homes and a truly exceptional 5 bedroom residence which sees Millgate’s Chief Architect Greg Meier explore a new direction in contemporary design.

Greg comments:

“Trevereux Hill truly is a unique and ground-breaking development for Millgate. The juxtaposition of the traditional style country homes together with the façade from the restored Marie Curie building and the striking use of glass and clean linear lines on the contemporary residence makes this Millgate’s first ever mixed vernacular development and a truly outstanding one at that.”

Offering residents not only a stunning bird’s eye view of the sublime Surrey countryside, the six Trevereux Hill apartments, all 1700 sq.ft or more, also boasts a rich history. The carefully restored building was originally built in 1886 and owned by Charing Cross Hospital before being later acquired by the Marie Curie Trust and transformed into a cancer research centre, pioneering revolutionary medical treatments.

With meticulous attention to detail both externally and internally at the forefront of Millgate’s mind, experienced interior designers, Alexander James Interiors have dressed the Show Home to their usual extremely high standard. Visitors can explore the carefully designed interior space, view the high specification fixtures, fittings and appliances as well as marvel at the American IronHorse showpiece motorbike on display in the contemporary residence.

To arrange your viewing of the penthouse apartments, available from £995,000 or the detached country homes, available from £3,500,000, contact appointed selling agent Knight Frank today on 01483 564660 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.

The smart way to buy property in 2014: Download the new Barton Wyatt app today

The smart way to buy property in 2014: Download the new Barton Wyatt app today

by Viv United Kingdom

 ·         International Data Corporation predicts 12% rise in smartphones sales

·         Gartner forecasted 102 billion app downloads in 2013, rising to 269 billion in 2017

·         Christmas 2013 saw a record-breaking number of app downloads (Flurry)

 

2013 saw the number of apps available on both Apple and Google hit the magic one million with both platforms well over the 50 billion download mark by the end of the year.  Indeed with International Data Corporation predicting a 12% rise in the sales of smartphones worldwide for 2014, the number of apps being created and subsequently downloaded is only going to multiply.

 

Today you are unlikely to need to pay for the privilege of having a new app on your phone.  Rising competition has meant that consumers can almost always choose a free app or ‘Lite’ version rather than parting with cash. In fact technology researcher Gartner predicts that by 2017, 94.5% of downloads will be for free apps – some 269 billion downloads.

 

No industry is untouched by the presence of apps, from education to entertainment, sports to mapping; anyone with a smartphone has the ability to push notifications every hour of every day wherever they are in the world.

 

The property industry has benefitted too from the birth of the app; this technology has enabled buyers to have the latest properties delivered to their smartphones within moments of coming to market.

 

Instead of staring into estate agent’s windows or trawling through the local newspaper, help is literally at hand, on your mobile phone, with intuitive property search functions, mortgage calculators, mapping tools, local area information including flood threats, broadband speed, commuter times, historic house prices and crime statistics and direct contact channels.

 

One Surrey estate agent leading the way with their cutting edge app is Barton Wyatt.   Downloads of the app have rocketed with almost 650 downloads in the four months to Christmas 2013 with this flurry of activity driving the Barton Wyatt team to review the existing app and incorporate new functions to make it even more useful to both purchasers and vendors.

 

James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt, comments:

 

“As Chair of the Surrey National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and a bit of a gadget head, I do like to lead the way with technology. I use apps all the time in my private life with the wife and kids filling up the iPad with games, online shopping and travel apps so it’s only natural that we looked to extend this to our business too.

 

“I’m proud to say that Barton Wyatt was one of the very first estate agents to launch a property app back in January 2011.   Now three years later we have a total number of downloads which has surpassed even my expectations at over 3,000. But as with everything hi-tech today, our app is not static and requires ongoing evolution in line with user expectations and the latest technological advancements so ensure it remains cutting edge.”

 

With this in mind, James and the team, have just launched the latest 2014 edition of the Barton Wyatt app available on both Apple and Android platforms. Embracing the popularity of the iPhone 5, the new app makes use of the full height of the screen and superior resolution, is fully compatible with the iOS7 update, employs a new user interface with swipe functionality, supports EPC PDF files  and the app conforms to the latest privacy regulations.

 

Importantly, the new app complies with the latest lettings legislation regards displaying Tenant Fees, offers a new Mortgage Calculator and displays Recent Searches for ease of use. 

 

For more information on this market leading property app call Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

 

To download the iPhone app go to – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/barton-wyatt-for-iphone/id412624874?mt=8

To download the iPad – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/barton-wyatt-virginia-water/id424175338?mt=8

To download the Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.barton.wyatt&hl=en_GB

 

 

——-BEGINS————-

 

 

Editor’s Note:

 

New features of the Barton Wyatt 2014 app include:

 

ü  iPhone 5, using the full height of the new screen size/resolution.

ü  iOS7 updates making sure all functions work with the new operating system.

ü  New user Interface with swipe functionality.

ü  Mortgage Calculator with “Request a Quote” form and an editable Banner Advert.

ü  Fly Out Menu showing the full content of the app.

ü  Branch contact Information shown in a list or by location.

ü  Popup promo adverts allowing you to add promo messages when the app is in use.

ü  Tenant Fee’s enabling you to conform to the latest lettings legislation (applies to UK only, excluding Scotland).

ü  Rate my App prompt included so users can easily add ratings for your app in iTunes.

ü  GEO Push Notifications, send a message to a geo-graphical location.

ü  EPC PDF files supported (as well as image versions).

ü  Add to Contacts on Branch Contact Detail pages so important contact details are added direct to users phonebook.

ü  Recent Searches, displays a list of all recent searches so they can be done again instantly.

ü  Notifications, display a list of any recent Push Notifications sent by you (in CMS).

 

———–ENDS————-