Living the dream – Million pound property sales increasing for first time in 4 years

by Viv United Kingdom

It seems that the dream of living the millionaire lifestyle has become a reality for many more of us with the Lloyds TSB Million Pound Property Report 2011 revealing that there are now 185,000 real estate millionaires in the UK and sales of million pound homes are increasing at their fastest rate since 2006.

Suren Thiru, Lloyds TSB Housing Economist, explains,

“The number of properties sold for over £1 million has risen substantially over the past year, reflecting the strength of the very top end of the housing market”

In spite of current market fluctuations, it seems that bricks and mortar is still a worthy asset to invest in with 7,185 million pound property sales in Great Britain in 2010 alone, a staggering 54% increase compared with 2009.

These latest figures indicate that there has been a clear revival at the top end of the market possibly indicating that the well-off have discovered clever ways to undertake transactions in the recession whilst the cash-strapped average Joe is still feeling the harsh reality of the economic downturn.

Roughly 185,000 British homes are valued at £1 million or more with 83% of those homes sold as expected in London and the South East. The West Midlands however recorded the biggest percentage increase in million pound sales at 109%, followed by the East of England at 62% against London at 56% in 2010.

James Wyatt, Partner of the award winning luxury estate agency, Barton Wyatt located in Virginia Water, Surrey, welcomes the news commenting,

“With house prices having risen so dramatically over the last decade it is no surprise that there are more and more million pound property owners in Britain today. Here in Virginia Water, just 40 minutes from Central London, we have seen home values increase and there seems to be no limit – a £30 million super mansion has just been proposed for building on the Wentworth Estate.”

He further explains,

“It is interesting to note however that it is not just Brits buying these multi-million pound homes. We have been flooded with affluent buyers from across the globe searching for property with clients from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and more recently our first ever Chinese buyer seeking properties with price tags anywhere from £5million to £30 million.”

If you are in the market for a millionaire’s pad then Green Hedges located on the Main Island of Wentworth Estate, in Virginia Water should be of interest. Providing space and luxury with a £5,750,000 price tag, Green Hedges is a spectacular Georgian style mansion with 6 bedrooms, an acre of landscaped garden, gymnasium, swimming pool, wine store and detached double garage.

For more information, please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

“We Want Wentworth!” Surrey’s most prestigious golf estate sees increase in demand from global buyers

by Viv United Kingdom

 

According to a recent report by Knight Frank, prime country house prices rose by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2011 amidst the nationwide property price decline. Barton Wyatt estate agency on The Wentworth Estate, Surrey, has also observed that, in fact, boutique country estates such as Wentworth are increasingly a target for wealthy foreign buyers today. So much so that this famous Tarrant designed estate has become something of a global brand in its own right for multi-millionaire and billionaire residents.
 
James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt informs:
 
“After a quiet fourth quarter in 2010, we have suddenly been flooded with affluent buyers. Deals have been struck in recent weeks with clients from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and more recently our first ever Chinese buyer seeking properties with price tags anywhere from £5million to £30 million.”
 
Wyatt continues: “The Chinese buyer is particularly interesting as we have been hearing stories about Chinese buyers flooding London but this is the first that has ventured out of Central London and come our way. On the rental front we have had an Egyptian looking to rent a Wentworth home with a budget of £100,000 per week which shows what a specialised market we are dealing with.” 
 
But it isn’t just the wealthy international buyers that are attracted to suburban Wentworth. With the BMW PGA Championship fast approaching in May, eyes have turned to the golfing celebrities housed amongst the leafy Surrey surrounds.
 
“We currently have Retief Goosen’s house on the market, we’ve just sold Dubai winner Thomas Bjorn’s house and we have the previous multi winner of the European Tour, Darren Clarke’s home to let”, says Wyatt.
 
The appeal to golf enthusiasts is obvious with the famous Wentworth Club and its four courses including the Championship Burma Road West Course. The Wentworth Club is also actually the headquarters of the PGA European Tour, the world’s second richest professional golf tour. However, beyond the green, why are rich buyers clambering to own bricks and mortar here?
 
The Wentworth Estate extends to approximately 1,750 acres. It’s history dates back to the early 1920’s when the visionary developer, Tarrant purchased the country estate around which he created his rural dream of substantial mansions set in beautiful mature gardens around golf courses. At the epicentre is the Wentworth Club with swimming pools, restaurants, tennis courts, gym and spa facilities.

The local centres of Virginia Water, Sunningdale, Ascot and Windsor cater for day to day shopping requirements. Communications are excellent with the M25, M3 and M4 close by giving fast access to the motorway network, London, Heathrow and the private Farnborough airports.

Schooling is exceptional with many renowned private schools such as Eton College, Heathfield, Papplewick, Sunningdale, St Mary’s, St Georges Ascot and St John’s Beaumont. In addition, there are two of the very best international schools in Europe situated near the Estate, ACS in Egham and TASIS in Thorpe, which can be attributed to its success as a desirable location for wealthy families from across the world.

 
Wyatt comments:
 
“International buyers are moving away from Central London not only for the education, security and leisure amenities in the Surrey suburbs but financially it is a savvy decision. Prices in London have increased by 30% since March 2009, compared to country prices which are up by around 7%. So there are relative bargains still to be had outside of the city. And Estates such as Wentworth, as well as being merely 42 minutes from London on the train, offer all important space and security, something that many millionaires are very much in the market for.”
 
For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
 
— Ends —
 
Hyale, Wentworth Estate – Price On Application
 
A grand house ideally situated on the Main Island of the Wentworth Estate opposite the 17th Green of the Championship West Course with 9,376 square feet of luxurious accommodation arranged over four floors with grounds approaching 1.63 acres.
 
This property has had some extremely thoughtful concepts and modern appliances integrated within. Such as 6 CCTV cameras and full alarm system, automatic gates and video entry system, aquavision televisions in the swimming pool and master en-suite bathroom, mood lighting in all principal rooms, surround sound and projector in the cinema room. The developer could really not have done more to make this house easy and comfortable to live in. The gardens have been professionally landscaped with extensive terracing and a fully integrated automatic irrigation system. There is also a state of the art rain water harvesting system.
 
The accommodation consists of a spacious master bedroom suite with walk in dressing room, luxurious en-suite bathroom and balcony, four further bedroom suites, galleried reception hall, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room, family room, study, loggia, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, impressive indoor swimming pool complex with spa bath, changing facilities, gymnasium, steam and plant room, second floor cinema/games rooms with kitchenette, self contained staff flat, triple garage with large room above, extensive south facing terracing and landscaped gardens.
 
For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
 

LICENSED ESTATE AGENTS IN VIRGINIA WATER HELPING CUSTOMERS WIN

by Viv United Kingdom

 

Barton Wyatt is proud to have received its license from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), one of the first UK estate agencies to do so.
A licensed estate agency means consumers are guaranteed that at least one person within each office is qualified in residential property sales, either through a formal qualification or through length of membership through the NAEA.
This qualification requirement is unique to NAEA licensed estate agents – the only license of its kind in the UK property industry. Barton Wyatt have five qualified members of staff.
At its launch in the House of Commons in November 2010, the licensing scheme was given the backing by Grant Shapps, Housing Minister and Alison Seabeck, Shadow Housing Minister.
Shapps said “by ensuring they enjoy the trust of people buying and selling homes, estate agents will inject greater confidence and movement in the housing market. In future, anyone looking to buy a home or sell theirs should ask the simple question of their estate agent – ‘are you licensed by the NAEA?”
He added “Currently there is no barrier to anyone setting up and practising as an estate agent. There is no legal requirement for estate agents to obtain a new license, leaving consumers with a clear choice as to whether they choose a licensed or unlicensed agent”.
Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the NAEA said “I am delighted to confirm that Barton Wyatt is now fully licensed. We would like all sellers and buyers to ask their prospective agents, do you have an NAEA license? If they don’t, they should ask themselves whether that’s the agent from whom they would get the best service when marketing their property.”
“No one would knowingly use an unlicensed taxi driver. Neither should they use an unlicensed estate agent.”
“In a difficult economic time, it is important for anyone placing a home on the market to use a professional, knowledgeable agent. NAEA members know their local area and know their market. That is very important to consumers”
James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt commented “we are focussed on providing a high calibre service to our sellers and buyers, and being a founder licensed estate agent shows our commitment to remaining one of the best estate agents in the country.”
The new license will also guarantee Barton Wyatt is covered by required amounts of professional indemnity insurance. They will also undertake 12 hours of continuing professional development every year, commit to keeping up to date with industry developments and be bound by the NAEA’s rules of conduct. Barton Wyatt is already a licensed letting agent under a similar scheme run by the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)
The NAEA represents around one in three estate agents in the UK. It aims to get as many members as possible licensed by June this year. All of its members can be found by visiting www.naea.co.uk.
For more information on the Barton Wyatt App or their properties please call 01344 834000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk
——————- ENDS ———————–
Editor Notes
About the NAEA
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is the UK’s leading professional body for estate agency personnel representing the interests of around 10,000 members who practice across all aspect of property services both in the UK and overseas. These include residential and commercial sales and lettings, property management, business transfer, auctioneering and land. The NAEA is a sister organisation to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and as is Propertylive.co.uk, the UK’s only regulated property portal.
The NAEA is dedicated to the goal of professionalism within all aspects of property, estate agency and land. Its aim is to reassure the general public that by appointing an NAEA member to represent them, they will receive in return the highest level of integrity and service in both sales and lettings, for all property matters. Both NAEA and ARLA members are bound by a vigorously enforced code of practice.

Surrey Estate Agents Move with the Times

by Viv United Kingdom

 

A recent report by Google predicts that over 50% of property searches will take place at some point on a mobile device.
This means that the majority of buyers will be using iphones, ipads, Blackberry’s, Androids and other mobile devices to view properties, find Estate Agents and a multitude of other information, on the move.
James Wyatt who is the Surrey Chairman of the National Association of Estate Agents is taking a leading role locally in urging Estate Agents to join the mobile revolution. “We have to recognise that the way people access information, and particularly property information, is changing. Some of the large Estate Agents have already bought out applications or apps as they are widely known, and even my own small firm, Barton Wyatt has its own app for various mobile devices”
So keen is Wyatt on the introduction of apps that he has arranged a forum for NAEA Surrey members to meet and find out more about how this new technology can help his members prosper.
Wyatt added “I am very keen for the public to be aware that by using a member firm of the NAEA, they are not only using high quality Estate Agents who work to strict quality guidelines but also they will be using Estate Agents using the very latest technology, which can only help ensure sellers achieve the best possible price”
The NAEA’s own website propertylive.co.uk is launching its own app shortly.
For more information on the Barton Wyatt App or their properties please call 01344 834000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk
Ends.

Surrey is a winner for Sports and Property

by Viv United Kingdom

Purchasing a property – your home – is a complex task. Beyond falling in love with the property, the head must remain firmly screwed on to factor in proximity to schools, transport links, ample storage, parking, and all your personal preferences for contented living. Apart from the bricks and mortar this decision is definitely always influenced by local amenities and surprisingly, often one of these factors is the opportunity of watching high quality sport without having to drive miles.

The Surrey/Berkshire borders are probably the best location in the whole of the UK for the variety of professional sport available within less than 30 miles.  Surrey estate agent, James Wyatt, of Barton Wyatt in Virginia Water is a true sports voyeur and talks us through the hottest sporting locations in their vicinity:

 

“We are blessed with a fabulous variety of ‘top name’ sporting venues on our doorstep.  There is barely a month in the year where you cannot be wowed by golf or tennis, not to mention our equine friends.

 

“Of course having so many world class venues does mean that we get to rub shoulders with many famous sports stars in Virginia Water and it is not unusual to turn the corner in Waitrose to bump in to any number of World famous golfers.  We have sold and rented houses to many well-known sports personalities.  Wentworth obviously attracts plenty of golfers but we have had a few pop stars, entertainers and actors also.”

 

James’ love of sport has helped the success of this highly acclaimed Estate Agency: “The old adage of doing business on the golf course may not pull the same punch as in previous decades but the networking that comes from being seen and involved in sport locally has great benefits in my business.” 

 

So let’s look at the top 10 sporting venues within a 30 miles radius of Barton Wyatt.  Watch out for the next big event which is the Oxbridge Boat race on the 26th March!

 

  • 1.5 Miles – Wentworth Golf Course – Undoubtedly the premier golf course in England.  Annually this course attracts the biggest names in golf to the beautifully manicured greens.  May 26th is the start of the European Tour BWW PGA championship and attracts huge crowds to the area.  As a member you are entitled to special priviledges. www.wentworthclub.com
  • 3.5 Miles – Guards Polo at Smiths Lawn – A treat to watch even if you are not a keen ‘horsey’ person.  Watching polo can be an extremely up market affair in a champagne tent dressed in your finery or equally you would feel at home turning up with a picnic rug and the children.  It is not uncommon to spot the odd Royal at Guards (Prince Philip is the Club’s President), needless to say playing polo is a game for the rich and does attract a very chic crowd. The big annual event is Cartier International Day, this year on 24th July, when two of the best team in the World play for the Coronation Cup. www.guardspoloclub.com
  • 4 Miles – Sunningdale Golf – Often overlooked in the area which is unwise, as many describe this course as more superior than Wentworth. Used as one of the courses for the International Final Qualifying rounds for Europe.  There is also the Sunningdale Foursome which is a unique competition open to professional and amateur players.  These events tend to attract smaller crowds than Wentworth which has the benefit of getting closer to the action and the players. www.sunningdale-golfclub.co.uk

·         5.5 Miles – Royal Ascot – (14th – 18th June) A week of pure glamour, lovely hats and champagne tents.  The highlight of the racing season for many and if you are a ticket holder for the royal enclosure it is commonplace that city boys will attend every day to try their luck on the GiGi’s.

Or – In the words of the score for My Fair Lady – ‘Every duke and earl and peer is here; Everyone who should be here is here.  What a smashing, positively dashing:  Spectacle: the Ascot opening day’. www.ascot.co.uk

  • 16 Miles – Oxford / Cambridge Boat Race (26th March) Thousands of people watch this on the television but it is such an exciting event to witness live.  An easy direct train from Virginia Water to Barnes and then a lovely stroll up the Thames should make a fantastic day out. www.theboatrace.org
  • 17 Miles – Twickenham – (Various dates) World renowned Twickers – home to English rugby and the place to be seen in your Barbour jacket and school tie.  Just 21 minutes on a direct train from Virginia Water will beat the traffic.  But many choose to take the Landy for a picnic in the car park – an event on its own not to be missed. www.rfu.com

·         22 miles – Wimbledon – (20th June – 3rd July) Without a doubt the best known tennis location in the world; attracting the crème de la crème of international tennis stars.  Let the train take the strain and you will be there in just over half an hour.  Dozens of people queue – often overnight – to buy tickets for this event, ready for the classic strawberries and cream.  If you have never been then it really is worth the effort – one of the most British events on the circuit! www.wimbledon.org

  • 22 miles – Henley Regatta – (29th June – 3rd July) One cannot forget the premier rowing event in the world.  If you are fortunate enough to have a ticket into the Leander tent then beware what you wear – ladies with their knees showing will not be welcome. Pimms is the preferred drink at Henley. www.hrr.co.uk
  • 23 Miles – Chelsea and Fulham Football Club grounds – No sporting list would be complete without a football venue.  Chelsea and Fulham both speak for themselves – world class football teams with plenty of excitement on and off the pitch. www.chelseafc.co.uk  www.fulham.com
  • 25 Miles – London Marathon – (April 17).  If you are running then the distance is a little further as the Marathon starts by Excel and finishes at Buckingham Palace.  As a spectator this event can be incredibly moving to watch.  The feeling of comradery that the runners have with total strangers on the course and the strength they take from the cheering crowds is something to be seen and thoroughly enjoyed. www.virginlondonmarathon.com

 

Hopefully this epic list of sporting events has wetted your appetite for things to come this year – and that is without touching on the excitement that 2012 will bring with the Olympics.

 

So when asked which was James Wyatt’s favourite he responded: “I couldn’t possibly choose – each of these sports are so unique to watch it would be unfair to declare one better than another – but for ease of getting home afterwards I suppose the PGA Golf at Wentworth does come up trumps!”

 

Barton Wyatt: 0134 484 3000 / www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

 

——– ENDS ——-

 

Editors Note

An example of a character house new on the market in Wentworth is Robinswood.An original Tarrant house set within its own secluded gardens of over 1.2 acres and located at the head of one of the most prestigious roads in the world famous Wentworth Golf Course Estate.

 

Master bedroom with separate dressing room and en-suite bathroom, three further bedrooms, family bathroom, entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, large conservatory, utility room and detached double garage.

This property is priced at £3,650,000.  For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000

Surrey estate agent propels business with iPhone app launch

by Viv United Kingdom

 Surrey based estate agency Barton Wyatt has joined the pioneering agencies in the property and overseas property sector in launching their free lifestyle Barton Wyatt App for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This will be the first mobile application of several which will be developed for the Blackberry, iPad and Androids.

 

Barton Wyatt offers clients a wide range of services from property sales to corporate lettings and property management. They also have a specialist new homes department covering all aspects of purchasing, planning, building and extending homes. Their international team specializes in selling new homes on golf resorts across the world and is the UK’s largest Agent in this field. The App will provide quick and easy access to the property database allowing for speedy detailed searches, map locations and company information.

 

James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt comments: “According to Google research more than 50% of buyers will use mobile devices either to start their search or as part of their search by the end of 2012. As it is we have an increasingly sophisticated clientele with hectic lives and schedules and to ensure we are offering them the very best service at all times, our Barton Wyatt iPhone App will allow clients to keep in touch more efficiently and at their convenience.”

 

“So far the feedback has been 100% positive – the App is slick and incredibly fast so accessing property information on the move is now easier than ever.”

 

James Wyatt is also the Surrey National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) Chairman and in his next networking event he has invited App specialists EPR Media as his guest speakers to further spread the word about the changing  face of property.

 

To download the Barton Wyatt App visit the iphone app store online or call Barton Wyatt for further information and for properties in the Wentworth and Virginia Water Surrey area call on 01344 843000.

UK Property Predictions for 2011

by Viv United Kingdom

 

James Wyatt, Senior Partner of Barton Wyatt talks of his predictions for 2011. 
 
Barton Wyatt is a well-known, award-wining estate agency based in Virginia Water, Surrey. With an office in Virginia Water since 1965 (but established long before that) the Wyatt family have traded through peaks and troughs for almost 85 years.
 
Wyatt says: “It is all too easy to predict a full scale Titanic disaster for the next year. What with increasing VAT, loss of child benefit, higher taxes, lack of high loan to value lending, it would be easy to talk ourselves into a state of doom.”
 
He goes on to say: “But my money is on rising prices after Easter and I say this for the following five reasons:
 
1.       Firstly mortgages for those with 25%+ deposits will become much more readily available. 
2.       Secondly that interest rates/base rate will remain at or about their current level which will give confidence in the market place.
3.       New house builds will remain at a very low level, creating a restricted supply which is likely to remain at a low level for many months. 
4.       The supply of houses for sale will continue to be limited which will have the effect of forcing up prices”
5.       Lastly, London and the prime home counties in the South East remain a magnet to wealthy foreign families and indeed wealthy UK families.
 
Barton Wyatt has started to see some indications of this already. The number of houses for sale compared to two years ago has diminished by 30% which can be very frustrating for buyers needing to move quickly.
 
Houses that are in the best locations continue to turn over quite rapidly. The statistics for Barton Wyatt suggest that this time two years ago it would take 5 weeks on average from a house going on the market to an offer. This figure is now at 7 weeks – slightly slower, but still a reasonable speed considering the wider market. Houses that stick tend to be in a poor location and are generally in a state of poor repair.
 
James Wyatt goes on to say: “London will remain streets ahead of everyone else with it´s attraction to foreign buyers undiminished.” He predicts that London might “expect price rises of up to 10%.” 
 
He continues: “I anticipate that the Home Counties will see a more modest rise of around 5% over the year. This is good news for us at it will bring house prices back to early 2010 levels. Obviously we are propped up by our proximity to London and the optimism seen there in house prices definitely rubs off on Surrey property prices.”
 
Wyatt says: “in the wider area of the UK outside London and the home counties, I would anticipate that house prices could see further falls particularly with first time buyers struggling to raise 25% deposits and higher unemployment.”
 
For more information on homes in Surrey please call 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk
 
Note to editor – An example of a house currently being marketed by Barton Wyatt:
Whispering Pines, Wentworth Estate – £2,495,000
Six bedrooms (vaulted master with en-suite bathroom and dressing room) four bathrooms, gym/bedroom seven, two large eaves storage rooms, entrance hall, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room, study, family room, fabulous kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, integral double garage, heated swimming pool, gym/studio, delightful level gardens in approximately half an acre, driveway with electric gates.
 
For more information please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Build your own Grand Design in Surrey

by Viv United Kingdom

Renovation opportunity arises in prestigious Virginia Water. “A project ripe for a private buyer – not grand enough for the developers in the area” says local Estate Agency – Barton Wyatt.

Just now and again an opportunity arises that should be considered if you are someone with vision and a passion for property. And such an opportunity has just come onto the market in Surrey. Albourne is an individual character chalet bungalow. It is set in a private south facing plot of land that extends over a third of an acre. This potentially offers a buyer excellent scope redesigning or remodelling this chalet. 
 
The property currently has great flexibility between the ground and first floors. The first floor has 2 bedrooms, a kitchenette and a bathroom. The grounds floor is ideal for a redesign with a kitchen, downstairs bathroom and 5 further versatile reception rooms.
 
It is likely that a purchaser with vision would completely re-engineer the fabulous living space offered and remodel to suit the needs of the modern family. 
 
Guy Edwards of Barton Wyatt enthuses: “This house is definitely the property to allow your bricks and mortar dreams to become a reality. This is such an exciting opportunity for someone with foresight and the confidence to put their own stamp on a house.”
 
When asked what an anticipated value might be for the property after development, Edwards says: “It is always hard to pre guess something like that because there are so many variables involved. Complete renovation could be around £100,000 and the likely re-sale value of the refurbished and improved house could be up to as much as £700,000.
 
“Of course with imagination and a good architect you would be able to build a superb new house on the site for around £250,000. A new build house, tailored to your requirements and specifications, on this site of approximately 2,000 square feet is likely to have a sales value of up to £800,000.
 
“One should not forget the costs of living elsewhere whilst work is being done of course!”
 
Albourne is priced at £495,000. Any development is subject to obtaining all necessary planning permissions. For more information, please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

A Gift of a Home for Christmas in Surrey

by Viv United Kingdom

 

Cooking at home this Christmas or perhaps not? Here are two very different ways of enjoying a luxury Christmas in Surrey this year.
 
Consider yourself the new owner of Green Hedges, a brand new super mansion in Wentworth, Surrey which has just been released on to the market. This house is priced of £5,750,000 and offers the owner a Christmas Day to die for. On December the 25th you might be woken by the children who have all emerged from their double rooms with en-suite bathrooms. After the noise and excitement of the Christmas stocking you will be wandering into your own en-suite to freshen up. 
 
Luckily the en-suite has a state-of-the-art aquavision TV so you can quickly catch up on the news before disappearing into the cavernous dressing room to select your festive Christmas outfit.
 
Down to the kitchen and to be faced with the difficult decision of which of the four ovens you might like to put the turkey in. If Bucks Fizz is on the menu for breakfast then you would not have to go far to fetch a bottle of champagne perfectly cooled in your wine fridge. The built in coffee maker will supply you with endless cups of coffee with could put Costa to shame.
 
Three reception rooms on the ground floor will allow your family and guests plenty of space for opening presents and playing charades. But once you have opened the gifts and eaten too much lunch then you might be heading downstairs to the home cinema room to watch the Queens’ speech or catch a cheesy Christmas movie. 
 
Once lunch has gone down then it would be a shame not to make use of the spectacular 11 x 5 metre swimming pool with mood LED or if you were feeling very energetic there is always the gymnasium.
 
This basement area has a large games room with it’s own bar/kitchenette which would be utterly fabulous for the evening entertainment. Shaking up some exotic cocktails to go with the inevitable turkey sandwich.
 
But for some cooking a Turkey at home is the last thing on their mind on Christmas day. At Wentworth Golf Club, Virginia Water you can leave all the hard work to the fine chefs that will have been working hard all week to ensure that you don’t have to.  
 
Wentworth Golf Club is like entering another world; the leafy and rhododendron-lined drive through the estate offers glimpses through the trees of lush fairways and manicured greens of the mansions. Then you are greeted with one of the most celebrated and best known sights in golf, the opening hole on the legendary West Course, overlooked by the famous castellated Clubhouse.
 
Wentworth Golf Club boasts a variety of dining experiences to suit all tastes, budget and circumstance, from the elegant splendour of the Wentworth Grill – with its eclectic menu mirroring that of London gastronomic legends The Ivy and Le Caprice – to the relaxed atmosphere of the oak panelled Burma Bar, or the chic Club Lounge with its calming décor, welcoming sofas and open fireplaces.
 
Christmas day at Wentworth is the privilege of members only and priced at £110 per head for adults. The dining experience kicks of with a champagne reception and Canapés. The menu is delightfully traditional with a four course yuletide lunch. Not to mention an essential appearance from Santa for the children. 
 
For a large selection of homes available from Barton Wyatt in the Wentworth area call 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk. Or if you would like to become a member at Wentworth Golf Club please visit www.wentworthclub.com.
 

Surrey house trend watch – Going Underground

by Viv United Kingdom

 

Traditionally, the British have been a fiercely proud home owning nation and since the Queen came to her throne in 1953, the proportion of owner occupiers in England has steadily increased from 32% up to a peak of about 75% in 1981 (70% today).
Homeowners have always found ways of showing-off their property whether it be thousands of gaudy lights at Christmas, an over abundance of colourful hanging baskets in Spring or simply by building a property larger than your next door neighbour. Showing off by building tall buildings has been in vogue for centuries – in the picture postcard village of San Gimignano in Italy, the local wealthy merchants built taller and taller towers to signify their wealth and importance and that was back in the 11th to 13th Century. Even today, designers and architects cannot help themselves but build higher and higher skyscrapers all over the world, to impress.
Saying that the latest trend in the golden commuter land of Surrey – where turning your house into a skyscraper is just not an option – is to bury underground and build enormous basements. This is due to tough greenbelt policies which normally allows an owner of a modest-sized house on a good-sized garden plot to add to or rebuild his house with just 30% extra floor space. This leaves owners with only one choice, which is to dig down and create space underground. London terraced-house owners have been doing this for the last 20 years – creating rooms where the cellar was – often making laundry rooms and play rooms.
The problem with these underground rooms is the difficulty in getting any good natural light to the subterranean room. But architects have become more and more wily at stealing light from up-stairs that quite often now you would not know that you had gone underground. However, whilst it might seem attractive to extend your house by 5,000 square feet or even a lot more, what can you actually do with all that space?
The answer is that you become creative in the type of rooms you install and with some careful planning and consideration this space can become life changing. James Wyatt, Managing Director of Barton Wyatt in Virginia Water had some enlightening information on what goes on downstairs:
“There are a few fairly obvious choices, firstly the plant room. Not of the green and leafy variety but the machinery which is required to run your home – industrial sized boilers – man-enough to heat the pool, AC units – man-enough to cool it down. Electronic wizardry to run your alarm, your lighting system and phones. Maybe the latest state-or-the-art music system with the ability to pipe any song ever written through to any room you desire.
“You might want a communications room containing racks and racks of audio visual machinery and patch panels with wiring that would frighten most. In a large house this might contain numerous satellite boxes, a number of huge hard drives for your new music and video collection and so the list goes on.
“The next obvious room to bury is the laundry.  American top load washing machine, tumble dryer, maybe a spare fridge/freezer and plenty of space to store, iron and fold. It is not uncommon to find a laundry shoot from the upstairs bathrooms – saving the bore of carrying it all downstairs. 
“Cinema rooms come high on people’s lists for very clear reasons and with improvements in technology, these can be incredibly grand affairs. It is of course budget dependent but anything from a run-or-the-mill sofa to luxury reclining leather seats. 
“Wine cellars are an immensely sensible thing to put underground, since every wine maker in Europe stores their wine beneath the ground – then why shouldn’t us mere mortals. 
“Swimming pools are proving to be increasingly popular for underground space. A reasonable-sized indoor pool with seating areas, changing rooms, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room could use up as much as 2,500 square feet. Multi gyms are also in vogue with an array of gym equipment and the latest pilates apparatus to ensure supreme fitness.
“Garaging – well that speaks for itself. And of course staffing accomodation – out of the way of the main part of the house but still close enough for child care.
“Maybe all of the above might seem rather obvious – this space is yours to do what you like with – a hair dressing salon, massage room, fake tan spraying booth or in one rather extreme case – a gift wrapping room.”
Notes to editor
Example of a house available in the locality of Barton Wyatt which include underground space:
Green Hedges, Lake Road, Wentworth Estate, Virginia Water, Surrey
Green Hedges, on the Main Island of the Wentworth Estate,is a spectacular imposing new Georgian style mansion with Corinthian columns giving the front elevation a timeless classical appeal. 
Ground floor comprises a fabulous kitchen/breakfast and 4 reception rooms First floor includes four very large bedrooms with en-suite ‘wet room’ showers. The second floor has a further two beds with en-suite.
A sweeping marble staircase leads down to the large basement which includes – swimming pool, gymnasium, changing and WC facilities, a large games room also with a light well has a bar/kitchenette making it suitable for a variety of uses as is the home cinema with the adjoining shower room which could become staff accommodation if required. The utility room also adjoins the cinema and could double as a kitchen for a staff flat.
For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.