It's Chinese whispers on the Wentworth Estate; rental homes in Sunningdale

As you know rental homes in Sunningdale and the Wentworth Estate are very sought after.

Since the purchase back in 2014, the new Chinese owners have made little change to this long established country club but today it has been announced that revolution is underway. 

The Wentworth Club, home to the annual PGA Championship, has always been frequented by the rich and famous, not to mention the odd Royal, with full membership for a couple commanding a first payment on joining of nearly £39,000. 

Those who weren't full Wentworth Members could however also come and pay and play as corporate guests. But from 1st April 2017 this club will become "fully private" using a debenture scheme. 

James Wyatt, Partner at Barton Wyatt, Wentworth resident and Club Member, comments:

"At the lively AGM, 400 members were informed that in 2017 they will have to pay a debenture of £100,000 and annuals subs of £16,000. Membership will be offered only if the Wentworth board members approve the 'application'. New members will pay a debenture of £125,000.

This marks a massive change to the existing club set up, but the Chief Executive Steven Webster told us that the club need significant investment in the golf courses, clubhouse and tennis club.

However, the current Captain slammed the owners lack of communication with the members, explaining that members wanted value for money - and for the Club to be inclusive not exclusive.

Over the years, we have seen plenty of changes at Wentworth, and very few of those changes have been popular at first glance. But it is clear that Wentworth members after 2017 will have rather more space to themselves".

For more details on the changes coming to The Wentworth Club contact James Wyatt on 01344 843000.

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property for sale in Ascot. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Estate Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Salubrious Sunningdale - where the homes and the golf are top of the range

Sunningdale is a large, quintessentially English village located in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire. Dotted with leafy lanes and large detached houses hiding behind foliage and gates it is just 24 miles west of London with a train station and direct link into London Waterloo, due to its prime location, Sunningdale is a top spot for London commuters and is also favoured by international businessmen and women who need fast access to the UK's airports.

Sunningdale has been home to many familiar names over the years - Dame Agatha Christie lived in Scotswood, a house on Devenish Avenue, which has now been transformed into luxury apartments. Other famous residents have included Gary Lineker, British pop group Five Star, Chesney Hawkes, Brian Blessed, Diana Dors and Billy Ocean.

The village is well known for its palatial properties including the Grade-II listed art deco mansion, Charters. Built in 1938 for industrialist Frank Parkinson, the house welcomed guests including Winston Churchill and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor before changing use, becoming a corporate headquarters and now a luxury apartment and spa complex.

Other notable properties include Coworth House, the late 18th century home of Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, which was later occupied by the Secretary of State for War in the early 20th century as well as the British Ambassador to France. It is now the popular Coworth Park Hotel.

In addition to its property heritage, Sunningdale is best known for its golf courses say Barton Wyatt estate agents Surrey.

Sunningdale Golf Club was founded by two brothers in 1900 and is home to two 18-hole courses.  The Old Course was designed by Willie Park Jr and the New Course by Harry Colt. Sunningdale has hosted many prestigious tournaments including the British Masters, the Walker Cup, the Women's British Open and the Senior Open Championship.

Sunningdale is also home to a second highly acclaimed club: Sunningdale Ladies. With a course also designed by Harry Colt, the club offers players a smaller but perfectly proportioned course. The patron is HRH The Duke of York and this land was once part of Windsor Forest.

July 23rd - 26th sees the return of the Senior Open Championship to Sunningdale Golf Club and with it a host of golfing greats who are all raving about being back in Berkshire for this competition.

Wales' greatest ever golfer Ian Woosnam, former Masters Champion and world number one, says:

"It's a course that I always love to play and I think it's great for the Senior Open to go there. The crowds are going to be magnificent. Noone can complain because it's such a lovely old golf course. It's the sort of golf course, with the heather and everything, that you've got to keep it on the fairway, but it's not a long golf course. You have to use the right clubs off the tee and they are very small greens so you have to be accurate as well."

Golfer Sam Torrance also knows Sunningdale's Old Course inside out, as a long-time member of the club.

"I love the golf course," said Torrance. "I've been there for the last 44 years - I was assistant pro there in 1971 so there's not a blade of grass that I'm not familiar with. I can't wait to get out there."

Torrance's compatriot Colin Montgomerie is also thinking ahead to late July and what lies in store on the Old Course at the iconic Surrey venue:

"My first competitive round at Sunningdale was in 1987, which was the Walker Cup. Ever since I first played it I've loved the place and I've always said it's a gorgeous place to be, not just to play golf but to walk round."

With accolades such as this it is hardly surprising that Sunningdale, and in particular those houses that back onto the courses, are in such high demand.

James Wyatt, Partner of local estate agents Barton Wyatt, says:

"Finding homes in Sunningdale can be difficult. They just don't come onto the market very often. Particularly the houses that adjoin the courses - these are highly valuable and prized by their owners."

A local developer, Halebourne Group, is shortly to complete a stunning mansion that will launch as 10 new luxury apartments. Coming to the market at approximately £2-3 million for the two and three bedroom homes and two magnificent penthouses. James Wyatt continues:

"This majestic house is situated opposite the world famous Sunningdale golf course and will be the most fabulous opportunity for keen golfers to own their own tee-side seat at Sunningdale. We anticipate that these homes will be highly sought after by locals who are looking to downsize but remain in the area that they know and love."

If you are looking for a slice of golfing action and would like more details on these apartments or other properties in the area contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

The Ridge, Sunningdale                                    Anticipated launch price from £2,000,000

This stunning development will offer mansion block apartments in an exclusive setting.  Each luxury apartment has secure basement parking, outside terraces and a superb interior specification. They will be available from spring 2016.

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property for sale in Ascot. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Estate Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Barton Wyatt welcomes Chinese purchase of The Wentworth Group

The announcement of the acquisition of The Wentworth Group in Surrey by a large Chinese Investment company, Reignwood Group, spells good news for Surrey's Wentworth and Virginia Water.

The Wentworth Club is one of the world's finest golf and country clubs set in an oasis less than an hour from central London.  Consisting of a famous castellated Clubhouse, three championship golf courses, a Tennis & Health Club, an active social calendar and dining inspired by The Ivy and Le Caprice also owned by Richard Caring.

Barton Wyatt, the leading estate agents in Surrey, are delighted with the news.  James Wyatt, partner of the firm explains:

"Rumours have been flying around for months about the sale of The Wentworth Club.  Richard Caring has been open about his ambition to sell this part of his empire and release capital for other ventures.

"It was all just a case of who had the money for this hugely expensive slice of Surrey.  We are delighted it is now settled and we are most excited by having internationally renowned Chinese owners at the helm. 

"This purchase by a major Chinese group will undoubtedly expand the Wentworth Brand globally.  This in turn will open new doors, bring new markets to our estate and of course more wealth outside of London to the Home Counties."

The Reignwood Group has purchased Wentworth for a jaw dropping sum of £135m. Dr Chanchai Ruayrungruang, founder of The Reignwood Group in 1984, commented,

"Reignwood has a long history in golf development, a profound respect for excellence in every form and deep interest in East-West cooperation.

"As a world famous golf institution, Wentworth is a key strategic acquisition for our rapidly growing luxury lifestyle division, whose unique culture we are dedicated to preserving and whose exceptional expertise will inform our golf operations across Asia."

Dr Chanchai Ruayrungruang is also known more familiarly as Yan Bin and has a multitude of feathers in his cap including being the man who brought the energy drink Red Bull from Thailand to China. Three years later, he started building the Wonderland Amusement Park, not dissimilar to Disneyland near Beijing.

In 2000, he built China's largest golf resort, the Pine Valley Resort in Beijing, which caters to a luxury crowd: in 2009 the course was awarded the Multimillionaires' Most Favourite Golf Course in Beijing.

Yan Bin has grown his fortune on the back of a strong performance in sales of Red Bull energy drinks in China, and with sales expected to hit US$800 million this year, it is estimated that his personal wealth is $8.17 billion.

James Wyatt says:

"In my mind golf and the Chinese sit in harmony together.  Asia has become golf mad over the past few decades and are already regular visitors to Wentworth.  Hopefully now they will move into leafy Surrey and become part of our rich and diverse international tapestry. 

"I for one would be thrilled to see some dim sum on the menu at The Wentworth Club!"

For more details contact Barton Wyatt Surrey Estate Agents.

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property in Sunningdale. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

A secret service for 50 years, now to be publically launched on 1st October 2014 Award-winning Barton Wyatt Launches Private Office

Barton Wyatt, the prime multi award-winning estate agents Surrey , has been offering a concierge service to their clients since 1965, designed to fulfil the needs of international royal families, non-doms, celebrities and high net worth individuals who wanted more than "just an estate manager".

Over the past five decades, Barton Wyatt has further honed and developed this incredibly discreet and specialised service and today they launch their service under the name of Private Office as more and more clients seek this type of assistance.

James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt and Head of Private Office explains,

"We have been fulfilling a concierge facility for clients for fifty years but as demand has risen, we felt it was time to give the service a separate identity and more credence. 

"Our clients include those who hold properties all over the world but may only use their Surrey homes for one or two months of the year, whilst others may visit at weekends.  Some live here all the time but want to enjoy their own time to the maximum. We sit in the background of these luxurious lifestyles ensuring that homes and households continue to run seamlessly whilst the client is here or away." 

The Barton Wyatt Private Office offers a fully bespoke and customised service for clients although typical services include:

• Recruiting and managing household staff, ensuring they are fulfilling their role both within the house and the grounds
• Handling the utilities, ensuring best value and arranging maintenance of household equipment - this could be anything from swimming pools to whirlpools, kitchen and / or gym equipment, Wi-Fi, electronic gates and even internal lifts for both people and cars!
• Undertaking basic "running of the house" errands from the dry cleaning through to servicing the cars, cleaning windows and chimneys
• Arranging private transportation from limousine airport picks up through to private jets for national and international travel
• Organising social gatherings from lavish children's birthday parties through to gastronomic luncheons for 100 guests plus
• Assisting with finding suitable schools for off-spring - from pre-school to seniors, traditional English schooling and international schools, day or boarding
• Re-opening the house upon a client's return includes a deep clean, fresh flowers and filling the multitude of fridges and freezers with food that is often quite specialist and pertains to country and culture
• Closing the house upon a client's departure including once again a deep clean, laundering bedrooms, replacing any broken items during their stay and ensuring the house is safe and secure whilst they are away

James goes on to say:

"Wentworth and the surrounding area has a unique set of families who live here; many are from overseas, often of high standing or famous but almost exclusively they are all very wealthy.  With wealth comes very high expectations and offering the Private Office is not something that we have taken lightly. Our staff must have exemplary customer service skills and an in-depth knowledge on how to make things happen seamlessly.  Thankfully I have no hesitation in stating that we hold these skills and are looking forward to taking on more clients to assist them with running their households."

Needless to say the sky is the limit when it comes to the services on offer to members of Private Office.  Time is often short for the rich jet set and despite an army of staff, having someone on the ground at the Surrey country mansion enables better planning and organisation.  It is hard to organise dinner for 20 from Malibu or a champagne reception with a string quartet from Dubai.  But with Private Office no job is too hard, the team have the know-how and the savvy to be on hand to make things happen on time and as requested.

Wyatt says:

"Clients sometimes need assistance with interior design which will all come under the Private Office banner.  We are highly experienced with applying for planning for new extensions, assimilating quotes and ensuring work is carried out to the highest standard.  We create new bathrooms and kitchens, re-design any room in the house, select new curtains, carpets and often furniture for our clients.  No job is too big or too small."

The Private Office is available to client's who live in the vicinity of the Barton Wyatt Wentworth office in Virginia Water, Surrey. Prices are available on request but are generally calculated on the size of each property. 

For more details of this luxury service please contact James Wyatt at Barton Wyatt Surrey estate agents on 01344 843 000

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property For Sale in Sunningdale. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Buyers get into pole position as F1 legend Sir Jack Brabham's former luxury apartment goes on sale

F1 legend Sir Jack Brabham's former penthouse apartment at Lyne Manor House in Surrey is on the market. Sad news of his death comes as a shock to F1 supporters around the globe who remember Sir Jack's fearless bravery which crowned him World Champion three times over.

Indeed Brabham's former home, the Wentworth Estate, is renown for its great wealth and it's a common sight to see a Bugatti, Lamborghini, Maserati or Ferrari cruising around the private roads of this exclusive North Surrey estate.

So for F1 fans, what could be more exciting than owning a luxury property where a three times Formula One champion racing car driver lived?

The penthouse apartment is located in Lyne Place Manor, an imposing Regency house with eight acres of delightful gardens, located just two miles south of Virginia Water. Lyne Place Manor had been the home of the Russian philosopher P. D. Ouspensky between 1930 and 1947 and after his death, was subsequently split into luxury apartments.

The house is approached via a long private drive with the unique penthouse enjoying a secluded, south-facing roof terrace which offers commanding views over the surrounding countryside and woods.

Boasting its own private lift, three reception rooms, two double bedrooms (the master with en-suite and dressing room) and a further room which could be used as a further bedroom or study, the accommodation is spacious and flexible.

Rupert Wyatt of award-winning appointed estate agents Surrey, Barton Wyatt comments:

"It is sad news to hear of Sir Jack Braham's death. I am a keen F1 fan myself and love the buzz of motor racing. It will make the sale of this property even more special with this connection to a racing hero. Sir Jack was a three times winner of the Formula One championship and the founder of the Brabham team, racing in an era when the stakes were high and accidents frequent.



"This penthouse apartment is a really lovely opportunity to own something steeped in history but with all the mod cons expected today. We expect interest to be high with a number of clients already keen to get to the chequered flag on this property."

The penthouse apartment in Lyne Place Manor is available for £825,000. For more information call Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000.

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property in Sunningdale. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

60 Seconds with... James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt

60 Seconds with...  James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt an award-winning Surrey estate agency selling to the rich and famous on the Wentworth Estate in Surrey.

What does it say on your business card?

It says James Wyatt - Partner.  But to be honest I rarely use business cards these days - they are a bit old hat.  More likely to connect on LinkedIn or have a tweet chat!

Barton Wyatt is a family business - when did you first get involved?

Well when I was born we lived in a flat above the office where it is now, so it would be fair to say I have lived and breathed Barton Wyatt since infancy.  By the time I was 10 I was used to helping with envelope stuffing or good old fashioned leaflet delivery.  On leaving school I was ready to embark on a full time position - which I did in another agency in Weybridge and then in London.  My father felt it only correct that I earned my stripes elsewhere before returning to the family business.  So officially I started at 21 - 27 years ago!

What makes Barton Wyatt different from other local Agencies?

I am glad to say there are no poor agencies in the local area and we all generally enjoy a great working relationship.  We have to as we often work together as joint agents for house sales.  However I do believe we are different - we are not a large corporate and demands are not being made of us by share-holders in the City.  This means we can be adaptable to create the best possible environment for our clients and our staff. 

We are all very passionate about what we do here and will often go the extra mile to be the best.  I guess that is one of the reasons we have won so many awards.  Our customers certainly do return time and time again.  I have sold some people in the area half a dozen houses as they have upsized, side stepped and now downsized over the years.

How do Wentworth and Virginia Water differ from other local villages?

There are lots of lovely villages in the local area but Wentworth really is a bit special.  As soon as you turn into any of the private Estate roads you do feel that you are entering a slightly more exotic land.  The lanes are extremely leafy and the houses are set far back from the road.  You can really only glimpse the odd balustrade or column as you pass past often very lavish gates.  People here are terribly private - they don't want passers-by gazing into their lives and many go to extreme lengths to remain hidden. 

On the flip side when you are at Wentworth Golf Club it is wonderfully sociable.  There are kid's events, golf tournaments, tennis tournaments, annual balls, charity events galore and all sorts to get involved in so there is no need to be lonely if you live on Wentworth.

What has attracted so much wealth to Wentworth?

There is no denying it, Wentworth is classy and this air of glamour and sophistication is the thing that lures the rich and famous to buy a ring side seat on these illustrious courses.  The central part of the Wentworth Estate is known to the locals as 'The Island'. This just adds to the feeling of exclusivity that seems to pervade the whole area. And with a long list of rich and famous on your doorstep it would be hard not to be impressed. 

What is the best bit of your job?

No day is the same. I could be discussing an investment with a local, then letting a house to an American, followed by a meeting with a foreign Royal, then with a famous Film Director to deal with. It can be great fun.

Describe a typical Wentworth resident?

I would say typically savvy and confident.  Most residents are at the top of their trade, captains of industry and, very often, business owners.  A large percentage of the estate is multi-national - the list is endless as tides shift on international business.  Currently there are many Middle Eastern families, Malay, Russian, US and Kazaks.  Many of these families are renting, so every three years the make-up of parts of Wentworth changes as the corporate mood alters.

What does 2014 hold for Barton Wyatt?

Judging by current activity it is going to be ferociously busy.  We have had a very sedentary period in sales - really ever since stamp duty was massively increased.  Lettings continued to thrive but sales were horribly quiet.  The London ripple affect at last appears to be nudging at our doors and, within a matter of a few weeks, things have become incredibly hectic.  I would suggest that if this level of interest and activity continues then Wentworth should be set to see a 10% growth in property prices for 2014.

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property in Wentworth Estate. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Bricks and mortar remain top priority for millionaires with half of the Surrey's wealthiest owning more than one home

Being a millionaire is a tough business to be in. Deciding where to invest that cash, be it hard earned or inherited, can be challenging. Do you go for an Aston Martin Vanquish, a multi-million pound mansion or just put it all in the bank? Maybe not these days!

For most millionaires, owning bricks and mortar remains a top priority with 49.9% of the UK's wealthiest people owning more than one property in the UK according to Skandia's 'Millionaire Monitor' report 2012. Furthermore millionaires under the age of 50 are significantly more likely to invest in multiple properties with over 60% of the rich under the age of 50 owning more than one property compared to 42% if they are over the age of 50.

They say an Englishman's home is his castle, but is this strictly true? Female millionaires it appears are in fact more likely that their male counterparts to own more than one property with 20% choosing to own overseas versus 16% of men.

But why exactly is owning property so appealing to millionaires?

Personal use is the driving force for second homes, perhaps a country pad, a pied-a-terre or a place by the sea to retreat to for long weekends. Having a home away from home to relax and recharge the batteries before heading back to the daily grind is clearly high on the wish list.

With second homes in mind, the Skandia report interestingly also revealed that in July 2011 the volume of UK high net worth individuals planning on leaving the UK was 7.7% compared to only 3.6% this year. Good news for the high end domestic property market.

Further boosting this sector is the ever increasing number of high net worth foreign nationals relocating to the UK, especially the South East, keen to experience a far greater degree of safety and security for their family than other parts of the globe.

Barton Wyatt Estate Agents in Surrey, multi award-winning high end estate agency located in the heart of in Surrey examined their prospective home buyers this year compared previous years discovering that 75% of their clients are from overseas rising from 65% last year. This figure appeared to reflect the same values for both the sales and the rental market and this increase in overseas clients poses some interesting challenges to the team at Barton Wyatt.

Reflecting on the findings, James Wyatt, owner of Barton Wyatt Estate Agents Surrey, comments:

"When I first started working in this area 25 years ago I would have suggested the population of foreigners living in Virginia Water was 5%. This figure has markedly increased to around 20% with droves of overseas nationals attracted here by the wonderful standard of living that the Wentworth Estate offers and often for the high standard of private education available on our doorstep.

"Our foreign clients also look to this area due to the value for money they achieve as opposed to living in central London. The sporting venues in the locality are another driver - golf, Ascot and Guards polo - and of course the area has become well known for attracting families from overseas which in turn creates more interest."

So if you are the lucky owner of a few million pounds, why not consider splashing your cash on these stunning Surrey properties:

Mariners, Virginia Water £3,995,000

A newly built mansion house in a handsome Georgian style with a contemporary internal finish. An elegant sweeping staircase leads the eye up to the first floor and impressive galleried landing. The dining area is open plan to the entrance hall and creates a tremendous feeling of space around the core of the house with views from the front door all the way through to the rear garden. The more formal drawing room and study are double aspect rooms and the tremendous kitchen/breakfast/family room is designed for contemporary family lifestyle.

The first floor has four bedroom suites with en-suite bath/shower rooms, the master having a dressing room and sitting room, opening on to a balcony overlooking the rear gardens. On the second floor is a further bedroom and bathroom suite and an adaptable room, ideal for a cinema or gym etc.

Over the three-bay garage is a studio apartment with a small kitchenette and shower, ideal for staff or an au-pair.

Eastry House, Wentworth, Surrey £4,750,000

Five bedrooms (four with en-suite dressing and bathrooms) principal bedroom with balcony and fireplace, reception hall, cloakroom, five reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room with granite worktops, conservatory, utility, gas central heating and double glazing, detached double garage, swimming pool, tennis court, long private drive, 4.4 acres.

This magnificent house is approached via its own long sweeping driveway. It has been extended over the years to form a splendid large home with en-suite facilities to all bedrooms on the first floor. The ground floor is ideal for a growing family with four good size reception rooms which all enjoy beautiful views onto the parkland style gardens that surround the house.

Eastry House forms a comfortable home that also has enormous potential to further improve or remodel subject to any planning consents. The property is located on the main island which is a much favoured location as one can walk to the golf course along the private roads that surround Wentworth.

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property in Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Surrey House Trend Watch - Going Underground

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 letting agents in Surrey 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."

Here's an example of a house available in the locality of Barton Wyatt which include underground space:

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property in Sunningdale. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

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

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 £1 million 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 gains could be reached in the next couple of years."

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. Theproperty 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 and 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.

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 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

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property in Sunningdale. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Estate Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Property for sale in Sunningdale

Luxury property by Barton Wyatt Estate Agents in Sunningdale

Six bedrooms and bath/shower rooms, drawing room, dining room, family room, study, orangery, kitchen/breakfast room, large utility, gymnasium, garaging for three cars, large games/cinema room, outdoor swimming pool, delightful gardens.

A magnificently restored country house with an outdoor swimming pool occupying a stunning location overlooking SUNNINGDALE Ladies Golf Cource yet just a short walk from Sunningdale village centre and mainline station.

For further details on this property for sale in Sunningdale, please contact Barton Wyatt premier estate agents in Surrey.

James Wyatt at the NAEA International Forum 2008

DRAGON BREATHES FIRE INTO THIS YEARS INTERNATIONAL FORUM
30 / Oct / 2008

James Caan, Sue Hayward and Michael Saunders were just some of the key speakers to attend this year’s highly acclaimed International Forum ‘Staying Profitable in a Challenging Market’ held by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), which was a show stopping success this year.
The main attraction of this exciting event was celebrity guest speaker James Caan, from BBC’s Dragon’s Den who discussed the ways to stay profitable in a challenging market.
James explained ways to make the most of a difficult market place using his personal experience as a successful businessman. He proved very popular with attendees as he provided an excellent insight into ways to improve their business in the current market.
The fifth in a series of international forums was held at the luxurious 5 star Renaissance Chancery Hotel in London. The event, which was sponsored solely by Foreign Currency Direct had over 100 leaders in international property attend, providing them with the opportunity to listen to a number of property experts give an insight on ‘Staying Profitable in a Challenging Market’.
Other guest speakers included; Sue Hayward, TV presenter and journalist, who discussed marketing properties within the media; Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the NAEA, gave a preview talk on the much anticipated Property Portal ‘Property Live’ and Michael Saunders, Top US property expert, flew especially from America to discuss how to expand ones horizons through effective networking. Other topics included staying on the right side of the law and the current Spanish initiative from the government to underpin the building industry. The day was split up with a buffet lunch and the forum was rounded off with a cocktail party, which provided opportunities for delegates and speakers to meet. Delegates received an action packed day allowing then to obtain useful information.

Delegate, James Wyatt of Barton Wyatt International, comments: “This was by far the best NAEA conference I have ever been to. There was a fantastic range of speakers, from different counties, who shared a lot of knowledge on the current market. With the present situation of the market, a number of property professionals are feeling the pinch, however this day was insightful and many left feeling positive.”

Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the NAEA, says: “The International Forum was an astounding success, with a great turn out and a well-informed picture of the international property market from a mix of property experts. The event provided the perfect opportunity for the NAEA to unveil its plans for Property Live, the Associations new Property Portal.”Stephan Hughes, Associate Director at Foreign Currency Direct, concludes: “It was a pleasure for us to be the sole sponsors this year. The day was a major success and everyone left content with the set up of the day and information provided. In this difficult market, it is useful to gain insider knowledge as this helps maintain sales and opens doors to other opportunities presented in the overseas market.”

Barton Wyatt provide luxury golf villas in Florida and select golf villas in Spain.

James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt International based in Wentworth, Virginia Water. Tel: 01344 843000