An Overview of Properties for Sale in Wentworth Estate, Surrey

The Wentworth Estate is a privately owned property covering about 1750 acres of land. The estate is characterized by a wide range of luxury mansions, houses and facilities. Over the last few years, several multi-millionaires from all the corners of the earth are investing in the properties in the Wentworth Estate. These include renowned world businessmen, famous sports personalities and tycoons. It should also be remembered that even the former Chilean dictator, General Augusto Pinochet lived in the Wentworth Estate in the 1990s.

Currently, the average price for properties for sale in Wentworth Estate is quite high. Nevertheless, Wentworth real estate market has a lot to offer for property investors and buyers. Many people are interested in property for sale in Wentworth Estate because the area has one of the least crime rates in the country. Safety is often given the top priority when a person is planning to invest a fortune in the property market. That is why rich people find the area a safe place to stay.

For individuals looking to live next to millionaires and renowned celebrities, Wentworth Estate is certainly be a great option. With its famous Virginia Water Lake and golf course, this place is recognized all over the world as a home of wealthy and famous individuals.

There are many reasons why one should invest in Wentworth Estate. The property prices are rising at the fastest pace. Therefore, purchasing a home in the area can be seen as a great and attractive long term investment. No matter the intentions and ambitions of a person, the Wentworth Estate is one of the most stunning and exclusive estates in the world. There is no doubt, the area is classy and this sophistication and beauty lures the wealthy people to purchase homes in the area.

Buying a home has always been a tiresome task, and hence should be done with a lot of caution. One has to be sure about the property as this can protect him or her from legal issues and hassles. Since purchasing a property in Wentworth involves a lot of money, one should consider a few factors before making the final decision. For example, one might want to check the title deeds. The title should have the name of the person selling the property. It is also important to ask for the original copies of the documents. People, more often than not, prefer to show photocopies of the original documents. This is the most crucial aspect that must be addressed prior to finalizing the deal. And in so doing, one will be able to make an informed decision.

Purchasing a home in the area is not as difficult as it used to be. It is imperative to search for the right property for sale in Wentworth Estate. This will depend on how one conducts his or her research. If a buyer will be able to find the perfect home then it will certainly help him or her feel satisfied. It is important to ensure that a lot of effort is made, in case one wants to find the right property.

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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

From Surrey to North Dakota, it's pumpkins galore this Halloween!

As the nights draw in and Halloween approaches, the supermarket shelves are bulging with pumpkins once more. From roast pumpkin soup to ward off the winter chill in Surrey, to pumpkin pie with lashings of cream in North Dakota, much of the English-speaking world goes mad for these tasty seasonal treats at this time of year.

Pumpkin carving is also a popular activity in both the UK and the US. In Surrey's Virginia Water, well-appointed doorsteps and tasteful windowpanes glimmer with the flickering of candles from within spookily carved creations as the 31st approaches. Local estate agent James Wyatt, partner at Barton Wyatt letting agents in Surrey, comments,

"The changing of the seasons is always a lovely time in Surrey. We have so much green space that you can really sense nature changing all around as autumn progresses. For me, Halloween always feels as though it is the turning point between autumn and winter - I know when I see the pumpkins in Waitrose that soon families will be carving pumpkins together and baking tasty treats with their rich flesh as they prepare to host glittering Halloween parties."

One house that would make a perfect Halloween party venue is Crossland House in Surrey's prestigious Virginia Park gated community. On the market for £1.6 million, the beautifully constructed, four storey home has a drawing room, dining/family room and generously proportioned private garden, providing flexible entertaining space that is perfect for anything from a formal dinner to a more relaxed Halloween party. With five bedrooms, the townhouse has ample space for overnight guests. 

Virginia Park is also a wonderful place for younger family members to enjoy Halloween. Each year, the great and the good of the community organise a Halloween event that sees every participating house put a poster up in the window. Children from the neighbourhood then roam the park dressed as ghouls, goblins and ghosts (with parents lurking discreetly in the background), trick or treating from door to door within a wonderfully safe environment.

On the other side of the pond, pumpkin pie recipes from Texas to North Dakota are being dusted off for another year. As a largely agricultural state, North Dakota is no stranger to pumpkin patches. Many are open to the public during late October and early November, and one county even hosts an annual giant pumpkin festival.

Though the influx of tens of thousands of workers due to the state's oil boom has begun to change the makeup of North Dakota's population, family values and holiday traditions are still important and this year pumpkins will be dotting many a stoop. Pumpkin pie will be making an appearance on the menu at the Great American Lodge sites, created by oil worker accommodation specialists North Dakota Developments. Group CEO Robert Gavin comments,

"We offer a home from home with our workforce accommodation and hotels here in North Dakota and appreciate that holiday times can feel lonely for those workers whose families are yet to move out here to join them. We do what we can to celebrate occasions such as Halloween and our chefs will be whipping up some delicious pumpkin recipes in honour of the holiday."

North Dakota Developments' latest venture, the three storey Transhudson Hotel - Parshall won't be quite ready for decoration with carved pumpkins this year, as groundworks have just begun, but investors wishing to be part of the action in North Dakota can pick up a suite from $89,950, with assured net yields of 15.55% per year provide a total net return on investment of 56.66%, following compulsory buy back after year three for the sale price plus 10%. 

From North Dakota's oil workers to Surrey housewives, let the celebration of all things pumpkin commence!

For more information on the properties detailed above, please contact:

Barton Wyatt

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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

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

Celebrating 40 years of the humble postcode. What's been going on in GU25 in the past four decades?

It's been 40 years since postcodes were rolled-out across the UK to make letter sorting easier.  Originally trialled in Norwich, 1974 saw this revolutionary new method of speedily identifying addresses being used throughout the rest of the UK. Often taken for granted, the simple postcode has transformed the way that sorting offices quickly organise mail to speed up the delivery to the end user. There are now 1.8 million postcodes covering 29 million addresses across the country.

Indeed the humble postcode has become an automatic way in which we identify ourselves and get around.  With two thirds of the country finding it easier to navigate with a sat nav, the old fashioned map is becoming a thing of the past.  Just key in the postcode and off you go! Hard to believe that 40 years ago this wonderful system did not exist.

Indeed one of the many sectors highly affected by the creation of the postcode is estate agency.

James Wyatt, partner of leading Surrey Letting Agent, Barton Wyatt comments:

"I was only a lad when the postcode was introduced but I was still actively involved in the family business.  My brother Rupert and I were often tasked with delivering leaflets door to door extolling the virtues of selling your house through Barton Wyatt so I felt like a postman sometimes! It might sound jolly but door-to-door delivery is not fun in Virginia Water and the Wentworth Estate. The plots are big and the drives seem endless when you are just 11 years old."

Another sector that has relied on the postcode is demographic classification. Used in the UK to describe, measure and classify people of different social grade, income and earnings levels this data is essential for market research, social commentary, statistical research and analysis. 

"Wentworth, Virginia Water and surrounding villages are all A1 classified," mulls James, "We are very fortunate to live in such an affluent area.  And it was like this 40 years ago when the postcode was invented - as it will be in another 40.  But things have not stood still - a lot changes in housing in 40 years!"

Forty years ago a new house sitting on half an acre in Wentworth would have had an internal size of 2,000 square feet and the house would have gone on the market at about £55,000.  This would have been a large house by UK standards then.  Today a new house on Wentworth will be around 7,000 square feet and will cost a buyer £4,000,000. 

And if you are wondering about flats - the sizes have not altered greatly but the cost has.  In 1974 you would expect to pay £10,000 for a 2 bedroom flat - today you could pay between £250,000 and £400,000.

The 'must have' gadget in the kitchen if you were flashy in 1974 was a dishwasher; incredibly this white good is the same price today as it was then.  A cheaper toy, but all the rage in the middle classes, was a Sodastream, with its violent coloured concentrates and endless flow of sparkling beverages.  The "Get busy with the fizzy" tagline has been re-launched recently as Sodastream attempts a return to its original fame. 

Back in the 70's houses were all being refitted with shag pile carpets and chocolate bathroom suites sporting gold taps.  In the garden, you were considered dead trendy if you had a ride on mower and slightly vulgar if you had a swimming pool.  Today it's cool to have a gardener and a bit retro to have a hot-tub.

On the driveway you had made it if you had a Reliant Scimitar in Mexico brown with a vinyl roof and if you were really flashy, a webasto sunroof.  The ladies would have liked to be seen in a Dolomite Sprint, a bit of a GTI in its day, the most popular colour in 1974 being deep purple.  Today it's a 4x4 all the way with the odd drop head Mercedes for sunny days and a VW Golf for the nanny.

James mulls over some differences in the workplace too,

"Selling houses was considerably less electronic. Your estate agent would measure up your house with a tape measure, he or she would count the power points, take note of the dado rail and get excited by the number of aspects. A photo and typed up details would be carefully placed in the agent's window and an advert would appear in the local paper... and then we would wait for the perfect buyer. 

"Like most businesses, all estate agents would close for lunch, and very few would open on a Saturday - and if they did then certainly not for long.  It was fun working in an estate agency then and still today.  Much has progressed but actually people still buy from people and that will never change. Our clients return time and time again, they pop in for a chin wag and they are the life blood of our business.  I was addicted then and I still am!"

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

Multi-generational living more attractive than ever before as 'granny flat' Council Tax halved

Last August 25th, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced new government plans to remove an unpopular Council Tax surcharge on family annexes or so-called 'granny flats' in an effort to support the housing needs of extended families.

This reduction of 50% in Council Tax is due to come into effect in April 2014 with many households containing annexes welcoming the estimated £500 annual saving.  The reduction will only be applicable to annexes however which are supporting a family member - so grandparents or young adults most likely.

James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt Estate Agents in Surrey comments:

"In our neighbourhood we are unlikely to benefit from this Council Tax reduction which is a great pity.  In Wentworth these annexes are almost exclusively used for housing staff, whether it be an au pair, a house keeper or a cook.  The reduction only comes into play when 'family members' are residing in the annexe, achieving slightly divorced living arrangements, a sort of family apartheid!!

But Wyatt goes on to say, "there is a good argument to say that an au pair is part of the family and not an employee in the traditional sense, therefore anyone with an au pair should be entitled to this reduction.  The UK government website states that an au pair should be treated as a member of the family they live with and get 'pocket money' instead of a salary - usually about £70 to £85 a week. We will definitely be looking into this further."

With an already estimated 24,150 family annexes present in the UK, it is hoped this tax break will encourage more families to build so-called 'granny flats' further boosting the construction industry and enabling more older people to live independent lives.

James Wyatt goes onto suggest a possible alternative to this double taxation if you are building a new home:

"The current legislation is all to do with kitchens! If you are building a new home and you only install one kitchen then I believe only one Council Tax will apply.  The moment you start adding a second kitchen you are in trouble. Obviously the very nature of an annexe means you need a kitchen. There's little point having granny or nanny squirreled away if they need to appear in the family kitchen every time they want to make a sandwich!" 

  

Homes with annexes

Waterford House, Wentworth Estate                                             £4,250,000

Five bedrooms, five bathrooms, five reception rooms, cinema room, games room, three car garage with studio annexe over with shower room and kitchenette, beautifully landscaped gardens.

Waterford House was built in 2005 for the current owners, a house of considerable charm and character and individuality. No expense was spared in the construction of the house using the finest materials and construction methods. Of particular note is the amount of technology within the house with Crestron and Lutron systems controlling the audio visual, curtains, blinds and even the running of the bath via IPhone technology. Throughout the house there is a feel of sophisticated luxury with attention to detail and design.

The property is approached through wrought iron gates on brick piers with a driveway that has ample parking for many cars.

The gardens were designed and created by Urban Red Landscape Architects who have managed to achieve a wonderful variety of changing colour throughout the seasons. An extensive terrace spans across the rear of the property to a slightly raised dining area off the concertina doors from the kitchen. A pathway leads around the perimeter of the rear garden to a sun terrace in the north west corner of the garden with an attractive pond and water feature. In the centre of the garden is a very attractive Rill which can be seen as you come through the front door of the property. The gardens are really quite a feature of the property and should be viewed to be appreciated

Park Place, Windlesham                                                                £6,250,000

This is a magnificent country house which stands impressively within a mature woodland setting and approached via a private road.  Wrought iron gates open onto a gravelled drive flanked by mature trees and rhododendrons which leads to a central fountain in front of the house.

Built in 1995, this Georgian style property has been built to an exceptionally high standard.  The imposing reception hall with a central staircase, marble and granite floors with under-floor heating, a hand-made kitchen and custom made furniture in many parts of the house all blend to create a unique and wonderful home.

Ground floor includes: reception hall, dining room, cinema, drawing room, music area, kitchen and utility, sitting room, study and cloakroom.

First floor has the master suite and 4 further bedroom suites.  Second floor - another 4 bedroom suites.

The ample garage will house 3 cars and has a staff flat over.  A generous cottage in the grounds offers further accommodation with kitchen, living area, 3 beds and bathrooms.

St Christopher, Virginia Water                                                          £3,750,000

St Christopher is an elegant and impressive family home built in approximately 1994. The main reception rooms are laid out in a formal fashion, yet the kitchen/breakfast room which incorporates a generous conservatory overlooking the rear garden offers a comfortable living space, ideal for family and formal gatherings.

Set well back in a mature and established gardens, the property has an air of elegance and grace but also provides a good degree of privacy and security behind the electric wrought iron gates.

Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and separate dressing room, guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom, four further bedrooms, entrance hall, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room, study, kitchen/breakfast room incorporating conservatory, family room, utility room, one bedroom annexe with en-suite bathroom, triple garage, gardens.

For more details contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000.

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Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property in Sunningdale.  MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents 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