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

Put a spring in your property buying step

You might have lost an hour of priceless sleep but the turning of clocks forward last weekend officially marked the start of spring, a favourite time of the year for many including the team at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey.

From their base in the heart of north Surrey, the award winning estate agency can once again enjoy the bright and colourful flowers popping up in Virginia Water, admire the catkins hanging from the trees and hear the woodpeckers hammering away in the ancient woodlands of Wentworth.

And just as nature springs once again into life, invariably so too does the property market with Barton Wyatt seeing an increase in the numbers of properties put onto the market, viewings and indeed sales. In the last fortnight in fact Partner James Wyatt has seen numerous new propertiesbeing made available for sale, undertaken an increasing number of viewings and made several multi-million pound sales.

So if all this sunshine has put a 'spring' in your property buying step, what are the best buys?

1. Fresh on the market this week this house is an antiquarians dream. Simply known as TheCottage in Thorpe, Surrey, this beautifully presented true family home with two staircases has been occupied by the current owners for the last 24 years - a mere blink of the eye in the houses' more than 500 year history. They have sympathetically restored and improved this lovely property to form a home of immense character yet still having the luxury of modern conveniences such as gas central heating, replacement kitchen with under floor heating, Jacuzzi bath, alarm system, double glazed conservatory etc.

The house retains plenty of the original features which include magnificent timber beams, five fireplaces with a large Inglenook fireplace complete with bread oven in the Sitting room, ledged and braced doors with Suffolk latches and old timber panelling.

Through the leaded light windows views can be enjoyed to the beautiful south west facing gardens, which is mainly lawned with an attractive patio and pond with waterfall feature which completes the garden. The origins of the house have been dated to 1490 according to the owner, and we recommend a viewing of this sensational family home in the heart of the village available from £995,000.

2. For a more contemporary property you would be wise to look at Meadowbrook inSunningdale, an exceptionally designed house completed in 2010 to the highest specification throughout. This fabulous home is a perfect blend of luxurious accommodation set over three floors amounting to approximately 5,500 square feet including a triple garage and staff accommodation.

The house has been carefully planned for a modern family with a stunning kitchen/breakfast/family room area. The property enjoys a unique location in one of Sunningdale's most prestigious roads at the end of a long private driveway backing onto Chobham Common and the 12th green of Wentworth's championship West Course.

Six bedrooms, six bath/shower rooms, four reception rooms, steam room, annex, three car garage. Meadowbrook is on the market for £2,950,000.

3. And lastly Four Winds Harvest Hill is being launched at the end of April and offers 5 families the opportunity to live in an exclusive idyllic semi-rural location within 3 milesof Beaconsfield, with stunning views across the Thames Valley recently described as one of the most desirable towns in the country.

Each home affords substantial living space on the ground floor flowing from a grand entrance hall into formal drawing and dining rooms and impressive kitchen/breakfast rooms incorporating family living areas.

Master suites feature balconies, dressing rooms and palatial en-suite bathrooms with 4 further en-suite bedrooms and cinema rooms. This is a unique opportunity to own a classically designed home, combining modern fittings with timeless external materials and beautifully landscaped gardens in an outstanding location.

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

Surrey property market

It is indeed peace and tranquillity along with a cool and composed atmosphere that you would vouch for in your dream house. With the exquisite house for sale Surrey deals from Barton Wyatt, a prominent Estate agent in Surrey county, UK, your most coveted dreams would surely turn to reality.

The one of a kind broad based Estate Agency is next to none when it comes to searching for house for sale Surrey. The extraordinary and lavish houses it has for sale possess exceptional facilities and speak of their grandeur in high volumes. In addition, these homes are quite secure since most of them are occupied by the owners themselves.

Be it the Wentworth Estate around the much famed Wentworth club in Virginia waters, Windsor Great Park, Runnymead or the Sunningdale village, Barton Wyatt can help you buy a plush house almost anywhere in the vicinity of the Surrey county. Besides, you could also benefit from the agency's expertise in corporate lettings, land appraisal, new home sale and other significant real estate departments while making important decisions regarding any of these matters.

A huge selection of homes are for grab in Surrey. There are the grand houses on the Main Island of the Wentworth Estate with heart raising views, and then, there are luxurious six bedroom houses with ample entertaining space. Some of them may offer you the facilities of gyms, games room, swimming pool, all at one place, the others may be the opulent family homes with generous rooms along with extended grounds. You can look out for various house for sale Surrey schemes being offered by Barton Wyatt to buy one of these magnanimous houses as per your choice and budget constraints.

Certain factors should be considered before buying a house at a particular location, these include proximity of schools, colleges, hospitals and shopping destinations from the preferred site. Availability of public transport and security is yet another dominant factor in this regard. The same holds true for a house for sale in Surrey, however, with Barton Wyatt, you can be rest assured to be facilitated by all such amenities at the closest possible distance.

Summary: Barton Wyatt is a distinctive Estate Agency in Surrey, solely own and operated by the Watt family with the help of an extended team of experienced professionals. It helps the potential buyers to finalize a house for sale Surrey deal as per their financial limits and suitability. Before helping you in any such deal, they make it sure that the house proves true to all the standards as per desired by the clients.

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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

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