Thursday, September 23, 2010

The trend for basement rooms.

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 their property off whether it be thousands of gaudy Christmas lights, an overabundance of colourful hanging baskets in Spring or simply by building a very large property. Some even think that stone cladding one side of a semi detached house is classy. 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.However, I wonder if we are becoming a nation of moles. The latest craze in many of the golden commuter belt areas to the west of London is to build enormous basements. This is usually due to the swingeing Greenbelt policies which allow 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. The obvious way to obtain more habitable space is to simply burrow downwards.The problem with dungeons, sorry basements, is that it is usually quite difficult to design good natural light to these subterranean rooms, and whilst it might seem attractive to extend your house by 5,000 square feet or even a lot more, what on earth do you do with all that space?The answer is that you become creative in the type of rooms you install. Let me give you a brief insight as to what I have seen in recent years. There are a few fairly obvious rooms which are suitable for basements, the first of which is the plant room, and by plant, I mean the machinery which provides hot water and heating and air conditioning to the house. More recently very elaborate lighting systems have become more standard – ones that you can set to different moods for different times of the day, and which come on and off by timers or by remote control from anywhere in the world. This electronic wizardry takes up quite a bit of space although a very large walk in cupboard will probably suffice. Then there is the communication cupboard containing racks and racks of audio-visual machinery and patch panels with wiring that makes spaghetti junction look a bit of an amateur affair. 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 room. Full of washing machines, tumble dryers, maybe fridges and freezers with plenty of space for the staff to do the folding and ironing or to simply catch the dirty washing as it falls from one of the above laundry chutes! Cinemas come high on people’s lists for very clear reasons and with improvements in technology; these have become incredibly grand affairs. I recently visited a house gaudily designed, decorated and furnished throughout by Gianni Versace, which had a full-on professional cinema. As you entered, there was the ticket booth; next to it was the popcorn machine and drinks dispenser, over the door was the illuminated exit sign. The 12 foot screen itself was hidden behind curtains which parted moments before the film started. All this whilst watching from individual (and enormous) reclining leather seats. This doesn’t come cheap – a cinema set up like this with top video and sound equipment might cost you £250,000.Wine cellars – every multi millionaire fancies a wine cellar if only to show off his excellent taste in wine (usually instilled on him by his vintner), but more recently we have seen a plethora of enormous temperature-controlled rooms with enough space for a wine tasting table too. Swimming pools – well this is the big space user (or space waster, depending on how you look on it). A reasonable size indoor pool with seating areas, changing rooms, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room can easily take up 2,500 square feet and plenty more depending on your taste/vulgarity.Everyone with large houses has to have a full professional gym these days and whilst it might never be used, it gives the impression of supreme fitness and a ‘go ahead’ attitude.Garaging – well that speaks for itself.But some of the more unusual rooms I have seen recently defy belief – how’s about a hair dressing salon - and this is no ordinary hair dressing salon, quite apart from all the usual chairs, tables and mirrors, there were not one but three of those basins that you lean back into for your hair wash! Massage room – becoming increasingly popular, with mood lighting, piped music and a professional massage table with a hole to put your face through.Perhaps the funniest one I have heard of recently is a room containing a fake tan spraying booth. No doubt for those needing the ‘David Dickinson orange’ look on a regular basis.But lastly one that really defies belief – gift wrapping rooms are surprisingly relatively common (as are flower arranging rooms), but I learnt of one house in California that has not one but three gift wrapping rooms! When I described this to a colleague of mine he reminded me that in some parts of the world, not only are gift wrapping rooms common amongst the wealthy but they also have gift rooms containing hundreds of items for the owners to choose from before they are wrapped and presented to the recipient.It seems to me that for the very wealthy, underground space can provide a wonderful array of rooms but one wonders that having decided to burrow down one level on a frequent basis during the last 10 years of construction of new homes, will we start to dig further and have two, three or more stories underground in the future?

James Wyatt
James Wyatt is not a mole, but a Partner of Barton Wyatt in Virginia Water, Surrey. www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

Thursday, July 22, 2010

It is the time for selling a property in Sunningdale

Time On The Market Survey indicates that the property promoting durations have been reduced by 20% and three and four room houses are widespread in the market. Also, James Wyatt from Barton Wyatt has said that the demand out there is in an increase and it is a good time for both promoting and shopping for a property in Sunningdale. James Wyatt added, as an property agent in Sunningdale, that they had lack of inventory of property in Sunningdale, so that they were pressed for assembly the demands of the customers.

Based on James Wyatt, the properties in Sunningdale are in prime places, properly shaped and good trying homes that are in a pure nature. Consequently, these options of the properties in Sunningdale trigger receiving extra demands available in the market, they usually promote fast. İn accordance with the identical knowledge for the property in Sunningdale, terraced sort properties promote in 111 days, semi-detached sort properties promote in 115 days and   detached sort properties promote in 121 days.

Additionally, for the reason that Sunningdale is closer to international enterprise centres, and has renown golf programs that  host international tournaments, it has an ideal potential as a significant business area in real estate sector.  Besides that, with its international schools and facilities, the world is getting a extra attractive place for the international business people and golfers for residing with their households in a property in Sunningdale.

The sellers who watch for some correct time as a end result of economical expectations reminiscent of political events, financial enhancements and rules, ought to hurry for promoting their properties in Sunningdale. The rising calls for should be considered a very good opportunity and exact time for promoting the property.

Barton Wyatt will be in your service for you to sell or buy a property in Sunningdale. For extra info on property in Sunningdale contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

For more reading please comply with the links below:
real estate in Sunningdale - property in Sunningdale


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

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Buy-to-let investors not unhappy with the proposed Capital Gains Tax

A lot of second homeowners and buy-to-let landlordsare breathing a sigh of relief after the much-feared increase in (CGT) Capital Gains Tax turned out a lot more reasonable than initially thought.


The Capital Gains Tax has increased to 28%  from from 18% for higher earners. It had been feared that the rate would increase to 40% or even 50%.


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

Monday, June 21, 2010

Living in a Property in Sunningdale

Sunningdale is a good-looking town in the Royal district of Berkshire within the bounds of Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. You may perhaps have many choices by possessing a property in Sunningdale for living  in this petite paradise.

History of Sunningdale:

Sunna’s Valley; the meaning of the expression makes its roots from Sunninghill Dale. Sunna was the chief of the Saxons, and the Saxons who stationed at Sonning was using the locale as an station location. They established a village to live in out of the Windsor Forest. The region was open to different risks such as bandits until the early 1800s. This historical place presents the maximum safety measures at the present for persons who are letting or buying a property in Sunningdale.

Places to see in Sunningdale:

At the south of Sunningdale, the Bromhall Priory that is a nunnery belongs to medieval era took its place. It was founded in 1100s and carried its mission out until 1535. The old town church was stationed at Old Windsor. The church is renown with the statue of King Alfred. The sculptor was Count Gleicher, aka Prince Victor of Hohenlohe who was a German Prince and joined the Royal Navy lately and became an admiral for his service in Her Majesty’s Navy. That’s a further opportunity for peace and belief for folks seeking to let a property in Sunningdale or a property for sale in Sunningdale.

Journey to Sunningdale:

It’s possible to reach Sunningdale via airway, railway and highway. Arrivals via airway utilize bus to Feltam and train from Feltam to Sunningdale; arrivals via train make use of train from Waterloo to Sunningdale station and then taxi or shuttle from the station to Sunningdale; arrivals from the highway make use of M3, M4, M25, A30, A322, A329, A332, A355 and B383 highways relating to the raly point. There are loads of transportation options that make Sunningdale comfortable to reach to and from the areas around Sunningdale for those  searching for to let a property in Sunningdale or to buy a property in Sunningdale.

Barton Wyatt will consult you the best on the letting and sale inquiries for property in Sunningdale. For property in Sunningdale, property to let in Sunningdale and property for sale in Sunningdale please make contact with BW via the phones below:


In the UK 01344 843000
From the US 011 44 1344 843000
From elsewhere +44 1344 843000
For more further reading




 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 Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Friday, June 18, 2010

Property in Sunningdale, for Rent or for Sale


Sunningdale is a beautiful village in the Royal region of Berkshire within the bounds of Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. You may perhaps grasp many options through having a property in Sunningdale for living  in this small paradise.

History of Sunningdale:
Sunningdale' s long history dates back to the Saxons. The meaning of the name is Sunna's Valley, from Sunninghill Dale. The today's civil community of Sunningdale was born around 1894. This historical place presents the preserved era as a result of letting or buying a property in Sunningdale. 

Services in Sunningdale:

Virginia Water is an additional attractive place to see at the north of Sunningdale. It's surrounded by the limits of Windsor Great Park. Sunningdale has other worldwide prominent sportive amenities for example Ascot racecourse, Wentworth Golf Club and the Sunningdale Golf Club. Within this perspective, possessing a property in Sunningdale means having the worldwide renowned options with a actual clever purchase that has a prospective ROI for the future.

The CMI (Coronation Memorial Institute) and Sunningdale Village Hall are the two venues in Sunningdale. Both act for the collective, leisure and recreational activities of Sunningdale population.

The CMI is the place where the population gather for having some coffee and home-made pastry or light foods for lunch and even classes and activities through the day and leisure events for instance parties and dance or for social events both for children and adults in weekends.

The Village Hall, is an alternative venue for the people. It permits the public for getting together for the social and leisure events like classes, parties, concerts, theatre, evening gatherings and yet badminton due to the wooden floor. The architecture of the building that allows kitchen service convenience ensures eat and dance type gatherings. The Sunningdale Pre-School is located in the Village Hall as well. A pleasant living environment is the extra gain for the possessor of the property in Sunningdale.

Voyage to Sunningdale:

From Waterloo to the Sunningdale station it'll take 50 minutes by train. The National School transport meets the passengers at the station in busy hours. The complimentary taxi service is used for meeting the arrivals on Sunday in case of pre-booking with the Reception via the phone - 01344 634 000. In week days, the shuttle service that is planned for 15-minute periods is used for meeting the passengers at 08:00-10:45 and 16:00-18:15 hours. For having complimentary transportation in 08:00-22:00 hours, not including the shuttle service, it is suggested to make contact with the Reception via the phone -  01344 634 000. Out of the regular transportation hours - 22.00-08:00, you should make a reservation through the Reception, but it'll be against a taxi fare.

In week days, the arrivals have to organize their transportations from Heathrow to Sunnigdale. The selections are; by Railair bus to Feltam, by train from Feltam to Sunningdale or by Railair bus to Reading, by train from Reading to Sunningdale. Or you could use taxi against the taxi fare. You may well also pre-arrange the transportation while reserving the journey. There are several transportation selections to and from the areas around Sunningdale for whom want to have a property in Sunningdale.

Barton Wyatt will have the pleasure of leading you on the letting and sale inquiries for property in Sunningdale. For property in Sunningdale, property to let in Sunningdale and property for sale in Sunningdale please contact BW via the phones below:

In the UK 01344 843000
From the US 011 44 1344 843000
From elsewhere +44 1344 843000

For more further reading

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 Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Friday, June 4, 2010

Property in Sunningdale, Guide Price £410,000 Leasehold


Property in Sunningdale - Guide Price £410,000 Leasehold

The property in Sunningdale has master bedroom with built in wardrobes and en-suite bathroom with patio doors onto private patio, second bedroom with built in wardrobes, Private entrance porch, entrance hall, shower room, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, integral garage with electric up and over door, eaves storage space. The apartment has been hard wired for an in-house sound system.



Clareways is a select development set behind electric gates and within walking distance of Sunningdale Village Centre with its array of shops and the mainline railway station.

Number 1 Clareways is an unusual self contained ground floor apartment with its own covered entrance porch and front door in this executive development of 10 apartments. Finished to a high standard, the property in Sunningdale includes a master bedroom with a wide range of built in wardrobes and a luxury fitted bathroom. The second bedroom has fitted wardrobes, second bathroom with fully tiled shower cubicle.


The kitchen/breakfast room of the property in Sunningdale has a wide range of fitted base and eye level units with built in appliances behind matching fascia panels including fridge freezer and dishwasher, there is a five ring gas hob inset into granite work surfaces with designer extractor fan over and further wall units including a back lit glass fronted display cabinet. There is also a waste disposal and fresh water dispenser within the kitchen of the property in Sunningdale. The breakfast area has ample space for a large kitchen breakfast table and door leading to the integral garage. The lounge is a well proportioned room with a feature gas coal effect fire with a stone mantle and hearth.


Outside the property in Sunningdale there is a private patio with outside lighting and power with further access door to the garage which is adjacent to the property in Sunningdale. Inside the garage which has power and an electric up and over door, there is also a useful boarded loft space with a loft ladder.

Property picture for Sunningdale, Guide Price 
£410,000 Leasehold (Ref:BYVIRKE5P3336)



Fixtures and Fittings

Fitted carpets, curtains and light fittings negotiable.
ServicesThe property has mains water, gas and electricity
Local AuthorityRoyal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. Telephone: 01628 798888
DirectionsFrom our office, proceed along Christchurch Road to the A30 turning left towards Sunningdale. Once in to the middle of Sunningdale, turn right into Charters Road and then first left into Lady Margaret Road. Clareways will be found a short distance on the left hand side.

NOTE: These particulars are intended only as a guide to prospective Purchasers to enable them to decide whether to make further enquiries with a view to taking up negotiations but they are otherwise not intended to be relied upon in any way for any purpose whatsoever and accordingly neither their accuracy nor the continued availability of the property is in any way guaranteed and they are furnished on the express understanding that neither the Agents nor the Vendors are to be or become under any liability or claim in respect of their contents. Any prospective Purchaser must satisfy himself by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of the particulars contained.

 Barton Wyatt provides property in Surrey, property in Sunningdale and property in Wentworth James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Virginia Water - Guide Price £925,000 Freehold

Property in Surrey - Guide Price £925,000 Freehold

Three bedrooms, bathroom, sitting/dining room with fireplace, cloakroom, gas central heating, garage, 0.262 of an acre of garden, much potential for redevelopment.



6 Abbey Road is an interesting family house with the advantage of being very close to the shops and mainline railway station, yet having a lightly wooded aspect and pleasant garden.



The property in Surrey is ideally situated for commuting with the M25, M3 and M4 all close at hand. For recreational pursuits, there is Windsor Great Park nearby, Savill Gardens and horse riding at Ascot.


The property in Surrey is in need of modernisation and redecoration yet creates a perfect purchase for redevelopment or rebuild as the neighbouring house has done recently. There is a good sized garden which is on two tiers at the rear with a pleasant east facing aspect.



Internally, there are three bedrooms, a bathroom and an open plan sitting room/dining room arrangement with fireplace. This property in Surrey has much potential and an early viewing is recommended.



Fixtures and FittingsFitted carpets, curtains and light fittings negotiable
ServicesThe property has mains gas, water and electricity.
Local AuthorityRunnymede Borough Council – 01932 838383
DirectionsAbbey Road is the road adjoining Barclays bank and our office. Number 6 can be found a short distance down Abbey Road on the left hand side.

NOTE: These particulars are intended only as a guide to prospective Purchasers to enable them to decide whether to make further enquiries with a view to taking up negotiations but they are otherwise not intended to be relied upon in any way for any purpose whatsoever and accordingly neither their accuracy nor the continued availability of the property is in any way guaranteed and they are furnished on the express understanding that neither the Agents nor the Vendors are to be or become under any liability or claim in respect of their contents. Any prospective Purchaser must satisfy himself by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of the particulars contained.
Barton Wyatt provides property in Surrey, property in Sunningdale and property in Wentworth James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000