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Phillip and Helen

Phillip — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:36:15 +0000

Phillip’s blog in My Friend

Phillip — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:33:15 +0000

In this job you can imagine how many people I have met, I’ve been a local Estate Agent for nearly 20 years and sometimes my memory of names, addresses and even specific details or events surprises me. There are times when I can recall useless information about a sale or a purchase from 15 years ago but sadly there are also times when I meet people and although I recognise them, I have absolutely no idea where from.

I’m not the best with names either, I’m sure some of you will sympathise, that horrible moment where you hope the name you’ve used is right or the just as awkward conversation where you have to avoid names altogether. The strange thing about dog walking is that I think I know nearly all of the local dogs by name but have no idea what their owners are called. My wife and I are expecting a baby so it’ll be interesting to see if the same is true with children. Do you get to know all the kids names and none of the parents?

I had to laugh this week when a friend showed me a letter his son had written. This was Jack’s letter to Father Christmas and after explaining he’d felt that he’d been a good boy, the Christmas present wish list began. He’d asked Santa for a new bike, a dog and a James Bond Scalextric set which, if he’s lucky enough to have received, I’ll be round to play with! I’m sure as Jack gets older this list will become far more extensive. Much to his Dads annoyance I suggested that next year he could cut things out of the Argos catalogue and stick them on. It got me thinking, it’s been a long time since I’ve written to Santa but what would be on my wish list?

From a personal point of view the Audi A7 looks like a great car, I’d like the new iPhone that talks to you and a season ticket for Northampton Saints would be lovely.

As an Estate Agent there are lots of things I would have liked from Father Christmas. It would be nice if we could hurry up and sort out the global financial crisis, increase Mortgage lending especially to first time buyers, get some positive media attention for the housing market and stop drunk people from moving my for sale signs!

In truth 2011 was a good year for Gatehouse Estates. We have expanded into St. Neots in the summer and having a base there in addition to our Godmanchester office has given us great coverage of Brampton, Buckden, the Offords & Paxtons as well as the smaller villages like Toseland, Yelling & Graveley.

We sold far more houses in 2011 than we honestly expected to at the beginning of the year. We’ve had numerous successes in St. Ives, Kimbolton & Brampton as well as in St. Neots and Godmanchester. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has chosen Gatehouse over the last year and especially to those who have been kind enough to recommend us to others. All of your support is very much appreciated.

Whilst I may have a long wait for a new Audi and the season ticket, we are optimistic about the market in 2012. I think banks will continue to lend a little more, I don’t think we’ll see interest rates rise, people looking to sell will have to continue to be realistic on price and buyers confidence will grow as the market strengthens. I’m looking forward to getting more people moving.

Rightmove’s latest Consumer Price Forecast reveals that the majority of prospective home movers do not expect house prices to be lower by the end of 2012, despite the on-going economic gloom at home and abroad. The survey, which polled more than 25,000 people, found that nearly two thirds (63%) expect house prices to be the same or higher 12 months from now, with less than a third (30%) expecting prices to be lower.

There is speculation that the much publicised housing shortage in the UK, which is currently pushing up rental values and the continued population increase will eventually push up property prices. The Centre for Economic and Business Research have predicted price rises of 15% by 2016 which I think is optimistic but we’ll have to wait and see. Whilst the future remains unknown I can offer a free, current, up to date valuation if you are looking to sell and any advice you may need on achieving the best possible price for your property.

If you are thinking of selling or letting call Phillip on 01480 434290 or pop in and see him.

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An earlier blog From Autumn 2011

The old joke about us goes “Why won’t you see an Estate Agent looking out of the window in the morning? Because they’ll have nothing left to do in the afternoon!”

I’ll be honest the window by my desk looks out over the river on The Causeway so you might catch me glancing out of the window regardless of the time of day.

When you walk into Estate Agents offices there are always desks manned with guys shuffling paper or busily typing away on a computer but what do we really do all day?

We start with a quick team meeting to catch up on the day before and to plan the day ahead. Nothing worse than not knowing what’s going on. It may not always look like it but our office in Godmanchester is busy, there are five of us based here and three more colleagues now based in our new St. Neots office.

On the letting side of our business we manage hundreds of properties for landlords, looking after everything from monthly rent payments to emergency repairs. When we are instructed to let a new property photographs and details need taking. These are uploaded to several websites and prepared for the Hunts Post newspaper advert. Office window adverts are printed, a ‘To Let’ board arranged, we contact prospective tenants from our mailing list, handle telephone enquiries, arrange and accompany viewings at the property, prepare inventory and condition reports, take a holding fee when we find a tenant, reference & credit check them, prepare the tenancy agreements, arrange the move in, collect the deposit and take the first months rent. When you think we can have around thirty properties available to let at any time, we can take ten new ones on some weeks and all within a 15 mile radius of here, it keeps you busy!

On the sales side the initial valuation of a property takes time to prepare for, we always do our research on a property and prepare a report for the owner before turning up to an appointment. Valuations can take an hour or so, we discuss not only value but our marketing, fees, the legal requirements, the selling & buying process and we can answer any other queries. Once instructed the initial marketing & viewing process is similar to rental but we often need to negotiate with buyers and check chains and mortgage arrangements.

As an Estate Agent every day is different, this week I have valued a very unusual period property in St. Ives, a bank repossession and a house that the couple bought

from us 20 years ago. I have had numerous viewings on different properties for sale and to let. I have taken three more houses onto the market and sold one already. I’ve collected contracts from lawyers, got them signed and returned them. I’ve delivered keys to a new home owner, put two ‘For Sale’ boards up, carried out a couple of routine inspections on houses we manage, ordered some new lighting for our St. Neots office, had lunch with my mum, got a lady’s printer working for her, prepared the newspaper adverts, spoken with hundreds of people on the phone, arranged the weekend rota, updated the websites, hoovered the office and still found time to look out of the window!

This is a great career for meeting people, most of whom are a pleasure to deal with. I met a couple this week that have lived in Godmanchester for longer than I’ve been alive and another couple who only moved to Brampton because whilst driving up the A1 from Hertfordshire they needed a toilet stop and they fell in love with the village.

A good Estate Agent has to be a jack of all trades, from photographer to economist to negotiator. We have to do marketing, advertising, selling, PR, counseling, IT, driving, arranging, sales chasing, buying, accounting and communicating. The office diary can change at the drop of a hat too so we have to be flexible and accommodating to strike whilst the iron’s hot.

The downsides? I’ll get no sympathy for mentioning the hours we work. Often appointments will be early evening or weekends but that is the nature of the job. It’s better now than it used to be thanks to technology.

Over the years I’ve had a few problems with burglar alarms, I’ve broken keys in locks, been bitten by a dog, ripped my trousers on a fence, fallen into a flower bed and lost a shoe. I’ve been to several unpleasant repossessions, been stood up countless times, I’ve found squatters in a house cooking Pizza, broken a window and found people asleep in bed.

All in all, I love what I do and after nearly twenty years I still don’t want to be doing anything else. Hopefully my passion & enthusiasm comes across to our clients and must be one of the reasons for our success.

If you are thinking of selling or letting call Phillip on 01480 434290 or pop in and see him.

Houses for sale on Eynesbury Manor, St. Neots. PE19

Phillip — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:42:31 +0000

If you are thinking of selling your property in Eynesbury Manor then please call Gatehouse Estates of St. Neots for an up to date market valuation.

Eynesbury Manor & Eynesbury Marina are relativley new development on the South East side of St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. Both development are popular with investment buyers and families alike.

Victorian two bedroom house Godmanchester For Sale

Phillip — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:57:31 +0000

GODMANCHESTER - £145,000

Two Bedrooms
Victorian End Terrace
Sitting Room with Fireplace
Re-Fitted Kitchen
Re-fitted Bathroom
Courtyard Garden
Brick built store/workshop
No Forward Chain
15’5 x 10’10 Master Bedroom
Call 01480 434290 to view

Full description:

Tenure: Freehold
Set in the heart of Godmanchester this two bedroom Victorian end terrace house has a sitting room with open fireplace, a re-fitted kitchen and bathroom, a 15’5 x 10’10 master bedroom, a second bedroom and a walled courtyard rear garden with brick built store/workshop.

Full description:

A double glazed entrance door leads from the street into:

SITTING ROOM – 3.60m x 3.35m (11’10 x 10’2)
Double glazed window to the front, radiator, wood effect laminate flooring, an open fireplace with marble hearth and a pine door leading through to the kitchen.

KITCHEN – 3.35m x 2.10m (10’2 x 6’11)
Re-fitted with a range of base wall and draw units with worktop and integrated stainless steel oven, grill with gas four ringed hob and filter hood over. There is a stainless steel sink and drainer with mixer tap. There is space for a fridge, a double glazed window to the rear, stairs leading to the first floor, a fold down breakfast table, wood effect laminate flooring and a doorway to the rear lobby.

REAR LOBBY
Double glazed door leading out to the rear courtyard, wood effect laminate flooring and a pine door leading to the bathroom.

BATHROOM – 2.02m x 1.77m (6’8 x 5’10)
Re-fitted with a white suite and fully tiled There is a WC, a Victoriana style wash hand basin with chrome pillar taps, a bath with an independent shower over and a Victoriana style radiator with towel rail. There is a frosted double glazed window to the side, wood effect laminate flooring and recessed downlighting.

LANDING
The stair lead from the kitchen to a small landing area with radiator, an overstairs cupboard houses the gas fired central heating combination boiler, there is access to the loft space and door to both bedrooms.

BEDROOM ONE – 4.69m x 3.31m (15’5 x 10’10)
Double glazed window to the front, radiator and a boarded fireplace with timber surround and mantelpiece.

BEDROOM TWO – 2.10m x 2.53m (6’11 x 8’4) + entrance lobby.
Double glazed window to the rear and a radiator.

OUTSIDE

Gated access leads from the street under the house and into the rear courtyard garden measuring approximately 7.25m deep x 4.50m wide (24’ deep x 15’ wide). The courtyard is walled & paved with a brick built store/workshop at the rear measuring 3.86m wide x 1.62m deep (12’8 wide x 5’4 deep)

Walk from Pub in Godmanchester to Huntingdon & Brampton.

Phillip — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:22:43 +0000

We start at The Exhibition Pub in Godmanchester just because it is closest to us but you could start at any of the pubs mentioned. Remember to Drink Responsibly!

This circuit is approx. 4 1/4 miles long.

From The Exhibition head down Earning Street to The White Hart Pub & Restaurant.

From there continue down East Chadley Lane and follow the path at the end around and back up past Godmanchester Primary School on Park Lane. At the top on your left is The Black Bull Pub.

Right from here will see you at The Bridge Hotel where Godmanchester meets Huntingdon and a short walk up the High Street you’ll find The Samuel Pepys Pub.

Further up the High Street adjacent to the Church and Barneys Fish & Chip shop you can walk up St. Marys Street and over the ring road and across Mill Common to the train station and Brampton Road.

Once on the main road there is a footpath that takes you past Hinchingbrooke House and down to Nun’s Bridge. With Hinchingbrooke Park on you right you’ll see Bromholme Lane on the left, The Old Mill is tucked at the end of Bromholme Lane.

When you have finished at The Mill walk back along Bromholme Lane but turn right opposite the Camp Site and follow the lane, eventually you’ll weave your way under the railway line and onto Portholme. From Portholme you’ll end up back in the centre of Godmanchester near our office.

It might be better if you try this route in reverse where the pubs (and toilets) are a bit closer towards the end of what is a four and a quarter mile pub crawl.

LET US KNOW BELOW WHAT YOU THINK TO THIS ROUTE….

Penthouse Apartment For Sale in Lt. Paxton

Phillip — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:49:57 +0000

Little Paxton – £175,000

Key features:

Penthouse Apartment
Two Bedrooms
Cloakroom & Bathroom
Open Plan Living, Dining and Study areas
Garage & Parking
Converted Hay Barn
Communal Gardens
Visitor Parking
Vaulted Ceilings
Call 01480 434290 to view

Full description:

Tenure: Leasehold

Top floor penthouse apartment in a converted hay barn with two bedrooms, a cloakroom & bathroom, an open plan sitting, dining & study area with vaulted ceiling, a fitted kitchen, exposed beams throughout. There is a garage and parking, additional visitor parking and communal gardens.

COMMUNAL ENTRANCE
Security keypad entrance. Stairs up to second floor with a hay loft mezzanine floor area with two velux windows to the front. and a hardwood entrance leading into the apartment

ENTRANCE HALL
Access to loft space, doors leading to the bedrooms, bathroom, cloakroom, lounge area and airing cupboard.

CLOAKROOM
Velux window to rear. Toilet and wash hand basin, wall tiling and exposed beams.

LOUNGE AREA – 15′ 6 x 14′ 2 (4.73m x 4.32m)
Two velux windows to front. Wall mounted electric storage heaters. Exposed beam work. Vaulted ceiling. Wall lights.

DINING AREA – 6′ 7 x 20′ 1 (2.03m x 6.14m)
Velux windows to front and rear. . Exposed beam work. Storage heater. Vaulted ceiling. Wall lights.

KITCHEN – 7′ 3 x 12′ 5 (2.23m x 3.81m)
Two velux windows to rear. Range of base, wall and draw units with work top over. Tiling to surrounds. Stainless steel one and a half bowl sink and drainer. Space for electric oven. Stainless steel canopy over. Under pelmet lighters. Space for fridge freezer and plumbing for washing machine. Laminate flooring. Exposed beams.

BATHROOM
Two velux windows to rear. Toilet and wash hand basin. Bath and separate corner shower cubicle. Fully tiled. Electric storage heater. Extractor fan.

BEDROOM ONE – 11′ 1 x 15′ 6 (3.40m x 4.75m)
Two velux windows front. Storage heater. Exposed beams. Vaulted ceiling.

BEDROOM TWO – 9′ 1 x 14′ 7 (2.78m x 4.45m)
Two velux windows to rear. Exposed beams. Storage heater.

OUTSIDE
Communal gardens surround the property. There is a single garage with eaves storage, a parking space in front of the garage plus visitors parking spaces.

More information from this agent

Download Brochure__

Bungalow For Sale in the heart of Godmanchester.

Phillip — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:49:50 +0000

GODMANCHESTER - £205,000

Key features:

Bungalow
Central Location
Two Double Bedrooms
Cloakroom & Bathroom
Single Garage
Conservatory
Sitting Room
Kitchen/Dining Room
Call 01480 434290 to view

Full description:

Tenure: Freehold

uPVC entrance door to the porch with a hardwood entarce door leading into:

Entrance Hall
Radiator, coving to ceiling, doors to Kitchen/Dining room, bathroom, bedrooms, garage and:

Cloakroom
Wash hand basin and WC, door to Storage cupboard.

Sitting Room – 4.96m (16’3″) X 4.37m (14’4″)
Fireplace with brick surround, radiator, telephone point, TV point, coving to ceiling, double doors to:

Conservatory
uPVC double glazed with polycarbonate roof, radiator, double doors to garden.

Kitchen/Dining Room – 4.96m (16’3″) X 4.06m (13’4″)
Fitted with a matching range of base and eye level units with worktop space over, 1½ bowl stainless steel sink unit, space for fridge/freezer, gas and electric points for cooker, bow window to front, door to:

Bedroom 1 – 3.97m (13′) X 3.66m (12′)
Bow window to side, radiator.

Bedroom 2 – 3.20m (10’6″) X 2.65m (8’8″)
Bay window to side. Radiator

Bathroom
Bath, wash hand basin and WC, radiator.

Garage
There is a single garage found off Chadley Lane with Up and over door. Personnel door into hallway.

Garden
The attractive walled courtyard style garden is found to the front of the property.

House For Sale in Old Godmanchester

Phillip — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:19:25 +0000

GODMANCHESTER - £155,000

Located on Pipers Lane in the old part of Godmanchester this end terraced house is a short walk to the town’s amenities. It offers an entrance hall, a lounge/dining room, a kitchen, downstairs cloakroom, three bedrooms and a bathroom. There are gardens to the front and rear and a garage.

Full description

A storm porch provides shelter. The front door has a glazed side panel and leads into:

Entrance Hall
Stairs lead to the first floor, door to the lounge/dining room, hooks to hang coats and a radiator.

Lounge/Dining Room (L-shaped room measuring 4.65m (15′ 3) x 6.95m (22′ 9) max)
Window to the front, door leading into the kitchen, wood effect laminate flooring, two radiators, fireplace with inset coal effect gas fire, door to understairs storage cupboard and a door to the rear lobby.

Rear Lobby & Cloakroom
Hooks to hang coats, a door with glazed panel leading to the rear garden and a sliding door to the cloakroom which has a window to the rear, a WC and a wash hand basin.

Kitchen – 2.70m (8′ 10) x 3.12m (10′ 3)
Range of wooden base, wall and draw units with worktop and tiled splash backs. Stainless steel sink and drainer unit with mixer tap, window overlooking the garden, radiator, shelving to one wall, space for fridge/freezer, plumbing for washing machine, electric cooker point and a door with glazed panel leading out to the rear garden.

First Floor Landing
Doors lead to bedrooms, bathroom, shelved airing cupboard, access to the loft space and wall mounted gas combination boiler.

Bedroom One – 3.43m (11′ 3) x 3.24m (10′ 8)
Window to the front and radiator.

Bedroom Two – 3.43m (11′ 3) x 3.48m (11′ 5)
Window to the rear and radiator.

Bedroom Three – 2.27m (7′ 5) x 2.13m (7′ 0)
Window to the front and radiator.

Bathroom
Frosted window to the rear, bath with independent electric shower over, tiled surrounds, was hand basin, WC and radiator.

Outside

To the front of the house is a lawned front garden with hedgerow borders. To the side is a driveway that leads up to the garage. To the rear from the garage area is gated access to the south facing rear garden measuring approx. 20′ x 16′ which is lawned with flower borders.

Search Property – Houses & Flats for sale in Cambridgeshire

Phillip — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:31:40 +0000

Property – Houses & Flats for sale in Cambridgeshire

Godmanchester Houses needed for sale.

Phillip — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:54:04 +0000

Gatehouse Estates in Godmanchester have buyers registered waiting for houses in Pipers Lane, Silver Street or Earning Street in Godmanchester. They are looking for one of Godmanchester’s larger, more established properties and this may include East Chadley Lane or London Road.

If you are thinking of selling your home on Silver Street, Earning Street or Pipers Lane in Godmanchester then please call Phillip in the first instance.

We have buyers waiting for other specific property types and areas in Godmanchester in the hope they are informed prior to a property coming to the market so, let us know if we can help.