Hat and Home | The Bowler | Issue one

THE

Issue one

BOWLER

T H E P R O P E RT Y A N D L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E F R O M H AT A N D H O M E

2 | The Bowler | Issue One

Our Offices Crowthorne

In this edition 4

79 High Street, Crowthorne

Welcome

Berkshire, RG45 7AD

6

01344 952 777 crowthorne@hatandhome.co.uk

Wokingham 2 Southgate House, Alexandra Court

Prime by Hat and Home 10 Bored of boards?

13

Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2SL

Glorious Game

0118 304 8888

18

wokingham@hatandhome.co.uk

Property spotlight 24

Bracknell 29a High Street, The Lexicon, Bracknell Berkshire, RG12 1DL

01344 528 777 backnell@hatandhome.co.uk

Under-letting your property?

26 The Audrey Hepburn cocktail 28 Lisa Roe on Sales Progression 30 Private Search

This publication is designed and produced by Forward Design Ltd. Unit 8, Wychwood Court, Cotswold Business Village, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0JQ | Tel: 01608 692200 Design Copyright © Forward Design Ltd 2023

“At Hat and Home, we take property marketing to a whole new level”

4 | The Bowler | Issue One

THE

BOWLER Welcome to The Bowler The property and lifestyle magazine from Hat and Home.

You will find each edition packed full of articles, market commentary and interviews, alongside seasonal recipes, cocktail masterclasses and of course some wonderful properties from across our branch network.

Please take some time to explore our advertising partners as well. We have a strong relationship with every single one of them so you can be completely confident in the services and products they offer.

The property market is rarely out of the newspapers and the past few months have been no different.

Multiple interest rate hikes led to mortgages becoming more expensive and as a direct result, affordability for

demand, rents have increased 13% in the past two years and show no signs of heading in any other direction.

The challenge for landlords is to keep one step ahead of regulatory change, so appointing an experienced agency with the necessary knowledge base has never been so important.

At Hat and Home, we take property marketing to a whole new level to ensure we maximise the exposure of our clients properties to the most relevant audience which produces a quicker sale or let at a fantastic price.

Our brand marketing is designed to evoke a reaction and drive engagement with Hat and Home, which in turn exposes our clients’ properties to a wider audience.

The campaigns have a playful nature which reflect the brand personality and get people talking.

many buyers in the market changed overnight.

Our team of experienced property professionals know

As a new Prime Minister took office the financial

any market condition with a sole focus on delivering an

markets were settled and we are seeing normality return

exceptional result for our clients.

how to navigate the challenges and opportunities of

with all commentary suggesting the cost of lending is stabilising and likely to soften in the first half of 2023.

If you would like to talk to me about selling or letting your property, or about any of the other services we

Prices have remained resilient due to the lack of

offer please call me on 07523 106 629.

available properties and in popular areas such as Wokingham, Crowthorne and Bracknell, I am confident that any softening of house prices will be muted in comparison to many areas of the UK. The rental sector, despite the constant legislative squeeze on landlords, continues to perform extremely well.

Driven by a shortage of available homes and a wealth of

For now, please enjoy the first edition of The Bowler.

Ben Gee, Founder Hat and Home The Bowler | Issue One | 5

PRIME by Hat and Home Effective and discreet – Prime sales and lettings is designed specifically to work for clients with special or unique properties.

Prime by Hat and Home is our bespoke service for both sellers and landlords in the upper quartile of the market. High-value, unique properties and those with land all require a tailored approach to ensure you get the best possible result. Whether you are selling your family home, downsizing, or releasing equity from an investment, we will be on hand to help every step of the way, leaving you feeling confident that you are in safe hands to get the best possible result.

An initial consultation meeting will be followed up with a comprehensive valuation report and bespoke marketing strategy designed to get you the highest price in a timescale that suits you. Viewings will be conducted by the same person you meet for the consultation so you have a single point of contact and interested parties are shown your property by a consultant who understands the needs and motivations of buyers and tenants in this sector of the market.

6 | The Bowler | Issue One

The Prime sales team is led by Daniel Mason. With over

Prime Lettings Director Liz Gamlen has over 13 years’

a decade of experience brokering transactions across

experience getting great results for clients. She is skilled

Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey, Daniel offers clients

in negotiation to achieve the best results for landlords,

the reassurance that their sale is in safe hands. With an

commercial expertise to ensure that their assets are

unwavering focus on delivering results for his clients,

fully protected, and has a wealth of knowledge in

he uses his local knowledge and network of contacts

legislation and compliance.

to facilitate transactions of exclusive and unique properties.

The Bowler | Issue One | 7

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & BUILD SPECIALISTS

www.creativeprojectservices.com 01189 732 777

Best Architectural Design / Build Firm - Berkshire

enquiries@creativeprojectservices.com

Best Architectural Design / Build Firm 2022 Counties

Turning dream homes into a reality Meet Elliot Wakeford, the founder and owner of Creative Project Services Ltd; a culturally different design and build company with an inimitable setup.

As the firm’s leader, Elliot believes good communication is one of the main reasons for Creative’s success. The firm likes to provide their customers with something that improves the look and feel of their home whilst adding to its value. It builds presentations to provide the clients with a clear understanding of what is being proposed; coloured plans, 3D visuals, and mood boards are all included to help the clients visualise their dream.

“I have a Creative Project Services’ team including experts in planning, architecture, design, construction,

“Your home is your biggest investment. That’s why

health & safety, and project management. The

we take a consultative approach to every project,

organisation offers a turnkey solution from their

ensuring that we maximise your property’s potential

primary feasibility studies and applications for planning,

in both lifestyle and property value. Our team of experts

building regulations to the completed build phase.”

work with you from design to build, delivering high-quality workmanship that exceeds expectations.

A Different Organisation

With personalised services tailored to your individual needs and budget, we’re committed to adding value to

“Our primary USP is attention to detail and

your property and improving your quality of life.”

communication. Creative took an intentional business decision to limit the number of projects undertaken to

Future Roadmap

carry out the chosen projects perfectly.”

When we asked Elliot about the future, he said, When it comes to ethical or sustainable practices,

“Creative will continue working on beautiful projects

Creative complies with its policies of meeting the

with great clients in the future.” He also adds, “It has

regulations set by the HSE. The firm’s forward-thinking

taken a lot of time, hard work, and reputation building

approach means that where possible, they consider

to say that, so it should never be devalued.”

the use of environmentally friendly products and look to source from suppliers with a track record of

Creative Project Services

sustainability. In 2022, their vision and values were

www.creativeprojectservices.com

recognised when they were awarded the ‘Build – 2022

enquiries@creativeprojectservices.com

Sustainability Building Award’.

01189 732777

The Bowler | Issue One | 9

Bored of boards and sigh at signs?

Do estate agents’ boards actually work?

I am often asked whether a ‘For Sale’ or ‘To Let’ sign is still necessary in a predominantly digital world.

“Surely everyone looks on the property search sites?”, “I live in a quiet street so what’s the point?” and “I don’t

So, let’s explore those objections:

want the neighbours to know I am selling” are the three most common objections from clients when they first come to market.

It’s understandable, because on the face of it they

“Surely everyone looks on the property search sites?”

are all perfectly valid comments but dig a little deeper

It’s true that most people will look on search sites, but

and there are more reasons to have a board than to not

a lot of people will spot an advertising board before the

have one.

property even hits the internet. A ‘For Sale’ sign is also indiscriminate on price, so you may receive an enquiry

Firstly, and to dispel a myth, an advertising sign is to

from someone who is searching in an entirely different

advertise the property and not the agency selling or

price range online. I once sold a house to someone at

letting it. As much as we like to see our signature bowler

£200,000 above their budget because they had always

hats all over town, the focus is to showcase available

admired the property on their daily dog walks and

properties to give our clients the best chance

spotted the board the day it was put up. They stretched

of maximising enquiries.

their budget considerably and bought it.

10 | The Bowler | Issue One

“I live in a quiet street so what’s the point?”

The very fact you live on a quiet street is a huge selling point and I suspect your neighbours feel the same.

By erecting an advertising board you will bring the house to the attention of other owners in the street who will almost certainly have a friend or a ‘friend of a friend’ who will be interested. Remember, your neighbours probably won’t be looking online all of the time. The other factor to consider is people who are currently renting in the street. They already know what a lovely place to live it is and will probably be interested in a property which is listed for sale.

“I don’t want the neighbours to know I am selling”.

I hate to break it to you, but your neighbours will find out you are selling or letting, whether you have an advertising board or not. Viewings taking place, listings online and social media posts all mean its very difficult to hide. My advice is to tell your neighbours upfront (they may even know someone

Love them or loathe them, advertising boards are a fantastic marketing tool and they generate serious enquiries on a daily basis.

who would want to view your home).

The Bowler | Issue One | 11

Property Law Specialists Our specialist residential property solicitors are part of one of the largest and most experienced property law teams in the South East. We have built highly qualified and experienced teams of residential, new build and commercial property specialists. Our service and relationships with our clients over many years became the foundations of our 175 year old business.

Property Law Services Residential Property

Property Finance

New Build

Land & Property Disputes

Commercial Property

Leasehold & Enfranchisement

Land, Development & Construction

Agricultural

+44 (0)1276 686 222

info@herrington-carmichael.com

www.herrington-carmichael.com

Glorious Game

Recipes from 101 chefs and food writers

Glorious Game is a cookbook filled with delicious recipes from 101 of UK and Ireland’s best-loved chefs and food writers.

In an age of climate change, sustainability, dwindling

a simple but brilliant game sandwich to a classic venison

food sources and obesity, game could be a solution for

Wellington; also with some recipes requiring a fair bit of

helping tackle these problems, head on. Game is an

know-how, specialist kitchen equipment, a lot of time

incredibly healthy source of food and much leaner

and advance planning.

than farmed meats, due to the natural diets of the animals and their active lifestyle compared with

All proceeds from this book will directly benefit

farmed animals. There’s no intensive farming and

The Moorland Communities Trust and The Game and

game is often locally sourced.

Wildlife Conservation Trust. Both of these organisations exist to protect and promote the rural way of life that

The book includes dishes that use the whole range

enables game to thrive.

of game with a unique collection of recipes that are achievable for the home cook, with everything from

We hope you enjoy the recipes!

The Bowler | Issue One | 13

Pappardelle with hare, red wine & cacao regù GIORGIO LOCATELLI

Serves 4

For the ragù

1 hare, cut into 12 pieces

50g plain flour sea salt and freshly black pepper 2 tbsps olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1 celery stalk, chopped 4 juniper berries, crushed to a paste 1 bottle Chianti or other full-bodied red wine 1 litre good chicken stock 1 bay leaf 1 sprig fresh rosemary 10g 90–100% cacao, grated 600–800g fresh pappardelle a little butter

Marinade 1 bottle Chianti or other full-bodied red wine 1 carrot, roughly chopped 1 onion, roughly chopped 1 celery stalk, roughly chopped 1 tsp black peppercorns, lightly crushed 1 tsp juniper berries, lightly crushed 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 bay leaf 1 garlic clove

14 | The Bowler | Issue One

The trigger for this recipe is the typically northern

Have the flour ready in a shallow bowl. Pat the pieces of

Italian way of braising hare (lepre) in salmi.

hare dry and season them, then dust in the flour. Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the hare and colour on all

They put a hare into a wine marinade with onions, celery,

sides, taking care not to burn the flour, then lift out and

juniper berries and rosemary, to soften the flavour of the

keep to one side.

strong-tasting meat as well as tenderising it. Then the important thing is to let the hare cook very slowly.

Put the chopped vegetables and juniper berry paste into the pan and cook gently until soft. Pour in the Chianti

Then, they add some of the cacao into the sauce, and

and allow to bubble up to evaporate the alcohol, reduce

some over the hare at the last minute. As the cacao

the liquid by half.

falls onto the hot serving plates, there’s an explosion of chocolate aroma that you breathe in before you even

Put the hare back in the pan and add the reserved

taste the pasta, to which the cacao adds richness rather

marinade and enough chicken stock to cover. Add the

than flavour.

bay leaf and rosemary. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat, stir in half the cacao and simmer for two hours.

Ask your butcher to cut the hare for you, following the joints and taking care not to smash the bones, in case

Take out the hare and strip the meat from the bones.

they splinter.

Keep to one side. Reduce the cooking liquid to a sauce consistency, then return the hare meat to the pan.

Put the hare into a bowl. Mix together all the ingredients for the marinade and pour over the meat.

Cook the pappardelle in plenty of boiling salted water

Leave in the fridge for 24 hours. When you are ready to

for three to four minutes (if using dried pasta check the

cook, remove the hare from the marinade and keep the

timing on the packet).

meat to one side.

Drain, reserving the cooking water, and toss through Bring the marinade to the boil in a pan, then take off the

the hare ragù, adding a touch of butter if you like, plus

heat and pass through a fine sieve into a bowl.

a little of the water to loosen. Finish with the rest of the grated cacao.

The Bowler | Issue One | 15

Partridge, red wine, poached pears & chestnut crumble MONICA GALETTI

Serves 4

Pears & sauce

Partridge

2 small Conference pears 400ml red wine zest and juice of 1 orange 80g granulated sugar 1 cinnamon stick 4 cloves 2 cardamom pods 1 star anise 200ml brown chicken stock knob of butter

1 whole partridge, plucked and innards removed 2 rashers of thin streaky bacon olive oil, for cooking and dressing 1 tbsp salted butter 3 Brussels sprouts, leaves separated 4 cooked chestnuts, thinly sliced sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Chestnut purée 125g cooked chestnuts 1tsp butter 250ml chicken stock

16 | The Bowler | Issue One

Crumble 1 tbsp crushed pistachios 1 tbsp chopped cooked chestnuts 1 tbsp crushed feuilletine biscuits

I love partridge. It’s a bit more delicate and less gamey

Leave to cool in the liquid, then remove and reserve the

than some other wild meats, and so quick and easy to

pears. Strain 200ml of the cooking liquid into a pan and

cook. You’ll find it from September until about February

reduce to a thick consistency. Add the stock and reduce

in the UK. Be really careful not to overcook it.

to a good sauce consistency, then remove from the heat and whisk in the butter. Set aside and keep warm.

For this recipe I’ve paired it with pear and chestnut: it works really well and adds a lovely winter spice,

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5. Heat a non-

especially combined with the crunch of the bacon

stick ovenproof frying pan and drizzle in a little olive oil.

and crumble.

Place the whole partridge skin side down in the pan to colour. Turn over and sear on the other side. Add a knob

For the partridge, remove the legs and wings, keeping

of butter and transfer to the oven for 5 to 6 minutes,

the breast on the bone.

then remove and leave to rest for 5 minutes before removing the breasts.

Wrap the bacon around a stainless steel baking rod or mould and cook, turning, under a hot grill until crispy;

Pour out the cooking butter from the pan, add a fresh

set aside.

knob of butter and heat until just bubbling. Add the crumble ingredients to the pan and stir into the butter.

For the chestnut purée, put the chestnuts and butter in

Spoon over the partridge breasts. Quickly toss the

a pan and cook until coloured, then add the stock and

sprout leaves in a little oil or butter seasoned with salt

simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Blitz until smooth, adding

and pepper.

extra stock if needed. Keep warm.

To serve, cut the pears into pieces your preferred For the pears and sauce, peel the pears and place

size. Place some chestnut purée on a plate. Place the

in a small pan with the wine, orange zest and juice,

partridge, bacon and the pears on the purée and sprinkle

sugar, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and star anise.

the sprout leaves over and around. Finish with a drizzle

Bring to the boil, then simmer until cooked through,

of the sauce, serving the rest on the side.

about 20 minutes.

Details:

Contact

Face Publications

Hardback. Dimensions: 230x320x35mm

For further information please contact:

Project Manager: Anthony Hodgson

Publisher: Face Publications

gloriousgame@saucecommunications.com

anthony@facepublications.com

ISBN: 978-0-9558930-7-0 RRP: £40

Tel: +44 (0)113 203 7378

The Bowler | Issue One | 17

Ellis Road, Crowthorne 18 | The Bowler | Issue One

Daniel Mason, Director of Prime Sales talks to The Bowler about a recent sale which hit all the right notes.

The market appraisal Achieving success in the Prime markets means that building a long lasting relationship and maintaining a trusted reputation is paramount. Having worked in the upper quartile markets for over a decade, we were fortunate that we had met the owners of this property on several of occasions during previous searches for a new project and the opportunity to build from scratch prior to them moving to their current home.

When they successfully acquired this property back in 2016, their plan was to always build on the plot and create something quite special – they certainly did that.

The Bowler | Issue One | 19

The approach to marketing We first sat down with the owners again towards the end of 2021 to discuss their upcoming plans to downsize from this property and they reiterated that it was certainly a hard decision to make as they had loved living in the home over the past few years. More importantly they also restated their desire that, when the time came, the sale was to be handled discreetly as both the owners as well as the house were well-known in the area. Discretion is something Hat and Home is both knowledgeable and experienced in.

The approach to negotiation At Prime, our customer’s moving experience is everything and we promise a sole point of contact from start to finish ensuring complete accountability on our part. In turn, this gives our clients the reassurance that their sale is being handled by an individual they

20 | The Bowler | Issue One

not only have a trusted relationship with, but who also has a track record in brokering transactions in the upper quartile market. This is essential when ensuring the correct and appropriate conversations are being had right the way through, from organising the initial viewing, on the appointment and through to the stage of offer negotiation. Making sure no stone is left unturned and complete transparency is acknowledged.

The approach to conveyancing When you are buying or selling a home at any level of the market, securing the right solicitor is a pivotal part of the process and it is nothing short of vital that not only you as the client, but the agent has a great working relationship with them ensuring smooth and swift communication between all parties.

This was something that was very apparent throughout the sale of this property as from point of offer being agreed, successful exchange was achieved in approximately six weeks.

The Bowler | Issue One | 21

The road to buying a property and securing the right mortgage can be fraught with twists and turns.

A chat with one of our friendly brokers will quickly establish your borrowing potential...

Getting you home

Negotiating this road requires expertise and in-depth knowledge of the mortgage industry...

...a thorough search of hundreds of products from an extensive range of lenders will reveal the most suitable product for you...

We’ll then handle the whole application process and secure you the best possible mortgage!

SOLD

So if you’re looking to buy, don’t go it alone – give us a call and we’ll be with you all the way!

01344 377 889 • hello@millinerfinance.co.uk • millinerfinance.co.uk Milliner Financial Services Limited is an Appointed Representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network, a trading name of First Complete Ltd. First Complete Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE 22 | The Bowler | Issue One

From the makers of Hat and Home, we bring you Milliner Financial Services Milliner Financial Services is a mortgage and protection broker brought to you from the makers of Hat and Home.

Focused on a fantastic customer experience, the

of your death. None of us like thinking about these

business is committed to creating life-long relationships

things but it’s important to get suitable cover in place

with clients.

as early as possible. We can also help with buildings and contents insurance for your new or existing home.

Founders of Hat and Home Ben Gee and Luke Strzadala talk to The Bowler about why they set up a mortgage

The Bowler: Where does the name Milliner come from?

brokerage and the synergy it has with the estate agency business.

Ben: We are rather keen on hats as you may know, so we wanted to keep the theme going with this venture.

The Bowler: What made you decide to open a financial

A Milliner is a hat maker (usually ladies hat).

services firm?

The Bowler: What advice would you give someone who Ben: At Hat and Home our aim is to make moving home

is thinking about moving?

a fantastic experience. One of the ways we can do that is by being involved in more of the essential steps of a

Luke: Before you go onto Rightmove or start viewing

transaction to ensure our clients get their dream home.

properties, arrange a consultation with a Milliner broker and we will do a full assessment of your borrowing

The Bowler: What types of mortgages do you cover?

potential so you can go into the market with confidence of the budget you can work to. Just give us a call or visit

Luke: Whether you’re moving home, investing in a buy-

our website.

to-let or refinancing your existing property we can help.

With access to a huge selection of lenders we can make sure you get the best product for your needs. We also get exclusive rates that aren’t available by going directly to the lender.

The Bowler: What about protection?

Milliner Financial Services Ben: It’s essential you insure the risk of not being

01344 377 889

able to work or getting a critical illness alongside

hello@millinerfinance.co.uk

providing stability for your loved ones in the event

millinerfinance.co.uk

The Bowler | Issue One | 23

24 | The Bowler | Issue One

Are you under-letting your property?

When was the last time you reviewed your rental income?

You could be losing hundreds of pounds per month!

There is a lot of noise right now about increases in rents.

if they are overseas, the likelihood is they are not tuned

Wokingham recently made it into Rightmove’s Top 10

into UK property trends.

rental hotspots in the UK with an annual 14.7% rise in average asking prices.

There is most definitely value in a good tenant who stays long-term and looks after your investment which needs

It’s easy to see what that means for a property being

to be weighed against the rent, but even the best tenants

let for the first time – but what does it mean if your

are having to pay higher prices in this imbalanced

property is already under tenancy? There can be a

market and are inclined to stay put because of the lack

tendency amongst letting agents to treat their existing

of choice available.

portfolio quite differently from new business.

With void periods at an all-time low, this is also less Whereas a new client deals with the manager and

of a disincentive to negotiate. If the rent hasn’t been

the rental price is established based on recently let

increased for some years, especially in sectors of the

comparable transactions, the price on renewal is

market with the highest demand, properties can see an

often determined by a property manager whose

uplift of as much as £300 per month!

interests are more likely to be served by tenancies that tick over year on year.

As a result, rents are increased in £25 increments and in line with RPI which has been sat below 3% for the majority of the last decade, against a background of fear of a void period if an agreement isn’t reached.

This is a problem which is compounded every year the tenant stays. It is not infrequent that a property is even remarketed at such a price– complacency has taken hold as the landlord’s expectations are set at a lower level and

At Hat and Home, the rent at renewal is considered in light of the latest market data and if your property is up for re-let we ensure it is listed for the best price achievable, not just the rate your last tenant paid.

For more information on the rental market please contact Liz Gamlen, Lettings Director liz.gamlen@hatandhome.co.uk

The Bowler | Issue One | 25

26 | The Bowler | Issue One

Cocktail The Audrey Hepburn Mixologist: Levi Gee | Bar: The Redan, Wokingham The Audrey Hepburn was created to challenge classics and post-modern cocktails alike. Daring to be different by using new techniques in the cocktail world such as fractal distillation. It’s complex, delicious and far too easy to drink!

Ingredients

Step by step:

40ml Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur

1. Chill the glassware of your choosing. Preferably a

25ml Cazabel Blanco Coffee Tequila

Martini or Coupe Glass.

25ml Freeze Distilled Milk

2. Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.

25ml Espresso

3. Shake for 10-12 seconds and fine strain into your glass.

12.5ml Tequila Black

4. Garnish with chocolate powder.

Chocolate powder to garnish

The Bowler | Issue One | 27

In the spotlight: Sales progression 28 | The Bowler | Issue One

Lisa Roe, head of sales progression at Hat and Home sat down with The Bowler to talk about what her department does.

Hi, I’m Lisa, Head of Sales Progression at Hat and Home.

They’ll have an official mortgage offer issued in no

You’ll find me beavering away in our local Wokingham

time and there’s no better update than to tell a seller

office where I am based during the week.

that their buyer’s mortgage offer is in place and funds available to purchase.

I’m currently in charge of our property portfolio in Wokingham, Crowthorne and Bracknell. My job; to get

I’d never really experienced solicitors until I started

you moved as quickly as possible, with minimal stress

working in agency and it’s honestly a real minefield

and provide an outstanding level of customer service

especially when it’s your first time purchasing a

along the way!

property!

Always available, always happy to help and if I can, I’ll sprinkle a little stardust to prove moving can be a great experience.

So, what is it I actually do? From the point you’ve had an offer accepted the sales team will hand you over to me and its then my job to guide you through the process of moving. I liaise with buyer, seller, solicitors and other agents if you’re involved in a chain.

“I’m here to hold your hand through this process and whether it’s your first purchase, a relocation move or a probate sale.”

You won’t ever be left wondering what’s going on as I’ll

We have solicitors at the ready to quote you, guide you

be in touch weekly to update you and confirm the next

through the process and hopefully have you exchanged

steps. Any questions, don’t understand something your

and completed within 52 days! I work closely with these

solicitor has said or sent you – just ask me – with 20

firms and wouldn’t recommend them if they weren’t

years’ experience there’s nothing I haven’t dealt with!

going to look after you and your legal needs.

I’m here to hold your hand through this process and

Some solicitors out there will charge the earth, are

whether it’s your first purchase, a relocation move or a

seemingly never available, can be rude and make the

probate sale, each client will be dealt with individually to

moving process triple in time. Please listen to us when

suit their own personal needs.

we say our solicitors are the best – they truly are!

My one piece of advice when moving, apart from

When buying you’ll potentially require an independent

instructing Hat and Home of course, is to allow us to

survey – we advise this should be done and so will your

assist in the selection of your mortgage broker, solicitor

solicitors.

and surveyor.

Our surveyors at Sillence Hurn offer a free quote and After dealing with a wide variety of companies we have

advise on which survey suits your property purchase.

now built a great relationship with local firms who

You’ll be phoned on the day the survey takes place to

we work alongside so as to make the process a little

verbally run through their findings and will then report

smoother. These companies have an amazing reputation

to you formally within a week.

within their own field and we wouldn’t trust anyone else to deal with our customers.

Moving home can and should be a fantastic experience and there’s no reason for it to be stressful as long as

A solid mortgage broker can offer all our clients the best

everyone is transparent and communicates.

available rates and products on the market - a mortgage application can be a lengthy process and stressful at times, so let them do all the hard work.

The Bowler | Issue One | 29

Private Search Finding a property is not always easy. Buying agents are becoming a go-to resource for those with little time to do the leg-work.

If you are struggling to find the right property, feel like you aren’t told about the best houses coming to market, need some professional guidance on buying a home or simply don’t have the time to search for a property yourself, then Hat and Home Private Search can help.

We are an independent private search agency representing our clients’ best interests when purchasing a property. We help source property, advise on market trends and act on our clients’ behalf to secure the best property for them at the best possible price. Unlike traditional estate agents, we act on the buyers’ behalf, not the sellers which means we are 100% focussed on your goals at all times.

How do we do it? We operate within a wide network of estate agents and property professionals who know

Who is it for? Our service is not for everyone, and we

we deal with motivated clients who are ready to buy.

don’t work with everyone who asks. We will meet you

That means we hear about the newest properties before

for an initial consultation to make sure that we are able

the mass market. We are also prolific in transacting in

to deliver the result you are looking for. It also gives you

the ‘off-market’ space, offering a discreet approach to

an opportunity to make sure you feel comfortable with

brokering purchases of properties which never hit the

us working on your behalf.

open market.

30 | The Bowler | Issue One

Experience. Knowledge. Expertise.

We are Ideal Home Improvements.

Our company was incorporated in 2010. We are specialist installers of quality flat roofs, fascias and soffits, guttering, cladding and garden rooms with over 20 years industry experience, operating all across Hampshire and the South of England.

OUR SERVICES

RUBBERBAND ROOFING

FASCIAS AND SOFFITS

GUTTERING

LANTERN ROOFS

CLADDING

GARDEN ROOMS

Get a quote from the Ideal Home Improvements team. Let us know some of your requirements and we can get back in contact with you to discuss the project and provide you with a quote and timeframe for the project to be completed.

Contact us: 01252 856 812 info@idealhomeimprovements.co.uk www.idealhomeimprovements.co.uk

Crowthorne

Wokingham

Bracknell

79 High Street, Crowthorne

2 Southgate House, Alexandra Court

29a High Street, The Lexicon,

Berkshire, RG45 7AD

Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2SL

Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1DL

01344 952 777

0118 304 8888

01344 528 777

crowthorne@hatandhome.co.uk

wokingham@hatandhome.co.uk

bracknell@hatandhome.co.uk