LUXE LOCAL
my local
PROPERTY WATCH WITH DUNCAN YOUNG
Richard Shell runs Doxford Barn Weddings on the outskirts of Alnwick where he lives. It’s a venture he calls, “a private, rural wedding extravaganza’. Three good things about living where we do >> 500 acres of privately-owned unspoilt countryside, completely secluded. Five minutes’ drive from the stunning Northumberland coastline. In close proximity to the historic market town of Alnwick, home to Alnwick Castle and Gardens and a wealth of great local shops. Three places I take guests >> The Farne Islands > A tour on one of Billy Shiel’s boats from Seahouses is always a winner - seeing puffins and inquisitive seals. Bamburgh Castle > The castle sits so prominently in the small village, visitors love it! Not to mention the great views from its position both inland towards the Cheviot hills and the North Sea. Dunstanburgh Castle > You have to walk to Dunstanburgh Castle so makes for a great experience as you stroll along the coast line - always finished with a crab sandwich at The Jolly Fisherman in Craster. www.doxfordweddings.com
property: three to choose Gothic gatehouse A project if ever there was one. Glebelands Lodge is a Grade 11 listed lodge in Alnwick with a hint of the gothic about it. The perfect quirky interiors update project we reckon.
£180,000 www.sandersonyoung.co.uk
Breezy chic This five-bedroom new-build in Schofield Place, Alnmouth offers up a fresh and breezy taste of coastal life. Spacious, bright and perfectly designed to make the most of ‘do-you-good’ seaside light and coastal air at every turn.
£645.000 www.thisispropology.co.uk
Movie time Luxey new-build with River Aln views from its gracious gardens. Big ticks for the cinema room, making it a place for popcorn and movies every night of the week.
ON THE MARKET.COM It has been interesting reading some of the articles in the national press about how estate agency portals are to be revolutionised in the early part of 2015. Some of the press have been less than fair in their interpretation of what is happening, and I am amused by the media’s reaction to the launch of the new portal website, OnTheMarket.com. The facts are that this new website is owned by Agent’s Mutual, which is a company collectively owned by a number of estate agents throughout the country. The new company and site have been launched to act as a creditable competitor to the previous duopoly of Rightmove and Zoopla. The public may not be aware that the original launch of Rightmove swept the country very quickly, and forced many estate agents to list all their properties through this portal or face financial ruin. Primelocation.com, which eventually became Zoopla through the Digital Property Group, became a credible alternative, but again listing fees for both of these companies became extremely onerous for the estate agents involved. In recent times the turnover of both Rightmove and Zoopla have indicated the strength of these companies and the exorbitant profits being made, attracting many investors throughout the country. However, monopoly and duopoly conditions are not healthy and need to be challenged. It was only a matter of time before estate agents would begrudge the cost of being members of these portal websites, and thereby forcing the need for a challenge or a third alternative. Please remember that all costs associated with estate agents are, of course, passed on to their clients in their fees. The launch of OnTheMarket.com creates a credible alternative. The conditions of membership for this new portal website is that members can only be with one other portal of the main two, Zoopla or Rightmove. We have therefore seen over the periods of December and January a number of estate agents giving notice to one of the two former dominant portal websites. I suspect by the time people are reading this that the portal websites will become fractured in their dominance and, therefore, the public need to seek out which portal is most suited to their requirements. This is no different to all other types of industry, i.e. the sale of cars, holidays or retail goods. It gives an opportunity for the successful and credible estate agent to once again retain their own buyers and applicants through their own website. www.sandersonyoung.co.uk has been a very significant player within the regional market place. Our brand has grown in strength over the last 16 years and our attention of high network clients through our VIP mailing list is envied by many other agents. It is through this mailing list that we have the direct ability to reach out to so many buyers in the region, some of whom are active and others less so: word of mouth is undoubtedly the best way of spreading the news that a lovely new property is available for sale or to let. 2015 will be a challenging year for this new media industry. The ongoing fight for dominance between the various portal websites will be interesting to watch. A mix of agents and differing websites will also be interesting, but here at Sanderson Young we are proud of the impact and ease of our own website, providing immediate, good quality information in a strong, visible manner, which maximises the potential of our buyers and tenants in reaching your home. As the portal war on websites unfolds, here at www.sandersonyoung.co.uk we will continue to trade in an efficient and effective manner and look forward to being able to serve the public in the many months to come. For those of you who are not in the new media world our offices, staff and human day-to-day interface would be delighted to speak to you by telephone and our regional office in Gosforth looks forward to taking your call on 0191 2130033 or for our rare! office 0191 2233500. Happy house hunting!
£845,000 www.sandersonyoung.co.uk Duncan G Young Dip.Est.Man.FNAEA, Managing Director, Sanderson Young duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk 0191 223 3500
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