PROPERTY – College and County

home – and that’s the preparation that goes on behind the scenes before a potential buyer’s visit. Remember, first impressions count, so making sure you’ve covered all bases when prepping is what will really charm a buyer into putting their offer in. It can be hard to know where to start – and stop! – when preparing for viewings, but over the years we’ve whittled it down to a curated list of 7 tried and tested tips that will have buyers falling in love with your home in 20 minutes, tops.

No matter what, we always recommend that you start your preparation with the spot viewers will see first – your outdoor space. Begin by giving the front garden some basic TLC by trimming the hedges, moving the bins out of sight, jet washing patios and driveways and, if you think it’s needed, reviving the front door with a fresh lick of paint. Once you’ve tidied the entrance, turn your attention to the back garden by mowing the lawn and adding a few potted plants for a subtle splash of colour. Still think you can do more to prep your outside space? Check out our garden styling tips to add that extra ‘wow’ factor.

On the day of the viewing, try to make sure that the visitors have somewhere to easily park their vehicle. This is a point that often gets overlooked, but you want to make the visit as smooth and hassle-free as possible for the potential buyer so that you’re instilling an optimistic mindset from the off.

At a viewing, potential buyers may open doors, look into cupboards, turn on lights and just generally check that everything is in proper working order. So, making sure that all your furniture and décor looks great and works as it should is key. Make good on repairs and update any lacklustre décor by filling in picture frame holes, covering marks on the walls, fixing broken cupboards and doors, refreshing the grout in the kitchen and bathroom, and replacing expired lightbulbs.

When preparing your home, you really want to highlight all the best bits in the most presentable way – and creating an aspirational lifestyle set-up with a bit of styling will enable you to do just that. Start by bringing finesse to the dining table with your best serve ware; then use strategically placed mirrors to bounce light around the rooms, add fresh towels to the bathroom and adorn the walls with your favourite artworks to create a focal point. We’re big fans of styling up a space to sell, and you can find even more tips on our website.

Of course, making sure the house is looking spick and span goes without saying, but in the eyes of a potential buyer, you really want to take your home to the next level not just in the way it looks, but the way it feels. An easy way to do so is by creating a well-loved, lived-in feel that’s a real feast for the senses. We advise bringing welcoming aromas into your house with scented diffusers in each room or, if you’re a keen cook, try out the time-tested hack of preparing a batch of freshly baked goods and letting the comforting scent wander through the house. If you have a fireplace, set the logs alight to give the living area a cosy feel, and turn on lamps and any accent lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere. If it’s not too cool outside, open the windows to let some fresh air flow through, too. And remember to remove family photographs and replace them with fresh flowers – this will let visitors more easily envisage themselves in your home.

We understand that pets are part of the family, but the people viewing your house may not share the same outlook, and what’s more, they might be allergic. So, if you can, it’s best to let a neighbour or relative look after your furry friend for the day. Before the visitors arrive, it’s also worth airing out the rooms and adding a diffuser or two to neutralise any pet odours.

Knowing your audience is always a huge help when prepping your home for viewings. Your estate agent will already have done a little background research on who will be viewing your house and would have asked them questions about what they’re looking for specifically. It may be that they’re searching for a space with a fantastic garden or a large kitchen, in which case you can focus your efforts even more on these areas when prepping your home – for instance, try moving furniture around to showcase a room’s spacious potential or create a seating area in the garden so visitors can enjoy the view.

As you’re familiar with the area, it’s also a great idea to offer up more information to your estate agent on all the best parts of your local surroundings so they can pass this on to potential buyers during the viewing. Tell them about the proximity to your favourite shops, the best schools, peaceful countryside walks and hidden gems that others may not know about. If you have queries on how you can best prepare for a house viewing or have any general questions about marketing your home, then please do get in touch with our team – we’re always more than happy to help! Simply contact us by phone on 01844 399292 or send us an email at darren@collegeandcounty.co.uk, and a member of our friendly team will get back to you directly.

You can reach me, Darren Hunt MNAEA, on 01844 399292 or at darren@collegeandcounty.co.uk, and I’ll very much welcome the chance to chat through your potential plans.

If you are looking for a property to buy or sell, contact Darren Hunt MNAEA, on 01844 399292 or at

Nobody likes to see a tree cut down, but occasionally there is no choice. This Horse Chestnut at Princes Risborough Tennis Club is a prime example as Matt Vaughan, director of Four Seasons Tree Care explains.

We cover it all with experienced and highly skilled staff that you can trust to do the work properly. The pictures here show the team carrying out the sectional felling of a large Horse Chestnut tree that had become unsafe. We were called in to assess the tree after it shed a very large limb in the gales earlier this year. The tree was probably around 150 years old and after stripping the heavy Ivy growth we found that the main stem and buttress roots were colonised by two types of decay fungus. Kretzschmaria deusta, sometimes called Brittle Cinder was found around the base of the tree and Ganoderma applanatum, sometimes called Artist’s Fungus was found through the main stem up to around 4 meters height. These two fungi had been present in the tree for some years slowly decaying the buttress roots and main trunk. These fungi work in different ways, Ganoderma breaks down the lignin in the cells of the timber leaving the softer more pliable cellulose behind. Kretzschmaria takes out both lignin and cellulose at the same time. These fungi had probably entered the tree years or even decades ago. They often find their way in via damaged roots or old pruning cuts on the tree starting as microscopic spores carried on the wind or water in the soil. The upper parts of the tree seemed pretty normal and healthy which is why this type of structural decay can go unnoticed until it is too late. This also demonstrates why it is important to clear Ivy from the base of trees, especially larger, older trees when surveying trees for safety. So, there really was no viable option for safely retaining this tree. The risk for the surrounding gardens, car park and tennis courts was just too great - decisive action was needed.

As the tree had been protected by a Tree Preservation Order, we made a planning application to the council with details of the tree’s condition. Consent to remove the tree was duly granted. Due to the sheer size and weight involved we brought in a crane to assist with the work. We all enjoy working with cranes because they make the really big jobs so much easier and safer. Large sections of tree are lifted out in minutes and placed carefully into the ‘drop zone’ ready to be cut up and chipped. We were also able to use our cherry picker to access the tree. This also adds to the efficiency and ease of working. It is certainly easier to use a large chainsaw standing comfortably in the basket of a cherry picker rather than working from a rope and harness ! The limbs are secured with heavy slings as the weight is taken up by the crane. The sections are then cut, lifted and swung into clear space. The job is completed in little more than a day and after picking up the saw dust, everything is left in a very tidy condition. Apart from the large stump you would hardly know anything had happened.

For a company that you can trust with your trees – call Four Seasons Tree Care. A consultation is free and we always provide honest and professional advice.

1 Beech Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2AL

T: 01844 218222 M: 07973 507876 E: mail@4seasonstreecare.co.uk

Many tree owners ask how can the health and vitality of my trees be improved? – The answer lies in the soil.

company, Four Seasons Tree Care, he has seen a lot in the last few decades. His career as a tree surgeon began in 1987, the year of the Great Storm. In this article Matt talks about the lessons that were learned from that event and how 35 years later he has formed a new company, Geo Tree to deliver a more holistic approach to tree care founded on this new understanding of trees and soils. The story really began on October 16th 1987 as the Great Storm raged across the southern half of the UK. Kew Gardens lost over 700 trees and Tony Kirkham, Head of the Arboretum has cited this event as a turning point in the way they manage the trees at Kew, methods now incorporated into what Geo Tree offers. One of Kew’s trees in particular, a Turners Oak, planted in the 1770’s had quite literally been lifted in the ground by the force of the wind and dumped back down again. Prior to the storm this tree was showing signs of stress and severe decline. The storm ‘damage’ was thought to be the final nail in the coffin and this tree was scheduled to be felled. However, as the program of clearing and replanting got underway this tree began to show signs of renewed vigour and growth. The decision to fell was reconsidered. Year on year this tree has continued to improve. The reason for this is fairly simple. Nature had actually decompacted the soil around the tree by physically lifting it in the ground. This allowed increased drainage and aeration thus improving soil structure. The living microorganisms vital to a healthy soil ecology then increased which directly benefitted the growth and function of this tree’s root system. A program of soil improvement and decompaction began, work which is a cornerstone of Kew’s approach to tree management and now also at the heart of what we do at Geo Tree. Technology and machinery has developed over the years and Geo Tree has invested in the very latest equipment for soil decompaction and inoculation – the Geo Injector Pro, developed by the German manufacturer, Vogt. The Geo Injector uses compressed air to decompact soil around trees and inoculates the rootzone with various

bio-stimulants. We use biochar, terramol, symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, seaweed extracts, worm casts and other organic, natural products. Many of these products have been trialled and developed by the leading UK specialist company – Carbon Gold. Geo Tree has treated many trees in this way and we generally find a marked improvement in overall tree vitality, resistance to disease and resilience to drought stress. Out of all the products that we use it is probably biochar that is the key ingredient. It does so much good work in the soil and benefits trees and shrubs hugely. Biochar is a stable form of carbon derived from green waste or biomass. Ours is sourced from a sustainable UK producer. When we inoculate the soil with biochar we are improving soil drainage, aeration and water holding capacity. It also improves the nutrient uptake of roots and is readily colonised by a host of beneficial microorganisms that are vital to a healthy soil. Aside from this, biochar will also enhance the soil’s ability to sequester carbon from the air. It actually helps our planet to move carbon out of the atmosphere and back into the soil – Amazing but true and all part of the Geo Tree ethos! Another key component of the soil inoculation is mycorrhizal fungi which is usually lacking in degraded and compacted soil, and even in many garden soils. Mycorrhizal fungi forms a symbiotic relationship with plant roots and without it trees and shrubs simply could not grow. This symbiotic connection between tree and fungus is crucial to the process by which trees gather nutrients but it is also crucial to how trees defend themselves against pests and diseases. There has been a huge rise in pest and disease problems affecting trees across the UK over recent decades. Geo Tree can offer a much-needed and effective response. If you are a tree owner and think that our service sounds interesting – Please get in touch. We would be pleased to hear from you.

It’s a magical season, beloved of writers and artists. So, let Hartwell Nurseries explain how you can get the most out of your autumn garden.

Even though it might be getting chillier outside, there is still plenty to do in the garden before the winter weather sets in. Here are just a few tasks to get you started in caring for and preparing your garden for autumn:

l Clear out tired summer plants and replace with winter pansies and violas. How about underplanting these with early flowering spring bulbs such as iris and snowdrops? This is also great for supporting early pollinators.

l Plant your spring flowering bulbs, including tulips, hyacinth, crocus and daffodils. l Plant fruit trees.

l Remove dead leaves and cut back tired perennials.

l Give your lawn its final mow of the year and an autumn dressing of feed and weed.

l Roses will still be alive bringing summer colour into your autumn garden. Stop feeding and keep cutting these back to give you continued colour into November.

l Put a net over your pond to stop falling leaves rotting in the water.

l Harvest your fruits and vegetables. Eat straight away or how about putting your garden produce to good use and making your own fruit jams or vegetable soups and warming casseroles?

l Plant hedging to not only get instant impact and privacy, but to also support the wildlife.

l Make the most of the last remaining dry days and clean, paint and sweep your outside areas.

l Keep topping up bird feeders. At this time of year, birds need fatty, high-energy foods.

Autumn is the best time to plant a fruit tree. The ground and air temperatures are cooler, which makes it less stressful on the trees and allows them to establish a healthy root system more quickly. Plus, the autumn months give fruit trees the chance to settle into their new space over the winter before coming alive in the spring. Tree-mendous! Hartwell Nurseries have all you need to carry out your autumn garden checklist and create dazzling autumn displays. The team are always on hand to answer any questions you have on making the most of your outdoor space this season.

Stone, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8RZ info@hartwellnurseries.co.uk 01296 747961

Facebook @HartwellNurseriesAylesbury Instagram @hartwellnurseries

“A bespoke kitchen plus building works, for a fair price, fully project-managed, with no stress on my part. Surely it was too good to be true?” The price is right

They certainly needed and wanted one – they’d lived with the existing one for over two decades – but the idea of having to deal with disruption, added to the idea of managing the project and dealing with tradespeople really put them off. Nevertheless, they began the search for the right company to help them, coming across Ridgeway Interiors online in the process. Their project wasn’t a ‘like for like’ replacement – over the last 22 years, their dining room had become a corridor and they were keen to open it up to create more of a kitchen/diner, so they needed a company that could achieve that for them. When Ridgeway Interiors told them that they could take care of it, Diane thought they were definitely worth a call. She’d been to some of the big national brands and hadn’t been particularly impressed, but based on their budget, she thought they may have to settle for a lower quality kitchen in order to be able to pay for the additional remodelling works. Then she went to the Ridgeway Interiors showroom, and instantly saw that the quality of the furniture was a cut above. Her husband agreed. The icing on the cake? Ridgeway Interiors would take care of it all, something that frankly, the big brands didn’t seem to want to touch. Even with a big brand installation, Diane would still have to manage everything else, from plastering to plumbers, from electricians to painters. She’d even have to connect the washing machine and dishwasher herself! With Ridgeway Interiors, everything was taken care of. In the end, when it came down to choosing a company, there was no question. The quality of product coupled with the complete project management meant Diane didn’t even bother approaching a national retailer for another quote. They started the design process, and were clear that they didn’t want a ‘trendy’ kitchen that would be out of vogue in five years’ time – kitchen designer Sarah took all of that into

account and came up with several ideas, as well as explaining the potential limitations of the existing building. Using CAD software, she showed Diane & Tony how much better the layout would be with the dividing wall removed, creating the usable space they wanted. And it didn’t stop there. Sarah listened to feedback and discussed changes with the couple, making updates to the kitchen design until they were 100% happy with their finished plan. Once the design had been agreed, work began, with our project manager Brendon overseeing the whole process, and Diane not lifting a finger.

Diane and Tony chose a kitchen from Ridgeway Interior’s German range, in a laser soft matt graphite, with luxury integrated appliances. The breakfast bar on the island was designed to provide a sociable place to sit and eat, while the extra tall units maximise the use of space all the way up to the ceiling. Importantly for Diane and Tony, their dining room is now accessible and usable as part of the kitchen, creating flow between the two rooms and bringing more overall light into the house. Here’s what Diane said about the whole process: “Everything fitted and worked perfectly for the space it was designed for. Even the little things were resolved and Dan, the in-house kitchen fitter, was absolutely key to this. He made me feel like he cared as much about my kitchen as we do. I completely trusted Dan who was utterly in control, and on hand even after completion. The whole process took six weeks. I work from home and yes it was sometimes noisy, but everything was under control – small problems that cropped up through no fault of Ridgeway were dealt with swiftly and efficiently. Everyone at Ridgeway Interiors was incredibly hard working and truly committed, and I can’t recommend them enough. If you’re considering a new kitchen, don’t make assumptions that they’ll be too expensive, just give them a call! You have absolutely nothing to lose.”

To talk to Ridgeway Interiors about your project, give them a call on 01844 279 900, email them at hello@rkiltd.co.uk or visit

Unit 8, Rycote Lane Farm, Rycote Lane, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2NZ Phone: 01844 279900 www.ridgewayinteriors.co.uk

Are your window coverings ready for the colder days and nights of winter?

Creative Interiors, but there is still availability for customers to install new or extra window coverings. Coverings that will make a huge difference as the temperatures drop. The range of bespoke hand finished curtains from tillynilly include linings that offer extra thermal protection and interlinings for extra depth – both good to keep the heat in or out when the summer comes back around. Other layers on windows in addition to curtains could include roller blinds or wood venetians. Curtain tracks and blinds are available with a motorised operation where required – using hard wired or rechargeable power. The first floor showroom is open to view fabrics and wallpapers, or to discuss your new décor. Why not shop for cosy wool throws and cushions, as well as those finishing decorative touches for your home. Spacious workroom facilities sit alongside the lovely bright showroom and client viewing area. It is here customers can discuss project ideas and benefit from the design guidance of tillynilly’s team. tillynilly only work with the finest fabrics and materials and they provide a personal design service that’s second to none. Designing interiors for both the home and workplace. Their experienced team can arrange a survey, measuring and installation service for you. Call in and see for yourself how a tillynilly interior can improve your interior. Check the website for current opening times – www.tillynilly.com

tillynilly Creative Interiors. 55 North St, Thame OX9 3BH 01844 220035 info@tillynilly.com

Cooler days and darker nights ahead. Perhaps it’s time to think about the indoors at Stratton Audley Barn.

This independent, family run business nestled in the pretty village of Stratton Audley and surrounded by lovely countryside provides a super escape from life’s stresses and strains. With autumn approaching, our priorities move from outdoor to indoor living and the home.

At Stratton Audley barn, you will find that unique selection of gifts, fashion accessories and greetings cards. For the home, soft furnishings and beautiful decorative accessories as well as carefully selected pieces of painted furniture for your living, dining or bedroom. You will find accent chairs and consoles to side tables chests and plenty to accessorise them. You will find items from companies such as Yorkshire based Coach House Interiors, Grand Illusions homewear from Dorset, Biggie Best and Gisela Graham. As always, Barn Owner Sara searches for items not easily found on the average High Street. As the seasons change, so does Stratton Audley Barn. Sadly, no more ice-cream from the 1st of October. However, the 1st of October is when you will see the arrival of some unique Christmas items, sourced especially by Barn owner Sara, as the Barn gears up for the festive season. One thing that doesn’t change at Stratton Audley Barn is the chance to sample the lovely homemade cakes and light lunches as well as a selection of hot and cold drinks. (food served from 12.00 - 2.00pm and from Tuesday to Saturday). With ample free parking, Stratton Audley Barn has everything for the home and more.

West Farm Barn, Launton Rd, Stratton Audley, Bicester OX27 9AS 01869 278184 www.strattonaudleybarn.co.uk info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk Open: Tuesday to Sunday10am - 4pm Food served from 12.00am – 2.00pm Afternoon teas available, please call to book in advance.

Dedication, expertise and craftsmanship goes into every job from Kingsey Furniture & Interiors.

Whatever the project. From a complete kitchen diner redesign, to a single fitted wardrobe for the bedroom, their commitment to the work is absolute. There are plenty of well known national kitchen suppliers advertising on television. All perfectly capable of fitting an inexpensive kitchen into a simple space using standard sized cabinets. But not all jobs are that simple and not all spaces are a standard size and of course customer requirements vary enormously. This is where Kingsey Furniture & Interiors come in. The tougher the challenge, the better. From the very first contact, Kingsey will be with you throughout the entire process. So what exactly does this mean and what exactly does this process entail? Using a kitchen design as an example, An inordinate amount of work is carried out well before commitment from the customer and before any deposit is requested. The initial meeting determines the concepts for design, the colours, materials, door styles, white goods, specific storage needs, whether access panels are required and more. A CAD (computer aided design) drawing, showing the initial designs are then discussed and adapted from feedback to ensure all your needs are met both practically and aesthetically. Mood boards and sketches are often created to bring the design to life and if a tour of the workshop helps explain the detailed cabinetry, then this too is no trouble. With any colour or finish possible for the furniture, a meeting to agree the final colourways for flooring, cabinetry, handles, walls and worktops is led by the creative team. Kingsey have a comprehensive collection of worktop samples in their showroom. If further help is needed to understand the full detail of the pattern or grain, Kingsey will take you directly to the stonemasons to view larger samples of the quartz available, or to choose your natural stone slabs. For many designs, complimentary technology also needs consideration so whether

you are looking for spotlights that have speakers within, TVs that pop up from sideboards, hidden chargers within worktops or wardrobes, don’t worry, Kingsey will do all the research for you - the whole project is truly considered. Individual bespoke production drawings are then finally produced for the workshop as well as service drawings for the lighting, electrics, plumbing and flooring. Whether you are using your own tradesmen or not, these improve their accuracy and efficiency and as you would expect from Kingsey they speak directly with the trades to answer any queries and project manage. Kingsey Furniture & Interiors have one great advantage over High Street outlets and that is their 7,500 square foot on site workshop. Home to an exceptional team of skilled craftsmen and creative designers with over 200 years of experience between them. The workshop is fully equipped with all the latest machinery to make sure your kitchen or furniture can be produced to the exceptional standard Kingsey is known for. The finest materials for the job are a prerequisite at Kingsey Furniture & Interiors, quality and the longevity of their cabinetry is what sets them apart. Not just the elements on show, but down to the cabinet carcasses, hinges. Drawer runners as examples are stronger than most suppliers. Kingsey kitchens, bedrooms and furniture is built to last. If customers would like to visit and see their furniture build in progress, they are most welcome. Throughout the process, the team at Kingsey will do everything in their power to achieve their customers dream kitchen, dining room, study and bedroom. Sometimes that might include offering an alternative solution to a particular problem. Kingsey personally invest in delivering the best for their customers. It’s not so much working for their customers, but working with them. Don’t worry however, the cost won’t be extortionate, just apposite to the task in hand. The end result will be a project that you the customer and Kingsey Furniture & Interiors will be proud of.

Unit 2, Manor Farm, Risborough Road, Kingsey, Bucks HP17 8LU www.kingseyfurniture.co.uk www.kingseykitchens.co.uk 01844 299820 – 01844 290 899 sues@kingseyfurniture.co.uk