PROPERTY FOCUS DEREK FLETCHER, Associate Director, John D Wood Turnham Green 020 8995 9394;
MOST INTERESTING PROPERTY...
We recently sold a charming timber framed cottage dating back to the 17th century and dfletcher@johndwood.co.uk formerly an old coaching inn. Close to the river Thames at Chiswick mall it was reputedly a watering hole for the highwayman Dick Turpin MOST SATISFYING and is rumoured to be haunted TRANSACTION I’VE HAD... by the ghost of a young woman. With over thirty years in the Chiswick residential market it’s impossible MOST LIKE ON MY to pick one most satisfying transaction, although BOOKS... recently we exchanged on Is located on the island of a £4,000,000 Grade II Tortola in the British Virgin listed house in Bedford Islands with its own private park just days before the beach and lovely palm trees and client emigrated to New it would give me great pleasure Zealand. The look of delight to conduct all viewings personally and relief on my clients face was and spend some time with my feet in most satisfying. the warm Caribbean sea.
Master Class: Family Friendly Viewings
Most parents with young children are familiar with the scenario of frantic tidying that occurs in the ten minutes proceeding the welcome, yet unexpected, call from friends announcing that they’re in the area and about to drop by for tea. In order to avoid similar stress, if you are selling your family house you should expect your agent to take the time to enquire about convenient viewing times that fit around your family’s schedule, such as morning naps for babies and tea time for unruly toddlers. You may wish to consider asking for block viewings at a time when you can take a walk to the park; alternatively, your agent could arrange an open day one Saturday whilst you visit friends out of town. On a positive note, preparing your family house for market is a great excuse to get started on de-cluttering those toy boxes. David Williams – “Head of Sales” Jackson-Stops & Staff, 020 8943 9955; jackson-stops.co.uk
MOST UNUSUAL INTERIOR...
We are currently marketing a wonderful apartment in the Chiswick Green Studios development that was originally designed for a boating enthusiast and as well as many curved walls there is a ‘captain’s cabin’ study with port hole window and sleeping platform designed to remind the original owner of sleeping on his boat!
I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE... Two pheasants, a fox, and badger all staring at me in a reception room! A recent client was a keen hunting enthusiast and sent many of his trophies to the taxidermist, they made many of our potential purchasers a fright and in the end we had to banish them to the attic along with a menagerie of stuffed animals.
UP YOUR STREET CORNEY REACH
Away from the hustle and bustle of the High Road is Corney Reach, built on land where Corney House once stood. Nestled on the river at Chiswick pier, there are a number of well proportioned apartments and three storey townhouses. It is home to Chiswick lifeboat station and surrounded by some of the areas most sought after places to relax and unwind including the magnificent Palladian Villa, Chiswick house, set in beautiful historic gardens. Sworn & co 020 8995 3076; swornandco.com
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