Our July lettings results echoed those of the same period in 2015; that is one of the best months in a forever busy department. To a degree, the versatility of the lettings market (for example, it has enabled home owners to move without selling by simply renting theirs out and then renting another one!) has fuelled demand, pushing rents up at the same time. Rightmove have reported a marked increase in asking rents across the country. We have seen this locally too: three bedroom semi-detached houses in Devizes which let for £650pcm in December 2012 have recently achieved £900pcm!

 

This has encouraged new and existing ‘buy to let’ investors who see property as a very safe bet with a return that, seemingly, may only be dreamt of in a bank.  ‘We held a seminar in April this year with the aim of helping new and existing landlords to get the best out of their investments; in some instances yields of over 5% are being achieved locally.’ says Karen Elson who heads up our lettings department. For more information, you can contact Karen directly on 01380 722995 or karen.elson@strakers.co.uk .   

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We are delighted to welcome Tori Lancaster-Gaye who has just joined us in our Marlborough office.

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I cannot deny that I have been concerned about the impending doom that had been predicted in and around the recent Referendum. And who really knows? Understanding property is what we do best and our experience so far would indicate that the market has slowed in pace although I question whether this is entirely Brexit related; we were extremely busy, sales-wise, in the preceding months and inevitably an overheated market will make its own adjustments.

House prices are always topical and yet, in reality, they are only really relevant to most individuals when they buy or sell. And even then, it is the relativity of pricing that matters: ‘how much do I need to find’ or ‘will I be able to pocket’ are common questions that figure at such times. That said, relevant pricing has always been central to a successful sale, good market or bad, and if we are in for a period of uncertainty sound advice will be key.

Maintaining confidence in our property market will be vital if we are in for some change and I believe that as a company we are well placed to advise: we have the experience to understand how to manage such change - we have qualified staff and a number of us have over thirty years in the industry; we have the enthusiasm and drive of our younger members of staff who have ambition to be the best; and above all we like what we do!

Keep calm then and we will do the rest.

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Our Auction team have been joining in at Bath Boules again, a spectacular event which seems to take over central Bath every year. Seen here is Charlie Doel with Auction Manager Victoria Wakefield, Karen Lacey and a young helper; in the meantime, Lindy Fitzpatrick, manager of our North Swindon branch takes her turn on the piste.  Lindy’s team have also been busy at Orchid Vale Primary School where they promoted a ‘guess the name of the teddy bear’ competition in aid of charity. And at Dauntsey’s School in West Lavington, Karen Damon, manager of our Devizes office and Jennifer Beetlestone can be seen with a fellow sponsor making preparations at the ‘Rotary Superchoirs 2016’ event last week. You might also like to make a note of ‘Taste Wiltshire’ in Urchfont which is coming up in September.

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A slight delay in the usual prompt start did not put off buyers at last month’s sale at The Assembly Rooms in Bath. With an 89% success rate, auction continues to appeal as an efficient means of selling with some terrific results being achieved; notable interest being shown in development opportunities and  ‘doer-uppers’ as Charlie Doel calls them. Our forthcoming sale at the beginning of August returns to The Corn Exchange in Devizes when Charlie and his team will be presenting nineteen lots; two which will be of particular interest to fishermen; various development opportunities including a building plot in Bath; and an excellent family house ‘which has to be sold’ in Norton St Philip.  For more information you can contact the Auction Office directly on 01249 765200 or by email auctions@strakers.co.uk .

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Our next auction on the 23rd June has great promise at Bath's magnificent Assembly Rooms. In the meantime you can contact the Auction team on 01249 765200 or auctions@strakers.co.uk  or visit our website strakers.co.uk.  We look forward to seeing you there!

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Over 90 people attended our investor event in April at the The National Self-Build & Renovation Centre, Swindon. Aimed at both existing and future landlords this was a reception, with drinks and canapés, where guest speakers had been invited to give guidance on how best to work within the revised legislation and taxation regulations; complex and intimidating stuff which is manageable but not to be ignored! Karen Elson, who heads up Strakers’ lettings and management department was one of the speakers along with colleagues from firms of local accountants and solicitors who were able to share their slant on events. Karen was delighted by the feedback and clearly our clients appreciated the advice judging by the enquiries for our managed service rather than simply ‘let only’. ‘Property is a great investment’ says Karen ‘however the law is becoming increasingly complex and we all need to be wary of the pitfalls. Something our qualified lettings specialists are here for!’ she adds. You can contact Karen directly on 01380 722995 or by email: karen.elson@strakers.co.uk

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A TV celebrity called in on our Royal Wootton Bassett office recently, much to the delight of Ann Freeman and Dawn Fitzgerald who are pictured here with Phil Spencer; their advice gratefully received!  Earlier this week, Sue George (Marlborough), Penny Broomfield (Swindon North), Cath Mudrak (Corsham) and Rachael Mason (Royal Wootton Bassett) all donned hi-viz jackets to help at Prospect Hospice’s warehouse in Wroughton where donations are carefully sorted. A group from across the company took part in Corsham’s 10k and Charlie Doel, our auctioneer, who ‘does not like running at all’ took part in a gruelling, 20 mile cross country run at Burghley House. He has so far raised about £1000 in aid of MND. The large photograph shows our Chairman, Gordon Straker, receiving a cheque for £895 from Bath Rugby Player of the Year, Semesa Rokoduguni; the sum was raised for The Helen Straker Charity by our guests this season at Bath Rugby.

 

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This statistic is, almost, a constant with our Auction Department, big sale or small. And it was one of our smaller sales that drew a large crowd to The Assembly Rooms in Bath on the last evening of March. Of the ten lots that were offered, two residential development sites sold well; one of the commercial investments exceeded expectations; and houses 'needing modernisation' were a big hit culminating in the final lot more than doubling its £135,000 guide price! 'Properties will always find their level at auction' commented Charlie Doel, our auctioneer 'and there is nothing like competition in the room to get the best price. One of our great strengths is that we work hand-in-hand with our residential sales offices; in effect providing service equivalent to a private treaty transaction within a determinate timescale.' For more information, Charlie and his team can be contacted on 01249 765200 or by following the link below.   More...

This is a village house which was built in about 1980 to a well-planned design, providing a home of individual character in a wonderful setting. Set well back from the village road, across The Green, Poulshot Court stands in established grounds which, on the south side, overlook the adjoining paddocks towards Salisbury Plain. More...

Clenche Farm is an exceptionally attractive and spacious Grade II Listed country home set amidst splendid gardens and grounds totalling approximately 10 acres. A completely rural location down a tree lined private drive and with views of the historic Roundway Hill where the famous Battle of Roundway took place, this individual family home has a wonderful sense of arrival. More...

‘Devizes is just like home to me’ says Guy Straker, one of our Directors who heads up the team in the historic, market town. ‘I feel both proud and very fortunate to be working in one of the finest towns in the county!’ he adds. ‘One of its great strengths is that it still has its own identity where so often towns can all seem the same these days. And we have such wonderful countryside on our doorstep too, beautiful down land, The Plain, The Pewsey Vale, along with The Kennet and Avon Canal which runs right through the heart of the town.’ Guy joined the family firm in 2002, rising through the ranks in the company before taking up the helm in Devizes in 2010. He was appointed to the Board in 2013. Guy’s competitive edge serves him well; his interest and enthusiasm for property and local history add to his desire to be the very best. He lives locally with his young family and when he is not at work, he enjoys sport in general and loves his time on the golf course.

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Converting an old building into a home is a dream for many of us; and 'barn conversion' is a well used line in every agent's phrase book! The conversion of a chapel is not dissimilar in that one starts with a relatively open space and works from there, although on the plus side they benefit from style and decoration that was not often reserved for our hardy farm animals! The Wesleyan Chapel at Rudge, near Frome, is a good illustration and this rather handsome, early Victorian example is being offered for sale by our Auction department on the 31st March at the Assembly Rooms in Bath. For more details of this and the other lots on offer call our auction team on 01249 765200 or email auctions@strakers.co.uk 

 

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‘Buy to let’ properties are a popular investment  in a market which is extremely buoyant, with far more applicants than properties; driving the rental returns ever higher. Positive news for landlords then who must take care in an industry that is becoming more and more tightly regulated.  New legislation over the last couple of years, including the ‘Right to Rent’ checks under the Immigration Act, has imposed further obligations on landlords with harsh penalties for failure to comply. Keeping up with what has seemed like a barrage of new legislation has been quite a challenge for us, too.  As an ARLA agent, and with a dedicated legal helpline, we are kept fully informed of new legislation before it comes into effect. This gives us the opportunity to get to grips with any new requirements in good time; staff training is an ongoing process! Where we manage a property, a landlord will not necessarily need to know the law in detail as we will act on their behalf, ensuring compliance. However, Karen Elson, who heads up our Lettings department, has become quite concerned where ‘let only’ landlords are turning to Strakers for legal advice; these landlords can find themselves quite vulnerable, having fines imposed on them for failure to adhere to the legislation or, potentially, being denied the right to evict a tenant.  If you have any concerns whatsoever about the lettings process as a whole, do get in touch. We can offer you advice, keeping you up to date, or, if you prefer, we can simply take away all the pressure by providing you with a fully managed service. Remember, agents fees are tax deductible and, by giving you peace of mind, they could be worth their weight in gold! You can contact Karen directly: karen.elson@strakers.co.uk      More...

We would like to invite you to attend our OPEN DAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2016 11am -2pm. This is the last house remaining on this popular development. Part exchange welcome with fantastic incentives including Turfing to front and back, carpets,flooring and Kitchen worktops upgraded to silestone. To book on to our open day please call 01380723451. To view the full details please click the more info button.  

 

 

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New Homes have got off to a flying start at Verbena Court in Melksham where 6 out of a total of 16 apartments have been reserved before the scheme has been officially launched. The development by Guildhall Estates includes one and two bedroom apartments which are attractively priced and on handover, ready to move into; all that buyers will need is furniture and some curtains! The specification includes carpets and floorcoverings as well as a fridge/freezer to go with the oven and hob in the kitchen. And the two bedroom apartments each have an en-suite shower room. Jayne Day, who heads up our New Homes team, says that the scheme is drawing interest from a cross section of buyers who are viewing the properties as good investments as well as a great place to live; local amenities are on hand and all the apartments have the added convenience of allocated parking. Full details are available from our Corsham office (01249 712093; corsham@strakers.co.uk )who will be pleased to fill you in. New Homes sites have a lot to offer and sometimes the advantages are overlooked: for example, current incentives at Verbena Court include £1000 towards legal fees and Help to Buy! If you are interested in finding a New Home  in Wiltshire or would like to hear more about what they have to offer, you can email Jayne Day directly on jayne.day@strakers.co.uk or call 07920 598321.   More...

Coinciding with the end of a hugely entertaining Rugby World Cup tournament, in Wiltshire the results of an eagerly awaited prize draw were announced!  We have been running a competition alongside the Rugby World Cup whereby the winners would have the chance to sell (or let) their property absolutely free. And runners-up would receive tickets to see Bath Rugby play or a signed, replica miniature rugby ball. The competition was simple: guess the winning team! 
The prize draw was made on Tuesday the 3rd November at Farleigh House, the prestigious headquarters and training facility of Bath Rugby, and no less than Wales International and Bath forward Dominic Day was on hand to draw the winning tickets. First and second prizes winners were Jane Needham, Mr Fleming and Mr Jackson, all from Chippenham; and Mr Brickell from Wootton Bassett.  Runners-up from across the county will be personally presented with their replica mini rugby balls; treasured prizes for sure! 
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On the 29th October, our auction team had a great Autumn line up with 23 lots on offer at The Assembly Rooms in Bath. Four auction sales on, it is establishing itself as an event in its own right  and we were delighted by the following comments from AC following the sale: “…the service provided last night was outstanding… I'm a regular buyer and seller at auctions all over the South West…you have a very hardworking, enthusiastic team...it  was an exceptional performance, your firm continues to evolve and  improve hugely over the years...” Lovely!  Our last sale of 2015 is on the 10th December at the Steam Museum in Swindon and we will look forward to seeing you there. In the meantime do please feel free contact the Auction Team on 01249 765200 with any queries. Click to view our latest catalogue. 

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Our Auctioneer, Charlie Doel enjoys the daily challenge and variety that goes with the nature of an auction department: having an understanding of a market that ranges from the odd parcel of land in the centre of a village to an ‘investment’ townhouse; and from a building plot to a farmhouse with land, he has an inherent interest in property of all types. Selling at auction requires a special quality and Charlie admits that he has been trained by the very best! He heads up a department that regularly offers 20 or more lots per sale, eight times a year from three venues that cover the north of the county and Bath; so he and his team are kept busy!

Charlie is very much a Wiltshire man and he hails from Lacock. He lives in Calne with his wife and family; he has a passion for cricket (he is an MCC member), enjoys hockey, and a bit of running too-he has just completed the Chippenham half!
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We are very proud to announce that we have been nominated for the prestigious ‘Negotiator’ Auction House of the Year  award. Coinciding with this we are also pleased to introduce our new Auction Administrator Karen Lacey who is based at our auction office in Chippenham (tel 01249 765200).  Look out, too, for our next sale: it’s on the 29th October at The Assembly Rooms in Bath with a great Autumn line up of 23 lots including a parcel of woodland in Dauntsey, a farmhouse in historic Pickwick and an old bakery for redevelopment in Great Bedwyn. See you there!  

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A number of our team have joined solicitors Withy King by taking part in the Million Makers Challenge for The Prince’s Trust; Withy King being one of a number of corporates who have signed up to the challenge and pledged a minimum £10,000. Every penny raised will be donated to the Prince’s Trust making a real difference for  young peoples’ lives. The initiative is #bizfit: a thirty day ‘step challenge’ starting on the 1 st September. Each team member pays an entry fee and in return they receive a pedometer with which they can record their pacing.  Withy King have established a leader board where each daily count is carefully logged and at the end of the challenge there will be individual and team prizes for the most steps recorded. As well as prizes, we all benefit too as increasing activity, just slightly, throughout the day will improve productivity in the workplace! More...

On a rather windy Monday at the end of July, team Strakers lent a hand to The Helen Straker Charity golf day at the Manor House Golf Club in Castle Combe. This was a repeat of a hugely popular day that was held in 2014; this year 27 teams entered and the event raised a magnificent £16,425 for Dorothy House Hospice and Forever Friends. The golf was played ‘Texas Scramble’ style, and players were treated to competitive wagers around the course; including ‘Double your Money’ on the 4th and ‘Beat the Pro’ on the 17th! The rain held off (largely) and despite the odd lost ball or three, players enjoyed the charms and challenges of this very fine golf course; as did team Strakers who enjoyed time out of the office! The following message from our Managing Director Antony Bulley sums the day up perfectly:

“On behalf of the trustees of The Helen Straker Charity I just wanted to say a MASSIVE thank you to you all for your amazing support on Monday. Thank you to everyone who entered a team and to all who played, thank you to all of our sponsors who enabled us to put on a great day for everyone to enjoy. A big thank you to all of the team at The Manor House Golf Club who were so welcoming and helpful, and a big thank you also to the guys and girls from Strakers out on the course and in the clubhouse who played a big part in making the day so warm and friendly. I hope you all enjoyed the dinner as much as we did at our table, and the very moving speech made by the Chief Executive of Dorothy House, John Davies, really seemed to strike a chord with everyone in the room and brought home what the day was really all about. The auction was a great success and raised a massive £7,495. I am sure you will agree that our auctioneers Charlie and Stuart did a great job, with the help of your generous bidding, and of course, the many fabulous lots which had all been most generously donated! We are also extremely grateful for the huge number of prizes we were given for the draw, which again raised a significant sum.

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Being an ambitious bunch, it is not uncommon for us to enter into a little in-house competition. With the Rugby World Cup 2015 coming up fast, we thought that it would be fun to share this competitive spirit by running a tournament of our own, alongside the internationals! It is open to all our sales and letting clients, including existing ones, and all you have to do is select the winning nation…easy! In return you could sell or let your house absolutely free. There are prizes for runners-up too, including tickets to watch Bath Rugby or a very special ‘Strakers’ Gilbert rugby ball! Call your local office for details. And Good Luck too! 

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David has just joined our lettings team in Swindon. He has a wealth of lettings knowledge including a Technical award (NFOPP) and he is passionate about exceptional customer service and business development. 

David began his property journey as a trainee sales negotiator with a company in Cirencester.  After a successful spell in residential sales, David decided to make the move to lettings in 2008. This took him to Cheltenham, where he worked for over three and a half years, developing a small team. The lettings business grew to such a point that David was asked to manage a letting office in Gloucester.  On meeting his partner Katie (who happened to live in Swindon), David decided to take the plunge and relocate to Swindon, which is where David had been working as a lettings consultant before joining us.

David and his family live in the town. He has three children and a dog to keep him busy, along with his keen interest in sport – especially tennis and squash.

 

 

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An immaculate and well presented four bedroom detached house in the popular location of Haydon End. In the catchment of Orchid Vale Primary School this spacious home comprises of Kitchen/Breakfast room, Sitting room, Dining Room and Study as well as WC on the ground floor. Upstairs there is a master bedroom with fitted wardrobes and en suite shower room and three further bedrooms and family bathroom. Outside there is a garage and driveway parking and enclosed rear garden. More...

An exceptional first floor apartment offering stylish and spacious modern living space whilst retaining many unique features including an original stained glass window. Located within The Grange, a converted stone building originally dating back to the 17th century, within a highly desirable area of Blunsdon St Andrew close to open parkland.This apartment on two levels, offers two double bedrooms one with an en-suite, a very large sitting/dining room area, kitchen and bathroom.  More...

A well presented three bedroom detached village property situated in a cul de sac location within the sought after village of South Marston. The property comprises of: Entrance Hallway, Cloakroom, Kitchen, Living Room and Dining Room to the ground floor. To the first floor there are three bedrooms and family bathroom. Externally the property benefits from a detached garage to the side with driveway parking and landscaped rear garden. An early inspection of this well presented home is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. End of Chain. More...

Favourably positioned within this highly sought after location of Lawn and boasting a 110ft private enclosed rear garden. In our opinion this much improved family home offers deceptively spacious accommodation with the potential to extend subject to the necessary planningAccommodation consists of entrance porch, entrance hallway, 15ft living room, separate 10ft dining room, modern fitted 10ft kitchen, whilst to the first floor are three bedrooms and a refitted family bathroom. Additional benefits include gas radiator central heating and PVCu double glazing.  More...

Wiltshire’s leading Estate Agents, Strakers, were delighted to support Corsham Running Club with their annual 10km run through the historic town and surrounding countryside.  Bath Rugby’s first team players, Carl Fearns and Alafoti Faosiliva, were on hand to sign autographs and chat to anyone wanting to know a little more about Bath’s highly successful season and following a brief interview were then in position to drop the flag and start the race!

Strakers had a team of four runners representing them, two of whom were taking part in their first ever event, and whilst not at the sharp end of the race all four posted very creditable times.  Charlie Doel, Associate Director and Auctioneer commented  “that was harder than I expected, but it was great to take part in such an brilliant event and help raise funds for local charities.  We hope to have more of the team taking part next year as many of them were unable to this time as they were working throughout the weekend at our Open Doors event”

Melissa Henry, Area Sales Director of rightmove, who lives in nearby Box said  “I was thrilled to be asked to represent Strakers on Sunday, and managed to set my personal best time of 51.16 on the day”

With 920 runners streaming through the finish line collecting their medals the day ended with a prize giving.  The overall winner being Simon Nott, captain of Calne Running Club who lead the way from start to finish, unchallenged and stretching out a very commanding lead to finish in 32.52 and in doing so regaining his county title.

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Looking through the catalogue there are lots of opportunities which should be of interest to all types of buyer from developers to investors and not forgetting those of you who are looking for your next home. I hope you will find something perfect for you and look forward to seeing you at The Steam Museum for a well-deserved post-election drink. Charlie Doel MNAVA Auctioneer Click to download the catalogue. 

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Dan began his career in 2007 working for a national estate agent. Since joining Strakers in 2011, he has quickly progressed within the firm to head up the Marlborough team. Having spent much of his life in and around the Wiltshire/Berkshire borders, he knows the area very well and he is keen to promote a Marlborough office that is hugely enthusiastic and dedicated to providing the best property sales and lettings service. More...

Located in a popular residential area in Devizes and within a short walk of the Kennet & Avon Canal. This beautifully presented terraced home comprises two bedrooms, a bathroom, a fitted kitchen and a sitting / dining room. In addition there is a useful conservatory overlooking the well tended landscaped gardens that enjoys an excellent amount of privacy. The gardens are set over three levels offering various seating areas. A pathway at the end of the garden leads around to a single garage with tandem parking spaces in front.  More...

Positioned in the popular village of West Lavington, conveniently located for the schools and local amenities. This three bedroom detached family home offers good sized accommodation throughout. Comprising of a sitting room with bay window, opening through to a dining room. The kitchen and cloakroom complete the ground floor. Three bedrooms and a re-fitted shower room. Externally you have an enclosed front garden while to the rear it is mainly laid to lawn with access to the parking and garage. More...

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