Your local property news from East of Exe estate agents Spring 2011

ccording to the latest house price index, house prices continue to be weak and the outlook remains gloomy as a result of the uncertainty around the economy and the Government’s major spending cuts. However, here at East of Exe, despite a slow end to 2010 as we all reeled from the shock of ‘proper’ snow in Devon, we are currently experiencing a huge demand for properties in the area and continuing to secure favourable sales for our clients. And with Spring now here, it seems that East Devon continues to attract a high level of interest

from buyers both within and outside of the area – and for good reason. You can find out why on page 2. So, if you’re thinking of selling your home in 2011, or perhaps looking to move into the area, why not give us a call. Our clients benefit from a friendly and highly personalised service provided by property experts with over 15 years of selling houses. What’s more, we offer competitive rates of commission and when it comes to selling, we know how to turn up the heat, whatever the weather

changeWhy choose East Devon PAGE 2

See what we are celebrating PAGE 4

A splash of orange goes a long way PAGE 8

At last! The market’s hotting up…

Tel:01392 877240 www.eastofexe.co.uk Tel:01392 877240 www.eastofexe.co.uk

Woodbury SOLD £545,000

e think Exeter and East Devon is a beautiful part of the world. That’s why we like living and working here. And it’s why lots of other people want to come and live here too.

Two-thirds of the district lies in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the coastline of East Devon makes up part of the Jurassic Coast, the only World Heritage Site in England to be recognised for its environmental importance. But it’s not just about stunning beaches and countryside.

In East Devon, we also have great transport links and easy access to city-life in Exeter, Plymouth and London, not to mention some excellent schools and thriving village communities. It’s no surprise, then, that many outsiders aspire to live here and, once settled, few of us feel any desire to leave. And that’s what helps to give us a greater degree of protection when other parts of the country are experiencing property meltdown.

At East of Exe we pride ourselves on knowing our ‘patch’ inside-out and believe it gives us the edge when it comes to marketing your property. Our knowledge allows us to build strong bonds with prospective purchasers by identifying with their specific needs and offering valuable insider advice. It also helps us to give realistic property valuations based on actual prices achieved for particular types of property in different areas, or even different streets in the same area.

So, if you’ve decided to search for a new home in East Devon, ‘congratulations’. It’s a decision you’re unlikely to regret. And if you need a bit of help in deciding exactly where to look, why not download our free Town and Village Guide for East Devon, available on our website at: www.eastofexe.co.uk, or give us a call. We never tire of talking about East Devon

Why East Devon?

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beautifully presented five-bedroom detached house, on a sizeable elevated plot located in the heart of the prestigious Avenues area of Exmouth, has just come on the market with East of Exe (01392 877240) at an asking price of £625,000.Cedar Lodge is a substantial modern house approached by a sweeping driveway and surrounded on all sides by attractive landscaped gardens which include the majestic cedar tree after which the property was named. This light and spacious property offers an exceptional level of comfort and is finished to a high specification with quality fixtures and fittings throughout.

Downstairs, the entrance porch leads into an impressive dual aspect, double reception room featuring a brick fire place with timber mantle and slate hearth. French double doors open out onto the rear patio area with plenty of room for al fresco dining. The large kitchen/diner is also dual aspect with double French Doors leading into the garden.

Elegant oak-fronted wall and base units offer excellent storage and integrated stainless steel appliances, spot lighting and an Amtico tiled floor complete the contemporary look. A separate utility room offers extra storage with laundry space. The cloakroom and integrated double garage with automatic doors complete the ground floor accommodation.

Upstairs, the large master bedroom benefits from built-in wardrobes and a contemporary en-suite shower room with WC and double shower cubicle. There are an additional four generously-sized bedrooms and a luxurious family bathroom with both a bath and a separate double shower cubicle. Useful loft storage space can be accessed from the landing.

Cedar Lodge is a super, ready-to-move-into property in a highly desirable location. Early viewing is advised

fEATurED PrOPErTy

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5 bedroom detached house in Exmouth

here does time go? East of Exe will be celebrating its first anniversary in March this year, and that is significant for a number of reasons. Not only will I have to dig into my pockets to buy cakes for the office but, more importantly, it means we survived probably the bleakest year in the property market since the crash in the early 1990s. That’s quite an achievement for a fledgling estate agency competing against established High Street players and, for me, evidence that we are getting things right.

From the outset I knew that providing exceptional customer service would be key to our success – the property business is, after all, about people, not property – and our customers have told us how much they have appreciated our proactive communication methods, attention to detail and longer opening hours.

We have also gone the extra mile to market our sellers’ properties at their best, using quality photography and dynamic 3D floor plans to create striking property details, and the services of a professional editor to guarantee regular property features in

the local papers. It all makes a difference.

But what I am most proud of is our recent association with Estuary League of Friends, whereby we have agreed to donate 10% of all our fees to the charity. After gaining so much pleasure out of living and working within the East Devon community, it feels

good to be giving something back.

So, despite the economic downturn, I remain excited and positive about entering our second year of business and committed to continually improving our levels of customer service and selling more houses. I wish you all a successful 2011 Chris Taylor

Happy Birthday to us!

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“i would like to say a big thank you for all your advice and assistance in the selling of our home. After experiencing the services of the two previous agents it was nice to find someone who seemed to actually care about their clients, and who has done all and a lot more than one would expect from an estate agent.”Mr and Mrs K, Aylesbeare

We come highly recommended

“Thank you and your team for the effective and efficient handling of the sale of our home. Your support and regular communication during this time was very much appreciated.”Mr and Mrs L, Woodbury

“I would like to say that all our dealings with you on the sale of our house were positive. your photos and the way you marketed the house was excellent...we were kept informed of progress almost on a daily basis.”Mrs K, Topsham

“Chris and the team at East of Exe know their stuff and are brilliant - responsive, attentive, committed and just that little bit more thoughtful and creative in their marketing efforts.”Mr and Mrs T, Sidmouth

“i didn’t have to worry about anything. The sale of my home was handled professionally and i can’t under estimate the value of having you negotiate on my behalf to get the best price!”Miss M, Topsham

fEATurED PrOPErTy

Space & seclusionuilt in the 1930s, ‘Westaway’ offers a

tremendous feeling of space and seclusion and is superbly located for access to Exeter, Topsham, the M5, A303 and Exeter Airport. It is an elegant house that benefits from larger than average room sizes and some lovely period features such as high ceilings, cornices, picture rails and original fireplaces.

Downstairs, a grand hallway, with stripped oak flooring, leads through to a large, dual aspect reception room with impressive fireplace and French doors opening onto the garden. There is also a separate dining room, a modern-fitted kitchen with marble worktops, a utility room and a cloakroom/shower-room. Upstairs, there are four good-sized bedrooms, each with its own wash basin and two enjoying lovely open outlooks across the golf course. There is also a family

bathroom, a separate WC and access to useful loft space.

Outside, ‘Westaway’ is accessed at the front via a gated driveway providing ample off-street parking and a garage. To the rear of the property, the large lawned garden is a fabulous feature and backs onto the 1st fairway of Exeter Golf and Country Club, with uninterrupted views up the 5th fairway

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Woodbury £249,950 3 Bed, west facing

Whimple £399,950 4 bed, chalet bungalow

Wimple £545,000 Modernised 4 Bed,

Clyst St Mary £305,000 3 Bed, generous plot

Exmouth £ 239,950 3 Bed, with parking

farringdon £375,000 2 bed, 1 acre plot

Lympstone £169,950 3 Bed, semi detached

Woodbury £379,950 4 Bed, converted barn

Tel:01392 877240 www.eastofexe.co.uk Tel:01392 877240 www.eastofexe.co.uk

Exceptional Estate Agents

or those of you who may be considering up-sizing your property this year and are looking at around the £1-million mark, you could save yourself at least £10,000 if you focus your efforts and complete your purchase before 6 April. Why? Because stamp duty is set to increase from 4% to 5% on residential properties over £1-million from this date. It’s clearly a worthwhile saving and there’s certainly still time to market and sell your own property and complete a purchase within that time scale, provided you choose an agent who gives your property their full attention and who has exceptional marketing and communication skills.

Of course, on the other side of the coin, if you’re thinking of selling a property in the £1 million to £1.25 million price band this year, you can expect prospective buyers to negotiate harder post 6 April to try and drive down the price. Again, this is where an experienced and competent agent, with excellent communication and negotiation skills and an ability to build strong positive relationships, is invaluable in helping you achieve the best price

set to rise for high-end property

To find out more about the impact of stamp duty on your property move this year, call us on 01392 877240.

Stamp Duty

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hether or not you’ve yet had reason to find out about East of Exe, you can’t fail to have noticed our distinctive, bright orange ‘For Sale’ and ‘Sold’ boards. In fact, our record sighting to date is a purchaser having spotted one through a hedgerow over a quarter of a mile away (although you may need to look a little closer to spot the house with chimney cleverly hidden within the logo). They’re certainly not lacklustre. And the orange and grey livery on our company Mini has proven to be equally eye-arresting. But you may be interested to know that there is more to the colour orange than it just being obvious. Scientists have shown that our reaction to colour is instantaneous and that colour

has a huge impact on the choices you make. Orange, we discovered, is the colour of creativity, ambition and drive, and looking at the colour orange stimulates talking, creative thinking, enthusiasm, the willingness to embrace new ideas with enjoyment and a sense of exploration and creative play. So, you see, there is method in our madness. And you never know, it might just make the difference when it comes to selling your house!

What’s in a colour?

Aylesford SOLD £595,000 Woodbury SOLD £545,000

Ebford SOLD £695,000Topsham SOLD £475,000

Tel:01392 877240 www.eastofexe.co.uk Tel:01392 877240 www.eastofexe.co.uk