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Breaking Records in W6
Horton and Garton achieves Hammersmith's highest £pound per square foot post-Brexit
Horton and Garton's sales team has just sold Hammersmith's most expensive property on record at a ceiling-smashing £1578 per square foot on Brackenbury Village's desirable Cardross Street. Martin Clements, Horton and Garton's Sales Manager of a decade, says of the transaction, "Whilst it has broken every Brackenbury Village £pound per square foot record, it also represents the priciest post-Brexit £pound per square foot achieved in the whole of the W6 postcode. We're extremely proud of this accomplishment in what is supposedly a 'difficult' property marketplace as it demonstrates what exceptional agency can achieve. The fact is we sell 150% more property in Brackenbury Village than our nearest competitor which demonstrates the firm grasp we have on its unique micro-market."
Director John Horton notes, "Every article on the London property market spouts doom and gloom, and whilst the market certainly has shifted since the Brexit vote, it's tough to buy into that negative mindset when we're doing so well for our clients. It comes back to one of my favourite sayings: some of our competitors couldn't value a £5 note. It was true ten years ago and it's true today. When you know property in Hammersmith, Shepherds Bush and Chiswick like we do, nothing is impossible. My advice to sellers is to instruct the trusted local agent who has a genuine knowledge of your area then take their professional advice on the sale of your property. We're working hard for you - every step of the way - and keeping our clients at the heart of each transaction. Our recent success with the property on Cardross Street is a direct reflection of our seller putting their total trust in our century of combined experience in Hammersmith property. By taking our advice it enabled us to do achieve an outstanding result."
Sales negotiator Phil Coombes, whose years of experienced sourced the ideal buyer, says, "I knew from the moment I saw the house that it had huge potential - the ability to extend on the ground floor, first floor and maximise the top floor with a loft and rear pod conversion. Within hours of the seller instructing us and before it was listed on Rightmove, Zoopla or hortonandgarton.co.uk we had multiple interested parties chomping at the bit to view. Our experience and already-established rapport with our buyers ensured we were able to achieve not just the best price for our seller but the best price Hammersmith has ever seen. The deal was negotiated and cliched within TWO DAYS of the seller instructing us to go about our work. One very happy buyer and one very happy seller means it's mission accomplished!"
If you're considering selling in Hammersmith, Chiswick or Shepherds Bush, our sales team is at your service - get in touch today.
Six Things I Won’t Miss About Working For A Corporate Agency
by James Liggins, Associate Director, Horton and Garton Chiswick
I'm very excited to join my first independent team and help Paul Cooney build the Horton and Garton business here in Chiswick. Paul mentored me years ago. I learned the ropes years ago from him and one might argue that the last several years in corporate agency have been an extended training course on how the competition works and how we can outperform them... every day was necessary to ensure I got the job with Paul! I've always been based in Chiswick so I feel part of the furniture here; I know the local shop owners and residents. Working for a forward thinking independent agency like Horton and Garton is the perfect fit.
My career in agency thus far has been spent working for corporates and the experience I've gained has been invaluable in terms of learning what to do and, more to the point, what not to do. At Horton and Garton we can do things better and work differently to the London-wide chains. We're an office of committed property professionals; there isn't anyone 'in training' here for us to babysit... you'll never find 'the new guy' who's learning the ropes. The property industry is full of inexperienced people trying to make as much money as possible - your sale will suffer if it's in the wrong hands. We have a collective experience of over a century and we're proud of this fact. At a corporate, their company-wide policies and procedures means, as a negotiator, you frequently can't take decisions that fully benefit the client. As we don't need to please our manager's area director's CEO, the whole team is fully client focussed, working for them instead of 'the company's' self-centred interests. It's a incredible feeling... I feel like a new man!
Reflecting on my first week in independent agency, here's what I won't miss about the corporate world...
Six things I won't miss about working for a corporate agency:
- Joyless, bland property descriptions. In corporate agency, I had zero flexibility when it came to writing property descriptions and would often have my sellers calling me to say, "Can you add in our favourite local pub that's just a three minute walk? We think it's a real selling point." I had to tell them I wasn't allowed as it didn't fit in with the standardised description! Utter lunacy.
- Politics. Politicking was part of every day corporate agency life. Ego-stroking and keeping the peace between negotiators was exhausting. I've witnessed clients suffer due to the dark art of office politics. Selling property should be about the client, not inflated egos!
- Up to 50 live listings. I've always believed too many listings is a recipe for failure. You might sell a few of them, but what happens to the rest? If you're considering an agent with 50-odd live sales listings, you should also be considering how many minutes of their day the experienced team members will have to spend on your property. It's just basic maths.
- "Smashing the phones." If I never hear this phrase again it will be too soon! The utter inflexibility of working for a corporate agency meant cold calling was part of my routine. I absolutely hated it as I knew the buyers I was ringing hated it, too. People in West London detest cold calls. They might be received happily in other areas of London or the UK - who knows? - but they don't wash here.
- Leafleting and door knocking. It's still common practice but thankfully not at Horton and Garton. We're good enough at our jobs that we don't need to employ these outdated (and desperate) tactics. In fact, we run a paperless office in Chiswick so printing thousands of leaflets would go against the ethos.
- Ties. Bad ties, silk ties, ties in general. This one speaks for itself - never again!
Reduce your expectations?
Double your money for the H&F Foodbank’s Summer Holiday Club!
Today and tomorrow (Friday the 15th June) your donation to the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank's Children's Summer Holiday Club will be doubled thanks to The Big Give. A record number of families have been referred to this brilliant initiative. They require access to the foodbank and intervention from other council services, including social services, during the summer holidays. The H&F Foodbank are rising to the occasion with their amazing summer club which will run across two locations in LBHF twice a week and will cater to up to 70 children with their carers. These disadvantaged children will be able to access a healthy, nutritious meal every time they attend the club and will be provided with not only games, dance and cooking classes but incredible once-in-a-lifetime experiences and excursions to help make their summers memorable, educational, safe and enjoyable. If you donate £10, the H&F Foodbank's summer programme will receive an incredible £22.50! People of West London - local children need your help! Get donating by clicking here! At Horton and Garton, we are proud to continue our support of this invaluable local charity.
Write Big Cheques for the Big Give!
Brand new in Askew
Brand New Family House For Sale in Askew
This picture perfect newly refurbished and fully extended Victorian family house is available to purchase with Horton and Garton.
Granted a new lease of life by its current owner, the property has been lovingly restored and is ready for a family to make it their forever home. Nestled in tree-lined Valetta Road, the house boasts four double bedrooms and a family bathroom including a palatial master suite on the top floor. The ground floor offers a generous, flexible footprint of living and kitchen space, including a cloakroom, that is flooded year round with natural light thanks to the southerly aspect.
Tastefully and neutrally decorated throughout, this immaculate home is offered to the market with no onward chain thus offering a stress-free purchase. The location of the house means the buyer will benefit from a short stroll to two beautiful parks and two private members' health clubs.
In less than ten minutes you're in the heart of the popular Askew Village area with its independent shops and cafés. A variety of bus links via The Vale will bring you directly to Shepherds Bush tube station and Acton Central overground is also nearby.
Sales Manager Martin Clements says of the home, "Newly refurbished, chain free houses on Valetta Road are rarely available which makes this a unique opportunity for a canny buyer who is seeking their ideal Askew Village location."
To arrange your viewing, contact us or call our team on 020 8819 0510.
Street (and property) Sale in Hammersmith Grove
Neighbourhood Street Sale in Hammersmith Grove
As Hammersmith's number one estate agent, we recently agreed of sales hat trick on Hammersmith Grove. One sale was agreed last week via best and final bids after languishing on the market for months with another estate agency.
Top sales negotiator Phil Coombes says of the sale, "Ten days of intelligent marketing and hard graft was all it took our team. It's a tricky market at the moment which means you need the very best career agents in your corner."
What makes this leafy part of West London such a desirable place to live? As the local experts, our answer would be quite long winded (!) but we can assure you the annual street party and sale, which takes place this Saturday afternoon, is a major attraction. It brings local residents out in force to celebrate 'village' life together with a street sale, dog show, delicious food, children's games a bouncy castle and much more.
Director John Horton says, "Spend five minutes at the party and you'll quickly come to know the true affection residents hold for their friends and neighbours."
Various organisations including the Brackenbury Residents' Association will be attending to help make the day even more special. The BRA will have a stall with lucky dip for children, a Guess the Weight of the Cake game and information about the Association. Bring your family and friends to meet fellow residents and neighbours in the outstandingly beautiful and friendly Brackenbury Village area.
Our sales and lettings teams keep Hammersmith moving so for superlative service you won't find anywhere else and a true understanding of the local market, get in touch or call us on 020 8819 0510.
Artists At Home
Horton and Garton Sponsor Artists At Home 2018
We are proud to be the principal sponsor of Artists At Home in 2018. The organisation, which stretches back over four decades, is a part of the fabric of West London. Next weekend, over 75 artists will open their studios to the public.
John Horton, founder of Horton and Garton, says, "We are blessed as local residents to live amongst such acclaimed artists. I'm honoured to call several of the artists my friends and can tell you they exhibit in prestigious galleries and museums around the world. To be able to enter their personal studios where you can see firsthand their creative process and purchase their works is a very special annual treat. If you live in Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith or Chiswick, you will live very near to at least one artist so put your walking shoes on and get around to as many open studios as you can!"
Paul Cooney, Horton and Garton's Chiswick Sales Director, says, "The range of disciplines is extraordinary. From painters to printmakers, jewellers, sculptors and weavers, there is something for everyone. I would advise visiting the website in advance of your visit so you can see a snapshot of each artist's collections, then create your own bespoke art trail. I love the warm welcome you receive at each studio - glasses of prosecco, nibbles and sparkling conversation is standard. The artists are invariably pleased to host you and let you browse their works. If you've never been to Artists At Home, make this year your first! If you see an AAH board outside the property, you know there's an artist inside who would love to meet you."
To learn more about Artists At Home, visit their website and watch this short video which summarises AAH and what to expect in the upcoming weekend.
Park Life: Ravenscourt Gardens
Property of the Week
Park life - it's what every West Londoner is seeking when they're on the hunt for their next property. Known for an abundance of beautifully maintained green spaces, Hammersmith is a veritable Mecca for buyers seeking the perfect balance of London life and suburban peace.
To this end, we'd be remiss if we didn't highlight what Horton and Garton's owner and director John Horton calls "the best pound per square foot value in Hammersmith presently" as our property of the week. This fetching semi-detached family home on tree-lined Ravenscourt Gardens is located just three minutes on foot from Ravenscourt Park, two minutes from Stamford Brook tube station and three minute stroll from your nearest cup of artisan coffee making it the perfect choice for buyers seeking the coveted work-life balance. Located in the catchment for the much loved Ofsted Outstanding St Peter's Church of England Primary School, it offers more than just generous proportions to its next owner. The newly refurbished paddling pool, nearby nursery school and three different playgrounds within Ravenscourt Park make it an ideal choice for a growing family that is seeking to easily access the very best Hammersmith has to offer. With an easier commute via the tube, various nearby bus links and the quick access to the A4, this house offers London life - simplified.
In excess of 1700 Sq' - 160 Sq M, the fully extended and neutrally decorated period house is comprised of four large double bedrooms, a family bathroom and two further en-suite shower rooms as well as an abundance of eaves storage. The generous ground floor footprint features a bay-fronted double reception room, cloakroom and full width kitchen extension. The cellar presently provides an additional storage space and offers an opportunity to convert the lower ground into another 500+ Sq' - 46+ Sq M of living space. To arrange your viewing, contact our sales team or call 020 8819 0510.
Five Days in May
What a difference a day makes, but five days? Five days in May meant five property contracts exchanged by our sensational sales team. The King Street office exchanged a hat trick of Hammersmith sales whilst the Chiswick office saw two further sales exchange in the Fauconberg Village and Chiswick Park areas. Despite common misconceptions, an accurate valuation, cleverly crafted property details, dozens of viewings and intelligent negotiations do not a sale make.
John Horton notes, "I remind our clients that the toughest work in any property sale and purchase begins from the point of agreeing the sale through to the exchange of contracts. This absolutely crucial time is when many agents drop the ball; they feel it's 'job done' having reached an agreeable price for both seller and buyer and sit back and put their feet up - expecting the solicitors to do the rest."
Martin Clements, Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush Sales Manager, says, "Echoing John’s sentiment, it’s critical that both buyer and seller are aware of what conditions the initial offer is ‘subject to’ and the proposed timescales to work towards. Failure to have this clear understanding can derail a sale down the line. Transparent, constant communication from day one should lead to a successful exchange and completion."
What seems like the perfect sale can go wildly awry if mismanaged. Chiswick Sales Director Paul Cooney says, "A Chiswick Park seller recently told me of her completion date not being discussed and agreed with her and her buyer leading the sale to collapse at the final hurdle when a tense argument ensued over this crucial date. Abandoning client care once a sale is agreed is more common practice than you'd imagine. It's our goal to ensure the communication channels are open from the point of instruction to the day of completion and the sale is in safe hands every step of the way."
Five sales in five days may mean five happy sellers but there is much more to come. For the full details on the properties we've sold in May and the properties that are coming to market, call our Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush team on 020 8819 0150 or our Chiswick team on 020 8996 5120.