Eric Lloyd & Co has been appointed as the local agent for the auction sale of 4 Meadow Park, Brixham TQ5 8NX.  The property is being offered for sale by public auction on 30^th July with an auction price guide of £169,000.  The property is a two bedroom detached bungalow with a double aspect lounge as well as a good size conservatory at the back.  There is an attached garage with driveway parking in front.  The level garden, whilst a little overgrown at the moment is easily maintained by virtue of the extensive paving and shrubs.  The bungalow is now in need of general refurbishment, re-fitting and redecorating but offers the potential to create a most comfortable home.  The bungalow will be open for viewing on Wednesday 15^th July between 2.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. and again on Saturday 18^th July between 9.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m.  No appointment is needed.  The legal pack can be downloaded from http://www.wilsonsauctions.com/land-property-search/103. Please note that guide prices are provided as an indication of the seller’s minimum expectation.  They are not necessarily figures for which a property will sell for and may change at any time prior to the auction.  Each property will be offered subject to a Reserve (a figure below which the Auctioneer cannot sell the property during the auction) which we expect will be set within the Guide Range or no more than 10% above a single figure Guide.  For further information call Andy Robinson on 01803 852773.

Brixham has just secured a position in the top ten coolest seaside towns published in The Times Bricks & Mortar property supplement published on 24^th July.  Brixham, described as the UK’s oldest fishing port, is quoted in The Times as “an up and coming area with a pretty marina and quaint period houses surrounding the harbour.  It is valued lower than nearby coastal hotspots such as Salcombe, so there is more room for uplift, which is expected with the completion of the Kingskerswell bypass or The South Devon Highway as it will be known, due to be completed in December.  This year, Mitch Tonks, the celebrity chef known for his seafood, opened his fourth restaurant, Rockfish, in Brixham, with views over the bay and harbour.”  Jonathan Bye, director of Eric Lloyd & Co, is obviously delighted to learn of this accolade.  The latest sales around the harbour reinforce this top ten position, with contracts recently being exchanged on properties in Berry Head Road, Higher Street, Middle Street, Church Hill West, Overgang Steps, Prospect Road and North View Road as well as sales being agreed on properties in King Street, Moorings Reach, North Furzeham Road, North View Road and St Peters Hill.  Jonathan commented “We have known for many years that Brixham is definitely on the way up.  We are seeing increasing numbers of buyers from many parts of southern England looking to invest in Brixham either for a permanent change of lifestyle or for investment or holiday use.”      

Last Friday evening I was invited to the preview of the Galmpton Barn Art Group’s 5^th Art Exhibition at the Barn Hall in Galmpton.  The Barn Art Group is an informal group of artists who meet on a regular basis and their work on show was outstanding.  The exhibition is open between 10.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. until Monday 31^st August and is well worth a visit.  Following on from the art exhibition is the Galmpton Autumn Festival on Sunday 6^th September.  This festival is a series of exhibitions, shows and competitions featuring all manner of arts, floristry, and horticulture held in the village, barn and school halls as well as at the Manor Inn.  Competition schedules and entry forms are now available from Galleon Stores and the Manor Inn in the village. The exhibitions and shows will be open to view from 11.00 a.m.  In addition there will be cookery demonstrations and a “gardeners’ question time” during the course of the day.  These two events provide a great “snap shot” of community life in this delightful village mid way between Paignton and Brixham.  Eric Lloyd & Co has a selection of properties on the market in Galmpton.  These include two individual family homes, one in Greenway Road and the other in Slade Lane, a choice of bungalows in Langdon Fields, Barnfield Close and Old Road as well as an extended four bedroom semi detached house in Langdon Lane.  For full details call Rachel Cowls or Bill Bye on 01803 844466. 

The 125^th Anniversary International Agatha Christie Festival takes place in Torbay from Friday 11^th September until Sunday 20^th September.  There are numerous events taking place celebrating the life of this famous crime writer. Greenway House on the banks of the river Dart close to the village of Galmpton is Agatha Christie’s former holiday home now in the care of the National Trust. Linked with Greenway House is the parish church at Churston village, which dates back to Norman times, which Agatha Christie attended when she was in residence at Greenway.  During the festival the Church is holding its own festival “Agatha Christie – A Glimpse”.  The centrepiece is an opportunity to see the stained glass window which she donated to the church in 1957.  In addition fifty other historic features of this 900 year old building will be on show at eye level as they have never been before.  The church will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 17^th, 18^th & 19^th September between 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.  The church is at the heart of the village of Churston.  In the village Eric Lloyd & Co has recently completed the sale of a four bedroom bungalow in Links Close, in need of up-date, off an asking price of £435,000.  Currently available in the village is a choice of two detached bungalows in Ferrers Green.  One has been the subject of a comprehensive programme of re-fitting and is on the market at £295,000.  The other has an asking price of £285,000.  To view call 01803 844466.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a completely packed church at St Mary’s Square to celebrate the life of Don Thompson.  The hymns were led by a full turnout of the Brixham Orpheus Male Voice choir which Don had been associated with for over 45 years.  Many members of the Brixham community will remember Don for his time as a Brixham estate agent.  He was the partner in charge of Eric Lloyd & Co’s office in Fore Street for more than a quarter of a century starting from the time the office opened in 1960.  I was privileged to both work with and learn from Don.  In good times and bad, one of Don’s mottos was to “keep punching away!”  It is fascinating to look back at how estate agency worked during Don’s time at the helm.  No internet or website marketing, just simple printed details with no photos, just a brief description followed by a schedule of rooms usually highlighting the number of electric sockets!  Advancing technology has radically changed the way properties are now presented and marketed.  However the basic principles of good estate agency have remained unchanged since Don’s time.  It is getting a real understanding of a buyer’s needs matched with a comprehensive knowledge of properties currently available.  A lady at the service told me that viewing properties with Don was like viewing with a friend.  This comment reflects estate agency at its best and it is a legacy the current team at Eric Lloyd & Co strive to maintain.         

As the leaves fall this Autumn Eric Lloyd & Co are not only celebrating our 60^th anniversary, but more importantly we’re celebrating record levels of business. For many local businesses the busy summer months are beginning to fade, the bustling Brixham harbour is calming a little, much to the relief of many locals. However, contrary to this, Eric Lloyd & Co Estate Agents are finding that genuine buyers are still arriving thick and fast. In the first 20 days of September 2015 we have sold, subject to contract, £1.8 million pounds worth of property, more than the same period last year. Properties have been agreed from Brixham through to Roselands in Paignton. Adding to this, the eagerly anticipated early completion of the South Devon Link Road will only help to boost both the local economy and housing markets in the months to come. This great level of activity in the local housing market seems to reflect a nationally buoyant property sector. This strong Summer and Autumn will keep driving activity throughout the winter months. The coming weeks are key for buyers and sellers who want to be into a new home before the festive season. If your thoughts are to be living in your new home by Christmas ring us now on 01803 852773 (Brixham) or 01803 844466 (Paignton) and we’ll get your property on the market at an incredible Autumn commission rate. 

As the internet has increasingly become the first port of call for many buyers, estate agents now receive large numbers of enquiries from buyers through their own websites as well as from the likes of Rightmove and Zoopla.  Whilst the internet provides a fantastic “shop window” for buyers to take an overview of what is currently available in their area of search and submit their brief wish list it is only by entering into a dialogue with an agent can the agent fully understand his or her needs and direct them to the most suitable homes.  For example does a request for a garage really mean the buyer wants to park a valuable car or do they just need good storage space?  If the later is the case an agent will often be able to offer a wider range of suitable properties rather than just those with a garage.  By listening and probing and responding accordingly a good agent can save both buyers and sellers time that might otherwise be wasted on unsuitable viewings.  A deeper understanding of a buyers’ needs means that an agent can discover what has prompted the move, the likely timescale involved and whether there are related sale or finance issues to be addressed.  A successful sale does not depend solely on the suitability of the property, but also on whether the buyers’ circumstances are compatible with those of the seller.  Why not give us a call to see how we can help you.        

Many industry commentators indicate that as the evenings draw in with the onset of winter the property market tends to slow down.  Currently Eric Lloyd & Co see no signs of a seasonal slowdown with seven sales being agreed over last weekend alone! In Brixham these included bungalows in Cudhill, Marina Drive and Eden Close, a house in Ocean View Drive and an apartment in New Road as well as a bungalow in Barnfield Close Galmpton,,a bungalow in Freshwater Drive, Hookhills and Blackbrook Avenue, Broadsands Park.  However to help to tempt a buyer through your front door during the winter months a few simple steps can make all the difference, remembering the old adage “you only get one chance to make a first impression”.  Many buyers take a roadside look before making their decision to view, so a tidy and welcoming street view can only help with a sale.  After last weekend’s wind and rain a quick sweep up of leaves and any other blown about debris will often transform a property’s kerb appeal.  Most buyers prefer to view during daylight hours, but if a viewing is taking place as the light is fading or in the dark make sure your home is as welcoming as possible.  Turn on any outside lights and make sure the lights are on inside for maximum effect before the viewers arrival.  If the weather is cold have the heating on so that your home is warm and inviting.  Presenting a cold and dark property is unlikely to set the scene for the highest possible offer!