Pessimism continues as house prices fall

Pessimism has continued to blanket the nation as house prices drop for the fourth consecutive month…

With the desperate need to sell properties, many home owners are reducing their property prices in order to sell quickly.  But is there any hope? For those with house prices above £10 million there is!  These luxurious and pricey properties have not received the tremble that is causing such mayhem for owners of properties under the £1 million mark.

What else can be done to help the market? Have you managed to find a great deal? Let us know and post your comments…

Horizon, Rustington

Life’s a beach …

Berkeley Homes, Horizon, Rustington

Rustington is a quaint village in the county of West Sussex and like many of the towns and villages in this region, it possesses fabulous country and seaside views.  The village offers a peaceful retreat for city workers, a safe environment for young children and a restful yet friendly setting for the retired.  The village offers a variety of amenities unknown to many other villages and this has drawn residents and visitors in.  The village still has old flint buildings and thatched cottages, most dating back to the 18th century, but  new properties are also emerging. Many of these new builds stay in-keeping with the atmosphere and surroundings, but help to push the village towards the ease of contemporary living. Rustington has easy transport links to reach Worthing town or Brighton & Hove city to the East, or alternatively the historic and beautiful cathedral city Chichester to the West.  So what can we expect from this contemporary development, Horizon?

Driving west along the A259, signs directed me towards the costal development.  It was easy to find and signs directed me towards the sales office – however no signs were apparent for visitor parking.  After finding a space along one of the narrow roads, I strolled towards the show home entrance.  I walked along the stone pathway with landscaped gardens on either side, and entered through the front door into an entrance hall.  I was impressed with the clean white floor-tiles, open, bright and spacious feel that welcomed me.  I followed voices to an open apartment door where I was greeted by a well-dressed sales negotiator. 

I was invited to look around the two and three bedroom show-apartments accompanied, both of which were to my liking however I will be concentrating on the two bed property.  We entered through the oak veneer front door of plot 6.  Understanding the difficulties of moving furniture, carrying large shopping bags or children, the developer has created a spacious apartment with large doors and wide hallways for easy manoeuvrability – a big plus on the check list!  This attribute was carried on throughout, with natural light helping the “breezy” and open feel to this seaside development.

The winter can bring raging seas and wild winds but residents of the first and second floor can watch and take cover from the comfort of their under-floor heated apartments. The south-facing corner plots, I believe, would have the best seats in the house with bay windows as protection from the English weather but still offering fantastic views.  However, when the sun does come out, balconies are available to be enjoyed with outdoor spaces to all apartments. 

The first room I entered was the bathroom which was decorated in beiges and browns with dark wooden features, black floor tiles and white sanitary ware.  The bath looked comfortable and for those who prefer a shower, the en-suite (decorated in the same style) provides a sizeable shower tray with a large glass screen.

Both the bedrooms were well proportioned, the second being able to fit a wardrobe in if required.  The master bedroom came with fitted wardrobes which were designed in such a way to create a separation between the bedroom and the en-suite which gave the room a more intimate feel.  Both bedrooms were designed in a light colour but given a dark purple contrast which I felt gave the rooms a contemporary, smart yet casual ambience. 

The lounge/dining room is open plan with a large kitchen integrated into the room.  For those not keen on this layout, Berkeley Homes have also created apartments with a frosted, curved glass wall to maintain the great natural light but provide a separate room.  The kitchens come with a fridge/freezer, oven, hob, stone conglomerate work surfaces and stainless steel appliances.  The lounge/dining room was again decorated in light colours with a few darker accents.

What you get for your money:
Prices from £340,000 for a two bed apartment
Prices from £295,000 for a three bed apartment …
Ground rent: £250 p.a.
Management charges: £750-£1200 p.a.

Location, location, location:
A short walk to the main high street where there are a variety of shops – including the well-known independent shop “Air-head”, Angmering and Littlehampton train stations are a short drive, bus stops a short walk, beach a stone throw away, Ham Manor Golf Club, Rustington Golf club and Esporta health club a short distance away (and best reached by car due to the main roads)

Best feature:
Spacious, great location, easy access to transport links, outside space available for everyone, electric gate to car park, good security

Worst feature:
If there are no available parking spaces for the apartments (one per apartment) the narrow roads could cause a problem to find parking close to home or when people drive to the beach?

Contact the sales office: 01903 856428 - open daily 10 till 5

• Location:   8 of 10 (Easy access by roads and to amenities)
• Product:       9 of 10
• Sales Negotiator service: 6 of 10 (fairly chatty, spoke about the specifications however I felt a bit rushed out the door)
• Value for money:             Good for second home owners or commuters

Overall: Rustington has some good transport links, is a calm and friendly village with good leisure facilities available …  

Have you visited Horizon, Rustington?  Do you agree with our ‘Show-home Show-case’?  Post Your Comments.

Legal disclaimer: The impression expressed by “Show Home Hannah” is purely based on their genuine opinion and subjective experience on the specified development site visits. They are based on only as their opinion of what they have encountered and should not be read as a judgement of the business or the employees involved.

Rotary Lodge, Worthing

Ladies & Gentleman, we are pleased to present…

Hanover Easy Living, Rotary Lodge, Worthing

Worthing is the largest town in West Sussex and boasts fabulous surroundings.  In a fantastic geographical location, Worthing offers the South Downs to the North and the English Channel to the South and provides ample shopping and entertainment facilities.  If the variety of shops, department stores and theatres don’t offer you exactly what you are looking for, then an easy route to the East is the uber-chic and cosmopolitan city of Brighton & Hove, or alternatively the historic and beautiful cathedral city Chichester to the West.  So what can we expect from this retirement development, Rotary Lodge?

Signs on the main road into Worthing guided me towards the central located development which provides ample off-road parking facilities and landscaped gardens.  It was an impressive first sight with the building standing out in the afternoon sun – the neighbouring plot is being developed for apartments which are almost completed.  Entrance to the building is made through security locked, electric glass sliding doors where signs instantly point out which way to turn.  I was greeted by the estate manager who guided me towards the sales office (currently set up in one of the one bedroom apartments).

I was invited to look around the two bedroom show-apartment, unaccompanied as the sales negotiator was speaking with a gentleman looking to buy for his parents.  Walking into the two bed apartment, it was instantly noticeable that space was a major selling point.  The bathroom was the first room I entered and I was taken aback by the size.  All of the apartments on this site offer both shower and bath, heated floor tiles, heated towel rail and offer the comfort of no shower tray for easy entrance and exit from the shower area.  The bathroom was designed in cool, calming and neutral colours with white sanitary wear and this colour theme was featured throughout.

Carrying on along the crisp hallway, I entered the master double bedroom.  It was a very good size, easily fitting in a double bed, wardrobe and dressing table.  I would preferably want to have a first floor apartment as the window on this ground floor plot looks out onto the car park and cars might obstruct my views.  However, because the windows are East-facing, there was a great deal of natural light available which could help cut down on rising electricity bills.  The second single bedroom was well designed in light colours and again residents can make good use of the East-facing windows.

The lounge/dining room are open plan with a large kitchen found towards the rear.  As is common with most retirement homes, the developer doesn’t provide a washing machine within the apartment but provides a washing room elsewhere in the building.  I did think that this could be a problem with only three washing machines and three drying machines provided for 40 apartments – but perhaps they work on a rota basis?  The kitchen comes with a dishwasher, fridge/freezer, oven and electric hob with an extractor fan and I was impressed with generous cupboard space.

The lounge was again a very good size, but if the residents decide they wish for a more social scene, they can take advantage of the communal conservatory and lounge which leads onto the communal garden. Furthermore, residents and their guests can book to eat at the Rotary Lodge “restaurant” - a weekly menu is printed and on show at the entrance to the lounge to enable residents to plan ahead for meal times. 

For the residents who love to get pampered, a Beauty Treatment Room is on offer where hair-dressers, nail technicians and other therapists can be found and hired.  It seems that there is a lot on offer all under one roof!

After looking around unaccompanied, I was then joined by the estate manager who talked me through some of the specifications until the sales negotiator had finished with his previous client. Both were chatty and helpful.  I was a little concerned about the management costs however a breakdown was given to me which put me more at ease.

What you get for your money:
Prices from £157,500 for a one bed apartment
Prices from £235,000 for a three bed apartment …
Shared ownership is also on offer for selected apartments …
£4284 p.a. service charges for one bed
£4644 p.a. service charges for two beds

Location, location, location:
A short walk to the bus stop and West Worthing train station.  Short journey into Worthing town centre, grocery shop a short stroll along the road. 

Best feature:
Spacious, caters for individual needs, allows for a good social scene, 24-hour emergency alarm, close to bustling town centre, modern interiors with carpets, buggy store, guest suite available.

Worst feature:
As everything is so easy to reach within the building, could it encourage some residents not to leave the building?

Contact the sales office Thursday - Saturday: 07882 370423

• Location:   8 of 10 (Easy access by roads and to amenities)
• Product:       9 of 10
• Sales Negotiator service: 7 of 10 (chatty and spoke a lot about the growing community in the building but didn’t personally show me around)
• Value for money:             Above average

Overall: Worthing has some good entertainment and leisure facilities, apartments are spacious and appealing … 

Have you visited Rotary Lodge? Do you agree with Hannah? Post your comments…

Legal disclaimer: The impression expressed by “Show Home Hannah” is purely based on their genuine opinion and subjective experience on the specified development site visits. They are based on only as their opinion of what they have encountered and should not be read as a judgement of the business or the employees involved.