It may seem obvious to some that those moving house should be absolutely clear about the sort of property they want to move to and where it should be.

We are approached directly by buyers because they want to live in this particular area, but when one drills down in to precisely what they are looking for it often becomes apparent that they haven’t quite worked it out for themselves.

Village or Town?

The most common choice is actually whether they want to be isolated in a rural spot or to have neighbours and a community around them. The latter then leads on to where that community might be and the size and scope of the settlement and its facilities; in other words whether they want to be in a village house, or a town house.

We Advise

As agents for both village and town properties in south Wiltshire, north Dorset and south east Somerset, whether for sale or to let, we are well placed to advise on the most suitable properties in the most suitable locations, whether it be villages with a shop and a pub or small towns with more going on.  Budget doesn’t matter as long as lifestyle is realised and actually it’s the stage in life of individuals which will normally dictate where they decide to move to.

Stages in Life

Many villages in the area have the facilities and community to support incomers who are able to rely on having a car or two to get out to the shops and enjoy the surrounding amenities. These buyers or renters would often be younger families who would use the village school and become involved in the community, while always thinking of the next move when their little ones turn secondary school age. It is then that decisions have to be made with either a move in to a catchment, or even to town where it is easier for latch-door parenting to take over. Most teenagers also hate to have to rely on their parents to drive them everywhere!

We also see more mature couples moving away from the increasing stresses of the Home Counties to a quieter existence, and village life in this part of the world is a natural draw, being still within range of the Big Smoke, but just beyond commuter prices.

The other point at which to make the move to town is when those of a more advanced age become conscious that they will not be driving for very much longer and will need shops and facilities on their doorstep. This is often a downsize to a single storey property or certainly one that is more manageable. It can be a real wrench to have to go through this process and many will have been in their village home for decades, but once the decision has been arrived at it can be plain sailing.

Those who live in towns, of course, have all the amenities and activities around them that make buying or renting a town property an obvious choice. They might be missing out on genteel village life, but that may never have occurred to them as an option, although some do make the move to the villages to escape the bustle and street lights; after all, it is individual lifestyles and the promise of greener grass that drives the movement of people.

We are so fortunate to handle the sale and letting of a variety of village and town property and we do get to meet all sorts of people with different views. If we can be the ones to point the lost souls in the right direction, though, it does make our job that little bit more satisfying.

After the long summer which this year began early with the heatwave stretching back to May, the summer holidays have come to an end at last and our thoughts turn to the start of a new academic year, no doubt to the relief of parent and child alike!

Salisbury and its Valleys, Shaftesbury, the Wiltshire Downs, Cranborne Chase and Blackmore Vale between them have an excellent reputation for the high quality of education they provide all the way from nursery through to primary and secondary school stages in both the state and public sectors. This is one of the principal factors that attracts families moving into the area.

As local village property Estate Agents we are often asked to suggest schools, so listed below are the state, independent and special needs schools in this part of the World including the neighbouring area subdivided between primary and secondary stages. We think it’s pretty comprehensive but if we have missed any, please let us know!

STATE SCHOOLS

PRIMARY LEVEL

SALISBURY CITY
Bemerton St John CoE Primary School
Greentrees Primary School
Harnham Infant School
Harnham CoE Junior School, Salisbury
Manor Fields Primary School
Old Sarum Primary School
Pembroke Park Primary School
St Andrew’s CoE Primary School
St Mark’s CoE Junior School
St Martin’s CoE Primary School
St Osmund’s RC Primary School
Sarum St Pauls CoE Primary School
Stratford-sub-Castle CoE Primary School
Woodlands Primary School
Wyndham Park Infants’ School, Salisbury
Salisbury District:
Alderbury & West Grimstead CoE Primary School
Pitton CoE Primary School
Whiteparish All Saints CoE Primary School
Wilton and Barford CoE Primary School
Winterslow CoE Primary School

CHALKE VALLEY
Broadchalke CoE Primary School
Coombe Bissett CoE Primary School

NADDER VALLEY:
Chilmark & Fonthill Bishop CoE Primary School
Dinton CoE Primary School
Hindon CoE Primary School
Ludwell Community Primary School
St John’s CoE Primary School, Tisbury
Semley CoE Primary School
Wardour RC Primary School

WYLYE & TILL VALLEYS
Crockerton CoE Primary School
Great Wishford CoE Primary School
Heytesbury CoE Primary School
St Thomas à Becket CoE Primary School, Tilshead
Shrewton CoE Primary School
Sutton Veny CoE Primary School
Wylye Valley CoE Primary School, Codford

NORTH AVON & WOODFORD VALLEYS
All Saints CoE Primary School, Netheravon
Amesbury Archer Primary School, Amesbury
Amesbury CoE Primary School
Bulford St Leonard’s CoE Primary School
Bulford Kiwi Primary School
Christ the King RC School, Amesbury
Durrington All Saints CoE Infants’ School
Durrington CoE Junior School
Figheldean St Michael’s CoE Primary School
Larkhill Primary School
Newton Tony CoE School
Woodford Valley CoE School

SOUTH AVON VALLEY & FORDINGBRIDGE DISTRICT
Breamore CoE Primary School
Downton CoE Primary School
Fordingbridge Infants & Junior School
Hale Primary School
Longford Church of England Primary School, Britford
Morgan’s Vale and Woodfalls CoE Primary School
Hyde CoE Primary School
St James CoE Primary School, Alderholt
Western Downland Infants School, Damerham
Western Downland Junior School, Rockbourne

BOURNE VALLEY
Gomeldon Primary School
Newton Tony CoE Primary School
St Nicholas CoE Primary School, Porton
Winterbourne Earls CoE Primary School

NORTH DORSET
Cranborne CoE Junior & Middle School
Gillingham Primary School
Milton-On-Stour CoE Primary School
Motcombe Primary School
Shaftesbury CoE Primary School
Sixpenny Handley First School
St Andrew’s CE VA Primary School, Fontmell Magna
St Georges CE VA School, Bourton
St Gregory’s CE Primary School, Marnhull
St Mary The Virgin CE VA School, Gillingham
St Mary’s RC Primary School, Marnhull
Stower Provost Community School, Stour Provost
The Abbey CoE Primary School, Shaftesbury
Wyke Primary School, Gillingham

WARMINSTER
New Close Community School
Princecroft Primary School
St George’s RC Primary School
St John’s CoE School
The Avenue Primary School and Early Years Centre
The Minster CoE Primary School
Warminster Sambourne CoE Primary School

WEST WILTSHIRE
Chapmanslade CoE Primary School
Dilton Marsh CoE Primary School
Horningsham Primary School
Mere School`
Westbury Infant School, Westbury
Westbury CoE Junior School
Westbury Leigh Church of England Primary School, Westbury
Whitesheet COE Infants School, Kilmington
Whitesheet COE Junior School, Zeals

SOUTHEAST SOMERSET
Abbas and Templecombe C of E VC Primary School, Templecombe
Beckington CoE First School,Beckington
Berkley CeO First School, Frome
Bruton Primary School
Christ Church CoE First School, Frome
Hayesdown First School, Frome
Milborne Port Primary School
Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Wincanton
Rode Methodist First School, Rode
St John’s CoE First School, Frome
St Louis RC Primary School, Frome
St Nichola’s CoE Primary School, Henstridge
Trinity CoE First School, Frome
Vallis First School, Frome
Wincanton Primary School, Wincanton

SECONDARY LEVEL

SOUTH WILTSHIRE
Avon Valley College, Durrington
Bishop Wordsworth’s CoE Grammar School, Salisbury
Kingdown School, Warminster
Matravers School, Westbury
Sarum Academy, Salisbury
South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, Salisbury
St Edmund’s Girls’ School, Salisbury
St Joseph’s RC School, Salisbury
The Stonehenge School, Amesbury
The Trafalgar School, Downton
Wyvern College, Salisbury

NORTH DORSET
Gillingham School, Gillingham
Shaftesbury School, Shaftesbury

WEST HAMPSHIRE
The Burgate School & Sixth Form Centre, Fordingbridge
Southeast Somerset
Frome Community College, Frome
King Arthur’s Community School, Wincanton
Sexey’s School, Bruton

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

PREP SCHOOLS

SOUTH WILTSHIRE
Chafyn Grove School, Salisbury
Leaden Hall, Salisbury
Salisbury Cathedral School, Salisbury
Sandroyd, Tollard Royal

NORTH DORSET
Clayesmore Preparatory School, Iwerne Minster
Knighton House School, Durweston
Hanford School, Child Okeford
Port Regis Preparatory School, Motcombe
Sherborne Preparatory School

WEST HAMPSHIRE
Forres Sandle Manor, Fordingbridge

SOUTHEAST SOMERSET
All Hallows Preparatory School, East Cranmore
Hazlegrove Preparatory School, Sparkford
Springmead Preparatory School, Beckington

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

SOUTH WILTSHIRE
Dauntsey’s School, West Lavington
The Godolphin School, Salisbury
Leehurst Swan School, Salisbury
St Mary’s School, Calne
Warminster School, Warminster)

NORTH DORSET
Bryanston School, Blandford
Clayesmore School, Iwerne Minster
Leweston School, Sherborne 3-19
Milton Abbey School, Milton Abbas
Sherborne School, Sherborne
Sherborne Girls, Sherborne
St Mary’s School, Shaftesbury

SOUTHEAST SOMERSET
Bruton School for Girls, Bruton
Downside, Stratton-on-the-Fosse
King’s School, Bruton

SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS

Appleford, Shrewton
Aurora, Boveridge, Cranborne
Exeter House School, Salisbury
Larkrise School, Trowbridge
Tumblewood Community School, Dilton Marsh

Once a small local event held at Stourpaine Bushes near Pimperne that I used to go to as a little boy, the Great Dorset Steam Fair 2018 is now in its 50th year and is the largest show of its kind in the World.
Located on a 600 acre site at Tarrant Hinton amidst the countryside of the Cranborne Chase, it has an extraordinary number of working traction engines, steam powered machines, heritage vehicles and equipment as well as a vast fun fair.
It is rather like a country fair gone mad with hundreds of stalls, umpteen beer & cider outlets, a First World War trench system, hundreds of working displays and a music festival that goes on late into the night. Attracting some 200,000 visitors over five days it even has its own radio station. At times there can be as many as 30,000 on site making it the fifth largest population centre in the county.
The queues to the showground can be quite lengthy despite a well organised parking system but the wait is worthwhile to witness living history and attend a unique event. There is so much to see and do that many people camp for all five days.
The Steam Fair runs from Thursday 23rd August until Bank Holiday Monday, 27th August.

Steam Fair

Until this summer it had been the understanding for many years in the property industry that houses with an indoor swimming pool had a positive advantage and having one could help sell a home as well as adding to its value. In contrast, an outdoor pool did not add any more to the sale price and indeed, for some buyers have been regarded as a detrimental feature. This has changed!

2018 has been one the hottest and driest summers known with records constantly being broken and temperatures regularly reaching 30C. With the heatwave set to continue, house buyers are positively seeking homes with pools, whether they are inside or out. However, with the continuing shortage of village property on the market, finding one is not easy despite it being estimated that there are over 200,000 homes in the UK with a swimming pool.

There is a lot to take into consideration when installing a swimming pool not least of which is the cost and this can vary enormously depending on what ground works are required and whether it’s an above ground, below ground or housed. Then there’s the type of pool to think about from a traditional design, an infinity pool or a natural swimming pond as well what they are made of and whether there are to be any additional features like diving boards, pressure jets or water cascades.

Another important factor is how the water is to be managed, cleaned, filtered, covered and heated. One also has to take into account where in a garden a pool is going to be sited and ideally this will be in a sunny but sheltered spot. Safety needs to be taken into consideration, particularly where there are young children around, so it is sensible to have fencing with secure access.

Size matters. Most people want a pool which is large enough to have some fun splashing around in and to be able to swim a few lengths rather than one that is no bigger than a paddling pool to cool down in on a hot day but it should not be so large that it completely dominates the garden.

Rural View are marketing a village property in an exclusive residential road on the Isle of Wight that boasts having a particularly good-sized pool (55 x 28 ft). Lamorna is an extended detached house built in the 1960’s with a large garden and is being marketed as a refurbishment or redevelopment opportunity. The guide price is £1.1 million and should a new owner fancy swimming in the sea rather than the pool, then the beach is just a short stroll away.

Rural View are delighted that the Housing Secretary Sajid Javid has announced plans to introduce new measures to speed up the house selling/buying process and professionalise the estate agent sector, driving up standards and bringing an end to ‘rogue managing agents’. This is something that is more than overdue and we, together with the rest of the property industry, have been calling for for many years.

With over one million homes bought and sold in England each year, delays and complications during the process cause unnecessary financial and emotional stress to customers. This uncertainty can lead to delayed decisions and contributes to over one quarter of house sales falling through annually.

According to government research, more than 6 out of 10 buyers and sellers have experienced stress, and around a quarter of sellers said they would use a different estate agent if they were to go through the process again.

Estate agents will now be required to hold a professional qualification and to be transparent about the fees they receive for referring clients to solicitors, surveyors and mortgage brokers. Other measures to make the system easier, faster and more transparent include:

– encouraging the use of voluntary reservation agreements to help prevent sales falling through and crack down on gazumping
– setting a timeline for local authority searches so buyers get the information they need within 10 days
– requiring managing agents and freeholders to provide up-to-date lease information for a set fee and to an agreed timetable which will end the current situation where leaseholders are at the mercy of freeholders and their agents
– strengthening the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team so they can carry out more enforcement activity which includes banning agents

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid said:

– “Buying a home is one of the biggest and most important purchases someone will make in their life. But for far too long buyers and sellers have been trapped in a stressful system full of delays and uncertainty.”
-“So we’re going to put the consumers back in the driving seat. We will require estate agents to hold a qualification so that people are no longer at risk from a minority of ‘rogue agents’ and can trust the process when buying or selling their home.”

Mark Hayward, Chief Executive, NAEA Propertymark said:

-“We particularly welcome the commitment to further regulation – we have long argued that estate agents should be recognised as professionals, this is an important step towards achieving this and we look forward to working with the government.”

There are approximately 20,000 estate agent businesses across the country, and currently, anyone can practice as an estate agent. The changes set out will professionalise the sector, creating a more trustworthy and reliable industry who will be better held to account.

Guides on ‘How to Buy’ and ‘How to Sell’ will be developed and published to ensure customers are better informed of the process and know what questions they should be asking. The government will work with consumer groups and industry to develop a consistent set of performance metrics for conveyancers, so consumers can make a more informed choice.

To bring the profession into the technology era, a working group will be set up to bring industry and partners, such as HM Land Registry, together to look at developing innovative digital solutions to speed up the home buying and selling process.

Government will consult on how the industry can be brought up to professional standards, like those in the same trade such as conveyancers, solicitors and surveyors.