Property Blog
31st October 2022
As The Cotswolds Property Specialist, our market is not immune to the fluctuations in interest rates announced by the Bank of England last week.
Whilst many buyers in the Cotswolds are cash buyers, there are a significant number who will require a loan to some degree, and with the rise in interest rates the market is quieter while buyers, and sellers, take stock.
Having said that, Butler Sherborn currently have four quintessentially cosy Cotswold cottages available across the Cotswolds and they are all attracting good levels of interest.
Mill Cottage, Coln St Aldwyns, 14 The Derry, Ashton Keynes, The Thatch, Todenham... more
25th October 2022
Richard Greasby is no stranger to running, having completed various Ultra-marathons including a 100km run along the Cotswold Way.
However, running in the desert was an entirely new experience both in terms of the terrain and the temperatures.
The Saharan Challenge was run in Morocco, some 100kms south east of Ouarzarate and the Atlas Mountains. It was a 2 Stage Ultra marathon run over two days back to back, with three nights camping in Tisguine.
The first 26 mile marathon on Friday 14th October started at Afra and finished at Tisguine. After uncomfortably (and unusually) hot nights under canvas,... more
13th October 2022
Four perfect Cotswold country homes from £1.75million
As the nights draw in, returning home after a walk to see the autumn colours - see suggestions below, wood smoke hanging in the air, muddy boots kicked-off at the door, tired, steaming dogs warming by the fire or AGA and the prospect of tea and hot buttered crumpets, it is good to get inside.
And whether it is chasing the ghosts and ghouls of Halloween, wrapping-up warm for bonfire night or starting to prepare for Christmas, the next few months are a magical time to be living in the... more
11th October 2022
"Thanks to an unprepared mini budget, and one that was not supported by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), shock waves have reverberated through the property market.
Interest rates have risen sharply, quickly catching out buyers and sellers. Unsurprisingly, confidence has been knocked.
Our feeling is that interest rates were on the rise and would have reached the 6% levels in the spring in any event, but the mismanagement of the economy by the Government has been the catalyst.
We have seen prices make a 5% downward adjustment over the last two weeks, but with buyers remaining committed to buying a house in the Cotswolds.
... more
6th October 2022
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into force on 1 October 2022.
From that date, all residential landlords must:
1. Ensure at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation. This has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector since 2015.
2. Ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (previously this requirement was only for solid fuel burning appliances).
3. Ensure smoke... more
4th October 2022
Sue Blacker, an established Fine Art dealer, is holding an Autumn retrospective in her Gallery at Fox House, Holwell with an Evening Preview Reception on Thursday 20th October from 5pm-8pm.
The Exhibition comprises work of painters, draughtsmen, printer makers, as well as sculptors and ceramicists, in addition to some specialist books.
The majority of works are by artists working in the late 20th century.
Ralston Gudgeon, Cock pheasant
Gouache on paper, signed
The Gallery generally focusses on pastoral themes, with English sporting paintings and prints, as well as contemporary ceramics.
Gerald Cox
The Old Mill, Bibury
... more
23rd September 2022
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced today a bold range of measures, which the Government believes will stimulate economic growth in the UK. It will need some luck and the ongoing rise in interest and mortgage rates will be part of the dynamic.
The most relevant to the residential property market is the rise in the threshold at which Stamp Duty Land Tax becomes payable. As a result of the Chancellor’s statement this morning, SDLT now becomes payable on the purchase of the principal home at £250,000 and for first time buyers this threshold is now raised to £425,000.
The SDLT thresholds in respect of second homes remain unaffected by the government’s announcement today.
This change in the SDLT thresholds, is just one of... more
20th September 2022
Beaudesert Park is an independent weekly, flexi-boarding and day school for boys and girls aged three to thirteen, nestled high in the beautiful Cotswold countryside.
The school commands magnificent views over the surrounding country, and sits adjacent to Minchinhampton Common, a National Trust protected area, which is home to free-roaming cows and ponies in the summer months.
At it’s heart, Beaudesert is a school that exudes warmth and welcome. It is, and always has been, a caring school. Staff at Beaudesert know what a privilege it is to be entrusted with guiding children through the joy of the prep school years, years during which children grow... more
9th September 2022
We are all immensely saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Thank you Ma’am for your incredible lifelong service. We all at Butler Sherborn send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family.
8th September 2022
Three properties for sale in Gloucestershire and Warwickshire from £1.7million to £3million
Farms, land and equestrian properties in the Cotswolds have performed well over the past 18 months according to Butler Sherborn, and the demand is still strong, says Richard Greasby, head of Butler Sherborn Rural. “We have had an extremely busy year with a number of land sales across the region, with or without a decent farmhouse, enquiries remain high.
“Whether people are interested in racing, point-to-pointing, three-day eventing, hunting or just enjoy having a pony,... more
5th September 2022
Cotswold artist Lesley-Anne Doole opens new gallery Milton-under-Wychwood
Lesley-Anne Doole, a local Cotswold artist, is opening a new gallery space on Saturday 24th September, in the popular village of Milton-under-Wychwood at the Alfred Groves Yard.
Lesley- Anne’s own work is varied, and spans most of the conventional painting disciplines with a passion for oils and pastels. The subjects of her paintings vary from sea and landscapes depicting her travels, to wildlife, then closer to home capturing the familiar rolling hills of the Cotswolds.
... more
30th August 2022
Coln St Aldwyns is a picturesque Cotswold village with cottages dating back to the 17th century giving the village a rich history.
It has a strong sense of community with a pub, cricket club and Norman church.
In addition, it is also home to a resident run shop, which contains a café, shop and post office open 7 days a week. There has been a village store and bakery on the site since 1875, so the community has always benefitted from this building giving the village a feeling of fellowship. Surrounding the village are beautiful views of untouched parkland, woods and water meadows with plenty of walking routes... more
22nd August 2022
We are all experiencing swift and significant rises in the cost of fuel, and the consequent rise in our utility and housekeeping bills. Inflation is now running at 10%, and predicted to rise further before the end of the year. Lasting peace in the Ukraine would dramatically change this situation, but it does not appear a realistic possibility in the immediate future.
In addition, after a summer of extreme temperatures many farmers and businesses are struggling with drought. With the prospect of hose pipe bans across the country, together with the cost of living crisis, it is a good time to look at what simple, basic steps, we can all take to reduce the impact of climate change in our own homes and gardens, and at the same time attempt to save money on our bills.
The elephant in the room is of course over population, which coupled with mankind’s... more
12th August 2022
The Winter Wheat harvest has begun up to a month earlier for some growers and despite the warm, dry temperatures in those areas, yields and specific weight are doing well.
Indeed some farms expect to have completely finished harvest by the middle of August.
The country experienced two weeks of warm, dry, sunny weather with temperatures consistently above 25C and then a heatwave which peaked at 40.5C. Where fields would usually gradually ripen, this weather suddenly burnt crops off and meant the UK harvest has begun a good two weeks earlier than usual. Although this isn’t normal, harvesting in July is not unheard of, as 2018 was a similar year.
... more
5th August 2022
From £2.25million buys you a superb property for all the family.
‘Setting off from home’, ‘on my way home’, ‘home for the holidays’, ‘Christmas at home’, even ‘getting married at home’ - whatever age and stage of life, home is where the heart is, and there is nothing more reassuring for all the family than that. No matter what life throws at them, there is always home.
“We know property is a sound investment, none more so than over the long term, and what better than a property that stays in the same family for a generation or more,” says Sam... more
28th July 2022
The Cotswolds offers a plethora of festivals throughout the summer, and especially during the height of the summer holidays.
For the more high brow audiences, the Cheltenham Music Festival has an eclectic mix of classical and jazz music in mid July. The Longborough Opera Festival concludes its season 28th July -2nd August with the Emerging Artists programme double bill. This is comprised of Freya Waley Cohen’s ‘Spell Book’, a dramatic song cycle inspired by the composers’s encounter with Rebecca Tamas’ collection of poems, Witch, and Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina.
... more
25th July 2022
Often when we visit the homes of our clients, we see the Cotswold paintings of Rupert Aker hanging on the wall. Indeed, some of our team here at Butler Sherborn have also collected his work.
We therefore thought it would be interesting to have a chat with Rupert about his work here in the Cotswolds.
Rupert is based in Painswick on the Cotswold escarpment, where he has a studio gallery in the old public toilets - aptly named ‘The Loovre’. From this base, he ranges widely over the Cotswolds to find suitable locations to paint. He tends to avoid the touristy chocolate-box locations in favour of the more hidden treasures that only the locals know. Exploring the hills and... more
19th July 2022
Prices from £775,000 to £2.25million
Comments Sam Butler of Butler Sherborn: “Despite the war in Ukraine, the increase in inflation and the cost-of-living crisis which is impacting on so many people, the Cotswold residential property market continues to perform well. There is no doubt that the pandemic has increased people’s desire to live out-of-town, whether permanently or by having a second home or bolt hole. Working from home is much more popular, while there is also a trend for families wanting to live closer together,... more
15th July 2022
For the rural community in the Cotswolds, Moreton Show is the highlight of the year.
Run by a traditional Agricultural Society, the Show promotes all the best local produce, crops and livestock together with agricultural skills and modern farming practices. It offers a wonderful opportunity for a terrific family day out, with a showground packed with activities from falconry and working dog demonstrations, to parades of the best cattle, sheep and pigs, show jumping and stunt bikes, to stonewalling and stands full of ‘big boys toys’.
Butler Sherborn looks... more
15th July 2022
There is a great deal to do when someone close to you dies. In addition to both shock and grief, there are certain formalities which are required by law, all of which can be overwhelming.
Forearmed, is forewarned, and familiarity with the process prior to a death is often both reassuring and helpful.
To briefly summarise, probate is the judicial process of authenticating a last Will and Testament, if the deceased made one. It includes locating and determining the value of the deceased's assets, paying final bills and taxes, and distributing the remainder of the estate to the rightful beneficiaries.
Where do we as Valuers come in?
If property was owned by... more
