www.charnockbates.co.uk Charnock Bates Contents Chartered Surveyors STEWART CHARNOCK-BATES M.R.I.C.S Welcome to our Spring Edition 2010 of our property based magazine. 3 Introduction by Stewart Charnock-Bates MRICS Originally we named our magazine “a different view” on the basis that we would always try and show interesting photograph’s of Calderdale together 4 with a brief insight into our thoughts on what is presently happening in The Charnock Bates Team Calderdale from the perspective of property and location. 5 On this occasion the magazine has provided us with an opportunity to Breaking News highlight the recent success of a local man Robert Harrison. In this regard he has provided us with a real “different View” for the front of our magazine 8-15 to which we thank him – for more on this story see page..... Property Listings Thankfully it would now appear that the market has stabilised and we all 16-17 have become accustomed to the current market conditions and as a result Budget Thoughts from Bentley Brear Ltd of this our magazine confirms that many new instructions are now coming to the market which offers something for everybody. 18-21 Property Listings This improvement in the market place I am sure will be assisted by the direct London – Halifax rail link to which we have to thank Grand Central. 24 This is planned for the end of May this year which will also link our two Julie Heads for Everest to Support our Heroes offices together. This will enable our area to be so much more accessible and as a result of which a target area for commercial growth for the future. 25 See my main article in the centre of the magazine from pages 34-37 for The Bird Flew North more on this story. 26-31 Technology never stands still and if you are up to date today it is quite likely Property Listings that you are out of date tomorrow! Hence we are continually investing in improving our website and the service that we provide to you our clients. 32-33 In this regard we now offer a floor plan and aerial photography service. The Turnpike Inn at Rishworth Moor Finally, many thanks to the number of local businesses for their support 35-37 in compiling this magazine and the written contributions which all make A Different View interesting reading. 42-47 I very much hope that you enjoy our magazine and should you wish to Property Listings be included within our next edition , which is distributed throughout Calderdale, then please do not hesitate to contact Kerry Pearce on 01422 49 380100. Home Information Pack Update Also do not forget that this issue is also available as an “E book” on our 50-63 website www.charnockbates.co.uk. Property Listings 3 Charnock Bates Chartered Surveyors Back from the left: Kerry Pearce, Leanne Elliott, Amanda Hopkinson, Stewart Charnock-Bates and Beverly Charnock-Bates. Front from the left: Lydia Baldwin, Rachel Alston-Smith, Carolyn Harris and Sarah Peters. s within any team or business the ability to move forward and succeed Whilst stability in the work force is always to be preferred, the one great is not only very much dependent on stability within that team but thing that job changes and movements allow for in a business is to provide Aalso the willingness of individual’s to diversify. opportunities for others. Therefore, as a result of Rachel joining us during the If any business continues to provide the same service day in, day out then week a space arose in the New Year at weekends. eventually that business will fall by the wayside as competitors prove to be It is here that I would like to welcome another Rachel, which is all very more up-to-date and therefore by definition more on the ball! confusing for us, Rachel Spencer. Rachel is presently studying at University Whilst at Charnock Bates we have never forgotten the old fashioned but she has welcomed the opportunity to join us as she possesses a passion core values of providing a first class professional service we have also to learn about property. She has come to the right place and has made a acknowledged the need to ensure that we are fully up-to-date with all bright start to what we hope will be an interesting career for her. technological advances relative to our business. With regards to other members of staff their roles remain similar to before In this regard we have carefully listened to our client’s as to the service that with Leanne’s time now predominantly being spent undertaking Valuations we provide and how you would like this service to be improved. As a result and the management of our website. of the comments we have decided to make some slight improvements both Leanne also controls a new service that we now provide which is to ensure to our service and website which at the same time impacts upon everybody’s aerial photographs are provided for properties where considered to be job description. appropriate. It is here that the staff at Charnock Bates have been flexible and diversified Kerry, Sarah and Amanda are very much involved in sales negotiation, into area’s which are both interesting and challenging. In many ways I feel brochure production and accompanied viewings. that they have moved forward and remained loyal to Charnock Bates, not In addition to the above Kerry arranges the Charnock Bates property only because I have been kind and understanding to them ( I hope), but advertisements on a weekly basis and assists myself in the compiling of this mainly due to every day being different and providing them with many magazine. opportunities . Whatever the reason there loyalty is very much appreciated No office would be complete without somebody providing sound as continuity within a business is very important not just for the work place administration support to all other members of staff and this is where we look but more importantly for clients. People prefer to deal with people that they to Lydia. She controls the running of the office including accounts, office are familiar with and can relate to and in this regard the majority of all management and providing Home Information Packs for clients. Charnock Bates have been with me for over 7 years. The weekends are very important within this business and therefore an Since I last wrote this article the one major change in staffing which will experienced member of staff is available at all times. Whilst I am always facilitate many of these improvements is in respect of Rachel Alston-Smith. contactable Carolyn undertakes viewings and staff’s open weekends. Rachel joined us initially with a view to strengthening our team to staff Therefore, as you can see from the above we provide a full professional the office and undertake viewings at the weekend. Since then as a result of service at all times from staff who are all resident in Calderdale. Rachel familiarising herself with the role she realised that the position was Experience of living within a community is very important and as such both compelling and interesting. Thankfully I am pleased to report that she we will always endeavour to answer any questions with regards to local has joined us in a more full time capacity as from the turn of the year. facilities / amenities. Rachel’s addition to our team has now enabled us to provide a full floor plan Remember, we are to help! service to our client’s. Her experience also provides invaluable support to our Valuation Department. Stewart Charnock-Bates MRICS 4 t gives us great pleasure to highlight the recent success of a local man in this magazine and Ias such we are grateful to Robert Harrison of Highburton, West Yorkshire for providing us with the main image for the front of our magazine. Robert, who you may have recently seen either in the newspapers or on the television, has recently risen to fame as a result of an ingenious invention which allows images of the earth to be captured by a helium balloon from more than twenty miles above sea level. This amazing device as pictured right is basically a camera attached to a balloon with a parachute and a tracking device at a cost at around £500.The photograph on the front of the magazine shows The Wash, United Kingdom below cloud level, whilst the photograph pictured to the right quite clearly shows the English Channel. Visit Robert’s website www. robertharrison.org for more information. The spring of any year is synonymous with many new instructions coming to the market place and many new buyers arriving to the market seeking their dream home irrespective of the state of the economy. Within this magazine we have many recent instructions available to cater for all tastes at a variety of prices within the whole of West Yorkshire. The Grove at Stainland Dean at an asking price of £1.1m pictured below which has recently been modernised to a very high standard and offers a substantial detached period house within large grounds. Within the Calder Valley there are two properties available which have not been available for some considerable period of time, Half Acre Farm in Cragg Vale pictured to the right at an asking price of £695,000 and Wood Farm in Hebden Bridge at a guide price of £650,000. Both of these properties provide an individual with an opportunity to create a 21st Century home within a rural and private location.