Latest news with #familyHome
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Converted Shooters Hill water tower with 360° views on sale for £1.5million
A former Victorian water tower on Shooters Hill, now converted into a nine-storey family home, is on the market with a guide price of £1,500,000. Located on Edith Cavell Way in SE18, the property is being marketed by Tanya Baker & Co and features five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two reception rooms. The estate agent describes the property as "a truly remarkable family home" and highlights the "360° panoramic views from the top floor observation deck". Shooters Hill landmark offers 360° views and industrial charm in SE18 (Image: Tanya Baker & Co/ Zoopla) Originally built in the 1890s to serve the nearby Brook Fever Hospital, the water tower stands at around 40 metres, or approximately 130 feet. According to the estate agent, the building has been "painstakingly transformed into an extraordinary residence" while preserving its original Victorian charm. The brickwork has been cleaned and damaged terracotta mouldings have been rebuilt. £1.5m Shooters Hill home blends Victorian structure with modern design (Image: Tanya Baker & Co/ Zoopla) Arrow-slit windows remain a feature, and a hydraulic lift provides access to all floors, including the observation deck at the top. The estate agent says the tower was once topped with a lead-lined cast-iron tank, but this has been replaced by a glass viewing deck. The deck features a glass-walled sitting room and a wraparound balcony, which the agent says offers "breathtaking 360-degree views of London". Converted water tower features glass pavilion, lift, and wraparound balcony (Image: Tanya Baker & Co/ Zoopla) The property's layout includes a room on each of the tower's seven floors, allowing for flexible use. The current arrangement, as described by the estate agent, places bedrooms on the third, fourth, and sixth floors, with a bathroom on the fifth, a kitchen on the seventh, and a boiler room on the eighth. The top floor is dedicated to the observation deck. Glass bridge links light-filled pavilion to quirky nine-floor tower (Image: Tanya Baker & Co/ Zoopla) The agent notes that the room-stacking design is "reminiscent of the tower's industrial past" and adds to the "quirky and unique character" of the home. At the base of the tower is a two-storey pavilion constructed from glass and steel. The pavilion's ground floor has an open-plan layout, with a kitchen and a living/dining space that is described as "light-filled". Upstairs, there are two double bedrooms—one with a four-piece ensuite bathroom—a separate shower room, and a utility room. Converted tower home features five bedrooms across multiple levels (Image: Tanya Baker & Co/ Zoopla) A covered bridge connects the pavilion to the main tower, creating what the estate agent calls a "remarkable transition between the old and the new". Gated parking is available at the rear of the property, leading onto landscaped gardens that wrap around the building. The estate agent says the home "looks out over Woolwich Common and as a result, feels almost rural", despite its urban location. Transport links are described by the agent as "very well connected", with the DLR from Woolwich Arsenal providing access to Canary Wharf and Bank. The new Elizabeth Line from Woolwich offers routes to Liverpool Street, Paddington, and Bond Street. The area's position between Greenwich, Woolwich, and Blackheath means there are independent shops and various places to eat nearby. The property has attracted media attention and, according to the estate agent, has been featured in TV shows and publications such as The Architects Journal, Building Design, The Evening Standard, Time Out, and The Times. The estate agent describes the home as "a left-field choice" and suggests that a "head for heights" is needed to enjoy the observation deck. The property is offered as a freehold, with an EPC rating of D. Interested parties are invited to arrange a private viewing through Tanya Baker & Co.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
My wife insists on showing potential buyers around our house - should we just let the estate agent do it?
My wife and I have been trying to sell our family home for more than six months. We're downsizing as my mobility isn't very good any more. Our children grew up in the house and it means a lot to us. We've had multiple viewings, but no offers. My wife insists on helping show around prospective buyers and providing them with in-depth details of the history of the house, family goings on in the place over the years and even highlights renovation work or improvements that need doing. Do you think buyers are being put off by my wife attending viewings? Is it just best to leave viewings to the estate agent and potential buyer? Would this increase our chance of getting a good price for the house and selling it quicker? Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: Your wife sounds like a great character and that's to be applauded. It's no surprise if you've lived in the home for decades that you've all got a deep emotional connection to the property - and as such, you care about who owns it next. However, if you are both serious about downsizing, sentimentality needs to be removed from the equation. Your objective is to sell your house for the best price possible as quickly as possible. The viewing period is crucial and needs to be conducted correctly. Putting it bluntly, your wife's interventions, while well-meaning, may be putting buyers off, particularly when she's talking about renovation works that needs doing. Buyers will be totting up how much they will need to spend on a property on top of the house price. During viewings, prospective buyers need the space and time to be able to view themselves in your house. They need to be able to imagine themselves living there. I've asked two property experts for their take on your question. Liam Gretton, owner of Liam Gretton Bespoke Estate Agent, on Wirral Peninsula, says: Viewings are one of the most crucial stages of a sale and you need to be strategic about them. How prospective buyers are handled can make or break the experience and, in some cases, determine whether they make an offer or not. It may seem like having the owner present is helpful, however in almost every case, the best person to carry out the viewing is your estate agent, ideally a personal agent who knows you, has read up and learnt about the property and understands your sale. Believe it or not, most first viewings are booked on emotion. A buyer has seen your photos or video tour and started imagining themselves in the space. At this stage, it's about them making an emotional connection to your home. If your wife is walking them through her memories and family milestones, she could be unintentionally breaking this connection. Second viewings are often driven by logic. That's when buyers are considering whether the property would really work for them and delving into the practicalities. This is the stage where, if needed, the owner's insight can add value, answering specific questions about the boiler, the garden drainage, or the neighbour's dog. However, this is only applicable if the buyer is already emotionally committed to the idea of living there. A big mistake I see all the time is sellers getting their hopes up because a buyer was lovely to their face, only for that buyer to disappear without feedback. Why? Because buyers don't want to offend. If you're present, they won't give honest feedback, they won't speak freely and they often won't stay long enough to form a real impression. Some estate agents will say it's fine for sellers to show buyers around and that 'no one knows the home like you do.' However, the truth is it feels more of a cost saving exercise and I see it as lazy standards. Viewings aren't about the property, but about the buyer and their lifestyle, future and vision. It is always sensible to have your estate agent show prospective buyers around. Buyers feel more comfortable and will be more honest. If it's not for them, you want to know quick so you're able to move on. It's also a good idea to block the bulk of the viewings together twice a week. As buyer one is leaving, they are seeing buyer two. This creates an anticipation that the property is going to sell fast and builds more interest. Amy Reynolds, head of sales at Richmond estate agency Antony Roberts, says: Most estate agents will agree that it is far better to let prospective buyers view your home without the owners present. Buyers need the space – both physically and mentally – to imagine themselves living there. That's very hard to do when the current owners are walking them through a lifetime of memories, even if those memories are heartwarming. While your home's history is important to you, the harsh reality is that buyers are thinking about their future, not your past. If your wife wants to share the story of the house, she could absolutely write a brief letter for your estate agent to hand to buyers after the viewing. That way, the emotional connection is shared – but it doesn't overwhelm the practical process of selling. It's also the estate agent's job to tailor the viewing to the individual, they'll understand what's important to each buyer and can highlight features accordingly. They are trained to guide people round, pick up on reactions, answer concerns, and sell the lifestyle your home offers, not just the bricks and mortar. Buyers often want to discuss changes they'd make – reconfiguring rooms, knocking through walls, changing the kitchen – and they're unlikely to speak openly if they fear offending the owner. They may also hold back criticism or questions, which can prevent them from fully engaging with the property. Instead of being present, the best way to help sell your home is to focus on presentation: declutter, refresh paintwork and keep the house clean. If you are willing to invest in the property, ask the agent what cosmetic changes could be made to help improve the outcome of the viewings. A freshly decorated hallway, with coat hooks and space for shoes is always more inviting than walking into a hallway and having to step over and around everything to get into the first room. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
