I sold my home of over thirty years in 2005 and three years later it is on the market for an asking price just under a third more than was received for its sale. I had seen major work being undertaken to the outside, new windows and new pebble dash rendering, but what else had been done to justify such an increase in price given the general decline in property price during the past year? What I was to discover as the progressed was amazing.
I discovered the sale by accident.
A frenzy has developed among the sports media nationally and throughout Tyneside over the future of Newcastle United as the full extent of the future of a city centre flagship club hangs in the balance. I was becoming caught up in this situation as further news unfolded during the morning so I decided to attend to practical things such as vacuuming and washing the laminated floors and then after a salad lunch and a banana went out to see if my older pair of prescription sun glasses could be repaired and to seek new headphones to use with mobile phone when activated as radio. I drove along the coast deciding to park at Morrison, the supermarket, and then take the bus into the city centre. This involved a short walk from the supermarket car park to the sea front bus stop. As I made my way I noted there was a cold wind and then a bus go past in the direction I wanted to take, so changed mind, deciding continue the journey into the city by car. Then just as I moved onto the coast road across the roundabout, I saw another bus approaching and that there was a car park space close to the bus stop. Another change of mind so I parked car and ran back to the stop and on to the bus without checking the route. On reaching the roundabout by the Hotel it turned onto the road leading to my former home but my attention was first drawn to the Donna Clare residential unit which was up for sale. Donna Clare is the name of young girl who died and a local charity was created to establish a holiday/ carer relief centre for young disabled persons. The property had been a private two storey semi detached residence but a single storey three or four bedroom annex had been built in the side garden. Later on the internet I found that the property was on the market for £350000 and speculated why. The charity shop in Fullwell High Street, just up the hill from my former home was still functioning, as I passed by.
I was also interested that the next door property which was owned by a friend of the person who purchased my home was also up for sale and looked empty and unloved when I went by later. As we turned the corner around the small public grassland area in front of my former home I noted a for sale sign but not the name of the Estate agents. I wondered why is was on the market and the asking price.
I was so intent on texting this information that I did not notice that instead of the bus turning left at the Fullwell Traffic lights by the Blue Bell public house, it continued on the same road, passing the local Sainsbury and across the traffic lights at the junction with the Newcastle Road, the Fullwell Mill, and the Grange Restaurant pub, offering a steak with strawberries for £5.99 or two main course meals for £6.50 and onward towards the North West of Sunderland. I jumped off at the first stop and had to wait ten minutes before a bus came along going back to where I had come. I could have got off at a couple of different stops for other buses into the city centre, but decided to continue back to the car, noting the name of the estate agents and then going to find out the asking price. This plan failed because the property was not advertised in the window of the agents, but made another discovery as the adjacent family run hotel comprising ten bedrooms for hire, which included an ensuite four bed room annex built into its garden. This was on offer for £650000 which gave me some idea of the likely price of my former home, or so I thought.
I then treated myself to the nearest city centre car park to the opticians which had supplied the prescription sun glasses, possibly eight to ten years ago. As the firm had supplied the glasses the missing screw to connect the side arm was replaced free involving only a five minute wait. I could not find the city centre office of the estate agents which I later learnt was in another part of the city away from the area where seven other firms are located. I decided against Blue tooth headphones realising that the mobile phone only had FM radio whereas I needed Five Live and Radio Four to listen to football and cricket commentaries when I was otherwise engaged. I did visit British Homes Stores where the inside had been destroyed by a bad fire which had taken nearly a year to repair. The interior had been impressively redesigned.
Arriving home I needed a snack of Anchovies on Toast with a cup of tea before searching for the Estate Agents on the Internet and particulars of my former home. The Donna Clare home and Lemonfield Hotel were found but not the former home. I had checked that the sale board was at the former home, and not the hotel which I presumed was continuing to function and not the adjacent hotel. It was then that I changed the search criteria without an upward price limit and found the property listed with ten large photographs and understood the extent of the repair, renovations and developments. The property had been transformed into a luxury residence with a range of expensive changes.
The large entrance lobby had always been a feature with the inner door to the porch having a stained glass door which was in need of repair and with stained large stained glass windows by the stairway and retention of the original wood and plaster screen between the room size vestibule and passage way to the kitchen. The new owners had added solid Merbau wood flooring to this part of the ground floor, extended into the new kitchen and dining area. This is where the first major alteration had taken place. Previously there were two rooms separated by an arched fireplace in which gas boilers replaced the traditional coal fired back boiler. The whole of the partitioning wall and fireplace has been removed to create one large space in which a remodelled luxury kitchen and dining area has been created complete with a side arch feature with Aga stove
There have been three developments to the front lounge room. A feature hadd been two floor to ceiling alcoves where I had book shelves. These had been removed with an arched effect at the ceiling and two additional double wall lights had been fitted. The photo did not show if the three pairs of double wall lights on the other two walls had been retained. The three ceiling chandeliers had been replaced by new antique looking sets. A period fireplace with mantle had been added with a black marble base. A similar approach had been adopted to the second lounge with its giant picture window, adding arches to the alcoves and a new fireplace with black marble base. The original central light feature has been retained an as with the, lounge I could see if the three pars of twin wall lights had been kept.
There was no photo of what had been an addition to the house behind the garage which included an old toilet and coal store, the latter I had converted to a tool store. From the written particulars looks as if the this area and been redesigned to create a rear lobby, utility room with plumbed washing machine and a cloakroom/wc.
There are four bedrooms and a combined bathroom toilet room on the first floor. There has been less change to the two large bedrooms removing the wall inserted electric fires but retaining the wall cupboards. I loved the addition of the chaise lounge and large flay screen TV. The bathroom fitments had been replaced with a clawfoot roll top bath with shower fitting over, in addition to the separate tiled shower cubicle and a glorious looking tiled floor, There are no photos of the other two bedrooms on this floor or the three listed second floor bedrooms and I assume action has been taken to removed the water tank and floor mounted heavy safe which was a feature of the 7th bedroom with its sky lighting.
A feature of the professionally designed rear garden was the six rockery beds within the sloping lawn at the end of which was an old weeping willow tree and several fruit tress in an area of paths and short walls. This has all been cleared to create one large easy care lawn. The large summer house and shed each ten feet by six, the latter which I assembled myself, looked from the photo as if they have been retained. The large driveway area to the front has been resurfaced with space for four vehicles in front of the double garage while the front lawn has also been extend into an easy care area although part of the surrounding beds have been retained My overall conclusion is that as much money if not more had been spent on the renovations and improvements than the addition to the asking price, While the sea view location and quarter acre site has considerable merit I am not sure if I had half million to spend on a new property I would chose a semi detached house against a detached property, although given the market in other areas the property provides luxury living for a large family or luxury spacious living for a small one.
The two properties, my former home and the adjacent hotel would be ideal for my work project as the concept becomes fully realised. Alas it would take a good lottery before other buyers are found. I suspect it will be easier to sell Newcastle Football Club despite its debts and asking price of at least £250 million.
The first excitement of the morning was the alleged news in one newspaper that Alan Shearer had been sacked from his position club ambassador. However the club issued a statement to say his contract for this position had finished at the end of last season. It is odd that there was no publicity about this before now which suggests more had been going on behind the scenes fro sometime.
This appeared to be confirmed when it was revealed that Ashley and his assistant had flown to Dubai to discuss the selling of the club there. However spokespersons for the Dubai interests issued a statement to say they were no lounge in negotiations with Liverpool or interested in buy into the Premiership. The next development was the statement by a leading Arab journalist that the interest had been in both Newcastle and Man City and that a two deal buy in had been considered at one point, with interest from two of the Arab Sheikdoms, but Ashley had shown no interest and given the response to the buying in of Man City Newcastle had missed out. However several financial advisers listed other possible interest including the Indian Consortium and a Chinese one with interest in developing the surrounding land which suggests that the club had wider assets than just the ground.
The obvious point was made that it will be difficult to attract let alone appoint a manager until the sale issued is resolved. Later there was one report saying that the Club Chairman of the Board and the Director of Football would depart when this happened. All the chat show networks, BBC radio five and Talk Sport, as well as newspapers chat rooms and even the regional TV were raising questions about development. There was sympathy for the position of Mr Ashley and questions asked about a situation where customers had forced the situation, what a shocking development in a democracy, people should exercise their right to protest and withdraw support. In my view the fans have the right to sue the club for selling goods under false pretences viz the Keegan and Shearer brands or seeking their money back. There is going to be no quick fix and it all could get worse before its get better.
I discovered the sale by accident.
A frenzy has developed among the sports media nationally and throughout Tyneside over the future of Newcastle United as the full extent of the future of a city centre flagship club hangs in the balance. I was becoming caught up in this situation as further news unfolded during the morning so I decided to attend to practical things such as vacuuming and washing the laminated floors and then after a salad lunch and a banana went out to see if my older pair of prescription sun glasses could be repaired and to seek new headphones to use with mobile phone when activated as radio. I drove along the coast deciding to park at Morrison, the supermarket, and then take the bus into the city centre. This involved a short walk from the supermarket car park to the sea front bus stop. As I made my way I noted there was a cold wind and then a bus go past in the direction I wanted to take, so changed mind, deciding continue the journey into the city by car. Then just as I moved onto the coast road across the roundabout, I saw another bus approaching and that there was a car park space close to the bus stop. Another change of mind so I parked car and ran back to the stop and on to the bus without checking the route. On reaching the roundabout by the Hotel it turned onto the road leading to my former home but my attention was first drawn to the Donna Clare residential unit which was up for sale. Donna Clare is the name of young girl who died and a local charity was created to establish a holiday/ carer relief centre for young disabled persons. The property had been a private two storey semi detached residence but a single storey three or four bedroom annex had been built in the side garden. Later on the internet I found that the property was on the market for £350000 and speculated why. The charity shop in Fullwell High Street, just up the hill from my former home was still functioning, as I passed by.
I was also interested that the next door property which was owned by a friend of the person who purchased my home was also up for sale and looked empty and unloved when I went by later. As we turned the corner around the small public grassland area in front of my former home I noted a for sale sign but not the name of the Estate agents. I wondered why is was on the market and the asking price.
I was so intent on texting this information that I did not notice that instead of the bus turning left at the Fullwell Traffic lights by the Blue Bell public house, it continued on the same road, passing the local Sainsbury and across the traffic lights at the junction with the Newcastle Road, the Fullwell Mill, and the Grange Restaurant pub, offering a steak with strawberries for £5.99 or two main course meals for £6.50 and onward towards the North West of Sunderland. I jumped off at the first stop and had to wait ten minutes before a bus came along going back to where I had come. I could have got off at a couple of different stops for other buses into the city centre, but decided to continue back to the car, noting the name of the estate agents and then going to find out the asking price. This plan failed because the property was not advertised in the window of the agents, but made another discovery as the adjacent family run hotel comprising ten bedrooms for hire, which included an ensuite four bed room annex built into its garden. This was on offer for £650000 which gave me some idea of the likely price of my former home, or so I thought.
I then treated myself to the nearest city centre car park to the opticians which had supplied the prescription sun glasses, possibly eight to ten years ago. As the firm had supplied the glasses the missing screw to connect the side arm was replaced free involving only a five minute wait. I could not find the city centre office of the estate agents which I later learnt was in another part of the city away from the area where seven other firms are located. I decided against Blue tooth headphones realising that the mobile phone only had FM radio whereas I needed Five Live and Radio Four to listen to football and cricket commentaries when I was otherwise engaged. I did visit British Homes Stores where the inside had been destroyed by a bad fire which had taken nearly a year to repair. The interior had been impressively redesigned.
Arriving home I needed a snack of Anchovies on Toast with a cup of tea before searching for the Estate Agents on the Internet and particulars of my former home. The Donna Clare home and Lemonfield Hotel were found but not the former home. I had checked that the sale board was at the former home, and not the hotel which I presumed was continuing to function and not the adjacent hotel. It was then that I changed the search criteria without an upward price limit and found the property listed with ten large photographs and understood the extent of the repair, renovations and developments. The property had been transformed into a luxury residence with a range of expensive changes.
The large entrance lobby had always been a feature with the inner door to the porch having a stained glass door which was in need of repair and with stained large stained glass windows by the stairway and retention of the original wood and plaster screen between the room size vestibule and passage way to the kitchen. The new owners had added solid Merbau wood flooring to this part of the ground floor, extended into the new kitchen and dining area. This is where the first major alteration had taken place. Previously there were two rooms separated by an arched fireplace in which gas boilers replaced the traditional coal fired back boiler. The whole of the partitioning wall and fireplace has been removed to create one large space in which a remodelled luxury kitchen and dining area has been created complete with a side arch feature with Aga stove
There have been three developments to the front lounge room. A feature hadd been two floor to ceiling alcoves where I had book shelves. These had been removed with an arched effect at the ceiling and two additional double wall lights had been fitted. The photo did not show if the three pairs of double wall lights on the other two walls had been retained. The three ceiling chandeliers had been replaced by new antique looking sets. A period fireplace with mantle had been added with a black marble base. A similar approach had been adopted to the second lounge with its giant picture window, adding arches to the alcoves and a new fireplace with black marble base. The original central light feature has been retained an as with the, lounge I could see if the three pars of twin wall lights had been kept.
There was no photo of what had been an addition to the house behind the garage which included an old toilet and coal store, the latter I had converted to a tool store. From the written particulars looks as if the this area and been redesigned to create a rear lobby, utility room with plumbed washing machine and a cloakroom/wc.
There are four bedrooms and a combined bathroom toilet room on the first floor. There has been less change to the two large bedrooms removing the wall inserted electric fires but retaining the wall cupboards. I loved the addition of the chaise lounge and large flay screen TV. The bathroom fitments had been replaced with a clawfoot roll top bath with shower fitting over, in addition to the separate tiled shower cubicle and a glorious looking tiled floor, There are no photos of the other two bedrooms on this floor or the three listed second floor bedrooms and I assume action has been taken to removed the water tank and floor mounted heavy safe which was a feature of the 7th bedroom with its sky lighting.
A feature of the professionally designed rear garden was the six rockery beds within the sloping lawn at the end of which was an old weeping willow tree and several fruit tress in an area of paths and short walls. This has all been cleared to create one large easy care lawn. The large summer house and shed each ten feet by six, the latter which I assembled myself, looked from the photo as if they have been retained. The large driveway area to the front has been resurfaced with space for four vehicles in front of the double garage while the front lawn has also been extend into an easy care area although part of the surrounding beds have been retained My overall conclusion is that as much money if not more had been spent on the renovations and improvements than the addition to the asking price, While the sea view location and quarter acre site has considerable merit I am not sure if I had half million to spend on a new property I would chose a semi detached house against a detached property, although given the market in other areas the property provides luxury living for a large family or luxury spacious living for a small one.
The two properties, my former home and the adjacent hotel would be ideal for my work project as the concept becomes fully realised. Alas it would take a good lottery before other buyers are found. I suspect it will be easier to sell Newcastle Football Club despite its debts and asking price of at least £250 million.
The first excitement of the morning was the alleged news in one newspaper that Alan Shearer had been sacked from his position club ambassador. However the club issued a statement to say his contract for this position had finished at the end of last season. It is odd that there was no publicity about this before now which suggests more had been going on behind the scenes fro sometime.
This appeared to be confirmed when it was revealed that Ashley and his assistant had flown to Dubai to discuss the selling of the club there. However spokespersons for the Dubai interests issued a statement to say they were no lounge in negotiations with Liverpool or interested in buy into the Premiership. The next development was the statement by a leading Arab journalist that the interest had been in both Newcastle and Man City and that a two deal buy in had been considered at one point, with interest from two of the Arab Sheikdoms, but Ashley had shown no interest and given the response to the buying in of Man City Newcastle had missed out. However several financial advisers listed other possible interest including the Indian Consortium and a Chinese one with interest in developing the surrounding land which suggests that the club had wider assets than just the ground.
The obvious point was made that it will be difficult to attract let alone appoint a manager until the sale issued is resolved. Later there was one report saying that the Club Chairman of the Board and the Director of Football would depart when this happened. All the chat show networks, BBC radio five and Talk Sport, as well as newspapers chat rooms and even the regional TV were raising questions about development. There was sympathy for the position of Mr Ashley and questions asked about a situation where customers had forced the situation, what a shocking development in a democracy, people should exercise their right to protest and withdraw support. In my view the fans have the right to sue the club for selling goods under false pretences viz the Keegan and Shearer brands or seeking their money back. There is going to be no quick fix and it all could get worse before its get better.
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