Home owners who are on the move have given the thumbs up to traditional estate agents.

According to vendors surveyed by estate agent comparison site “GetAgent” 84 per cent of house sellers said they used a traditional estate agent, with 69 per cent stating that the fee they paid represented good value for money.

The research has been welcomed by head of sales at Balfours, Alistair Hilton, who says: “Estate agency has seen some big changes over the past decade with the presence of online agents. However it would seem the traditional estate agent, where you have personal face to face contact remains hugely important when selling the most valuable asset most people own.”

The survey asked, when selling, to rate the service level provided out of ten, the average score was seven. However Alistair sets the bar high:  “At Balfours we want our clients to be 100% satisfied – and for that we go the extra mile; as a result 98% of homes marketed by us sell at or above the asking price.  Our clients tell us the two most important factors for them are the price and the speed of sale and one is partially, but not wholly, linked to the other.

According to GetAgent, while the low fixed fee of online agents seemed like the future of house selling, a number of high profile company collapses along with a consistent string of customer service failures has seen the market share fail to live up to expectations.

“Our clients tell us that they value the experience, advice and personal service of a traditional estate agent and that the challenges of the current market serve to endorse a good estate agent remains good value,” he adds.

A contemporary property refurbished by the present owners to exacting standards and located in a stunning parkland setting is on the market with Balfours.

Futuristic Property

Four bedroom Maes Y Coed is found at Llanerchydol, a mile from Welshpool. It sits in an elevated picture postcard setting within the grounds of Llanerchydol Hall. Stainless steel feature entry gates set the scene for this futuristic property. There is ample parking plus a double attached garage with electric automatic doors.

Centre stage in the entrance hall and bathed in light is a steel and glass staircase, the entrance door is flanked either side by cloakroom and wc. Complementing the staircase design, frameless glass doors are to be found throughout the property, contributing to the bright, fresh look throughout.

The living room is found beyond double doors where in a bay window are inset with French doors which, together with a second pair, open to the designer terrace and extensive lawned garden.

Another set of double doors link to the kitchen diner where glazing to three aspects offers a bright room, where an island unit separates the two areas. Tempered glass worktops and gloss white units integrate top drawer appliances.

The galleried first floor offers an upper lounge area, the master room with en-suite, two additional double bedrooms - all having fitted wardrobes, plus bathroom and storage. The fourth bedroom is currently used as a study.

Charlie Giffard, Balfours Associate, Country House Sales, reflects: “This property is quite unique combining such stunning surrounds, including open views to Powis Castle, with such a fresh contemporary feel. Maes Y Coed is marketed with a guide price of £545,000, call Balfours on 01743 353511.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.

A charming walled courtyard creates a statement entrance to the four bed Coach House and its one bed annex, found on the outskirts of Ryton, six miles south of Shrewsbury and seven to Church Stretton.

Clever Mix Of Classic And Contemporary

The meticulous presentation of the gravel yard provides ample parking, with double garages joining the main house. Step inside and renovation by the current owner provides a clever mix of classic and contemporary, bonding ancient beamed ceilings with semi-open plan living across hardwood floors. Off the entrance hall the kitchen is fresh and white, with no holding back on light, both natural and over the island breakfast bar.

To the opposite side of the hall is the extensive living quarters, extending 7.5 metres by more than nine metres in a large “L” shape, further increased by the summer room, accessed by double doors from two aspects of the main room. Balfours Head of Sales, Alistair Hilton comments:  “This is a stunning open plan space, cleverly anchored with the retention of period features including an inglenook fireplace.”

Beautiful views over the garden are to be enjoyed from the master bedroom with en-suite and fitted wardrobes. There are a further three bedrooms, two on the first floor and the fourth on the second floor, these are convenient to the family bathroom.

The annex is equally well presented with a good sized kitchen, living room and first floor en-suite bedroom. Paved terraces to the front and rear ensure there is opportunity to sit out, while gardens are predominantly laid to lawn. The Coach House is marketed with a guide price of £725,000, call Balfours on 01743 353511.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.

One of Shropshire’s rare grade I listed houses has been launched to the market by Balfours.

The Wardens House, Weald Moor Park, comes with exquisite Georgian period features and is finished to exacting standards. The four bedroom home sits in its own large landscaped gardens with views to rolling countryside.

Perfectly Balanced 

Agent This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., of Balfours, comments: “The external architecture is perfectly balanced and pleasing to the eye, sitting seamlessly within its grounds. Step inside and the internal finish more than achieves the grade I credentials.”

A generous reception hall sits as a central avenue to the ground floor with a stunning oak staircase set back and funnelling natural light to play on the panelling and extravagantly deep coving of the hall. Two formal reception rooms are of mirror image proportions either side of the hall, each with glazing to two aspects and a period fireplace centre stage to the third aspect.

The kitchen and conservatory are successfully designed to create a classic open plan living space, with French doors to two aspects. Meanwhile the sunroom sits across the way and is currently used as a study. To the rear of the house a ground floor bedroom comes with an en-suite bathroom and walk in wardrobe, French doors to the garden.

Three further bedrooms are on the first floor, the master bedroom with en-suite facilities while two additional double bedrooms enjoy the family bathroom. A cloakroom and well-proportioned utility complete the internal accommodation.

The gardens incorporate a large terrace, with the majority of the garden laid to lawn providing magnificent easily managed open spaces and views. Charlie adds: “With Wellington just four miles, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham, all easily commutable, the latter being just 37 miles, The Wardens House offers a house with a huge presence and proximity. Furthermore there is an unrivalled choice of private and state schooling within the locality.”

The Wardens House is marketed with a guide price of £850,000. Call Balfours on 01743 353511.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.

The popular rural hamlet of Plealey is an idyllic location to put down roots just six miles from Shrewsbury and close to Pontesbury with an array of popular shops, primary and secondary schools and many other services.

Peers Meadow is an impressive five bedroom modern house built with materials sympathetic to its surroundings by Shropshire Homes. The approach is via a paved driveway, flanked by lawn. This leads to a handsome sandstone and oak storm porch, sandstone and mellow brick beckon this house into its surroundings.

A large entrance hall provides access to each of three reception rooms currently the dining room, study and a well-proportioned sitting room with inglenook woodburner and French doors. The kitchen, also found off the hall is adjacent to the dining room with a utility and cloakroom making up the ground floor. The master room is en-suite, with a further three double rooms and a single/study served by the family bathroom.

Perfect for rainy days or the shopping, the double garage links directly to the kitchen. The large garden wraps around the whole of the property with a terrace outside the French doors, otherwise an open canvas of lawn perfect for children to play and or more intricate garden landscaping.

A Rare Opportunity

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. of Balfours Estate Agents Ludlow comments: “Opportunities to settle in Plealey are rare, it is an exceptionally convenient hamlet with easy access to the main road networks, yet absolutely in the heart of the country. Add into the mix the convenience of both Pontesbury and Shrewsbury and it is hardly surprising Plealey is so popular. Peers Meadow is marketed with a guide price of £550,000. Call Balfours on 01743 353511.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.

A rare opportunity to self-build in the conservation area of Rangemore, near Burton on Trent has been launched to the market by Balfours.

Exceptional Design

The location, close to the beautiful historic village of Rangemore, comes with full planning permission for a detached five bedroom dwelling – with exceptional design and semi-open plan living.

Balfours, head of sales, Alistair Hilton comments: “Planning permission for an executive style home in the Rangemore area offers a great prospect to build and furnish to individual specification. The plot comes with planning for a double garage and garden in this much sought after area.”

He continues: “The design is delightful with porch and double doors into a good sized hallway, with double doors directly opposite to the dining room and French doors out to the garden. The dining room sits to the one end of the generous open plan kitchen, with a family area between – which opens to the garden via bifold doors.

The drawing room features glazing to three aspects, with feature windows to either side of the fireplace, a bay to the end and bifold to the garden. The first floor plans comprise a master bedroom suite with Juliet balcony, two guest rooms with en-suites and two additional bedrooms served by the family bathroom.”

The plot is marketed by Balfours with a guide price of £300,000, for more information call 01743 353511.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.