Later on today I went out into the sticks to see a detached house built in the 1960s. It was on a modest development of houses and bungalows built, some would say in a Birchwood but the only trees I saw were anything but birches, though I might be wrong as I am not an Arboriculturist! Structurally the house was in reasonably good condition, although there was a roof I was not able to see; it was flat and it was too high up on the building for me to look at. There was, however and another flat roof to the rear, two in fact, and by dragging my ladders from one to another I could see the upper rear flat roof which held water, but was not leaking. I declined climbing up the roofslope to look down on the front flat roof, because the roof was steep and the tiles were wet because it was raining. The house was cold because the heating was off. The boiler was working but someone, no names, no pack drill, had sliced through the external drain off valve, so the system was empty of water. It is likely my Clients will wish to renew the bathroom fitments, quite possibly the kitchen and of course redecorate the whole house. They could, should they so wish, extend the front flat roofed dormer window across the house and so possibly create additional accommodation at first-floor level and open up and brighten the stairwell, but they still won't see any trees…   more »

I have just been to see an end of terraced house in a reasonably quiet road, that was built in the late 1920's. Getting to it was a somewhat circuitous, because of the one-way street system, but nevertheless once there, it was not difficult to park a car, which for a change was pleasant. So was the house; the present owners had been in occupation for the past five or so years, and during that time they have re-roofed it. They have replaced the windows, replaced bathroom and upgraded the kitchen, but my Clients will wish to remodel the kitchen in its entirety, but this should not prove problematic; it may be a bit expensive but not problematic. The house was in reasonably good decorative order, it boasts a garage and a wider than average garden. I hope that my Clients, who are moving from London will be happy; it must be quieter than London…   more »

I don't think you'd ever believe this but, if a road was called Woodbridge Road, it might be named after a wooden bridge, but hey, who knows? Anyway, that's where I’ve been today, not somewhere in Suffolk. I've been to see a mid-terrace private dwelling house built in the late Victorian period. Structurally the house was in a reasonably good condition, but the windows, practically all of them, need renovation. The house provided with vertical sliding box frame double hung sashes where many of the sash cords are broken, and where they're not broken the sashes are paint sealed or jammed. The house itself is scruffy and although I think it unlikely there is anything to be off-putting to my Clients, once vacant it going to see in need of a considerable amount of tender loving care, and today tender loving care means pounds shillings and pence and in this instance many pounds…   more »

I was not sure why my Client had decided to move into the sticks, but having had been there, I now know the reason why. My Clients have found a delightful rosy cottage some 20 or so miles south from Bristol. It had been occupied by the same vendor for the past 20 or so years and during that time it has been seriously renovated and improved. It is not Homes and Gardens, thank God, it is a traditional cottage where doors and windows are left open even the weather we had today; I rather like that. I also liked the roofs, Pan tiles, single Roman tiles, (my favourite - how sad can that be?), double Roman tiles, triple Roman tiles and slate, not Spanish or Argentinian, but Welsh slate. The cottage was all largely in good condition. There are however a couple of niggles where water is penetrating but this will not be difficult to repair. There is some evidence of rising and penetrating damp, but I see none of this as being particularly off-putting. Insulation of the roof is good and the windows in the main have been replaced, mostly with double glazed units. It is a pleasant cottage capable of further but not extravagant improvement. It also comes with a large garden some outhouses and a useful barn with the inevitable bats in it, but they're not in the main roof. I could probably end up buying this myself, but that would never be allowed because I'd never do any work, and that would annoy Mrs B…   more »

I should definitely not have been on any roofs today, but I was. I can't help - it if there's a roof there I'll clamber up to it, no matter what the weather. It is however not a good idea to hold onto an umbrella and although no doubt heavier than Mary Poppins, one could easily get blown off a roof that way. I always like looking at properties in the rain, particularly the roof spaces because then you can see if they are leaking and today one was and the other wasn't. Whatever, by the time I got down, it has to be said I was pleased I was down in one piece, but I did get a bit cold up there. The hall floor flat that I saw was just off Whiteladies Road and was largely good condition. It was a property that was reasonably well maintained and I think my Client will be happy with his purchase. It is certainly a convenient location close to the Clifton Down Shopping Centre, to bus services and to the general hubbub of Whiteladies Road which of course is always more pleasant when the sun is shining…   more »

Later today I was in Clifton looking at a one-bedroom flat where five people live. It was, nevertheless in a very pleasant early Victorian rank of terraced houses which were converted a number of years ago. It is run by the in-house Management Company, and it shows. Although no doubt a Listed Building, the roof is covered with concrete interlocking tiles which go a bit against the grain but nevertheless they were in good condition. However, the front and rear parapet gutters and the centre valley gutter are each lined with lead that is not in the best of health. It been patched up in the past and poorly patched up at that, so scaffolding will need to be erected in order that these areas can be safely repaired, and repaired they need to be. While scaffolding is on the rear elevation it would of course makes sense to consider amalgamating much of the rainwater and sanitary ware pipework to one or two piopes, a relatively easy job. It will be harder or at least more costly to hack off and knew the render to this elevation but there is a very good argument to consider doing so if scaffolding erected against it. The flat itself, as one could almost guess, is in need of modernisation, a new kitchen certainly a new bathroom definitely, redecoration and quite probably restoration of the communal areas all of which are a bit scruffy.Oh! and a new door bell! Nevertheless the flat is in a convenient location where parking is not too difficult, easier than in many roads in the area. Two into one will certainly be a better fit…   more »

Well the last property I saw for my Client was a Basement Flat in a Listed Building. For various reasons they decided not to proceed and instead have found a delightful two-bedroom 1930/40's bungalow that has just come onto the market within half a mile of the previous flat. It does need modernisation; it does need a new kitchen and no doubt a new bathroom but, structurally it was in good condition. The windows have been replaced, the kitchen actually has also been replaced but it is all a bit bland. The dwelling is in need of redecoration and improvement of insulation. It stands in a slightly elevated position having extensive views over the city and as a bonus, if the planners are cooperative, then there is ample scope within the roof void to extend and make this a three or four-bedroom property. The dwelling has a garage with a flat roof that is used as an alfresco dining area, together with a pleasant garden with its own summerhouse and garden shed to wile away the time…   more »

From Dundry I returned to Bristol when at last it stopped raining. My next port of call was a 15-year-old house right on the dockside. Structurally, it was in good condition but it was tenanted and the tenants didn't seem to care how they lived; it was so odorous and full of condensation that I thought I was in a doss house! Of course I opened windows to let the fresh air in and things got better but I had to close windows when I left, to keep the tenants happy. I can't think why people don't realise that it is far better to leave windows open, even at night-time, as is better for your health let alone the house. All that to one side, the house was interesting, it is light and bright and spacious and to boot had a south facing garden and a double garage. It is right on the dockside so I suppose during the summer months it could become a little bit noisy, but you can't have everything in life, not that I’ve found, any way…   more »

This morning I was up on Dundry looking at a five bedroom modern house built about six years ago. It had commanding views over the city; well it would have done had it not been raining so hard. The house was interesting because it was built on three floors, but it was seemingly well constructed, largely in good condition and free from major defects. There was a gym in the basement which made me feel all faint, so I hurriedly got out of there! There were three reception rooms, a good-sized kitchen/breakfast room and a utility room together with five bedrooms, two en-suites and a family bathroom. There was a large double garage with remote up and over doors. The garden is on a bit of a slant, but it is on a hill. Security is good too, there's an electronic gate, numerous cameras and the burglar alarm system. A pleasant place to be, inside when it's raining and outside when it's not…   more »

They are all here in this part of Redland. The road I was in today was probably named after George Gordon, but he rather liked to be known as the Earl of Aberdeen as he happened to be, at the time Foreign Secretary and then Prime Minister of the coalition government between 1841 and 1846. This is an interesting terrace of houses now subdivided into numerous flats, in a convenient location close to Whiteladies Road. The rank has what are known as pavilions at either end, balconies and interesting parapets. The flat had been converted I suspect a number of years ago but it was probably renovated in the more recent past. It was largely in good condition though the Management Company, who are made up of the individual owners probably do most the work themselves and then on and ad hoc basis, even more so as three of the five flats are let out. Nevertheless this is a pleasant flat in a reasonably quiet location and certainly one which is convenient, though perhaps not for Earls, Dukes and Knights…   more »

I found myself today up on the banks of the River Seven slightly north of the market town of Thornbury where my Client was hoping to dispose of his property, so, quite naturally he wanted a valuation. He and his family have lived there for a number of years so I shall have to think hard and long about its value because, there's very little about of this calibre that is currently on the market in such an interesting situation. I have a lot to think about here…   more »

In 1921, rumour has it that the then Postmaster General, a chap by the name of F.G. Kellaway, who of course was also an MP opened this road which was probably named after him, or if not after him after, then, wait for it, after a certain Frenchman by the name of ‘Chaillouet’, who is mentioned in the Gloucestershire Pipe Rolls is of 1165.(Whatever they are). However, another member of the same family owned Kellaways a manor in Wiltshire. Apparently in Roman times, Kellaway meant a place to stay and this may have marked the route of Roman legions journeying up from, probably Bath through to Sea Mills. There you are, you can take a choice. My Client has chosen a pleasant three-bedroom semi-detached house, probably built in the late 1920s in the style of a 1930s house - come to think of it shouldn't that be a 1930s house in the style of the 1920s? Semantics aside I found the house largely in good condition and free from major defect and the boot there is a postbox not far away…   more »

The family name of the Earl of Warwick was Greville, but that was a rather mundane name for a road in Redland! So there I was today in a fantastically large house, in reality a house and a two-bedroom flat. The house had recently been renovated and I have to say was very ‘Homes and Garden’ with it’s ultra modern fitments, particularly the sanitary ware and also the kitchen. Lighting had been revived and the original geometrically patterned tiled hall floor had underfloor heating fitted from below. Bathrooms had underfloor heating as well. A couple of fireplaces had been removed from ground level, so opening up the rooms and the whole was in good decorative order. Seemingly no expense had been spared on the interior and the exterior had probably been cleaned but whether by the present owner or not I'm unsure. What I do know is that the bedding to the ridge and hip tiles is starting to deteriorate, which means that in the foreseeable future the whole house will need to be scaffolded so that these tiles can be lifted and reset. The cost of scaffolding is likely to be significantly greater than the cost of repenting these tiles, which is always an anomaly…   more »

Many years ago in Bristol there use to be a ballroom that was called the Locarno. Today I was in an extended 1930s semi-detached house that I suspect at one-time might just have been owned by a ballroom dancer who was so keen on his profession that he named his house after the ballroom; I am of course just guessing – him could have been her, but I'm still guessing! Anyway, this was a pleasant house largely in good condition but unfortunately the extension, conversion of the roof space, did not meet current Building Regulations but I suspect here that the roof was converted many years ago. Providing the Vendor can provide either an indemnity, or can arrange for a retrospective approval, then I see no reason why my Client should not proceed. The house however was not as well-designed as it could have been, so I gave the original architect three out of ten! It does, however, have a large garden with a modern garage at the end of which is an office and an alfresco dining area; all very pleasant, but whether you could dance the night away….   more »

I was half expecting to see the hunt, because where I have been today was a turning off Beaufort Road, so named after the Duke of Beaufort where houses were built in the mid-1800s. In this short road there were only houses basically on one side of it because on the other were tennis courts, so at least that makes parking slightly easier in the evenings. Parking in the daytime can be a bit tedious, because commuters tend to park there. Some commuters even eat breakfast in their cars! Sad people! The flat I saw, a garden flat was reasonably light and bright and reasonably spacious. It was largely in good condition and free from defect. Inevitably, I was expecting a little bit of damp and I suppose, I was not disappointed. There is some damp but none of it in my view is excessive, though ideally it needs treating. The flat backs onto a railway cutting, so solicitors will have to ensure there is no liability here though I suspect it is an area where foxes live. Now, the hunt…   more »

With many roads in Bristol named after famous people, or perhaps people who think they are famous, it's a little bit sad to find a road just named after another place in the British Isles, but that can't be too pretentious! I shouldn't have been there today, but because the vendor did not realise that I wanted to look in the roof space above the flat over his,(he probably wasn't told), he made no effort to get me in. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors now says, in their wisdom that "If there is no access to the roof within the subject property - (just?) don't bother!" I, and many other surveyors disagree; we are not serving our Clients properly if we do not make as a thorough and inspection as possible, so I left and will deal with this one day next week, when I can get in to it. It was all a bit frustrating but, another of my Clients benefited because I was able to look at their property instead of this, in an unpretentious road in Bishopston. The house was fine and I liked it, so of course does my Client who has realised there is some damp with which to content, but does not realise that there is rather more damp that needs to be sorted out. I am sure in this instance of that, "where there's a will there's a way", and so I hope this is the case here. That aside, I think it is a pleasant house in a quiet road, reasonably close a good local amenities, though as is seemingly the case with most houses today, prices are again rising…   more »

Played football for Arsenal and once for England and playered cricket for Gloucestershire and England, so perhaps it's not surprising there is a new street named after him in Ashley Down particularly as this development backs onto the Gloucestershire Cricket ground. I found myself there today, in the pouring rain, no in the torrential rain on a building site covered in mud! Nevertheless I was able to make my inspection of this new house which I found largely in good condition and free from major defect. My Clients will really appreciate that the roof is dry and that the gutters do not leak! I appreciated the central heating! The garden however is a bit of a quagmire and really it needs careful preparation and a lawn laid, so that perhaps they too can play cricket…   more »

... so naturally roads were named after him. It was an area of Cotham that, for reasons best known to the German hierarchy, was targeted by the Luftwaffe. They managed to destroy a number of houses in Nugent Hill and the house I looked at today was very close by. It has been converted into three flats and whilst there was little evidence of any continuing or ongoing damage, settlement in the side wall of one of the adjoining houses was significant. I don't think this is going to have any material affect on the value of my Clients property, but they will be aware of it and of course, it could be off-putting to their purchases and indeed possibly to some of their surveyors. The building was otherwise in reasonable condition, but the original slate roof had been replaced with concrete tiles which are significantly heavier and although the structure of the roof had been strengthened it was a little bit crude. That aside, the flat was in acceptable condition, but as with all flats in this part of Bristol parking is a nightmare, because no one wants residents parking zones, for some reason or other…   more »

This morning I looked at a house that was just under 30 years old, that was built by Laing Homes in 1981. The present owners had lived there for the past 20 or so years and were downsizing. However they had kept house largely in good condition and well maintained. It has new double glazed windows, additional installation in the roof space and the wall cavity has also been insulated. There is a conservatory to the rear, but here it is built over, I suspect, the main drain and as the floor slab has dropped, I think it's going to require some further investigation. That aside, it was a pleasant house and I hope that my Client will be happy with their purchase.

Carefully planning my day I then went on down to Backwell, where I inspected a small two-bedroom bungalow that was built about 12 years ago. It too was largely in good condition but here Velux to the shower room was a standard fit and so it was never opened. Had it been electrically operated, then no doubt the previous occupant may have opened it and condensation in the light shaft would have been prevented. Such an electrically operated Velux has a sensor that will automatically close during high winds or rain and I am advising my Client to fit one, and to improve the insulation of the walls and roof....   more »

I was again in the Chew Valley area today, but this time to see a most immaculate cottage that had over the years been extended and extended and extended and then again extended once more and possibly, just the luck once more again; there were at least nine roof slopes! The house had only been occupied for a short period and the owners were moving because of travelling difficulties but the house itself they were selling was a delight. It has to be said it could also be a little bit noisy with aircraft using Bristol International Airport and when you hear them flying above in the fog, it's all a little bit unnerving. I hope their SatNav is better than mine…   more »

I have been down in the Chew Valley area today and on my way to the property, squirrels were scampering up trees and pheasants flying into hedges as I drove along country lanes with grass growing down the middle of them. It was misty and had been raining, so it was a bit like driving down two rivers. I got there via SatNav, so in effect I was driving blind, but I got there, even though it was a slightly circuitous route. The house was large and light and pleasant. It had a most glorious aspect but, oh dear oh dear oh dear, this must have been one of the best examples of a poorly maintained house I have seen for while. Nevertheless, I know my Clients will be happy with it, even though it probably needs most things doing to it. The charm of the house, apart from everything needing doing to it, is its situation, a quiet and peaceful retreat close to the water's edge of one of the lakes…   more »

I visited a basement flat in a little known road in Bedminster today. My Client is purchasing a small flat, but in a reasonably quiet road, close to local shopping in ‘pedestrianised’ East Street and buses, schools and a small playground though I don't suppose my Client will be interested in the latter. The house is on three floors, but the roof space has been converted to make an upper maisonette, a ground floor flat and a garden flat, although had this been in Bath it would probably have been called a ‘courtyard flat’, but they're very presumptuous there! The flat here could, perhaps, have been better designed but I'm afraid we're stuck with this layout. The roof and guttering was generally sound as were the windows. The front wall has suffered from some settlement and movement, but my conclusion is that most of this is historic although it's a shame it was not repaired or renovated when conversion took place. When I arrived there was an awful odour of bodies, damp and condensation, because the windows were closed. When I left, they were open, who did that???   more »

My spies tell me that the original house known as The Lawns had stabling for horses amongst its assets but for whatever reason it was auctioned in 1805. (They didn't tell me why - state secret no doubt!) I suspect it was then pulled down and probably nearer a hundred or so years later pleasant terraced houses in tree-lined avenues were built on the land. And this is where I found myself later in the day, looking at one such property that had clearly been in the same person’s ownership for many years. It had been modernised in part, so it was a bit of a strange house. The chimney stacks roof and gutters were all in fairly good condition. Front windows have all been replaced but sadly not the rear. Some modest movement has occurred on the front elevation but I suspect this is historic whilst the rear elevation has superficial cracks or splits in the render. The house will need modernising internally but it boasts the opportunity of extending into the roof space, probably with little difficulty. The house is in a quiet location, close to shops, close to a play area, close to a bus service and schools. I hope my Client is happy with his purchase and won't be selling it by auction…   more »

Shaw means, in old English, wood and Frome relates to the River Frome and put together, believe it or not is one of the ancient names for Frenchay, (Froomshaw...Frenchay). So, today I have been in Frenchay looking at a mid-terrace house in which was built for the Local Authority in the 1950s. It has subsequently passed into private ownership and whilst largely it was in good condition I was quite surprised to see so much deterioration of the slater's felt, the membrane laid over the rafters, beneath the tiles. The roof was not leaking because it is covered with concrete interlocking tiles, but even so. There is a corrugated asbestos cement sheet roof over the adjoining outhouse, part of which has been converted into a hallway or rear lobby off which is a cloakroom and a utility cupboard. I think my Clients are more likely to win the lottery without even buying a ticket than to contract asbestosis in this situation, but... Windows have been replaced and the roof is reasonably insulated. Internally the house is large in good condition. There is however no parking, but it is quite ‘frightening’ how many cars are parked there during the day; it's almost worse than central Bristol. Alas today, there are more cars than woods or a river, but it was reasonably peaceful…   more »

I seem to remember that, because of the French Concorde had an ‘e’ at the end of its name, though of course being British we preferred it without. I don't know why we gave in but… Where I have been today there is also a little ‘controversy’ as to whether or not there should be an ‘e’ at the end of Redcliffe, as I'm showing you here. I think here that spelling it with an ‘e’ is rather like the old English way of writing, so I quite like it! Anyway, wasn't it Queen Elizabeth the first who said that the parish church of St Mary (Redcliffe) was the finest and fairest parish church in all of England? Had she been alive now I suspect she would have thought Concord – no ‘e’, because it is/was new - modern - would have been the greatest plane ever built. The house I saw today had been occupied for many years by the present vendor who, over his period of ownership had renovated it to a fairly good standard. There is still, of course a lot of work to do, but only if you are a purist. If you are not and the concrete tiled roof is in good condition then why bother to change it to clay tiles? However, as the vendor has already recovered the rear slopes with clay tiles my Client may due course wish to recover the front slopes in a similar style. Because no doubt it was listed with concrete tiles, the Conservation Officer would probably refuse permission on the grounds that it was already listed with concrete tiles. If we were in the Elizabethan times, then in my view such nonsense would be dealt with severely! The basement does require complete renovation but I see none of this as being off-putting to my Client. He has found a very pleasant home, with open views over the floating Harbour, a south facing garden and a garage for two or three cars - well done…   more »

I think there is a growing of fad amongst developers to name their houses. Westbury Homes did just that in this small development of just under a dozen houses, in a small village south of Thornbury. There was nothing wrong with this house, other than, to be frank it was a bit of a tip, but once this is all cleared out the basic structure will be absolutely sound. It is almost maintenance free; slates to the roof are unlikely to need attention. The chimney stack is made of fibreglass -- it's a fake, much like the tiled roof over the porch and its support timbers, all of which are also of fibreglass! The facia and soffit are of UpVC, as are the windows. The front door is of mild steel, so you can see it almost externally maintenance free. It has a large roof space and if sliding ladders are provided it could then be used for storage space. So, I think that my Client has found a pretty little house in a pleasant location and I hope will be very happy there…   more »

I have not been to Thornbury for a few months so today I relished going back to the old market town but I was very sorry when the market closed those many years ago. Nevertheless the town is still thriving but today I saw a house that really needed a little bit of "t. l. c.”. It was not a bad house, it was built to a reasonable standard some 40 or so years ago but it hadn't been particularly well maintained. It was not falling down, but it does need a certain amount of repair and attention and some modernisation. I am sure, however, that's my Client has found a pleasant house in a reasonably quiet part of town though sadly the cattle, pigs and sheep will never be heard in the town again, probably to their complete relief...   more »

Today I was in Bath, in one of the finer crescents in this Georgian city of repute. I was looking at a basement or garden flat, which in Bath is known as a "Courtyard Apartment". That sounds awfully pretentious, but I quite like it! The flat itself was he an end of terraced property though originally it was mid terraced when constructed in 1785. However, a landslide in 1897 took away nine of the other houses so leaving an asymmetrical Crescent with the centre, no longer at the centre if you see what I mean. Because it is Bath and in fairness because Bath builders seem to know what they are doing, up to a point, the chimney stacks and roofs were in good condition. Lead had been used where lead ought to have been used and it was well finished. The front elevation, however, was a bit "squew whiff". The flat itself was light and bright and recently spacious. Parking will be for the Devil though I was able to negotiate half the space with a traffic warden who arrived on a moped, and was about to give me a ticket, despite me leaving a note on my windscreen saying that the roof was leaking and the ceiling had collapsed as well as a flood in the basement. Not really, but you know what I mean…   more »