Sometimes estate agents particulars can be particularly beguiling and other times, well they're not. Today I looked at what I thought was going to be, in oenologist’s terms a rather ‘vin ordinaire’ house, but it turned out that I was actually looking at a chateau of distinction. However, although the contents were past their best the actual building was in good condition. So my Client need have a few worries about the chimney, the roof, the gutters, the walls or the windows. The interior requires modernisation but the least in some respects this is the best portion to work upon, particularly if one is not living there. The drawing room is pleasant, the sitting room is pleasant; the kitchen is not. There is however a large garage which I suspect will be knocked into the kitchen to make a very pleasant kitchen/living room/family room, because who needs a garage? The sanitary ware is outmoded as are the decorations. The house may need rewiring, even re-plumbing but in the end it will become a fine family home. The house has a number but I think it really deserves the name…   more »

Today I looked at a very substantial late Victorian or perhaps here more an early Edwardian semi-detached house. It had been converted a number of years ago into four self-contained flats and my Client wished to know all about the property although was only purchasing one of the flats. There was a little bit of a tussle for me to get all over the property, but with a little bit of cajoling, well more than a bit, I managed to get into every flat, and in the end all with little difficulty. Initially I looked up at the roof and saw a Velux skylight but it was in a very steeply pitched roof so I was very happy to see an access hatch in the roof that allowed me to clamber up and over and look down the external roof slopes with impunity, which I did. My Client is purchasing a good size flat that does require a certain amount of updating and modernisation but I'm sure they’re quite capable of that. The trick in modernising all houses and flats is to try not to go over the top…   more »

I wondered where I was for a moment, but Top Shop is really not a place for me; is it still trading? Today I was in a small village just south of Bristol relatively close I supposed to the Waldegrave estate, though he is a man who seems to have disappeared and is no longer an MP; I wonder what has become of him? Anyway enough of my idle thoughts, today I was looking at a new house as my Client wanted to be sure that it was built to a good standard, that it was sound in wind and limb, as my farmer cousin might say. Almost a month ago to the day I looked at a new house in Bristol, where I had hopes that my Client could turn around the appalling mess the builders had made of constructing a new house in Westbury on Trym. They even managed to get a solar heating panel on the north facing roof slope! I had thought the builders in Bristol might have had a little more nous than that and whilst I was not quite expecting builders in Somerset to be standing around with the straw behind their ears and drinking cider at their coffee break, today I found a very pleasant, substantial house, well built, mostly with stone walls and well finished; it's quite surprising what you can do if you try hard and supervise your workforce. My Client has found a good house in a reasonably quiet position with a lovely open aspect and a large garden; I'm really quite envious but, I think it needs a decent name, even though the builders may have been very proud of it; they should be…   more »

Not in 1941 when the Luftwaffe were bombing in Bristol. My plans show a number of 50 kg bombs dropping in the road I was into day, and demolishing I suspect number 13, unlucky for some of course, particularly the occupants and, as a result this is a post-war rebuild. However, I was not at number 13, I was at No.3, a few doors away and no doubt the shaking would have been felt all down the terrace, which is why there is some evidence of movement here. It is not excessive but it has occurred and has caused some weakened areas. The house is currently tenanted so with clothes clobber and kit, not to mention books, arts and crafts materials and DVDs together with food and washing-up and dirty clothes all over the place, I think it's going to look better when vacant when, hopefully my Client will be able to see through everything and improve and renovate it. It does need is a fairly significant money spent externally on tidying up a house that has been poorly maintained for the past few years. Internally I suspect my Client will renovate it and rejuvenate it and redecorate it. My Client is likely to replace the kitchen and bathroom fitments and may even consider building into the roof space, not a difficult job. Then, of course it will be a nice place to be…   more »

I started early today because I knew by 12 o'clock the outside temperature would be in excess of 25° C (80°F) which means that when I was in the roof space I might have come out either looking like a piece of roast beef or have sweated all my weight away and look like a waif and stray and I didn't fancy any either. So I made my early start and was delighted to find this small terraced house tucked away in Brislington largely sound and in good condition and free from major defect. It has a new roof, and I don't just mean the tiles, I mean the rafters, the ridge board and the purlins, so someone has spent some money on it. In some respects I am very surprised more was not made of this but, that is to my Clients advantage. The house has double glazing a modest garden and a pleasant aspect from the rear rooms. The bathroom is at the rear and as one could, perhaps anticipate the window glass is obscure, as more often it is. Personally I find obscure glass very claustrophobic and here if my Client wishes to replace the obscure glass with clear he would then open up and enliven the bathroom with a pleasant view retaining privacy with net curtains or blinds and hopefully he will be highly delighted…   more »

I always like the surnames of people that fit their occupation, like Mr Taylor who makes suits; I just made that up. However there was one, Henry Monk who happened to be, at one time the Bishop of Gloucester and you can check that out. And that's where I was today, in a road named after him. I was looking at this, a very traditional 1930’s semi-detached house that had been occupied for the past 26 or so years by the vendor. Over that time he had forgotten to throw anything away and as a consequence the house was full to the gunnels. The roof void had been inappropriately converted and was full of stored items; I couldn't even see the chimney stack or the water storage tanks. The bedrooms were full of stored items to the extent that I couldn't even get into one of the cupboards that was, no doubt itself full of stored items. The understair cupboard was full; the external understair cupboard was full; the meter cupboards were full; even the garage was full. Never mind, of what I was able to see the house was largely sound and it does have a pleasant garden. It does need modernising and some renovation, but before that it needs emptying, perhaps by Mr Slingit…   more »

No, no I have not been in Scotland although the name of the road would suggest I had been. I can confirm, however that I have definitely not been there! I have however been in a very substantial mid-terraced house in a reasonably quiet road in Redland named after the aristocracy, so if nothing else, I hope that will please my Client. The house was interesting inasmuch as the front roof slope retained the original clay tiles that are known as ‘Poole Patent’ double Roman tiles. They have a slight chamfer on the central slope which means, only if scaffolding is available, you can actually walk up the roof slope! I didn't because there was no scuffling there. There was no scaffolding there because the roof was largely sound. The secondary roofs have all been clad with lead finished to a good standard. The walls show little sign of settlement movement but, I'm a little surprised I didn't find all the occupants gasping for breath as none of the front windows were openable; they were all painted sealed. Internally the house has been modernised and renovated to a pleasant, if perhaps slightly understated standard. It is light and bright and has a pleasant garden. There is no parking but, parking in the area ain't too bad and there wasn't a Scotsman in sight…   more »

When you drive down Falcondale Road in Westbury on Trym, how often do you think that in the 1920s you would have been driving through farmland. And that is where I was today in farmland well, to be strictly truthful in a house built in the 1930s on land that was once a farm. It was on a tight corner plot, made tighter by the fact that it and its neighbour at right angles to it had each build extensions so it is all a little bit cramped. ‘My’ house had been extended possibly shortly after it was built and was then extended twice at later dates to the rear. The main problem was the fact that the underside of all the rafters and batens and the tiles had been sprayed with foam, which frankly does nothing for the property and possibly even casts a shadow on its value. I have obviously pointed this out to my Client but I and other surveyors do not like this foam. Had Farmer Giles been around, there is no doubt he would have told the salesman where to put his foam, in no uncertain terms, and it wouldn't have been in the roof space…   more »

I had to make an early start this morning because I was looking at a lower ground floor flat in Redland later that day, but I couldn't get there too early because otherwise I would not have had access to the roof as I would have liked. I got that access to the roof so I was happy chappie! If I was happy then, so I hope will be my Client because I could report fully on the property. Indeed the flat itself which is reasonably light and bright has its own quite pleasant garden, but it tends to be slightly overlooked, I suppose it's unavoidable in that sort of situation. I don't think it has a parking space which may be a bit boring. There is a little bit of dampness; I would expect nothing less in a basement flat but nothing I thought untoward. The flat wasn't in a poor condition and is a pleasant property that I think will be reasonably economic to run because it has replacement double glazed windows throughout. So, my Client can look up and enjoy living in Redland…   more »

I was back in the underrated village of Shirehampton today, making an early start because I was asked to look out a property that had recently been renovated. The dwelling in question was originally built in the 1940s in a large plot. I am guessing but I suspect that part of the garden was sold off so that a bungalow could be built in it. My Client is purchasing the original property which is now a large five bedroomed house furnished with good-quality fittings and generally speaking in good condition throughout. There are a couple of little niggles, aren't there always, but I rather felt this was an attractive dwelling spacious, light and bright and in a good location. A rather attractive property, quite high up on the list I suppose…   more »

Today I saw a large house that got larger, because a while ago this already large house was enlarged with a two-storey extension, because it was for a while a nursing home. A large garage was built to one side with a flattish roof from which I was able to get ladders up to the flat roof over the two-storey extension to see the rear roof slope clearly, but that was about as close as I could get to any roof slope as the others were at a distance. Nevertheless the slates covering the roof were by and large sound. Rainwater goods were in reasonable condition and there was no evidence of any significant movement of the walls; internally most of them were dry. Thankfully almost all of the windows had been replaced and they too were sound. Insulation in roof void could be improved and I suspect that my Client will wish to improve the kitchen and to redecorate the house because it is all a bit bland. Nevertheless it does have a very pleasant walled garden…   more »

Yesterday I was in a garrison town in Wiltshire; today I inspected a pleasant 1960s semi-detached house that had been extended this way and that, in actual fact to one side and to the rear. It was in a quiet village where the pub looked interesting and I'm sorry I was not able to visit it; perhaps another time. I'm pleased that my Clients have found a fairly good-sized house, all in reasonable condition, having four bedrooms and three reception rooms. However, the ensuite to the main bedroom was just a shower and wash basin in a cupboard and because the garage had been converted into a study and a utility room it was, perhaps, all a bit cramped. Strangely for a house of this age the majority of the original windows, ‘Crittal’ windows, metal framed and single glazed set in the original softwood surrounds remain. Insulation in the roof needs improving but at least the walls had been foam insulated. The house is at the head of a cul-de-sac in a quiet location and although there were no sheep roaming around I certainly heard a pheasant or two…   more »

I was in a garrison town today which sounds a bit like the start of a Thomas Hardy novel. I was inspecting a Grade II Listed Building that probably dates back to 17 something or other, in the middle of this town. The Local Authority, in their wisdom, had apparently given consent to replace the original timber framed vertical sliding sash windows with plastic. The Conservation Officers I know would have apoplexy even if you just hinted at the thought of replacing an unseen timber window in a Grade II Listed Building. What has happened here, I do not know but I do know that I shall insist my Client's solicitor ensures in writing that this is the case, because retrospective action could otherwise be taken against my Client. It may well be that if the Local Authority wanted to revert the decision, then they may have to pay compensation, but that is another matter. The roof was covered with concrete plain tiles which, of course is contrary to good conservation, but it had sagged very badly due to its construction rather than the weight of tiles. The construction of the roof was extremely badly distorted, the worst I have ever seen, and it may be necessary to rebuild this section of the roof. My Client intends to restore the house to its original glory, so he had better give his building company marching orders; there's a lot to do…   more »

Today I was hoping to look at a garden flat in Redland but the vendor cannot be too anxious to sell because little attempt had been made for me to get access into/onto the roof. The estate agent’s managed to get a telephone number for one of the tenants, but as that was today, it was too short a notice and I didn't go there. A bit of a cock up - hens and chickens! Nevertheless bearing in mind of the title above, I went off to a foxy little road in Bradley Stoke. There the estate agents made an effort and got me into the house, because they had a key. I could see however that there was someone there but the agents had already forewarned of the vendor, who was happy to see me. I like to see houses that are well maintained and well improved and cared for and this was no exception. (I also like to see a smiling vendor). I'm pleased therefore that I was able to slot this house in today because it means my Clients can get on with their purchase, and may even consider keeping a few hens in the back garden, as this is probably Fox proof...   more »

No, not in the county of Dorset, but in a road of a similar name where I inspected a mid-terraced house built in the 1960s. It had not fared too badly and I'm pleased to say that I founded largely in good condition and free from major defect. It has clearly been occupied by an elderly person (the stairlift was a bit of a give away) and I suspect that my Client will be making some alterations, renovations and improvements. The house is in a convenient location, so it is easy to get to good local amenities, it has a garage and parking and there are various schools in the area. At the time I was there, it was so quiet and peaceful, I could almost have been in Dorset…   more »

Today I have been to inspect a mews style house that my Client is purchasing. It is one of about 20 or so houses and flats that have recently been constructed. Regrettably the bank to the original developer withdrew all funds and it has been taken over by another company. Banks do that sort of thing and then wonder why we don't like them; I expect the manager got a big bonus. The design of these properties is interesting as they are built of brick and timber and have clay tiled roof's as well as solar panels. They are timber framed and although I do not think that the rooms are very large, particularly the main bedroom, I do expect them to be warm and economic to run. I think my Client has found a pleasant property that seems to be being finished off to a good standard; now that's something different…   more »

I keep banging on about Bristol being damaged during enemy action of the last war, and of course it is true. The centre of Bristol was probably all but taken out and in the 1950s, St James Barton, Bond St and The Horsefair, an area known as a Broadmead was rebuilt. There were shops at the lower levels and flats above them. Until today I have never been there, certainly to the flats and during my life, as it so happens not very often to Broadmead, unlike my wife, though she now uses The Mall at Cribb’s Causeway. Anyway enough of where my wife goes shopping, today I looked at a purpose-built three bedroomed flat overlooking Bond Street. There were three tiers of flat roofs, but all were seemingly sound. The walls were sound, even though there has been some modest movement. It wasn’t particularly noisy with the windows closed because they are all double glazed. The flat is let out but nevertheless of the tenants kept it in good condition. So, it was a pleasant day in Broadmead, but not for shopping…   more »

W G Grace was a cricketer of renown who used to play at Downend Cricket club but I haven't been there today. Today I have been to a very substantial property built in the Georgian era and probably owned by various ‘well to do gentlemen’, but sadly one of the last owners let this house and go to rack and ruin. However, some 25 or so years ago it was bought and renovated into three very large flats, where I suspect the owners have stayed there for a long periods of time. They stay there because it is a delightful spot opposite Page Park, which incidentally has its hundredth year birthday later in the year in July. It is all so within about five minutes easy level walk of Staple Hill High Street which I often think of as being far more interesting than Clifton, it's a really buzzy area full of real people buying and selling, but without Clifton's problems, and you can park! Not only is this a spacious flat converted within a grade II listed property, the building itself stands in pleasant lawned grounds that would be an excellent place on which to play cricket were it not for the mature trees which surround it…   more »

“There was a crooked man, -
And he walked a crooked mile, -
He found a crooked sixpence -
Upon a crooked stile; -
He bought a crooked cat, -
Which caught a crooked mouse, -
And they all lived together -
In a crooked little house.”

Well I did see a house today that was slightly out of kilter, but the movement that had occurred here had in my view taken place many years ago and I think it unlikely it is of a continuing nature. The house was in a reasonably quiet oasis in Clifton, but like all houses in Clifton parking can be a nightmare although in this instance the house had a garage. It is a pleasant house but my Clients will have to get used to doors and some floors which are not quite in square alignment…   more »

I don't know who said this, but my instructions read that I was to look at a terraced house built in 1987, which I thought was a bit odd for the area. Of course it transpired that there was no house built in 1987 in this road where the houses were probably built at the turn of the last century circa 1900 or just before. This was a large house in a pleasant tree-lined avenue. It was built on four floors and benefited from a large detached garage. The address was familiar to me, because I had had a previous enquiry to inspect a property in the same road where significant cracking of a bay window was found. I was able to tell the person who enquired that bombs dropped in the area during enemy action last war, because the docks at Avonmouth. Some of the cracking there may have been due to the Luftwaffe and some may have been due to large trees growing in the road. Here, I'm pleased to say the incidence of cracking was fairly negligible and the house, by and large was in good condition. What is more, my Client may be able to see his old stamping ground from the top floor window which looks over towards Portishead and Abbots Leigh...   more »