Find me a house………and doggie day care
As professional homefinders in Hampshire we are often asked by our clients to find homes with good childcare facilities nearby.
An unusual request from an American client recently however, was not for child daycare but for doggie daycare. Apparently this is quite common in the United States and works along the same basic principle as child daycare.
You can choose from full daycare, half day, or the option for them just to walk the dog whilst you are at work. We hadn’t realised that this type of care existed for dogs…..but what a great idea!
If you would like us to find your ideal home in Hampshire, with or without the option of doggie daycare nearby, please contact us and we will be very pleased to help.
Hampshire counts down to the Olympic Games
The countdown to the Olympic Games is (as I write this blog) now only 323 days to go. Hampshire is not only looking forward to the competition but also to the many benefits the Games will bring to the county.
Visit Britain estimates that tourism outside London will benefit to the tune of £0.62bn from the Games.
A Hampshire county council spokesperson said: ‘The main benefits to Hampshire are likely to be after the Games as a result of the higher profile that the UK receives’ and ‘could last for many years’ after the Games have finished.
It is hoped that promotion of the regions attractions through website, social media and advertising will tempt visitors to the area after the Games have finished. With a beautiful and diverse landscape, stunning coastline and the vibrant and bustling cities of Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester on offer and all within easy reach of London, Hampshire will surely be high on the list for visitors following the end of the Games.
So when all the pomp and ceremony, disputes and tantrums have ended and the medals finally awarded, Hampshire will still be looking forward……….
Six cruise ships visit Southampton on the same day!
Southampton is now the cruising capital of the UK and northern Europe, earning huge amounts of money for the local economy and creating and safeguarding local jobs. The city has built on its expertise over the years and has the ability to handle the huge cruise ships which visit the docks, together with the turnover of the hundreds of passengers who pass through. Now a major global centre for the cruise industry a record of six luxury cruise ships spent the day in Southampton recently. The cruise industry is forecasting an increase of up to eight per cent for 2011 which is great news for Southampton and the local economy!
Posted in General Information Tagged Southampton
Househunting…….forget the house!
When searching for your ideal house, it is easy to focus just on the physical characteristics of the property, such as number of bedrooms, size of garden, age or appearance.
Many of our clients come to us with specific areas or locations in mind and have been searching for a house with a certain number of bedrooms and a particular size garden. Frequently, newly retired clients have said that their decision to move is not driven by anything in particular and therefore they can consider a wide geographic area, believing that this will help them find their dream home. Interestingly, this often has the opposite effect and their efforts before coming to us have proved unsuccessful.
Every search that we carry out at the County Homesearch Company in Hampshire is unique – every one of our clients has different requirements or preferences – and before we start, a great deal of time is spent helping our clients to determine what is important for their new home – not physically, but more importantly how they wish to live their lives.
Some things to bear in mind are as follows:
• How long do you envisage living at your new home? The answer to this question will be a major influence. A house for the ‘long term’ might need to satisfy and adapt to different and changing priorities.
• Where do you need to reach? Work, schools etc and by what means of transport.
• Will friends/family visit frequently and will these visits be reciprocated? Certain parts of your target area may be better suited than others.
• How important are trips to the theatre or shops?
• What do you want to hear or see when you step out of your front door?
• How will the property/chosen area support your hobbies or interests? Are there footpaths/cycle-tracks close by? How close are clubs/societies/leisure facilities?
• Do you want to walk to get a newspaper or pint of milk or walk to a church?
• Will anyone be ‘home alone’ during the daytime? What support do they need?
It is always worth asking yourself these questions before you start your Homesearch – the answers may surprise you but more importantly they will also enable you to identify the right environment and also ‘open up’ new locations that you had not previously considered.
