The bluebells are in full bloom and the rural house market is flourishing. Mark Hedges, editor of Country Life magazine shares essential tips when moving to the countryside on the Property Exchange.
Dominic Agace, Chief Executive of Winkworth, told the podcast: “It’s been a positive start for the country house market with applications nine per cent ahead on last year. After 25 per cent price rises during the pandemic, these came off by around four or five per cent last year. What we are now seeing is a halfway house – a fluid market between office and home. Country houses are treasured assets and everyone wants the house in the right spot that hasn’t come to the market for 40 years, whether that’s on the coast or in the countryside.”
Talking on the podcast, Country Life editor Mark Hedges outlines a lighthearted countryside code for those moving to a rural spot. He says:
-
“It’s not perfect. It smells a bit but don’t tell the locals – they will see you out.
-
Uber Eats doesn’t deliver to country hamlets.
-
People don’t want to know how much you earn. Your cleaner will have seen your bank statement and told everyone anyway.
-
A three-line whip is in place to attend the village fete and do volunteer for the bottle stall. You will meet all the village.
-
The weather. We want rain in April. You will get wet. Understand the weather and the seasons.
-
Farming matters. We need to eat so don’t get grumpy behind a tractor.
-
Use the village shop – or lose it. The value of your house will go down if it shuts.
-
You won’t get a latte. Village shops can’t make lattes.
-
Get a dog. You’ll know the names of everyone’s dogs while out walking in the village.
-
Learn to identify wild flowers. They bring joy.
Mark, who grew up in the Cotswolds, acknowledges how the region is now one of the most fashionable spots. He told the podcast: “It is so much in demand and has become very pristine. One of my most terrifying moments recently was in the Daylesford car park recently. There were Bentleys, Range Rovers, Teslas executing impossible moves, all trying to grab the last space. My parents bought a large country house for £25,000 in the 1970s. Now it would be worth millions. Its selling point then would have been its proximity to the local hunt. Now the main attraction would be how close it is to Soho Farmhouse.”
The biggest threat to the countryside comes from politicians who lack understanding about its importance and need to protect it. He added: “Country Life did some research which showed that two-thirds of people want to live in the countryside. Only 18 per cent do live there. The Government doesn’t think it will win an election in the countryside but there is a real passion and interest and momentum of feeling from people that the countryside matters.”
Andrew Beecheno, of Winkworth’s office in the market town of Petersfield, surrounded by Hampshire countryside, said: “There are some glorious villages such as Selborne, South Harting, Rogate and East and West Meon, many with wonderful amenities, where a four to five bedroom period house with one to two acres will cost upwards of £1.5m. The area appeals to everyone, it’s in the heart of the South Downs National Park between Guildford and Portsmouth. People very rarely regret having moved to the countryside. You get out what you put in – join the local horticultural society, the tennis club, go to the village pub.”
