Buyers Still Prefer Period Homes to Modern Homes
Modern Homes Vs Period Homes - the debate continues...
Best of both worlds: modern home with period features for sale in Peckham Rye, London SE5
Period properties not only command premium prices, but they are more expensive to maintain, refurbish, decorate and heat, according to Becky Munday, South East London property expert and head of sales at GJM Gareth James Property. Despite this, given the choice, buyers nearly always prefer period homes to more modern ones.
The reason, Munday cites, is that: “Period properties, whether they are Victorian, Georgian, Regency or Edwardian, nearly always have larger room sizes, higher ceilings and design features, or ‘character’, which are widely considered to be more attractive than more modern homes.
“This is because in the last half century, developers have become increasingly restricted on what they will put into new homes due to pressure from planning regulations, profit margins, competition and available space.”
Finding the best of both period homes and modern homes is very rare, but a detached two-bedroom gate house, that is only 18 years old, yet has the design quality, extensive period features, structure and space of a period counterpart has just come on the market in London’s Peckham Rye area, SE15.
Despite its newness, the Gate House has all the character of a period home. Inside, its architectural detail is exceptional for a house of this age, with generous size rooms, extensive cornicing, dado rails, high skirtings and detailed architraves around the doors. Outside, is also exceptional, with a large 50ft landscaped garden, a fish pond and its own detached garage.
The house is being sold through GJM Gareth James Property by its current owner, Steven Mayhew. Steven recalls: “I saw this house being built 18 years ago and it was literally love at first ‘site’. I would never have believed I would buy a modern home before that day, as I have always thought they are less well built and lacking in character.
“I saw the other houses being built in the mews and I was immediately taken by the generous style of the architecture as well as the park-side location. I still think it is very unusual to find more modern homes with such high build quality, so many design features and bigger rooms. I think this was one of the first developments this builder did, so that might be why they put more effort and money into those details.
“I hadn’t sold my home at that time, but I risked losing everything trying to sort out a loan to buy it as I realised what a rare find this house was, and I was so desperate to buy it.
“Now, 18 years later, I am so pleased I did. The house was everything I could have ever wanted and so much more. It’s a no-through road, so it’s also very quiet and as it is modern, the maintenance is very low, as are the utility bills. Better still, the location is amazing, just a two minute walk from the 113 acres of Peckham Rye Park and Common and five minutes from Peckham Rye station, which has recently joined the London Overground network in December 2011. Connections are now easily possible, on the new orbital line known as “the ginger line”, to destinations such as Canary Wharf (via Canada Water), Clapham Junction, Shoreditch High Street and Highbury & Islington.”
For further information telephone GJM Gareth James Property on: 020 7732 4330 or see www.gjmproperty.co.uk
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For further information please see: www.GJMproperty.co.uk
Press contact: Julia Arnold, Sky Communications International, 01403 711 639
Email: julia.arnold@skycommunications.co.uk
Press Contact:
Julia Arnold
Sky Communications International
44 (0)1403 711 639
julia.arnold@skycommunications.co.uk
