Our guide to the perfect places for those wanting a new start……
If you think about property buying agents, you probably expect them to be commissioned by busy working families, those relocating from abroad or the wealthy wanting access to the off-market, high-end properties. While this can certainly be the case, there is also a growing group of buyers who are recognizing the real added value that a professional buying agent can offer them – downsizers.
Downsizers are busy. You are finally free to travel, visit friends and family and get stuck into your hobbies and interests whenever you like. You want to move somewhere smaller but searching for your new home is a full-time job and you simply don’t have the time. Perhaps you are downsizing on your own and have never bought a house alone before so this feels like a gargantuan task. Having a proactive, professional empathetic team on your side can alleviate much of the stress and means that you can get on with life.
Most downsizers that we work with are looking at a house that can be future proofed, with good public transport networks or a level walk from shops and amenities, something low maintenance that they can ‘lock up and leave’, a smaller garden but still large enough to potter around and do some gardening with enough space for children and grandchildren to come and stay.
Surrey is awash with fabulous market towns and large villages popular with downsizers and over the years we’ve helped many clients to happily settle into their new homes. Here are some of our favourite villages where our downsizing clients have bought in recent years.
Shere
Our client was moving from a large house in the Surrey Hills and wanted to keep in touching distance from her long-standing friends, while being a short walk from amenities and a bustling community. Shere fitted the bill perfectly. It is not only picture perfect but has cafes, two pubs, boutique shops, convenience stores, a doctor’s surgery and even a community run swimming pool. It is halfway between the two bigger hubs of Guildford to the west and Dorking to the east, while Gomshall train station is less than a mile away for access to London.
Grayswood
Our client was moving from a large house in central Haslemere with a pool and tennis court and wanted a smaller version of her home, without the ‘toys’ but close to the A3 so she can easily drive to London to see her grown-up children. In Grayswood, we found her a lovely cottage – a miniature version of the family home. Paramount to her, she didn’t have to change her lifestyle as she was just on the other side of everything that was familiar. Grayswood itself has an active village club and village hall and is a stone’s throw from the picturesque market town Haslemere.
Brook
Our clients were moving from Oxfordshire to Surrey to be closer to their two adult sons and their families. We had already secured an off-market gem for one of their sons and because they were new to the area, they wanted our help with their relocation. The village of Brook lies just south of Godalming and north of Haslemere with an active community and an excellent pub, The Dog & Pheasant. The house itself ticked all their boxes and the location – close to the busy towns of Godalming and Guildford – meant they could enjoy spending more time with their family while being close to excellent local amenities.
Wonersh
Our clients decided to downsize from a large, period house with land in the Surrey Hills to something more manageable that they could ‘lock up and leave’ when they went traveling for extended periods of time. They were keen to remain close to their friends and family and wanted public transport connections so they wouldn’t be so reliant on their car. The bustling village of Wonersh was identified as the ideal location with a host of amenities from a great village pub, The Grantley Arms, a shop, pharmacy and excellent connections to Guildford and Cranleigh via a regular bus service.
Puttenham
Our client wanted to relocate to Surrey from Devon to be closer to her grown-up children in London. She wanted the beautiful countryside that she’d enjoyed in Devon, but with much better access to London. She also wanted to be able to walk out onto open countryside with her dogs from her front door. We found a cottage on the edge of Puttenham Common, with its acres of beautiful lakes, woodland and heathland, but only 45 minutes via car or train to London and only 10 minutes from the amenities of Guildford.
Chiddingfold
Our clients had lived abroad for the past 21 years and on retirement were looking for a house in the UK. Released from the constraints of the daily commute but conscious that they wanted to be close to London and to old friends in the South-West Surrey area. Chiddingfold proved the perfect match offering the English country idyll they were after but with a train station a few minutes up the road, two pubs, several shops and cafes, a post office and a thriving community.
We hope that has given you some food for thought about possible suitable villages to downsize to. To find out how we can help you to find your next home do get in touch.
