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SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER


Welcome to the September edition of our intelligent newsletter! We aim to keep you up to date with our latest news, give you top tips from industry professionals and provide interesting and helpful articles relating to the property industry and much more. You are able to update your preferences so you only receive articles which are relevant to you. If you like what you see, please be social and share our newsletter via social media. To ensure you don't miss out, just add this email address to your Safe Senders list.


FEATURED PROPERTY - The Old Chapel

The Old Chapel, Moor Road, Melsonby - Starting Bid &259,950

A fantastic opportunity to purchase a former Wesleyan Chapel dating back to 1866. The Old Chapel is currently a 3 bedroomed family home with potential to convert further. The chapel underwent a series of extensive improvements in 1986 to include a new roof and new concrete flooring. The property was operating as a village hall until the Trustees sold it in 2007 where the current owners purchased it with full planning permission to convert into a four bedroomed residential dwelling. Since the purchase in 2007 the current owners have painstakingly restored, updated and converted the property to what is now a superb three bedroom home. 

This property is for sale by the modern auction method of sale also known as a "conditional auction". This process is similar to a normal property purchase but on acceptance of an offer the purchaser will pay a non-refundable reservation fee to secure the property. The buyer then has 28 days to exchange contracts and a further 28 days to complete the purchase. Please note this property is subject to an undisclosed reserve price. Terms and conditions apply to the modern auction method of sale, which is operated by Carver Residential in partnership with The Great North Property Auction.

    

    

There are a number of superb features of the property to include wrought iron railings, original timber arched double door, stain glass windows and a spectacular rose window which was restored in 2015. 

The property has fantastic potential to convert further as there is a double height roof space which could provide additional living space over a further two floors.

The accommodation to the ground floor includes a porch, hallway which leads to a huge open plan living/dining room with log burner and stained glass windows. Also to the ground floor is a kitchen and utility, the master bedroom, the second bedroom with mezzanine office area and the house bathroom. To the first floor the is a further bedroom and a playroom which would give access to a staircase which would lead to the large attic space which is awaiting conversion.

 

  

Externally the Old Chapel has a south facing garden with raised decking and large bespoke timber built shed/log store/work shop as well as two off street parking spaces.

   

Melsonby is an accessible North Yorkshire village with in a few minutes drive of Scotch Corner giving easy access to the A1(M) and A66 motorways. The village has a public house and an OFSTED rated 'good' primary School. Village shops and post office can be found in the near by villages of Barton or Eppleby as well as Scotch Corner Services providing a number of further retail services. There is a doctors surgery in the neighbouring villages of Aldbrough St John and the towns of Richmond and Darlington are only a 15 minute drive away.



The Carver Group Challenge was a huge success!


 
Carver Three Peaks Challenge 2016

Congratulations to the guys (and girls!) who completed the Carver Three Peak Challenge - a fantastic achievement by all, not least Adam the bus driver who had to put up with the group for the duration of the challenge.

Thanks to the Crab Manor Hotel for providing the raffle prize of an overnight stay and congratulations to Abby Glass who was the winner of the prize!

A huge thank you to all that donated and helped us exceed the &2000 target!

 

 

 

Group organiser Henry Carver gives a rundown of the trip:

"It was an extremely tough challenge made even harder by the 60mph winds and torrential rainfall, but we did it and we are all extremely proud! To raise well over &2000 for local charities, Heriott Hospice Homecare and St. Theresa's made every blister, ache and pain worthwhile!
 
The challenge began at Ben Nevis, and with the rest of the country basking in sunshine the volunteers had no such luck and began their assent in the cold and wet Scottish weather. The stunning views were unfortunately blocked due to low cloud and rain however this did not deter our team. We took it easy on the descent due to the slippery conditions, and with the gale force wind and fading light, the final hour of seemed like an eternity! Nonetheless, Ben Nevis was completed in under the allocated 5 hour schedule. Now over to our driver, Adam Swalwell to begin his hairy drive to Scafell Pike.
 
5.30am in the morning and with little to no sleep during the journey our team seemed actually in pretty high spirits! A few people looking a bit green however, possibly due to the windy roads or perhaps the skills of our tame racing driver.  
 
Scafell was completed in daylight which, after the last hour on Ben Nevis seemed like a stroll in the park. The theme of the weekend was perhaps walking in the clouds, due to us seeing absolutely none of the breathtaking views we were hoping for, but maybe this was what kept us moving, rather than looking up and seeing the peak an impossible distance away from our current position. 
 
Scafell, was in my opinion the hardest of the 3 mountains due to its steepness and rocky terrain, however it was another mountain ticked off the list and 2 down, 1 to go!! Come on Adam!

Another incredible effort by Mr Swalwell - his dedication to keeping awake was second to none, and on his diet of Monster energy drink, Haribo and Rocky Road we again arrived safely at our final destination, Mount Snowdon.

The novelty of actually seeing the summit from the car park spared a few conversations for the first 20 minutes of walking. Having 3 hours and 45 minutes left to complete the challenge we could not dordel, and dordel we did not! The first hour or so of Mount Snowdon felt like we had wandered onto the "baby slope" and missed the actual mountain and we were wondering how long this relative easy climb would continue, and then we saw it.... The large, never ending rock face.  "Pass the ropes!" I heard a Bear Grylls lookalike say to his Ranulph Fines lookalike friend....surely we had now clambered up to the wrong path? We hadn't. And this mountain wasn't going to climb itself! So the accent into the cloud for one last time began! 
 
A solid hour of clambering up the slippery and wet sheer rock face and we must have been somewhere close....? Until a brave/stupid by passer told one of our team, "Still a long way to go and it gets a lot worse up there!" Well, it's safe to say that there was nearly the need to call in the mountain rescue at that point as the said "by passer" was lucky to remain with two feet on solid ground! 
 
Finally, the summit arrived and with the cafe closed we could not get a cup of tea! CAFE?? Who the hell knew that? Turns out that there is a cafe at the top accessed by a train track! Yes, we nearly died trying to succeed in our challenge when we could have just got the train to the top.
 
The descent began in earnest and we had 2 hours to get to the car park to beat the 24 hour deadline.
 
Needless to say it was slow going at the first part of descent, however once out of the clouds the speed could be increased! Managing to get ourselves split up, we ensured that about 500m from the finish line we all completed the last part together! Having 20 minutes remaining on the clock to complete the challenge we ensured we crossed the line together! The feeling of relief, followed by a sheer sense of achievement no doubt was soon outweighed by exhaustion, but not before we got the final photo with a couple of beers and got back onto the bus, where Adam's final leg of his journey began!
 
A fantastic achievement by everyone and thank you to all those who have donated and helped raise well over &2000!"



Phil Spencer on beach huts and kerb appeal

My favourite property expert Phil Spencer has shared his biggest tip for people trying to get his best price for their house
Click here to read Phil Spencer on beach huts and kerb appeal.



Nick & Gordon Carver Residential continue selling in Darlington

Nick & Gordon Carver Darlington branch celebrate their continuation of selling more houses in Darlington than any other agent!

26.7% of all property sales in Darlington* were agreed by the team, a fantastic achievement. As the chart shows, the branch was 1st out of 57 offices in the last 12 months proving we are still the best at selling properties in the town.

From the initial valuation to the sales progression department, with the enthusiastic sales team in between, we offer great customer service and will do everything we can to sell your property or find you a home.

If you would like to find out more or for a free market appraisal please visit our Darlington office on Duke Street or contact us on 01325 357807

*source: rightmove.co.uk 26/8/15 - 25/8/16



Mary Berry's lemon drizzle cake

Everyone loves a drizzle, don't they? If you're into the Great British Bake Off, try Mary Berry's recipe here
Click here to read Mary Berry's lemon drizzle cake.



How to decorate for less

House Beautiful experts give their advice on decorating on a budget
Click here to read How to decorate for less.



7 Great ideas for an outdoor bar

To really enjoy the rest of the sunny days  we've come up with a few items you need for an outdoor bar.

Click here to read 7 Great ideas for an outdoor bar.