if i look back, i am lost
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Today's Document
Noah Kahan
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
Andulka
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2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
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will byers stan first human second
Monterey Bay Aquarium
hello vonnie
taylor price
Origami Around
sheepfilms
shark vs the universe
🩵 avery cochrane 🩵
noise dept.
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Kiana Khansmith
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@robertleechestateagents
Meet the locals of Oxted…SMS Creative
Meet local photographer, Stella Scordellis of @stellasms. Having lived and worked in Oxted for over 25 years, she’s perfectly placed to share what makes Oxted such a lovely place to live and work.
Meet the locals of Oxted…Thai Pad
Meet Khushi from Thai Pad, one of Oxted’s most popular restaurant and cocktail bars. In this local spotlight, she shares what makes the town’s dining scene so desirable, highlighting the flavours, atmosphere and community spirit that keep residents and visitors coming back.
Meet the locals of Oxted - Elements Lifestyle
Jo, salon manager at the award-winning @elementslifestyle_salon, spends her days making the Oxted community look and feel their best. Here, she shares more on the town’s fantastic amenities and community.
Meet the locals of Oxted…Love Oxted
Next up, sharing her passion for Oxted is Tracey Shrimpton from BID, @loveoxted, who offers up her top picks of Oxted’s diverse shopping and dining scene.
Photos that make the difference
First impressions count; most potential buyers start by looking on the internet to search for properties, the photographs are often the first chance you will get to make a good impression.
We use specialist photographers in architectural photography. They don’t just take photographs they produce stunning images. All our photographers are experienced and highly skilled professionals who are equipped with top of the range professional cameras and lighting equipment. These creative photographers love what they do and are always on the lookout for a unique feature or an imaginative angle.
How to prepare your home
For us to be able to get great photographs on the day, it is important that your property is prepared before we arrive, in a word DE-CLUTTER.
We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to remove as much clutter as you can. This will not only help your home look as inviting as possible in the photographs but will also help with the presentation during your viewings.
We have compiled a brief guide designed to help you prepare for our photographer’s visit.
We do not necessarily photograph every room e.g. we never photograph inside garages, utility rooms or sheds, and rarely the smallest bedroom. We suggest that whenever possible you use these rooms to store any unwanted items.
Inside
Open all curtains and blinds, all windows should be closed for the duration of the photo shoot.
If possible, have someone look after your dog for a couple of hours while we photograph your home, or simply take it for a long walk. Hide away all pet food bowls and toys.
Clear Kitchen worktops of food, dishes, papers, phone chargers etc. Please keep the sink clear of dishes, cleaning products, cloths and sponges. Cooker hobs should be cleared of any pots and pans, remove any calendars, personal photographs and magnets from the fridge.
Try to hide the waste bins and recycling boxes.
Tidy or remove extension cables or wires around the television, as this can look messy.
Make sure that books are neatly placed on bookshelves and any other clutter such as greeting cards are removed.
Remove toiletries, bottles, sponges and cleaning products from bathrooms. We suggest putting them all in a plastic bag and leaving it in the bath. It’s okay to leave a couple of bottles but no more. Leave only one or two neatly folded towels.
Make sure all clothes and shoes are packed away, try to remove bulky items e.g. fans, exercise equipment and trouser presses from the main bedrooms.
Clear away any personal artifacts like money, mobile phones, jewellery, medication etc.
If you have the chance before our visit to have a few vases of flowers to hand they can work wonders to give a room that extra lift, or simply as a great prop which we can move around to balance out a shot.
Outside:
We prefer to keep the driveway clear of cars, you don’t necessarily need to do this before we arrive, but be prepared to move them at some point during our visit.
Hide all wheelie bins, recycling waste bins.
Tidy away garden hoses, tools, bikes, footballs and children’s toys.
Please avoid doing the laundry on the day of our visit because clothes hung out to dry are never an attractive feature.
All garden furniture should be uncovered and neatly displayed.
Try and mow the lawn and clear up any scattered leaves before our visit.
Depending on the time of the year, remove covers from swimming pools.
Garage doors should always be closed.
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/photos-that-make-the-difference/
She Works Hard for Your Money
Independent mortgage guru Katie Parsonage is based at Robert Leech. Katie is a mortgage adviser with the Mortgage Advise Bureau, the largest estate agent based mortgage brokers in the UK, and since 1995 has helped hundreds of people find the most suitable mortgage for them while making invaluable savings along the way. Here are her tips to ensure a smooth process and put you ahead of the game when buying…
Get good advice
Find an independent broker that you trust and feel comfortable working with – don’t forget you will be telling them some very personal information. Don’t just visit your bank as they may not have the best deals on the market and be aware that comparison websites may not show exclusive deals that brokers have access to.
Be prepared
Speak to a broker before you start looking at properties – you may find that borrowing is more affordable than you think. Being able to give a broker’s details to estate agents proves to them that you are a serious buyer who has done their homework. The agent will then be in a position to recommend you as a strong buyer to their vendor and this could make a difference if there are several offers on the same property.
What sort of mortgage deal is right?
Spend some time exploring all the different types of mortgages that are available and how they work. There will be a lot of decisions to be made concerning the term, fixed versus tracker rates, whether to use an “offset” or not – you will have your mortgage a long time and your broker should be more than happy to discuss everything with you.
What fees will you have to pay when you take out a mortgage?
Make sure you have a clear understanding of how much you will have to pay and when. Different lenders charge different fees, some of which you can add to the loan. Brokers will take these into account when recommending the best deals, sometimes the lowest rate is not the best deal when fees are taken into account.
Review your existing mortgage
Don’t forget about your mortgage once it’s all arranged, you should aim to review it 3 months before your deal is coming to an end to look at remortgage options or to ensure that you still get the best deal.
If you would like to discuss your mortgage with me, please call me on 07767 428580 and I will be happy to help.
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/she-works-hard-for-your-money/
Woolborough, the History of a Medieval Manor House
Click here to view this Grade II listed five-bedroom farmhouse which offers over seven acres of land, stables, paddocks, a swimming pool and over 700 years of extraordinary history.
The name Woolborough Farm derived from Thomas de Wolbergh the owner during the early 1300s. During this period the house was believed to have been the residence of wealthy farmers and by 1478 had become a manorship. In the late 1400s it is rumoured that a small battle of the War of Roses took place in the grounds of Woolborough farm, with cannonballs having been discovered dating to this period and a medieval illustration of a cannon with Woolborough Farm in the background.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Woolborough Farm’s occupants secretly committed the greatest treason of the time by harbouring a Catholic priest in the roof. The remains of the priest hole today show markings on the wall, which are thought to have been made by the priest himself as he counted the days he spent concealed in the walls.
In the sixteenth century, the estate came into possession of George Evelyn the Father of John Evelyn the famous writer and diarist who witnessed the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague. Woolborough Farm was gifted to his sister on her marriage to Thomas Stoughton, an English politician.
In 1792, the estate was inherited by the major romantic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley’s father. Shelley was believed to have spent time in his childhood playing in the gardens and was set to inherit the house before being expelled from Oxford and eloping with Harriet Westbrook, much to his Father’s disapproval. Following Shelley’s tragic drowning in 1822, Woolborough farm was succeeded by his only son Sir Percy Florence Shelley in 1844.
In the 1920’s, A.A. Milne stayed as a guest at Woolborough Farm and was said to be taken by the grounds, in particular the lake and island, which inspired scenes for Winnie the Pooh and the “World of Pooh”.
Beatrice Harrison, celebrated cellist, famous for being chosen as the official soloist for the HMV recording with Elgar as conductor and for broadcasting her duets with nightingales on the BBC became owner of Woolborough farm in 1937 with her sister Monica. She recorded her time there in her personal diaries as they tended to their vast collection of animals in the grounds.
During the Second World War a cannon ball crashed through the ceiling from the roof above. 300 years late, this was one of the shots from Oliver Cromwell’s army during the civil war from around 1640, which had lodged in the rafters until the wood eventually gave way.
The current owners must have an appetite for history as they also own and run Britain’s oldest paint manufacturer, the luxury, Mylands paints, which they have used throughout Woolborough Farm to sympathetically restore the property.
Wendi Leech, Partner for Robert Leech comments; “Woolborough Farm is a truly unique property, not only do the grounds and house offer an idyllic family home but the new owner will help write the next chapter in this amazing history.”
The current house dates back to the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries with features added over the years from its succession of owners. The original chimney and door is still retained and believed to date back to the fourteenth century. The door even shows mysterious markings believed to be medieval witch marks and there are arrows in the oldest part of the house to send evil spirits up the chimney.
“The house includes original exposed beams, cellars for a games room, a heated swimming pool, attic playroom and outhouses” explains Wendi. “Outwood is a picturesque village, close to nearby the market town of Reigate with fast commuter links to London from Redhill and Salfords stations.”
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/woolborough-the-history-of-a-medieval-manor-house/
Brexit and its effects on the property market
If ever there was a time when that much over used expression was applicable, that time is now ‘ Keep Calm and Carry On’, it really is the best advice to be given over the next few months.
The result of the historic referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union is in and everyone now knows. As an immediate result, the Government, economy and currency have all been in turmoil, which will obviously have a knock on impact on the property markets, but Britain now has a mandate to reassert itself in global markets and renegotiate relations with Europe on its own terms.
So how will this affect the property market?
Some uncertainty is likely to slow the property market for a while, however, the ‘must movers’ will still move in line with their personal circumstances – upsizing, downsizing, relocating for work purposes or moving for schools, but in contrast, many investors and less committed buyers may sit tight to see the economic and social impact of the announcement.
The ‘wait and see’ period could lead to some price adjustments; hopefully the Government will act swiftly to avoid the property market becoming stagnant which would have a knock-on impact on the economy.
Our hope is, that whoever succeeds David Cameron will appoint a chancellor who will temper the higher stamp duty levels which have curtailed demand across the capital by up to 50 per cent and which in turn is filtering out to the south east of England.
When the new prime minister takes charge and appoints a new chancellor, the present draconian stamp duty rates could be reduced somewhat to encourage more activity in the market place.
The pound may fall, against other major currencies and whilst this may only be in the short term, it does make the UK even more attractive to overseas investors.
Many global investors will take advantage of this, just as they did in the immediate aftermath of the last financial crisis. It is also likely that major multi-national employers will wait to see how the economy pans out before making radical changes. If so, we could expect a boost to lettings markets as more overseas employees wait to see what their prospects hold before buying a home here.
When currency rates do stabilise and confidence returns to the market, the clearing economic outlook should present a great opportunity for those bold enough to seize it. We understand many buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants and investors may still have questions about where this result leaves residential property markets in our area.
At Robert Leech our experienced and dedicated professionals are always here to assist in any way we can, so if you have any property related queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/brexit-and-its-effects-on-the-property-market/
Creative Sales Tactics
Creative sales tactics on a second viewing from Craig at Robert Leech Oxted.
A Piece of Surrey Heritage
The 350 year old mill is among just a handful of working postmills left in Britain and one of only about 25 windmills of all types that still operates. It is the oldest, a fact testified by the original deed, which still exists and records that it was “made on the eleventh day of October in the seventeenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the Faith Anno Domini 1665 . . .”
The mill stands 39ft high, with sails measuring 60ft across, to this day, when the wind blows, its four millstones grind flour and even now the 25-ton mill buck is so perfectly balanced on its 1,000-year-old oak post that it can be turned to the wind by just one man and can still be operated by one person thanks to the remarkable craftsmanship that went into building it.
The builder was a miller named Thomas Budgen and his work commenced in 1665, a year before the Great Fire of London. Legend has it that when the millwrights were completing their work, they looked north towards London and saw a vivid red glow in the sky It was the Great Fire.
The legend is immortalised in a poem that reads:
In sixteen hundred and sixty six, When London was burning like rotten sticks, To tell the news to neighbouring farms, I, Outwood Mill, swung wide my arms. The wind blew high on the Surrey Down, And fanned the fire in the crumbling town. Folk cried: ‘It will burn ’till the great wind calms,’ And wildly, wildly I turned my arms. How the timber crashed! There were terrible falls, London Bridge went and great St Paul’s; The folk gathered round me were filled with alarms, But I stuck to my post and I swung my arms.”
In 1792, a matter of yards from the post mill a stock mill was constructed as a result of a bitter family feud between William Budgen, the then miller and his nephew Ezekiel Budgen it was intended that the new mill would supersede the old, but when trade declined the old windmill triumphed and the new smock mill closed instead. After a period of dereliction, the smock mill finally collapsed in the early 1960s. Up until this point the two mills dominated the landscape and were known locally as the Cat, the smock mill and Kitten the post mill.
In more recent times previous owners have opened the mill to visitors who have been able to see this great piece of engineering in action and could even buy a bag of Outwood Mill flour. The grounds of the mill have been used for a multitude of events including vintage car meets and country food fayres.
Robert Leech himself, has lived in Outwood for over 35 years and says ‘If you ask anyone if they know of Outwood, I guarantee the response will be along the lines of ‘yes, the place with the windmill’. Arguably, it is one of the most famous and iconic structures in Surrey Outwood Mill quite literally is unique, being the oldest working windmill in the country, standing serenely in the centre of the Common, as it has done for hundreds of years and now the chance to own this piece of history could be yours. This could be a wonderful opportunity for entrepreneurs to take the windmill forward into the future.’
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/a-piece-of-surrey-heritage/
Jungliest Massive – the new interior trend
Maybe it’s because of the Olympics and Brazil being home to the largest rainforest or it’s just the need for for us all to put some colour back into our homes after the reign of grey, but Jungle is everywhere. It’s a celebration of vivid colours, bold patterns and lots and lots of plants, its a bit of Morocco mixed with Mexico.
If you want to explore this mode and need some inspiration then look no further than @Thejungalow on instagram and pintrest and you’ll be dusting off that peacock chair, your portrait of Frida Kahlo and popping out to buy some vivd emerald paint.
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/jungliest-massive-the-new-interior-trend/
A True Country Show
Every year the village of Outwood gets together to stage the Outwood Village Country Showa much loved event that is growing by the minute and we are very pleased to have been asked to sponsor it again.
This year it falls on 3rd September 1pm onwards.
The show is expanding rapidly and is now held over two sites with the newly founded Lloyd Hall housing the ever popular Horticultural Show and the two adjacent fields staging the main show, stalls and arena. It’s a beautiful setting, that is geared to promoting not only excellent local Arts and Crafts but also to provide great entertainment for children and families.
So come along bring a rug, find a spot, grab some lunch and enjoy a summer’s day packed with terrier racing, shopping, punch and judy, falconry, everything a country show should have and lots lots more, including the odd local celeb… more info on the very informative website.
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/a-true-country-show/
Gracias. Danke. Grazie. Cheers. Merci.
We regularly get thank you cards and emails sent to our offices from clients we’ve helped buy, sell or let a property.
Last week we received this testimonial from a Landlord that has just let her family home on Doods Road, Reigate through our Reigate Lettings office:
"Renting out a family home could have been a stressful process, if it wasn’t for the experienced and professional support offered from Sally and her letting team at Robert Leech. Sally was able to take us through the process and provided us with key resources for each step. However, what sets this agency apart from the others is how Sally continuously goes that extra mile for both us and our tenants needs."
It’s great that we are so well thought of and it’s testimony to our exceptional service, hard work, patience, expertise and skill that we receive so many messages like the one above.
We are truly committed to our clients and there’s no better evidence we get of that than the kind words and cards clients share with us.
If you’re thinking of letting or selling your property? Make sure you choose an agent that you can rely on. Click here for a valuation.
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/gracias-danke-grazie-cheers-merci/
Give Your Home Kerb Appeal
Top Tips from our regular blogger Laura Bedell-Pearce from Laura’s Gardens a Reigate garden design service specialising in small garden redesigns, border makeovers and container planting.
Get Kerb Appeal: 5 Ways to Entice More Buyers
We all appreciate a finely presented house. And if yours has an inviting exterior or a glorious garden it’s going to stand out on the property portals.
Here are 5 key ways to get your home ready for sale this Autumn.
Tidy up: It’s amazing how much better a photo looks if it’s uncluttered. So now is the time to store, bin or recycle those odds and ends outside the home. Empty plant pots, children’s toys and reels of hose all need to be hidden from view.
Take a look at the front door: Could it do with a fresh coat of paint? Is the knocker straight, the bell working and the house name or number clean and visible? Keep it neat and in keeping with the age of the house and others on the street – now is not the time to make a statement with hot pink!
Time for a wash and brush up: Sweep up all the fallen leaves (dull, repetitive work, but it’s a great work-out) and jet any hard surfaces down. If you can’t do this yourself there are several local firms that can. And it makes a huge difference. Eradicating weeds, moss, lichen, blackspot and more can make driveways look like new.
Look up: Do the gutters need cleaning or mending? Are there cracked, slipped or missing tiles on the roof? Now is the time to address this, before a buyer’s survey brings it up.
And now for the fun bit: Dress the front door with a pot or two. You can go for the classic look with lollipop topiary such as bay or box, seasonal plants (cyclamen, hebes and cineraria look great at this time of year) or go all out and get your beds landscaped. If you know you won’t remember to water plants you can still enjoy some greenery. Simply buy a pot (as large as you can afford and ideally not plastic), a good quality fake plant, plant it in soil and top dress with stones (we won’t tell!). The investment will be worth it. And remember, you can take the containers and plants with you when you move.
Have fun and good luck!
For more ideas visit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurasgardensuk/ or visit www.laurasgardens.com
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/give-your-home-kerb-appeal/
Preaching to the Converted
We have been very lucky to have many impressive and historic properties on the Robert Leech books over the years, but the newly converted chapel of St Silvans, set in the idyllic Staffhurst Woods on the outskirts of Oxted, holds a special place in our hearts.
Back in June 2014, the Oxted branch took on the chapel as a ‘doer-upper’ after it was decommissioned by the local parish in 2010 the property immediately generated a phenomenal amount of interest and caught the imagination of would be purchasers.
St Silvans was subsequently purchased by a small local developer who converted this redundant building into a magnificent 3 bedroom home, with such an abundance of quirks and original features that it does not befit the usual estate agency description.
From the moment you enter the church through the original solid oak door, you cannot help but be amazed by the interior. The developers have managed to create a wonderful, contemporary space whilst still maintaining a homely, welcoming feel – no mean feat considering the height of the vaulted ceilings in the main living area and kitchen. There are cleverly designed mezzanines with glass frontages in both the living and kitchen areas, which have been carefully constructed not to up stage the rooms.
The bespoke kitchen is a real centrepiece to the property complete with butlers sink and american style fridge freezer but what makes this space really unique is the original magnificent arched window which creates a dramatic backdrop.
The house sits centrally within the plot surrounded by ancient woodland with the rear gardens over looking meadows – it truly is the perfect country retreat.
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/preaching-to-the-converted/
A Garden for All Seasons
Many of us, if we’re honest, enjoy a spot of spontaneous plant shopping. And we’re most likely to do this when the weather is good and we want to be outside. As a result, gardens tend to be well stocked with spring and summer flowering herbaceous plants but…come winter, none are in flower and most have dropped their leaves or even died right back to ground level, leaving a rather stark space. You may not be sitting in your garden now but it’s going to be your view for several months so it’s worth planning for.
To solve your naked garden woes, here are my 6 top tips for the Winter Garden.
1) Evergreens – Evergreen shrubs, plants, climbers and trees should form the structure of your garden. Some popular, hardy choices include: yew, bay, climbing jasmine (trachylospermum jasminoides), holly, hebe, photinia and box (but this is currently very prone to disease so try ilex crenata).
2) Grasses – No, not a large clump of pampas (this is not the 70s!) but try one of the many other varieties such as miscanthus sinensis morning light or miscanthus zebrinus and repeat for stunning effect. The grasses reflect light beautifully, move with the wind and create beautiful displays when covered in frost.
3) Red Stems – Some plants are grown especially for the intense colour of their red stems which are revealed when their leaves fall. Some ideas to get you started include the acer palmatum and cornus sanguinea (midwinter fire).
4) Plants with decorative seed heads – Many plants don’t need to be pruned until late Jan / Feb. Their seed heads can create fabulous architectural interest and movement in winter. I’m particularly fond of mop head hydrangeas and verbena bonariensis.
5) Garden Structures – If you invest in beautiful plant supports such as wooden or wrought iron obelisks, rose baskets, lobster pots or arches they will take on a new lease of life when the plants they support die back. Some are quite beautiful sculptures in their own right.
6) Lighting – Naturally you can have great fun with Christmas lights but it may also be worth getting a professional installation of permanent lighting to highlight particular garden features. On short winter days you can enjoy the display from inside your home and on balmy summer evenings you can sit out til late.
So, simply get to know your soil type and garden environment, select structural plants that like these conditions and you’re well on your way to creating a beautiful garden for all seasons.
Laura’s Gardens
For more ideas please visit my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/laurasgardensuk/ or www.laurasgardens.com
Laura’s Gardens is a Reigate garden design service run by Laura Bedell-Pearce. Laura specialises in small garden redesigns, border makeovers and container planting.
Content source: https://www.robertleech.com/a-garden-for-all-seasons/
One of Oxted’s most sought after roads, Alderwood
On one of Oxted’s most sought after roads, Alderwood is an impressive five bedroom detached family house, take a look inside…