News from Rook Matthews Sayer

RMS cheers on Northern Sparkles

January 2012

Cheerleading squad & Hip Hop Group, Northern Sparkles based at Shandon Way Community Association, near Kenton Park,  recently took part, winning first place in both the Junior Hip Hop and Senior Hip Hop national Hip Hop competition in the world renowned venue, the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Northern Sparkles have a firm base behind them, Shandon Way Community Association was set up 12 years ago, a voluntary management committee of local people who plan and develop community based leisure activities for young local people with the object of improving their
 conditions in life. It provides a focal point in a socially deprived area of Newcastle. Northern Sparkles Cheerleading Squad and the community association will always need funding to help them to continue with their good work. Local estate agent, Rook Matthews Sayer were inspired by the squad, knowing they needed more funds to enter and travel to competitions. A raffle was held amongst the staff at RMS with prizes donated by local companies including PFS Flooring, Sachins Restaurant, As You Like It and ITPS donated match tickets for Newcastle United. RMS even auctioned an additional day off on holiday. Local financial services companies including Precise Mortgages, Abbey, Friends Life, NMS Financial, Regency Finance and First Complete all generously helped. Janet Walker, Director from Rook Matthews Sayer presented the cheque to the Northern Sparkles who said: “We were thrilled to help the team, I was very happy to hand over a cheque for £2,150, with an additional £250 afterwards”.

Success at the Cedars

October 2011

 Rook Matthews Sayers Fenham branch and head office team were appointed by Newcastle City Council to brand, sell and market eighty apartments, The Cedars in the West End regeneration area of Riverside Dene, near Scotswood Road, in March 2011.

 The Cedars is a completely renovated and refurbished modern apartment block of eighty apartments on Park Road, minutes from the Central Station, in an area of exciting regeneration, completed in July 2011. The apartments have been completely refurbished by an award winning builder, with modern interiors, kitchens and bathrooms, many with views of the city and the River Tyne.

 Now in October, the hard work has paid off, all of the 58 two bedroom apartments are either sold or under offer, with only 5 of a total of 18 one bedroom apartments remaining. The good news for the region and the property market as a whole is that the majority of buyers are first time, many of whom would not have had the opportunity to own a place of their own.

 The branding and the marketing of the site was based on ‘a place of our own’ and using the colours from the original designs for Riverside Dene, the target for the marketing; first time buyers. All marketing decisions were made by Rook Matthews Sayer, initiated by their in-house marketing manager and in-house designer. Sales and viewings were a joint effort between the Fenham branch and head office with the use of a show apartment and, finally, with viewings in the actual Cedars after completion on the 18^th July.

 The apartments were particularly attractive as they were offered with up to 95% mortgages provided by Newcastle City Council and are aimed at buyers looking to live in a smart modern apartment, close to the river and city, in an up and coming area of regeneration, Riverside Dene. The apartments are not available to the buy to let market.

 The remaining apartments are one bedroom, priced from £50,000. On entering the apartment block, through the secure entry system, you are welcomed into an area of double height floor to ceiling windows, which bathes the reception in natural, bright light. The secure entry system is linked to each apartment by telephone entry. There is a parking space for each apartment and a bike store for bicycles, ideal if you would like to cycle along the riverside or into the city.

 The apartments are selling fast, so if you would like to arrange a viewing of the one bedroom show apartment, check out

www.rookmatthewssayer.co.uk/cedars

or call 0191 2463810

We will survey in the smallest places

27.9.11

Rook Matthews Sayer Chartered surveyors and valuation team believe they offer a highly responsive and quality driven service based on years of experience, but there are few opportunities to prove it to the public. Senior Surveyor, Graham Cadwallader surveys homes regularly and will often have to climb into roof spaces and basements but generally the public are unaware of his trials. “We always go that extra mile for our customers, if there is a problem I hope with our efforts and experience we will find it. My suits unfortunately take the brunt of my investigations, so my dry cleaning bills are high.   As members of RICS, we work to very high standards, so crawling around in enclosed spaces is just part of the service”.

Our team operate across the North East, from Berwick and Alnwick in the north, Durham, Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire in the south and Tynedale, Teesdale and Weardale in the west, all coordinated through our central office in Newcastle Business Park. As well as private clients, we act for a wide range of banks, building societies, local authorities, health practices, housing associations and leading property companies.

 If you would like to benefit from our dedicated service please call our Survey Centre on

0191 246 3720

Photo: Graham Cadwallader, Senior Surveyor and Associate Director, Rook Matthews Sayer

Teamwork in Gosforth's resilient market

May 2011

With a hard winter behind us and with the spring market here and Easter approaching it now seems possible to form an opinion of the strength of the 2011 housing market.  After prices rose almost continually for 10 years from 1996 we then saw demand, prices and transaction levels fall from 2007 as recession followed the banking crisis.

 A rally in late 2009 and early 2010 died out as the post election economic reality hit the market late last year.  As always happens, the turn of the year brought new optimism and activity to the market which has been maintained, but at lower than average levels. 

I, with my branch manager colleague Sandra Dennett, have been exclusively involved within the Gosforth market for the last 12 years during which we have been involved in the sale of just about every property type.  Its particularly enjoyable to be asked to sell a home for clients years after we have sold their first and there are even several properties that Sandra and I have actually sold 3 times.Gosforth, with an enviable position being located just north of the city centre and the Town Moor is a very important part of Newcastle’s property market featuring some of the city’s most prestigious homes whilst also offering a range of first time buyer properties and homes for families and the retired.The market in Gosforth is obviously affected by the same economic factors which influence the rest of the North East but whilst price realism is always necessary, demand for most property types continues to remain reasonably resilient.Living in Gosforth and having spent the last 12 years valuing and selling houses, I have been able to appreciate at first hand the dynamics of the market and the reasons people move to and within Gosforth.  Closeness to the City, the range of quality houses, the vibrant High Street and a range of good schools all add to Gosforth continuing appeal.The current market, undoubtedly tougher than most we have experienced in recent years, is one in which Estate Agents need to be on top of their game in order to succeed for their clients.As a Valuer who brings numbers of houses to the market each week I am delighted to be working with a professional and dedicated team which is superbly led by Sandra Dennett.  A team which has many years of experience in Gosforth’s property market.Teamwork and service levels, with staff who go the extra mile for buyers and sellers, is the key to every successful sale.  I am fortunate to live and work in Gosforth and being asked to sell people’s homes, usually their most important asset is a great privilege and to be able to do it Gosforth supported by an outstanding team is about as good as it gets.

David Jones

Associate Director and Marketing & Valuations Manager

The Cedars - at last a place of our own

1st April 2011

If your dream is having an apartment on the edge of the city, one you can afford to buy yourself, your dream may just be coming true.

The Cedars, Riverside Dene is a renovated and refurbished modern apartment block of eighty apartments on Park Road, just off Scotswood Road, in an area of exciting regeneration, for sale now and due for completion in June 2011.  The apartments have been completely refurbished by an award winning builder, with modern interiors, kitchens and bathrooms, many with views of the city and the river.

 The apartments are offered with up to 95% mortgages provided by Newcastle City Council and are aimed at buyers looking to live in a smart modern apartment, close to the river and city, in an up and coming area of regeneration, Riverside Dene. The apartments are not available to the buy to let market.

The apartments are offered with fitted carpets, vinyl, blinds, washing machine, cooker and hood and fridge freezer, fitted kitchens and shower over bath, giving buyers a fantastic head start in their new home.

 The apartments include one bedroom, two bedroom, (some with floor to ceiling Oriel windows) and two bedroom duplexes, all with open plan living spaces, from £50,000 and up to £90,000. On entering the apartment block, through the secure entry system, you are welcomed into an area of double height floor to ceiling windows, which bathes the reception in natural, bright light. The light cascades off natural wood, cream walls and dark cream floor tiles. The secure entry system is linked to each apartment by telephone entry. The outside walls are insulated and the central heating is supplied by Vital Energy, through a District Heating System, using a Bio-Mass boiler, an efficient eco-friendly heating system, how much heating a resident needs is controlled by them. Each apartment has BT phone and broadband connections, as well as Sky Plus through a central satellite on top of the building – you just need to sign up to either. Each floor has its own garbage shoot, with recycling area in the grounds. There is a parking space for each apartment, with visitor and disabled parking and a bike store for cycles, ideal if you would like to cycle along the riverside or in to the city. Externally, the communal gardens and parking curves gently around the base framing the apartments creating a strong and dynamic sense of movement and allowing the Cedars to rise from the landscape, a beacon for the future of Riverside Dene.

 Interest in the apartments has already been high

www.rookmatthewssayer.co.uk/cedars

or call 0191 2463810 to view

Facebook.com/cedarsnewcastle

Elected Mayor, Linda Arkley officially opens new Rook Matthews Sayer branch

July 2010

Rook Matthews Sayer Estate Agents, on Park View in Whitley Bay, was officially opened by the Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, Linda Arkley on the evening of Thursday 22nd July, which coincided with a launch party.

Janet Walker, Director said “The launch party was an opportunity to for our ‘coastal living’ team and staff from our other branches to celebrate with all the contractors who have worked on or for the new branch, to ensure we have a successful opening. We have managed to create something very special, a very stylish office and put together a very dedicated and experienced team of people who are looking forward to serving the community.

We also invited local business owners, residents, solicitors and representatives from local financial institutions, we very much believe in using local services and building relationships.

The team is led by Janet Walker, Director, Jan Rix, Branch Manager, Marie Cochrane, Valuation Manager, who all live in Whitley Bay and share 63 years of estate agency experience. The Whitley Bay branch is situated on a large corner site on Park View and is the 17th branch in a network throughout Tyneside and Northumberland. The main areas the branch will cover are Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, Cullercoats, Monkseaton and North Shields. Rook Matthews Sayer are also Chartered Surveyors and have a Commercial and Business Sales Department.

Clive Rook, Managing Director said “We are all excited about extending our service to the coast. Our leadership team in Whitley Bay have been with RMS for many years and we have recruited an outstanding and experienced sales team to join them. All of the ‘coastal living team,’ live and now work at the coast”. If you would like to speak to RMS Whitley Bay ‘Coastal Living’ team about selling your home or would like to register as a buyer please call 0191 246 3666.

RMS OPENS NEW COASTAL LIVING BRANCH IN WHITLEY BAY

July 2010

A love of selling houses and living at the coast is a belief shared by the nine staff of Rook Matthews Sayer’s new ‘coastal living’ branch in Whitley Bay, which opened on the 10th July.

The team is led by Janet Walker, Director, Jan Rix, Branch Manager, Marie Cochrane, Valuation Manager, who all live in Whitley Bay and share 63 years of estate agency experience. The Whitley Bay branch is situated on a large corner site on Park View and is the 17th branch in a network throughout Tyneside and Northumberland.

Clive Rook, Managing Director said’ “We are all excited about extending our service to the coast. Our leadership team in Whitley Bay have been with RMS for many years and we have recruited an outstanding and experienced sales team to join them. All of the ‘coastal living team,’ live and now work at the coast. Our plan for success is simple – they all love selling houses and they love living at the coast”.

RMS makes a splash

June 2010

Estate agent Rook Matthews Sayer, members of the Homesale Network has been making an effort to get involved with the local community, most recently supporting the City of Newcastle Amateur Swimming Club by sponsoring its summer barbecue, which took place on June 18, 2010.

The club, based at the City Pool in Newcastle city centre, develops swimmers to enable them to take part in competition at regional, national, international, Commonwealth and Olympic levels. David Jones, valuation and marketing manager at RMS Gosforth, explains how the company got involved: "Following the change in government, the swimming club is going to lose funding and it needs to raise money simply to keep everything running. “There are several squads comprising around 150 swimmers who take part in local and national galas that incur transport costs and so on." He continues: "It’s a fantastic organisation. My 11-year-old son goes frequently, and it's great to see that it works with all ages of swimmer, from five years old upwards, across the city. The standards of the club become clear when you consider that it has produced some high performing athletes, such as Chris Cook." The club was formed in 1977, when head coach Ian Oliver became chief swimming coach/organiser at Newcastle Council. During his career, he has coached swimmers to win nine Commonwealth medals, including five Golds, and this will be the 15th year that swimmers from Newcastle have competed in major swimming events. David adds: "At RMS we've made a donation of £1000 to sponsor a fundraising barbecue at the Northern Rugby Club, Gosforth, where there’ll be a raffle to raise funds. “From the company’s perspective, we’re always looking to put something back into the community and this seemed like an ideal project.

"For more information on the club, log on to www.cityofnewcastleasc.co.uk or call Russell Mills on 07986 793800.

New veterans centre benefits from donation from RMS

April 2010

Rook Matthews Sayer, members of the Homesale Network was pleased to hand over a cheque to North East housing support charity, Norcare in January. The money was raised during RMS’s campaign, ‘The market is moving,’ which ran during September and October 2009. For every home listed, an amount would be paid to Norcare. Clive Rook said “The market was improving, but we had no real idea how much money we would end up raising for the charity. We were pleased to raise £6,350, which will go towards the purchase of a mini bus for Norcare. This will allow the staff to take residents out and about, so they will be able to benefit from all the North East has to offer. All the staff at RMS participated in the campaign, their energy and enthusiasm helped raise the amount we did. In addition to the money raised by RMS, one of the companies we work with Simply Group, raised £246 for the charity, which will go towards the mini bus also. We chose Norcare to support, because of their work with the homeless and we were excited to find out that they were opening a new centre for vulnerable veterans.” Norcare is working with the Royal British Legion to pilot a centre that will re-create home life for ex servicemen and women that have fallen on hard times, to help them re-build their lives.