Following the recent news of a local estate agent in financial difficulty and seemingly no longer trading, we have fielded many calls today from understandably concerned tenants, landlords, purchasers and vendors.

Whilst we cannot comment on specifics, we will happily provide help or advice as best we can on a totally free, no obligation basis. Please feel free to contact Andy Biggins or Ross Yeates on 721757 or any of their team who will be happy to talk with you.

We, like many in the property profession within Guernsey, are genuinely surprised and saddened by what has happened but, at the same time, none of us is fully aware of the full facts and therefore we are keen to avoid any speculation and conjecture that leads to any more stress and upset.

We will all do our best to help anyone affected however we hope that there is a satisfactory outcome for all clients and customers affected by this.

General considerations:

1. If you are a tenant and do not have direct contact with your Landlord, see if you can find an address for them on your lease. This may, in turn, enable you to do a directory search and find a phone number for them. If you don’t have this information, by all means, let us know any information you do have and we will happily see if we can track them down on your behalf.

2. Clearly, a tenant should not be paying money into an account that they have concerns over but they should be putting money to one side as the rent will need to be paid at some stage.

3. We fully encourage tenants to get legal advice because every lease will have a slightly different clause. If you can’t afford legal advice, then Citizens Advice may be able to help.

2018 has been a scorcher and what better way to capture the memories than through pictures. We have put together a terrific prize for all you budding photographers out there, all you have to do is submit the picture that you think best portrays a Guernsey Summer

Enter below:

Swoffers first estate agency in Guernsey to offer immersive property tours

Mention virtual reality and most of us will think of gamers stepping into an imaginary world, fighting battles or speeding around a race track. However, this technology is set to transform the way we buy and sell our homes.

What better way to sell your property than giving potential buyers the ability to see it for real from their desktop via a 360-degree virtual tour?

At Swoffers, we are committed to harnessing the power of technology to make the experience of buying and selling a home easier and more enjoyable. Using our immersive property tours, potential buyers will be able to take a virtual walk around a home, allowing them to really understand the space and get a feel for its dimensions and how the rooms interconnect.

This is especially valuable for buyers not presently located in Guernsey, who will be able to explore properties of interest wherever and whenever they choose. By the time they come to visit the island in person, they’ll be confident that the homes they go to view with one of our agents are real contenders. And we’re sure that the convenience of being able to take a virtual tour at their leisure will be equally attractive to buyers who do live in Guernsey.

This innovative development brought to you by Swoffers is a completely new level of engagement which goes beyond looking at a set of photographs. Not only can you see each room from every angle, but you can also view photographic floorplans with all the furniture and fittings in situ, whilst ‘dollhouse’ mode transforms these plans into a 3D image, almost as if you had shrunk the property and removed its roof to see it in its entirety.

The possibilities of this technology go beyond simple convenience: for example, it is valuable for clients who have or are caring for someone who has, issues surrounding access and mobility. Furthermore, if you’ve ever looked around an unfurnished house and struggled to visualise how your furniture would fit in, you’ll understand how difficult it can be to appreciate scale. So if a property is to be vacated prior to being sold, the virtual tour can be created before all its contents are removed.

Craig Whitman, Open Market Director at Swoffers, is excited about this new offering: ‘We’re always looking for ways to make buying and selling property a positive experience, and we think 360-degree virtual tours are the future for our industry. It’s convenient to take a really good look at a home wherever you are, at any time of day or night, and the technology gives you a unique view – and understanding – of how a property might work for the way you live.’

If you are interested in using this technology, please contact Andre or Craig for more information regarding costs and what’s involved.

 


 


The Environment and Infrastructure department have issued a policy letter which promises to create a new Housing Strategy in two years. The strategy will use the findings and recommendations set out in a report produced by KPMG two years ago when the States were originally directed to produce a strategy.

Swoffers welcome the work taking place and believe there are many positives that will come out of it. However, there is concern over the amount of time this is taking while the housing market continues to underperform in some areas. In particular, first time buyers who are trying to get on the market can’t raise deposits and are sometimes left with no option but to leave the island in search of affordable housing.

Watch our video below to hear Director Spencer Noyon’s response to the publication of the Policy Letter published today (12/06/18).

Swoffers support helping Pollinator Project to save Guernsey’s valuable insects.

Last year, the island’s largest estate agent gave away bird boxes to help provide homes for our feathered friends and this year they have turned their attention to insects.

A combination of urban growth, pesticide use and a change in farming practices, has led to massive declines in butterflies, moths, bees and hoverflies in recent years and these are all pollinating insects that are vital for the production of much of the food we eat and the flowers we enjoy.

The Pollinator Project, an initiative of La Société Guernesiaise, aims to create habitats across Guernsey where pollinating insects can thrive. Swoffers has supported the project by financing the local production of 48 Bee Boxes’ designed to attract solitary bees to breed in the holes.

The first box went up at Castel School, where the pupils are creating ‘Pollinator Patches’ with plants that support these insects. Handing over the bee box, Scott Ingrouille from Swoffers commented, “This is such great example of different groups of islanders coming together for the good of our local environment. Swoffers and the Pollinator Project led the initiative, the boxes were made by CLIP (Creative Learning In Prison), the wood was supplied by Norman Piette at a substantial discount, and now we’re here with Castel School children setting it up.”

 

 

Barry Wells from the Pollinator Project echoes the sentiment. “We really appreciate Swoffers involvement as the Bee Boxes are a key learning tool for the project, especially in schools. It will be a real community effort to establish enough pollinator patches to form wildlife corridors across Guernsey and ensure the survival of these important insects. However, we are delighted by the number of businesses, community groups, schools and individuals that have come forward already, keen to be involved and together I’m confident we can get Guernsey buzzing!’

Further information on the Pollinator Project can be found at pollinatorproject.gg

Following a request from VisitGuernsey to the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce asking businesses to get behind the release of the film of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Swoffers has produced a short film to promote the island.

Swoffers is used to spreading the message that Guernsey is a wonderful location with a rich history, so the team commissioned Spike Productions to create a film to show off the real locations found in the book.

The short film features an interview with Annie Barrows, who co-authored the best-selling book with her aunt Mary Ann Shaffer, extracts from the text and actual footage and headlines from the Occupation and Liberation.

Speaking from her home in California’s Bay Area, Annie Barrows speaks about the appeal of Guernsey’s wartime history: “[Co-author Mary Ann Shaffer] cared about people who were humane in inhumane circumstances and people who led with their hearts when it was not to their benefit, people who put themselves in peril because of their principles, and the story of Guernsey’s Occupation has all of those elements… The behaviour of the people of Guernsey during the Occupation provides a different kind of example, an example of disagreeing yet coming to a balance, perhaps, that we can all use.”

Andre Austin, Director of Swoffers, said: “The Chamber of Commerce has been integral in bringing together like minded people and businesses who are keen to make the most of any opportunity we have to put Guernsey on the map. Our island appearing in a film that will reach an international audience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we should really capitalise upon. We were really excited to play a part in promoting both the film of this much-loved book and our beautiful island.”

Nikki Trebert is not only Senior Property Manager at Swoffers, she’s also a champion pistol shooter who is aiming for a medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

When Nikki’s school, La Mare De Carteret, offered shooting as an option for a term, it sparked an enthusiasm which has led to a stellar career. ‘I wasn’t a natural shooter, I had to work at it but I absolutely loved it from the start,’ says Nikki.

There are several different disciplines in the sport, including rifle and clay pigeon shooting but Nikki’s favourite is the pistol. ‘I shoot air pistol, sport pistol and standard pistol, Air is shot indoors at 10m, Sport and Standard are shot outdoors at 25m there are different courses of fire but still applying similar techniques,’ explains Nikki.

Traditionally a male-dominated sport, women’s shooting is developing and gaining in popularity. Nikki competes in mixed events as well as in ladies’ events and the ISFF – shooting’s governing body – is levelling the playing field between the sexes. This means that, whereas women used to have to fire fewer shots than men, they now must do the same. Nikki’s favourite discipline, sport pistol, requires you to fire 30 precision shots, followed by ’30 shots of rapid fire, where the target turns or newer electronic targets have lights that you have to shoot within a three-second period; it’s quite dynamic and that’s my favourite part of the event.’

Apart from good hand-eye coordination, you need excellent concentration. ‘You have to block out everything that’s going on around you, just focus on your sights and squeezing the trigger. I find it quite relaxing, an escape from everything going on in the world.’ Physical training is important too: ‘You should have good lung capacity and fitness helps in competition with endurance.’

Nikki’s list of achievements is phenomenal, from the British Championships to the GB National Squad and the European Championships. ‘I’ve attended eight Island Games, set a few British records, an Island Games record and then in 2014 went to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which was amazing. The atmosphere was brilliant.’

In April 2018 Nikki will compete at the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast. Although shooting often takes place in a satellite location, this time the team will stay together. ‘Our bus leaves at 5am every morning but it will be nice to feel part of the bigger team and be able to support my other teammates.’ Nikki has learnt lessons from her 2014 experience: ‘Last time I went with the aim of reaching the final and I put so much pressure on myself and with the media and everything else, I got so nervous I didn’t perform to the best of my ability. This time I just want to do my best and focus on the technique. The final scores will come if you get the technique right.’

Nikki is clearly a perfectionist and admits: ‘I’m very hard on myself – I expect a certain standard and if I don’t do that I’m disappointed with myself.’ This applies to her job as well as her sport. ‘Being slightly OCD on perfection isn’t always a good thing, but it does mean I’m going to put 100% into whatever I do.’ As Senior Property Manager, she looks after a large portfolio of properties, both tenanted and those that are vacant whilst owners are away from the island. ‘I’ve been at Swoffers for 13 and a half years, so there is not much I haven’t seen or done in the role,’ says Nikki. The role is varied, which she enjoys. Of her employers, Nikki says, ‘Swoffers have been very supportive and they’re always very encouraging to help people perform to the best of their ability, both in work and outside of work. My colleagues often take part in challenges and are keen to support the community’.

Unfortunately, shooting will not feature in Birmingham in 2022, so Australia will potentially be Nikki’s last Commonwealth Games but she has no plans to retire. The UK’s strict gun control laws make the logistics of the competition difficult, but Nikki hopes that shooting will make a return. ‘It’s one of the really popular sports, the new format for the finals are really exciting to watch, I love the skill, focus and the accuracy involved in shooting.’

Nikki is currently training up to six times a week, combining this with working full time and family life. Six-year-old daughter Maicie has inherited her mother’s competitive nature. ‘She doesn’t like losing at Monopoly so we can squabble a bit over who’s going to win! Sometimes a competitive nature is a good thing because it makes you work hard but I’m also trying to get her to understand that you need to learn from when you don’t win and to work out how to make yourself better for next time.’

To find out more about getting involved in the sport, visit Guernsey Pistol Club or Guernsey Air Rifle Association.

Chloe and Nick Moakes were familiar with Guernsey so when they began to explore the possibility of leaving London, the island was high on their list of considerations. As Nick says: ‘If you compare Guernsey with anywhere in the UK you might choose to move to, there’s nowhere that can compare to here that has the history, the culture, the things to see, the beautiful countryside. They all have some of this but Guernsey has got it all in spades and I think that’s what makes it so attractive.’ However, feeling that the island was ‘just a bit out of our reach financially’, the couple looked into Cornwall, Spain and France, weighing up their options regarding jobs, education, housing and lifestyle.

Then some property details caught the couple’s attention. ‘A house came up in Guernsey that seemed perfect for us and it was within budget, whereas previously many similar houses hadn’t been, and that’s what really sowed the seed,’ explains Chloe. Although they didn’t proceed with that particular property, Chloe and Nick found a great choice of houses on the Open Market priced at under a million pounds ‘We came and looked at quite a few houses, then we walked into this place and said, “Wow, this is the one.” It’s perfectly located, five minutes’ walk to the kids’ schools. It’s got plenty of space, a garden and off-street parking – and lo and behold we’re here.’

Chloe and Nick have two young children, nine-year-old George and Beatrice, 8. ‘It was all centred around the children,’ says Chloe. ‘Guernsey really ticked the boxes because there’s a great finance sector and lots of opportunities for school and university leavers.’ Nick adds: ‘As well as financial services you’ve got lots of companies starting up in technology and all kinds of things, so for our kids and the kids who live on the island generally it’s got a huge amount to offer.’

Career-wise, the move has been smooth for Nick, who holds a senior client relationship role within financial services. ‘It’s working fine – I go back to London for meetings and the technology is so good here, I plug my computer in and it’s like being in the office.’ Chloe has a background in office management, latterly working in the education sector. Having spent years juggling work and childcare, she is keeping an eye out for a suitable term-time position.

The work/life balance that is possible in Guernsey has been a major change, as Nick explains: ‘It’s a different lifestyle here because you can work as hard as you would have done in London but everything is so close, you can go out and meet your family on the beach after work, have a meal somewhere and go and chat to friends. If you’re working in a major city, when it’s time to leave people want to get on a train and go home, but here you don’t have that pressure because nobody’s got a long commute.’ This contrast hasn’t come at a price, as the island has first-rate restaurants, bars and amenities. ‘Guernsey offers everything we want for our children and for ourselves and it’s got all the infrastructure that we need. It’s got fabulous schooling, the big supermarkets and all the things that you wouldn’t necessarily think are here but are here, and that’s awesome.’

Even though Nick has to travel regularly, he has found the island surprisingly accessible. ‘It takes me two hours to get from the airport here to my office in central London, which is amazing. It may be an island but it’s easy to get to pretty much wherever you need to get to. If people like me are wondering where to move to, Guernsey is an option because there’s lots here with the ability to travel.’

Having been on the island for a month, the Moakes are already appreciating the sense of community. ‘I’ve noticed that companies sponsor things and get involved – you see a lot of amazing things that are so switched on, that I didn’t see in the UK. And it’s so easy, if you want to get involved at whatever level, you can make a difference over here if you want to,’ says Chloe. ‘I think there’s something for everybody here, whether it’s the Arts, history or nature, there’s a whole host of things happening throughout the year, like the Town Carnival which is just great. Wherever you look there’s activity,’ adds Nick.

The children are settling well into their new schools and Nick says, ‘I’ve noticed a whole new energy in them.’ Chloe and Nick are also finding their feet, a process which began before they made the move.

‘You read about the Open Market and it can sound a bit scary, but actually it doesn’t need to be.

There are two markets but it’s very easy to navigate if you’ve got the support of someone like the estate agent who’s helping you,’ says Nick. ‘Swoffers have been brilliant, they really helped us. There was great information sharing – because we were buying remotely, we didn’t understand the laws but Craig became our representative if you like. It was far more than just buying a house, he really helped us to realise the dream,’ Chloe concurs. One potential measure proved to be unnecessary: ‘One of the things I found quite amusing was when we first came over I said we must get an alarm system put in, and everybody laughed and said, “You’re from London, aren’t you?”’ says Nick.

Chloe admits that there can be a perception that the island is out of reach for ‘normal’ families. ‘When we said we were moving to Guernsey, so many people said, “Oh, are you millionaires?” There is this belief that it’s really difficult to move but it isn’t, and at the end of it what you get is so much. I don’t understand why more people don’t do it!’

Got a question? We’re here to help.
Our Open Market team have a wealth of experience in helping individuals and families relocate to Guernsey. To find out more about living in Guernsey, email sales@swoffers.co.uk or telephone +44 (0) 1481 711766.

Swoffers has agreed a sponsorship arrangement with boxer Billy Le Poullain, the recently crowned CI Sports Personality of the Year who will be representing Guernsey at the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast this April.

Billy, who grew up in Alderney and is now living in Guernsey, is the first ever Guernsey/Alderney boxer to compete at the Commonwealth Games. At just 22 years old, he has already built up an impressive list of achievements and his record currently stands at 46 wins from 63 contests. Billy’s titles include Senior Western Counties Champion Welterweight 2017 and National Championship Semi-Finalist 2017. In 2017 he was also awarded the Guernsey Press Sporting Achievement of the Year and the Guernsey Sport Commission Outstanding Sport Achievement.

Andre Austin, Director of Swoffers, said: ‘We are thrilled to be supporting Billy by providing funding for his preparation for the Commonwealth Games, which has included him attending training camps off-island. Beyond the Games there is a lot to look forward to, with big events later in the year. The popularity of boxing has soared, and there’s a growing appreciation of the skills involved and the dedication required to succeed. We see Billy as a great Brand Ambassador for Swoffers: he’s a fantastic role model for his sport and his hard work and commitment have really impressed us.’

Billy said: ‘I am delighted and overwhelmed to have received this incredible level of support. It has allowed me to dedicate my time to the intense training needed to compete at a high level. Without this support, I would have to sacrifice more of my time to earn enough to afford just the essentials. I extend my sincere thanks to Swoffers for their help on my sporting journey, and will remember this throughout any future success I may experience.’

With a little over three weeks to go until the Gold Coast 2018 opening ceremony, Channel Islanders will be rooting for Billy as he steps into the ring.

This recent optimism is borne out by the levels of activity currently being experienced by Swoffers, who have traditionally dominated the Open Market in the island, and confirms the message from the States of Guernsey’s Economic Development president Deputy Charles Parkinson, who underlined the important role that Locate Guernsey has played in bringing new residents and businesses to the island.

‘It is clear that the message is getting through,’ said Swoffers director Craig Whitman, who heads up the experienced Open Market team. ‘There is a degree of uncertainty in the UK and Guernsey stands to benefit from that as potential residents look to explore all options.

‘The island is proving very attractive at this time,’ he added. ‘We have had an increased number of enquiries and we have now seen this initial interest turn into agreed deals.’

Swoffers were responsible for half of all Open Market sales in 2017 and enjoyed a busy end to the year, including the sale of Woodlands, a substantial country estate at more than £6.5million.

In the first two months of this year the activity levels have remained very high which have resulted in many agreed sales and also a steady flow of potential new residents seeing what the island has to offer.

Deputy Parkinson put the recent surge in interest in people moving here down to a concern over Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the potential of a Labour government.

‘We have always tried to focus on what is so great about our island and there have always been very many reasons why living here is so appealing, added Mr Whitman. What is happening in the UK is just another rationale for why people are considering Guernsey. We are very fortunate to have a unique way of life.’

Of particular note also has been the hectic nature of Open Market rentals and Swoffers has enjoyed the busiest two months on record in this sector.

Swoffers has agreed rentals contracts on 14 open market properties in the last six weeks alone.

‘It is a very lively time,’ said Open Market Lettings negotiator Sue Nicolle. ‘The pleasing aspect for this sector is that half of the deals being agreed are with people who are new to the island.
‘They will sample what Guernsey has to offer and experience first-hand what a wonderful island we live in. For some this will mean a permanent move which can only be positive for the island’s economy and also the long-term future of the Open Market.’

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