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It was another beautiful sunny day (the sun always seems to shine when The Arnewood School visit our site) when our Construction Manager Andy Follett arrived at our Strata Site in Canford Cliffs Road.  Bang on 10 o’clock (punctual as usual) the two mini-buses arrived full of eager pupils.  There were only 17 pupils as apparently a couple of them were ill and one of the lads forgot his boots so wasn’t allowed to come (I bet he’ll be gutted when they tell him what a great time they had!)

We carried out the usual Health and Safety Induction, introducing them to the Steve the Site Manager, Sid the Plant Operator and Dean the Bricklaying Contractor before walking them in through the huge basement.  They were able to see the reinforced concrete structure of the basement and couldn’t believe how much the site had changed since their last visit back in October 2011, when the site was literally just a huge hole in the ground. 

They went off up the stairs into the apartments above and we were able to show them various areas of the construction process including the steel beams and the pre-stressed concrete planks to name but a few.  We then ascended to the next floor (which is ground level on Canford Cliffs Road) to show them the bricklaying which was being carried out by Dean Griffiths and his Team.  We split the pupils into teams of four and they all put their hand to bricklaying (under close supervision!), one team at a time.  They actually built a wall which forms part of one of the apartments!  The other half of the team went off with Sid for a supervised turn on the Telescopic Handler.  The teachers also got to have a turn on the Handler and I’m not sure who enjoyed it most, the teachers or pupils?

All the staff on Site were brilliant, in particular Steve Fieldhouse, Sid Ward and Dean Griffiths as they all showed the pupils how to safely operate different plant or lay bricks.  An hour and a half later, after everyone had had an individual turn at brick-laying at telescopic handler driving, they all left site.  It was clear the Visitors thoroughly enjoyed their experience and asked me to pass on their thanks for all that Pennyfarthing had done for them.

The school are looking to re-visit Strata again when we start plastering so that they can see the internal trades being carried out.  (Written by Andy Follett - Construction Manager)

Site Manager Steve Fieldhouse supervising the bricklaying

Arnewood School Pupil on the Telecopic Loadall

I felt I should blog a general update today as I won’t be able to blog on the 29th February for another four years! 

Our ‘show home event’ went well at the weekend which is excellent news and we’re really pleased.  There was a really good attendance of potential purchasers at the three participating developments (namely Foxgloves in Bransgore, Heathlands in Hordle and Infinity in Milford on Sea) and the event proved very worthwhile.  On the strength of the interest over the weekend we have decided to run another open weekend (this time at The Halyards) on Saturday and Sunday 10th / 11th March 2012 (which no doubt I will remind you of nearer the time). 

I was particularly pleased to be able to make a couple of site visits during the latter part of last week.  As a ‘celebrator of people and achievement’ my Line Manager was kind enough to take me to our Strata and Denley Rise sites, both in Canford Cliffs.  I had visited Strata previously at the same time as our Arnewood School visit and as they are due another visit in a couple of weeks I know they are really going to find it interesting.  I will try and get some pictures when the pupils make their next visit and report via the blog then.

I have to say I was really very impressed with our Denley Rise site in Alington Road.  The development comprises three, luxury detached 4/5 bedroom houses, which I can already see will be breath-taking when complete, even at this early stage!  I was able to look round Plot 3 (the 5 bedroom unit) and was so impressed with the standard of finish so far and the attention to detail.  The properties have what an agent would class as ‘kerbside appeal’ which I am sure will prove as popular with potential purchasers as it has with the neighbours.  Our Site Manager John Weiler has reported receiving numerous compliments for the development from neighbours and passers-by who are pleased to see traditionally built quality houses for sale in Canford Cliffs.  The gardens are being landscaped by ‘Chelsea’ award winning designer Rob Redcliffe and his team and Plot 3 is already taking shape nicely.  The kitchen and bathrooms suites are to be custom designed and you can already get a feel for just how fantastic they are going to look.  I think you can tell that overall, Penny was very impressed!  I’m a bit cross with myself not to have taken photographs to post on the blog as I think this could be an interesting feature for readers, so watch this space for future blogging.

Happy Leap Year

I was interested to read the positive news released yesterday by Rightmove!  As the website advertising property for over 90% of all UK estate agents, Rightmove is in a unique position to identify any immediate changes in the market and reports a strong ‘Spring bounce’ in new seller asking prices for February 2012. 

As I have mentioned previously, I personally believe that any positive reports on the property market are beneficial for both buyer and seller confidence so this news was greatly received by me.  Rightmove report an increase of 4.1% in ‘new sellers average asking prices’ this month which they say is the highest monthly increase since April 2002!  Although they report in their findings that the figures are partly fuelled by cash-rich market sectors where demand exceeds supply, they also report more evidence of increasing housing market confidence throughout the UK which is what we all want to hear. 

So it seems from the rise in activity seen on their website during January 2012 that people are adjusting to ‘the new norm’ and there are signs of a ‘pent-up desire to move that out-weighs the uncertain economic outlook’.  They feel this price jump is a sign that people are accepting the current market and those who can afford to move are choosing to ignore the repetitive gloomy news and deciding to get on with it.  There are a number of good mortgage deals out there at the moment, including an increase in the number of products available with 10% deposit (which are up a third on a year ago) which will obviously go towards helping market recovery. 

We at Pennyfarthing are continuing to receive a raised number of enquiries for property for sale in Dorset and Hampshire after our fantastic start to 2012 and the dramatic increase in sales.  To this end we are having an Open Weekend Event at three of our developments (Infinity in Milford, Heathlands in Hordle and Foxgloves in Bransgore) with all available properties able to be viewed (without the need for an appointment) on 25th and 26th February between 10.00am and 5.00pm. 

So if you have the Rightmove ‘pent up desire to move that out-weighs the uncertain economic outlook’…. why not pop into one of our developments this weekend!  For further information please contact James or Janet in our Sales Department. 

So the first month is over already and another show-home has been launched!  The Gables in Ferndown officially opened on Friday 3rd February at 10.00am.  The show apartment will be open from 10am – 5pm Fri – Sun each weekend and we are very pleased to introduce Sarah Wilson who will be assisting our Sales Department from Site. 

So we’re already in February 2012 and I just don’t know where January 2012 went!  Apparently February is always reported to be one of the most depressing months of the year.  With everyone trying to keep their New Year resolutions, everyone a little bit tight for cash after Christmas, long cold winter evenings… need I say any more? 

What with that and the ever increasing pessimistic news reports on how difficult the economic climate is (in particular the housing market), it’s any wonder anyone would even decide get up in the morning let alone move house.  Well I’m happy to say that the doom and gloom doesn’t seem to be affecting the market along the South Coast.  Although the market is not as buoyant as everyone would like, it certainly does not seem nearly half as bad as the press make out!  I was speaking to an independent local Agent only last week who agreed 20 sales in one New Forest town alone during January 2012 with several more in the running for February. 

Pennyfarthing can also report receiving very positive signs for the property market during 2012.  We were delighted with the turnout and positive feedback from our visitors at our launch of both The Halyards in Poole and The Gables in Ferndown.  There is already a unit reserved at The Halyards and sales were agreed on 25% of the units at The Gables by the end of the launch weekend!  This is an excellent result and a big well done should go to everyone involved.  I can’t deny that the good news made me feel pleased we have property for sale in Dorset and Hampshire, if only to help meet demand!

So I have decided to remain positive in my work and my blogging efforts, hoping this will ‘rub off’ on everyone else and help to extinguish any negative effects the press may have on confidence! 

We are all really excited that it’s here at last!  The official launch weekend for this exclusive development is taking place tomorrow!!! (28th and 29th January) and the doors officially open from 10am until 4pm with no appointments required so everyone can come along at their leisure. 

I can’t say I’m not pleased it’s actually here because it means we’ve (hopefully) done everything we should do and we can almost breathe a sigh of relief!  There is a great deal of work involved for everyone to get the show unit (and indeed the development) prepared for viewing and also marketing.  We all need checklists for the tasks.  Although the Construction Team have been chasing themselves around on site since before Christmas to get the units ready for viewing, they have this week been sorting their final cleans etc and making sure access is available and the grounds are presentable.  In our Sales Department Janet and James have been rushed off their feet (as usual!) mailing our extensive database of interested purchasers, marketing the launch (advertising, QR codes, printing…. printing…. printing….) and the list goes on!  James made an excellent pack-horse yesterday when he went to site for the final inspections!  We loaded him up with all the provisions (efficiently prepared by the lovely Lynne) required for the launch (drinks and nibbles) as well as provisions, brochures and pricelists for Avril who will be staffing the show home for us over the following weeks. 

I have to say we are delighted with the completed result and it feels like the hard work is already paid off!  It was fantastic to receive an official reservation at the development this week and an excellent start to the marketing.  It’s like a pat on the back for everyone’s hard work!

We are keeping everything crossed for good weather as this always makes the launches more enjoyable and shows the homes at their best!  The development comprises just six luxury two/three bedroom apartments situated in the prestigious Canford Cliffs area, within a short stroll of the sea and local shops.  So if you are considering luxury apartments for sale in the Canford Cliffs area, why not visit The Halyards over this weekend.  Alternatively, if you would prefer to have a private viewing please contact our Head Office and we will be delighted to organise an appointment for you.

I think it's time for me to sign off now, we have another launch next week and as they say..... 'there's no rest for the wicked!'

We have at last commenced demolition at our site in Chewton Common Road in Highcliffe.  We will be developing 8 detached luxury bungalows on the site and we are, as ever, striving to carry out works with as little disturbance possible to the local residents in the vicinity who have been so patient and cooperative. 

We are indeed, proving something of an attraction for the local school children!  The local primary school is situated directly opposite our site and as everyone knows, children are always fascinated by diggers!!  We are going to work together with the school to try and minimise any large traffic movement during the 'school run' times and alleviate any traffic issues wherever possible.  We are hoping the children may also benefit educationally from our site and are in discussion with the Head Teacher to see if there are any areas in which we are able to help.

We are already working together with teachers at The Arnewood School in New Milton who have made site a visit with a group of pupils at our Strata Site in Canford Cliffs.  The site was in the early stages of construction and the time of their first visit and the pupils will re-visit again in March 2012 to learn how the site has progressed. 

Busy Busy Busy!  I will try my best to keep you up to date with our progress at Highcliffe buty if you require any further information on the bungalows in the meantime why not contact our sales department?  They are the experts and always happy to try and arrange sales 'off plan' which can often mean you are able to have more input into the finished product! 

Firstly I must apologise for the delay in writing!  I don’t know where the time goes it seems that one minute we’re running around sorting out Secret Santa gifts and before we know it…. A New Year has begun and it’s back to work! 

January 2012 is a particularly busy time for us here at Pennyfarthing.  Not only do we have our ongoing developments for sale in the New Forest and Lymington but we also have the developments coming up in Canford Cliffs and Ferndown which are creating a great deal of interest.  January is also our time for forward planning and the time we start to prepare our Company/Departmental Business Plans for the next financial year.

Everyone is busy investigating possible areas for improvement during 2012 to enable us to meet our build and sales targets for the year!  Whilst 2011 was a busy year for sales the market did not prove as buoyant as we had hoped due to the global economic climate and we are taking this into consideration when setting our targets for 2012.  With this in mind we are always looking for new ways to promote and market our business and are aiming to be more proactive with our blog posts and tweeting!

Our Senior Sales Negotiator is already easing Penny into the 21st Century by teaching her all about our new QR Code!  I have to admit I did look blankly at him when he told me!  I had seen these little patterned black and white patterned boxes appearing everywhere in magazines, adverts, bill boards, business cards etc!  Well they come to us from Japan where they are very common and QR is short for Quick Response (they can be read quickly by a cell phone). They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it in to your cell phone (a bit like a barcode is the scanned in the supermarket).  

So thanks to James, you will now see the Pennyfarthing QR Codes in our magazine adverts, on a billboard, a web page or even on someone’s t-shirt (to be decided!).  Once it is in your cell phone, it will show you a URL which you can click to go straight to our website for further information if required! 

So keep your eye out for these little boxes and scan them with your smartphone!  Whatever will they think of next?!

It’s all systems go at our Halyards development in Flaghead Road.  This select development comprises 6 two and three bedroom luxury apartments located in the suburb of Canford Cliffs.  Everyone is pulling out the stops and working hard to complete the show apartment which we hope will be handed over to our Sales Department before Christmas. 

The Halyards will be our first development of new homes in Canford Cliffs which lies close to the upmarket area of Sandbanks.  We are excited about the exclusive development which embraces modern technology and contemporary design with tested methods of traditional construction.  High quality, low maintenance and energy efficiency are key factors in all of our properties and The Halyards has been designed and constructed in accordance with the national Code for Sustainable Homes which aims to reduce our carbon emissions and create homes that are more sustainable and cost effective.

Prices start at just £385,000! For further information or a brochure, please contact our Sales Department! 

Everyone is busy busy busy at this time of year with their Christmas shopping and any money saved is welcome all round.  But how about if you parked your car, and instead of being offered a BOGOFF burger…. You were able to get yourselves £1,000 discount?!

As part of our advertising campaign for the Dorset area we are now offering a £1,000 voucher towards your next Pennyfarthing Home (subject to terms and conditions) for everyone purchasing a parking ticket within the East Dorset and Christchurch Council regions!

We are hoping that this offer will not only attract potential buyers to our developments for sale in Dorset but also make our name more widely known in these new areas.  In the past our developments have been mainly concentrated to the New Forest area but this is another step in our path to become a Regional Developer of Quality Homes.

For further information on discounts, special offers and show home opening just contact us!

Many wives and girlfriends around the world are (I’m sure) breathing a sigh of relief that Movember is over!  For any of our blog readers who are unaware of the Movember activities, it is simply an annual charity event which involves men growing moustaches throughout the month of November, in order to raise funds for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. 

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world.  The aim of Movember is not only to raise vital costs but to have fun raising the funds and raise public awareness of the problems

Our Managing Director suggested the idea to the office and our Construction Manager and one of our Surveyors took part.  Our Surveyor (Pete) managed to sprout a fine moustache and our Construction Manager (Andy) in fact grew a full beard!  At lunchtime in the office during 1st December, Kirsty (Construction Admin) produced a towel and a cut throat razor to remove the offending items!  Pete carefully removed his moustache in a matter of minutes but the full beard was so thick, even the cut throat razor couldn’t cope!  Both men are now clean shaven, looking young and fresh faced again (well, fresh faced anyway!).

Overall we raised over £100 during the event!  Isn’t it amazing how people will donate money to see two grown men shaving in public!  Either way it’s an excellent cause so a big well done to everyone involved (especially Kirsty who spent ages trying to get rid of that beard!)