Best foot forward

Some of the country's finest estate agents let Annabel Dixon in on the secrets of prepping a country house for sale.

- Annabel Dixon

WITH Labour winning the General Election and the Bank of England cutting interest rates this summer, there has been plenty to navigate.

As the dust settles-autumn Budget permitting-buyer activity may be set to rise.

'A lot of buyers are looking to activate their plans in the autumn, when they will have a clearer picture on interest rates and government tax plans,' believes Edward Rook, head of Knight Frank's country department (020-7861 5115).

What is catching buyers' eyes? According to Edward Sugden, head of prime country houses at Savills (07557 337507), recently refurbished or modernised country houses are garnering more attention 'due to their running efficiency and often lower maintenance costs'. Joanna Cocking, head of private office and prime at Hamptons (07824 623709), agrees: 'Buyers are coming to us saying that they ideally want a country house that they don't have to do anything to. "Turnkey" has been an ongoing trend for the past 10 years, but has been amplified since the pandemic.'