AGENT PROFILE
EXPERT
Investing in a holiday home
Chris Grimes, owner of holiday cottage company Manor Cottages, gives expert advice for anyone
considering investing in a holiday home here in the Cotswolds
Historically the Cotswolds has
been, and will continue to be, a
lucrative choice when purchasing
a holiday let cottage.
Location, Location, Location
It’s a question we are asked on a
weekly basis by potential purchasers:
Where should I buy my holiday
cottage in the Cotswolds? So in
this article, let’s focus on just that:
Location, Location, Location.
As an established independent
estate agent, Ridgeway feels more
connected to its local community
than larger firms. That’s partly
because many of the staff live in or
near the communities they serve.
In that way, teams are more in
tune with the local area and the
community itself.
The Cotswolds covers parts of the
beautiful shires of Gloucestershire,
Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and
Warwickshire and with its central
location it is no more than 2 hours
away from most of the country’s
major airports, the capital and within
easy reach for 75% of the population
of the whole country.
People visit the Cotswolds from all
over the World, with it being famed
for its natural beauty and picturesque
villages and towns. Folks from outside
the Cotswolds most readily recognise
Burford, Stow on the Wold, Bourtonon-the-Water and Broadway as the
most obvious locations in the region.
When you’re investing you need
to think ‘what and where is going
to attract my future guests?’ and
these four hot spots are a very good
starting point.
The origins of friendly estate agents
Ridgeway can be traced back to
1987 when the West of England
Building Society opened an agency
chain by buying renowned Swindon
agent, John Legge Associates. Over
the course of 10 years the company
continued to travel forward and,
in 1998, Ridgeway was formed.
Ridgeway has an expanding team
nestled in the heart of the Wiltshire,
Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire
borderlands, comprised of offices in
Swindon, Fairford and Lechlade.
With a continued desire to evolve
and expand, Ridgeway persisted with
their personal journey, all the while
maintaining a strong and broad client
base. To this day, Ridgeway continues
to travel hand in hand with clients
towards property satisfaction.
Location is important, not just
in terms of which areas in the
Cotswolds work well for holiday
cottages, but also from the
perspective of where YOU want to
be, because you will most likely also
be spending some holidays and
weekends in your cottage.
Cotswold Hotspots
The small agency making a big
impression in local communities,
Ridgeway has its own ‘way’ when
it comes to helping people buy
and sell homes.
perfect weekend destination for
visitors who live in this country.
This means you will get the weeklong bookings as well as weekend
bookings and your property is
more likely to have a higher yearly
occupancy than in those areas of the
country that are better known for
being summer holiday destinations.
Make sure you take the advice of
a professional when choosing a
holiday home in the Cotswolds.
Manor Cottages will help you
predict the potential income of
the properties you’re looking at,
taking into consideration costs for
housekeeping, insurance, taxes,
maintenance and utilities.
Let’s Talk Money, Then!
Of course there are many, many
other places that are just as pretty,
just as attractive, have just as much
to offer and are far less expensive,
but start your search here and you
won’t go far wrong.
As for how much you can actually
make on your holiday cottage in the
Cotswolds, many factors must be
included, like location, size and overall
look of the place. And without seeing
the actual property, it is, of course,
impossible to predict the potential
gross income of your holiday cottage,
but this guide is based on an average
of Manor Cottages’ nearly 300
properties throughout the Cotswolds:
Why The Cotswolds?
No of Beds
The main reason the Cotswolds
is among the top areas in the
country where investment is worth
considering, is because it is the
4 £40,000
Est. Annual Income
6 £50,000
8 £60,000+
Ridgeway can count on more than a
quarter of a century of experience as
a fully comprehensive agency. Their
heritage is complemented by a fresh
and innovative approach they adopt.
Buyers and sellers will appreciate that
Ridgeway is a different way the first
time you meet them. Their approach
has helped them to remain one of
the most highly regarded estate
agents in the borders of Wiltshire,
Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
Selling
As an independent estate agent,
Ridgeway offers the best possible
market advice clients.
Buying
Buying your perfect home is
something everyone dreams of.
Ridgeway has the knowledge and
experience to find that home and
make it yours.
Letting
Chris Grimes owns Manor Cottages,
holiday cottage company offering
the widest selection of personally
inspected, self-catering holiday
cottages in the Cotswolds.
Ridgeway can find you the ideal
tenant, helping you to manage your
return on the investment into your
property.
Ridgeway
Connected with the community, Ridgeway shows the way
lettings, they know how to find the
right property for you, making the
process seamless and hassle-free –
getting you into your new home as
quickly as possible.
Appraisals
To discover the true value of your
property, be it to rent or to sell,
arrange your FREE market appraisal.
Management
Ridgeway will regularly inspect your
property and oversee the client’s
safety obligations.
Auctions
Moore LLP to offer independent
mortgage advice.
Landowners
Enjoy a free initial appraisal to discuss
and investigate the further potential.
Developers
Ridgeway can advise on the projected
value of a site, market research and
resale recommendations.
Ridgeway Branches
Swindon
01793 530167
Fairford
Ridgeway has partnered with Auction
House. Buying and selling at auction
can bring a quick and efficient sale.
01285 712900
Renting
Mortgages
01367 250011
Because they are so experienced in
Ridgeway has teamed with Carter
Lechlade
www.ridgewayestateagents.co.uk