Estate Agents Ipswich

35 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH

01473 281188

Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY

01473 620222

30 years since murder victim, Diane Jones, went missing

It was with great interest that I opened the Ipswich edition of the East Anglian Daily Times on Tuesday to see a big article coinciding with the 30 year anniversary of the disappearance of Diane Jones, the doctor’s wife whose body was found at Martlesham in October 1983.

She was found dead in a copse in Brightwell near Martlesham and the article explained that new details had emerged about the night Diane Jones is believed to have been killed.

I was interested to see the article because the case was massive at the time and captured my attention for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it was local, secondly things like this didn’t happen very often and thirdly was the massive media interest that it created in the Martlesham and Martlesham Heath area.

This was 24 years before the Steve Wright murders in Ipswich but it captured the attention of the country’s press in an unprecedented manner.

Stories were rife in national newspapers at the time of the details surrounding the disappearance and the proceeding days and weeks leading up to that disappearance.

The case captured national headlines particularly as the 35 year old woman was reported missing by her husband, Dr Robert Jones, 9 days after last being seen.

The pair lived at Lees Farm, Coggeshall, a small market town on the far side of Colchester.

I remember the afternoon that news of the discovery of the body was announced. It was Monday afternoon of the October half term week in that year when Mrs Jones’ decomposed body was discovered in Brightwell around 3.30pm on October 22^nd, having been found by a beater during a pheasant shoot at Sheep Drift Farm. Mrs Jones was identified through dental records two days later.

A large scale hunt for Mrs Jones’ killer involving both Suffolk and Essex police began and incident rooms were set up in both Coggeshall and Suffolk.

House to house enquiries were conducted in Waldringfield, Brightwell, Martlesham, and as far afield as Bucklesham and other villages to the east of Ipswich.

Dr Jones was arrested on November 14^th 1983, released and no charges were ever brought.

As a then 18-year-old this was long before I started in estate agency in Ipswich but there were several reasons for my personal interest in the case.

At the time I was going out with a girl from Waldringfield whose father worked at BT Research at Martlesham.

Every day for those three months he had cycled along the bridle path within a few feet of where the body was found, a thought which sent shudders through everybody.

Cast your mind back to 1983 and for anyone who has bought a house in the area since may not remember that the Martlesham Heath bypass did not then exist. It was in that section of the A12, by passing Ipswich to the east of the town, which was under construction during that summer and autumn of 1983.

It seems incredible looking back now that if you wanted to travel from Woodbridge to Felixstowe, when there was no Martlesham bypass, you would have had to go along the road that goes through the Martlesham Heath Industrial site and pass our estate agency office in Gloster Road. This road continued past the entrance to BT at Martlesham, carrying on through what is now the lay-by near the Holeshot Cafe (very nice cuppas there by the way) and then proceeding on down the hill past Brightwell Church.

In later years I chatted to my father-in-law’s new partner who actually owned the bungalow at the time when the body was found and naturally she vividly remembers the day of the discovery.

I cycle regularly in that area east of Ipswich and drive past every day in my role as an estate agent in Martlesham. It never fails to send a little shudder down my spine.

If you are looking for property in the ever popular Martlesham and Martlesham Heath areas why not visit our office at Bristol Court in Gloster Road just opposite Kingpin and Ladbrokes? We would be very happy to show you our selection of properties for sale in the Martlesham area or discuss with you potential marketing plans for the sale of your Martlesham home.

Martlesham Heath estate agents – click here to find out more about Jonathan Waters estate agents.

625 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8ND

01473 721133

35 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH

01473 281188

Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY

01473 620222

George Osborne’s ambitious plans to help house buyers

Jonathan Waters expressed delight at George Osborne’s announcement yesterday of the extension of his help to buy scheme.

However, the owner and Managing Director of Jonathan Waters Estate Agents also expressed concern and could relate to those who are worried about the impact and effects of the scheme.

“For those wanting to buy homes in Ipswich, the great news about the extension of the help to buy scheme is that it now applies to both existing homes as well as new build properties.”

“Estate agents in the Ipswich area will definitely treat this as good news, particularly as the scheme, which starts from January 2014, will run for three years.”

“The other good news is that it is no longer restricted to first time buyers and the scheme enables people to purchase properties with a deposit as small as 5%.”

“Basically the government guarantee will encourage lenders to offer better access to low deposit mortgages. The mortgage guarantee scheme applies only to the purchase of those properties up to £600,000.”

Jonathan Waters, however, urged caution and did express concern about some areas of the new scheme.

“Starting in January 2014 it could certainly increase the prices of houses in Ipswich. I would definitely expect to see more first time buyers in the Ipswich area jumping onto the housing ladder as a result of this scheme and that in itself can only be very good news.

“I would also expect to see people who are currently in rented accommodation, having previously sold properties and moved out of house ownership, buying houses again in Ipswich once this scheme has taken off.

“Mr Osborne unveiled plans to underwrite £130 billion of mortgage lending for all homes which followed on from a loan scheme launched in April aimed purely at new build homes. Almost 7,000 reservations of new build homes were made through the scheme in its first four months, and the British Bankers Association said the number of mortgage approvals for house purchases rose to a 17 month high in June.

“The government has pledged £12 billion worth of guarantees on an estimated 138 billion mortgages. George Osborne went to great lengths to insist that this would not repeat the mistakes that sparked the financial crisis because the rules would ensure that responsible lending continued.

“Part of the terms and conditions of the new scheme announced by Mr Osborne are that buyers would have to continue to verify their income and would not be able to “self certify”. Anyone with a County Court Judgement of more than £500 against them in the past three years will also be barred under Financial Conduct Authority standards.

Jonathan continued “I am expecting the continuation and even further increases in the amount of activity within house purchase in the Ipswich area. I think estate agency in Ipswich generally will have a massive boost as a result of this new mortgage guarantee scheme as well as other positive factors about the housing market in recent times.”

To view the current choice of homes for sale inIpswich, Martlesham, Kesgrave and surrounding villages contact us.

625 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8ND

01473 721133

35 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH

01473 281188

Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY

01473 620222

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

14 house moves in one day – a new record

Jonathan Waters, Managing Director and owner of Jonathan Waters Estate Agents, was delighted to see the recent smashing of another long standing record.

Those of you who have been reading the blogs over a period of time will know that several sales records have been broken by us here at Jonathan Waters Estate Agents this year.

However, this one is probably the one that gives Jonathan the most satisfaction – it is the most number of people who have moved house through Jonathan Waters Estate Agents in Ipswich in one single day ever.

Fourteen sets of buyers visited our offices at Foxhall Road, 35 Buttermarket in Ipswich town centre and Martlesham Heath during the course of Friday, 12^th July to pick up keys to their new properties.

Earlier in the day, fourteen sets of sellers had dropped the keys off to their properties in readiness for the completion to take place.

“Amongst Ipswich estate agents, this surely must be a record” commented Jonathan Waters.

“When someone moves into a property through us we give them either a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates and we had to go out to buy more especially for today because we didn’t have enough!”.

“A very exciting but albeit hectic day for the three sales progression ladies at Jonathan Waters Estate Agents who work from the Foxhall Road, Ipswich office to ensure everything has gone through smoothly and successfully.”

“A sign of an improving market if ever there was one.”

Karen and Valerie, working behind the scenes in the sales progression department were happy to report there were no problems with any of the fourteen completions and the last one had taken place by early afternoon.

Needless to say, Jonathan Waters himself was in an exceptionally good mood that day!

If you would like to put your property on the market with a well known firm of estate agents in Ipswich or are thinking of selling and would like a free valuation then please contact us.

625 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8ND

01473 721133

35 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH

01473 281188

Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY

01473 620222

Wine and Chocolates for the vendors and purchasers
on completion day

Magnificent family house for sale in the Northgate School catchment area

“This is the best house I have ever seen” – Alan Mann, Senior Valuer

AlanMann is one of our senior valuation team here at Jonathan Waters Estate Agents and is responsible for valuing and taking onto the market a wide range of properties in the Ipswich, Kesgrave and Martlesham areas and surrounding villages.

Every now and again, Alan will return from taking a property onto the market in a very enthusiastic state. Knowing Alan’s normal calm demeanour whenever I see this I know this is a truly exceptional property that he has been to see.

Such an occurrence happened this week when Alan returned from taking onto the market a magnificent four bedroom detached house in Dorset Close in prime Northgate School catchment area, just off Tuddenham Road.

The property is presented in immaculate decorative order with just about extra and upgrade that conceivably possible. Originally constructed approximately six years ago, Alan even used the word “amazing” to describe the decorative order of this property, an adjective I have never before witnessed him use at Jonathan Waters Estate Agents.

The property benefits from an open plan kitchen area with bi-folding doors to a landscaped, south facing rear garden incorporating a water fall. There is a detached double garage to the left hand side of the property plus additional driveway parking for 4 – 6 cars.

Internally there is zoned gas heating via radiators, wet under floor heating and an en suite to master bedroom.

The kitchen has to be seen to be believed and incorporates an island with electric induction hob, glass extractor hood, integrated fridge/freezer plus American style fridge, microwave and dishwasher. Alan also was quick to point out there is a coffee making machine and wine cooler also incorporated into the kitchen.

The rear garden of this north Ipswich property has been sectioned and landscaped with covered seating area with glass wall divides, a raised mature flower and shrub border bed with box hedging and purple slate borders with an ornamental pond and waterfall which is actually timed.

If you’d like to have a look, full details and extensive internal photographs are on our website but be quick, needless to say this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and at £375,000 represents excellent value for money. We already had seven people wanting to view the property within 24 hours.

Estate agency in Ipswich doesn’t get much better than that!.

To find out more about this superb house for salein the Northgate School catchment area, , contact Jonathan Waters estate agents.

625 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8ND

01473 721133

35 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH

01473 281188

Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY

01473 620222

Houses for Sale Christchurch Park Ipswich: A 1920s tudor style delight

One of the benefits of being the owner and Managing Director of Jonathan Waters Estate Agents is that I am able to be selective as to which properties I actually personally go and see myself.

As our exclusive homes division gets closer to its launch I shall be lucky enough to be seeing more and more properties at the higher end of the market and my favourite style of property are older style with plenty of character.

I was therefore honoured to be visiting a gorgeous looking, tudor style, dutch gable semi detached character property in one of Ipswich’s sought after locations early last week.

This four bedroom semi detached property was originally constructed in 1928 and has been owned by the same family for the last 45 years.

Not only is the property offering loads of character it is just north of Christchurch Park and as such, properties like this come up once in a blue moon.

Highly unusually for older style properties in the Christchurch Park district is the fact that this has a huge driveway area with space for at least six average length vehicles plus a detached garage and is set well back from the road with a 67’ front garden.

I have never seen a semi detached property quite like this in the Ipswich area and there are two pairs of semi detached houses here, the one we are selling is apparently the last one of the four to be constructed.

I have seen a detached version similar to this in Bucklesham Road in Ipswich. The owners believe these may be one of the only ones of its style in the country.

We are intrigued to know if there is a story behind why these properties were built in this style so if anybody can shed any light on the history of Ipswich about this time and how these properties came to be built like they are I would be most grateful.

Estate agency in Ipswich certainly has its perks and seeing a property like this is definitely one of them.

The property is full of character including panelled internal doors, cornice coving, high lip skirting boards to some rooms and a beautiful leaded light and stained glass feature window between the landing and the bathroom.

The property is currently being offered for sale with the benefit of no chain involved and has also undergone a number of improvements and upgrades over recent years. However, the vendors have been careful to ensure these were done with great sympathy to the character and age of this period property.

There are extensive fitted appliances in the kitchen, the whole property benefits from gas central heating with a recently replaced boiler and also uPVC style replacement double glazing including, to the front, the leaded light top lights to match the original windows.

Another unusual aspect for a Christchurch Park district property is the large rear garden, 112’ in length with a rear patio area to benefit from the sun at the end of the day and a further patio area by the rear of the house to benefit from its south east facing aspect at the early part of the day.

The property can be found proceeding out of town along Westerfield Road going passed Christchurch Park on your left. Proceed passed the junction of Park Road and the property is situated 250 yards further on opposite woodland adjacent to Victoria Nurseries.

At £395,000 this family home will represent an opportunity for someone seeking a character property in this part of Ipswich.

If you would like to view further details and photographs of this property contact us. But be quick, we are receiving early interest in this property due to its rarity.

To find out more about this property or other houses for sale in ChristchurchPark, Ipswich, please contact Jonathan Waters Estate agents.

625 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8ND

01473 721133

35 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH

01473 281188

Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY

01473 620222

Estate agents “encouraging” monthly increases in house sales

I was delighted to read in the East Anglian Daily Times last Tuesday an article headed “Estate Agents hale “encouraging” monthly increases in house sales”.

The article by Katie Dodd and Matt Gaw, reporters at the East Anglian Daily Times, said that the housing market in Suffolk has witnessed a “significant upturn” last month according to us estate agents.

Latest figures released from the National Association of Estate Agents reveal another monthly increase in the average number of house sales.

As owner and Managing Director of Jonathan Waters Estate Agents, I was delighted with the article for three, quite unconnected reasons.

The first reason was that there was a very clear, close up photograph of one of our “Sold, subject to contract” boards of which there are many on display in the Ipswich and Martlesham areas.

Secondly is the general news concerning the “significant upturn” in the housing market in Ipswich and in Suffolk.

The third item was the one that delighted me the most, however.

It said the Association said “nationally average sales increased from 9 per branch to 10 in May. This follows a continued rise from the beginning of the year when, in January, the number of sales reported by estate agent members was only 7 per branch.”

This means that Jonathan Waters Estate Agents are selling five times the number of houses than the national average for estate agents.

It is always nice to have a reminder that the extra work that we do, above and beyond most of our competitors, plus the experience of the team that we have operating within our three branches at Ipswich town centre, east Ipswich at Foxhall Road and Martlesham Heath, really does take us into a different league than our competitors.

If you would like to take advantage of the upturn in the housing market in Suffolk and want to put your property on the market or would like a free valuation then please contact us at Jonanthan Waters Estate Agents.

625 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8ND

01473 721133

35 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH

01473 281188

Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY

01473 620222