A NEW man is in charge of the Frinton office of Boydens estate agents – though it’s far from a new face to Frinton.

Jonathan Bysh is a long-term Frinton resident and a good number of his near 30 years in the property business have been spent in the town. Now he is looking forward to bringing his knowledge and experience of the area to his new role as branch manager at Boydens in Connaught Avenue.

During his career, Jonathan has worked for independent and corporate estate agencies, run his own business and been national relocation manager for a major London-based company.

“I’ve spent a good deal of time working in Frinton in the past. I launched the Frinton office of one of the big corporate and I’ve also worked in the country homes end of the market. I’m looking forward to bringing all this experience to my new role.

“Boydens is one of the most established names in north Essex and I am well aware of its reputation for customer service. With the market on the up, I am keen to ensure Boydens is right at the front of the recovery on the lettings and sales side of the business,” said Jonathan.

 Boydens Managing Partner, David Boyden, added: “We are delighted to have recruited someone with Jonathan’s vast experience to our team. His local knowledge will be a major advantage for our customers.”

WITH the World Cup just a couple of weeks away, local estate agency Boydens is nailing its colours firmly to the England mast – and aiming to boost St Helena Hospice in the process.

Boydens has pledged to donate £50 to the hospice for every goal England score in the competition – and is urging the public to enter into the spirit of supporting England and the hospice at the same time.

Boydens Crouch Street office window is now resplendent in England flags and balloons as World Cup build-up reaches fever-pitch.

David Boyden, Managing Partner of Boydens, which has branches in Colchester, Frinton, Braintree, Kelvedon, Sudbury and Ipswich, said: “Everyone is getting very excited about the World Cup and we all hope England can go on and win it.   We’re getting behind the boys and hope they score a hat-full of goals so that both the team and St Helena Hospice benefit.

“If members of the public would like to pledge a donation for every goal England score, that would be fantastic. Imagine if every England fan pledges even 10p a goal, what a difference it will make to the hospice’s fund-raising.”

David said people can pop into any Boydens branch to fill in a pledge form or visit St. Helena Hospice website:- www.sthelenahospice.org.uk

Heather Buxton, Fundraising Director at St Helena Hospice, said: “What a great idea this is to show your support for England and provide us with such a superb boost at the same time.  We’ll all be cheering England anyway, but we’ve got special reason now to cheer every goal that little more loudly! I’d like to thank Boydens for this great gesture and encourage as many other people as possible to join in.”

THE increase in the Stamp Duty threshold to £250,000 for first-time buyers announced by the Chancellor in his budget today (March 24) has been welcomed by one of the area’s leading estate agents.

Boydens has branches in Colchester, Frinton, Braintree, Kelvedon, Sudbury and Ipswich. Managing Partner, David Boyden, believes the Chancellor’s decision to raise the threshold to £250,000 for first-time buyers is the sort of positive step the Government should have taken long before now.

“This move on Stamp Duty is a very welcome step as it will help galvanise the market at the all-important first-time buyer end of the market. It means somebody buying a property at just under the £250,000 threshold will save up to £2,500 which is a significant amount when budgets are tight.

“The property market has always been, and remains, confidence-sensitive so any measure which makes people more confident has to be welcomed. I feel this is a long-over-due move by the Chancellor could give the property market a timely boost,” said David.

Final Night of Season 1st March 2010

Partners Desmond and David Boyden with hosts, family members and performers from the Welsh National Opera.  Members enjoyed an evening of  ‘feast of song’ from four exquiste singers.  The audience were treated to many favourite and familiar arias, duets and quartets.

Angela Jeffery, Sudbury Branch Manager, proudly shows her team their latest branch car with logo livery.

David Boyden commented “Yes, people will see us around town but it will give extra comfort and space when taking our customers to see properties”.

EVER wanted to live history?  Well here are not one, but two opportunities.

The Frinton office of Boydens is currently marketing two apartments to let which are integral to the history of Clacton and Walton.

The first is a two-bedroom apartment in the prestigious Grand building, once Clacton’s leading hotel. With views to the sea from the lounge and main bedroom, a fully fitted kitchen and high quality finishings, this part-furnished apartment offers modern day comfort to go with its historical charm.

It is available, furnished or unfurnished, for a period of six, nine or 12 months at a monthly rental of £850, exclusive of rates.

The other property is a ground floor two-bedroom apartment in Penrice Court, Walton, a fabulous converted building which dates back to the 1800s. With sea views from the lounge and kitchen, a modern fitted bathroom suite and fitted kitchen, this is a rare opportunity to live in a building which has been part of Walton life for some 200 years.

It is available for a period of six, nine or 12 months at a monthly rental of £650, exclusive of all utilities and council tax.

Further information can be obtained from Boydens, which is a licensed member of ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents), on 01255 852585.

A REDUNDANT water tower in Tiptree is to be converted into an office and living accommodation after being sold by Boydens estate agency’s Kelvedon office. Planning permission had already been granted by Colchester Borough Council to convert the distinctive octagonal tower in Kelvedon Road and Boydens has now sold the tower to a businessman. Graham Newman, Manager of Boydens’ Kelvedon High Street branch, said: “The tower was certainly one of the more unusual properties we have been asked to market in recent years. We’re used to selling properties of all shapes and sizes but never a water tower before.” The tower was built during the early part of the 20th century and consists of a substantial octagon-shaped external brick support structure with a steel and concrete-lined water tank located at the top of the tower.

CONFIDENCE is returning to the property market, with one local estate agency reporting a 60 per cent increase in valuations being carried out compared to the same period last year.

Boydens has branches in Colchester, Frinton, Braintree, Kelvedon and Sudbury and Managing Partner, David Boyden, believes 2010 has started very encouragingly, despite the adverse weather conditions.

“The National Association of Estate Agents has reported a very positive start to the year and that is certainly something we have seen in this part of the world,” said David. “People are keener to enter the market and this is resulting in a much needed boost to the number of properties available for eager would-be purchasers.

“For some time now we have experienced something of a shortage of properties to satisfy buyers. If can address this in-balance, we have the makings of a very healthy market.”

 As well as a full residential sales service, Boydens offers residential lettings, commercial sales/lettings, surveys and valuations and financial services.

STUDENTS from the Philip Morant school in Colchester spent the day yesterday (Wednesday) learning how to be an estate agent.

The would-be house-sellers of the future were invited to join staff at Boydens estate agents in Crouch Street as part of the company’s on-going commitment to careers guidance with secondary schools in the town.

The 14 and 15-year-olds spent the morning in the office, learning at first-hand about house selling, letting and surveying.

David Boyden, Managing Partner at Boydens, said: “We regularly attend schools’ careers evenings when we tell youngsters and their parents about the world of estate agency but we thought you can’t beat actually experiencing the job to discover what it is all about.

“We structured the day so that the students had the opportunity to sample as many aspects of our business as possible. They were very interested and asked lots of interesting questions which kept our staff on their toes.”

Teacher Simon Whitley, who accompanied the students, said: “Days such as this are so useful because they turn theory into practice for the students. I think they were surprised by just how much is involved when it comes to buying, selling, letting and maintaining property.”

THE north Essex property market has got off to a very confident start according to one of the area’s leading local estate agencies, with new valuations and viewings well up on the same time last year

Boydens has branches in Colchester, Frinton, Braintree, Kelvedon and Sudbury and Managing Partner, David Boyden, believes January has built on the improving market conditions witnessed throughout 2009.

“Despite the adverse weather and the post-Christmas recovery period, people seem determined that 2010 is the year they are going to turn their house-moving thoughts into action

“With interest rates so low and prices still some way off their peak of two years ago, this is a good time to consider moving. At the moment, the market remains very much a sellers’ market because demand continues to outstrip supply.

“People who market their property at a price advised by an experienced estate agent will find it will sell. The key is to seek the advice of an experienced agent who has previously witnessed the ups and downs of the property market. The market remains challenging and is certainly not one for the inexperienced agent,” said David.

He believes 2010 will see a gradual increase in the volume of sales and a modest rise in prices. “People shouldn’t get too excited about price rises. As I say, any rises will be modest but that’s what the market needs. We don’t want to see sudden rises – or drops – but instead we need a steady growth which will create greater confidence among those looking to sell and buy,” added David.

As well as a full residential sales service, Boydens offers residential lettings, commercial sales/lettings, surveys and valuations and financial services.