Through the good times and the bad

As the world recovers from one of the worst stock market crashes in history, Eleanor Ingilby, Head of Sanlam’s wealth management office in Harrogate, explains how a discretionary portfolio manager will look after your assets, ensuring they remain well positioned to endure such turbulent times.

If there’s one thing that 2020 has taught us, it’s to expect the unexpected. When the stock markets reacted to Covid-19 in such a dramatic and aggressive manner in March, it was impossible for investors to fully avoid the consequences of a global fall of that nature.

However, there were also opportunities within the market chaos, which a qualified and active portfolio manager could take advantage of.

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“There was nothing left apart from the four external walls and the conservatory. We spent a considerable amount of time working on the layout. An extra metre or two here and there wouldn’t have come amiss but you have to work with what you have got and we did pretty well.”

They also moved the staircase, raised all the floors so they could install underfloor heating, rewired, replumbed and put in new windows and doors.

“We had several visits from the Visit England award assessors during the rebuild, which gave us a feel for the standard needed to get the five stars and when we got them, it made all the hard work worth it,” says Andrew.

The layout now includes a hall with a new bespoke glass and oak staircase from Stairbox.com leading to a galleried landing above.

The ground floor has an open living space with sitting/dining and kitchen areas. The kitchen, with granite worktops and a centre island in a Zoffany blue paint, is from Deansbury Kitchens in Northallerton.

The appliances are by top brands including Neff, Siemens and Fisher and Paykel.

“We adhere to the ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ ethos so we spent more on them knowing they will last longer,” says Clare.

The sitting area has a cosy wood-burning stove and sofas from Barker & Stonehouse.

There’s also a utility room, cloakroom and a conservatory with views across the Dales and a wraparound balcony that leads to the garden.

A ground-floor bedroom with ensuite is ideal for those with mobility problems.

Upstairs, there are two more ensuite bedrooms and a small study area.

The quality of the finish was down to choosing good tradespeople, and the Partridges used their friends, who included a builder and a joiner, and employed a great electrician.

The decor was Clare’s domain and she created a mood board while sourcing furniture, fabrics, paints and the accessories that make the holiday-let feel like a home. “I was really lucky to have a friend who was a font of knowledge when it came to fabrics and she also made all the soft furnishings for us,” says Clare, who also invested in work by local artist Lucy Pittaway.

Their original budget for the project was £100,000 and, while that was exceeded, there are no regrets.

“The building works weren’t much more than anticipated but we went for higher quality kitchen appliances and furniture, not to mention pictures and other items that often get overlooked but that make all the difference,” says Clare.

Included in their expensive extras list is a waterproof Aquavision TV in one of the ensuite bathrooms, along with Amazon Echo, smart TVs and a hot tub.

“We invested in a hot tub because we were told that properties with them get more bookings. I’m not convinced of that as some people love it but others don’t use it at all,” adds Clare.

While the property brings in an income, the main reward is that the Partridges have been able to keep a property they love.

“Another is seeing people’s faces when they step inside. We are so very proud of this house and it’s great that people can see and appreciate the time that went into it,” says Clare.

“Going the extra mile with the interiors has paid dividends.

People love the house and they look after it.”

The Feathered Nest is available to let via Niche Retreats, www. nicheretreats.co.uk