David Easton, our Director of Property returned to Neilsons just over 3 years ago, moving home to Scotland after working for 7 years in agency in central London and a successful stint managing a branch of Savills in East London’s Victoria Park area, dramatically increasing his offices’ share of prime listings (homes over £1m). The combination of Edinburgh’s beautiful architecture, diverse neighbourhoods and excellent quality of life offered the ideal living and working environment for his growing family. With almost 20 years of experience in the Edinburgh and London property markets, David has sold them all – from studio flats to luxury penthouses and everything in between.
Our Senior Property Consultant, Amy Howard started working in Edinburgh property at the ESPC showroom on George Street in 2002. Her career since then has included a stint in London, in the affluent Putney and Clapham districts, returning home to Edinburgh in 2014. She would maintain that Edinburgh’s property market is world-class. The style and variety of property on offer here provides homes for every taste and the quality of life is, she believes, unrivalled in the rest of the UK: “There is no better place on Earth than Edinburgh when the sun is shining.”.
At Neilsons, we are proud to serve our clients at all levels of the property market and throughout their property journeys. From first time buyer flats to ‘forever’ homes, it’s a privilege to be involved in such pivotal moments of our clients’ lives. But sometimes a property comes along with such history or in such a location that it stands out from the rest in our memories, so you can imagine the excitement when David confirmed to the team that we were instructed to sell 41 Ann Street.
Legend has it that the late Queen Mother, always instructed her chauffer to detour along Ann Street whenever the opportunity presented itself and Amy has always done the same, albeit without the chauffer! – dreaming of the Georgian splendour that lies beyond the smart front gardens and timber panelled doors. Having taken an evening class in Edinburgh’s Architecture at The University of Edinburgh back in 2006, Ann Street has held special fascination for Amy throughout her career, so she was thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in the sale and to get heads together with David for the marketing strategy.
So what makes Ann Street so special?
Ann Street has long been regarded as one of the most desirable streets in the whole of Scotland, first dreamt in the imagination of renowned Scots painter Sir Henry Raeburn and likely designed by famed architect James Milne. The original plans for the street were set out in 1817, Sir Henry having acquired the land by marriage, named the street for his wife, Ann. Unusually for the time, the two facing rows of Greek-inspired Palladian townhouses feature substantial front gardens, setting them back from the cobbled street behind iron railings and ornate street lamps, updated now with electric lighting but originally gas, and lit each evening by a visiting leery or lamp-lighter. Electric lighting is one of few ways that the street has changed in the intervening 200 years, and the feeling of having stepped back in time is certainly part of the appeal. Protected by an A-list status from Historic Environment Scotland, the entire street retains character and charm, sitting high above the Dean Valley of the Water of Leith and with all residents having the opportunity of key access to the wonderful Dean Gardens, a 7 acre haven in the middle of the city. You’d be forgiven for believing you’d left the city centre altogether, such is the peace and charm of Ann Street, and yet it is within moments’ walk of the West End and Stockbridge, providing world-class amenities within a short stroll. The street inspired Scottish author and playwright JM Barrie to pen the play Quality Street in 1902, a huge success, shortly before his most famous work Peter Pan in 1904. Whilst the Darling’s home in Peter Pan is in London, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that it was still Ann Street that Barrie had in mind when picturing Peter and Tinkerbell flying to the windows of the Darling family nursery. Sir John Betjeman, English Poet Laureate, once described Ann Street as “the most attractive street in Britain” and we certainly wouldn’t disagree. The street held a reputation for a long time as The Most Expensive Street in Scotland and whilst it’s been pipped in recent years by vast modern houses, it is certainly still unrivalled in character.
Highlighting the history of the house and the street was important to David and Amy in the marketing, so they were delighted to uncover that no 41 has it’s own unique artistic fame, the staircase forming the subject of a painting in 1952 by celebrated modernist Edwin G Lucas, who was once a resident. The property was sold following the death of the owner, so we were unable to quiz them directly on the history, but research and a good detailed Home Report prepared for us by Graham & Sibbald surveyors, provided the necessary information to prepare accurate marketing materials. It’s always important to us, whatever the property, to highlight the lifestyle on offer as well as the bricks and mortar and comprehensive marketing materials were put together, including stunning aerial photography, detailed floorplans, a 360 tour, targeted social media coverage both in-house and by the ESPC, and we worked our contacts to ensure press coverage in The Times, where it was featured in their ‘Bricks and Mortar’ supplement.
Launching on to the market across local, national and international property portals, the house generated a significant amount of genuine interest, with our efficient team booking 22 viewings within the first week of marketing. We were able to set a Closing Date for offers and within 24 days on the market, we secured an offer comfortably in excess of the Home Report value. A resounding success. Our in-house legal team were ready to go with the conveyancing, ensuring clear communication and as smooth a process as possible.
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