New year, old problems for the doer-upper

Alan Page was for many years an award winning advertising creative director and founder of his own successful agency. More recently he has served on the boards of various marketing businesses and acted as a property buying agent in the South of France. He has owned numerous homes in London, Paris and Saint Tropez and has now turned his hand to small prime central London property development.
The Doer-Upper goes bargain hunting in St Tropez
Buying a house in France is one thing, says Alan Page; owning it under Monsieur Hollande's regime is quite another. Which means that Riviera brokers' books are bulging with unsold second homes;
By Alan Page
The Doer-Upper Diary: A cracking party
It's not the neighbours that are driving doer-upper Alan Page up the (party) wall in Kensington; it's the surveyors...
By Alan Page
The Big Lemon: The Doer Upper’s letter from Amalfi
Surrounded by lemons on Italy's Amalfi coast, Alan Page reflects on what the EU Referendum result means for London...
By Alan Page
Most read
Strutt & Parker recruits high-flyer Reynolds to lead UK resi sales
Key player joins leadership team as 140-year-old agency ramps up prime & super-prime ambitions.
Trophy Holland Park villa fetches over £40mn
Boost for embattled PCL market as 19th century Italianate mansion sets 2025 benchmark.
Rumourmill Roundup: 7 big tax changes that could hit the property market this Autumn
A flurry of Treasury leaks & speculation surfaced over the summer holidays, including proposals to end Stamp Duty, extend CGT & IHT, and to introduce a new annual property tax.
By PrimeResi
DDRE expands into the North West to tap growing UHNW market
Brokerage moves to meet 'new wave' of demand for high-value homes across Cheshire, Merseyside, the Wirral & Greater Manchester.
London Square bags planning for prime Battersea project
Waterfront site opposite the Chelsea Embankment - derelict for a decade - is to deliver 118 new homes.
Knight Frank expands in East Anglia
Georgie Veale has moved from the London-based Country Department to head up the agency's new operation in Suffolk.
Brokerage hires ex-Chestertons director to head new business development arm
Harding Green’s new tech-driven division aims to provide self-employed agents with ‘corporate-level’ lead flow.
Draker & KFH combine to create ‘one powerful agency’
The two London estate agencies have been co-branded following their recent acquisitions by Lomond.
By PrimeResi
Former Knight Frank Finance Partner launches high-value mortgage brokerage
Alastair Keeling's new venture is called Arkmor Capital.
By PrimeResi
Super-prime St John’s Wood townhouse pitched as ‘possibly the best value home in the area’
Multi-million-pound price cut makes 'ambassadorial' Hamilton Terrace residence one of PCL’s best deals, says agency.
LATEST ARTICLES
Housing Secretary resigns over Stamp Duty miscalculation
'I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice,' says Angela Rayner.
By PrimeResi
Survey reveals shifting UHNWI strategies in PCL
Savills poll of leading advisers shows London’s ultra-wealthy reassessing residency amid mounting tax pressures.
Echlin signs industry big-hitter Collins as £200mn luxury pipeline takes shape
Mark Collins, the former Chairman of Residential at CBRE, has joined the expanding design & development firm as non-exec director.
Interview: Stuart Bennett of Domus Nova on off-market deals, winning UHNW loyalty & the new rules of super-prime
One of London's most successful property agents talks us through his journey to the top, how the luxury market is faring in 2025, and what today's ultra-wealthy clients really value in an advisor.
In Pictures: Cliffside trophy home in Mallorca debuts at €33mn
24,000 sq ft Port Andratx project was completed in 2024.