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
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
Foxtons’ Isidro appointed COO of UK Sotheby’s International Realty
Luxury agency announces another big-name hire as dramatic scaling-up continues.
In Pictures: Iconic Portland Place mansion lists at £75mn following ultra-prime makeover
Adam-designed trophy home has been 'reimagined for 21st century living' by MSMR Architects and 1508 London, at a total cost of nearly £50mn.
PCL super-agent Lloyd returns to Beauchamp Estates
Charles Lloyd, aka 'Mr Mayfair', has rejoined the luxury agency from CBRE.
Royalton mega-mansion in Surrey fetches record price
Julian Bicknell-designed stunner is the most expensive home sold on St George’s Hill this year.
Boutique PCL agency hires Foxtons high-flyer
Edvin Griskin won numerous awards as a top negotiator at his former firm.
A London borough has been crowned Rightmove’s ‘happiest place to live’ for the first time
'Having access to nature and green spaces is more important to residents than having access to public transport, shops and restaurants, and employment opportunities,' says Rightmove after surveying 26,000…
By PrimeResi
Buyer snaps up £14mn turnkey townhouse in Chelsea
Freshly-refurbished residence on Harley Gardens exchanged in under a month.
Knight Frank names new resi land bosses
Charlie Hart to take over from Justin Gaze as Head of Development Land, while Nick Alderman steps up to Head of Central London Land.
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In Pictures: £29.5mn Piccadilly doer-upper reimagined as a ‘£70mn private palace’
Grade II listed mansion overlooking Green Park, once the London residence of Lord Byron, could be reinstated as one of the capital's finest trophy homes.
A ‘wave’ of wealthy American & Middle Eastern buyers is driving a super-prime property boom in Mayfair
Almost twice as many homes have sold for more than £10mn in Mayfair this year than in 2022.
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Average asking prices to drop 1% in 2024, predicts Rightmove
The property market displayed 'much-better-than-predicted resilience this year,' says Tim Bannister, despite a bigger than usual December dip for new asking prices.
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Mortgage lending to fall in 2024, predicts UK Finance
'We expect lending to remain weak in 2024, with a gradual improvement in affordability reflected in a modest increase in activity levels in 2025,' says banking industry trade body.
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Inner London rents have jumped 13.2% in the last year
Tenants across Great Britain paid a record £85.6bn in rent in 2023, says Hamptons - equivalent to the total value of all homes sold in London last year.
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