Urban Lighthouse

17/12/2023

Carols by candlelight service at StPauls opposite the church on coronation road (opposite Wapping wharf), 7.30pm. This evening (17/12/23). Always a lovely service and chance to bang out some carols followed by a mince pie and glass of wine.
On an aside after 5 good years the time has come to shut the doors on Urban Lighthouse and on to pastures new. Thanks to all the lovely people I’ve done business with. It’s been a good chapter in my life. Happy Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful 2024

12/10/2022

Recommendations are so important to a small business. Here is our latest review on google following completion of a sale in Bedminster...
'We bought our house via Urban Lighthouse and have just sold it 4 years later through them - absolutely delighted with the level of support from Laurence as both a seller and buyer and would highly recommend'.
I am so pleased that customers respond positively to the service received - often it can be a rollercoaster ride, but if at the back end there is a recognition of our contribution - it makes it all worthwhile.

07/10/2022

Second Victorian home in BS3 to exchange this week! Further homes like these required to replenish stock!
I was talking to an exasperated agent earlier this week saying their average times between agreeing a sale and exchanging contracts was 16 weeks, and how slow solicitors were being. It doesn't have to be that way. This property just came on the market 14 weeks ago and has exchanged contracts - and this is by no means exceptional in my experience. There are many factors which contribute to the variations in timeframe, but it is often down to the solicitor you choose, as well as how proactive your agent is at keeping the ball moving. A good solicitor combined with a good agent can materially speed up the process, with both parties aiming to be a step ahead rather than always reacting to events. The sellers' solicitor in this case was one such, and we too aim to be proactive, understanding that often buyers and sellers are not used to doing this every day, and need some guidance as to the next step. I am constantly coming across examples of 'factory style' solicitors, recommended by agents and brokers because of the size of the reward to the referrer, rather than their exceptional service! I'd say more but hopefully you get my point.

06/10/2022

Pleased to have exchanged contracts on this lovely home in Windmill Hill this week. Despite the uncertainty - there are clear benefits for buyers and sellers in this market. If you are considering selling - please do get in touch. We'd love to help navigate your move.

20/09/2022

Morning has broken after the mourning, and another first for Urban Lighthouse. An interesting legal point actually - at least i thought so - this sweet Victorian terrace should have completed yesterday, having exchanged contracts just before our gracious Queen departed. The announcement of the funeral and bank holiday meant this property could not complete (no banks or solicitors open), and the contract had been legally 'frustrated'. As a result, the exchange was effectively voided and they had to exchange again! Completion delayed by a day, but all good things come to those who wait, as the buyers picked up the keys today. Not expecting a repeat of that scenario for a while, thankfully.

31/08/2022

An exciting moment with an Urban Lighthouse first on this charming cottage in Bedminster - the first property to have been successfully sold twice by us since opening in 2018. Hopefully many more doubles to follow!

29/03/2022

We are pleased to welcome this exceptional 1930s family home on Beckington Road, one of my favourite streets in BS3. It's a cul-de-sac in the shape of a spoon, so goes around in a loop at the far end, but facilitates a great sense of community. You seldom find property in BS3 with larger driveways, which is why the vendor has converted the once double garage and split it into a bike garage, utility room, downstairs shower room and office/4th bedroom, in addition to the 2 receptions and kit/breakfast room. It's light and airy, and it's even possible to sit on the roof above the single storey section and bask in the sunshine, if you prefer that to sitting in the enclosed back garden. Lovely local walks on the Northern slopes, and not much further to Victoria Park and Perretts Park. A great find!

28/02/2022

All good things come to those who wait. The current market is not the easiest to navigate. Today we completed on, by some considerable margin, our longest ever running sale. This charming terrace in Windmill Hill was launched on the market in May last year, and through no fault whatsoever of either the buyers or sellers, the chain has repeatedly fallen through above them. Finally today i have just had the privilege of handing over the keys from the most patient of sellers to the most patient of buyers! Oh happy day all around!

03/02/2022

Something different with this lovely 4 bedroom modern terrace, with off street parking and good sized rear garden with southerly aspect. Full details visit www.urbanlighthouse.co.uk

22/12/2021

After a frenetic year in a market the like of which in 30 yrs in the industry i don't remember, it's been great to end on a high note, with exchange of contracts on houses below on Milford St (with certainly one of the loveliest gardens, and certainly outlooks, in the area), and completions on Bath St, by Ashton Gate, and Beauley Road (just about visible from the garden of Milford St!).
Urban Lighthouse plans to close now for Christmas and reopen in the New Year hoping to help many new sellers, with our straight forward, no nonsense, pragmatic and service driven approach, as we aim to get the job done at the first attempt. We continue to donate for every completion to our local homeless charity Help Bristol's homeless, as well as continuing to refuse to give or receive commissions/inducements/kickbacks for recommendations. We prefer to recommend people who are recommended for being good (sounds obvious i know - but in practice very rare indeed - if not unique).

In the meantime, have a safe, peaceful, healthy and happy Christmas and New Year.

12/11/2021

Delighted to support this excellent local project. Well done and good luck to all those involved

As well as our Gift List, you can also donate any amount online if you'd like to contribute to this year's project. We're thrilled to already have reached 25% of our fundraising target, helping to ensure we can pack up as many gift bundles as possible!

A huge thank you to Urban Lighthouse (Southville based independent estate agent) for their incredible generous donation earlier in the month. 🙏 Whether you have £5, £50 or £500 to share, every donation counts - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bs3pass-the-parcel

22/09/2021

What an unexpectedly busy year it's been in the property market, approaching the end of Urban Lighthouse's 4th year of trading, and comfortably the busiest! Continuing to aim to provide an effective, highly personal, value for money service with integrity. Noteworthy this trading year have been the following; hard to buy - great to sell - at times prices visibly rising - over 30 sales completed - happy customers & positive reviews on our service - about to hit £1500 donation for the year to Help Bristol's homeless, the excellent local charity we continue to support providing a short term roof, and the know how to help people take the first steps to building back up their lives. Thanks to my small but brilliant team, who have helped ensure we can provide a consistently reliable service and a near 100% success rate of sales going through. Here are just a few of my favourite sales of this year....