Farm & Estate Sales Page, Property Case Studies

Case Study: North Barns & Coltrannie Farms, Bankfoot

Case Study: North Barns & Coltrannie Farms, Bankfoot

Client: Private Landowner
Sector: Residential Estate Agency / Rural Property Sales
Location: Bankfoot, Perthshire

Challenge:
North Barns and Coltrannie Farms, located on either side of the A9 just north of Bankfoot, had been managed as a single farming operation despite being held under separate ownerships within the same family. The client, who had lived on the property since childhood, had decided to retire and instructed Bell Ingram to handle the sale. A key challenge involved the recent compulsory purchase of land to accommodate a new bridge over the dualled A9 – a structure designed to maintain safe access between the two holdings for agricultural machinery.

This added complexity to the preparation of sale and title plans, requiring careful interpretation of boundary changes and accurate documentation to support marketing and registration.

Solution:
Working closely with colleagues in our Forfar office, the Residential Agency team in Perth prepared the farms for market to coincide with the 2024 Royal Highland Show – a strategic decision to ensure visibility during a peak sales period.

One of the main challenges was producing precise sale plans due to the land adjustments linked to the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). Our in-house GIS team played a critical role in resolving this, meticulously mapping the revised boundaries and creating both the marketing plans and Land Registry-compliant Title Plans for submission to The Keeper. This ensured full legal accuracy and gave prospective buyers a clear understanding of the offering.

Outcome:
Marketing commenced two weeks prior to the Highland Show to maximise exposure. Despite the presence of a public footpath on the property, which made viewings harder to track, strong buyer interest led to a closing date being set just four weeks later.

Acceptable offers were received for both farms, with local buyers securing each holding. As neither required the traditional four-bedroom farmhouse included in the offering, it remained on the market separately and was successfully sold a few months later.

The coordinated efforts of our agency and GIS teams helped secure positive outcomes for the client while reinforcing Bell Ingram’s long-standing reputation in the Angus and Perthshire farming communities. Many of our agents come from agricultural backgrounds and understand the unique needs of farm sales – bringing a level of insight and trust that continues to make a difference for clients.

Farm & Estate Sales Page, Property Case Studies

Large farm portfolio gains overseas interest

Large farm portfolio gains overseas interest

The Bonnyhill Farm Portfolio, located in and around Falkirk and Larbert in central Scotland, represents a significant agricultural asset with a combination of historical importance and operational value. Spanning approximately 513 hectares (1,269 acres), the portfolio included a working dairy, extensive agricultural land, farm buildings, and six residential properties. A noteworthy aspect of the portfolio is its inclusion within the Antonine Wall World Heritage Buffer Zone, adding an additional layer of cultural and historical significance.

Market Offering: The portfolio was brought to market with a guiding price of offers over £8,450,000. Recognising the diverse nature of the assets within the portfolio, the property was segmented into six distinct areas of land, with each being offered as a separate lot. This strategic approach aimed to maximise buyer interest by providing flexibility to potential purchasers, whether they were interested in the entire portfolio or specific segments.

Interest and Marketing: Given the scale and location of the Bonnyhill Farm Portfolio, it was anticipated that the sale would attract significant attention. This expectation was met, as interest was generated both locally and internationally. The appeal of the property was multifaceted: the operational dairy offered an ongoing business opportunity, while the agricultural land and residential properties provided potential for various agricultural and investment pursuits.

Sales Process: Following a 12-week marketing period, which included extensive promotion and viewings, a closing date was set. The strategic decision to market the portfolio in separate lots proved successful, as it allowed for a more tailored approach to different buyer needs. Ultimately, the portfolio went under offer in two separate lots, ensuring the continuity of the dairy operation. The remaining agricultural land, which supports the dairy, was included in the second lot, maintaining the synergy between the land use and the ongoing business activities.

The sale of the Bonnyhill Farm Portfolio is a case study in the successful marketing and sale of a large, multifaceted agricultural asset. The approach of offering the land in separate lots, coupled with targeted marketing that reached both local and international buyers, resulted in a positive outcome. The continued operation of the dairy, supported by the adjacent agricultural land, highlights the importance of strategic asset management in agricultural property transactions.

Farm & Estate Sales Page, Property Case Studies, Uncategorized

Expert Knowledge Gleans Results at Mains of Craichie

Mains of Craichie & Land at South Mains

Expert knowledge in Bell Ingram’s Farm Sales team gleans results for our clients

Mains of Craichie & Land at South Mains near Forfar hit the market in Spring 2022 for offers over £7.5million.

The first-class arable farm is complimented by purpose-built farm buildings and two houses with land extending to approximately 262.20 hectares (647.88 acres). The Angus farm was conveniently placed just two miles from Forfar and 14 miles from the City of Dundee.

Bell Ingram’s Farm Sales experts based in Forfar managed the large sale with support from the Perth Estate Agency team. Many of Bell Ingram’s Farm Sales team come from agricultural backgrounds and currently run their own farming businesses. They understand this highly specialist market and the sensitivities involved in selling a large farming business such as Mains of Craichie.

The decision was made to offer the land as a whole or as two lots to generate interest. For offers over £7,500, 000, lot one comprised approximately 534.27 acres of prime agricultural land and main farmhouse, outbuildings and smaller one storey farmhouse.

Lot two comprised the Land at South Mains, which is approximately 113.61 acres of prime arable ground set in three enclosures for offers over £1,360,000.

Our Farm Sales team offer a full range of marketing strategies and create a bespoke blueprint to deliver maximum exposure. This is coupled with our enviable database of farming contacts, which in this case resulted in a large amount of interest in the sale.

After a hugely successful marketing campaign a closing date for offers was set. This resulted in 12 offers for the different lots, however, the sale was concluded as a whole lot for significantly over the asking price – the ideal outcome for our client.

If you are looking for a similar result for your farm, get in touch with our Head of Farm Sales, Malcolm Taylor at malcolm.taylor@bellingram.co.uk, or call us on 01307 462516.  

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Property Case Studies

Historic Perthshire Estate Sale

Historic Perthshire Estate Sale

Property broken into five Lots to achieve best price for client.

The Brief

Eastertyre Estate, which centred around a nine-bedroom principal house, parts of which dated back to the 1500s, had been in the same family for a number of generations.

With outstanding views over River Tay to the hills beyond, the premium Perthshire property also encompassed two detached cottages, grazing land, salmon fishing rights and woodland. Interestingly, the top section of the estate was subject to an SSSI as an important breeding ground for the Northern Blue Damselfly.

On the death of the last of the family, his Executors asked Bell Ingram to put Eastertyre to the open market and it was launched for sale in springtime 2021.

Process

To achieve the best possible outcome for our client, it was decided to offer the estate both as a whole and also as five separate lots – each of the three residential properties (with an area of surrounding land), the hill land with grazing, and the salmon fishing rights.

This highly successful strategy generated 173 viewings, which required careful organisation by our Agency team as Covid restrictions were still in place!

It went to a closing date after seven weeks and interested parties were asked to submit two offers each – one covering a complete ‘lot’ and a second offer with their ‘wish list’.

Outcome

Fifty offers were received and the Estate was sold in three lots achieving significantly above the initial listing at offers over £1.6 million.

Eastertyre was a fantastic sale to be involved with and the complexity of the situation demonstrated Bell Ingram’s range of expertise and our ability to add value to your property sale.

Our sales team can offer a full range of marketing strategies and create a bespoke blueprint to deliver maximum exposure which could result in additional offers and a higher value attained.

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Article posted on 21/12/2021

Property Case Studies

Bandominie Farm, Glasgow

Bandominie Farm, Glasgow

Multi-service approach achieves record price for farmer.

Brief

Located on the edge of the very buoyant Glasgow market, 380-acre Bandominie Farm consisted of a farmhouse with outbuildings, a modern bungalow and a large area of forestry land.

The owner, who had lived there all his life, occupied the modern bungalow with his own family, while his elderly parents remained in the original farmhouse, which was in need of considerable modernisation and renovation.

To achieve the best possible price for our client, we advised that breaking the farm into separate parts would be the most lucrative way forward.

Process

The first step in this process was to map the property and our in-house GIS Mapping Department was tasked with providing three mapped areas of land – 275 acres for forestry planting, 19 acres to go with the old farmhouse and its outbuildings, and a further 2.5 acres of paddock to be sold with the bungalow.

Bell Ingram’s Planning Department then made an application to have the Section 75 removed from the farm which allowed us to sell the residential properties separately. 

The two residential properties were listed at £200k for the farmhouse, outbuildings and 19 acres, while the modern bungalow was put to the market at £250k with the paddocks and two small stables. 

Outcome

The attractive sales price, coupled with the lack of available stock in the Glasgow area, generated just short of 200 enquiries which resulted in 121 viewings being arranged in only six working days. A closing date saw both properties sold to the same buyer, achieving almost 25% above their asking price.

However, it was the Forestry element of the sale which ultimately generated the best outcome. Bell Ingram’s Forestry Department approached their private clients offering the 275 acres for an asking price in the region of £450,000 to £650,000, and our client was rather overwhelmed when a closing date achieved significantly above the asking price!

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Article posted on 21/12/2021

Property Case Studies

C-Listed Fife Coastal Property

C-Listed Fife Coastal Property

Agency team turn detective to achieve successful sale of home and garden.

Brief

We were instructed to market an attractive, C-listed Fife property situated on the Firth of Forth coastal pathway. However, the sale was hampered by the fact that the nearby Estate, and not the seller, appeared to own the title to the garden. Our clients had declined an offer to buy the garden some years before, and when a new approach was made to the Estate, the purchase price had increased greatly.

.

Process

As this point, our Agency team decided to carry out a thorough investigation into the title and purchased copies of the older title deeds from The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. With a bit of detective work, and a desire to achieve a successful sale for our clients, we were able to establish that the boot was actually on the other foot. If indeed the Estate did own the land, then the obligation lay with them to produce their title and stake their claim.

Outcome

Happily, the outcome was that The Keeper accepted that our clients did have ownership and we were able to successfully conclude a sale which allowed them to downsize to a new project further along the Fife coast.

Article posted on 21/12/2021

Property Case Studies, Uncategorized

Chesterhill House – Tayport, Fife

Chesterhill House – Tayport, Fife

The Fife development opportunity that became an international social media sensation.

Brief

Chesterhill House had been uninhabited for 12 years and needed complete renovation. Set in a secluded position surrounded by woodland, the property had a number of desirable architectural features including a rare oval walled garden.  As was common in the late 1800s, successful Dundee merchants would build beautiful houses in an around Newport and travel to and from their businesses via a steamer across the Tay. Chesterhill House was constructed around 1870 for this very reason.

Process

Our Perth Agency team were invited to bring this historic and locally well known hidden gem to the open market and our Property Manager, Carl Warden, relished the challenge. In a bold move, in agreement with the client, the property went to the market at offers over £200,000.

Outcome

The result was firstly a social media frenzy reaching 121,399 (89,000 in the first 48 hours). This was following by national and international coverage including Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand and on television news in the US. The resulting telephone enquiries had the Bell Ingram staff working non-stop on the project and after 156 viewers we received 15 Offers on a closing date. The property eventually achieved an outstanding sale price.

Article posted on 25/05/2020

Property Case Studies, Uncategorized

Kirk O’Muir – Kinclaven, Perthshire

Kirk O’Muir – Kinclaven, Perthshire

Our Perth Agency team sensitively and successfully managed the emotive sale of a family property.

Brief

Kirk o’ Muir at Kinclaven was formerly a manse and is category C Listed. Having been a family home within the same family for many decades, the house had been empty and fallen into disrepair. Included in the title were the remains of the A Listed Kirk o’ the Muir Church which once formed an impressive Secession Church – now long disused. Within the grounds are the ruins of the coach house for the Manse.

Process

Our Perth Agency team were keen to bring this property to the market. Having been in the same family for so long, it was a very emotive sale for the remaining brothers who had grown up there.

Outcome

Kirk o’ Muir generated interest from all over the UK with many attracted by its private and idyllic location. Thirteen viewers vied with each other on a closing date and the property was sold for over the asking price to a family who were keen to make it their forever home too.

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Article posted on 08/11/2019

Property Case Studies

Flocklones Farmhouse – By Invergowrie

Flocklones Farmhouse – By Invergowrie

Timing was everything in the rapid sale of this beautiful property.

Brief

This original farmhouse dates from the end of the 18th century and was very sympathetically extended in the 1970s and again in 2011. It combined traditional features typical of its time with modern family living.

Process

Although Easter time has many people’s interest focused on eggs and bunnies, the Perth residential team brought Flocklones House to the market on Easter Friday and arranged one viewing for the next day.

Outcome

The viewing was a success and a substantial and acceptable offer, well above the asking price, was submitted on Easter Monday.

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Article posted on 25/05/2020