Alex Greaves shares his perspective on buying family homes in Putney.
I was pleased to contribute to Anna White’s recent Homes & Property feature in The Standard, exploring why certain London streets stand out to buyers.
My comments focused on Clarendon Drive and Deodar Road in Putney: two addresses that illustrate how much the choice of street can matter when buying a home.
Clarendon Drive: finding the right fit for a family
The article highlights a purchase I handled on Clarendon Drive for a family moving from Notting Hill. For their particular search, Putney offered a combination of school options, space and value that made it a strong fit.
It is a useful example of why I encourage buyers to look beyond their initial shortlist of areas. The right move is not necessarily to the most familiar postcode. It is to somewhere that works for the way you and your family want to live.
Before narrowing a search, I would consider how the house needs to function now and in several years’ time. Is there enough useful living space? Does the school journey work alongside the commute? Will the layout still suit the family as children grow?
Those questions help turn a broad wish list into a practical buying brief.
Deodar Road: the appeal of something harder to find
My comments on Deodar Road focused on its combination of period homes and a riverside setting, with some properties enjoying gardens extending to the Thames.
That kind of distinction can make a property especially appealing. But a special setting still needs careful assessment. I would want buyers to understand the property’s condition, any planned works nearby, the insurance position and any relevant flood risk before making a commitment.
A desirable address is a reason to investigate a home properly, rather than a reason to relax the checks.
Look beyond the headline price figures
The research behind the feature compares average transaction values across two three-year periods. Those figures are not the same as measuring the change in value of an identical home.
For a buyer, the more useful exercise is to examine genuinely comparable sales. A larger, fully refurbished house and a smaller property needing substantial work can sit on the same street but justify very different prices.
My approach is to assess the individual home: its layout, condition, outside space, position and any compromises. The asking price then needs to be tested against that evidence.
Choosing a home with confidence
With 24 years in residential property, I know how much work sits behind a well-judged purchase. Finding an appealing house is only one part of it. Understanding its value, negotiating the terms and coordinating the steps through to completion are equally important.
At Ridgestone Property, I provide a personal buying service, from refining the brief and sourcing properties through to negotiation and purchase management.
If you are considering a move to Putney or elsewhere in London, get in touch with Ridgestone Property to discuss your search.
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