Property News

Vineyard auction

Wine buffs will have to be quick off the mark. Breaky Bottom, a vineyard near Lewes, Sussex, goes under the hammer at an Allsop & Co sale on Monday at the Berkeley Hotel in Wilton Place, SW1. The estimated value for an investor is pounds 100,000. But perhaps as new landlord you could have privileged rights to tasting the tenant's award-winning wines. Also on sale is a converted water mill on the River Chelmer near Great Dunmow, Essex, with five acres of grounds and a guide price of pounds 250,000.

Viewing from home

Shopping from your home is one of the treats promised for the future. But builders are already going on-screen. The New Homes Marketing Board's magazine is running on Teletext (Page 370) from Friday to support the annual New Homes Fortnight. General advice on housing is also being carried on Channel Four (Page 544).

Chelsea choice

Around 4,500 homes will be on show at an exhibition by London estate agent Barnard Marcus at the Gloucester Hotel in Harrington Gardens, SW7, on the weekend of September 24 and 25. Any Chelsea fan might not wish to wait that long, however. A small shop opposite the stadium in Fulham Road has a guide price of pounds 25,000 for auction next Tuesday and Wednesday at the Regent Hotel, in Marylebone.

On the list?

Thousands of ordinary homes are listed, and specialist repairs can cost more. Fire prevention is of particular importance. Agents Jackson-Stops' simple guide to contents insurance is pounds 5 from 22 Hans Place, London SW1X 0EP.