Mansell McTaggart is the estate agent that seems to have invented the phrase “character-filled property.” In real estate speak, that means “the previous owner kept ferrets in the bathtub.” But honestly? Their listings are a goldmine of surprising details.
Take the house I saw listed for “offers over £450,000” that came with a dedicated room for a grand piano—and a raccoon-proof compost bin. The raccoon part is not a joke. Crowborough is apparently the raccoon capital of the south of England. Nobody told the raccoons they weren’t welcome here.
Homes with Personality (and Possibly a Ghost)
One listing I browsed had a “spiral staircase to nowhere” that the agent called a “whimsical conversation piece.” I call it a lawsuit waiting to happen, but okay. The estate agent’s description was pure poetry: “A charming three-bed with original fireplace, Aga cooker, and a very opinionated squirrel in the attic.”
Don’t be alarmed if you view a home and find a sign that says “Beware of the Badger.” That’s just Mansell McTaggart being thorough. They know the local wildlife better than the residents. There’s a rumor that one property even has a family of hedgehogs listed on the deeds as “permanent occupants.” I am not making this up.
