The latest from Royston & Lund: Our top tips and insights

Welcome to our May Newsletter where we are sharing our market insights and tips to help you whilst spending more time at home. In this months edition we take a look at financial services and how they've been affected by the coronavius. Next we share some fun garden hacks to make your own vegetable patch at no cost at all! Elsewhere you'll find some of our favourite property programmes to inspire you, as well as our tips for preparing your property for sale.

From all at Royston & Lund, we hope you all stay safe and well during this time. If you have any questions about your property circumstances please contact us.

Richardson Gardens, Wilford Lane, West Bridgford

A small development of only four Brand New detached properties built by Swallow Hill Homes overlooking the Nottingham Forest training ground.

We're holding an open day for the last 2 remaining homes for sale on a small development of 4 properties.

OPEN DAY Saturday 22nd February 2020 (by appointment only).

Richardson Gardens, Wilford Lane, West Bridgford

Guide Price from £500,000 to £525,000

The properties are built to a high specification over two and three floors and are offered to the market with completion on plots 3 and 4 early Autumn 2020.

Swallow Hill Homes have been creating homes since 2005 and are a local company based in Beeston who employ their own team of builders. Building 5-10 properties a year, they ensure high standards and focus on constructing good quality houses using high quality materials.

On this development they are building using Staffordshire blue bricks on the ground floor, render on the upper floors, and slate grey windows & roof tiles for a crisp modern vernacular.

Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to purchase one of these fantastic houses in such a sought after location.

For more information about this development, please contact our sales team on: 0115 981 1888 or sales@royston-lund.co.uk

Sleeping Beauty

Thursday 20th - Saturday 22nd February

Click here to read Sleeping Beauty.

Celebrating Shakespeare

Monday 24th February - Saturday 7th March

Click here to read Celebrating Shakespeare.

Rushcliffe 10k

Sunday 1st March

Click here to read Rushcliffe 10k.

Richardson Gardens, Wilford Lane, West Bridgford

We're holding an open day for the last 2 remaining homes for sale on a small development of 4 properties.

OPEN DAY Saturday 22nd February 2020 (by appointment only).

Richardson Gardens, Wilford Lane, West Bridgford

Guide Price from £500,000 to £525,000

The properties are built to a high specification over two and three floors by Swallow Hill Homes.

On this development they are building using Staffordshire blue bricks on the ground floor, render on the upper floors, and slate grey windows & roof tiles for a crisp modern vernacular.

Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to purchase one of these fantastic houses in such a sought after location.

For more information about this development, please contact our sales team on:

0115 981 1888 or sales@royston-lund.co.uk

Property programmes to inspire you

If you’ve been missing the thrill of looking at new properties and imagining your next home, we have put together a list of programmes which will help inspire your next property purchase. Available on streaming platforms to fit into your timetable, this selection should give you a taste of what could be possible with your own home and future properties.

Netflix

• How To Live Mortgage Free With Sarah Beeny – Property entrepreneur Sarah Beeny meets with different individuals who have managed to clear their mortgages by using simple and effective tricks.
• Tidying Up With Marie Kondo – Tidying guru Marie Kondo has become somewhat of a sensation over the past few years in helping people declutter their homes and their lives.
• The Apartment – In this reality series hosted by design icon Jamie Durie, interior designers show off their design skills each week in a bid to win the overall prize.
• Amazing Interiors - This series shows that we should never judge a book by its cover as each of the properties featured looks relatively ordinary from the outside, with the interiors then anything but ordinary.
• The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes – Living up to its title, this series explores the world and discovers the most unbelievable properties, from Norwegian valley homes to Spanish cliff-face villas.

Amazon

• Homes By Design – This series focuses on a different design aspect each episode and looks at superb examples of property architecture throughout the Americas and Europe. From Gothic Revival architecture, to ocean inspiration this series truly does have it all.
• Homes Under The Hammer – Originally made famous on the BBC, this series is also available on Amazon and showcases properties bought auction which are then restored by their new owners with the express intention to sell them quickly or let them for profit.
• CoCoCozy Design House – CoCoCozy is regarded as one of the top design influencers around the world, and this series chronicles the latest design project from the renowned design house.
• The Really Big Flip – Flipping a house is the process of buying a property that is ripe for restoration and then selling it on as quickly as possible for a profit. This challenge programme follows three teams who are tasked to do just that.

Channel 4 On Demand

• Property Ladder – Amateur developers source run-down homes for them to develop and sell for a profit, but along the way they are presented with challenges both financial and logistical.
• The Property Chain – Perfect for those who have never purchased for, this series follows property chains and explores the whole process – from offers being accepted all the way through to move-in day.
• Location, Location, Location – A Channel 4 favourite fronted by Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, this programme follows different individuals and couples on their property searches.
• Big House, Little House – In this series, two sets of couples with budgets at different ends of the spectrum create amazing new spaces in their homes.

Create your own vegetable patch using just scraps

Are you making the most out of your food shopping? With us all taking fewer trips to the supermarket it can be challenging to keep well stocked on your veggies. But did you know that you can grow your own vegetables and make your very own vegetable patch purely from the scraps that you would usually throw away! Not only does this save you money, it allows you make some home grown produce and sparks a new hobby. We’ve included a list of which scraps you can use to grow your own vegetables below and how to nurture them to make the best produce!

1. Celery
Celery can be regrown from the root of the vegetable easily at home. Ensure that you keep 1 – 2 inches of the celery base as this is the part that it grows from. To grow your own celery, you place the base, cut side up, into a shallow bowl or saucer of water and ensure that it gets plenty of sunlight; a windowsill should be fine for this. Ensure that you refresh the water regularly and you will soon see roots appearing underneath the base, and leaves growing at the top. Once the roots are more established you can plant your celery in soil, with the top of the base slightly showing above the soil.

(Tip: leeks, fennel, and spring onions can also be grown in the same way!)

2. Potatoes
Did you know that you can use potato peelings to grow your own potatoes! If you have a potato that is beginning to sprout, save the piece of potato peeling that is sprouting and dry it out (overnight is usually enough time). Then you can simply plant the piece of peeling in soil, ensuring that the sprouting part is facing upwards as that is the part that grows. After a couple of weeks’ you should see the potato begin to sprout through the soil.

3. Lettuce
Lettuce can be regrown from scraps in a similar way to celery. Ensure that you keep 1 – 2 inches of the base of the lettuce put the base cut side up in a shallow bowl or saucer of water (ensure that it gets plenty of sunlight). You should change the water if it begins to get cloudy.

A lettuce will survive on your windowsill if you do not have a garden to plant it in, but you can also plant the lettuce in soil for faster growth. When fully grown, ensure to use the lettuce leaves starting outwards, to encourage better regrowth.

4. Onions
An onion can be re-grown from the root. If you want to grow your own onions, ensure that your root scrap has at least half an inch of onion attached. You can then simply plant this into a pot of damp soil and leave in plenty of sunlight. As long as you remember to water your onions, you should see the shoots begin to appear from the soil after a couple of weeks!

5. Peppers
The seeds inside peppers can be used just like any other plant seed would be planted. With the nice weather we have been experiencing you are able to plant the seeds straight into the ground; but they can also be planted in pots of damp soil if it’s too cold outside. Ensure that you plant the seeds in a spot that gets lots of sunlight and remember to water them. These will not require too much attention and usually grow quite quickly. Once they have grown, remember to save some of the new seeds to regrow your crop.

6. Herbs
Herbs such as coriander, parsley, and basil can be regrown from the stems of the herbs; so your meals can always be flavoursome! To regrow these, ensure that you have around 2 inches of stem (with a couple of leaves on top) and place this into a small cup of water for a around a week. Once you begin to see small roots sprouting you can plant them into a pot of soil ensuring that they get plenty of sunlight. You must be careful not to over water your herbs once planted in pots to encourage better growth. Once your herbs have regrown, try and ensure that there are always herb leaves left on the plant so that you so not have to start your growing process from the beginning again.

How are financial services currently affected by the coronavirus?

What is happening to borrowing rates?

Financial services, like all other business sectors, have had to make changes to respond to the current health pandemic’s effect on the economy. Less people spending money has caused financial services to make adaptations necessary to prevent damage to the financial market. The Bank of England has cut the base rate to a record low of 0.1% to reduce the cost of borrowing for consumers and minimise disruption over the coming months. This is the Bank's lowest ever interest rate in its 325 year history.

What does this mean for mortgages?

Mortgage rates are falling in line with the cheaper cost of borrowing. Although new mortgage applications are mostly on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions, those with existing mortgages should consider switching to a different offer; as they could access some great deals!

What mortgage deals are available?

Mortgage lenders are starting to bring new deals to the market for both fixed rate and tracker mortgages. Experian have launched a user-friendly remortgage calculator to support customers in the search process for the best deals on the market. They have also stated that using this will not impact on credit scores.

The greatest saving can be made for those who already own large amounts of equity on their homes, or those that have put down large deposits. However, that should not stop you from considering a new mortgage deal.

How long does my mortgage offer last?

Usually, a mortgage offer is valid to you for three months. This is from the date that the offer was made to you, up when you take the funds. However, within the current conditions, lenders are offering an additional three-month extension to their offers.

How to prepare your property for sale

With demand for property prior to lockdown soaring, there are sure to be plenty of motivated buyers once restrictions are relaxed, therefore now is an ideal time to prepare your property for a quick sale.

Kerb appeal
As is always the case with selling properties, a first impression can make or break a sale with a poorly presented property often putting off buyers before they have even set foot in the home. In the summer this is especially important as buyers will often drive or walk past a property before they decide to book a viewing. With the summer sun shining a light on any less-than-perfect parts of the exterior of your property, you should ensure that flowers are planted, weeds are pruned and lawns are mowed. Extra attention to details, such as ensuring that the front door has been cleaned and the windows are streak-free will pay dividends in your selling process.

Accessories
A neutral interior will appeal to a mass market and increase the scope of your property in terms of potential buyers, but if you are looking to make the most of the summer then don’t be afraid of colour. Using accessories to add pops of colour around your home that reflect the brighter summer season – such as burnt orange and lemon – will make your property stand out from the crowd in those all-important photographs.

Lights
When we think of summer, we all first think of sunshine and brighter evenings – so make the most of this light when presenting your home for sale. Get rid of heavy curtains and dark blinds, which can make a room feel smaller and prevent the light from entering a room. Buyers want to feel that rooms are bright and spacious, so if at all possible have windows and doors open throughout the house to create a light, airy feeling (as well as bringing in those fresh summer scents).

Set dress
Set dressing refers to the arranging of a room or space in order to paint a picture of the kind of lifestyle which could be enjoyed in your property. Never is it more important to set dress your garden than throughout the summer months, with potential buyers wanting to know that they will be able to enjoy the outdoor space which your home provides. Tempt potential buyers by showing off your outdoor spaces with garden furniture, fire pits and barbecues.

Viewing times
During the summer months many people like to start work early and leave early in order to benefit from the longer evenings; make sure that you can accommodate as many viewings as possible by being flexible with your viewing times. Allowing people to view your home early in the morning, as well as in the afternoon will help bring more people through the door as well as showing off your property in favourable lighting.