The latest from Royston & Lund: Market overview and advice

The latest from Royston & Lund: Market overview and advice


Welcome to our June Newsletter where we are sharing a property market overview and some lifestyle guidance. We also feature our social media channels! 
 
As the property market has now been released from lockdown for over six weeks, we share some insight to our activity levels and the tremendous bounce back we have witnessed. As other sectors also re-open, such as high street shops and public spaces, we also provide some top tips on how to make a face mask at home so that you can stay safe where social distancing may be more challenging. Over the past couple of months cycling has become increasingly popular as a way to keep fit whilst enjoying a new hobby, so we've provided our top tips to help you start cycling. Finally we share some of our favourite UK holiday hotspots so that you can get outdoors and enjoy a relaxing break. We hope you enjoy this months edition.
 

 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.

 

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



Holidays Cancelled? Enjoy the UK!

 
For many of us, we will have plans for holidays abroad which are now looking uncertain, and for others an overseas excursion will already have been cancelled. If you are looking to plan your next getaway, why not enjoy a ‘staycation’ here in the UK.

Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, recently announced that holidays within the UK could return as soon as July in a move to boost the tourism sector and allow those who have already missed holidays to take a much-needed break.
“I would love to get the tourism sector up as quickly as we possibly can. We’ve set this very ambitious plan to try and get it up and running by the beginning of July,” he said.

There is also the potential addition of an extra UK bank holiday in October being explored by the government currently in order to account for the two weekends in May with bank holidays which were essentially negated due to coronavirus lockdown measures.

Last year a third of Brits chose to have a holiday in the UK over abroad thanks to the varied landscapes and exciting places to explore right on our own doorstep, so don’t consider holidaying in your home country as a hardship.

If you’re looking for a city break, then London is the obvious choice as it simply has so much to offer, however don’t discount other cities such as Bristol, Edinburgh or Cardiff for a city break as they all provide a distinctly different feel to one another and provide a chance to get to know somewhere new.

Perhaps you are looking for a more traditional seaside break, in which case the south coast of England is the obvious choice due to the more favourable climate and the truly stunning locations such as Brighton, Bournemouth and Cornwall. However, there are also hidden gems such as Nairn in Scotland which is a charming seaside resort and the better-known Rhossili Bay in Swansea which is known for its surfing.

Perhaps it is a touch of peace and quiet which you are seeking on your next holiday, and the Lake District offers this in abundance – known as England’s answer to the Italian Lakes, the vistas in the Lake District are awe-inspiring and the walks second-to-none. When it comes to picturesque landscapes, the Scottish Highlands offer some of the most rugged scenes and idyllic, isolated locations throughout the entirety of the UK – we would recommend basing yourself in Inverness as you are then driving or hiking distance to some of the most wonderful walks in all of Scotland. Wales is not to be forgotten, of course, as its green landscapes and rugged coastline provide plenty of opportunities for a relaxing break – and should you wish to build up a sweat then a trip up Mount Snowdon is just the ticket.



How To Make Your Own Face Mask

 
As the country enters the next stage of its strategy to ease the lockdown restrictions whilst preventing the spread of coronavirus, the Government has issued new advice to the public on how to stay safe whilst in public spaces (such as shops and public transport). The Government has asked people to wear face masks to cover their nose and mouth where social distancing is not possible. This advice has been detailed in the Government Covid-19 recovery strategy, detailing its plans for lifting the UK out of lockdown; which can be viewed here.

To prevent any additional pressure to the NHS in obtaining crucial PPE supplies, the Government has issued instructions on how to make your own face mask at home, by simply using elastic bands and some cotton fabric or even just an old T-shirt. Your face mask should be worn so that you can breathe comfortably whilst covering your nose and mouth. You should sanitise or wash your hands before putting it on and taking it off, and you should wash your face mask regularly.
 
We share how to make your own face mask at home below*:

Making a face mask using an old T Shirt

You will need:

• One old T-shirt that you no longer want
• Scissors

Method:

Step 1: Cut a straight line across the width of the T-shirt (front and back) approximately 20cm from the bottom of the T-shirt.

Step 2: From a point 2cm below the top right-hand corner of the fabric, make a 15cm horizontal cut through both sides of the fabric that is parallel to the top of the rectangle.

Step 3: Cut down towards the bottom of the fabric until you reach approximately 2cm above the bottom edge. From here, make another 15cm cut that runs parallel to the bottom of the fabric to make a rectangle that can be discarded.

Step 4: To make the ties, cut open the edge of the 2 long strips of fabric. Unfold the main piece of fabric and place over the mouth and the nose. The 4 strips act as ties to hold the cloth face covering in place and should be tied behind the head and around the neck.

Making a face mask using a piece of cotton fabric

You will need:

• two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric
• two 20cm pieces of elastic (or string or cloth strips)
• needle and thread
• scissors

Step 1: Cut out two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric. Stack the 2 squares on top of each other.

Step 2: Fold over one side by 0.75cm and hem, then repeat on the opposite side. Make 2 channels by folding the double layer of fabric over 1.5cm along each side and stitching this down.

Step 3: Run a 20cm length of elastic (or string or cloth strip) through the wider hem on each side of the face covering. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle to thread it through. Tie the ends tightly.

If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the covering behind your head.

Step 4: Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the covering on the elastic and adjust so the covering fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping. These elastic loops fit over the ears.

*Our step by step guides have been taken from the Gov.uk website here.



Positive Signs In The Property Market After Restrictions Released

 
Nearly 6 weeks ago the government opened the doors to the housing market. At the time, there was an estimated £82 billion of property transactions on hold due to coronavirus.

The immediate effect of the reopening of the property market has been seen clearly on the property portals – with a distinct spike in searches for properties the day after restrictions were lifted. Rightmove recorded over 5 million visits on 13th May and reported that sales demand doubled from Tuesday 12th May (when restrictions were still in place) to Wednesday 13th May.

The spike in property searches can be attributed to the many people who have had to put their property search on hold due to coronavirus and are now looking to move quickly in order to avoid their own chain collapsing, or just to take advantage of current circumstances.

6 weeks in and the housing market has continued to gather pace with significant volumes of buyers and sellers returning to the market. “Searches for purchases are now at 44 per cent of pre-lockdown highs, up from lows of 15.6 per cent in mid-April” explains James Tucker, chief executive of Twenty7Tec.

Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst, said: “The traditionally busy spring market was curtailed by lockdown”.

However, at Royston & Lund after returning 6 weeks ago, bringing our entire sales team back a full 3 weeks earlier than we intended to, we have witnessed the market bounce back in a way we could not have imagined.

In the first weekend that the property market was released, we were in receipt of approaching 450 enquiries just by email for property which had been on the market pre-lockdown. We had a backlog of circa 200 viewings logged by interested parties throughout lockdown and over 100 enquiries from potential vendors looking to get valuations on their properties.

Fast forward to the end of June, we are now witnessing a market similar to that we would expect in a ‘normal’ spring market.

Despite both buyers and sellers seemingly understanding there is a recession coming – at some point, we are seeing properties having numerous offers made from numerous buyers, best and final offers are being asked for as they would have pre-lockdown and property continues to sell for above the guide price.

Furthermore, demand in West Bridgford in particular and Rushcliffe as a whole has been consolidated by a good amount of new property coming to the market during the last 6 weeks. This has had a knock on effect on bringing more and more potential buyers and sellers to the market place and assessing their own options.

If you find yourself wanting some advice or have seen a property come to the market which you are interested in, give us a call on 0115 981 1888 to discuss what we can help you achieve for your property.
 



Five Tips To Help You Start Cycling

 
Over the past couple of months, the popularity of cycling has increased exponentially – with exercise becoming ever more important, and cycling an accessible sport. We have put together some top tips to help you get on your bike, whether you are new to cycling or an experienced rider.

The Right Bike
It can be very tempting to find a bike online due to the price point being lower than in a physical shop, however buying a bike that is suitable and comfortable is key – otherwise, you simply wont have the inclination to use it. Using a cycling shop will give you access to expertise which should help you in finding the right fit for you, and encourage you to use your new piece of equipment.

Don’t Be Deflated
One of the relatively few things that can go wrong with a bicycle is if one of your tyres has a puncture whilst you are out on the road, therefore we would recommend that you learn how to fix a puncture as soon as you have your bike. You can find puncture repair kits online or in store for less than £10, and here is a handy guide explaining the process https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/how-to/how-to-fix-a-puncture-2

Plan Your Route
It will be useful to know where you are going on your route, so that you don’t get lost and end up on a much longer outing than originally planned or come across any terrain that you aren’t prepared for. Plan your route online using google maps or something similar, and you will be able to prepare the perfect distance with not too much elevation – bridle paths and old railways lines converted to pathways are perfect for a casual outing.

Practice Makes Perfect
Although we often say “it’s just like riding a bike” for things which come naturally to us, a little bit of practice in the saddle will help you to be safer on two wheels. For example, remember to feather your front brake lightly in order to come to a stop, rather than using your rear brake to stop immediately, and when cornering lift up your inside knee and apply your weight to the outside of the bike for balance.

Stay Safe
The most important aspect of cycling, if you are on the road or otherwise, is to stay safe and ensure the safety of those around you also. Ensure that you adhere to the rules of the road, just as if you were in a car, and that those around you know your next action through signalling using your arms if you are turning left or right. Wear brightly coloured clothes so that you can be seen at all times and carry some identification, a phone and some petty cash on you just in case.



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