Welcome to your May newsletter!

Is your New Year'sResolution torenovate your home?

Another New Year, a new beginning. If you've been thinking about renovating your home for a while, you can finally make your house dreams come true now that the festivities are behind you.

Outdoor living

Spring will soon arrive, and your garden and emphasis on outdoor living can finally begin to take shape. You want the best outdoor living space you can create; you've read all the magazines, watched all the programmes, and your mind is teeming with visions. Try adding an eating area, an outdoor working space, a pond, an orchard, and some sleepers, and see what else happens along the way!

Working from home space

If you would rather develop an indoor workspace, now is your time to get cracking. With more people working from home, inspiration for this trend can be found anywhere. Often, it’s about making it yours with individual touches while creating a comfortable place to work.

Going green

Perhaps you would like to increase the energy-efficiency of your home. Installing solar panels is a great way to do your part for the environment while saving some money. In some cases, you may even be able to sell the electricity you produce to your local energy supplier. This could mean your solar panels will pay for themselves, but typically the only cost after installation is for annual servicing. If you work from home, you might consider installing insulation to reduce your ever-increasing heating bills.

Creating extra living space

You could create another bedroom, a dwelling space for an elderly relative, or a new family. Alternatively, removing walls to modernise or create extra space is still challenging and will remain so in 2023, given the cost of raw materials and the shortage of good tradespeople available to carry out this work. So careful planning is essential, or it might not happen until next year!

Bathrooms

January is a great time to get an awesome deal on a new bathroom, despite the waiting lists to get it fitted with large, branded suppliers or individual bathroom fitters. There is nothing to stop you from buying and booking now, and with some luck, the design of your choice could become a reality in time for summer, or even spring!

A new kitchen

Buying a new kitchen in January leads to huge discounts and when completed, adds real value to the value of your home. As the central hub for any home, bright spaces and light colours are on-trend, as are natural material surfaces matched with metallics. Seamlessness and fluidity between rooms with open-plan living or blending outdoor areas with the heart of any home are still on the to-do list of many this year.

An exciting year

Whatever you decide to do in 2023, whether you are renovating then selling or buying a newly renovated property, there is no doubt that there are some interesting and exciting ideas waiting to be implemented and already in place in many homes.

Searching for your perfect new home? Browse our properties today.

Budget-friendly ways to spruce up your rental property

You have decided to rent your house out – or perhaps you have been a landlord for a while and simply need a few tips to help you keep your tenants happy and protect your investment. Whatever your situation, you know that substantial changes are costly and time consuming, and more time spent on preparing your property means less rent revenue for you!

There is no need to break the bank when it comes to attracting tenants to your property. As with so much in life, it’s all about the detail.

Here are some budget-friendly tips which will help you freshen up your rental property.

Paint The Tiles

Did you know that tiles can be painted? There is no need to tile the bathroom and spend thousands simply transform the bathroom by adding a nice coat of colour to the tiles.

Bathroom Fixtures and Accessories

A new toilet seat, a mirrored cabinet, a toilet roll holder that matches a soap dish, a heated chrome towel rail to replace an old radiator can be bought from around &40. Is the pull cord a little less vibrant than it used to be? Replace it for less than &3.

Lighting And Light Fittings

Good lighting affects the shades, shape and mood of all that lives in your home, not only your new tenants but all the inanimate objects too. A new light fitting is another cheap fix and is not a huge task to replace.

Handles And Doorknobs

Perhaps the cheapest of all the quick fixes are doorknobs and handles, consider all doors, kitchen cupboards, and bedside cabinets, not just the internal doors!

Taps And Sink Plugs

New taps can freshen up the kitchen and bathroom, and a new sink plug costing a few pence shows prospective tenants that no detail goes unforgotten.

USB Sockets

These just make life easier for your tenants when it comes to living a more stress-free life without the need for lots of unsightly charging plugs. It also tells potential tenants that the home is up-to-date and modern.

Are You Letting Your House Furnished, Part Furnished Or Unfurnished?

If you let your home furnished with lots of fixtures and fittings, beware that unless stated in a contract you may be called on to repair these items if they break due to ware and tare, so try to keep things minimal.

Curtains And Blinds

New blinds can be fitted easily and if replacing curtains will create an illusion of wider space and improve the light of every room in the house. This is also a great way to freshen up the room with a pop of colour or an interesting pattern!

Flooring

New carpets can be fitted quickly and easily, and there are some great deals to be had so it’s worth getting a quote if nothing else. A transformative improvement might not be as expensive as you think! There is a bit more to fitting laminate, but it will add a new lease of life to your rental, making your house more desirable, with new underlay needing to be fitted for either choice – your tenants will live better insulated against cold winter nights.

Looking to Let your property? Contact us today for more information

Your Property Investment Checklist

There is much to think about when investing in property. Whether you are a seasoned investor or letting for the first time, this checklist may throw up a few things you might not have thought of...

The Right House at the Right Price

It all starts with the right house, flat or property. You will not get a good ROI (Return On Investment) if you have paid over the odds for your property. Worse still, borrowing excessively so your letting yield does not cover the cost of the mortgage. Using this scenario as the worst-case example the principle is true at any level. Pay the right price for a good property.

The Area

A good house is made even better if it’s in the right area. That is not only is it a nice area but is there a good balanced mix of both let properties and private residential homes? This gives you options when it comes to selling and letting.

How Will You Let Your Property

There are many agents who will provide different levels of service for a relatively small fee. Everything from collecting rent to finding and vetting your potential tenants. Some will even pay you a rental income before they have placed tenants. Maintenance and guidance on legal obligations can also be taken care of or you can opt for a halfway house where the letting agent will take care of some of these things, while you take care of the rest.

Tenants

If you choose to find your own tenants then you will need to set up a bank account, arrange references, set aside some time to meet tenants, so it’s worth paying a good letting agent who will take care of this for you.

Rental Income

It is important to get the figures right. You want to let your house and hopefully make a profit on any potential borrowings you may owe on the house or any maintenance and repairs and what you charge your tenants. The best way to do this is to create a spreadsheet and break down all costs on a monthly basis.

Potential Expenses

While you are on your spreadsheet, think of expenses such as maintenance; boiler services, electric appliance testing and budget for the unexpected like repairs or potential appliance replacement if applicable.

Remember Legal Obligations and Contracts

Check out any legal obligations and make sure your property is up to scratch to avoid any unexpected expenditure, for example is your fuse box obsolete? Also, you will need a contract to protect your tenants and yourself legally.

Development Potential

Perhaps you have no intention of letting your house, you are simply going to restore it, or modernise it, then sell it. Perhaps you will improve your property, then let for a time then sell it. Whichever you choose, consider market conditions and if you can stick to your budget. Try and find a property with plenty of development potential so you can add value to your investment.

Are you searching for a great investment? Browse our properties and become an investor today

Achieve a quicker sale by avoiding decorating mistakes

Less is more when it comes to decorating your house for a quick sale. Everybody has their own unique style and taste, so the best solution is to keep things neutral and simple. This means that your potential buyers feel that without too much effort, your house can become the home they want to live in. More importantly, this creates the perception of a well-cared-for home that will not need too much work. A great starting point is a good deep clean to make your home as desirable as possible.

Here are a few simple dos and don'ts to help you save money and move quickly. You can do these in any order you like, and the results could increase your home's value and make it quicker to sell.

Remove the clutter and don’t spend more on furniture or appliances

It may sound obvious, but before you give your home a good clean, clear out the clutter. Keep the worktops in the kitchen clear of pots and pans, clear the hallways of shoes and coats, and try to strip back some of your personal items like photographs and holiday trinkets. Clearing away some of the clutter will make your home appear bigger and more visually appealing, and buyers will be able to envision living there.

Deep-clean each room

Now that you have a bigger space to work with, it’s time to clean. The items you have cleared away have probably been hiding a few walls or surfaces requiring your attention; so clean the bathroom, the floors, walls, worktops, and the oven.

First impressions last

Your buyer’s decision-making process starts as soon as they see your home. Think about how the house looks as you approach it. Is the door clean? Does the front garden have any weeds? Has the grass been cut? Do you have a patio in the back garden? Does it need a brush? If it’s crying out to be replaced then use stones, which costs hundreds, rather than paying thousands for new paving.

Forget the new extension or knocking down walls – add a fresh lick of paint!

A fresh coat of paint can make such a difference in freshening up your home, but here’s what not to do: Don't just pick your favourite colour. Instead, stick to neutral colours that are bright, modern, and on-trend. Prioritise which walls, ceilings, or skirting boards need the most attention, and if they don’t need it, don’t waste your money.

Make your house a home with some simple homely touches

Adding some simple finishing touches, such as plants and some logs next to the fire, costs little and will have a greater impact than buying a new couch. You’re selling your home, not your furniture. A new lamp shade to replace the old one when it’s begging for replacement is worth it; in the right tone, it will put buyers in the mood for buying!

Get it on the market

If time is of the essence, all these things can be achieved quickly and easily, and most of them can be carried out without hiring tradespeople, saving costs and increasing your budget for your new home.

Looking for a speedy sale? Arrange a valuation with us today.

Zumbathon Charity EventSaturday, 3 June 2023

Get sponsored to dance! (No dance experience necessary!) Refreshments, raffle and Liberian Arts and Crafts Stall...

Click here to read Zumbathon Charity EventSaturday, 3 June 2023.

Creativity is the key to transforming your home. Here’s some inspirational hacks!

National Creativity Day takes place this month, and there are fewer places that make such a big impact with a little creativity than your home. The joy of improving your home is that, unless you spend a large amount of time away from it, you can feel the difference it makes every day. And when you do these things, you are dressing your home for sale and making it desirable for potential buyers.

The kitchen
We spend more time in here than in any other room in the house, so why not make it a bit more homely? Even if you have a larder, hang one up on the wall and make it a feature with interesting herbs and spices. Or if you prefer wine, start a collection with an antique wine rack or weathered table for the coffee machine. Such features blend well with modern kitchen design, even if you have installed a state-of-the-art design. This also creates a space to celebrate the seasons. As it’s nearly summer, use flowers, and at Christmas, use scented candles.

The garden and outdoor living spaces
Summer is nearly here, and the possibilities are endless. Redesign your lawn, adding curves to complement your outdoor garden space. Add lighting, then sit back on some nice garden furniture and take in the view. Mirrors, candles, lighting, fire pits, barbeques—the trick here is to bring a bit of the outdoors indoors. Add decking, a patio, a seating area defined by trees, rearrange the flower beds, and create a vegetable garden with your larger garden. These areas should effortlessly flow from your home to the garden, de-stressing you as you, in some ways, enter another room in the house, even if it’s outside!

Bathroom
Often here, you will want to start again and make it as perfect as possible, but even if you have recently installed a new bathroom, there is always room for a human touch. A simple shelf for a speaker and flowers, along with scents and a few more mirrors, creates space and a feeling of relaxation, especially if you light a few candles.

Bedrooms
Easily overlooked as not as important as the other rooms in the house, but remember you sleep here, so arguably these rooms are just as important. Blackout blinds make for a great night’s sleep, so before you even get out of bed, you are already in a better place!

Work from home space
Who says this must be indoors? You can have both. Create an outside area for the summer, and if you add a heater, you might be able to work outside in the winter too. A pergola set on stones, sheltered by trees, with an outdoor log burner—what a nice way to do a day’s work! If you don’t fancy working outdoors, then create a compact area in a spare room that is ergonomic and comfortable to work in but does not dominate the room. This retains the flexibility of what could also be a guest or hobby room.

Sitting and dining rooms
From creative lighting, rugs, artwork on the walls, add colour. These rooms really benefit from a splash of colour, so getting a high-end look with some paint by choosing the shades that make you happy will make a bigger impact than you think. Painting the chimney breast and contrasting the walls with other shades, then matching with restored furniture, is on trend. On the other hand, you might be able to afford high-end furniture, in which case the sky is the limit.

Conclusion
Making your home more attractive to you and potential buyers is all about the little details. But equally, even if you have redeveloped every room in the house, there is always room for a little improvement by adding some finishing touches.

Looking for the perfect property so you can add your mark and make your home a truly special place? Browse our properties.

Thinking about buying a holiday home? Here’s a few things to consider

When we hear the words holiday home, they conjure up images of the sea, mountains, or forests, perhaps in exotic locations where everything seems perfect somehow. Many people are choosing to buy holiday homes in the UK despite being able to travel freely again. It’s an appealing prospect: returning again and again to a place that you love. The UK has so much beautiful scenery to offer and vibrant cities packed with culture to explore and enjoy. There is also the very appealing option of letting your holiday home, which could mean your holiday home pays for itself.

You have lots of options
Holiday homes come in all shapes and sizes. There are many stunning holiday homes located in myriad locations. From the Peak District, peering over the blue sea of the south coast on a summer’s day, or hiding in the Highlands of Scotland, to mention a few. But there are also properties of all types scattered in towns and cities that, at first glance, you might not have considered up until now as a holiday home. So it’s worth keeping an open mind when choosing the right holiday home for you.

No booking or paying for hotels
You will no longer have to worry about forking out or taking time to book a hotel, saving money during the holiday season when prices are at a premium. And even if you love nothing more than travelling and staying in hotels across the globe, perhaps your holiday home may contribute towards the costs of your various adventures.

Tax advantages
Holiday homes are a tax-efficient way to purchase property, as they can be classified as a business and not an investment. This means you can include mortgage interest costs as a deductible expense when calculating your tax bill.

Great returns
Holiday homes can be very lucrative. During the height of the holiday season, you could charge the equivalent of a month’s rent, for a two week let. This means that if your holiday home is not booked all year round, you still achieve good annual returns, giving you a chance to enjoy or possibly improve it.

The social scene
Inviting family and friends to your holiday home can make for a better social life if it’s easier and cheaper to get to than other alternatives. Adding to this, the ready-made social scene that awaits you in your chosen location will give you the chance to forge new relationships.

It could mean you get more holiday time
If your holiday home is easier and less expensive to get to, then chances are you will make the most of this, and you can enjoy long weekends and bank holidays on short and long breaks more often. This will add to your quality of life, which will contribute to your health and wellbeing.

Holiday let managed service
A good tip is to consider a managed service, which could take care of everything from bookings, maintenance, cleaning, and gardening. Allowing you to enjoy great returns and create some great memories with minimum effort.

Browse our properties to find your perfect home, whatever your property needs.

Why is the spring 2023 property market in a good place?

Average house prices in the UK have since the pandemic risen by £42,000.* The value of your home has increased rapidly in recent years, and this puts you in a great place even if there has been a bit of a slowdown, but then you could be forgiven for asking: What slowdown? House prices are stable and, at times, increasing, and to gauge the market by the unpresented growth in the past few years is a little unfair. Nonetheless, most of the value gained, or in some cases, the continued increase in value still exists as equity in your home. Even if you have lost a little value, you are still in a good place. A little bit of market cooling leaves more scope for getting your hands on the keys to a better home with a bigger discount without the frantic price bidding of past years.

The home improvement boom
It’s no secret that many homes had thousands spent on them during the pandemic. Many people, due to travel restrictions, chose to spend money on their homes instead of holidays. As a result, many homes are now in beautiful condition. Freshly decorated with external and internal renovations, resulting in homes with great work-from-home spaces and outdoor living areas that are ready and waiting to be lived in. This really does make a huge difference in the quality of your home and work-life balance. Homes with kitchens that inspire you, gardens that take your breath away, and bathrooms boasting cutting-edge design.

More mortgage choice
Mortgage choice is returning to the market, with thousands of options now available. So in essence, you will have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to what home you want and what mortgage you require. In many ways, all of this makes the prospect of moving very interesting compared with past years. Some home buyers are choosing to take interest-only mortgages, knowing they can overpay their mortgages, which releases some of the pressure on financial commitments.

Interest rates
Mortgage interest rates are falling, and the recent announcement of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) suggests that interest rates could return to pre-pandemic levels. ** The suggestion is that the high interest rates that many of us are paying at the moment are not a long-term deal. It could be the case, and it’s accepted by many analysts, that in the not-too-distant future, we will be paying less for our mortgages.

A bigger selection of homes
Compared to last year, the stock of homes for sale in the UK has been boosted by 60%.* The spring market is rapidly becoming the summer market. And perhaps the enticing thought of moving to a perfect home in time for summer is too much to resist for some home movers. As home movers take the plunge, they put their homes on the market, adding to the splendid choice for you to explore. The market is in a better place than last year in many ways, but at last you can enjoy it without being flustered by a frantic rush to get your hands on the home you truly love.

Live the life you deserve by finding the home you love living in! Start your search now and browse our properties.

Zoopla*
IMF BLOG**

Now is a great time to buy bigger!

Homes for first-time buyers, typically with two bedrooms, are selling exceptionally well right now. In March 2023, they were just 4% down on 2019, and average asking prices for the same period were down by just £500.*

The market for larger homes is a little slower, with sales agreed in March being 10% down on 2019 and second-stepper homes being 13% down.* This tells us that the market is in pretty good shape overall, but what is more obvious is that now is a great time to ascend the property ladder.

If you own a home that is suitable for first-time buyers, with two bedrooms or along the lines of a compact starter home, you will get a great price, and with larger homes selling a little lower than current asking prices, you are likely to get an offer accepted that will save you a bit of money.

Why is your starter home in such high demand?
There are many reasons why demand for smaller, more compact homes is high right now. There is the price of energy and the cost-of-living crisis. First-time buyers are looking to get on the ladder before the mortgage guarantee scheme, which makes it possible for first-time buyers to buy with a 5% deposit and is due to end in December this year. It stands to reason that smaller homes are cheaper to run, with less council tax and less maintenance, although this is not always the case. And with people downsizing to smaller homes, chances are that if you want to sell up, it will not take long before you are on the move.

How can you get more house per property pound if you buy bigger?
The short answer is that smaller homes are selling more quickly than larger homes, so the price of smaller homes is stronger, leading to less scope for negotiation. With asking prices for larger homes not quite as strong as those for smaller homes, you are essentially getting more house for your money. It stands to reason that if you find a bigger home and it’s taking a little longer to sell, and with asking prices achieved at a lower rate than those of smaller homes, you already have one foot in the front door. Bring your haggling hat; there is nothing more annoying than ridiculously low offers that will only get rejected. But there is more scope for a reasonable amount of manoeuvring on price.

The market will bounce back, and that bigger house may become out of reach!
Many analysts expect house prices to rise quite steadily in 2024. In March, average property prices rose by 0.8%.* This could be a sign that buyers now realise that now is a good time to move, and it is a sure sign that the market is healthy and stable. Without a crystal ball, the future is impossible to predict, but you might find that in the near future, larger homes will become out of reach as prices start to ascend more rapidly.

Interest rates
It’s no secret that interest rates are on people's minds right now. However, with the recent announcement of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), which predicts interest rates to fall back to pre-pandemic levels. Mortgage interest rates are on the way down, and with many analysts suggesting that they may return to much lower rates, when buying a home, you could consider higher interest rates to be temporary.

Conclusion
Perhaps the best thing to do is to check out the market and see what you can find. The joy of property hunting is that you never know what you might find. There are no fixed rules, but you might be surprised at what you could achieve.

Looking for a bigger home? Looking for a more energy-efficient home? Looking to sell your home? Get in touch, whatever your property needs are!

Rightmove*

Bedford Street,Tipton

Royston and Lund are pleased to present a two bedroom ground floor apartment sold with tenant in situ currently paying £615 pcm...

£114,995

Click here to read Bedford Street,Tipton.

Giles Court Rectory Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham

A first floor two bedroom retirement apartment situated in this thoughtfully designed retirement development which is within walking distance...

£139,950

Click here to read Giles Court Rectory Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham.