The latest from Royston & Lund: Property News

In this months edition we share how tenant demand for rural properties is predicted to continue throughout the pandemic. As England is currently in a second lockdown, we answer some of your top household DIY questions and look at how you can create a home office without losing an entire room.

Finally as we enter the winter months and the weather turns colder we give you 10 cost-effective hacks to keep your property warm and cosy this Christmas.

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

Have you seen us on social media?

Did you know that we're always active on social media! We have a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts where we love to share our passion for property with you all!

We use our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share a bundle of information to support you in your property journey. You'll find:

The latest property market news
Our local insights
Event updates
Top tips
Property guidance
Coming soon spoilers
Featured properties
New listings
Properties back on the market

There's lots happening so don't miss out! To be transported to our pages please follow the links below:

Our West Bridgford Sales Department have welcomed two new experienced Sales Negotiators to the team!

Since the property market “re-opened” on the 13th May, we have witnessed the market bounce back in a way we could not have imagined. Enquiries and transaction have continued to increase as the market has continued to grow. In order to assist with the high volume of clients looking to buy and sell, we are delighted to have recently welcomed both Deborah Unwin and Kirsty Marcer to the team.

Deborah and Kirsty have been working in the property industry for many years and will bring an abundance of experience to Royston & Lund. With a combined total of almost 40 years experience between them we know that our newest team members will be fully competent in aiding you with your next property sale or purchase.

If you are considering bringing your home to market you are sure to achieve a quick sale in the current market conditions. You can contact Deborah or Kirsty on 0115 981 1888 or by emailing sales@royston-lund.co.uk

Foxfield Way, West Bridgford

2 or 3 Bedroom Semi Detached Homes

Shared Ownership £120,000

Shared Ownership option of 35% - 75%

Two or three bedroom semi detached houses developed by Linden Homes, located in West. Multiple plots are available - please call us for further information.

Click here to read Foxfield Way, West Bridgford.

Caudale Court, Gamston

2 Bedroom Apartment

Shared Ownership £80,000

Shared Ownership option 50% - 100%

A spacious two double bedroom apartment situated in the sought after Gamston development close to the centre of West Bridgford.

Click here to read Caudale Court, Gamston.

Hornbeam Close, Edwalton

3 Bedroom Terraced House

Shared Ownership £96,250

35% - 75% Shared Ownership Option Available

A three bedroom house developed by Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes. Designed with family living in mind, providing the calm of the countryside and the bright lights of the city.

Click here to read Hornbeam Close, Edwalton.

Wenlock Drive, West Bridgford

2 Bedroom Apartment

Shared Ownership £155,000

50% Shared Ownership Option Available

A well presented two bedroom second floor leasehold apartment situated on the sought after "Square" development in the desirable suburb of West Bridgford.

Click here to read Wenlock Drive, West Bridgford.

Demand for rural properties from tenants is predicted to continue throughout the pandemic

Living through lockdown left many people around the UK rethinking their living situations, and now – as we enter the next phase with the country's second national lockdown – we're finding that homeowners and tenants are more motivated than ever to find somewhere that's more suited to their needs and lifestyles.

Rather than providing us with a sanctuary from workday stresses, our homes have been transformed into temporary office spaces and school rooms, leaving little room for us to unwind and detach from the day's events.

Recent data suggests that one in five landlords believe that demand for more space will drive tenants from urban areas to the countryside over the next few weeks and months; particularly if remote working becomes a permanent norm for businesses.*

This shift in attitudes is already apparent when you look at migration patterns across the UK.

According to the latest rental market report from Zoopla, there is a supply-demand imbalance supporting positive rental growth across all regions and major cities outside of London.

Have you been thinking about letting your property?

With the UK workforce experiencing its second national lockdown, it's thought that businesses will become even more reliant on remote working practices, having a knock-on effect for the property market and reducing our need to live close to the office.

If you've been considering expanding your portfolio as a landlord, now is the perfect time, with increased demand and value for rural homes.

To find out more, contact our team of property professionals today.

*The mortgage lender

Your household DIY questions asked and answered

Online searches for ‘DIY’ hit a 16-year high during the UK's first lockdown, as we found new ways to spend our time.*

When it comes to giving our homes the DIY treatment, the internet can be a very valuable resource and it’s no surprise the nation has been frantically Googling a number of key DIY terms to help brush up on their renovating skills.

Are you ready to tackle your next lockdown project?

With plenty to do around the home, now is the perfect time to tick off any jobs that have been lingering or forgotten about.

To help you complete your projects this month, we’ve given you some of the most common DIY questions and searches, along with the solutions to fixing them.

How to bleed a radiator

Checking your radiators is essential at this time of the year.

If you’ve noticed that they’re not heating up as they should, they probably have air bubbles in them and need bleeding.

To do this, simply put the bleed key into the valve and slowly turn anti-clockwise. Have your cloth ready to shield your hand and a small bowl to catch any drops of water.

If there is trapped air, you should hear a hissing sound as it escapes. As soon as any water begins to drip, close and tighten the valve.

How to stop a sofa sagging

After a while, you might notice your sofa starting to look lifeless or worn.

There are a number of things you can do to prevent sagging.

Check your cushions to see if they need topping up on the inside with more material, fibrefill, or foam padding.

How to hang pictures

It's important to know how to hang pictures, whether you are hanging photo frames or turning a wall into a feature wall with a single piece of art.

When putting up a picture, make sure to use a spirit level to ensure it is straight and try to avoid hanging your pictures too high.

Once you have attached your fixing to the wall, test it by pulling it down before hanging anything on it.

How to fix a dripping tap

Dripping taps can be costly to fix and are likely to need a replacement internal rubber seal.

Before doing anything, make sure to turn your water off and then switch on the tap to release any leftover water.

Replace the washers on either end of the spindle with new ones before reassembling the tap and turning the water back on.

How fit laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is often seen in many homes and consists of four layers of material that are sandwiched together.

When installing laminate flooring, it is important to do the following steps.

Always fit underlay boards before you begin to help even out the floor, leave around 12 mm between the boards, as laminate flooring expands.

You need to then make sure the boards are lying the same way and in the same direction before trimming the skirting and doorways.

How to make a toilet flush

Some of the most common reasons why a toilet won't flush is the flapper being damaged or the water levels being too low.

The flapper is found at the bottom of the toilet and replacements are usually inexpensive to buy.

However, if the water is more than an inch below the overflow tube, you will need to adjust the fill valve to top it up.

How to stop creaky stairs

Creaky stairs are usually caused by a piece of wood rubbing against something. This is because a tread moves against a riser, causing the squeak.

Solving this can be done by securing the connection with either nails, screws or glue molding the joint between the two sections.

We’ve answered some of the most common DIY questions to help you around the house.

So before calling in the professionals, assess the situation to see whether you can minimise costs and keep your home running efficiently over winter.

For more information on home improvements and renovations, speak to our team today or browse our latest properties.

*Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)

10 cost-effective hacks for keeping your property warm and cosy

With much of the UK workforce now operating under lockdown again, it's estimated that we'll see a collective hike of almost £2 billion on our energy bills at home.*

Here are our top ten cost-effective hacks to keep you warm this winter:

Cover up bare flooring – wooden floors can be notoriously cold, but thinner carpets can also be chilly. The addition of a thick, cosy rug can really make a difference to the warmth of the room, whilst adding a stylish touch.

Be smart about furniture placement – similarly to adding staple pieces such as a fluffy rug to a room, other larger pieces of furniture can make a huge difference, as can their placement in your home.

Any furniture blocking a radiator should be rearranged to ensure that the heat can flow around the room more evenly, creating an overall warmer environment.

Use draft excluders – these can be particularly useful if you are renting an older property.

Place these in front of doors to keep the heat in. This will save you money on your energy bills as less heat will escape the property. They can also be matched to your current interior.

Let the sun in – on sunnier days this winter, open your curtains and let the sun warm up your home. Sunlight is not only great for naturally warming you up but also for your mental health and energy levels.

Keep the heating on low – this may sound bizarre, but having your heating on a constant low level during the day can lessen your energy bills.

This prevents the periodical off-on that will cost you more in the long run. Similarly, this will avoid pipes bursting when the temperature drops below zero.

Heavy curtains – another way to keep the heat in this winter is to hang heavy curtains or blinds near your windows, as the fabric will absorb the draft that would otherwise be coming into your property.**

Keep doors closed – once your heating or fire is on and warming up your property, ensure you keep doors closed to keep the rooms you’re using nice and cosy, rather than letting heat escape into unused sections of the house.

Be selective – any rooms that aren’t used regularly, such as guest bedrooms and bathrooms could be costing you extra money on energy bills.

To avoid this, turn the radiators in these areas down, keeping them on low to avoid the pipes freezing.

Similarly, areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms won’t need to be heated as much as your living room, so remember to take this into consideration.

Block your chimney – if you’re lucky enough to own or rent a property with a gorgeous chimney, these can be a huge culprit for making your home chilly.

To avoid this, try purchasing a low-cost chimney balloon. These can be inflated inside the chimney – out of view – and will block cold air coming in, as well as preventing heat escaping.

Bundle up – it wouldn’t be a 'keeping warm in winter hacks' piece without mentioning layering!

As clichéd and predictable as it is, wearing a jumper, dressing gown or a fluffy pair of socks is a great way to stay warm on a budget. This paired with a warm drink and a bowl of soup creates the perfect cosy evening in.

For more information or support with your property, contact our team today.

*Source: The Guardian

**Notice for tenants: if any alterations to your property are needed to make this change, please ensure you have permission from your landlord prior to doing any work.

Tips to create a home office without losing an entire room

The verdict is in, working from home is here to stay!

Government guidelines state that employees need to work from home, where able, over the course of the second national lockdown.

However, when asked, over half of respondents claimed that they would continue to work from home on a permanent basis. Out of those who did not wish to work from home permanently, the majority blame the lack of a home office to operate from.

So, how can you create a working space if you don’t have a whole room available?

Share space – Look at areas around your home where you can make a room multi-purpose, with the addition of a desk and chair in your spare room, kitchen, living room or dining room.

This will not only use up wasted floor space but offers a practical solution. It is also a great way to prioritise your home décor pieces.

For example, if you are lucky enough to have a spare room, a large double bed that is rarely used can be replaced with a sofa bed.

Re-purpose furniture – If you have an unused piece of furniture, such as a dressing table, you can re-purpose them into a sizeable desk space.

This option is not only eco-friendly and cost effective, but super easy, as you can simply transform the current location of the furniture into your office zone.

Our top tips for creating a cosy yet productive home office space is to position yourself away from any distractions like windows, and use plants and candles for a more homely feel.

Staircase solutions – The area under the stairs is often overlooked, so this can be a great solution to needing a home office.

Ideally, an open staircase without risers is best for this hack, but this can be adapted depending on the space you have to work with. The area under the stairs is notoriously dark, so good lighting is key here – this can be yellow or white light, depending on the vibe you wish to create.

If you want to go all out, bespoke built-in office spaces are a great way to utilise the entire area.

Cupboard office – This revolutionary workspace solution, nicknamed a ‘cloffice’, is a great alternative to a clunky desk in the middle of a room.

To create this, use a spare wardrobe or large cupboard – this works even better with built-in furniture.

Use shelving to create an area to hold your computer and files, and decorate to your taste. The best part about this hack, is that you can close the doors on your home office after your work is done for the day. Perfect to help maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Utilise outdoor space – If you’re lucky enough to have a summer house or garage, these can be transformed into a dedicated home office.

Summer house solutions are great for the winter. Just add a heater and invest in a secure locking system to keep your items safe, and you’re good to go!

For a garage, this may be slightly more expensive, but will work all year round. To start, cover the concrete floor with rugs or a fitted carpet to warm up the space and pay attention to the walls, as these may need insulation.

To find out what properties have recently come onto the market in your area, contact us today.