If you’re reading the headlines, the sky is falling. PLEASE NOTE that negative headlines sell ads, so always keep the agenda of media outlets in mind. That said, the sky isn’t as sunny as it has been. Inflation is a dark, rainy cloud. It hasn’t dissipated as quickly as we’d like, which led to the Bank of England raising rates again, which led to mortgage rates rising in sympathy, which led to a slowdown in sales. Depending on where you look, the average 5 fixed-rate mortgage is around 6-7%. Compared to a year ago — when the rate was below 3% — that increase seems massive and the average purchaser’s monthly payment has now more than doubled this calendar year alone. However, compared to historical averages it still seems relatively low. What gives, and why all the uproar? 

I know I’ve been beating the drum on this issue for a long time, but the shock of rising rates is more pronounced because we’ve been in such an unprecedented period of (stimulated) growth. We’ve been propping up the housing market for so long that many buyers today have never seen rates that would be more in line with historical averages. Rates may eventually go back down, but when we see mortgage rates on the rise, taking a broader look at market patterns can help us reset our perspective and not default to panic mode. Remember – what goes up, must come down, and then go right back up again. Hold tight and choose to see what’s coming as opportunity. 

Although the evenings are gloomy, the roads are busy, and the weather outside is frightful – moving home during the festive period can be a stress-free process if you’re well prepared for it. Whether you’re buying your first home this season or moving on to your next, here are some top tips for a smooth move during the holidays…

Book a removals company

With unfavourable weather, limited staff and packed schedules, removal companies can be difficult to reach close to Christmas, and this can cause complications with moving. As we reach the end of the year, companies often get booked up in advance, so make sure to ring up as early as possible and secure your delivery slot.

Christmas decorations

Years worth of Christmas décor can quickly turn into a festive frenzy when moving house, so it’s a good idea to organise and label your boxes of seasonal goodies so that they’re ready for move-in day. If you’re moving just in time for Christmas, you’ll likely want to have your decorations unboxed right away, so pack them where they’ll be within easy reach and won’t get damaged. 

Prep for bad weather

Weather conditions are always an important factor when moving, and you’ll need keep an eye on the forecast while you’re planning. Adverse weather can cause delays when moving your belongings, so try and choose a day when the odds are in your favour.

If you’re heading towards a snowy or rainy moving date, protect your new floors from any wet and muddy shoes by laying down cardboard or plastic sheeting in the rooms and on the staircase.

You will also need to prepare for your journey, as trying to stay warm when the temperatures are low can be just as exhausting as overheating, so make sure to leave some warm clothes out of the suitcase and keep a jumper or coat spare just in case!

Shop early

Get your Christmas shopping out of the way early so that you aren’t disrupting your move. If you’re able to, go through your present list and make sure everything is packed and sent out before moving day. The last thing you need when sorting and packing your belongings is a big pile of unwrapped gifts and cards to wade through. If you’re moving close to Christmas, it might also be a good idea to get your food shop done early by ordering online so you can avoid any last-minute shopping and queueing close to the big day.

Secure all valuables

The festive period presents many opportunities for thieves, especially if you have any high-value items or presents boxed up at the ready. Stay vigilant and ensure all of your belongings are safe while you’re moving. Never leave a door unlocked or a vehicle open and unsupervised, and keep an eye out throughout the process for any opportunists who might’ve noticed a moving van outside your house.

Spread the cheer

A nice touch for this season is to leave the owners of your old home a small welcome pack or note with some helpful information inside. You could write up some handy tips about living in the home – such as when the bins are collected or the designated safe-place for missed parcels.

While you’re at it, why not leave a Christmas card as well? After all, ‘Tis the season to be jolly.

If you’re looking for your next home, take a look at our selection of properties. 

Interior design is more than just dressing up a property to look nice, it’s all about making your house feel like home. Throughout 2022, we saw hundreds of iconic interior design trends filtering from celebrity quarters into our homes across the UK – from classic throwbacks to hypermodern and minimalist – we can look back on these trends to see what’s being left behind, and what we’ll be seeing a lot more of in the months to come.

Hideaway home offices and private spaces

From many of our learned behaviours since the pandemic, isolation and working from home are the two that have become integral to the way our homes look and function. Hideaway offices that are completely separate to the rest of the house offer a healthier work-life balance – a far cry from working at the kitchen table back in 2020.

Luxury monochromatic

For a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, monochromatic patterns and palettes will be an ongoing trend stretching far beyond 2023. This style is simply made for bathrooms and kitchens, offering a clean and modern look.

Arches

Arched doorways and windows have become big news in extensions and renovations, with gentle curves softening out the clean-cut edges that have proliferated for so long. Moving away from sharp corners and straight lines, softness has become very contemporary in recent years, with home designs seeing relaxed, stripped-back styles replacing the bold and edgy.

Wavy wood

Soft and curved wood is the modern interpretation of the humblest of materials, implementing a stylish, smooth spin on one of nature’s roughest textures. From curvy coffee tables to smooth seating areas, nature-inspired homes can swap out rustic textures for something sleeker and more refined with these materials.

Vintage furniture

Fast furniture might be on the way out, as the lack of longevity for these highly accessible pieces creates catastrophic waste. Those decorating their homes into 2023 come from a planet-conscious generation, and vintage furniture is the way to keep the cost down and find beautiful, high-quality furnishings without having to overspend.

Lavender

Lavender is making a lot of noise in the interior design scene, and for good reason. The balanced, soothing tones make it a versatile colour for decorating – whether it’s used as an accent or as a statement. The sweetness of the pink and coolness of the blue make for a happy medium that can be implemented into all areas of the home for a stunning pop of colour that doesn’t steal away the whole show.

Statement stone

From classic marble countertops to romantic rose quartz coasters, stone finishes are the perfect statement. These natural materials with their glossy surfaces and muted hues will be making a welcomed comeback into 2023.

Bringing back the 70’s

The 1970’s influence we’ve seen on fashion runways lately has clearly translated into the interior world, and it’s no surprise that the earth tones, biophilic design and low-slung furniture of this era will be coming back into our homes imminently – albeit with a modern twist. 

Wondering how much your home is worth? Find out by arranging a free valuation.

You want to treat your partner this Valentine’s Day. Perhaps a meal out, a card, flowers and chocolates are more your style. After all, you are both trying to take your first steps on the property ladder; you are trying to save. It’s not easy, sometimes you feel like it’s never going to happen. You don’t want to spend on a property you don’t own. On the other hand, you want to make the most of where you live. The relationship you have with where you live is important. Showing that you care might just help you fall in love with your place. Here are a few tips and things you can do that won't break the bank!

Create the perfect space

It’s all about being comfortable in your surroundings. Functionality is important. The first part of creating a great ambience is decluttering or arranging your room so it is as stress-free as possible. Often less is more but you still want a feeling of space with cosiness.

Lights and candles

Lighting affects your mood. Candles particularly at this time of year are perfect for that romantic evening in. Don’t just use them on Valentine’s Day. Use them after a long day at work and relax in the soft lighting which will soothe you and create a relaxing ambience.

Conversely, simply changing a few bulbs and creating lots of light in the kitchen for example will create a feeling of space. Use LED bulbs and reduce your carbon footprint while saving some money.

Add some personal touches

Flowers, candles, paintings or pictures of a special time or place. Once your rooms are decluttered and clean these items will have a huge impact and help you to relax more quickly. This adds to the quality of your life while adding character and just enough detail to help stimulate your visual senses.

Plants

A few plants here and there reduce stress levels while adding an element of nature to your rooms. Improving the quality of the air in your home and giving you a sense of well-being that combines with the glorious effect of natural aesthetics.

Celebrate outdoor living

A nice space outside with candles or a stove underneath the stars is not only romantic but a great way to add another room to your house. It may be outside but create the right space and it’s as important as any room in the house.

TLC

Keeping everything clean and in good working order is one of the simplest and best ways to show the place where you live how much you care. In return, it might along with some other steps help you fall in love with the special place you live for you and your loved ones to share.

Browse our website today you might just find a property you will love.

Spring is still a month away and the longer, lighter days of summer breeze are even further in the future. That’s not to say you can’t start giving your home a good spring clean now and get ahead of the seasons. It can be a liberating, therapeutic experience and often quite necessary with Christmas not that far behind us. The odd pine needle that you may find on the floor or carpet is proof that you made the right decision to give your home a spring clean.

Now that you are on top of your cleaning, in fact, your house is an impeccable example of cleanliness. What else do you need to think about at this time of year?

Inspection

Give your home a good overall inspection. When you find anything that needs attention take a picture of it or make a note. Then you can create a list of priorities. This is the first step to sorting whatever you find!

Check your caulking

A good place to start is to check out your bathroom caulking. During the steamy windows of wintry months, this often suffers. The cold winter weather outside means that you have perhaps not opened the windows quite as often as usual.

Windows

Give your windows a good clean. You most likely have a window cleaner to do the outside, get some vinegar, water and elbow grease and tackle the inside.

Gutters

After the windy assaults of winter, it’s always a good idea to check your guttering.  If it's damaged, when it rains again it can cause more damage or flooding which could lead to expensive repairs. Plus, it’s always a good idea to get on top of any repairs because there might be a bit of a wait to get them fixed if you find any.

Roof

Checking your roof is important; a few slate tiles may have become loose or perhaps have blown away. Use a camera or binoculars, just to be on the safe side.

Garden

It might be a bit early to get fully immersed in your garden. However, you can certainly have a tidy-up and start planting a few bulbs for the summer. Why not check the patio for weeds or cracks that may have appeared from the ice? Simply doing these things will make you feel as if spring and summer are well on the way.

Wood

If there are a couple of clear days and you have the time. Reseal your decking or fences, as well as the shed or gates. Now is a great time to get it done.

Concrete and pointing

Any concrete, pointing, tarmac or hard surfaces that may have cracked over the winter or simply become cluttered up with moss or dirt can be cleaned. This will brighten up the appearance of your home and make it feel a bit more spring-like.

The result

Doing all these things will help whether you are staying put, selling, thinking of moving or if you have plans to develop your property in the coming months.

Thinking of moving? Call us today for a valuation to see how we can help.

 

We have all heard it before. “Moving is one of the most stressful things you can do.” Compared with many other more serious predicaments in life this is of course not true. Like flying to the moon or near-death experiences! However, it’s right up there with the big stuff like your career and relationships according to some experts.   

It’s got everything, back aching lifting large furniture through narrow spaces, to worrying about paperwork, to the emotional roller coaster ride of saying goodbye to friends and family you might not see for a while, then the elation and excitement of a new home and maybe a new life. With all this going on it’s easy to get stressed. There is so much to think about.  We have come up with a few tips to help you make the big move less stressful by breaking it down into manageable pieces.       

The sooner you start the better  

The longer you put things off the more they fester in your mind. Instead of simply packing a few things earlier you will become stressed thinking about the huge task ahead. Start with the little things. Stuff you don’t use often, an hour here and hour there. Don’t make it a task. Then you are already ahead of the game.  

Come up with a plan 

Make a nice cup of coffee or tea, or something stronger! Sit down and relax, then scribble down a plan. Don’t just write a list, instead in numerical or alphabetical order, perhaps using titles such as – the happy day, for when you move in.  Breaking your tasks down like this will help you keep calm and gives you a plan to stick to while reducing the chances of the unexpected. Perhaps have a packing section, a pre-move checklist and a post-move check list, to deal with change of address! 

Budget  

It’s always a good idea to create a budget. Moving can be expensive and the more time you give yourself to plan the costs and see where you could save the better. If you are using a removals company, shop around, while they will make your life easier, if the cost is more than you can afford you may find yourself stressing over money.   

Don’t forget yourself! 

Your mind will be teeming with everything to do with your new home. Remember to look after yourself, plan breaks on the big day - a time to eat and a time to rest.  When you get stressed, remember to breathe. When you move in, sort the bedrooms first. This process will take a few days and you will need to sleep well. Perhaps pack a self-care box, so you are not frantically looking for something that is essential to you.   

Say your goodbyes  

Regarding looking after yourself remember to set aside some time to say goodbye. It’s important to do this and if you do not plan it a little you may find you are trying to do too much at once; packing, while saying goodbye. It could cause an emotional and stress overload!   

Finally  

There is no doubt following these steps will reduce your stress levels massively and with a bit of luck you will be able to enjoy the big move! 

Can’t wait to move into your forever home or looking to make your first big move?  Get in touch. 

*Mymove 

If you have made the decision to sell your home, chances are you will want to do it as swiftly and smoothly as possible. You probably have so many happy memories from each and every room in your house, yet already you are beginning to see your home in a different light. It’s important to look at your home as a house subjectively and see what you can do to get it sold.

Combined with this you need to be organised; you don’t want to be delayed – don’t neglect that silly little thing you forgot to do which delays everything by weeks! So here is a checklist which you can use as a reminder and a few other things to consider which will help you achieve the best possible price for your home.

Check out the competition

Look at what other houses in your area are selling for. View online the most recently sold properties in your postcode to give you a good idea of an asking price.

Declutter

Everyone has their own unique way of living whether it’s sitting by the fire and knitting or collecting unusual beers. Start decluttering by packing them away now and creating space. An emptier kitchen worktop will make the entire space look bigger and more appealing to potential buyers.

Clean

Have a good clean up, everything from the fireplace to kitchen tiles and carpets. It all helps make your home more sellable.

Repairs

Are there any small repairs that need doing or scuff marks that need a touch of paint? Perhaps you have some paint left over in your shed. It won't cost you much, but it will make your home look better and become more resistant to silly offers!

The garden

Don’t forget the garden and the front of the house. Are there any bushes or trees that need trimming? Are the windows clean, has the grass been cut? The first thing your buyers will see is the front of the house and first impressions last.

Make an entrance

As you enter your home through the front door look at what will greet potential buyers. A nice, presentable, clean and in good condition hall or room or porch will welcome new owners, not just viewers.

Paperwork

You don’t want to be delayed waiting for a gas safety certificate, or any other paperwork - perhaps from building control for any structural work you had carried out. Make sure you have any paperwork ready for your potential buyers to keep things moving forward smoothly.

Solicitor

Don’t give your solicitors any excuses to delay you! Call them and double-check if there is anything you need in terms of conveyancing and paperwork to get the ball rolling.

Photography/video tours

Check out your home’s profile once it goes live, and check the pictures for accuracy. Once you have done all this your house should look as pretty as a picture and you will soon be on the move for the right price.

Do you want to enjoy a seamless and swift house move? Contact us.