Property advice & a market update

We start this month's newsletter with a lettings market update. It has been a few weeks since restrictions were lifted in the property market, and the market has shown a strong bounce back so far. 

Next we provide our top tips for designing a child's bedroom. With design trends forever changing, we hope our guidance can help you create decor that won't get dated! Elsewhere we share advice for how to keep your home cool during the summer months, and also some guidance for anyone who would like to take up cycling as a new hobby as many of us did during lockdown. 

To end our newsletter we feature our top pick of property programmes to inspire you. We hope you enjoy this months edition.

Tidying Up With Marie Kondo

In a series of inspiring home makeovers, world-renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo helps clients clear out the clutter -- and choose joy.

Click here to read Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.

Amazing Interiors One Of A Kind Homes

Amazing Interiors unveils some incredible hidden gems by stepping inside the homes of people who have completely transformed their spaces to reflect their passions and personal aesthetics.

Click here to read Amazing Interiors One Of A Kind Homes.

Location Location Location

The country's choosiest home hunters recieve help from real estate agents Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer to secure the right home in their desired area.

Click here to read Location Location Location.

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.

The Lettings Market Surges Upon Reopening

 

Due to the nature of lettings, the market tends to be much more agile and recover more quickly than its sales counterpart during times of instability and the market is once again showing its resilience as it surges following the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Analysis of the largest property portals has shown that rental properties coming to the market has surged by up to 44% in some parts of the UK as landlords are keen to get their properties back onto the market. The research conducted by Howsy shows that the day after restrictions were eased the market jumped back into action, with London in particular seeing a huge increase in listing volumes.

Callum Brannan, founder and CEO of Howsy, said: “Many in the rental sector will be breathing a sigh of relief with such immediate green shoots of market activity returning to a number of cities following an ease in lockdown market restrictions.

“Of course, other pockets of the market will take longer to see this positive trend emerge as agents and landlords find their feet operationally.

“We’re certainly not out of the woods yet and the ongoing financial and health implications facing many tenants and landlords will continue to be an obstacle. However, now that we as an industry are able to facilitate them on a greater scale, we can at least start to rebuild momentum in the sector.

“Now, it’s vital that landlords receive the support and protection they need from us as an industry, to ensure confidence in their investment and to maintain a suitable level of rental stock to meet demand from tenants who rely on these homes in order to live.”

Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer

 

Most of us spend the colder months of the year dreaming about the summer, but it can be easy to forget how inhospitable the heat can make your home.

Ensure you have all the fun in the sun with none of the discomfort with our guide to keeping your home cool this summer.

Use your windows and curtains
It’s a shame to shut all that natural light out of your house, but unfortunately it comes with a good deal of heat. Closing all your curtains or following the sun’s progression across your house will seriously lower the temperature.

However, as soon as the sun has gone down, we would recommend throwing open the curtains and windows so that you can let in as much of that cool evening air as possible.

Build a makeshift air con
Can’t afford the electric bill and initial cost of an air conditioning unit? You can create your own air con by placing ice/frozen ice packs in a washing up bowl. You can then place it at an angle in front of a regular fan, which will circulate cold air around the room.

Switch off the electrical appliances
Every single one of your appliances gives off heat whilst they are on. During the hottest hours of the day you should avoid using washing machines, dishwashers, hobs and ovens. Lighting should also be avoided when the sun goes down.

Drink plenty of water and eat cold
Staying hydrated and eating cold food like salad will help you to keep your body temperature down and avoids using any heat generating appliances.

Sleep on the lower floor
Have you ever headed upstairs when its sunny, only to find that the upper floors are far warmer than the lower floor? This is because heat always rises to the highest possible point. If you are struggling to sleep, ditch the sweltering upper floor and sleep downstairs – either on your couch or your airbed.

Insulate
You probably see a lot of advice articles recommending insulation for keeping your home warm in the summer, but did you know that it also keeps the heat out in the summer? If you don’t already have insulation in your home, it will practically pay for itself in the money saved on energy bills.

Designing A Bedroom For Your Children

 

Designing a child’s room can be tricky; there are a number of factors to consider so it is hard to know where to begin. Design trends are forever changing and your child is constantly growing, so it’s important that you consider a few things before starting.

Striking the balance between fun and practical is a challenge and designing something that your child does not grow out of too quickly is not easy, but by taking the time to think it over, you can save yourself a lot of hassle and create a space that is fun for them and easy for you to manage.

Draw Up A Floor Plan
Before you start buying all sorts of cute and colourful furniture, it’s important to remember that depending on your child’s age, this room could have a variety of functions.

Have a think about what the room will be used for and draw out a plan. If the room just needs to be a comfortable place to sleep then you should have plenty of freedom; however, if it also needs to be an area to play and study, you’ll require a good amount of floor space and maybe a dedicated corner for a desk.

Everyone’s home and preferences are different but you want to get as much out of the space as possible, so take a moment to consider the role that the room will play and how it may change over the next few years.

Choose the right colour
It may be tempting to simply ask your child what their favourite colour is and then start buying paint or wallpaper.

While it is a good idea to include your child in the design of their room, if their favourite colour resembles a highlighter pen, then your best option is to go with the more neutral shade of that colour.

Your best strategy is to aim for a colour palette that nicely blends with a variety of furniture and will not look so childish once your child turns into a teen. Save yourself a redecoration job in 18 months by picking a colour that will age well with the rest of the ever-changing décor.

Decide on the flooring
When it comes to flooring you have a few options, all with their pros and cons, so you just have to decide which will be best for you.

Carpet helps keep the room a little warmer but is vulnerable to stains. Hardwood is much more durable and easy to clean but does not provide much cushion for a child that is a little more clumsy than most. You could also opt for rubber flooring that does offer the benefits of both carpet and hardwood; however, it is the most expensive option of the three.

The flooring that is best for you is dependent on the age of your child, but research your options while keeping your budget in mind and make sure your choice of flooring compliments the room and doesn’t break the bank.

Getting the furniture right
There are two key things to keep in mind when choosing your furniture: functionality and lifespan.

We’ve already established that space is a valuable commodity so finding multi-functional furniture can be a real lifesaver.

Beds that have storage built in underneath are quite easy to find and the extra storage they provide can go a long way, as well as free up more of the room for other essential items. This also gives you an opportunity to get a little creative and look for ways to combine 2 items into one such as adding some padding to a desk or dresser so that it also can be used as a changing table.

The other consideration for furniture is its lifespan. A lot of cute miniature beds, tables and chairs might look great, but you must remember that your children will grow out of them quicker than you think. A good strategy would be to buy some furniture that they can grow into. Their small clothes may not justify full sized dresser just yet, but it will not be long before you are looking for extra storage space and their feet are hanging out of the end of the bed.

Add character through accessories
Now that your room has been planned out, you have chosen your colour palette, had the flooring fitted, assembled and placed the furniture, it’s time to add character.

The great part about this phase of designing the room is that because the rest of the room's features were kept neutral and timeless, you can now give your child a good amount of freedom to add their own personality to the room from accessories.

Whether it’s action figures, bed covers or posters, you can basically style the room however you want and the best part is, these accessories can be easily replaced and changed over the years at the same rate as your child’s taste in décor shifts from one thing to the next.