Stepping in to Summer with Sales and Lettings

It has been a few weeks now, since we started opening our offices, welcoming customers again and bringing more staff back, all being done safely and responsibly.

This new normal has certainly not dampened movers spirits, as you will read in many articles at the moment, and we too are experiencing large numbers of people wanting to buy, sell, rent and let, during what some are calling the 'property bounce back'. Whatever you want to call it, we are here for the long term and are committed to getting you moving whenever you are ready.

Buy To Let Mortgages

Now that the property market is resuming activity we have seen property demand increase, especially in the lettings market. Research by Rightmove found that demand for rental homes rose by 33% in May 2020, which is higher than the same time last year! Mortgage lenders have also re-introduced many of their products to accommodate the increased activity.

The range of mortgages has expanded over the past few weeks with buy to let options re-entering the market. There are many lenders that are offering a range of mortgage products with excellent rates. If you are a landlord and have not needed a mortgage payment holiday, this could be your window of opportunity. Landlords may wish to use this time to consider expanding their portfolios as there are plenty of prospective tenants looking for their next home. Investing in property now could lay the foundations for long term capital gains.

How has buy to let mortgage availability changed?
The outlook for buy to let landlords has improved vastly recently. Landlords who are seeking buy to let mortgages now have more choice with Barclays, Lendinvest, and Virgin Money (to name a few) renewing their products to include increased variety. Over the past month, buy to let products have increased to levels almost the same as March 2020. If you are a landlord, now if a great time to re-assess your property portfolio and consider expanding, or recalculating your portfolio financing. There are an additional 280 further options for buy to let mortgages. This rise shows the mortgage lenders shift in focus from existing borrowers, to including new borrowers too. This means that if you have been considering renting your home the market has options available for you.

What about interest rates?
Buy to let mortgage rates are low, as with all mortgage rates currently. This is because the Bank of England’s base rate is still currently sitting at 0.1%; making rates increasingly competitive. The greatest savings have been identified with 5 year fixed rates; the greatest reductions can be found with five year fixed with 80% LTV. If you are in a position to switch your mortgage deal, or enter the buy to let market, now is the perfect time to look around.

Our Top Tips For Designing A Home Office

People have been working from home for a while now. With businesses offering a greater level of autonomy and flexibility to their workers for the long run, many of us will have created office spaces in our homes. These spaces are vital to our productivity, and we have therefore put some of our favourite design ideas together in order to make your home office a hotbed of efficiency.

Nail the basics
When designing a home office, it can be easy to get caught up in the design aesthetic first and foremost, but the basics of a suitable desk and comfortable chair are not to be overlooked. These two pieces of equipment could make your working-from-home bleak or blissful, so take the time to choose wisely. When choosing your seat, ensure that the height and lumbar can be fully adjusted; your thighs should be at a right angle to the floor and your feet totally flat to provide the most ergonomic seating position.

Don’t neglect storage
The old adage of ‘tidy space, tidy mind’ is prevalent for a reason – we tend to work best when we’re in comfortable, organised spaces. It’s easy to forget that a home office will need to have masses of storage in order to store your working documents, as well as any accoutrements you need on a day-to-day basis. When planning your home office, incorporate space for storage which includes shelving, cupboards and filing cabinets.

Create an oasis
Your home office should be a space that you want to visit; therefore, creating a pleasant and attractive room should be high on your priorities to encourage you to use it. Studies have suggested that using greenery in our work spaces can make us happier and improve cognitive functions, so adding plants or herbs in your office space are an easy method to incorporate some natural elements. In line with the greenery, keep the general feel of your home office light and airy by keeping walls and décor neutral, perhaps with one simple accent wall in a colour such as navy blue, which is supposed to help with concentration.

Creating space
Not everybody will have an extra room to dedicate to a home office, but don’t let that stop you. If you have an alcove in any rooms in your house, you can turn it into a mini home office simply with a fold down desk. You could also double up the use of your dressing table or kitchen table. One of the benefits of not having a dedicated fixed office space is that you can move your home office around if you feel like you need a motivation refresh.

Instant Valuations

There's nothing like a one to one consultation with an experienced local estate agent to get you the best valuation for your property, which is why we recommend calling us to arrange an appointment with one of our valuation experts. However, we do know that isn't always convenient, so when you are looking for an alternative we have a few options.

Click here to read Instant Valuations.

Offers in the region of £765,000

An attractive Victorian property set in generous grounds of 0.87 acres (approx.) And benefiting from beautiful countryside views, ideal for someone looking for outside space, garaging and privacy.

Click here to read Offers in the region of £765,000.

Prime private location

A property, centrally positioned in grounds of 1/3 acre and with no ongoing chain. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms, generous room sizes and scope for improvement. Double garage and in a prime private location.

Click here to read Prime private location.

Lettings property not to be missed!

A stunning five Bedroom detached Farmhouse located in a peaceful lane on the outskirts of Pulborough, with magnificent views and stabling for up to four Horses. Further benefits include 14.7 acres of fields, a self contained Annexe and beautiful gardens.

Click here to read Lettings property not to be missed!.