Property news for the start of 2021...

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A positive start to 2021...

Neil Moore, MD of GL & Co reviews a topsy turvy year in the property market and looks ahead with optimism to 2021.

In the property market, 2021 will be a far cry from 2020. We feel it will be a time of renewal and fresh opportunities.

Buying a property is about new beginnings...read our latest property blog and call us to start your year off with a new home...

Click here to read A positive start to 2021....

Guide Price £875,000 (Freehold)

4 Bed | 3 Bath | 2 Rec

Set in a quite, desirable village location within landscaped and secure gardens. Ample Parking and a double garage and nearly 2,000 sq.ft. of Accommodation, to inc a generous principal suite.

Click here to read Guide Price £875,000 (Freehold) .

£10,000 PCM + Fees

6 Bed | 4 Bath | 4 Rec

Park House is an elegant country house with twin guest/staff cottages set within twenty acres of beautifully landscaped and maintained gardens. It also offers a swimming pool with terrace & pool house along with a tennis court.

Click here to read £10,000 PCM + Fees.

Guide Price £1,350,000 (Freehold)

4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3 Rec

An immaculate imposing detached four bedroom property built by renowned developer Ebury & Stone set in a generous gated plot in the heart of the popular village of West Chiltington.

Click here to read Guide Price £1,350,000 (Freehold).

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.

Top tips for landlords on protecting your investment

Right now, interest from tenants is rapidly growing across the country, with many deciding to delay buying or coming to the realisation that they need to find a rental with more space.

At the same time, we're also seeing a lot of uncertainty around the UK's COVID-19 response, with the implementation of the second country-wide lockdown just weeks after the three-tier system was introduced.

This has led to an understandably confusing period for landlords and tenants alike.

However, as your leading lettings agent, we wanted to provide you with some relevant tips on protecting your property investments for the foreseeable future.

Communicate with your existing tenants

Faced with some key changes on eviction notice periods and the likelihood that evictions altogether will be off-limits for months, it's important to maintain a healthy relationship with your tenants.

Since September, void periods have risen from 19 days to 23 days, with all regions reporting an increase over this period.*

Now more than ever, it's crucial to avoid conflicts, where possible, with rent arrear and possession cases likely to see further delays.

During this time, we want to extend our support to landlords in need of guidance or looking for someone to act as a mediator when establishing rent repayment schemes with tenants, visit our website to learn more.

Have the right cover

If your tenants are unable to cover the rent, obtaining a rent insurance policy will provide you with peace of mind and protect your rental income.

Due to the increased risk everyone is facing now, you will need to demonstrate your referencing is vigorous when applying, and you may even experience difficulty finding the right cover.

Point your tenants towards available financial support

If you have renters that are struggling to pay their bills, make them aware of the financial help that is available to them.

Guide them towards organisations and experts who can help them budget, access aid and benefits.

Adapt your offering for the new normal

Having an outdoor area has now shot to the top of tenants' priority lists. Any property with a garden, balcony, roof terrace or proximity to a park should manage to do well after this year.

In the course of the last few months, there's also been a surge in pet ownership, especially for households where tenants are living alone.

If you're willing to be flexible, you should consider promoting this fact, as supply for pet-friendly accommodation is relatively low and you'll stand out in the market.

For more guidance or information on our lettings packages, please go to our website.

*Source: Goodlord

How to make the most of a small kitchen

Having gone through multiple lockdowns and restrictions, the most desirable factor that's attracting attention from buyers and tenants right now is a property with plenty of space.

Compared to houses built in the 1960s, new homes are now designed with smaller kitchens; dropping by 2.77m²on average across the UK.*

As a central room, it's really important that you're maximising value from your kitchen, whether it's because you're making a move or simply in preparation for the festive season ahead.

You want your kitchen to be practical and attractive, which requires innovative design ideas and creative storage solutions.

To help you accomplish your renovations this January, we've brought you our top suggestions for making a small kitchen feel spacious and inviting.

Take off the doors

You would be surprised at how much space traditional swinging doors take up.

If it opens outwards, the kitchen door might not be as much of a problem, but if it swings into the kitchen, that could mean you're losing up to a square metre of usable space.

Go for a light colour scheme

As an effective, quick fix to make a small kitchen feel bigger, opt for a neutral colour scheme.

Neutral does not mean just sticking to shades of white and cream, why not try white patterned tiles and marble counter tops with a light grey cabinet?

This will bounce the light around, making it feel much more spacious than you would find with a darker colour palette.

Install a small breakfast bar

If there is no room for a dining table in your kitchen, consider sacrificing a few cabinets to squeeze in a small breakfast bar.

Or you could even consider using a wide shelf on the wall for an alternative table space – the stools can even be tucked underneath to avoid being in the way.

Work your way up the wall

When surface and floor space is limited, it is a good hack to use up wall space too.

Install shelves, rods and notice boards to take the utensils and clutter from your workspaces and onto the walls instead.

Adding plants and more lighting will also brighten up the room, creating the illusion of openness.

Make use of the space around your fridge and oven

Even if you only have a slither of space between the wall and your fridge or oven, you could think about making a hidden rolling cupboard; perfect for storing cans, spices and dry food.

Invest in an over-the-sink cutting board

For kitchens that are tight on surface space, an over-the-sink cutting board is a good way to take advantage of the whole area available.

It is also a practical way to wash your fruit and veg without making a mess.

Take advantage of the end of counter space

Rather than keeping this free, take full advantage.

Why not install a bathroom rod to hang your saucepans on so it frees up another cupboard for other things. If they are nice pans, it also adds to the aesthetic of your homely kitchen!

Find a new home for your washing machine

The kitchen is an obvious place for the washing machine but in European countries outside of the UK, you are more likely to find them in the bathroom.

If you are stuck for space, why not relocate your laundry appliances somewhere else in your home, perhaps the bathroom or a cupboard under the stairs.

*Source: LABC Warranty