JP & Brimelow Magazine: Jan-Mar 2023

JP & Brimelow Chorlton and Didsbury is owned and managed by Eddie Ellis (right) who has an unprecedented wealth of local knowledge and experience.

He has nurtured a mature and experienced team, ensuring your sales experience is a smooth, professional and above all, stress-free process. Our team love what they do and have a clear strategy that gets you the right results.

JP & Brimelow have many years’ experience of selling properties. We have the local knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm. JP & Brimelow consistently stand out as the leading independent estate agent in South Manchester.

The British Property Awards 2022 - Gold Winners!

The British Property Awards provide agents throughout the UK with an invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against the service provided by their local, regional and national competition.

Agents who go that extra mile and provide outstanding levels of customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace.

JP & Brimelow Chorlton and Didsbury have won

The British Property Award for Manchester (M21-22). Our team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging period which focused on customer service levels.

We’ve also been shortlisted for a number of national awards which will be announced later in the year.

Meet the team

Meet the team

Eddie Ellis | Owner

Eddie Ellis | Owner

Eddie has an unprecedented wealth of local knowledge and experience and has nurtured a mature and dedicated award winning sales team.

Eddie has an unprecedented wealth of local knowledge and experience and has nurtured a mature and dedicated award winning sales team.

His results within the local market demonstrate his passion for property and his top priority is to ensure that your sales experience is a smooth, professional and above all, stress-free process.

His results within the local market demonstrate his passion for property and his top priority is to ensure that your sales experience is a smooth, professional and above all, stress-free process.

As Eddie’s right-hand man, Ryan has worked within the South Manchester property market for many years. He is a diligent member of the team and an experienced sales person.

As Eddie’s right-hand man, Ryan has worked within the South Manchester property market for many years. He is a diligent member of the team and an experienced sales person.

Fully committed to achieving the best price for your property, he works with tenacity to secure the best outcome for our clients.

Fully committed to achieving the best price for your property, he works with tenacity to secure the best outcome for our clients.

Ryan Branney | Senior Valuer

Ryan Branney | Senior Valuer

Jodie - Branch Manager

Carole

THE 5 SIGNS

YOU ARE READY TO MOVE HOME...

As you can imagine, we meet a lot of people who have reached the point when they realise they are ready to move home.

Being ready to move is not the same as needing to move – we have met couples who love where they live so much they’ve hung on as long as possible! Being ready to move comes in two forms – knowing you need to and finally finding the emotional space to do so (this is often the case with people downsizing) and just a sudden realisation that your home isn’t working for you any more; your feet start to itch and you find yourself browsing all the estate agency sites as more than just a guilty pleasure.

Before you bring in an estate agent to value your home, it’s wise to do a sense check with yourself – are you ready, really ready, to move on?

So, what are the five signs you’re ready to move house?

Storage space frustrations

There comes a point when, no matter how ruthless you are with decluttering, you simply have no more room to store the stuff you want to keep. This often happens when one becomes two (a couple move in together) or two become three (the amount of stuff a baby needs is staggering – and where on earth shall we put this pushchair?!)

Family expansion

Following on from the first point – when a new child arrives, the need for an extra bedroom is often the driver to start looking for a new home. Children can, and do, share a room, of course – but as they get older this becomes more problematic, so the question is move now, or move later? Which leads us neatly to point 3…

School catchment

We all want the best schools for our children, but it’s rarely something we think about till one of said children arrives on the scene. Suddenly it’s all about Ofsted reports, and can we walk to school? Also…

We need a garden

Again, it’s often the arrival of children that trigger the desire for more outdoor space, but equally, for many people there just comes a time in one’s life when sitting on one’s own patio sipping an ice-cool beer holds more appeal than a night out on the town. Yes, you’re at ‘that’ lifestage!

Bored, bored, bored

Remember the excitement of moving into your first home – bought or rented? Once the opposite becomes true, and you really simply fall out of love with where you live, it’s

time to make a fresh start. There are several symptoms of home-boredom. The first is that you stop being so fussy about the housekeeping (which is something you’ll need to fix if you want to sell!). Whether it’s fixing chipped paintwork, repairing a wobbly door handle or even dusting into every corner, when you’re not house proud any longer, you need to find somewhere else to be proud of.

Needing to move and being ready to move don’t always coincide, so you need to be very sure you’re ready before you start the ball rolling. Putting your home up for sale, doing all the little jobs you need to do to make it viewerfriendly, inviting people in to judge your home – it’s a lot, and if you’re not absolutely sure now’s the time, you may find yourself subconsciously sabotaging the process.

It definitely happens, trust us! The flipside of course is that you simply can’t find anywhere you want to move to – none of the houses you view feel ‘right.’ Again, this is likely to be more an emotional response than a practical one. How do you overcome this? Positive visualisation –imagine the freedom you will feel when all the niggling frustrations of your current home are lifted away.

Picture all that marvellous storage space. Imagine having friends round to dinner. Plan a new bedroom décor, pick new paint colours, open your mind… and your heart will follow.

Create Space…

Making your property dreams a reality.

For nearly 50 years, our common sense approach to lending has helped thousands realise their property ambitions, even when other mortgage providers can’t.

So if you’re aspiring to buy an investment property, your first home, or something that’s a little more ‘you’, we’ll put ourselves in your shoes, and do everything we can to make finance work for you.

Let’s make it happen, together. togethermoney.com/jpandbrimelow

Our Conveyancing Services

Pabla’s

provide you with expert legal advice and support in the buying, selling or transfer of residential property. Our solicitors understand that any property transaction can be an extremely stressful process. At Pabla & Pabla, your property transaction will be handled in a professional and efficient manner by our conveyancing team.

Conveyancing refers to all legal aspects of moving house and administrative work associated with transferring ownership. Regardless as to whether you’re buying your first property, extending your lease, or selling to downsize, our property team provides a hands-on service to discuss any concerns that you may have throughout the process.

Is your Will up to date?

Pabla & Pabla Solicitors also offer Wills & Probate services. When you purchase a property, this is likely to be the most expensive purchase you make. Therefore, it is important to ensure that this asset is protected. We would highly recommend putting in place a Will once you own a property or you may need to amend your current Will if you have made one before.

I would highly recommend Pabla & Pabla Solicitors. They handled everything in a timely and professional manner.

- Whitney Hayes

Conveyancing Solicitors

PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE HOW TO

When we value a property, we are always happy to offer advice on how to maximise the likely offer price and encourage a fast sale.

It’s not unusual, of course, for vendors to be concerned about the cost of any changes we might suggest, both in terms of money and time, but the return on that investment could be significantly higher than the outlay – again, in terms of both money and time.

What must never be forgotten is that buyers who are ‘looking for a project’ are not the norm. There are some people, of course, who are proactively seeking a property that can be described as in need of a little (or a lot) of TLC, well aware that these are the ones where they can negotiate a lower price, but in our experience most buyers simply want to move in and relax, happy in their new home, without a whole list of jobs to do before they are content with their decision.

One of the quickest ways to convince potential

buyers that they can do just that is to spruce up and declutter. The latter is simple (well, simple-ish) and requires little more than a collection of boxes and a tough stance on whether to store, donate or throw away.

The former – well, that can be less simple, but we always start with paint. The first impression is always the most powerful, so it’s important you look at both the outside and the inside of your home as if through a stranger’s eyes.

Touch up or completely repaint?

It may be that the outside of the house could simply do with a good jet-wash and touch up. It’s best to get advice from a professional painter, however. External paint, once it starts to peel, is usually best stripped back and re-done.

Assess your front door. We push through our doors every day, but are always focussed on getting

through it, not on the door itself. It may be well past time it had a good clean and a repaint!

Inside the house, the temptation will be to patch over the worst bits, but this is likely to simply draw attention to the tweaks you’re attempting to make. Paint does change colour over time, so even if you kept the pot, and it’s still viable, it’s unlikely to wholly match the paint on the walls.

If your walls are looking a little tired, or the fabulous mustard yellow in your living room might turn off viewers, repaint the walls with a neutral colour that will allow prospective buyers to easily project their own style into the room and imagine themselves living there.

Check your ceilings: We don’t look up often, which means ceilings tend to get overlooked when cleaning or decorating rooms. Visit each room and have a good look up. There may be cobwebs in corners, the remains of water-leak stains, or fine cracks along joist lines that might worry buyers.

If you have any questions about what you should be doing to ‘stage’ your home for a fast sale, always ask your estate agent. We see what other houses in the area look like, we know what buyers are seeking – and what they want to avoid. We can tell you immediately if cracking open the paint cans will be worth your time, energy and money, or not. And we can recommend local trades to help you out, too.

• Paint is chipped, cracked or stained (on the corners of walls, where people grab doors, at the end of the bannisters, etc

• White paint on your doors, window sills and skirting boards has yellowed over time

• The colours you have chosen for your interior paintwork are quite bold, so may not appeal to everybody

• The exterior paintwork clashes with the other houses in the area – you might like to stand out from the crowd, but most people like to blend!

• The exterior paintwork is noticeably weathered – a prospective buyer doing a driveby may take one look and assume that chipped windowsills or a dodgy door, or rendering that’s not been fully painted, means residents who haven’t kept up with the level of care a property needs

Look for these signs that your home could do with a fresh lick of paint:

JP & Brimelow Chorlton & Didsbury Ltd receives national recognition at the EA Masters 2023

JP & Brimelow Chorlton & Didsbury Ltd has attained the high standards necessary to be awarded with the property industry’s most prestigious mark of excellence.

On Wednesday 21st September 2022, 1,500 of the leading estate and letting agents and suppliers from across the UK gathered for the biggest estate agency event in the country, where the results of this year’s Best Estate Agent Guide Awards were announced.

Over 15,000 estate agencies are included in the assessment, which is conducted by Property Academy, supported by On the Market property portal.

Each office is scored against a unique set of criteria looking at property marketing, customer service and results – which are determined following a survey of 30,000 buyers, sellers, landlords and renters.

There follows a whole of market assessment,

using a combination of data analysis, mystery shopping and a website review to identify the best agencies in the country.

Home-movers and landlords can search for those estate and letting agents that made the grade in their area by visiting bestestateagentguide.co.uk or by looking out for the distinctive winners marks.

JP & Brimelow Chorlton & Didsbury Ltd was delighted to be recognised for their dedication to providing the very highest levels of service. Eddie commented “I’m absolutely over the moon with this award, all my team have pulled together in extremely challenging times, market conditions and have come out on top! We will be celebrating in style in the coming months”.

Rob

slowing down the process and increasing the probability of error.

Our aim is to ensure that the conveyancing process is as stress-free as possible.

Why choose us

....................

Why choose us

technology we can provide a personalised service no matter where you are in the World.

• A fixed price service – there will be no hidden costs/fees

• Access to our exclusive client App. You can communicate anytime, anywhere via SMS, push notification, WhatsApp, and within the App itself.

• You will have a dedicated fee earner who will not transfer your file

•A fixed price service – there will be no hidden costs / fees

• Contact us outside of normal working hours

•You will have a dedicated fee earner who will not transfer your file.

• Reduced file loads means more time spent on you

•Reduced file loads means more time spent on you.

•Efficient, modern, safe and effective processes employed by fee earners.

• Efficient, modern, safe and effective processes employed by fee earners

Communication is king

•Close working relationships with all parties involved in the case – we can speak with your estate agents and

• Close working relationships with all

We believe that our clients should be happy with the service we provide and this includes being well informed.

•All our advice will be comprehensive yet coherent – we won’t confuse you with unnecessary legal terms with

That is why we offer all of our clients a free instant communication tool – The JP Goldman App – which will allow you to receive and check updates, download documents, submit e-signatures and request call backs – it’s instant communication that fits into your schedule. What’s best is that it’s free, easy to use and secure!

Contact us today on 0161 850 5600 or email enquiries@jpgoldman.co.uk to see how we can help you.

If you’re buying a home, it’s likely you’ll have to work within a strict budget. This doesn’t just include the initial purchase of your new property – you should also consider the outgoings you’ll need to make days, weeks and months down the line. The last thing you need is to seal the deal, only to be landed with problems that will cost you time, money, and potentially a great deal of stress.

To help you out, here are a few pointers designed to minimise the risk of unanticipated spending once the sale has gone through. Avoid nasty surprises, and read on!

Utilities

Everyone needs heating, electricity and water, so if anything goes wrong with the utilities in your home, you’ll have no choice but to dig deep and pay the price for repairs. Before you buy, make sure you:

• Check when the property was rewired, or had its last electrical safety test.

• Ensure the property is energy efficient with loft and cavity wall insulation, and double glazing – this will minimise your bills and eliminate the need for investment down the line.

• Find out when the boiler was last upgraded, and how it works – getting a new boiler can be very costly.

• Does the electricity run on a meter, or is it payas-you-consume? Find out upfront, so you can make an informed decision about how you pay your bills.

• Is there a phone line already installed, or will you need to arrange this?

• Turn the heating on to check that all radiators work – you don’t want to be making repairs from the off.

The Kitchen

As the heart of the home, it pays to ensure the kitchen is up to scratch. To make sure you don’t have to spend money on the kitchen any time soon, make sure you:

• Look at how old the kitchen is – can you live with it as is, or will you want to upgrade?

• Check the state of the tiles / lino / floor surface –are any repairs needed?

• If you plan to upgrade the kitchen, can it be done within your budget?

• Is there space for your white goods? Account for any extra plumbing you may need.

Outdoors

Whilst it can be tempting to focus your attention on the inside of your property, you should pay attention to the outside too - that includes the garden, and the exterior of the building. Here are some quick checks that can save you money in the long-run:

• Is the garden fencing in good condition? If it’s unstable, then you may need to replace it soon.

• Check for signs of leaks in the guttering, and try to make sure it’s cleared of blockages such as leaves. Common signs to look out for are watermarks on the side of the building, or even algae.

• Is the garden low-maintenance? If it needs work, make sure you cost this from the outset.

These are just some initial ideas to ensure you don’t get any nasty surprises after the purchase of your property. If you are looking to buy a property, make sure you get expert advice as you go along, take friends or family with you on viewings and take your time in making a decision.

Silver Court, West Didsbury Wilbraham Road, Chorlton

High Lane, Chorlton

Brookfield Avenue, Chorlton

Chorlton Farmhouse, Chorlton Green

FIND YOUR DREAM HOME

At JP & Brimelow we have many years’ experience of selling properties. We have the local knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm. JP & Brimelow consistently stand out as the leading independent estate agent in South Manchester.

CONTEMPORARY STYLE HOW TO GIVE YOUR PERIOD HOME

In the environs of Manchester – Chorlton, Didsbury, Whalley Range – there are many homes that were built towards the end of the Victorian period, or the start of the Edwardian age.

We hear a lot about ‘period features’ and ‘period style’, but what if your preferred style is more contemporary? What if you prefer a modern look to your rooms, but the home you own – or are considering buying – is filled with cornicing, ceiling roses, picture rails and dado rails? These period frills and furbelows, much loved by many, aren’t exactly conducive to many of the current interiors trends, but you would be making a mistake to remove them, as it’s the period features that can so appeal to potential house-buyers, so you need to protect your investment.

Paint

You may have heard the term ‘colour drenching’, of late. It is applied when an interior designer, or forward thinking homeowner, paints every element of the room in the same colour, or tones of the same colour – walls, ceiling, skirting boards, rails, roses, door frame and door, and then applies the same process to the soft furnishings and accessories. It’s usually most apparent, and dramatic, when a bold colour choice is made – a deep green or dark navy. And these colours are perfect in period homes, as these are the tones that would have been chosen by the original homeowners, seeking to hide the dust

and smut created by the open fires in every room. However, while the Victorians might have chosen a light colour above the dado rail, and a dark colour below, by colour drenching you are effectively wrapping the whole room as one, if not hiding period features, at least taking the eye away from them. Don’t panic though, if the thought of all that colour gives you the shudders, take the same approach with a bright white and use accessories to give pops of colour and personality.

Furniture

Period-style furniture seems the obvious choice in a period home, but when you’re seeking more contemporary style, should it be avoided? Well, that depends on your personal like or dislike of period-style furniture. Could you actually point out a sofa and tell us what era it came from? Victoria sofa design has never actually strayed far from our furniture stores, apart from a short period in what’s now known as ‘mid-century’. The Victorians loved a well-padded sofa and generously sized armchair.. They liked firm, plumped up seats with springs lashed together to provide a bounce, stuffed with wool between. This was much more comfortable and long-lasting than the previous use of horsehair for cushion fillings, which could soon become hard and lumpy. During the Victorian era we see the fruits of the Industrial Revolution cascading through the ranks of society, and sofas (or smaller versions, known as settees) and upholstered

armchairs become an element in every home with a front ‘parlour’ – the good room only guests were allowed into, a tradition that lasted well into the 20th century! Today, Victorian style furniture can be identified by its generous curves, small rounded legs (leaving enough room to run the dusting broom underneath to catch those pesky dust bunnies) and firm, rounded padded arms. Even two seater sofas can be quite generously proportioned, and where some see ‘classic’ others will see ;old-fashioned’, so really anything goes as long as you love it. Period homes do tend to have smaller rooms, however, so try to choose something with legs, not with a full drop to floor level. Raising furniture up away from the floor this way gives a greater impression of space.

Accessories

Your choice of accessories is where you can really demonstrate your personal style. Choose artwork that is wholly now – bright abstracts, eye-catching posters, a gallery wall of your favourite photos, in an Insta-style grid. Mirrors carefully placed can add light and style, but avoid the classic rectangle over the fireplace; place instead three different sized round mirrors, or a quirky sunburst style. Or pop your TV over the fireplace and go large –there’s nothing more frustrating than a small screen squeezed into a niche on one side of the room’s focal point, is there?

Control the clutter

The Victorians would fill their rooms – occasional tables, aspidistras on tall stands, desks and as many chairs as they could fit. Surfaces would be filled with photos and curios and souvenirs from trips to the seaside (another new thing our ancestors fully embraced.) . Décor was dark, with heavy drapes at the windows and tassels galore. Keep it contemporary with minimal dressing of surfaces and sleek window dressings

“try to choose something with legs, not with a full drop to floor level”

HELP & ADVICE

WILL SOLAR PANELS ADD VALUE TO MY HOME?

Solar PV (or solar photovoltaics) is the generation of electricity using energy from the sun. Modern solar panels produce electricity from daylight.

They don’t need it to be bright and sunny to work, which is handy in our climate, particularly in this part of the UK. Solar PV panels are normally mounted on the roof of your property. A device called an inverter changes the DC electricity produced by the panels into ‘usable’ electricity that can then be used to power appliances in your home and can even be fed back into the National Grid.

With the current fuel crisis, and domestic fuel prices rising fast (with no end in sight) many people are asking if they should invest in solar power in their homes.

Solar panels can not only cover the electricity you use in your home, saving you money immediately, but you could even receive a payment for any excess energy you generate.

At this time, with the average price of energy for the home so high, the return on investment is a lot better than in previous years, but, of course, you need to look at the upfront cost of installing solar panels. With the average cost of solar panels at the moment being £6,500, and by calculating any likely savings you will make in your monthly usage, plus taking into consideration potential payments you will receive for electricity you’re putting back into

the National Grid, the average payback time at the moment is around 11 years.

We also should look at whether adding solar panels will add value to your home. The short answer is that while you might not be able to add a premium to the value of your home because you have solar panels, they will certainly add a considerable degree of attractiveness. All other things between your house and the same type of property along the road being equal, then yes, there is an argument that solar panels can add an uplift in value.

Solar PV isn’t yet high on homebuyers’ lists of must-haves when house hunting, though we can see that changing quite rapidly over the next couple of years. Having them already in place, however, is always of great interest to potential buyers, who will appreciate the money-saving aspects, and, of course, the fact that they don’t have to have them fitted!

Be prepared for lots of questions, however. Make sure you know your numbers. When were they fitted? What is the warranty period? What volume of electricity do they produce compared to how much you use? Do you put any excess back into the National Grid?

We would say that if you’re planning on moving home soon, it’s a cost you won’t get back. If you are planning on staying a few years, however, it’s an investment you’re unlikely to regret.

THE STRETFORD AREA

Stretford is only four miles away from the city centre, making it ideal for commuters and young professionals. The A56 will take you straight into the Manchester city centre within 20 minutes by car or bus and the trip is easily achievable by bicycle for an ecofriendlier journey.

Stretford also has its own dedicated Metrolink stop making it easy to get to neighbouring Stretford including Chorlton, Whalley Range, Moss Side, Hulme, Salford, Urmston, Sale and, only a little further beyond, Altrincham. Stretford is also very near to the M60 making it easy to access the motorway network.

Stretford town centre has benefitted from much local investment in the past few years – and there’s more to come. A huge multi-million-pound masterplan to completely revitalise Stretford Mall and the town is currently underway. This will include the development of a new waterfront area along the Bridgewater Canal, which runs through the town, and will soon be home to many new bars and restaurants.

You’ll find a wide range of shops in Stretford Mall including national brands as well as smaller retailers selling everything from records, comics, gifts and beauty products. The Mall is also home its own thriving food and drink scene. As well as the ubiquitous Gregg’s and Costa, you’ll find independent bars like Longford Tap, Brewchimp and The Hive, plus the new family-run Stretford Canteen.

Stretford Foodhall is a trendy family and dogfriendly community hangout incorporating a licensed convenience store with pop up street food vendors, as well as a bar, a coffee shop and an interactive hub for workshops and events.

Although new public open spaces and green areas are part of the plans for the proposed redevelopment of Stretford, the area already boasts lots of greenery and woodland. There are lots of lovely walks to be had along the Bridgewater Canal and the banks of the River Mersey. Local parks and playing fields include Moss Park, Hoop Park, Stretford Meadows and Turn Moss Fields.

Longford Park is the largest municipal park in the Trafford Borough and features community allotments, a café and toilets, a wildlife garden and even a pet’s

corner. Events like an open theatre are organised by the ‘Friends of Longford Park’, a group of locals who work with Trafford Council to improve and promote the park for all age groups. Victoria Park is also popular with families and dog walkers with lots of public sporting facilities, two age-appropriate play areas, tennis and basketball courts, a community-run tea room and a rose garden.

Stretford’s Public Hall is co-owned, funded, repaired and run by the local community. The sense of community spirit here is strong, and this closeknit town has a reputation for being a friendly neighbourhood. Locals are generally welcoming and host regular public events celebrating national holidays as well as raising funds to protect local landmarks. The area is home to many new apartment blocks and developments making it an affordable option for young professionals wanting to be near to a major city. There are also lots of reasonably priced terraced houses and semi-detached properties for families hoping to get on the property ladder.

Stretford has a variety of ‘outstanding’ primary schools including Moss Park and Victoria Park. Stretford High School and Lostock High School were both rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in their latest inspections, as was Stretford Grammar School.

Stretford’s blend of green open spaces, community activities, convenient transport links and thriving hospitality scene make it an attractive area to suit all sorts of people. The promised funding and plans for its redevelopment improvements also make it likely to be a wise investment for the first-time buyer.

A MOVING STORY

We catch up with Ross Griffiths, director of TMX Movers to learn more about the successful business he founded and how it all got started...

So, how did it all begin?

The story of TXM Movers starts in 2004 with an ordinary transit van. Starting from removing and disposing of household waste and refuse, the vision for TXM Movers was pushed by indefatigable drive. In those early days, the business’ foundations were laid on an ethos of hard-work and a perseverance to go “the extra mile.” Long jobs, requiring arduous single-handed efforts, including four trips to three different tips in one day, were all a matter of course.

One day, a small and apparently unassuming job opened the floodgates. A mini boom occurred, and those long hours started paying off. After a tough year of diligent economising, reinvestment was made and our fleet expansion took off. With jobs growing bigger, a growing fleet,

lucrative local partnerships and nationwide coverage, TXM Movers was officially named and launched.

Since then, we are proud to have participated in numerous high-profile local projects, including the transportation of the “Bee in the City” statues. We are also proud to have worked for some of Manchester’s greatest sporting icons, including Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and local footballing legends.

TXM Movers was founded on the back of arduous individual efforts. As a team we believe in strong values and chiefly that of always going the extra mile to serve our customers and giving back to our local community.

What does your business offer?

TXM Movers aim to provide customers with hassle free house removals. We endeavour to go “the extra mile” with each and every removal assignment. We offer various volume-based removal and transportation options, serving large removals, small removals, down to valuable individual items. Our well maintained and state-of-the-art fleet is managed by attentive transportation operatives. If you need a helping hand, we can also provide removal crews. If you want to be sure your goods and belongings are extra safe during transportation, we provide specialist packing and unpacking services.

TXM Movers work with nationwide storage providers, accessible countrywide, to guarantee customers unrivalled peace of mind. Our specialist white glove delivery service offers room-to-room delivery. As part of this, we can collect large items from

your point of purchase and deliver them to your room of choice. This service comes with a specialist two-man glove delivery team. They will assemble/disassemble furniture, install white goods and activate smart and electronic devices.

In a nutshell, TXM Movers offers removals and transportation services options delivered to free customers from stress and hassle.

DECLUTTER HOW TO

You’ve heard it all before, we’re sure, but it’s important so we shall say it again – selling your home is almost as much about presenting a potential lifestyle to buyers as it is about location, location, location. When you put your house on the market you are immediately putting yourself in competition with every other house for sale in your area. How do you win? Help buyers picture themselves living in your house, making it their home.

How? Declutter!

We’re not suggesting that your home is a mess, or packed with so much stuff people can’t see the floors (though admittedly some we see are!) but we always say there’s opportunity to strip back every unnecessary detail and allow viewers to transpose their own furniture and accessories into a room.

First – go through every room and remove photos, personal items that mean a lot to you but nothing to other people, and those bits and bobs your mother-inlaw gave you and likes to see when she visits. It’s not necessary to leave every flat surface empty, what we are trying to do is de-personalise the space, so your viewer can envision their own life here. Tidy your bookshelves – remove those stacked on stacks, colourcode by spines, remove anything placed in front of the

books: it’s all about curating a sense of calm. Second – we all know people viewing homes like to open cupboards and peek into pantries, assessing just how much storage space is available. Start with your kitchen. Find some cardboard boxes and empty out all the things you don’t use very often and decide if they are to keep, tip or donate. Do you really need that juicer you bought six years ago and used three times? What about the sandwich toaster? When did you last use your wok? Or your steamer? How about all those cookbooks? It’s time to get brutal and remove it all. Those things you use only occasionally, but still keep using – pop them in storage. Things you last used preCovid – donate or dump. It will also make life easier when you’re packing to move home yourself.

Go through this process in every room – every fitted wardrobe, every built in cupboard, and even the loft. Buyers want to believe they can bring all their clutter and it not fill their new house straight away.

Finally – review your storage. You might be used to a pile of shoes in the hallway or stacks of washing in the utility, but to others’ eyes it might look untidy, and like there’s nowhere else to put it. Invest in a shoe rack, a storage box or two, and ta dah – a nice neat home someone else will just love to live in.

THE WEST DIDSBURY AREA

You’ll also find lots of boutique shops selling contemporary homeware, fashion, jewellery and gifts. The Epicurean is a haven for craft beer lovers and sells a wide range of beers, ales, and cider. West Didsbury was also where Reserve Wines first opened, owned by award winning wine merchant and TV presenter Kate Goodman, it now has shops in five other locations.

Didsbury lies seven kilometres south of Manchester City Centre and is divided into three distinct areas: East Didsbury, West Didsbury, and Didsbury Village.

West Didsbury is popular with those looking to commute to MediaCity as well as professionals and families who enjoy its lively atmosphere and community spirit. It has a proximity to the neighbouring towns of Withington and Cheadle, and the villages of Gatley and Heaton Moor.

Typical properties include converted Victorian houses, contemporary three storey apartment blocks and new-build properties which line West Didsbury’s famously leafy streets. The area is probably best known for its thriving nightlife and Burton Road especially has become a hot spot for South Manchester foodies.

The Metropolitan (or The Met as it’s known locally) marks the Lapwing Lane end in a building formerly occupied by a grand Victorian railway hotel. It has a lovely outdoor seating area and is well known for its Sunday roasts. Burton Road boasts excellent independent cafes and is a top brunch spot thanks to places such as Mary & Archies, Another Heart to Feed and ‘And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon.’

While away the evening in a medley of trendy bars and eateries offering Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Thai cuisine. Volta has won critical acclaim for its delicious cocktails and small plates, Sip wine bar offers over thirty different bottles, and Proove is the place for Neapolitan sourdough pizza. West Didsbury is also home to Green’s, the long-standing vegetarian restaurant co-owned by TV chef Simon Rimmer.

The area is well serviced with cute delicatessens including Fusion Deli and A Taste of Honey, but you can also stock up at the monthly Maker’s Market when it pops up on the last Sunday of the month on the corner of Burton Road and Nell Lane.

Sport and recreation are well covered with plenty of boutique gyms, yoga studios and classes in the area which also has its own local running club. The Northern is a racquets and fitness club on Palatine Road with a fitness suite, gym, workout studios and grass tennis court. Withington Baths is a community fitness centre in a recently restored Edwardian bath house further down Burton Road which also has a pool, gym, sauna and two studios.

Local activity groups include the Didsbury Arts Cafe, a book club and various musical clubs. There’s an annual Arts Festival, regular family festivals in nearby Wythenshawe Park, and many well organised community events throughout the year. The WDRA is the local residents’ association who work closely with local businesses and councillors to ensure that West Didsbury remains a desirable place to live. They also work to conserve local wildlife and protect the natural environment.

A Metrolink stop on Burton Road makes the area easy to get to via public transport and the 111 bus – which runs from Manchester City Centre to Chorlton – stops outside the Metropolitan pub.

West Didsbury’s excellent transport links, green spaces and blend of exciting independent venues and shops make it a popular destination for those looking to live in a vibrant trendy suburb with a real community spirit.

Chorlton Community

Chorlton village provides a lively and vibrant atmosphere and includes street cafes, bars and restaurants. There are a variety of local shops catering for day to day requirements including the popular award winning Barbakan delicatessen and the Unicorn.

The highly popular Chorlton Green/Beech Road local provides individual boutiques and array of bars like the Lead Station, Horse & Jockey and a number of restaurants catering for all tastes. Whilst more extensive facilities are available at the nearby Trafford Centre and Manchester City Centre itself.

PUBS

The Horse and Jockey

9 The Green T. 0161 860 7794

Electrik 559 Wilbraham Road T. 0161 881 3315

The Beagle 456-458 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 881 8596

Trevor Arms 135 Beech Road T. 0161 881 8209

Duffy’s Bar, Chorlton T. 0161 881 6789

The Font, Chorlton 99 Beech Road T. 0161 881 5559

Chorlton Tap 533 Wilbraham Road T. 0161 861 7576

Beech Inn 72 Beech Road T. 0161 862 9743

The Longford Tap T. 0161 865 7007

Both Chorlton and Whalley Range offer a range of leisure and recreational facilities including Chorlton Cum Hardy golf course, nature reserve, parkland and the Water Park. Schools in the area are academically renowned making Chorlton and Whalley Range popular for discerning families. There are excellent transport links with a fantastic bus route into the centre of Manchester and a motorway network close by linking to the M56, M6, M60 and the M62 and nearby to Manchester’s International Airport. With the metro link linking Chorlton to surrounding areas, direct access into the City Centre & Media City.

COFFEE & CAKE

Tea Hive

55 Manchester Road T. 0161 283 9869

Junipers Coffee Shop 514 Wilbraham Road T. 07450 395293

The Phoenix Deli 127 Oswald Road T. 0161 222 4990

Barbakan Deli

67-71 Manchester Road T. 0161 881 7053

Cocoa Tree 492 Wilbraham Road T. 0161 881 1669

Stretford Foodhall Stretford Mall, Chester Road GRUB

Laundrette 32 Beech Road T. 0161 881 5777

Croma 500 Wilbraham Road T. 0161 881 1117

Zaytoon 352 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 881 4448

Bar San Juan 56 Beech Road

Olive & Thyme 416-418 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 881 6695

Coriander 485 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 881 0340

The Drop 356 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 286 3317

Due Fratelli 249 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 881 6444

SCHOOLS

Oswald Road Primary T. 0161 881 4266

Brookburn Primary T. 0161 881 8880

Chorlton CofE Primary T. 0161 881 6798

Loreto High School T. 0161 881 9448

Manley Park Primary T. 0161 881 3808

St Johns Primary T. 0161 881 1040

Barlow Hall Primary T. 0161 881 2158

Chorlton High School T. 0161 882 1150

Whalley Range HS T: 0161 861 9727

William Hulme Grammar T. 0161 226 2054

UA92 T: 0161 507 1992

DOCS & DENTISTS

Chorlton Health Centre

1 Nicholas Road T. 0161 860 2912

Corkland Road Medical Practice 1 Corkland Road T. 0161 881 6223

Bupa Dental Care 513 Wilbraham Road T. 0161 881 3599

Sandy Land Dental Practice 555 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 881 1257

Wood and Wolfstein Dental Practice 452 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 881 2110

Serenity Dental Spa 264 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 860 7000

PARKS & KIDS STUFF

Stretford Stadium in Longford Park Tennis courts and bowling green T. 0161 872 5050

The Recreation Ground Beech Park

Head Over Heels Albany Road T. 0161 881 4433

Longford Park

Friends of Turn Moss Chorlton Park Sports Facilities

Chorlton Water Park Access via Maitland Ave

Alexandra Park

Friends of Moss Park M32

Our Kid

TRAVEL

Robin Hood Taxis T. 0161 865 3232

Goodwin Olympic Taxi T. 0161 860 6006

Manchester Airport T. 0871 271 0711

Avanti West Coast

Man Taxi T. 0161 230 3333

Metrolink Stops in Chorlton Wilbraham Road & St Werburghs Road

Piccadilly Train Station

SHOPS

WH FROST Butchers Chorlton

Epicerie Ludo Chorlton

Out of the Blue Chorlton Unicorn Grocery Chorlton Chorlton Cheesemongers Chorlton Carringtons Chorlton Blossom Florist Chorlton

USEFUL NUMBERS

Chorlton Library T. 0161 227 3700

Police (non emergency) T. 0161 872 5050

Salford Royal T. 0161 789 7373

Manchester Royal Infirmary T. 0161 276 1234

Elizabeth Slinger Police Station T. 0161 872 5050

Manchester Council T. 0161 954 9000

Spire Hospital T. 0161 226 0112

Didsbury Community

Didsbury is south of the midpoint of Manchester city centre. To the north, Didsbury is bordered by Withington, Chorlton-cum-Hardy and Burnage, to the west by Northenden, to the east and south-east by Heaton Mersey and Cheadle, and by Gatley to the south.

The River Mersey forms Didsbury’s southern and southwestern boundaries and certain stretches of the river also demarcate the boundaries of the City of Manchester. The area is generally considered

PUBS

The Didsbury 852 Wilmslow Road T. 0161 445 5389

The Botanist 1d School Lane T. 0161 434 8645

Didsbury Lounge 43 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 434 2408

Wine and Wallop 97 Lapwing Lane T. 0161 446 2464

The Drawing Room 148b Burton Road T. 0161 283 6244

Mary & Archie 200 Burton Road T. 0161 222 4710

Volta 167 Burton Road T. 0161 448 8887

George Charles 244 Burton Road T. 0161 445 4999

Fletcher Moss 1 William Street T. 0161 438 0073

Head of Steam 653 Wilmslow Road T. 0161 434 7259

The Woodstock Arms

139 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 448 7951

The Metropolitan 2 Lapwing Lane T. 0161 438 2332

Rustik Café Bar 198 Burton Road T. 0161 222 0984

to be roughly enclosed by Princess Parkway to the west, Kingsway to the east and the Ball Brook, just north of Lapwing Lane/Fog Lane to the north. This northern boundary is marked by a boundary stone in the front garden wall of a house on the west side of Wilmslow Road. A “country trail” passes from West Didsbury to East, named the Trans Pennine Trail (National Cycle Route 62). It was sited along a disused railway track, as part of a nationwide initiative to promote cycling.

West Village 220 Burton Road Folk 169-171 Burton Road T. 0161 445 2912

COFFEE & CAKE

Cidsin 812a Wilmslow Road T. 0161 434 8686

The Deli 754 Wilmslow Road T. 0161 434 4084

Appleby’s 21 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 448 7225

Dish and Spoon 230 Burton Road

T. 0161 637 5517

A Taste of Honey 138 Burton Road T. 0161 434 5217

The Boulevard Deli 24 The Boulevard T. 0161 434 205

Delightful Desserts 762 Wilmslow Road T. 0161 445 0596

The Art of Tea 47 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 448 9323

Burton Road Bakery 165a Burton Road T. 0161 445 5316

Rusticas Café 16A Cavendish Road T. 0161 448 9373

GRUB

Gusto 756 Wilmslow Road T. 0161 445 8209

The Mad Giant 653 Wilmslow Road T. 0161 434 991

Nueve Tapas Bar 9 Barlow Moor Road T. 0161 448 7500

Greens Restaurant 41-43 Lapwing Lane T. 0161 434 4259

Crazy Wendys 210 Burton Road T. 0161 445 5200

Proove Pizza 160 Burton Road T. 0161 669 9061

Olive & Vine 846 Wilmslow Road T. 0161 434 5151

Solita School Lane T. 0161 434 4884

Croma Didsbury 651 Wilmslow Road T. 0161 445 6944

Chilli Banana 105-107 Lapwing Lane T. 0161 434 4558 Piccolino

6 Lapwing Lane T. 0161 434 7524

Namaste Nepal 164-166

Burton Road T. 0161 445 9060

Thyme Out 147 Nell Lane T. 0161 434 8686

SCHOOLS

Cavendish PS T. 0161 234 1020

Moor Allerton Prep School T. 0161 445 4521

West Didsbury CofE PS T. 0161 445 7144

The Barlow High School T. 0161 445 8053

Didsbury High School T. 0161 507 5600

Beaver Road PS T. 0161 445 9337

Didsbury CofE Primary School T. 0161 445 6959 St.Catherine’s RC Primary School T. 0161 445 6359

Parrs Wood High School T. 0161 445 8786

DOCS & DENTISTS

Barlow Medical Centre T. 0161 445 9000

Oak Mount Dental Practice T. 0161 445 5459

Jo Padmore Opticians T. 0161 445 8855

Didsbury Medical Centre T. 0161 445 1957

Parkfield Dental Practice T. 0161 445 2397

M20 Dental T. 0161 445 3344

SPORTS

The Northern T. 0161 445 3093

Evo Didsbury

Yoga with Manjunaga Didsbury Golf Club T. 0161 998 9278

The Albert Club T. 0161 445 1056 Nuffield Health T. 0161 249 5600 Waterside T. 0161 445 0225 Withington Golf Club T. 0161 445 9544

PARKS & KIDS STUFF

Fog Lane Park T. 0161 445 4241 Didsbury Park Cavendish Park

Sure Start Childrens Centre T. 0161 434 1601

Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden T. 0161 434 1877

Marie Louise Gardens Head Over Heels Play Centre T. 0161 881 4433

TRAVEL

Station Cars Private Hire T. 0161 438 1001 Kingsway Cars T. 0161 445 7777

Metrolink Stops in Withington, West Didsbury, Didsbury Village & East Didsbury Didsbury Cars Private Hire T. 0161 4381001

New City Cars T. 0161 445 8881 Manchester Airport T. 0871 271 0711

USEFUL NUMBERS

Didsbury Library T. 0161 445 3220

Withington Community Hospital T. 0161 434 555 Elizabeth Slinger Police Station T. 0161 872 5050

We doing our bit!

We have chosen a number of local charities and we have various fundraising activities planned throughout the year.

Here at JP & Brimelow we strongly believe in doing our bit for the local community, clubs, teams, schools and supporting many varied charities over the past 18 years. Over the last couple of years amongst other things, a number of staff members from all offices took part in 1/2 marathons, 10k walks, triathlons, golf days, cake making and many charity auctions on behalf of local children’s charities and we hope to continue with raising funds for worthy causes.

After 8 years of fundraising for St Ann’s Hospice, we couldn’t be more proud to announce that Eddie Ellis has become an official Charity Business Partner. St Ann’s Hospice aim to meet the unique physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients with life-limiting illnesses and I look forward to working together with Clare Henderson and her fantastic team raising vital funds for this incredible place.

Please take a moment to visit www.sah.org.uk

To find out more about the charities we support, and maybe even get involved yourself, visit:

www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk/ charities-we-support/

How your fundraising makes a difference

£5 will pay for a meal for one of our patients at the hospice. All our patients’ meals are prepared in the hospice by our cooks and kitchen staff. Patients are given a choice from the menu, but if they don’t fancy anything on there, we’ll speak to them and make something they’d like to eat.

£20 enables us to provide a complementary therapy session for a patient or carer. At both our hospices and from the Neil Cliffe Centre we offer complementary therapies to patients and their carers. Complementary therapy aims to help people relax and feel at peace through sessions such as reiki, aromatherapy or massage.

£25 could pay for an appointment for a patient with one of our hairdressers. It’s important for our patients to feel like themselves and look how they want to. Patients can visit our hairdresser onsite at the hospice and he’s experienced in looking after people who might be experiencing hair loss as part of their condition or treatment.

£30 will pay for an hour’s bereavement session for a loved one with our Patient and Family Support Team. Our team will support our patients loved ones and can help with things like explaining what is happening to young children. We’re here for our patients families for as long as they need us.

£50 will provide a patient with an hour of treatment with our lymphedema, physiotherapy or occupational therapy teams. These services aim to give patients the best quality of life and are bespoke to each patient’s needs.

£100 will allow us to provide vital transport for patients to attend our services. Transport is in particular for our day therapy patients, meaning they can be picked up from their home by our friendly drivers accompanied by a nurse, and feel safe, secure and comfortable in getting to the hospice.

£200 pays for a St Ann’s community team member to visit a patient in their home. Our community team work across Salford and Trafford, providing care in people’s own homes. This includes nursing care, emotional and practical support.

£300 enables a patient to attend one of our day therapy sessions to improve their quality of life. Our patients in day therapy will receive care from doctors and nurses, as well as having the chance to take part in arts and crafts activities, physiotherapy sessions and have a lovely three course meal.

£450 will pay for an intensive course of 9 lymphoedema treatments for a patient. Helping to manage swelling, improve quality of life and self-esteem.

It costs £500 a day to care for one of our patients on our in-patient ward at the hospice. This includes the care they receive from our doctors and nurses, as well as from our other services such as physiotherapy, complementary therapy and support from social workers and chaplain.

£1,000 will pay for our Hospice@Home team to visit 5 patients, supporting people who may prefer to be cared for at home.

£1,100 pays for us to provide all our services for one hour.

£2,500 will pay for 5 days of specialist palliative care for one of our inpatients and their loved ones.

£3,600 will pay for a 12 week day therapy programme for one of our outpatients, providing care as well as companionship.

£7,300 will pay for 365 complementary therapy sessions, helping patients and their carers to relax

£20,000 is what our Fundraising Team needs to raise each day, to cover the costs of all of our services. That includes our day therapy, inpatient and outpatient services and our Hospice at Home team from our three sites in Little Hulton, Heald Green and at the Neil Cliffe Centre.

To find out more about how you can help St Ann’s including making donations and playing our lottery, visit https://www.sah.org.uk/

WHAT IS KERB APPEAL?

We hear the term a lot, particularly when putting a home on the market, but what does kerb appeal mean?

In short, it’s the immediate attractiveness (or lack of attractiveness) of a property when seen on a drive past by a potential buyer. There’s a saying in business: you have seven seconds to make a first impression, and then opinions are formed that can take years to change. When you’re selling your home, that first impression will get people through the door – or not.

Here are 5 ways to give your home kerb appeal

Freshen up your front door

If you have an older home – a Victorian or Edwardian terrace or semi, for example – the door will have a certain classic style, but the chances are you’ve not really paid it any attention of late, after all, you simply go through it to get where you really want to be. Stand on the pavement and give it a good look. Does it need a lick of paint? Do any glass inserts need tidying up, or even just a good wash? What about the hardware? Is the letterbox a bit wonky? Does the handle need a polish, or even replacing? And is the house number smart, prominent and clean? For uPVC front doors – make sure it’s clean (invest in a specialist uPVC cleaner if necessary), window glass is freshly washed and the door furniture is up to scratch. It’s a small effort for a big return.

Tidy the pathway

If you don’t already own one, get hold of a pressure washer and give any steps and your pathway a good clean. Pluck up any weeds between the flags, and brush any loose stones away. In a small space, a bowl of hot water and a wire scrubbing brush will do. A little bit of TLC will have a dramatic effect on the immediate look. Oh, and while you’re at it, if you have a gate – oil the hinges. There’s nothing like a creepy creak to put off a potential buyer…

Add a couple of pots

Who doesn’t dream of living in a house with bay

trees each side of the door? This isn’t always feasible, of course, but a terracotta pot filled with seasonal flowers gives an immediate sense of home. Don’t forget – people buy a lifestyle, not simply bricks and mortar. And you will be taking it with you, so it’s no waste of money.

Scrub your window frames

When was the last time you looked at an external window frame? Window cleaners, wind, rain, pollution… they all leave their mark, and a refresh will give the immediate impression of a homeowner who cares about the maintenance of their home. Use a specialist cleaner on uPVC frames, or repaint wooden frames. While you’re out there, check how your internal window dressings look from the outside. Blinds that are broken, curtains not pulled back evenly, even a ceiling light with bulbs not working can be seen from outside, and don’t give the best impression.

Add lighting

A porch light, or a security light, is a must-have. If you already have an external power supply, fit a light that suits your home’s age. If you already have one, check the bulb! If you don’t have a power supply, look into solar powered lights. You can run small lights along the pathway and solar powered wall-lights are easy to source and fit. It’s less about security than just presenting that warm feeling of coming home, which is all your potential buyers want.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT GARDEN FURNITURE

When the sun shows its face, taking a seat outside is an immediate must-do, and with gardens becoming more of an extension of our indoor living space than ever before, choosing your chairs has become as fraught as choosing a new sofa for your sitting room.

This is especially the case if you have a beautiful new home, where you want to be very sure you make the right choices about every aspect of interior and exterior design, so where to start choosing the right garden furniture for you and your new garden?

First – consider the style of furniture you want

In a modern home with clean lines and a contemporary garden, reflecting the aesthetics is important. Wrought steel with trims and rolls and fussy bits is likely to look like you brought it from your dad’s garden – it’s just not you. However, in an older property, with a well-established garden filled with plants and colour, something a little more romantic will work perfectly.

Stand in the zone where you are placing your furniture and look around you. You will be able to see quite quickly the overarching style of the garden and appreciate what style of furniture will work for you.

Next, measure up

Patio space is not finite – work out what you need (table, how many chairs) and the maximum space you can take up without falling of the patio everytime you push a chair back,

Now, choose the material you want

There are many, many options for garden furniture, some support the table and chairs being left outside year round, others less so. Some require ongoing maintenance, others less so. When deciding on your furniture, take into consideration not only where you might overwinter it, but also if you truly are the type of person to re-stain and protect furniture each spring. Loads of people are – I’m not!

Low-cost, lightweight plastic is an easy choice to make, but it soon looks weathered and worn – and can easily be flung around the garden in a high wind, which we seem to be getting a lot more of these days. Plastic dining chairs that can be stacked in the garage and brought out on demand are a great choice, but it’s perhaps not ideal for a permanent fix.

Metal

Steel garden furniture, while long-lasting and robust, is very heavy, so opting for this is a commitment not only in terms of cost, but location – you don’t want to be heaving heavy chairs around every time the sun moves. It is a great choice for the really traditional styles however, and once it’s in place requires minimal maintenance. Lightweight – the Aluminium is a more popular choice for those seeking a more contemporary look. Often folding by design, aluminium furniture is easier to store away over winter, reducing the need for maintenance. Before you buy, check its robust – the joints should be firm and immovable – you don’t want granny taking a fall when she plumps down into her seat.

Rattan

Rattan is massive this summer, and has been for some years now. Rattan has been adopted as the catch-all term for all furniture made with weaving ribbons of material around a frame, whether real, wicker rattan or PE, a man made synthetic Polyethylene resin. The latter is far more durable and requires significantly less maintenance. It can also handle the British climate, unlike wicker, which needs to be kept dry and taken indoors to overwinter. Because of its history, rattan furniture comes in so many designs – from contemporary squares to last century curves – you will be able to find something that suits your garden style, whether that’s modern or traditional. Do try to try before you buy. With the surge in popularity, cheap sets are available that while they may be weatherproof, aren’t necessarily ‘bottom proof’ – too many bumps down into the same spot and the weak framing beneath starts to buckle.

Wood

A classic choice, but can require quite a commitment for ongoing maintenance. It will need an annual wash, sand down and application of oil, which is not

something everybody is prepared to undertake. Teak wood is the luxe choice for garden furniture – it has a high natural level of oil in the wood, so it can withstand the wind and rain of an English garden, but it still needs regular care. Left untreated it weathers to an attractive silver grey, but you will soon find joints are loosening, slats are thinning and even wasps are making a beeline (waspline?) for it to nibble at the soft wood fibres for use in building their nests. If you are a certified garden potterer and DIY fan, then wood makes a beautiful choice. If not, maybe consider the alternatives.

Finally – think green

Looking after the world in which we live is becoming mainstream. Any furniture purchases, for home or garden, should have at least a nod of consideration for our planet behind them.

If you opt for wooden furniture, check it comes with an FSC mark, which will assure you it’s from a managed plantation, where sustainability is built in.

Aluminium is a great eco-friendly choice. This metal can be recycled again and again, and indeed there are many makers already using recycle aluminium to make new garden furniture – just do a quick google search to find them,

Rattan isn’t renowned for its eco-credentials, but you can find furniture that is made from recyclable materials and can be recycled in specialist facilities. If you just want what you love, make sure you take great care of it, to extend its life as long as possible and let’s beat the throwaway culture back into the past, where it belongs.

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO

DOWNSIZE?

It can be a hard decision to make, moving on from the home where you and your partner have raised children, celebrated all of life’s greatest events, and which you once called your ‘forever home.’

With each lifestage comes change, and downsizing can be a positive one, but how do you know when it’s the right time? Before making your decision, you must ask two big questions:

1) Will downsizing help me financially?

If you are in a large, family home, and your children have left to start their adult lives, moving to a smaller property may indeed be of financial help. A smaller property will likely mean smaller utility bills (not a bad thing, at the moment) and also reduced council tax. If you’re still paying down a mortgage, you might be able to pay it off and buy a smaller home with the equity, or simply reduce your monthly payments.

However, there are other financial considerations to make that aren’t all in your favour. If you have your heart set on a bungalow – be aware, scarcity makes for high prices. Apartments in specially constructed blocks for over-60s will come with annual service charges that might increase each year. You may also need to pay stamp duty, estate agency fees and the costs of moving home.

2) Will downsizing enhance my lifestyle?

Often, it is the emotional impact of moving out of the family home that delays people’s decision on downsizing, but there are definitely benefits in a move to a smaller home. First – there is likely to be reduced maintenance – less housework, less garden maintenance, meaning more time to spend on hobbies and with friends and family.

Similarly, if downsizing frees up more disposable income, there is greater freedom for holidays, travelling to visit family, and generally enjoying life.

Also, very importantly, as we age and reach the lifestage when downsizing starts to look like an

option, we also find ourselves less physically capable, and this isn’t going to get better. Will moving to a smaller home support you as you age? And as you grow older, it becomes harder –both mentally and physically – to cope with great change, so would downsizing when you have the energy to cope with all that entails be a smart move?

On the flipside, downsizing might mean moving away from the neighbourhood you are familiar with, where the friends you have made still live, and the shops and restaurants you love are close-by. Overcoming this requires positive selftalk. Spending time with friends always requires planning, it may now just require a little more planning. You can still visit the restaurants you like, but have an adventure discovering new ones, too.

Finally, consider the logistics. How important is room for entertaining – will downsizing prevent you doing your favourite things? Where will guests sleep? Will you have enough room for storage? When looking at a new, smaller home it’s important to be very clear on how you plan to live there, and what changes you are prepared to make.

Signs that downsizing is the right move to make

• You’re not using all the rooms in your current home

• Your finances will benefit from a cash injection and reduced overheads

• You are suddenly the oldest residents on your street, and this makes you feel a little isolated

• Your job and your family no longer tie you to a particular location.

• You want to be closer to family

• You are simply ready for a change

HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR

NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD

There are many reasons why people move to a new home – upsizing, downsizing, a new job, financial or health challenges, but sometimes when we move home, it’s not just the stresses of the moving day itself that cause anxiety – it’s the demands of a move to a new neighbourhood, or even a whole new town. Here are our top tips for getting the best of moving to a new neighbourhood.

happening in your locale. Find clubs to join that reflect your interests, or be brave and try something completely new. It;s here you are likely to meet other local people with the ame interests, and maybe make a friend or two.

The school run

If you have children at primary school age, the school run is the perfect place to meet other parents from your neighbourhood. The old say “Birds of a feather stick together” rings especially true when it comes to the after school pick up! Make sure you talk to different people over the weeks – you’ll soon find some like-minded souls. If you work full-time and a daily pick-up isn’t feasible, perhaps look at working from home on certain days, just for the first term or so. And while PTAs have a bit of a rep, there’s no quicker way to get under the skin of a school than by doing some volunteering – and it doesn’t have to be forever!

The best way to get the most out of your new neighbourhood is to proactively engage with the people already in it. Whether this is directly with neighbours, or by shopping and eating local, or by joining the local running club, netball club or networking group, what you put in, you will get out.

Just wanted to let you know that Charlotte has been excellent at progressing the sale of Lambton Road. A real credit to your company, Charlotte has been helpful at understanding every step. Thanks all!

Lambton Road, Chorlton

Fantastic service despite all of the current challenges, from Eddie’s first valuation to Danny conduction the viewings and sending through offers and then Charlotte providing regular updates and timely responses!

Bullfinch Walk, Chorlton

I would like to thank your Team, for a very professional job that was done on the sale of my house. We were always kept in the loop, and if Jodie wasn’t available, she always left information with the other staff, it was a nice experience.

Newport Road, Chorlton

I would like to thank your Team, for a very professional job, that was done, on the sale of my house. We were always kept in the loop, and if Jodie wasn’t available, she always left information with the other staff, it was a nice experience dealing with people like Jodie, and carol, who kept us up to date at all times, and nothing was a problem for them, and we will use and recommend JP and Brimelow again.

P & G

Charlotte has been excellent at progressing the sale of Lambton Road. A real credit to your company, Charlotte has been helpful at understanding every step. Thanks all

Lambton Road, Chorlton

“We have used TXM Movers twice now and found them to be trustworthy, reliable, prompt and respectful. Very much appreciated amidst the stress of moving!

I highly recommend Ross and his team to anyone looking for a stress-free top class service.”

Rebecca Batten

“Would thoroughly recommend TXM. Very professional, fantastic communication, great prices and very friendly and positive employees. They made the whole process so easy and having been let down by two ‘man and van’ companies, they fitted the job in quickly to help me out. Thank you.”

Janet Harrison

“Third time using TXM Movers. The lads worked their socks off, trustworthy and helpful and went above and beyond. Thoroughly nice guys. We will definitely be using TXM Movers with our next move.

Highly recommended.”

Sammy JA

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