LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
PROPERTY NEWS
MAY 2020
HOME-WORKING?
TURN YOUR SPARE ROOM INTO AN OFFICE SPACE ARE YOU READY? GET YOUR PROPERTY MARKET-READY – NOW!
GET CRAFTY IDEAS TO HELP KEEP THE KIDS ENTERTAINED
HEALTH FOCUS UTILISE ONLINE SUPPORT TO KEEP FIT
BOOK RELEASES THE HOTTEST NEW RELEASES TO CATCH UP ON
CONTENTS COVER STORY
4
Working from home? Turn your spare room into an office!
PROPERTY
2 16 20
Want to make a move? There’s still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions Our latest instructions Take a look at a selection of our latest properties on the market About us Get to know us a little better and see why we are your agent of choice
FOOD
9
Flour-less brownies No flour? No problem! Try these yummy brownies for all the family to enjoy
LIFESTYLE
6
8 12 15
The dark side of life Social media has turned to the meme to spread a little light relief Thank you Frontline workers have given their all during the pandemic. Here we say, thank you Destination home Crafts to keep the kids entertained at home Our kind of happy Humour has been much welcomed, here are some of our favourite memes
HEALTH
10
Fitness online Home workouts: we look at what’s available online?
BOOKS
14
Recent & upcoming releases Now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases
WELCOME TO THE MAY ISSUE!
A
ll of us here hope that you are keeping well and safe.
With many of us spending more time at home, there is still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions. In this issue we detail the range of DIY jobs that you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs. And although our office is currently closed due to government advice, we are still operational from home, so please continue to call or email, and we’ll be more than happy to help.
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PROPERTY NEWS
There is also plenty more inside to keep you reading, such as how to utilise the internet for keeping fit at home, as well as fun things to do wo keep the kids entertained too! All of us would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to you, our clients, for your patience and understanding during this time. We are also in awe of the incredible work and support of all front-line workers who are working hard to ensure a better future for us all. Until next time, take care and stay safe. #StayHomeSaveLives Linda McKeown Editor
GET YOUR PROPERTY It may feel like the UK’s property market is at a standstill, but there is still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions
With many of us spending more time at home, there are a range of DIY jobs you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs. By starting your home moving prep now, you will be fully prepared to get the ball moving, when it comes to making your move. Not only will doing these jobs potentially add value to your property, but they will make you feel better after spending so much time at home. Now, more than ever, it’s important to keep active and busy. DIY and cleaning are great as both are a mental and physical workout which will also give you a sense of achievement during this time.
TIDY THE GARDEN
The garden is a huge selling point for most properties on the market. With the warmer weather arriving, now is the perfect time to get into your garden to complete quick and simple jobs to make your property more sellable and aesthetically pleasing in photos. Simply mowing your lawn and trimming your hedges makes a huge difference for when our valuer pops round to take photos. Also, why not plant some spring flowers in your borders to make these easier on the eye too? A lot of garden nurseries are delivering flowers and plants, and tools are available for delivery online.
MARKET-READY If you have any damaged fencing, leftover bricks from previous projects or a rickety, old, shed, try to remove or fix these to get them out of the way for both viewings and your photos. A lick of fresh paint on fence panels can instantly transform your garden – and you can still order paint online to carry out the work.
DIY JOBS INDOORS
On the occasional rainy day, you can get inside and finish jobs that you
your property look better straight away; just remember to use the same paint as the walls already are!
DEEP CLEANING
Nothing helps get a property market-ready better than a thorough deep clean. Work through each room to get the property as sparkling as possible. In the bathroom, don’t forget to go round the edges of the taps and the bath to remove any gunk, and buff and shine the taps to make them look really impressive. In the kitchen, clean and buff any metallic or windowed appliances, especially the front window of the oven. If you have any carpet in the living room, use carpet shampoo before hoovering, to get them back to looking their best.
There are a range of DIY jobs you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs haven’t gotten around to just yet. Maybe you have those leftover tiles for the kitchen, or that roll of carpet waiting to be laid. This could be the perfect time to tackle these jobs yourself. YouTube has thousands of videos to offer you guidance and advice from everything from tiling a kitchen, to fitting a dado rail. And, with a lot of DIY companies still offering delivery, you can get everything you need, and fast. Holes in your walls? These are a simple fix with some ready mixed multi-purpose filler and will make
Upstairs, put away all clothes into wardrobes and make sure these close fully. Make the bed with fresh sheets, and remove excess pillows, pet toys and toiletries. Throughout the house, be sure to clean and polish all windows, inside and
out, to make them shine as bright as possible. Don’t forget to clean all doors and window ledges too!
Nothing helps get a property market-ready better than a thorough deep clean Lockdown is a tough time for everyone, but it will end, and we will come out the other side. And when we do, life will return to the ‘new normal’. We have been given a chance to spend more time in our homes which has made us all stop and take stock of the things we once took for granted. It gives many of us the chance to do those odd jobs we’ve never gotten around to doing or put off for too long. As your local estate agent, we are here for you whenever you need us. Visit us online today, for more information about marketing your property.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
3
Working from home boasts many advantages, and there are many fantastic ways to keep your working life productive, satisfying and healthy
CREATING
IN-HOME OFFICE SPACE
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH In these times, mental health has never been so important, so ensure you keep your mental health healthy. Keep the room you are working in well ventilated During the times you’re not on a call or in a meeting, play some background music to help you focus and ‘disappear’ into your work Ensure natural light flows into your workspace; it can make a surprising amount of difference If you’re facing a wall, hang a nice painting or backdrop of landscape or nature which keeps you in that happy, peaceful place
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PROPERTY NEWS
T
hat journey you take every day to and from work, those lunchtimes socialising with your colleagues, and that constant, fundamental feeling of being a part of your team with everyone around you striving to achieve a shared goal. For the time being, those aspects of your working life are on hold due to the current pandemic and consequent lockdown taking place throughout Britain.
filing crate, printer or scanner, you’re good to go. Creating a workspace using a dividing wall in a living area, the space underneath your stairs, or even a well-positioned storage cupboard, are all viable options. Note: if your workstation ends up being in an area laid with carpet, then investing in a chair pad might be a good idea if you don’t want your carpet getting worn down and damaged by a rolling office chair.
But fear not! Working from home boasts many advantages, and there are many fantastic ways to keep your working life productive, satisfying and healthy. If you have a spare room, this can easily be transformed into an office or workspace. And if you’re going to do it, you should do it right.
YOU HAVE THE POWER, SO STAY CONNECTED
DESK? WHAT DESK?
Many desks on the market can be expensive but, touch wood, you should be able to find an affordable and suitable desk.
Try and stick to a work schedule to help you keep focus
Fortunately, a full-on, ready-made desk isn’t the only option. A piece of wood, large enough to accommodate your work, will suffice. It could be the desk surface part which someone has gifted to you, but if it’s wood in its rawest form, you could spend a little time sanding it down, smoothing off the edges, and making sure the surface is level and neat. All you need now are two small chest of drawers for the wood to sit upon, such as those plastic stackable drawers. Because they’re stackable, you can freely determine how high or low the desk will ultimately be for you, allowing you that creative freedom to create your perfect workstation.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A SPARE ROOM
As long as you ensure there’s enough room for all the essentials you need, such as a
With many currently working from home, Wi-Fi understandably might become a little congested at times. So, wherever you end up working, it’s important Working from home boasts to ensure you are close many advantages, and enough to your Wi-Fi there are many fantastic router for a consistent ways to keep your working and reliable internet life productive, satisfying connection. However, and healthy if you are struggling with connection, a wired connection using an Ethernet cable should do the trick. You should also make sure there are enough power sockets nearby to keep all your electrical equipment plugged in. If there aren’t enough plug sockets on the walls, use a multiple socket extension lead to increase the number of sockets available.
AVOID CABIN FEVER
Cabin fever is a common problem when working from home. It can become isolating, lonely and boring if you’re by yourself for long periods of time. Similarly, if you have family around you for much of the time while you’re trying to be productive at work, that can also create a distraction. Taking regular breaks is a must. If you have a garden, great! If not, make use of your daily exercise allowance and take a stroll around the neighbourhood to breathe in that all-important, revitalising fresh air and (hopefully) sunshine. It’s also important to try and stick to a work schedule to help you keep focus.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
5
THE DARK SIDE OF LIFE As medical science battled to prevent Coronavirus enveloping the world in a shroud of fear and gloom, social media turned to the meme to spread a little light relief
Y
ou know the bit. That f inal
of World War I or the prisoner of war
sequence in Monty Python’s Life
camps in World War II – helped to bolster
of Brian, where all the prisoners
spirits among the working classes, the
have been tethered to their crosses for
blending of farce and low comedy did
crucif ixion, the People’s Front of Judea
not earn a label until the 1960s when
have congratulated Brian of Nazareth
Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 was published
on his forthcoming martyrdom, and the
and Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove hit
Judean People’s Front have made their
the cinemas.
f inal act of def iance. Since then, lampooning taboo subjects And then, just as he is about to
has been seen for what it is: an injection
succumb to the inevitable, a fellow
of much-needed humour to lighten
prisoner urges our tragic, wrongly
desperate situations and ease mental
identif ied hero to, “always look on the
stress, proving once and for all that
bright side of life”.
laughter is the best medicine.
It is a classic example of what is often
So, when Coronavirus unleashed
termed gallows humour, the ability to
unprecedented chaos across the world,
look for a laugh in the bleakest, the
social media stuck up its collective hand
most hopeless of situations.
and said: hold our beer, we’ve got this…
Lampooning taboo subjects has been seen for what it is: an injection of much-needed humour to lighten desperate situations and ease mental stress
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PROPERTY NEWS
Along with its cousins, black comedy and
At first the memes were straightforward
dark humour, this strain of comedy has
and came largely f rom the ‘get a grip’
become entwined into the very fabric of
camp. For example, when lockdown was
Britishness, and goes some way to
announced, overlaid on a solemn picture
explaining why the Bright Side of Life and
of a soldier, standing head bowed, was
Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb are
the message: “Your grandparents were
among the most requested music at
asked to go to war. You are being asked
funerals.
to sit on a couch. You can do this.”
Although prevalent in times of war, when
However, the initial indication the stiff
the mix of morbid and ghastly themes to
upper lip was starting to break into a
underscore the futility and senselessness
smirk came with the American church
of a situation – think life in the trenches
style billboard: “Whoever said one
person can’t change the world never ate
times. Then I got tired, so I picked up
since COVID-19’s relentless advance,
an undercooked bat.”
the block and put it back in the toy box.”
anything to do with masks invariably
And then the big guns came out,
And the f railties of families cooped up in
illustrates mankind’s stupidity,
reacting to every development with a
quarantine was ably coupled with the
particularly regarding the Government’s
pun and a quip. “Day 4 of social
salute to our f rontline health heroes:
‘stay at home’ warning, than a photo of
distancing. Struck up a conversation
“Quarantine survival tip #463: Empty
our ‘dumb’ animals.
with a spider today. Seems nice. He’s a
your glass bottles into the recycling bin
web designer.”
at 8pm on a Thursday so the NHS
However, nothing sums up social
clapping drowns out the sound of your
media’s attempt to lift the fear and
household’s descent into alcoholism.”
gloom over the pandemic better than
involves Darth Vader – while nothing
“Got to that stage of lockdown where
this riposte to criticism f rom Word
Jolene can come and take my man.” Similarly, there was a boozy response to
Porn, the internet’s purveyor of the
“Why haven’t the Government classed
the news that craft distilleries were
pithy and prophetic: “Friendly reminder
seagulls as quay workers?”
stepping in to f ill the gaps as hand
that in times of adversity and stress,
sanitizers became as rare as unicorns on
people use humour as a coping
No-one was safe. In response to the Joe
a night out. Across a picture of a
mechanism for the sake of their mental
Wicks home workout phenomenon,
relaxing Victorian maid was the speech
health. It doesn’t mean that the current
came the Facebook post: “Got up this
bubble: “I’ve been trying to make hand
events are not being taken seriously.”
morning and ran round the block 5
sanitizer but it’s come out as rum and coke again…”
“The blending of farce and low comedy did not earn a label until the 1960s”
Amen to that.
Of course, the images that really work are stills f rom blockbuster movies –
*All images featured here were sourced f rom Facebook
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
7
THANK YOU Frontline workers have given their all during the coronavirus pandemic – helping those dealing with the virus, as well as those self-isolating at home. Here we say, thank you On Tuesday 28th April, a minute’s silence was held across the UK to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had only just returned to work at Number 10 after recovering from coronavirus himself, joined the tribute which was held at 11am BST. In a show of continuing support, every Thursday at 8pm the nation also continues to clap on their doorsteps and from windows, for the NHS. And special thanks and appreciation for all frontline staff was also paid by the Queen last month, when she made a televised speech paying tribute to the tremendous work being carried out: “I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the
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PROPERTY NEWS
home in support of us all. “I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times. “We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.” Indeed, better times will come. But until then, we must remain unified in our approach to ensure that, together, we beat this virus. Government advice is to continue to wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds and to only go out as and when needed for essentials such as groceries, medicinal needs or your daily exercise. But most of all, please stay home and stay safe.
Every Thursday at 8pm the nation continues to clap on their doorsteps and from windows, for the NHS
LIFE ASSURANCE SCHEME FOR NHS AND SOCIAL CARE FRONT LINE Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that families of health and care workers on the frontline in England will benefit from a new life assurance scheme during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Families of staff who die from coronavirus in the course of their essential front line work will receive a £60,000 payment,” he said: “Of course nothing replaces the loss of a loved one but we want to do everything that we can to support families that are dealing with this grief.” The scheme will cover frontline staff in England, but the devolved administrations will receive funding through the Barnett formula. Wales is implementing the same scheme and arrangements are being considered in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
NO-FLOUR BROWNIES
Chocolate Gingerbread Brownie READY IN: 55 Mins Nutrition: 553 kcal per bar
INGREDIENTS 400g dark chocolate, broken into chunks 25g cocoa powder 250g golden caster sugar 250g butter 1 tbsp ground ginger 140g ground almond 6 large eggs (separate yolks from egg whites)
FOR THE ICING 100g butter, cubed 50g dark chocolate broken into pieces, or use chips 50g cocoa 200g icing sugar, sifted 2 tbsp ground ginger few chunks crystallised ginger, chopped into small pieces
No flour? No problem! Get baking these flourless yummy chocolate gingerbread brownies‌ heavenly!
METHOD 1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 20 x 30cm cake tin, and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate, cocoa, sugar and butter together in a
saucepan over a very low heat. Once the chocolate and
butter have melted and sugar dissolved, remove from the
heat and stir in the ginger and almonds, followed by the egg yolks, one at a time. 2. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Using a metal spoon, stir a couple of spoonfuls of the egg whites into the chocolate
mixture to loosen before very gently folding in the rest. 3. Gently scrape the mixture into the tin. Bake for 30-35 mins until the top looks set and the centre doesn’t wobble
too much. Sit the cake tin on a wire rack and leave to cool completely. 4. Once cool, make the icing. Put the butter, chocolate, cocoa, icing sugar, ground ginger and 4 tbsp water in a pan. Gently heat, stirring, until you have a smooth icing. Pour over the
cake (still in its tin), leave for 1-2 mins to cool slightly, then
scatter over the ginger. Cool completely (you can also store in the fridge if you bring out to room temperature about 20 mins before serving) before cutting into bars. You can find this recipe and more at https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chocolate-gingerbread-brownie-bars-fudgy-icing
Image for illustrative purposes only
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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How we exercise has changed and going to the gym or exercise class is no longer routine. This, instead, has been replaced with home workouts. But just what is available to you?
MAKE THE MOST OF
FITNESS ONLINE
F
or obvious reasons, exercising at home has become the norm; whether you are working out with the kids or partaking in a yoga class to help rebalance your inner self, there is literally something for everyone online.
Iepure to create free online classes for both adults and kids during the coronavirus pandemic. The professional dancers have focused on creating a positive virtual experience for everyone self-isolating. “We’re so grateful, it’s gone exceptionally well,” said Oti when she spoke to the Metro.co.uk. “It’s actually exceeded what we actually thought it would do.”
One of the most recognisable names is that of body coach, Joe Wicks. He is still offering free daily workout sessions for kids – and adults alike – on his You may not be YouTube channel youtube. able to get out to com/thebodycoach.
your local gym
Frozen, Trolls and The Greatest Showman are just some of the hit routines uploaded, providing a half an hour dance lesson in viewers’ homes.
but for many, you With over 500,000 people regularly tuning in live don’t have to! daily, Joe’s workouts remain one of the most popular online. Simply tune in to PE with Joe at 9am each YOGA weekday to join in live for his Doing yoga on a regular basis can aid 30-minute sessions. flexibility, helping to boost your strength
KEEP DANCING
If dancing is more your thing and you want to learn some dance routines along the way, then Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse’s YouTube channel could be for you youtube.com/otimabuseofficial. She has teamed up with her husband Marius
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PROPERTY NEWS
and improve overall fitness. London studio Fly Ldn is offering everything from Friday night yin yoga to candlelit hip hop yoga as live streams on their Instagram channel www.instagram. com/fly_ldn/, while they also save the videos on YouTube afterwards.
Exercising at home has become the norm
The free sessions last for 45 minutes and are ran daily with the yoga studio posting a class timetable on Instagram for the following day.
HIIT
Famed for pushing its participants to the physical limit, fitness studio Barry’s UK has brought their intense workouts to Instagram live. On the studio’s Instagram account www. instagram.com/barrys/, it’s sharing details of the classes it is offering online, which include sessions that use your entire bodyweight as well as other workouts that focus on different areas of the body.
BOOTCAMPS AND MORE!
STAY LOCAL
You may not be able to get out to your local gym but for many, you don’t have to! Several fitness providers have launched ‘at home’ classes via Facebook live or on their own YouTube channel. A simple website search should show you what’s available in your area; so, you can go potty over pilates or hyper over a HIIT workout!
GET INSPIRED Here we list just some of the fitness classes/channels available so you can get your fitness fix in the comfort of your own home!
Transform any home space into your own fitness studio with a single-user membership for your phone, tablet, TV or web browser from Peloton.
PE with Joe Wicks youtube.com/thebodycoach
For £12.99 a month, it boasts a variety of different options, including classes that focus on strength, putting you through your paces on bootcamps and much more.
Fly Ldn https://www.instagram.com/fly_ldn/
In addition to offering strength classes, also on offer are cardio classes that focus on running and cycling.
Peloton www.onepeloton.co.uk/membership
Dancing with Oti Mabuse youtube.com/otimabuseofficial
Barry’s UK www.instagram.com/barrys/
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
11
DESTINATION
One way to cast aside the monotony of the day is to get the board games out!
HOME You may not be able to enjoy days out with the kids right now, but there’s still plenty of fun that can be had at home!
BAKING
Cooking and baking are great activities for children of all ages. Of course, depending on the age of the child, they will be able to undertake different cooking activities. You know your children best, so use your own judgement as to what tasks they can undertake or help you with. The key thing to ensure is safety. Ensure all hazards are away from little hands such as hot food and liquids. For very young children, they will enjoy a range of activities such as washing and cleaning vegetables, mashing food, spooning ingredients into mixing bowls and most certainly, decorating cupcakes. Most of all, stay safe and have fun!
BOARD GAMES
OK, so you may be thinking of just what you can do to relieve the lockdown boredom. One way to cast aside the monotony of the day is to get the board games out! It’s the perfect way to unite the family for a fun afternoon. And not only are they good for spending quality time together, they also help to get your competitive juices flowing! Whether it’s a game of luck or one that involves real logic, there literally is something out there for every family.
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PROPERTY NEWS
Here is Amazon’s Top 10 best selling* board games 1. TOMY Pop Up Pirate £9.99 2. M.Y Traditional Bingo Game £11.99 3. Cheatwell Games Tension: The Top 10 Naming Game £17.49 4. Z-Man Games Pandemic Board Game £29.99 5. The Yes! No! Game £8.80 6. Orchard Toys Little Bus Lotto Mini Game £4.99 7. OK Play: Multi-Award Winning Board Game For Kids And Adults £19.99 8. Cluedo Junior The Case of The Broken Toy Board Game £16.99 9. Winning Moves Friends Trivial Pursuit Quiz Game – Bitesize Edition £10.23 10. Goliath Games Sequence the addictive card game £20
DRAWING
Now, when we say drawing, it’s not about creating masterpieces or beating yourself up that you can’t quite capture what you want on paper; the main benefit of drawing is that it relaxes the mind and allows your creativity to really shine through. So, whether you are a novice or accomplished at drawing, get out your paper and pencils and let your creativity free. To encourage creativity with the little ones, why not play a game of drawing inspiration. Basically, you draw a random scribble or marking on the paper and the other person has to change this into an object of some kind – whether that be a person, animal or household object. It’s a perfect way to get creativity flowing and can create lots of laughs too!
ORIGAMI
Another task involving paper is the art of origami. The name origami means the art of paper-folding and derives from Japanese words ori (folding) and kami (paper). Traditional origami consists of folding a single sheet of square paper into a sculpture – but without cutting, gluing, taping, or even marking it!
It can sometime seem a bit fiddly but, with a little time and patience, it’s amazing the masterpieces that can be created! Take a look here for some easy inspiration www.easypeasyandfun.com/easyorigami-for-kids/
The main benefit of drawing is that it relaxes the mind and allows your creativity to really shine through
CREATE A MASTERPIECE
Now, you don’t need fancy crafting materials to make a masterpiece. With more of us at home, recycling waste has increased so why not check out the dry recycling and let the kids create their own special projects. It’s the perfect way to pass the time.
* Top ten listing and prices correct at time of going to print
Use toilet rolls and cereal boxes to make robots, or utilise the likes of YouTube to find a host of how-to videos on crafting projects using recyclable materials. The possibilities are endless!
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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RECENT AND UPCOMING
BOOK RELEASES
W
hether you are looking for romance, fantasy, crime or horror, we have compiled a list of the hottest new releases by some great authors, available online from bookstores and as eBooks.
IF IT BLEEDS – STEPHEN KING RELEASED: 28TH APRIL 2020
Stephen King, the best-selling author of IT, The Shawshank Redemption and Carrie, releases a brand-new collection of four stories including a stand-alone sequel to The Outsider which has recently been adapted into a TV series on Sky. ‘If it Bleeds,’ contains three other stories showboating the unique story-telling ability of one of the world’s most-loved writers.
THE PRIORY – JONATHAN WHEATLEY RELEASED: 6TH APRIL 2020
British debut novelist, Jonathan Wheatley, released his much-anticipated novel, ‘The Priory,’ on the 6th of April. Having already broken into the Top 100 of British Horror on Amazon, we can’t wait to read part one of ‘The Westford Chronicles.’ Wheatley has created a twisted tale set in a richly detailed rural English town featuring a group of teenagers following a cryptic message; a man searching for his own body and a mother with special powers.
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PROPERTY NEWS
MEMOIRS AND MISINFORMATION – JIM CARREY & DANA VACHON RELEASE DATE: 5TH MAY 2020
Beloved Hollywood star, Jim Carrey, and Dana Vachon bring us a fearless semi-autobiographical novel. Carrey and Vachon have creates a story about acting, agents, privilege, celebrity, addiction, romance and a cataclysmic ending of the world. For those of you who love the zany world of Jim Carrey, this book is a must read.
Now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases
SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN – GENE LUEN YANG RELEASE DATE: 12TH MAY 2020 In this graphic novel set in 1946, the Lee family has moved from Chinatown to Metropolis. Excited to be close to Superman, Roberta and Tommy are adapting to life in the big city befriending Jimmy Olsen. While the Lee family tries to adjust to their new lives, a new evil stirs in Metropolis: The
With us all spending more time at home, now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases… Ku KLUX Klan. With Tommy kidnapped, Roberta teams up with Superman to fight the Klan and expose those who support them.
THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES – SUZANNE COLLINS RELEASE DAY: 19TH MAY 2020
In this prequel to the original Hunger Games novels, we follow Coriolanus Snow, last seen in the movies as the tyrannical dictator of Panem, as he prepares for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the tenth annual Hunger Games. Having been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, their fates are now intertwined, with his every choice leading to favour or failure. This promises to be one of the biggest young adult novels of the year as we get to know the previous books’ most-hated characters.
LAUGHTER PROVIDING LIGHT RELIEF In her televised speech to the nation, the Queen said that “the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country.” And she wasn’t wrong. In a world of uncertainty, humour has been much welcomed, with social media providing some ingenious memes!
DAY 6 IN QUARANTINE, FOUND A DEAD FLY
HAVE YOU MIS-SOLD BEEN PPE? ED’S NOTE: All memes featured here were sourced from Facebook
BOSS: DURING THIS TIME WE ASK ALL EMPOLYEES TO WEAR A MASK TO WORK. ME:
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN’T WORK OUT SOCIAL DISTANCING... THIS IS TWO METERS APART!!!
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CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION
Oxhey Road, Bushey ÂŁ965,000
CHARACTER FOUR BEDROOM TWO BATHROOM DETACHED HOUSE located in the heart of Oxhey Village. The property comprises; large entrance hallway, cloakroom, Bespoke hand painted kitchen/breakfast room both with porcelain tiled flooring, lounge with inglenook fireplace, opening to dining room with double doors leading to rear patio area, family room, study and utility room. The first floor comprises a master bedroom suite with fitted wardrobes and en suite shower room, two further double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, bedroom four and fully tiled family bathroom with separate shower cubicle.
Woodlands Road, Bushey ÂŁ937,500
FOUR BEDROOM TWO BATHROOM DETACHED HOUSE located in a highly desirable location off Grange Road being close to both state and private schools in addition to local transport services. This substantial detached family home is presented in excellent order throughout. The accommodation comprises of spacious entrance hall, cloakroom, double aspect lounge, dining room, family room and kitchen. To the first floor is a master bedroom with panoramic views over Bushey Manor Field, en suite bathroom, three further bedrooms and family shower room. Outside the property is set on a corner plot with garden to side and rear with garage and driveway with off street parking. Properties like this rarely come to the market and internal viewing is highly recommended to be fully appreciated.
bushey@jwandco.co.uk | stalbans@jwandco.co.uk | parkstreet@jwandco.co.uk | londoncolney@jwandco.co.uk
Bushey Heath 020 8950 3434 St Albans 01727 844444 Park Street 01727 875555 London Colney 01727 824311
Thea Mews, London Colney ÂŁ600,000
Newly built in 2018, this handsomely presented FOUR BEDROOM, THREE BATHROOM semi-detached house located in a private mews and perfectly situated within easy reach of local amenities, public transport and great motorway links. The stylish accommodation comprises, entrance hall, modern kitchen/diner, conservatory, separate lounge, utility room, cloakroom, two en-suites, family bathroom and four spacious bedrooms. Available chain free.
Suffolk Close, London Colney ÂŁ600,000
An excellent opportunity to acquire this extended four-bedroom detached house with many benefits to include: three reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, family bathroom, en-suite and cloakroom. Outside you benefit from a detached double garage, ample off-street parking and a wrap-around garden with further potential for expansion. Situated in a peaceful and popular cul-de-sac and perfectly placed for motorway links, St Albans City Station and the town centre.
jwandco.co.uk
CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION
Clifton Court, Hemel Hempstead ÂŁ1,075pcm
Brand new two-bedroom apartment within a popular development and conveniently located less than a mile from the train station. The contemporary apartment benefits from gas central heating and aluminium framed windows which prevent condensation. The apartment is made up of two pristine bedrooms, spacious bathroom and the modern open-plan kitchen & lounge and comes with allocated parking. *Zero-Deposits available with this property - please enquire for further details*
Clifton Court, Hemel Hempstead ÂŁ1,150pcm
Brand new two-bedroom apartment within a popular development and conveniently located less than a mile from the Hemel Hempstead train station with direct links to London. The contemporary apartment benefits from underfloor heating and aluminium framed windows which prevent condensation. Large windows let natural light flood in and keep the immaculate apartment bright and airy. The apartment is made up of two pristine bedrooms, one with en-suite, spacious family bathroom and a modern open-plan kitchen & lounge. The property also includes allocated parking. *Zero-Deposits available with this property - please enquire for further details*
bushey@jwandco.co.uk | stalbans@jwandco.co.uk | parkstreet@jwandco.co.uk | londoncolney@jwandco.co.uk
Bushey Heath 020 8950 3434 St Albans 01727 844444 Park Street 01727 875555 London Colney 01727 824311
Penn Road, Park Street £975,000
This stunning SIX double bedroom luxury DETACHED house has been finished to a high specification and offers exceptionally spacious accommodation, around 2700 sq ft, over three floors. Property compromises; porch, hallway, kitchen, dining room/PLAYROOM, lounge, sunroom/STUDY, downstairs WC, six double bedrooms, LAUNDRY ROOM, family bathroom and TWO EN-SUITES. The property also benefits from a driveway with gates, parking for several cars and a neat rear garden. The property is offered CHAIN FREE.
Reedham Close, Park Street £785,000
FOUR bedroom detached family bungalow, situated in a prime residential location, behind private gates at the end of a CUL-DE-SAC, within easy access of both the M25 & M1 Motorways, its benefits include two EN-SUITES, and a family bathroom, kitchen, UTILITY, open plan lounge/dining room, large detached double GARAGE, ample off-street PARKING, plus a delightful rear GARDEN.
jwandco.co.uk
CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION
David Smith
Tom Smith
Jack Smith
David is a fully qualified chartered surveyor who has 35 years’ experience in dealing with all aspects of property including sales, lettings and property management. He has worked exclusively In the St Albans area for the last 20 years and has been active in dealing with new developments and conversion schemes for many large financial institutions. He is a keen sportsman and is a single figure handicap golfer. Email: davidsmith@jwandco.co.uk
Tom has had a successful career as a professional footballer and has always had an interest in property. The purchase of two existing businesses with extensive local interests was too tempting to resist. This gives him the opportunity to combine his football career with sales and property management. Tom lives in Berkhamsted with his wife Nina and three children. Email: tomsmith@jwandco.co.uk
Jack is very proud to be involved in this exciting and vibrant Company. He has always had an interest in property and is delighted to be able to transfer his skills from professional football to this new area. “We have a very strong team of employees and I am looking forward to working closely with them”. Jack has played professional football for Swindon, Watford, Millwall and AFC Wimbledon and currently lives with his wife Sophie and beloved dog, Lola in Berkhamsted. Email: jacksmith@jwandco.co.uk
CEO
Chairman
Director
PARK STREET
ST ALBANS
Danielle Saville
Ruth Bearne MNAEA
Lauren King Lettings Manager
Property Negotiator
Having joined the company in 2018 Danielle has already flourished in her role as a Trainee Negotiator bringing an enthusiastic approach to sales in addition to bringing buyers and sellers together. Under the management of Tim Griggs, she hopes to climb the ranks in the company and become a fully-fledged member of the National Association of Estate Agents, helping her bring an unrivalled level of professionalism to her clients. Danielle enjoys spending her spare time with her young family and reading, her favourite author being Deborah Harkness. Email: daniellesaville@jwandco.co.uk
Ruth joined JW&Co Langleys in 2014 as a Trainee and has quickly progressed to a Sales Negotiator at our Park Street branch. Ruth passed her NFOPP exams with flying colours and is now a member of the National Association of Estate Agents; with over 6 years in the property industry, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team. Ruth’s interests include travelling to new places, cooking and seeing friends and family. Email: ruthbearne@jwandco.co.uk
Lauren joined our company as a trainee in 2011 and has worked her way through the ranks. Lauren quickly became a very valuable member of our team. Lauren is now part of our busy lettings team and is a successful negotiator, and prides herself on being helpful, professional and efficient. As a local, born and raised in St Albans, she is an ideal team member, able to offer insight into the local market and what the area could offer you. Email: laurenking@jwandco.co.uk
Catherine joined the company in September 2018 as a Trainee Sales Negotiator in our St Albans Branch. St Albans born and bred, attendee of some of the top local schools - she has an extensive knowledge of the area and is a strong advocate for living in Hertfordshire. A variety of roles in both corporate companies and experience working abroad, has helped her to cultivate a number of different skills. Her knowledge of the local area, work experience and a penchant for property has resulted in Catherine quickly becoming an active and valuable member of staff. Email: catherinegrimer@jwandco.co.uk
Trainee Sales Negotiator
Sales Director
Catherine Grimer
bushey@jwandco.co.uk | stalbans@jwandco.co.uk | parkstreet@jwandco.co.uk | londoncolney@jwandco.co.uk
Bushey Heath 020 8950 3434 St Albans 01727 844444 Park Street 01727 875555 London Colney 01727 824311
BUSHEY HEATH
Meet our team
Tim Griggs
Nick Tidball
Tim is Bushey born and bred after attending local schools and still lives in the Bushey area. In 1998 Tim joined JW&Co Langleys. and brings with him his seventeen years’ experience and continues to bring the company forward and develop the business with his initiative and marketing ideas. Whilst Tim currently works in the Bushey Heath office, he has also previously established offices in Bushey and Oxhey village making his knowledge of the surrounding area second to none. Tim goes the extra mile for his clients and builds up great rapport with those he works with. Email: timgriggs@jwandco.co.uk
Nick started his career in estate agency here at JW & Co twelve years ago, working alongside Tim Griggs across multiple offices. Having left the company in 2006 Nick pursued his career in the buoyant London market selling luxurious homes in Hampstead and surrounding areas. Re-joining the team in our Bushey Heath office for 2017, he returns with a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry, keen to help drive the business forward. Born and bred in Bushey, Nick’s extensive local knowledge and history of the area is an asset to building new and existing relationships when both valuing and selling properties. Email: nicktidball@jwandco.co.uk
Sales Negotiator
LONDON COLNEY
Sales Director
Mark Antony Saville
Debbie King
Nina Smith
Mark joined JW&Co Langleys in 2011 as a Senior Sales Negotiator. He quickly progressed to become Sales Director of both St Albans and London Colney. As a member of the National Associations of Estate Agents, Mark takes an active part in ensuring that the emphasis on training and the expected high levels of customer service, are being delivered.Havingworkedwithintheproperty industry for 15 years, he brings a wealth of experience and insight to the company. He has an excellent knowledge of the St Albans area, and lives locally. In his spare time Mark enjoys travelling, running, going to the gym, watching F1 and dreams of one day, attending the Monaco Grand Prix.
Debbie joined JW&Co Langleys in March 2015, having previously worked in St Albans in an accounts-based role. Having lived in and around St Albans all her life, Debbie is very familiar with the local fraternity and also brings valuable accounting and administrative skills to the Company, across our Lettings and Sales businesses. Debbie is also involved in processing all Tenant and Landlord payments for our rental properties. Keeping with the family trend, Debbie’s daughter Lauren is also employed in our St Albans office
Nina joined the company in 2017 as a member of our Administration department. Since joining, Nina has taken on the challenging role of dealing with all letting’s administration; whilst the role is very much behind the scenes, her contribution certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. Nina prides herself on providing an efficient and high level of customer service to both landlords and tenants, which has made her an essential part of the team. Outside of work, Nina lives with her husband Tom and their three children in Berkhamsted.
MNAEA Sales Director
Accounts Manager
Email: debbieking@jwandco.co.uk
Email: marksaville@jwandco.co.uk
jwandco.co.uk
Lettings Administrator
Email: ninasmith@jwandco.co.uk
Scale of Charges SCALE OF CHARGES FULL MANAGEMENT SERVICE
INTRODUCTION ONLY SERVICE PLUS RENT COLLECTION
INTRODUCTION ONLY SERVICE
12% (INC VAT)
11% (INC VAT)
10% (INC VAT)
amount to be deducted from the monthly rental payments received by the Agent
amount to be deducted from the monthly rental payments received by the Agent
of the rent collected for the first six months. Payable for each individual letting where the tenant is introduced through JW&Co Langleys, hereafter referred to as ‘the Agent’
CONTINGENCY RESERVE
A minimum reserve amount of £150.00 (amount to be confirmed) will need to be obtained prior to the initiation of the tenancy as a contingency in the event of any maintenance work. The contingency reserve will be deducted from the first month’s rent and will be held by the Agent. The fees under the above service are payable when any one individual or organisation enters into an agreement to rent the Property as a result of our promotion, introduction, or viewings conducted by the Agent.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
FEE
Tenancy set up and referencing (managed) Inc deposit registration
£230.00 (INC VAT)
Tenancy set up and referencing (let only) Inc deposit registration
£275.00 (INC VAT)
Deposit Registration Fee
£60.00 (INC VAT)
Inventory Service plus check-in & smoke alarm and sensor testing
From £190.00 (INC VAT)
Inventory update plus check-in & smoke alarm and sensor testing
From £150.00 (INC VAT)
Checkout Fee (payable at the end of each tenancy)
From £115.00 (INC VAT)
Legionella Risk Assessment
£130.00 (INC VAT)
Property inspections (Introduction Only Service)
£60.00 (INC VAT)
Utility set up (Introduction Only)
£60.00 (INC VAT)
Energy Performance Certificate
£90.00 (INC VAT)
Annual Gas Safety Certificate
From £75.00 (INC VAT)
Annual Gas Safety Certificate and service
From £135 (INC VAT)
Section 21 Notice
£108.00 (INC VAT)
Section 8 Notice
£108.00 (INC VAT)
Accelerated Possession Order & Court Attendance Rent & Legal Protection for a period of 6 Months
From £840.00 (INC VAT) £96.00 (INC VAT)
Rent & Legal Protection for a period of 12 Months
£192.00 (INC VAT)
Rent & Legal Protection Renewal for a period of 6 Months
£121.00 (INC VAT)
Rent & Legal Protection Renewal for a period of 12 Months Short Lets (Of a duration less than 6 months)
£217.00 (INC VAT) 18% of the rent due (INC VAT)
Tenancy Renewal (Managed)
£90.00 (INC VAT)
Tenancy Renewal (Let only Service)
£250.00 (INC VAT)
Change of tenant
£250.00 (INC VAT)
Arranging Contractors/Maintenance Works (let only)
£45.00 (INC VAT)
PAT testing for the first five appliances
We are required by law to disclose all the charges you will incur during the set up procedure. Please do not hesitate to contact us and one of our dedicated team members will be happy to talk you through the process.
FEES IN RELATION TO A TENANCY THAT STARTED PRIOR TO THE TENANT FEE BAN ON THE 1ST JUNE 2019, UNTIL THE 1ST JUNE 2020 l Checkout fee – from £60 - £102 INC VAT (as stated in the tenancy agreement) l Renewal fee £90 INC VAT (as stated in the tenancy agreement)
TENANCY SET UP & DEPOSIT l Holding fee – one weeks rent that can be refunded or taken off the first month’s rent/deposit l Security Deposit – Up to five weeks rent
ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS FOR TENANTS
l Higher rent payment for pets – additional £50 rent per calendar month l Lost keys / security devices from £2.50 £175 INC VAT
From £150 (INC VAT) price on quotation From: £60 (INC VAT)
l Early exit charge £50 INC VAT
l Tenancy set up and referencing l Deposit protection fee l Inventory make/update and check-in l Checkout Fee l Rent & Legal protection for 12 months
Where the Landlord cancels the Agent’s instruction to provide a management service the Agent will charge. The Landlord will then be subject to to pay a fee of 8.4% (Inc VAT) of the agreed rent for the period not exceeding six months from the commencement date of the tenancy. VAT is payable at the prevailing rate on all our fees. In accordance with consumer legislation it is quoted as included in the prices stated above.
jwandco.co.uk
You should always choose your agent with care, only considering those displaying these trusted accreditations which provide the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge your money is protected and your agent abides by a strict code of conduct.
l Change of sharer / amendment to contract £50 INC VAT (plus the cost of any charges incurred by the company)
DISCOUNTED BUNDLE OPTION £750 (INC VAT) FOR THE SERVICES LISTED BELOW MINIMUM FEE
With nearly 40 years’ of experience and full membership of UKALA, the national Lettings Association (NLA) and The Property Ombudsman, JW&Co Langleys are experts in all aspects of lettings. We care about our Tenants and for that reason we pride ourselves on the level of service we provide.
l Fee for late rent payments – £TBC (up to 3% above the Bank of England base rate)
In the event that a dispute arises under the tenancy deposit scheme, we will undertake all of the administrative responsibilities in resolving said dispute (Introduction Only Service)
Electrical Fixed Wire Testing
TENANT PERMITTED PAYMENTS AS PER THE TENANT FEE ACT 2019
COMPANY LETS l Set up fee £450 INC VAT T&C – A holding deposit is non-refundable when an application is rejected due to incorrect/misleading information given prior to the commencement of references.
Here’s what our customers have to say...
Bob & Pauline
There were no problems; we were kept informed at all times and there was a satisfactory result for everyone. We would recommend this agent to family and friends.
Heidi
I heard of JW&Co Langleys through word of mouth. They’re a real part of the community so they were a natural choice for us to approach. In terms of what we’re looking for in our agent is someone looking out for us and anticipating and helping us with the needs of the whole process - and that’s what Neil gave us, including liaising with our solicitors, and really advocated us through the process.
Carol
I’ve always dealt with them and found their standards to be very, very high and they’ve always been extremely helpful and professional whenever I’ve dealt with them in the past.
Jude
I think the reason JW&Co differs from other lettings agent is that you really do get that personal touch and it’s all a very relaxed situation.
Mark
We met a couple of agents within our area and felt that JW&Co stood out, just because of their professionalism. As soon as they walked through the door, and the advice and the preparation they came with, is what stood out for us.
jwandco.co.uk
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We are all in this together. As we all transition to our new daily routines, we would like to share a simple hug with you as we all pull together to get through this period.
#BeKind and pass it on St Albans T: 01727 844444 E: stalbans@jwandco.co.uk
Bushey Heath T: 020 8950 3434 E: bushey@jwandco.co.uk
Park Street T: 01727 875555 E: parkstreet@jwandco.co.uk
London Colney T: 01727 824311 E: londoncolney@jwandco.co.uk
Incorporating
LANGLEYS
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