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
Want to make a move? There’s still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions
FOOD
9
Flour-less brownies No flour? No problem! Try these yummy brownies for all the family to enjoy
LIFESTYLE
6
The dark side of life Social media has turned to the meme to spread a little light relief
8 12 15
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
9
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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THE MORTGAGE SHOP
01843 600 666 info@themortgageshop.co.uk
“The Process Was Smooth and Stress-Free” “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you and your team for all you have done for myself and Clair whilst selling and buying our houses. The service you provided whilst selling our house to organising the mortgage and insurance for our new house has been first-class. We have been kept well-informed at every stage of the process and keeping all of this under 1 roof has meant the process was smooth and stress-free! Please congratulate and thank your team for their hard work and professionalism. which has been much appreciated. Many thanks.”
Glenn Leach Gary Fairhall started our sister company, The Mortgage Shop (Kent) Ltd, in Broadstairs in 1996 with his then business partner, Mike Friend. They opened TMS Estate Agents in 2009. The Mortgage Shop is now completely independent from TMS Estate Agents and isn’t linked to a particular lender, so the service is tailored to clients’ exact needs, instead of those of the mortgage companies.
A Comprehensive Service Their full ‘housing package’ involves arranging: • Competitive quotes from solicitors • Buildings and Contents Insurance • Income Protection • Life and Critical Illness Solutions With many financial options available that the average estate agent will not recommend, they can arrange finance on buy-to-let and unencumbered properties, meaning you can move house without the need to sell. They treat you as an individual and not a number.
Matt Watson
Tammy Palmer
TMS Estate Agents and TMS The Mortgage Shop continue to have a close working relationship supporting each other’s clients to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction. Gary has a very successful team of mortgage advisors who provide an outstanding service – Matt Watson, Mike Friend, Tammy Palmer - and they are ably assisted by the highly experienced admin team of Heidi Mallon, Andrea Studden and Henry Tucker who has recently passed his exams and is well on his way to becoming a fully qualified Mortgage Advisor. Call them now on 01843 600666 and find out what The Mortgage Shop can do for you!
“There Is Always a Solution… Together We Will Find it”
Gary Fairhall Company Director
Disclaimer: The Mortgage Shop (Kent) Limited is an Appointed Representative of the PRIMIS Mortgage Network, which is a trading name of Personal Touch Financial Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Sales, lettings and holiday lets are not regulated by the FCA. Registered Address: Sutherland House, 6 Nelson Place, Broadstairs. CT10 1HQ Registered in England No: 03783582
Heidi Mallon Andrea Studden Henry Tucker www.themortgageshop.co.uk
Mike Friend
TMS Supports Local charity
TMS Estate Agents have proudly supported Age UK Thanet for several years. On receipt of our first donation to them, their Chief Officer wrote to us to say:
Their service can help with a variety of issues including: •
Understanding allowances and benefits
•
Help with completing claim forms
“Age UK Thanet Limited provides • Housing and community care issues vital services to older people in our community The service is provided “My team will never put you enabling independence at their Community Hub under pressure to make a decision and social interaction. in Margate from Monday to to sell and we will make sure With regular support from Thursday. you get all the support you need. local companies such You are free to start the process Opening hours are from as TMS Estate Agents it and change your mind without 9.00am - 4.30pm. enables us to continue a sense of obligation or hidden fees. Our free advice will be tailored our much valued work.” At TMS Estate Agents we promise all our clients, especially the vulnerable and disabled, a free valuation which is fair & honest. Age UK Thanet provides confidential information and advice on a wide range of issues for people aged over 50, their families and carers.
to suit your needs as we want you to feel 100% comfortable so you do not have to worry.” Vicki Andrews, Managing Director
sales@tmsestateagents.com
The centre has an open door policy, so please feel free to visit them at: Age UK Thanet, Randolph House, Zion Place, Margate, Kent CT9 1RP.
Please feel free to call on: 01843 223881
SALES HOLIDAY LETS
LETTINGS MORTAGES
Don’t just take our word for it...
Mr Rawles - Landlord
The reason I chose TMS is because they made me feel comfortable. If you phoned up and the person you were dealing with wasn’t available, the next one was up to speed and knew exactly what the deal was.
Mr & Mrs Fearn - Seller
We chose TMS to market the home because they gave us an honest opinion of how much it was worth. We would not hesitate to use TMS again because they were so good.
Mr Howarth - Seller
I think TMS are very different to other estate agents. They’re family run and they do care for your property and they will do the best for the client.
Ms Hicks - Buyer & Seller
I couldn’t have wished for a better estate agent, they’ve helped me every step of the way, talked me through if I ever had a problem and reassured me. If I was to ever move again, I would definitely use TMS to promote my property.
Mr Whelan - Landlord & Seller
They’re the sort of company that give estate agents a good name. They’re a very ethical and considerate company, and employ good staff. I’d definitely recommend TMS to both business people and to family and friends.
MrPayne - Seller
I liked the family-friendly service that TMS offered compared to the high-pressured sales of other agents.
Mr Hughes-Jones - Seller
Whether you’re buying, selling, or renting - there’s professionalism in all aspects with every single person in the office.
sales@tmsestateagents.com
Your property, our passion
SALES HOLIDAY LETS
LETTINGS MORTAGES
TMS joins online portal to offer more secure, faster sales TMS Estate Agents has joined forces with Under The Hammer to offer customers a unique online platform to buy and sell properties online, making the process quicker and more secure. Through Under The Hammer, we will now be able to host properties through online traditional auctions and through a private treaty sales service called “Secure Now”, which allows buyers to purchase a property for a fixed price instantly.
Both solutions provide an excellent opportunity to sell quickly and securely, while ensuring that you get the best value for your property. The portal works with hundreds of agents across the country, and we’re delighted to bring its advantages to Thanet and beyond. Here are four reasons why you should buy and sell with online auctions or Secure Now:
1. Get the right price
3. Secure transactions
With the platform being online, it allows you to buy and sell properties from anywhere in the world, whenever you are able.
All transactions are secured by an exchange of contracts at the fall of the hammer at auction, or by payment of an exclusivity deposit for Secure Now purchases, meaning that there is no gazumping nor dropping-out, as both sides are obliged to complete transactions.
This opens up properties to more people, meaning that private sales are made quicker, and auction properties have a better potential to achieve and go beyond their guide price.
4. Fixed timescales for exchange & completion
2. Sell for free That’s right, there are no seller’s fees when you choose to sell through the Secure Now method.
For auctioned properties sold in the portal, properties exchange on the same day and complete within 56 days to allow time for buyers to secure finance.
Online auction sales are also very competitively priced, meaning that you are able to maximise the potential of your property’s value.
Secure Now purchases exchange in 28 days and complete 28 days after that.
Interested in finding out more about our new online auction and Secure Now services? Call us today on 01843 866055 for more information. We’re open 7 days a week!
tmsestateagents.com
SALES HOLIDAY LETS
LETTINGS MORTAGES
TMS Team... Vicki Andrews - Mother Hen, will take you under her wing How long have you lived in the area? 15 years
What do you love most about your job? Working with people I love who share my values Tell us something about you I love Elvis!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Be true to yourself
Max Andrews - Ball of contagious energy How long have you lived in the area? 10 years
What do you love most about your job? Making things happen
Tell us something about you Spending time with family, music, training hard & active sports What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Happiness is an inside job!
Rachel Bone - Focused, tenacious & hard-working How long have you lived in the area? All my life
What do you love most about your job? Every day is different Tell us something about you I love to cook
What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Honesty is the best policy
Melissa Friend - Conscientious, loyal and outgoing How long have you lived in the area: All my life
What do you love most about your job: The thrill, no day is the same! Tell us something about you: I have two wonderful children
What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Why worry about something that might never happen
sales@tmsestateagents.com
Your property, our passion
Meet The Team.
John Bush - Competitive yet compassionate How long have you lived in the area? I was born in the area, travelled & returned when I got married. What do you love most about your job? Love looking round people’s houses! Tell us something about you I enjoy both teaching & the discipline of Iaido! What’s the best advice you’ve been given? It may be difficult at first but everything is difficult at first - Miyamoto Musashi
Michelle Palmer - Caring, wise & adventurous How long have you lived in the area 5 years after relocating from London What do you love most about your job? Helping people Tell us something about you I’ve jumped out of 2 perfectly good planes! What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Love yourself
Kirsty Todd - Positive, friendly & motivated How long have you lived in the area: A very long time What do you love most about your job? Helping people make dreams a reality. Tell us something about you Have a love for fast, sports and classic cars! What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Always look on the bright side.
Shane du Barrie - Always interesting never predictable! How long have you lived in the area? 20 years What do you love most about your job? Meeting people Tell us something about you I like crisps What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Don’t talk about Brexit
Morgan Payne - Beware... a very dry sense of humour How long have you lived in the area? All my life! What do you love most about your job? Seeing happy people move into their new homes! Tell us something about you My Mum and Dad were also estate agents and that is how they met What’s the best advice you’ve been given ? My Dad once told me how to pick up girls. He said to lift with your knees, not your back.
tmsestateagents.com
Here for you when it matters most. If you need help throughout the COVID-19 crisis, from emergency food supplies to advice on your pending house move, we are here to help.
Take care and keep safe Call us. 01843 866055 Email us. sales@tmsestateagents.com
tmsestateagents.com