LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
PROPERTY NEWS
mortgages
APRIL 2021
KITCHEN GADGET GUIDE MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR KITCHEN THIS YEAR EARTH DAY 2021 MAKE YOUR HOME GREENER
ST PATRICK’S DAY RECIPES KEEP YOUR CHILDREN BUSY THIS HALF TERM
SPRING CLEAN GET YOUR HOUSE READY FOR SPRING AND SUMMER
SHED DIY CONVERT YOUR SHED THIS SPRING
CONTENTS COVER STORY
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Kitchen Gadget Guide Create stunning, restaurant quality dishes with the latest kitchen aids
PROPERTY
2
16
Get your house Spring ready Now is the perfect opportunity to freshen things up in your house News Our latest mortgage news. Plus meet the team!
FOOD
15
Springtime salads Check out some of our best Spring salad recipes that are sure to make your body smile
LIFESTYLE
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Holiday activities Help the kids get creative in the garden and with their wet weather gear Earth Day 2021 Tips to make your home more climate clean this Earth Day
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April gardening tips Time to roll up your sleeves and put in the groundwork
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World Book Day Reading is perhaps one of best commodities we have
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Shed DIY The humble outbuilding can be put to a number of uses
SPORT
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Golf European Tour We look ahead at what’s to play for, and who might be in with a chance of winning
WELCOME TO THE APRIL ISSUE!
W
e’re into the fourth month of the year. The clocks have changed, the weather is warming up and the world is opening again! This Spring promises a lot and in this month’s magazine so do we! On pages 2 and 3 we go in-depth looking at the best ways to get your home Spring ready, and if that’s not enough, continuing inside the home, we also have a fantastic kitchen gadgets guide ready to create the Spring salad recipes from page 15. On the 22nd April we are celebrating Earth Day, so we have put together a guide to make your home more environmentally friendly. Moving outside, on pages
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PROPERTY NEWS
10 and 11 we have your April gardening guide and well as some ideas of how to turn your shed into a office/bar/sauna.
START FROM THE BEDROOM
What better place to start, than in the room where you spend more time than any other? Let’s start with the bedding. If you’ve opted for rich, dark colours over the winter months, then throw these away in exchange for neutral green or sky blue colours, accompanied with added pops of colour. Or if you want to make the extra effort in the season of Spring, then select some sheets with floral patterns. If you’ve been used to covering your bed with blankets and throws to keep warm, then switch to lightweight sheets and pillowcases. This will help to add some brightness to your room, and more importantly, stop you from feeling overheated as the weather warms up. And if you’ve made these changes, and still want to go further, then replace your pillows altogether! Swapping your pillows not only aids a more comfortable night’s sleep, but can simultaneously make your bedroom look completely different.
DECLUTTER
This may sound very obvious, but giving your house a good, old-fashioned Spring clean can go a long way to revitalising your home. First, start with cleaning from top to bottom. It can be a laborious job, but will benefit your home in the long run by adding freshness to every space. Next, move on to removing things that you no longer need. For instance, root through your
Finally, we have some fantastic ways to keep busy during the Easter holidays, a feature about World Book Day and a preview of the Men’s European Golf Tour. We’re all excited that the world is starting up again, and are all hopeful for the summer, however, for now, stay safe and take care of yourselves. For now, make yourself a cuppa, pull up a chair in the garden and enjoy! Jonathan Wheatley Editor
Once the tidying is done, turn your attention to adding items which freshen up your home
SPRING INTO ACTION fridges and cupboards, and throw out expired products that didn’t make it onto your plate over the winter period. And when rearranging the foodstuffs, do so in a way as to categorise everything, and make different items much easier to locate. If you have a garage, then organising it can prove a very satisfying project to get your teeth stuck into. Group all of your winter items into boxes, label them, and then place into the garage. This will make things much easier when it comes round to retrieving them again. And while you’re at it, look to declutter your garage. Throw out items you don’t need, and aim to create as much space as you can. Doing this will not only help you feel that your possessions are organised, but will allow you to think of the garage as a space other than just one of storage!
SEARCH FOR SCENTS
Once the tidying is done, turn your attention to adding items which freshen up your home. Spring is associated with the smells of nature, so lean into this tradition with some citrus, rose, lavender, or other floral scented candles or wax melts. These will help to air out the house, and will match the aromas of the outside world. And don’t neglect fauna. As well as bringing in natural, fresh scents into your home, displaying a set of flowers will also help to fill your room with colour, and will complete any kitchen or living room.
FOCUS ON FLOORING
Another great way to completely transform your home, heading into the summer, is to focus on the backbone of any interior. If your carpets have seen better days, then get round to getting them professionally cleaned. As well as making any room look brand new, removing any stains will really brighten up your home. Or, if you feel like a complete makeover, change your flooring completely. Tiling is very resistant for wear and tear, and so is a great option for a room which is likely to be used a lot, such as a kitchen or conservatory. Or, if you love the unmistakable aromas and textures that come with hardwood flooring, then opt for this.
PRIORITISE LIGHT
If there’s something missing from your ideal Spring home, then consider whether you’ve done all you can to take advantage of maximising the amount of natural light in any space. Replace your dark, thick curtains with light ones, or if the room permits, do away with curtains altogether. Without requiring much effort, this will completely transform any room in time for Summer. And also consider changing bulbs. With the greater amounts of light that come with this time of year, switch to darker lights, to create a cosy atmosphere in the evenings, and let natural light do the rest!
As the days get longer, and the weather begins to brighten, now is the perfect opportunity to freshen things up in your house
Sp ring INTO ACTION
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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Stand out from the crowd and create stunning, restaurant quality dishes with the latest kitchen aids
INSPECT THE
GADGETS
Instant Pot Duo V2 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
Breville HeatSoft VFM021
I
t is an inescapable fact that the kitchen is the heart of the home. More than just a collection of units, it is the place where memories are forged and culinary disasters are celebrated as much as the triumphs; the venue for gathering at either end of the day, where the aroma of freshly-ground coffee cuts through the lingering whiff of curry from the night before. It is also a place of work, a hive of experimentation. And key to that creative process are the tools of the trade, either a worktop full of the tried, tested and much loved, or an ever-changing procession of ‘must-haves’ which are casually discarded when the next big thing appears.
Russell Hobbs Sous Vide Slow Cooker
Sage The Smoking Gun
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PROPERTY NEWS
Something which falls in the latter category but could soon become the former is the Instant Pot Duo V2 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker. It doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue but what it does will keep the tongue very happy. America’s home-chefs blew a fuse over this little multi-cooker and its not difficult to see why – it’s an electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, yogurt maker, saute pan and a warming pot, which is easy to use and clean.
Devotees of programmes such as MasterChef and The Great British Menu will be familiar with the waterbath and the sous vide process, where food is placed inside a sealed pouch and cooked at an accurately-regulated temperature. It helps meat and vegetables retain their flavour, vitamins and keeps prep-time low. Described as ‘a Michelinstarred chef’s worst-kept secret’, the waterbath can now adorn your kitchen in the form of the easily-affordable Russell Hobbs Sous Vide Slow Cooker. And if you really want to go for drama with your fine dining, get Sage The Smoking Gun. Using cold smoke, it lets you infuse a range of food and KitchenAid Food drinks with a natural Processor smoky flavour, while the dual speed helps increase the intensity of the smoke. Best of all, it is sold with, or without, a glass cloche to cover your dish and heighten the effect. If you are in the market for a hand mixer, take a look
De’Longhi Magnifica Illycaffe 6636 Francis
Santoku 180mm Blade Knife at the Breville HeatSoft VFM021 and wave goodbye to that time-consuming wait for the butter to soften. This handy tool warms butter up to 12 times faster than just leaving it in the mixing bowl, although it can also be used without the heating function. It also comes with an attachable clear case, so the attachments don’t go wandering. An even more flexible bit of kit is the KitchenAid Food Processor which can chop, shred, puree and slice food. It comes with an easy to install reversible medium shred/slice and thick slice blades as well as a dough blade should you want to knead bread or pasta dough. And it comes in a rather fetching Empire Red finish. There’s nothing that sets the smoke alarm off quite like burnt toast, so the Magimix Vision Toaster could be the best thing you’ll ever invest in. A see-through panel allows you to see how your breakfast is doing, ensuring ideal results every time. Possibly the best thing since, well, sliced bread. On the subject of breakfast, let’s talk coffee. We’re not all barista maestro-standard but machines such as the De’Longhi Magnifica help paper over the cracks. With seven adjustable coarseness levels within
an integrated grinder, the Magnifica can customise the type of coffee you want… plus it has a dual cup option. For eye-catching looks, the Illycaffe 6636 Francis is a bit of a head-turner while the Sage Oracle Touch Fully Automated Coffee Machine is the business. However, you’ll need something a bit stronger than an espresso when you see the price tag. No kitchen is complete without a decent set of knives or a pro-standard knife (singular). The Santoku 180mm Blade Knife, from Blenheim Forge, isn’t cheap but will last for years. Made with a Japanese Blue Paper Steel Core with folded iron cladding, it comes with a walnut handle and solid copper ferrule for added strength. Finally, they say baking is all about precision, so that means you’ll need a decent set of kitchen scales. Salter’s Heston Blumental Precision Scales have a dual platform – one for measuring up to 10kg in 1g increments and the other for measuring up to 200g in 0.1g increments. There’s an add- and-weigh feature and also an aquatronic feature for measuring liquids, just to help you get ‘weigh’ ahead of your competitive friends.
Sage Oracle Touch Fully Automated Coffee Machine
Magimix Vision Toaster
Salter’s Heston Blumental Precision Scales
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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JUST BOOT-IFUL
Help the kids get creative in the garden and with their wet weather gear
A
pril, as the saying goes, is the month for showers. And not only does it bring May’s flowers, it can also provide inspiration for some great craft activities for kids and adults alike. It’s the time where it’s always best to have boots and a brolly close at hand. And there’s no better way of making a splash in those quick-to-appear springtime puddles than in customised wellies.
your favourite anymore, tie brightly coloured ribbon about halfway up and gently bend the brolly support wires outwards.
Insert a block of florists’ oasis for water and support then add the flowers so they are peeping over the top. Freshly-cut tulips, with their bold colourful petals, are ideal and will last for a few days but for a longer lasting display, try artificial blooms. And then hang from your door knocker – or insert spike down in the garden - for an eye-catching display that should make any passer-by smile.
Boots are very much a blank canvas and you can really let your imagination run riot, creating colourful and simple yet effective flower patterns, rockets and scenes from outer space for the kids – who also might want a jazzy take on their initials - or graffiti-led slogans for the not so young who might be missing their Glastonbury fix again this year.
So, if they are not getting wet, kids love nothing better than getting their hands dirty… literally. So, put them to good use by designating an area of the garden for them to cultivate with summer-blooming wild flowers or, particularly as the weather is likely to be indifferent, by planting a herb garden inside. Its an easy way to get the younger members of the family hooked on planting, It’s the time where nurturing and tasting what it’s always best to they have grown in their meals, have boots and a and is a little more advanced brolly close at hand and not as smelly as growing cress seeds on blotting paper!
Many people suggest sanding down the area you intend to decorate as this creates a smoother surface and allows the paint to make a stronger bond. As for your decorating agent, acrylic paint is easily available and straightforward to use, particularly if you are going for a funky, bright and intricate design. Waterproof marker pens are also handy for applying finer details, while if a broad sweep of colour is required, rubber spray paint will do the job. And although the paints will dry to a good finish, applying a layer of hairspray will also help your colours stick. Continuing the wet weather theme, how about sprucing up your front door with an extension of the Christmas wreath: a brolly brimming with spring flowers? Younger members of the family can do the backbending stuff by picking the flowers while all you have to do is select an umbrella that’s not
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PROPERTY NEWS
The easiest – and probably the most useful herbs to grow are parsley, basil, coriander, chives and dill, and all you will need are peat-free, multi-purpose compost; small pots (such as yoghurt) or a used plastic tray from a Chinese takeaway … and an array of helping hands. Making sure the containers have been pierced to guard against over-enthusiastic watering, fill with the compost and tamp down gently to remove the air pockets. Water and allow to drain before scattering the seeds sparingly over the surface before covering with a thin layer of compost. Ideally the pots can be covered with a clear plastic bag to recreate a mini greenhouse and speed the growth process, before placing
April is the month for showers, it can also provide inspiration for some great craft activities
on a windowsill. Once germinated, remove the plastic and water at least once a week before potting outside in late May. A further way to enrich a child’s understanding of the garden is to construct a bug mansion out of discarded pallets and log the varieties of creepy crawlies who come to stay. Some insects like cool, damp conditions, while others like the sun, so try to site the home where it will get a bit of both, under a hedge or tree. Give it a firm base and start stacking, filling the gaps with dead wood and loose bark, straw, dry leaves, and corrugated cardboard which, when stuffed into a plastic bottle with its top removed, creates a nice nest for lacewings. And if you plant some nectar-producing flowers around the outside you can bring in winged guests, such as butterflies and bees.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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Join in with millions of people around the world and make your home more climate clean this Earth Day
EARTH DAY 2021
HOW TO MAKE
YOUR HOME MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
T
his year celebrates the 51st anniversary of Earth Day. Originally conceived in 1970 by peace activist John McConnell as a day of education about how to look after our Earth, in 1990, Earth Day went International and has been celebrated ever since in all four corners of the world. It is one of the few holidays that transcends all national borders and religions, yet preserves all geographical integrities and brings people together all over the world. It is quite simply devoted to the preservation of the harmony in nature and yet draws upon the triumphs of technology. There are hundreds of ways of making your home more environmentally friendly, big and small. Here, in celebration of Earth Day, are our top tips.
WASH YOUR CLOTHES IN COLD WATER
90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes towards heating water. By skipping the heating and using your washing machine on the cold water setting, you will reduce carbon dioxide emission as well as keeping your clothes in top condition for longer, as hot water can deteriorate your clothes and make colours less vibrant.
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PROPERTY NEWS
DIY INSTEAD OF BUYING NEW
DIY isn’t only a truly great skill to have, but it helps towards creating an environmentally friendly home as opposed to buying new. With just a few tools and a little time, you can crack-on with all sorts of projects. You could tile your kitchen yourself, build home-made planters for the garden or even lay your own flooring.
SWAP YOUR LIGHT BULBS
Invest in the right energy-efficient light bulbs and you won’t only be helping the Earth, but you’ll be saving money too. LED bulbs are the best alternative to regular light bulbs and as well as lasting longer, they are eco-friendly. They are readily available in most shops and you can even get dimmable ones and colour-change ones.
USE YOUR RECYCLING BIN AND GET A COMPOST BIN
We are all well-versed of the importance of recycling by now, so use your recycling bin and you are truly helping towards our world’s future, and if you find yourself with an excess of normal waste, buy a compost bin, which will not only help you get rid of the excess waste but will give you free fertiliser for your garden.
PLANT HERBS AND VEG
Ah, what to do with all that free fertiliser? How about growing your own herbs and vegetables? Not only will you always have wonderful, better-tasting food, but you will massively cut down on plastic used in shop-bought veg and herbs. Some of the most popular are basil, oregano and peppers and tomatoes.
TURN OLD PALLETS INTO PLANTERS
But where do I plant these herbs and veg? Simple, don’t ditch any wood or pallets you have lying around, get creative instead. With just a few screws and a drill, you can make home-made planters for your garden or windowsills. Just measure four pieces of wood to equal lengths, screw together and line with bubble wrap.
22nd April 202 1 www.earthday.org DITCH THE COFFEE PODS
Coffee pod machines have been around for a while now, however, did you know the plastic capsules aren’t usually recyclable? For better tasting and more environmentally friendly coffee, invest in a good-quality espresso machine that takes freshly ground coffee. You can also sprinkle the used ground coffee onto your compost to keep bugs away.
INSULATE YOUR PIPES
Not the quickest or flashiest jobs, but by insulating the pipes that run from your boiler throughout your house can make a huge difference. Your best bet is to use felt or wool pipe insulation that is pre-cut into sleeves and then use some good-quality pipe wrap insulation tape.
COLLECT YOUR RAINWATER
Finally, what is more natural than rainwater? Exactly. If you could collect and store all the rainwater that falls on your property throughout a year and use it around the home, you would see a huge drop in your water bills. Okay, so a full-blown rainwater collection servicing your house is a huge job, but start small with a water butt and you can at least water your herbs and veg without touching a tap. Earth Day is on Thursday the 22nd of April and you can find out more by visiting www.earthday.org
It is one of the few holidays that transcends all national borders and religions, yet preserves all geographical integrities
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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&REAP
WEED IT Time to roll up your sleeves and put in the groundwork
A
nd so here we are. April, the great transitional month where we’ve not quite shaken off winter’s icy grip, but with brighter evenings and significantly warmer days, its hold is definitely weakening. For gardeners, this is where the hard work starts; this month’s input dictates output for the rest of the year. The four-day Easter holiday weekend gives us time to prepare the ground, assessing and repairing the damage inflicted by a particularly harsh start to the year, taking the time to restake trees, secure climbing shrubs, and clear any lingering storm damage, particularly checking fences for damage to panels, support posts and slats. And then you can get on your hands and knees for some serious weeding, gently turning over ground flattened by heavy rain and snow, and clearing away any remaining dead leaves, twigs and winter debris, as well as dead-heading daffodils,
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PROPERTY NEWS
tulips and late-flowing crocuses, and trimming frost-damaged shoots from evergreens. Once cleared, nourish the soil with compost or well-rotted manure which will add beneficial micro-organisms to the soil, making it richer and encouraging the right kind of insect activity. The wrong kind – slugs, snails and aphids – may be found loitering around the crowns of perennials preparing to wreak havoc so it’s best to deal with them now. Early infestations of aphids can be pinched out by hand but pests such as vine weevil will need chemical or biological intervention to keep under control. Your lawn will need the most attention early in the early growing season. If you’ve not already done so, now’s the time for that initial cut, taking the top off the winter growth before the first decisive crop. Once that’s done, apply a high nitrogen spring lawn fertiliser to encourage good, strong growth and if
moss has become a problem, choose a combined moss killer/fertiliser and lightly rake out the dead a couple of weeks after application.
There are also many warm-season vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes, which can be moved outdoors
If you discover some bumps and hollows, peel back the turf and remove or add soil as necessary before replacing the grass, while any bare patches can be prepared for reseeding: if the ground is still wet and cold, though, the germination will be poor so it might be better to postpone this until early May. And, while we’re at it, don’t forget the lawn edges. Using a spade or a half-moon edging iron, create a gutter of around
three inches to prevent the grass creeping back into your borders. It is also important to prune trees and deciduous shrubs, removing dead and sickly-looking leaves or branches to stimulate new growth and spring flowering. Also add fertiliser while a good organic mulch, laid in a circle around the trunk, will not only provide moisture for good growth but will also conserve moisture and encourage strong, drought-resistant roots, something worth bearing in mind for the likes of rhododendrons, azaleas and camelias where flowering can be severely impaired if allowed to dry out. Otherwise, a good balanced fertiliser (such as blood, fish and bone) can be sprinkled over the root area around ornamental trees, shrubs and hedges before hoeing in, particularly beneficial for young, weak or damaged plants. Once the warmer days are set in and the risk of a late sharp frost has gone, plant out
the flower seedlings you’ve been cultivating since March, and if you haven’t, you can still sow petunias, zinnias, marigolds, purple cornflowers and other seasonals you might fancy in your flowerbeds. Summerflowering bulbs should also be going in, ensuring the likes of anemone tubers have well-drained soil. Containers can also be planned, topped up with fresh compost and planted – an alpine trough can be particularly attractive as many are starting to look their best - while you may be able to start on your hanging baskets in the latter stages of the month if you’re in a temperate part of the country. Otherwise, pot-on plants that are showing signs of becoming pot-bound or generally just look a bit forlorn. There are also many warm-season vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes, which can be moved outdoors while radishes, carrots, peas and lettuce can also be planted, along with your favourite annual herbs.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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WORLD BOOK DAY
– WHY IT WILL
SHINE ON
Reading is perhaps one of best, if not the very best, commodities and widely accessible resources we have as a people, and therefore so is World Book Day
M
ental health and the recognition of its facets and depth has never been as prevalent as now, so when you consider how strong the scientific research is in favour of how reading can help mental wellbeing – by reducing your heart rate and thus stress levels, easing muscle tension, and wholly altering your state of mind – World Book Day this year is surely a campaign more important than ever before. World Book Day annually takes place on 23rd April. This is because the Spanish
writer Vicente Clavel Andrés wanted to call for a day which would recognize the life and career of one of his greatest heroes, fellow Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, who still is widely regarded as the greatest ever writer of the Spanish language. Cervantes death date was 23rd April, which also marks many other great writers’ birth and death dates, including William Shakespeare who passed away on exactly the same day as Cervantes, 23rd April 1616.
World Book Day this year is surely a campaign more important than ever before
The first World Book Day was celebrated in 1995 and has been going strong ever since. It’s a day to celebrate all things books, especially your favourites! One of my personal favourite novels is The Shining by Stephen King. King has always been associated with horror, and I suppose that’s justified. But many people overlook (pun intended) the fact that much of King’s stories contain some real character depth and interpersonal relationships, which can often be extremely intense and moving. The Shining, for instance,
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PROPERTY NEWS
for me, isn’t necessarily primarily a horror. It could be considered a psychological thriller or drama about what happens when an alcoholic becomes victim to cabin fever. The paranormal presence in the hotel is an effective way to convey this cabin fever process Jack Torrance undertakes, but I suspect many readers agree that a good argument can be made that the paranormal activity can merely be considered a metaphor for Jack’s psychological transformation into illness. Indeed he knows he’s becoming unhealthy at the behest of cabin fever, as there is a point near the end of the novel where he tries to cry out from underneath his new, murderous exterior to tell his would-be murdered son to leave before it’s too late. Why I talk about this book in particularly is because cabin fever is something many of us have had to endure over the past many months, and, more troubling still, domestic abuse, so it’s an interesting insight into cabin fever and the effects it can have on relationships, especially if alcoholism is involved. The Shining is an example of a great novel, and certainly one to celebrate, as the book often gets inaccurately judged by its better-known cover, that of the film by Stanley Kubrick, which told a rather different story. Jonathan Wheatley, British Author
If a home-working space is the objective, you will need to insulate, drywall and think about heating
SHED YOUR
INHIBITIONS T
o paraphrase rock giants Motorhead, a shed used to be a place of spades. Or lawnmowers. Or half-empty tins of paint and discarded outdoor toys. A handy little store, generally made of glorified fencing panels, that gets a coat of creosote when you remember but generally sits, unloved, at the end of the garden waiting to be battered by the next named storm. Times and lifestyles, however, change, and now the humble structure has become the fashionable ‘must-have’, graduating from the often-outlandish man caves and she-sheds to offices, studios, outside bars and even saunas and cinema rooms. If the prospect of turning your forlorn shed into a rustic home extension appeals, there are some things to bear in mind, not least checking with the local authority to see if you need permission for change of use. Then see how structurally sound it is or whether you might be
better off biting the bullet and getting a new summerhouse or log cabin, depending on size of budget, garden… and ambition.
Having checked the damp-proofing, if the roof is watertight, walls are in good condition and doors and windows fit properly, clear the shed out and look for signs of mould, damp, wood rot or pest infestation around the floor. Once satisfied, the big decision now is whether it’s a DIY project or needs to be turned over to an expert, as you would be advised to do for a sauna. If you’re going it alone, the first job will be to get the outside treated or painted to make it weatherproof, then think about sealing any cracks you may have discovered with caulk or weatherstripping to help prevent draughts, bugs and any other undesirables. Depending how you plan to use the shed, you might want to pop in a skylight window, particularly if you’ve got the professionals in and
The humble outbuilding can be put to a number of uses
you’re designing an office. If a home-working space is the objective, you will need to insulate, drywall and think about heating for those slightly less-than idyllic days. Heating means power and while it may be tempting to connect to the supply from your home, don’t rule out solar panels, which provide a simpler, cheaper and energy efficient solution. If it’s a bar you’re after, you’ll need plumbing too. For flooring, think durable coverings such as cork, tile and carpet - a wood floor might be attractive but may not be practical. After that, it’s all about preferences: LED or halogen lights for an office, a string of novelty lights for your personal pub; shelves and versatile cabinets for work, a good service area and racks to attach the optics for the bar. And finally, make sure you’ve got some good locks.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR ON THE
EUROPEAN TOUR IN APRIL As this year’s European Tour begins to crank up, we look ahead at what’s to play for, and who might be in with a chance of winning
WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR?
The 2021 European Tour began in January, when it was announced that at least fortytwo events would be played in twenty-four different countries, including eighteen which were either postponed or cancelled in 2020.
The first tournament of the season, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, was won by Englishman Tyrell Hatton. Since then, fellow countryman Paul Casey and American Dustin Johnson have walked away with the other two titles.
WHAT ARE THE EVENTS?
The month of April includes four of the forty-two European tour events. On the 15th, Golf’s biggest names travel to Spain, to take part in the Tenerife Open. From there, they make the short journey for the Gran Canaria open, beginning on the 22nd, highlighting this year’s focus on reducing travelling where possible. And finally, the 29th April marks the beginning of the Portugal Masters.
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PROPERTY NEWS
But of course, the main event of the month is right at the beginning. On April 8th, all eyes will turn to Augusta, Georgia, for the 2021 Masters. The first of the four ‘majors’ of the year, this tournament is steeped in tradition, with every winner since 1949 receiving an iconic green jacket. Last year, the imperious Dustin Johnson won by five-shots, whilst simultaneously breaking the course record, in a tournament which was pushed back several months due to the pandemic. But fortunately, this year’s competition will go ahead as planned, and is set to be as equally enthralling as any other instalment.
The first tournament of the season, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, was won by Englishman Tyrell Hatton
WHO ARE THE FAVOURITES?
As already mentioned, Johnson won the tournament by a landslide last year, and still sits at the head of the world rankings, and so cannot be written off. Otherwise, world numbers two Jon Rahm and world number three Justin Thomas have nine European Tour victories between them, and so will both feel confident come April 8th. And for a slight outsider, consider Bryson DeChambeau’s chances. The big-hitting American, currently ranked inside the world’s top ten, hasn’t enjoyed much success at Augusta thus far in his career. However, his analytical approach in gaining significant muscle in 2020 has made him the longest driver of the ball on the PGA Tour, which may stand him in good stead when battling the famously difficult course in Georgia.
SPRING INTO LIFE
Put a spring in your step with these wonderful, healthy salads perfect for Springtime
O
ne of the best things about Spring is the chance to create wonderful, healthy salads with some of the finest and freshest veg available at this time of the year. So, without delay, check out some of our best Spring salad recipes that are sure to make your body smile. Salad leaves – mixed Vine tomatoes Red onion Feta cheese Olive oil Lemon Salt and pepper Fresh oregano
GREEK SALAD Wash and rinse the salad leaves and chop the vine tomatoes in half (depending on their size) and slice the red onion so you have wonderful whole onion circles. Toss the tomatoes, salad leaves and onion together in a bowl ensuring it’s all mixed. Then mix the olive oil, the juice of half a lemon and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Add the olive oil mix to the salad bowl, toss again before finally adding the crumbled feta on top. To finish garnish with the fresh oregano and another pinch of pepper.
Orange juice Lemon juice Honey Salt and pepper Olive oil Mixed carrots Radishes Celery Small beet Fresh mint leaves Small oranges
Mixed salad leaves Dried apricots White wine vinegar Shallot Dijon mustard Olive oil Feta Cucumber Dill
SHAVED CARROT AND RADISH SALAD Whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper to your taste, before adding olive oil. Peel and then shave the carrots lengthways and finely slice the radishes before peeling the oranges and slicing them into half-moons. Then thinly slice the celery and small beet. Mix together in a large bowl before adding the olive oil mix. Serve with the freshly chopped mint leaves on top.
SPRING SALAD WITH APRICOT VINAIGRETTE Place the apricots in a bowl while bringing the white wine vinegar to a simmer. Once simmering, pour over the apricots and leave for ten minutes. Finely slice the shallot, then add to a bowl with some Dijon mustard before then adding the apricots to the mustard mixture. Add a little white wine vinegar to taste and then mix in the olive oil. In a large bowl, toss together the salad leaves, cucumber and apricot mixture. To serve, crumble the feta cheese over the top before adding the fresh dill.
Images for illustrative purposes only
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
15
Spring 2021
Mortgage & Protection news
mortgages
The newsletter from Xact Mortgages Limited
The easing of restrictions and the roll-out of vaccines, means there’s more to feel positive about, and that extends to the Property sector.
»
Understandably, the last year or so has been particularly difficult, yet throughout this period both the property and mortgage sectors have been open for business.
And the ongoing environment of low interest rates* means that there continues to be a desire by many to buy that first property, buy more properties, or to look at remortgaging the existing deal. This desire may have been fuelled by many of us reassessing how (and where) we live, in light of our changing working patterns and lifestyle choices. However, the impact of the pandemic has meant that it will be more problematic for some to raise the mortgage funds they need. If you have a sound income stream, decent credit rating, and want to borrow a lower percentage against the value of the property, then there may be fewer hoops to jump through. Although, even here, it’s still important that you take advice. Others may benefit from, or fall into areas, such as:
Xact Mortgages Limited 6 The Square, First Floor Solihull B91 3RB Tel: 0121 712 6230 Email: sales@xactmortgages.co.uk Web: www.xactmortgages.co.uk
95% Mortgage return s via the M ...
Road to Recovery
Guarantee ortgage Scheme (Source: Bu dget Sta 3 March 20 tement, 21)
Mortgage Guarantee Scheme
With a launch in April , this UK-wide scheme (largely relevant for first-time buyers, but also for homemovers) was announced in the March 2021 Budget. It’s applicable for all properties under £600,000, and will open up 5% deposit mortgages for those wanting to get their first, or next, residential property. Additionally, there has been a return of 90% Loan-to-Value (LTV) mortgages.* However, the overall lending criteria remains fairly strict, and interest rates are creeping up. (Source: *Moneyfacts, 8 March 2021)
Self-Employed The key point to remember here is that about 4.4 million people are self-employed, representing almost one in six of the total
BUDGET NEWS Stamp Duty holiday extended
The current reduction in Stamp Duty has been extended to 30 June 2021. ■ This means, for example, that no Stamp Duty is paid on purchases up to £500,000 in England & N. Ireland. ■ The standard rates will return in October, and to smooth the transition, a tapered amount of up to £250,000 will run between July-September. First-Time Buyers have a separate normal threshold set at £300,000, which would come back into play from July. ■ For those buying an ‘additional’ property, the normal 3% surcharge is added to the appropriate rate.
Furlough Scheme extended
You may have to pay an early repayment
Currently, 4.7m are benefiting from this scheme - where 80% of workers’ salaries are being paid (for those hours not worked) - and this has been extended to September 2021. ■ Employers will contribute 10% in July and 20% in both August & September.
charge to your existing lender if you
(Source: GOV.UK, Budget Statement, 3 March 2021)
Continued on the next page
remortgage.
■ Xact Mortgages Limited is an appointed representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network (PRIMIS), a trading name of First Complete Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. PRIMIS is only responsible for the service and quality of advice provided to you in relation to mortgages, protection insurance and general insurance products. Any other product or service offered by Xact Mortgages Limited may not be the responsibility of PRIMIS and may also not be subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority. ■ This firm usually charges a fee for mortgage advice. The amount of the fee will depend upon your circumstances and will be discussed and agreed with you at the earliest opportunity. ■ Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up
repayments on your mortgage.
Road to Recovery (contd) Continued from the previous page
workforce of around 28 million (of which 72% are in the private sector). (Source: Office for National Statistics, Labour Force Survey, February 2021)
Ultimately, lenders will not want to neglect (or penalise long-term) one-sixth of all earning workers, but this group has undoubtedly suffered over the last year or so. The issue for lenders is that the income stream of the self-employed is less clear cut, and even more so in COVID times, meaning lenders want to: ■ see if they are currently trading, or if there was any reduction in their selfemployed income due to COVID-19. ■ hear if they’re in receipt of the SelfEmployment Income Support Scheme, or a Bounce Back Loan. ■ be told if any staff have been furloughed.
see more recent bank statements, as the latest accounts aren’t now deemed enough. In short, mortgage providers are looking for proof that the business is viable, and to understand how the pandemic has affected the work and income of the applicant. ■
Furloughed workers The Furlough Scheme has topped up the wages of over 11m workers since its launch in March last year, and there are still around 4.7m receiving help. This scheme will now run until the end of September. Whilst this has delivered a vital income stream for many, different lenders have their own criteria with regard to assessing income and affordability for furloughed workers. Some lenders, for example, won’t accept
furlough income for their affordability assessment, or restrict the LTV offered, whilst others require that the applicant has either returned to work or has a fixed date to return. Furloughed applicants may also need to provide a letter from their employer confirming their basic salary, return to work date and any other terms of return.
Where we can Help The problems faced in the marketplace have not been brought about by an economic crash, as in 2007/8, but by the initiatives undertaken to tackle the pandemic. Basically, lenders want to lend, but it’s more problematic to navigate a way through the lending criteria that’s been set. This is not insurmountable, in most cases, and our professional advice can hopefully find a way through for you. Do get in touch to hear more. You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage. ■ Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Get PROTECTED NOW... In 2019, in pre-COVID times, as many as 604,707 people died in the UK (that’s more than 1 a minute). If this is not bad enough, in 2020 (as we encountered the pandemic) 690,439 died - an 85,732 increase! (Source: Office for National Statistics, National Records Scotland, and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency, actual 2019 figures & provisional 2020 data)
It’ll never happen to ME!
Life Cover
Many of us think we’re invincible and will live a long life with few health problems. That, hopefully, will be the case, but COVID has sadly shown us that many families have experienced personal loss, or know of people who have died. And, beyond that, are aware of some that have suffered badly and been off work long-term due to the effects of the virus. Whilst restrictions will now be in place to factor COVID into insurance companies Protection products, it’s not just COVID that you need to consider. In a normal year in 2019, 605,000 people still died from a multitude of ailments, such as cancer, heart diseases and dementia & Alzheimer’s.
If you don’t already have this in place, or want to revisit your policy, it’s essential that you consider life cover to deliver the financial security for those you may leave behind. If nothing else, you should look at having in place enough life cover to help pay off your mortgage to ensure your family doesn’t also lose the roof over their head. In most cases, it also makes sense to have your policy ‘written in Trust’, which should ensure a swifter payout to your beneficiaries.
Other Protection insurances Imagine that you didn’t die, but suffered a
serious illness, injury, or mental health issue which meant you were unable to work (and earn an income) for a long period. Whilst you may initially receive good financial support from your employer (and less so from the state), it’s sensible to check if that’s the case, and for how long. It’s for this reason that there are also Income Protection and Critical Illness Cover policies on offer. The wide range of product options, and value-added support are improving all the time, so it’s vital that you take advice. As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions and exclusions will apply.
Stamp Duty
Always there Despite 2020 being a year where, at times, it seemed like the UK was closed for business, 676,500 mortgage deals were still taken up for property purchases, and 1,681,600 remortgages (or product transfers) were processed. (Source: *UK Finance, Household Finance Review, March 2021)
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The pandemic also threw up different ways of doing business, and for some clients, Zoom and Teams video meetings may be their preferred way forward. Whilst there are still numerous bottlenecks in the mortgage application process for us to navigate, some of those processes have been improved by better use of technology across the board, which again should pay dividends in the future. Although many have suffered financially, a sizeable number would have become unwitting savers (through no work travel, no restaurants, no overseas holidays, etc), which could be used for a deposit or to help reduce the amount of loan borrowed.
Don’t sit on an SVR One key piece of advice - unless there are mitigating circumstances - is not to remain
on your lender’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR) once you come to the end of your deal period. As the following shows, your monthly payments could be substantially more! Yet, despite those larger payments, at least 1.2m residential mortgage borrowers, and possibly as many as 2m, are still on an SVR. (Source: UK Finance, June 2020 statistics)
Currently, with no stamp duty being paid on residential purchases up to £500,000, that means there’s a potential maximum saving of £15,000. In Q4 2020, 92% of all first-time buyers didn’t pay any stamp duty, nor did 76% of homemovers.* With the extension to June 2021 for the £500,000 threshold, and then up to £250,000 until September, it might be something to consider.
Additional hand-holding Whatever your situation is, we’ll take a view of the wider marketplace rather than just what’s on offer from one high street lender. We will also endeavour to reduce the hassle of filling out forms and applications. Plus, we can discuss the type of Insurance Protection that would be affordable and a suitable choice for your needs and circumstances. Ideally, to protect both your mortgage debt and your income stream(s). Irrespective of whether you are new to property buying and protection insurance cover, or an old hand, do get in touch to see how we can help.
2-year Average Fixed Rate
= 2.57%
5-year Average Fixed Rate
= 2.75%
You may have to pay an early repay-
Standard Variable Rate (SVR) = 4.41%
ment charge to your existing lender if
And, whilst rates are creeping up, do consider that these are the average rates. You might be able to secure deals that are around 1%-1.5% less. However, the best rates are for those that, for example, require a Loan-to-Value of 60% of less, and are remortgaging. (Source: Moneyfacts, 26 February 2021)
you remortgage.
Check your Credit
Rating
n Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
BUDGET NEWS Self-Employment Income Support Scheme extended
n Experian - Tel: 0800 013 88 88
you might get a more favourable response
This scheme will now run until September 2021, and encompass a fourth and fifth Grant payout. n So far, it has supported 2.7m people, and due to the timing of filing 2019-20 Self-Assessment tax returns, an additional 600,000 self-employed may now be eligible for support. n The fourth Grant payout will cover the February to April period, and will be worth 80% of three months’ average trading profits. It would be paid in a single instalment and capped at £7,500 in total. n The fifth Grant would cover the May to September period, with the payout being determined by a turnover test.
www.experian.co.uk
for credit.
(Source: GOV.UK, Budget Statement, 3 March 2021)
Not being on the Electoral Register, or missing paying a monthly mobile phone bill can work against you, so do check and resolve any issues. A credit score is designed to try to predict
n Equifax - Tel: 0800 014 2955
your future behaviour. So, those with a
www.equifax.co.uk
poor score may suffer, as can others who
n TransUnion - Tel: 0330 024 7574
have no credit history at all!
www.transunion.co.uk
Make sure you check your rating at one
As every lender has its own ‘perfect
(or some) of the following:
customer’ profile, a rejection from one isn’t
n Checkmyfile - Tel: 0800 086 9360
necessarily a rejection from all. By talking
(it brings together rating agency results)
to us we’ll have a better feel for items
www.checkmyfile.com
which may score you down and where
Return of the
95% MORTGAGE... In the March 2021 Budget, the Chancellor announced the re-introduction of a Mortgage Guarantee Scheme to help buyers who only have a small deposit.
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This initiative should deliver reassurance to lenders, as the Government will compensate the mortgage lender for a portion of any net losses suffered in the event of repossession. The guarantee will apply down to 80% of the purchase value of the property (with the lender taking a small share of this overall risk, above the 80% level). The benefit of this governmental support is that it’ll give confidence to lenders to offer mortgage deals to those with a small deposit. This enables the return of 95% Loan-to-Value (LTV) mortgages, which virtually disappeared in the early stages of the pandemic, and will help to move more from Generation Rent to Generation Buy. Additionally, this UK-wide scheme (with a £600,000 property price limit) is not just restricted to First-Time Buyers or new-build homes, markedly increasing the number of people for whom the scheme may be of interest. Particularly, when you consider that, according to Rightmove, around 86% of current properties up for sale fall under the £600,000 threshold. (Source: Rightmove, March 2021) The scheme will launch across the UK in April (and is planned
THE KEY RULES ■ The property must be purchased for £600,000 or less, and must be your primary residence (ie not a second home or buy-to-let property). ■ Have a Loan-to-Value of between 91-95%. ■ Be a repayment mortgage and not interest-only. ■ Be taken out by an individual, or individuals, rather
than an incorporated company. ■ As with normal mortgage lending, you will still need to meet certain criteria, such as income verification, credit worthiness and affordability.
to run until December 2022). It’s similar to the previous Help-toBuy mortgage guarantee scheme, which closed to new loans at the end of 2016, a policy the Treasury said ‘reinvigorated the market for lending at up to 95% LTV’.
What it means for the borrower From the borrower’s perspective it won’t be that different to getting a normal mortgage. For example, you might put down a 5% deposit and then borrow the remaining 95% in the form of a mortgage loan from the chosen lender. For lenders, they’ll see that providing funds to borrowers with small deposits carries less risk. However, the lender will have to ‘buy’ the guarantee and the Government has given lenders the freedom to set their own interest rates, so there are no guarantees that you’ll get an attractive rate.
Plus - it’s not the only route forward... The scheme may have a positive effect on property prices (or, at least, lessen any price falls), which means it should deliver greater confidence throughout the housing sector. Albeit any property price rise may adversely affect the very group it’s largely designed to support - the First-Time Buyer. However, increased confidence in the marketplace should result in greater enthusiasm from lenders to offer more regular mortgage deals that only require a 5-10% deposit. For some, there’s also the possibility of support from the Bank of Mum & Dad (plus Grandparents), which could enable some borrowers to gain access to the better rates on offer, by providing a larger deposit. As we are working with these issues day-in/day-out, we fully understand the options on offer, and how to best navigate them, so please get in touch. ■ Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
House rules
Even though it’s a difficult economic environment, with ongoing tenant payment concerns, there is still much out there for Landlords to be positive about.
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The Buy-to-Let sector saw its highest purchase activity in Q4 2020, since Q1 2016, with 22,500 loans taken out. Whilst much of this would have been driven by the reduction in Stamp Duty, there is some anecdotal evidence that Buy-to-Let house purchases may remain robust, with landlords expecting a return to ‘normal’ as the vaccine programme rolls out. Additionally, the extension of both the Stamp Duty reduction and Furlough scheme can only help matters. With the latter possibly allaying some fears over facing missed rental payments. (Sources: UK Finance, Household Finance Review & Paragon comment, March 2021)
Regional trends Tenant demand reached a 5-year high during the final quarter of 2020, with nearly a third reporting increased levels. Although there were strong regional differences, such as 10% of landlords saying there was increased demand in London, and 58% said the same for the South West. (Source: Paragon, February 2021) As for the average monthly rental income, this is still holding up across the UK, at £984 (up 3% year-on-year). Ten of the 12 regions showed an increase, with the exception of Northern Ireland and Greater London - albeit the average rental value for the latter was still £1,572 vs. an average of £840 for the rest of the UK (exc. London). But for Greater London that figure was down 4.7% year-on-year - partly a reflection of how people currently want to live within a different property setting, and with many people not going into the workplace. (Source: HomeLet Rental Index, February 2021)
Consider your Remortgaging options... As set out above, we’ve seen a recent surge to purchase new properties ahead of the end of the Stamp Duty reduction, initially planned for 31 March (now extended), despite the fact that Landlords still have to pay the 3% surcharge. Ironically, it was this same surcharge that resulted in a higher volume of purchases ahead of its introduction back in April 2016,
with a 5-year fixed rate being a preferred route for many. Five years on, lots of those deals have now been remortgaged (or will be). Whilst interest rates are edging up, the average 5-year fixed rate Buy-to-Let deal in March 2021 was still 3.41%, against 4.04% back in March 2016. So, if your deal period has come to an end, or if you simply want to see what’s on offer, do get in touch. (Source: Moneyfacts, March 2021)
Alternatively, you may be looking at other rental options, such as different regions, or looking at holiday lets. Although, as ever, there remains the fairly strict lending criteria, made even more so by the impact of COVID. For example, some lenders will now want to know if you’ve utilised support schemes such as the SelfEmployment scheme, Bounce Back loans, or furloughed any staff. So, do talk to us to see if we can identify (and hopefully secure) the most suitable deal for your needs. There is no guarantee that it will be possible to arrange continuous letting of the property, nor that the rental income will be sufficient to meet the costs of the mortgage. The value of your Buy-to-Let property and income from it can go down as well as up. You may also require advice on the legal and tax issues. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate legal and taxation advice, and most Buy-to-Let mortgages. HM Revenue & Customs practice and the law relating to taxation are complex and subject to individual circumstances and changes which cannot be foreseen. You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage. ■ Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Reassurance for YOU... The extension of both the Furlough and SelfEmployment Schemes will give us some extra months to weather the storm, ahead of the vaccines hopefully starting to have a positive impact, and confidence returning to the economy. Currently, it’s just a very expensive balancing act.
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There have been massive lifestyle and financial changes over the last year or so, some of which could even be quite positive.
£250 billion in Savings According Andy Haldane, Chief Economist at the Bank of England, a consequence of household spending plummeting across three lockdowns means that we will have amassed around £250bn in savings by June this year! This equates to 20% of the amount households spend each year. On top of this, he also feels that a significant number of companies may well have a war chest of cash, amounting to around £100bn. When all of this is coupled with the rapid roll-out of the vaccination programme, the economy could be about to turn a corner, with enormous amounts of pent-up financial energy waiting to be released.
Increased Vulnerability For many people though, 2021 will be a challenging year as they struggle to deal with bills coming in, insufficient savings and low, or non-existent earnings. Plus, just take a walk along the High Street to see the number of shops that have shut down. According to the Financial Conduct Authority there are now 27.7m adults in the UK with characteristics of vulnerability,
such as poor health, recent negative life events, or low financial resilience. With regard to the latter, this is directly affecting around 1 in 4 adults (14.2m). (Source: Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Lives 2020 survey, February 2021)
Our offering We’ve been working throughout the pandemic and understandably have had to change the way we work, and how we interact with clients. On the property front, it could be helping to deliver the mortgage funds for a move to a home that delivers more space, a home office, outside space; or a complete lifestyle change, resulting in a move out of the city to a quieter area. In fact, this, hopefully, once-in-a-lifetime event is likely to have a long-term impact on where and how many of us live and work.
Protection insurance cover Additionally, we are also conscious of the need to ensure you’re protected with the most suitable insurance cover to meet your needs, and those of your family. Protection insurance is there for those life events you generally don’t expect to happen, or at least not just now! But sadly, they do occur. COVID, of course, has had a severe impact on our lives, but the chance of facing a serious illness, being off work long-term, and early death have always been a possibility. As we said earlier, even before COVID, over 600,000 people died in 2019. And issues such as being off work long-term can also have a serious impact on your financial well-being. The Oct-Dec 2020 figure showed that 2.2 million people in the UK were off work due to long-term sickness. This is the highest figure in the last five years, albeit the rolling 3-month average since 2010 was always above 1.9 million. (Source: Office for National Statistics, Labour Force Survey, February 2021) So, surely it’s better to; ‘have something and hopefully not need it, than to need something and unfortunately not have it’.
And ironically, it’s often said that to help afford vital protection insurance cover; all you may need to do is simply cut back on the odd restaurant meal, a drink at the pub, a day trip, and so on, as it all adds up. Well, as these savings are likely to be happening, maybe now is the time to act!! As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions and exclusions will apply. ■ Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. This firm usually charges a fee for mortgage advice. The amount of the fee will depend upon your circumstances and will be discussed and agreed with you at the earliest opportunity. ■ The contents of this newsletter are believed to be correct at the date of publication (March 2021). ■ Every care is taken that the information in the Mortgage & Protection News publication is accurate at the time of going to press. However, all information and figures are subject to change and you should always make enquiries and check details and, where necessary, seek legal advice before entering into any transaction. ■ The information in this newsletter is of a general nature. You should seek professional advice tailored to your needs and circumstances before making any decisions. ■ We do hope that the newsletter is of interest to you, however, please inform us if you no longer wish to receive it.
■ We cover mortgages, insurance and protection products along with a number of other financial areas, so do contact us if you’d like to discuss your financial needs: Tel: 0121 712 6230 Email: sales@xactmortgages.co.uk Web: www.xactmortgages.co.uk
mortgages Tel: 0800 014 9962 Email: sales@xactmortgages.co.uk
Steve Froggatt HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Been with Xact for 5 years WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Helping people find the best deal in as simple a way as possible SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I met Nelson Mandela on an Aston Villa club tour in 1994 FAVOURITE FOOD? Italian FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Whale watching and shark cage diving in South Africa
Conor Brown HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 18 Months WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Helping people get the best deal for their mortgage but also love making sure that everyone is fully protected SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I lived in America for 18 months FAVOURITE FOOD? Sunday Roast – so many flavours on one plate FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Disney Land as it is a real family holiday. I can’t wait to take my family there. However, I have always dreamt of going to Bora Bora
Colin Jones HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 5 years WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Speaking to clients on a daily basis and giving them the peace of mind that should the worst happen they will be financially secure. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I am a qualified Golf Instructor FAVOURITE FOOD? Italian FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Hawaii
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Meet our Advisors Lee Heycock HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Since December 2017 WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Solving problems for people who are looking to move but don’t think its achievable SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? Prior to Xact I served in the Infantry as a LCpl in the Royal Anglian Regiment where we toured Afghanistan, Nigeria and Kenya FAVOURITE FOOD? Sushi, looking forward to the new Japanese restaurant opening in Solihull! FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? A cruise around Italy and the Greek Islands
Mike Hodgkinson HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 19 September 2001…Day one WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? I love putting smiles on our customers faces SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I have a gold medal for ballroom dancing watch out strictly here I come FAVOURITE FOOD? Sunday Roast FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Cornwall, have been lucky enough to travel most of the world, Cornwall is still the best
Alan Dalby HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? I have been back since August 2020, having worked for the firm for 5 years previously WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Love helping our clients achieve their goals and ambitions of home ownership and constantly offering the best customer experience possible SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I’m scared of heights, yet have been to the top of the Eiffel Tower FAVOURITE FOOD? Can’t beat my Nan & Grandad’s Sunday Lunches FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Give me a nice Pool in a hot country and I’m happy
The information contained herein is of a general nature and should not be relied upon as legal or financial advice and is not intended as a substitute for the same. You should seek professional advice tailored to your needs and circumstances before making any decisions. The contents of this newsletter are believed to be correct at the date of publication (April 2021).
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