New Year, New Home: how to sell in 2020

We're getting into the festive spirit in this month's edition! Alongside a selection of local events (which you can find below), we're offering our tips for enjoying a warm winter and you'll find a set of easy-to-make recipes for delicious Christmas treats. 

With 2020 just around the corner, we take a look at selling in the New Year and first-time buyers can benefit from a selection of pointers for saving speedily for that first home. 

Finally, we'd like to wish all BIll Tandy clients a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Speedy savings for first-time buyers

 

It is clear to see that the younger generation is becoming more and more conscious of their spending habits and begin to plan for their futures earlier, which often encompasses purchasing that first property.

There are many savvy saving techniques that prospective first-time buyers have taken advantage of to step onto the property ladder. For example, the ‘paying yourself first’ method is the smart new way to budget throughout the month after being paid, allowing lifestyles to come after saving so that the money pot can grow.

Recent findings from Post Office Money suggest that first-time buyers are typically taking 3.6 years t save for that first deposit, which is down over one month from 2018.

What’s driving this change? The employment sector and modern attitudes to work are very different to what they were ten years ago, with many new opportunities available and jobs that previously would not have been heard of. On top of that, a third of savers have an additional job to help in their journey, and a quarter of the first-time buyer group used the internet to their advantage to generate more income.

Worldwide Opportunity
Speaking of which, the internet has allowed the option of having a side hustle and remote working as an everyday option, meaning that people are working harder and smarter to reach their goals. This phenomenon has taken over with more job opportunities using the internet as an integral tool offering flexibility and connectedness across the globe. The number of opportunities to make a fast buck is gigantic and ever-growing, offering more opportunities for first-time buyers to save more money faster.

The Bank of Mum and Dad
As well as clever and sensible saving, there is still the ongoing support from parents and other family members giving considerable contributions towards house deposits to further fast track the process. A large proportion of first-time buyers have used the assistance of family to fast track their saving with 69% having the help of others to reach their totals. Many families are offer support to their loved ones to obtain a pre-Brexit housing steal so the generosity still growing.

High rates from lenders
Mortgage lenders are also more willing to lend at present offering desirable fixed-term rates including low-interest rates. Add on the help-to-buy ISA that also supports first-time buyers, with the Government giving a maximum of £3000 toward a first-time purchase, the saving picture is clear and in rude health.

The Snowman live with orchestra @ Lichfield Cathedral

Carrot Productions are once again visiting Lichfield to share their Snowman magic this Christmas, with performances at 2pm and 7pm on Friday 27th Dec.

Click here to read The Snowman live with orchestra @ Lichfield Cathedral.

New Year, New Home: how to sell in 2020

 

There is often speculation as to when is the best time to sell your home. Sellers often wait for certain times in the year that may be construed to be better than others. If you feel like you are ready to sell, you should seek a valuation and consider whether it is the right time for you, as it may well be right now.

The imminent general election has caused mixed feelings about the housing market with many waiting for the outcome of the election to see whether policy changes (such as stamp duty reforms), will be put in place. However, if you are considering selling your home, now is a good time to put your property on the market. There will always be other circumstances that can affect the housing market, but none of that should prevent you from getting a full market appraisal.

House prices have continued to increase throughout these uncertain times so you may be surprised at how much your home is worth. But no matter what time of the year it is, there are a few checks that you can run through to ensure that your home is in its optimum condition. High spec homes are attracting the attention of serious buyers, so if your house is well presented and organised, it will help potential buyers believe in your home.

Photos
Photos, photos, and more photos! If there was one factor alone that could attract potential buyers to your home, this is it. It’s key to make a good first impression, so ensure that photos are of a high specification, in natural daylight and show the full room to its full potential. Check that your home is neat and tidy so that buyers can visualise living in the home themselves.

‘Tis the season!
Leading on from photos, we have Christmas. It might be tempting to make your home a festive feast for the eyes, but you should ensure that you have photos of your home without decorations up. This is so that those viewing can see how the space in the home could look throughout the year.

Christmas time is where we can really show off our homes and display how inviting it is, giving viewers a lasting feeling about your home. The festive spirit is a great tool but be mindful to use tasteful festive décor without too many different colours. Everybody has different tastes so a more neutral Christmas touch will work best if you have viewings over the Christmas season. Potential buyers will also be able to see a sense of community and good spirits in the neighbourhood.

Declutter
It should go without saying, but your home needs to be clean and tidy when on the market, both inside and out; you never know when a potential buyer may be driving past the home unexpectedly! Keep leaves swept off the garden and ensure that doorbells and outside lights are working, which will show that the home has been well maintained. Inside, you want to prove that there is ample storage space, so anything that is left out on tables, sides or shelves should be there for a reason. That way potential buyers can see that there is plenty of storage to maintain a tidy home.

Paperwork
Remember all that important paperwork that you keep in that ‘safe place’? Now’s the time to dig it out! Important paperwork relating to deed titles and guarantee certificates for any work you have had done are essential during the selling process; collate any paperwork that you have for the home into a folder so that you can show prospective buyers that everything is in order.

 

Looking to start your New Year with a New Home? Click here to search with Bill Tandy

How to make your own delicious Christmas treats

 

There is no better time to enjoy your home than Christmas time and that kitchen that you have spent so much time upgrading and personalising can take centre stage. Spend time with the family or impress your friends being a great host with some tasty homemade sweet and savoury treats. There are some ideas below for you to get creative and indulge. Testing out those kitchen gadgets you’ve been treating yourself to throughout the year. It’s a great way to spend time with the children doing a festive activity:

Pigs in blankets
Who doesn’t love pigs in blankets? They are a staple at Christmas time and something that most of us look forward to on our Christmas dinner plate. Most of us purchase them premade but they are so simple to make. You will only need:
Chipolata sausages
Streaky bacon rashers

Method:
Heat oven to gas mark 5/ 190c / 170c fan
Wrap a piece of bacon around each chipolata.
Place on a baking tray and cook until golden (approximately 30 minutes).

Gingerbread
Iced gingerbread cookies are every child’s dream. There are so many shapes that you can make using the different biscuit cutters now available. To make them you can use any standard gingerbread recipe to create magical shapes using shape cutters such as:

Stars
Christmas trees
Angels
Snowmen
Reindeer

Be sure to spread the shapes out on your baking tray when you put them in the oven so that they have enough room to cook without touching each other. To get really fancy you can make a small hole towards the edge of each biscuit with a straw before cooling to make them into bunting. Once you have made a hole you can thread string or ribbon through them. Once they are cooled you can decorate them to create magical treats using icing, sweet, sprinkles and edible glitter.

Mince pies
You either love them or hate them, but Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a good mince pie. The mincemeat filling is widely available to purchase by the jar so it’s only the pastry that you need to worry about. Requirements are:

225g cold butter, cubed
350g plain flour
100g golden caster sugar
280 mincemeat
1 small egg
Icing sugar for dusting
Cake cutter
12-hole baking tray

Method:
Heat oven to gas 6/ 200c / 180c fan.
Rub the butter and flour together to make the pastry. Then mix in the caster sugar.
Combine the pastry into a ball, roll it out and then roughly cut circles of pastry for the top and bottom of the pies. Flatten the pastry slightly in your hands enough to fit your baking tin (these will make the pie bottoms).

Spoon the mincemeat into the pies, then top your pies with a pastry lid. Press the sides together so that your pies are sealed.

Next, beat the egg and brush over the top of the pies. Then bake for 20 minutes until golden.

Treats for pets
We can’t forget our pets this season, can we? There are many Christmas treats that can be bought that are perfectly safe, but be sure to check the packaging for the ingredients lists to check if it is suitable for your furry family member. You can buy pet biscuit tins or even get them their own advent calendars. If you want to make them treats yourself, be sure that it doesn’t contain anything harmful to them such as gravy, salt, or fats.

All recipes taken from BBC Good Food.

 

Cinderella pantomime @ Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock

PMA Productions return following last year’s show, Dick Whittington, with the most popular of all pantomimes, Cinderella. Click here for dates!

Click here to read Cinderella pantomime @ Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock.

Winter Warmer - stay cosy this season

 

The autumn leaves have fallen leaving an army of frosty branches, we’ve had our fair share of rain and an extra few minutes are needed at the start of your commute to scrape the frost from the windscreen. All sure signs that Christmas and winter are on their way!

A fresh winter morning can make it harder to get up each day, with many of us wanting to sink into our duvets and hibernate. But work must go on, and the best way to do that is to take care of our homes, keep the warmth in, and adopt those cosy habits we’ve been waiting for all year. See below for some tips and traditions for a warm and Merry Christmas:

Keep the heat in
It may sound obvious but keeping the doors to rooms closed really helps to keep the heat in. Rooms near the front door often have a draught which brings the cold air in and older homes often lose heat due to windy weather that creeps in. This simple tip can save you from continually cranking up the heating!

If your home is not insulated it may be worth considering having this installed to save on your future heating bills, with plenty of Government loans available to help as the march towards eco-efficiency continues.

Dig the blankets out
Sadly, we’re not talking about sausages lovingly wrapped in bacon but your army of warm blankets. Although we all have heating, sometimes there’s nothing better than cosying up on the sofa in front of the fireplace watching your favourite Christmas show. Not only is it particularly wholesome; it can be more comfortable and give your heating a break. Not only that, but it can make for a great Christmas scene for the whole family to sit together in festive or even matching jumpers!

Christmas tipple
It’s fair to say that mulled wine has become a staple winter warmer over the years. They are commonly found at Christmas markets across the UK, but they can also be made in your very own kitchen and it’s easier than you may think! The ingredients consist of red wine, a cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, orange, lemon and brown sugar, most of which we already have in our cupboards.

The added bonus to mulled wine is that it is served warm, so it’s a perfect way to get comfortable in the festive season. Just remember to serve it in a heat-proof glass! Even if you don’t drink alcohol you can still get the same feeling this favourite winter warmer provides by switching the red wine for pomegranate and apple juice. Voila!