Xact Mortgages Magazine April 2022 by thepropertycollection

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PROPERTY NEWS

APRIL 2022

YOUR EASTER STAYCATION STAY IN ENGLAND FOR THE UPCOMING EASTER BREAK PAINTING YOUR HOME PAINT TYPES AND WHEN AND WHERE TO APPLY THEM

EASTER RECIPES TWO GREAT RECIPES FOR THE PERFECT EASTER MEAL

GRAND NATIONAL OUR GUIDE TO THE GRAND NATIONAL 2022

OUTDOOR KITCHENS HOW TO BUILD A KITCHEN IN YOUR GARDEN

CONTENTS COVER STORY

LIFESTYLE

Easter chocolate We have the perfect selection of chocolates

PROPERTY

Easter recipes Two great recipes for an amazing Easter meal

Your Easter staycation Stay in the UK for this upcoming Easter break

Painting your home Paint types and when and where to apply them around the home

News Our latest mortgage news. Plus meet the team!

22 24

About us Get to know the Xact mortgages team!

Your home move Your guide to help you every step of the way on your home move

12 14

Gardening guide Our special guest gives all her April garden tips Blockbuster movies The cinema experience is back and we have the best movies for April Outdoor kitchen Let us show you how to build the ideal outdoor kitchen for you

SPORT

Grand National Our guide to the upcoming Grand National

GARDEN DESIGN TRENDS Our look at the hottest garden design trends this summer

t’s officially spring, which means it’s time to get outside, and after such a long winter, check on the state of the garden. With so much time spent outside over the next few months, now is the perfect time to take stock and make design changes to your current setup, and with that in mind, here are some of the hottest design trends suitable to most gardens this year…

ADD A PERGOLA

WELCOME TO THE APRIL ISSUE!

he sun is shining, the evenings are lighter, the weather is getting warmer and this month we are celebrating all things outdoors. On pages 2&3 we look at the hottest garden design trends of 2022. Meanwhile, on pages 10&11 we have your monthly gardening guide. Keeping with the outdoor theme, for those budding chefs and alfresco aficionados, we have a step-by-step guide on how to build your own fully functional outdoor kitchen. It is also Easter this month and with that in mind we have three ‘eggscellent’ features for you including Easter Holiday travel

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ideas, perfect Easter recipes and a selection of the best Easter eggs for all ages. Moving indoors, for those of you looking for a fresh look inside, we have a guide to different types of paint and where to use them, and finishing off we look at the biggest blockbusters coming to the cinema this month plus a guide to the biggest horse race in the world, The Grand National. So, grab a cuppa, pull up a chair in the garden, and enjoy this month’s magazine. Jonathan Wheatley Editor

A pergola isn’t the same as a gazebo. While gazebos are more functional, throwing total shade over an area, a pergola is more aesthetically pleasing with a slatted roof that allows sunlight to shine through in a delicate pattern. A pergola is perfect over a seating area, pathway or an outdoor kitchen and comes in a range of materials. Typically, once a pergola is up it stays up, whereas a gazebo, more often than not, is able to be taken down and transported. So, you need to be certain it is in the right position when you finally put it up. Another great thing about a pergola is the ability to plant climbing plants and vines at the base that will grow quickly and over the slatted beams, thus creating a truly magnificent centrepiece to the garden.

OUTDOOR KITCHENS With so much time spent outside, and the hope of a beautiful, dry Spring/Summer, more and more people are opting to create an outdoor kitchen in their garden to properly cook alfresco. The difference between an outdoor kitchen and a simple BBQ is massive. An outdoor kitchen has worktops, units, multiple cooking appliances and usually a sink with running water.

So, as opposed to a BBQ, where the chef is often out of the way and not socializing, an outdoor kitchen brings guests to them. The most popular appliances are pizza ovens, BBQ grills and smokers, and with the worktops in situ outside, there is no more running from the kitchen to outside. Check out our guide to build your own on pages 14&15

EDIBLE GARDENING SPACE Gardens and gardeners are becoming more functional, and with the rising price of fruit and veg, now is the perfect time to dedicate an area of your garden to edibles. You may think that for fruit and veg you’re going to need an expensive greenhouse, but this is simply not the case, although it does help with certain vegetables and fruits.

WILDLIFE FRIENDLY With climate change still being so prominent in people’s minds, it is no surprise that one of the biggest design trends this year is for wildlife-friendly gardens. This could be something as simple as having a ‘No Mow’ zone or planting a fully-fledged wildflower meadow. This will help attract bees and other wildlife into your garden which in turn will help the biodiversity. A huge benefit to wildlife-friendly gardens is that they also help to bring nature back into your garden which has a calming effect on our own wellbeing and mental health. The sound of buzzing bees and insects is always special, and they will in turn bring more nature, such as birds, with them into your outdoor space.

The first thing you will need to do is find a nice sunny, sheltered spot and then choose whether you would like raised beds or standard beds. Depending on their size, this will determine what you can grow. But you will be surprised how much you can fit into a small space. To get ahead with fruit and vegetables, it is always best to start them indoors before moving them outside when the weather is warmer.

USING YOUR GARDEN AS AN EXTENDED LIVING SPACE Gardens are no longer treated as just a lawn outside. In fact, more and more people are treating them as an extended living space from the home. To truly create an extended living space, it is recommended to integrate indoor design outdoors. For example, if you have herringbone flooring inside, create a herringbone patio that starts directly at the back door. Likewise, if you have certain colours indoors, for example, grey furniture, then keep this running through into your garden. Same for plants; whatever you have growing indoors have a few of these outdoors in planters to really create a flow from indoors to outdoors.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

YOUR EASTER

STAYCATION The UK has so many stunning and interesting places to spend a few days for your upcoming break

here is no need to jet off around the world this Easter holiday in order to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Rather than enduring long flights and expensive extras, pluck for a staycation and create memories to last forever. Whether planning to take the little ones away to the seaside or aiming for a romantic getaway with your favourite person, the United Kingdom boasts a number of destinations just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed. Here are a few of our suggestions for great places to visit this Easter holiday.

YORK

A fantastic place to visit for a weekend city break within the United Kingdom is York. The Yorkshire city, which has deep Roman and Viking roots, sits mid-way between London and Edinburgh so is easily accessible from across the country. The shopping scene combines modern-day high street chains and restaurants with

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the “Shambles”, an old street and overhanging timber-framed buildings dating back hundreds of years filled with unique independent traders. The River Ouse flows through the city, overlooked by riverside restaurants and can be explored on rented boats. Those looking for a truly memorable experience can join one of the nightly ghost walks exploring the history and mystery surrounding the city.

WINCHESTER

Another beautiful English city for the whole family is Winchester, which sits right on the edge of South Downs National Park, in Hampshire. The cathedral city is the former seat of King Alfred the Great, and sits just an hour from London but has an air of the countryside that many desperately seek on their well-deserved breaks. Winchester is the birthplace of the popular English sport, cricket, and is home to one of the country’s largest farmers’ markets. The city boasts a jam-packed calendar of annual events to keep each visit feeling fresh and offering a new experience, including upcoming Easter family activities at the cathedral. Fans of the silver screen, particularly Harry Potter, may get a strong sense of familiarity on their first visit to the city, as Winchester College was used as a location for the magical hit series of films.

WEYMOUTH

PLYMOUTH

When taking the family away and asking children A unique break by the sea for couples could be a trip where they want to go, one of the first responses will to the vibrant waterfront city, Plymouth. The port city, always be “to the seaside!” Here in the UK, we are which sits in Devon, in the southwest of England, treated to many beautiful seaside towns and fishing boasts scores of shops, attractions and sightseeing villages - the hardest choice is picking which one to opportunities. Take a romantic walk along the visit. One of the best beach cobbled Barbican quayside and discover a destinations is Weymouth, in brand new place to eat or visit the National One romantic Dorset, southern England. Marine Aquarium. Stay at the unique Royal thing to do in Stunning golden sands William Yard, a Grade I listed former naval the city is to stretch across the seafront victualling yard, which has been regenerated simply looking out over Weymouth into a space to explore. There is a large wander along Bay. The town underwent a collection of listed military buildings brought the streets massive regeneration as it back to life with modern-day restaurants, shops hosted sailing events during and places to stay. the 2012 Olympic games. Families can see intricate sand sculptures along the EDINBURGH sea front and aquatic creatures at Sea Life Weymouth, Another historic and fascinating city to visit with your while also paying a visit to the unique Nothe Fort, favourite person is Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. The consisting of a network of underground tunnels built charming and historic city is filled with narrow, by the Victorians to protect Portland Harbour. cobbled walkways, beautiful buildings and insightful free-to-visit museums, including the National Museum of Scotland and City Art Centre. One romantic thing to do in the city is to simply wander along the streets when the sun is streaming down in rays creating a warm and memorable atmosphere. Tag along with one of the regular ghost walks to hear a mixture of the horrific tales that have unfurled in Edinburgh throughout time, while also learning about the history that has made the city what it is today. No trip to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to the castle, which sits on Castle Rock and boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding city.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PAINT A MASTERPIECE Painting a home isn’t always as simple as it sounds

fresh coat of paint brings a home to life. But with so many different types of paint available, what sort do you need? Never fear DIYers, we are here to guide you so that your home comes out as brilliant as in your dreams.

EMULSION

Emulsion is easily the most well-known paint for your home. This water-based paint contains small polymer particles with pigments inside. Once dry, the particles combine producing the look and feel of paint we all know and love. The beauty with emulsion paint is how easy it is to apply. Whether you are using a roller or a brush, the texture and liquidity of the paint goes on walls super easy, and it comes in a huge range of colours. When it comes to the look and feel of your walls, you have two main options in most major retailers, matt or silk. Matt paint is the least reflective and as such is

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great for dark colours and feature walls, whereas silk is more reflective and great for whites and lighter shades which help to make the rooms feel larger. The final type of emulsion is the most reflective, gloss. Brilliant white gloss is often used on staircases and bannisters and gives the liquid-style look wherever it is painted. It is incredibly popular for doors and skirting boards too.

CHALK

Chalk paint is a relatively new trend, although it has been around for years. Chalk paint is great for furniture and wooden surfaces such as kitchen cabinets. In fact, more and more people are choosing to paint their kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them when they start to look dated. It is also great for feature furniture that needs upcycling and doors.

EXTERNAL MASONRY PAINT

If you’re interested in freshening up the exterior of your home as well as the interior, then external masonry paint is what you need. Masonry paint covers bricks, stone and render and is the perfect way to freshen up the external walls of your home. It is also available in a good-sized range of colours.

EASTER EGGS FOR ALL AGES Easter isn’t just a time for kids, it’s for everyone. So splash out this Easter on the best chocolate you can get your hands on.

Hotel Chocolat: Abundantly Easter Hamper - £150 The Abundantly Easter Hamper is your one-stop-shop for holiday goodies, as it’s brimming with quirky characters, dinky chocolate drops, and some sizable eggs. There truly is something here for everyone. Inside, you will find: Extra-Thick Eggs; Soft Boiled Eggs; Eggs & Soldiers; Delicious Bunnies; Speckled Eggs; Elizapeck and Wooliam.

https://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/abundantly-easter-hamper.html

Hotel Chocolat: The Ultimate Easter Hamper - £100 Is there anything better than finding a luxurious Easter egg this time of year? Well, we think there might be — finding a whole hamper of them! Nestled within the chic wicker basket of The Ultimate Easter Hamper, you’ll uncover an array of petite and large treats for all the family. There’s something for everyone in this comprehensive collection, though it might be hard to know where to start. https://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/the-ultimate-easter-hamper.html

Lindt LINDOR Milk Chocolate Egg x 48 - £34 Since 1845, the Lindt Master Chocolatiers have combined expertise and the highest-quality ingredients from around the world to produce the finest chocolates to delight your taste buds. Experience bliss with Lindt LINDOR smooth melting milk chocolate this Easter.

https://www.lindt.co.uk/lindt-lindor-milk-chocolate-egg-28g-x-48

Amazon: AN EGG-CELLENT EASTER GIFT - £24.99 INCLUDES: 2 x Cadbury Creme Eggs, Cadbury Mini Eggs Bar, Cadbury Oreo Egg, Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Egg, Kinder Surprise Egg Multipack, Milkybar Mini Eggs Bag, Malteser White Bunnies Bag & much more! https://tinyurl.com/3k8xym63

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MOUTHWATERING

EASTER RECIPES LAMB AND RED WINE GRAVY

Gathering the family round the table for an Easter dinner is always a special occasion. And what better way to turn a special occasion into a memorable one than preparing a delicious lamb dinner for the main course. Celebrity chef James Martin has put together a herb-crusted leg of lamb dish with red wine gravy for BBC Good Food that is certain to make the mouth water and would certainly make for a stunning centrepiece to an Easter Sunday roast dinner.

INGREDIENTS 2.25kg leg of lamb Three small sliced garlic cloves Two onions cut into chunks One carrot cut into chunks Two tablespoons of dijon mustard

For the crust: 175g of white breadcrumbs A small bunch of parsley A small bunch of mint This dish will take less than half an hour to prepare and two hours to rest and will feed eight people. Start off by heating the oven to 220c, or 200c for a fan oven or gas mark 7. Using a knife, make small slits into the lamb and place a slice of garlic into each hole. Put the onions and carrot into a flameproof roasting tin and pop the lamb on top, before seasoning with salt and pepper. Pour 250 millilitres of water into the base of the tin and roast for 30 minutes.

Five rosemary sprigs Two crushed garlic cloves 3.5 tablespoons of olive oil

For the gravy: Two tablespoons of plain flour 400ml of red wine One litre of lamb or beef stock One to two teaspoons of Dijon mustard A knob of butter

After cooking, take the lamb out of the tin, cover with tin foil and leave to rest for 30 to 40 minutes. Celebrity chef James Martin has put together a herbcrusted leg of lamb dish with red wine gravy for BBC Good Food that is certain to make the mouth water.

The final step is making that all important gravy. Take the roasting tin, with the vegetables still in it, and put it on the hob. While the meat is cooking away, make the crust by combining all Whisk in flour and cook for one minute, before adding the wine the ‘for the crust’ ingredients and season with salt and pepper. and leave it to bubble for one minute. Add the stock, bring it to Take the lamb out of the oven after the 30 minute mark and turn the boil then simmer for roughly 10 to 15 minutes until thick. If the oven down to 190c, 170c or gas mark 5. Brush the mustard over you want your gravy even thicker, stir in some of the crust which the lamb then layer on the crust, before returning the lamb to the may have fallen from the lamb earlier. Put the gravy through a oven for a further one-and-a-half hours. Make sure to keep an eye sieve into a pan, add mustard and stir through the butter. And on the lamb while cooking and add water to the base of the tin there you have it, an incredible lamb roast that is sure to live if it dries out. long in the memory.

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EASTER EGG BROWNIES Let’s face it, Easter is mainly about seeing how many sweet treats we can enjoy using the excuse “it is Easter after all”. One recipe which is bound to go down well with the whole family, from ages two to 102 is some good old brownies, with an Easter twist.

INGREDIENTS 175g of butter 200g of milk chocolate 225g of soft brown sugar Two medium eggs One tablespoon of vanilla extract 100g of plain flour 30g of cocoa powder Mini chocolate eggs Start off by preheating the oven to 180c, 160c for a fan oven or gas mark 4. Grease a baking tin with butter and line it with baking paper. Combine the butter and ¾ of the chocolate in a bowl and microwave for one minute. Stir the mixture and heat in short bursts under it has fully melted. Let this mixture cool down a bit while you move on. Mix the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a different bowl before adding the chocolate mixture and the mini chocolate eggs and remaining ¼ of the chocolate. Stir in the flour and coco powder and mix the whole thing well. Pour it into the tin and bake for around 20 minutes, until a crust starts to form on the surface. Leave it to cool for around half-an-hour before slicing, and more importantly, enjoying the chocolate treats.

One recipe which is bound to go down well with the whole family, from ages two to 102 is some good old brownies, with an Easter twist.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MONTHLY GARDENING

nstagrammer, The Learner Gardener, aka Angela Greaves, who has been featured in Kitchen Garden magazine, gives us her top tips for the month of April in the garden.

It might not feel like it, but summer really is just around the corner, and from this month onwards, the gardening calendar really starts to get going. You’ve spent the winter months planning and now it’s time for action. But where to start? Here’s a few jobs to get you prepped for the buy season ahead.

Angela Greaves

1. Continually deadhead spring flowering bulbs. This will tidy up any messy borders and put the energy back into build development for next year’s displays 2. Sow hardy annuals indoors or under glass. It’s time to get a head-start on those annuals, by sowing seeds indoors. If, like me, you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse you can start to make use of this, alternatively a sunny windowsill will

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GUIDE

SPECIAL GUEST

work just as well. Native wildflowers can be sown now, along with many varieties of more traditional flowers, such as marigolds, sunflowers, and calendula. Remember to save some seeds for direct sowing outside once the risk of frost has gone (approx. mid May) 3. Set tomatoes, aubergines, and chillies seeds now! If you haven’t set them already, now is your last chance to get those seeds going. You can also start, marrows, courgette, summer cauliflower, spinach, Swiss chard and lettuce indoors for planting out later. 4. Resist the temptation to head to the garden centre until later in the month. For most UK gardeners it is still slightly too early to think about buying “garden ready” plants. With the risk of frosts still looming, you will be much better to hang on until the end of April/beginning of May before you can indulge in some instant gardening. Although, of course, if you have a greenhouse and the temptation and lure of the nursery is too real, then you can pop them inside for a few weeks! 5. Protect new shoots from slug and snail damage. Using Eggshells or grit around

the bottoms of fresh new shoots of vulnerable plants will defend against dreaded slugs. As they grow, plants will be less susceptible to attacks. 6. Plant out potatoes. If you’re planning on growing potatoes, now is the time! If you’ve managed to pop them on a windowsill to “chit” (start to grow shoots) then great but if not, don’t panic. Pop them in a windowsill for a week or so and then plant on. 7. Keep calm and carry-on weeding! Getting ahead with your weeding now will really save you some time in the height of the season. The earlier you can get in and pull out the perennial weeds, the less vigorously they will be able to establish themselves. If you’re into digging, then make use of any colder weather by turning over any empty spaces in the vegetable garden and allowing weed roots to get frosted… if you’re a fan of no dig, now is the time to mulch, if you haven’t already. 8. Protect fruit blossom from late frosts. Use plant fleece or bubble wrap to protect your precious blossom overnight if temperatures are due to drop. This will prevent any reduction in harvest 9. Wash down your garden furniture and patio! You’ll soon be wanting somewhere to

sit and enjoy the summer evenings, so get ahead now and wash down all your furniture. You can buy all sorts of specialist cleaners, but I prefer to use The Pink Stuff multi-purpose cleaner which really does do it all! When it comes to the patio, I don’t like to use harsh chemicals, for fear of them getting into the soil. Mix a bucket of water with White Vinegar or baking soda and using a good stiff brush most patios will come up as good as new! 10. Repair and prep your lawn for the summer. If you have a scarifier, then now is a great time to get using it! Firstly, make sure to get out and weed, getting rid of all of those larger perennial weeds to start with. Then either scarify or rake through the lawn to remove moss and then use a fork to place small holes at regular intervals throughout the grass. This will aerate the lawn, allowing it to grow back greener and fuller. Repair any bare patches with seed and keep wellwatered. Follow Angela’s gardening journey here https://www.instagram.com/the.learner. gardener/

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

BLOCKBUSTERS

TO WATCH

AT THE CINEMA IN APRIL

Films are a part of our lives more than ever, and that very much includes the cinema, despite the rise in home streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime

he cinema experience is like no other. The adverts, followed by the trailers, then the announcement that the film is about to begin, then the lights dim, the screen stretches out, and the magic starts. It truly is an experience to behold, and one you can’t get at home. So why not visit your local cinema in April? There are plenty of blockbuster movies being released which have been highly anticipated.

MORBIUS (1ST APRIL)

Starring Jared Leto, this new entry from the Marvel/Sony universe acts as a kind of spinoff of the Venom films. Michael Morbius, a doctor who attempts to cure himself of a rare blood disease, inadvertently becomes a super-strong, flying, bloodthirsty vampire. It truly is an experience to behold, and one you can’t get at home.

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SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 (8TH APRIL)

The sequel to the early 2020 hit, Sonic is back along with two fan-favourite characters from the popular video games. Jim Carrey’s evil Dr. Robotnik recruits Knuckles, a spiky-fisted, red echidna voiced by Idris Elba, to take over the world with the Chaos Emeralds. Luckily for Sonic, he’ll have the help of Tails, a yellow, two-tailed flying fox, in his latest adventure.

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE (15TH APRIL)

With the first of this so-far three part series of films released in 2016, Warner Bros. continues to expand the Wizarding World of Fantastic Beasts by digging into the secrets of Hogwarts’ legendary headmaster, portrayed by Jude Law. Mads Mikkelsen takes on the role of the nefarious Grindelwald for this entry, while Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller and other Fantastic Beast alumni return for this new spin-off in the “Harry Potter” universe.

EIFFEL (15TH APRIL)

This upcoming flick revolves around celebrated engineer Gustave Eiffel (Duris) as he finishes his collaboration on the Statue of Liberty and is pressured by the French government to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair.

THE NORTHMAN (22ND APRIL)

Following up his 2019 psychological thriller The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers enlists Alexander Skarsgård, whose Amleth embarks on a quest to avenge his father (Ethan Hawke) and save his mother (Nicole Kidman). The Viking revenge tale takes place in 10th century Iceland and also stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, Björk and Claes Bang.

THE GRAND NATIONAL 2022 40 horses and their jockeys will line-up in what is the ultimate test in British horse racing

National Hunt horse race taking place every year at the Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, the Grand National is also a steeplechase which first ran in

1839, with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. The course features much larger fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks. Many of these fences, particularly Becher’s Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn, have become famous in their own right and, combined with the distance of the event, create what has been called ‘the ultimate test of horse and rider’. The Grand National is considered the most valuable jump race in Europe, which boasts a total prize fund of £1 million. It is

an event which is prominent is British culture, and has been broadcast live around the world since 1960. An estimated 500 to 600 million people watch the Grand National in more than 140 countries. The Grand National has been broadcast live on free-to-air terrestrial television in the United Kingdom since 1960, and on radio since 1927.

An estimated 500 to 600 million people watch the Grand National in over 140 countries.

Last year’s Grand National was won by Minella Times. This year, the 2022 Grand National will take place on Saturday 9th April at Aintree Racecourse at 17:15, and more than 70,000 people are expected to be in attendance at Aintree on the day.

Here is a list of the top riders and horses expected to perform the best in the event:

CHRIS’S DREAM - 50/1 Age: 10 / Weight: 11-05 / Official Rating: 162 Trainer: Robcour Henry de Bromhead

CONFLATED - 16/1 Age: 8 / Weight: 11-10 / Official Rating: 167 Trainer: Gordon Elliott

SILKS TBC GALVIN - 20/1 Age: 8 / Weight: 11-10 / Official Rating: 167 Trainer: Ronnie Bartlett & Gordon Elliott

SILKS TBC

MELON - 50/1 Age: 10 / Weight: 11-06 / Official Rating: 163 Trainer: Marie Donnelly & Willie Mullins

All odds were correct at time of writing.

FRANCO DE PORT - 33/1 Age: 7 / Weight: 11-04 / Official Rating: 161 Trainer: Bruton Street V & Willie Mullins

MINELLA TIMES - 25/1 Age: 9 / Weight: 11-04 / Official Rating: 161 Trainer: J P McManus & Henry de Bromhead

ANY SECOND NOW - 14/1 Age: 10 / Weight: 11-02 / Official Rating: 159 Trainer: J P McManus & Ted Walsh

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ALFRESCO IN STYLE How to build an outdoor kitchen

n outdoor kitchen takes cooking and eating outside to the next level. As opposed to a simple BBQ or pizza oven, with all the mess that comes with treks back and forth between the kitchen, why not embrace the ultimate outdoor cooking experience and build your own outdoor kitchen with worktops, a range of cooking abilities and a sink, all made stylish to impress f riends and family.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

1. Cement backer board 2. Porcelain tiles for back and sides 3. Porcelain tiles for worktop 4. Treated timber 5. Heavy duty nails 6. Waterproof tile adhesive 7. Heavy duty screws 8. Waterproof grout 9. Waterproof tile adhesive 10. Spirit level 11. Drill 12. Grout float 13. Tile adhesive float

STEPS

1. Ensure you have a flat base, ideally concrete or a patio before starting your build. Then decide what is important to you. Is it a pizza oven, a BBQ, a smoker, or something else? Then design around your focal point. For this design we are using a homemade BBQ as the focal point with a pizza oven in the corner on the worktop. 2. Pick your tiles. Depending on what style you want, you may want a plain outdoor kitchen, alternatively, you may want a more Mediterranean feel. So, mosaic tiles for the worktops would look fantastic with some warm terracotta tiles on the walls and back. 3. Once you’ve picked your tiles, you now need to design and measure your kitchen. Do you want a U-shaped kitchen, an L-shaped kitchen or just a simple straight kitchen? A U-shaped or an L-shaped kitchen doesn’t make it any more difficult, just potentially a little more expensive because of the materials you need. 4. Once you have your design, now you need to measure to work out how much timber you need. To work this out, we have measured the homemade BBQ in the centre with two worktops/units on either side. For these worktops/units you will create a frame with the treated timber. The average, comfortable height for worktops is 90cm so use that as your height, and then measure the depth and length of the other timber you want.

Why not embrace the ultimate outdoor cooking experience and build your own outdoor kitchen with worktops and a range of cooking abilities.

PROPERTY NEWS

5. Once you have picked up your timber and other tools and materials, now is the time to start the initial build. Screw the timbers together using heavy-duty, extra-long screws until it is sturdy. Put the frames into place and get the cement-backer board ready. You will need two people to put the cement backer board into place. One to hold the weight and another to seal it into place using a nail gun. You will be putting cement backer board on the top, sides and back, so keep going until you have a solid unit. 6. When you have a solid unit, apply waterproof tile adhesive using a tiling float to the sides of the units and start sticking your tiles on. Once you are happy with one side, move onto the back and ends and then leave to set as per the tiling adhesive instructions. 7. Now apply tiling adhesive to the worktop cement backer board and start applying the decorative tiles you have chosen. Again, leave to set before then going over all sides and the top with waterproof tiling grout. 8. Move the units into their final place either side of the handmade BBQ. These are your basic units and worktops for your outdoor BBQ.

A pergola makes a fantastic addition and aesthetically pleasing finish to any outdoor kitchen.

EXTRAS

- If you wish to add a sink, during step 5 cut-out a hole in the backerboard for a sink and put into place with sealant before tiling. You can plumb this up with running water simply from the mains using pipe, likewise, you can add a waste pipe to run into the drains. - Likewise, if you want to add doors to the units, when you are building the base include a shelf at the bottom and the middle using MDF. Cut out a door hole from the cement backer board at the side and attach this to a piece of MDF which is the same size as the door cut-out using tile adhesive. Add a hinge to create the door. Close the door and continue tiling as per step 7. - A pergola makes a fantastic addition and aesthetically pleasing finish to any outdoor kitchen. These are best to source from FB marketplace, eBay or from an outdoor shop as it will be easier to build.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Winter 2021/22

Mortgage & Protection news

mortgages

The newsletter from Xact Mortgages Limited

With rising inflation, the interest rates on mortgage deals are also on the up...

Inflation rose to 4.2% in October (the highest level for almost 10 years), and is expected to peak at around 4.4% in 2022. To counter this inflationary growth, there’s pressure on the Bank of England to consider increases to its interest rate. (Sources: Office for National Statistics, Consumer Price Inflation; and Office for Budget Responsibility, Economic Outlook, Oct. 2021)

In fact, it has already had an impact on mortgage interest rates, with lenders factoring this into their pricing, resulting in rate rises for a number of deals on offer. Whilst the direction of travel is upwards, these increases are coming from a record low base, which means that there are still excellent deals out there. But, for how long? So, for a range of borrowers, perhaps now is the time to act to lock-in the current low rates: ■ those looking to secure their first loan deal. ■ those who have a mortgage deal that’s due for review in the next 6 months or so. ■ existing borrowers who simply want to obtain a decent interest rate now and/or raise more funds.

Planning how we live... A further consideration, and a by-product

Xact Mortgages Limited 6 The Square, First Floor Solihull B91 3RB Tel: 0800 014 9962 Email: sales@xactmortgages.co.uk Web: www.xactmortgages.co.uk

Time to Act? of the pandemic, is that many of us have given thought to the future set up of our home and the way we live. This could encompass both where we live (with some leaving the cities), or the amount of space we need (as many will continue to work from home, full or part-time).

House Price growth Possibly surprising for some, in this period of economic uncertainty, the average UK house price has actually risen 9.9% annually. (Source: Nationwide, House Price Index, October 2021)

It’s largely been driven by government tax incentives, and buyer demand for a different type of home, against a limited number of available properties. Continued on the next page

You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you

Mortgage Deals Decent

rates on o ffer, but startin g to rise (Source: Mo neyfacts, 8 Nov. 2021 )

Remortgaging If you’re moving towards the end of your deal period, then you ought to be considering what’s on offer from your existing, or alternative lender(s). To do nothing would mean you revert to your lender’s Standard Variable Rate, which may be in the realms of 4.41%. The following are comparative average fixed rates across the board (to give you a general feel). For those that tick all the boxes, rates are on offer from around 1% for largely 60% LTV. ■ Coming off a 2-year fixed deal - Average rate 1 Nov. 2019 = 2.45% - Average rate 1 Nov. 2021 = 2.29% ■ Coming off a 5-year fixed deal - Average rate 1 Nov. 2016 = 2.98% - Average rate 1 Nov. 2021 = 2.59% (Source: Moneyfacts, 1 November 2021)

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.

Time to Act? (contd) Continued from the previous page

Decent deals on offer Even in light of the current inflationary pressures, there are still a number of deals in the realms of 1%. These are primarily (but not exclusively) for those that need to borrow 60% or less Loan-to-Value (LTV) of the home’s value. However, even those needing 90% or 95% LTV could still be looking at the better deal rates of around the 2-3% mark. (Source: Moneyfacts, 17 November 2021)

These deals may be particularly enticing, but it’s not just the headline rate that needs to be considered, it’s the associated fees, and lender requirements. That’s why it makes sense to take professional advice to identify the most suitable route for you.

The help we can offer... For our part, we know where to look, as we are doing this every day for our clients.

Additionally, to help that process, and for you to be able to move swiftly, it makes sense to have all of your financial details to hand, such as bank statements and payslips. This is because lenders continue to apply stringent controls on the ‘evidencing of income’ and ‘affordability’.

Find out your Credit Score This is also really useful information to have, as it would provide us with further background knowledge. A popular site you could use is checkmyfile.com, as that brings together findings from all the rating agencies. And if your score’s not great, there may be ways to improve it. Please get in touch to hear more... You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage.

Quick check Monthly payments for a mortgage per £1,000 borrowed over 30 years Interest rate %

0.25 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00

Interest-only* £

0.21 0.42 0.83 1.25 1.67 2.08 2.50 2.92 3.33 3.75 4.17

Repayment £

2.88 2.99 3.22 3.45 3.70 3.95 4.22 4.49 4.77 5.07 5.37

Here’s how to use the mortgage payments calculator: A £100,000 mortgage over 30 years, charged at a 2% interest rate would cost 100 x £3.70 (for Repayment) = £370 per month. * Excludes any payments to a separate savings scheme, to help pay off the capital amount borrowed. This calculator only provides a guide to monthly payments and does not guarantee eligibility for a mortgage. The actual amounts that you may have to pay may be more or less than the figures shown. Please contact us for a personalised illustration.

■ Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

First-Time Buyers It’s a contradiction for many aspiring First-Time Buyers that what they’d pay in mortgage repayments is often less than their monthly rent, yet it remains difficult to get onto the property ladder. It’s not as if the desire to own a property is not there. In fact, 49% of 18-34 year-olds surveyed said that homeownership is now more important to them as a result of the pandemic.* (Source: *Santander, Life after lockdown, June ‘21)

Raising the Deposit 52% of this age group also set out that the deposit was their biggest hurdle.* However, Government intervention with the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme has helped bring about more products (across the board) that only require a 5% deposit. Others may be able to benefit from the Bank of Mum & Dad (plus Grandparents) to help deliver the deposit.

Rising House Prices

Type of Mortgage you opt for

The demand for more space afforded by larger properties has helped drive up prices. So, you may find that if you’re after a smaller home, it might be more achievable than you first thought to get a foothold on the property ladder. Additionally, there’s the Government’s First Homes Scheme for new-build properties (in England, although other initiatives may exist elsewhere in the UK). For eligible purchases, it’s designed to provide homes at a minimum discount of 30% against the market value, resulting in both a smaller deposit and mortgage loan. However, the discount off the price remains with the property when you sell it on.

Another way of reducing the monthly mortgage payments is to take out a mortgage over a longer term, such as paying back over 35 years. Although, this means that you will be paying more money back, if extending the payback period. However, over your lifetime of property ownership, you’re not committed to stay with the same deal - with homeowners often having a number of different mortgage deals across the years. The process can be confusing and that’s why around nine out of ten First-Time Buyers are likely to use an Adviser. (Source: Accord Mortgages, July 2021)

a standard 6m x 4m extension could cost in the region of £26-34,000.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The last 18 months or so may have made you realise that you need more space for both you and your family, with some preferring to stay put, rather than move.

The upside of this is that your current property may have increased in value compared to when you took out your existing mortgage deal. If that’s the case, then it may be easier for you to borrow extra money (if needed) to help create the space you want.

Property price rise For example, if you’re coming to the end of a 5-year mortgage deal, the average house price in October 2016 was about £206,000, by October 2021, it’s around £250,000. (Source: Nationwide, House Price Index, October 2021)

If you borrowed 70% LTV in 2016, then by 2021, you’ll be under the 60% LTV threshold, which opens up the better deals. Or, you can take a view that you are able to meet the borrowing criteria, and are comfortable with a 70% LTV deal - thereby releasing around £30k+ of extra funds. Of course, taking on extra borrowing may not be the most suitable route for you.

Additionally, if you remortgage before the end of the deal period there may be financial penalties. So, you have to weigh up all of this, along with the alternative costs attributable to moving home to secure the space you need.

Build up or build out? This would be the most obvious way to secure the extra living space you need. And whilst it’s likely that there are planning and building regulations to consider, the planning aspect can be less onerous these days if you remain within an accepted footprint, and keep your neighbours onside.

Extension This could create an extra room for an office, or simply be an extension to the kitchen area to help create more space. Rough costs: according to mybuilder.com,

Protection Insurance Rather than hunkering down following Covid claims, the Protection industry has responded positively and continues to pay out most claims, and deliver innovative products for today’s lifestyles... With the ongoing impact of the pandemic,

repayments on your mortgage’ possibly

it’s important to consider ways of insuring

resonates with them. Those renting also

yourself against early death, or the inability

need to ensure they can stay in their home.

to earn an income due to a serious illness, mental health issue or injury. In fact, according to Royal London, 15.9m people now feel more financially

So, don’t just view Protection Insurance as a small issue to consider when taking out a mortgage deal. Instead, get in touch with us to see if what you have

vulnerable than they did back in March

currently works well for you, or if there are

2020. (Source: Royal London, August 2021)

areas where you feel exposed.

The warning that ‘your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up

As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions and exclusions will apply.

Loft conversion This can create a master bedroom with en suite, be used as an office, or simply deliver an extra room(s) to ensure everyone isn’t always on top of each other! Rough costs: according to mybuilder.com, this costs on average £40,000.

Wide-ranging renovations Alternatively, you may want to do more, such as extend and update your kitchen, rewire, new heating system, new windows, and so on, to ensure the home layout works as best as possible for you. Rough costs: according to Checkatrade, against a 3-bed property, this might cost in the realms of £38-74,000.

Does it add value? Generally, it should. With an extension, or loft conversion, you are delivering more space, which should, understandably, make your home more marketable. (Sources: mybuilder.com website & Checkatrade website, both September 2021)

You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage. n Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

98% of all claims were paid out in 2020, equating to £17,000,000 a day! Life Cover

n 99.5% of all claims were paid out. n Average payout of £79,304 (term),

£4,026 (whole of life).

Critical Illness

n 91.3% of all claims were paid out. n Average payout of £67,011.

Income Protection

n 86.5% of all claims were paid out. n Average payout of £22,170. n Average length of claim could

be around 6 years.* (Sources: Association of British Insurers, 2020 data, May 2021 release; *2020 claims data from LV and Aviva)

Make it

Work for Yourself The Self-Employed may feel hard done by in recent times. Some would have missed out on Government financial support, and mortgage lenders have been applying stricter lending criteria. So, it’s no wonder that many feel they’ll never own a home, or will face issues when seeking a new mortgage deal.

At the outset of the pandemic, much of this was true regarding the ability to secure a mortgage. More recently, 47% of self-employed workers still feel deterred from even applying for a mortgage because of their self-employed status. (Source: The Mortgage Lender, August 2021)

But, let’s not forget that the self-employed sector comprises around 4.3m workers. Whilst that’s down on the 5m at the start of the pandemic, it’s still a sizeable part of the total workforce (around 13%). Of those remaining, many would have been nimble enough to adapt their offering in light of the economic climate. (Source: Office for National Statistics, Labour market overview, September 2021 release)

Also, the resourcefulness and size of this marketplace is not who seem to be easing some of their criteria restrictions. For example, some lenders appear to be more accepting of variable income streams such as bonuses, commission, or overtime, than before. Plus, there’s the revamp of IR35, which may impact upon affordability issues for some. If you find yourself in this situation, then it would be prudent to also have a chat with your accountant.

lost on lenders,

LIMITED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT ■ The majority of self-employed people (57%) said they

Rates on offer For those that can meet the affordability criteria required by lenders, they may benefit from the current competitive pricing. There are headline-grabbing ‘circa 1%’ deals, largely for the 60% Loan-to-Value (LTV) borrowers. But the competition amongst lenders has meant that even at the low deposit deals for 90% and 95% LTVs, it’s still showing low average rates for 2-year fixed rate deals of 2.54% and 3.22%, respectively. With slightly higher rates for the 5-year deals. (Source: Moneyfacts, 1 November 2021)

Insuring your income stream In addition to having Life Cover insurance to help pay off the mortgage, and to support your family, you should protect your income stream too, if you were unable to work through an injury or serious illness. This could come in the form of a Critical Illness policy (as a stand-alone plan, or an add-on to life cover), and would pay out a tax-free lump sum on a successful claim. Alternatively, there are Income Protection plans, which are designed to pay out a monthly income for a successful claim. Yet, many self-employed and contract workers mistakenly believe that they’ll never qualify for this insurance protection. That is generally not the case and, in fact, this insurance is possibly even more important for the self-employed, who are unlikely to have employee benefits, such as sick pay.

had no government support in the last 12 months. ■ Of those that did receive support, 28% received a grant,

with less taking up the various loans on offer. ■ A small percentage (9%) had used the furlough scheme

As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions and exclusions will apply.

for their staff. (Source: The Mortgage Lender, September 2021)

■ Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Rental returns Despite the difficult economic environment, many of the fundamentals for a positive Rental sector for Landlords still remain, when you consider the following three statements... ■ Enough new homes are being built: there aren’t. ■ A deposit for first-time buyers is easy to secure: it isn’t. ■ Mortgage interest rates are sky high: they aren’t.

Were those factors true, then the Private Rental Sector would be less appealing to Landlords. As it happens, demand remains high, and if Landlords want to remortgage, then property price increases over recent years (combined with low interest rates) are working in their favour.

A downside

should open up the better deals. And, for others, it will present opportunities to raise further funds to renovate the existing property, or help to access money to purchase additional properties.

Buy-to-Let interest rates This information may be relevant should Landlords be nearing the end of their deal period, or are simply looking to remortgage. The comparative ‘average’ rates across all LTVs are even lower than the 2 and 5-year ones that could be coming to an end, despite the recent upward trend in rates. And, if the Landlord falls into the lower LTV arena, then they could have access to even better deals: 1 November 2016 = 3.72% (historical 5-year deal rate)

Of course, it’s not all plain sailing, as Landlords still face sizeable regulatory and tax issues to navigate, and many will have suffered from the recent support afforded to defaulting renters.

1 November 2021 = 2.88% (2-year deal) / 3.18% (5-year deal)

Renter demand

Do talk to us to hear more.

As said, demand remains high, but the hotspots have changed throughout the UK compared to pre-pandemic times. Some renters (as with house purchasers) have moved away from the cities. Overall, the UK average monthly rent figure is at £1,059, up 8.7% on the year prior. Regionally, the biggest annual growth has occurred in Wales (12.9%), Northern Ireland (11.6%), Greater London (9.7%) and the North West (8.9%). (Source: Homelet Rental Index, October 2021 data, released November 2021)

1 November 2019 = 2.96% (historical 2-year deal rate) (Source: Moneyfacts, Buy-to-Let Average Fixed Rate deals, 1 November 2021)

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.

House Price growth

HM Revenue & Customs practice and the law relating to

Over recent years, many Landlords will have benefited from house price rises. If this is the case, then it should deliver more options for those nearing, or coming off 2- and 5-year mortgage deals. For example, in October 2016 the average residential house price was £205,904, five years on, it’s £250,311 - a jump of over 21.5%.

taxation are complex and subject to individual circumstances

(Source: Nationwide, House Price Index, October 2021)

In some cases, that may mean access to lower LTV rates, which

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.

The continuing impact of the pandemic has reinforced the importance of protecting your income stream through insurance cover such as an Income Protection policy.

Protect your EARNINGS... »

Across a working lifetime, consider this: the average annual income of about £30,000 (discounting inflation), could equate to about £1,400,000. This amount is almost six times the current average value of a UK home - circa £250,000. Yet many will willingly insure their home, plus sensibly take out life cover to help pay off the outstanding mortgage (as a minimum), but far fewer apply the same principles to their own income stream.

(Source: Office for National Statistics, Labour market overview, September 2021 release)

payouts from the Income Protection policy for that period of time, and face lower premiums as a result. Income Protection will generally cover up to around 60-65% of your gross income, and dependent on the type of product you opt for, it could be a tax-free monthly payout until you’re well enough to return to work, retired or have died, whichever occurs first. And, if you’re still working and paying premiums, you can claim against it more than once. Alternatively, if a lower monthly premium is better for your pocket, then you could opt for a scheme that only pays out for a specific period of time, generally one to two years (although it can be up to five, in some instances).

Probability calculator

Funding your insurance cover

To get a feel for your own particular circumstances, why not use this probability calculator which sets out the ‘broad’ chances of you being off work for a period of time, along with suffering a critical illness, or dying. Simply enter your age, gender and smoker/nonsmoker information into - www.riskreality.co.uk. Of course, it’s only topline data, and personal circumstances will differ. It shows, for example, that there’s a 33% chance for a 35 yearold, non-smoking, male to be off work for 2 months or more from now up to a retirement age of 68. For a female, the comparable figure is 41%. If viewed as a couple, then the risk of it occurring to just one of them rises to 60%! And, once you factor in that they are also smokers, the comparable figures are 41%, 51% and 71%, respectively. Whilst these results are merely a guide, it shows that bad things can happen.

You may be surprised that by simply cutting back on some of life’s small luxuries (odd takeaway, cab ride, cafe coffee, magazine, etc), you can swiftly set aside the premiums for an insurance plan that protects your income stream. Even better if you are one of the two in five Brits that have actually saved money across the pandemic period - a combined £5.8bn per month in 2021.* Part of these savings could be sensibly directed to paying the premium for an Income Protection plan.

(Sources: Office for National Statistics, Labour market overview, September 2021 release; Nationwide, House Price Index, October 2021)

Are we Invincible? Most of us will feel that being off work long-term, and unable to earn an income is unlikely. But it has happened to 2.15 million people in the UK, who are currently off work due to long-term sickness.

If it happens to you... The upside (unless you’re a contractor or self-employed) is that you may, initially, benefit from ongoing financial support from your employer, if you were off work due to an illness, or injury. However, it’s only likely to be there for a defined period. Plus, there’s limited state support to try to access. In which case you need to look at how you might cover any income shortfall, and this is where you could plan ahead and have an Income Protection policy in place. If you benefit from employer support, then you could defer

(Source: *LifeSearch, Health, Wealth & Happiness, Q2 2021)

As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions and exclusions will apply. ■ Your property 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 (November 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: 0800 014 9962 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

www.xactmortgages.co.uk

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).

Present your house for sale by de-cluttering... Maximise your home’s potential and create spacious rooms enticing potential buyers – simply by de-cluttering!

De-cluttering allows you to… maximise your space, emotionally prepare you to move, and will allow you to focus your buyers on what is important

f you are looking to sell your house, or have had your home on the market for a while now, then you probably want to get the maximum sale price in the quickest time. There are a few things you can’t control – but the one thing that is in your control, is the look and feel of the interior and exterior. While it’s worth spending time fixing and cleaning your house before potential buyers come and view, it’s also important to de-clutter. This creates spacious rooms and also allows you to decrease and organise your personal items before you move yourself. Of course it’s understandable that you don’t to want spend money, time and energy on a home you are about to leave, however, a lot of people are looking for a house in which they can move straight into. Maintaining your

property might even save you thousands of pounds; it could even reduce added expenses of living in your home whilst waiting for a sale. And it might even help avoid possible reductions in the asking price. The main reason in which people move house tends to be because they lack space in their current home. They want a home that is spacious and in which they can grow into. If a potential viewer comes to your home and sees that there is lack of space, then this will turn them away. De-cluttering allows you to remove any unnecessary items in an untidy or overcrowded place. It will help maximise your space, emotionally prepare you to move, and will allow you to focus your buyers on what is important.

So where should you start? You need to create a great first impression and focus on the rooms themselves. You will notice that the first things you see in each room are personal items. Where possible you want to create the look of a

them into things you want to keep and things you want to get rid of. You may even find that you have collected a cupboard full of paper work. Get yourself organised! Don’t just throw it all away, but file it and go through it thoroughly. This will also make it easier when you move.

De-personalising can also be a great way to declutter. Too many personal effects can be distracting to buyers. They want to see a house in which they can make their own memories rather than seeing yours. Again, personal items can be stored away. Remember

Where possible you want to create the look of a lifestyle that the potential buyers want lifestyle that the potential buyer want. This usually has a ‘show home’ feel, rather than a ‘lived in’ feel. Minimising your things is the quickest way to do this: you want to ensure that potential buyers can do simple things, like, open any doors easily, ensuring that there are no obstacles. So, what do we mean by clutter? There are two types: genuine clutter, and items that you want to keep but don’t work for the sale of your property. Genuine Clutter: You need to go through the space and sort out each item, categorising

You also want to focus on little things like DVDs, books and trinkets. These items may have some small value so sell them or donate them to charity. Get rid of any old shoes and coats that are lying about in your porch or hallway. You might want to hide away the coats and shoes you do currently wear. Store them in your wardrobe, while you have viewings. Items that you want to keep but don’t work for the sale of your property: You may want to consider putting some items in storage while you sell your home. Sometimes items are too large or even too small for some spaces and can make the room look odd. If you want to keep these particular items, then store them until you move into your new home.

that this is only a temporary way of living and hopefully it won’t be for long! If you find you are keeping more things than you are throwing out, then think about whether or not it’s in the right room or do you even need it now? As previously mentioned, you can attempt to sell some of the things you have acquired over the years. Use sites like eBay, Gumtree and social networking sites to try and sell items. You may want to even hold a house sale for the remaining items that you can’t sell. Failing that, why not donate to charity. The end goal is still the same and it’s important to help potential buyers envision your house as theirs. So remember, decluttering will make your home more spacious and entice potential buyers!

Top Tips! If you are throwing away paperwork, shred anything that is confidential

De-clutter before agents come and take photos of your property. This will help attract more potential viewers online and get that first good impression

Don’t spend too long on certain items and don’t get distracted. Keep yourself motivated and race against the clock!

Make it fun! Play some music or watch TV while you de-clutter

Your step-by-step guide to the conveyancing process

nce a sale has been agreed and is in the hands of your solicitor, it will go through the following stages. Sometimes additional work will be needed – for example, if the property is leasehold or is yet to be registered with the Land Registry. It is also important for buyers to discuss the availability of their deposit with their solicitor early in the transaction, and we strongly recommend that you contact your solicitor regularly so that they can keep you fully up-to-date with the progress and the latest timescales.

Seller’s solicitor’s steps • O btain a copy of the Title Deeds (or office copies if the title is registered) • Obtain a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) (if applicable) • The seller(s) will return a completed Property Information Form and a Fixtures, Fittings and Contents Form to the solicitors • Copies of the above documents, plus a draft contract – this is known as an ‘Information Pack’ – will be sent to the buyer’s solicitor • Answer the buyer’s solicitor’s additional enquiries (for example, specific questions about fixtures and fittings) and obtain copies of any planning consent documents • Agree the contract and arrange for the sellers to sign it in readiness of the exchange (below) • All parties agree completion dates and the contracts are exchanged

Between exchange and completion • O btain redemption figures from the mortgage lender and reply to requisitions on title • Approve the transfer and arrange for the seller(s) and buyer(s) to sign • Receive the agent’s fee account and seek the seller’s consent to settle this out of completion funds

Completion date This is the date the ownership of the property passes from the seller to the buyer, and it follows the successful transfer of funds. It’s the date that the whole process works towards.

Upon completion • Receive completion funds and (only when this has been completed) instruct your estate agent to release the keys to buyers. Redeem mortgage and forward the financial statement. Forward any surplus funds (unless these are being used to fund an onward purchase). Ensure all outstanding bills are paid • Forward transfer documents and deeds to the buyer’s solicitors • Forward evidence of ‘discharge of mortgage’ to the buyer’s solicitors

Buyer’s solicitor’s steps • O btain the Information Pack, including a copy of the EPC (if applicable) from the sellers’ solicitor and raise any additional queries • Initiate any specialist searches (for example: a coal search). Submit local, environmental and water searches and a chancel check. This takes about 10 working days in total, and enquiries are then usually raised from the results • Approve the contract when all enquiries are satisfactory and complete. (At this stage, a mortgage transfer deed will need to be signed and witnessed) • Receive a mortgage offer and instructions from the lender and deal with any conditions set out by them. Make sure that life cover and buildings insurance is being arranged • Request the deposit, report back to the buyer, and arrange for the contract to be signed. Place buildings insurance and life cover in force • All parties agree completion dates and the contracts are exchanged

Between exchange and completion • Raise ‘requisitions on title’ and prepare the draft transfer deed • Report on title to mortgage lender and obtain funds for completion, including Stamp Duty (if appropriate) • Prepare accounts, obtain signature to mortgage deed and undertake final Land Registry and Land Charges searches

Upon Completion • F orward to the seller’s solicitors the balance of funds − it is only then that they can authorise the release of the keys. Receive from the seller’s solicitors, the transfer document deeds • Stamp the Transfer Deed, register the buyer’s ownership with the Land Registry and forward the deeds to the lender or client (where appropriate)

Contract - The agreement that sets out the main terms that have been agreed − for example: price, address, names, etc. Two copies are drawn up, and each party signs one in readiness for the exchange of contracts. Deposit - The part of the purchase price (usually 10%) which the buyer pays on exchange of contracts. Exchange of contracts - The swapping of signed contracts by the solicitors (together with the buyer’s deposit). After this, the contract is binding. Energy Performance Certificate - This contains information on energy use, energy performance, carbon dioxide emissions, and fuel bills. Land Registry - The Government department that records who owns what land, and under what conditions. Local Authority Search - A list of questions that are specific to the property and intended, for example, to discover if there have been any planning applications on the property, if the road to the house is maintained by the council, etc. Mortgage Redemption Figure - The amount required to repay the outstanding capital/ interest of a mortgage. Property information form/fixtures, fittings and contents form - Standard forms about the property that the seller answers for their solicitor (for example: what will be left behind, details of guarantees, etc.) Title Deeds - Legal documents that prove ownership of land/buildings, and the terms on which they are owned. Transfer of Title - The document that passes the ownership from the seller to the buyer. Stamp Duty for buy to let investors and second home owners - An additional tax, paid by the buyer purchasing an additional property that is not their main residence. It includes buy to let landlords and those buying second homes and holiday homes. The higher rates will be 3 percentage points above the current rates of duty shown below. Requisition on title - An enquiry relating to the completion arrangements. Seller’s Pack - This comprises a Property Information Form, a Fixtures, Fittings and Contents Form, a copy of the title deeds and the draft contract. Stamp Duty - A tax paid by the buyer purchasing their main residence. The current Stamp Duty Holiday runs until the 30th June and as such you won’t pay stamp duty on purchases up to £500,000. After this date the nil-rate band will be set at £250k until the end of September.

Moving house? From meter readings to removal companies, there’s so much to remember when moving house. Here’s our checklist of what to do and when

irst of all, congratulations on your new home! The excitement has probably now kicked in but moving home can also be one of the most stressful and emotionally draining things you can do. However, careful organisation and planning can help decrease the stress and anxiety of moving. This comprehensive and essential checklist will help you do just that.

Eight weeks – Research Ideally, you want to start packing away any non-essential items as early as possible. This includes any items stored away in the loft, garage and shed. If you are not using it, pack it. Looking into your new area is also important, try to do this around eight weeks before you move. You might need to think about transferring your children to different schools and ordering new uniforms too. At this point, ensure you are also documenting all your important information away: that includes contact details, dates, contracts and information regarding your solicitor.

Six weeks – Removal companies or do it yourself? Now would be the perfect time to decide on a local removal company. Or if you don’t have too much to move, you may want to do it yourself. You could even look into different van hire companies. At this point you’ve probably started packing away some bits, but if there is anything you decide not to take, then look into selling these items or donating them to charity. This will also give you an idea on the volume of items you have to move.

Four weeks – Notify utility companies This would be a good time for you to notify utility companies and inform them about your move to switch over. This includes gas and electricity, council tax, internet, phone rental and TV. You should also consider changing any car insurance, tax, memberships, phone contracts and inform your bank about the move. Now’s the time to also arrange a date to have your new house cleaned before you move

The buyers of our homes receive their very own property website to share via

Checklist Eight weeks Pack non-essential items Research your new area (transfer schools and order new uniform) Keep all important documents

Six weeks Decide on a local removal company Clear out any unwanted items Keep packing

Four weeks

It will be worth packing a night bag each to help everyone settle in, which means you won’t have to rummage through everything to find your toothbrush! in, and start ordering any new furnishings for your new property. Start packing away more items, that being, out of season clothes, books, dvd’s and even bulky items, like TV’s that aren’t used often.

Two weeks – Confirm all details Confirm your move with your removal company or van hire, estate agents and schools. If possible, try to organise someone to look after your pets and children for the day of your move, as this can also be a stressful time for them too. If your removal company doesn’t disassemble any furniture or sort out the un-plumbing for the washing machine, then now would be the ideal time to organise these. Remember to also cancel any local services you receive: this could be window cleaners, gardeners and newspaper deliveries. You should now also think about re-registering to vote and getting your post re-directed after your moving date. Continue packing away more furnishings, kitchen appliances and crockery that you won’t be using for the next couple of weeks.

24 hours – Final check and walk round You now have only 24 hours before you move, so double check that everything is packed away and ready for transit. It will be worth packing a night bag each to help everyone settle in, which means you won’t have to rummage through everything to find your toothbrush! You may want to create an inventory of your boxes and

furniture to help you keep track of what you have and to help you ensure it doesn’t go missing.

Moving day Today is the day! You need to be ready for when your removal company comes. Ensure that you let them know if there are any fragile boxes that need extra care when handling. If you’re moving yourself, then pack up your car or van and work out how many trips it may take. Before you leave, also take note of your final meter readings and send these off to your provider. Don’t forget to leave your keys for the new owners!

You have arrived at your new home! Give your removal company instructions of which boxes go in which rooms and make sure you are happy with everything that has arrived. Ensure you check for any damage before the movers leave. Read your new utility meters and send your readings of to your supplier. Taking photos of them will also ensure you have the correct reading if you need them again in the future. Unpack your essentials such as bed linen and clean towels. Don’t worry about the rest, it isn’t going anywhere! Order a takeaway, have a cup of tea and enjoy your first night with your family. Right, so now you’re all moved in, it’s time to settle down, unpack and enjoy your new place. Remember, planning is essential to ensure your move runs stress free.

social media with its address and personal message!

Notify utility companies Start preparation for your new house Keep packing

Two weeks Finalise all details Organise pet and child care Cancel local services Keep packing

24 hours Check every room and ensure everything is packed Pack a night bag so everything is to hand Collect your new keys Make sure your phone is fully charged so you can get in touch with the estate agents or removal company

Moving in Prepare for the arrival of the removal company and give them directions/ your contact details Ensure everything is ready to move Record meter readings

On arrival Give removal company instructions of what goes where Check for any damage before they leave Read your new utility meters and send them off to your supplier Check if the previous owners have left anything behind Unpack essentials Order a takeaway and sit back and relax!

Want to treat yourself to a proper removal company for your next move or are you prepared to do it yourself

Removal company or brave it yourself? Y

ou’re excited about your new home and location but the process of packing, organising and actually moving all of your items is something no-one really ever looks forward to. Not only that but you also have to contact utility companies, maintain a job, keep your children happy and clean your entire house. You do have super powers, right?

Removal companies You also won’t have to worry about the exhausting physical side of things, that being carrying boxes back and forth

Unless you live in a small property or flat, it could be worth hiring a professional removal company to help relieve some of the stress on the day. They have many skills and experience and some of the services they can provide include packing and

unpacking, dismantling and assembling furniture, loading your belongings quickly and securely, including those fragile and specialist items. They can even supply you with packing materials. Hiring a removal company will also allow you the time to collect the keys to your new home. You also won’t have to worry about the exhausting physical side of things, that being carrying boxes back and forth. Some services are great if you don’t have much time to plan and get these done yourself; however these do often come at a premium and may not be suitable for those on a budget. When choosing a removal company

Top tips for packing When packing, ensure you don’t overload your boxes with heavy items, as these will be difficult to lift and could cause a back injury. Fill any empty gaps using old newspaper, clothing, socks or even tea towels. This will help secure any items when they are being moved. its key to look at those which have good recommendations and reviews, as you need a company you can rely on. You can use comparison sites, such as comparemymove.com and reallymoving.com, to help find you the best deals.

items you have. You should also ask for the price to be broken down so you can see just how much you are paying for when it comes to certain aspects like insurance, packing, an hourly rate, mileage and any storage costs.

Getting quotes

Once you have found a removal company, it can be useful to send them a briefing sheet that includes information about any items which need to be specially packed, any difficult or large items, plus any carpets and curtains which need moving. Finally, it can also be helpful to send them a floor plan of the new property so they can unload efficiently.

You should aim to get at least three quotes from removal companies, preferably from firms which will come out to your property rather than those who just estimate the cost over the phone, as you don’t want any nasty charges later on. Plus it will give the company an accurate idea of any restricted areas in your home, if they can park a van or lorry, and how many

Create an inventory and label all your boxes and write the contents on each box with a marker. That way you will know which room each box is to go in. And if you are super organised, you could even colour code each room! Pack heavier boxes on the bottom. This might seem like common sense but it will ensure that any of your fragile items won’t break. Pack a survival box. These are the things that you will need first and should include paper towels, bin bags, cutlery, the kettle, some mugs, tea, coffee, milk, sugar and finally, some toilet paper!

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Xact Mortgages Magazine April 2022

Articles inside

Your home move Your guide to help you every step of the way on your home move

Easter chocolate We have the perfect selection of chocolates

Outdoor kitchen Let us show you how to build the ideal outdoor kitchen for you

Painting your home Paint types and when and where to apply them around the home

Blockbuster movies The cinema experience is back and we have the best movies for April

News Our latest mortgage news Plus meet the team!

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