Orlando Reid June Newsletter

Welcome to the June edition of the Orlando Reid newsletter - in this month's publication we have looked at the resurgent property market and put together some useful tips on moving property, making your own face mask and staying cool during the Summer months. 

Property Market Springs Back To Action

With an estimated £82 billion of property transactions on hold due to coronavirus, the Government's announcement in the middle of last month that operations could resume, with the appropriate measures in place, was welcome news to many.

The immediate effect of the reopening of the property market could be seen clearly on the property portals – with a distinct spike in searches for properties the day after restrictions were lifted. Rightmove recorded over 5 million visits on 13th May and reported that sales demand doubled from Tuesday (when restrictions were still in place) to Wednesday.

The spike in property searches can be attributed to the many people who have had to put their property search on hold due to coronavirus and are now looking to move quickly in order to avoid their own chain collapsing, or just to take advantage of current circumstances.

A shift in attitude is also noticeable in terms of the types of mortgage which are being searched for – with a move away from remortgage loans to purchase mortgages. Mortgage technology firm Twenty7Tec reported a 27% week-on-week increase on 17th May for the volume of searches being completed.

“We are starting to see significant volumes return to the market – with searches for purchase mortgages in particular rapidly gaining pace. Searches for purchases are now at 44 per cent of pre-lockdown highs, up from lows of 15.6 per cent in mid-April” explains James Tucker, chief executive of Twenty7Tec.

Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst, said: “The traditionally busy spring market was curtailed by lockdown, but we’re now seeing clear signs of returning momentum, with the existing desire to move now being supplemented by some people’s unhappiness with their lockdown home and surroundings.

“Some may be unable or unwilling to move now, but those who are ready to take the plunge have jumped immediately into action.

“Unique enquiries on property for sale doubled from the day before, though we expect consistent momentum to rebuild over several months rather than weeks.

“With no new seller asking price data it’s too early to comment on price movements, though high demand is needed to support a stable market.

“If there are attractive lower deposit mortgages available it would help sustain the recovery in activity. The industry has been caught by surprise, as we were all expecting the housing market to stay closed until at least June.”

Our Top Tips On Moving Home

You have found your new property and are excited to finally have the keys in your hand – now you just need to move your possessions from your old home into the new model. We have put together some top tips to make this process as stress-free as possible.

Choose the right removals firm
It may seem like an easy task, but finding the right removal company to help to transport all of your goods will make all the difference. Depending on the amount of items that you are moving, and the nature of the items (for example you may need a specialist if you are moving a high-worth object like a piano) you may need multiple firms to help facilitate your move. Do your due diligence and rely on testimonials, as well as recommendations from your estate agent and, if possible, have a company come and give you a quote based on the items you would like to be transported. We would also recommend booking as early on as time will allow, as often people will want to move on similar dates, such as school holidays.

Get planning
Planning for your removal early will help you to deal with any excess moving stress, as you will know that you have everything in hand. Once you have chosen the right firm, you can get planning – from which rooms to start packing first, to how you are going to pack your items up. The only way to truly stay on top of things is through using lists – make a list for each room you are packing up and create a timeline also so you have visibility of how much time you have on your hands. Decide how much material you will need to pack your items in terms of boxes and wrapping to keep items safe – people always underestimate the volume they will require so try to be as generous as possible in your predictions.

Pack!
Of course, packing the actual items up is the name of the game, but it isn’t just a case of throwing things into boxes – there is a subtle art to packing that will help to keep you organised. We would recommend starting from the top of the house and moving downwards – pack up what is in your loft according to the frequency with which you use the items and then move through each room methodically. When packing electricals, pack the cables separately and then bind the wires with masking tape and write on the tape which appliance the cable is for, and with clothes keep them on the hangers and pop a black bag over the top of them using an elastic band to hold the tops of the hangers together.

Create A Fact File
A fact file is such a useful goldmine of information – essentially it is an information document that you put together about your property including details of where the stopcock is for the water, the gas and electricity switches and so on which will help the people moving into your home enormously. Speak to whomever you are buying your property from and have them create one for you using your own as a template – try to include as much information as possible as this will help you in the long run. Information can include heating systems and how to use, any warranties or guarantees on items in the property, bin collection days, reliable tradesmen you have used, burglar alarm details, paint colours around the house – the list is really endless but it should act as a handbook to the property.

How To Make Your Own Face Mask

As the country enters the next stage of its strategy to ease the lockdown restrictions whilst preventing the spread of coronavirus, the Government has issued new advice to the public on how to stay safe whilst in public spaces (such as shops and public transport). The Government has asked people to wear face masks to cover their nose and mouth where social distancing is not possible. This advice has been detailed in the Government Covid-19 recovery strategy, detailing its plans for lifting the UK out of lockdown; which can be viewed here.

To prevent any additional pressure to the NHS in obtaining crucial PPE supplies, the Government has issued instructions on how to make your own face mask at home, by simply using elastic bands and some cotton fabric or even just an old T-shirt. Your face mask should be worn so that you can breathe comfortably whilst covering your nose and mouth. You should sanitise or wash your hands before putting it on and taking it off, and you should wash your face mask regularly.

 

We share how to make your own face mask at home below*:

Making a face mask using an old T Shirt

You will need:

• One old T-shirt that you no longer want
• Scissors

Method:

Step 1: Cut a straight line across the width of the T-shirt (front and back) approximately 20cm from the bottom of the T-shirt.

Step 2: From a point 2cm below the top right-hand corner of the fabric, make a 15cm horizontal cut through both sides of the fabric that is parallel to the top of the rectangle.

Step 3: Cut down towards the bottom of the fabric until you reach approximately 2cm above the bottom edge. From here, make another 15cm cut that runs parallel to the bottom of the fabric to make a rectangle that can be discarded.

Step 4: To make the ties, cut open the edge of the 2 long strips of fabric. Unfold the main piece of fabric and place over the mouth and the nose. The 4 strips act as ties to hold the cloth face covering in place and should be tied behind the head and around the neck.

Making a face mask using a piece of cotton fabric

You will need:

• two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric
• two 20cm pieces of elastic (or string or cloth strips)
• needle and thread
• scissors

Step 1: Cut out two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric. Stack the 2 squares on top of each other.

Step 2: Fold over one side by 0.75cm and hem, then repeat on the opposite side. Make 2 channels by folding the double layer of fabric over 1.5cm along each side and stitching this down.

Step 3: Run a 20cm length of elastic (or string or cloth strip) through the wider hem on each side of the face covering. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle to thread it through. Tie the ends tightly.

If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the covering behind your head.

Step 4: Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the covering on the elastic and adjust so the covering fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping. These elastic loops fit over the ears.

*Our step by step guides have been taken from the Gov.uk website here.

How To Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

Most of us spend the colder months of the year dreaming about the summer, but it can be easy to forget how inhospitable the heat can make your home.

Ensure you have all the fun in the sun with none of the discomfort with our guide to keeping your home cool this summer.

Use your windows and curtains
It’s a shame to shut all that natural light out of your house, but unfortunately it comes with a good deal of heat. Closing all your curtains or following the sun’s progression across your house will seriously lower the temperature.

However, as soon as the sun has gone down, we would recommend throwing open the curtains and windows so that you can let in as much of that cool evening air as possible.

Build a makeshift air con
Can’t afford the electric bill and initial cost of an air conditioning unit? You can create your own air con by placing ice/frozen ice packs in a washing up bowl. You can then place it at an angle in front of a regular fan, which will circulate cold air around the room.

Switch off the electrical appliances
Every single one of your appliances gives off heat whilst they are on. During the hottest hours of the day you should avoid using washing machines, dishwashers, hobs and ovens. Lighting should also be avoided when the sun goes down.

Drink plenty of water and eat cold
Staying hydrated and eating cold food like salad will help you to keep your body temperature down and avoids using any heat generating appliances.

Sleep on the lower floor
Have you ever headed upstairs when its sunny, only to find that the upper floors are far warmer than the lower floor? This is because heat always rises to the highest possible point. If you are struggling to sleep, ditch the sweltering upper floor and sleep downstairs – either on your couch or your airbed.

Insulate
You probably see a lot of advice articles recommending insulation for keeping your home warm in the summer, but did you know that it also keeps the heat out in the summer? If you don’t already have insulation in your home, it will practically pay for itself in the money saved on energy bills.