Learn all the latest market news with James Anderson




Richmond Park

With its wide open spaces, grasslands, and herds of deer, Richmond Park is a great place to spend time outside.
 
Start planning your spring walks with your friends and family. 

Click here to read Richmond Park.



WWT London Wetland Centre

The London Wetland Centre is a surprisingly undiscovered tourist attraction in South West London! You couldn't find a nicer location for an afternoon getaway into nature.


Click here to read WWT London Wetland Centre.



UK house prices make a stable start to 2023

 
House prices are not as important as many analysts like to suggest! If you are selling, you may get a little less, and if you are buying, you may pay a little less. Equally, if prices rise, you may get more for the home you place on the market, but then the house you buy will cost you more!
 
However, house prices give a good indicator as to the state of the UK property market. What we really want is stability, and it appears that after years of soaring prices, there is evidence to suggest that the property market is reaching a plateau.
 
According to the Halifax, average house prices in January 2023 have hardly changed since December 2022, while average house prices are still £5000 higher than in January 2022.*
 
Price growth and price increase are not the same
What appears to be happening is a dip in growth, which is very different from a dip in prices. It’s no secret that prices have increased a bit too rapidly over the past few years. A softer, slower market is a more stable market. Buying a home is a long-term investment, and slow and steady wins the race! Some analysts shout "crash" like a nervous passenger in the front seat of a speeding car, but now that the market is driving forward at a slower pace, a crash is unlikely.
 
The law of averages
Many of the figures and stats we hear about are based on averages. It’s important to take these with a rather large pinch of salt! If you are a first-time buyer or looking to move, when you turn on the news and hear the average house price in the UK, you may feel somewhat intimidated, perhaps even frightened! For example, in November 2022, the average price of a property in England was £315,073.** However, there is no substitute for getting online, talking to your agent, and exploring physical viewings to see how far your money can really go!
 
The market is settling down
Another good sign that the market is settling down is the return of more competitive mortgage interest rates. Many lenders are now offering deals hovering around the 4% mark. Stable house prices and stable lending rates create nicer conditions for settling down in the home you want.
 
You accept the price, but you love your house
Price is something you must accept when selling or buying. Who knows, you may love the price if it’s right! Ultimately, you are investing your time and emotion in a house that you want to be the best version of your home. House prices in the long term will inevitably rise, and you don’t want to accept anything less than the right home.
 
To see how much property, you can really get for your money, get in touch.
 
Halifax*Office for National Statistics**



Freshen up your rental property this spring

Spring is a time for change; it’s warmer, summer is on the way, and daffodils start blossoming, bringing more brightness to the extra light of longer days. Wildlife steps into action, and so can you when it comes to improving your natural habitat! Whether you let a property or rent a property, sometimes the challenge is to make changes with the seasons that don’t cost the earth.
 
Bedrooms
A great way to freshen up your bedrooms is to change the bedding. Choose bright, positive colours that reflect the season. Add some light. If you are a landlord, consider freshening up the walls with a fresh coat of paint. Fresh flowers are best—a single tulip can achieve a lot, but realistically, some dried flowers placed on the windowsill add a blast of cheery colour and vibrancy to stimulate your senses.
 
Kitchen
The kitchen is the central hub of most homes, so it gets the most use and will benefit from a good spring clean and declutter. But if you can do more, consider retiling, painting, or replacing worktops and cabinets. Lighting can really add to the feeling of space; perhaps change the blinds. Some potted herbs grow nicely in the kitchen and offer enticing scents while adding colour. They are also handy to have close at hand when you are cooking up a seasonal treat. Tomato plants will also grow nicely on your kitchen windowsill, and come mid-summer, you'll save on your food bill!
 
Gardening and outdoor living
The possibilities here are endless, even if you rent. Get out in the garden and plant a few flowers or trees. Maybe buy, or even better, make, some garden furniture and start thinking about how you want to enjoy a summer’s night: in front of a fire pit, stove, pizza oven, or maybe you would prefer to barbeque. Simply clean up, cut the grass, and plant a herb garden. If you want low maintenance, plant some solar-powered lights instead! As a landlord, you will not want to get too carried away in the garden, so keep it simple and make it a nice place to be. Create a nice outdoor dining area or sundeck to keep your tenants happy.
 
The sitting room
The sitting room will become less of a cosy place to hibernate and more of a light, airy, and fresh place to chill out. Add a few mirrors and maybe some artwork to the wall. If you have a fire, you may opt for more candles with seasonal scents, so it will smell like spring or summer as you no longer need the heat from the fire quite as much. Rugs can also add a lot of colour, whether on the floor or on the wall; the effect is the same. Plants are a great way to add colour and, quite literally, breathe some fresh life into your living room. There are a host of new and exotic choices that will add vibrancy in spades and help you relax after a hard day.
 
Don’t forget the bathroom
A simple spruce up with some new towels, new fixtures such as a soap dish, another mirror, or some rustic shelving to place some bath salts and more plants! Re-grout between the tiles; any little bit you do will have a big impact.
 
Welcome home!
The front of your home should always greet you with a warm welcome, so make it happen with flowerpots, a neat and tidy weedless facia, clean windows, and a shiny front door!
 
Get in touch.



A month of March memories for your home

March has a lot to offer when it comes to making happy family memories for you to cherish, especially in your home. All too often, when we view a potential home, we think of everything from price, location, how much we like the property, the size and aspect of the rooms, and its features. We become obsessed with décor, design, and monetary value. With so much going on in March, now is a good time to look at your home in a different light.
 
How does your home feel during some of the days that make March such an inspiring time of year?
 
Spring
Spring is a welcome release from the dark, cold days of winter and shows all of us proof that the darkness and cold really do not last forever and that things really can change! Change is something that we both love and despise as humans. Unless we are certain that it’s for the better. Is spring memorable in your home, or do you feel disconnected from the new forces of nature that show up in the form of flowers and wildlife? It’s important to feel connected to nature in your home. You only need to look at the effect that glass door walls have on blending the indoor and outdoor worlds, connecting you to nature with a single glance. Then, when you open the doors, an orchestra of nature and the scents of the garden waft into your home. It’s mood-altering and makes for a truly beautiful living experience.
 
Mother’s Day
Whether you are a mother, son, daughter, or partner helping to arrange the little details, from breakfast in bed to flowers. How well does your home befit the occasion? A dining room that feels special and unique marks not just this occasion but many memorable meals. Does each room work in conjunction with each other? Does the special ambience you create in the dining room flow to the sitting room?
 
Longer evenings and changing clocks
Your time is precious. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just press pause every now and again to stretch out your evenings? Creating spaces in your home that allow you to relax quickly and appreciate the moment may not stop time itself. They will, however, slow time down as you become absorbed and tuned into the moment. Create a relaxing outdoor space where you can light candles with a view of the sky at sunset, add music, and then breathe. You can create such spaces in a variety of settings (such as your living room or bedroom) in your own unique way. Then you will become more connected to your surroundings and your home.
 
International Day of Happiness
Taking place in March, this is another great excuse to celebrate laughter and joy. But who needs an excuse? Take the time to create a home that makes you feel at one with, and it will take care of you, so happy moments become happy days and months for a better way of life.
 
Make a fresh start on your property search. This March, look for a home that will bring you a thousand happy memories. Browse our properties.