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Property

November 2017

NEWS

Winter proof your garden Page 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Bidding reopens for 2022 games

Christmas is coming...

Page 6

Page 5

Proof is in the pudding!

Page 10

Winter proof your

Hello from the Editor! Welcome to the November issue of Property News! The clocks have changed and the nights are drawing in which means the colder weather is no longer just an occasional visitor but is here to stay for the foreseeable future! But before it fully takes hold, now is the time to focus on your home and garden so that you can curl up and keep warm afterwards, safe in the knowledge that you and your home are ready for winter. Find out on pages 2-3 how you can do just that. And when it comes to inside your home, a study conducted by NSF International and Charles River Accugenix group revealed that over 340 different types of bacteria were found on only 30 objects! Turn to pages 8-9 to find out more and how you can combat the spread of germs. Also in this issue, we take a look at the bidding for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (page 5); the ban on hidden credit card charges (page 4), as well as a look at selection of quirky Christmas advent calendars that are sure to help build excitement to the big day (pages 6-7)! So for now, happy reading and we’ll see you again next month. Linda McKeown Editor

garden W

e’ve spent all summer looking after our gardens but winter is usually the time we let them fend for themselves. But fear not; here we give you some top tips to help ensure your garden gets the attention it deserves this winter There are many ways to help prep our gardens and spending a little longer on them before the weather turns cold will help ensure it looks its best when it comes to the spring and summer months.

Lawn

Autumn is the perfect time to revitalise your lawn if it’s looking rather dull and untidy. Remove any old grass clippings and moss to allow your lawn to breathe and grow freely. You should either rake or scarify which will thin the lawn leaving the soil exposed in some places making an ideal seed bed. Avoid any shaded areas as these will naturally thin over the winter months anyway. Autumn is also a great time to lay any new turf allowing it plenty of time to become established before the summer months.

Bulbs

Before winter well and truly kicks in you should plant any spring bulbs. Snowdrops, crocus and daffodils all enjoy well fertilised free draining soil. Ensure you add in lots of sharp sand and some bone meal, which will release nutrients and feed into the bulbs over time. Remember, when planting bulbs you should plant two or three times the depth of the bulb itself, it also works well in terms of the width too. Finally, for a more dramatic effect you can plant the same variety of bulbs in large amounts or drifts.

Protection

Ideally you should move any pots planted with tender species into a conservatory or greenhouse for protection over winter. These include; cannas, agapanthus and palms. You should also wrap horticultural fleece around the trunks of any palm trees which are planted in the ground along with a thick mulch of bark around the base; this will help protect them from any frost.

Just because it’s cold and dull outside it doesn’t mean your garden has to mirror this. Your winter garden can still be interesting and exciting

Greenery

Borders and structures

Shrubs and trees

Garden furniture

Just because it’s cold and dull outside it doesn't mean your garden has to mirror this. Your winter garden can still be interesting and exciting. Try incorporating some evergreen shrubs like Phormium tenax to add structure and Cornus sanguniea (Midwinter Fire) which have gorgeous flame-coloured stems.

Prune any branches on shrubs to improve the overall shape and give your hedges a final trim before any frost appears. Remove any dead and damaged branches which will prevent stems from rubbing together

Autumn is also a great time to lay any new turf allowing plenty of time to become established before the summer months

Paths and paving

Cut back any herbaceous perennials in the borders and remove any dead foliage, leaves and weeds. After this you can repair any structures that may be needed. Focus on any decaying timber, pest infestations, fencing and the greenhouse or summer house.

Cover up any garden furniture that you won’t be using during the colder months to prevent any damage and rust. If you have a garden shed or garage then ideally store them away, meaning they will be fresh and clean.

Compost bins

Autumn is usually the time when you clear out your vegetable plots which generates plant material for the compost heap. Use last year’s compost around the garden and make room for this seasons waste. It’s okay if it’s not yet quite ready to use, you should just turn it improving the decomposition.

Winter Wildlife

Clean any leaves and debris from all paths, it’s much easier to do this whilst it’s dry. It might also be worth cleaning your paths with Give the animals a helping hand by making a stiff brush and soapy water as it will be less your garden wildlife friendly. Place bird slippery in the winter months and will remove feeders around the gardens at different levels any mildew and algae. as squirrels and other animals may enjoy these treats too. Don’t deadhead all of your plants just yet, leave the seed heads on for wildlife to Before locking your tools and equipment nibble at during the cold months. Hedgehogs away for the winter you should sharpen and also appreciate some shelter when the weather clean them for the following months ahead. gets cold, you could either buy a ready-made Ensure that all of your tools have been dried shelter or create one with different containers.

Garden equipment maintenance

thoroughly and oiled to prevent any rust. You may also consider sending your lawn mower in for a service to ensure it’s in perfect condition in spring.

Page 3

will be a significant cut to their overall revenue. Other companies, however, won’t want to risk losing their customers. Nevertheless, it is expected that not all companies will raise their prices, so there will be some substantial savings to be had, particularly with expensive purchases. A 2% or 3% saving on certain car purchases, for example, or on wedding venue bookings, will mean thousands of pounds being saved.

New ban on all

hidden debit and credit card fees means new

transparency

T

hey were hiding from consumers, but now all those rip-off subcharges on card payments have been found and banned. But what do we do until the ban takes effect?

Sub-charges, hidden charges or, as many of us refer to them simply as, rip-off charges, are something that we are all often involuntarily subjected to when choosing to pay by debit or credit card, either online or in-store. Such hidden charges added onto your bill at the checkout, particularly online, have meant that the cost of the goods and/or services you’re paying for get driven up. Airliners and holiday companies are said to be among the worst of these offenders, levying fees up to 3% when conducting transactions via credit cards or debit cards. The new law will be implemented on 13th January 2018, with immediate effect, and will mean firms caught breaking the new law thereafter will be forced to reimburse customers, and even face fines. The rules will apply to any UK company which is selling to UK consumers.

Cashing-in on the ban Due to this banning of hidden card fees, it is to be expected that some companies will generally raise their prices to compensate for what

Page 4

Since the Red Card for Card Charges campaign has started, launched by James Daley, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet have all reduced their fees, the cuts of which span up to as much as 3%. These companies therefore might be worth looking out for, but shopping around in general is always a great thing to do.

How to avoid these hidden fees until January

Paying with cash instead is always a great answer, of course, but shopping around is so important these days, especially with regard to hidden fees found in conveyancing companies’ costs, which are among some of the most deceiving. Many conveyancing firms invent disbursements, adding tasks and charges to the bill that should be covered by the conveyancing solicitors’ basic fee, and requiring a substantial price for them, even though they will probably be in small print or hidden away. If the offer on the internet initially looks too cheap and good to be true, it probably is. While on holiday, you should insist on being charged in local currency, so to avoid the ‘dynamic currency conversion,’ which is a system that allows retailers and foreign banks to set their own conversion levels, sometimes adding up to 10% on bills.

The new law will be implemented on 13th January 2018, with immediate effect, and will mean firms caught breaking the new law thereafter will be forced to reimburse customers, and even face fines

Banks also charge holidaymakers to use cards abroad, with average fees of 2.8% for debit card payments and 3.5% for credit cards, whilst for ATM usage specifically, the charges are on average 2.9% for debit cards and 4.9% for credit cards. So, when asked what currency you want to pay in, always opt for local currency. And why not use a prepaid currency card with only local currency? It’s a great alternative to card payments as it locks in your exchange rate when you buy.

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BIDDING REOPENS FOR

2022

COMMONWEALTH GAMES

The expected cost of staging the Games in Birmingham was thought to be between £600 and £750 million

The new deadline, announced by Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), is now 30th November and has been reopened so that more time can be given to all interested parties to enable the submission of fully compliant proposals.

D

espite Birmingham’s bid not being compliant, there was, however, no announcement as to why its bid had in fact failed to comply.

Who placed bids?

WHAT ARE THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES? The Commonwealth Games (comprising nations who were either formally British colonies or dependencies of those colonies) is a multi-sport event and, like many other international sporting events, occurs every four years. The latest was hosted in Glasgow in 2014, while 2018’s event will take place in the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Scotland and Australia have both hosted the event before, and even though seventy nations are participating in Gold Coast 2018, only six nations have attended every single Commonwealth Games dating back to 1930 (discarding the Inter-Empire Championships in 1911) – England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

For the 2022 campaign, two cities initially launched bids for the Games – Durban in South Africa, and Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. However, Edmonton withdrew their bid in 2015, and Durban withdrew theirs earlier this year. A new bidding process was then opened, through which Birmingham placed a bid, making them the sole contender to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, having been the only city of the Commonwealth of Nations to have submitted a legitimate bid before the deadline of 30th September. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Victoria in British Columbia Canada and a potential Australian entry were possible bidders but none came forward. Birmingham won initial backing from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, and their next challenge was to convince the government to approve the bid and underwrite the sporting event’s costs, who then subsequently agreed to cover 75% of the total funds. Local authorities would then have needed to raise the further 25% of the overall cost of staging the event. The expected cost of staging the Games in Birmingham was thought to be between £600 and £750 million with venues listed in Birmingham’s bid including an upgraded Alexander Stadium, Villa Park, the NEC, Birmingham Arena, Symphony Hall and the University of Birmingham. There were also facilities planned in Coventry, Sandwell and Leamington Spa. Until the UK government decided to back Birmingham’s proposal, Liverpool had actually been preparing its own bid and Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson claimed that his city’s bid was compliant and that ‘there are definitely questions to be asked’ about why the government chose a ‘non-compliant bid’. Page

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Christmas is coming… Okay, we know it’s not quite Christmas yet but the cards and gifts are already starting to make an appearance in shops, so make sure you’re ready to count down to the big day with these fabulous, and unique, advent calendars!

Lego City Advent Calendar Celebrate the countdown to Christmas with LEGO® City flair, featuring 24 different surprises, one for each day of December, including Santa’s sleigh, a gingerbread house, Christmas tree, plane, snowman, coast guard helicopter and so much more. Includes several different builds and six mini figures.

£18.95

www.sam-turner.co.uk

f

The Beer Hawk Advent Calendar 17 beer styles, 7 different countries, one amazing beery month. 23 Breweries, 24 days, one incredibly memorable advent calendar! It’s filled with Belgian classics, crafty cans, German brilliance and British beauties including pale ales, saisons, porters, lagers and more - but there are also a few rather special surprises and see if you can also spot the seasonal Christmas movies dotted around the calendar.

Crayola Christmas Countdown Activity Advent Calendar What a perfect way to encourage creativity! Each morning in the 24 days running up to Christmas, there’ll be a new surprise that your little ones can get creative with, such as craft projects, homemade gifts, finger puppets, and colouring activities.

£65

www.adventcalendar.beerhawk.co.uk

£19.99

www.johnlewis.com

e

d

e MAD Beauty - Merry Christmas Advent Calendar A beauty gift behind every door! This advent includes: 2 x 3.5g Lipsticks, 1 x 3.5g Powder compact, 3 x 5ml Nail polish, 3 x 6.5ml Lip Gloss 2 x 2.5ml Lip gloss, 2 x 3g Eyeshadow, 1 x 0.5g Eyeliner, 1 x 0.5g Lip liner, 1 x 3.5g Blusher, 1 x 2.5g Blusher plus a Sharpener, Toe Separator, Lip Brush, Blush Brush, Nail File, Applicator and Nail sticker sheet.

£19.99

www.lifestylish.com

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Mini Houses Advent Calendar Create a woodland inspired festive setting with this wooden mini houses advent calendar. Made from MDF, this advent calendar includes 25 miniature houses enhanced with snowy rooftops and finished with cut out Christmas trees and deer. Perfect for filling with your favourite chocolates to help countdown to Christmas. Dimensions: 37.5x33x5.5cm.

£70

www.amara.com

d Ginmas Advent Calendar

by TheLittleBoysRoom on Not On The High Street This Christmas you can buy a loved one (or yourself ) an Gin advent calendar! It’s filled to the brim with mini bottles of unusual tonics and comes with a full-sized bottle of Lakes Explorer Gin so that you’ve got enough to last you throughout December to mix with the various tonics you’ll be trying out! It’s Gin-tastic! Included in the hamper are: a 70cl bottle of Lakes Gin and 24 bottles of assorted 20cl tonics.

£124.95

www.noths.com

Body Shop 25 Days Deluxe Advent Calendar As well as being filled with a selection of your favourite beauty treats; from body care and skincare, to make-up and accessories, these advent calendars are also hiding a few more surprises behind their doors. You’ll find a feel-good action to complete every day, and the fun and games don’t stop there. Once you’ve opened box 25, your calendar transforms into a trivia quiz to play on Christmas Day!

£65

www.thebodyshop.com

Playmobil Royal Ice Skating Trip Advent Calendar Countdown to Christmas in regal fashion with the fantastic Royal Ice Skating Trip advent calendar from Playmobil! Includes three Playmobil figures, diorama, animals and lots of accessories including a wearable bracelet. Each window has a fun surprise to build your Playmobil scene as Christmas day approaches!

£19.99

www.johnlewis.com

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Keeping bacteria at bay in the home

A

You may clean your home daily, weekly or even monthly but our home isn’t just housing our families, it’s also likely to be to millions, maybe trillions, of different bugs and bacteria

ccording to the Society for General Microbiology, some bacteria can divide every 20 minutes if they have the right temperature and nutrients. Not all bacteria is harmful but there are some household germs that can make you sick and these include staphylococcus aureus or staph, yeast and mould, Salmonella, E. coli and fecal matter. A study conducted by NSF International and Charles River Accugenix group investigated microbial hotspots regarding the most contaminated objects in the households. The results were shocking and found that over 340 different types of bacteria were found on only 30 objects. Disgusting! The NSF also found that areas where food is stored or prepared had more bacteria and fecal contamination that other places.

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IN THE KITCHEN Items that need frequent cleaning are: • Chopping boards • Coffee machines • Fridges (especially when there is cross contamination between raw and cooked foods) • Sinks and work surfaces

TOP TIPS 1.

Use disinfectant wipes on taps, fridge surfaces and work tops 2. Change tea towels a few times a week 3. Heat damp sponges in the microwave for one minute to kill bacteria 4. Soak sponges in warm water with half a teaspoon of bleach Professor Markus Egert, a microbiologist at Furtwangen, led a study which found that a well used kitchen sponge could be home to nearly five trillion bugs and is even dirtier than toilet waste. He Said: “A cubic centimetre of sponge tissue contains seven to eight times more bacteria than there are human beings living on the Earth”.

DOOR KNOBS AND HANDLES The less than obvious places for germs to hide are door knobs, handles and light switches. The bathroom light switch actually had more bacteria than the door knob, the NSF found. Use disinfecting wipes and ensure you clean these spots once a week. Use a new wipe for every different spot instead of using the same one; you don’t want to spread more germs.

MAKE UP BAG Make up brushes and applicators can be a prime area for germs, which can even cause skin and eye infections. Make up products should be kept at room temperature in a clean and dry space. You can clean make up brushes my washing them once a week with soap and water or use an alcohol spray to disinfect them.

BATHROOM The bathroom is the place that ideally you want to be pristine. You scrub all the dirt and grime off your body and ideally you want to be fresh and sparkly. Unfortunately, bathrooms are the perfect place for germs to grow

The NSF also found that areas where food is stored or prepared had more bacteria and fecal contamination than other places

due to the moisture of hot baths and showers. In particular pay attention to: • The bath tub and shower tray • All drains • The floor (especially around the toilet) • Bath towels (which should be changed once a week) • Tooth brushes (which should be changed every three to four months) and holders

LAUNDRY Wet clothes left in a washing machine will allow germs to flourish, even in a small amount of time. Ideally, transfer clean clothes to the dryer immediately. If clothes sit around for more than 30 minutes you should repeat the cycle and clean them again.

LIVING ROOM Many items are contaminated with different germs but shared devices often carry more, such as: • Remote controls • Computer keyboards • Phones • Tablets • Game controllers

The NSF found that yeast, mould and staph were found on these items. Disinfectant wipes are especially handy if these devices come in contact with dirty surfaces. According to Chem-Dry, a carpet can hold up to eight times its weight in dirt and might even be dirtier than a city street!

BEDROOM According to Dreams, you spend around one-third of your life on your mattress. It plays an enormous role in your life, general health and well being. Ideally you should change your mattress every eight years. Not only do you want a comfortable sleep but you don't want to accommodate unwelcome guests. Dead skin cells, dust mites, germs and even bedbugs can often live in your mattress making it super unhygienic, even if you clean your sheets regularly. A mattress protector can also allow you to sleep more soundly and will help ensure your mattress stays fresh. The great thing about these is that they can be popped into the washing machine at anytime.

Top 5 essentials • DISINFECTANT WIPES • CLEAN SPONGES • BLEACH • MULTI-PURPOSE SPRAY • HAND WASH IN EVERY TOILET

According to ChemDry, a carpet can hold up to eight times its weight in dirt and might even be dirtier than a city street!

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Page 9

RECIPE CORNER

! g n i d d u p e proof is in th

The

cious ple and deli im s is th h it hts w y! e colder nig sure to enjo re a Warm up th y il m fa t the whole dessert tha

Toffee apple bread & butter pudding

Preparation time 20 minutes Cooking time 1 hour, 10 mins Serves 6

Method

Ingredients 3 red dessert apples • Juice of half lemon ar • 4 tbsp golden caster sug





nation 397g can caramel such as Car into rounds 6 brioche finger rolls, sliced



3 eggs



400ml full-fat milk • 200ml double cream • 1 tsp vanilla extract





Page 10

al) ice cream, to serve (option

n slice into 1. Core the apples, and the p piece. a rings about as thick as 50 e and Toss through the lemon juic 2 /3 of ut abo d 2 tbsp sugar. Sprea of a large the caramel over the base cm one. baking dish. Try a 20 x 30 apple rings 2. Layer the brioche and lines. Dot in the dish in overlapping amel spoonfuls of the leftover car s of apple here and there, leaving bit the eggs, poking out. In a jug, whisk and 1 milk, cream, vanilla extract e over tbsp sugar. Pour the mixtur king the brioche and apples, ma n wrap sure it’s all well covered, the least at in cling film. Set aside for fridge. 30 mins, or overnight, in the s 3. /ga fan C 3. Heat oven to 170C/150 scatter Uncover the pudding and sugar. with the remaining 1 tbsp the top is Bake for 45-50 mins until set. The golden and the custard has around g caramel should be bubblin g puffed the edges and the puddin am. cre up. Serve with vanilla ice Delicious! goodfood.com/recipes/ Find the recipe at www.bbc ding toffee-apple-bread-butter-pud

GIVE YOUR VACANT RENTAL PROPERTY A WINTER HEALTH CHECK

If you’re a landlord and you are likely to have any properties that are going to be vacant over this time, then it’s important to ensure that you get them ready for the winter months With the onset of winter just around the corner, signalling colder days and nights, as a landlord you will be well aware that the winter months can be troublesome when it comes to maintaining your property. However, as it is your responsibility to ensure that it remains a suitable – and safe – property for future tenants, there are essential steps that need to be taken to avoid the potential for bigger problems down the line. So, what are the key areas that you will need to focus on? First and foremost is a boiler check. As a landlord it’s your responsibility to ensure that the boiler is fully functional and has been given an up to date CORGI certificate. Get it serviced before the start of winter as doing so will help ensure that the pipes don’t freeze when the colder weather sets in.

As a landlord it’s your responsibility to ensure that the boiler is fully functional and has been given an up to date CORGI certificate

Hand in hand with a boiler check is an inspection of the pipes. Help minimise the risk of burst frozen pipes by making sure that any pipes located outside are correctly clad. If they’re not, this can be easily done by yourself, with the materials readily available from DIY stores. Remember to address any cracks in pipes too. Although they may look fine now, come the colder weather they could cause issues – and potential damage – to your rental property if left untreated. Visiting the vacant property is a must too. A great idea to help you get through the colder months problem-free is to leave the heating on at a low temperature during particularly cold spells. This will help defend against the risk of frozen pipes. And while you’re there, open the windows to help air circulate, and check taps still have water flowing freely, as any disruption to water flow could indicate a problem. And last, but by no means least, consider taking out unoccupied property insurance to help protect your property – even when it is empty!

Talk to us now about our innovative range of marketing tools that will ensure your property isn’t vacant this winter! Page 11

St. Peters Rise, Bristol

£225,000

Well-presented 2 bedroom end of terrace property situated in the popular Headley Park area. The property comprises of a lounge, kitchen/diner, utility room/WC, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The property also benefits from off street parking at the rear.

Wraxall Grove, Bristol

£248,500

3 bedroom semi-detached property in the popular area of Bedminster Down. The property comprises of a lounge, kitchen, conservatory, downstairs W/C, three bedrooms and a bathroom. Also benefits from off street parking for 2 vehicles.

[email protected]

0117 244 4441

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION

Nailsea Close, Bristol

£254,995

Stunning 2 bedroom plus study end of terrace new build property in the popular area of Bedminster Down. The property consists of a lounge, kitchen, shower room, 2 bedrooms, study room and bathroom. Also benefits from off street parking.

Kings Head Lane, Bristol

£299,995

Beautifully presented 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow situated in the popular Uplands area. The property comprises of a lounge, kitchen, conservatory, shower room, master bedroom with en-suite and two further bedrooms. Also benefits from off street parking and a garage.

allenstone.co.uk

Winford Grove, Bristol

Guide Price £299,995

Three bedroom town house new build with contemporary finish. The property has fantastic far reaching views across Bristol and is in the popular Bedminster Down location. This property has a well planned layout and is set across three floors comprising of a lounge, dining room, kitchen, downstairs W/C, master bedroom with en-suite and two further bedrooms. Also benefits from off street parking and enclosed rear garden.

Chessington Avenue, Bristol

£229,995

Immaculately presented 2 bedroom end of terrace property located in the popular area of Whitchurch. The property comprises of a lounge, kitchen/diner, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. Benefits from off street parking and no onward chain.

[email protected]

0117 244 4441

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION

Hestercombe Road, Bristol

£269,995

Fantastic 3 bedroom semi-detached family home situated in the heart of Headley Park. The property comprises of a lounge, kitchen, conservatory, bathroom and 3 bedrooms. Also benefits from off street parking, garage and no onward chain.

Kilmersdon Road, Bristol

£239,995

Well presented 3 bedroom semi-detached property offered with no onward chain. The property consists of a lounge, dining room, kitchen, downstairs W/C, 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. Benefits from off street parking and a garage/carport.

allenstone.co.uk

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