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LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PROPERTY NEWS

MARCH 2022

NATURAL LIGHT IN YOUR HOME BRING IN NATURAL LIGHT INTO YOUR HOME CLOCKS GO FORWARD MAKING THE MOST OF THE EXTRA DAYLIGHT

POWER TO WOMEN TWO DAYS THAT WE CELEBRATE WOMEN

NEW F1 SEASON OUR GUIDE TO THE NEW F1 SEASON FOR 2022

ARTS AND CRAFTS LET YOUR CREATIVNESS FLOW WITH THESE CRAFTS

CONTENTS COVER STORY

LIFESTYLE

Concorde Anniversary How an aircraft revolutionised travel

PROPERTY

St Paddy’s Day We have the prefect Irish meal plan for you

Clock go forward make the most of the extra daylight

Natural Light How to bring natural light into your home

March gardening guide we’ve got your garden preparation for the month ahead

About us Get to know us a little better and see why we are your agent of choice

Our latest instructions Take a look at a selection of our latest properties on the market

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

8 13

Power to women Celebrating Women this Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day Arts and Crafts We have arts and crafts for the adults this month

SPORT

F1 season Our guide to the upcoming F1 Season

WELCOME TO THE MARCH ISSUE!

pring is in the air; the weather is improving and this month the clocks go forward. So, with so much to look forward to now the long winter is over, let’s jump right in. On pages 2&3 we look at ways to make the most of the longer days with a feature about how to let more natural light into your home. Moving further afield, on pages 4&5, on its anniversary, we look at how Concorde changed travel and brought us all closer. March is also a month where we celebrate the women in our lives, with not just one but two special days. On pages 8&9 we have a look at the history of both Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day, and that isn’t the only special day

PROPERTY NEWS

this month. St Patrick’s Day is on the 17th, so we have some fantastic Irish recipes to get you salivating. And if all those great features aren’t enough, we also have our monthly gardening guide, perfect to get March started the right way. We also have an in-depth look at the upcoming Formula 1 season, a preview for International Book Day and a special piece all about Arts and Crafts for both children and adults. So, sit down, grab a cuppa and enjoy this month’s magazine. Jonathan Wheatley Editor

Bring Natural Light into your Home

hen a prospective buyer views a property for the first time, one of the first things they’ll be looking out for is an abundance of natural light. We are all instinctively drawn to places filled with natural light as they promote a sense of freshness and optimism. Natural light also has a measurable benefit in your home. It has been shown that regular exposure to natural light can reduce the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder and promote productivity. A regular dose of natural light will also increase the amount of vitamin D you absorb. Vitamin D is one of the few vitamins which we cannot absorb through our food so regular exposure to sunlight is essential. Vitamin D helps to control asthma symptoms and keeps your immune system under control meaning you are less likely to pick up colds etc. Another factor to consider is the money natural light could be saving you in your home. Natural light can produce savings as you will be less likely to turn on lights and may also use less heat and air conditioning. So, what can you do to bring natural light into your home?

LET THERE BE

LIGHT COLOUR CHOICE It’s a classic move when looking to sell your home to paint the walls white or pale, neutral colours. One reason for this is to allow prospective buyers to view your home as a blank canvas upon which they can put their own stamp. Another reason is that pale colours, especially white, reflect light and can give the illusion of larger rooms. And why stop with the walls? Often, the darkest part of a room may be the flooring. If you’re prepared to invest some time and money into the project, opting for pale wooden floors, laminate or carpets will dramatically lighten a room. If you have small children or pets then pale floors or carpets may not be for you, so why not brighten up a room with a light-coloured rug?

MIRRORS Whilst the addition of mirrors into your home won’t bring in more light, it will reflect the light you do have. Consider the direction light enters the room from when deciding where to place the mirrors. You could also choose metallic surfaces for furniture, such as your coffee table or select soft metallic furnishings to boost the reflective effect.

LESS IS MORE A minimalist approach to decorating is a la mode right now which makes sense when we also consider the trend for natural light. An overly cluttered room absorbs the light which enters the room and

reduces the effect and benefits it can have. One point worth considering is whether you need heavy curtains. There are many sheer options available which will still allow light into your room. In the bedroom removing curtains will allow the sun to be your natural alarm clock. Although, if your sleep schedule doesn’t quite align to the sun’s early summer rises, why not consider smart blinds which you can program to open when you wish to wake up?

WINDOWS AND DOORS Windows and doors are the most obvious way to allow a large amount of natural light into your home. In spaces such as bathrooms or attic conversions, consider installing skylights to welcome light into an otherwise dark space. Aluminium frames let in the most amount of light as the material is light enough for slim sightlines. Another option to consider is a gable window. Gable windows work even in the shallowest of roof pitches and welcome an abundance of light. In terms of doors, bi-fold doors offer the much-desired inside-outside living trend and can be left open in fine weather to fully benefit from natural light and fresh air or closed to allow just the light to flood in when it’s cooler.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PLANE

CRAZY How a diminutive aircraft revolutionised travel

he Earth started to shrink 53 years ago this month. On March 2nd, 1969, a tiny, pencilslim aircraft blasted down the runway at an airfield in France and gracefully took off for its maiden flight which may have only lasted 27 minutes but changed the face of aviation forever. The brilliant-white, rapierlike phenomenon named Concorde, was unlike anything seen before. It’s iconic delta-wing design made it impossibly aerodynamic, while the

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unique drooping nose was a necessary addition to aid pilot visibility during take-off and landing. It was without doubt the most identifiable manmade object in the sky. However, it didn’t achieve its primary purpose – supersonic

Fastest time on its maiden flight from Paris to Washington in 1973 and it peaked when reaching 1,350mph (twice the speed of sound)

flight – until its 45th outing but once it pierced the sound barrier, the world took notice: this streamlined bird meant business. Particularly for transatlantic traffic.

This was at a time when effective large-scale long-haul travel was in its infancy. Boeing had only just tested the gigantic and clumpy 747 when the waif-like Concorde poked its nose out of its hangar for the first time, and although the lumbering Jumbo Jet beat the joint Anglo-French gamechanger into service by a few years, the allure took a knock once the new kid on the block got his feet under the table. Big may have been beautiful

and commercially viable, but small was lightning-fast and pretty flash. The records tumbled. Concorde almost halved the previous fastest time on its maiden flight f rom Paris to Washington in 1973 and it peaked when reaching 1,350mph (twice the speed of sound) on one 3,740 mile journey f rom London to New York in 1996. For perspective, that’s around half an hour slower than it takes to get f rom London to York by train, while the fastest sub-sonic flight came just four years ago - an almost tortoise-like 5hrs 13min. It’s potential certainly opened the eyes of a blinkered public who had previously seen two weeks in Majorca or the Costa Blanca as an exotic getaway. By tracing Concorde’s route, the places only talked of in geography or history lessons, and which provided glamorous locations on the big or small screen, suddenly became accessible. Rival airlines responded, investing in new advanced fleets which could fly more customers faster and cheaper than ever before. America’s

Mid-West, Florida, the West Coast and Mexico became dream locations instead of just dreams. For instance, a seven-day ticket direct to San Francisco, flying economy light with Delta this month, can cost from as little as £372 and will take a few minutes more than 11 hours. Imagine that: breakfast at a well-known drinking establishment which does a good fry-up in Heathrow, and dinner at a balmy openair fish restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf. Not that long ago you may have needed an overnight stop-over to do that. Destinations such as Las Vegas have now become synonymous with stag or hen-dos, which is hardly surprising. Again, Delta offers five-day tickets to Sin City from £486 and the key words there are five days. Pre-Concorde only a red-eyed businessman would have undertaken such a trek in such a short time. Now it’s a straightforward flight for casinos, nightlife and the Grand Canyon (if you can drag yourself away from the bright lights) and back home to check the emails ready for a return to work on Monday. And while it may be tempting to think that Concorde solely offered a glorified commuter route to the business and political centres of New York and Washington, it made three trips a week to Miami f rom 1984 as well as the winter sunshine playground of Barbados, before running a service

However, the combined land masses of Europe and Asia stubbornly resisted the supersonic age, largely because of noise concerns, although Concorde’s first commercial flight from London was to Bahrain. to Dallas for a year. Air France’s bird also went directly to Rio, Mexico and Caracas. However, the combined land masses of Europe and Asia stubbornly resisted the supersonic age, largely because of noise concerns, although Concorde’s first commercial flight from London was to Bahrain. The desert kingdom proved a refuelling stop for a time when Singapore joined the list of destinations, finally opening up a new route to the Orient which other carriers quickly exploited. Concorde, though, was doomed to fail. It carried fewer than 130 passengers and routes were quickly pulled because they were not viable, with only New York passing the profitability test. It survived, though, as a charter plane, offering – among others – round-the-world trips that could last up to two weeks to allow for sightseeing. The actual flight time was around 30 hours. Beat that, Phileas Fogg.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

GET

YOUR

IRISH

ON IN THE KITCHEN S t. Patrick’s Day may mark the national day of Ireland, but it is one of the rare holidays that is celebrated throughout the world. Whether it’s adorning the colour green all over the body, or drinking generous amounts of stout, everyone loves to get involved in some way. So this year, take advantage of the numerous Irish-inspired recipes, and design the perfect St. Patrick’s Day menu.

SODA FARLS

Let’s start off with the entree. A little something to whet your appetite. The name may sound fancy, but this traditional Irish soda bread is only different from a normal soda bread as a result of it being more flattened and rounded (not dissimilar in look to a potato scone. To make four portions, mix 250g plain flour, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda in a bowl. Slowly pour 225 ml of buttermilk into the bowl, mixing all the time, until a soft, wet dough forms. Mould this dough into a circle on a floured surface, and cut into quarters. Heat a skillet or heavy-based frying pan over a lowmedium heat. Add the bread and cook for 8-10 minutes on each side, and serve with butter.

IRISH STEW

And what better to dip your bread in, than a classic stew. You can use beef or lamb as your meat, as well as any vegetables that are to your liking. But the piece de resistance is Guinness!

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After you’ve browned your meat, and added your veggies (bacon is also great for extra earthiness), add stock and one can of Guinness for the perfect Irish flavour. Then simmer for two hours to ensure that the meat is tender, before removing the lid, and continue to simmer for a final 30 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce to a gravy-like consistency.

COLCANNON

This side dish will pair perfectly, and it’s extremely simple to prepare. Fry one savoy cabbage and 140g bacon, and add to 1kg of mashed potatoes. Heat 150ml double cream with 75g of butter, and when it begins to sizzle, add to the potato mix.

IRISH TIRAMISU

If oven space is against you, consider this dish for a boozy twist on this classic Italian delicacy. After whisking four egg whites, keep the yolks aside and add 100g caster sugar to them. Whisk in 500g mascarpone to the yolks, as well as 100ml Irish cream (or more if you prefer!). Then fold in the whites. Pour 300ml strong instant coffee into a serving dish and top with your mixture. To finish, grate 25g dark chocolate over. Allow the dessert to cool in the fridge overnight, and before serving, dust with cocoa powder.

MAKING THE MOST OF THE CLOCKS GOING FORWARD 27th March marks the point where, after months of dark mornings and evenings, the clocks go forward by an hour, and the brighter seasons can officially begin. So why not take advantage of the longer days, and utilise the mornings and evenings. Here are some of the ways you can use this extended time to improve your health.

TAKE A STROLL

The warmer months are synonymous with beautiful sunrises and sunsets. So make sure you don’t miss them! And more than just the beauty of early mornings and evenings, the brighter mornings means more of a chance of being able to see some of the wildlife that makes an appearance in Spring and Summer. Tree bumblebees, which only landed in the UK around a decade ago, are sure to show up in the warmer months, and Chiffchaffs are set to be the first bird-related visitor to the wildlife scene this Summer. Aside from visual benefits, it is widely known that getting up early boosts not only your brain health, but your heart health as well. On top of this, studies suggest that earlier starts can bring about deeper sleep, due to exercising resulting in an increase in melatonin, the natural sleep hormone.

UP THE EXERCISE

If you’re looking to get more active in line with the weather improving, then the warm evenings are the perfect time to go for a run. Not only are you more motivated to exercise during daylight hours, but

exercising after a day of business means that muscle strength and endurance will be greater than in the mornings. A study from SELF magazine also explains that those who choose to work out in the evenings can train up to 20% longer.

CREATE A SCENIC MEAL

And as Summer approaches, a whole new way of eating becomes popular once more. Amongst the foods which are in season right now are fruits such as kiwi and apricots, and vegetables, including asparagus, purple sprouting broccoli, and spring onions - all of which are fine ingredients for a salad, and can pave the way towards a healthier diet. It’s not just the food itself though that’s beneficial during this time of year. Making the most of the more pleasant weather, and eating outdoors, can lower blood pressure and heart rate. And through the increase in Vitamin D intake, due to enjoying greater levels of sunlight, this can boost your immune system. And moreover, changing your surroundings just cheers you, and the whole family up, as you look forward to Summer!

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MOTHERS’ DAY AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Women have been on a fascinating journey over the past 100 years, so it’s perfectly fitting that there are at least two major days in the year which celebrate their wonderful strength and integrity

Women have been on a fascinating journey over the past 100 years, so it’s perfectly fitting that there are at least two major days in the year which celebrate their wonderful strength and integrity Taking place on 27th March this year, Mothers’ Day is a day to celebrate the wonderful work your mother has dedicated her time to for the sake of ensuring you are safe, comfortable and happy. We all know the work of a mother is heroic indeed, and mothers are often considered the superheroes we never speak of, for the efforts and sacrifices a mother makes are very special.

way of honouring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. After beginning her campaign to make Mothers’ Day a recognized holiday in 1905, the very first Mothers’ Day subsequently took place in 1907 when Jarvis held the first official service of worship at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Andrew’s Methodist Church now holds the International Mothers’ Day Shrine.

Mothers’ Day is an occasion which is celebrated in various parts of the world to express respect, honour, and love towards our mothers, and it’s an event to honour the contribution of mothers, acknowledge the efforts of maternal bonds and the role of mothers in our society.

Anna Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mothers’ Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. She and another peace activist and suffragette, Julia Ward Howe, had been urging for the creation of a "Mother’s Day For Peace" where mothers would ask that their husbands and sons were no longer killed in wars. The official Mother's Day holiday first began in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s death in 1905, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mothers’ Day as a

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In 1908, the U.S. Congress rejected a proposal to make Mothers’ Day an official holiday, joking that they would also have to proclaim a "Mother-in-law's Day". However, owing to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, by 1911 all U.S. states observed the holiday, with some of them

officially recognizing Mothers’ Day as a local holiday, with the first being West Virginia, Jarvis’ home state, in 1910. In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mothers’ Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honour mothers. It’s an understatement to state that women haven’t had it as easy as men throughout the many centuries, particularly throughout the many patriarchal years society has had men at the helm, superseding over women in many respects. Occurring on 8th March this year, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the wonderful and inspirational progress made by women, to call for even further change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. The earliest purported Women’s Day observance, called "National Woman's Day" originally, was held on February 28, 1909, in New York City, organized by the Socialist Party of America at the suggestion of activist Theresa Malkiel. There have been claims that the day was commemorating a protest by women garment workers in New York on March 8, 1857, but researchers have alleged this to be a myth intended to detach International Women’s Day from its socialist origin. In August 1910, an International Socialist Women’s Conference was organized ahead of the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark. Inspired in part by the American socialists, German delegates Clara Zetkin, Käte Duncker, Paula Thiede, and others proposed the establishment of an annual "Women's Day", although no date was specified. The 100 delegates, representing 17 countries, agreed with the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights, including women’s suffrage. The following year, on March 19th, 1911, the first International Women’s Day was recognized by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. In Austria-Hungary alone, there were 300 demonstrations, with women parading on the Ringstrasse in Vienna, carrying banners honouring the martyrs of the Paris Commune. Across Europe, women demanded the right to vote and to hold public office, and protested against employment sex discrimination. Having been celebrated for just over 100 years now, the message and power of International Women’s Day remains two-fold – to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and also to mark a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

GUIDE

MARCH

GARDENING

With warmer weather comes a busy month in the garden

ith more sun, warmth and longer daylight, March is a month of prep for the garden. All the hard work you put in now, will show in the summer months, and even beyond. Flowers, veg, herbs, trees and lawns will all need some love to ensure perfect harvests and beautiful growth and colour. March is a month to sow seeds, have a tidy and do some general maintenance to get your gardening looking good, and to ensure health and vigorous growth of flowers, vegetables, herbs, and trees. Seeds can be bought from garden nurseries, online or even from budget shops such as Poundland or B&M, and for more unusual types, online shops have you covered. Looking after plants when they’re young, is a surefire way to ensure healthy plants when they’re older. Keep them warm with plenty of light and offer them support when they start to grow by using ice lolly sticks and twine. Keep them moist but not too wet and always ensure they have good drainage wherever they are. Here is our guide to jobs to do in each part of your garden. And while your preference may be for either ornate wrought-iron or wood garden furniture, don’t skimp on the upholstery: plenty of cushions … you need to be comfy in that recliner. If you’ve chosen a particularly shady spot, there’s no need to sweat as lovely, textured greenery such as box, bay or griselinia can create a charming, cool sculptured look, particularly as a backdrop for a dramatic yucca or hebe. And if you want to be really private, a screen of gently swaying bamboo lends a tropical feel, although having said that, they do best in a sunny spot. At the end of the day, though, this is all about engaging your senses, which brings us on to a water feature. The

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sound of running water adds an air of serenity and calm – sorry, leaving the outdoor tap running on to the gravel doesn’t cut it – and there are some great value solarpowered fountains on the market. But if all this talk of amour doesn’t float your boat and all you want is a more productive garden, then now is the time to, quite literally, dig in. Even if the ground is still cold, much can be done particularly if you have a greenhouse or conservatory - to kickstart the growing season. If conditions allow and the soil is frost free, gently dig over and prepare the area you have earmarked for planting. This will expose soil pests to cold night-time temperatures and bird predators, giving new plants a better chance to prosper and, if you have moved into a new house, will help identify whether you have inherited a light or heavy soil. Obviously, a stodgy, clay-based soil will need longer to warm, and this will affect planting plans. But if you discover a light, sandy mixture and live in a mild part of the country you can crack on – after weeding and allowing the soil to settle – by covering the area with clear polythene, cloches or fleece to warm the ground before sowing. Once you have decided on your crop rotation for the year, then you can sow broad beans, carrots, parsnips, early varieties of beetroot, salad onions, lettuces, radishes, spinach and summer cabbages under the covers, while seed potato tubers can be chitted in the greenhouse. As for those who want colourful borders in the spring and summer, it’s about time to start off summer bedding, such as lobelia and Busy Lizzies, in propagators, giving them a head start before they are big enough to be planted out or in hanging baskets.

THE GARDEN Keep deadheading daffodils and other spring bulbs but leave the foliage to grow die back naturally. Roses need pruning early in the month, to prevent diseases and encourage prolific growth and flowering. Sow hardy annuals such as nasturtiums, opium and Californian poppies and Calendulas in their final spots. Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies, alliums, begonias and crocosmia in pots and borders. Tidy up borders ready for the new season and mulch. Sow native wildflower seeds in a prepared area for pollinators. Give the lawn its first cut of the year. Don’t go too low as the ground could still be wet.

THE HERB GARDEN Sow basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, sage and other Mediterranean herbs in small pots on a warm, sunny windowsill or in the greenhouse. Prune overwintered rosemary plants. Cut back the top third of the plant, taking care not to cut into the older woodier looking part of the plant. Sow mint into pots, or even better use overwintered plants to take root cuttings from. Mint is very invasive, so take control by only growing in pots throughout the season. Chervil, coriander and dill can be sown directly into soil outdoors now.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN If you haven’t done already, plant bare-root fruit trees either directly in the garden or into pots. Plant onions, shallots and garlic sets in rows in your vegetable border. Don’t plant them too deep and remember to label them. Chit early and maincrop potatoes. If it is a warm March you can sow certain vegetable seeds directly in a warm spot in your garden such as carrots, parsnips, lettuces, radishes, spinach, turnips and summer cauliflower. Now is the time to sow peppers, chillies, tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines indoors either in a warm, sunny spot or under heat lamps. Sow at least three different varieties of tomatoes and five chillies to ensure a nice mix.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

WORLD BOOK DAY UK AND IRELAND

Reading and writing still matter more than ever, and it’s a commodity we should never lose as a nation

orld Book Day for UK and Ireland is upon us once again, and it comes at yet another time reading has been particularly prevalent over the course of the last year, with many of us still choosing to stay indoors, warm and cosy over the winter. But this generally means much more reading, and with the rise of technology ever-increasing, it is a gift indeed to find, or rediscover, your passion for the written word. The international World Book Day annually takes place on 23rd April. This is because the Spanish writer Vicente Clavel Andrés wanted to call for a day which would recognize the life and career of one of his greatest heroes, fellow Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, who still is widely regarded as the greatest ever writer of the Spanish language. Cervantes death date was 23rd April, which also marks many other great writers’ birth and death dates, including William Shakespeare who passed away on exactly the same day as Cervantes, 23rd April 1616. The first official World Book Day was celebrated in 1995 and has been going strong ever since. The United Kingdom decided to start having its own version of World Book Day and this began in 1998, being launched

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by Prime Minister Tony Blair at the time at the Globe Theatre in London. During this event, several million schoolchildren in the UK were given a special £1 World Book Day Book Token (€1.50 in Ireland) which could be redeemed against any book in any UK bookshop. A specially created WBD anthology priced at £1 (€1.50 in Ireland) was also published. Since then, World Book Day UK has followed a similar pattern, gradually growing each year to encompass more initiatives, such as Spread The Word, Quick Reads Initiative and Books for Hospitals. Every year, the number of children receiving a World Book Day Book Token has increased. World Book Day celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007 with the publication of 10 £1 books. Since then every child in fulltime education in the UK and Ireland has been entitled to receive a £1 World Book day Book token every year. Several million schoolchildren in the UK were given a special £1 World Book Day Book Token (€1.50 in Ireland which could be redeemed against any book in any UK bookshop.

POLE POSITION N

After last season’s dramatic conclusion, the 2022 F1 season kicks off this month

etflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive has helped people with an F1 shaped hole in their lives since the dramatic conclusion of the 2021 season, however, this month the world’s greatest drivers will once again put the pedal to the metal and thrash it out to find out who really is the greatest driver in the world.

Dhabi. A new car has evolved for the season too. The 2022 regulations have one guiding principle which is to allow closer racing through improved aerodynamics using clever features such as wheel covers and over-wheel winglets.

Last year, Max Verstappen won his first ever F1 title, stopping Lewis Hamilton from equaling Michael Schumacher’s record of five titles in a row. With both drivers in their prime, could we be seeing the dawn of a new iconic rivalry in the sport to compete with Niki Lauda and James Hunts great rivalry?

In the drivers’ seats, the usual comings and going have occurred. Valtteri Bottas has left Mercedes after five seasons and joined Alfa Romeo while fellow Brit George Russell has joined Hamilton at Mercedes. Ex-Red Bull driver Alex Albon replaces George Russell at a new and improved Williams team, while Red Bull have kept their driver pairing with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in the cockpit.

This season kicks off on the 20th March in Bahrain and stretches 23 races, ending on the 20th November in Abu

One thing is for sure, this year could see one of the most iconic seasons in F1s history…

F1 CALENDAR 2022

24th July France - Le Castellet

20th March Bahrain - Sakhir

31st July Hungary - Budapest

27th March Saudi Arabia - Jeddah

28th August Belgium - Spa

10th April Australia - Melbourne

4th September Netherlands - Zandvoort

24th April Italy - Imola

11th September Italy - Monza

8th May USA - Miami

25th September Russia - Sochi

22nd May Spain - Barcelona

2nd October Singapore - Singapore

29th May Monaco - Monaco

9th October Japan - Suzuka

12th June Azerbaijan - Baku

23rd October USA - Austin

19th June Canada - Montreal

30th October Mexico - Mexico City

3rd July UK - Silverstone

13th November Brazil - Sao Paulo

10th July Austria - Spielberg

20th November Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

GET YOUR

CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING A

mid these trying times when adults can feel so easily overwhelmed, the need to step back from the demands at home and at work often becomes necessary. Don’t feel guilty for needing some me-time. With the pandemic turning everyone’s lives upside down, prioritising your mental health should be a top priority. There are several things adults can do at home to unplug and relax the mind. Reading a book, meditating, doing yoga, listening to music, or just taking a nice stroll outside are some activities you can engage in. But if you want something that’s relaxing but still mentally stimulating, doing arts and crafts have also been proven to be beneficial. Art instils pride. The knowledge that we can create, innovate, think creatively, and make something beautiful can help us feel a sense of accomplishment. This way, engaging in arts and crafts can help boost morale and confidence, which are beneficial emotions when dealing with stress and challenges. So, what have you got to lose? Try out one of the following ideas to connect to your inner crafter.

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MOSAIC ORNAMENTS

If you happen to have any broken, scratched, or useless CDs, then you are in luck. Specifically, you start by breaking them apart to create a mosaic effect for just about any art project. Whether you make them to give away as gifts or to hang on your own tree, these creative ornaments are sure to sparkle!

EMBROIDERY

Embroidery is a fantastic way to enjoy mindful crafting, with endless projects that are certain to aid your concentration and help you relax. A classic craft that’s easily customised to suit your every idea, embroidery helps you create works of art one stitch at a time. From personalised patches for clothing and accessories to unique gifts and home decor, embroidered designs will add stunning decorative detail to anything you choose. With a few starter stitches, you’ll be able to start creating stunning embroidery work. For more advanced work, take your embroidery to the next level by adding dimension with whipped (or threaded) stitches, as well as flowers and other 3D effects. Check out Hobby craft online or YouTube for tutorials on how to create basic or advanced stitches.

prioritising your mental health should be a top priority.

DÉCOUPAGE

The word découpage comes from the French verb découper, “to cut out”. The découpage technique can be used to personalise almost any item in your home and the great thing is that the designs can be as simple or as complex as you like. Put simply, découpage involves cutting out pictures, gluing them to an object and then coating the pictures and the object with layers of varnish.

DECOUPAGE: THE BASIC TECHNIQUE 1. Prepare surface Once you have selected your item to decorate, make sure the surface of it is clean and dust free as the varnish magnifies any imperfections. 2. Cut out pictures Select your pictures and cut them out. It may be easier to cut out the pictures roughly with scissors first and then cut them out more precisely with a craft knife. If a white edge shows around the picture you have cut out, colour the edge with a crayon/pen that matches either the picture or the background on which it is to be used. 3. Arrange the pictures Before you glue the pictures in place, ensure you are happy with the positioning. Use tweezers for placing tiny pictures. 4. Glue the pictures in place Smooth out any wrinkles and wipe away any excess glue with a barely damp sponge. 5. Varnish the pictures. Ensure the glue is dry before starting to varnish and leave the varnish to dry thoroughly between each coat. Anything from four to 15 coats may be needed depending on how thick the decoupage paper is and how smooth and durable a finish is required. To achieve a finely lacquered finish you will need to sand lightly after a few layers of varnish and wipe away all dust. Keep repeating this process until you are happy with the finish. Check out craft groups in your local area to connect with fellow crafters or simply use your crafting time as 'me time'.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

INTRODUCING

WINNER FOR SOUTH CROYDON

Paul Meakin Estate Agents have just won The British Property Award for South Croydon. Their team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging period, which focused on customer service levels.

2021

Paul Meakin Estate Agents have now been shortlisted for a number of national awards which will be announced later in the year. The British Property Awards provide agents throughout the UK with an invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against the service provided by their local, regional and national competition. Agents who go that extra mile and provide outstanding levels of customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace.

ESTATE AGENT IN SOUTH CROYDON

Paul Meakin Estate Agents

77-79 Mitchley Avenue, South Croydon, Surrey, CR2 9HN 0208 657 5000 www.paulmeakin.co.uk

THE BRITISH PROPERTY AWARDS are one of the most inclusive estate agency awards providers as they do not charge to enter. This has enabled their award to be structured in a manner that ensures maximum participation, on average judging over 90% of agents that meet their minimum criteria on a local level. The team personally mystery shops every estate agent against a set of 25 criteria to obtain a balanced overview of their customer service levels. The judging criteria is

INDEPENDENTLY JUDGED

OVER 25 CRITERIA

periods to ensure that agents have been rigorously and fairly judged. Robert McLean from The British Property Awards said “Our awards have been speciﬁcally designed to be attainable to all agents, removing common barriers to entry, such as cost, to ensure that we have the most inclusive awards. Our awards have also been designed to remove any opportunity for bias or manipulation. If an agent has been attributed with one of our awards, it is simply down to the fantastic customer service levels that they have demonstrated across a prolonged period of time. Winning agents should be proud that their customer service levels provide a benchmark for their local, regional and national competition”.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BRITISH PROPERTY AWARDS PLEASE CONTACT US ON 0800 987 11 22

JUDGING YOUR LOCAL MARKET

Sanderstead 020

8657 5000 Selsdon 020 8651 1234 Lettings 020 8657 8000

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION

Our

Reviews

First impressions count Maximise your home’s potential and create spacious and inviting rooms that will photograph well and allow your property to shine

hen buyers are looking at properties online or in estate agent’s particulars, they make their minds up in seconds.

launch our very own VIEW360. Which is a 360 Virtual Tour of your home and floorplan, all completed in one visit and is sure to wow your potential buyers.

That is why it is so important to have the best photographs of your home, getting the photos right and it could mean higher offers and a quicker sale. Now more than ever we are finding that buyers are also looking for virtual tours of a property to how they feel on a virtual walk around before they visit in person.

The VIEW360 means buyers can walk around the entire property before even setting foot through the door. The feedback from sellers and buyers has been tremendous and the quality of physical viewing conversion from viewing to offer has increased.

We are proud to be one of the first independent agents to

The end goal is to help potential buyers envision your house as theirs. So remember decluttering will make your home more spacious and entice potential buyers!

To make sure we capture your property in its best light we will require your assistance in helping to prepare for the photography being done.

Prepare your home for our photographer • Move any vehicles from the outside of the property • Remove any clutter from outside the property such as bins and hoses • Mow the lawn and tidy round the garden including weeding and removing leaves • Clean the windows • Open all doors, curtains and blinds • Turn on all the lights • Excuse any potentially photo-bombing pets • Turn off TVs • Moving furniture around may help to make a room look more spacious • Fresh flowers help bring pop of colour and bring your photos to life. RECEPTION ROOMS • Arrange cushions to look smart and tidy • Set dining room tables. • Removing rugs, especially where you have wooden or tiled floors • Any children’s toys, DVDs, magazines to be cleared away • Open all curtains and blinds BEDROOMS • Make the bed and choose neutral bedding • Anything stored under the bed or on top of wardrobes should be completely out of sight • All drawers and wardrobe doors should be shut KITCHEN • Clear all work tops and make sure there are no tea towels or chopping boards on show • Move bins out of sight • Clear away appliances • Close all cupboards • Hide all fridge magnets • Clear the sink (no dirty dishes!) • If you have pets, hide their food bowls and beds • A full, fresh fruit bowl can add a flash of colour BATHROOM • Remove all clutter, ensure personal items/ toiletries are out of sight • Close the shower curtain • Keep the toilet lid down • Remove toilet paper from its holder • Any towels should be neatly arranged and folded, and chosen to compliment the room www.paulmeakin.co.uk

GOING THE

EXTRA MILE

...and across the map! sanderstead@paulmeakin.co.uk | selsdon@paulmeakin.co.uk | lettings@paulmeakin.co.uk

EXCLUSIVELY AT

SELLING WITH PAUL MEAKIN When you choose to market your property with Paul Meakin, you will receive your very own FREE property website to share online with your family and friends. Social media has become the fastest way online to create traffic to your property, and you can personalise your very own website - NO OTHER AGENT IN OUR AREA CAN OFFER THIS!

REACH MORE BUYERS FOR YOUR PROPERTY THAN THOSE AGENTS USING COMMON MARKETING PRACTICES!!! PROPERTY VALUATION - Here at Paul Meakin we can offer you a free, no obligation factual and accurate appraisal of the current market value of your home. Our experienced Property Consultants will provide you with a valuation based not only on their in depth knowledge of the local area, but also utilising our extensive database of recent properties sold. FOR SALE BOARD - Our boards are highly visible and one of the most effective marketing tools which is available 24 hours a day. DATABASE OF BUYERS - We contact our qualified and registered prospective buyers as soon as we receive your instructions, your property details are instantly emailed to them. Understanding our buyers’ requirements is paramount for us to help them find their perfect home. BRANCH NETWORK - Our offices are computer linked, allowing us to market your home through the entire network, maximising and exploiting every sales opportunity. Open 7 days a week (seasonal).

Whether you’re looking to sell or put your property up for rental, when you choose to market your property with Paul Meakin, you can be confident that we’ll ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Giving you peace of mind every time Our innovative approach to marketing, together with our unrivalled customer care, makes us the right choice to market your property and guide you through your move.

The power of social media Your property will also receive its very own FREE property website showcasing a property video, OFSTED reports, and property brochures; something that we are proud to say is exclusive to Paul Meakin in our area. In addition, our qualified database of tenants will also be notified of your property coming to market on their dedicated search websites where they can book viewings and offer feedback. All our tenants are fully referenced and vetted, making sure the highest of standards are met to find the right tenant for you. By sharing your personalised websites with family and friends across the social networks you will be widening the audience to find the right buyer or tenant for your property, increasing the chances of a quicker sale or rental. Video microsite on our website

Rightmove featured property advertising* Feature in our monthly magazine

Comparables of houses SOLD and price guides

Accompanied viewings. We’ll be on hand to show you around properties. So you can ask us questions that some buyers feel they can’t ask the sellers.

ACTIVATE

Print marketing:

Exceptional property sourcing skills.Property Everyone brochure,at Paul Meakin photography, floorplans has extensive property and area knowledge. This means we can and newspapers advise you on alternatives – should your first choice of location be unavailable. COMMON MARKETING

RECEIVE YOUR VERY OWN

EXCLUSIVE

PERSONALISED

PROPERTY WEBSITE

ONLINE MARKETING - Besides the exposure on our own site, Paul Meakin Estate Agents are alsoTech thegimic only Croydon based agent (Drones, 360 tours) on all three major websites Rightmove/ Zoopla/ On the Market.

SOLD

SELL Portals and websites

www.paulmeakin.co.uk

Feature on our Facebook, Twitter and Google+

Property video

All our applicants receive your property on their own search for a home website

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 • Obtain 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 • Obtain 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 Paul Meakin 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 • Obtain 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 • Forward 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 in, and start ordering any new furnishings for your new property. Start

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! 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.

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

Two weeks – Confirm all details

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!

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

Moving day

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!

ME E T THE TEAM

Paul Meakin FNAEA Company Founder/Director

Emma Meakin Managing Director

Sam Weller Branch Manager

Amy Reynolds Assistant Branch Manager

Croydon has been my home since 1955 (aged 4) and I was educated at two local schools, Gilbert Scott and Shirley High. I have been an Estate Agent within the area for 50 years; a milestone I’m still coming to terms with. I have worked with many young and enthusiastic Estate Agents, just as I was aged 18. Starting work in Selsdon I often asked what makes a good Estate Agent? For me it’s simple, be prepared to go the extra mile and be willing to show your clients you care. I hope we are able to help you with your property needs and I remain available at our Sanderstead office to receive your feedback.

My parents opened Paul Meakin in 1973 and throughout my childhood I witnessed their dedication and passion for estate agency within the Croydon area. My first working day within the Company was in 1996 and after working in every corner of the business I became a Director in 2005 and then Managing Director in 2021. I pride myself on delivering a transparent and professional service, available 24/7 for my sellers, buyers and landlords as well as building relationships they can trust and a service they will recommend and return to. Out of the office I spend as much time as I can with my family supporting and enjoying their passions for Cricket and Football.

Starting as a Trainee Negotiator, I have worked for Paul Meakin for 15 years, and I’m now managing the Selsdon office. I love working for the Company as you are so much more than just a member of staff, you are a valid part of the family run business. I’ve lived locally my whole life and there is nothing more satisfying than helping someone find their dream home. In my spare time I like to socialise with friends and family.

I chose to join the team in 2016, after having already acquired 5 years’ experience in the industry. I chose to join the firm because they are a successful family run business and I saw the opportunity to progress in my career. This has proved to be the best step I could have made. I enjoy meeting new clients, assisting them with their moving plans from the moment they instruct me right through to their moving day.

Allison Banks Lettings Manager

Lynsey Radziszewska Senior Sales Negotiator

Aimee Taylor Lettings Co-ordinator

I have been working for Paul Meakin for 21 years, I star ted as a Sunday lady and progressed to Lettings Manager, acquiring experience and knowledge with all aspects of sales and lettings. The testament for my long service is working for a family run business and their understanding and care of their staff and clientele. I still get a buzz out of helping landlords find good quality tenants. To relax I enjoy keeping fit at the gym and socialising with family and friends.

With 5+ years’ experience working within lettings, I am pleased to have found such a friendly company to work for and showcase skills. The culture of the business being very clear, helping one another and ensuring we are servicing clients in an honest and reliable way is something I truly believe is the key to success when working with the public. I look forward to settling in and expanding the lettings profile with the team.

I have recently joined the team to assist the Lettings department, having worked in the legal industry for 19 years, my passion is in customer service and assisting people. I’m excited to learn and progress in my new career, I am really enjoying being apart of such a hardworking and welcoming team. I live locally and outside of work I spend my time with my husband, two young daughters and new puppy!

Adelle Gibson

PA to Director & Marketing Coordinator

I joined the Paul Meakin team to assist Emma as the business expands. Working for a successful family run business is fantastic, every member of the team is extremely dedicated and passionate about what they do and always put the client first. I bought my first proper ty in the area a couple of years ago and have been interested in the industry ever since. My background is in marketing, design and branding and I am very much looking forward to working on lots of exciting new plans for the business.

sanderstead@paulmeakin.co.uk | selsdon@paulmeakin.co.uk | lettings@paulmeakin.co.uk

Sanderstead 020

8657 5000 Selsdon 020 8651 1234 Lettings 020 8657 8000

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION

H E RE TO HEL P

Elle Spurring Senior Sales Negotiator

Heather Beaumont Sales Negotiator

Gill Arkwright Senior Sales Progressor

Natalie Chapman Senior Sales Progressor

I joined the team here at Paul Meakin in 2021 looking for an opportunity to develop my skills and progress in my estate agency career, after having already built up 4 years in the industry from a corporate background. I now love being part of a family run business who demonstrate a wealth of knowledge and experience. Helping clients find their dream home and move on to the next chapter of their lives is an extremely rewarding experience, and something I feel passionate about delivering within my work.

Having started at Paul Meakin as a sales negotiator and I’m loving every second of my time here. I enjoy speaking and meeting new clients and helping them find their perfect home. The team is great at Paul Meakin and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my time growing my estate agency career with them. In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym and socialising with friends and family.

I’ve worked for Paul Meakin as part of the team for over 10 years. My career began as a part time member of staff when my children were small, gaining knowledge in all aspects of estate agency along the way. Although I enjoy the variety of day to day tasks, my passion is for sales progression where satisfaction comes with effective problem solving for clients. My spare time is taken up with yoga, Pilates and country walks as well as spending time with family and friends.

I have a strong background in estate agency having worked in the corporate sector for 18 years. After having my son, I joined Paul Meakin in 2011 because they are a well-known family run business who have a reputation for providing top quality customer care to their clients. I enjoy providing support in all aspects of the business. My spare time is taken up with my family, in particular watching my son play football and cricket.

Adam Watkins Sales Manager

Amelia Clark Sales Negotiator

Amy Hedgecox Trainee Sales Negotiator

Ally Ward Sales Coordinator

I joined Paul Meakin in 2021 and have been in the industry since 2009 across Surrey & London with experience of residential sales and land acquisitions. Providing great customer service is paramount to me while guiding clients through the process of moving home. Being part of a independent estate agent allows me to offer a flexible bespoke service while giving local market advice. When away from the office I enjoy spending quality time with the family and having previously been a chef I still like to experiment in the kitchen.

After joining the team in 2019 and beginning my career in the industry, I have developed my knowledge of the property market. I thoroughly enjoyed taking clients around properties and love being a member of our professional and hardworking team. I get great satisfaction helping someone find their dream home. In my spare time, I like to see my friends and family and enjoy running.

I joined the team in 2021, I was always in interested in property and so pleased to be starting my career at Paul Meakin. I have a background in sales and design and was keen to broaden my skills. I enjoy taking clients to properties and love helping them find their dream home. I enjoy being part of such a welcoming and hardworking team. In my spare time I love going out with family and friends, going to the gym, and keeping busy however I can.

Being family run, the organisation has strong values and always strive to do their best for their clients, providing an efficient tailored service, this appealed when I was seeking to move into working in the property field. My background is in charity and I have a strong work ethic. Away from work I am kept very busy by my two young children and attempting to transform my own property, having moved to the area in 2019.

www.paulmeakin.co.uk

LETTING A GENT IN SOUTH CRO YDON

ST LD C

The Windings, South Croydon Asking Price of £650,000

Paul Meakin are delighted to present to market this spacious three bedroom semi detached family home located in a highly sought after residential road with scope to extend STPP. The ground floor features two generous size reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room overlooking garden, utility room and downstairs cloakroom. The first floor offers two good size bedrooms with fitted storage, further single bedroom/study and family bathroom with separate WC. The rear garden is approx. 100ft long, being mainly laid to lawn with a large patio area adjacent to the rear of the property, there is also access to the side for the garage.

LD SO STC

Heathhurst Road, South Croydon Asking Price of £975,000

We are delighted to market this beautiful Edwardian family home full of charm and character, boasting Seven bedrooms with many features including original stained glass windows, high ceilings and open fireplaces. This property has double glazed replica windows in all the main rooms, large living room, spacious dining room, two bathrooms and downstairs cloakroom.

sanderstead@paulmeakin.co.uk | selsdon@paulmeakin.co.uk | lettings@paulmeakin.co.uk

Sanderstead 020

8657 5000 Selsdon 020 8651 1234 Lettings 020 8657 8000

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION

The Woodfields, South Croydon

Asking Price of £800,000

Paul Meakin are delighted to present to market this spacious and well-presented three bedroom detached family home situated on a popular tree lined residential area of Sanderstead. The proper ty briefly comprises of two good size reception rooms, conservatory, modern refitted kitchen, utility room and downstairs cloakroom.

Penwortham Road, South Croydon

Asking Price of £765,000

Paul Meakin are delighted to present to market this spacious four bedroom semi detached family home situated in a favourable residential road within walking distance to Purley Oaks and Sanderstead train stations. Boasting two/three reception rooms, modern refitted kitchen with utility room and downstairs shower room. Upstairs offers two large double bedrooms, two further good size bedrooms and modern refitted four-piece bathroom suite. The rear garden features a large shingle area adjacent to the rear of the property with steps up to the tiered lawn area and a studio situated to the back of the garden. There is ample parking for several vehicles on the shingle driveway and garage.

www.paulmeakin.co.uk

LETTING A GENT IN SOUTH CRO YDON

Grasmere Road, Purley Asking Price of £750,000

Paul Meakin are delighted to present to market this stunning four double bedroom detached family home located within walking distance to Purley station, Purley town centre and regular bus services to Croydon and the surrounding areas. The property has undergone significant modernisation by the current vendor while maintaining the many period features. The ground floor consists of two large reception rooms, modern refitted German kitchen with integrated high spec appliances, conservatory, utility room and downstairs shower room. The first floor offers four double bedrooms and large modern refitted shower room.

Rutland Gardens, Croydon Asking Price of £800,000

Paul Meakin are delighted to present to market this spacious four double bedroom detached house situated in a popular cul de sac within walking distance of Lloyd Park and several transport links. Offered with no chain, the property briefly comprises of two generous reception rooms, kitchen/ breakfast room and downstairs cloakroom. Upstairs there are four double bedrooms with the master featuring an en suite shower room, the remaining three bedrooms benefit from the family bathroom. The front provides parking for two vehicles, there is also two garages to the rear for further parking/storage needs.

sanderstead@paulmeakin.co.uk | selsdon@paulmeakin.co.uk | lettings@paulmeakin.co.uk

Sanderstead 020

8657 5000 Selsdon 020 8651 1234 Lettings 020 8657 8000

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION

Purley Oaks Road, South Croydon

ST LD C

Asking Price of £875,000

We are delighted to market this rarely available four double bedroom detached family home boasting internally over 1800 sq ft which includes four separate reception rooms, a refitted kitchen breakfast room with built in appliances, mature landscaped grounds the perfect space to entertain family and friends plus a double garage and ample off street parking via the large driveway.The master bedroom enjoys an en-suite with a further three double bedrooms, two of which overlook the delightful ‘Wettern Tree Gardens’ and a large family bathroom.

LD SO STC

Mitchley Avenue, Purley Asking Price of £625,000

Paul Meakin are delighted to present to market this spacious three bedroom detached family home located on a popular residential road within walking distance to Riddlesdown Collegiate and Riddlesdown train station. The property briefly comprises of two reception rooms, refitted kitchen overlooking the garden, downstairs cloakroom, two double bedrooms, further small double bedroom and family bathroom. The front features parking for several vehicles and access to the double tandem garage, there is through access to the large garden which is mainly laid to lawn with a large patio area adjacent to the rear of the property, further benefits outside include a large summer house and workshop both of which have power and lighting.

www.paulmeakin.co.uk

LETTING A GENT IN SOUTH CRO YDON

Osprey Gardens, South Croydon Asking Price of £500,000

We are delighted to welcome to the market this exceptionally well presented three bedroom semi detached family home which is situated in a cul de sac location and is conveniently located for direct access into The Bird Sanctuary and its woodland walks, the 433 bus service to surround areas and is in the catchment for ‘Greenvale Primary School’ and other local schools. Internally the proper ty benefits from an open plan kitchen/diner, useful downstairs cloakroom, separate lounge, conservatory, family bathroom, landscaped rear garden, garage and off street parking. Call now to appreciate size, standard and location.

Lomond Gardens, South Croydon Asking Price of £525,000

Welcomed to the market is this CHAIN FREE three bedroom detached family home which is situated in a cul de sac location and being conveniently located for frequent bus services leading to East Croydon with direct access to London Victoria & London Bridge, primary and secondary schools, amenities and Gravel Hill tramstop. Internally the property benefits from a refitted kitchen, living room leading onto useful conservatory, downstairs cloakroom, separate dining room, en-suite to master bedroom, fitted family bathroom, garage measuring 16’11 x 8’11, private rear garden and off street parking. Call now to avoid disappointment.

sanderstead@paulmeakin.co.uk | selsdon@paulmeakin.co.uk | lettings@paulmeakin.co.uk

Sanderstead 020

8657 5000 Selsdon 020 8651 1234 Lettings 020 8657 8000

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION

ST LD C

Wagtail Gardens, South Croydon Asking Price of £500,000

We are delighted to welcome to the market this CHAIN FREE extended four bedroom semi detached family home which is situated in a cul de sac location and is conveniently located for direct access into The Bird Sanctuary and its woodland walks, the 433 bus service to surround areas and a variety of local schools. Internally the property benefits from an kitchen, lounge, dining room, useful downstairs w/c and shower room, four piece family bathroom, conservatory, landscaped rear garden, garage and off street parking. Call now to appreciate size, standard and location.

LD SO STC

Queenhill Road, South Croydon Asking Price of £550,000

Welcomed to the market is this CHAIN FREE extended three bedroom semi detached family home which benefits from two separate reception rooms, fitted kitchen, useful utility room, downstairs cloakroom, refitted bathroom, landscaped rear garden, store room and off street parking. This property is situated on a popular residential road and is within close proximity to Selsdons local amenities, Littleheath woods and both the 64 & 433 bus services to surround areas. There is also scope to build a ‘two-storey’ extension (STPP) so call now to avoid disappointment.

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LETTING A GENT IN SOUTH CRO YDON

Linton Glade, Croydon Asking Price of £275,000

This exceptionally well presented two bedroom top floor purpose built flat is welcomed to the market and benefiting from a refitted kitchen and bathroom, two good size bedrooms with built in wardrobes, access to loft space, living room measuring 14’6 x 15’10, garage en bloc and 978 years remaining on the lease. This property is situated in a cul de sac location with far reaching views and is conveniently located for frequent bus services, local schools and amenities. Call now to avoid disappointment.

Farley Road, South Croydon Asking Price of £700,000

This is a rare opportunity to acquire this extended 1930’s four bedroom semi detached family home which benefits from a refitted and re-modernised kitchen, fitted bathroom, two large reception rooms, integral larger than average garage, landscaped rear garden, double glazed windows throughout and off street parking for multiple cars. This property is conveniently located for frequent bus services to both South Croydon & East Croydon stations with direct links to London Victoria and London Bridge, close to local amenities, woodland and schools. View now to appreciate size and location.

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Sanderstead 020

8657 5000 Selsdon 020 8651 1234 Lettings 020 8657 8000

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ST LD C

Silverwood Close, Croydon £800,000

We are delighted to welcome to the market this exceptionally well presented four bedroom detached family home which is situated in a cul de sac location and is conveniently located for bus service’s to surrounding areas, local amenities, a variety of woodland walks and schools. Internally the proper ty benefits from an impressive kitchen/diner measuring 9’11 x 18’4, useful downstairs cloakroom, separate reception rooms, conservatory, ensuite to master bedroom, refitted family bathroom, large landscaped rear garden, detached double garage and off street parking for several cars. This proper ty warrants your earliest viewing to appreciate size, standard and location.

Addington Road, South Croydon £260,000 - £495,000

Seven luxur y new build apar tments in a location that is convenient for both Selsdon and Sandersteads local amenities, frequent bus ser vices to surrounding areas including both South and East Croydon mainline stations as well as a variety woodland walks. There are a variety of one, two and three bedroom apar tments all of which come with a structural warranty and long leases. Internally the apar tments are finished to a high standard with some offering outside garden space and allocated parking. The estimated completion is April 2022 so call now to avoid disappointment.

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Contact us to book your FREE property valuation today. Riddlesdown | Sanderstead 020 8657 5000 Selsdon 020 8651 1234 Lettings 020 8657 8000 Website paulmeakin.co.uk