Xact - December 2022

Christmas finishing touches

Add the final touches to make this the best Christmas yet

New year, new bedroom Refresh your bedroom for the new year with these latest trends

Our latest instructions

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About us

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LIFESTYLE 14

Festive days out

How to fill the Christmas gap with family days out Budget New Years Eve party Throw a low cost party for your friends and family this year

Cocktails for Christmas Find the perfect cocktail mix for you this festive period

December gardening guide

Your garden needs a little preparation ready for next year

New Year’s resolutions

2023 is on the horizon, so time to decide on your resolutions

Christmas TV Guide

Ensure you don’t miss your favourites on TV

SPORT

Premier League

The state of play to the bottom and top of the table

TO THE DECEMBER ISSUE!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we want to help you make the most of your festive season. In this month’s magazine, on pages 2&3, we look at the finishing touches that will make Christmas truly wonderful this year. While on pages 4&5, we have some festive ideas to make the most of the Christmas gap between Boxing Day and New Year.

What’s Christmas without sitting in front of the TV, drinking mulled wine, and eating mince pies? On pages 14&15 we look at the shows coming to the small screen this December, and on page 13, we have a look at the Premier League state of play before its return at the end of the month.

We know a lot of people this year who are looking forward to seeing the back

of 2022, and with that in mind, on pages 6&7 we look at some great budget-friendly options to throw the best NYE party to welcome the New Year with a bang!

Keeping with the New Year theme, on page 12 we look at some potential New Year resolutions you could make, while on pages 8&9, we have some fantastic ideas and design trends for your bedroom to help make a fresh and cosy start to the year. We also have our usual monthly gardening guide and lots of property info throughout.

So, grab a mince pie and a mulled wine, light the fire, and get cosy with this month’s magazine.

Editor

CHRISTMAS FINISHING TOUCHES

The Christmas season is known as ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, and it is easy to see why with mince pies, Christmas carols and presents. Some of our best childhood memories stem from family traditions and occasions around the Christmas tree surrounded by beautiful lights, delicious food and a visit from the big man in red himself. Make sure this Christmas is memorable for you, your family, and any guests by adding a few added festive touches to your decor.

Here are a handful of suggestions you could have a go at.

HOME-MADE CARDS

One of the first ways to get into the festive mood is to send out your Christmas cards to friends and family, wishing them a “Merry Christmas!”

This year, rather than just handing out mass-produced, store-bought cards, consider making some of your own. One great suggestion to create a simple, yet effective, card is taking a plain white piece of card and folding it. On the front, use a combination of glue and a piece of coloured red or green string to form the words “Joy”, “Peace” or “Merry”. These are really simple and easy for all ages and craft abilities.

DECORATIONS THAT REPRESENT THE WHOLE FAMILY

Christmas, despite what the little ones might tell you, is not all about presents, but is in fact about family. To represent this heart-warming theme, you may choose to create special decorations to represent your whole family. Stockings are as Christmassy as a red nosed reindeer, and they play a very important role in festive decorations. Making some material stockings by hand and including the names or initials of those who live in your household can be a great sentimental gift and act as a centre point for your living room or lounge decorations as you place them above the fireplace.

ADD SOME LIFE TO THE BASE OF YOUR TREE

On Christmas morning, many of us will head into the living area, probably far too early, and gather around the tree to exchange presents. The Christmas tree is a massive part of the overall festive decor and making sure it looks right is very important. While selecting the right baubles, ornaments, tinsel, and lights are obviously important, many may completely overlook how they could

potentially dress up the base of the tree. There are plenty of options you could pluck for, including a wicker skirt, which can hide away the legs of the tree and any cables. A fun alternative can be an electronic model train track, which you can loop around the base of the tree and let loose throughout the gift-giving. Many stores even sell miniature Santa sleighs which can travel on model train tracks to really fit in with the theme.

A STUNNING CENTREPIECE

Creating a fantastic centrepiece to act as the main decoration for the dinner table for Christmas lunch is also important. Make your own piece of art to place in the middle of the table, for guests and family members to look at and admire throughout the festivities. To create your own, you can decorate a cake stand using a plethora of different festive objects, such as miniature baubles, model gingerbread men and artificial foliage. For a more simplistic option, pile up five or six gradually smaller pieces of thinly sliced log, which can be purchased from arts and craft stores, with a simple and small Christmas tree in the centre.

FOR YOUR HOME

The space of time between Boxing Day and New Years can be boring and long with no idea of how to fill the days. Many of us will have time off work and due to the abnormal number of festive parties and bank holidays, it can be difficult to even keep track of what day of the week it is. This can be a good time to plan a few days out to keep the whole household entertained.

Here are a few ideas for days out you could go on between Boxing Day and January 2.

STUNNING WINTER WALK

While many of us will feel inclined to remain indoors in the warmth during this colder time of the year, an early morning or an afternoon walk can feel incredibly refreshing in the winter. It’s a great feeling to wrap up nice and warm and venture off into green spaces around your home with friends and family and will help walk off a touch of that added Christmas weight.

INDOOR SKATING, SKIING, OR SNOWBOARDING

Like the previous suggestion, you could take the little ones to an indoor ice rink or a ski-slope to take part in winter-themed sports. When the weather is cold outside, many of us will feel encouraged to try a new sport. There are plenty of ice rinks and indoor snowboarding and skiing centres available up and down the country that are worth a visit.

VISIT A CHRISTMAS MARKET

While spending time browsing around a Christmas market and indulging in a range of treats typically feels like an experience to be had before the big day, there are some markets which remain open right through into the New Year. Make the most of those that have longer opening dates, such as London’s Winter Wonderland and offerings in Edinburgh, and squeeze out as much festive spirit from 2022 as you can.

EASY CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL RECIPES

Yes… Christmas is coming, and so are the frivolities that festive cocktails never fail to bring about

If there is any time during the year when drinking is tolerated (unless a health issue says otherwise), it’s Christmas. It’s also a time when indulgence is at an all-time high, and anything goes, especially with cocktails. Cocktails are the perfect playground to experiment with different drinks (alcoholic and soft alike) to try something new and exciting. If time is pressing this year with your festive arrangements, here are three quick, easy, yet delicious festive cocktail recipes for you to rustle up in no time.

FESTIVE NEGRONI

INGREDIENTS

3 cinnamon sticks

4 whole cloves

2 star anise

2 cardamom pods, crushed

1 tsp black peppercorns

200ml gin ice 100-200ml vermouth 100-200ml Campari orange slices, to serve

BOULEVARDIER

INGREDIENTS

25ml bourbon

25ml sweet vermouth

25ml Campari ice orange peel twist, to garnish

Put the cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cardamom and peppercorns in a dry frying pan, and toast for 5 mins, or until the spices are just fragrant. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.

Tip all the toasted spices into a medium jar and pour over the gin. Seal and chill for 48 hrs to infuse.

Strain the infused gin through a fine mesh sieve, and fill four to eight glasses with ice. To mix the cocktail, tip 25ml each infused gin, vermouth and Campari into the glasses, then garnish with orange slices and bay. Any leftover infused gin will keep, sealed in a cool, dry place for up to two months.

Pour the bourbon, vermouth and Campari into a mixing glass, jug or cocktail shaker. Add a large handful of ice, and stir until the outside of the glass feels very cold. Strain the cocktail into an ice-filled tumbler, and garnish with a twist of orange peel.

HOT BUTTERED RUM

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp soft light brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground nutmeg

100ml dark rum

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

2 cinnamon sticks, to serve

Combine the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl, then gradually pour in the rum and melted butter, and stir together. Evenly divide the mixture between two small heatproof glasses. Top each with 100ml boiling water and stir well. Serve with a cinnamon stick to garnish.

The final celebration of the calendar year is almost upon us, and it’s one that we find really important. Although it doesn’t physically affect anything in the world around us, the turn of the year marks a symbolic fresh start in all our lives, filling us with hope and aspirations for the next 365 days. This is especially important in today’s climate, as it feels like we’ve been hit with bad news after bad news, so we’re staying optimistic for 2023 and hoping it brings much more happiness to everyone around the world. Also important in today’s climate is saving money wherever possible, so let’s take a look at how we can throw a great New Year’s Eve party while being conscious of our finances!

SPECIAL PLAYLIST

Every party needs music! Many of the modern music streaming services offer free trials or discounted family plans, so you can get to crafting your perfect playlist with the full capabilities of the app you’ve chosen (that is to say, no adverts and unlimited plays). This time of year seems perfect for upbeat and optimistic songs that fill people with energy and hope, so you can bring in the new year with a positive atmosphere. What’s more, you can get everyone involved! Ask your family and guests for some song suggestions and add them to the playlist, so everyone can look forward to hearing some of their favourites, and they’ll enjoy hearing other people’s choices too.

PARTY GAMES

We’re sure every one of you knows a lot of party games, so let us suggest a few more obscure choices for your NYE party. Firstly, despite maintaining its status as a wildly popular entertainment system, the Nintendo Wii can be bought second-hand for a very reasonable price (around £30-40 from high street dealers), and we are sure you’d get some great use out of it even beyond your NYE party. With classic party games such as Wii Sports and Just Dance, your guests are sure to have a great time competing against one another. Bear in mind that the Wii uses the red, white and yellow RCA cable as opposed to the modern HDMI, so you will need to ensure your TV has the appropriate ports, or buy an adaptor.

Another tried-and-tested NYE party hit is the classic game Twister. It’s a great way to break the ice, and can be lots of fun once the adults have had a little to drink! Another benefit of this, as well as the Wii, is that it will keep people moving; this will be very valuable should anyone be struggling to stay awake until midnight. Let us just remind you to play safely—we don’t want any of you getting hurt.

These games are great for getting everyone involved, especially the kids who might otherwise feel out of place if there are more adults than people their age. To keep them really happy, you could even give them their own playlist to put on while the games are happening!

BIG BATCH COOKING

Your guests will obviously want feeding, especially if you’re all staying up until midnight and beyond, so it’s important to have enough food to go around. One of our favourite budget-friendly ways to cater for everyone is to cook large batches of easy-toprepare meals. Chilli con carne, curry or a hearty stew are all incredibly easy to prepare in one single pot, and the ingredients needn’t cost you much at all. You could even have it simmer away while you play some of the above games, so you can serve it up fresh whenever anyone wants some! These dishes are also very easy to turn into vegetarian or vegan options should you need to—just replace any meat with tinned chickpeas, beans or potato, and make sure to only use vegetable stock.

TV AND CONVERSATION

This one may seem like the most obvious, but sometimes the nicest way to spend time with your loved ones is just putting the telly on and having a chat. New Year celebrations are all about reflection and looking forward, so if anyone wants to talk about how they’ve been doing this year and what they’re hopeful for, your party would be a great place to do it. You can put Jool’s Annual Hootenanny on in the background and just spend some quality time catching up with family and friends. It’s a productive, important and completely free party activity!

NEW YEAR, NEW BEDROOM

We all know how vital the bedroom is when crafting a home—having a comfortable place to sleep is a fundamental function of our living spaces. However, the importance of the bedroom goes way beyond simply having a sleeping space. It represents a place of relaxation and escape, and should be somewhere that makes you happy as soon as you wake up in the morning. When it comes to design, your bedroom should be uniquely yours, with colours, furniture and layouts that you personally like. That being said, there are plenty of ever-shifting bedroom trends that you could adopt to turn your space into a real display of up-to-date design. The new year is the perfect time to refresh your bedroom and wow all your visitors!

2022 saw the introduction and continuation of a huge range of design styles, and the new year will be all about taking these to the next level and even combining different trends. What’s more, there are even a few design choices from years gone by that are creeping back into the spotlight. Let’s take a look at what we expect to be popular choices for bedroom design in 2023.

BIOPHILIC SPACES

Biophilia, used here to mean a love and appreciation for the aesthetics of plants, has been increasing in popularity over the last few years, and it looks to be nearing full bloom as we head towards the new year.

Tall houseplants and long, trailing vines are great ways to fill space and provide a focal point in your room, without ever feeling imposing or out of place. The bedroom is a perfect place to house your plants, as even though there is little evidence for them making a noticeable difference to air quality, they benefit our mental health tremendously. Just looking at plants has been known to reduce stress and improve your mood. On top of all this, the biophilia trend is showing signs of transcending the bedroom and having an impact on other parts of the house, such as the office. Including houseplants in your new bedroom design will be a great way to tie it in with the other parts of the house that contain greenery!

GOTHIC DECOR

This is a classic design style that comes and goes like the tide, and it looks like 2023 will mark the latest resurgence of all things dark yet, stylish. We could spend all day analysing why this has come about, but with searches for ‘gothic kitchen furniture’, ‘business casual gothic’ and ‘gothic pyjamas’ on the up, it could have something to do with a need to break out of society’s usual patterns and embrace the nonconformity of the gothic style. What this means for the bedroom is black furniture, alternative decorations (e.g. plant pots, picture frames) and appropriate sheets, cushions or rugs. We know that adopting a style like this is a very bold move and is

Refresh your bedroom for the new year with some of these latest trends

difficult to pull off when combined with other inspirations, but if you feel like embracing a more rebellious yet sophisticated style, 2023 might be the year to do it.

FEATURE WALLS

We’re no strangers to the feature wall by this point, but it maintains its status as a massively popular and effective design choice. Most often, the feature wall will be at the head of the bed, and in 2022 it has been a trend to use wood to create panelling, which is then painted. It’s predicted that the panelled wall will stay prominent throughout 2023, but if you want to stay at the front of the pack, why not design a more innovative pattern for your new room? One search term that is gaining popularity is ‘curved’, and incorporating swirls or spirals into a feature wall is a great way to capitalise on this. It would blend great with round cushions or rugs, too.

COLOUR CHOICES

Now we’re onto one of the most important decisions you can make! The colours you choose for your walls and furnishings will dictate the overall atmosphere of the room, so you have to be certain on the style and feel that you’re going for. The trend forecast is suggesting that creating a spa-like atmosphere in your bedroom will be a very popular choice, harnessing the calming power of warm neutrals and muted colours to make the ultimate relaxation space. If you’re a fan of having a lot of colour, you can apply the recently-popularised method of colour drenching to cover every paintable surface in the neutral or accent colours. This includes the ceiling, skirting boards and whatever else is safe to paint. It will turn your newly refreshed bedroom into a calming oasis that’s still filled with life and personal flair!

2022 saw the introduction and continuation of a huge range of design styles

DECEMBER

GARDENING GUIDE

It may be the festive season, but that doesn’t mean your garden doesn’t still need attention. The weather outside can be changeable at this time of year, with higher potential of early frosts, however, that is why it is so important to keep on top of your garden jobs this month.

PROTECT TERRACOTTA POTS

Terracotta pots are prone to cracking in freezing weather. The simplest way to ensure they don’t crack over the winter months is by bringing them inside, either in your home, or a shed or greenhouse. Alternatively, if you don’t have space in any of these places you can also wrap them in bubble polythene or horticultural fleece.

HANG BIRD FEEDERS

It’s not just us who enjoy our gardens, wildlife, especially birds, do too. Birds are beneficial to gardens for eating pests as well as for the mental health benefits of bringing nature closer to us. December can be a tough month for birds, so by hanging some feeders around your garden you will be giving them a helping hand. Also, if you plant them near shrubs and plants, they will also pick off any overwintering pests too.

MULCH

With the weather getting colder and possibly freezing, pile straw, bracken or another form of mulch around the bases of tender shrubs and climbers to protect the roots from frost. This will ensure your plants survive over the winter and as the mulch breaks down it will also provide much needed nutrients to your soil and borders.

HARD PRUNE SHRUBS AND HEDGES

Over the winter certain overgrown shrubs and hedges go dormant. This is the perfect time to give them a hard prune. Start by removing any damaged or dead wood, cutting this right back, before moving on to any branches that cross each other. This will help the shrub’s shape as well as encouraging growth in the spring.

PLAN NEXT YEAR’S VEGETABLE CROP

Growing your own veg is one of life’s simple pleasures. Get ahead of the game for next year by planning ahead. If you have a veg patch you will need to rotate your crops for the best chance of success, and now is the perfect time to do your research as well as ordering any seeds you need. By ordering your seeds now, they will tend to be cheaper than ordering them in spring.

PRUNE GRAPEVINES

Grapevines are now more common in UK gardens, however, to get the best out of them you do need to treat them right. December is a good time to prune the vine ready to encourage more growth and fruit next year. To prune, simply cut back side branches to one or two buds from the main stem and get ready for it to put on substantial growth next summer.

TAKE CARE OF OVERWINTERING PLANTS IN THE GREENHOUSE

If you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, and you’re overwintering certain plants in there, make sure you keep them maintained. Pick faded leaves and flowers often to encourage new growth. When a plant is overwintered, whether it is a mature or a young plant, as long as they have been properly cared for, they will give your garden a great head start next spring.

BRING WATERING EQUIPMENT INDOORS

We all have gardening equipment, whether it is a hosepipe, or a simple watering can. Just like terracotta pots, these can freeze and crack/split over the winter. Ideally roll your hosepipe and secure with string or zip ties and place somewhere warm, not only will this keep it safe, but will also save space in your shed or outbuilding.

ADD MANURE TO YOUR BORDERS

If you can get your hands on some well-rotted manure your garden will love you next season. You can get manure from most garden shops and nurseries, as well as from local farms. Dig the manure into your borders over the winter and next year you will have a happy and healthy eco-system in your borders which your plants will love.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION IDEAS FOR

2023 is on the horizon, so it’s time to start deciding on your New Year resolutions

Another New Year beckons with that special kind of promise, a new beginning which calls for those good old-fashioned resolutions. It’s always good to be thinking about these things in advance so you can plan ahead for the new year more efficiently. So, set your goals, and aim to be the best that you can be!

GIVE UP SMOKING

Since 1974, the proportion of adult smokers in the UK has continued to decline. When it was made illegal to advertise tobacco on television in 1965, the conversation has been well-lit ever since, and in 2005 we finally saw a complete ban on all forms of tobacco advertising. It wasn’t until 2006, though, that the UK began initiating bans on all smoking within enclosed public spaces.

Cancer is still a very real threat. As shown from studies carried out in 2015, smoking accounts for 51.5% of cancer deaths in men and 44.5% of cancer deaths in women.

Key tips for kicking the habit: nicotine replacement therapy; identify your triggers and then train yourself to avoid them; exercise more changes to help you through this season.

HOME COOKING

Domestic gastronomy has been cooking up a serious flame ever since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in early 2020, which helped spark a notable and encouraging flambé of new-found enthusiasm and passion for food, one that’s been going on since.

Learn some new recipes and try your hand at some different cuisines. Perhaps try making sushi if you haven’t already! Start a food blog. A YouTube channel would be great, but a written blog online with photos can be just as good. Also, there are plenty of free blog sites to create an account with, including Blogger, Ghost, and WordPress. How about reorganising your kitchen so you can homecook more regularly.

Here are some other, more unique ideas for New Year resolutions you may not have thought about:

Take a selection of selfies in quirky locations

Try to set or break an existing world record at something

Try to make a new friend every month

Learn something that you never learned as a child Try at least one new food every month

THE PREMIER LEAGUE

STATE OF PLAY BEFORE ITS RETURN

Who’s top of the PL table and who’s at the bottom before the PL restarts

Football fans are used to experiencing World Cup competitions during the warm summer months. However, the 2022 edition of the tournament will be played to the backdrop of cold weather and woolly jumpers in the UK, as opposed to the usual summer barbecues and beer gardens.

The tournament has been moved to kick off on Sunday, November 20 due to the overwhelming heat in the host country Qatar during the summer, which would make the games unplayable. Therefore, the Premier League is set to pause halfway through the season to allow the club’s players to jet off to the tournament.

This is a great point to stop and take note of how the league is shaping up heading into the international break.

At the time of writing, most clubs in the league have played 14 or 15 games, meaning the Premier League table is beginning to take shape as the big hitters battle it out for the title.

Leading the way in the table is surprise package, North

London side Arsenal. The Gunners were expected to challenge for a place in the top four this season, which would see them qualify for the Champions League, however few would have predicted their incredible start, which has seen them win nine of their opening 10 fixtures.

Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea complete the top four places. Liverpool, who won the title in 2020 and were expected to be amongst the challengers, find themselves in eighth, having won only three of their first nine fixtures.

Established Premier League sides Southampton and Leicester City are languishing in the bottom three and at risk of relegation to the Championship and are joined by newly promoted side Nottingham Forest.

In terms of top scorer, Manchester City new boy, Erling Haaland has been stealing the headlines with 15 goals in 10 games, ahead of three-time Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, with nine, and England hopeful Ivan Toney, with eight.

CHRISTMAS TELEVISION GUIDE

TO ENSURE YOU DO NOT MISS YOUR FAVOURITES ON TV

BBC One

Few Christmas traditions truly mirror life in the 21st century as the annual scramble to find out which shows will be on television over the festive period.

From documentaries to the latest goings-on in our favourite soap operas, the festive period always brings a television schedule that is filled to the brim with laughter, tears and all-round entertainment.

To give you a helping hand this year, here are a few programmes set to be displayed on terrestrial TV this year.

One highly anticipated show coming to BBC One this festive period is the Call The Midwife Christmas special. The period drama has grown immensely popular, since first airing back in January 2012, having ran for 11 successful series. The show follows a group of nurse midwives who work in the East End of London during the late 1950s and 1960s.

The Christmas specials are typically filled with life lessons, emotional moments and some returning faces to Nonnatus House.

Anyone looking for some Christmas food inspiration are in luck with Christmas with Mary Berry and Friends set to air. The Dame will be providing plenty of tips to ensure the big day is as memorable as possible and will act as a “fool proof Christmas dinner guide”, including how to make the most of your ingredients when planning on a budget.

Another show that is sure to get bums on seats on Christmas Day is EastEnders. Everyone has heard of it and each year it seems like the writers and producers top the drama that unfolded on the unassuming streets of Walford in the previous year. Details of this year’s seasonal special have not yet been announced.

Top TV to take you through the festive season

ITV

One upcoming show on ITV is Britain Get Singing, which promises to be a 90-minute festive extravaganza. Hosted by radio presenter Roman Kemp, this event will see multiple groups of TV stars go head-to-head in a sing-off. A panel of judges, including Will.I.Am, Alesha Dixon, Adam Lambert and Jason Manford will be on hand to offer their thoughts on the performances. This show will also support the channel’s ground-breaking mental health campaign Britain Get Talking.

While BBC audiences will be tuning in for Eastenders’ Christmas show, ITV will have their own highly anticipated festive special of Coronation Street. Like their BBC soap counterpart, show writers regularly try to grab headlines with huge storylines throughout the festive period and lovers of the cobbles will be hoping this year’s episodes will not disappoint.

TV icon Paul O’Grady is set to return to the small screen in For The Love of Dogs Christmas special. O’Grady will be joined by a member of the Royal Family, the Queen Consort, in the special, which follows the ups and downs of life at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, as four legged friends are helped in their time of need.

Channel 4

Property guru and businesswoman Sarah Beeny is set to return to our screens over Christmas with the continuation of her “New Life in the Country” series, which follows her family’s project to move from London to a modern stately home they are building on the land of a former dairy farm in Somerset. Many have already followed their progress across two series of the show, with a festive special confirmed for this Christmas.

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year is a popular choice around the festive period as host Jimmy Carr is joined by three teams of comedians and well-known faces as they tackle questions that are relevant to the past year.

Few programmes are set to help get you in the festive mood as The Greatest Snowman. Having debuted in 2021, the celebrity competition show will return for the festive period this year, hosted by comedian Sue Perkins. A fresh intake of celebrities will travel to a snowy mountain top to push their creativity to the limit as they produce snowy creations, while being supported by a crew of seasoned sculptors, engineers and snow builders.

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• Private Driveway to Access The Development

• Rural Village Location

• Stunning Open Plan Kitchen/Diner

• Three Bedrooms/Three Bathrooms

• Residential Air Source Heat System

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• In Need of Modernisation

• Potential to Extend (STPP)

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• Long Rear Garden

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Three Bedrooms Lounge/Diner

Meet our Lettings Team

Lisa Davies

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 3 weeks

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

Looking forward to learning all about the industry and meeting new people

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? Has an O’Level in Latin

FAVOURITE FOOD? Chinese

FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Villa Mora in Portugal

Sarah Bent

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Over 6 years

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Meeting people

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?

I once appeared in a play at the Birmingham Rep when I was in a youth theatre group

FAVOURITE FOOD? Chocolate

FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? City break, New York

Wendy Clarke

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 4 years

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? The people I work with

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?

Been cautioned by police for demonstrating about women’s rights

FAVOURITE FOOD? Crème Brulee

FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? I like historic sites in Italy

Sara Cope

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Nearly 2 years

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Meeting people

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?

I used to sing in a choir for 20 years

FAVOURITE FOOD? Curry/spicy food FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Anywhere in the Carribean

Jacob Endley

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Since September 2020.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? Finding clients homes and the great team that I work with.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I am always hungry.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD? Everything!

Andrea Jones

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 5 years

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? The people I work with SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?

I am double jointed FAVOURITE FOOD? Curry or anything spicy FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? The Algarve or Vegas

Jane Evans

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 15 months.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? The team I work with.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I write poetry and can do the splits... sometimes at the same time!!

FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Cruise.

Visit our website xactlettings.co.uk for more details.

Here’s what some of our clients say...

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Beth

I decided to use Xact for both selling my property and eventually buying, simply because I had used them 20 years ago when I bought my first house in the area and that experience had been a positive one so it seemed sense to go back to them again. Also I am aware of the fact that they are a very popular estate agent within the village and everybody that I had spoken to recommended them highly.

Laura & Matt

We absolutely recommend Xact to any family or friends looking to buy or sell a house and we have done on numerous occasions. You watch the market, you see a house go up with Xact and it sells and it completes and that’s our experience, there’s lots of reasons why that happens, they get jobs done basically.

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

Peter

Without doubt I would recommend Xact without any equivocation, they’ve done a great job for us.

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Kathy

I found them a very approachable estate agent, they had plenty of staff, they were all very polite, they were proactive, very empathetic with the sale, when I had any issues they were dealt with very quickly, they were always willing to answer my questions. I just thought they kept me up-to-date on a weekly basis, sometimes more often where necessary. I like their attitude towards sales really, they made me feel very comfortable.

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Jon

We contacted a couple of the old firms and they came to see us and gave us their advice and their marketing strategies and the prices were very similar. But we noticed with Xact more and more signs were going up and one of my neighbours had sold his property with Xact and he was really pleased with them, so I thought we’ll give them a chance.

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

Anne

I would definitely recommend Xact to friends, family and my colleagues and I have already done that.

Tony

Yes, wholeheartedly I would recommend Xact to anyone who seeks my opinion.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE

PHOTOGRAPHY

PROPERTY PARTICUALRS

PROPERTY PORTALS

When you choose to market your property with Xact Homes, you can be confident that we’ll ensure that everything goes smoothly.

The name Xact Homes is synonymous with trust, excellence and integrity.

With decades of experience, specialising in all aspects of residential property, our friendly, enthusiastic and professional service ensures that our clients continually return to sell and buy through us.

Our qualified database of home buyers will be notified of your property coming to market on their dedicated search websites where they can book viewings and offer feedback.

Quite simply we endeavour to sell your home for the best price, in the shortest possible time, providing you an outstanding service, with a personal and friendly approach.

We also recognise the importance of marketing, so your property will be advertised on the major online property portals, our website and social media sites, as well as traditional placement in our window display.

Exclusively to us in our area, your property will receive its very own FREE Property Website showcasing a property video, OFSTED reports, and a property brochure. Sharing your personalised website across the social networks widens the audience for your property, to find the right buyer and increasing the chances of a quicker sale.

Marketing your property EXCLUSIVE TO XACT HOMES

Comparables of houses SOLD and price guides

Print marketing: Property brochure, photography, floorplans and newspapers Tech gimic (Drones, 360 tours) Portals and websites

COMMON MARKETING

PROPERTY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

We can feature your property in the next edition of our fabulous monthly publication to further widen the exposure of your property being marketed in the local area.

We distribute our magazine to local businesses in the High Street as well as when we visit peoples homes for property valuations... and we value a lot of properties in the area!

POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

With social media being such a powerful marketing tool, we actively advertise our properties on Facebook and Twitter.

We can also boost your posting to reach a wider but targeted audience.

When you’re looking to sell your home, you want an estate agent that prides itself on being up to date when it comes to innovation and technology, and one that works in perfect synergy with what we consider to be the basics of estate agency: customer service, local knowledge, and experience.

We already have the local knowledge, experience and customer service and we’re proud to now show off our incredible new website which will help you move, fast.

Design

With so much time spent online nowadays, you need a website that will hold people’s attention to ensure your property gets seen by the most people possible. Our new video-based websites do exactly that.

Our new website grabs people’s attention and more importantly holds it, so that more people browse through all the useful information it contains as well as using the new and improved search bar to find available properties.

The daily news feed, featuring national and local blogs, is perfect for browsers looking to keep up to date with hints and tips for your home, DIY, sports, movies and local news, and at the same time, they may just see your property…

Fuctionality

The property search bar has been upgraded so that it is easier than ever for prospective buyers to find your property. There is now a search radius field for potential buyers looking in a certain area, as well as a new and improved user interface.

We know it’s important for you to build trust in us which is why we have new pages featuring up to date details for the whole moving process, as well as a Meet the Team page so you can always put a name to a face.

The whole website has been streamlined so it is easier for you and your potential buyers to find your property and all the details they need. Making the website easier to use will help your prospective buyers find your property, and using our new tools you will be able to see if it gets the thumbs up or down, which helps to differentiate between buyers and potential time-wasters.

Keep up to date with the most recent national and local news with our integrated social media feed, and use it share your own property. And with the new WhatsApp integration, it’s now easier than ever to get in contact with us.

Personal Property Website

This has been a real groundbreaking tool. With so many people now finding more buyers through social media, the ability to share your property on these sites simply gives you a higher chance of selling fast. You can personalise your website with its best selling features and share your website with your family and friends on Facebook to widen the exposure to your home... you never know where the buyer of your home could be!

Property Video

Your Personal Property Website will also come with a property video which is linked to the website from all major property portals such as Rightmove.

On your own personal property page, you will also find easy to use share links for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatApp.

With correct use of your Personal Property Website, you’ll see the benefits it makes yourself.

If you are looking to sell your house, or have had your home on the market for a while now, then you probably want to get the maximum sale price in the quickest time. There are a few things you can’t control – but the one thing that is in your control, is the look and feel of the interior and exterior.

While it’s worth spending time fixing and cleaning your house before potential buyers come and view, it’s also important to de-clutter. This creates spacious rooms and also allows you to decrease and organise your personal items before you move yourself. Of course it’s understandable that you don’t to want spend money, time and energy on a home you are about to leave, however, a lot of people are looking for a house in which they can move straight into. Maintaining your

property might even save you thousands of pounds; it could even reduce added expenses of living in your home whilst waiting for a sale. And it might even help avoid possible reductions in the asking price.

The main reason in which people move house tends to be because they lack space in their current home. They want a home that is spacious and in which they can grow into. If a potential viewer comes to your home and sees that there is lack of space, then this will turn them away.

De-cluttering allows you to remove any unnecessary items in an untidy or overcrowded place. It will help maximise your space, emotionally prepare you to move, and will allow you to focus your buyers on what is important.

Maximise your home’s potential and create spacious rooms enticing potential buyers – simply by de-cluttering!

Present your house for sale by de-cluttering...

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

So where should you start?

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

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

lifestyle that the potential buyer want. This usually has a ‘show home’ feel, rather than a ‘lived in’ feel. Minimising your things is the quickest way to do this: you want to ensure that potential buyers can do simple things, like, open any doors easily, ensuring that there are no obstacles.

So, what do we mean by clutter? There are two types: genuine clutter, and items that you want to keep but don’t work for the sale of your property.

Genuine Clutter: You need to go through the space and sort out each item, categorising

You also want to focus on little things like DVDs, books and trinkets. These items may have some small value so sell them or donate them to charity. Get rid of any old shoes and coats that are lying about in your porch or hallway. You might want to hide away the coats and shoes you do currently wear. Store them in your wardrobe, while you have viewings.

Items that you want to keep but don’t work for the sale of your property: You may want to consider putting some items in storage while you sell your home. Sometimes items are too large or even too small for some spaces and can make the room look odd. If you want to keep these particular items, then store them until you move into your new home.

De-personalising can also be a great way to declutter. Too many personal effects can be distracting to buyers. They want to see a house in which they can make their own memories rather than seeing yours. Again, personal items can be stored away. Remember that this is only a temporary way of living and hopefully it won’t be for long! If you find you are keeping more things than you are throwing out, then think about whether or not it’s in the right room or do you even need it now?

As previously mentioned, you can attempt to sell some of the things you have acquired over the years. Use sites like eBay, Gumtree and social networking sites to try and sell items. You may want to even hold a house sale for the remaining items that you can’t sell. Failing that, why not donate to charity.

The end goal is still the same and it’s important to help potential buyers envision your house as theirs. So remember, decluttering will make your home more spacious and entice potential buyers!

Top Tips!

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

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

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

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

Where possible you want to create the look of a lifestyle that the potential buyers want

Your step-by-step guide to the conveyancing process

Once 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 your estate agent to release the keys to buyers. Redeem mortgage and forward the financial statement. Forward any surplus funds (unless these are being used to fund an onward purchase). Ensure all outstanding bills are paid

• Forward transfer documents and deeds to the buyer’s solicitors

• Forward evidence of ‘discharge of mortgage’ to the buyer’s solicitors

Buyer’s solicitor’s steps

• 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

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

• 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 Currently, the Stamp Duty threshold for residential properties is £250,000. For first-time buyers you can claim a discount and won’t pay Stamp Duty up to £425,000 on the purchase price and after that you will pay only 5% between £425,001 to £625,000.

However, how much you pay is also dependent on whether you already own another property or if you’re a non-UK resident.

Moving house?

First 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

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

in, and start ordering any new furnishings for your new property. Start packing away more items, that being, out of season clothes, books, dvd’s and even bulky items, like TV’s that aren’t used often.

Two weeks – Confirm all details

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

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

Moving day

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

You have arrived at your new home!

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

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

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

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.

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!

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!