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A proven and successful strategy for property investors.

Investing in real estate has become a popular way to build wealth and generate passive income. One strategy that has proven successful for many investors is buying a property for rental income. Renting out a property can provide a steady stream of cash flow, build equity over time, and offer tax advantages. In this article, we look at the benefits of buying a property for rental income and why it may be a smart investment. 1. Steady stream of cash flow One of the primary benefits of buying a property for rental income is the potential for a steady stream of cash flow. Renting out a property can provide a monthly income stream that can help cover the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. If the rental income is higher than the expenses, the excess can be used to build an emergency fund, reinvested in the property, or used for other investment opportunities. 2. Building equity over time Another benefit of buying a property for rental income is the potential for building equity over time. As the mortgage is paid down, the owner's equity in the property increases. In addition, the property may appreciate in value over time, which can also increase equity. This equity can be used to refinance the property or used to purchase additional properties, which can further increase cash flow and equity. 3. Tax advantages Real estate investing also offers several tax advantages that can help maximize profits. Rental income is generally taxed at a lower rate than other forms of income, and investors may be able to deduct expenses such as property taxes, mortgage interest, repairs, and depreciation. These deductions can help reduce the investor's tax liability, which can increase the property's profitability. 4. Hedge against inflation Real estate investing can also be a hedge against inflation. As inflation increases, rental income and property values tend to rise as well, which can help protect the investor's purchasing power. In addition, rental income can be adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation, which can help ensure that the investor's income stream remains stable over time. 5. Diversification Investing in real estate can also provide diversification to an investor's portfolio. Real estate has a low correlation with other asset classes such as stocks and bonds, which can help reduce overall portfolio risk. In addition, owning multiple properties in different locations can help spread risk and reduce the impact of any one property's performance. Buying a property for rental income can be a smart investment strategy that offers several benefits, however, it is important to conduct thorough research and due diligence before making any investment decisions. Factors such as location, property condition, and tenant selection can have a significant impact on the property's performance. With careful planning and management, investing in rental properties can be a lucrative and rewarding experience.

The £20 billion Elizabeth line has opened to Londoners with much fanfare after hundreds of people queued throughout the night to take the first trains from Paddington and Abbey Wood. The first Elizabeth line train from Paddington through central London departed on time at 6.33am carrying hundreds of excited transport enthusiasts. The service from Abbey Wood left on time, prompting huge cheers from the dozens of commuters on the train. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan hailed it as an “historic day”. “This is a huge moment, not just for London, but the entire country - particularly in this special Jubilee year,” he said. Source @evening.standard

Grange London's 7 Top Tips for Marketing Your Property According to Rightmove, the largest property platform in the UK, the initial 12 days of marketing your property are the most important.  This is when your property goes out to all people registered for alerts on the portal and when CTR (click-through rates) spike from people interested in the initial property image through to the detailed information. Rightmove recommends that - dependent upon the size of the property - between 5 and 15 images are used and 80% of buyers want to see a floorplan.  That means when we send our professional photographer to your property, it is so important that you have followed these tips below, and we can capture the best assets to showcase to buyers or tenants.  It is worthwhile delaying the start of your marketing until your property is in its best condition, rather than rushing the marketing and missing out on that initial 2 week hike in traffic and your optimum chance to sell or rent for the best price. Declutter You are looking to move, so the first thing you should do is decide what you are taking with you, what can go to the charity shop or be sold and what can go in the rubbish bin.  Order your packing boxes straight away and start to pack anything that is not needed whilst you are in the process of marketing your property for sale or let. If you are a landlord with tenants in your property, ask if they are happy for viewings to take place prior to the end of their tenancy term, and if so, consider offering them packing boxes to do the same and get the place decluttered.  This could mean a much shorter void period, saving you back the cost of the packing boxes and more. We understand that if you are living in the property, you will not want to remove everything, just be sensible and pack away nik-naks, photos, books, toys and try to fit the items you do need into cupboards, so that surfaces are clear and the place looks tidy. A thorough clean This is not your weekly hoover and surface wipe.  It is recommended to employ a professional company to undertake a DEEP CLEAN which will leave your property spotless.  If you do this prior to marketing your home and then ensure you maintain a regular general cleaning routine until the property is sold or let, then it will always look spotless for your viewers. Here is a list of what to expect from a deep clean: Vacuuming carpets and floors Sweeping and mopping floors High and low dusting Cleaning door handles and light fixtures Dusting windows, window sills and ledges Cleaning under rugs and along skirting boards Changing linen - try to use white bedding for viewings Cleaning kitchen appliances inside and outside Wiping countertops Cleaning the inside and outside of the kitchen cabinets Doing the dishes and putting items away in cupboards Emptying the rubbish bins Descaling tiles and shower doors Cleaning and disinfecting the toilet Cleaning the sink and bath Window dressing If you have purchased a new build property as an investment and are looking to find a tenant, then you might have a completely blank canvas.  Adding window dressings is essential when letting out a property, tenants are very unlikely to rent somewhere without curtains or blinds installed. If you are selling or letting a property that you live in you probably already have window dressings, so you should ensure they are thoroughly cleaned before viewings commence.  You can use an upholstery cleaner for curtains, or remove and take them to the dry cleaners.  If you have blinds then ensure they are not gathering dust, open them before viewings and let the light in if the viewing is during daylight.  Try to avoid net curtains, especially if they have been hung at the window for some time and will probably be yellowed. Make an entrance Strong emotions such as 'love' or 'hate' come very quickly when viewing a property.  In all of the years that we have been marketing homes, we are all too familiar with that first look, that expression of "show me more now" or "get me out of here".  Of course, not everyone will LOVE the property they move into, especially if it is a temporary residence, but even so, a decision is made very quickly.  So it is vitally important to ensure that you give your property the best advantage with getting that first impression right.  If you have a home with a front garden or private entrance, then you can start from the outside.  Sweep away leaves, clean the pathway, front door and door furniture.  Consider a new hanging basket (not one full of weeds and dead plants from last year) or standing plants to either side of the front door.  Once inside, the same applies, use mirrors and plants to give a spacious feel to a hallway, have the doors open and a side lamp on, even in the day. There really is nothing worse than walking into a hallway with no natural light and all the room doors closed! Define the space Staging an unfurnished property or ensuring that your own furniture is set in the best location will always help viewers to envisage living in the property.  So if you have an unfurnished property, you can use a staging company (we will recommend one) to put strategic pieces into the rooms in order to define the space and showcase how it could be lived in.  Empty properties look smaller than those with one or two pieces of furniture in each room: ie. dining table and chairs, standard lamp or large plant in the dining area / L-shaped or sofa and chair or 2 sofas with a coffee table and wall mounted TV in the lounge / bed and bedside cabinets (and wardrobe if not fitted) in the bedrooms. If you have loads of furniture, or old or tatty items, consider removing items to only leave good quality and essential pieces in each room.  If you have used a bedroom as an office, or a gym, you should return it back into a bedroom prior to marketing.  If you have a room full of junk, definitely get rid of that! Mood lighting Rather than just relying on overhead lights, which can be quite harsh, consider adding some mood lighting to your rooms.  A standard lamp next to an arm chair, 2 side lamps on a dressing table or on either side of a bed give great ambiance to a room and make it welcoming.  If you can have a lower hanging light over a dining table or a selection of lamps hanging down over a kitchen island, they can look very appealing and contemporary.  Remember that you are not trying to dim the light in order to hide anything, you are trying to add a sense of atmosphere to your property. Fresh air Nothing beats the smell of fresh clean air, or even coffee brewing or fresh flowers when you walk into a room.  The opposite is walking into a room that stinks of animals (remember if you live in a home with pets, you could be nose-blind and not smell what others do - so ask a friend to be honest) or the smell of spicy cooking, which can really be off-putting to the viewer.  Plan the times when you are going to get the curry on the go and do not accept viewers until you have extracted the smell from the kitchen, however yummy it smelt when cooking and eating it!  If you have pets in the property, take the opportunity to head out for a walk before the viewers arrive, or as they do, so that there is no distraction, pet smell or worry if viewers are allergic. What do we want your property to look like when we show people around? Welcoming Clean & tidy The best it can look Take a look at our viewing video for No. 3 Canalside Walk, London W2, a 2 bed / 2 bath apartment which has been staged for marketing purposes.  If you would like our advice or to speak to us about marketing your property for sale or letting, please get in touch HERE.

We are so happy to have helped Dr Alex find his dream apartment.  Mez Callender, Director & Co-Founder of Grange London meets with Dr Alex George, Youth Mental Health Ambassador, A&E Doctor and TV personality, at his newly purchased house. Dr Alex says, "I couldn't be happier to finally show you guys my dream apartment... And a big thank you to Mez from Grange, I honestly can’t recommend him enough!" Alex & Mez take a tour around the apartment explaining how Alex plans to turn this place into his own. From an open plan kitchen with a hidden pop-up extractor fan and the downside to having dark worktops, to choosing the best bedroom to have as the master suite, and knowing what to do with the hand-held shower in the bathroom.......!  All the way around the brand new apartment in London to the amazing 1000 sq ft terrace overlooking the River Thames with its own electric roof covering so it can be used in all weathers! WOW! If you want to see a full tour of the apartment as well a receive future updates of Alex's plans to furnish/refurbish please check out the apartment tour on his YouTube channel. Congratulations to Dr Alex and we wish you all the best in your amazing new home!!  Watch Dr Alex's video tour here: https://youtu.be/1z01RZyQflg About Alex: Dr Alex George made his first appearance in the public eye when he entered into Love Island 2018, he then continued to make television appearances discussing his experience as a doctor and mental health issues. Having grown in popularity and developed his own podcast he eventually received the position of Youth Mental Health Ambassador after campaigning for better support for mental health care for young people. Instagram, TikTok and Twitter - @dralexgeorge Prescrib’d Instagram - @weareprescribd Shop Prescrib’d https://weareprescribd.com/ Podcast 'The Waiting Room' https://podfollow.com/the-waiting-roo... Order Dr Alex's book - 'Live Well Every Day'  https://linktr.ee/DrAlexGeorge

October 2021

Introduction The upper end of the prime sales market had a busy third quarter, with the number of homes sold at £2 million or more up 5% on Q3 2020 and 21% higher than the 2015 to 2019 average. But the end of the first phase of the stamp duty holiday in June meant fewer sales below £2 million this quarter, as deals were pulled forward to meet the deadline. Prices are rising too, with both houses and flats recording annual increases in September. There were 21% more sales at £2million+ in Q3 2021 compared with the 2015 to 2019 Q3 average. For lettings, those looking to renew a rental agreement or searching for a new property to rent may be in for a shock. Tenants are entering a very different market now from those looking even six months ago. Across prime London stock levels have fallen by 68% compared with the same point a year ago. This in turn has seen rents rise to pre-pandemic levels as tenants compete for somewhere to live. Sales market 2021 has been a busy year for transactions across prime London. The number of properties sold between January and September was 66% higher than the same period in 2020 and 32% up on the 2015 to 2019 average. Indeed, the number of properties sold in the first nine months of 2021 was 11% higher than the total sales recorded for the whole of 2020 and just 3% lower than the whole of 2019. Following busy first and second quarters, a slowdown was expected in Q3, however the number of new properties reaching the market was 3% higher than the Q3 five-year average. We saw fewer sales in the third quarter, with deals pushed in to Q2 to beat the 30 June stamp duty deadline. But volumes here too were more robust than we had expected. Activity was down just 8% on 2020 and 13% on the 2015 to 2019 average. The upper end of the market was particularly busy this quarter. Q3 saw a drop in sales at below £2 million, but above £2 million sales increased, with 15% more sales between £2 million and £5 million, and 39% more at £5 million+ compared with the 2015 to 2019 average. Stamp duty deadlines earlier this year continue to impact achieved prices. With an increase in lower value sales prior to 30 June and more higher value sales since, annual changes are more pronounced. However, comparing sales in September alone (which allows for the impact of the June deadline to be absorbed) shows prices have risen by 2.1% compared with the same month in 2020. Houses continue to outperform flats, with annual increases of 1.0% recorded for flats compared with 4.6% for houses in September. Improving market conditions also meant buyers were not able to negotiate as significant a discount on asking prices. Over Q3 2021 the average discount off the initial asking price fell to 6.9%, down from 7.2% in Q2 2021 and the lowest since Q4 2015. With the number of completed sales in the first nine months of 2021 already on a par with full year 2019 volumes, there is little doubt that 2021 will be a busy year for sales across prime London. But it appears that we could be in for a busy end to the year too. Under offer data, a lead indicator, suggests activity could rise again as we move into the autumn and winter. The number of properties put under offer has been higher than the five-year (2015 to 2019) average every month bar July this year. With the number of properties put under offer up 12% in August and 11% in September. Lettings Market The prime lettings market has always been quick to react to changes in levels of demand from prospective tenants and new supply reaching the market. A year ago, high stock levels meant tenants were able to negotiate on asking rents, resulting in falls in achieved rents month-on-month until early 2021. Yet, since the Spring, we have seen the situation change. The prime London lettings market now in a very different position from where it was just a few months ago. A dramatic fall in prime London rental stock is forcing rents to rise. The number of properties available to rent across prime London in September was down 68% on September last year and 38% on 2019, while rents were 11.7% higher than a year ago. Achieved rents are now back to their pre-lockdown peak, with values across prime London 0.4% higher in September 2021 than February 2020. This represents a significant turnaround in fortunes for the prime rental market which just over six months ago was reporting annual falls in achieved rents of 19%. While stock levels are down across the whole of prime London, some areas have been particularly hard hit. In Battersea, Clapham and Wandsworth the number of properties available to rent was down by almost two-thirds (67%) compared to September 2019. North of the river in Pimlico, Westminster and Victoria, annual stock levels were down 65% on September 2019 and by 71% on 2020. New properties to the market, which add to the overall rental stock, have fallen too. So far this year, there have been 15% fewer new listings compared with 2020 and 27% fewer than the fiveyear (2015-2019) January to September average. Against this backdrop, tenants have looked to renew their lease rather than move. This in turn has led to a fall in the number of properties let. The number of properties let in Q3 2021 was down 6% on the same three months in 2020 and 13% lower than 2019. Credit - LonRes

2 bedroom apartment situated in Canalside Walk TO BUY for £1,350,000, London W2

Grange London is proud to present this stunning two bedroom, two bathroom apartment situated on the seventh floor within a landmark and unique waterfront development 3 Canalside Walk. This stunning apartment benefits from lift access to all floors and has floor to ceiling windows in both the open plan living room and bedrooms allowing for maximum southern light to flood the apartment. The development benefits from concierge as well as a resident rooftop lounge, business centre and landscaped terrace and outdoor gym. This property has the added convenience of one secure underground parking space. Chain free.

Why spend time getting your home ready to sell? If you spend a little time getting your home ready to sell, you’ll be rewarded with a faster sale and a higher sale price. Presentation is often the difference between: a). The house that sits unsold until you’re forced to reduce its asking price. b). The house that sells almost immediately for the full price. It really is that simple. Tip: If you want to sell your house fast, it needs to present just as well as (if not better than) the competition and remain competitively priced. Here’s the winning formula: Competitive asking price + Good presentation = A quick house sale What sells a house quickly? The old saying, “the customer is always right” is worth bearing in mind when getting ready to sell. The customers are your potential buyers and what they all want is this: A tidy, well-ordered house, filled with light, space & storage How to prepare your house for sale (9 simple steps) To make your home immediately appealing to buyers, you don’t need a full-blown makeover (or to spend lots of money). The really important things to get right just take a little time, effort and the ability to start thinking about your house as a ‘commodity to be sold’. Not a home filled with memories and emotional ties.     Clean deeply From top to bottom, inside and out. Then do your best to keep it clean and tidy until sold. Cleaning costs nothing but if the carpets and curtains could do with a professional deep clean, it’s well worth the money. Cleaning your house is possibly the biggest chore you’ll face when selling, lots of people do it half-heartedly – all the better for you! If your house stands head and shoulders above your competition, you’ll sell faster and get more interest. De-clutter Get rid of the clutter and your house will look bigger. It will feel to buyers like a tidy, well-ordered place to live – Just what they want! It is one of the best ways to mentally prepare for your move. The act of de-cluttering helps you to: Start looking at your home as a commodity for sale (essential if you are to make sound, business-like decisions). Don’t be surprised if at first you find de-cluttering tough. Throw away (or donate) as much as possible and then throw away some more. After this, look again at your cupboards and other storage areas – Are they full to bursting? If they are, you need to consider thinning down your house further (possibly even consider renting a personal self-storage unit). Ideally, cupboards and storage areas should not be more than 75% full. Serious buyers will look inside your cupboards. If there isn’t enough storage for you, they’ll assume there isn’t enough for them. Fix anything broken It’s really important to finish any DIY and catch-up on routine maintenance. A well-maintained house screams out that it’s ‘well cared for’ (a desirable attribute that buyers will pick-up on). Buyers mentally reduce the max offer they’d make on your house every time they see a problem that needs fixing. They rarely just reduce their offer by the cost of the repair…  They also price-in the additional hassle-factor of getting the work done. Or simple overestimate the costs! Make a good 1st impression 1st impressions really do count and buyers are judging your home well before they step over the threshold.  Your house may be stunning inside, but if the outside doesn’t look great you jeopardise your sale. Look at your property from the road/ building? How does it compare to other houses in your street/ development? As you walk from the pavement to your front door, does every element of your property look cared for and well maintained? Depersonalise This is one of the secrets behind why house builder show homes are such effective sales tools. It’s a very powerful selling tip. Buyers will fall in love with your house when they can imagine themselves living there. When they can imagine your ‘house’ as their ‘home’. It can’t be done with evidence of you or your family everywhere. That’s why show homes are always anonymous. You’ll never see a family portrait or anything personal. To make your house look lived-in without looking like anyone actually lives there, pack away into storage: All family photos, Holiday souvenirs, Trophies & certificates, Collectible items, Children’s artwork Go neutral This continues the idea of ‘depersonalising ‘your house. Colour is a personal thing – one person’s harmonious colour scheme is another’s crime against humanity. Don’t let differences in personal taste affect your sale. Take colour out of the equation all together. It’s cheap to do, just paint your walls a neutral colour (something like Timeless from Dulux works well). Repainting boldly coloured or highly individualised interiors to something blander is the most cost-effective way to add value to your property. Rooms will immediately appear bigger and brighter (major selling points). You’ll also create a blank canvas which helps buyers to project positive visions of what their life could be like in the house – part of the process of ‘falling for’ a property. Define the use of each room While living in a house the use of certain rooms can become blurred over time, for example: The lounge becomes part office. The spare bedroom becomes a storage room. The dining room becomes the kids play area. If this has happened in your house, think about converting these rooms back to their original use. This makes sound financial sense and helps you sell for more because certain rooms hold a greater perceived value than others, for example: Buyers perceive bedrooms to be worth more than offices. Buyers perceive dining rooms to be worth more than playrooms. This is now also a good opportunity to make your house look bigger. Remove all the furniture (and other items) that isn’t essential to the function of the room. This will free up a lot of valuable floor space. Tip: If possible, it may be useful to visit a ‘show home’ or two. You’ll see for yourself the minimum amount of furniture needed to define the use of a room. Aim for this because at the end of the day, space sells! Eliminate bad odours The following all produce odours that are a major turn-off for buyers: Cooking, Smoking, Pets, Damp, Blocked drains, Full bins On the flip side of this coin, pleasant odours can enhance the appeal of your property. We would stop short of the common clichés of baking bread or brewing coffee before each viewing. Instead, consider introducing fresh flowers or a single sent across the home (either by candle or reed diffuser). Good choices of sent are: orange, lemon, jasmine, cedar, pine, vanilla, cinnamon Finally, don’t forget to air your house often while it’s on the market. Get creative The 8 steps above will make sure your house is saleable however, if you want to go further and get creative, you need to understand an important concept: Buyers are not looking to buy property! What they’re really looking to buy is a better life (property just happens to be the way they’ll get it). For the presentation of your house to really attract buyers (and the highest offers), you need to make buyers want what you’ve got – give them a glimpse of a better life. Should I fix up my home or sell it as is? They may well make selling a house easier but after fitting costs, you’re lucky to re-coup even 90% of the money you spent. Most buyers want to stamp their own taste and personality onto the property they buy. Save your money and give buyers the opportunity to do that. Improvements that DO make sense That way, when the buyer tries to negotiate you know exactly what a fair price reduction would be (and can show proof). How to avoid wasting money Follow this rule of thumb if you’re selling within the next 6 months…“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Instead, just present what you have, as well as you can. In other words, unless a room or element (e.g., carpet) of your house is: Deeply unattractive, In total disrepair, Unsanitary Don’t bother spending any money replacing it and if you do have to spend, don’t overspend. Spend just enough to bring your whole house up to a reasonable (and consistent) standard (i.e. all the house looks good, not just a few rooms). Tip: Selling well is all about meeting buyers’ expectations so take a peek at your competition (i.e. houses like yours currently for sale) if you’re unsure what ‘reasonable’ looks like. After all, that’s what your buyers are doing. Thank you!

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WELCOME TO ELEGANCE AT HOME WITH KITCHBOOM You're used to elegance and quality when eating out, whether it's dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant or an old-world afternoon tea. Since last year, however, home dining has become the new normal — but that doesn't mean you have to do without the style you're used to. That's where KitchBoom comes in. Whether you're looking for best dinnerware, glassware or tableware, unique cutlery or hand-painted tea sets, you can have all the elegance you're used to from us. DINNERWARE FOR DINING IN STYLE Whether you're enjoying a family dinner or entertaining guests, the best dinnerware can transform a meal into an occasion. KitchBoom offers a wide range of materials and designs for all budgets. Does your taste run to stoneware or ceramic, glass or bone china, or would you prefer handmade porcelain? We have plates, bowls and dinner sets in designs ranging from minimalist white to traditional willow pattern to marble effect. To go with your elegant crockery, you'll also want best quality cutlery. We offer gold, black and silver cutlery sets, in traditional and contemporary designs, made of materials ranging from stainless steel to titanium. GLASSWARE FOR ELEGANT DRINKING Along with dining style, you'll need elegant glassware, whether for the wine with your meal or after-dinner drinks. KitchBoom offers a range of crystal glass for your wine, champagne or cocktails, as well as whiskey tumblers and highball glasses. Designs range from traditional to unique contemporary styles. You can choose between individual glasses, sets of glasses and a variety of crystal whiskey decanter sets for you to offer your guests their whiskey in style. We also have crystal wine decanter sets, ranging from hand-painted enamel to unusual modern designs. TEAWARE FOR TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA Nothing says elegance like a traditional afternoon tea, and KitchBoom offers a wide range of teacups and coffee cups. Choices range from best bone china teacups to fine porcelain or ceramic, decorated in styles from floral to marble. Our teapots, similarly, range from floral bone china to iron teakettles, while we have coffee presses of glass, steel or aluminium. Besides individual cups and teapots, we also supply a wide choice of bone china afternoon tea sets. Most are made in traditional designs, evoking country house parties, but if your tastes run more to modernism, we have a number of options. TABLEWARE TO SET OFF YOUR FINE DINING However high quality your dinnerware or glassware may be, your dinner won't strike the right note if your table coverings and place settings don't match it. Table linen needs to match the image you're going for, and we have everything from restrained single colours to bright designs, traditional or geometric patterns, or lace-fringed linen. To go with it, you can choose between placemats made of fabric, leather or bamboo, with luxury table napkins. This is merely a brief summary of the ways that KitchBoom can help your home dining have all the elegance you're used to.