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  • How external colour can affect property values

    A study by HomeOwners Alliance that investigated the effect of colour on property values found that homes boasting vivid shades can cost an average of 20 per cent more than their plainer neighbours.

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    The biggest price difference uncovered was for a three-bedroom house on Norwich’s colourful Ten Bell Lane, which cost 65 per cent more than a similar house in nearby Victoria Street. HomeOwners Alliance also discovered that a rainbow-hued three-bedroom terrace in North London’s Kelly Street was worth an average of 15 per cent more than a similar property on the less vibrant Castle Road.

    In an area where most homes have character, prices for colourful properties are less marked; for example, there is only a 12 per cent difference between vivid picture-postcard houses on Tobermory’s Main Street and those on the less colourful Rockfield Street.

    In Cornwall’s Kingsand, a typical four-bedroom house on colourful lane The Green is valued at four per cent more than dwellings on the plainer Fore Street. In North Yorkshire’s Staithes, near Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a typical colourful two-bedroom cottage in Chapel Yard costs just two per cent more than the same-sized property in nearby Cowbar Cottages.

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    The chief executive of HomeOwners Alliance, Paula Higgins, commented that the value of a house in a brightly painted street can be thousands more than its duller neighbours. Paying a premium for a vibrant street might yield dividends, she points out, while you could make huge savings by purchasing a plainer home metres from a colourful road.

    The organisation’s homeowner survey uncovered that amongst those buying a home, the most important features were a garden or external space, a dwelling in a good repair, a place to park, decent-sized rooms, good transport links, and energy efficiency.

    Surveying your prospective home

    When you have found the perfect property, you need to investigate it for flaws. A homebuyers report documents visual problems in a property that might lead to damage or repairs, such as subsidence or damp. The homebuyers report won’t detail every aspect of the abode – for this, you need an in-depth building survey.

    A homebuyers report generally suits conventional dwellings built within the last 100 years that are in reasonable condition. A building survey is better if you are planning alterations or if the building is non-traditional, large, extended, or built over a century ago.

    An article in House & Garden explains how to choose the perfect external paint colour.

    Tips for home decorators

    – Choose trade-quality masonry paint, which has more pigment and offers better protection against the elements. Choose BBA-certified paints such as Dulux Trade Weathershield, Sandtex Trade or Albany Smooth Masonry, which are thoroughly tested for performance and guaranteed lifespan.

    – Ensure that you are strong enough to undertake the work and are safe when climbing ladders – this job requires stamina. If you are not confident about undertaking the project, hire a professional decorator.

    – The cost of exterior decorating depends on the size of the property and whether scaffolding is needed. The painting may take up to a week to finish.

    – Greens and blues suit the cooler light that reflects on east- and north-facing walls, while yellow or red-based hues go best with the warmer light that benefits west- or south-facing houses.

    – If you are painting the house yourself, clean, brush and scrape the walls prior to starting, repair any holes, and use an anti-fungicidal solution on mould. Any rotten wood should be replaced.

    – Ensure that you have some old blankets or dustsheets to avoid painting your lawn and patio.

    – Wear old clothes or overalls, as exterior paints can’t be washed out.

    – You will need two coats of exterior paint. Start at the top of the house and work down.

    – If your house is a listed building, consent is needed to change the exterior colour.

    – Your exterior walls need painting every 10 to 15 years. Aim to undertake the project when the weather forecast is good; however, glare from the paint will give you eye strain on a sunny day. It is best to paint on a mild, cloudy day.

    – If your house is very grimy, use the type of power washer that you clean your driveway or car with.

    – It is faster to spray the paint rather than brushing. Make sure you mask the areas you don’t want to get paint on.

    – Keep children and animals away from your work.

     

  • Following the rules for wearing white

    Every fashionista is well aware that there are certain rules when it comes to wearing white. These are rules that originated in the southern parts of the USA, where white is a common colour to wear because of the heat.

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    There are so many different options for wearing white, from a white maxi dress to a white jumpsuit through to white Farah Shirts for men like the ones you can see at https://www.ejmenswear.com/men/farah. But basic rules still apply no matter what item of clothing you wear if it’s white. If you love the traditional rules of wearing white but still want to focus on the style aspect of your look, read on to find out the five rules for wearing white.

    Never Wear White to a Wedding

    A white is a huge no-no for a wedding. This is a hard and fast rule that a lot of people agree on. No other woman should be wearing white to a wedding apart from the bride. You can still wear an outfit that has bits of white in it, but wearing a look that is completely white from head to toe is generally a rule that shouldn’t be broken.

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    Warmer Temperatures Call for White

    Warmer weather means more white. Summer dresses are the perfect choice for warm weather, and in hot climates no one will bat an eye if you are wearing a completely white ensemble.

    Stick to Off-White When the Weather Is Cooler

    If you’re a huge fan of white but don’t want to wear it in winter, go for a colour that is off-white. Creams and beiges are the perfect choices for winter whites and make for wonderful suit options.

    White Clothes Shouldn’t Be Seen in the City

    Wearing white clothes whilst using public transport around a busy city should be avoided at all costs. This will end in disaster. With dirty seats and muddy puddles everywhere, a white outfit won’t make it to the end of the day completely clean. This is a big reason city men and  women wear a lot of black.

    Pair It with the Right Shoes

    Wearing heavier and dark-coloured shoes with a white outfit looks odd. Instead opt for natural tones or even white shoes to go with the look.

  • Going to School during the second World War

    Unlike the classrooms of today, school children during the Second World War had their lessons held in a variety of different locations.  From the local Public House to Church Crypts and Chapels indoor lessons were held there and when the British weather was warm enough then outside in the fresh air was the best place to be.  In school apart from having to live with food rationing the children had to take part in regular gas drills and practice wearing their gas masks. The British Government thought the smaller children would be scared of the intimidating black masks so they designed a special, brightly coloured Mickey Mouse, blue mask for them.  Many children’s lives changed dramatically as the fighting took hold, anxiety and fear were common amongst the younger generation.  Nearly two million children were evacuated away from their town, homes and schools and relocated into the countryside.  Each child was given labels to attach to themselves and then taken to the nearest railway station and put on a train to the countryside.

    When the children were able to receive some form of teaching and education, they sat together in cramped conditions using whatever desks and writing materials the teacher could come up with.  Unlike the children of today who can sit comfortably at their school desks provided by companies such as https://www.severnfurnishing.co.uk/  Any other essential Office Furniture Gloucester supplies were sourced from anywhere they could be found.

  • Why a Snake Makes the Perfect Pet

    Although sakes aren’t for everyone, if you do have an interest in reptiles and would love the opportunity to keep one of your own, you will find a snake to be not only rewarding but a great pet for a beginner. As long as you meet their basic needs, here is why having a snake as a pet is great…

    A good tank set up is crucial – The first thing that you need to make sure you have is a good tank set up. The best thing to do is to set the tank up and monitor the temperature for a week before you actually bring your snake home, to ensure that the heat mat is working, and the temperature is stable. Place the tank in a room with no draughts, so not near a door or window – if you do have a cold house consider sorting that out first with good heating and keeping a warm room with Worcester double glazing from https://www.firmfix.co.uk/ – then you will be good to go.

    When it comes to feeding, do plenty of research on what your snake eats, and how much it requires – snakes generally do not need feeding every day so in that sense are very easy to care for, but you must ensure that you get their food requirements right. The breed and size of your snake will determine this but speak to who you are buying the snake from or a local pet shop and they will be able to advise you.

     

  • Kitchen Must-haves

    If you feel like cooking up a storm in the kitchen then you need the right equipment. Confident cooking is all about having the best things to make the preparation of food simple, efficient and even fun. Here are a few of the must-have items for a modern kitchen:

    The Veggie Bullet

    If you are desperate to get on board with healthy cooking, then the Bullet is very suitable for making healthy food fun. It is a 3-in-1 appliance that allows you to easily cut vegetables into spirals, sliced or shredded to make adding vegetables to your meals super easy.

    Quick Egg Cooker

    Eggs are a source of protein and this cooker is way to quickly improve your egg intake simply. It allows you to create hard-boiled or medium eggs, omelets cooked and boiled well.

    Now all you need is a stunning new kitchen to show it off in. For Fitted Kitchens Norwich, visit a site like https://www.graysfittedfurniture.co.uk/kitchens/

    Garlic Chopper

    Garlic is tasty as a versatile material but will fall apart and smell when trying to crush or chop without assistance. The garlic chopper takes the complexity out of the task as you pop in the peeled cloves and the knife does the job for you.

    Slow juicer

    If you want to make your very own juice with the biggest amount of juice possible, then a slow juicer is exactly what you need. Instead of rotating extremely quickly the juicer spins at 45rpm providing the best nutritious part of fruits and vegetables in a much more effective way.

  • All you need to know about sliding door varieties

    If you’re thinking about installing new doors in your home then have you considered the benefits of sliding doors? A sliding door, to be precise, is a door which opens horizontally by sliding which can be mounted on top of a track or be suspended from a track. Some clever sliding doors even disappear into walls when they are opened. They are often seen being used as shower doors, screen doors, glass doors and wardrobe doors. Bifold doors also fit into this category of door.

    They slide due to a sliding door gear, either bottom rolling or top hung. To make the motion as smooth as possible, brush seals are often used. You’ll most likely see the top hung version, for example in wardrobes and they come in a whole variety of designs and mirrored. Two trolley hangers at the top run in a concealed track and take all the weight so the door is easier to open. To prevent damage from impact, a track stopper is employed to hold the door open or closed if slammed. There is also a bottom roller to prevent the door from swaying and the rollers have safety locks to prevent the door from jumping out of its track.

    If a door is too heavy then a bottom rolling system will be needed with two rollers running on a track and two rollers running at the top. As there is more weight at the bottom of the door, this results in the need for a more forceful closing and opening action. There is also something called a lift-and-slide door gear which allows the door to be lifted out of the frame during opening and closing. This gives a better seal and better soundproofing.

    The benefit of sliding doors is the amount of space that is saved. There is almost no room needed to open these doors. The mechanism is sound as it cannot be lifted out of its hinges and they are easy to automate. Sliding doors are a great idea if you only have a small space available as there is no restriction on where furniture can be placed as they don’t open into or out of the room. Sliding doors will also make a room look bigger, even when closed, as there is little between you and the great view of your back garden. The provide a wider exterior view and let in much more natural light than other types of doors. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that sliding doors have been used as early as the first century AD in Roman houses. Archeological findings in Pompeii, Italy have found early versions of the sliding door concept.

    Automated sliding doors are commonly seen in shops, hotels, offices and airports.  Automated doors contain a motor and activation system to operate them. They contain a magnetic locking mechanism that can unlock automatically in the event of an emergency. Normal sliding doors are used for wardrobes, patio doors and room dividers.

     

  • Odd smells in your home? Here is where they might be coming from

    If you notice there is a strange smell in or around your home, you may have bigger problems than just an unpleasant odour. It is best to have a professional to investigate the situation as soon as possible, because the problem might be worse than you think.

    Here are some of the most common unpleasant smells:

    1. Dead Animals

    If you smell something like manure, pet dander or a dirty litter box type smell, and you don’t have pets, it could be a dead animal somewhere. However, if the smell if sickly, you may well have insect nests or dead animals somewhere in the pipe or duct system.

    Trust your instincts with this one: if you smell a dead animal, there probably is one. Sometimes, people think they can smell sewage, but regardless, it will be a strong and obvious odour. A plumbing professional should look at the pipes and arrange for it to be taken care of as soon as possible!

    1. Fishy Smells

    Unless it is a fish, this strange smell could be coming from burning electrical components. When some electrical cables and plastic get too hot, they can emit a fishy or urine-type type odour. If you notice this type of odour, look around your house and look for outlets and other electrical equipment that are visibly burning or melting. Also, make sure that plastic and other things that can burn are kept away from heat sources, including light.

    1. Sewage or Rotten Eggs

    If either of these horrible smells are present in your home, this may be caused by a dried-out P-trap. P-traps that trap water, create an air block for every sewer gas that may rise. However, if you do not use your channel for a while, the water in your P-trap can evaporate, paving the way for poisonous sewer gas to infiltrate your home. Water should run on all your channels at least once a month to prevent this from happening! For any plumbing problems and bad smells from Kent Blocked Drains, you’ll need help to Unblock drains in Kent through 3flowdrainage.

    1. Mouldy and Musty

    Should you notice an unpleasant musty or mould odour, chances are this problem exists somewhere in your home. Walk around the property and keep an eye out for any water leaks, damp objects, and humidity to locate the root of the issue. Mould varies in severity from merely cosmetic for hazardously toxic.

    For small areas of mould, you can clean this yourself. However, if the problem is bigger than you can handle, call in the experts.

    You may need recaulk plumbing fixtures to prevent water from entering the area between the fixture and the wall, which can cause water damage and mould to grow. Improved ventilation might also be necessary in areas of high humidity such as bathrooms and kitchens.

     

  • The great things about buying a new car

    There are so many choices when it comes to buying a car that can be difficult to choose not only the car you want, but how it’s bought and how old it is.

    Some people just never consider a brand-new car, citing the reduced purchase price and operational costs as major incentives for buying used. But a new car can be much cheaper than you think.

    Here are the most compelling reasons to choose a brand-new motor:

    You can choose the right colour and specifications

    It sounds trivial, but if you buy a car that is really new, you can have it exactly how you like it, with a choice of factory features and also choose from a list of accessories from the dealer.

    You may have to wait for your car to be built to order, but this is quite exciting as well. Plus, you do not need to compromise. You can choose your car exactly how you want.

    You get the latest offers

    Car manufacturers try harder than ever to get your business, so there are some very attractive deals out there right now. And we’re not just talking financial packages – there are some PCP schemes which include insurance and road tax, so all you need to worry about is the monthly payment and the cost of fuel you put in the tank.

    You can also choose how you buy – whether PCP, Hire Purchase, loan or direct cash purchase – whatever works best for your situation.

    What to do with your old car? Contact a Birmingham Scrap Yard at a site like Birmingham Autobreakers, a leading Birmingham Scrap Yard.

    You do not need to worry about history

    Simple but true. As the first and only owner of the car, you do not have to worry about how it has been driven in the past, what parts it has had, what’s been replaced and whether or not it has been in an accident.

    You have the full support of the main dealer warranty

    If something does break, you have a warranty to fall back on, so you do not have to incur any unexpected bills. You can also add a service plan to your financial package, so it is included in your monthly payment. Choosing a car with a warranty of five or seven years, and you’re not going to have to worry about the cost of your automobile for a decent time.

    You can reject it if it is not for you

    When you buy a new car, if it is not right or there is something wrong that cannot be easily repaired, you can reject it outright and request a replacement. You also have the basic consumer rights, which means you can hand back the car within 30 days if it is not for you and pay only the projected depreciation costs – although this is very rare.

    The smell of a new car

    Who can resist the allure of a new car when it offers a combination of smell, fresh fabrics and leather and a feeling of ‘newness’ that you just cannot get with a used car? It’s intoxicating.

  • Why would I need a solicitor?

    Wondering whether you need a lawyer? Many situations can occur which would benefit from the services of a solicitor. Many of these situations could be personally quite stressful, so finding a professional, reliable solicitor, with whom you can establish a strong relationship, is essential. An experienced solicitor can assist you with the legal process and will be your legal representative. They will be experts in law and can assist you in making some of the most difficult decisions in life to do with family, property, business and many other life events.

    A solicitor can help with:

    Matters relating to property – buying and selling (conveyancing), owner disputes, buy to let and planning permission.

    Family problems – divorce, disputes, child support.

    Terms of employment – Setting up a business, employer and employee disputes, bankruptcy, insolvency and ownership of intellectual property.

    Life events – a legal dispute, power of attorney, will making, probate disputes.

    How much are solicitors’ fees?

    Costs will vary and a lot depends on the type of work they will be doing on your behalf. Straightforward legal matters such as conveyancing and wills will be quite predictable. Ongoing legal cases can begin to add up though, so it is always wise to discuss the fees in advance of instructing a lawyer and remaining in regular contact with them.

    How do I find a solicitor?

    There are many different branches of law, such as divorce, property or dispute, so you’ll need to find one with relevant expertise in the area you are looking for help with. It is important to check their qualifications and relevant experience. You have the right to ask as a paying customer.

    Searching online is the most common way to find a legal expert in your area with the relevant expertise. For more information on Southend Solicitors, visit a site like Southend Solicitors Drydsales

    To find a lawyer that you think will meet your needs, meeting in person is a good idea to see if they are a good choice and that you are happy to work with them. They must have a practicing certificate evident to show that they are qualified and fully insured. If in doubt, you can always check with the Solicitor’s Regulatory Authority.

    At the meeting, discuss the process moving forward and ask for details on what you can expect and what is likely to be involved at every stage. It is a good idea to ask about the possibility of a time frame so that you have a basic idea of when each phase may be completed.

    It is important to know what they expect from you, too. They may require documentation or information and you do not want the process to be delayed because of something that you are not providing. This is why regular communication is essential for a successful relationship.

    It’s important that you and your solicitor share a good working relationship and understanding, especially when many aspects of the legal process can be very stressful for the client. Having, a friendly professional lawyer on your side can make all the difference.

  • Common reasons why people use self-storage units

    Running out of space

    Most people don’t want to part with items that are no longer good for anything, particularly things in a good condition. They want to keep things ‘just in case’ or often because they plan to pass it on at some point.

    Moving house

    Many people must move from their old home before moving to their new one to avoid losing the sale. If that happens and you need a place to store your belongings, self-storage units are the ideal answer. For Self Storage Highbridge, visit a site like Leakers, a supplier of Self Storage Highbridge.

    Renovation

    When you have traders walking through your home, you might worry about damage to existing furniture and furnishings. A self-storage unit would be perfect to store your valuable items while work is in progress.

    Tools

    Whether you are a gardener, builder or painter and decorator, you might be concerned about leaving tools overnight in a vehicle. If you are renting a self-storage unit, you can leave your tools at the end of the day and pick them up the next day. They will be stored securely in a damp free environment – under lock and key.

    Garden furniture and machinery

    Summer gives way to autumn and the grass has been cut for the last time. If you discover your shed is too small for your garden furniture and equipment which you will not be using for a while, putting everything into a self-storage unit gives you more space to live with in the garage, as well as keeping your garden furniture in good shape.