Category: Home Improvement

A blocked drain is a common problem and often a homeowner’s worst nightmare as it can be costly, disruptive and lead to unpleasant odours or backups. Learn to effectively tackle your drain issues with the techniques below. (more…)

The UK finds itself in a pressing predicament that affects not only individual people but also businesses on a wide scale: the cost-of-living crisis. The surging costs of vital essentials like housing, energy, and food have cast a substantial impact not just on people’s day-to-day lives, but also on businesses across the Country. As this challenge lingers, the consideration of measures such as director’s guarantees emerges as an increasingly crucial aspect for ensuring business resilience. (more…)

Before starting any home redecoration project, it’s important to carefully consider your approach in order to avoid costly mistakes. With so many different sources of design inspiration available it can be tempting to dive right in and start decorating without a plan. (more…)

If you own a home in the UK, there is a good chance that it will use gas to power your appliances like your stoves, boilers, and water heaters. However, many new properties are starting to move away from gas solutions and move towards all electric methods of heating. In this article we will provide an overview of how gas works in homes.

Firstly, gas enters your home through a gas meter box that is usually located on the outside of your home. Inside this box is a meter that records the total amount of gas your home uses. This information is then sent to your energy provider so they can charge you for the exact amount of gas you have used. From this box, the gas is then sent through pipes to your internal heating systems. After a period, you may find that your gas meter box is worn or damaged. If this happens, you can contact a company to purchase and fit a replacement gas box for the outside of your home. An example of one if these companies is www.meterbox.co.uk/gas-meter-boxes

The most common use of gas in homes is to power boilers. Boilers are devices that are essential for heating water and radiators throughout your home. Depending on the type of boiler, it may have a water tank built into it, or there may be a separate hot water tank. When you run a hot tap in your home or turn on a radiator, the boiler will then ignite and start to heat water to provide hot water for the taps and the radiators. Some boilers are more efficient than others, which means that it will need less gas to heat water. Having a more efficient boiler will help to reduce your energy consumption and your bills.

Gas is still a very popular choice for heating in this country, but it does come with risks. If you have gas boilers and stoves, it is important to have them serviced regularly, as faulty gas devices can lead to fires and in serious cases, explosions. You should also make sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm in your home, which can monitor if there is any carbon monoxide in the air in your home. Carbon monoxide is an odourless gas that can be lethal if inhaled.

Help to Buy was a popular government-backed scheme aimed at helping people get onto the property ladder. It was launched in 2013 by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, and ends officially in March 2023 although the final application deadline was 31st Oct 2022.

The Help to Buy scheme effectively enabled buyers to purchase a new-build property with just a 5% deposit by offering a government-backed loan of up to 20% of the property value which they could use when arranging a mortgage. Homebuyers would then have to take out a standard mortgage for the remaining 75% of the property value. In London, the maximum loan available was 40% of the property value.

There were concerns that the scheme was responsible for some house price inflation but it has generally been seen as a force for good and has helped many people onto the property ladder. Between April 2013 and 30 June 2022, almost 370,000 properties were bought by people using a help to buy equity loan.

Who was eligible?

In order to be eligible for the help to buy scheme, people needed to be:

– A first time buyer
– Taking out a repayment mortgage
– Buying a new build property which was part of the scheme

Help to Buy was not available for second homes or to buy properties that were going to be rented out.

What were the good points of the Help to Buy scheme?

The main advantage to the scheme was that it was able to help people onto the property ladder who could not otherwise have afforded it.

The loan was interest free for the first five years and then had an interest rate of 1.75% in the sixth year. In the years following that, the interest rate was tied to inflation. This means that it was a competitive loan and that help to buy repayment amounts were reasonably affordable.

Because the initial deposit percentage was larger with the initial loan factored-in, buyers could access cheaper mortgage rates for the remaining percentage.

Another advantage was that the loan could be paid back in stages, increasing the percentage owned via a process known as staircasing.

Need expert advice?

If you are looking for help in planning and making the repayments under this scheme, there are plenty of expert firms offering resources online, such as the example seen here: https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/help-to-buy-loan-repayment-5182.

What were the downsides of the Help to Buy scheme?

Whilst there were obvious advantages to the scheme, there were also a number of issues. The main ones were that the loan value actually increased in line with the value of the property, the loan got more and more expensive as the interest rate was linked to inflation, the scheme was only available on certain new-build properties, only a limited number of lenders offered Help to Buy mortgages, and there was a danger of negative equity.

When you are buying a house, it is important that you get as much information as possible before you buy. Often, people will see their dream home (or what they think is their dream home) buy it, and only then start to discover that it has lots of hidden problems that are then expensive to fix, something that they likely have not budgeted for and mean that the house is not as attractive as it once was.

To reduce your chances of buying a house that you later come to regret, here are some of the things that you should have checked out before you buy…

The Heating – A boiler can be an expensive thing to repair or replace, and if you are going to have to do this, it is better to go into it knowing that you are so that you can factor this into your budget. Boilers that are broken can also be dangerous, so this is another reason why getting the boiler checked out before you buy is important. There are things that you can look out for yourself when you go to view the property – turning on hot taps and making sure that they are warm, as well as listening to the sounds coming from the boiler are two examples of this.

The Drains – Because drains are underground and cannot be seen, they can often be a problem that is not noticed. The only way to really check that drains are in good condition, is to get a professional like this CCTV drainage surveys Kingsbury based company wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/drain-jetting/drain-jetting-kingsbury/ to come and check them for you. They have all the right equipment and skills to do this, giving you the peace of mind that you need.

The Structure of the Building – This is really important and especially if you are buying an older building it is worth getting a very detailed survey done to check this – your estate agent and solicitor is also likely to recommend this. Making sure that the whole building is structurally sound and not about to collapse on you or suffer from expensive to fix issues like subsidence is essential!

Invasive Plants – The garden shouldn’t escape your notice either – plants like bamboo and Japanese knotweed have roots that can cause problems for the foundations of your property, and will need to be removed by a professional in order to stop this from happening.

Choosing the right wood flooring colour can be tricky. The best way to choose the most appropriate colour is to consider what you want your floor style to accomplish. Fortunately, there are many options to choose from.

There is no doubt that the dark wood floor has been gaining momentum in recent years. Not only does it create depth, it also boosts the appraised value of a home. And interior decorators love to incorporate dark wood into their designs.

Aside from the dark hues, there are also light woods to choose from. These can open up an area visually and conceal dust marks. They also make a room feel larger whereas darker shades can close a space.

For those who are on a budget, laminate is an alternative. These can be made to mimic real wood floors, and they come in a variety of colours and price points.

The new trend in wood flooring is to go with the more natural look. In recent years, warmer tones have been on the decline, but they still have a place in homes. When you need Engineered Wood Flooring, go to www.irwintiles.ie/wooden-flooring/engineered-wood-flooring

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the red-toned wood. These can have a high impact, but they don’t blend with softer neutral woods. The other option in wood flooring is the blonde wood styles. This colour can add brightness to a space, while also complementing almost any design style. It is available in a variety of shades and can also be painted to create a unique look.

The average price for a UK home has risen by 8.4 per cent to £256,900 despite demand for property falling.

Prices are booming but mortgage rate rises are prompting a cooling of enthusiasm from those seeking a home buyers survey in Nottingham, looking to upsize in Norwich, or put in an offer in London.

On the up

Property prices went up by the equivalent of almost £20,000 (£19,800) over the last year, according to the most recent Zoopla house price index. It also found that on average, amidst those enlisting the services of firms such as Sam Conveyancing, many first time buyers can expect to pay up to £269,000. This marks a rise of £33,000 year-on-year.

This rise is in contrast to a slowing of interest in new homes as the cost-of-living crisis and mortgage rate rises bite.

Around the country

The Zoopla data showed that demand for buying homes is weakest in what would be considered higher value areas. This includes London. Experts also suggest that the trend is likely to grow, especially within the first-time buyer market, as mortgage rates soar.

The softening of demand in the English capital is being blamed on affordability factors and the aftereffects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Home values in London have only risen by 4.1 per cent, which is less than half of the UK average.

Zoopla said that the impact of increasing mortgage rates will have a more acute effect here and in other Southern English higher value markets where affordability is already impeding market activity.

Best performing regions

In contrast to London, Wales and the Southwest are the joint best-performing regions. The average house price has grown by a massive 10.6 per cent in both of these regions.

The headline growth rate here was supported by a healthy number of new sales that were completed in the first half of 2022 and strong demand for properties.

Nottingham was the location with the highest increase in prices. Whilst homes still remain affordable, prices have gone up by 10.9 per cent in the last year.

Nottingham is followed by Bournemouth with a 9.3 per cent increase, Leeds with 9,2 per cent, and Manchester with nine per cent.

Impact of mortgage rate rises

Whilst this may be good news for sellers in these areas, first time buyers around the country will have to earn an average of £12,250 more each year in order to be able to be eligible to buy as mortgage interest rates look set to go up still further this year.

Buyers in London will have to earn £35,000 more to be in a position to buy an averagely priced property.

Slowing of demand

As the market adjusts to reflect economic factors, the impact is being felt in terms of the length of time it is taking properties to sell. In April, the average home took 19 days to sell. That figure has now reached 22 days.

Impact of interest rates.

The Bank of England has raised interest rates in order to slow inflation, but this is creating even more challenges for first-time buyers. This group is the largest driving force within the current housing market, accounting for around 35 per cent or 177,000 transactions but are likely to be the greatest casualties as mortgages become increasingly less affordable.

The Bank of England increased the base rate to 1.75 per cent in August. This was the largest single rate increase for 27 years. City traders think this rate could go as high as four per cent by the start of 2023.

Something that we are likely to see more and more of as people struggle to make ends meet is crime. It is well known that burglary increases when people become more desperate, so making sure that you are at a lower risk from burglars is essential – here are some ways to protect your home…

Secure your Doors and Windows – This sounds obvious, but you would probably be amazed at how many burglars slip in with ease through an open or unlocked window or door. Even if you are out in the garden, locking your door is something that you should always do, as a watchful burglar can easily enter and make off with your prized possessions.

Making sure that the locks on your doors and windows are safe and secure is also important – it is all well and good locking them but if the locks have become damaged, old or temperamental, it is best to contact a professional like this locksmiths Exeter based company www.guardiansecuritysw.co.uk/locksmiths-exeter/ who will be able to fit new locks for you and ensure that your home is protected well.

Protect Garages and Sheds too – Although the main focus of security will be your home, the other buildings that are part of your home also need protection. In some cases, burglars may use an adjoining garage to access the house, or it may be the shed that they are after – usually these contain expensive electrical items like lawnmowers, as well as tools, which they will target. Make sure that you have also got secure doors and locks for them, and you can also add some security lighting if they are in an area that is not overlooked or gets very dark.

Make sure your Garden is Safe – The garden is a common way for a burglar to get into your house and they will often do this by simply climbing into it. Make sure that your fences around the garden are in a good state of repair and that they are high enough that they are hard for someone to climb. You could also use cameras around the perimeter of the home to let would-be intruders know that you are keeping an eye on them.

 

 

You are lucky enough to live and work in a thriving, multicultural city like Bristol but your beloved family home has become outdated and no longer provides the right space you need to remain living there comfortably. Your best move would be to contact a reputable Building Companies Bristol like www.mogfordprescott.co.uk/builders-bristol and discuss plans to remodel your home. Have a defined idea on how you want your home to look when the modernisation has taken place.  Lots of older properties have several small living rooms, perhaps you may want to knock two of these small rooms into one to make a new open plan kitchen-diner?  The little breakfast room could be converted into a study so that when you work from home you have somewhere quiet and suitable for your laptop and printer. You may decide to leave your favourite, traditional front room with its large bay windows, picture rails and beautiful built-in fireplace as it is because you have always found it to be light and airy.

Having a new ensuite with a walk in shower, fitted into your large master bedroom is a great idea, picking your new tiles, flooring and coordinating bathroom suite is something to also take your time with so you get it right and love the finished effect.  Alongside that, have your original family bathroom updated with a new bath, shower cubicle, toilet and wash basin, new tiling and flooring. Of course, having all this work done to your home costs money so maybe think about either a low-cost loan from a bank or even releasing some of the equity from your home. Either of these monumental decisions need to be thought about long and hard before any definite contact with builders takes place.

Speaking to a trusted financial advisor before making any decisions is advisable, talking your plans through with family and friends is also sensible.  Maybe looking at other houses that have the style of rooms you will be looking for or talking through with your builders exactly what it is you want to achieve is a great idea. When you have made the decision to proceed with any modernisation work, have fun planning colours and textures for your new rooms.  Choosing new kitchen cabinets, tiles, and flooring alongside the new bath, toilet and shower unit for your ensuite will be a pleasure because you won’t have to worry too much about finances.