Latest News
This page displays all our news articles. We will keep you updated on any information we believe is important for you as a client to know.
DIY Projects Need To Be Done Properly
Homeowners embarking on DIY projects need to be careful how they go about them because poorly completed work can have "repercussions", especially when it comes to selling a house on. That is the opinion of Andrew Leech, director at the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC), who remarked that it is important to have any work assessed by a professional. Anything involving gas and electricity requires the input of specialists, he added, while solicitors need to see the right paperwork for any wo...
Home Improvements Must not go over the top
Those looking to undertake home improvement projects in order to increase the value of their property have been warned by one publication not to go to extremes. US News Money explained that some projects can actually devalue a house and going "over the top" on remodelling work can put buyers off if the results appear too extravagant. "To them, the restaurant-sized stainless-steel stove, kitchen island and fridge just seem excessive and they're not going to want to pay for them," the publication ...
Extra Bathroom a Great Investment for a Home
9th February 2011 Renovating a bathroom or adding an extra one can improve the market value of a house, as well as making a property appear more stylish, it has been claimed. Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Rosie Millard stated that having the latest in bathroom accessories and a clean, stylish space could make a good impression on potential buyers. Noel de Keyer, head of houses at Savills' Sloan Street office, told her adding an extra space could increase the value of a home by around five per...
Now is the Time to be Making Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations
With many people finding it difficult at the present time to acquire a mortgage for a new property, now is an excellent time to undertake home improvement and repair projects. This is according to Joe McLoughlin, director of OurProperty.co.uk, who observed that remodelling a kitchen or bathroom is currently a very popular activity. As well as improving the look and feel of a home, he suggested it may also have a positive impact when the time does come to sell up. "Things like bathrooms and kitch...
Advice Offered For Practical Kitchen Designs
While many people may desire a contemporary "chef's kitchen" as a fashionable choice, they may not be the most practical solution for everyday cooking. This is the view of Arrol Gellner, writing for the Boston Globe, who explained that many professional-looking kitchens require a large floor space and a lot of maintenance, neither of which may be possible for the majority of householders. A better plan for a home would be to create a room that is specifically tailored to a person's cooking style...
Home Improvement is All the Rage
DIY and home improvement is currently "all the rage", one newspaper has asserted, with more Britons attempting to carry out renovations which will help their property sell. According to the Mirror, homeowners looking to carry out a home improvement scheme should think carefully about how they will add value to their house, or risk being left with an "expensive DIY disaster" on their hands. Peter Gerrard, property expert from Moneyextra.com, told the paper: "In tough times, money is tight so it i...
Bleed Radiators to Keep a House Warm
People who may have noticed their central heating is not warming their property as well as expected may need to check their radiators. According to the Shropshire Star, if they are hot at the bottom but cold at the top, this can be a sign there is trapped air inside, which will prevent water from circulating. Therefore, it is important to bleed the radiator as soon as possible in order to prevent energy being wasting, the newspaper stated. Some radiators may be bled using a small screwdriver, wh...
DIY Home Builds On the Rise
A fall in house prices is leading to a boom in the number of people undertaking DIY home builds, it has been claimed. This Is Money reports that, with the average price of a plot falling from £199,000 in 2007 to £125,000 today, 20,000 new projects are embarked upon every year by people keen to create more than just a new kitchen or bathroom extension. Therefore, the publication has offered a few tips to anyone who may be considering going it alone and building their dream home from scratch. On...
Bathroom Trends Moving Towards Classic Simplicity
10th January 2011 Trends in bathroom design will move towards clean, simple fixtures and classical elegance in the next year, it has been claimed. Shawn Hoult of the Calgary Herald canvassed the opinions of several experts, with Jeanne Milne, owner of The Art of Hardware, saying people are looking for "timeless pieces that they'll be happy with for a while". She added that instead of creating a consistent theme in the room, individuals are happy to mix and match pieces to develop a space they ar...
Refit Kitchens to Impress Buyers
18th January 2011 People looking to improve the chances of selling their home may like to consider refitting their kitchen to make the property look more appealing to potential buyers. The is according to Katie McLoughlin, writing for the Liverpool Post, who cited a study from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors that found improvements to kitchens can increase the value of a home by up to four per cent. She advised those thinking of installing a contemporary kitchen not to make the feat...
Property Improvements Done on the Cheap
Dodgy DIY improvements damage property values and can reduce the sale price of a home by up to 5%, according to new research. The recession has driven many property owners in the UK to tackle not just small jobs but even plumbing and electrical work on their own, the study from home insurer LV= reveals. Many do so to try to increase the value of their property but it is a false saving. Tackling complicated jobs such as knocking down walls and taking on gas, plumbing and electric works without re...
Planning Permission Still Required for Conservatory
Planning permission 'still required' for conservatory COUNCIL planners are reminding homeowners in Northumberland that planning permission is still required for conservatories. Articles and advertisements in local media claiming that conservatories no longer need planning approval have been branded "completely misleading" by Northumberland County Council's planning department. In an article in a Tweed dale Press supplement Homes and Gardens, accompanying the Berwick Advertiser on April 2, it was...
Third Unwilling to Drop Price to Sell Home
A third of home owners are not prepared to drop their asking price to sell their property following signs that the housing market is picking up, a survey has showed. Around 35pc of people with a property on the market said they would not accept an offer of less than the full asking price, according to the Co-operative Bank. But these sellers may struggle to find a buyer, as just 12pc of house-hunters say they would be prepared to offer the full asking price on a home they liked. The property mar...
Taxman Clamps Down on Cash Payments to Builders
The Government is closing in on Builders who do not declare earnings for VAT purposes, and may target customers it thinks have colluded. Telegraph by Nina Montagu-Smith This could be anyone who has paid a builder, plumber, electrician or carpenter in cash and not insisted on proper paperwork detailing billing for VAT. Toby Ryland, tax partner at accountancy firm Blick Rothenberg, said some consumers could find themselves in the line of fire if their builders' accounts do not tally with other rec...
People Looking to Use Kitchens as Entertainment Spaces
Many people may be considering undertaking a home improvement project to turn their kitchen into a stylish space for entertaining. This is according to interior design specialist Dan Tyler, who told MILive.com's Phyllis Rose that individuals may be looking to convert their kitchen and dining rooms into an open-plan living space that incorporates more storage and worktop spaces. He also noted that light is becoming an important consideration for many homeowners who are thinking about their food p...
