In this three-minute read, we look at ways to make your home more energy efficient. With 40% of UK carbon emissions coming from households, the road to a cleaner, greener planet starts at home. First, the good news (yes, there is some) In 1990, the average UK home generated 12.8 tonnes of CO2. (To get this figure, the Committee on Climate Change analysed data on heating, electricity,...
2020
In this two-minute read, we look at why movers in Rayleigh & Hockley need to act now if they want to save thousands of pounds in cash. The legendary American author Mark Twain famously said this about procrastination: ‘Never put off till tomorrow which may be done the day after tomorrow.’ And while it might be a useful mantra when doing something mundane like mowing the lawn or some home...
In this 90-second speed read, we look at the things people are stopping and starting in October. 2020 will go down in history as the year when life stopped, albeit temporarily. And with local lockdowns coming into force, that feeling of stop-starting stuff is still around. It’s a little like the hockley cokey but with stop-start replacing in-out. This all makes it a little ironic that...
In this three-minute read, we look at the unusual things that tenants have left behind after moving out and explain how landlords can avoid post-tenancy clean-up bills. End-of-tenancy checks can spring all manner of surprises on landlords. Take, for example, the landlord in north-west London who discovered an abandoned kitten when taking possession of a property back in August. The tenants had shot...
In this three-minute read, we look at the dos and don’ts of photography when it comes to marketing a property. When selling or letting a property, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of getting the imagery right. As most buyers and renters spend hours scrolling through property portals before arranging viewings, first impressions are crucial. So why then do so many people get it...
In this three-minute read, we look at ways to keep your body and mind active in October. 1 Plant some bulbs Bulbs are easy to plant, can go in either the ground or pots, require virtually no looking after and pack a colourful punch. What’s not to like? Plant daffodils, tulips and hyacinths for spring blooms and alliums and lilies for summer flowers. 2 Play conkers Every October, thousands of...
In this three-minute read, we look at how landlords can manage tenants who are noisy, aggressive or destructive. Let’s start with the good news: the vast majority of tenants pay their rent on time and cause their landlords very little, if any, grief. Now for the not so good news: a small percentage of tenants wreak havoc. They infuriate the neighbours, damage property and behave in a violent and...
In this three-minute read, we look at the long-term forecasts for the housing market and what they mean if you’re thinking about moving. After one of the most unusual years on record for the housing industry, the latest market predictions from a major property chain make for interesting reading. Think back to March, when the housing industry screeched to a halt for more than seven weeks during...
A two-minute read. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday afternoon that he would make the dream of buying a first home a more achievable reality for first-time buyers. The news came in a speech to the virtual Conservative conference. The PM claimed his Government would introduce fixed-rate long term mortgages which would see as many as 2 million first time buyers being able to...
A two-minute read. Sometimes we all must talk about things we feel uncomfortable discussing. It could be with a neighbour whose parking is driving you to distraction. Or your colleague who doesn’t know the meaning of leaving the work kitchen as they’d like to find it. Maybe it’s the sweat-inducing chat about the birds and the bees with your growing children. Whatever it is that makes...