Archived Entries
May 2009
Has the tide really turned for the housing market?
According to figures released by the Nationwide (29th May 2009), it appears that house prices rose sharply in the month of May with the cost of property increasing by 1.2% when compared to the April figures. Now, the typical home costs £154,016. Further good news can be found in the annual rate of house price falls with them easing from the 15% recorded in April to 11.3% in May.
However, don't arrange your house price rise party just yet. Whilst this appears to be good news, it should be recognised that the more reliable quarter on quarter indicator reveals that house prices actually fell by 0.5% (albeit this was the lowest drop since January last year). In essence, it is too early to predict which way house process are going. For example, during the economic gloom of the early 1990s, there were months when prices rose but only to fall back in later periods. The outlook remains less than bright given the present economic uncertainty coupled with rising unemployment and the difficulty of accessing "affordable" credit.
When asked should I move or stay and improve my property, my advice remains the same as that previously offered. If your home doesn't have extension or indeed improvement potential, then moving is really your only realistic option. However, there is no doubt that undertaking any home improvement work will enhance your property and hopefully when it comes to selling, give your property the edge over competing properties.
Rainwater Harvesting
It's all in the Water Butt - A money saving idea that will keep you and your garden happy.
As I sit here contemplating whether I should be turning the heating back on, I read with scepticism that we are predicted a “heat wave” this summer. The thought of wall-to-wall sunshine and lazy days enjoyed in the garden seems as distant as the “heat wave” of 1976. However, if the prediction is true, how am I going to keep the vegetables I have only this week planted sufficiently watered without racking up a water bill comparable to a MPs expense claim?
One sustainable solution to the problem is rainwater harvesting. By this I mean purchasing or imaginatively re-employing a dustbin or compost bin to use as a water butt. If money is no object and aesthetics are high on the wish list, I note in the press I can spend anything from £30 up to £300 on a designer receptacle in either polyvinyl chloride or timber. Moreover, if I wanted to go that extra mile, I could even get hold of a former whiskey barrel! How about that for the wow factor?
How will I fill it? Logic dictates that leave a receptacle outside for long enough and it will eventually fill up. That is all well and good if you live in the tropics with daily deluges. To certainly make the best use of your water butt, the simplest and most logical solution is to get a rainwater diverter kit. This will collect water from the roof but once full, this will then continue to divert water into the drain thus preventing the water butt from overflowing. Many "off the peg" water butts will come with diverters but if you are taking advantage of that bin, you can certainly buy one from your local garden centre for "as little as £20".
Whilst the idea of a water butt sits high on my to do list, my next problem is where can I place my 400 litre receptacle without obstructing pathways or upsetting the aesthetically driven wife and secondly, how will I fill it? The answer to the first part is either where I presently park my car or directly in front of my shed door. Hold on, I have a better location, why not place it by the green house and harvest the water from that roof? This will involve the fitting of guttering and a down pipe, but at least this way, it will be hidden and I can still park my car on the drive and open my shed. Yes, that is where I will site my water butt (the one I have yet to buy).
If you do no other improvement works this year, why not seriously think about this one. By doing so, you will be doing your bit for the environment and your water bill!
How to save money this summer - 5 Staycation projects that won't break the bank
With Easter firmly behind us, our attention is beginning to turn to where we are going to spend this year's summer holiday. For many of us, the 2- week package trip may well have to be put on hold, as money worries loom larger than the next parliamentary fiasco. Instead many are contemplating the "staycation", a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions. Interspersed with outings, we see this period as an opportunity to get on with those DIY tasks we have been putting off and have now run out of excuses not to do. When we mean DIY, we mean those tasks that can be undertaken by a relatively competent individual and not some kind of major reconstruction project.
Be aware though that spending money on home improvements will not automatically increase the value of your home. Make sure that the work you propose is in keeping with its style, is well designed and above all, for the more complex projects in particular, is properly constructed. If you intend to undertake any new build, please make sure you do not require planning or building regulation approval before you start. There is no doubt that undertaking any home improvement work will enhance your property and hopefully when it comes to selling, give your property the edge over competing properties.
5 "staycation" projects:-
- Get in the Garden: Not only is gardening a potential health benefit but it can play a huge role when it comes to selling homes and can add significant value to your property. Did you know that research conducted by the Horticultural Traders Association has found that a well maintained front garden can add as much as £5,00 to the value of your property? The secret is making the best of the space you have available to you. For example, paint fences, cover manholes, trim hedges and remove weeds from borders.
- Get the Paint Brushes Out and get those windows frames and render painted: First impressions always count. By making the outside of your property look as attractive as possible can add 2-3% to the value of your home.
- Update your kitchen: Whilst advertisers will go out of their way to try and convince us we need a brand new kitchen, why bother if the carcasses are sound? The simplest and most convenient way to update your kitchen is by replacing the unit doors and their handles. If you are feeling confident, why not consider replacing the work surfaces also?
- Give those bathroom and kitchen tiles a spring clean: Ideally, replacing bathroom and kitchen tiles would be preferable. However, if new tiles are not an option, simply treat your tiles to a spring clean by investing in a bicarbonate of soda paste. Once left on for an hour, the paste will help lift the dirt and fungus that accumulates on the grout.
- Get Painting: As I can personally testify, painting is one of the best ways to freshen up your home. With painting in particular, preparation is key to its success. Do spend time filling cracks, sanding and priming. When it comes to choosing colours, it often pays to choose neutral colours. Whilst some argue that neutral is "boring", why not think about having a feature wall that is painted a different colour to the other walls? Presently, my house resembles a disorganised jumble sale with furniture piled up in the middle of rooms. I keep reminding myself that it will be worth it when we have finished decorating. A fresh look can for example add between 1-2% to the value of your property when you come to sell.
Whatever you do this summer, above all enjoy it!!!
Protect Your Home against Credit Crunch Crime
For many of us, these are unsettling times with unemployment rising and consumer confidence waning. However, in times of economic downturn, one “business” that is on the rise is opportunist crime and recently published Home Office statistics bear this out. For the last four months of 2008, 31 police forces across England and Wales reported a rise in burglaries with 55,572 more cases of acquisitive crime taking place, more than for the same period in 2007. The last sustained rise in the burglary rate was back in the mid 1990s.
So, what can we all do to ensure that our homes and possessions are adequately protected?
- Whilst stating the obvious, please make sure your home is properly secured when you leave it with all windows and doors closed and locked.
- When working around the house, don't leave garage doors and side gates open.
- When working in the garden, try and lock the back door ad take the key with you.
- Think beyond the house. If you have a side or rear gate, consider measures of securing these. For example, a sturdy padlock will provide a good deterrent and will also demonstrate to the opportunist that you are serious about home security. If the gate cannot be secured in this way, don't simply ignore it but think about replacing the gate.
- Whilst most home insurance policies do not require the fitting of an alarm, how about investing in one? The fitting of an alarm can also reduce home insurance premiums but if you do have one installed, Please Use It. If you do not, your insurance company may insist that the policy is invalid in the case of a claim.
- Be proactive with your neighbours. If you are away, ask your neighbours to park a car on the drive for example to make the house looked lived in.
- Fit timer switches to light fittings and electrical devices such as radios.
- Invest in secure locks for your home - for example:
- Deadlocks for external doors
- Secure locks to windows
Yes, opportunist burglary is a concern but above all, we must not live in fear. By following some of the above steps, we can hopefully deter any potential crime and buck the statistical trend.
Let us know of ways that you have imaginatively deterred the opportunist burglar from entering your property by leaving a comment below.
