Home and Living
Kitchens – How to upgrade on a budget.
Deciding to install a new kitchen is always a big investment, and although I love the opportunity to start from scratch there is no reason why with a little creativity you can’t either upgrade existing or go for one of the less expensive suppliers. As with some careful ‘hacking’ you can create something unique. The…
Alex Evans
Top Tips on Smelling your home!
Top Tips on Smelling your home! No no, it’s not a typo… we meant to write ‘smell’. Everyone’s heard the old tricks of brewing coffee and baking bread to sell a home – but did you know that 75% of emotions that we generate on a daily basis are associated with scent? With this is…
Alex Evans
A Guide To Interior Design For Buy To Lets
Buying up properties, fixing them up and then renting them out can be a great moneymaker and an enjoyable process when you plan and execute it well. If you are a first timer to buying to let though it can be tricky as there are many pitfalls, which can turn your investment into a nightmare…
Japanese Knotweed – Difference between a Building Survey & a Knotweed Survey
RICS building surveyors are not expected to be fully trained in the management and treatment of Japanese Knotweed, however many RICS building surveyors do receive training often under CPD so that they have the ability to identify Japanese Knotweed at any time of the year. The RICS building surveyors also have the RICS information paper…
Alex Evans
‘Yes it’s moving day!’ or ‘help it’s moving day’ – which one do you want to be?
Moving house is not something the vast majority of us do very often, so the learning from your mistakes mantra, unlike with most things in life, is actually very difficult to apply here. It is also not a prescriptive process, it is very individual and can have many different nuances. There is however one very…
Alex Evans
Don’t let ivy drive you up a wall.
While ivy is the bane of many estate agents, kept under tight control ivy can be a real asset to a garden. It is one of the few evergreen climbers that is self supporting. None is as hardy as ivy. Now is the time of year to give it a bold haircut because you want…
Alex Evans
How to Not Spend a Fortune on Your House Removal.
Finding a new place to live is expensive and stressful enough on its own, but even after you have completed this difficult task, there will be costs still waiting for you. A significant part of them is the money you will have to pay to complete your home relocation. You have probably set a budget…
Alex Evans
What to Consider When Converting a Barn.
Living in beautiful rural surroundings entitle an array of property developers to consider barn conversions. The scenic countryside that envelops our country is rich with rustic properties that already have been, or have the potential to be converted into spectacular homes. Barn conversions are becoming progressively popular in society and there are a number of alluring…
Alex Evans
Period features: Restore or replace?
Many property buyers dream of owning a Georgian townhouse, Victorian villa, Art Deco apartment or other stylish period building. Period homes not only satisfy people’s desire for an authentic link with the past and their local community’s heritage, they are invariably larger than post-war properties. That’s why period properties command premium prices, according to London…
Alex Evans
5 simple ways to update your home just like you would your little black dress.
A little black dress is considered to be a wardrobe staple. It’s the blank canvass of the fashion world, there to be dressed up or down as the occasion dictates and easily transformed with simple accessories. Worn on it’s own, it often goes unnoticed. Add a pop of colour, a silk scarf or a bit…
What does the front of your home say about you?
You’ve decided you want to move home. The inside is all prepped. Your kitchen and bathroom are sparkling. But what does the front of your home say about you? Go outside and take a look. Does your front door stand out? Is your front garden neat? Does your home have what we call kerb appeal?…
Alex Evans
Roger Bisby tries out a Quickslide sash window.
As many homeowners seek to restore their properties to their former appearance putting sliding sash windows in is a top priority. Made to measure timber windows are expensive and are often made of quick grown low density soft wood that is not pressure treated against rot. In the case of this basement window the previous…
Alex Evans
Where have all the builders gone?
With the Government promising 200,000 new homes per year over the course of parliament and the introduction of schemes such as Help to Buy accelerating demand, the housing sector should be thriving following years of austerity and budget cuts. As one of the worst-hit industries during the recession, the construction sector is regaining the momentum…
Alex Evans
THE 12 BEST LIGHTING DESIGN RULES
A well lit space is something that you will notice immediately when entering it. A great lighting scheme will complement the interior design and the architectural features of the space. It will also make the space more practical to use. I agree with designers who say that lighting design is one of the most important elements…
Alex Evans
HOW TO DESIGN YOUR LIVING ROOM
The living room is one of the most used rooms in your home. It’s where we get together with family and friends, to entertain, relax, play and sometimes, just to be together. A well designed living room is one that works hard for you and your family. This room needs to be multi-functional, practical and also…
Alex Evans