Homeowners really are staying put.

"no longer a familiar site"

Homeowners really are staying put.

A kitchen manufacturer which sells to the trade reported a 5.1% increase in sales compared with 2009. The last quarter saw sales rise by more than 6%, prompting further confidence in the home improvement market as yet more proof that homeowners really are 'staying put' and improving what they've already got.

What's good news for one sector is bad for another as Estate Agents continue to struggle. Property transactions slumped to an 8 year low in December (source: Finance Markets) with the average estate agency branch selling four properties during December.

November saw an average branch sell just seven properties.

If you're thinking of improving your home, then we've a range of online services which can give you an instant online quote in seconds, without the need for a salesman to call on you.

Simply enter your location details, enter your own simple measurements and select from the options available and we'll give you a range of prices ranging from budget to luxury.

Click here to visit Home Improvement Quotes now.

photo credit: bixentro

All cupboards and no storage

Our IT Manager gets to grips with his new home's kitchen...

You may have read I recently moved home. One of the biggest upheavals has been trying to unpack all the necessary items from the old kitchen (a modern design in a modern house) into our new kitchen (a bespoke design in an old house) which was installed only a few years ago, but with the needs of a professional couple in mind rather than a hungry army of children in an endless array of sleepovers and impromptu invites to tea.

When we looked around the new property, it all looked very nice. However, now that we're unpacking, we realise that looks don't count for much if half your crockery and your tinned goods have to stand on a shelf unit that is supposed to be toy storage. We need help.

Perhaps we're not good at adapting? It's a lot of trivial things piling up I guess. For example: the fridge is a 50/50 same size as freezer compartment beneath it. We have a bigger freezer than we're used to but no room for a bigger fridge. With 3 kids and 2 visiting at weekends, fridge space is a premium - the kind normally reserved for a malibu beach front property.

Then there's the draining board (or lack of) since the 'new' kitchen has a lovely inset belfast sink but no draining board. We can fill the dishwasher up with one sitting at dinner time. We've resorted to washing the leftovers by hand and draining on a tea-towel laid flat on the worktop but you don't see that in kitchen brochures do you? And we accrue soggy tea towels like they're going out of fashion.

"we accrue soggy tea-towels like they're going out of fashion"

The 'stove'. It's lovely, it really is. With it's large centre ring for those fish poaching pans and an extra 'power-burn' ring for woks. All stainless steel - well you get the picture. Trouble is, it's built into an old fireplace away from the worktops so we find we're having to carry hot pans across half the kitchen - not good when 4 cats and 5 kids are trying to trip you up.

But it's the cupboards that really make life difficult - where to unpack a weeks shopping for a large family, compared to the professional couple who probably eat out every night. We're using plastic toy tubs that stack inside the cupboards etc but in reality we could do with half as much cupboard / shelf space again.

Reading this back, I'm afraid I'm coming across a bit negative. Don't get me wrong, we love our new house and there's plenty to keep us busy in the decorating department for quite a while, but once we're straight, I daresay we'll be looking at the kitchen from a family friendly perspective.

"we've discovered it's easy to try and make do"

Looking back over the past few weeks, we've discovered it's very easy to try and make do with a poor design, or rather, a design that wasn't built around you, but that 'good will' only stretches so far. Remember as adults we spend a lot of time in the kitchen so it has to be right. You don't have to forsake looks for function, you just need to give your plans a little more thought.

This is where a professional kitchen company really come into their own. Not only do they have the tools to tailor the build to your dimensions and needs, but they have the experience to be able to draw on and produce a layout that gives you just about everything you desire. Sure there may have to be compromises but at least you'll be able to discuss them with someone who's faced similar needs in a kitchen design before.

Let us give you an instant online quote for a new kitchen, which we can follow up with putting you in touch with quality kitchen companies local to you if you so desire. Visit Kitchen Quoter for your free online quote now.

photo credit: shimelle

Moving house - when to call in the professional removal men...

Last Bank Holiday weekend, we moved house.

To save precious pennies, we decided against removal men and instead opted for a self drive van hire.

True, we've still got a few car loads to go yet whilst the kids sort out what they're taking and what's going to the charity shop, but on the whole it went pretty smoothly.

However, we did encounter a few problems.

Stairs - our new place is on 3 levels so there were two sets of stairs to negotiate wardrobes around. The tight corners of an old house didn't help either but one positive effect of moving to an older property was the height of the ceilings which definitely helped.

Aside from a fridge, washing machine and a running machine, myself and the eldest's boyfriend managed everything else. A neighbour chipped in with the aforementioned heavy items and between the 3 of us, we managed to manhandle things without loosing too much skin.

Much of the shelving and beds had already been taken apart prior to moving, which meant everything was easily handled ( the middle daughters book collection was another test of one's back entirely). We discovered that new houses with their lower ceilings meant pretty much everything upstairs would have had to come to pieces anyway.

There was one panic inducing moment when we got a shelf unit stuck halfway down the stairs, wedged tight against a step and the slope of the ceiling. I had visions of trying to take it apart on the steps! Luckily, only a few marks on the ceiling are left as testament to the effort it took to get it back to the landing.

Our move took 3 days (starting early and finishing late). I covered 550 miles in return trips with the van between our old house and our new one.
Hire costs were £100 ( the bank holiday meant we only paid a nominal insurance fee for the monday due to the fact that the hire office was shut!).
Diesel for the van was another £90 which given the mileage wasn't at all bad - the van was a high roof Mercedes Sprinter (with a side door which was a godsend when unloading pavement side at the new house) and a drive I can thoroughly recommend.

What were the downsides? For me, just the three items we couldn't handle between the two of us. Ok so we learnt a lot about angles and where not to lift certain furniture from, and it was bloomin' hard work - we didn't stop, except to eat and sleep.

On the plus side, moving ourselves meant:
- we were able to move at our pace so there was no frantic packing
- we haven't packed anything we're not going to be wanting at the new house
- at the new house, we weren't forced to unload everything in one go making it impossible to move around
- we saved around £500 on removal costs - after taking the cost of van hire and diesel into consideration.

Of course, using a professional removals company means your possessions are insured during transit - something moving yourself foregoes (but it may be worth checking with your contents insurer anyway) so we took extra care (the flat screen tv was wrapped in a quilt for extra padding and tied to the bulkhead of the van) and hoped we weren't in any accidents. And or course, we had help. If you're on your own or unable to lift heavy items then don't even think about moving yourself.

If you're moving long distances then again, a single lorry load will probably make more sense (as well as letting someone else do the driving and all the unloading at the other end).

So we're all moved in thank you very much. Just the utilities and internet connections to sort out and a few car loads still at the old house.

Sure it was the most tiring weekend we've spent in ages - both having 'desk jobs', we're not used to the manual labour and Arnold Schwarzenegger i'm not but we coped, without pulling any muscles or putting any backs out. It's all down to technique (and a handy takeaway round the corner from your new home).

I'm feeling almost toned…..

photo credit: aka kath

Conservatories - create some 'you' space

Conservatories are the perfect way to get that all important extra space without the hassle of moving home. Conservatories are available in every shape and colour you could want and can be beautifully added to any home – be it a modest semi-detached or a Victorian mansion.

You don’t have to own a big house to add a conservatory. Even small conservatories mean that bit of extra space that provides the kids with a great playroom or yourself with a relaxing breakfast room.

Just because your conservatory may have been an afterthought doesn’t mean it should look like one. Ask for the external features to blend in with the brickwork and window frames. Adding big double doors will also allow the feeling of the garden to run through into your home.

Many people who live in an old Georgian-style house may worry that adding a brand new conservatory will ruin the look of their grand home. Yet manufacturers of tailor-made conservatories can use bricks and designs that are in-keeping with the Georgian theme – and provide a very attractive garden feature that looks like it was built along with the house.

f you have the space for a big conservatory, try using it as a dining room. Come summer or winter, it’ll provide the perfect setting for a dinner party for family and friends – whether it’s a warm summer’s evening or a chilly night under the stars, just don’t forget to think about heating!

To get an instant online quote for a conservatory, click here. It only takes a few minutes and you can choose from a variety of styles all online.

Did you know? the reasons people move house

Did You Know?

According to Abbey Mortgages, people move house on average 3.4 times in their lifetime! The main reason for moving is an increase of crime in the area – 5.3 million of us have moved house in the last five years to live in a location where we feel safer.

Next on the list was moving house to get away from nightmare neighbours, with 4.5 millions Britons hoping to have better luck elsewhere. For those of us with children, the third reason on the list is to get into better school catchment areas, with 2.6 million of us relocating in the last five years.

Proof then that when we move, we are not just looking at the perks of a new house, with more space, a nice garden and maybe even a swimming pool – we are also looking for a snapshot of the area we are moving to.

Some consumer and market analysis companies will provide movers with just that – a brief analysis of the area your new house is in, including crime statistics, local schools and surveys of the neighbours, from their income levels to what newspaper they read! So if you can bear to add another cost onto moving house, you could be more clued-up than ever on your new location!

*Taken from our last monthly newsletter to over 230,000 home owners. To receive our free newsletter, click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Reduce the hidden costs of moving house

Moving house? All the information you’ll need to reduce the ‘hidden’ costs of moving and ease the stress

Moving home is reportedly one of the most stressful events in a lifetime, only beaten by divorce and bereavement. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive, so any advice on how to limit the expense and avoid ‘hidden’ costs is welcome. Here, Mark Cooper, Managing Director of Homeimprovementquotes.co.uk, looks at the costs involved in the run-up to moving and ways to help keep costs to a minimum.

The latest research by social housing pressure group the National Housing Federation claims that house prices will rise to an average of £300,000 by 2012 – an increase of 40 per cent. House prices have already risen by 156 per cent since 1997 but in the last ten years the average income has only increased by 35 per cent.

Getting the funds to afford a house is difficult enough – even for people earning a very respectable wage – because the price of a typical house is around seven times the UK’s average income, according to Government statistics. Fortunately, after five consecutive interest rate rises in 12 months, the Bank of England maintained its interest rate of 5.75 per cent during September. But what about the hidden costs of moving? Britons spend £10 billion a year on ‘hidden’ expenses when moving house, new research from the Cooperative Bank has claimed.
This bill can include all costs except for the actual house price, with solicitor and estate agent fees, stamp duty and removal charges all mounting up, meaning that the average UK household spends £23,800 on these expenses during a lifetime.
So, how can you move house without it costing you a fortune?
There are in fact a number of ways that you can reduce your moving expenses to a minimum.

Don’t pay over the odds – use the internet to research: How did we cope before the internet? By knowing where to look, the web makes it possible to investigate an area you’re considering moving to. You can find out almost anything about a place, from crime and flood risks to what new buildings are in the pipeline, which could potentially devalue your new house. These are free pieces of information that can save you from making a big mistake and losing money on your investment. You can also find out almost anything about properties you are interested in – including houses that have dropped in value or are difficult to sell, how much similar houses have sold for or which council tax band houses have been placed in.

The advantages of New Builds: These properties usually come with a new bathroom, fitted kitchen and are low on maintenance. Many building companies offer deals to first-time buyers. Persimmon, for example, will pay a 5 per cent deposit for you on selected properties and others offer free curtains and carpets.

Getting the right mortgage: Using a mortgage broker to scan the mortgage market can provide you with more influence and protection than an independent bank. Higher lending charges may apply if you borrow more than 90 per cent of the property’s value so by saving up the deposit on a house, interest rates will be significantly reduced. Some mortgage lenders will offer free arrangements or booking fees, but be careful – anything ‘fee-free’ may be priced into a slightly higher rate of interest, making it more expensive in the long run, so consider the options. Also spend your time shopping around for mortgages because, according to BBC News, more than half of all borrowers pay over the odds for their mortgage each month.

Survey: A small number of mortgage lenders will provide a survey free of charge but if yours doesn’t then a basic one will only cost around £250 – compared to a full structural survey which can cost upwards of £600 – so take advantage of this if you’re investing in a relatively new build.

HIPs: Home Information Packs (HIPs) are a set of documents that contain specific details about your property. Initially they applied to four bedroom and above houses, but since September three-bedroom houses have also been included. Many major estate agent chains are offering HIPs as part of their ordinary fees; others are charging in the region of £300 to £350 plus VAT on an upfront or deferred basis – so it’s worth asking the question. All the information you need on HIPs can be found in our earlier article - click here.

Estate Agent: Many estate agents charge upwards of 1.5 per cent of your sale price. Some ‘virtual’ estate agents offer a free service to advertise property over the internet, while others offer a more comprehensive package for a one-off fee of around £200. Some agents may try and encourage customers into giving them their business by offering free HIPs – but, as with the mortgage provider, anything that is branded free of charge will possibly be paid by you elsewhere, so check all the costs.

Stamp Duty: For houses priced £125,000 and under, stamp duty does not apply but for more expensive houses there are three separate thresholds. If your new house is bought for £125,001+ the stamp duty is one per cent of the price, £250,001+ the fee is three per cent and £500,001+ the stamp duty is four per cent. This means that buying a house for £250,000 rather than £250,001 could save you £5,000 in tax! Check on paying separately for fixtures and fittings to see if you can reduce the house sale price and consequently the stamp duty. Alternatively, you may consider taking advantage of the stamp duty exemption scheme implemented in around 2,000 "disadvantaged areas" across the UK – a full list is available at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/so/pcode_search

Moving Day: Removal companies can cost anything from £450 upwards. By hiring a van, inviting some friends around, buying in refreshments and doing the hard work yourself you can save over £300 – a decent percentage of your first mortgage payment – plus you can take extra care with those expensive family heir-looms!

Utility Bills: Ask the existing home owners for a utility bill to get an idea of how much a property costs to run. Consider the following
· Get your gas and electricity from the same provider
· Pay your bills by direct debit
· Choose an on-line tariff
· And don’t forget to search the market every year for cheaper providers.
Then of course, remember to sign-up for essential services on your moving day so you can plug in the TV and boil a kettle!

Changing address: You need to tell more than just your friends about your change of address. If you don’t keep up with your TV license or credit card bills then you could be charged for missed payments – so it can prove costly. www.iammoving.com lets you compile a list of all the people and companies who need to be informed about your change of address and they do all the hard work for you. Easy!

…and finally…don’t be afraid to challenge:
Many people are living in, or moving to, incorrectly banded houses. You can now check and challenge your council tax band free of charge, possibly winning a backdated payment from when you moved into the property, as far back as 1993 when the tax started. All you have to do is check your banding against your neighbours’, using the Valuation Office agency's website, and then visit www.nethouseprices.com, a free public service providing access to UK house prices in England, Scotland and Wales, as recorded by the Land Registry since 2000. Web calculators are also available to help you find out what your house was worth in 1991 when council tax bands were allocated. If both these steps show you're in the wrong band then you can challenge it – just be sure of your facts and figures before hand, because bands can also be increased!

For more information please visit www.Homeimprovementquotes.co.uk

Everything you need to know about HIPs

Selling your house? You will need a HIP
Everything you need to know about HIPs

On 1st August 2007, the government will introduce the Home Information Pack (HIPs) policy in the UK. Although the initial implementation will only affect larger properties – those with four bedrooms or more – HIPs will eventually impact every home-owner in the country, and anyone who is looking to buy or sell property. Mark Cooper, Managing Director of homeimprovementquotes.co.uk, goes through exactly what you need to know about the packs.

Q: What on earth is a HIP?
A: Home Information Packs (HIPs) are a new government policy designed to regulate the process of property transactions. Basically a HIP is a set of documents that contain specific information about your property such as how energy efficient it is, and records of any actions by your local authorities. You will need to have a HIP if you want to sell your property.

Q: Woh, that’s inconvenient – why is the government introducing them?
A: Apparently, the government reckons that £350 million a year is currently lost through house purchases that fall through because buyers discover problems on the property after they have made an offer, and then cancel the deal. The idea of HIPs is to make all the information about the property available before this can happen. HIPS are also supposedly going to stop ‘gazumping’ from happening – when a seller uses the ten-week period it takes for an agreed buyer to get a survey on a property done to accept better offers from other parties, forcing the price up.

Q: Weren’t HIPS in the news recently?
A: You will probably have heard quite a bit about them in the news recently, and the government has got a fair bit of negative publicity over them. This is mainly because the policy was originally intended to come into effect on 1st June 2007, but at the last minute the government delayed the introduction by two months and announced it would be phased so only people with large properties are to be affected initially.

Q: Okay I’m confused already – when does the policy come into force? Will it affect me?
A: HIPs are going to be a legal requirement for anyone selling a property with four or more bedrooms after 1st August 2007. If your property is smaller than this, you don’t have to worry about HIPs just yet – the government has said that the policy will be extended to cover properties of all sizes, but hasn’t announced when this will come into force yet. The HIPs policy does NOT affect Scotland, but the Scottish parliament is planning to introduce a similar policy in the near future.

Q: So what does a HIP contain?
A: A HIP must contain five basic documents:
1. HIP Index – This basically sums up what is in the pack, giving a brief overview of the information in the form of a checklist. Everyone involved in the sale – buyer, seller, estate agent, authorities – can see the status of the pack and its contents.
2. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – This is the most important part of the pack from the government’s point of view, and the most expensive to the seller. It contains your property’s environmental impact rating, on a sale of A to G, as well as recommendations on how to increase your energy efficiency. Has to be done by a registered inspector.
3. Sale Statement – Basic information about the site.
4. Title Documents for the Property – Official evidence of who owns the property.
5. Local Authority and Drainage Searches – This includes records of local land charges, planning decisions and proposals from local authorities, and details of the provision of drainage and water services to the property.

There are additional documents to complete depending on whether the property being sold is a leasehold or a commonhold. Each of the documents must be no more than three months old when you first put your property on the market. The HIP will be valid until the property sells, and you can still use it if the property comes off the market and then goes back on again within 12 months.

Q: Sounds complicated – how much am I going to have to fork out for one of these things then?
A: Estimates say £400 minimum

Q: What! How much?
A: £400, and all of it has to be paid for by the property seller – although the cost may end up being transferred to the buyer because people raise the property price to cover the cost. The most costly part of the HIP will be the EPC, which will cost £150 alone and requires an EPC inspector to carry out an assessment on your property.

Q: How do I get a HIP?
A: If you are about to put your property up for sale, there are a number of options available to you. Your estate agent should be able to provide the pack for you for a fee, or alternatively you can use a solicitor or one of a number of specialist pack providers that are around. You can also compile the pack yourself, which could potentially save you some money.

Q: Will HIPs affect my plans to extend my house?
A: No – unless the new room is a bedroom that will take you over the four-bedroom threshold. It’s important to remember that HIPs will measure energy efficiency, and take into account any new rooms you have built when it comes to putting your property on the market. Your HIP will also keep record of all your dealings with the authorities, such as getting planning permission.

For more information, visit homeimprovementquotes.co.uk