04Mar/16
moving house

Moving to a New House – Key Do’s and Don’ts

The Housing Market, , , , ,

Regardless of where you’re moving to, or if you’re moving yourself or hiring a removal company, moving to a new house is pretty stressful. In fact, it’s listed as one of the most stressful things to do after having a baby and organising a marriage (or getting a divorce). You know it is going to cost a lot of money, you don’t have to be an accountant to grasp the financial situation, but If you want it to go as smoothly as possible but not cost the earth, you’ll want to read our key do’s and don’ts:

02Mar/16
gorgeous bathroom for a small attic space

Top Tips and Inspiration for Refurbishing Your Bathroom

The Housing Market, , , , , ,

We all love a pristine new bathroom – gleaming taps, shiny new bath, elegant tiling, clean white grout, soft fluffy towels. Sadly, in reality, our bathrooms tend not to look like that unless we have recently moved house to a new build. The taps have limescale staining, the grout is starting to discolour and the sanitary ware and tiling is no longer gleaming. But it doesn’t have to be like that – refurbishing your bathroom is a relatively inexpensive job providing you don’t have to move pipework, and if you are on a really tight budget then you can give it a facelift that will transform it – what are you waiting for?

02Mar/16
buy my own home

Why It’s Harder Moving House As You Get Older

Lifestyle, Moving House, , , ,

We all tend to think that first time buyers have the hardest job persuading lenders that they are a good risk when it comes to a mortgage but are banks and building societies equally reluctant to lend to older applicants? This seems counter-intuitive as older borrowers are likely to be more used to handling their finances and budgeting properly but it seems it is now harder moving house as you get older so what could be making lenders reluctant when it comes to older borrowers.

Many banks and building societies have made their lending criteria more stringent for borrowers approaching retirement age and some have even started to put a “maximum age” cap on their mortgage deals. This has resulted in some older borrowers struggling to secure a large mortgage for their new home, even when they have solid financial circumstances and a range of assets that more than cover the value of the mortgage. It has also led to accusations of ageism on the part of some lenders due to the restrictions they have placed on older borrowers that take little account of individual situations.

27Feb/16
cutting tiles to allow for pipes

Tips for Cutting Tiles Like a Pro

DIY, ,

Whether you have recently moved house or plan on improving your current home, installing porcelain tiles offers you a world of options in terms of colour, finish and style. Whether you choose high gloss surfaces, vibrant mattes or a natural stone effect, when you are remodelling all or some of your house, it is a difficult task choosing the right products, but also preparing and installing the products too.

Whether you are putting all your creative talents to use or aiming for simple, practical porcelain tiles, you will need to consider how you’re going to get your tiles to look like they have been installed by a professional.

12Jan/16
Small New Home

Storage solutions for combined families

The Housing Market, , , , , , , , , , ,

When two families come together to live in one house, the logistics of moving house and the storage space needed can seem quite daunting. Two families, who have previously lived in two houses, need enough room to bring all their things together into one abode. This is not, of course, always practical and may sometimes mean having to rent cheap self storage space (perhaps just on a temporary basis) until enough storage can be built in the combined home. By carefully planning the storage solutions in each room, it is possible that no one will have to sacrifice items and give everyone the space they need to feel comfortable in this new setting.