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Storage solutions for your living room

February 8, 2012 By

The living room can be place of refuge and calm or the exact opposite, depending on how you use the space. In order to achieve the calm, you need good storage solutions for all the children’s toys, family books and DVDs, as well as things like video games consoles and board games.

Sometimes, the best solution for creating order in your living space is to start from scratch and replace all the furniture that’s in there.

There are some great sofa sales online and in the high street, and many modern sofas have built-in storage – making use of all the space within the frame under the cushions. Some have pull out drawers under the cushions, others have storage under the cushions that you access by lifting up the cushion section.

As well as hidden storage in the sofa, you can buy coffee tables that have drawers for storing magazines, coasters, etc. You could also have some open storage shelving that can be used to display items as well. A good idea is to place a storage unit across the whole of one wall, and incorporate space for the TV, DVD player and any other electrical goods in there too. It gives you a way of hiding all the flexes and wires at the same time. Books can be displayed on the upper shelves and you can have some room for ornaments, too.

There is a lot of cheap furniture available in the shops today, and you can find pretty much any style of furniture to suit any budget – whether you like modern materials like glass and steel or you prefer wooden furniture. If you’re changing everything in the room, it can help to choose a style or range and then get all the furniture from the same range so that it coordinates well. This will help add to the feeling of order and space in your living room.

Filed Under: Home Furnishings Tagged With: , , , ,

Where to Buy? Check out the Area.

January 30, 2012 By

Moving house is a big deal for everyone in the family. Perhaps you are moving for a new job, to be closer to family or just for more space. Whatever the reason everyone will feel the wrench so making the best move is really important. Here are some ideas on where to buy your house to get it right for you all.

  1. Rural or urban. What will suit you best? Maybe an idyllic chocolate-box village for a young family complete with dinky twin childrens beds in the cottage and a Labrador to boot, or perhaps an airy loft apartment at the top of a sky scraper?!

  2. Outside space. Several acres to keep a horse, a lawn to kick a football, a deck for your barbecue or a roof terrace for sunbathing – the choice is yours.

  3. Park it up. How many cars and other vehicles do your family have, and how many visitors? A big driveway will save future headaches if you have multiple cars.

  4. What is it near? If you have a constant urge to shop then a housing estate adjacent to a retail park with great branches of Sleepmasters and so on could be just the thing.

  5. How will you commute? Car, bus, train or under your own steam – suss out your route to work and time it at rush hour to experience the worst case scenario.

  6. Good schools. Whether you have children or not, houses within the catchment area of the best schools will always re-sell well.

  7. Crime stats. What are they like for the area and do you need to worry or install extra security measures? Have a look at your neighbours too.

  8. Day, night and weekends. Visit the area at various times during the week and weekend to get a feel for what goes on and where the local youth hang out.

Filed Under: Buying Property, Property Prices Tagged With: , , ,

Attractive House For Sale: Top Ten Tips

January 30, 2012 By

Selling a house is a tricky business. You have to get the right estate agent, hit the market at the right time with the right price, and above all get lucky with who comes to view. There are however a few things which you can do to help: here are my top ten tips on how to make your property attractive for sale…

  1. Get your plans in order. A house which is not in a chain is the most attractive to buyers so work out if you can rent or stay with family in order to free up your current property.

  2. Decide who you are aiming at. Dress the house to suit the most likely buyers and market accordingly.

  3. Get the outside looking spot on. First impressions count so tidy up the garden, paint the front door and make any other general repairs.

  4. Show you care and they will care too. If your house is well looked after – polished bed frames, dust-free skirting boards and super shiny mirrors then the feel good factor will wow potential buyers.

  5. Hide any oddities! If you have a strange hobby or like to sleep downstairs instead of up then tuck quirky possessions away and put the house back in a more traditional order. Bedrooms need beds so visit Sleep Masters if you need to buy new ones.

  6. De-clutter to create space. Make the house look bigger by clearing out or clearing away clutter in every room. You will feel better for it too!

  7. Contain your pets. If you own a gigantic dog remember that not everyone will agree with you on how adorable he is. Clean up pet hair and ideally send him out on a long walk with a friend at viewing time.

  8. Think about parking. If parking is tight, make sure you leave a space for your visitors so the problem is not highlighted before they even make it into your house. Park your car in the next street if necessary!

  9. Freshen up. A lick of paint is easy and cheap but can make all the difference so get to work!

  10. Lighten up. Bright bulbs will make the place look cheery so change up if you need to and give everyone a nice warm welcome.

Filed Under: Buying Property, Property Prices Tagged With: , , ,

How Not to Sell Your House

January 30, 2012 By

Is your house on the market? Did you know that whatever your prospective buyers are looking for in a home, most of them will switch off the idea of buying your property, the moment they spot any of the following problems?

1. Dirty Bathrooms. Whether bathrooms have walk in baths or wet-room style showers, if they are grimy, they will put buyers off. Scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels – do what it takes to make them gleam. If mobility issues are likely to be relevant for your prospective market and you have decided to replace the bathroom suite, get some advice from the professionals – http://www.mobility-plus.co.uk, for example, have a wide range of bathroom-related aids.

2. Smells. If you smoke indoors, the house smells like cigarettes, whether you realise that or not. If you have pets, the house could smell bad, even if you don’t notice it. Ask someone who doesn’t live there to take a sniff, and don’t get angry when they tell you the truth. Get rid of the smells, so that you can present potential buyers with a clean, fresh atmosphere (not a house that’s full of air fresheners to cover up the odours).

3. Dogs that Meet You at the Door or in the Driveway. Dogs, in particular, frighten some people and irritate others. You’ll have a much better response from buyers if you control your pets – dogs, cats, whatever. Remove pets during showings if possible. If you can’t, contain them in crates for their own safety and to show respect for the feelings of potential buyers.

4. Poorly Lit Rooms. Dark homes are a turnoff to most home buyers, so try to brighten them up. Replace dim light fixtures or install additional light fixtures. Remove heavy curtains to let the light stream through windows. Trim tree limbs that overshadow the house and clean the windows outside and in.

Filed Under: Buying Property Tagged With: , , ,

Choosing a colour scheme

January 19, 2012 By

When you look around your home, do you feel that you’re in need of a change? As the old saying goes, a change is as good as a rest, so go with your instinct and make some changes to the look of your home.

It’s best to tackle one room at a time, otherwise the process can be overwhelming. Depending on how far you’re taking your renovation project, working on more than one room at a time can be hard on your budget, too.

However, if you do plan to go through the whole house, then before you start, consider the colour scheme you have in mind and whether this is something you want to run through the house or not.

The living room is often the best place to start. Most people spend a lot of time in this room – for some it’s a sanctuary to relax and watch TV, for others it’s the place they invite the world and his wife into, and use it as a space to entertain in.

If yours is your sanctuary, it’s a good idea to pick calming colours and tones. Neutrals are great, as are soft blues, greens and yellows. Bear in mind how the light falls from the window though – if it’s a north facing room then blues and greens can look a little cold. Pick a warmer hue if that’s the case.

If your living room is your entertaining space, then you might want to pick some bolder, more vibrant colours. Reds and oranges are quite daring, but can give the room a completely different kind of energy. Again, consider how daylight will affect your colour choices.

Finally, decide if you want the colours to come from the walls, the flooring or the furniture within the room. There is a great supply of cheap furniture available online and on the high street, so if you pick something loud and then aren’t so sure when you get it home, you can always return it to the store. It’s better to avoid this when possible as it’s more hassle than you think to get something like a sofa ‘undelivered’. Visit a sofas sale and take your time trying out the different models – it’s better to take your time choosing, than buy in haste and regret your choice.

Once you’ve got the living room finished, you’ll be able to move onto the rest of your house, knowing you have one perfect room to relax in while you’re working on the others!

Filed Under: Home Improvement Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Spring Sales

December 27, 2011 By

At this time of year lots of us start to think about life changing decisions such as looking for a new job, getting married or perhaps moving house. Spring is a great time to put your house on the market as typically demand outstrips supply, so now is the time to be getting prepared. Here are a few tips on how to sell your house which may just help:

  1. Think about who might buy your house and set it up to appeal to them. If you need to change an office back into a bedroom then get beds on credit to help stage it.

  2. Smarten up with a bit of light decorating inside and out: don’t forget to make sure your property has curb-side appeal as many buyers will drive by before booking a viewing.

  3. Have a go at the kid’s rooms. Try to minimise mess, clutter and posters on walls to make the rooms look bigger and better. If they need persuading to have a clear out then bribe with new bedding from Bensons to cheer the room up further.

  4. Keep it clean. Have a really thorough clean including washing curtains and shampooing carpets – especially if they are included in the sale.

  5. Get your finances in order. To help with a smooth move make sure you are prepared with your mortgage offer in place and a solicitor on hand to instruct.

  6. Go out when they come round. Sounds crazy but it is ideal if you are not there when potential buyers are looking round. Get the estate agent to do it for you and avoid the possibility of saying the wrong thing.

  7. Don’t be shy; shout about it! Tell people you want to sell – always have a board up and make sure the local gossip mongers go to work on your behalf; you never know who might turn up.
Filed Under: Buying Property Tagged With: , , , ,

Freshen up to Sell up

December 27, 2011 By

Many people wait until spring to put their house on the market; it is a boom time for estate agents and definitely worth capitalising on. The advice is always not to spend too much on getting your house in a marketable state as you won’t get a return on the extra investment, however smartening up the place to make it as appealing as possible is always a good idea. If you want to re-decorate to increase the value of your house then here are a few ideas on where to focus:

  1. The fence and gate. Survive the test of a drive-by viewing and make sure your home has curb-side appeal.

  2. The front door. Welcome potential buyers in through a freshly painted door and give a great first impression.

  3. The flooring. Don’t necessarily go to the expense of re-carpeting before you move on but get the carpets you have shampooed and the wood floors polished.

  4. The paintwork. A quick freshen up on walls which have marks or look a bit tired and a whiz over the woodwork with a layer of bright gloss will do wonders.
  5. The upstairs. Beds on credit in bedrooms which are currently empty will make them look more lived in and cosy. Make sure all the rooms have curtains up too.

  6. Make it cosy. Buy new bedding from http://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk for an instant lift in the bedroom. Bright colours are in so go for a bold pattern.

  7. Sparkling tiles. Make sure your bathroom and kitchen tiles are spruced up. Give them a scrub and if you need to then re-whiten or even replace the grout.

  8. Ceilings. Don’t forget that people will look up at the ceilings. Sort out any cracks, dodgy paint and definitely get rid of the cobwebs from hard to reach corners!
Filed Under: Buying Property Tagged With: , ,

What to look for when buying a house

December 26, 2011 By

Buying a house is a costly and stressful business so make sure you follow our advice to ensure that your property is right for you.

Location is all important when deciding what house to buy. Do as much homework as you can before you start viewing houses in a particular area. Are the schools good if you have children? Are there good public transport links if this is important to you? If you don’t like noise make sure the property is not near pubs, clubs or restaurants. Do you have a railway line running at the bottom of your garden or are you under a flight path?

Try to view a house during the day so that you can spot any problems such as a jungle of a garden, a property next door that is poorly maintained or the sewage works at the foot of the garden. If you like a house it is a good idea to go back at a different time of day and also to take someone else with you. The road that seemed so quiet at mid-day may turn out to be chockablock with traffic in the rush hour if your road is used as a cut through. Similarly someone else may spot issues that you didn’t notice.

Once inside a property don’t be bowled over by superficial aspects such as the lack of fitted bedrooms. So long as you have a bit of reserve cash after your purchase, companies such as Wren Bedrooms can transform a room. Instead, cast a critical eye over things such as the window frames. Is the paint peeling? Is there mould on them? Are they soft to the touch (if so they are probably rotten)? Is there a smell of damp in a room? Do the doors stick? Are there cracks in the walls? Although your surveyor will pick up on problems like this you can save yourself a lot of expense by ruling out properties with problems at the outset.

Filed Under: Buying Property Tagged With: , ,

Ten Top Tips for House Movers

December 17, 2011 By

Moving house is a massive upheaval for everyone involved, and is right up there with bereavement and divorce for the amount of stress it can cause. Somehow it is never straightforward, and there is always something which pops up on a report or a problem further down the train which thwarts what ought to be a fairly simple operation. If you are currently in the process of moving house then my heart really does go out to you. To help you out – especially if you are making your first purchase, here are ten things you need to think about when buying a house:

  1. Get your finances in order before you start looking. Find out what you can afford on a monthly basis for a mortgage, and don’t forget to consider all the other regular expenses such as council tax and energy bills.

  2. Don’t forget how much it costs to move either by the time you have paid solicitors fees, the estate agent and house movers. Get it right so you don’t have to do it again soon!

  3. Sell your current property before you start looking for your perfect new home. It sounds obvious but many people get giddy and immediately start planning where they will put their bed accessories in the first house they view and by the time they have sold it is off the market. Don’t get ahead of yourselves!

  4. Decide on a geographical area. This might be to do with where you work, good schools or just somewhere you fancy. Agree in advance with anyone you are buying with to save arguments.

  5. Always buy the best you can afford. Even though property prices fluctuate the typical trend is for them to rise in the long term so invest wisely but don’t over stretch.

  6. Consider the amount of DIY involved. If you are handy with a hammer then great – if not be wary of massive projects.

  7. Don’t cut corners. Get all the proper surveys and paperwork done so you don’t end up buying a dud; and don’t ignore any issues raised just because you love the place.

  8. Don’t forget to think about what you might need to buy to furnish your new home – it is all extra costs. Beds to fill those extra bedrooms might be best purchased on finance: see Sleepmasters.co.uk for a great range.

  9. Suss out the neighbours. If you are going to live somewhere for a long time it really does matter who lives next door.

  10. Go and view the house as many times as you want before you make an offer: don’t be apologetic about repeat visits, the vendor should accommodate you if they really want to make the sale.

Filed Under: Home Improvement Tagged With: , ,

Give your apartment rental appeal

December 13, 2011 By

There is an absolute glut of property available to rent at the moment, mainly due to the property boom in the last couple of decades and the current recession we’re in. So, when a tenant is looking around for a place to rent, the world is their oyster.  There are so many places for them to choose from – how are you going to make your apartment the one they choose above all the rest?

Make sure you’ve got it advertised well, in places or on sites that people will actually see it. If you’ve decided to use an agent to handle the rental arrangements, make sure that you pick one with a good reputation, and whose fees reflect a level of service you would expect.

It can help to do a little secret shopping and pose as a potential tenant, and have a look at a few places being offered for the same kind of rent you wish to achieve. This way you can check out the competition.

Apart from asking the right kind of rent, you need to make your apartment shiny clean. If it’s furnished, make sure that it looks like a home rather than a depot for old furniture.

Spring clean the place as well as you possibly can, and decide whether you need to decorate – a fresh coat of paint can work miracles and only takes a couple of days to achieve.  Don’t forget to clean all the windows and woodwork – including the skirting boards and all the doors.  It may be worth hiring a steam cleaner to give the carpets a really thorough clean.

If you’re replacing any furniture find a local furniture sale, and you’ll be able to pick up some cheap but solid furniture.  Getting something different like recliner sofas and chairs may give your apartment a slight edge over the competition.

So, to get that rental is going to take a bit of elbow grease and a little spending, but these should pay dividends when you secure that contract!

Filed Under: Renting Property Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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