Snagging is something that everyone should know about if they are building or working on a home. This can be working on a property from being a basic plot of land or even a luxury loft conversion.

What is a snag?

A snag is a little problem or defect which occurs once your building work has been completed. Typically, a snag refers to something which is damaged or completely broken. For example, something was not fitted properly or something may look unfinished; a missing hinge on the door, a scratched or cracked window, scuffed floor boards etc.

Whist it is the case that most snags are cosmetic, snags can also incorporate more serious defects that can come about from building work, such as things being smashed and major fixtures that are not fixed properly that become dangerous.

A snagging list

The point of a snagging list is to basically identify any faults and defects in your home for your contractor or house builder to sort out and rectify.

The snagging list is prepared and issued by an appropriate certification authority. This will usually be an architect, a contract administrator or an employer’s agent. 

All of the faults that have been identified and written into the list must be rectified before a certificate of practical completion can be awarded.

The best time to make a snagging list is when your property is completed and it is ready to move into or back into. Usually, you will start the list preparations when you will be exchanging contracts with the housebuilder.

If you leave the list until after you have moved in, it may become harder to get the snags fixed as the housebuilder could claim that the problems were not there before, and they are clearly a result of you moving in. Moreover, it is simply easier for the contractor to work in an empty house, so avoid moving into your furniture before getting the list done – especially because you could still be held accountable because the furniture could have caused the snags.

Nevertheless, it is your right from two years from the date of completion to report any defects and faults and get the them fixed. In this time, your new house is still under warranty and therefore your housebuilder is under legal obligation to fix the problems in your home as part of the warranty agreement, which lasts for around 10 years typically.  

How much will snagging cost my property?

Typically, you as the homebuyer will be expected to pay for the snagging list and repairs. However, you can try and pass on the costs involves onto the house builder by adding it to the purchase contract you have with him or her. This is something which may be covered by insurance provided that you pay your excess.

If it is the case that you do have to pay for it all, you should get quotes from at least three different companies to compare the pricing. This way you can make sure you are getting a fair and affordable price.

It is common for the price to start at around £250 for the services needed for a one bedroom house. So, for a four bedroom, expect a fee of £1,000 or over.

Can a house builder refuse to fix any problems on the snagging list?

It is true that a housebuilder is responsible for rectifying any issues with his or her new build in accordance with the standards which are set out by the warranty and their insurance provider.

However, the process of snagging can be subjective. For example, something you may see as a fault, the house builder could argue otherwise. Snagging is mainly about negotiating – you may not get everything you want out of the housebuilder, so prioritise the things that you will really push the housebuilder to put right.

To make the whole process easier, try and keep on good terms with the housebuilder. This way they will be far more lenient and willing to negotiate. 

How you can check for snagging

So when you have just bought or fixed up your new home and there is no furniture or carpet, you can take the initiative to carry out a bit of a snagging test, as follows:

• Electrics – Are all the plug sockets working? Try take a phone charger with you to test them all out.
• Windows – Do all the windows close properly? Are there any draughts or breezes coming in?
• Doors – Are all the locks secure and working properly? Do all the doors close properly?

See also Snagging from The Guardian.

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It is no surprise that all landlords want to provide the best service possible to their tenants. Being a good landlord builds your reputation positively in the community of local landlords and amongst people who are wanting to rent a property – a recommendation from a current tenant could mean a quicker let on one of your properties in the future.

In short, being a good land lord requires time, effort and money to invest into your properties. All of it will be worth it however, a happy tenant is a happy landlord, and vice versa.

Help the tenant feel at home

The likelihood of a new tenant moving from a different place and into your property is quite high, so help them adjust to the area. Perhaps provide them with a guide of the area, draw out directions to the local shops and grocery stores – you can be sure to find such lists on any online map service.

Upon their arrival, if you are not going to be present, you should leave them a welcome letter. It only has to be a brief note welcoming them to your property, with some contact details, and any special instructions such as when the bins are each week and some good utility providers in the area. Also don’t be scared to spring for some flowers or a small fruit basket – this can be your first impression after all.

You could also include a little section stating that if anything goes wrong in the property, i.e the boiler breaks, they can always call you to sort the problem. This will hopefully put your tenant’s minds at ease and create a great relationship with you from the offset.

Buy a few items for the property

As a sort of welcome gift, consider buying a few household essential products such as bleach, toilet roll, all-purpose cleaner, washing up liquid, sponges and tea towels etc. This does not have to be expensive, but it will be worth it for sure. Often when people are moving they forget the most basic things to pick up, so this is a gesture that will be appreciated by your new tenants.

Furthermore, this could be a very subtle way to encourage them to keep the place clean – they have no excuse if all the cleaning supplies are there, ready to be used.

However, this is not an excuse to not have the property professionally cleaned! The household basics are gifts that can just help the tenants out just that little bit.

Follow the guidelines

You must always make sure to follow the guidelines set out in the lease or tenancy agreement since that is what has been agreed and signed by everyone involved. If there is a problem in the property, don’t just take it in to your own hands, always refer to what is says in the lease.

If there is a problem that has not been addressed in the lease, you should refer to your city’s local ordinances, or you could also check out any local landlord forums for tips on what to do in a given situation.

If you simply take things into your own hands, you cannot point out that what you have done is within your rights and the things you are doing are consistent with other landlords, if they have any objections to your approach.

Be accessible

It is extremely important for you do be accessible for your tenants. When your tenants need to speak to you, you must be there as much as possible. From day one, you should have given your contact details, such as a phone number and an email address by which they can contact you. Even a backup number for emergency use only.

In the case of emergency, you should also be available during the night. However, you should make sure that the tenants do not feel as though they have the right to abuse your availability and ask for you some small things whenever they feel like it – there needs to be some guidelines.

Furthermore, if a tenant emails or calls you, you should aim to respond promptly. Keep it in mind that any interaction with your tenant is a business interaction and therefore, you should reply as you would to a business email or call with etiquette.

If you know you will be away for a certain amount of time, you should let all your tenants know in advance with plenty of time. Make sure they know whether they can or cannot expect a response from you during this time.

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Having a garden boosts the value of a property alone, so why not boost it even further by making your garden the best it can be. Here are some easy ways to increase the value of your garden, and in turn increase the value of your entire property. 

In order to finance your garden renovation or fix up, you can look at different types of finance including guarantor loans, home improvement loans, personal loans and more, ranging from 3% to 50% APR.

Work With What You Have Got

The first step before making any bigger changes is to maintain the quality of already existing features by keeping them clean and fresh, and the plants, trees and bushes watered and feed correctly wherever needs. Having a tidy garden that is kept nice with consistency is the first move to make before adding or building anything yo your garden to increase its value.

Shed

Research over the last few years has shown that adding the feature of a shed adds the most value to your garden and property. A decent sized shed appears to be something which promises to add the most value for a variety of reasons. Having a shed provides an outside space for storage so that your home is not cluttered up with tools and so on.   

Patio or Paving

Having good quality patio or paving down in your garden will making it look far more sophisticated and put together.

Patio or decking provides a nice sectioned off area from the main grass part of the garden to put an outdoor table and chairs, barbeque, heat lamps or any other kind of outdoor furniture.

A patio or decked area will create the illusion of more space in the garden. Potential buyers will probably be looking for more space, so creating this illusion will pay off in the long run in terms of the value of your garden and property.

Any type of paving can be used to create a walk way to any feature in your garden, whether that be the shed, a water feature such as a pond or foundation, or a bench or swing.

In order to avoid making an expensive mistake, many people choose to employ the services of a garden designer or landscaper.

Fencing or Walls

Something which is sure to add value to your garden is making sure you have secure fencing or walling around the perimeter of the garden, as well as a secure garden door or gate.

If you are ever thinking of selling your home, a sure thing to devalue your home will be the lack of a fence between your garden and the garden next door. People like their privacy and do not want to have to think about putting up a fence once moved in. Although this may seem like a small feature, it can be completely off putting.

Having a flimsy or small gate from the street into your garden is also a turn off to potential buyers. When buying and living in a house, we all want to feel secure and safe. A sturdy and lockable (by key) gate or door either at the front of your house or at the back will add that extra sense of security in your mind, as well as in the mind of guests or potential buyers. Therefore, having this feature is a win-win situation, security and increased value.

Outdoor Lighting

How your garden is lit is important for ambience, security and for value. Mood lighting is just as important outside as it inside. You can really be creative with your outdoor, garden lighting, creating any kind of mood you want. Plus, it does not have to be particularly expensive.

A cheap way to add character to your garden is buying some outdoor fairy lights.

Fairy lights will create a magical feeling when sitting outside on a peaceful evening. They give off a cosy and warm glow that will make you want to curl up on your outdoor furniture with a blanket and a drink of choice. For people looking around your house to buy it will have this exact vision in their head when they see these lights strung up or in action. Tip: for extra character, wind some fairy lights around the trunk of a tree and hang some lanterns from the branches.

Solar lights are on the rise. As well as looking gorgeous, they are also much better for the environment and will reduce your carbon footprint. You can buy stand alone ornaments which by day, just look like a decoration, but come sundown they will light up using the energy they gained during the day. (See below)

You can also get solar lights to light up your path way or around the edges of your garden. A popular choice for this is what is known as ‘Solar Stakes’.

Consider placing outdoor lights underneath any features like a tree or a water feature to make it really stand out.

For security purposes, you should always have an outdoor light above your back or front door, preferably an automatic one that goes off when it detects movement past a certain time. 

Water Features

Building in a water feature or multiple water features can enhance the value of any garden, this is even the case for a tiny garden. 

Having a simple water feature in a more built up area which can help to drown out urban noise, replacing it with the soothing sound of tinkling water.  

You can buy a water foundation fit for the back garden at a garden centre or have one custom made to fulfil your vision.

A garden pond, with a fountain if desired, is something that involves a bit more time, effort and money but it sure to add value to your garden. Make sure the pond is fish friendly and even add some in yourself. There are so many ways you can style a garden pond, with or without a waterfall or foundation, take some inspiration from the images below.

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Asbestos is used to refer to a combination of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals. These include:

• Chrysotile
• Actinolite
• Amosite
• Tremolitle
• Crocidolite
• Anthophyllite

From all of these, amosite and chrysotile are amongst the most common forms of asbestos.

The fibres found in asbestos are microscopic. Despite this, asbestos is extremely resistant to fire and many chemical reactions and breakdowns, as well as being very durable. Because of this, asbestos was a popular choice to use in a number of industrial and commercial capacities. Asbestos was the choice of material of a variety of products such as, roofing shingles, ceiling materials, titles for the floor, cement compounds, automotive parts and textile products.

Nowadays, asbestos is a strictly regulated product. This is because exposure to this (now known to be) toxic material, can cause and be liked to a number of several respiratory and lung conditions.

Why is Asbestos Bad For You?

As discussed, asbestos was previous a widely used material. The use of asbestos, however, declined in the late 1970s when research had revealed that asbestos could pose a threat to health and safety. Asbestos is now classed as a known human carcinogen (can cause cancer).

What makes me hazardous is the property of durability, which is ironically what made asbestos so desirable to manufacturers. Since the fibres of asbestos are so microscopic, they are very easily inhaled. If you inhale the fibres, they stick to the respiratory system, which includes the inner cavity tissue and the lining of the lungs – therefore it is a very dangerous substance for human health. Because of the rigid nature of the fibres, they tend to get lodged in the soft internal tissue of the respiratory system. Unfortunately, the fibres are not easily broken down by the body or expelled, so the damage can be fatal.

It has become clear that there is not one type of asbestos that is safe for exposure and there is also no level of exposure which is safe. Anyone who comes into contact with asbestos in some capacity is at potential risk of serious health complications surrounding the respiratory system.

Asbestos Removal

The removal of Asbestos is normally required before a building which older in age is demolished. This must happen prior to any renovation that could disturb asbestos-containing materials or when materials containing asbestos are going to be or have been damaged.

There will be an asbestos removal contractor. He or she will determine whether a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) license is required for the job to be completed. An HSE license is always required when there is a strong probability that asbestos fibres will be released into the air during the work scheduled to take place.

The removal contractor will assess what is necessary for removal. They will also perform the removal work, and dispose of the hazardous material so that you do not have to worry about any exposure to the substance. The video from The Telegraph below shows how to safely and successfully remove asbestos:

Handling Asbestos

As already stated, you will not have to worry about directly handling asbestos if you have a removal contactor. However, this is some information on handling asbestos in general.

Since asbestos has toxic properties and its classified as a human carcinogen, handling asbestos must be done with great care. It’s important to note that when the asbestos is in good condition, it does not usually pose a threat. Nevertheless, worn or damaged asbestos poses a huge risk to our health and safety. This is due to the fact that fibers may flake off and become airborne and it becomes possible for anyone in the area to inhale these toxic fibres, which in turn, can cling to the respiratory system and in the chest.

The post What is Asbestos? appeared first on Premier Lofts.

So, we’ve put together 11 effective ways you can stay cool during summer, without restricting yourself to the one area where the fan reaches or without racking up a heavy electrical bill!

So, Keep COOL and carry on! That’s the spirit.

1. Create a sea breeze at home: First things first, if you are not willing to move away from your fan just yet, we have a hack for you! To provide a faux sea breeze, fill a large box (a mixing bowl will do!) with ice or an icepack, or something equally as cooling. Next position the fan at an angle behind the large bowl so the air can whip off the ice in a misty-like state.
2. Set the ceiling fans to rotate anti-clockwise: Again, sticking with the theme of a fan, if you have a ceiling fan in your home set it to run anti-clockwise during the summer. Furthermore, up the speed to allow the fans airflow to create a wind-like breeze effect that will be sure to cool you down. These fan ceilings are less common the UK, so if you don’t have one – just skip past this step, sorry!
3. Keep blinds and curtains closed: This tip may seem odd to some, and obvious to others.The Family Handyman notes that around 30% of unwanted household heat comes from the windows, curtains and blinds in your home. Closing your curtains or blinds on a really hot day can lower your bills quite a fair bit and lower the indoor temperatures likewise. Think about your home like a greenhouse, the windows will produce heat and you on the inside will feel the heat. This is especially the case for the rooms which house the property’s south and west facing windows.

4. Even Better! Invest in blackout blinds or curtains: The aim of blackout curtains or blinds is to block sunlight completely. This then naturally insulates all the rooms in which they are installed. We recommend neutral coloured curtains or blinds with plastic, white backing – this will reduce heat gain by up to 33%! Very worth investing.

5. Switch up your bedding: Swapping your sheets is a great way to fresh up your room as it is, but also has its benefits in cooling you down. Nothing is worse than being to hot at night to get a good night’s sleep, and is especially a problem for couples who share a bed every night. Instead of thick fleece blankets, switch to cotton beddings as it is much lighter, breathes easier and naturally stays cooler. For extra comfort to keep cool at night, buy a ‘buckwheat’ pillow or two for your bed. Buckwheat have a naturally occurring air space between them, so it does not hold onto your body heat like a conventional pillow would – even when inside a pillow case.

6. Chill your bed out!: If you want to take cooling to the next level when it comes to your sleep, why not try slipping a ‘Chillow’ underneath your head at night. For your feet, fill up a bottle with water and put it in the freezer until frozen. Then place the bottle at the foot of your bed.

7. Open the windows during the night time: Temperatures may drop at night during the summer months in the United Kingdom. So, make the most of the refreshing summer night sir and open your windows in your bedroom before you hit the hay. If you are really serious about keeping cool during the night, you can set up a wind tunnel type of thing. To do this, strategically place fans to push the natural breeze from your window directly at you, along with the fan air. It is best to make sure you do shut your blinds before the morning comes so you don’t wake up too hot.

8. Sleep lower down: If the heat is getting unbearable during the night, put your mattress on the floor or sleep on a lower level of the house. Heat rises, so the lower you are, the cooler you will feel.

9. Close off unused rooms: Closing off unused rooms can help to prevent cool air from permeating these area throughout the hottest part of the day. As mentioned previously, you want to capitalise on the cooler hours of the night, so be sure to close all doors to each room not being used at night.

10. Start cooking outside more: Using an oven, AGA or stove during summer will significantly add heat to your house. AGA’s are tricky as they are always on, but if you have both an AGA and an oven, opt to turn off your AGA and switch to the oven for summer months as this will ultimately be a better option. Grilling and BBQing outside can be beneficial, and who does love sitting outside eating delicious food in the sunnier months? You’d be surprised at all the things you can cook on a grill or BBQ that you thought were only for oven use.

11. Longer-term improvements: Consider planting and strategically places trees and/or vines near windows which are light facing. This will shield your property from the strong rays of the sun, and therefore this will reduce the amount of heat added into your home through reducing how much heat your house absorbs. This is an investment, but it is certainly worthwhile to keep cool.

Overall, during the hot months of summer, be sure to stay hydrated, as well as cool this summer! Sweating makes you lose you bodies heat, and replacing it is extremely important.

The post How To Make Your House Cooler appeared first on Premier Lofts.

Whether the mould in your home is a small patch or has taken over a larger area, or whether it is on the internal walls of your house or the external walls – getting rid of it should definitely be your first priority! After you have begun to tackle the mould problem, you should just and find out what it is that is causing mould to appear in or on your property, so you do not have to go round in circles with it and stop it the first time.

It is true that mould can often be a sign of a much bigger, underlying, problem in your home. Mould can cause long-term damage to the structural integrity of your house. While mould might be simply a symptom of a larger problem, this does not mean it is a harmless thing. In isolation, mould causes a lot of issues, particularly for elderly people or children. Furthermore, mould exposure can be damaging to those with respiratory issues such as asthma, an existing skin condition or a compromised immune system.

In this article, we will tackle mould; from the causes, to how to get rid of it, to then keeping the infestation of mould away for good!

What are the causes of mould?

Mould is caused by humidity – which is a high level of moisture in the air. However, mould only starts to manifest and grow on a surface that has been wet for over 24 hours. Therefore, mould is a symptom that your property had a deeper problem with damp. Damp is not uncommon, with the Independent claiming that around 61% of rental properties have had cases of damp, mould or leaking roofs in the UK. In England alone, it is estimated that one in eighteen properties suffers from damp of some description.

There are actually different types of damp, and in finding out which one is affecting your property, will help to get rid of it and get rid of it for good! The most common culprit of causing damp is condensation. This explains why damp and mould usually appears in the steamiest rooms in ones house: the bathrooms. If you have worked out that condensation is not a/the issue in your home, the problem is likely to be something a bit more serious, like ‘rising damp’. To learn how to deal with rising damp in more detail, click here.

As mentioned, humidity is an issue for houses.  Other than humidity resulting from the shower or taps, houses near water, like a lake or near the coast, are more likely to suffer from damp and thus, mould infestations. The moisture levels in the air tend to increase during long periods of unpleasant, wet weather. You may notice mould appearing in your house or on the outside of your house after a few weeks of rain, this might be caused by a general increase in humidity in your house.

If mould is worse in one particular patch, it may be a sign of a weakness in your property’s external walls or even a leak in the guttering on your house.

How to deal a mould problem

To get rid of mould always remember to wear:

• Rubber gloves
• Safety googles
• A dusk mask

This may sound slightly extreme to some, but mould is not nice to deal with, and you certainly do not want to breathe it in.

You can get special mould cleaning spray, that does what it says on the tin, or you can create one of your own out of household cleaning items. To make this you will need; one part bleach to four parts water –  this is said to be just as effective as ready made mould killer spray that you can buy at the supermarket.

Remove the mould with a damp cloth, and make sure to scrub gently until it is gone. Once you feel like you are finished, be sure to dry off the area with a soft cloth. If the area stays wet, the mould will return or worsen.

It is known that mould likes warm, dark spaces and moisture. It is advised to open curtains during the day so that plenty of natural light is let in. AS soon as you notice condensation appearing on your walls on ceilings, aim to dry it immediately.

Mould doesn’t just appear from nowhere, it always has a cause – it is a fungus and grows from spores. Dusting, cleaning and vacuuming will often get rid of dormant spores and thus should reduce any risk of the mould returning. Furthermore, mould feeds on organic materials such as:

• Wood
• Cardboard
• Cotton

Be sure to disinfect all the wooden surfaces in your home, wash fabrics and always replace cardboard storage boxes. These will hopefully help to get rid of any unwanted spores that are hidden and lurking in your house.

If the mould is being caused by water entering your property vis guttering that is damaged or blocked, then you will be required to either replace, repair or clear the gutter out if you want to tackle the problem of mould. Mould can sometimes be caused by damaged brickwork or leaking pipes within the internal walls of your property; this will need to be dealt with by a professional in the majority of cases.

If your house is suffering from the likes of rising damp, you will need to think seriously about contacting a professional builder. The builder will be tasked with adding a damp proof course. This then creates a strong barrier and consequently stops water from being absorbed from the ground, which is where the problem of rising damp starts.

Once you have discovered the root of the problem, it is important to keep an eye of everything that may be triggering your mould, and keep your house well ventilated to stop the damp from coming back.

The post How To Get Rid of Mould in Your House appeared first on Premier Lofts.

One option is completely moving into a new house, but this is not as simple as it sounds and you may just not want to since you’ve made your house a home! So, without moving into a larger home, here are some ways you can maximise the space in your own, loved home, some long-term and some short-term.

Storage Beds for kids

It is true that children always take up space with their toys, books and games and it can seem like everywhere you go in the house you are constantly trying to avoid stepping on a painful Lego piece and tidying up after them.

One of the most genius methods of space maximising storage, that will make any parents life easier are Kids ‘storage’ beds. Here is an example of what you can find on the market:

As you can see there is a diverse range of beds with all different ways to save you space.

The beds have built in cupboards and draws and are elevated off the ground to give extra room underneath the bed, either for another bed – perfect for kids who share a room, or for a desk, a shelving area or toy storage.

If your child would prefer a bed which doesn’t have steps or a ladder in the style of a bunk-bed, something like this would still give you huge amounts of storage to work with.

Storage beds for adults

Getting jealous? You can have these beds too! Double Loft beds are perfect for those with limited space in their bedroom, but still need a desk and large amounts of storage space. These beds can be perfect for those who work from home, but do not have space for a desk in their room or have a home office. They also bring a modern twist to any home.

Add a conversion

For a longer-term solution to lack of storage space, a loft conversion can transform your entire home AND add value! What’s not to love? Almost every house has a loft which can be converted which you can have determined by a professional.

The greatest thing about a loft conversion is that it can be used for whatever you want it to be used for! Depending on the size of the loft, you can turn it into a sizeable extra bedroom which can be used for guests, your children or teenagers, or for yourself. Again, depending on size, you may even be able to create an en-suite in a loft bedroom, adding even more value. Other options for inspirations purposes could include; a kids play-room, a games room, a home cinema, a gym, a library or a home office with the option of a bathroom included.

Space-saving furniture

Mudroom Bench:

A lot of the time, the most cluttered room in the house tends to be the hallway. Shoes, coats, umbrellas, bags all left spread across the floor. If you find this is the case in your house, something like a mudroom bench may be your life-saver! A mudroom bench is a built in bench with flip-top storage, and hooks and shelves for hang up coats and bags. It looks stylish and will protect your hallway from wear and tear, and best of all clutter!

Storage Chest: Alternately you could go for a non-built in option in the form of a storage chest. A storage chest is an attractive and sophisticated form of storage for whatever you want; blankets, spare bedding, your best dinner set. And it can go into any room in the house, or have one in every room if you want and needs must. Top tip: these sorts of pieces often feature in auctions, and can go for very cheap compared to their value!

Wall-hanging TV unit: To maximise floor space, have your TV and TV unit hanging on the wall. Having shuttered over the TV can also be good for a family with children by creating a physical barrier which indicates when it is and isn’t TV time.

On-the-wall Pot and utensil rack:

The kitchen is a room which seems to always be messy, even post-spring clean, as soon as one person’s been in to make a cup of tea it can look as if a bomb has gone off in there!  Having a wall hanging shelving unit or rack can save counter space and draw space. Consider a shelf for holding pots and pans, with a vertical slap of wood underneath with removable hooks on to hold ladles, whisks and so on, which more times than not have a hole for a hook in the when you buy them. Some actually already have a hook on the end which means you won’t have to buy or use a hook for those ones.

Or you could try a ceiling hanging rack over a kitchen island to wall space.

Gym storage bench – Options from the likes of Fittle Fit offer home gym equipment with storage – putting all your weights, plates and resistance bands all within a stylish bench that fits into the decor of your home. Plus, the bench can be used as a gym bench too. Retailing from £1000.

Built-in-wardrobe

Get rid of your standing wardrobe and upgrade to a stylish built-in-wardrobe! The best way to increase storage in a bedroom is to build in a custom wardrobe which is the length of the wall. These can also double up and a mirror with one or all the panels being mirrored. You can also customise the it to fulfil all your wardrobe needs and hold all of your things. You can build in a shoe rack, some hooks for bags, one clothes rail above another for organisation of tops and bottoms, and even a formal dress or suit rail which is high enough that your long clothes will not trail on the floor and get creased at the bottom as a result.

Depending on how much floor space you are willing to lose for the sake of sufficient storage, you could create a wardrobe which is ‘walk-in’ which is useful for organisation as you can actual go into the wardrobe to sort it out.

The post The Best Ways to Increase Storage in Your Home appeared first on Premier Lofts.

1. Assessing Price

To kick things off, before you start working with a particular architect you need to ask how much they charge and a quote for the type of building you are going for. The prices need to be within your budget, otherwise you could end up running out of many and consequently with half a house which is inhabitable – then you’ve made a massive loss.

It is very important to understand the fee structure, and have a clear contract to avoid miscommunications in the agreement. The last thing you want is your architect and/or contracted buildings walking out on you mid-built because the lines were blurred.

You need to settle the fee, when it will be paid, and any other charges that may need to be paid to others working on the job; for example, a design consultant. You may be entitled to grants or government assistance, so be sure to query that. You also need to ask about the VAT that you would pay on fees and construction, this may not be applicable to you – but you should always check so there are no financial surprises!

Furthermore, what services are involved in the contract and what are excluded? Will he or she be project managing, or will an external project manager need to be sourced? Will your architect be able to source or recommend one to you? And how much is an external project manager likely to cost? Or is it included in his or her fee proposal.

Does the architect have business insurance? This is particularly important if he or she is project managing the build. This is because if something were to go wrong with the built, you could claim money from his or her insurance (you may need to sure him or her to do this!). (Source: KSR Architects)

2. Discuss Timescales

Ask about the time scale of the project. When can he or she start? How long will the designing process take? How long will it take to get planning? What does he or she estimate to be the start to end dates of building?

It is important to clear about all of these aspects so you have idea of what is going on and what the goal time-wise is. You may have to live in rented accommodation if you are no longer or shortly moving out of your current house, you will need to know how long you will need to sign for a rental property for – it is advised to make sure you get a rental contract for slightly longer than the time estimated for completion or a contract that is one-hundred percent extendible. Builds often take longer than they are estimated to, so don’t leave yourself in the dark.

3. Lets Talk Conversions

Talk to the Architect about the types of projects he or she has worked on previously and if they are similar buildings to the building you are wanting. Does he or she specialize in certain types of architectural projects? Do you have room for a basement or a loft conversion?

If you are doing a major build, it’s very different to an extension on an already existing house or a conversion – have they taken on a build of this level before? If you are wanting your new home to be barn conversion for example, this is technically a new build but is also a house conversion without it already having the features of a house – this means this type of build will be extremely specialized, therefore you need to make sure your architect knows what they are doing in this case!

Overall, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem if this is your architects first lead role in a full-build, but as long as they have experience which proves they know what they are doing and you are happy to pursue. A top tip is to ask for pictures and specific addresses so you can have a look for yourself at the quality.

4. Planning Permission

Can he or she offer to help with planning applications? Building a home from scratch requires planning permission from the local council, this can be an extremely lengthy process that may require compromise to adhere to the local’s standards.

This can be especially gruelling for those hoping to develop a new property in the country-side, particularly if you are wanting your new home to be located in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB). The problem in a AONB is that the status is earned for the area because it is to be preserved as much as possible, therefore AONB’s have and rely strict planning rules to do so. Some things you may want doing to your house may be refused, or even the style of the house if it does not fit in the scenery and surrounding houses. Hiring an architect with expertise in AONB’s can be of huge benefit to you and speed up your home-building process. You’ll hopefully avoid constant rejections on your plans for your new build because your architect has no idea about the application do’s and don’ts. (He or she may also know a few ways you get around the strict rules!).

5. Recommending Other Good People

Can he or she recommend any good quantity surveyors, builders and other contractors, that he or she has ideally worked with before? You will need a quantity surveyor calculate the amount of materials needed for building work, and how much they will cost you. Obviously, you will need builders to complete the build, so good quality (and friendly, it helps!) builders are a must so your new home is as perfect as you envisioned.

It is a bonus if your architect is local, so ask him or her where about they live. Being local allows him or her to have great connections with the best local contractors, that you can always rely on to work on something you need to doing in the future! His or her connections will also mean that he knows the contractors, builders and quantity surveyors to avoid; the good, the bad and the ugly!

The post 5 things to ask your architect when building a new home appeared first on Premier Lofts.

There are also a number of development finance lenders that offer capital to improve your property, increasing its value and helping take it to the next level with regards to rental yields and general living space. The structure of the loan is based on Gross Development Value (GDV) which combines the land costs and the construction costs so that the loan terms are geared around construction phases and completing the development work.

These short-term property finance options are for the most part regulated, but by their very nature do have slightly higher interest rates attached. However, when structured properly, the interest can be fairly negligible as the return on investment through the property pays for itself.

Who is Bridging Finance for?

Bridging loans are one of the most established short-term property finance options with the industry being estimated to be worth more than £4 billion in the UK such is their popularity. They work to literally bridge a gap when it comes to property purchases and sales.

For example, a homeowner is looking to take the next step up the property ladder by moving from their £500,000 current home to a larger £750,000 valued property. By using up their savings, they have put down a deposit of £100,000 for the second, new property, with the £500,000 from their property sale to pay off all but £100,000 of the new property’s value, which will be paid off through refinancing the property by taking out a normal mortgage.

They have found a buyer who is close to completing on the purchase of their property. However, at the last moment the buyer pulls out of the property transaction. This leaves the property owners with several dilemmas. If they don’t sell their current property in time they will not be able acquire the £500,000 they need to all but pay off the purchase of the second property. Furthermore, by the sale falling through, they will likely lose most if not all of their hard-saved deposit.

How Do Bridging Loans Help?

Rather than having to submit to the falling through of an important property sale and subsequent purchase, the homeowner in question can take out bridging finance. The bridging loan will be for the entire property value to be purchased; £750,000. Unlike in the case of unsecured personal loans like flexible payday loans online, the homeowner then needs to get their ‘exit strategy’ in motion. An exit strategy is the way in which they will ‘exit’ the bridging loans [pay it off in full.]

The exit strategy in this case will be the sale of their first property and the subsequent refinancing of the new property once they have completed their purchase. Having purchased the new property, they can now look for a buyer for their initial property which does entail owning two properties at once for a period.

However, once a buyer is found and the deal is concluded, the property value of their first property goes straight towards the bridging loan repayments. the remaining £250,000 plus additional interest and charges is then repaid by refinancing their new property they now own. A normal mortgage can be taken out against the value of that property and repaid at a lower interest rate and over a longer period of time.

Who are the Lenders?

Bridging loans can be taken out through a variety of lenders and brokers. However, it is crucial that the lender you use to borrow the bridging loan from is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is a trusted and established lender. This way you can be sure that you will receive the bridging loan best suited to you and your specific situation. Moreover, you will receive the most favourable rates making repayments that bit easier.

The post What is Bridging Finance? appeared first on Premier Lofts.

Zoopla explains that the ‘money shot’ is making your property look good in photos, because this will determine how many people click on your listing and arrange a viewing. After all, how many houses or flats have you passed on simply because you didn’t like the look of the place? You also need to make your place look attractive for those that come to visit or even those that cheekily pass by when doing a bit of homework.

Whilst adding ‘kerb appeal’ may not increase the value of your home, it can make an enormous difference when making that sale or getting that tenant on board – so it is very worthwhile. We give some essential tips below to maximise your kerb appeal:

Sprucing up the front door

The door is one of the first things that people see when they look at a house when selling a house (Source: AskSusan.org.uk). Whether you invest in a new door which is only a few hundred pounds, you have options to improve the look of your existing ones. You can give a wooden door a new touch of paint and there are some colours that are quite striking including red, navy or black. If you do not have a wooden door, you can get specialist polish to clean a plastic or metal door and also be sure to clean the postbox too.

The front drive

Sorting out the front drive is another important aesthetic and one of the first things that people see when they look at your house. You do not need to give your front drive a complete makeover but certainly a tidy up is worthwhile. This includes trimming any grass and putting some plants in or pots in place in the entrance or front garden – which can be purchased from your local nursery starting at £5 per pot. Whilst repaving a new driveway is expensive, you can ask to borrow a water gun and clean out any limescale or dirt – and it will make the pavement seem fresher and almost as good as new.

Entrance gate

Part of the front drive is the entrance gate, whether it is a small gate that people walk through or an electrical gate that guests have to drive through. Again, another lick of paint or polish to tidy it up can really make a difference. No one likes to touch a rusty gate when entering a home, so you can also look at removing this or replacing it altogether. Above all, you want to make sure that any gate actually works – because this can set the tone for the rest of the home. If you have a viewer who sees something that isn’t working, especially when they walk in, it can de-value the rest of the property.

Number or name of the house

One thing that a lot of homeowners and landlords fail to do is make the house’s number or name visible from the roadside. This is part of the branding of the property and will catch the eye of those passing by. Part of making it visibly is ensuring that it is not wonky, has a bad paint job or is illegible. You also need to think about how big the sign is and whether it can be seen from the kerb and also whether it can be seen at night – so having a light shining onto it after hours is advisable.

Lighting

Speaking of lighting, having effective lights can add a lot of character to your home. On a basic level, you need lights so that the house can be seen in the dark and in the winter months, this can be as early as 4pm. But with a bit of creativity and careful placing, your lights can add real value to the entrance of the home, the front garden and the windows. Yellow lights are standard but you can look beyond this to blue lights or multi-coloured if you are feeling dangerous.

Fixing any windows

Windows are another important aesthetic for any house. When selling, it is important that have had a good clean on the inside and outside as any rust or rotten looking windows is not acceptable. It is essential that the window frames are consistent across the house. If you have a white house, you can make all the window panes consistently white or pick another colour like black or green keep that same colour for all the frame. If you have not already, you can look at upgrading your existing windows to double glazing to give a smart effect.

A nice idea is adding plant beddings in the front of the windows as it brings a lot of life and colour to the home. If you really like greenery, you can add a creeper to cover the house in plants and this can also help it stand out.

Check out the neighbour situation

Don’t let the neighbours lack of attention to their home bring your down. People may not be interested in a property if the one next door lacks kerb appeal. The neighbours property may also appear in adverts and property listings, so being on the same visual wavelength can be beneficial.

There are smart ways to approach this and rather than saying to your neighbour that their house looks like a mess, you can be quite clever and say things like: “I was just hosing the driveway, I can do yours too if you want?” and things like: “I bought some extra plant pots at the nursery, do you fancy putting these next to your front door?”

Boundaries

You are technically responsible for any boundaries relating to your property, including fencing and gates. Making sure that there are no broken fences is important and it is worth giving them a touch of paint or a shine prior to guests viewing your home. Prospective buyers consider that these are flaws that they will have to fix out of their own pocket, so they start to think of additional costs or they use it as a way to bargain you down by saying that there are various things that need fixing. Naturally, you do not want to discount on your asking price, so having your fences and gates looking sharp is very handy.

The post How To Use Kerb Appeal to Sell Your Property appeared first on Premier Lofts.