Blogs

Why property is booming outside of London

For better or worse, when people think of the UK property market, they think of London. It’s not hard to see why: it’s the most connected, most expensive, and most affluent part of the country.

Indeed, if you’re a homebuyer, London might seem out of reach. But there’s so much more to the UK market than London – and, per the latest figures, its house prices are falling in real terms, as Manchester, Leicester, and Liverpool grew by more than six percent annually.

Calling all budding explorers

A housebuilder, Redrow Homes South Midlands, has come up with a novel way to keep the children entertained this summer.

Redrow Homes South Midlands is inviting budding adventurers to explore the gardens at a number of its showhomes throughout August in an exciting wildlife hunt.

Every adventurer will be provided with their very own ‘Explorer Pack’, which includes a nature tick list and a special pair of binoculars.

Tonia Tyler, sales director for Redrow Homes (South Midlands), said: The nature discovery hunt

How to be more energy efficient at home

by Mike Feely, Green Guru at E.ON

During Britain’s hottest summer in four decades, thoughts about energy efficiency may seem like a distant memory. However, as winter draws nearer and the weather gets cooler, the topic of energy usage at home inevitably starts to creep back into our minds.

Recent research by E.ON found that Brits don’t feel confident when it comes to energy related tasks at home. There are some easy things you can start doing now to get yourself prepped and ready before the fresher nights set in. Whether you’re buying a Victorian terrace or a new build, there are simple changes we can all make to be more energy efficient.

Simple swaps to go green

COMFORT IS KEY WITH THE NEW CORMAR RANGE

The Cormar Carpet Company cracks the value versus luxury conundrum with a comfortably priced, ultra-soft new carpet collection.

Apollo Comfort is the latest addition to the Cormar easy clean family. Made with a new, softer Excellon polypropylene fibre that brings a premium feel to an affordably priced range, it is bleach cleanable and dirt resistant and includes a 10 year stain and wear guarantee.

The Cormar Carpet Company

PLANNING THE PERFECT BATHROOM

Naomi Nunn, Interior Designer at leading online bathroom retailer soak.com, offers tips on what to think about when redesigning the bathroom in your first home.

Deciding on the layout and design of a bathroom remains one of the key decisions when any first time buyer gets the keys to their new home.

After all, whether it’s having a relaxing soak in the bath or enjoying a luxurious shower experience, you will spend several hours a week in your bathroom.

Before you even get to deciding on which products are going to go into your bathroom, there are some important questions to answer on layout.

To bee or not to bee: developer offers top tips for nature

Leading homebuilder Barratt Homes North Thames is offering homeowners in Bedfordshire its top tips for making their garden bee-friendly this summer.

The developer is encouraging people to make their garden a haven for our fuzzy friends, by planting flowers to attract them and making small changes to their garden to give bees somewhere to shelter.

There are over 250 bee species in the UK, and most face threats such as loss of habitat, climate change and disease. They are vital to the food chain, with one in every three mouthfuls of food consumed by humans dependent on pollination, including apples, pears, onions, potatoes, cherries, chilies, carrots, margarine and herbs.

Glenn Copper, Sales Director at Barratt Homes North Thames, said;

5 ideas to turn your balcony into your favourite hangout spot from Bosch Home and Garden

Do you love your living room as much as your balcony, but find yourself laying on your living-room sofa longing for some fresh air? Well we've got some inspiration for you: once you see our five ideas for comfy balconies and terraces, you won't ever want to be indoors during the summer again!

1. Look to the east – between rugs and tealights

Comfort is key with the new Cormar range

Pupils at Offley Primary have been learning how to stay safe on site, thanks to a visit to J One Seven hosted by Barratt Homes Manchester.

A total of 30 school children donned hard hats and hi-vis vests and set off to the development to learn the importance of site safety.

The educational visit aimed to promote staying safe on site, whilst informing the children on what goes on at a building site. The children were able to learn about the machinery on site and all of the different tradesmen and what they do.

The youngsters were also given a tour of the show home at the development, where they were able to see what the homes look like once they have been completed.

Andrew Couch, Assistant Site Manager at Barratt Manchester said:

Scandinavian simplicity

Recent research reveals investment in kitchen improvements such as a new worktop and cabinet doors can add £26,838 to the value of your home.

With the rise in popularity of Scandinavian-inspired simplicity and the Instagram favourite ‘Hygge’ lifestyle, natural decor is increasingly in demand to create a tranquil environment that’s clutter-free, rooted in nature and minimalist in style. For kitchens, this trend must also incorporate durable surfaces and, ideally, cost-effectiveness.

Nina Bailey, UK Design Manager for Formica Group Europe, offers her simple tips and tricks on how to give your kitchen a Nordic update in line with the key trends of 2018.

Holden style home perfect for modern family living in Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire house hunters looking for a stylish and versatile home perfectly suited to modern family living need look no further than David Wilson Homes’ Holden house type in Lidlington Court.

As one of the five star housebuilder’s most in-demand house types, the Holden is known for its practical and well thought out design, as well as being perfect for modern buyers looking to personalise their home to suit their needs.

The detached four bedroom home can be found at the developer’s newest site Lidlington Court in Lidlington, so buyers can benefit from a fantastic location that suits their lifestyle, as well as this ideal family property.