News

'Tis The Season For Scrubbing and Tidying

New research reveals 63% of UK consumers admit they miss out on family time because they begin tidying the house at least a week before the big day, with 37% tidying between 10 and 18 days in advance of Christmas Day

It’s the season to be jolly, but the stress experienced in the lead up to having the ‘perfect’ Christmas can leave many UK families feeling more frazzled than festive. New research from leading kitchen roll brand Regina has uncovered that well over half of those surveyed (69%) admit they do at least twice the amount of housework than normal just to please visiting guests at Christmas.

Mrs Hinch v. The #GrinchArmy in the battle for a greener Christmas

Mother & daughter cleaning up for Christmas

If the popularity of online sensation Mrs Hinch is anything to go by, cleaning could fast become the nation’s favourite pastime. And with Christmas coming up, now is the perfect time to get scrubbing for a sparking home this season.

But as it’s also the period for peace on Earth, ethical cleaning company Bio-D has produced a list of eco-friendly tips to prepare for the festivities and be kind to the environment at the same time.

They’ve teamed-up with interior influencers to inspire their own Hinch-style army, dubbed the ‘#GrinchArmy’ to reflect their green credentials.

Lloyd Atkin, Managing Director of Bio-D, said: “At Bio-D, we believe a clean home shouldn’t cost the Earth in any sense.

Install and control your home security the ‘smart’ way

We’re now well and truly in the run up to Christmas, and odds are you’re planning a trip away and more nights out at festive parties.

With the ONS reporting a rise in burglary related offences to over 666,000 this year, it’s incredibly important that you’re also thinking about how to keep your home safe while you’re out enjoying the festive period.

Thousands Use Help To Buy In Bedfordshire To Buy New Homes

A government initiative is helping thousands of families in Bedfordshire to get on to the housing ladder. New figures released by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) reveal that a total of 4,707 homebuyers in the county used the Help to Buy scheme since it was launched five years ago.

Within the county, the districts which made the best use of the scheme were Bedford (2,000) and Central Bedfordshire (2,419).

Central Heating – Controlled Properly Can Save You Money and Improve Your Health

Cat lying on a central heating controlled radiator

It’s that time of year again. The months are getting considerably colder as we plough through autumn and winter is just around the corner. Candles and warm lighting are no longer fooling us into believing it’s warmer than it is, meaning that more and more of us are reaching towards the thermostat to indulge in a bath of warm air. However, we ought to be careful how soon and how often we’re reaching for our heating systems. Indeed, professionals advise the general public to be restrictive with their heating to prevent inflicting health related issues on themselves and costly energy bills.

Think you’ll never afford that house deposit?

Using a piggy bank to save for a house deposit

Think you’ll never afford that house deposit? A side hustle doesn’t need to be part-time job

The average house deposit in 2017, for first-time buyers outside of London, was £26,2241. This is up 108% in comparison to ten years ago1. With the average income of first-time buyers having only increased by almost 17% over the same period, it can often feel like an uphill struggle to save enough for a dream home in today’s world. So it’s not a surprise the average age of first-time buyers has increased too, giving longer to piggy bank those extra pounds. But it is do-able, even if you aren’t an extreme saver like these three:

How to Save Energy in Your Home This Winter

British Gas recently announced they’re increasing their prices by 4%, and with winter fast approaching, homes across the UK will soon be turning on their heating to battle the cold. While this increase in gas and electricity usage leads to larger bills in the winter, there are ways in which you can save energy (and in turn, money). Here, home experts Birlea outline 10 small ways you can save energy in your home this winter, which will help to reduce those dreaded bills.

Invest in a Smart Thermostat

Brits will be more careful than ever with their heating this winter

Over five million Brits will wait until the temperature dips to zero degrees or lower before switching on their heating this winter, according to new research.

Anglian Home Improvements carried out the research alongside the launch of its new Hot Property campaign, which is aimed at helping homeowners identify where the heat in their home may escape from. The home improvements company partnered with a thermographer-qualified drone specialist to take heat sensitive images of six different properties ranging from Grade II listed homes to new build properties. The images illustrate the most common areas residents lose heat from in their homes, which tend to be windows, doors, chimneys and roofs.

Getting On The Property Ladder Prioritised Above Having Children

Alexandra Gorn Furniture - Getting On The Property Ladder

Bucket list favourites including buying a house, travelling and getting married are now more of a priority to British couples than starting a family, a new study has found. In a survey of 1,003 British adults, carried out by etailer Furniture123.co.uk, 67% said that getting onto the property ladder was their number one priority for adult life and that they wanted a place to call their own before planning to start a family.

63% or respondents said they wanted to see more of the world before committing to children.

Buckinghamshire homebuyers given 20% off selected homes in Milton Keynes

The Faversham Special at Centurion Place in Milton keynes

Milton Keynes homebuyers are set to benefit from a low cost housing scheme at the Centurion Place development in the popular Broughton district of Milton Keynes.

Leading developer Barratt Homes is offering two bedroom apartments for 20% less than market value for those who meet the eligibility criteria.

Buyers who live, work or have family connections in the Borough of Milton Keynes, who have a household income of no more than £66,000 can take advantage of their initiative and buy their new home at a discounted cost. They must also confirm that this is the only property they own and they intend to use the property as their own residence.