UK Homes Gain £44 In Value Every Day, Plus More

In this month's edition, UK homes gain £44 in value every day, we discuss how homes are predicted to change over the next two decades and we share some things to consider when designing your garden.

UK Homes Gain £44 In Value Daily

Positive signs for the UK property market as the first quarter of 2018 recorded an average growth of 1.27% in property prices.

Statistics have revealed that homes in Britain gained &44 in value between January and March of 2018, an average of &3,917 added to the price tag of a home, resulting in a collective growth of &114 billion.

This takes the overall value of UK property to a staggering &8.3 trillion.

These new figures are quite the contrast to reports from the same period last year, where the collective value of UK homes fell by &29 billion.

The region to see the largest growth during the first quarter of 2018 was the North West, recording an increase of 1.85% (&3,552) taking the average value of a home in the region to &192,397.

Following closely behind were the regions of the East Midlands and Yorkshire & The Humber, both seeing a rise in value of 1.58% taking their average house prices to &212,557 and &174,353, respectively.

At the other end of the table are Wales and Scotland, where property prices increased the least. Welsh homes grew in value by 0.11%, only a &203 increase with average values now standing at &186,053. Scotland fared slightly better showing a 0.17% increase of &331 to &189,297.

While the national average for house price growth stood at 1.27%, there were some areas of the UK that saw more than double the average in increases.

Sidcup in Kent, Heathfield in East Sussex and Wallingford in Oxfordshire all recorded growth of 2.84% or higher and added more than &11,000 to their property’s price tag.

How Homes Will Change Over The Next Two Decades

With the current housing shortage in the UK, there have been a number of plans set in motion by the Government to help build 300,000 homes per year. From family homes to apartment blocks and rural conversions, the focus is on future-proofing the country for its housing needs.

A new survey from AXA Insurance questioned the public on which direction the design of homes will go over the next 20 years.

One of the biggest changes to life at home across the last decade is the number of homes that serve multiple purposes. While in the past a home was a place to relax, home offices have become almost common in the modern day as working from home becomes more and more prominent.

Currently, 29% of respondents have a dedicated office within their home, whilst 64% of them believe that working from home will grow in popularity, with home offices predicted to become a standard house feature over the next 10 years.

As a nation, we love our gadgets as more and more new technology seems to find its way into our homes. The survey found that 26% of respondents believed that over the next 5 years, homes will feature home assistant technology such as Alexa or Hive as standard.

The smart devices won’t stop there either, as 26% think that over the next 10 years all televisions and monitors in a home will become smart screens and offer a multitude of functions.

Almost 1 in 5 think that homes built in the next decade will be more robust, built to deal with more extreme weather and the same amount of survey participants believe that homes will be more environmentally friendly and solar panels will be more prevalent.

In terms of getting around town, 20% feel that electric cars will see a surge in popularity over the next decade and 25% think that over the same period, charging points at home will become more common.

Managing Director at AXA Insurance – Gareth Howell – spoke on the results of the survey, he said “Throughout the decades AXA has seen a number of changes in the way people live their lives and the homes they reside in. Today more than ever, people are starting to use their homes for multiple purposes and are relying more heavily on new technology, and this is set to continue. In the next five, ten and twenty years we expect homes to change once again, but into what is a conversation we all need to have.”

Things To Consider When Designing Your Garden

Plants, furniture, and space. These are the three most important areas where you should direct your attention when planning your next garden makeover.

If done well, you can create a space that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical for the whole household.

In fact, unless your garden makeover involves a complete upheaval and redesign, there is very little that can go seriously wrong. But just to be sure that that doesn’t happen, we have a few pointers that we think can help you make the best of your garden – however big or small it is!

Plant planning

Nothing will bring more life to your garden than filling it with plants of different shapes, sizes, and colour. And if you ask us, the greener the better. Over the past few years, correlations have been made between mental well-being and time spent in nature, so line your garden with green and rake in the benefits.

Potted or planted? Depending on your garden type, this decision may be made for you, but if you do prefer potted plants, try using buckets or ornamental vases for artistic appeal.

Another important decision to make is the choice between low maintenance or high maintenance plants. If you don’t have a particularly green thumb, you should consider plants that will need minimal care and that last all year round rather than ones that need to be replaced seasonally.

Make yourself at home

Comfort in your garden is non-negotiable. Why design a paradise that can only be enjoyed from afar?

Your furniture needs may be determined by your household size and whether you frequently invite guests over or not, but don’t let that deter you from splurging on seating, there is no harm in having too many seats or cushions to choose from!

Nestle your tables and chairs amongst your shrubs and flowers, and create a tranquil living space.

Making every inch of space count

Having a small garden does not mean that you have to have no garden at all. Create your own mini haven by surrounding your outdoor furniture with shrubs that are ideal for privacy. And to make your secret garden even more charming, use feature tiles, fairy lights, and textiles.

Once you‘ve used up all of your floor space, why not move upwards? Climbing trellises along your walls and fences can add an elegant touch.

As can shelves bearing potted plants along your exterior walls. This will add a contemporary and sophisticated look to your garden and will make use of space that would otherwise have been wasted.

Design away!

Whether you prefer minimalist or busy designs, make your garden your own by taking the time to carefully plan it. If you do prefer the thought of a simple garden, use symmetry to your advantage.

Flowers, shrubs and trees will add a healthy look to any garden, especially when there is a higher patio to grass ratio. Make the most of your lawn space by moving vertically along your walls with trellises and outdoor shelving, and use pots that add character to your garden.

Furniture serves more than a practical purpose. Your outdoor seating should be arranged to maximise your space.