Welcome to our March Newsletter

Energy-efficient homes are in big demand - Here’s how you can improve yours

Unlike many other things in your life, when it comes to your home, there is a lot you can do to save on energy costs. Food costs are spiralling, and while you can grow some things, it’s most likely you can’t grow all you want. The price of cars has also gone up, as have the prices of many other consumables and raw materials, and yet again, there is not much you can do about it.

 

Many of us lament the cost-of-living crisis and feel helpless in the face of such adversity. So here are some quick fixes and big improvements you can undertake to increase the energy efficiency of your home while at the same time adding to its value.

 

Quick fixes

• Install a smart meter: this can be supplied by your energy provider, so you can see exactly how much energy you use.
• Loft insulation: this is a simple way to keep heat from escaping your home and can save you a lot of money on heating bills. It is something you could do yourself with the right protective equipment, but don’t fall through the roof! Perhaps you don’t feel up to it after all? Don’t worry; there are many specialists who can do this for you.
• Collect rainwater for the garden: by collecting rainwater in your garden in a butt, a barrel or an all-singing, all-dancing water tank complete with a pump. Whichever you choose, you are making your garden greener by harvesting rainwater!
• Low-flow showerhead: you can buy one of these for less than £20 and install it in minutes by simply unscrewing your old showerhead and replacing it. Being more efficient could mean you use your boiler a little less, too.
• Energy-efficient light bulbs: they might be a little more expensive, but they will save up to 80% on energy use and last up to ten years!

Big improvements

• Install a new boiler: improve your energy performance certificate with a new boiler. Having an old boiler will put buyers off, and the value of your home will increase sufficiently to cover the costs of a new boiler.
• Air source heat pump: with government grants making this option more affordable, heat pumps are becoming more popular. British Gas offers a complete fitting service.
• Triple-glazed windows: this will improve your home's energy rating further. Your home loses a lot of energy as heat escapes through the windows. When they are clean, windows allow a lot of heat from the sun to enter. Triple-glazed windows trap that heat more efficiently, saving you money on the energy you use to heat your home.
• Photovoltaic solar panels: as solar panels become more popular, we are all becoming more aware of them. Less well-known are photovoltaic solar panels, which work even when it’s cloudy—perfect for the UK! Did you know you could sell the electricity they generate back to your local energy supplier, potentially making them pay for themselves?
• Hot water solar panels: placed on the roof like traditional solar panels, they heat the water for your shower, bath, and kitchen sink!
• Install a wind turbine: we see them dotted all over the countryside, but perhaps surprisingly, you can buy smaller versions for your home that will create enough electricity to run your entire home.

Find a good deal

Many of these quick fixes and bigger home improvements are eligible for government assistance depending on different criteria, and there are some good deals to be had with energy suppliers and local businesses, so it’s always worth a look online to check out the latest deals.

 

Looking to move to a more energy-efficient home? Want to know how much value you have added by improving the energy efficiency of your home? Book a valuation.

Buy-to-let investments. The perfect pension option!

Whether you are planning on retiring early, late, or not at all, investing in property is a very effective way to build a substantial retirement fund! The old saying is true: You only get out of life what you give. While it’s true that it requires more effort and organisation to prop up your pension fund with property, the benefits are well worth it.

 

Things to consider

There is little doubt that purchasing a house takes much more effort than simply paying a monthly figure into a pension fund. So here are a few things to keep in mind.

 

Buy in the right location

Location and understanding the market you are investing in are essential. You want to protect your investment, ideally enjoy good growth, and have a reliable and regular stream of rent. So do your research and invest in a property that will give you all these things in spades.

 

Stamp duty

When you purchase an additional property, you will pay 3% on top of the normal stamp duty rate.

 

You will need a 25% deposit

Applying for a buy-to-let mortgage is a little different from a conventional mortgage. Firstly, you typically need a 25% deposit. Many landlords also opt for an interest-only mortgage to keep monthly payments to a minimum. Then repay at the end of the term of the mortgage or make overpayments on the balance throughout the lifespan of the mortgage. The amount you can borrow is also based on what rent you can charge tenants, not what you earn. However, your lender will also take into consideration your income.

 

Lettings agent

A good lettings agent will make your life so much easier. There are plenty of options for levels of service. You may decide on a fully managed service or a basic level. The costs are relatively low, ranging from 10-15% of your monthly rental income.

 

The rewards

You gain more control over your pension when you invest in property, and the rewards compared with a conventional pension fund are greater and more tangible.

 

Good old bricks and mortar!

A good, solid investment in something as tangible as property is a pragmatic choice when it comes to long-term resilience. Stocks and shares can both fall and rise at the drop of a hat!

 

Property prices are on the long-term ascent

In the long term, property prices tend to rise. If you want proof, you only have to look into the past. While prices can fluctuate in the short term, in the long term they steadily grow, increasing the value of your retirement fund.

 

Rental income

The value of your pension will increase as you pay your buy-to-let mortgage. Adding to this, any increases in the value of your property and rental income and you are well on your way to creating a substantial retirement fund. To achieve this, investing wisely is key, so that your monthly rent exceeds your monthly costs and a profit is made.

 

A versatile investment

Investing in property gives you more options. For example, if you want to release equity, your property investment should recover more rapidly than paying into a conventional pension plan. It's good to know when you need to get your hands on some cash. Owning an animate object to gift to loved ones will keep you busy while enjoying a project, hobby, and solid investment. Property can be a fun and interesting way to prepare for your retirement.

 

Looking for the ideal property investment to secure your future? Contact us to see how we can help.

Do you buy a home with your heart or your head?

Logic and emotion are often at loggerheads when it comes to house buying! Entering a house that gives you that special feeling is one of life’s greatest pleasures. You loved the appearance of the house online, and you were not disappointed when you saw it in the cold light of day. You take a step inside, and the magic begins. It all just feels right.

 

You can see yourself living there, and you have a warm feeling inside your chest as you go from room to room; already, you imagine waking up feeling content in the bedroom because you love the view from the window and the feeling of space. The kitchen is perfect for the entire family, and in your mind, they are already sitting around the table. The fire is so inviting; the garden needs work, but you already have a vision of how to make it splendidly your own.

 

Despite all of this, you return to your current house, your mind still creating scenarios and teeming with happy images of a better life in a nicer home, and you stop in your tracks. You have run the numbers, and even though logically you can afford to move, the internal battle between your head and your heart begins.

 

Don’t ignore your head

It’s important that the numbers crunch correctly. You have to be able to afford your new home! But do not become obsessed by what-ifs and market trends. Many people have made the mistake of losing the house they love while waiting to see what happens to house prices, just in case they drop or rise. It really makes very little difference. House prices fluctuate by small amounts in the short term and grow significantly in the long term. The sooner you start paying your mortgage on the property you want, the better. Logically, this will save you more money in the long run.

 

Listen to your heart

Ultimately, for true home happiness, you have to listen to your heart. Given that you can afford the home you really want, it’s important to open up and tune into your emotions. Learn to trust them; they are there for a reason. Few other events in your life will create such feelings of desire, contentment, safety, passion, happiness, fulfilment, and security. If you are a little scared, that’s perfectly healthy, but do not let it dominate your decision or cloud your logic.

 

A happy beginning!

There is nothing wrong with allowing your heart to rule your head when it comes to home moving. Just keep the logical stuff simple, and then allow your heart to do the rest. Then, finally, after you have taken the plunge, having not purely based your decision on a mere impulse, you can start making priceless happy memories.

 

Finding emotional fulfilment in your home is a logical step!

Logically, emotional fulfilment is important financially. The rest of your life will function so much better if you are living in a home that makes you and your family happy. The health benefits that positive emotions bring, not to mention reduced stress levels and quality downtime, will benefit you throughout your entire life.

 

Finding the right home is really important to us because we know what it means to you. Get in touch to see how we can help in your home search.

06 April 2023Wine Tasting - Light & Fruity Reds

 

Come over to the light side! Discover six delightful reds from around the world that are lighter-bodied and full of fruit. Practice finding aromas and flavours. The event includes a guided tasting of 6 wines, light nibbles and tasting notes.

Click here to read 06 April 2023Wine Tasting - Light & Fruity Reds.

Ashmore Gardens, Leverstock Green

This stunning 3 Double Bedroom Detached family home has been lovingly refurbished and extended by the current owners...

 

OIEO £685,000

Click here to read Ashmore Gardens, Leverstock Green.

Frogmore Road, Apsley Quay, Apsley

Stunning 1 bedroom apartment is situated on this modern canal side development convenient for Apsley mainline station with...

 

Price £285,000

Click here to read Frogmore Road, Apsley Quay, Apsley.

Let your garden grow the value of your home this spring

It’s gardening season again at last, and the longer, lighter days of spring are giving a taste of the warmer summer days and nights soon to come. Whether you are a complete novice or a fanatic, there is no denying that almost anything you do, big or small, will make your home a much nicer place to be for you, your family, and friends.

 

UK homeowners appreciate a good garden. Research revealed that 50% of homeowners in Britain placed as much, if not more, importance on a well-designed garden as they do on a well-designed bathroom or kitchen.* As a result, this can add some serious value to the price of a home. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.

 

Let’s start with the basics

Enjoy the fresh spring breeze and keep the grass trimmed, weed the flower beds or patio, and paint any fences, sheds, or woodwork that needs a new lease on life. Then stand back and enjoy it. If you do nothing else, this will make your home far more appealing.

 

Grow up!

If space is scarce and you have no garden, consider growing up. Vertical gardens are on trend this year and will add colour, scents, and flowers to an otherwise empty space. Low maintenance and beautiful on a patio even if you have a large garden. Simply arrange planter boxes in a stack and plant what you love.

 

Growing your own flowers

A big trend for 2023 is growing flowers you can arrange into your own bouquets. Choose easy-to-grow flowers such as sunflowers, marigolds, or hardy geraniums.

 

Meadows

Bright, colourful gardens with a bit of everything going on are the way forward. Replace neat and trimmed lawns with the wilder look of meadows. That’s not to say you can't have some nice, neat, green grass and a herb garden too.

 

Furniture

Incorporating metallics, copper, and marble at the high end of the market is a desirable and on-trend way to create an amazing place to sit and enjoy good company in the garden. Or simply create privacy using wood. A simple bench or table using reclaimed wood can add something special without costing much.

 

Hard landscaping

Water features, patios, simple paths winding you through your imagined creation aligned with flowers, fruit trees, or a trellis to the decking that catches the sun.

 

Good outside storage

Good storage is desirable when it comes to creating a good garden. Store everything from your tools to the fire pit, you bring out at night to enjoy your garden under the stars. Perhaps with some lanterns, solar lights, garden spotlights, or wall lights, the possibilities are endless!

 

Find the home you love with the garden you have been searching for. Get in touch to see how we can help.

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