The Great British Food Festival is coming to Ashridge House for the first time!

 

Summer is not all about the garden, although for most homeowners in the UK, it’s hugely important. The garden is as important – and for many, more important – than any room in the house. Outdoor living spaces are right up there in the ranks of what makes an amazing home. A good outdoor living area can add £10,000 to the value of your home.* The trick is to seamlessly blend the outdoors with the indoors. In many ways, it’s like adding another room to your home, and you have real freedom to create something special that adds to the quality of life in your home. Increasing feelings of wellbeing and providing an ideal place to relax, outdoor living spaces are what you make of them.

Design your outdoor living area your own way
There are no rules when it comes to creating your perfect outdoor living space. But there is one principle you should follow, no matter what your property plans are. Create it your own way. And today you are spoiled for choice. From outdoor heaters, pizza ovens, beautiful fire pits, decking, aluminium structures, and outdoor tiles to traditional paved-style patios and stones and gravel seating areas. That’s just for starters; you also have the little details that, once you have decided on the fundamentals, will embellish and elevate your newfound space. From candles to lighting – the planted kind, post lights, and lanterns—mirrors, garden sculpture, hammocks, outdoor stoves, and more.

Think outside the box
Are you a film buff? Buy a projector and set it up on a whitewashed wall! Perhaps you are more sporting and love the idea of watching the footy or the F1 on an outdoor screen. Invite your friends over and make a night of it. Everyone has their own unique tastes, and maybe you would rather grow flowers or grapes on a veranda.

Don’t worry about adding value
It’s so easy to become obsessed with the value of your property. Don’t think about this too much; if you create an outdoor space with an air of quality, then this will take care of itself. It’s also important not to overspend. If you are creating a path to the garden from the decking and you are on a budget, use stones; they are cheaper and require less labour.

You can have more than one!
Who’s to say you can’t have more than one outdoor living space? Build decking and a patio near the rear of your home, with a path leading to tables and chairs and a stove for the winter at the bottom of the garden. Then you have a place to soak up the sun and another to hide from the rain. Add heaters, and you can have an outdoor work-from-home space!

Hire the right help and build it to last
Maybe you can do some of the work yourself; perhaps you need to hire help for it all. Whichever approach you take, build your outdoor space to last. It will help when it comes to retaining the added value of your home. And it will look good and be a nicer place to enjoy. So if you lay decking and install trellises, treat them so they look good for years. Fusing your garden with outdoor spaces is easy, but remember that your garden will have to be maintained, so plan its design with maintenance in mind.

Leave a little scope for new ideas!
Perhaps this will become a long-term project, so do it in stages. There is always a new trend and new ideas, and leaving a little space to perfect, improve, or build on what you have leaves a little potential for buyers to add their own mark.

Browse our properties to find a home with your perfect outdoor living space, and you could be moved in time for summer.

Eliteoutdoorliving*

 

It’s a great time to rent! Beautiful properties can’t help but make you feel good. And with more rights for tenants than ever before and so many of us becoming more environmentally aware, you want to feel good about doing your bit for the planet while saving a few pounds on your monthly outgoings. So here are a few tips to do just that!

• Switch energy suppliers: If you pay the bills in your rented property, you are entitled to change energy suppliers. If you can find a cheaper deal, go for it. Certain energy suppliers can help reduce your carbon footprint and could save you money.
• Energy-efficient appliances: Perhaps you own certain appliances in your rented property. By choosing more energy-efficient products, you can save money. The higher the rating, the more you will save. If appliances need to be replaced by your landlord, request appliances graded A or B.
• LED bulbs and solar lighting for the garden: Sometimes it’s the cumulative effect of lots of little things that makes a big difference. LED light bulbs and lights are far more efficient than standard bulbs and will last for years.
• Shower head: Costing about £20 and easy to swap for an older, less efficient shower head, you could request that you swap an older shower head and save on your water bill.
  
  

Getting into good habits

• Keep radiators clear: Blocking radiators can drastically reduce the heat they produce. Consider moving the couch if it’s blocking your radiator, and then you will not need to turn the heat on so much.
• Draught excluders: Not particularly expensive, and as soft furnishing, you are adding a personal touch to your rooms. You could be amazed at how much heat they could retain as heat escapes underneath your doors.
• Save water: Install a water metre or simply save water where you can. Install a water butt and collect rainwater when it comes to nurturing your plants, flowers, and trees.
• Blackout curtains: These don’t just make for a great night’s sleep by blocking out light; they also keep the heat in.
• Rugs: A nice rug will not only look nice but also add an extra layer of insulation to the floor, particularly on laminate flooring.

Green choices

• Recycle: Make sure you recycle as much as possible. Simply putting plastics and recyclables in the correct bins makes a big difference to our beautiful planet.
• Make your own furniture: Instead of buying new furniture, save some money and restore old furniture. This is on trend, and in most cases, you can buy some real bargains online, then paint and refinish them in non-traditional colours while adding real style to your home.
• Use less chemicals: By using cleaning products that are not as chemical-heavy, you may save money because you can substitute them for products that may already be sitting in your larder, like white vinegar!
• Talk to your landlord Many landlords are interested in making their rental properties greener, so don’t be afraid to ask! It’s in their interest to improve insulation, fit smart metres, use better lighting, use energy-efficient appliances, and anything else you may think of.

 

Browse our properties to find your perfect place to rent, or get in touch with our friendly team to see how we can help.

 

Looking for a new home to rent is exciting! There is no substitute for seeing your new home in person; you can only glean so much online. For many, it’s that feeling that you have found that special place you want to call home. How it looks and feels is perhaps the biggest part of your moving story, and no matter how much you like your newfound home, you will have many questions that need to be answered before you make your move. Otherwise, they will niggle away at the back of your mind. So here's a few questions you might want to ask so you know where you stand. Then all you have to do is enjoy your new home.

How much of a deposit do I need?
The chances are you will know the answer to this question already, along with the cost of renting the property, but it’s always best to check!

If there is an issue, who do I contact?
Knowing that there is someone to call if there is an emergency, a maintenance problem, or any question you may have will give you peace of mind. Many landlords choose to let their properties through a letting agent. This is ideal, as you will have a friendly and helpful face you can contact. So save your point of contact on your phone, and you'll know help is always just a press of a button away.

Can I decorate?
Being happy in your home is important, and decorating or simply adding those personal touches that help you feel content and settled makes a big difference to the quality of your life. Some landlords are more open to decorating, and you will want to know where the line is drawn when it comes to what you can and can’t do so you don’t risk losing your deposit.

Who is responsible for the garden?
The same goes for the garden; most landlords will want you to keep on top of the garden simply by keeping it tidy. But this is not always the case. If you want to make it your own by adding a barbeque, fire pit, flower beds, or furniture, you may need to ask beforehand. It may be that your new home already has some of these items in place.

What bills do I pay?
This might be the first question you ask, and even if bills are included, you need to know exactly what you are responsible for. For example, you might have to pay for broadband. And budgeting your monthly outgoings is important for your financial planning, and it’s most likely that you will have to pay council tax, so you will need to know the cost of this before you move in.

Is it okay to switch energy suppliers?
The good news here is that if you pay your energy bills, you are entitled to switch suppliers. You may find a better deal.

What is the energy performance certificate rating?
When it comes to paying the bills, you want your new home to be as energy efficient as possible, so this is worth asking. The same goes for any appliances in the property.

What alarms are fitted to the property?
Don’t be shy when asking about all necessary alarms, such as carbon monoxide or smoke alarms, which are a legal requirement; ask for the accompanying safety certificates for annual checks.

Can I keep pets?
If you have a furry friend, you might need to provide proof of vaccination, but the good news is that landlords can no longer enforce blanket bans on pets, but they can say no to your pet if they have a good reason.

What else do I need to know?
You may have many other questions, so don’t forget to ask your friendly agent, who will always be more than happy to help.

Looking for a new place to call home? Get in touch with our friendly and approachable team today, who will make your home move happy.

 

When we hear the words holiday home, they conjure up images of the sea, mountains, or forests, perhaps in exotic locations where everything seems perfect somehow. Many people are choosing to buy holiday homes in the UK despite being able to travel freely again. It’s an appealing prospect: returning again and again to a place that you love. The UK has so much beautiful scenery to offer and vibrant cities packed with culture to explore and enjoy. There is also the very appealing option of letting your holiday home, which could mean your holiday home pays for itself.

You have lots of options
Holiday homes come in all shapes and sizes. There are many stunning holiday homes located in myriad locations. From the Peak District, peering over the blue sea of the south coast on a summer’s day, or hiding in the Highlands of Scotland, to mention a few. But there are also properties of all types scattered in towns and cities that, at first glance, you might not have considered up until now as a holiday home. So it’s worth keeping an open mind when choosing the right holiday home for you.

No booking or paying for hotels
You will no longer have to worry about forking out or taking time to book a hotel, saving money during the holiday season when prices are at a premium. And even if you love nothing more than travelling and staying in hotels across the globe, perhaps your holiday home may contribute towards the costs of your various adventures.

Tax advantages
Holiday homes are a tax-efficient way to purchase property, as they can be classified as a business and not an investment. This means you can include mortgage interest costs as a deductible expense when calculating your tax bill.

Great returns
Holiday homes can be very lucrative. During the height of the holiday season, you could charge the equivalent of a month’s rent, for a two week let. This means that if your holiday home is not booked all year round, you still achieve good annual returns, giving you a chance to enjoy or possibly improve it.

The social scene
Inviting family and friends to your holiday home can make for a better social life if it’s easier and cheaper to get to than other alternatives. Adding to this, the ready-made social scene that awaits you in your chosen location will give you the chance to forge new relationships.

It could mean you get more holiday time
If your holiday home is easier and less expensive to get to, then chances are you will make the most of this, and you can enjoy long weekends and bank holidays on short and long breaks more often. This will add to your quality of life, which will contribute to your health and wellbeing.

Holiday let managed service
A good tip is to consider a managed service, which could take care of everything from bookings, maintenance, cleaning, and gardening. Allowing you to enjoy great returns and create some great memories with minimum effort.

Browse our properties to find your perfect home, whatever your property needs.