Homes & Gardens

4 ways to update a property after you have moved in

Buying a house is an exciting time. You will spend weeks, perhaps even months, searching for the ideal property, and eventually,you will step through the door of the one that you know you will call home.

However, no house is perfect, and even the best one you see will have work that needs doing to it to make it exactly what you want. Here are some of the easiest, most cost-effective pieces of work you can do after you move into a property to make it more comfortable and more like home.

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Right to Buy: What happens if it goes under in England?

When the Right to Buy (RtB) scheme was first introduced in 1980, then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher praised the programme as a way for the UK to create a "property-owning democracy". In the nearly 40 years since, the scheme has proved to be anything but. Rather, it has become a huge drain on taxpayers.

Fresh New Country Garden Style Homeware

SPRING INTO THE NEW SEASON WITH HOMEWARE FROM THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SHOP

This spring, The Original Factory Shop is the savvy shopper’s one stop shop to spruce up the home with great looking products that won’t break the bank.

From a new range of affordable, functional and stylish homeware to top quality household brands the discount retailer will enable shoppers to transform their homes with great products at great value prices.

Top reasons why Cwmbran is a tempting place to live

New town, Cwmbran, lies within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire – a stunning county in southeast Wales. But apart from the breath-taking views, Cwmbran can now also pride itself on being the top alternative hotspot for Bristol, according to property website, Zoopla.

The question is, what does Cwmbran have to offer which makes it so appealing to residents?

It has great amenities

4 Home Improvements to Reduce Your Energy Use

Reduce your carbon footprint, save money and help the environment – what isn’t there to love? Through certain home improvement projects, you can do all of the above, making your home and household much happier in the process.

Smart manufacturing, new and better materials and the improvement of technology have helped us live more eco-friendly, if we wish to, and reduce our expenditure. While home improvements may have a costly bill to begin with, they are, however, worth it in the end.

If you’ve made your home flood resilient, Mary Dhonau wants to hear from you

Do you live in a flood risk area? Has your home or business flooded? Have you had to make changes to your property to protect it against future flooding? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then Mary Dhonau OBE, chief executive of the Know Your Flood Risk Campaign wants to hear from you, for a new eBook that provides examples of real-life flood resilience case studies.

BB Estates pushes forward with confidence

Like a phoenix risen from the ashes, BB Estates, the estate and lettings agency on Cowick Street in the St Thomas area of Exeter, is pushing forward with confidence as owner-manager, Merle and her team continue to build on its success over the last few months with a growing bank of new and loyal clients, and a positive reputation for sales and lettings.

The upcoming home decor trends to expect in 2019

A brand new year is here, and what comes with that is copious amounts of home interior and decor trends. Whether it’s colours, materials, textures or prints, each year we see new ones step forward to give us major inspiration for jazzing up our homes and living spaces.

Read on to discover a collection of trends and ideas that will be making their mark on the home interiors world for 2019.

Sustainability in the Home

National Wellbeing plan piloted at Millbrook Village sees pensioners walk twice as far as average Briton

A new national wellbeing plan for older people has been launched at Millbrook Village later living community in Exeter which has seen residents clock up more than 7 million steps in the space of just six weeks. Inspired Villages, the later living developer and operator behind Millbrook Village, has joined forces with three high profile wellness organisations to boost the health and wellbeing of its residents. It has partnered with ukactive, hero and Oomph! to dramatically improve the physical, social and mental wellbeing of its residents around the UK.

Are you going to rent in Scotland? Don’t skip this guide if you are a first timer

Whether you want to rent a flat, a room, or even a home, it is critical to know the particulars of the whole approach.

From planning viewings to ensuring the budget are usually up to scratch, this informative guide from CityLets will certainly arm you with all the important information to find your perfect house.

Finding a Property

How to stay in your own home as you age

No-one relishes the prospect of having to leave their home when they start to have difficulties due to the infirmities of old age. That reluctance to leave your home has been backed up by research which has shown that it’s far better for older people to remain in their homes for as long as possible, where they are happier and more at ease.