Homes & Gardens

Is a homeowner loan right for you?

Owning a home in the UK often brings a sense of stability, but it also opens the door to financial choices that can shape your long-term security. You might consider borrowing against your property to fund improvements, cover large expenses, or manage existing debts. That decision deserves careful thought because it ties your borrowing directly to your home. When you understand how these loans work and how they affect your finances, you place yourself in a stronger position to decide with confidence. A measured approach helps you avoid unnecessary risk while making the most of the...

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How to plan a loft conversion

The Three Types Of Loft Conversion

The Internal Loft Conversion

The first type of loft conversion is the internal loft conversion. This type of loft conversion requires very little alteration to the current exterior of the home. Some additions you may need are skylights, stud walls, insulation, and plumbing alterations.

Skylights are windows placed in the roof and stud walls are plasterboard walls found in all new build properties.

Typically, insulation and strengthening the floor are issues you come across. These are often the most cost-effective types of loft...

If your home has been damaged by the storms 'beware of cold callers'

Trading Standards is urging householders, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, to be on their guard for rogue traders who might try to cash in on the damage caused by recent storms.

At the end of last week and over the weekend Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset was hit by a series of storms which damaged homes and property.

Now the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service is urging householders to always reject offers of goods and services from cold callers, which could include people claiming to be tree surgeons or roofers, and other tradespeople who call...

Health benefits from a memory foam mattress from the head to the toe

Poor sleep is bad news for your health. However, few people realise the power of a memory foam mattress when it comes to alleviating common conditions and improving health.

For those who suffer from insomnia, back pain, and other issues that could affect their night-time health, a memory foam mattress is the best choice.

Let's now take a look at the health benefits - from head and toe.

Memory foam mattress for mental health

Good sleep is good for your mental and physical health.

Sleep disorders and mental wellbeing

Both quality of...

When you should consider selling your property

There is a right time to sell your property. The question is when. The timing of your move will be determined by how quickly you can sell your home. The process of selling your home should be painless. However, there are some important considerations you should keep in mind before you sell your property. For example, you need to carefully evaluate your equity, as it is crucial to get the best price possible. If you are upside down on your mortgage, you should consider selling your house before the equity is wiped out.

One of the most important decisions you'll have to make is...

6 simple ideas for sustainably decluttering your home

We have all decluttered our spaces before, but eco-friendly decluttering takes a little more consideration. Use these six simple ideas for sustainably removing clutter in your home.

It happens to everyone- you’re fine with how your home looks and feels until, one day, you realize that your living space has way too much stuff that makes it crowded. When this happens, it’s time to get rid of all the extra things you have but never actually use or need.

Whether you see decluttering as part of downsizing your cleaning efforts or simply simplifying your life, getting rid of...

New estate agency bucking trend

It is well documented that getting a new business off the ground is extremely risky. With statistics reporting 20% of businesses failing in their first year and around 60% going bust within the first three years, making sure a start-up survives during the first few years is critical.

Add in the impact of Covid-19 (3.9% of businesses have ‘no confidence’ that they will survive over the next few months), owning a start-up remains a challenge for entrepreneurs.

WIth the statistics seemingly working against most new businesses, launching a brand new company as the world was...

First-time buyers in Exeter has to borrow 5.3 times their salary

First-time buyers need to borrow up to five times their salary to get on the property ladder in Exeter, new figures show.

The city ranks ninth in a list of 20 of the country’s least affordable locations compiled by online mortgage broker Mojo Mortgages.

Homes in Exeter typically command a price tag of more than £333,000, compared to the national average of £287,830.

With residents typically earning £26,710 a year, a couple who’d saved a 15 per cent deposit would have to borrow seven times their salary for a mid-market home.

The top 20 most expensive...

Cullompton 'pod' homes approved

By Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter

The three-storey building, with six homes, will replace a former council-owned garage block at St Andrews Estate after Mid Devon councillors gave the go-ahead.

Built in collaboration with Zed Pods Ltd, a producer of the modular homes, the council project includes an equal mix of one and two-bedroom flats. They are for social rent and will be allocated through the Devon Home Choice system through which people with housing needs bid for rental properties.

The modular units are factory-made before being transported to...

How to Increase Storage Space as a Student

It’s hard to study and keep your thoughts organized if your room is basically nothing but a cluttered mess. Not only that, but expect that it will also be inconvenient during rush study sessions and emergency catch-up studies.

That said, it’s understandable if you want to know some ways how to increase storage space without having to spend a lot of time and money. It can be impractical to spend a lot on home improvement while you’re still a student after all.

For your reference, we prepared five of the best and most budget-friendly steps that you can take to get more...

Almost a third of homeowners in the South West are set to make home improvements in 2022

More than three fifths (62%) of home owners in the South West admit there are things about their house they’d like to change, leading to almost a third (30%) planning to make changes to their property in 2022, according to new research from RISA *

The new research out today from RISA, the independent inspection body, also reveals that half (50%) of homeowners in the region made changes to their homes during lockdown, with a third (33%) saying they spent more on home improvements over the last year than they usually would.

The nationwide survey found that UK homeowners...

Homes & Gardens

Is a homeowner loan right for you?

How to plan a loft conversion

If your home has been damaged by the storms 'beware of cold callers'

Health benefits from a memory foam mattress from the head to the toe

When you should consider selling your property

6 simple ideas for sustainably decluttering your home

New estate agency bucking trend

First-time buyers in Exeter has to borrow 5.3 times their salary

Cullompton 'pod' homes approved

How to Increase Storage Space as a Student

Almost a third of homeowners in the South West are set to make home improvements in 2022

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