Homes & Gardens

Getting Yourself into the Best Financial Position When Applying For A Mortgage: A Guide 

Seeking a mortgage marks a pivotal financial step, demanding meticulous preparation and foresight. Securing favourable terms and interest rates holds the potential to yield substantial savings throughout the duration of your loan.

This guide furnishes actionable advice and tactics, empowering you to optimise your financial standing during the mortgage application process. By adhering to these strategies, you can realise your homeownership aspirations with confidence and alleviate financial strain.

Assess Your Financial Health

Before applying for a mortgage, take...

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Val Watson

Val Watson

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Issy and Ian Maggee

A perfect community and home for Issy and Ian at Romansfield, in a property that ticks all their boxes

When Issy and Ian Magee decided to downsize their home, they had a long list of requirements for the new property. As their children had grown up and moved overseas, they knew that they wanted a property that featured a large communal area for when their children and grandchildren came to visit. Issy is a keen chef, and when the family visits she wants to spend all of her time with them and not be separated in the kitchen while they relax in the living space.

The couple spent a while looking across the entire region; Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset, and nothing was turning their...

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Call for sites: Land needed for new developments in East Devon

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 03/29/2022 - 9:10pm

Do you own land that could be used to build housing or developments?

East Devon District Council (EDDC) is looking to make a list of potential sites that could be drawn upon to help develop its new local plan - which will help shape what and where developments will go for the next 15 years and more.

The authority is now looking to identify suitable building sites for new homes and other developments. To assist with this, EDDC is inviting residents, businesses, land owners and other bodies, as part of a ‘call for sites’, to identify land areas they feel could be suitable...

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DIY and Health and Safety – What Do You Need to Know?

Authored by David Banks
Posted: Tue, 03/29/2022 - 8:05am

Whether you are a new homeowner or a veteran on the housing market, you’ll be no stranger to the idea of approaching your property from a DIY perspective. DIY can be an inexpensive way to achieve strong results – but taking charge of any project, however small, can present health and safety risks. How can you effectively manage those risks?

Regulations and Permissions

For limited and localised DIY tasks, from painting rooms to erecting or knocking down stud walls, there are no regulations or permissions you need to be mindful of before beginning. However, larger projects...

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Price surge in the UK: Time to sell your house?

Authored by Val Watson
Posted: Mon, 03/28/2022 - 3:16pm

If selling your house is something that you have been thinking about, throughout the last months, or even years, maybe the time is now. Last February, the demand in housing rose in the UK, due to a shortage of stock on the market. This jump of 2.3%, made the average price rise to close to £350,000. If that is enticing to you, here are a few things you should know.

What are home buyers looking for?

Right now, any house going on the market is bound to find a new owner rapidly. However, the price you sell for will still depend greatly on the state of the house. Buyers are...

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Period features

How to Embrace Period Features in your Home

Authored by Euan Langley
Posted: Mon, 03/28/2022 - 12:45pm

Oftentimes people are attracted to new; it is quite common for many people when decorating or renovating a property they aim to have all the new styles and designs rather than embracing the gorgeous features that the property already has.

When you are working with a pre-existing property one of the best things any would-be designer can do is make the most of what you already have. If you are lucky enough to be moving into a home that has traditional period features then understanding how to accentuate them can really add something special to the property.

Now what is not...

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Boiler repair cost

Should I repair or replace my boiler

Authored by Euan Langley
Posted: Mon, 03/28/2022 - 11:35am

When a boiler breaks down in any home it becomes an incredibly stressful time until it is fixed again, being left without hot water or heating can be terribly detrimental to one’s day to day life. When it inevitably happens everyone has to make that decision; should it be repaired or replaced?

There are many factors that people need to take into consideration when deciding the next steps that need to be taken in order to have a functioning heating and hot water system in place again.

Over time as the boiler gets older, it will start to deteriorate and its efficacy will...

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How do you Protect a Wooden Summer House?

How do you Protect a Wooden Summer House?

Authored by Euan Langley
Posted: Mon, 03/28/2022 - 11:20am

Wooden summer houses are a great way to make the most of your garden, they are incredibly versatile as you are able to choose from many different shapes and sizes, they can also be used for all sorts of purposes.

They have been popular for a long time now and their popularity is only increasing, since they are made of wood you are going to have to keep some things in mind to make sure that they are fully protected from the elements.

Now one thing to keep in mind is that they will absolutely need protection on the outside but sometimes you will also need to consider...

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sash windows

How to Repaint Sash Windows

Sash windows have been a staple in many homes for a long time now but one thing that is specific about them is that it can be a challenge to paint them correctly. What is a sash window?

Sash windows are a traditional European style of window that opens vertically. They are typically constructed to have one or two moving panels that are designed so that when they move they don’t hit one another when opening or closing the window. They also don’t operate using any hinges so they don’t open inwardly or outwardly.

Sash windows are incredibly common in the South of England...

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5 interior design tips for your windows

5 interior design tips for your windows

Authored by Euan Langley
Posted: Fri, 03/25/2022 - 11:06pm

Windows are of course a vital component of any home and there are things that you can do to really make the most of them.

For a lot of people, as long as the window is opening and closing correctly, they pay no attention to them, when they should be considering how to take full advantage of them to really get the best look they can in the home.

So, if you are in need of some tips to bring your windows up to the best possible standard then here are some key tips to keep in mind.

1: Style

The first thing that needs to be considered is what the overall...

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3 Benefits of Resin Driveways

3 Benefits of Resin Driveways

Resin-bound driveways are a great option when it comes to getting your driveway done. What they basically are is when a mixture is created with an aggregate such as gravel and with resin and then that is used as the driveway instead of something like mono-blocking or tarmac.

Resin driveways in London and the rest of the UK are an incredibly popular choice because of the significant benefits that come with them. They are also incredibly popular due to the fact that they are permeable.

There are many benefits that come with opting for a resin driveway from Limegate...

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