Month: December 2022

If you’re looking to market your home, read on to find out what’s hot and what’s not in the property world.

Forget trend forecasters and property commentators; if it’s insight into housing trends that you want, turn your attention to estate agents.

As agents spend so much time looking around people’s homes, they have their finger on the pulse when it comes to changing property tastes.

And they use this knowledge when they write the marketing descriptions that you see on property portals. These are designed to show a home at its best and attract suitable buyers.

Now, Rightmove has analysed the marketing material that appears on its website by looking closely at the features most commonly listed by estate agents. The results reveal the changing preferences and priorities of Brits in 2022.

First, let’s look at the key phrases that have skyrocketed in use over the past decade and those that have waned in popularity.

What’s in

Garden office, up 1,046%

Bi-fold doors, up 589%

Orangery, up 173%

Underfloor heating, up 114%

Summerhouse, up 90%

Open plan, up 74%

What’s out

Conservatory, down 52%

Greenhouse, down 46%

Fitted wardrobes, down 29%

Dining room, down 28%

Covid impact

The pandemic radically changed what many people want in a home. With more of us working remotely at least some of the time, home buyers are looking for a property that can cater to their work needs (hence the dramatic jump in the use of ‘garden office’).

Flexible spaces

The research suggests that buyers want spaces that can adapt to their needs, hence the popularity of ‘bi-fold doors’ (up 589%). These provide a separation between home and garden when closed but a free-flowing indoor-outdoor space when open.

It’s also interesting to note the rise of orangeries and summerhouses at the expense of conservatories and greenhouses. Orangeries and summerhouses can quite easily serve as an office during the week and an entertainment space on the weekend. However, conservatories can be too cold to work in through the winter months, while greenhouses only make great workspaces if you’re a gardener. 

Casual living

While ‘open plan’ has become an increasingly popular selling point, dining rooms are on a downer. Could this be because we now favour casual get-togethers over formal dinner parties?

Environmental factors

The analysis found that, in the past year, listings mentioning ‘electric car charging points’ jumped up 495% – a clear sign of growing environmental awareness.

What are your biggest property must-haves? Garden office? Open-plan kitchen or how about a hot tub? Get in touch with us on social media and let us know. Click here to go to our Facebook Page

 

Here are ten ways to prevent a minor mishap or major disaster at your rental property this winter.

For many people, winter really is the most wonderful time of the year, a chance to crunch through frosty fields, make the perfect snow angel or snuggle up by the fire.

But from a property perspective, winter can be hazardous, with snow, rain, ice, high winds and low temperatures all posing potential risks.

Landlords who fail to prepare for these risks could face a hefty repair bill and a disrupted holiday season (not to mention the distress your tenants may experience if something goes wrong).

To avoid a nightmare before Christmas, follow this ten-step guide to winter-proofing your rental property.

• Have a qualified Gas Safe engineer check your boiler is in good working order.
• When the temperature plummets, pipes can freeze and burst. Stave off this danger by insulating pipes and the hot water cylinder. Pipe lagging and hot water cylinder jackets are cheap to buy and easy to install.
• Show your tenant where the stopcock is so that if a pipe bursts or tap breaks, they can switch the mains water off until a plumber arrives. Swift action will reduce the damage and repair costs.
• Mend any wobbly fences so that they can withstand heavy gusts. Also, ask your tenants to fix trampolines and garden furniture to the ground or store them somewhere safe so they can’t blow away or become damaged.
• Damp and mould can be harmful to health and cause significant damage to your property. As many people are avoiding using their heating this year due to the energy crisis, it could be a serious problem. Check the kitchen and bathroom extractor fans are working and that the property is well ventilated.
• Confirm that your insurance policy is up to date and covers storm and flood damage.
• Clear the gutters so that water runs off efficiently. If your gutters are overflowing with dead leaves, water will flow down the sides of your walls, causing penetrating damp.
• As December is one of the worst months for burglaries (criminals often take advantage of the dark nights), check that all doors and window locks are secure.
• Take the time to build a good rapport with your tenants. Encourage them to report any issues swiftly. It’s always easier and cheaper to address small problems than wait until they develop into major headaches.
• Get a letting agent to manage the property. They’ll deal with regular maintenance and be on call 24/7 to resolve any problems.

For more information about our property management services, contact us here at Chamberlains.

 

There are just a few weeks until Christmas and even less until the kids break up for their winter holidays, so it’s the perfect time to get creative and decorate your home with some Crimbo-themed crafts.

Forget last year’s tatty tinsel and dodgy fairy lights; it’s time to channel your inner elf and turn your front room into a festive wonderland (and keep the kids busy while you’re at it).

In this quick read, we’ve pulled some cracking craft ideas out of our Santa hats to get you and your loved ones in the mood for a cosy and cost-effective Christmas. 

Snowpeople 

What you’ll need:

– Cotton wool

– Glue

– Paper or cardboard

– Scissors

– Felt tip pens

– Coloured tissue paper or felt

Check your bathroom cupboards, it’s likely you’ve got an unused bag of cotton wool lurking around. So, get the kids to create some wintry wall art. Draw two circles on a piece of card for the snowperson’s head and body, and cut out. Glue cotton wool over the head and body, and hey presto, you’ve got a snowperson. Use bits of felt or tissue for the facial features, the scarf and buttons. Easy-peasy.

Tip: You can create a fluffy Father Christmas beard with cotton wool and draw/stick bits and pieces on his face, too. And if you’ve got some paper plates lying around, you can use these for faces or stick two together for a snowman/woman. 

Homemade cards

Save some pounds by getting the kids to make Christmas cards. After all, who doesn’t love the personal touch? Draw, stick, paint, it all works and keeps the little ones occupied while you enjoy a coffee (and get ready for the tidy-up afterwards).

To make the cards extra special, cut out some photographs of the kids that they can stick on and send to friends and relatives.

Festive hats 

What you’ll need:

– Coloured paper

– Scissors

– Glue

– Sequins/felt to decorate

Christmas hats are easy to make and are a great addition to a family s-ELFie (see what we did there?). Use brightly coloured paper to create a cone shape and stick the edges together with glue or tape. Add some cut-out ears for elf hats or some fluffy cotton wool for a Santa hat. Decorate with sequins or felt tip pens to add extra pizzazz.

 

 

 

Energy is a hot topic. From price hikes to conserving energy, every day there seems to be a new thing to think about. And now, research has shown that being more energy efficient could even bump up the value of your home.

Boiler company BOXT found that increasing the EPC rating of your home to C or above could boost your house price by 23%. So, if you’re thinking about selling your property, you may want to consider improving its energy rating to maximise value.

For property newbies, an EPC is a measure of how energy efficient a property is. The ratings lie on a scale of A to G and are accompanied by a report on how to reduce fuel usage and decrease carbon emissions.

In this two-minute read, we look at some quick and simple ways to enhance your property’s energy efficiency level and/or reduce your energy bills.

• Install a smart meter

Smart meters are a great way to let you and your supplier know how much energy you’re using and how much you’re spending. The government ordered all gas and electricity suppliers to provide smart meters to their customers, so they’re free of charge and do away with the need for individual gas and electric meter readings.

• Switch to LED

If you haven’t done this already, then you’re missing out. Advantages of LED bulbs include lower energy usage, longer lifetime, different colour lighting and increased durability. This small change could make a huge difference to your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

• Upgrade your boiler

While this is one of the more costly changes on our list, it is the top way to improve the energy rating of your home and reduce your heating bills. But if you can’t afford a new boiler right now, get a professional in to give it a full service and ensure it’s running at optimal level.

• Draught excluders

Probably the easiest way to keep your home warm and reduce energy loss, draught excluders quite literally plug the gap, preventing heat loss and reducing draughts. You can get movable draught excluders to put in front of doors and self-adhesive ones to stick around windows. If you’ve got a fireplace that you don’t use, think about ways to block heat escaping from the chimney.

• Curtains

Thick curtains prevent heat loss from windows and keep your home nice and cosy. It may mean paying out for new drapes, but thick, lined curtains will make a difference to the comfort and cost of heating your home.

If you’re thinking about selling, speak to one of our team members at Chamberlains to find out how much your home is worth.