Professional Clean to make you happier and healthier

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Spring is looming around the corner and, whilst we’re all loving that January has – finally! – come to an end, Spring also means the feeling of needing some spring cleaning joy.

So, with that in mind, it’s time to talk spring-cleaning!

Cleaning might not be the top of everyone’s list of favourite pastimes but every once in a while having a professional cleaner scrub your home from top to bottom, could save you money in the long run. We’ll take you through why…

 

 

A professional clean makes your appliances last longer.

When you look after your oven, it looks after you. No, seriously it does! Take the oven, for example: Less dirt, grime and grease means less damage to your oven, allowing it to last longer and need replacing less often. In addition, it’s safer in terms of food safety and will ensure that it is more efficient as well as less likely to burn excess residue. Excess residue can also be extremely harmful as well as carcinogenic.

 

A professional clean can help keep your home allergy free

Getting a professional clean for your curtains, carpets, upholstery, bedding and floorings means less dust, less allergens and less allergy-related health issues.

 

You can reduce your anxiety, reduce arguments and keep a happy house with a professional clean once a week

Not just for a one off, a professional clean once a week can make your life easier by reducing arguments in the house and reducing anxiety.  Our brains love order, so a messy and unclean house can trigger our stress responses.  A professional clean, once a week, can reduce anxiety, reduce worry and reduce the stress hormones floating around our bodies.  That’s a lot more happiness for only approximately £20 – £25 a week

 

 

 

Getting professional cleaners can feel like an unnecessary expense but, in the long run, with a reduced carbon footprint, reduced need to replace appliances, reduced anxiety – you might save money, and you’ll feel fabulous too!

Moving House – Top Tips from the Experts – Part 2

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If you’ve read our Part 1 then we’re sure you’ll be interested in finding out what Part 2 entails.

So, here we go with the last Step for your moving and our extra bonus Top Tips for moving house.

 

Step 4: Prep your go-bag.

Now that you have packed and labelled all your things. When you’re moving house, you need to prepare the items which you need to have access to from the first minute in your new home. Pack these things last and label them up so they are really easy to find once you have moved – and we recommend packing them in your car, so you know exactly where they are once you have moved! Our top picks are:

  • Money / Debit or Credit cards – you might need to order takeout on your first night or have some last minute requirements which are at the bottom of the big pile of boxes needing unpacking!
  • Bedding – It’s much nicer to sleep in clean and fresh sheets in your new home. Pack these up for easy access and make sure you set up your bed quickly after you move – it’s one of the first things that you’ll need at the end of a long day.
  • Kettle, tea and coffee, snacks and other drinks – if you are getting some friends to help, you’re going to want to feed and water them, and stay refreshed yourself!
  • Teddies and comforters – don’t run the risk of your kids not sleeping; get their rooms set up first and make sure they have any special toys with them, they’ll be more comfortable and sleep better in your new home – then you can get on with the rest of the unpacking!
  • Chargers, smart phones, tablets and other gadgets – keep the kids entertained, give yourself a break and make sure you have enough juice for your gadgets by packing these up for easy access.
  • Some basic food stuffs – milk, cheese, bread and cereal. It’s likely that you will need something for breakfast in the following morning before you have done a shop.
  • Any important window coverings – don’t want the world seeing into your bedroom or front room? Consider quick installation temporary blinds or make sure you have time and tools for installing your own blinds and curtains from your previous home straight away.
  • Don’t forget the quick essentials such as toiletries, toilet roll, toothbrushes, clothes and sleepwear!

 

That’s it for packing!  But we know that’s not all you need to consider for moving house, so we have added some Bonus Tips for you below:

 

Our other top tips include:

  • Set up a food delivery in advance for the following day – no one wants to have to trawl the local supermarket immediately after moving house, so make it easy and get a delivery booked in. Unsure if they’ll find you? Choose “click and collect” options, at least it’s just a quick trip out instead of the long wander around the shop.
  • Ahead of time, check your new home for types of lightbulbs required and stock up with some spares. You don’t want to be in your new home without any lights!
  • If you’re hiring a van, get the insurance. It’s so important to make sure all your precious things are protected in transit, don’t scrimp on it if you can, it’s there to help and protect you.
  • Familiarise yourself with your nearest A&E, shops, dentists and other important locations around your new home, if you’re moving out of area.
  • Change your addresses for your billing and other important info, but also make sure you have forwarded your post!  This is so important as you will likely forget something and it can also protect your identity from fraudulent activity.  You can forward your mail with Royal Mail here.

 

What are your top tips for moving house?  Comment below or pop us a message on our social links!  We love to hear from you.

Moving House – Top Tips from the experts – Part 1

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Moving house is listed as one of the top most stressful occasions for a person’s life, but, we’re here today to tell you that it doesn’t have to be, if you’re prepared!

We do recommend using professional movers for your move if you can, but we do know that this is not always possible. So, if you’re planning on moving yourselves, here are our top tips for moving house, to make the process as easy as possible.

 

A little note, before we start… Get started as early as possible! You can never start too early – packing can take an age when you are moving house; better to be prepped early so you’re not too rushed.

 

Step 1: Make a list. Go through each room of your current place and make a note of what there is in each space.

  • The basics – ie. Furniture, areas that need sorting, estimate of amounts of clothing.
  • Don’t forget to look in cupboards, wardrobes, drawers and all the little nooks and crannies.
  • Make a note of any things that might need dismantling ie. Shelves, blinds, curtain rails, large furniture.
  • Finally, make a note of anything that should be left to be packed last.

 

Step 2: Get rid of stuff you don’t need. We like to use the questions rule:

  • Does it make you happy?
  • Does it make your life easier?
  • Does it make or save you money?
  • Do you have space for it in your next home?

(The “happy” question does also refer to things which we retain for emotional reasons such as keepsakes).

Bag or box items which don’t fit into any of these categories and then take to charity shops, recycle or resell or, if not suitable to reuse or recycle, take to a refuse centre where they can dispose of it properly. Remember that many charity shops will not take electronic items for health and safety reasons, so consider selling online or even doing a car-boot-sale.

 

 

Step 3: Box / Pack in order of priority. Start with your least visited room or space first. Tidy, pack and sort. Then, once that room is ready, you can move onto the next. Our top tip? Keep your boxes in the same room that they are designed to go into and label every box on the side with the room and the contents. Don’t forget to make it clear if the items inside are fragile or valuable. Leave your most frequently used items to the last moments.

 

So that’s our first part… stay tuned for Step 4 and our last top tips!

Concerns over Landlords and Students communication

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The BBC reported last week that students are up-in-arms about the treatment they receive from landlords, specifically at the end of their tenancies.

The BBC reported, Jessica Hickey of the University of Lincoln, is challenging her deposit reduction for her and her housemates, amounting to £1,600.

Miss Hickey is claiming that her deposit has been wrongly retained and additional fees added because she and her housemates were told that they did not leave the property in “a fit state” but the concerns raised by the landlord “did not allow for wear and tear”. She also states that items the landlord is claiming for include things she, and her housemates, requested him to fix during their tenancy.

The BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme also reports that they have heard from “dozens” of students experiencing similar issues with deposits being withheld.

 

 

The dilapidations process (the process by which a tenant leaves the property and is returned their deposit) is long-overdue an overhaul. In addition, many tenants do not know their right to contest their landlord’s deposit claim. The Tenancy Fees Act 2019 is intended to protect against unfair fees, but does not cover issues related to unfairly withheld deposits. The government-backed Tenancy Deposit Scheme does afford some protection however disputes over amounts withheld can take months leaving many students seriously out of pocket.

The National Union of Students (NUS) is now calling for a change of legislation to solve this issue. With 27% of students stating that they formally challenged their deposit return deductions but withdrawing and paying them anyway and 24% disagreeing with the deductions but not challenging it, clearly this is a concern for students across the country.

If you want to read the whole article, check it out here

Renting – 15 MORE reasons why you should rent

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Liked our post about 15 reasons why renting is great?  Well, we have 15 more reasons for you! Take a look below.

  1. Fixed rents not subject to changes in market (unlike mortgages). Mortgages are often on tracker rates which add interest affected by the UK Bank of England base rate.  Should the base rate increase then the mortgage payment increases.  Your rent cost is fixed for the term of your agreement.  It also costs landlords money to find new renters, so you are in a great position to negotiate a fixed term contract with your landlord if you want to stay for a period of time too.
  2. Lower insurance costs – only need contents rather than building. When you own your own home, you need to insure the house structure against things such as subsidence, flooding, and fire and damage.  This is in addition to the contents being insured as well.  A home fire is devastating whether owned or rented, but the cost of rebuilding a home is significantly higher than replacing the contents.  As such, insurance can be a hefty undertaking.
  3. Quicker search and confirmation process (rather than buying). Finding your dream home doesn’t take nearly as long when you are renting than when you are buying.  You might need to visit more properties but once you find your property, you can get the process of signing contracts done much more quickly.
  4. You can still save whilst you rent. Renting doesn’t mean never owning your own home – you can still be saving and you don’t have to live with your parents whilst you save.
  5. You won’t get stuck in a chain. Buying a house often involves chains of people.  These can collapse and then you’re back to square one again.  Who needs that stress?
  6. You’re not wasting money! You are actively paying for a roof over your head.
  7. 6 Month break clause. Want to change your mind?  Most contracts have a 6 month break clause meaning that if you are not happy you can get out of your contract.
  8. Test an area before buying. If you’re moving to a new location (ie. For a new job), it’s a great idea to rent first so you can test the area and see whereabouts you might want to live.  It’s a much cheaper process than buying and a cheaper mistake if you get it wrong.
  9. Get to know what kind of property. When you’re renting you can trial out different types of properties, from the traditional flat or semi-detached, to the less traditional house-boat or converted chapel.
  10. Renting is easier whilst you’re trying to build up your credit score. If your credit score is not quite so good for buying a house with all its credit checks for the mortgage – renting allows you to focus on building your credit score and if you’re still struggling, you can get a rented property underwritten with a guarantor.
  11. More disposable income. When you’re not having to pay for the additional expenses that come with owning a property, you have more disposable income to do the things you really want to do.
  12. Living with friends. Single?  Live with friends and build great friendships that last a lifetime.
  13. Less financial commitment for first time move in with partner. When you choose to move in with your partner, this can be a big risk – make things more cost effective and less risky by renting together rather than committing to a purchase.
  14. Less responsibility. Renting is perfect for people who are looking for less responsibility and more flexibility.
  15. Paperwork is easier and quicker. It takes less time to find a rented property, it’s also far easier and quicker to do the paperwork – just sign on the dotted line.

Renting – 15 reasons why it actually IS all it’s cracked up to be!

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When you’re renting, people tell you that it’s a waste of money, that you’re not investing in your future, but we’re here to tell you about the many, many benefits of renting over buying!

  1. It’s often cheaper. As mortgages must also cover not only a loan repayment, but also interest the monthly payment can be higher.
  2. You get to change your mind. Don’t want to live in your property anymore? Don’t like the area?  Easily and quickly move.  Not so easy when you own your own place!
  3. You’re not fully responsible for the property in terms of maintenance and repairs. Your landlord has full responsibility for the boiler, the heating or the water.  Subsidence occurring? Not your problem!
  4. Save time, energy and money on finding contractors, maintenance and overseeing repairs and works. Need to find a contractor?  Not your problem.  Big costs for repairing the boiler?  Not your problem!  It’s up to your landlord to source contractors for the repairs and maintenance required to make your property liveable.
  5. You can more easily move or scale up as your family changes. When you choose to live with a partner, have children or simply have a new job which requires you to move – you can do so, and often much more cheaply than if you owned your property.
  6. No worries about “negative equity” as the housing market changes
  7. No commitment. Flexibility is highly sought after by young professionals – with moving multiple times in a short space of time often required for making the way up the career ladder.  Career progression is quickly becoming a priority for millennials, meaning that they will actively forego the choice to purchase in favour of the flexibility afforded to them with renting.
  8. No need for a large deposit. To rent a property you will likely only need a deposit of 5 – 6 weeks’ rent (depending on the size of property) as a deposit, which is also returned at the end of the term.  For a purchase of a home, you must have a minimum of 5% of the total property costs (10% for pre-owned homes) which is an expensive undertaking.
  9. Rental properties must adhere to specific standards. As a renter, you are protected for some health and safety requirements which your landlord must adhere too.  It’s that bit of peace of mind.
  10. You can move to areas outside of your budget when sharing properties. Want to move to London for a job but can’t afford it? You can choose to share a property and your budget will stretch further.
  11. Furnished properties save on furniture costs. Looking to move to your first home?  Lots of renters won’t have a huge amount of furniture to hand, or even the budget to purchase this.  You can save the money and get a property which you love, fully furnished and ready to move into.
  12. Access to other amenities. For properties such as flats within complexes, there are often additional amenities including swimming pools, gyms, bars and restaurants.  Great extra benefits for young working professionals.
  13. No stamp duty. The tax implications when you purchase a home can make the purchase significantly higher.  Not only do you require a minimum of a 10% deposit (non-help-to-buy purchases) but you will also be required to add an additional amount for stamp duty.  For example, if you wanted to buy a home at £530,000 you would be required to pay an initial deposit of £53,000 PLUS an additional £16,500 for stamp duty!
  14. More flexibility in affordability. When you are looking to move, the cost of doing so is far cheaper than an owned property due to the avoidance of solicitors costs and conveyancing.
  15. Easier to downsize if things get tough. Finding the rent a bit much?  It’s much easier to downsize and find alternative properties which can suit your budget.  If you owned your property and were finding it difficult to meet your mortgage payments, you are in the difficult position of potentially foreclosing on your property if you get behind.