March 22, 2022
How to Save Money When Furnishing Your First Home

How to Save Money When Furnishing Your First Home

Research by VonHaus has revealed that on average, first-time buyers spend £1,397 on furnishing within the first 12 months of moving in. It can be daunting to splash the cash on home furnishing without knowing how long your pieces will last. This is why buyers should consider upcycling older items if their

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Star Living BTR Arm Launches with £1Bn Target

Star Living BTR Arm Launches with £1Bn Target

Specialist property developer and operator Strawberry Star Group continues to expand its housing vision with the launch of a dedicated Built-to-Rent (BTR) arm, Star Living. Star Living is positioned in the market to provide a modern and convenient rental product within the commuter belt against a background of chronic supply

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Roofing Contractor: What Are The Services They Offer?

The cost of property in Colleyville is increasing rapidly. Buying a new place due to roof damage is not feasible for everybody. Now, one can easily hire a roofing contractor to get their roof repaired or reinstalled. A roofing contractor in Colleyville offers a variety of services to their clients.

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

March 22, 2022

How to Save Money When Furnishing Your First Home

How to Save Money When Furnishing Your First Home

Research by VonHaus has revealed that on average, first-time buyers spend £1,397 on furnishing within the first 12 months of moving in. It can be daunting to splash the cash on home furnishing without knowing how long your pieces will last. This is why buyers should consider upcycling older items if their pieces of furniture need some extra TLC. Putting your DIY skills to work and making old items look as good as new can be a fun challenge. Alternatively, if upcycling isn’t for you, make sure you research reputable furnishing websites which stock good quality items. This can be more expensive, but your items are likely to last for the long haul than upcycling already worn items. “The life expectancy of most pieces varies by several years and is greatly dependent on the original materials used and construction of the pieces, the amount of daily use, and the amount of care taken during the use of the furniture. A sofa in a family room with small children, teenagers, and lots of pets will not last as long as one in a formal living room,” commented Katie Thomas, Interior Designer and Founder of KTM Design. “Although there isn’t any specific life expectancy on furniture as a rough guide, sofas and chairs last between 7-15 years, dining tables between 15-20 years and beds between 15-20 years, however it is all dependant on usage and care. “It’s obvious when it’s time to replace your milk or an everyday essential like your toothbrush, but the expiration dates of our furniture isn’t always clear. While furniture doesn’t have an expiration date like packaged foods, most consumers no longer purchase home furnishings with the plan that they will last forever.” The top 10 best and worst housewarming gifts Searches for ‘best housewarming gift 2021’ were up 600% last year, showing that Brits are conscious of gifting their loved ones with the best or most thoughtful items possible.. Whilst it’s a lovely tradition in the UK to gift an item to someone when moving house, there are some presents which first-time buyers would prefer not to receive. A survey conducted by VonHaus reveals the top 10 housewarming gifts that are perfect for a new home as well as the 10 worst housewarming presents which appear to be better left on the shelf. The housewarming gifts that people really want: Money (28%) Gift cards (27%) Plants (24%) DIY Tools (17%) Kitchen crockery (17%) Alcohol (16%) Scented candles (16%) Basket of tea and coffee (13%) Food (12%) Glassware (11%) The housewarming gifts that people don’t want: Toilet paper (28%) Exercise gear (27%) Air freshener (19%) A house pet (17%) Prints with quotes such as ‘live laugh love’ (15%) Underwear and socks (15%) Second-hand appliances (14%) Calendar (14%) Novelty drinking cups (13%) Teddy Bear (13%)

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Star Living BTR Arm Launches with £1Bn Target

Star Living BTR Arm Launches with £1Bn Target

Specialist property developer and operator Strawberry Star Group continues to expand its housing vision with the launch of a dedicated Built-to-Rent (BTR) arm, Star Living. Star Living is positioned in the market to provide a modern and convenient rental product within the commuter belt against a background of chronic supply issues, whilst serving investors as a resilient asset class poised for growth. Star Living will launch at its Harlow development in Essex, with phase one as a dedicated BTR block of 163 residential units with a GDV of £45m, due to start construction this year. Planning permission has also been granted for a Star Living site in Gravesend, Kent, with a first phase planned of around 100 BTR units with a GDV of £30m. An existing BTS site of Strawberry Star, Lu2on in Bedfordshire, will soon launch phase two with 564 units under BTR with an estimated GDV of £160m. Strawberry Star Group aim to have a portfolio within London commuter towns with a target of £1 billion GDV by 2027. “Our vision for Strawberry Star’s Star Living arm is to be the leading income generating, diversified and scalable BTR investment platform through our unique, cost-efficient, build and operational expertise. We aim to be one of the largest BTR providers in the commuter belt by 2027. Star Living brings together our existing skillsets as an end-to-end provider combined with a panel of leading contractors and consultants for significant placemaking schemes that benefit each local community,” said Chairman of Strawberry Star, Santhosh Gowda. “With a strong pipeline of new Star Living sites due to launch in the next 12 months, we are one of the few developers responding in volume to the current supply crisis. We are focusing on commuter growth towns with a high proportion of young professionals and a low supply of rental properties, aiming to help redress the balance which is causing an upwards pressure on rental values. More choice and better supply will be a huge advantage to those now spending increasing time at home with flexible working here to stay, as BTR products are in a much better position to meet future needs and live-work trends,” continued Santhosh. Adding a dedicated BTR offering on top of development, residential sales, lettings, asset management and acquisitions, Star Living positions the business as a unique end-to-end provider for an integrated solution, providing one customer journey for both investor and tenant. Handling everything from letting the property to community engagement, Star Living’s purpose-built model is a one-stop-shop designed to secure peace of mind on both sides. The business has already tested out market appetite at their flagship Lu2on scheme in Bedfordshire, having recently completed on its first phase of 401 units, with one of the three finished blocks dedicated to BTL rental homes only. 65% of the 135 rental units have already rented within the last 3 months of completion. Luton represents a key growing commuter hub for Strawberry Star, indicative of the future sites Star Living will target. For tenants, the first Star Living site in Harlow will provide a single customer journey from reservations to end of tenancy, including digital concierge, maintenance, parcel storage, flexible co-working and multi-purpose room, shared roof terrace, ancillary services such as laundry, dry cleaning, and housekeeping, with pets allowed and flexible contracts on offer. Studios as well as one and two-bedroom apartments are expected to be available to rent with Wi-Fi and furniture included. Star Living Harlow is due to complete in 2024 and will eventually provide over 163 new homes. Other Star Living sites aim to fill a gap in the market by virtue of its chosen location. By choosing areas close to transport hubs that have very few new-build rentals on offer, Strawberry Star aim to be the first to market, providing invaluable new homes for growing commuter hubs. Nearly all BTR schemes under Star Living will be located in towns and cities identified as having increased housing targets, underlining the important role these homes have in meeting the UK’s national housing targets. A combination of robust demand for housing from the local population, new household formations, fewer private landlords and low levels of housing completions, has led to a structurally low level of rental vacancy. Recent analysis from Capital Economics concluded that the UK would need 230,000 new rental homes a year if the current trajectory of tenant demand continues. BTR could serve a vital role in boosting supply, remaining the fastest-growing part of the rental sector since 2016.

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Roofing Contractor: What Are The Services They Offer?

The cost of property in Colleyville is increasing rapidly. Buying a new place due to roof damage is not feasible for everybody. Now, one can easily hire a roofing contractor to get their roof repaired or reinstalled. A roofing contractor in Colleyville offers a variety of services to their clients. They can install a new roof, repair an old one, or perform routine maintenance on roofs. If you require any Colleyville roofing services, it is important to research local contractors and find one that offers the services that you need. When To Hire Roofing Contractors? There is no definitive answer to this question, as it will depend on each homeowner’s specific requirements. However, in general, it is ideal to hire a roofing contractor when you need a new roof installed, when your current roof is in bad condition and needs repairs, or when you want routine maintenance. Benefits Of Hiring: Peace Of Mind When you hire a professional roofing contractor, you can rest assured that the job will be done right. They have the relevant experience and expertise to get the job done correctly. Saves Time And Money Roofing contractors can save your time and money. They will be able to complete the job quickly and efficiently. In addition, they may also offer discounts or specials on their services. Convenience Hiring a roofing contractor is very convenient. They will come to your office or home and do the work for you. It means that you won’t have to take time out of your busy schedule to do the work yourself. High-Quality Work One of the benefits of a roofing contractor is the work will be of high quality. They use only the best materials and equipment to get the job done right. What Services Do They Offer? Some of the essential services that the Colleyville roofing contractors offer are- Assessment The contractor will come and check the condition of your roof. They will look for any damage or wear and tear. After this, they will give you a report of their findings. Consultation After the assessment, the roofing contractor will sit down with you and discuss your options. They will give further opinion on what needs to be done.  They will discuss the cost of the services with you and provide you with a breakdown of the expenses and the prospects of each type of solution. Project Management After you have decided on the course of action, the contractor will manage the project from start to finish. It includes ordering materials, scheduling workers, and ensuring that the job is done right. This is an essential service as it lessens your burden and ensures that the project is completed on time and within budget. Installation And Repair Work Roofing contractors typically perform a variety of installation and maintenance work on roofs. It may include installing new roofs, repairing old ones, or performing routine maintenance. In addition to this, they may also offer other services such as gutter installation and repairs, chimney repairs, and more. Clean Up Of Debris After completing the job, they will clean up and remove all debris, including old roofing materials, cleaning gutters, and downspouts. They will also inspect the area to ensure no damage and that everything is in working order. Warranty And Maintenance Most contractors offer some warranty on their work. This is important if there are any problems with the roof after being installed or repaired. In addition to this, they may also offer routine maintenance services to keep your roof in good condition. These services may include inspections, repairs, and more. Follow Up On The Project After the project is completed, the roofing contractor will follow up with you to ensure that everything is satisfactory. They may also ask for feedback on their services to improve upon them in the future. If you need any roofing services in Colleyville, it is important to research local contractors and find one that offers the services that you need. You can find them locally with the help of online forums or by reference.

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