• The Brigade welcomes the government’s commencement of the Fire Safety Act and warns building owners and managers it will use this new clarification of powers if safety is put at risk. • Almost five years on from the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, people need certainty about how to leave
A 1,933 sq m purpose built builders merchant facility has completed at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane, Worksop with Travis Perkins set to open in July 2022. Property development and investment company, CEG, managed the build of the bespoke unit, which will be leased by Travis Perkins. The development
There are so many different costs for construction business owners to juggle, from wages to resources. However, one major cost which isn’t at the forefront of many managers minds is the losses incurred from injured workers. These losses can have a big impact on your business as injuries can put
Building on our 10-year leadership position as one of the UK wide training providers, we go beyond just delivering basic training, we maximise clients training opportunities with ‘best-in-class’, product packages and tailor-made service models as a requirement. ESS recognises that building the leadership and expertise of tomorrows workforce, will foster
The opening of the Elizabeth line is the start of a new chapter in transport history. But how do you create contemporary ticket halls and platforms to complement the original and historic stations of London? The answer is in metal. Located many storeys below the renowned cast iron columns and
Portsmouth International Port’s terminal transformation has officially begun, as contractors Knights Brown started construction on Monday (23 May) on a new carbon neutral terminal extension, which will strengthen the city’s position a major UK port and is one of the UK’s first Levelling Up projects to get underway. The port
Selling a house, empty land, or commercial building is not a cakewalk. It requires vast amounts of planning, targeted advertising, finance, efforts, and patience, and only when all these boxes are ticked can realtors enjoy the fruits of their labor. Marketing plays a pivotal role in cinching successful deals and
Unless you’ve actively sought workers’ compensation in the past, you might be in the dark about what it involves, how it benefits employees, and what steps to take to claim it successfully. To clear up all of these questions and more, read on for a rundown on the ins and
There is a lot of preparation and work to be done before and during moving home. However, it can be the perfect time to declutter, as you don’t want to waste time and money by bringing items with you that you no longer use. Decluttering is even more important if
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
• The Brigade welcomes the government’s commencement of the Fire Safety Act and warns building owners and managers it will use this new clarification of powers if safety is put at risk. • Almost five years on from the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, people need certainty about how to leave their building in the event of a fire. This is an urgent issue that the government needs to address to ensure everybody feels safe in their home. • The Brigade welcomes the publication of the White Paper setting out the government’s vision of the future direction of the fire and rescue sector. In response to government announcements last week about reform in the fire and rescue sector, London Fire Brigade says it will start using new enforcement powers and will continue to support further change to protect the communities it serves. The Brigade also calls for the building and design sectors to step up and take urgent action to remediate their buildings if there are serious fire safety failings. There are still more than 1,000 residential buildings with fire safety failings in London, and there still needs to be a culture change in the industry and we must ensure that new buildings of all types are built safely from the outset. Commencement of the Fire Safety Act 2021 London Fire Brigade is warning building owners and managers it will use new legislation to take enforcement action if they are putting residents’ lives at risk by not taking the fire safety of their buildings seriously. The provisions in the Fire Safety Act 2021 came into force this week, after receiving Royal Assent in April last year. The Act clarifies the extent of the duties and responsibilities of the responsible persons for residential buildings and fire and rescue services’ enforcement powers under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The act allows enforcement where those duties are not being met, particularly where they were previously unclear on the exterior of buildings and flat front doors. Government has also published a risk-based prioritisation tool to assist building owners in the prioritisation of risks across their buildings. Following the commencement of the Act, London Fire Brigade Commissioner, Andy Roe, said: “The new legislation gives fire and rescue services much-needed clarity to take enforcement action against building owners and managers who are not meeting their responsibilities on external areas of buildings, such as cladding and balconies. “We have already warned London’s building owners and managers that this was coming and we will use these news powers if they aren’t meeting their legal responsibilities so we are again reiterating our calls that they need to take urgent action to fix their buildings if there are serious failings. “Now the provisions in the Fire Safety Act have come into force, we will be working with NFCC and government to look at how we can best move forward in a way that is consistent across the country and enables us to enforce as quickly as possible against those that continue to drag their feet. “We still need to see a culture change in the industry when it comes to fire safety in residential buildings. It is extremely concerning that the number of buildings with serious fire safety failings has been at more than 1,000 for almost a year. “We must never forget what has brought us to this day and that is the 72 people who died at the Grenfell Tower fire and all those affected. They remain in our thoughts.” Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) consultation response Responding to the government’s response to the PEEPs consultation, Commissioner Roe, said: “It’s vitally important that people feel safe in their own homes and have certainty about how to leave their building in the event of a fire or other emergency. “PEEPs were a key recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and we want to work with government, communities and other partners to make progress on evacuation plans. We will be responding to this consultation.” Fire reform White Paper Responding to the publication of the government’s Command Paper about reforming the fire and rescue sector, Commissioner Roe, said: “The Brigade is continuing to transform as an organisation to meet the changing needs of London’s communities and we welcome the publication of government’s reform plans, which set out its vision of fire and rescue services. “We will continue to work with the Mayor of London and colleagues in the Home Office, National Fire Chiefs Council, and the Fire Brigades Union to ensure that the government’s approach reflects the best interests of Londoners, firefighters and the sector as a whole.”
A 1,933 sq m purpose built builders merchant facility has completed at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane, Worksop with Travis Perkins set to open in July 2022. Property development and investment company, CEG, managed the build of the bespoke unit, which will be leased by Travis Perkins. The development will create 20 new jobs, deliver a new supply chain facility for existing local business and bring economic benefits to the area. Will Moss, Acquisition Director from Travis Perkins plc, said: ” We’re really excited to have secured this new two acre site in Worksop, which will be a key branch for Travis Perkins, providing a fantastic offering for our customers. It’s scheduled to open in July and this means we’ll be able to create new jobs in the community and help support Worksop’s construction workers and tradespeople with the expert knowledge and advice that they come to expect from Travis Perkins.” CEG is currently managing the comprehensive regeneration of the 17.75ha Vesuvius site. With planning permission for more than 200,000 sq ft of employment space, the first phase of 46,000 sq ft of multi-tenanted industrial units adjacent to Asda completed last year and is almost fully let. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service also acquired land at the site and has built a new fire station. Subsequent phases will also offer larger employment units including speculative as well as pre-let, design and build development for office, light industry, storage and distribution requirements. Will Martin, strategic land lead at CEG, said: “We welcome Travis Perkins to this thriving business community. This brownfield regeneration has proved a success with many companies thriving on the site. It has been the largest speculative development of this scale and quality in Worksop for many years and we continue to see strong interest in the space from well-known national trade and industrial occupiers alongside smaller, local businesses.” In 2018, supported by D2N2, CEG delivered a £5.5million package of works to create a new roundabout and access road opening up the site and remediating it for redevelopment. This makes the site easily accessible to the A60, A57, Worksop and its surrounds. D2N2 LEP Interim CEO, Will Morlidge, said: “It’s great to see that the new Travis Perkins branch has been completed and will soon be open to benefit the local community. The Vesuvius site represents an exciting landmark development for Worksop and the wider area, and we’re very proud to have supported it. The success of the site demonstrates the resurgent appetite for investment across north Nottinghamshire, supporting our collective ambitions to rebuild and grow our economy.” Chris Proctor & Anthony Barrowcliffe from FHP and Ben Flint from Fisher German are marketing the site. Chris Proctor said: “It is fantastic news to have attracted the big name of Travis Perkins to Vesuvius. This strong brand complements an already strong line up of names at this Worksop business destination. “We have just four industrial / trade units remaining on this first phase of the development offering from 3,750 sq ft up to 5,100 sq ft. This presents an excellent opportunity for both local and national occupiers. There are also land opportunities for units up to 200,000 sq ft. We would be delighted to talk with any businesses considering a move to Vesuvius, Worksop”. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
There are so many different costs for construction business owners to juggle, from wages to resources. However, one major cost which isn’t at the forefront of many managers minds is the losses incurred from injured workers. These losses can have a big impact on your business as injuries can put your workers out of action — potentially for months. And they can of course be absolutely devastating for the affected employees, who should be your top priority. So, to both protect your staff and help your business, prioritising workers safety is a must. But just how much can employee injuries cost a business? And what are some of the best ways to reduce these costs? The industrial tool suppliers Zoro are here to tell us more. How much do construction-related injuries cost? Injured employees can be a major cost for all businesses, but especially in high-risk sectors like construction. There are many different costs for businesses to consider when dealing with an injury, including paid sick leave, hiring temporary replacements, and sometimes compensation. So, it’s no surprise that construction-related injuries cost £659 million a year according to data from the HSE. On top of this the total cost of both injury and ill-health in the construction industry is a staggering £1.29 billion annually. The good news is that there was a 7.85% decrease in the number of non-fatal injuries in the year 2019/20 (Professional Electrician). However sadly the number of fatalities in the construction industry rose from 1.36 workers per 100,000 in 2018/19 to 1.84 per 100,000 in 2020/21. So to save both you and your employees from financial burden, and most importantly to keep your employees safe, it’s important to consider the best ways to reduce these costs. How your business can reduce these costs The best way your business can reduce the cost of injured employees is of course by preventing these injuries in the first place. Here are some of the best ways to keep your employees safe on the job. Give them top quality protective clothing While it doesn’t eliminate the risk all together, having the best PPE is one of the most effective ways to prevent employees from sustaining injuries. It provides your staff with a barrier to help them avoid dangerous impacts of the hazard, and should be used at all times when dealing with dangerous tools and hazardous substances. Check that the following pieces of PPE are up to date. If they’re looking worn and it’s more than just cosmetic damage, you should get rid of them straight away and opt for a new durable replacement. · Good fitting hard hats to wear at all times. · Ear defenders for employees working with loud machinery. · Eye protection to avoid falling debris and protect the eyes when working with harmful chemicals. · Masks to protect workers faces when working up close with tools, and to prevent them from inhaling toxic chemicals. The filter type should be appropriate for the type of particulate matter or dust that employees are likely to be exposed to. · High visibility clothing so workers can be easily spotted at all times. · Aprons, gloves, and other protective body wear to protect the skin from toxic chemicals. As well as making sure the above are in good condition, you should also ensure that your staff find them comfortable. Employees are much more likely to keep wearing them when necessary if it is comfortable to do so. Stock a range of sizes and encourage staff to come to you for replacements if they no longer fit. Provide staff with the appropriate training It’s important that staff feel confident in preventing injuries for both themselves and their colleagues, so make sure that they receive health and safety training regularly. Many workplace injuries in construction are avoidable, so by giving staff the knowledge of what to do, you can significantly lower the risk of workplace accidents. This will also make your employees feel much safer at work, so it’s a win-win for the whole team. There are many external training providers available if you would like to get advice from an expert. To find out more about the different options available, check out the official advice from the Health and Safety Executive. You may also want to provide health and safety representatives who can both supervise the safety of your workforce and help out with training too. Having a dedicated health and safety representative can also make your employees feel more comfortable at work, and their feedback can help you tweak your health and safety policies when needed. Conduct regular health and safety inspections To help staff feel safe and reduce the risk of workplace injuries, try to conduct regular inspections. As well as making your employees more likely to follow the health and safety rules, you will also be able to review current safety guidance and decide whether it is working well or whether it needs any additional measures. You can have an external health and safety advisor come in to inspect the workplace, but it’s also a good idea to supplement this with your own internal checks too. This allows the inspections to take place more often, to ensure that staff are regularly following the rules. And by conducting your own last-minute randomised inspections as well as routine ones, you can check that employees follow the rules if they don’t know they are being observed. There are lots of different aspects to consider in a health and safety inspection, including use of machinery, storage of chemical substances, welfare practices, and fire safety, so it can be overwhelming for someone to conduct the checks alone. To make the inspections as thorough as possible, put together a team of health and safety inspectors so that no areas are missed. Invest in the best tools Using the best quality tools has numerous benefits for both employers and employees. It allows employees to produce their best work, it can make it much quicker
Building on our 10-year leadership position as one of the UK wide training providers, we go beyond just delivering basic training, we maximise clients training opportunities with ‘best-in-class’, product packages and tailor-made service models as a requirement. ESS recognises that building the leadership and expertise of tomorrows workforce, will foster a culture that develops, supports, and motivates people. Market trends require more than one training option to develop a skilled workforce. Apprenticeship’s, NVQ’s, CITB Courses, eLearning, Classroom, and nationwide On-Site training are all part of ESS extended customer reach. We view change in the marketplace as an opportunity to grow local and regional SMEs workforce alongside, larger companies, Major plc’s, and County Councils. Through our UK alliances, our teams continue to do an outstanding job delivering a full range of training courses throughout the year. ESS have the ability to develop and produce innovative training packages, services and solutions that satisfy emerging customer training requirements. There are millions of pounds in funding and grants available for apprenticeships, adult education, training and NVQ’s in construction sector, but employers, especially SMEs are not taking advantage of it. We have an outstanding portfolio of training courses aligned with market trends available to you and your teams. View upcoming public courses by month and year https://essentialsiteskills.co.uk/training-calendar You can book all courses online by following the links. Alternatively, contact: 0115 8970529 to talk with one of our expert trained advisors direct, they can assist you findinganalternative location or date and even arrange for bespoke packages more suited to your requirements. Our ambition is to shape the future of industry by becoming the training partner of choice nationally. We look forward to working with you! Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
The opening of the Elizabeth line is the start of a new chapter in transport history. But how do you create contemporary ticket halls and platforms to complement the original and historic stations of London? The answer is in metal. Located many storeys below the renowned cast iron columns and arches of Brunel’s Paddington and the girder canopy in Liverpool Street mainline station by Edward Wilson, Crossrail contractor teams have used SAS International metal products to give shape again to the new stations of the Elizabeth line. Adjacent to Paddington mainline station built in 1874, the new Elizabeth line Paddington concourses and platform feature architectural bronze acoustic wall panelling, column cladding, and sound absorbing SAS600 rafts installed by SAS International. Also, in the Weston Williamson + Partners designed station, SAS wall-mounted vertical steel fins on Departures Road compliment the heritage cast iron railings on the pavement above. Two stops along the Elizabeth line, we come to Hawkins\Brown’s new vision of Tottenham Court Road. Described by the Crossrail team as “dark and cinematic, reflecting the nocturnal economies that characterise the area”. The use of acoustic stainless-steel and white SAS ceilings provides a raw contrast against the red and black wall glazing in this futuristic aesthetic. Further along the line, at the Wilkinson Eyre designed Liverpool Street Station, the story takes a new turn. SAS International acoustic metal products adorn the busy Elizabeth line ticket hall providing Class A sound absorption. Using pale grey SAS740 linear profiles and the natural light reflectance of the stainless-steel beam cladding, the colour palette of Liverpool Street is much brighter and calmer than the other stations. A perfect contrast to the 1800s wrought iron used in the original Network Rail platforms located over 30 metres above. At Whitechapel Elizabeth line station, metal plays an integral role in the growing theme of climate resiliency. With a completely open-air ticket hall, the versatile metal interior is designed to withstand all elements of our changing climate throughout the year. BDP designed an awe-inspiring canopy of aluminium anodised SAS750 tubular ceilings in four bronze shades. A differing take on the bronze theme, this ambitious curved ‘spine’ leads commuters from the Victorian brick arches of the original entrance, up, over, and down, to the Elizabeth line platforms. From Paddington’s first opening on 29th May 1854 through to today, metal has shaped the form and function of our London railways and stations. SAS are extremely proud to be part of the Crossrail project as well as a contributor to a story spanning nearly 170 years of Great British infrastructure design. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Portsmouth International Port’s terminal transformation has officially begun, as contractors Knights Brown started construction on Monday (23 May) on a new carbon neutral terminal extension, which will strengthen the city’s position a major UK port and is one of the UK’s first Levelling Up projects to get underway. The port has been awarded £11.25m funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to build new facilities. Due to an increase in cruise ships calling at the port the transformation is necessary to create capacity to manage an anticipated additional 250,000 passengers a year, in addition to the port’s current two million. The carbon neutral extension will feature: – a sky garden, where passengers can enjoy views of the port – new walkway from the current terminal to the new check-in area – interior living walls – expansive baggage hall – exclusive cruise lounge It will create over 2500 jobs nationally, including 550 in the city. Cruise ships are forecast to increase in Portsmouth with each call expected to generate up to £1.5m through port charges, passenger and crew spend on local goods and services such as hotels and attractions, and also supplies to the ship. Cllr Steve Pitt, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development said: “This is fantastic news for the city, providing employment opportunities and promoting Portsmouth’s offer as the UK’s leading marine and maritime city. “Portsmouth lends itself ideally as a cruise port, with wonderful heritage assets and a spectacular waterfront for arrivals and departures. We expect the improved facilities to kick start further investment in the city, from hotel capacity to an increase in tourism spending. “We are determined retain our environmental values, so the terminal will be carbon neutral when completed. “We are proud of our position as the UK’s most successful local authority owned port, and this new extension will see the port go from strength to strength.” Mike Sellers Portsmouth International Port’s director said: “We are delivering on our masterplan, which focuses on making space so business can continue to thrive. “The extension is essential as we are currently relying on a temporary terminal to accommodate additional passengers, so this permanent addition is crucial as the port gets busier. It is also crucial that this development meets our sustainability ambitions, which is why the extension will be 100% carbon neutral – complementing our existing terminal. “Our increase in passengers is a result of responding to growth in the cruise and ferry industry, which the port is ideally positioned to deliver thanks to its enviable waterfront location. “We are delighted to secure business from major cruise lines, as the industry continues to grow in popularity there is a desperate need for more berth capacity so our expansion plans are critical to meet market demand.” Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt, Portsmouth North MP said: “I am delighted the port was successful in its Levelling Up bid, which will generate thousands of jobs for the region. “The success of Portsmouth International Port requires investment in facilities so it can meet industry demand. There is a real opportunity to provide employment now and for future years as it continues to grow as a major UK port. “The Levelling Up bid also includes additional funding for Linear Park, which will be a remarkable urban park with a rejuvenated Lido, providing another asset for the port’s passengers to enjoy. Portsmouth appeals to the small and mid size, luxury, boutique, expedition cruise sector who are looking for a port that sets them apart from the conventional mass market. The port is competing with European destinations and has an opportunity to secure additional revenue for UK GDP, with each cruise call is anticipated to generate up to £1.5 million to the region’s economy. Mike Crook, Divisional Director for Knights Brown said: “Knights Brown successfully completed the extension to the cruise berth in July 2020 that opened up much more of the cruise market to Portsmouth by allowing significantly larger vessels to berth. We’re thrilled to be back here and working with the team at Portsmouth International Port once again. We’re looking forward to getting the terminal extension underway and to helping the city council and port achieve their ambitions to bring investment to the area and benefit local people.” The transformation will be cutting-edge in environmental development, helping the port achieve its ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050. The port was part of a successful £20m bid called Transforming the Visitor Economy, which also includes funding for Hilsea Lido and the creation of the UK’s longest urban park ‘Linear Park’ in the north of the city. The creation of the longest urban Linear Park in the UK, connects the west of the city to the eastern edge, with enhanced cycling and walking facilities providing a tourist offer that is local, national and international. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Selling a house, empty land, or commercial building is not a cakewalk. It requires vast amounts of planning, targeted advertising, finance, efforts, and patience, and only when all these boxes are ticked can realtors enjoy the fruits of their labor. Marketing plays a pivotal role in cinching successful deals and helping professionals stay top of the competition. Fortunately, several methods like direct mailing, digital ads, or door knocking real estate can help inexperienced realtors draw the right crowd. These strategies can help professionals maintain creativity in an ever-changing market, effectively propelling their business toward success. Here are some quick marketing ideas that work fantastically to ensure you reach your fullest potential as a real estate agent. Open houses Typically planned for the weekends or Sundays, open houses are an excellent way to attract the attention of potential property buyers. It is the most trending global housing market tactic, wherein realtors enable people in and around the community to carefully scout the home on sale. Sellers keep the houses about to go on display immaculately clean, repairing every broken window, patching up cracks in the wall, and correcting other damage effectively. Realtors can put up some stylish furniture to give prospective buyers an idea of what the place would look like when furnished, like a cozy home. Several of them also set snacks to make visitors more comfortable while checking every nook and corner of the house. Door knocking Knocking on one door and then countless others to market a property might seem redundant at first to many real estate agents since most ordinary folks may not entertain the idea of a property salesperson at the door. However, this tactic can get you immense benefits due to its direct approach and targeted script when done correctly. Before you venture out into the neighborhood, do some research on the residents to determine which ones are most likely to respond positively. Then use a specific, concise script to sell your property, detailing all the highlights (pool, jacuzzi, backyard, modern kitchen, closets, etc.) and providing pictures as proof. Furthermore, you can point out why your rates are more reasonable and affordable than your competitors and what benefit the potential customer would have by investing in the property. Here, you can include pivotal neighborhood details like top schools, medical facilities, recreational areas, and safety to draw the attention of families with children. Invariably, door-knocking in real estate can be a significant plus for professionals who are yet to tap into the benefits of this pivotal strategy. Direct mail Sending informative and colorful postcards to prospective buyers and current clientele can help you stay ahead in the real estate race. People cannot delete physical emails they receive like the virtual ones, forcing them to peruse the content out of curiosity or interest. Eventually, as they learn more about the kind of properties you sell, your success rate, affordable rates, and other crucial details, they will begin to trust you and approach you when they find one of your listings interesting. Undoubtedly, this is a cost-effective and proven marketing technique that can get realtors lasting results. Final thoughts The idea behind all the above techniques is to use each one in conjunction with the other, depending on market trends, timing, buyer tastes, and other vital factors. For instance, use door-knocking with an open house as it can draw a lot of interested buyers to the property, which can essentially speak for itself when they visit. Also, partnering with a reputable and reliable marketing agency can help amateur and experienced realtors avail of the most eye-catching templates for their direct marketing strategy. Moreover, many of these agencies provide sophisticated tracking systems that enable agents to track their mail en route and be notified when their targeted customers receive it.
Unless you’ve actively sought workers’ compensation in the past, you might be in the dark about what it involves, how it benefits employees, and what steps to take to claim it successfully. To clear up all of these questions and more, read on for a rundown on the ins and outs of workers’ compensation! The basics Simply put, workers’ compensation is a type of compulsory insurance which employers take out so that if team members are injured, fall ill or are rendered disabled in the line of duty, a financial payout is available. It’s essentially an arrangement which means that businesses don’t get sued by their employees when disaster strikes on-site. However, the process of filing a claim is complicated, and legal professionals are still involved on both sides. The benefits A workplace injury or accident which leaves you unable to work as usual, or diminishes your quality of life indefinitely, has been seen as something worthy of compensation for many decades. You can receive cash and other types of support to cover things like lost income, as well as medical bills, as part of a compensation claim. Hire an experience lawyer to help with your workers’ compensation claim While not strictly necessary, it is very useful to have an experienced attorney on your side when filing a claim for workers’ compensation. As you’d expect, you’ll have the best chance of success if working with a specialist in the field who’s also based locally to you. For example, getting a New York workers’ compensation lawyer to help issue a worker’s compensation claim if you are based in the Big Apple yourself is better than looking further afield. Laws vary from state to state, and you want to be confident that your legal representative knows the ins and outs of the rules and regulations where you live to make the claim process as smooth as possible. The caveats If your employer offers a workers’ compensation package, then you should know that by taking advantage of it you are also relinquishing your ability to sue your employer for negligence further down the line. It’s basically a calculated risk, in the sense that your use of such a scheme guarantees that a payout is available in the event of an accident or issue, while limiting your legal options if you did want to take things further. For most purposes, the available insurance payout will be adequate, and of course the legal fees are limited by statute and rolled into the package where necessary, so you don’t have to be too concerned about the cost of hiring an attorney in this context. Another sticking point is that you generally need to be a full time employee to receive coverage from any workers’ compensation policy that an employer offers; if you’re a contractor or a freelancer, you are out of luck. There are some exceptions to this, but they are in the minority, so most self-employed individuals will have to take other routes to receive compensation. The considerations So what should you do if you want to claim workers’ compensation? Well, aside from getting in touch with a lawyer as discussed above, it’s also important to document the details of the issues you are faced with as thoroughly as possible. As well as taking pictures of any injuries, and getting information on witnesses where relevant, you need to report everything to your employer as soon as possible. The more you have in writing, along with additional evidence, the better the chance you stand of making a successful claim. And now you know more about what’s involved, there’s no reason to hold back!
There is a lot of preparation and work to be done before and during moving home. However, it can be the perfect time to declutter, as you don’t want to waste time and money by bringing items with you that you no longer use. Decluttering is even more important if you are downsizing, for example moving from a large home to a smaller one such as a Condo in Naples, Florida. Here are some ways to get started. Take one room at a time Taking one room at a time can make the task of decluttering less daunting. Trying to do the whole place in one go will be more time-consuming and is usually less efficient. Moreover once a room is “done” you’ll get a sense of accomplishment and be more motivated to move on to the next room. Get a professional to uninstall anything If you’ve had anything installed in your home, which you intend to take with you, getting a professional to do this is the best approach. It prevents damage to the item and also the structure of your old home. The last thing you want is to cause damage to a place you have already sold. Test anything you haven’t used in a while You can narrow down what you take with you by testing items you haven’t used in a while. For example, you could check if electrical items still work, or try on clothes to see if they still fit. Then ask yourself if you might use any of these again in the future. Try to be realistic. It’s tempting to hold on to things you think you might use again, but the longer they have been out of use, the more unlikely it is that you will ever need them. Shred paperwork you no longer need Most of us have a stack of out-of-date paperwork. We worry about identity theft, so put these aside to safely dispose of later, but never get around to it. Before moving, you might need to set aside several hours to shred all this paperwork, depending on how much you have. Most documents are now available online, so you could find you need very few paper documents. Sell or donate your unwanted items Some items will simply need throwing in the bin. However, there will be plenty of items that are in good and usable condition, but you have no more use for them. It can be worth selling some of these to help fund your move, but many more will only bring in a few dollars each. You probably won’t want to spend a lot of time selling these. Instead, you could donate them to a charity shop, where the money raised goes to a good cause, and the buyers pick up a bargain on something they will use. The important thing to remember when decluttering is to be a little more ruthless if you find yourself holding on to things you are unlikely to use. Nobody wants to make more work for themselves by packing and unpacking items they’re never going to use.
