Property part exchange is a great sales incentive for those interested in buying a new build property, but it can be both costly and inconvenient for site developers. Now, the UK’s largest and original cash home buyer, Quick Move Now, is suggesting that a ‘we buy any house’ style sale
A majority of the celebrities globally have had a very tough past, be it in the field of acting, music or sports. Oprah Winfrey profoundly says “Turn your wounds into wisdom”, this quote stands perfectly true in the lives of a number of celebrities who are extremely popular today. Here
hub South West Scotland, the construction and infrastructure-focused partnership, has raised £14,171 on behalf of Shelter Scotland as a result of its first, highly successful Summer Charity Golf Event held at East Kilbride Golf Club earlier this summer. Supported by its Tier 1 Contractors Graham’s, Kier Construction, Morrison Construction
A multi-disciplinary construction consultancy is helping to inspire children into construction by backing a new innovative pilot project in Essex. Daniel Connal Partnership, with offices in Colchester, Norwich and London, is supporting Writtle Junior School in Writtle, Chelmsford, on their Junior Hard Hats initiative. Born out of the school’s involvement
The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC), the UK’s largest organisation for independent inventory clerks, is advising landlords and agents to make sure their investments are protected if they agree to allow tenants keep pets in their homes. “It’s clear that the number of long-term lifestyle renters is rising and
The buy-to-let market has remained remarkably resilient, despite change sin tax regulations, the lettings fees ban and interest rate rises, and the majority of landlords feel positive about the year ahead. This statement is also backed up by the annual Shawbrook Bank buy-to-let barometer, where 65% of investors reported they
Fair weather conditions are helping the UK construction industry to recover from the disruption of the unsettled winter of 2018, but there is some doubt over how long this uplift will last. Actuated Valve Supplies have produced a round up of the construction industry at present. According to the IHS
Dads across the country can expect a well-deserved break this Father’s Day as new research shows that most millennials are tackling practical jobs around the home, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The latest research by the FMB shows that despite well over half (57%) of Brits thinking
According to a new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), over half (57%) of Brits wrongly assume that millennials are useless when it comes to carrying out practical jobs around the home. “Society is wrong to assume that the technical know-how of your typical millennial begins and ends
There is more pressure on today’s building technology and innovation than ever before: with climate change being forever the hot topic, there’s no doubt that the design and construction sector has had to make an extra effort to stay ahead of the trends and developments within the ever-changing industry. With
Property part exchange is a great sales incentive for those interested in buying a new build property, but it can be both costly and inconvenient for site developers. Now, the UK’s largest and original cash home buyer, Quick Move Now, is suggesting that a ‘we buy any house’ style sale could be the answer for both the purchaser and the developer. It is often said that moving house is one of the most stressful things a person will ever do. This stress may be compounded by a difficulty in trying to coordinate the sale of an existing property and a completion date for the new property. Danny Luke, Quick Move Now’s managing director, explains: “We have been purchasing properties directly from their owners for more than 20 years, so we have a great deal of experience working with homeowners in a wide variety of circumstances. “One of the scenarios that comes up time and time again is the purchase of a new build property. At the point of reserving a property, they will be given an estimate of when their new property will be completed and ready to move into. However, as many of our previous customers have experienced, that date is not set in stone and can often be pushed back by several months. For this reason, it can be incredibly challenging for those buying a new build property to sell their existing property on the open market, timing the sale to tie in with the completion of their new home. If they start trying to find a buyer too early, they risk losing their buyer if the completion of their new property is held up; leave it too late and they risk not being able to find a buyer in time. “A guaranteed sale to a cash home buying company like Quick Move Now can offer a real solution to this challenge. Once we have agreed to purchase their property, we can complete the sale on a date to suit them. We have previously purchased properties from owners in as little as just seven days. “Property owners can set the sale up in advance, and then simply give us their chosen date for the sale to go through once they have a confirmed date from the developer of their new home. “By pointing customers to a professional home buyer like Quick Move Now – who can offer a guaranteed sale on a date to suit the homeowner – new build developers can offer their customers all of the convenience of a property part exchange, but without any of the financial commitment of offering their own part exchange scheme. ”
A majority of the celebrities globally have had a very tough past, be it in the field of acting, music or sports. Oprah Winfrey profoundly says “Turn your wounds into wisdom”, this quote stands perfectly true in the lives of a number of celebrities who are extremely popular today. Here is a list of celebrities who have strived extremely hard to make their place in the world today. Arnold Schwarzenegger Popular for his role in the movie Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger was laying bricks while he was trying to become a renown bodybuilder. Along with his close friend, Arnold started his own construction business in the year 1968 which was known as ‘Speciality European Bricklayers’. Although Arnold failed to keep up with his goal, he was successful in making his place in the Hollywood industry with his great acting skills. Ozzy Osbourne Ozzy Osbourne is an English singer, songwriter and an actor. He became popular in the 1970s and appeared in numerous reality television shows like The Osbournes, with his wife Sharon and two of his children Kelly and Jack. After leaving school at the age of 15, Ozzy did numerous jobs such as a car factory horn-tuner, apprentice toolmaker, trainee plumber and construction site labourer. Whoopi Goldberg An American actress, comedienne, author, and a television host, Whoopi Goldberg also worked as a bricklayer in an construction industry. She was invited to join the bricklayer’s union because of her exceptional quality of work. Whoopi also helped to build the wall around San Diego Zoo. Sean Connery Having perfectly played the role of James Bond in different movies, Sean Connery was a labourer who was laying bricks and also polishing the coffins. It was solely due to his hard work and determination that he was successful in becoming one of the famous actors in the Hollywood industry. This is what happens when luck stands with you! When they turned out to be celebrities, yours could be some real money if luck favours. Try playing at Sparkle Slots casino and check your luck online in winning some amazing! Joe Manganiello Joe Manganiello is well-known for his different acting roles. He became quite famous by playing the role of Alcide Herveaux in the movie True Blood. Before his career in acting, Joe was shovelling sand and gravel in order to meet his daily expenditure. This phase undoubtedly paid off as this phase helped him to keep his physique fit and healthy. Noel Gallagher Noel Gallagher is a famous British singer, songwriter and a guitarist. Before entering the industry, it was Noel’s older brother who got him a job at Kennedy’s Civil Engineering on building sites in Manchester. It was during this period that Noel composed songs which later led him to become a popular musician. Ian Wright A former England footballer and Arsenal legend, Ian Wright had a very tough start. After leaving school at the age of 16, Ian was trained as a bricklayer and plasterer. On being asked as to what he would have become if not a footballer, he replied that he must become successful in the construction industry because of his excellent work ethics and put his heart and soul to earn his living. Winston Churchill once said, “Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm”. These celebrities kept up to what they believed in, struggled hard and did reach their goals.
hub South West Scotland, the construction and infrastructure-focused partnership, has raised £14,171 on behalf of Shelter Scotland as a result of its first, highly successful Summer Charity Golf Event held at East Kilbride Golf Club earlier this summer. Supported by its Tier 1 Contractors Graham’s, Kier Construction, Morrison Construction and Morgan Sindall, hub South West welcomed over 100 attendees to the fundraiser which saw 22 teams compete in a Texas scramble style golf event and for some fantastic raffle and auction prizes donated by contractors and by members of hub South Wests’ wider supply chain and professional service providers. Shelter Scotland provides advice and practical support to thousands of people each year who are struggling with homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness and campaign to prevent it in the first place. The £14,171 was presented to representatives from Shelter Scotland’s services and charity shops from Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway on 22nd August 2018. Graeme Brown Director of Shelter Scotland said: “This is a tremendous donation from hub South West through its Summer Charity Golf Event. Shelter Scotland relies on the support of members of the community so we can continue to offer help and advice which means no-one has to face homelessness or bad housing alone. “We’d like to thank everyone involved for their generosity.” CEO of hub South West, Michael McBrearty, said: “The event was a great success and we are hugely gratified by the number of companies who took part to raise a fantastic sum for a worthy cause. “Shelter Scotland is a wonderful organisation which is marking its 50th anniversary this year. They offer invaluable support and services to vulnerable families and individuals in communities across Scotland and we are so pleased to be able to present them with this donation.”
A multi-disciplinary construction consultancy is helping to inspire children into construction by backing a new innovative pilot project in Essex. Daniel Connal Partnership, with offices in Colchester, Norwich and London, is supporting Writtle Junior School in Writtle, Chelmsford, on their Junior Hard Hats initiative. Born out of the school’s involvement in the Greenpower – Inspiring Engineers campaign, Junior Hard Hats aims to attract youngsters into construction by involving the students in all aspects of planning, designing and construction of a building as part of the school curriculum. The plans involve an innovative Technology Learning Pod to be built in the school grounds as a pilot project for the charity, with future proposals to roll-out the concept nationwide. The school children have been involved in the whole process including choosing the name of the charity, meeting with planners at the planning department, attending meetings with local Parish Councillors and having a say in the design of the building. Future activities will include pitching the scheme to sponsors, devising a marketing strategy, meeting with bankers, lawyers and industry professionals etc – all supported and mentored by the charity’s trustees. DCP is providing health & safety advice and Construction Design Management (CDM) services on the project. The health and safety team delivered an H&S presentation to Year 6 children, which introduced them to the basics of CDM and site safety. They also provided hands-on first aid training, including the use of a defibrillator. Jonathan Dennis, Partner, at Daniel Connal Partnership, said: “This is an extremely exciting project and one that we are thrilled to be involved in. Inspiring youngsters into construction by addressing the perception of the industry as dirty, dangerous, low paid and male dominated is extremely worthwhile. By doing so, we can hopefully introduce the idea of a career in the construction sector as a credible option for those who may not have considered it before.” Headmaster Nick Taylor said: “This is a truly inspirational project that is capturing the imagination of all our children. It is opening doors to future careers and showing the power of a local community working together. We can’t thank the Daniel Connal Partnership enough for all of their support!” The construction of the pod is currently underway.
The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC), the UK’s largest organisation for independent inventory clerks, is advising landlords and agents to make sure their investments are protected if they agree to allow tenants keep pets in their homes. “It’s clear that the number of long-term lifestyle renters is rising and this means that more tenants will want to keep pets and therefore be on the lookout for a property which they can truly call home for a prolonged period,” said AIIC chair Danny Zane, who is also the managing director of My Property Inventories. “It therefore comes as no surprise if more landlords decide to let to tenants with pets as it will widen their pool of prospective renters in an increasingly competitive market.” Even though this is a decision that can bring profits, the association is warning landlords to take out more comprehensive insurance, to increase the property’s damage deposit and to make sure that an independent and professionally compiled inventory is carried out. “Furry friends can undoubtedly cause more damage to a property, not to mention additional odours and mess. Therefore, more comprehensive landlord insurance can provide the required cover and peace of mind should an incident occur at the property, while a higher deposit will help to ensure that tenants are committed to maintaining the property,” explained Zane. However, landlords must be wary of charging higher deposits as from next spring it is likely that damage deposits will be capped at a maximum of six weeks’ rent. “Independent inventories, which detail a property’s condition at the start and end of a rental contract, provide landlords and agents with peace of mind and protect tenants from unreasonable deductions at the end of a tenancy,” added Danny Zane. The AIIC has been campaigning over the last year for the government to consider compulsory independent inventory reporting in privately rented properties.
The buy-to-let market has remained remarkably resilient, despite change sin tax regulations, the lettings fees ban and interest rate rises, and the majority of landlords feel positive about the year ahead. This statement is also backed up by the annual Shawbrook Bank buy-to-let barometer, where 65% of investors reported they feel confident about their property portfolio in 2018. Many landlords have therefore decided to streamline their portfolios in order to strengthen return in the changing buy-to-let landscape. Data from Paragon Mortgages supports this, stating that smaller scale landlords and prolific portfolio landlords in particular have been reorganising, with many using downsizing as a method to manage economic changes. The research also highlighted a drop in the number of small scale landlords, with the total of those who own between three and five buy-to-let properties falling at the end of last year. A reduction in large scale landlords who own in excess of 50 properties was also seen. The only group increasing their portfolios were middling landlords with between six and 20 properties in their portfolio, a group that increased by 4% in the last 12 months. The current market factors have now created the perfect environment to sell, with an influx of first time investors entering the sector. Statistics from the latest HomeLet Rental Index show that rents are on the rise with prices up 2% year-on-year during May, which, combined with the demand for rented homes believing to hit six million by 2025, means that the buy-to-let sector will continue to entice investors. Moreover, a shortfall of quality rental accommodation and growing national demand makes for a win-win situation when it comes to selling. Vendors have an eager audience of investors waiting to buy for the right price, while buyers can be confident that they are buying into a buoyant and growing market.
Fair weather conditions are helping the UK construction industry to recover from the disruption of the unsettled winter of 2018, but there is some doubt over how long this uplift will last. Actuated Valve Supplies have produced a round up of the construction industry at present. According to the IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index in June, total activity in the industry was given a boost by companies catching up on work schedules delayed during the winter. This follows months of severe weather conditions, including the so-called Beast From The East and a less severe, although still disruptive, Easter weekend. With a more settled outlook in May, the seasonally adjusted PMI stood at 52.5, unchanged since the previous month, but a sign of improved trading in the sector. The report, published in early June, stated: “The figure was indicative of a moderate increase in total activity, albeit one that was subdued in the context of historical data. “Some firms suggested that unusually good weather conditions had supported activity and enabled them to continue catching up after prior months’ weather-related disruptions.” Within the three market segments – residential, commercial and civil engineering – there were various reasons to be optimistic, with residential remaining the largest contributor to the sector as a whole. Both civil engineering and commercial projects recorded positive growth for the second month running, with the latter achieving greater expansion than in April. While residential growth was a little slower, this came off the back of a substantial pickup in activity in April, as the snowfall of winter cleared. Several causes for concern are keeping optimism for future months lower than it might otherwise be, including a shortage of skilled staff, high price inflation on purchasing costs, and supply chain issues leading to longer delivery times for parts and materials. The report’s author Sam Teague said: “Activity in May was once again buoyed by some firms still catching up from disruptions caused by the unusually poor weather conditions in March, and a renewed drop in new work hinted that the recovery could prove short-lived.” A score of 50.0 on the UK Construction PMI indicates no change in the size of the sector – so although the score of 52.5 is the same as in April, it still represents modest positive growth. Commercial activity growth hit a three-month high, while residential kept its position as the largest segment for the third month running, despite falling back slightly from April’s 11-month high expansion rate. New order books are down, however, for the fourth time in five months, with future growth optimism standing at a seven-month low in May, and this muddled picture is an indication of the uncertainty surrounding economic and political issues at present. With the summer expected to remain settled for a considerable time to come, conditions are right for good performance in UK construction – if the demand is there. But with May’s growth stemming largely from projects delayed by previous bad weather, UK construction firms will be working hard to capitalise on the new orders that come in and to drive profits while the sun shines.
Dads across the country can expect a well-deserved break this Father’s Day as new research shows that most millennials are tackling practical jobs around the home, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The latest research by the FMB shows that despite well over half (57%) of Brits thinking that millennials are hopeless when it comes to DIY and other practical tasks, the following shows the top ten jobs 18-34 year olds have completed: 1) 70% have defrosted a freezer; 2) 66% have hung pictures or photo frames on a wall; 3) 63% have put together flat-pack furniture; 4) 58% have painted a wall or piece of furniture; 5) 57% have hung curtains; 6) 49% have watched a DIY ‘how to’ video; 7) 48% have sewn a button; 8) 44% have bled a radiator; 9) 43% have changed a fuse in a plug; 10) 36% have put up a shelf. Commenting on the research, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “There’s a popular misconception that most young people rely on their mothers and fathers to complete jobs around the house for them because they lack the interest or knowhow to be self-sufficient. Our research shows that more than half of Brits think millennials are generally inept around the home. However, these new findings also reveal that millennials are actually accustomed to completing some tricky tasks, including DIY jobs. Two thirds of young people have hung pictures or photo frames on the wall and nearly as many have put together flat-pack furniture and painted something. This Father’s Day, dads across the UK can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that when they receive that lunch invitation to the home of their children, they probably won’t be asked to get their hands dirty.” Berry concluded: “To avoid dads across the country having to rescue botched DIY jobs, it’s important that millennials, and other generations alike, know their limits when it comes to DIY and home improvements. It’s one thing putting up a shelf but quite another attempting to knock down a wall or remove a structural beam. Our advice is, if in doubt, commission a professional builder to carry out your home improvement project. If home owners are looking to hire a builder, and aren’t able to find a reliable recommendation from a family member or friend, they should use the FMB’s ‘Find a Builder’ service. All new members of the FMB are vetted and independently inspected before joining and so home owners can rest assured that they’ll be working with a professional and quality builder.”
According to a new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), over half (57%) of Brits wrongly assume that millennials are useless when it comes to carrying out practical jobs around the home. “Society is wrong to assume that the technical know-how of your typical millennial begins and ends with their smartphone. Well over half of Brits think that those aged 18-34 fall short when it comes to carrying out hands-on tasks around the home. There’s a popular misconception that most young people rely on their parents to complete jobs around the house for them – either through a lack of interest or a lack of ability, or both. However, our research shows that millennials are handier than many give them credit for. Two thirds of young people have hung picture or photo frames on the wall and nearly as many have put together flat-pack furniture and painted something. It’s particularly impressive that half of all young people have been proactive enough to watch a DIY ‘how to’ online video rather than waiting for someone they know the show them or complete the task on their behalf,” said Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB. The research shows that the top ten jobs completed by 18-34 year olds are: 70% have defrosted a freezer, 66% have hung picture or photo frames on a wall, 63% have put together flat-pack furniture, 58% have painted a wall or a piece of furniture, 57% have hung curtains, 49% have watched a DIY ‘how to’ video, 48% have sewn a button, 44% have bled a radiator, 43% have changed a fuse in a plug and 36% have put up a shelf. “Although we applaud young people for getting stuck in, it’s important that all generations know their limits when it comes to DIY and home improvements. It’s one thing bleeding a radiator and quite another attempting to knock down a wall or removing a structural beam. Our advice is to refrain from undertaking tasks that are better performed by a professional builder. If homeowners are looking to hire a builder, and aren’t able to extract a reliable recommendation from a family member or friend, they should use the FMB’s ‘Find a Builder’ service. All new members of the FMB are vetted and independently inspected before joining and so consumers can rest assured that they’ll be working with a professional and quality builder,” Berry concluded.
There is more pressure on today’s building technology and innovation than ever before: with climate change being forever the hot topic, there’s no doubt that the design and construction sector has had to make an extra effort to stay ahead of the trends and developments within the ever-changing industry. With many existing buildings undergoing green or environmentally-friendly reconstruction, almost all new builds make considerable energy-efficient achievements. This is largely due to a combination of both client demands and strict regulations. In recent years, we’ve seen a number of highly impressive green building examples: One Angle Square in the UK makes use of rainwater harvesting and solar power; the Bamboo Skyscraper in Singapore impressed us all with its bamboo build; and BetZed, a wonderful community example of green architecture. Not only this, but there are also many people shaping cities worldwide and recording their stories while doing so, and countless communities and organisations for inspiration and assistance. Luckily, the industry is coming on in leaps and bounds. There are a number of new, cutting-edge technologies used to create products that have played a large role in this recent surge in green design: Textiles by Designtex Textile waste is gradually gaining more and more airtime – not only in terms of fashion, but construction too. The Designtex ecological fabrics are particularly well-suited to commercial use. Created with sustainable production in mind, the applied material company does a lot of interesting collaboration and partnerships that are paving the path in green design. Energy-Harvesting Wallpaper by Imperial College London A team from Imperial College London recently created an extra thin solar panel wallpaper by printing with cyanobacteria, which uses photosynthesis to create electric energy from sunlight. This astounding discovery could be used to power medical and environmental sensors. Legend Valve HyperPure Piping HyperPure is strong and resilient piping that is easy to install and, most importantly, is 100% recyclable. The potable tubes are made from bi-modal polyethylene and provide a cost-effective solution to water pipes. Best of all, they don’t leave any chemical tastes in your drinking water. SolaReflect Nippon Paint Despite the recent controversy surrounding the eco-friendly nature of specific paints, there are a number of paints serving eco-friendly purposes. SolaReflect Nippon Paint plays a very important role in how a building deals with the build-up of heat. Although this may not be a pressing problem in the UK, in places like Asia, it can certainly be. SolaReflect diverts infrared heat and therefore encourages savings on cooling energy costs. 3D Printing A non-profit organisation called ICON is responsible for one of the latest and most ground-breaking developments in design and construction. By using 3D printing, the team aims to create affordable housing for the 1 billion plus homeless people in the world. The houses can reportedly be built in just 24 hours and ICON hopes to build them for less than $4,000. Spray-On Solar Cells With solar power and other renewable energy sources, the world can cut off the rising demand for electricity from traditional fuel sources. The continuous research on making solar power more affordable will pay off with cleaner air and environment for everyone. One of the ways to make solar energy more affordable is by adopting spray-on solar cells, which use the thin film deposition technique. According to Renewable Energy World, a “British company aims to have a thin-film perovskite solar cell commercially available by the end of 2018.” A perovskite is a type of solar cell that can be mixed into liquid solutions and can be applied to a number of surfaces. Spray-on solar cells have nanoparticles that are excellent for absorbing light and conducting electricity. Phosphorus and zinc make up these nanoparticles, wherein manufacturers combine them into a liquid. The liquid is then sprayed on solar cells. This technology is more cost-effective because it doesn’t use expensive silicone. Instead, spray-on solar cells are made of a plastic compound. Also, the installation is quicker than their traditional counterparts. Other thin film deposition methods are available to create innovative green buildings. You may learn more about thin film deposition for solar panels in this article by Korvus Technology. Conclusion Because of advancing green building technologies, it’s now possible to create residential and commercial infrastructures that generate less carbon. When everyone embraces these innovations, the positive environmental impacts are enormous. It’s time to rethink how property owners and contractors build modern houses and buildings by adopting the above green building technologies.
