SD Sealants, the UK’s leading sealant and cosmetic repair company, is looking to expand its workforce after growing rapidly in the North of England. The Caldicot-based company, which provides sealant application, cosmetic repairs and tiling for homeowners, housebuilders and commercial businesses, has seen continuous growth for the past year with
Scaffolding is a vital part of building and constructing, and if you are planning on doing home renovations, you will likely be needing scaffolding services. However, before you hire a scaffolding firm, it is essential to consider some factors that will help you choose the right Scaffolding company and also
Building a beautiful landscape is a sensitive balancing act. On one hand, you want to end up with a beautiful landscape, and on the other hand, you want to keep the amount of resources consumed during the building process and through the life of the garden as low as possible.
A new study by Draper Tools, the UK’s leading distributor of hand and power tools, has revealed that the average tradespeople have more than double the household repairs and home improvement jobs on their list than the rest of the UK population. The survey of 2,000 people found that those
Data analysis by LinkedIn reported that STEM had more women enter the field over the last four decades than any other. Philanthropist and former general manager at Microsoft, Melinda Gates, said: “Innovation happens when we approach urgent challenges from every different point of view. Bringing women and underrepresented minorities into
When a property chain collapses, it’s bad news for all parties involved, from the house buyers and sellers to the developers. Fast property completion is essential for delivering the highest standards of customer service, maintaining a positive brand reputation and attracting new buyers. So how can property developers repair a
When you are planning to move home, it can often feel as if there are a million and one things that you need to keep your eye on. If you are moving with your family, it isn’t just yourself and your stuff that you have to worry about. Below are
Too many people sit down with a real estate agent and share a string of adjectives that are difficult to define. Terms like luxury, cute, comfortable, spacious, and efficient don’t give your real estate agent as much information to work on as you may think. Let’s outline what you must
Estate and Letting Agents in the UK are being urged to check that they are signed up with an approved redress scheme that covers the full remit of their work. The warning follows a recent tribunal that penalised a business that was signed up to a redress scheme for its
Owning your own home is one of the largest investments you will make in your life, as well as being a comfortable and relaxing space to live. The value of our homes, when the time comes to sell, will often have a large impact on our retirement plans, as a
SD Sealants, the UK’s leading sealant and cosmetic repair company, is looking to expand its workforce after growing rapidly in the North of England. The Caldicot-based company, which provides sealant application, cosmetic repairs and tiling for homeowners, housebuilders and commercial businesses, has seen continuous growth for the past year with a new office in Leeds and the acquisition of sealant company H2O Sealants. The recruitment drive will see up to 20 new recruits, from experienced/ skilled workers to those starting out in the trade, join the company in order to keep up with a period of growth which has seen the business turn over more than £1million in what has been a record-breaking 12 months for the firm. SD Sealants has been involved in a number of significant construction projects in the UK, particularly in the North of England, including Liverpool FC’s training ground and Aintree racecourse in Merseyside, Lincoln Cathedral and the Dewsbury and District Hospital, Yorkshire. SD Sealants Tiling division recently won a prestigious contract worth £600,000 for contemporary flats in Bristol’s city centre and other highlights include Sir Thomas Rich’s school in Gloucestershire, which called on the tiling team to carry out a full refit of its swimming pool facility and the brand new York Stadium, home to York Football Club and York City Knights rugby league team, which is a £44m development boasting 8,000 seats. And, just last year, SD Sealants rooted itself in Yorkshire with the purchase of a new 2,600sq unit in Leeds last year as well as the acquisition of Leeds-based H2O Sealants. The new unit is at Gelderd Trading Estate, West Vale and will allow the business to create a real foothold in the North. The demand for work has grown significantly and more jobs will be created to make sure that future projects are also finished to the usual high standards. He said: “We set up our first office in the North two years ago and the demand for work has just grown and grown. We’re thrilled to be growing our team. We’ve already had the opportunity to work on some fantastic projects around the UK and we look forward to welcoming some new members to the SD team who can help us to continue our hard work. “We’ve found there is a great deal of skill and expertise all over the UK and we’re looking forward to having some new faces on our team. We pride ourselves on having the best crew in the business.” Launched in 1973, SD Sealants and Cosmetic Repairs originated as a family run business in Somerset that specialised in the supply and application of sealant. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of the UK’s largest sealant companies, with eight offices across England, Scotland and Wales. SD Sealants has extended its services to include cosmetic building repairs, tiling and as of 2019 has introduced both painting and decorating and marine repairs services to its portfolio.
Scaffolding is a vital part of building and constructing, and if you are planning on doing home renovations, you will likely be needing scaffolding services. However, before you hire a scaffolding firm, it is essential to consider some factors that will help you choose the right Scaffolding company and also evaluate if there is a need for Scaffolding. To make your job easier, you can read through some of these factors below. But first, what is a Scaffolding? Significance of the Scaffolding Scaffolding refers to the temporary structure used to support workers, equipment, and materials during construction. Scaffolding may also be necessary during house renovations and repairs. Its primary function is to get workers and materials to where would ordinarily be too high or difficult to go and to support workers while working above ground level. Factors To Consider Before Hiring Scaffolding Services For Home Renovations 1.Do You Need a Scaffolding: The first thing to consider is whether you really need Scaffolding or not. You may need a professional opinion to make this decision. For example, repainting a ground-level house might not need Scaffolding, but you will definitely need the services of a scaffolding company if you are repainting a story building. Nonetheless, your decision to use a scaffold should be determined by the difficulty and risks involved in the renovation project. 2.Hiring the Right Scaffolding Firm: The kind of Scaffolding services you hire can either result in an excellent job or ruin your renovation plans. Hence, making sure you hire the right firm is one of the things you will have to consider. Location matters a lot when hiring the ideal scaffolding company. You will need to know that they are capable of reaching your site quickly and vice versa. This might mean going for a local scaffolding service or hiring one that can adequately cover vast areas such as Cambridgeshire Scaffolding Firm that caters to Cambridge and its environs and a more significant part of the United Kingdom(UK). The right scaffolding firm should also be able to provide the necessary certifications to assure you of quality service and equipment that suits your needs and budget. 3.Type of Scaffold: Another factor you need to consider is the type of scaffold you need. There are basically three types of Scaffolding, they are Suspended Scaffolding, Supported Platform Scaffolding, and Adjustable Scaffolding. Suspended Scaffolding, as the name suggests, is suspended in the air and built with wood, metal, and ropes. This type of scaffold is ideal for construction and renovation projects that require workers to work at a very high position or an uneven terrain. Supported Platform Scaffolding, on the other hand, has an elevated platform raised from the ground. It is also the most common type of Scaffolding and ideal for almost all types of projects. Last but not least is the adjustable scaffold. It is a type of suspended scaffold that can be adjusted to your suit your needs. The flexible platform gives you control; you can either lower or raise the platform and direct it to wherever it is needed. Now that you know your options, your choice of Scaffolding should be based on your renovation needs. 4.Budget and Financial Costs: one of the most important things you will need to resolve is your budget and the financial costs of hiring a scaffolding company. It might help if you use a local scaffolding firm such as hiring Royston Scaffolding for your home renovation services in Cambridge and its environs. Using a local company will reduce the cost of moving equipment and workforce. You will also need to consider the cost of the type of scaffold you want to use. Suspended Scaffolds are the most expensive, and this is because they are usually custom-built for a specific project. Adjustable Scaffolds are also costly, but one advantage is its flexibility of use. The least expensive is the Supported Platform Scaffold. Whichever you decide to go with, make sure it is proportionate to your needs and budget. 5.Safety Concerns: Scaffolding mostly involves working from an elevated position, and with working at heights comes safety concerns. If your renovation projects include working from far heights or unusual designs, then you need to make sure that the Scaffolding Firm you hire has all the necessary safety measures in place, including licenses and permits. You also need to ensure that the firm carries out a thorough risk assessment before starting any work. A good Scaffold company will have a safety guideline and insurance in case an accident occurs. Some of the safety measures that should be in place include sturdy and secure platforms, handrails and guardrails, etc. 6.Company’s Experience: You must check the scaffolding company’s experience, track record, and reviews; this will help you evaluate their efficiency and integrity. Besides, you will also need experienced workers to deliver quality service and reduce the risks of accidents while working. Conclusion Scaffolding can make your renovations safer and faster when used appropriately, and it is only wise to consider certain factors to ensure you get the right scaffolding companies. Factors such as verifying if Scaffolding is necessary for your home renovations, considering the cost, your budget, and the expertise of the scaffolding firm can determine the type of performance you get at the end of the day. This post was written by Royston Scaffolding Ltd- a fully CISRS qualified and CITB accredited Cambridgeshire Scaffolding Firm, providing industrial, commercial and domestic scaffold services.
Building a beautiful landscape is a sensitive balancing act. On one hand, you want to end up with a beautiful landscape, and on the other hand, you want to keep the amount of resources consumed during the building process and through the life of the garden as low as possible. The only way to achieve both things is to opt for sustainable architectural landscape design. Understanding Sustainable Landscape Design Landscape designers agree that sustainable landscape design has to use very few resources, ensuring to minimize input and maximize output. The way to do this is to find materials and plants that are sustainable and to monitor the amount of water consumed through the life of the landscape because water is a precious commodity. Managing Long-term Materials Because cost-saving is an integral part of sustainable landscape design, companies such as Architectural Landscape Design place an emphasis on using materials that last a very long time. Also, materials have to be cost-effective and make sense for the surface they are used on. Landscape designers will often use stones for outdoor areas that are not covered in plants. For this, you can go with stones or gravel, with gravel being the more cost-efficient option between the two. Gravel will last for a very long time and is a very good option for areas that have a lot of foot traffic, precisely because gravel is very hard to wear down. Gravel also ensures runoff is not trapped outside your house as it does not trap rainwater. When laying down gravel, try not to compact it as it will ruin the soil underneath. Also, getting rid of gravel is almost impossible, so be sure to use it on areas you are sure will never have plants on them. Plants and Irrigation In keeping with the theme of sustainability and low-cost options, try to find plants that acclimate will with your region’s climate. Try to find plants that will not be affected by the amount of rain, sunshine, humidity or other climatic factors in your region. Doing so ensures that you have plants that will last for a very long time. If you want some color in your gardens throughout the year, try to find perennial plants. These plants bloom for several years. That way, you do not have to replace the plants every year and you have a beautiful garden to look at through the life of the plants. Treat Water as a Scarce Resource Sustainable landscape design also calls for treating water as a scarce resource, especially in drought-prone areas. To do this, find areas that you can save water on. Start by using plants that require very little irrigation and plan out your irrigation schedule for nights or the early morning before the sun becomes too hot. When considering what plants to get to conserve water, choose native and exotic plants. Meadows are a very good option for those looking to reduce grassy areas in their properties to save water. Sustainable architectural landscape design can be both fun and challenging. Once you understand the principles behind it, like treating water as a scarce resource, keeping your costs down and using long-lasting materials, you will have a blueprint on where to start to get the sustainable landscape you have always wanted.
A new study by Draper Tools, the UK’s leading distributor of hand and power tools, has revealed that the average tradespeople have more than double the household repairs and home improvement jobs on their list than the rest of the UK population. The survey of 2,000 people found that those who worked in a trade such as construction, plumbing or electrics had on average 18 DIY and maintenance jobs currently on their list to do at home. By comparison the average person had just eight. Furthermore, tradespeople will spend an average of five weeks each year on their own home improvements, whereas the rest of the public will spend around three weeks a year getting their DIY jobs done. Draper’s ‘Job Done’ study looked at the nation’s attitudes to some of life’s essential but often put off jobs. From everyday home, garden and car maintenance, right through to DIY and household repairs, the research explored how Britain gets the job done, paying close attention to the nation’s hard-working tradespeople. The research revealed a staggering number of unfinished jobs on UK tradespeople’s to do lists. Among the most common tasks needing to be done were cleaning the car, painting walls, bleeding the radiator and cleaning the patio. Other neglected jobs included checking tyre pressure, building flat pack furniture, hanging a picture frame, weeding and clearing out the shed. It seems hectic lifestyles and busy work schedules are mainly to blame for tradespeople having so many jobs left undone at home, with over a third of trades saying they just never have the time. A quarter of tradespeople said they often made a mental note to fix something around the home but ultimately went on to forget it. While 1 in 5 tradespeople admitted they didn’t have the right tools for the jobs on their list. Clive Richardson, Marketing Director at Draper Tools said: “When you consider that the UK’s tradespeople often spend their working lives coming to the rescue in other people’s homes and sorting out the general public’s DIY dramas, it’s easy to see why they may not always have the energy to take on their own home improvements. And, once the list of jobs start to build up, it understandably becomes overwhelming, even for a seasoned professional. However, with the right tools and some dedication to getting the job done, these tasks don’t have to take over anyone’s life. It can even be very rewarding. More than 85% of the tradespeople we surveyed actually said that nothing beats the satisfaction of a getting a job done – so it can be incredibly worthwhile when you finally tackle those put off jobs.” Despite the number of jobs on their list, tradespeople have a better attitude towards home improvements than the general public, with nearly half of them saying they actually enjoy DIY and repair jobs, compared with just 15% of the general public. Perhaps unsurprisingly, tradespeople also rate their DIY skills highly with almost 90% of them scoring their skills as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. Meanwhile just over a third of the general public claimed to be this accomplished at household maintenance jobs. However, even the most skilled tradespeople sometimes need to ask for help with their home improvements and when they do, Draper’s Job Done study found that they’ll turn to a mix of both traditional and modern sources. Jointly topping the list of popular resources for help getting a job done were tradespeople’s own dads and YouTube videos. In fact, 93% of tradespeople said their dad was the first person they’d call on for help with repairs, maintenance and DIY jobs. It seems the old adage of ‘If A Job’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Well’ rings true for the UK’s tradespeople too. Almost 90% of them admitted that if they set out to do some DIY, they get the job done right. Draper’s Job Done survey has revealed the most common unfinished household jobs on UK tradespeople’s lists. The top ten jobs on UK trade’s to do lists: Cleaning the car Painting walls Cleaning the patio Hanging a picture frame Bleeding a radiator Replacing a doorknob Painting a door Checking tyre pressure/inflating tyres Organising or clearing out the shed Weeding
Data analysis by LinkedIn reported that STEM had more women enter the field over the last four decades than any other. Philanthropist and former general manager at Microsoft, Melinda Gates, said: “Innovation happens when we approach urgent challenges from every different point of view. Bringing women and underrepresented minorities into the field guarantees that we see the full range of solutions to the real problems that people face in the world”. In 2018, Fitbit was criticised for the period tracker having a 10-day cycle. If more women were involved in the creation, they would’ve realised this was three days too long. In the States, the tech industry is one of the highest paying fields — yet women are still paid less than their male counterparts. This year however has seen some of the biggest names and influential figures in the industry being women, such as Kate Bouman, the woman who engineered the first image of a black hole. In this article, we track how more women have entered STEM than any other field in the past four decades. In fact, statistics from 2017 show that women made up only 23 per cent of the STEM workforce. Although this is low, this is 105,470 higher than the number in 2016. Battling the taboo… We’ve been raised with the idea that men are better suited for certain jobs than women. Charles Darwin described women as intellectual inferiors and universities rejected women up until the 20th century. Laura Segal, senior vice president for the American Association of University Women, said: “Teachers and parents provide explicit and implicit messages starting in early childhood that boys and men are ‘better’ at math, and the gaps in the professions reinforce the opportunities, culture and lack of role models that perpetuate male dominance”. As a result of this, since 2012, there has been an increase in initiatives from schools, universities and recruitment agencies in the UK to encourage females to pursue STEM-related careers. Previously, female students reported avoiding STEM courses because of a lack of female role models to identify with. If girls were taught about female role models like Marie Curie, for example, who discovered the effects of radiation, perhaps they’d be more inclined to pursue a career in the field. To combat this bias, exam boards have introduced more content with famous women in the industry. Rosalind Franklin, a woman central to the understanding of DNA, has been taught across the nation. This has been linked to this year’s A-level results, which saw female students studying STEM courses (50.3%) outnumber male students (49.7%). Funding Many women have been reported leaving male-dominant work environments like engineering due to a toxic masculine culture. They noted that they had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously and to earn respect. Philanthropists keen to fix the gender gap in STEM industries have donated towards supporting women in the industry. $25 million has been funded to boost girls’ interest by changing the narrative that they’re masculine careers. It’s expected to inspire other girls to follow other successful women. Lyda Hill Philanthropies have introduced 125 female ambassadors to represent the different STEM-related careers. Part of the donation will be used to fund grants for women to study STEM courses. How are Apprenticeships helping? Apprenticeships have an equal gender balance, yet only nine per cent of STEM apprentices are women. A disappointing statistic, the government is trying to fix this disparity by helping women become more informed about apprenticeships to help them access STEM-related careers. In fact, according to a report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a lack of skilled STEM workers in the UK is costing the nation £1.5 billion a year. Lookers, retailers of used cars for sale, launched a female apprenticeship scheme back in 2018. The aim is to double the amount of their female apprenticeships and provide a positive environment to encourage and attract women to STEM. Civil Engineering Consultancy, Patrick Parsons are also an example of a company that are trying to break the taboo. Positive steps are being taken forward, such as having STEM advertisements use more gender-neutral language. However, there is a lot of progress to be made for women in STEM… Sources
When a property chain collapses, it’s bad news for all parties involved, from the house buyers and sellers to the developers. Fast property completion is essential for delivering the highest standards of customer service, maintaining a positive brand reputation and attracting new buyers. So how can property developers repair a broken property chain? Why Do Property Chains Collapse? Almost half of all property sales fell through in the final quarter of 2018. The most common reasons for a buyer to pull out of a sale include problems selling a property or securing a mortgage, the seller receiving a higher offer, issues highlighted in a survey, delays in the sale process and late demands for reductions in the price. If a sale falls through for any reason, this can prevent a buyer further down the chain completing on a property in your development. What Can Developers Do to Avoid a Broken Chain? While much lies in the control of the homeowners and buyers, there are steps building companies and property developers can take to repair a broken chain. Good Communication If problems arise for your buyer, good communication is the first step to resolving the issue without losing a sale. Make sure your company has an effective communication system in place and that customers know how to contact the right person to help them. If a problem is temporary and easily surmountable, there may be a compromise that can be reached to ensure the buyer does not lose their home and you do not miss out on a sale. Part-Exchange Offering customers a range of finance options is excellent customer service that will enhance the reputation of a company and increase the pool of potential buyers for your buildings. Buyers who have access to the right property purchase financing can move quickly towards completion without being impacted by broken property chains. Offering part-exchange (PX) to customers purchasing a new-build property is beneficial to property owners and buyers. Many people cannot complete on a new home until they have sold their existing property. If your buyers are struggling to sell their home or if their sale falls through, this could mean a lost sale for you. A PX scheme allows you to purchase a buyer’s current home at slightly less than the market value, in exchange for a reduced price on one of your properties. You can then sell on the property at a profit in addition to securing the sale on one of your new-build homes. In this way, PX can be used to avoid and repair a broken property chain. Chain Repair Companies If a chain collapses affecting the sale of one of your properties, a specialist chain repair service can be an effective and hassle-free way to save the sale. A chain repair company can shorten the property chain length, remove the need for a buyer to sell their property before they purchase yours and prevent delays to your development plans and a lost sale. How does it work? The company will send an agent to value your customer’s property and then send a cash offer, which you can extend to the client. If the offer is accepted and a sale date agreed, the buyer can proceed with purchasing the new property from you. If the client is amenable to this option, it’s an effective way to meet key deadlines despite property chain issues. Final Thoughts The success and profitability of property developments rest on hitting key milestones and deadlines. A broken property chain can result in lost sales and delays, which can seriously impact the bottom line. If your buyer encounters issues selling their home, communicate, be flexible and take proactive action to find a solution. Saving a sale already in progress is likely to consume fewer resources than starting from scratch searching for a new buyer.
When you are planning to move home, it can often feel as if there are a million and one things that you need to keep your eye on. If you are moving with your family, it isn’t just yourself and your stuff that you have to worry about. Below are four simple steps to a smooth house move. Book A Removal Business The sooner you sort a removal business out the better. No one wants to have to deal with the hassle of packing their entire life up into boxes on their own, not when there are businesses waiting to help. A removal business will do exactly what the name suggests, they will help you shift your possessions from your current home to your new one. You can also contact long distance movers Chicago or such other companies to ease the moving process. Before you speak to any removal businesses for a quote, it is a good idea to first go through the rest of this list and get everything ready for the big day. The more preparation work you do beforehand, the cheaper you will often find it to hire removal businesses. Once you have everything ready and you know how much stuff needs moving, you can speak to a business like Local Motion to make arrangements for the day of your move. Declutter Before You Move It makes sense that the less stuff you physically have to move, the easier it will be to move it all. For many of us, it isn’t until we move house that we come face-to-face with just how much clutter and rubbish we have in our lives. Why not take this as an opportunity to make a fresh start and get rid of all personal belongings that you’ve been accruing over the years but don’t actually need anymore? You might be surprised by just what a freeing experience it is to declutter and remove the excess baggage from your life. And that’s in addition to the benefits for your upcoming move. Start Packing As Early As Possible The sooner you begin packing, the sooner you can work out exactly which bits of furniture and possessions are going to cause you the most trouble during your move. Starting your packing early gives you a final chance to get ahead on any pieces that are missing and also leaves you plenty of time to work out how you are going to transport the more awkward things that you need to bring with you. For example, furniture that is particularly large or which needs to be broken down and reassembled should be dealt with first; you can worry about the easy stuff afterward. Volition Removals will help with all the hard work. Create An Inventory Of Everything You Will Be Bringing If you are worried about some items going missing or being damaged or separated from one another during transit, it might be a good idea here to make a checklist of your inventory before you leave. With a reputable removal business, you can be certain that your furniture and other items will be treated with the appropriate care and respect. However, if there are things that you are particularly worried about and you think that keeping track of them will put your mind at ease, then some homeowners find this helpful for keeping the stress to a minimum throughout the experience. Moving home doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. If you prepare properly and hire the services of a professional removal business, it should be easy.
Too many people sit down with a real estate agent and share a string of adjectives that are difficult to define. Terms like luxury, cute, comfortable, spacious, and efficient don’t give your real estate agent as much information to work on as you may think. Let’s outline what you must tell your real estate agent in order to find the right home for the best price as soon as possible. Your Budget Whether you’re looking for a starter home or luxury homes for sale in Calabasas, CA, discuss your budget with your real estate agent. How much money can you put down on the property? How much can you afford to borrow? If you clearly communicate your financial situation to the realtor, you won’t be shown homes that are beyond your budget. This will both save you time and heartache, such as when you’re shown a perfect home that’s 30K more than you can afford. Discuss your ability to pay carrying costs like insurance, property taxes, homeowner’s association dues, and so forth with the realtor. If these costs are an issue, the realtor won’t show you a property that comes with great amenities paid for by steep HOA dues you can’t afford. It would be a good idea to use the Zilculator real estate analysis on the property you want to purchase to get a better idea of whether it’s a smart investment or not. Your Ideal Home Size Simplify life for everyone and tell your real estate agent how many bedrooms you consider an acceptable minimum. Would you be happy with a two-bedroom condo? Do you need at least four bedrooms to give your family enough space? How large is large enough? This saves you from trips to properties that are too small for your needs or your tastes. And how large is too large? Some people want a smaller home to reduce the required upkeep though they could afford something larger. This is why sales of McMansions have stalled. Do you want a 1500 square foot luxury home or a basic 3000 square foot property? Your Timeframe Be upfront about your time frame with real estate agents. Let them know that you want to close on a property before school starts to minimize disruption for the kids. Tell them when you need to close on a property on your one or two visits to the area before you move there permanently. Let them know when you do have several weeks to renovate or repair a property before you move in, since this may make modest fixer-uppers a possibility. Tell them when you will put a premium on move-in ready properties so that they only show you properties that fit your needs. Your Preferences What do you want in your new home? And what do you want to avoid? Do you consider a swimming pool a pro or a con? Do you want a chef grade kitchen and entertaining spaces in your new home? Would you be willing to trade a home in the suburbs for a massive zero lot property in downtown? Would you like to be able to age in place in a home that’s already accessible? Do you want to have the ability to add a mother-in-law suite? Give the realtor a list of must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal-breakers so that they can winnow the list of properties to show you to only those that are a perfect fit.
Estate and Letting Agents in the UK are being urged to check that they are signed up with an approved redress scheme that covers the full remit of their work. The warning follows a recent tribunal that penalised a business that was signed up to a redress scheme for its letting agency work but not for its property management work. In one of the first decisions of its kind, the Upper Tribunal* upheld a fine of £3000 against the business for its failure to belong to an approved redress scheme for property management. Its membership of the Property Ombudsman Scheme covered it for residential sales and lettings, commercial sales and lettings and some property management, but not for residential leasehold management. The decision has prompted National Trading Standards to issue guidance to Estate and Letting Agents across the country, focusing on agents ensuring their redress scheme covers all areas of their work, whether it’s sales, lettings or property management work. James Munro, Head of National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team, said: “We’re urging all estate and letting agents to double-check their redress scheme to ensure it covers the full breadth of their work. If you’re already signed up to a redress scheme, you may think your business is covered, but you should check that this covers the full breadth of your company’s activities. The recent tribunal decision shows businesses that are signed up to redress schemes for one area of their work but not for others may face hefty penalties in the courts.” Failure to be a member of a redress scheme, when legally required to do so, could result in a penalty notice being issued against the business. The two approved redress schemes are: Property Redress Scheme www.theprs.co.uk The Property Ombudsman www.tpos.co.uk Sean Hooker, Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme, said: “Whilst PRS membership covers most agents for all the work they do, they must tell us from the outset the areas they undertake work in so we can record this under their membership. Agents must also ensure that all their branches and offices are registered separately and the appropriate fee paid. If you are in any doubt whether you are fully compliant please contact us immediately” Katrine Sporle, Property Ombudsman, said: “TPO’s online membership and website provides detailed information about the categories of work TPO provides redress for, the options available, and clarity around the need to be registered for each category. Our membership team is on hand to give support and advice for new and existing members alike, so do please contact us if there is anything you are unsure about or need guidance on.” GUIDANCE FOR ESTATE AND LETTING AGENTS Make sure that your business is signed up with an approved redress scheme for the correct line of work (Sales, Lettings or Property Management Work). Review your existing terms of agreement/membership to ensure your redress scheme covers the full activities of the business. Check the terms of agreement/membership to confirm if your business is required to pay membership for individual branches. As of 1st April 2019, Letting and Property Management Agents in the private rented sector are required to belong to a Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme if holding client money. If you’re an Agent who is required to belong to a CMP scheme, you should be displaying a certificate of your membership at your premises and online. CMP schemes should all be providing certificates. If you’re having difficulty in obtaining a certificate, please contact CMPschemes@communities.gov.uk
Owning your own home is one of the largest investments you will make in your life, as well as being a comfortable and relaxing space to live. The value of our homes, when the time comes to sell, will often have a large impact on our retirement plans, as a lot of our financial future is tied to the value of our property. The profit you make from selling a home can often be the difference between a comfortable and early retirement, or having to downsize later in life and continuing to work in your retirement years. Making some smart improvements to your home can even return double their cost, making them a smarter place to invest your money than some savings accounts and investment schemes. Refinancing your mortgage to get a better rate and pay less each month is a possible way to save enough to make these improvements on your own over the course of a year. Here we have compiled the top three ways to improve your property’s curb appeal, so not only are you investing in your home for the future, but also making your property more attractive to potential buyers and giving you a more welcoming sight to come home to at the end of the day. Landscape Your Front Yard – Why Not Add a Theme? Any garden or yard is a great asset for a house to have, and is a feature that most house buyers will look for when they are searching for their next home. Having a well landscaped front yard or garden is a great way to invest in your property. It can be very cost effective to do, and you will likely see a marked improvement in your home’s resale value if you make some tasteful changes to your front yard’s landscape. You can even add a theme if you like, maybe one that shows off your property’s design to the fullest and makes your home stand out from the crowd in your neighborhood. Give Your Driveways and Paths a New Look Your home’s driveway and the path leading to your front door will often be the first thing people see of your property, so make the right first impression. Re-covering or re-paving your driveway is another cost-effective choice that can give your home some extra value and some visual impact to visitors. At Richfield Blacktop, you can enhance your driveway with some high-quality asphalt, giving your home a sleek and hard-wearing driveway that is also good for families who want to play sports like basketball in the front yard. This makes your driveway a feature for your home, and more attractive to families looking to move home. Take Some of the Inside Outside Many new and renovated homes are using their outside spaces to bring a little of their inside, outside, by adding an outdoor cooking or eating space. Having a functional kitchen in your garden or yard has become very popular and adds a lot of value and desirability to a home. Another popular choice is adding a dedicated living space in the yard that can be used for relaxing, sunbathing, or to pursue hobbies like art or pottery. The costs of these investments are easily returned in your home’s resale value. A home is more than just a place to live; it is an investment. If you want to retire comfortably and on your own terms, then you should consider making investments and improvements to your property to maximize its resale value.