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Archive for December, 2010

Make Christmas a fun DIY activity

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

With just a little planning anyone can give a Christmas present which is original, thoughtful, recycled and home-made. It can even be one that will make a small difference to the environment. Giving gifts at Christmas is a tradition which has been passed down for generations. It is not just about how much money has been spent, it is also the time and effort put in that makes a gift special.

There really is nothing like making a Christmas present, putting a bit of “love” into it and then seeing the recipient break into a smile when they discover what is hidden behind the ribbon and recycled paper. There is a wealth of wonderful things to cook, craft, sew and even grow for that green Christmas of giving.

Knit a tea-cosy and add some organic tea, some embroidered napkin holders and a tablecloths. A patchwork table runner and place mats will make any table setting look beautiful. Some people will find the thought of making Christmas gifts a waste of time, but for others it’s a yearly routine which can save money too.

After another year of financial uncertainty, many households are looking at ways to cut the cost of Christmas, it may be setting a smaller budget, or choosing less commercialised presents and instead going for more imaginative ones. Taking a DIY approach to Christmas presents can be fun and money can be saved, this is money which can be used on heating bills or household insurance.

A popular gift is a cake stand as this can be made using upturned tea cups and can be made for next to nothing. Another idea is to make a large Christmas cake, then cut pieces from it and make mini Christmas cakes which can be individually decorated. These can then be put into home-made hampers for family members and can also include home-made jams, chutneys, even home-made truffles and assorted candies can be made at a much reduced cost. There is no end to what can be done, from infused olive oils to cakes, which will be as pleasurable to receive as they are to make.

Hand-made gifts do not have to look cheap; there are many websites that offer advice on how to do it. Gift sets in shops make ideal presents but you can easily group different items together, or pick and choose items for smaller presents if you are less confident about fabricating things on your own yet are keen to offer original gifts.

Tags: Christmas, DIY, Home Insurance
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How to not over decorate the home at Christmas

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Every neighbourhood has one or two houses with so many Christmas lights that it looks more like a spaceship than a Christmas celebration. Whether it is because they simply love lights and outdoor decorations because it makes them feel happy or they are in a competition with their next door neighbour is difficult to tell. There end goal is the same, to get their house noticed. Whatever the reason it is possible to be the envy of your street without going overboard.

If you have a mansion, then having a thousand lights on the outside of the home may well be the correct amount. For the rest of us, a thousand lights are just too many, not to mention how much electricity will be used during the five weeks they are on. Never overload any socket with all the extra plugs required for the lights. If they are not in a surge protector, it may mean a claim on the household insurance policy if a fire starts. A good idea is to think of the home as a picture from a child’s book. Colour the lines, but not everything in between; sometimes it really can be a case of less is more. Too many Christmas items will draw everyone’s eye away from detail and make the picture of the home blend into a blur. Accent the house to draw friends and visitors eyes to the stand out areas.

Pick a colour scheme, remembering that not every colour has to be used. Multi-coloured lights are fine to use and are better than solid strings of coloured lights. Complementary colours which enhance one another, rather than competing against each other are the way to go. Also, consider what effect blinking the lights will do. It is true that blinking lights are fun, but too many of them will become distracting for anyone looking at the home.

Not everything in the garden needs to be decorated. Just because it is there does not mean it has to have a string of lights wrapped around it. Decorating for Christmas doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. The simple touches are often the most elegant and the ones that receive the most comments. Remember, if you have children, get them involved as they will love both helping and the end result; making the home stand out and ready for a visit from Father Christmas.

Tags: Christmas tree, Home Insurance, household insurance, landlord advice
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Council of Mortgage Lenders report holds no Christmas cheer

Friday, December 17th, 2010

If the latest report from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) is to be believed, then 2011 is not going to be much of a year for homeowners looking to sell their property, or indeed for prospective buyers looking to get on the housing ladder.

The CML’s final gloomy report for 2010 did nothing to cheer up homeowners, home seekers or estate agents. Although their forecast is that nothing will change too much from the stagnation of 2010, they anticipate the Government’s action in pulling the plug on support schemes such as the Support for Mortgage Interest benefit, which was introduced by the last Labour Government when the recession was at its height, will certainly tip some homeowners over the edge and into repossession.

In all they anticipate repossessions to increase by about 4,000 to a yearly figure of 40,000 and they predict mortgage owners in arrears to go from 175,000 to 180,000. This they say will be down to the cut in government support.

With banks and building societies expected to keep their strict borrowing requirements in place, the CML anticipate no more than 860,000 house purchases to go through in 2011. The figure is slightly less than 2010 and down once more to the difficulty first time buyers are having in finding a mortgage that is viable. The great disappointment though for buyers in general, is that they can see bargains in the estate agents shop window but can’t do anything about it. The CML though, have noted that they expect house prices to remain stable in 2011 partly because homeowners with property’s for sale are digging their heels in and refusing to drop their prices any more.

It does seem that unless there is a sea change in the policies of the lenders then the buoyancy of the housing market that many in the UK thought would last forever, may have disappeared for the short term future at least. It would be interesting to see just how many of the house purchases last year resulted in a quote for landlord insurance rather than household insurance as the buy-to-let market does at least seem to be holding its own.

Tags: Advice, Advice for Tenants, Home Insurance, household insurance, Mortgage Lenders, tenants
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Protect the home from cold winter weather

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

The signs are that the winter of 2010 is going to be cold…very cold! Some parts of the United Kingdom have had temperatures close to -20C and even the big cities have regularly dropped below freezing. With icy conditions and more snow on the way, are our homes a warm and safe place for us to hibernate this winter?

Insurance firms are warning that everyone needs to winter proof the home. An unwanted plumbing bill due to a burst pipe or a defunct boiler could not come at a worse time with Christmas just around the corner. Although many household insurance policies will provide cover for some damage caused by emergencies, everyone should have full protection against all potential winter hazards.

Not having cover for your heating and hot water boiler is nothing less than folly really. If the worst happens and the boiler is a write-off, it will take a substantial sum to replace the boiler, even a small breakdown will leave you with a cold and miserable house until you find a tradesman to cure the fault. Of course he will have to be paid too. Some insurers will include cover in a home insurance policy, paying for call-out charges, some labour costs, parts and materials. With others extra cover can be added to a policy which will pay for call-out charges, labour costs, parts and repair to the domestic heating or water system.

Check to see if the roof has any loose or missing tiles. If it does, get them fixed before the winter weather gets any worse. Make sure all the gutters are clear from any blockages. A build up of water on the roof can lead to leaks and may even cause damage to the structure of the property. It is also a good idea to check the seal around the windows and that the doors have no gaps.

Cold and icy weather means that there is a risk of pipes freezing, then bursting and flooding the home. This can be prevented by repairing any cracks which may let in cold air and insulating the pipes properly. Even something as simple as making sure that everyone in the home knows where the stopcock is so it can be turned off quickly in the event of an emergency can be vital.

Finally, make an emergency winter survival kit so that the household will be prepared if the worst happens. It is a good idea to have a torch, some candles, some blankets, tinned food and a first aid kit. Ensure everyone in the home knows where the kit is located. Always keep a copy of the household insuranceAll sizes Sweet Home #2 Flickr – Photo Sharing! policy to hand as well as a phone number for an emergency plumber and electrician.

Tags: cold winter weather, Home Insurance, household insurance
Posted in Advice for Tenants, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance | No Comments »

Should a Christmas tree be real or fake?

Friday, December 10th, 2010

December means that Christmas trees will be appearing in homes throughout the country as families prepare for the festive period. Expensive gifts that need to be covered by a household insurance policy will be placed under trees all over the UK. We are in an age when we are all being asked to be aware of the impact each of us has on the environment. So is it best to buy an artificial tree which can be used year after year, or go in search of the perfect living tree and make it the centrepiece of the Christmas decorating?

An artificial tree does offer long-term use for any Christmas tree decorating needs. And unlike many years ago, the current generation of “fake” trees do not look that bad. In the past artificial trees really did look fake but today, until getting really close, it can be hard to distinguish the artificial trees from the real thing, except of course for the wonderful smell that is given off by a real tree.

With money being short for many households an artificial tree can in the long run be easier on the wallet. For the same cost of a single large live tree, it is possible to buy an artificial tree which looks the same and comes with the added bonus of lasting several festive seasons. A fake tree will come in a box and does make one job that much easier, no more driving to several tree stockists before either putting it on the roof rack or squashing it into the car and driving home. So if they look the same, cost less, can be used year after year, and they also prevent a living tree from being cut down. Should we all not be lining up to buy an artificial tree?

Artificial Christmas trees, which have become increasingly popular during the last decade, actually have a carbon footprint which is at least ten times bigger than a real tree. A six foot fake tree, which is made from plastic will be damaging to the environment and is equal to toasting over 5,000 slices of bread or driving for 120 miles in an average sized car. Whereas a real tree of the same size will create carbon emissions which are the equivalent of toasting only 418 pieces of bread and driving under 10 miles. While cutting down a living tree may not sound the most environmentally friendly thing anyone can do, it actually appears to be the “greener” choice. This is because it is not so much about how many times a person can use the tree. It is more about what the tree is made of as well as what it does to the environment in its life cycle.

Tags: Christmas tree, Home Insurance, household insurance
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Planning permission should not be ignored

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

When carrying out home improvements it is vital to do your groundwork correctly. Some improvements will require planning permission and it is also a good idea to let the neighbours know about any work that you intend to undertake. Your neighbours are likely to be concerned about any work which may affect them and the enjoyment of their property.

A well-designed building or extension is much more likely to be attractive and it will also add some value to your house. The insurance company should be told of any improvements made so that they can update the all important household insurance policy. Examples where planning permission may be needed include adding or extending a flat or maisonette, dividing off part of a property for use as a separate home, using a building in the garden as a separate residence for someone else, building a separate house in the garden or dividing off part of the property for business use. Lighting itself, and minor light fittings, are not subject to any planning controls. However, if the plan is to install external lighting for security, make sure that the intensity and direction of any lighting will not disturb anyone.

It is possible to make certain types of minor changes to a home without the need to apply for planning permission, these include fitting an alarm or putting up a wall or a fence which is below a certain height. Patios and driveways or also exempt. Other projects that can be carried out as long as they meet certain important criteria are conservatories and having a loft conversion. If you build something which needs planning permission but without getting permission first, you may be forced to put things right later, which could prove troublesome and costly. If you are in any doubt, contact the planning department of your council.

The success of any planning application will depend greatly on the quality of the application which has been submitted. If it is the first time planning permission has been applied for, it is highly recommended that an agent is employed to make sure everything is correct. They will complete the planning permission application form and look at any building regulations. A good agent will take away a lot of the hassle involved. The use of an agent will mean paying a fee, but this is often money well spent. An agent will have experience of working in this area and will also have a good knowledge of local regulations and policy and quite often understand the council and what they will expect from any development. More importantly an agent will make the completion of a planning application form straightforward. If the forms have been completed incorrectly it means that valuable time is wasted.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance
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Go back in time with cottage style décor

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Cottage style is not just a decorating theme; it is also a lifestyle where people choose the country charm over modern life. English cottage style decorating will look as if it has come straight out of a Jane Austen novel, but it will make the home look beautiful.

Reinventing the home from inside to capture the essence of English cottage style décor can be done by using some ingenuity and also having some fun. Pick a colour scheme from the array of pastel colours for cottage decorating. Choose from green, yellow or pink which would all set the tone for beautiful décor. Creating a cosy and comfortable space is the basic décor concept ideas to be sought, and a hardwood floor with matching rugs will complement the room.

English style windows should allow the light to enter the room properly. Choose some gorgeous lace curtains instead of heavy drapes. Fabrics for the upholstery, bed sheets and curtains need to be made of floral prints that match the pastoral setting. Go for soft lighting to brighten a room. Vintage lamps can be easily found at an antique store or try to convert an old item such as a vase or jug in to a table lamp.

English country cottage style furniture was simple and rustic. Choose a large sofa and a simple quaint table. For a real English country style look add some antique picture frames. The setting would not be complete without an afternoon tea set. Therefore, make sure the kitchen cupboard has some fine chinaware and a teapot. Remember that household insurance is as important in a cottage style home as it is in any other.

Try to keep the whole décor as simple as possible to enhance the beauty of the home. Some pine furniture will play an important role in the cottage style or if you can get some wicker furniture it will be all the better. Add some handmade accessories to give a finishing touch.

Wicker baskets can be used for hanging plants. Fresh flowers and wooden wall hangings are the best pieces to achieve the cottage style look. English cottage style décor is becoming one of the more popular decorating styles, and it’s no wonder as its light and breezy style is well suited to today’s lifestyles. Contrary to what the name implies, it can be used in any type of home, not just a cottage. Even a three-bedroom home in the city can have the ambience of a cute cottage if the décor is designed correctly.

Tags: Contents Insurance, Home Insurance
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Archive for December, 2010

Make Christmas a fun DIY activity

How to not over decorate the home at Christmas

Council of Mortgage Lenders report holds no Christmas cheer

Protect the home from cold winter weather

Should a Christmas tree be real or fake?

Planning permission should not be ignored

Go back in time with cottage style décor

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