James Anderson November Newsletter

Your household DIY questions answered

 

Online searches for ‘DIY’ hit a 16-year high during the UK's first lockdown, as we found new ways to spend our time.*

 

When it comes to giving our homes the DIY treatment, the internet can be a very valuable resource and it’s no surprise the nation has been frantically Googling a number of key DIY terms to help brush up on their renovating skills. 

 

Are you ready to tackle your next lockdown project?

 

With plenty to do around the home, now is the perfect time to tick off any jobs that have been lingering or forgotten about.

 
To help you complete your projects this month, we’ve given you some of the most common DIY questions and searches, along with the solutions to fixing them.

 

 

How to bleed a radiator

Checking your radiators is essential at this time of the year.

 

If you’ve noticed that they’re not heating up as they should, they probably have air bubbles in them and need bleeding.

 

To do this, simply put the bleed key into the valve and slowly turn anti-clockwise. Have your cloth ready to shield your hand and a small bowl to catch any drops of water.

 

If there is trapped air, you should hear a hissing sound as it escapes. As soon as any water begins to drip, close and tighten the valve.

 

How to stop a sofa sagging

After a while, you might notice your sofa starting to look lifeless or worn.

 

There are a number of things you can do to prevent sagging.

 

Check your cushions to see if they need topping up on the inside with more material, fibrefill, or foam padding.

 

How to hang pictures

It's important to know how to hang pictures, whether you are hanging photo frames or turning a wall into a feature wall with a single piece of art.

 

When putting up a picture, make sure to use a spirit level to ensure it is straight and try to avoid hanging your pictures too high.

 

Once you have attached your fixing to the wall, test it by pulling it down before hanging anything on it.

 

How to fix a dripping tap

Dripping taps can be costly to fix and are likely to need a replacement internal rubber seal.

 

Before doing anything, make sure to turn your water off and then switch on the tap to release any leftover water.

 

Replace the washers on either end of the spindle with new ones before reassembling the tap and turning the water back on.

How fit laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is often seen in many homes and consists of four layers of material that are sandwiched together.

 

When installing laminate flooring, it is important to do the following steps.

 

Always fit underlay boards before you begin to help even out the floor, leave around 12 mm between the boards, as laminate flooring expands.

 

You need to then make sure the boards are lying the same way and in the same direction before trimming the skirting and doorways.

 

How to make a toilet flush

Some of the most common reasons why a toilet won't flush is the flapper being damaged or the water levels being too low.

 

The flapper is found at the bottom of the toilet and replacements are usually inexpensive to buy.

 

However, if the water is more than an inch below the overflow tube, you will need to adjust the fill valve to top it up.

 

How to stop creaky stairs

Creaky stairs are usually caused by a piece of wood rubbing against something. This is because a tread moves against a riser, causing the squeak.

 

Solving this can be done by securing the connection with either nails, screws or glue molding the joint between the two sections.

 

 

We’ve answered some of the most common DIY questions to help you around the house.

 

So before calling in the professionals, assess the situation to see whether you can minimise costs and keep your home running efficiently over winter.

 

For more information on home improvements and renovations, speak to our team today or browse our latest properties.

 

 

 

 

*Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
 

Tips to create a home office without losing an entire room

 

The verdict is in, working from home is here to stay!

 

Government guidelines state that employees need to work from home, where able, over the course of the second national lockdown.

 

However, when asked, over half of respondents claimed that they would continue to work from home on a permanent basis. Out of those who did not wish to work from home permanently, the majority blame the lack of a home office to operate from.

So, how can you create a working space if you don’t have a whole room available?

 

Share space – Look at areas around your home where you can make a room multi-purpose, with the addition of a desk and chair in your spare room, kitchen, living room or dining room.

 

This will not only use up wasted floor space but offers a practical solution. It is also a great way to prioritise your home décor pieces.

 

For example, if you are lucky enough to have a spare room, a large double bed that is rarely used can be replaced with a sofa bed.

Re-purpose furniture – If you have an unused piece of furniture, such as a dressing table, you can re-purpose them into a sizeable desk space.

 

This option is not only eco-friendly and cost effective, but super easy, as you can simply transform the current location of the furniture into your office zone.

 

Our top tips for creating a cosy yet productive home office space is to position yourself away from any distractions like windows, and use plants and candles for a more homely feel.


Staircase solutions – The area under the stairs is often overlooked, so this can be a great solution to needing a home office.

 

Ideally, an open staircase without risers is best for this hack, but this can be adapted depending on the space you have to work with. The area under the stairs is notoriously dark, so good lighting is key here – this can be yellow or white light, depending on the vibe you wish to create.

 

If you want to go all out, bespoke built-in office spaces are a great way to utilise the entire area.

 

 
Cupboard office – This revolutionary workspace solution, nicknamed a ‘cloffice’, is a great alternative to a clunky desk in the middle of a room.

 

To create this, use a spare wardrobe or large cupboard – this works even better with built-in furniture.

 

Use shelving to create an area to hold your computer and files, and decorate to your taste. The best part about this hack, is that you can close the doors on your home office after your work is done for the day. Perfect to help maintain a healthy work-life balance.

 

Utilise outdoor space – If you’re lucky enough to have a summer house or garage, these can be transformed into a dedicated home office.

 

Summer house solutions are great for the winter. Just add a heater and invest in a secure locking system to keep your items safe, and you’re good to go!

 

For a garage, this may be slightly more expensive, but will work all year round. To start, cover the concrete floor with rugs or a fitted carpet to warm up the space and pay attention to the walls, as these may need insulation.

  

 

To find out what properties have recently come onto the market in your area, contact us today.

 

10 cost-effective hacks for keeping your property warm and cosy

With much of the UK workforce now operating under lockdown again, it's estimated that we'll see a collective hike of almost £2 billion on our energy bills at home.*

 

Here are our top ten cost-effective hacks to keep you warm this winter:

Cover up bare flooring – wooden floors can be notoriously cold, but thinner carpets can also be chilly. The addition of a thick, cosy rug can really make a difference to the warmth of the room, whilst adding a stylish touch.

 

Be smart about furniture placement – similarly to adding staple pieces such as a fluffy rug to a room, other larger pieces of furniture can make a huge difference, as can their placement in your home.

 

Any furniture blocking a radiator should be rearranged to ensure that the heat can flow around the room more evenly, creating an overall warmer environment.

 

Use draft excluders – these can be particularly useful if you are renting an older property.

 

Place these in front of doors to keep the heat in. This will save you money on your energy bills as less heat will escape the property. They can also be matched to your current interior.

 

Let the sun in – on sunnier days this winter, open your curtains and let the sun warm up your home. Sunlight is not only great for naturally warming you up but also for your mental health and energy levels. 

 

Keep the heating on low – this may sound bizarre, but having your heating on a constant low level during the day can lessen your energy bills.

 

This prevents the periodical off-on that will cost you more in the long run. Similarly, this will avoid pipes bursting when the temperature drops below zero.

 

Heavy curtains – another way to keep the heat in this winter is to hang heavy curtains or blinds near your windows, as the fabric will absorb the draft that would otherwise be coming into your property.**

 

Keep doors closed – once your heating or fire is on and warming up your property, ensure you keep doors closed to keep the rooms you’re using nice and cosy, rather than letting heat escape into unused sections of the house.

 

Be selective – any rooms that aren’t used regularly, such as guest bedrooms and bathrooms could be costing you extra money on energy bills.

 

To avoid this, turn the radiators in these areas down, keeping them on low to avoid the pipes freezing.

 

Similarly, areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms won’t need to be heated as much as your living room, so remember to take this into consideration.

 

Block your chimney – if you’re lucky enough to own or rent a property with a gorgeous chimney, these can be a huge culprit for making your home chilly.

 

To avoid this, try purchasing a low-cost chimney balloon. These can be inflated inside the chimney – out of view – and will block cold air coming in, as well as preventing heat escaping.

 

Bundle up – it wouldn’t be a 'keeping warm in winter hacks' piece without mentioning layering!

 

As clichéd and predictable as it is, wearing a jumper, dressing gown or a fluffy pair of socks is a great way to stay warm on a budget. This paired with a warm drink and a bowl of soup creates the perfect cosy evening in.

 

 

For more information or support with your property, contact our team today.

 

 

*Source: The Guardian

**Notice for tenants: if any alterations to your property are needed to make this change, please ensure you have permission from your landlord prior to doing any work. 

 

From ‘generation rent’ to ‘generation buy’

In a recent conservative conference, Boris Johnson promised to create two million more homeowners by changing ‘generation rent’ into ‘generation buy’, in the hope that the UK can return to normal post-COVID.

Mr Johnson continued by suggesting that the current levels of home ownership among the under 40s was ‘disgraceful’.

 

These levels have been plummeting dramatically over recent years, which has made people “pay through the nose to rent a home which they can’t truly love or make their own”.

To do this, changes to the regulations introduced in 2008 are required.

 

Previous strict minimum capital requirements, which were imposed on UK banks, are being blamed for initially making owning a house unattainable for various individuals.

 

These individuals may have been able to afford the monthly mortgage fees associated with homeownership, but the initial upfront deposit being between 15 and 20 per cent, it’s clear to see why renting was the only option for most.

 

Due to this, private rent increased from 2.8 million in 2007 and to 4.5 million in 2017.

So, what’s the solution?

The Prime Minister’s ambitious plans to ‘fix our broken housing market’ begins by slashing the current deposit rates to only 5% for first-time buyers.

 

As a result, this will be the biggest expansion of the sales market since the 1980s.

 

This will be welcome news for potential first-time buyers nationwide, and a great boost for the property market post-lockdown.

To view our properties, visit our website today.

 

10 cost-effective hacks for keeping your property warm and cosy

 

With much of the UK workforce now operating under lockdown again, it's estimated that we'll see a collective hike of almost £2 billion on our energy bills at home.*

 

Here are our top ten cost-effective hacks to keep you warm this winter:

Cover up bare flooring – wooden floors can be notoriously cold, but thinner carpets can also be chilly. The addition of a thick, cosy rug can really make a difference to the warmth of the room, whilst adding a stylish touch.

 

Be smart about furniture placement – similarly to adding staple pieces such as a fluffy rug to a room, other larger pieces of furniture can make a huge difference, as can their placement in your home.

 

Any furniture blocking a radiator should be rearranged to ensure that the heat can flow around the room more evenly, creating an overall warmer environment.

 

Use draft excluders – these can be particularly useful if you are renting an older property.

 

Place these in front of doors to keep the heat in. This will save you money on your energy bills as less heat will escape the property. They can also be matched to your current interior.

 

Let the sun in – on sunnier days this winter, open your curtains and let the sun warm up your home. Sunlight is not only great for naturally warming you up but also for your mental health and energy levels. 

 

Keep the heating on low – this may sound bizarre, but having your heating on a constant low level during the day can lessen your energy bills.

 

This prevents the periodical off-on that will cost you more in the long run. Similarly, this will avoid pipes bursting when the temperature drops below zero.

 

Heavy curtains – another way to keep the heat in this winter is to hang heavy curtains or blinds near your windows, as the fabric will absorb the draft that would otherwise be coming into your property.**

 

Keep doors closed – once your heating or fire is on and warming up your property, ensure you keep doors closed to keep the rooms you’re using nice and cosy, rather than letting heat escape into unused sections of the house.

 

Be selective – any rooms that aren’t used regularly, such as guest bedrooms and bathrooms could be costing you extra money on energy bills.

 

To avoid this, turn the radiators in these areas down, keeping them on low to avoid the pipes freezing.

 

Similarly, areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms won’t need to be heated as much as your living room, so remember to take this into consideration.

 

Block your chimney – if you’re lucky enough to own or rent a property with a gorgeous chimney, these can be a huge culprit for making your home chilly.

 

To avoid this, try purchasing a low-cost chimney balloon. These can be inflated inside the chimney – out of view – and will block cold air coming in, as well as preventing heat escaping.

 

Bundle up – it wouldn’t be a 'keeping warm in winter hacks' piece without mentioning layering!

 

As clichéd and predictable as it is, wearing a jumper, dressing gown or a fluffy pair of socks is a great way to stay warm on a budget. This paired with a warm drink and a bowl of soup creates the perfect cosy evening in.

 

 

For more information or support with your property, contact our team today.

 

 

 

*Source: The Guardian

**Notice for tenants: if any alterations to your property are needed to make this change, please ensure you have permission from your landlord prior to doing any work. 

 

From ‘generation rent’ to ‘generation buy’

 

In a recent conservative conference, Boris Johnson promised to create two million more homeowners by changing ‘generation rent’ into ‘generation buy’, in the hope that the UK can return to normal post-COVID.

Mr Johnson continued by suggesting that the current levels of home ownership among the under 40s was ‘disgraceful’.

 

These levels have been plummeting dramatically over recent years, which has made people “pay through the nose to rent a home which they can’t truly love or make their own”.

To do this, changes to the regulations introduced in 2008 are required.

 

Previous strict minimum capital requirements, which were imposed on UK banks, are being blamed for initially making owning a house unattainable for various individuals.

 

These individuals may have been able to afford the monthly mortgage fees associated with homeownership, but the initial upfront deposit being between 15 and 20 per cent, it’s clear to see why renting was the only option for most.

 

Due to this, private rent increased from 2.8 million in 2007 and to 4.5 million in 2017.

So, what’s the solution?

The Prime Minister’s ambitious plans to ‘fix our broken housing market’ begins by slashing the current deposit rates to only 5% for first-time buyers.

 

As a result, this will be the biggest expansion of the sales market since the 1980s.

 

This will be welcome news for potential first-time buyers nationwide, and a great boost for the property market post-lockdown.

To view our properties, visit our website today.