What I’m about to vent about may sound dull when you realise it’s about Home Information Packs, but I feel I should share it all the same, as there’s something not quite right going on there, in my experience.

When Home Information Packs were first made compulsory in 2007 for most properties in England and Wales and prior to their introduction, there was a lot of debate around whether or not they were really necessary, and if they were just another bureaucratic loophole to jump through.

But, there are always debates raging around the financial services industry so I took the slamming of Home Information Packs or HIPs as they’re more commonly known, with a pinch of salt, until now that is. Now, I’m going to wade in with a personal gripe of my own.

Why they matter

A HIP is a set of documents designed to provide the buyer with key information on the property such as energy efficiency, gas and electricity safety, flood risk previous structural damage, parking arrangements, a sale statement, standard searches and evidence that the seller actually owns the property to name a few.

All sounds rather reasonable and helpful, but this set of documents is something the seller has to fork out for, and the price of a HIP can range from £300-£1,000.

Bearing in mind moving house is expensive; you’d hope then that this additional cost was one that is absolutely necessary.

Why then when I asked the estate agent marketing the property I’m buying, did they act confused when I asked to see the report and almost discourage me?

I probably should have asked to see it from day one when I first noted my interest, but it just dawned on me a few days ago that I still hadn’t seen the report, so I called the agent and asked for it.

She was dismissive of my request and almost baffled as to why I wanted to see the HIP which has left me a bit confused myself. Isn’t this something a prospective buyer is supposed to see? Isn’t it important? And if it isn’t, why are vendors paying for it?

Money grabbing

According to the estate agent marketing the property I’m buying, if I want to see the HIP I can get a copy from my solicitor, but I explained that my solicitor is charging £30 for the privilege, and why should I pay anymore than I have to?

The agent’s final suggestion was that if I really wanted to see it I could visit their offices and take a read of it there. It just seems a bit odd to me and I’m not sure why the estate agent is being unhelpful over what is really a simple matter.

In fact, I’ve since found out that this behaviour is not really in line with the government guidelines on HIPs as Directgov gives the following advice on HIPs.

“If you are buying a property ask whoever is advertising it for a copy of the Home Information Pack. This is usually an estate agent.

“They must give you a copy of the pack free of charge, they may make a reasonable charge to cover the costs of copying and posting it.”

At the end of the day, buying or selling a house isn’t cheap, and if HIPs really aren’t useful or important or necessary for the buyer to see, why are people forking out for them?

Maybe there’s something the agent is trying to hide from me, maybe they simply can’t be bothered or there is another reason altogether for the weirdness but it’s made me think HIPs are just another moving house cost that we could all do without.

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Remember, when moving into a new home your contents insurance must be sorted before even unpacking the boxes. Confused.com compare the top home insurance providers.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

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Home improvement is all the rage at present as homeowners believe this offers a more reliable method of adding value to a property than leaving the value open to market forces alone. In fact, new findings show that post-recession Brits still value their bricks and mortar as their primary investment, with 61 per cent planning to invest in their property in the coming two years as a means of offsetting the losses of the downturn. (*)

Nonetheless, while doing up your place can push up its price, the value may only represent a fraction of the actual cost, so you need to do your sums very carefully to avoid getting stuck with a DIY disaster. Here we look at the home improvements offering some of the best returns on investment.

Loft conversion

A loft conversion may be a major project, and can set you back around £16,000, but can also be one of the most cost-effective ways to add space given that it could add as much as £25,000 to your property. (**)
But before starting on any project you will need to get building regulation and planning permission, and you should also consider getting advice from a chartered surveyor, as a bad loft conversion can detract from the value of your home.

Update your kitchen

By installing a new kitchen you can add 5 per cent (***) to your home depending on size and spec, but it is important to ensure that expenditure is kept in proportion to the original value of your property.
Updating a kitchen can start at around £5,000, but you need to choose the appropriate level for the value of your home. Worth remembering there are cheaper ways to revamp a kitchen such as re-facing the kitchen cabinets, which will cut costs dramatically.

Painting and redecorating

It’s worth revamping your home with a fresh lick of paint and wallpaper, as these cosmetic improvements should cost you less than £1,000, but could add more than double this amount to the value of your property. (**)
Nonetheless, don’t get too personal or wacky - neutral colours can be the most effective.

Add an extension

Quality, well-proportioned extensions can add 25 per cent to the value of your property (****), but while a basic extension will cost from around £10,000, you need to check the selling price of properties in your area with extra accommodation so you can be realistic about how much you should spend.
The key is to keep alterations in line with the style of the home, size of plot and layout of accommodation.

Build a new bathroom

A new bathroom can give your property a sizeable lift, but the key is to keep the costs down to ensure you recoup the initial outlay which could be upwards of £3,000.
A separate bathroom is likely to add more value than a new en-suite as long as you think about convenience and layout, and it’s advisable to aim for fewer, more expensive fittings to keep the space simple.

Get energy efficient

Fuel efficiency and energy-saving measures are a real winner as the “green factor” takes hold, and with an initial outlay of just over £1,700, they are perceived to add two and a half times their initial outlay to the value of a home at just over £4,300. (**) This will also help reduce heating bills and improve a home’s energy efficiency - saving you money in running costs.

Spruce up your garden

Garden improvements may come cheap at a cost of just over £850, and you can soon reap the rewards of spending time on outside space, as this can add around £1,400 to the value of your home. (**) But be sure to avoid putting in objects such as statues which some buyers might find tacky.

Improve home security

Home security measures also add twice as much to the value of the house as their initial outlay cost - costing around £1,280, but adding more than £3,000. (**)

Add a conservatory

A new conservatory is likely to set you back anything from £10,000, but will add value to your home as it gives additional space and light and may not require the planning permission which an extension would need. A £15,000 conservatory, for example, could add as much as £30,000.

Give your home an external makeover

The front of the house is the first and last impression a potential buyer will see, so make sure it’s smart and well kept. The cost will depend on the work that needs doing - such as repairing windows and dripping gutters and refreshing the front door - but the lift in value could be upwards of £1,000.

Take advice

Before embarking upon any home improvement project it is crucial to bear in mind that every case is different, and that the returns will depend on factors such as your circumstances, region, type of property and location.

If you’re spending a lot of money and want to ensure you are adding value for every pound you spend, it is well worth taking professional advice.

(*) Ratedpeople.com, a match-making service for home improvers and recommended tradesmen
(**) Halifax
(***) The 10 Best Ways to Add Value to Your Home by Sally Coulthard
(***) National Self Build and Renovation Centre

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Remember, all of these tips should be preceded by a check of your home insurance and contents insurance policy to check you are fully covered.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

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Are you interested in buying Chinese lanterns? These are a great way to bring your home to life - especially if you have never decorated with these in the past. Although there are many benefits of Chinese lanterns, you must learn about the details before you make a buying decision. In the end, you will probably get what you want. But to be sure, you should take a close look at all available options.

One of the primary benefits of Chinese lanterns is that they come in many varieties. Some of the most popular include floating box lanterns, flying sky lanterns, floating flower lanterns, and luminaire candle bags. Do any of these sound good to you? For more information, you can use the internet to find details and images of each type. This should give you a better idea of what you can buy.

Why are so many people using Chinese lanterns? These are great for a large number of occasions including birthdays, holidays, fireworks parties, New Years, and much more. On top of this, if you just want to bring some fun to your home you can buy a few of these to display. In other words, Chinese lanterns are not just for special occasions - you can turn everyday into a party!

It is important to note that Chinese lanterns do more than look good. When the sun goes down, having one or two of these outside is a great source of light.

What about the cost? For many, this is another big benefit of Chinese lanterns. They are very cheap when compared to other light sources.

Now that you know a little more about Chinese lanterns you can decide if adding one or more of these to your home is a good idea. Do not be surprised if you find many places to put these.

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Be sure to visit http://chineselanterncompany.com/ to find the perfect chinese lantern

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

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