Helping Innovate Property (HIP) – Blog, Housing Market News and Articles

They say that first impressions are the most lasting.

Consequently, when it comes to selling your home, it’s important to make sure the outer appearance of your property looks less Skid Row and more Millionaires’ Row.

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There’s always a lot of nervousness around buying or selling a house. It often comes during the process known as conveyancing. First time buyers in particular are often left feeling inadequate or bamboozled by such an elaborate process.

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Have you ever given much thought to the energy efficiency of your conservatory?

As you kick back and relax with a glass of wine in hand and the sun streaming through the windows, it’s highly unlikely to be a topic at the forefront of your mind.

After all, you’ve worked hard to afford an enjoyable living space for you and your family without those kinds of concerns sullying your mood, right?

Wrong.
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This is one of those expressions that is not as exciting as it sounds… The Party Wall. It really has nothing to do with a party at all. In fact, it is very misleading with how exciting it actually is as it really is the opposite of exciting. The Party Wall Act is to do with your home and restrictions on your extension. The premise behind it is to protect both you and your neighbours from outrageous extensions in your neighbourhood, but you could also be handed a hefty bill if you don’t follow the correct procedure with your extension.

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The Help to Buy scheme is a new government initiative designed to help first time buyers and existing homeowners move up the property ladder. It is one way the government is trying to boost the economy after the recession and get homeowners moving again. This blog looks into the details of the scheme and how you may be affected by where you live in the country.

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It doesn’t matter whether you are moving down the street or across the country, the fact is, it is much less stressful when you choose the right removal company to move your belongings. Not surprisingly, as with any choice like this, it is not as straight forward as it may seem and you may be faced with options you didn’t even know existed. Read on to find out some of the things you need to consider, how you should prepare and what you should expect.

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In this day and age people are getting very creative with ways to save money, especially when it comes to extra luxuries like a holiday. Many people consider ‘House Swapping’ with other people in their chosen destination as the experience can cut the costs of accommodation from your holiday. Such agreements come with many positive and negatives that you need to be aware of before you embark on such an adventure. Read on to see what the pros and cons are of house swaps.

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Gas can pose a serious threat to any home and it is vital that you conduct regular checks on your gas appliances to ensure they are working correctly. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause serious harm or can even be fatal to you and your family. By ensuring to check your home sufficiently each year you can potentially avoid a serious risk to those in your home.

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Looking after your property when you don’t actually live in the building can be time-consuming and difficult, especially when you don’t live near the home. Whether you have a beachside home in Cornwall or a townhouse in a city centre that is rented out to businessmen visiting for long term leases, you need to set up a way for the home to be managed. Making the choice as to whether you have the time to commit to managing your home or whether you want to hire a company to do it for you usually comes down to money.

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Trees can add an element of class to you home and look wonderful in a well-landscaped garden. They can also be a pain when their roots start affecting your home or their branches interfere with electricity and telephone wires. If you keep your trees well maintained you can enjoy the pleasure they provide in your garden with no problems. Here is a guide to keeping your trees healthy and out of trouble.

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Are you that person who dashes into the kitchen or bathroom in the morning only to hop and skip around because the tile is so cold? Cold tiles on the floor are no way to start a day and the way most of us combat this issue is by purchasing big thick slippers and mats. This can all be a thing of the past with the introduction of heated flooring in your home. Toasty warm tiles? Yes please. Let’s look further into the pros and cons of this new innovative idea for homes.

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