If you’re thinking of moving, chances are you’ve pictured yourself in your new home in time for the end of the year. What better place to spend the festive season, and kick off 2023, than in your new pad.
Why is moving home taking so long at the moment?
From the time a home is marked sale agreed, it currently takes 150 days on average to reach that all-important completion day. But that’s 50 days longer than during the same period in 2019.
It’s taking longer for home-buyers to get into their new homes because there’s a backlog in the conveyancing process: the thing that happens between having an offer accepted, and getting the keys to your new home.
According to Right Move there are currently more than half a million homes sold subject to contract, with buyers eagerly awaiting completion. That’s 44% more than in 2019.
While there’s been a slight easing in buyer demand since last month, this isn’t going to be enough to ease the delays we’re currently seeing. With lots of people still wanting to move, estate agents are still looking for buyers who are likely to result in a sale going through as quickly as possible.
The home moving timeline
There are a number of plates you’ll have to spin when moving home, including the buying and selling of properties. Below, we’ve included a run-down of what’s involved and how long you can expect each phase to take. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you’re a first-time buyer, this process could take significantly shorter than those involved in a lengthy chain.
The oppressive temperatures of a heatwave can have far-reaching impacts, from risks to human health to destroying crops and increasing the risk of wildfires. In 2019, extreme heat is estimated to have caused the deaths of 356,000 people worldwide, according to one set of estimates, making it one of the most dangerous yet overlooked natural hazards. While there is still a great deal of uncertainty about toll that heatwaves take (the World Health Organization estimates 166,000 people died between 1998 and 2017, by comparison), there is little doubt that the number of people exposed to heatwaves around the world is increasing.
How do you stay cool in a heatwave?
It's crucial to stay cool in hot weather as it can have serious effects on your health. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to find relief when the temperatures climb to uncomfortable levels.
You should also think twice before you open all the windows of your house to keep cool – if the temperature if higher outside than inside, you might lose a possible cool haven. Close the curtains in rooms where they face the sun instead.
One of the easiest ways to stay cool can be to take advantage of the temperature change in the air when water evaporates. Taking a cold shower or a swim can help you cool down quickly.
The human body's ideal temperature lies between 35.01C and 37.76C (95-99.9F), depending on how it is measured, although most medical experts accept an average of 36.8C (98.2F). When the surrounding air nears or exceeds this temperature, particularly when humidity is high, the body's ability to cool itself weakens.
How to stay hydrated in the heat
Keeping hydrated is a consistent public health message – for decades we've been urged by health authorities to consume as much as six to eight glasses worth of water a day, or 2-3 litres. But when temperatures rise, the need to keep fluids up is even more important.
Without a continual topping up of water (which makes up between 60% and 70% of our body weight) we start to dehydrate. The first reliable sign of dehydration is increasing thirst, when around 2% of body weight has been lost. Dehydration occurs more quickly with physical exertion or exercise. Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue and tiredness, and overheating as the body stops sweating to preserve water.
Many of us instinctively reach for a glass of water, but it may not always be the best option. Milk may, in some cases, be better, as it contains small amounts of salt and sugar which can be lost through sweating. Coconut water also contains vital elements lost through excess perspiration.
Moving into a new home, setting up a new kitchen? Check out our guide to what you'll actually use in the kitchen.
Chef's Knife
A good knife is a chef’s best friend. This is one of the few things that you’ll thank yourself for investing in. Carbon-plated stainless steel will stay sharp over time, but go to a specialty store to find the best match for you. Choose a knife that you feel comfortable handling. It should feel balanced in your hand, easy to hold and control, not too heavy, but definitely not flimsy. Believe us, you’ll be using it a lot, so take good care of it.
Metal Spatula
A sturdy metal (or high-quality plastic) spatula is vital for flipping, tossing, and serving all kinds of foods. Think eggs over easy, puffy pancakes, roasted veggies, sauteed meats, baked salmon…we could go on.
Whisk
Sturdy metal whisks come in all shapes and sizes. Choose a mid-sized whisk with a handle that fits comfortably in your hand. Use it to mix dry ingredients together before baking, stir eggs for a frittata or emulsify a vinaigrette.
Slotted Spoon
Whether it’s wooden or metal, a perforated (or slotted) spoon acts like a miniature strainer, removing solids from liquids—think pulling potatoes or small pasta noodles from boiling water.
Instant-read Thermometer
Easily (and quickly) check to see if your meats have cooked enough.
Saucepans
A large saucepan is essential for making pasta, boiling potatoes or corn, and simmering big batches of soups and broths. Look for a 5- or 6-quart size. A smaller saucepan (1.5 or 2.5 quarts) comes in handy for smaller items, like boiled eggs, rice and porridge.
Immersion Blender
This handheld tool makes it so easy to blend soups, smoothies, and pestos with the push of a button. I find much easier to handle than a traditional blender, and it’s great because it takes up much less space, too.
Colander
Wash fruits and drain pasta, veggies and other boiled foods. I like a colander that can balance on the edges of my sink, but a classic footed colander is just fine. Look for metal or ceramic, which are sturdier than plastic.
Prep Bowls
This might sound like a no brainer, but it’s important to have a variety of mixing bowls. Get ones that are metal or glass because they’re less porous than plastic. They won’t pick up stains or odours.
Cutting Board
A sturdy, stable surface is essential when it comes to prepping your food. A wooden cutting board will help protect your knife from dulling quickly, as well as make cleanup a breeze
With almost no effort at all, pets manage to bring so much joy into our lives. They make us laugh, comfort us when we’re sick or upset, and are always there for us no matter what. It’s no wonder that an estimated 12 million British households choose to keep a pet.
Here's a few benefits to having your furry friends!
They keep you fit
All breeds of dog need regular, daily walks in order to stay happy and healthy, and so do we! However, we sometimes have the tendency to get a bit lazy – if that sounds like you, a dog is the perfect cure! They’ll be dragging you out the front door and making you run around the park each and every day. Yes, a dog is possibly the best personal trainer you could ask for.
They make sure you're never lonely
If you live by yourself, or your partner works different shift patterns to you, it can get awfully lonely at home – unless you have a pet, of course! Cats and dogs make great companions – they’ll always be waiting for you to come home and they’ll be happy to lend an ear should you want to moan about the awful day you’ve had. Plus, most of the time, they’re up for a snuggle on the sofa.
They make you feel safe
Not everyone likes being home alone, but having a cat or dog there can make you feel a lot safer. Plus, burglars are less likely to target a house that’s clearly home to a dog. Some breeds make excellent guard dogs and will even protect you when you’re out for a run or walk.
They can help you make friends
The pet owner community is an incredibly friendly one – you’ll often find that people will stop to talk to you about your dog in the park. Having a pet is a great way to meet new people and create bonds quickly, especially if you’re not too good at small talk. You never know, owning a dog may help you meet the love of your life!
They lower your stress levels
Modern life is stressful and high levels of anxiety can lead to numerous health problems. Luckily, pets can really help us relax – stroking your cat or simply watching fish swim around in a tank can make your worries melt away.
You pay a mortgage and your payments go towards paying for your home, not into a landlord's pocket
If you pay £750 per month for rent, that’s a whopping 9K a year! You might as well just keep the money and not put it tIf you pay say £750 per month in rent, that’s £9,000 per year which you are spending that you will never get back. The money you’ve spent on rent will likely completely cover your landlord’s mortgage repayment figure, any insurances or management fees and leave them with a profit. This is especially true if they have an interest-only mortgage or have no outstanding loans on the home. If you are renting, and have enough money for a deposit and can afford the monthly repayments, it might be time to take the plunge and buy a home so the money goes towards your home, and not theirs!
You could make a profit when you sell if house prices rise
Homeownership is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. When it comes time to sell your house, remember that its value may be higher than what was paid for in years past - this could mean more money at retirement or when trying purchase another property! Beware that fees apply when moving home, including stamp duty and legal and estate agent fees, so this will reduce your overall profit.
The home will be yours when you've finished paying off your mortgage
Your biggest win after years of saving and paying off your mortgage is fully owning a home without any outstanding payments. The advantage to this? An influx in extra cash that you can use for anything - like buying more things!
You may decide this is important to you for when you retire, so you have fewer outgoings and financial responsibilities. An average mortgage term is somewhere between 25 and 30 years, so if you will likely retire in 25 to 30 years time, you may want to get a mortgage as soon as possible.
You don't need anyone's permission tot have pets or redecorate
This might sound obvious, but your home is yours to do with as you please. You can decorate your home any way you wish. Want a giant tropical fish tank? Go for it. Thinking of painting your downstairs loo walls bright orange? Well, it’s your home. Been waiting forever to have a hot tub in your garden? Sounds fab. If you’ve been waiting until you own a home to get a dog or cat, you’ll be able to when you buy your own home. Be sure to check that the home is suitable and safe before you adopt though!
You won't be asked to move by your landlord
Yes, another obvious one, but if you own a home, it’s yours! You can live there for as long as you want as long as you continue to repay your mortgage, every month, on time. Every payment you make is a signal of responsible credit management, and can help improve your credit score.
You may be required to move if your home becomes subject to a compulsory purchase order. This would only occur in cases where the government or other body requires land for construction of critical infrastructure, such as new roads and train lines like HS2 - which is currently under consideration by British authorities!
England will be the first country in the world to introduce mandatory electric car charging points for new-build homes.All new homes in England will have to be fitted with charge points for electric vehicles, as the government seeks to facilitate the infrastructure improvements necessary for the planned mass-adoption of electric vehicles.
The news comes as Department for Transport has announced a public consultation on the subject. If the planned changes to building regulations go through, it would force homebuilders to install charge points so potential owners could easily charge their plug-in hybrids and electric cars at home. The move would mean buyers of new-build homes would not need to make use of the Government’s home charger subsidy scheme, which has seen almost 100,000 wall-boxes installed.
No mention has been made of how new-build houses without off-street parking would be fitted with charge points, but last week the Government invested nearly £40 million into research projects that included wireless charge points, and charge points that rise up from the pavement.
The drive towards EVs comes as the UK Government sets out to meet stringent targets for air quality and pollution caused by internal combustion engine emissions. From 2040, the £1.5 billion Road to Zero strategy will see the sale of all new cars without electrification banned. Details of this remain thin on the ground, but it is understood new cars will have to be able to travel for 50 miles under battery power in order to be allowed to remain on sale, essentially removing all cars but pure electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen cars from new-car showrooms.
In a separate announcement, the Department for Transport said all public charge points should accept contactless payments, with no need for a subscription, from next year, saving EV and PHEV owners from having to sign up with the numerous separate companies that run the UK’s network of public chargers. The DfT is also further investigating ‘smart’ charging, which makes best use of peak and off-peak electricity rates, and could see EV’s act as a hive-like network of power storage when large amounts of electricity are generated by wind turbines, for example.
As well as Road to Zero, the Government has also announced the UK is to be carbon neutral by 2050. With transport accounting for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, improving and reducing emissions from cars is a key target on the path to achieving this ambition.
Announcing the plans to mandate charge points in new-build homes, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Home charging provides the most convenient and low-cost option for consumers – you can simply plug your car in to charge overnight as you would a mobile phone.”
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Socialising, Studying, and Students
Moving away from home for the first time can sometimes require you to make some adjustments to your lifestyle. One of the hardest but important hurdles of being a student is finding a balance between your academic and social life.
Being presented with this new found freedom can be very challenging, especially if you struggle with self-discipline. It can be quite tempting to use your time at university to focus on the ‘student’ experience, but cultivating some good work practices now will set you up for future success.
Benefits of Breakout & Communal Space within your Student Accommodation
It is important to set aside some relaxation time or short ten minute breaks when studying. Taking breaks and doing something completely different allows the brain time to absorb the information and reduces stress levels.
Modern student accommodation provides entertainment, communal and fitness facilities which allows students to manage time more effectively by having all amenities in one area. The ability to have the option of break out space to play pool with friends, or retreat to study is not one which requires a lot of time nor effort. The convenience of having such facilities can help students with their time management.
The Importance of a Dedicated Study Space
A study space minimises the stress of having to physically go to the library and find that perfect spot that isn’t too noisy, too quite or too crowded.
Having a dedicated study area prompts your brain to get in the zone. It’s vital for student to have a recognised space for the sole purpose of studying. This will minimise the time it takes them to focus and leave less room for distractions to occur. Having a separate environment for work allows the brain to associate and identify that room with studying.
University is an experience like no other, and the key to enjoying every aspect of student life is finding a happy medium between your social and academic life. Focusing on one while alienating the other isn’t advisable for anyone. The last thing you want to do is allow one to negatively affect the other. If you manage to attain a nice balance between the two you’ll get the opportunity to enjoy student life and all it has to offer.
Student Accommodation providers are increasingly trying to develop and enhance their work play environments, providing greater balancing options for their students.
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Design & Ideas For Your New Home
Pinterest is a fantastic interactive scrapbook – think back to when you would buy home magazines, cut out your favourite ideas and stick them on mood boards when you were decorating. In effect, this is an updated version!
You can add images in three ways
Upload from your computer (this could be a picture of your room so you can plan ideas for décor whilst looking at what you’re working with
Search the Pinterest site (more on that below)
Scour the internet and purchasing websites and add in particular products
You can make both public and private boards – which is why it is classed as a social channel. Your open boards can be found by other people by your board theme or which hashtag you used on there. If you use a private board, however, the content in it will only be seen by you.
The best functionality of this channel is the ability to link to products in images to their original websites. They will sit in your board as an image but you can click out to buy them whenever you’re ready, saving you the time and hassle of having to remember where you saw them first or having to run out into town!
There is also a great search functionality in Pinterest. You can search for other people’s ideas by keyword, their personal or company page or themed boards – so if you were looking for garden renovation ideas, for example, you can culminate the best ideas in one place. From here, you can pin other people’s pictures onto your board and add a comment or link into it as a reminder for yourself at a later date.
But how can you be using this site within the home?Why not use Pinterest for:
If you’re doing up a room of your home, why not plan out different wallpapers, potential furniture choices and decorative items to compare products or check everything matches. Just moved into a new house? Make a board for each room so your ideas don’t all get muddled!
Planning to do up your garden? Look at what other people have done with a similar space or add in potential decorative items to one board.
Adding a new addition to the family? Plan your room décor ideas alongside potential purchases, toys and even baby grows!
Planning out your Christmas menu for when the family descend? Add recipe ideas and even food products (that wine that Aunty Meredith insists is the only one she’ll drink!) into a board so your ideas are all in one place.
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Gardening Tips For All Year Round!
1 If you’re looking for colour inspiration in the garden, think about the colours you already enjoy in the house before heading to the garden centre.
2 To help the garden look good all year round, plant plenty of evergreens and supplement these with perennials that will come back year after year.
3 Maintenance doesn’t need to be a chore. Weed-suppressant membranes put down in borders, which you can cut and plant through, will keep them tidy all year round with zero maintenance.
4 Don’t be afraid of artificial lawns. If your lifestyle does not give the time to spare to mow, there are some remarkably good artificial options on the market.
5 Nourish gardens and containers with time-release fertilisers that continue feeding plants for long periods.
6 Freshening up your outdoor space by washing down old and weary-looking garden furniture and giving it a fresh coat of paint can help transform a garden.
7 Add fresh mulch to your borders every year to keep weeds down and help the soil retain water, so you can water less.
8 Don’t let the decisions you made last year restrict you now: you can always move things around and replant and repaint if you have changed your mind.
9 If you can get out in the garden after a heavy shower, the weeds will put up much less resistance. Even deep-rooted dandelions pull up easily from wet soil.
10 Wait to prune evergreens, such as boxwood, until they’ve produced most of their new growth. That way you won’t have to tackle them again until next year.
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Spring Clean!
April signals the beginning of spring and is the perfect time of year for both landlords and tenants to check the general condition of their property. Here's how to ensure everything is in tip-top shape and ready for summer.
Spring cleaning tips for landlords
If the property or any outbuilding is timber clad, have a look at the exterior woodwork and take the opportunity to get any damaged areas repaired, then treated or repainted.
As the weather gets warmer, there is a greater risk of infestations. To prevent pests coming into a property, it is advisable to check the roof for any slipped tiles, rips or tears. Also make sure there isn’t any crumbling brickwork or holes in the exterior walls, in particular check airbricks and ventilation covers along with historic gaps/holes from old plumbing systems.
The boiler and heating system may have been working overtime during the colder months, so to help mitigate future issues consider undertaking a timely service of the system.
If the property has the benefit of air-conditioning, get the units checked now so they are fully operational when the temperatures rise.
Gutters and downpipes should be cleared of leaves and debris, and check that drains and soak-aways are clear and free-running. If not, check your agreement with your tenant as it is likely that they will share some responsibility for having them cleared.
If you have opted for a management service, your agent is likely to undertake these checks on your behalf. Check with your agent.
Spring cleaning tips for tenants
Unless gardening services are included in your rent, now's the time to start thinking about maintenance. Particularly, clear the lawns and borders of obvious weeds before they take hold. If you have patio or garden furniture, it is likely to need cleaning and, if made of wood, re-oiled to make it look smart in time for outdoor entertaining.
If you have an outdoor pool, now is the time to open it up, top it, clear any debris and make sure the chemicals are level, so it is in full working order by the summer.
As a tenant, you should always keep an eye on the property and report maintenance issues to your landlord or agent in a timely manner. If in the course of your spring clean you happen to notice anything untoward, make sure you report it in writing so that action can be taken.
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