Things To Save For When Renting Your First Home
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A home is considered vacant if there is no one living there for more than a month. There are many reasons vacant properties could be at risk, including renovations, the transition between tenants, as well as incidents such as flood damage or vandalism. Some of these risks may not be covered by a traditional homeowners insurance policy.
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Keeping your space organised and clutter-free can be a challenge, especially if you have limited storage options or live in a small house or apartment. However, with a little creativity and some helpful storage hacks, you can maximise your available space and make the most of what you have, helping you to find things quicker and easier. In this article, we'll share ten storage hacks that can be used in various areas of your home, garage and beyond.
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Windows are more than just functional features of a building; they can also be a significant element of its design and style. With so many window options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right ones for your home. Whether you're looking to replace old windows or add new ones, it's important to consider factors like light, energy efficiency, privacy, and aesthetics.
In this article, we'll explore some stylish window design ideas that can elevate the look and feel of your property. From awning and casement windows to double hung and picture windows, we'll provide an overview of the top window types, their features, benefits, and drawbacks, to help you make an informed decision. So, let's dive in!
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These days, many of us are constantly looking for ways to access additional financial resources and support. After all, the cost of living has grown increasingly difficult for most people to handle over the years, even if they have a decent income.
While budgeting and being cautious with your money can make a huge difference to your quality of life, it can help to search for extra revenue too.
Making additional money can be a lot easier than it seems if you own your own property. You don’t necessarily need to sell your space to make extra cash. There are various programs homeowners can get involved in to turn their spare space into a source of additional income. Here are just some of your options.
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Are you looking for natural and effective ways to enhance your home's ambiance, improve your skin and sleep, and even repel insects? Look no further than essential oils. These concentrated plant extracts have been used for centuries for their therapeutic properties and pleasant scents. With a little creativity, you can easily incorporate essential oils into your daily routine to improve your home's environment and boost your well-being. They're also a cost-effective solution for many applications as only a few drops are usually needed.
In this article, we'll share seven simple and practical ways to use essential oils around your home, from making your own reed diffusers and soothing irritated skin to freshening up your laundry and keeping insects at bay. Whether you're new to essential oils or a seasoned user, these tips will help you get the most out of these versatile and natural wonders.
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Everyone needs fruit and vegetables. Since we were little we’ve been told it’s an important part of well-balanced diet. They are vital for good health. However, it seems only recently that more and more people are becoming interested in growing them - as well as eating them. Is it time for you to grow your own vegetable garden?
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Having a good night's sleep is not only beneficial to how we feel when we wake up the next day but also to our overall health. Whilst you may not realise it, your mattress could actually be impacting the way that you sleep, causing you discomfort throughout the night or being the reason why you snore. Ensuring our mattress provides our body with enough support to have a comfortable night's rest is so important. If you haven’t updated yours for the last 6 to 8 years, here’s the perfect excuse. We’re exploring the benefits of a good mattress and the importance of a good night’s sleep.
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In the colder months, it's important to make sure your home is prepared to keep out the chill. Keeping your house warm in freezing temperatures, or if you live in colder climates such as in North America, not only keeps you and your family comfortable but can also help reduce energy bills and prevent damage to your home.
There are several ways to keep your home warm during the winter, including sealing up drafts, insulating your home, and using heating sources wisely. In this post, we'll cover these and many other tips (for all budgets) to help you stay warm and toasty all winter long.
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Solar panels are an efficient and cost-effective way to generate clean, renewable energy for your home or business. However, like any other equipment, they require regular maintenance to ensure they are operating at their best.
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When planning a home renovation, aesthetics is usually at the forefront of everyone’s mind. There’s nothing wrong with designing a gorgeous space to call your own, but there’s more to be considered.
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Decorating a small living room can be tricky, but we've got some great ideas. From Christmas wreaths, garlands and festive lights to the tree itself, these tips will help you make your living space feel like a winter wonderland.
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Around 60% of homes in England and Wales fill their kettles, clean their clothes and wash their hair in hard water.
Not all areas of the UK are affected by hard water. Rain falls as “soft” water, but as it trickles through certain rocks and soils (particularly limestone and chalk) it will naturally collect traces of minerals like magnesium and calcium, becoming “hard”. It’s these minerals that like to stick around and cause havoc within our nice, clean homes.
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You can do a lot with less. Redecorating is time-consuming as well as expensive, but you can completely redesign your home's style with these low-cost and free tips. You do not always have to get the paints and wallpaper out either.
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House cleaning services can help you stay organised and maintain sanitary environments around your home, regardless of whether you have kids or pets or if you're a bit disorganised. Plus, keeping your home clean on the inside contributes to its value in the long run when it comes time to sell it or rent it out. But what does a house cleaner do exactly? Find out how they can make your life easier and the chores they can complete below.
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Do you have a budget in mind for your next home renovation? A home renovation project can be a fantastic experience, but it can also be a budget buster if you're not careful. In this article, we’ll reveal learn how to create a realistic home renovation budget for your project and, more importantly, how to stick to it.
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With the cost of living continuously on the rise from food prices to mortgage interest rates, rent increases, fuel costs and energy prices, many people may be looking for more ways to save money than ever before. In times of desperation, people may even be tempted to tamper with their gas or electric meters to try and reduce their energy bills.
This is an act known as energy theft or energy crime which is not only illegal, but comes with life-threatening dangers. Even if you do not tamper with your own energy meters, you or someone you know could be at risk from the devastating consequences of gas theft or electrcity theft if you are in rented accommodation, terraced housing or a block of flats.
Read on to learn how energy theft might affect you, how to detect energy theft, the dangers of energy theft and exactly how to report energy theft before it could harm somebody.
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Need more privacy in your garden? Check out our extensive list of garden privacy ideas for easy ideas of what to do!
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The future of cleaning is here. New and innovative high-tech gadgets are the way of the future. They will make sure that your home is protected from any potential harm.
With so many new gadgets on the market, it can be hard to choose which one is best for you. And what unique cleaning gadgets even exist?
To make this decision easier, we have compiled a list of some of our favourite high-tech cleaning gadgets that you should consider buying now or in the future.
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Working from home is the dream scenario for many people, but if that dream becomes a reality, where will you work from? Unless you have a dedicated room that can be used as a home office, then you’re going to be working quite literally from your dining table or squeezing a desk into a shared space. So here's the important question, is it worth building a garden office?
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Lekto Wood Fuels is a well-known brand in the wood fuels market and we’ve been using a number of their products for the last year. They’ve recently released a new manufactured log called the Fire Log which we’ve been testing in our log burner.
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Lekto has recently added a new wood fuel to their product range and I’ve been testing them to see how they perform in our log-burning stove. Lekto is marketing the Nestro Softwood Logs as a simplified approach to quickly heating your room or house. So, I’ve put them to the test and I’ll share my findings in this post slong with a Lekto Woodfuels Discount Code!
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Looking for a way to simplify your home decor and make your life easier? Find decorating ideas to simplify your home with these easy-to-follow tips.
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Find a Eufy discount code for £40 off here! We purchased the Eufy Robovac 30c to try and make our lives easier with a robot hoover to do a general clean of our family home each day. Read our honest review of the Eufy Robovac 30c, the pros and cons, and see a video of it in action.
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More and more people are setting up their own independent businesses. Running your own small business provides flexibility and the opportunity to manage your schedule and finances. If you’re planning to launch your own startup with your house as the business premises, then you might be asking yourself ‘do I need permission to run a business from home?’
It’s not a dumb question as you might not actually be able to run a business from home, even if you own your own house! It all depends on your circumstances. Let’s take a look in more detail at the varying factors.
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Furnishing a house doesn't have to be expensive. Here are some tips for buying furniture on a budget, as well as some creative ways to furnish your home for free.
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Searching for a new home can feel like an endless task, particularly if you’re a first-time buyer with no experience. The housing market is tough at the moment but try not to let that deter you.
Here are some top tips on how to be proactive whilst searching for a new home. Use this checklist for house hunting success!
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A home makeover can be a daunting task, especially if you're on a budget. But with these easy and creative ideas, you can give your home an updated look without breaking the bank.
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Most of us will move house a few times in our lives, and most of us will find that the whole thing costs a lot more than we expected, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way, not if you get creative anyway.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best, most creative ways for how to save money on moving costs:
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In today’s financial climate, saving for a home can seem like an impossible task for many but if homeownership is a dream of yours, try not to be disheartened. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the sooner you identify your goal, the easier it will be to figure out ways to reach it. Here are some tips on how to save for a house.
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Our vehicles are valuable, loved, an investment and for many, a lifeline for our ways of life. Therefore, it’s only natural we want to protect them from theft. Many modern cars, vans and motorhomes will come with built in security devices but unfortunately this doesn’t always prevent theft. Thieves are getting smarter and figuring out how to steal even some of the most protected vehicles. So, the big question is… What can we do to prevent our vehicles being stolen, especially from our own homes and driveways?
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The end of summer brings a change in the weather, and to homeowners that presents the perfect opportunity to begin maintenance work before winter takes hold. Owning a property presents a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a stable homelife and some outdoor space, and occasional maintenance is necessary to ensure that it remains in peak condition.
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Are you moving across the country? If so, you're in for a big adventure! Moving is always a hassle, but it can be especially difficult when you're relocating and moving far away. However, with a little bit of preparation and organisation, you can make your cross-country move a breeze.
In this blog post, we will discuss seven tips that will help make your move easier. Follow these tips and you'll be on your way to enjoying your new home in no time!
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Wondering which items of furniture you can commission as a bespoke piece to complement your home and maximise storage space? Read on for several of the best ideas for bespoke storage solutions.
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If you are looking to sell your home or a property you own, you will want to maximise your potential return to earn as much money as possible. There will be many different things you could do to the property to help increase the value. Some of these will create a small increase whilst other will provide a far greater increase.
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IMOU’s latest addition to their fleet of security devices is the 4K, full colour Knight security camera. A feature packed outdoor security camera that’s set to rival some of the big brand names out there. But how does it stack up? I’ve put it to the test to see if this is a true contender for your smart home security system.
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PR sample. Thank you to Flexispot who have sent us a gifted desk of our choice for our new garden office - all words and opinions our own.
We’ve recently received our Flexispot L-shaped standing desk which is a bit of a game changer for us. In this article I’ll tell you a little bit about why this has made such a difference to the way we work and how it has helped us both physically and mentally.
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Bookshelves are not just for books, as they serve many purposes within a home. They are a great place to share your favourite family photos or even the trophies that were won in days gone by. But all too often, shelves are left full of books, without any kind of decoration at all.
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I’m always looking for affordable ways to uplift my garden (and my home!), so it comes as no surprise how happy I was when I found that gabion baskets are making a comeback. Many people see gabion baskets as simply functional building techniques.
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Have you just looked at your walls that are no longer white and thought “weren’t these white before?”. Over time walls lose their colour and shine and, with busy lives, we only end up noticing them when they are truly not white. It happens.
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Decorating can often be a complicated job, especially when you haven’t tried your hand at it before. Getting hints and tips from those that have experience can be extremely valuable.
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The summer is fast approaching and the weather is warming up. It’s that time of year again to get the barbecue out and enjoy some tasty food outdoors. If you’re anything like us then the BBQ is an essential part of summer living, whether you’re at home, by the beach or in the countryside. Lekto kindly sent us some charcoal for our summer BBQs and today I’ll share our honest review. I also have a Lekto discount code so you can enjoy 5% off all products on their website.
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Buying and selling a house if you wish to move home is an expensive activity. We moved house last year and the total moving costs were just shy of £20,000 for all the associated removals, estate agents and legal fees. It’s a big decision to go through such a process, and a costly one!
Unfortunately, many house sales and purchases fall through before completion which can leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket. In fact, 30% of house sales fall through in total, so the likelihood is very real.
To help ease this potential financial gamble, there is an insurance called Home Buyers Protection Insurance which can help you recoup some of the lost costs if a house purchase falls through. In this article, we’ll explore together exactly what this insurance is and whether it’s worth the cost.
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Getting enough sleep is an important part of leading a healthy, happy life. But some people can't fall asleep or stay asleep at night because their bedrooms are uncomfortable, noisy, too bright, or lack a sense of privacy. This post will show you how to make your bedroom more relaxing for sleep using simple, and practical tips.
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When it comes to designing any outside area, many homeowners focus on the plants they want to choose and where to put them as the main outdoor feature.
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Having a small bathroom has its advantages and disadvantages. Keeping it compact means most things are within an arm’s length, and it leaves more space for other rooms in the home.
However, there’s a lot to fit into a compact bathroom from a utility standpoint, and this can make designing a small bathroom a challenge – even for those with interior design experience.
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Finding the correct clock size might seem like a trivial thing, but it's something worth thinking about in a little more detail to help find the perfect match. We've made the mistake with impulsive clock purchases that just wern't suitable for our home. Hopefully these three quick considerations will help prevent you from making the same mistakes.
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For those thinking of starting out in property development, it’s an exciting time and holds some great potential for success. However, there is also a lot to learn and a few tricks that can help make the process easier to navigate. Have a look at the post below to discover more about property development and how to get started.
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Despite the name, bed bugs don’t just make their home in your bed, or even just in the bedroom. They are tiny creatures that clutch onto fabrics, clothes, and luggage, hitchhiking a ride into your home with their new food source (you). Even though they are so small and hide in small dark crevices in fabrics, carpets, and mattresses, they are one of the most troublesome infestations to have in your home. Contrary to popular belief, they aren’t actually associated with uncleanliness, and they are often picked up by people that have been travelling or moving around, no matter what kind of establishment you spend the night at.
If you suspect you or someone in your home has picked up these irritating creatures, be prepared to take the required steps to remove them from your home and soft furnishings; it isn’t always as simple as it sounds.
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The cost of running a home can be tremendous. It can seem like there’s always something that needs fixing, and in every instance, it can be a costly expense. Maybe you are looking for some helpful tips on how to reduce home maintenance costs, especially given the state of the economy right now.
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Do you want to renovate your kitchen area? If so, you will need to choose a sink mixer that's perfect for your style. Although it may appear to be a lovely piece of kitchen accessory, your sink mixer must also function flawlessly over time.
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On average, people spend about 50% of their waking time in their home. In recent years this has increased to about 62% due to the pandemic. With all this time spent in our homes, there is no surprise that many want to improve the aesthetic, functionality and overall quality of their homes. In this post I’d like to explore a few key factors that can help transform any home into a practical living environment, that bring both pleasure and a calming factor to our lives.
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A few clever storage solutions can go a long way to making a small bedroom feel more roomy. Here are several ideas for where to put your clothes, shoes, books, and more.
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Today I’m going to be reviewing the ‘Cell 2’ from IMOU, a 4MP QHD security camera designed to protect your home, office or any other property type. We’ve been testing this product over the last few days to see how well it performs, what features it has and how it can help secure our home. We have experience with similar products on the market so it’s going to be interesting to see how this compares.
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Living off the grid is not as free as it seems. There are hidden costs that you might not be aware of. Learn more about living off the grid and the potential hidden costs in this blog post.
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More and more of us are working from home than ever before. This means many people are suddenly converting that spare guest bedroom that never gets used into a more practical home office space.
If you have the extra space in your home for a home office, then it’s a great idea to have a space separate from the rest of the home that can be dedicated to work. It helps to ensure a better work-life balance by keeping work away from the main house and your private life.
However, if you are suddenly creating a home office for the first time then you might be wondering how to go about it in an eco-friendly way. With the economy fragile, you might also be wondering how it can be done with money saving in mind too.
Luckily being eco-friendly and money saving, often go hand in hand. Here are some of the best ways you can create a more sustainable home office and save some money in the process!
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Housing prices have been increasing rapidly in recent years making buying a house seem out of reach for so many. And, even if it doesn’t seem out of reach, some people simply don’t want to spend such exorbitant amounts of money on a property if there are alternative housing ideas that provide the cheapest way to live.
After all, the costs of owning a house don’t stop at buying the house…. There’s often large monthly bills, taxes, insurances, maintenance costs to think about.
This is why in recent years there has been a boom in people seeking out alternative housing ideas such as tiny homes, off-grid living and other alternative ways to live a simpler and cheaper lifestyle when it comes to the place to call home.
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#Ad. I was recently contacted by Zebra to test and review their ZSB Series thermal label printer. For the purpose of this review I was gifted the ZSB-DP14 design.
Got a small business, home office or do you work from home?
Read on to see how these thermal label printers can help organise your life, save time and keep your home office eco-friendly at the same time!
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We have recently relocated and, wanting to reduce costs, we decided to handle the removal ourselves. Quite a task considering we were moving more than three hours away, had a four bed house and three sheds worth of stuff to move, plus two primary school age children.
Would we do it ourselves again? I doubt it. Whilst we managed to cut the cost considerably in comparison to hiring removals, including having storage for three months and it still coming in under the removals quote, there are several reasons why I would actually recommend hiring a professional removals company instead.
Read on to learn why hiring a removal company is worth the money.
"Please all fit... it's going to all fit... it HAS to all fit...!"
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The process of selling a house is complex. You want to get it right the first time, or you may have to pay the price in lost time and money. To give yourself a headstart, make sure you do these three things BEFORE you list your house for sale.
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