News: What’s hot for the world of property in 2008?
We look at eco-friendly houses, multigenerational homes, shared properties and other trends.
Once Christmas is out of the way, the tree is back in the loft, the decorations are down and we’ve all put on a few pounds, something ignites in the minds of the British consumer – we all want to shop. And most of us want to shop for home improvements, with sofas, kitchens and bathrooms top of the shopping list.
According to research by The British Retail Authority, poor sales in the run-up to Christmas will force stores to slash prices by up to 75 per cent, and sales will starts as early as Boxing Day. But what will we be buying? Here, Mark Cooper, Managing Director of Homeimprovementquotes.co.uk, takes a look at some of the shopping trends for home interiors in 2008, as well as the bigger investments some of us will be making into property.
Eco-friendly housing will be even bigger
You may take a lead from Gordon Brown who recently doubled his plans to build eco towns and is now set to build ten around Britain in the coming years, two of which are planned for 2008. The new environmentally friendly towns aim to reduce the carbon footprint, with houses running on self-generated power and the families being more self-sufficient. One village in Shropshire is already acting as a model for how the new eco-towns will look and function – 20 houses have already been built, and this will double to 40 by 2009.
Every house in the village is made from timber, and resembles a Scandinavian log cabin. All the other material used in the build is renewable or reclaimed – lime mortar, timber cladding and clay roof tiles. The key to these eco-friendly houses is the insulation – triple glazing, underfloor cladding and walls over one foot thick keep the heat in, and reduce excess emissions. The walls are lined with plywood, membrane and recycled newspaper, and extra warmth is provided by wood-burning stoves. The house’s water supply is heated by solar panels on the roof.
The carbon footprint for these houses is minimal, and to top it all off, families who live here are each provided with an allotment, so they can even grow their own food as well! However all this self sufficiency comes at a price. At the moment, eco-homes cost 30 per cent more than a standard family home, but with the introduction of more of these villages in the future, that price will have to decrease.
I’ll huff and I’ll puff…
But this house made of straw won’t blow in! Keeping on an eco-theme, you could build your own eco-friendly mobile home out of, of all things, straw! Apparently this is a trend which has already taken off in Canada, France, Germany and Austria, and could be set for Britain in the coming year. The end structure looks a lot like a caravan, but is in fact made from bales of straw and sheep-fleece insulation. The straw is stacked onto metal spikes to form load-bearing walls, and the rest of the straw is stacked onto a wooden framework, which is removed later. Once the straw is in place, the walls are plastered with lime render which strengthens it so that the wooden frame can be taken out.
Insulation is once again the key to keeping the carbon footprint of these properties low. The heat is generated through solar panels on the roof and cannot escape due to the thick underfloor, wall and roof insulation made from sheep’s fleece. The straw itself makes the structure at least ten degrees warmer than a conventional mobile home. However you may want to stick to your chilly caravan once you see the price – at the moment, a mobile home made of straw will set you back £30,000.
Will we ever leave home?
At the opposite end of the scale to self sufficiency is the next trend to reach our shores for 2008. Already popular in America, the “multi-generational” home could be the answer to teenagers who want their own space, but can’t afford to step onto the property ladder. “Multi-generational” homes are based on the same idea as having an annexe but have their own front door, and are specifically targeted at older children who need their own space, particularly if they have just returned from a gap-year or university.
A new development in Rochdale, aimed for completion at the end of 2008, primarily contains “multi-generational” houses. Most are three storey houses with two front doors, one to the main house, and another to a separate section of the ground floor. As well as this, each house has a first floor terrace apartment, with a separate staircase entrance. The idea is that grandparents live in one self-contained section, children in another and the rest of the family in the main house. Other houses in the development include five-bedroom properties with a two-bedroom house in the back garden – either for children and their young families, or again for grandparents.
There are similar developments cropping up all over the country, all due for completion in 2008. However if you’re not keen on having your whole family living under one roof, a new luxury development in Cambridge has houses with separate annexes on the opposite side of the road!
A problem shared
For those first-time buyers desperate to fly the nest, a huge trend in 2008 will be shared ownership, a house buying scheme first set up by the Government in 1990. The scheme was originally targeted at key workers such as nurses and firemen, but has recently been re-launched to benefit those first-time buyers who are finding it increasingly difficult to get on the property ladder. Now a sizable proportion of every new housing development has to be given up to “affordable housing”, which means a shared ownership scheme.
The process works by letting buyers purchase a percentage of a new home, say 25 per cent, and pay rent on the rest. The rented part of the property is owned by the Registered Social Landlord (formerly the Housing Association). As the buyer becomes more established, they can buy a bigger share of the property, for example, 5 per cent more per year, in a process known as “staircasing”, until the property is theirs. Any first-time buyer can qualify for the scheme in their local area, provided they genuinely cannot afford to purchase a house in the conventional way.
Mortgage lenders are already beginning to offer provisions to help buyers set up home in this way, and as the scheme expands in the coming year, more and more lenders will begin to offer loans on shared ownership basis.
Shop, shop shop!
So what will we be buying for our homes come Boxing Day?! The eco-trend looks set to continue past energy saving – Fairtrade furniture and fabrics will be everywhere. Designers are increasingly producing their goods in an environmentally friendly way, and using eco-friendly materials like grasses and recycled wood. One design company is even offering customers the opportunity to return their furniture when they no longer need it – the company then refurbishes the items and sell it again.
Also hot for 2008 will be leather upholstery and metal finishes. Lamps and curtain rails made from copper and brass will be the highlight of the design year, complemented by metallic wallpapers and silver accessories.
As always, the biggest savings to be made this January will be in the DIY stores. Kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms are all expected to be slashed to half price as soon as the doors open on Boxing Day. Sofas will be reduced to less than half price and carpets will have almost 70 per cent off! Huge savings can also be made on appliances and electricals in the sales, so save your money ‘til then and grab some bargains!
For more information please visit www.homeimprovementquotes.co.uk
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
How to…..deal with a home improvement salesman
How to…..deal with a home improvement salesman
The door-to-door home improvement salesman is a magnet for bad press – the Office of Fair Trading cites some of the most common complaints about door-to-door selling as: being pressured to have work done which you don’t really need, being overcharged, losing your deposit to rogue traders and work being left unfinished as traders go out of business.
However not all home improvement salesmen are bad guys – most of them are just trying to earn a living! So instead of slamming the door in their faces or hanging up the phone, here are five easy ways to deal with a home improvement salesman and an explanation of your rights as a consumer.
1 – Take the pressure off
Never be pressured into getting home improvements which you don’t need, just because the salesman is standing there on the doorstep. A salesman putting too much pressure on you to make a decision is a bad sign – the company may only be in the area for a few days touting for business, which could void any guarantees and make it difficult to track them down if things go wrong. A genuine home improvement salesman will give you time to make your decision – by law, if the salesman’s visit is unsolicited (i.e. you did not invite him round for an appointment), you are entitled to seven days’ thinking time. During this seven day period you can consider the offer, get quotes from other builders to compare deals or even change your mind completely.
2 – Be patient
Never sign the contract on the initial consultation – even if you are tempted by special offers which have to be signed for that day. Take the seven-day thinking period to read over the contract, even if you do not think you need to – make sure you read all the clauses and the small print. Once you have signed the contract, you have limited cancellation rights – contracts are legally binding and you cannot back out of them just because you have changed your mind. Most importantly, never sign the contract just because you want to get rid of the salesman – it’s far better to listen to half an hour of sales patter than to enter into a contract for thousands of pounds which you can’t get out of later.
3 – Your right to cancel
In certain cases, where a salesman has visited your home uninvited and you have signed a contract, you can get out of it if you act fast. However this is a risk – a contract is legally binding and there are criteria in place to stop you breaking your end of the bargain. You are only protected if the salesman called at your house totally unexpectedly and you signed the contract on that first visit in your own home. Secondly, the goods or services which you have bought must amount to over £35. If both of these criteria stand, then you have seven days to back out of the contract under The Consumer Protection Regulations 1987 (commonly known as the Doorstep Selling Regulations).
You must cancel your contract in writing to the trader and the cancellation takes effect at the time of posting. It is a legal requirement for traders to inform customers of their cancellation rights – those who fail to do this cannot enforce the agreement. Note that responding to a telephone call asking you for a consultation, an advert in the local paper or a leaflet through the door for home improvements all count as inviting a salesman into your home, and automatically void the cancellation criteria.
4 – Make a short-list
Comparing more than one contractor is perhaps the most important part of home improvements. Even if you still decide to go for the salesman who called at the door, it’s still vital to get quotes from three or four other companies. Get as much literature from the door-to-door salesman as you can and then ask friends or neighbours if they have heard of the company or know any examples of their work. Also ask your friends if they know of any other builders whom you may have missed off your list. Always look for contractors who are members of a local trade association and who have premises in the area, and drive past it if you can – anyone can put an address onto a business card which is not really a builder’s yard at all. Beware of cards which have only a telephone number and no address and of cold callers whose business details you cannot find in the local directories or online.
5 – Preference Services
Door-to-door and telephone sales are still viable ways to get good deals on home improvements – most salesman are working for local building firms and offer the same quality services at competitive rates. However if cold calling just gets on your nerves and you know you will never use those sellers, there are preference services in place which, if you enrol, makes it illegal for unsolicited callers to contact you. www.tpsonline.org.uk is the official website of the Telephone Preference Service, where consumers can register online to exempt both landline and mobile numbers from sales calls. Most local councils will provide homes with signs and stickers for the front door which bars sellers from knocking. Preference services make it illegal for any company or sole trader to contact you unsolicited.
At the end of the day
There are three main consumer rights connected to home improvements. Regardless of where you buy, you have a right that the work be completed with reasonable skill and care, within a reasonable time frame and be provided at a reasonable cost.
Visit www.homeimprovementquotes.co.uk for more information.
The door-to-door home improvement salesman is a magnet for bad press – the Office of Fair Trading cites some of the most common complaints about door-to-door selling as: being pressured to have work done which you don’t really need, being overcharged, losing your deposit to rogue traders and work being left unfinished as traders go out of business.
However not all home improvement salesmen are bad guys – most of them are just trying to earn a living! So instead of slamming the door in their faces or hanging up the phone, here are five easy ways to deal with a home improvement salesman and an explanation of your rights as a consumer.
1 – Take the pressure off
Never be pressured into getting home improvements which you don’t need, just because the salesman is standing there on the doorstep. A salesman putting too much pressure on you to make a decision is a bad sign – the company may only be in the area for a few days touting for business, which could void any guarantees and make it difficult to track them down if things go wrong. A genuine home improvement salesman will give you time to make your decision – by law, if the salesman’s visit is unsolicited (i.e. you did not invite him round for an appointment), you are entitled to seven days’ thinking time. During this seven day period you can consider the offer, get quotes from other builders to compare deals or even change your mind completely.
2 – Be patient
Never sign the contract on the initial consultation – even if you are tempted by special offers which have to be signed for that day. Take the seven-day thinking period to read over the contract, even if you do not think you need to – make sure you read all the clauses and the small print. Once you have signed the contract, you have limited cancellation rights – contracts are legally binding and you cannot back out of them just because you have changed your mind. Most importantly, never sign the contract just because you want to get rid of the salesman – it’s far better to listen to half an hour of sales patter than to enter into a contract for thousands of pounds which you can’t get out of later.
3 – Your right to cancel
In certain cases, where a salesman has visited your home uninvited and you have signed a contract, you can get out of it if you act fast. However this is a risk – a contract is legally binding and there are criteria in place to stop you breaking your end of the bargain. You are only protected if the salesman called at your house totally unexpectedly and you signed the contract on that first visit in your own home. Secondly, the goods or services which you have bought must amount to over £35. If both of these criteria stand, then you have seven days to back out of the contract under The Consumer Protection Regulations 1987 (commonly known as the Doorstep Selling Regulations).
You must cancel your contract in writing to the trader and the cancellation takes effect at the time of posting. It is a legal requirement for traders to inform customers of their cancellation rights – those who fail to do this cannot enforce the agreement. Note that responding to a telephone call asking you for a consultation, an advert in the local paper or a leaflet through the door for home improvements all count as inviting a salesman into your home, and automatically void the cancellation criteria.
4 – Make a short-list
Comparing more than one contractor is perhaps the most important part of home improvements. Even if you still decide to go for the salesman who called at the door, it’s still vital to get quotes from three or four other companies. Get as much literature from the door-to-door salesman as you can and then ask friends or neighbours if they have heard of the company or know any examples of their work. Also ask your friends if they know of any other builders whom you may have missed off your list. Always look for contractors who are members of a local trade association and who have premises in the area, and drive past it if you can – anyone can put an address onto a business card which is not really a builder’s yard at all. Beware of cards which have only a telephone number and no address and of cold callers whose business details you cannot find in the local directories or online.
5 – Preference Services
Door-to-door and telephone sales are still viable ways to get good deals on home improvements – most salesman are working for local building firms and offer the same quality services at competitive rates. However if cold calling just gets on your nerves and you know you will never use those sellers, there are preference services in place which, if you enrol, makes it illegal for unsolicited callers to contact you. www.tpsonline.org.uk is the official website of the Telephone Preference Service, where consumers can register online to exempt both landline and mobile numbers from sales calls. Most local councils will provide homes with signs and stickers for the front door which bars sellers from knocking. Preference services make it illegal for any company or sole trader to contact you unsolicited.
At the end of the day
There are three main consumer rights connected to home improvements. Regardless of where you buy, you have a right that the work be completed with reasonable skill and care, within a reasonable time frame and be provided at a reasonable cost.
Visit www.homeimprovementquotes.co.uk for more information.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Kitchen units, kitchen cupboards, kitchen worktops, kitchen appliances
Kitchen units, kitchen cupboards, kitchen worktops, kitchen appliances
If you're looking for new or replacement kitchen units, cupboards, worktops or appliances as part of a kitchen makeover, then Kitchen Quoter can help.
Not only can you get an instant online quote for the fitted kitchen of your dreams, but we can use our active computer technology to match your requirements with our own database of quality vetted kitchen companies, based on quality, price and service that are local to you.
You'll also find your fitted kitchen could cost less than you think as our companies save on traditional methods of advertising and pass those savings directly onto you.
And because our companies know that (after we've spoken to you and had your express permission to) up to two other companies may be quoting, you avoid inflated quotations.
Click here to visit Kitchenquoter – it only takes a couple of minutes to enter your own measurements and get an instant online quote. Our service is completely FREE but it could save you pounds.
If you're looking for new or replacement kitchen units, cupboards, worktops or appliances as part of a kitchen makeover, then Kitchen Quoter can help.
Not only can you get an instant online quote for the fitted kitchen of your dreams, but we can use our active computer technology to match your requirements with our own database of quality vetted kitchen companies, based on quality, price and service that are local to you.
You'll also find your fitted kitchen could cost less than you think as our companies save on traditional methods of advertising and pass those savings directly onto you.
And because our companies know that (after we've spoken to you and had your express permission to) up to two other companies may be quoting, you avoid inflated quotations.
Click here to visit Kitchenquoter – it only takes a couple of minutes to enter your own measurements and get an instant online quote. Our service is completely FREE but it could save you pounds.
If your home could make a New Years resolution
Your Home's New Year Resolution.
If your home could make a New Years Resolution, what do you think it would be? A wish for a sun-drenched beach holiday or an improvement of some kind?
Perhaps its windows and doors are old and drafty? Or its guttering leaks and drips everywhere except down the drainpipe and the painting you promised to carry out last year still needs doing? Whatever resolution your home might make, we can help you keep it.
Using our advanced computer search technology and our own database of over 650 home improvement companies across the UK, we can match your location, the home improvement you'd like a quote for and get you up to three, FREE quotes from approved and vetted companies near you.
“I can go out there and do that myself” I hear you say. Well possibly yes, but how do you know if the company you choose will do a good job? Also, our registered companies save on traditional methods of advertising so they are able to pass those savings onto you.
And because all our companies know they will be in competition with up to two other companies, you'll save the trouble of wading through over-inflated prices.
So make your New Years resolution to visit www.homeimprovementquotes.co.uk and get an instant online quote for your next home improvement project. It's a completely FREE service and takes only a few minutes to type in your own measurements or requirements etc to get an instant online price guide.
Everything from double glazing to fitted kitchens, bedrooms & bathrooms, fascia and guttering to garage conversions, block paved driveways to patio awnings.
If your home could make a New Years Resolution, what do you think it would be? A wish for a sun-drenched beach holiday or an improvement of some kind?
Perhaps its windows and doors are old and drafty? Or its guttering leaks and drips everywhere except down the drainpipe and the painting you promised to carry out last year still needs doing? Whatever resolution your home might make, we can help you keep it.
Using our advanced computer search technology and our own database of over 650 home improvement companies across the UK, we can match your location, the home improvement you'd like a quote for and get you up to three, FREE quotes from approved and vetted companies near you.
“I can go out there and do that myself” I hear you say. Well possibly yes, but how do you know if the company you choose will do a good job? Also, our registered companies save on traditional methods of advertising so they are able to pass those savings onto you.
And because all our companies know they will be in competition with up to two other companies, you'll save the trouble of wading through over-inflated prices.
So make your New Years resolution to visit www.homeimprovementquotes.co.uk and get an instant online quote for your next home improvement project. It's a completely FREE service and takes only a few minutes to type in your own measurements or requirements etc to get an instant online price guide.
Everything from double glazing to fitted kitchens, bedrooms & bathrooms, fascia and guttering to garage conversions, block paved driveways to patio awnings.
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Customer Feedback update
Regular readers will know that users of the 'Quoter family of websites get unique access to a personalised login area where they can leave valuable feedback on their own experiences with our recommended companies.
Feedback that helps us monitor our database of home improvement companies as well as helping other home owners decide which company will best suit their own needs, based on the feedback of other home owners.
Here's just a small selection of the feedback received in during the Christmas and New Year holidays...
KitchenQuoter
"Phil was very imaginative, and came up with ideas to enhance the kitchen. He was honest regarding the cost of our original plan, and helped us to come up with a final decision where to relocate the new kitchen to another reception room.. I am looking forward to seeing the plans and the quote."
WindowQuoter
"Very efficient service. Very helpful advise. Profesional, but personal service so far. I have placed an order."
"Really professional company. They came and gave us a quote which we accepted immediately, and we are due to start work early next year. Fantastic discounts and friendly salesman. Would definately recommend!"
"Excellent rep who had no problem with any question I asked him, I felt confident that he knew what he was talking about.Chose this company because the product looked and felt to be of a good quality and they use thier own fitters (no sub-contractors)."
"Well presented product with a window sample. reasonable price. the salesman did not pressurise."
FasciaQuoter
"None pushy salesman. Pleasant to deal with."
If you've recently used one of the 'Quoter websites for an instant online home improvement quote and taken your online enquiry through to getting written quotations from our recommended companies, then don't forget to leave your feedback.
Thank you.
Feedback that helps us monitor our database of home improvement companies as well as helping other home owners decide which company will best suit their own needs, based on the feedback of other home owners.
Here's just a small selection of the feedback received in during the Christmas and New Year holidays...
KitchenQuoter
"Phil was very imaginative, and came up with ideas to enhance the kitchen. He was honest regarding the cost of our original plan, and helped us to come up with a final decision where to relocate the new kitchen to another reception room.. I am looking forward to seeing the plans and the quote."
WindowQuoter
"Very efficient service. Very helpful advise. Profesional, but personal service so far. I have placed an order."
"Really professional company. They came and gave us a quote which we accepted immediately, and we are due to start work early next year. Fantastic discounts and friendly salesman. Would definately recommend!"
"Excellent rep who had no problem with any question I asked him, I felt confident that he knew what he was talking about.Chose this company because the product looked and felt to be of a good quality and they use thier own fitters (no sub-contractors)."
"Well presented product with a window sample. reasonable price. the salesman did not pressurise."
FasciaQuoter
"None pushy salesman. Pleasant to deal with."
If you've recently used one of the 'Quoter websites for an instant online home improvement quote and taken your online enquiry through to getting written quotations from our recommended companies, then don't forget to leave your feedback.
Thank you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)