Posts with tag: Christmas

Don’t be a turkey to your neighbours this Christmas!

Published On: December 21, 2016 at 11:10 am

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Tis the season to be jolly and many of us will be welcoming friends and family into our winter wonderlands for a mince pie and glass of something festive.

However, while you are rockin’ around the Christmas tree, remember goodwill to all men and don’t annoy your neighbours!

Christmas Spirit

New data released from Co-op Insurance reveals what is most likely to turn your neighbours into The Grinch!

Results show that over two-thirds of the UK population wish they were lonely this Christmas, if their neighbours played loud music.

Other features such as inconsiderate parking (blocking a driveway etc), bad language and slamming doors were also found to be a surefire way of creating a Nightmare Before Christmas!

The full results of the survey are shown below-don’t be a turkey and take note!

Top 10 traits of a bad neighbour at Christmas
1 Loud music or television 68%
2 Inconsiderate parking 65%
3 Barking dogs 62%
4 Outdoor loud parties 57%
5 Bad language in or outside of the house 55%
6 Unsupervised children 53%
7 Slamming doors 33%
8 Neighbours pets roaming about your garden 31%
9 Bonfires, BBQ, chimenea smoke 28%
10 Ignoring your neighbours 27%

[1]

Don't be a turkey to your neighbours this Christmas!

Don’t be a turkey to your neighbours this Christmas!

Goodwill

Caroline Hunter, Head of Home Insurance at Co-op Insurance noted: ‘The research shows that playing loud music and making a lot of noise is a top bad neighbour trait, therefore it’s important to spare a thought for your neighbours this Christmas when hosting friends and family.’[1]

‘This is the season for goodwill after all and by showing a little courtesy it can ensure that you and your neighbours leave 2016 harmoniously and as friends rather than enemies. Whilst Christmas is a great time to really come together with friends, family and neighbours, sadly many people find themselves alone on Christmas Day, why not pop round for a cuppa, rather than simply sending a Christmas card, forging those all-important links in the community for years to come,’ she added.[1]

 

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/household/how-to-avoid-problems-with-the-neighbours-this-christmas.html

 

10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Home Movers

Published On: December 16, 2016 at 10:19 am

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Moving home at Christmas can be an extremely stressful experience; the buying process slows down more than usual and many businesses are closed over the festive period. If you know some home movers this year, treat them to one of these Christmas gift ideas to brighten the process!

It’s probably the last time of year that most of us would choose to move home, but many buyers and renters will be packing up and moving on this Christmas. Whether it’s a family member, friend or former tenant that you got on with particularly well, spread some of the festive cheer with these gift ideas from Rightmove (which coincidentally double-up as housewarming presents)…

  1. A doormat

One of the easiest and most effective ways to bring some personality and style to a new property is with an inviting doormat. It’s also one of the first things that visitors will notice, so your home movers will appreciate it instantly.

  1. House plants 

House plants are essential when it comes to adding softness and nature to a new home. Treat them to something attractive and easy to maintain.

  1. A new coffee pot
10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Home Movers

10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Home Movers

One of the first things a home mover will look for when they get all their boxes into a new property is a cup of coffee! Prevent them rummaging through unmarked boxes by picking up a new coffee pot and a nice bag of freshly ground coffee.

  1. Spices 

It’s all too common to spend your first week in a new home eating dodgy-looking takeaways and microwave meals. Help them feel homely and healthy with a new spice rack and spices, which they’ll be able to make use of instantly.

  1. Gardening must-haves 

If your home movers’ new property has a garden, it’s likely that they’ll want to do some work to it to create their dream space. Put together a starter pack of gardening tools to inspire them.

  1. A bunch of flowers 

No home mover will be disappointed if you take round a bunch of flowers to brighten up their new property. It’s also a good idea to buy them a vase too, as theirs will likely be packed deep into a jungle of boxes.

  1. Essential DIY tools 

If you like going for practical gifts, then a nice box of essential DIY tools will go down a treat with your recipients – they’ll probably have lots of small jobs to do as soon as they move in, so make sure they have everything they need.

  1. Scented candles

New homes lack that familiar smell that we all have in our properties. Help to create a homely and comfortable feel with your buyer’s or renter’s favourite scented candles.

  1. Homemade treats

If you’re a dab hand in the kitchen, whip up some festive homemade treats – such as a walnut and cinnamon loaf, or some cute gingerbread biscuits – for your movers to enjoy as they settle into their new home.

  1. A food hamper

We all know that one of the best things about Christmas is the food. Impress your loved ones with a hamper full of their favourite festive treats for them to tuck into while they unpack boxes (they’ll also have something to offer visitors!).

If you’re moving home this festive period, we hope you have a stress-free and relaxing Christmas in your new property.

How has Christmas Present Inflation Compared to House Price Growth?

Published On: December 15, 2016 at 11:47 am

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While we all know that house price growth has spiralled over the last few decades, how have Christmas present prices compared?

Online estate agent eMoov.co.uk has analysed the average house prices of the last 30-odd years against the cost of the must-have Christmas presents over each period.

1980: The Rubik’s Cube

In 1980, the average house price in the UK was just £23,497. Since then, it has increased by an alarming 778%. The most popular gift of the year was the Rubik’s Cube, which cost just £2 at the time. Today, however, the game sells for as much as £13 – that’s a 713% rise, which only marginally trails house price growth.

1990: Nintendo

In the early 90s, Nintendo burst onto the scene with its Gameboy, one of the first handheld videogame devices. At £71, they weren’t the cheapest Christmas present, but the latest DS 3D today comes in at over £100 more (£175), up by 146%.

Unsurprisingly, house prices have managed to beat this growth, up by 276% from the average value at the time, of £54,919.

How has Christmas Present Inflation Compared to House Price Growth?

How has Christmas Present Inflation Compared to House Price Growth?

1998: Furby

The Furby craze swept the nation back in 1998. The average house price of the time, £66,313, has now risen by 211%, but how has the Furby fared? Originally costing just under £25, the latest edition sells for £76 – a 206% increase.

2010: The iPad

As technology started to advance like never before, more traditional toys were put on the back shelf. In 2010, Apple flooded the market with its iPad – the perfect gift for someone needing something bigger than a phone, but not as big as a computer.

The original price of £400 has now gone up to a huge £729 – an 82% hike in just six years. Shockingly, this is well ahead of house prices, which have risen by just 27% over the same period.

2013: The Xbox 

When the original Xbox was released in 2001, the average house price was £92,533, while the must-have games console cost £240. 12 years later, the price of playing an Xbox had increased by 67%, with the Xbox One costing £400. Over the same period, house prices rose by 89%.

Unfortunately for those that bought the Xbox One on release, the product hasn’t retained the upward price trend – in the last three years, the price of an Xbox One has fallen by half, now costing around £200. For homeowners, prices haven’t followed suit, and are up by a further 18%.

2016: Nerf 

One of the hottest Christmas gifts this year is the latest Nerf gun. They first became popular in 2012, when the average house price was £162,924 and a Nerf would cost around £30.

In the last four years, house prices have continued to rise, up by 27%, while the Nerf gun has increased by 47% to over £40.

The Founder and CEO of eMoov, Russell Quirk, comments on the findings: “It’s a well-known fact that Christmas is probably the most expensive time of year, with many stretching beyond their means to provide the latest gifts and gadgets for their families.

“Therefore, it is hardly surprising that the cost of the must-have items during the holidays have seen similar, if not larger, price hikes than the UK property market itself.

“When people talk about the struggles of obtaining homeownership, they rarely consider the many underlying factors that come with it and the affordability issues of modern day life itself.”

He adds: “If you would have told me back in the 80s to invest into Rubik’s Cubes, I would have thought you were mad, but this research shows it probably wasn’t such a bad idea after all.”

The Office is the Least Used Room in British Homes

Published On: December 13, 2016 at 10:14 am

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The office has been named the least used room in British homes, knocking the dining room off the top spot, according to new research conducted by Ocean Finance.

The Office is the Least Used Room in British Homes

The Office is the Least Used Room in British Homes

The study found that the office sees less action than any other room in British homes, with more than a third (37%) of respondents admitting that their family spends the least time in there.

Previously consistent at the bottom of the tally, the dining room now ranks as the second least used room in the home. Once a place where families would enjoy quality time together each evening over dinner, use of the dining room is still dwindling. However, with Christmas now less than two weeks away, more families may be making use of the room yet again.

When it comes to spending time together, households are more likely to do so in front of the television. Almost seven in ten (68%) said their family spends the most time in the living room.

Landlords should take the research into account when renting out a property – it may be worth converting an office into another bedroom, knocking the kitchen through into the dining room to create a more open space, and focusing on making the living room as comfortable as possible.

The spokesperson for Ocean Finance, Ian Williams, says: “An office in a house is a favoured attribute when buyers are looking for a new home, however, the reality is that it is more than likely to be used as a large storage cupboard, barely entered into, than its original purpose.

“The same could be said for the dining room. Not that long ago, the dining room was the main place the family would assemble, to enjoy a meal as a family at the end of the day or to eat a hearty family breakfast at the weekend. However, today, this space has fallen into disuse in many homes across the UK.”

He adds: “Christmas could be the one exception to the rule, as families usually decide to celebrate the festive occasion by eating together in a more formal space than the kitchen-diner or living room – will there be a revival in your home?”

Remember that many British homes are being rented from private landlords, so focus on what families are looking for to secure happy and reliable tenants.

eMoov Provides its Gift for the Property Industry This Christmas

Published On: December 8, 2016 at 10:16 am

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As Christmas gets closer and closer, online estate agent eMoov.co.uk has provided its own gift for the property industry – Prop Trumps!

eMoov Provides its Gift for the Property Industry This Christmas

eMoov Provides its Gift for the Property Industry This Christmas

The agent hopes its property-inspired card game will keep those in the industry both entertained and cheery over the festive period.

The team has compiled a list of the most influential, innovative, controversial and popular figures in the UK property industry (including some unpopular ones) to create a satirical card game using avatars loosely based around each character.

Although many of the cards are based on actual people in the industry, the game is to be taken lightly, eMoov points out, to provide fun for those who have to work over the Christmas period (we imagine many landlords will). All of the names, descriptions and ratings are meant in jest, and are a spoof of the current sector – it even includes eMoov itself.

The agent has taken what it finds amusing about each character and developed cards that display their strengths and weaknesses. The firm’s very own Russell Quirk, or Russell Smirk, makes an appearance in the game with a generous score of 100 for both ego and moral fibre. Although this isn’t strictly true, it notes, as his ego stretches far beyond 100 points!

The goal of this light-hearted game is to provide entertainment to property professionals and excitement over the festive period, while giving a humorous insight into the industry for both property buffs and game lovers alike.

eMoov hopes members of the property industry come together to enjoy the jovial game this Christmas – and maybe even learn a thing or two about the influencers in the sector.

Prop Trumps is the agent’s gift to the industry this year – You can download your own deck at emoov.co.uk/proptrumps. Alternatively, eMoov can arrange to have the deck printed for you, with all proceeds going towards its sponsored charity, Hope for Children.

Quirk, the Founder and CEO of eMoov, says: “During the lead up to Christmas, things slow down at the workplace and people are finishing up for the holidays. So, we’ve created this game for those in the property sector to play and laugh with co-workers in the countdown to Christmas.

“We’ve taken a light-hearted look at the UK property sector and created a tongue-in-cheek game that we hope will bring a bit of fun to players as the Christmas season creeps up on us.”

UK Property Market Bucks the Seasonal Trend

Published On: December 2, 2016 at 9:24 am

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The UK property market has bucked the traditional seasonal trend usually seen at this time of year, according to Agency Express’ Property Activity Index for November.

During November, it is typical to experience a slowdown in activity in the UK property market as we head for the Christmas period. However, last month’s figures show unseasonal strength – new property listings dropped by just 4.7%, compared to 12.2% in 2015, while the number of properties sold fell by 1.8%, compared with 14.7% last year.

UK Property Market Bucks the Seasonal Trend

UK Property Market Bucks the Seasonal Trend

Reviewing its historical data, Agency Express reports that the UK property market has not experienced this level of activity since 2013.

Across the UK, 11 of the 12 regions included in the index recorded robust figures for November.

Last month’s top performing region was East Anglia, where new listings rose by 0.4% and properties sold increased by 2.4% – a record best November for the region.

Other regions bucking the seasonal trend include:

Properties sold 

  • North East: +24.3%
  • Scotland: +6.9%

New property listings

  • Central England: +11.3%
  • South East: +5.9%
  • London: +0.6%

The only region to record a monthly decline in November was Wales. New property listings dropped by 14.8%, while the amount of properties sold was down by 3.2%. However, the decline in the number of properties sold was much lower than that recorded in 2015, when it fell by 11.8%.

Stephen Watson, the Managing Director of Agency Express, comments: “A surprisingly buoyant month for November; month-on-month figures have reported positively across the nation, and year-on-year activity has also increased. It will be interesting to see if the change in trend will have a positive effect on the forthcoming weeks, where we traditionally witness a slowdown until January.”

Have you decided to buck the seasonal trend by buying or selling a property at this usually quiet time of the year?