The Energy Saver Guide

You may wonder the costs and benefits to buying energy saver items and unsure whether the investment is worth it. Here is a guide explaining the costs and the potential savings you would acquire from different techniques of energy saving. And what those savings can buy you!

ENERGY SAVING LIGHTBULBS

The average cost: £20

Saves you:

£55 per year

£275 in 5 years = Return flight to Amsterdam

£550 in 10 years

£1,100 in 20 years = 1,860 bars of Dairy Milk Chocolate

£1,650 in 30 years = 8 year supply of Coca-Cola

Pays you back in less than 1 year!



CAVITY WALL INSULATION

The average cost: £100 - £350
Saves you:
£135 per year = Eurostar return to Paris x2
£675 in 5 years
£1,350 in 10 years
£2,700 in 20 years = Diamond studded football boots
£4,500 in 30 years
Pays you back in less than 3 years!



COMBI BOILER INSTALLATION
The average cost: £600-£2,000
Saves you:
£400+ per year
£2,000 in 5 years - 7 week trip to see the Northern Lights
£4,000 in 10 years
£8,000 in 20 years = Personal chef to make you one meal a week for a year
£12,000 in 30 years
Pays you back in 6 years!



DOUBLE GLAZING WINDOWS
The average cost: £4,000 - £5,000
Saves you:
£461 per year = Year subscription to Sky Movies
£2,305 in 5 years
£4,610 in 10 years = Two weeks at Disney World for 4
£9,220 in 20 years
£13,830 in 30 years = Full body tattoo
Pays you back in 5-7 years!



SOLAR PANELS
The average cost: £5,500 - £9,500
Saves you:
£645 per year
£3,225 in 5 years = A new kitchen
£6,450 in 10 years
£12,900 in 20 years = A new Mini Cooper
£19,350 in 30 years = An average UK wedding
Pays you back in 8 years! 

At Glocal Residential, we believe that saving energy is a super thing to do as it is beneficial to both yourself and the planet. You will be saving yourself great amounts of money as you can see above. Additionally, these investments can also add value to your home! :-) Any more questions? Do not hesitate to ask us by either commenting, mentioning us on twitter or emailing us on info@glocal-residential.co.uk

Why Isn't My House Selling?

No sale yet on your property? Maybe this is why...

PRICE

Your property may not have sold because you've priced yourself out of the market. To ensure you're selling your property for the right price, you should check out other local sales in the area or homes which have already sold so you can get an idea of the price similar properties are fetching. You may find that you're asking for too high of a sale price therefore by dropping it, you could attract more house hunters. However, don't fall into a trap of accepting a ridiculously low offer as potential buyers begin to bid. 

PHOTOS

Getting property photo's right is a must. Many house hunters these days look online for properties in their preferred area therefore it is important that the photo's you provide are of a high quality and show the potential the home could have for potential buyers. 
Light is a key factor of a good photo - no one will be attracted to dark and dingy rooms. Also, make sure you include photo's of all the rooms using different angles - only displaying one or a couple of pictures is likely to throw people off even arranging a viewing.

TIME

Your property may not have sold because of the time of the year! I bet you didn't think about that. 
The peak time for people to move house in the UK is in the Summer - people have more time and effort to move furniture and other belongings from one property to another when it's not raining heavily or snowing outside.
It's simple - do your research either by the internet or even asking people you know who have sold their property; you could just be advertising at the wrong time of the year...

AVAILABILITY

Making yourself available is a must if you're not working side by side with a letting agent. If you work a full-time job than you stand the risk of letting the right buyer walk away - just because you couldn't fit them in for a viewing at a suitable time for them. Hiring a letting agent to manage your viewings for you could be the solution to all your problems if you struggle to find the time.

ATTITUDE

Maybe your property hasn't sold because of the way you act towards potential buyers - you might not even be aware that you're attitude is putting them off! 
Bombarding house hunters could be one problem; they need time to freely view properties and at their desired pace. You don't want to be providing them with too much information either as they could just simply be put off by the amount you're throwing at them. 

TARGET AUDIENCE

Your property could be great however you could be targeting the wrong buyers. You need to consider the features of your home and match them too specific demographics. For instance, a family looking for a new home would be more attracted to a large garden than a student looking for a mod-con kitchen. Similarly, a bungalow could be more suitable for an older demographic as it's more accessible whereas a 6-person family may require the upstairs space.

CLUTTER

Personal belongings to you, is just clutter to somebody else. To prepare for an effective viewing; store away your teddy collection and selection of window ornaments or other 'bits'n'bobs' scattered around the house. You need to think from an outsider's perspective; what do they want to see and what don't they want to see?



If you have any further questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Glocal Residential either by calling us on 0121 655 5188 or you can email us at info@glocal-residential.co.uk.

May Bank Holiday in Birmingham

Need some inspiration on what to do this Bank Holiday in Birmingham? 

We've got this! 

CADBURY WORLD

This bank holiday, learn about the manufacturing of the the world's famous chocolate and how it's packaged by taking a trip through the amazing Cadbury World. However, it's far from just a learning experience - have fun visiting the Purple Planet and Bull Street; ride the great Cadabra; make your own chocolate and let your kid's run wild in the African Adventure Play Area.

Cadbury World is also home to the largest Cadbury shop in the world - so if you're a chocoholic, this place is for you.

Adults: £16.75, Children (ages 4-15): £12.30, Under 4's: Free

Cadbury World, Linden Road, Bournville, B30 1JR

NATIONAL SEA LIFE CENTRE

The Sea Life Centre is jam-packed with amazing creatures from Jellyfish to Bowmouth Guitar Sharks; Gentoo Penguins to Turtles; Asian Otter's to Octopus'. 

You can also come face-to-face with a number of penguins in the new under-water Ice Adventure - but beware, wrap up warm!

The Sea Life Centre also boasts a 4D Cinema; all-day creature talks and VIP Feeding Experiences making it a great day out for all ages.

To top it off, book online and save yourself 40% off tickets!

Individuals: £20.95, Under 3's: Free

National SEA LIFE Centre, The Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HL

BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is one of Birmingham's biggest landmarks after it's opening over 100 years ago, in 1885. The iconic building hosts over 40 galleries packed with art, history and archaeology.

The museum is also home to one of the largest Pre-Raphaelite painting collections in the world and also boasts a new gallery telling the historic story of the Staffordshire Hoard.

Over the bank holiday weekend, there are a number of different talks and events on providing you with a fulfilled visit.

If you love art and history, this is a place you need to tick off your list.

Free Entry (Some exhibitions and events may differ)

Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH

BIRMINGHAM WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARK 

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park works hard to raise awareness of endangered species and their habitats therefore it is a great day out for those interested in animal conservation. On the other hand, it's also simply a great place for a fun day out with the family, particularly for younger children, to see and feed a range of great animals.

This great park includes lemurs, capuchin monkeys, lynx, meerkats and many more. 

Adults: £6.00, Children (3-15 years): £3.20, Under 3's: FREE

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, Pershore Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7RL 

BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

Botanical Gardens is one of Birmingham's most beautiful must-see's. It consists of four stunning glasshouses containing tropical rainforests, surrounded by glamorous gardens, a child-friendly playground, a sophisticated tea-room and gift-shop. It is also home to a butterfly house which is re-opening this bank holiday, alongside Mediterranean and Arid houses.

Botanical Gardens is a great destination to sun yourself and enjoy nature at it's finest.

Adults: £7, Children (5-16 years): £4.75, Children under 5: FREE

Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3TR

BIRMINGHAM BULLRING

The Bullring is one of Birmingham's most iconic, architectural buildings attracting millions of people each year since it's grand opening in 2003.

The shopping centre boasts 140 stores and services with four floors; hosting a selection of eateries and bars and over 100 shops. It is home to some of the biggest retail names including Selfridges, Debenhams, Victoria Secret, Forever 21 and tons more.

FREE ENTRY 

The Bull Ring, Birmingham, B5 4BU 

How to: Pack Up Your Home

Pack By Rooms:
Keep all similar items together, such as books, CDS, kitchen utensils. That way, they will be easier to locate and you won't loose things. You will also be able to unload the boxes into the right rooms also which will minimize the time spent unpacking!

Car Check:
If you are going to be driving a long distance to your new home, make sure to check out your car. Get your vehicle serviced and check your tyres are well before your journey.

Get Organised!:
Tape names to doors and boxes to help the movers as they will have more of an idea of what to put what where. Map out the layout of the room so that they can put things where you want them without creating too much hassle.

Store the things you love:
If you have some big pieces of furniture, it is a good idea to put them into storage until you have settled in. That way they will not get damaged or in the way of you moving.

Personalise boxes;
Use coloured boxes or brightly coloured labels/pens to differentiate between each family members stuff! They can fill these boxes with the stuff they will want to get straight away!

Recycle!:
When packing, you don't need absolutely everything. Use this as an opportunity to get rid of some of your unwanted items by donating, recycling or giving them to a friend or neighbour. Do this so you will have less stuff to take around with you,

Cleaning Essentials. 
Pack all of your cleaning essentials in one place so when you move, you can tidy a space for living easily without hassle. You may also want to clean your old home so it is a good idea to know where the 'cleaning box' is.

Use cushions:
When you are packing fragile items, you can use your cushions, blankets, quilts and even towels to protect delicate items. This will save your time rather than wrapping them in bubble wrap.

Small boxes for books:
DO NOT put books into the bigger boxes. It will make them way too heavy. They get very heavy, very fast, so keep them to the small boxes.

Property Auction: BIDDING

This blog post is for all of you newbies to property auctions. This a guide on how to bid, why to bid and everything you need to know about property auctions. When you go to buy a property, there is more options than the simple purchasing. Property auctions provide speed and security!

There are two methods of bidding; the 'Modern Method' and the 'Traditional Method'.

With the modern method, the bid means the buyer has to pay a reservation fee or a deposit and they must sign a reservation form. The buyer can reserve the right to unconditionally exchange contracts on the property at an agreed price withing 28 days and complete 28 days after. This is a good method for the purchasing of residential properties.

However, with the traditional method, contracts are exchanged immediately with completion raking place within the next 28 days. This method is more suited with professional property buying. A 10% deposit is required, and in some occasions a reservation fee is needed as well. There is complete security with this method also.

What are reservation fees you may ask? 
When a reservation fee is due, it will be clearly stated on the specif terms and conditions. You should check before bedding on any property if it has a reservation fee. Sales have a reservation fee which covers the costs of the business. It is a percentage of the final selling price and is added on-top. The fee reserves the property for the buyer but it must be paid at the end of the auction by the successful bidder. If the sale was to fall through due to the vendor, the reservation fee will be refunded.

How to bid?
Buying a property through the auction couldn't be easier! It is a quick & easy process which can be done from home, your office, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! They can be placed thought the bidding websites or over the phone.

Is it secure?
The auction method gives transparency for both the seller and the buyer. This is because the sale s in in the public domain so the fear is completely remove. A secure transaction is guaranteed!

How quickly do you have to pay?
Depending on the method you choose, you will have between 28 and 56 days to complete the property. If you are purchasing through the modern method there is enough time for you to use residential auction finance.

If there are any more questions you would like to ask or any queries you may have, you ask one of experts at Birmingham city centres leading estate agents, Glocal Residential on the email info@glocal-residential.co.uk!

FAQ For Landlords

Frequently Asked Questions By Landlords

Are you thinking of investing in buy-to-let? Then it's likely you'll have a number of questions; therefore we've devised this helpful FAQ to provide you with the information you're looking for...

Q -  How will my rental value be determined?

A - Your rental value is determined by the situation of the local rental market and how it compares to other properties in it's area taking into account the size, number of rooms, it's appliances etc. Letting agents can carry out rental valuations for you and will provide you with an estimated monthly value rate - many letting agents do this for free of charge.

Q - Who will carry out viewings?

A - If you have decided to use a letting agents than they can do your viewings for you at any time during their own opening hours - bearing in mind that you need to give them a set of keys. If you decide to carry out viewings yourself, than you need to ensure your available at most times throughout the day to ensure the right people can view your property.

Q - What insurance do I need on my property?

A - If you're going to become a landlord than you need to take out specialised landlord insurance to ensure that you're covered for a range of potential issues that could arise. Standard home insurance doesn't protect you from these potential issues therefore it is important that you take out landlord insurance to insure the property and any contents which you provide your tenants with. Any content that the tenant leaves in the property themselves is their responsibility to insure.

Q - Do I need to let my mortgage lender know if I let out the property?

A - If the property already has a buy to let mortgage than permission has obviously already been granted for you to let the property out. If you have a standard mortgage, than you will need to receive permission off your mortgage lender to let out your home and be prepared to face any specific conditions that they may have.

Q - Do I need to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?

A - Yes, you must have an EPC if you're going to let out your property as it is a legal requirement. An EPC measures the property's energy efficiency and takes the form of a certificate which is valid for 10 years and can be used for a number of tenants - you do not need a renewed EPC every time you have someone new living in the property.

Q - Who pays the properties council tax?

A - When the property is vacant than it is your responsibility as a landlord to pay the council tax however when a tenant moves in it is normally their responsibility as long as it is stated on their tenancy agreement.

Q - Am I in charge of maintenance and repairs?

A - If you decide not to use a letting agent than it is your responsibility to organise any necessary maintenance and repair work for the tenants. However, if you do use a letting agent than it is most likely that they will have a network of connections in relation to maintenance and repairs and will organise this work when need be. However, as a landlord you must be notified and approve the work to go ahead on the property in advance.

Q - What if the tenant doesn't pay their rent on time?

A - Once again, if you're not using a letting agents than it is your own responsibility to deal with late payments by the tenants. If you do use a letting agent than most likely they will chase up any late payments and hassle the tenant to pay as soon as possible.

Some landlords may add interest if payments are consistently late or will ask them to remove the property so they can find a more trusted tenant.

Q - Why should I use a letting agent's?

A - Using a letting agent saves you a lot of hassle and leaves you stress-free. A letting agent will deal with most of the work involved including rent payments, maintenance work and viewings for the property. Working with a letting agent's is also a good idea if you're working in separate employment because letting your property can become very time consuming and you need to be available a lot of the time to deal with tenants.

Q  - Do I need to provide furniture and if I do, how do I know if it's compliant?

A - No landlord is under any obligation to provide furniture however if you would like too, you could opt for a partly furnished or fully furnished letting. However, if you do provide furniture you need to ensure that it's compliant by ensuring that all furniture displays the suitable labels which comply with fire regulations.

Q - When I let my property, am I able to enter it whenever I like?

A - Landlords are not allowed to show up at the property and enter it whenever they like too - remember it is someone else's home whilst there are tenants living there. If you do need to visit the property, you need to give an appropriate amount of notice to the tenant.

Q - If I'm with a letting agent, how do I receive my rental income?

A - If you are either with a Rent Collect or Fully Managed service with your letting agent than they will be in charge of organising the rent payments either by direct debit or standing order. Your letting agent will then minus any fees necessary such as the agents' fees or maintenance fees and transfer the remaining rent payment to your account which you will receive a statement regarding each month.

Q - How do letting agents market my property?

A - The marketing platforms depend on the letting agent - however, pretty much all letting agents today will use the internet to advertise your property. This could be through large property portals including Zoopla, Right Move and Prime Location and also the letting agents' own website. Properties for let can also be advertised in local newspapers or magazines - it largely depends on where you're letting agents markets or where you individually want your property to be advertised.

DO's & DON'Ts of Adding Value to Your Property

Adding value to your property can be tricky. It is difficult to know whether what you are doing will bring enough value in return to cover the costs of the installation. I have devised some DO's and DON'Ts on how I think you should tackle adding value. 

DON'T outgrow your street:

The first thing I will say is to not outgrow your street. Although all these tips are likely to add value to your home, if you over do it, it will only haunt you. If your street value is on average £250,000 and your property is valued at £400,000 it surely won't have a prompt sale. Someone who want an expensive house will not want it on a cheaper road. 

DO add curb appeal to your property:

Neglecting the outside of your property is a huge mistake. Tidy your front garden, get your windows cleaned, have effective guttering and fresh paint on the walls. Failing to keep up with these easy steps can wipe up to 5% of your value according the experts. Curb appeal is the cheapest measure you can take to retain your home's value according to Halifax. 

DON'T lose a bedroom: 

If you are thinking of converting a bedroom into an office or an extra bathroom, here's a simple word of advice; DON'T! This will certainly devalue your property. Do not lose any of your bedrooms at any cost. This can make your family sized 3-bedroom house be known as a smaller 2-bedroom house. Does not bring benefits to your home when you are selling. 

DO consider a conservatory:

It is without a doubt that a conservatory is a highly desirable feature to a home, especially if you garden is the south. This will therefore be reflected in the price. A conservatory is a cheaper and easy way to add space, and value, to a property. 

DON'T sacrifice your garden:

Outside space is an admirable asset to a home. Overdeveloping your home may take up too much of your garden. Do not have an extension at the expense of your garden, it can definitely reduce the property's value. It is crucial to get the balance right. 

DO get a paved front garden:

This is a must if you live in the urban area but something to ignore if you have a country home. If you live in an area where parking space is an important, forget about the flower beds and convert your front garden to a paved entrance. Planning permission is likely to be needed and it could cost you £10-20k but the value could be up by £50k in an expensive urban location. 

DON'T have extravagant interior:

You may have a love for leopard print and incorporate it into every aspect of your life, but not every potential viewer is going to be just like you! When you are looking to add a lick of paint to your walls, be sure to keep the colours neutral. Extravagant decor will make the value of your house decline. 

DO consider a loft conversion:

A loft conversion is one of the easiest ways to add a bedroom to a property. If your property has the potential of having loft conversion - go for it. It has been said that if you Spend £20,000 on a loft conversion and you can add £40,000 value to your house. A survey carried out by mortgage lender GE Money concludes that on average, a loft conversion adds 12.5% to the selling price.  

DON'T install a basement conversion:

A basement conversion is one of the most expensive forms on conversions you can do. It costs around £300 per sq. ft. So unless your property is worth more than that, you won't be seeing any turnaround of that investment. However, if you have a basement, it will become more desirable and will sell much quicker. 

DO groom your pets:

You may believe that having a pet may devalue your house but that may not be the case. 39% of people in the UK have either a cat or dog! This will not detract the potential buyers UNLESS, they are poorly looked after. Pets can lower your asking price of 5% but that is only if they are intimidating, smelly or the house is over run by them. 



DON'T have swimming pools fitted:

A swimming pool may seem like a great technique to add value and excitement to a property, but it really is not worth it. To many professionals, a swimming pool is a high-maintenance and expensive problem which may put them off purchasing an otherwise perfect property. A well designed swimming pool can cost around £850k and it carries yearly maintenance costs of roughly £1000. It is a huge hole to your pocket for a feature that will put off many. 

DO ditch your garage:

A study from RAC foundation stated that 53% of people in the UK have a garage but only 24% of those park their car in them. Houses were built in mind of much smaller cars than the modern ones of today. Garages have become more of a 'storage place'. A good idea is to use the garage to create more living space. You could extend your living room or a kitchen through to you garage, or even convert the room into a downstairs toilet or bedroom. Another good idea could be a part conversion. You may want to keep half of your garage for storage but the other half could come as good use. 



We hope this answers some questions you had about what you should and shouldn't do to add value to your property. If you have any further questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Glocal Residential either by calling us on 0121 655 5188 or you can email us at info@glocal-residential.co.uk.

Tips For Decorating Your Home

Thinking of decorating? Try out these great tips

Fabulous feature walls

Particularly in the bedroom, feature walls are a great way to visually improve your room - they make it go from wow to WOW! They allow you to show off something out of the ordinary without your room looking too busy! Subtle colours including beige, nude or pastels bring a great summer touch, or, if you fancy something more adventurous, why not go for a pattern - flowers are always a popular choice. 

Today, many people opt for a feature wall using a different material such as wood or bricks giving your home that modern, chic feel. 

Add splashes of bright colours

Too many bright colours can be overpowering so it's important to restrict your bright coloured furniture and the amount of bright colours you display! We recommend using smaller decorative furnishings like pillows, curtains or rugs rather than having a large bright orange three-seater sofa - this could boarder on 'over the top'. 

We also love a colourful canvas.

Consider your cushions!

Limiting your cushions to one matching colour is quite plain and simply boring! You should use two to three pairs of cushions which display contrasting patterns or colours, plus - the more cushions, the comfier! 

Ornament overload!

From word ornaments to sculptures to ceramics - we love ornaments! Nowadays, word ornaments are in most homes! From your typical 'love' or 'home' to your individual letters spelling out your children's names - either way, there GREAT! Word ornaments are a great way of giving your home that personal touch which we highly recommend! 

Random ornaments from birds to Buddha's are also a great way to fill those empty spaces and immediately make your room visually more exciting.

Chuck in a chair

Extra seating area is the new thing and is a great way to cover empty floor space! Your seating area will be even better when it's filled out with a foot-rest or a coffee table.

Flourishing flowers

Flowers are a great way to brighten up any room and it's also been proven that they help your room smell more fresh. Placing flowers in a nice vase on a bedside table, shelf or coffee table is a simple, easy way to add a splash of colour and a homey feel to any room. 

Lots of light

If you want your home to feel like home than lots of light is a must in our books! No light can make

your rooms feel dingy and cold so we suggest if you're windows don't bring in much light - load up your lamps! Lamps are a great decorative tool for side tables in your lounge area and bedrooms in particular; you can also match your lamp shade to your colour scheme or use it as a way to add a splash of colour. If you have no room for lamps, you can always use ceiling lamp shades instead. 

Another furnishing great to project light are candles which more importantly, look great!

Fold your throws

Throws are a great extra for all bedrooms and lounges providing warmth and comfort when you need it - and if you don't want it on show it's easy to fold up and store away. 

However we think your folded throw is a great furnishing - especially if it's a contrasting colour or has a nice pattern! 

Bigger bed the better

Small furniture can make your room look empty giving it a colder feel. Buying a bigger bed will fill out your room more and let's face it - there much more comfortable!