Help to Buy Cheshire #1 by Move Publishing

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Luxury living in the finest locations

Chatsworth Park

Cheerbrook Gardens

Four Oaks

Rope Lane, Shavington CW2 5DA Telephone: 01270 567277

Off Cheerbrook Road, Willaston, Nantwich CW5 7EN Telephone: 07747 840622

Chester Road, Oakmere CW8 2HB Telephone: 07747 840622

Located in the sought after village of Shavington, this superb scheme offers a collection of stunning 3, 4 and 5 bedroom family homes.

Cheerbrook Gardens is a charming residential development offering a range of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom family homes situated in a prime location in Willaston, just three miles from Crewe and two miles from the market town of Nantwich.

Four Oaks at Oakmere is a charming residential development of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom executive homes designed to reflect the local architecture and style of neighbouring properties, located in the heart of the Cheshire countryside adjacent to Delamere Forest, with excellent rail and road links to the wider North West.

The development is also ideally placed for commuting with the A500 trunk road giving access to the national motorway network and the mainline railway station at nearby Crewe offering direct links to London Euston, and all the major towns and cities throughout the UK. Prices from £279,950

The village of Willaston boasts a vibrant local community and provides all the local amenities you would require including school facilities. Prices from £179,950

• Buy with as little as 5% Deposit using the Government backed Help to Buy* scheme. • Part Exchange† and other schemes available.

Part Exchange

Only three 4 and 5 bedroom homes remaining Prices from £369,950 “Pride in the Job Award” Winner

STUNNING SHOWHOMES AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING. For further information please contact the Sales & Marketing Suites open Thursday to Monday inclusive 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday contact Head Office on 01925 859650 or visit www.wainhomes.net. (for Cheerbrook Gardens please contact the Sales Office at Four Oaks) *Help to Buy is available on selected plots only, subject to qualifying criteria. Full details available from the Sales Executive on request. †Part exchange is available on selected plots only, subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Ask Sales Executive for full details. Prices correct at time of going to press. Photographs for illustrative purposes only.

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Rural living redefined – DISCOVER YOUR DREAM HOME AMONG THESE FOUR-BEDROOM LUXURY PROPERTIES

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01925 210 021

atrium-cityliving.co.uk

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CONTENTS

Help to Buy CHESHIRE

WELCOME

THIS ISSUE

TO HELP TO BUY CHESHIRE MAGAZINE ISSUE #1

OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER

EDITOR’S NOTE Hello and welcome to the first issue of our brand new property magazine for Cheshire. In this issue you’ll find interior tips to make your new house feel like home, help for choosing a new school for your little ones and unmissable advice on making the most of the space in your property. We’ve also got a jam packed events guide so you can plan your social calendar from now until Christmas and, for those house hunters desperate to buy their dream home but worried about the costs, all you need to know about Help to Buy – the scheme that could make your dreams a reality. Enjoy!

hristine CHRISTINE TONER EDITOR

HELP TO BUY ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

SANDY KELLY HELP TO BUY NORTH WEST

WELCOME For most of us, buying a home is the ultimate dream. While many of our European neighbours may be happy to rent, in the UK we’re a nation of buyers. That’s why, as the government’s appointed agent for Help to Buy in the North West we’re delighted to be able to help so many people move on or up the housing ladder with this fantastic scheme. Since it was created, Help to Buy has helped more than 94,000 to buy a new home. This is a fantastic achievement and I’m so pleased we’ve been able to help so many people to realise their home ownership dream. However, I know there are plenty more people who could benefit from Help to Buy. That’s why we’re launching this magazine, along with the various shows and events we’re holding across the region, to help make more people in Cheshire aware of the initiative and, hopefully, help many more people to take that next step towards owning their dream home.

OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILDREN

16 19

HOME COMFORTS

INTERIOR TIPS AND KEY FURNISHINGS TO PERSONALISE YOUR NEW BUILD

SPACE MISSION

HOW TO MAKE YOUR NEW HOME WORK FOR YOU

WHAT’S ON? CHESHIRE EVENT GUIDE

COVER IMAGE © iStock/Piksel WHAT’S ON IMAGE © Snowman Enterprises Ltd 2015 HELP TO BUY © iStock/gpointstudio SCHOOL FEATURE © iStock/Shironosov © iStock/Davidf SPACE MISSION © iStock/KatarzynaBialasiewicz

CONTRIBUTORS

@helptobuymag Add us....

CHARLOTTE PEARSON MUMMY FEVER

COLIN HILL UKEDCHAT

CHRISSY HALTON ORGANISE MY HOUSE

CLAIRE LANCASTER CHESHIRE MUM

helptobuymagazine EDITOR Christine Toner EDITORIAL Natasha Young DESIGN & PRODUCTION Mark Iddon Copyright Move Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Move Publishing can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers. The views expressed are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

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Buy your own home with Shared Ownership

Purchase from

25% to75% share in your home

Shared Ownership provides an affordable and practical way to buy a home. You can simply purchase a share in a home from 25%-75% and pay a reduced rent on the part you don't own to a Housing Association. In most cases you can buy more shares until you own the home outright. Buying this way means you will need a smaller deposit and mortgage to own your own home.

call us on

0300 790 0570

For more info visit

www.helptobuynw.org.uk info@helptobuynw.org.uk

@helptobuynw

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Rowland return with quality new homes in Sandbach Elworth Hall Farm will offer a delightful range of 3 & 4 bedroom homes in a variety of styles. All homes will be built to an exceptionally high standard with a range of quality fixtures and fittings included. To register for a VIP invitation for the launch visit rowland.co.uk Move with just a 5% deposit with

COMING SOON Elworth Hall Farm Wrenmere Close, Sandbach CW11 1XS 0844 875 1319*

follow us online rowland.co.uk Images shown are representative only. Terms and conditions apply to Help to Buy, please ask Sales Executive for full details. *Calls costs 7p per minute plus your phone companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s access charge.

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Make your dream a reality Vicarage Fields is a delightful development in the welcoming village of Haslington, and it’s where your dream home is waiting for you. Whatever vision you have for your future, Vicarage Fields is where your dreams can start to come true.

VICARAGE ROAD, HASLINGTON CW1 5RS

MOVE WITH JUST A

DEPOSIT

• 4 bedroom detached homes • High specification throughout • Ideally located close to local amenities • Stamp duty paid* • Carpets throughout*

4 bedroom homes from £264,995 or just £211,996 with Help to Buy

Call 0845 250 8680 Marketing Suite: Open Thursday to Monday 10am to 5pm

enquiries@elan-homes.co.uk www.elan-homes.co.uk

WITH HELP TO BUY*

Terms & Conditions apply and may only be available on selected plots and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, please speak to Sales Executive for full details.

homes you’ll love inside out

13:38

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HELP TO BUY GUIDE

Help to Buy CHESHIRE

HELP TO BUY A COMPLETE GUIDE

SINCE IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN 2013 THE GOVERNMENT HOMEBUYING SCHEME HELP TO BUY HAS HELPED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BUYERS TO GET ONTO OR MOVE UP THE HOUSING LADDER BUT HOW DOES IT WORK? WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE TWO MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE HELP TO BUY SCHEME IN MORE DETAIL. HELP TO BUY EQUITY LOAN Using the scheme borrowers can put just 5% towards their deposit to access a mortgage at 75% LTV with the government providing a loan to cover the remaining 20%. Mortgages with lower LTVs are more affordable than those in the higher range so using Help to Buy can help you to get a loan with manageable repayments. You won’t have to pay any interest on the loan for the first five years after which you’ll be charged 1.75% annually with rises in line with the Retail Price Index plus 1% each year. You’ll have 25 years to repay the loan but if you sell up before then you’ll need to repay it with proceeds from the sale. The scheme will run until 2020, after the government announced an extension to it, and to be eligible you’ll simply need to be looking to buy a new build home for £600,000 or less.

20%

DEPOSIT REQUIRED FOR A MORTGAGE AT 75% LTV

REMAINING AMOUNT VIA A GOVERNMENT LOAN

YEARS WITH NO INTEREST TO PAY INITIALLY

YEARS TO PAY THE LOAN OFF IN FULL

APPLIES TO NEW BUILDS PRICED AT £600,000 OR LESS

HELP TO BUY MORTGAGE GUARANTEE The second part of the Help to Buy Scheme comprises the mortgage guarantee and was launched three months earlier than originally planned in October 2013. The mortgage guarantee enables would-be buyers to take out a mortgage with 5% deposit. When the mortgage market suffered a downturn as a result of the global credit crunch lenders became reluctant to offer mortgages with high LTVs. In other words, anyone who wanted to buy a home had to fork out for a pretty hefty deposit. Under this part of the Help to Buy scheme, the government will guarantee up to 15% of the property’s value this giving the lender the confidence to offer higher LTV loans. The lender effectively buys this guarantee from the government for a fee. The mortgage guarantee element of Help to Buy is available on both new build and existing borrowers worth up to £600,000. As the borrower you’re still responsible for making the repayment and you’ll still owe 95% of the property’s value but the lender will be more willing to give you a mortgage because part of it is guaranteed by the government.

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Come and see what

Hartford Church of England High School has to offer! Hartford Church of England High School • 67% with A*-C including English and Maths in 2015 • 45% English Baccalaureate (top 1% Nationally) • Students show exceptional independence, initiative in solving problems and frequently become absorbed in their learning • Outstanding behaviour • Students are polite, respectful and confident with teachers and visitors • Extensive enrichment opportunities are popular with students and enthusiastically followed up To visit us during the school day contact the main office on 01606 786000

Chester Road, Hartford, Northwich Cheshire CW8 1LH Tel: 01606 786000 Fax: 01606 783941 Headteacher: Mr M W Holland Email: mail@hartfordhigh.co.uk

www.hartfordhigh.org.uk 09:10

snugg living

The shared ownership specialists www.snuggliving.co.uk We have a variety of beautiful two & three bedroom homes across Cheshire from as little as £41,250* *price based on 25% share x Rose Cottage, Somerford CW12 4SP x Vicarage Fields, Haslington CW1 5UB x School Lane, Guilden Sutton CH3 7BY x Sibbersfield Lane, Farndon CH3 6RL

t: 01942 267819

A trading name of:

adactus

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SCHOOLS

Help to Buy CHESHIRE

OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE According to a recent survey one in four families in the UK have moved house in order to get their children into their school of choice. The study, by Opinium Research on behalf of Santander bank also found parents are willing to pay 18% more for a house that is situated near their preferred school.

Whilst this may seem extreme, there’s no denying that for buyers with children (or plans to have them) the education offering within an area is of particular importance when purchasing a house. But how do you go about deciding on a

1 IN 4 FA MI LIE S HAVE MOVE D HO US E FO R TH E RI GH T SC HO OL

school for your child? What makes a good school good? Education expert Colin Hill, of online education community UKEdChat and North West based publication UKEducation, and parenting blogger Charlotte Pearson share their thoughts.

PA RE N TS W IL L PAY 18 % M O RE FO R A HO US E N EA R TH EI PR EF ER RE D SC HO OR L

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SCHOOLS

BY COLIN HILL UKEDCHAT WWW.UKEDCHAT.COM

GETTING ANSWERS TO VITAL QUESTIONS CAN BE CRUCIAL WHEN CHOOSING A SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD, BUT WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU BE ASKING, AND HOW CAN YOU GET ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS?

Try to start conversations with parents who have older children, to see how any siblings are getting on at the school. Does the school over-burden children with homework tasks? Are these manageable? Do their children come home from school enthused about something they have learnt recently? How well are children supported in lessons, and how accessible are the teachers, if you have any questions? If their child had a problem within the school, how did the school handle the situation?

VISIT THE SCHOOL

This is vital in many respects. It will give you a feel for the school, but you should note how happy the staff and pupils are – what activities are the children doing further up the school? (That will be your child one day!) Are they sat looking bored and disengaged, or are they actively learning and enthused about their learning? What curriculum areas is the school focusing on (schools have recently been given a lot more freedom to choose a curriculum that best suits their pupils – is this evident?) If you see too many worksheets, then run for the hills!

SPEAK TO OTHER PARENTS

“TRY TO START CONVERSATIONS WITH PARENTS WHO HAVE OLDER CHILDREN, TO SEE HOW ANY SIBLINGS ARE GETTING ON AT THE SCHOOL”

HEAR WHAT THE HEAD TEACHER DOESN’T SAY

It is the job of the headteacher to ‘sell’ the school to you, as your child’s attendance will depend on the funding the school receives. They will, inevitably, sell you the positives of the school, and why you should send your child to their school. Many headteachers have this rehearsed, so don’t be shy to ask questions and challenge what you are told. Ask about how learning is personalised to the children. Ask about the curriculum throughout the school. Ask about how progress is monitored (the government recently abolished level grading in schools, so how is the school monitoring this?). Ask how creativity is encouraged. Times have changed, and a conversation with the headteacher should be just that – a two-way conversation. Regarding SATs scores – remember, no adult has ever been declined a job because they didn’t do well at SATs in primary school. These reflect the progress of the school in a few specific areas (reading, writing and maths), so you may want to consider how the school approaches the phonics test (Year 1), as well as SATs assessments in Year 2 and Year 6.

READ THE INSPECTIONS REPORTS WITH A PINCH OF SALT

Beware – inspection reports (freely available to download from the schools’ website, or the OfSTED website) can only give a flavour of the school – they only visit the school for a day or two. Questions to ask yourself when reading these include: How old is this report? Does the report tell me what happens in the classroom, or is it totally focussed on SATs scores? Remember, OFSTED used to judge a school based on the test scores BEFORE it set foot through the door. You want to see the progress children have made from entering reception through to their departure in Year 6. The OFSTED report is only one slice of the whole picture of the school, and this should be remembered when reading through. There are other considerations to remember, which could include social aspects to your child’s learning; how the school attends to children with Special Educational Needs; and any before or after school provision which may be important to you. Choosing the primary school for your child needs quite a lot of consideration, but the points raised in this article should help you make an informed decision.

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Help to Buy CHESHIRE

BY CHARLOTTE PEARSON MUMMYFEVER WWW.MUMMYFEVER.CO.UK Everyone has an opinion about what is important when it comes to selecting a primary school for your child. Some parents spend thousands of pounds just to move into an area because they want their child to go to a particular school. Is this really necessary? Ultimately it depends on your priorities and what you consider to be important and also a measure of a good school. Should a ‘good’ primary school be solely measured on the inspection report? Or should it be measured on how happy the pupils and staff at that school are? Only you can decide really, but I would urge you to look beyond what is immediately obvious. Private does not mean best; reputations are not always built on accuracy and inspection reports do not show the full picture. There are parents I know who have made a decision about a school without even visiting, simply basing their choice of school on reputation alone. In my experience, children do their best at a primary school where they are happiest. By visiting a school, you can gain a sense of the style they use, the facilities available, the staff and the general overall approach of the school. This leads to a ‘feeling’ of whether or not you think your child would be happy in that setting. Visiting a school with your child further adds to this, by enabling them to see what ‘big school’ will be like and becoming familiar in the surroundings. If your child is very anxious about starting school, you may feel that the most important factor is for them to attend a school where they will already know others, as this will help allay any anxiety. You know your child best and only you can decide. Whilst there are many parents scrabbling to get into a particular school, because they have a perception that it is ‘the best in the area’, many others are more relaxed. Some parents feel that the important decisions come later for secondary school and primary school does not really have an impact. My personal view is that the happiness of the child is paramount and children who are

not happy at a particular school will not do well, no matter how much it costs, what uniform they wear, who else goes there and how many after school activities they do. However, I do feel that when choosing a primary school, you should consider which secondary school takes the bulk of the pupils. Why is this important? Surely we don’t need to think about secondary school when our children are five years old? It is important because if you have strong feelings against the secondary school (for whatever reason) you are signing yourself up for potential conflicts and upset with your children later on. At 11, children’s friends are everything to them, much more than at age five, and if you suddenly tell your child they can’t go to the secondary school ALL their friends are going to you will be igniting all sorts of negative emotions at what is already a challenging age. Only you can decide. Don’t overthink the decision but do base your decision on what really matters, not the colour of the uniform or what the neighbours will say.

“THERE ARE PARENTS I KNOW WHO HAVE MADE A DECISION ABOUT A SCHOOL WITHOUT EVEN VISITING, SIMPLY BASING THEIR CHOICE OF SCHOOL ON REPUTATION ALONE. IN MY EXPERIENCE, CHILDREN DO THEIR BEST AT A PRIMARY SCHOOL WHERE THEY ARE HAPPIEST”

ABOUT CHARLOTTE Charlotte lives in North Wales and is a mum of four children. As well as being a freelance strategic consultant in the health and social care sector she writes the parenting and lifestyle blog “Mummy Fever”, which covers a range of topics.

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Your search ends here...

If you’re looking for a stylish new home you’ll love these… Each Bovis Home comes with a wide range of high specification features at no extra cost - saving you thousands of pounds! • Fitted kitchen with a choice of finishes

• Contemporary bathroom suite

• Integrated kitchen appliances: - Oven, hob and fridge freezer - Washing machine and dishwasher*

• For all bathrooms and en suites: - Half height tiling - Ceramic floor tiles*

In addition to all the other benefits of new homes, from energy efficiency, which helps to save money on bills, to low maintenance.

Smithills A Newton Heath B Coming soon!

St Helens C

Eastham D Coming Cuddington E soon! Congleton Moulton F GH Chester I Sandbach J

Coming soon!

Nantwich K Malpas M

L Crewe

Visit one of our show homes at these great locations: A Smithills Smithills Glade BL1 3LT

E Cuddington Forest Edge CW8 2NY

B Newton Heath The Avenues M40 3AA

F Moulton Honeyvale Gardens CW9 8PT

I Chester Crown Park CH3 6BP

Coming soon site!

C St Helens Coming G Congleton Chalice Square soon site! Loachbrook Meadow WA9 3DH CW12 4TE D Eastham Carlett Glade CH62 0DF

H Congleton Brook Valley CW12 2HF

J Sandbach Saxon Lea CW11 3AZ K Nantwich Malbank Waters CW5 5JD

Ask about

Help to Buy

L Crewe Wychwood Village CW2 5NR M Malpas off Chester Road SY14 8PY

5% deposit needed* Coming soon site!

Help to Buy

For all enquiries please call: 01785 530036

www.bovishomes.co.uk *The Help to Buy Equity Scheme has specific terms and conditions and is subject to affordability criteria as prescribed by the homes and communities agency. Subject to specific mortgage lender conditions and qualifications. Not to be used in conjunction with another purchase assistance scheme. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. The specification shown is correct at the time of going to press, dependent on build stage and development. Bovis Homes is continually reviewing and updating the specification on all housetypes and therefore reserves the right to change specification details. For full details regarding current specification and finishes, for the plots you are interested in, please refer to our sales advisor.

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INTERIOR DESIGN

HOME COMFORTS

BY CLAIRE LANCASTER CHESHIRE MUM WWW.CHESHIREMUM.CO.UK

TIPS AND TRICKS ON MAKING A NEW HOME YOUR OWN

CONGRATULATIONS! NOW YOU HAVE THE KEYS TO YOUR NEW PAD IT’S TIME TO CREATE THAT WELCOME HOME FEELING WHEN YOU STEP THROUGH YOUR FRONT DOOR.

Metal storage trunks in dark grey and pale pink Idyll Home www.IdyllHome.co.uk £89.00

.COM, www. made.com £6 Oak, MADE

Following the costs of buying and moving you may not have the budget you’d like to buy all new high quality items. Investing in versitile foundation pieces that will work anywhere will save you money in the long run, because you’ll only have to buy once. A single interesting chair will cost you very little compared to a set of four, six or eight. Choose a lovely shape and use it as a side table against a wall as well as an occasional chair anywhere in your home. Every home needs to have at least one stool … if not many! They can be used as nightstands, side tables, or spare seating, and you can even group a few together as a makeshift coffee table. Trunks are the grand daddy of storage solutions however their use in the home goes way beyond storage. They look fabulous at the foot of a bed as well as moonlighting as a bench, a side table next to a sofa, a coffee table in a living room or as a nightstand beside a bed. Always providing an extra place to tidy away stuff and clutter - result!

9.00

INVEST IN VERSATILE PIECES

PENN Stool

IF INTERIOR DESIGN HAS NEVER BEEN YOUR FORTE, WORRY NOT, OUR SIMPLE TIPS ON STYLES, ACCESSORIES AND FURNISHINGS WILL HELP BRING YOUR PERSONALITY TO YOUR LIVING SPACE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK.

DISPLAY ART Whether you have posters, prints or postcards, whatever your choice of art be sure to get it out of the box, up off the floor and on the walls where it belongs. Artwork adds a different dimension to your walls — it adds colour and interest. Non-traditional objects can also work just as well – a framed marathon number, stamp collection, special clothing and shoes can all reflect your personality. Hang your chosen pieces at eye level for maximum impact – this will vary from room to room depending on whether your room is going to be used mostly for walking through or sitting, hang your art lower to keep it at eye level in the living room for example.

THE RIGHT LIGHTING Lighting is one of the most important elements in a home, it is the quickest way to change the feeling of a room. Extend your lighting from overhead lights to include lamps at different levels to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Copper Lamp from HomeSense £49.99

Umbra Showcase Shelves from www.redcandy.co.uk, £14.00

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Made-to-measure roller blind from Apollo Blinds, www.apollo-blinds.co.uk prices start at £65 for a 610mm x 610mm

Help to Buy CHESHIRE

BUY RUGS Rugs are an effective addition to any room. A good rug can add colour, texture, warmth and style to your home. When it comes to choosing your rug always err on the side of too big rather than too small; furniture can be placed on top of a larger rug but too small and you'll have a trip hazard. Cooking and dining spaces demand flat weave or short-pile rugs, and thick fluffy rugs are the choice for lounges and bedrooms.

WINDOW DRESSINGS AND COVERINGS Window treatments have to tick a lot of boxes, from offering insulation and privacy, to contributing to the room’s atmosphere and aesthetics. How to tackle your window dressings from the huge range of designs on offer can feel pretty daunting, previously this purchase required imagination as to what different styles would look like in your home. Thankfully technology has stepped in to eliminate the guesswork with Design Space, a free online tool from Apollo Blinds which takes the uncertainty out of what type of blinds to choose by providing a ‘try before you buy’ visualisation tool. Try out roller blinds for a contemporary solution that works with most rooms, consider twilight blinds to help manage light whilst retaining privacy. When it comes to creating that all important peaceful bedroom Duette® blinds will ensure a cool, quiet and dark haven for an undisturbed night’s sleep.

Semi sheer or blackout blinds in a wide palette of colours from Duette® blinds www.duette.co.uk

Bedroom & accessories from B&Q AW15 Collection, www.diy.com

EXTEND INVITATIONS THE MEMORIES YOU CREATE WHILE LIVING IN YOUR HOME ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. NEVER MIND THE UNPACKED BOXES, OPEN YOUR DOORS TO OTHERS, INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO SHARE YOUR SPACE AND LET THE MEMORY MAKING COMMENCE.

BRING COLOUR INTO YOUR HOME A feature wall remains on-trend and an easy way to add a colourful statement when you don’t have the budget or the time to completely redecorate. Change just one wall in a room and achieve a low cost, low effort but high impact transformation in any room in your home. Bring focus, colour, texture and personality with either paint or wallpaper. Digital wallpaper has step changed the options for feature walls, and this Printed Rulers wallpaper makes an awesome feature wall! It would look great in a study, office or playroom. Printed Rulers by Mr & Mrs Vintage NLXL from www.limelace.co.uk £249.00

ABOUT CLAIRE Claire Lancaster is a North-West based blogger who writes at www.cheshiremum.co.uk. Originally starting life in 2007 as a personal parenting blog cheshiremum.co.uk has now graduated into a lifestyle site featuring places to go, shows to watch, events to attend and restaurants to try. There is plenty of homes and interior inspiration as Claire redevelops her family home in Cheshire.

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Building across Cheshire

Luxury living across Cheshire We’ve made finding your perfect home simple. With inspired layouts and spacious rooms, we’ve created homes with everything you need for modern living. Plus, we build in ideal locations around Cheshire including Tarporley, Tarvin, Winsford, Crewe and Cuddington, and with high specifications to match, we’re sure you’ll be impressed. What's more, with Help to Buy*, you only need a 5% deposit!

Saxon Heath Tarporley Road, Tarvin, Cheshire CH3 8NE 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes from £229,995 or ONLY £183,996 with Help to Buy*

01829 700 203 Mulberry Place Brook Road, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 9HH 4 & 5 bedroom homes from £384,995 or ONLY £307,996 with Help to Buy*

01829 700 309 Eden Grange Warrington Road, Cuddington, Cheshire CW8 2SP 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes from £349,995 or ONLY £279,996 with Help to Buy*

01606 530 363 Spring Croft Oakmere Road, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 2NF 3 & 4 bedroom homes from £159,995 or ONLY £127,996 with Help to Buy*

01606 532 495 Stoneley Park Stoneley Road, Coppenhall, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 4LS 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes from £154,995 or ONLY £123,996 with Help to Buy*

01270 449 206 *Help to Buy prices represent 80% of the full purchase price. Eligible applicants will be offered an equity loan up to a maximum of 20% of the purchase price (based on the open market value). Applicants are required to fund at least 80% of the purchase price by means of a conventional mortgage, savings and any deposit where required. For the first five years there is no fee charged on the equity loan component. At the start of year six a fee of 1.75% is payable on the equity loan, which rises annually by RPI inflation plus 1%. The equity loan is provided by the HCA and held as a second charge. Terms and conditions apply and full details will be provided on request. This offer is subject to status and only available on selected properties in England only. It is not offered with any other promotion. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. Photographs show typical Taylor Wimpey homes, which may include optional upgrades or extras available at additional cost. Please ask your Sales Executive for details. Prices and details correct at time of going to press.

To find out more – such as Sales information centre and show home opening times – please contact the development of your choice or visit

taylorwimpey.co.uk

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HOW TO GUIDE

SPACE MISSION

BY CHRISSY HALTON INNERSPACE ID WWW.INNERSPACEID.CO.UK

HOW TO MAKE YOUR NEW HOME WORK FOR YOU

HOW DO YOU WORK OUT HOW TO USE SPACE?

SPACE.

I always advise starting before you move into your new home – when you have your new floorplan, and have some time to go before the move itself. This will help you solidify your plans before move-in day. The key to everything is zoning – and this takes two basic steps.

It’s what we are all faced with on day one in a new home. A blank canvas on which to start the rest of your life. How exciting! But also, how daunting it can feel. With this new home comes infinite possibilities –where will everything go? What will look best where? What will give you the home you want? The style, look and feel of your home will, I’m sure, be first and foremost in your mind at this time, but I would urge you to take a step back and consider the function of your home first – as this could just save you time, money and your sanity!

STEP ONE WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR HOME? Firstly, write down everything that you currently do in your home – everyone’s list will be different as everyone has different lives, but this list could house some of the following: Cooking, reading, sleeping, entertaining, working, relaxing, playing music, hobby, DIY, storing items, keep fit, playing, etc. These are all the functions your new home will have to cope with.

STEP TWO WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR EACH OF THESE FUNCTIONS? Each function will have items related to it that are needed to do the task. The second step is to list these next to each function. For example, ‘playing’ would require the following items: Storage chests, bookcase, small desk and chairs, craft items, soft toys, lego, etc.

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER SPACE BEFORE STYLE?

Creating spaces where everything is on hand where you need it will save you so much time and stress in the long run – and doing this before you move in can help you to see if there will be any issues with how you think you may use the space.

How you use each part of your new home will dictate how you lead your life to a great extent. If you find that your home works for you and that everything has a place in it, then you will be able to enjoy a much more streamlined life as a result.

“FOR A HOME TO WORK BEST FOR YOU, YOU NEED TO DEFINE A SPACE FOR EACH FUNCTION THAT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO HOUSE EVERYTHING NEEDED TO COMPLETE THAT FUNCTION EASILY.”

Creating a home that works for you and your family will enable you to spend more time on what you truly love to do. Also, it will ensure that when you do come to style your new home, it will work for you in the long term, and therefore save you money and time.

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Help to Buy CHESHIRE

‘STICK’ TO THE PLAN! Buy coloured spot labels and add the right colour to each item. Give a floorplan with the dots on to your removals company and they can follow it. Along with making moving in more straight forward, by doing this you can show everyone in your home where things go from day one so no bad habits will have time to form. As everyone will be calling the rooms the same names and using them for the functions they are set-up to do, then there should be less out of place, less mess, and less stress losing things. You will know where to go to do something and can be safe in the knowledge that everything you need to do that task will be on hand. Everything will have a place – you will settle in your new home more quickly – and you can get on with enjoying all that Cheshire has to offer.

tive! c e ff e d n a le p c heap, sim

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND 1

Don’t let how the floorplan on the marketing brochure labels each room dictate how you want to use it. A dining room may be better as a home office for you – think outside the box.

Think about what functions will work well together. You will more than likely not have enough rooms for a function per room. It wouldn’t work to have a playroom area in the home office space – but having a fitness area in the home office space may work perfectly if the home office would be used during the day and a small area for fitness would be utilised in the evening only.

ABOUT CHRISSY

Be realistic – moving house doesn’t tend to change our habits overnight. Whether or not you have great intentions for changing how you live in your new home, you probably won’t get there straight away. Work with how you currently live and then you can change as you change in the future.

If you can plan in this way then your move will go much more smoothly. You will know which rooms what items should go in.

Chrissy Halton offers a variety of home services including organising and home styling throughout Cheshire (see www.innerspaceid.co.uk for more details). Her passion lies in creating homes that look amazing & function beautifully. On top of this, Chrissy writes frequent articles on her blog www.organisemyhouse.com where you can find lots of tips and inspiration on all aspects of creating a simpler home life.

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Dreams

HAPPEN with Help to Buy

Help to Buy isn’t just for first time buyers. It’s for everyone! Thanks to Help to Buy* you can buy the Jones home of your dreams at any of our stunning developments in the North West.

Stunning new homes in locations to match: Wilmslow • Tytherington • Cheadle Hulme • Chester • Tilston Kelsall • Eccleston, St Helens • Newton-le-Willows • Bolton

You’ll be amazed what you can afford with Help to Buy • You only need a 5% deposit • Qualify for up to a 20% interest-free government loan† • Enjoy better rates on a 75% mortgage

01625 838757 jones-homes.co.uk

*Help to Buy purchasers are required to fund at least 80% of the purchase price by means of a conventional mortgage, savings and any deposit where required. Eligible applicants will be offered an equity loan of up to 20% of the market price, interest free for the first five years. †At the start of year six a fee of 1.75% is payable on the equity loan, which rises annually by RPI inflation plus 1%. Terms and conditions apply and full details will be provided on request. This offer is subject to status and not offered with any other promotion. Only available on selected properties in England. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. Details correct at time of going to press. Images for illustrative purposes only. Internal photography may show upgraded specification. Ask Sales Advisor for details.

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CHESHIRE EVENT GUIDE

WHAT’S ON? CHESTER LITERATURE FESTIVAL

GHOSTS IN THE GARDEN

11 - 25 OCTOBER

24 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER

CHESTER TOWN HALL AND LIBRARY

TATTON PARK, KNUTSFORD

An appearance from actor, comedian and screenwriter Nick Frost is among the highlights of this year’s festival, as he heads to the city to discuss his new memoir, ‘Truths, Half Truths and Little White Lies’ in its week of publication. It’ll be among 40 events featuring a host of big names, in a programme brimming with poetry, novelists, biographers, comedians, historians and more. For further details log on to www.chesterperforms.com/literature.

Tatton Park’s stunning gardens, complete with their annual autumn vegetable crop, take an eerie twist for this special half term event. Go ghost hunting through the grounds of the historic visitor attraction, or prepare for a scare with a weekend spooky storytelling session in the Tower Garden. For more information visit www.tattonpark.org.uk.

TREE FU TOM 27 OCTOBER THE BRINDLEY THEATRE, RUNCORN CBeebies star Tree Fu Tom and friends will bring a helping of action packed family fun to the Runcorn stage with two performances of a live show. Expect fun, music and laughter as you follow the TV show’s favourite characters on a journey through the magical world of Treetopolis. For tickets and information visit www.thebrindley.org.uk.

WARRINGTON CONTEMPORARY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015 UNTIL 31 OCTOBER VARIOUS WARRINGTON VENUES

The Dream of Modern Living? - Guy Ben-Ner

For the fifth consecutive year, a programme of exhibitions, installations, live performances, film screenings and more is taking over Warrington venues and public spaces. ‘The Dream of Modern Living?’, which brings local and international artists’ responses to IKEA together at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, is among the exhibitions. Meanwhile the Long Shot Micro Film Festival at the Pyramid Arts Centre showcases the talent of filmmakers with a connection to Warrington. The packed schedule of cultural events will be brought to a close with a haunted silent disco complete with spooky characters on 31 October. For the full festival schedule, visit www.warringtonartsfestival.co.uk.

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Help to Buy CHESHIRE Photo: Celynnen Photography

CHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKET

COMEDY TOUR

19 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER CHESTER CITY CENTRE Embrace the festive season with delicious hot food, seasonal drinks and a host of unique stocking filler ideas, as 70 traditional wooden chalet stalls are set up in the heart of the city. The market will transform the area outside of Chester’s historic town hall, cathedral and library buildings into a Christmas wonderland, as it surrounds a 40ft sparkling tree. www.christmasinchester.com

POYNTON BONFIRE & FIREWORKS DISPLAY 7 NOVEMBER POYNTON POOL/PARK Poynton Round Table’s spectacular charity bonfire and fireworks display returns for the 43rd year bringing a funpacked evening for all the family. Aside from colourful junior and main fireworks displays and a big fire burning throughout the event, there’ll also be a torchlight procession from Poynton Civic Centre to mark the seasonal occasion as well as a fairground, bar, food stalls and live music. Visit www.poyntonbonfire.co.uk for full programme and ticket information.

THE SNOWMAN 20 DECEMBER WARRINGTON PARR HALL A magical evening is in store at Warrington Parr Hall, as a screening of timeless Christmas classic ‘The Snowman’ is accompanied by a live orchestra and vocalist performing the score. Some other festive favourites will be added into the Paragon Film Orchestra’s performance for good measure, including selections from Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker’, ensuring Christmas spirit will be spread amongst audience members of all ages. To book, go to www.pyramidparrhall.com

AL MURRAY: THE PUB LANDLORD 8 NOVEMBER CREWE LYCEUM THEATRE To celebrate 20 years at the lager top, ‘Pub Landlord’ Al Murray is back on the road. The author and star of our TV screens and the comedy circuit is bringing his latest live stand-up show, ‘One Man, One Guvnor’ to Crewe. Tickets and information are available at www.crewelyceum.co.uk

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Home Builders Federation Customer Sur vey

Be ama m zed... as little as £8,050** deposit is all you need to buy a beautiful home in Cheshire with Help to Buy.

Canal Fields, Sandbach. 4 bedroom detached home. Only £24 £ 0,995

FINAL PLOT REMAINING! Call 01270 759093

Long Wood Park, Lostock Gralam. 3 & 4 bedroom homes. From £220,995 Call 01606 45377

Oak Me M adow, Middlewich. 3 & 4 bedroom homes. From £160,995 Call 07773 058670

Cheshire Banks, Crewe. 3 & 4 bedroom homes. From £189,995 Call 07773 172936

HEL LP T TO O BUY AVAI A LABLE**

Based on a purchase price of £160,995 • Just 5% deposit required £8,050 • Own 100% of your home • 20% interest free equit y loan is provided by the Government £32 ,199 • Yo ou only need to secure a 75% mortgage of £120,746 • Available to all new home buyers, not just first time buyers.

www.bellway.co.uk Prices correct at time of going to press. Specification on site may differ. Pictures for illustration purposes only. **YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Available on new build homes up to £600,000 subject to the Government ‘Help to Buy’ terms and conditions and only available to customers where a primary mortgage is secured. Not available on second, additional homes, buy-to-let or let-to-buy properties. HomeBuy agent eligibility check required. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years and needs to be a minimum of 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of 20%. After five years, an annual fee of 1.75% of the outstanding equity loan is charged. This is increased annually by RPI plus 1%. Subject to status, terms and conditions apply. Help to Buy not available in conjunction with part exchange. Visit http://www.bellway.co.uk/help-to-buy.