Moving House Summer 2016

MovingHouse

Prestige property & luxury living

Summer 2016

HOME TRUTHS When it’s time for a makeover, ask the experts MOVING ABROAD Is it time to break away?

HOUSE & GARDEN TRENDS Go for bright colours and bold patterns

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE The joys of upcycling

CONTENTS MOVING HOUSE

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE Welcome to Moving House, a magazine for anyone interested in housing trends. Whether you are buying, selling, upgrading or just looking, this is the publication for you.

If you have decided now is the time to spruce up your home, we have searched for advice from some of Britain’s top experts to make sure you come up with the right decisions. Alan Titchmarsh has some helpful hints on getting your lawn up to scratch and Monty Don is the man to get some fantastic colour and gorgeous scents into your garden Moving indoors, if it’s time for a thorough summer clear-out, Aggie Mackenzie’s practical tips will help you cut what may appear to be an insurmountable problem down to size. Lawrence LlewelynBowen has some practical advice on home maintenance and Kelly Hoppen is on hand with some important advice on lighting and choosing your shades.

If you want a brand new look without the huge expense of buying a whole houseful of furniture and fittings, upcycling is most definitely the buzzword and one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

From transforming old ornaments into vintage lamp bases to using crate pallets as tables, this can be an affordable and stylish way to give your home a trendy new look.

If you fancy getting away from it all, despite the uncertainties caused by the recent Brexit vote, there are still more British citizens looking to relocate abroad than ever before. If you feel like joining the exodus, we have some practical tips that might help make your mind up.

Meanwhile if the For Sale sign has been planted in your front garden for too long, we have a few top tips that might just get things moving. From de-cluttering to making small upgrades to putting your home up for auction, there are lots of options to consider.

That’s just a taste of what’s happening in this edition of Moving House. I hope it helps you find your dream home.

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Chris Wilson Managing Editor

FEATURES: 4

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He who picks a rose... ...will have a serene and stylishly ontrend home. Phoebe Seymour looks at Pantone’s picks for 2016

Home & Garden Trends Go for bright colours and bold patterns from all over the world

14 Home Truths

It’s time to spruce up your home with the help of Britain’s top experts

18 Buying a new home

Molly McGreevy weighs up the benefits of buying new

20 Moving Day

It’s a day full of things to remember.

But if you plan in advance – and follow our handy guide – your move should go without a hitch

22 A new spin on things

One man’s trash is another’s treasure. Tom Wood looks at the growing trend of upcycling

26 Cut throught the red tape Avoid any hold-ups when purchasing a new property by making sure you’re well prepared

28 Moving Abroad

More than a million Brits have already made the decision to relocate abroad – but how easy is it to do? Molly McGreevy looks at what you need to consider before moving overseas

32 Quick fixes

We’d all like a quick sale but is there anything we can do to speed up the process? Eleanor Hyde looks at ways of improving your home’s appeal

PROMOTIONS: 13 Moonlight Textiles

MANAGING EDITOR Chris Wilson EDITORIAL Phoebe Seymour, Molly McGreevy, Rachel Martin DIGITAL EDITOR Stephanie Burns CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Richard Abbey SUB-EDITOR Richard Smith STUDIO MANAGER Chris Brierley DESIGN Dan Wray, Steve Levers, Charles Bradshaw OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Jillion Wood PUBLISHING MANAGER Sam Warsop SALES EXECUTIVES Sally Wragg, Terri Moore, Rebecca Hume, Simon Moreman, Helen Wragg, Claire Waller, Julie Shingler, Mandy Ogle, Melanie Jackson DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Chris Clayton ACCOUNTS Paul Barrett, Kelly Mann Published by: RMC MEDIA, RMC House, 6 Broadfield Court, Broadfield Business Park, Sheffield, S8 0XF Tel: 0114 250 6300 Website: www.rmcmedia.co.uk Twitter: @RegionalMagCo You can also follow us on Facebook Not connected with any other company or group. The publisher takes no responsibility whatsoever for the safe keeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material. Any submitted material should be accompanied by an SAE. All material is the copyright of the RMC Media and is not to be reproduced without permission.

The placing of an order for the insertion of an advertisement in this publication shall amount to an acceptance of our terms and conditions, copies of which are available on request.

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TRENDS MOVING HOUSE

He who picks a rose... ...will have a serene and stylishly ontrend home. Phoebe Seymour looks at Pantone’s picks for 2016. here is still time to be on-trend when it comes to choosing the colours to decorate your home.

Every year Pantone, the Americanbased commercial printing company, names its Colour of the Year. This colour is supposed to reflect the spirit of the age and when the word is issued, it is often followed by a rush by furnishing companies as well as jewellers, clothes designers and interior designers who all want to be seen to be bang up to date.

For 2016, they selected not one, but two colours – Rose Quartz and Serenity. Shades of pink are the order of the day with Rose Quartz, whilst Serenity is a cool blue, which perfectly balances out the warmth of Rose Quartz. Together, they create a sense of peace and order in your home (here’s hoping).

Couple rosey accessories with heart motifs or break up a pink room

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Inspire romance by adding some soothing candlelight with this Honeycomb Glass Hurricane Lamp. £99 from www.artisanti.com

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with splashes of blue. Interior designers have had time to react, so you’ll find plenty of textiles and prints which combine these complementary colours.

Don’t be afraid to put on your rose tinted spectacles when it comes to giving your home a brand new look. Add refreshing shades of blue to ensure a balanced colour scheme throughout.

Rough rose quartz makes a beautiful edition to your living room décor and is believed to promote love and calm.

Prices start at 84p for 20g from www.holisticshop.com

This A4 Triana art print has a beautiful, textured finish and is designed in the KUTE studio by Alice Rebecca Potter. Printed and shipped in the UK. €35 from www.kute.fr

LEFT: Designed by 2 Lovely Gays (Jordan & Russel), this gorgeous bed linen is inspired by Florentine wallpaper and memories from the duo’s honeymoon to the romantic Italian city. £60 from www.secretlinenstore.com

ABOVE: This striking Tickets Lampshade beautifully combines this year’s key colours. £36 www.madebyhandonline.com BELOW: This cute ceramic bowl with heart designs is a traditional mixing basin, generously sized and sturdy for baking. It looks gorgeous displayed on your kitchen worktop too. £18 from www.tch.net ABOVE: The new acrylic boat bath can be supplied plain or painted in any Farrow & Ball eggshell paint finish. This bath’s soft colour provides both calm and glamour. £1,260 plus £294 for paint finish from www.bcdesigns.co.uk

LEFT: This Retro Treats Pink Bon Bon Jar will add some 1950s diner style to your kitchen and will certainly appeal to your sweet tooth. £4.99 from www.creativetops.com RIGHT: This 19th century distressed blue coffee table works just as well as a rustic children’s table. £175 from www.orchidfurniture.co.uk

LEFT: Enjoy sweet dreams and break up pink bedding with this love pillowcase.

Personalised messages available. £47 from www.charmajesty.com

Make a statement with this quirky and sumptuous blue Chofa Sofa. £2,097 from www.rume.co.uk

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DIRECT ACCESS TO LAKESIDE PATHS

BUY WITH JUST 5% DEPOSIT

TRENDS MOVING HOUSE RIGHT: These kantha bedspreads are stitched by hand from contrasting vintage saris, so each design is unique. £165 from www.decoratorsnotebook.co.uk.

LEFT: In many religions, mandalas are used for meditation. One thing is certain: This mandala round rug has an incredibly calming effect on the senses thanks to its harmonious design and timeless beauty. £139 from www.therugseller.co.uk.

Boho BEAUTY

This Indian antiqued maharaja style coffee table is perfect for your boho living room. £449 from www.4living.co.uk.

Go for bright colours and bold patterns from all over the world, writes Phoebe Seymour. he boho fashion trend is perfect for the summer festival season and it looks like it’s here to stay all year round, so why not apply this gorgeous style to your décor?

When it comes to the boho look, it’s all about bright, warm colours (pinks and reds are a good way to go) and geometric patterns. Paisley and mandala designs are a great place to start, whilst you will find many Moroccan, Indian and Aztec influences in these accessories.

Don’t be afraid to clash your colours and patterns and try to add naturally-made pieces of furniture such as hemp and cotton where possible – it’s both eco-friendly and stylish.

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From stained glass and metallic Moroccan lanterns, to clashing Indian-influenced furnishings, these items will brighten your summer days and warm up your cold summer nights.

This Karoo Media Unit has a mid-century shape, but its ethnic, monochrome prints give it a bohemian look. £249 from www.swooneditions.com.

Read all our magazines online at rmcmedia.co.uk

This bright Indian elephant cushion cover by Cucur is a must for every boho living room or bedroom. €20 (£23.51) from en.dawanda.com.

This URBANARA Pouf is handmade with 100 per cent hemp and 100 per cent recycled cotton fibre so is both eco friendly and chic. £119 from www.urbanara.de.

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Plumbing, Design and Installation From Start to Finish

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MOVING HOUSE TRENDS

These gorgeous Moroccan Glass Lanterns will look great in clusters indoors or hung up outside. £18 from www.boutiquecamping.com.

This beautiful handmade dream catcher will look great against a feature wall. £26.95 from www.miafleur.com.

LEFT: This funky Aztec mug with its geometric pattern is designed by Laura Egbi for the Graduate Collection and comes in a choice of colours.

Buy individually or as set (one of each colour) in green, purple, orange, blue, grey and yellow. £10 from www.limelace.co.uk.

ABOVE: This Moroccan tea light set delivers a touch of exotic beauty to your home or can be used to add a touch of romance to your garden.

Set of three £9.95 from www.furnish.co.uk.

LEFT: This glorious Romany patchwork wingback armchair will add comfort and atmosphere to any room. £495 from www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk.

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TIM MYCROFT GROUP SERVICES

Superior Cleaning and Restoration of Carpets and Upholstery Carpet Fitting Service ‘Treating your home with the ultimate respect’ Formerly with Franklins of Sheffield who have now closed after 130 years of trading, Tim Mycroft, himself with over 30 years experience, is pleased to announce his taking over the South Yorkshire and Derbyshire areas of the business.

Based in Sheffield, Tim is looking forward to working with valued customers of many years and having the opportunity to create cleaner, brighter, fresher carpets and upholstery throughout the homes of new clients.

Tim also has many years experience in the fitting of carpets and flooring.

If you would like more information about the services available please feel free to call and discuss your individual needs.

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MOVING HOUSE MOONLIGHT

Transform YOUR HOME

With their friendly approach and wide range of products and services, it’s little wonder that Moonlight Textiles are still going strong after over 30 years in the trade. oonlight Textiles is a second generation family business which was established in 1985.This long-standing Sheffield company specialise in made-tomeasure curtains and related accessories for every style and type of room in the house. And Moonlight don’t just stop at making curtains, they also offer a comprehensive range of blinds including Roman, Woodslat, Venetian, Skylight and Conservatory Roof blinds, sheer and blackout systems and can advise on the latest child safety products and installation requirements, in line with newly implemented legislation to ‘keep it safe’.

The showroom, on Abbeydale Road, have a team of advisers always on hand, its own in house seamstresses who create the custom-made designs, as well as an experienced installation team to fit them. Great emphasis is placed on the personal touch and service offered by this long-serving and loyal team, many of whom have worked with Moonlight for over 20 years.

For customers who want to transform their home but need reassurances on design and colour, Moonlight offer a

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made-to-measure consultancy service providing site measures and specialist advice in the comfort of your own home, at no extra cost.

Moonlight also provide tracks and poles for all window styles, bay windows being a speciality. Curtain poles are constantly in demand, in styles ranging from the more traditional wooden and wrought iron to contemporary brushed metal and chrome finishes. Bright pewter, bronze and graphite finishes on wrought-iron poles for bay windows are extremely popular. Clever ‘ring pass’ brackets allow the drawing of one pair of curtains around the bay – no snagging as with off-the-shelf products.

Moonlight have been providing specialist flame-retardant curtains and

blinds to the commercial sector for over 25 years – so if your business needs good quality window coverings conforming to the latest British Standards, you know where to go.

All these products and services are available at realistic, competitive pricing.

With their friendly approach and wide range of products and services, it’s little wonder that Moonlight Textiles are still going strong three decades in.

Moonlight 76-88 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, S7 1FF Tel: 0114 258 8555 Email: sales@moonlight-textiles.co.uk www.moonlight-textiles.co.uk

Three steps to a beautiful home, courtesy of Moonlight 1. Choose your fabrics and design. Moonlight’s team of experienced advisors can help you in their showroom, or visit you at home 2. Curtains and accessories are tailor-made by experienced seamstresses in Moonlight’s long-standing workroom 3. Collect, or have your finished products installed by a professional team of fitters. www.sheffieldvibe.com

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ADVICE MOVING HOUSE

Home TRUTHS

It’s time to spruce up your home with the help of Britain’s top experts.

THE GARDEN GURUS Alan Titchmarsh says… get your soil up to scratch With summer here, you could be forgiven for thinking that everything in the garden is well ahead now.

But what about your lawn? I try to give mine a helping of lawn feed in April as a rule, but if you didn’t manage to do that you might have a lawn that is desperate for a square meal.

Not to worry; it is not too late to give your lawn a good feed, provided you do so in showery conditions. Use a wheeled distributor to make sure that the application is even and time it so that the stuff is then washed in by rain.

Resist the temptation to water your lawn with a sprinkler. Not only is it antisocial to use valuable water resources on it, but you will find that the grass recovers rapidly the moment a shower or two is forthcoming. Tap water seldom has as good an effect as oxygenrich water that comes from the heavens.

The best way to ensure you have plenty of rain water available is to install water butts. All but the smallest handkerchief gardens would probably

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ow the days are warmer and brighter, it’s time to clean our homes and venture into our gardens. But with so much contradictory gardening and décor advice out there, it’s difficult to know where to begin.

That’s why we’ve dug out the best pieces of home and garden advice from the biggest experts in the business.

From Britain’s favourite gardening experts, to cleaners and interior designers, let the professionals help you get your home and garden into shape this season – weather permitting.

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benefit from having more than one.

Place them under every available downpipe and fit them with an overflow that is directed into the drain.

If your beds and borders could do with a boost, sprinkle blood, bone and fishmeal between the plants – though by now they’ll have made so much growth that you’ll have to get in among them to make sure the feed hits the soil and not the foliage.

Monty Don says… select scented flowers When planting an area for maximum fragrance it is important not to go mad. No one would wear six different perfumes simultaneously and likewise you have to edit the scents you want carefully.

This can either be done by having a succession of plants with one or two dominating at each stage of the growing year, or by not planting anything too overwhelming so you can savour the individuality of each offering as you get closer to it, or have different fragrance at different times of day.

We’ve chosen to focus mainly on plants that smell best in the evening because that is when we are most likely to sit and enjoy them. We have also limited colours to mainly white, pale yellow and touches of pale blue.

The rose ‘Alister Stella Gray’ has yellow buds that open to a pale yellow, becoming almost white at the edges, and is set to climb one of the posts. It is repeat flowering, will eventually reach a height of about 4.5m (15ft) and has superb fragrance. The other three posts support a honeysuckle, ‘Scentsation’, with warm fruity perfume; a white wisteria; and a Jasminum officinale.

I have planted the white sweet pea ‘Royal Wedding’ up hazel wigwams and will add rosemary beneath as a little hedge. So far I have three shrub roses – ‘Mme Legras de St Germain’, ‘Alba semi-plena’ and ‘Mme Hardy’.

All are white-flowered and scented. The peony ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ is big and blousy and smells divine so she’s in the mix too as are two varieties of mock orange (philadelphus): ‘Belle Etoile’ and ‘Manteau D’Hermine’. The latter is smaller so better suited to a small garden.

THE HOME HEROES Aggie Mackenzie Lawrence says… summer clear out LlwelynStart with a small room so you won’t Bowen feel daunted. Make a list of what you says… have, and what you no longer need. substance Divide everything into categories, such as paper, gadgets, clothes, books. Take before style out everything that needs to be cleaned – and I mean everything, including the curtains.

If you haven’t used something for more than a year, out it goes. If it holds very dear memories, start a memory box.

Divide everything into: things that are useless and have to be thrown away; items that can be recycled; and things you can give to friends. Then start assembling your piles. Once you’ve collected everything, act immediately – go to the tip, the charity shop or the recycling depot.

Bring in a basin of hot, soapy water.

Clean those ledges. Clean windows until they shine. Dust the lamp. Get the vacuum attachment and clean the dark corners.

This takes time – don’t expect to do more than two rooms a day.

Many people place maintenance way down their list of property essentials, preferring to spend money on more immediately glamorous items, but there’s no point in buying a costly, luxurious carpet or rug for your bedroom, if two months later a leak caused by faulty roof tiles means you have to replace it.

There is nothing stylish about damp.

Preventive care is the best form of maintenance – it’s the least intrusive and, in the end, it’s the least expensive.

Get the basics right – and then you can have fun!

The great irony is that if most of us spent a little time and money on some simple maintenance, in the long run we’d probably have more to spend on

the, admittedly, exciting creative and imaginative aspects of home ownership.

Kelly Hoppen says… lighten up Accessories and décor, or home jewellery as I like to call it, provide those little accents that add beauty and personality to a home. Build a collection of staple pieces, such as coral and vases, which can conveniently be changed with the seasons.

Choose your shades carefully – the colours and themes used in your home can have a great impact. I am notorious for my love of taupe – I use it so much because it’s a gorgeous shade that always provides a chic, timeless look.

Lighting is crucial and has such a big impact on a room. For an affordable and unique touch, place uplighters by the edges of your curtains, which will light up the ceiling.

16 www.sheffieldvibe.com

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BUYING MOVING HOUSE

Buying a NEW HOME Molly McGreevy weighs up the benefits of buying new. ith the government pledging to build a million new homes in the next five years, and offering Help to Buy schemes to give a helping hand to those getting on the property ladder for the first time, now is the perfect time to invest in a new build property.

New homes to suit all needs are being built across the region. Whether you’re a young couple looking for a starter home, or an expanding family needing more space, there’s a whole host of developments where you can search for your perfect pad.

Buying a new home has many advantages. Built to the latest specifications, new builds don’t come with the worrying potential for problems and expensive repairs a couple of years down the line that older houses do. And if any problems do occur all new houses come with a ten-year warranty. Energy efficiency is also taken into account, so new homes are kind to the environment and often have lower utility bills than older houses.

New homes could be up to 55 per cent more energy efficient than a similar sized refurbished Victorian property. According to developers Barratt Homes the specialist airtight windows, coated glass and insulated roofs could lead to savings of up to £1,312 a year on energy bills.

Depending on what stage in building new homes are bought they are more bespoke to the buyer’s needs than older properties. Off plan properties give the

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homeowner more control over the location of their home and the features inside.

Off plan buyers can discuss their personal needs with developers and influence the building of their new home to make it perfect for them, from selecting a south-facing garden to the colour of tiles in the bathroom.

Buying off plan gives you more choice over the design of your new home than an older property, which could require extensive building work or interior design improvements until it is the perfect home for your family.

Companies open their show homes and marketing suites early in development so potential buyers can arrange viewings and learn more about the homes.

Properties range from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached family homes with locations to suit all.

Whether you want your new home to be close to the city centre, out in the leafy suburbs or in a convenient location for commuting on the motorway there are new developments in prime locations for all needs.

Buying a new home can be a stressful but buying new takes away the stress of a chain and potential structural problems.

And you can move in as soon as it’s been decked out according to your personal specifications.

With so much exciting residential development in the region now is the time to start searching for your next home.

MOVING MOVING HOUSE

Moving DAY It’s a day full of things to remember. But if you plan in advance – and follow our handy guide – your move should go without a hitch, writes Martha Rogers.

oving day can be a very exciting time. Whether you’re setting off across the country or just hauling your belongings up the road, it can mark the beginning of a new chapter and adventure in your life.

Months have been spent planning your new space, which rooms will be used for what and where your furniture will be placed, but while moving day is one you have been longing for, it’s also one you have been dreading.

The day is full things to remember – from the big physical stuff right down to the small bits of paperwork. It is a logistical hassle, and just one missed detail can make it so much worse. To ensure your day is as stress-free and exciting as it should be, follow our simple guide to a smooth move.

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Packing When you start thinking of everything as something that has to be put into a box and transported potentially hundreds of miles, you start to realise just how many possessions you actually have. Make sure you give yourself a head start by beginning the packing process weeks, even months, in advance. Moving day itself will be filled with things to do, lighten the workload by making sure the vast majority of the packing is done and ready to load onto the removal van first thing in the morning.

Keep a ‘moving essentials’ pack Once you eventually get into the swing of packing it can be hard to stop – and while that’s good, it can be bad if you pack essential things that you need on the day of your move. Remember, you will be arriving at a completely empty house, so make sure things like towels, toiletries and bedding are to hand so after a long day of moving you can begin to relax. As your fridge will need to be disconnected, you will also need refreshments readily available throughout the day of the move.

Draw a floor plan This will not only help to build

excitement for your move but will also prove very helpful when unloading the moving van. Colour code which boxes go in which rooms according to your plan and make sure everyone who is helping unload has a copy.

Do a final sweep Make sure you are the last person in your house on the day of the move so you can do a thorough inspection before the removal van leaves. It may sound obvious, but it’s easy to overlook the cupboard under the stairs, the contents of the garden shed or the attic.

To ensure you don’t end up spending a couple of years without your seasonal decorations, make sure you do your final sweep.

Final meter readings Making sure that you only pay for the electricity, gas and water that you have used is vital when you move home.

Remember to take the meter readings at your property and notify your suppliers before you move to ensure that you don’t get billed for someone else’s utilities.

Organise children and pets Moving house can be just as stressful for your children. Either let them be involved by giving them small responsibilities, such as deciding which room will be theirs or simply allowing them to choose which takeaway you will eat on the first night in your new house, or arrange a babysitter to look after them. In order to keep your pets

safe and happy make sure they travel in a secure pet carrier.

Clean new place Although the previous owners should have done a good cleaning before they left, nothing will make your new house feel like a home like giving it a once over yourself. Giving your new home a scrub will also allow you to check that everything is in order and there is no damage that you were unaware of.

Install new locks As soon as you’ve got the keys to your house go about arranging for new locks to be installed. Let‘s face it, the previous owners, maintenance folks and who knows who else are all likely to have keys to your place. For some peace of mind and as a necessary step in making this house yours, get new locks installed immediately.

Inform everyone who needs to know You’ve done the hard bit and got from A to B, now you just need to let everyone know about your move.

Seems easy enough, right? All of your friends and family already know, so who else is there to tell? Actually, there is a long list of people who need to know your change of address. Make sure your bank is aware of the move to update accounts, you need to have your mail and subscriptions re-directed, children’s schools, colleges or universities need to know and your doctors, dentists and opticians will need to be changed.

“It may sound obvious, but it’s easy to overlook the cupboard under the stairs, the contents of the garden shed or the attic. To ensure you don’t end up spending a couple of years without your seasonal decorations, make sure you do your final sweep.” www.sheffieldvibe.com

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MOVING HOUSE UPCYCLING

A new spin ON THINGS One man’s trash is another’s treasure. Tom Wood looks at the growing trend of upcycling. ave you ever thought a door would make a good table? Or a wooden ladder would look great in your living room? Over the last few years the trend for upcycling has become increasingly popular and it is an ideal purse-friendly way for bargain hunters to spice up their homes.

Upcycling is all about taking something that is old and dilapidated and transforming it into something useful. You could take an old mug for example, paint it up and turn it into a plant pot to proudly display on the kitchen window.

While restoring objects from the back of your cupboard will undoubtedly save you some money – and you will also be doing your bit for the environment – be prepared to invest your time in some TLC as you give furnishings a new lease of life.

To add bursts of quirky style to your home, here are some helpful tips, which could give it that all-important boost.

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• If you have old ornaments lying about, these can be transformed into vintage lamp bases. Drill holes in the top and bottom of the ornament and then feed the plug wire through. Add a lamp shade to top it off.

• Fabric cloth is a material that has many good uses when it comes to restyling your home. Stitch together vintage tapestry styles and stuff to create pillows – or even bedside quilts if your sewing is good.

• Baths, shopping trolleys and wheelbarrows can all be converted into living room chairs – with the right equipment – when they are cut into shape and made comfortable with cushions.

• Spray paint is an excellent way to freshen up old picture frames, children’s toys, lamp bases – anything you can get your hands on really. Experiment with metallics and pastels to turn everyday objects into stylish decor.

• Perhaps your art and craft skills are not up to scratch, or maybe you don’t have the time to spray paint picture frames. If so, there are some excellent websites that make sure you don’t miss out on upcycled items. Sites like Etsy and Hipcycle all sell handmade, upcycled items from clothes to wardrobes. But be warned, when an item’s popularity increases, as always, so does the price. So if you’re in search of the latest trend, expect to part with a little more cash.

• For other ideas check out blogs and vlogs such as Buzzfeed DIY, which is littered with step-by-step guides on how to improve your home with ordinary objects.

• For those feeling a little more adventurous and wondering if an upcycled feature can be the centre point of your home, the answer – of course – is yes. With a bit of love and a lick of paint, doors, crate pallets and even easels can be used as kitchen, coffee or bedside tables. And, for the legs, radiator pipes or scaffolding are an excellent option.

• For storage, a popular trend at the moment is using wooden ladders as book shelves or condiment storage.

Finding and creating upcycled goods is a real art; there are many experts in the industry who have built careers out of transforming items ready for the skip into imaginative features for the home and garden.

So the next time you come across a big old rustic door, try and imagine what it would look like as a kitchen table, or as the base of a garden bench.

After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. www.sheffieldvibe.com

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UPCYCLING MOVING HOUSE

“While restoring objects from the back of your cupboard will undoubtedly save you some money – and you will also be doing your bit for the environment – be prepared to invest your time in some TLC as you give furnishings a new lease of life.”

ADVICE MOVING HOUSE

Cut through the RED TAPE

Avoid any hold-ups when purchasing a new property by making sure you’re well prepared. o you’ve spied your dream home, found a potential buyer for your current house and everything is ticking along nicely. Sound familiar?

Probably not.

As many of us are painfully aware, before you pack boxes and hire removal vans there can often be a range of obstacles to overcome. You can’t always prevent an unreliable buyer from pulling out at the last minute or an estate agent from dragging their feet but there are a few things you can do to avoid delays and make sure your move goes as smoothly as possible.

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Do the sums and know your costs Calculate how much you need to borrow on your next home, how much equity you have in your current house and how much you can use as a downpayment. Approach your existing lender to see what they can offer you and then compare this deal with others on offer.

Ensure you have your estate agent’s final fee agreed in writing and ask your solicitor to fully explain all costs associated with selling. Know how 26 www.sheffieldvibe.com

much you’ll need to pay in stamp duty, solicitor’s fees, survey and mortgage, and fees for the buying and selling process before deciding on your budget.

If in doubt, seek advice from an independent market-wide financial advisor.

Instruct your solicitors early Preparation is key, so it’s a good idea to instruct a solicitor to do your conveyancing early. Ask them to prepare a draft contract and apply for the title deeds, while you pull together all the paperwork on the property.

You will need to produce documents such as building certificates for any structural work carried out and planning and building regulation approval for applicable work. Don’t let a sale fall through because of delays you’ve caused.

Choose the right buyer The person who offers the highest price is not always the best choice. Listen to your estate agent’s advice on buyers and push them to find out as much

about their circumstances as possible.

How are they financing the purchase? Cash buyers are best, but if they are raising a mortgage ask to see a mortgage ‘in principle’ letter from their lender. Are they part of a chain? If they have something to sell, then it should be under offer before you take your property off the market.

If you know your buyer and how their finances are in place, then there should be fewer potential hurdles.

Hold the deal together Be prepared to compromise on your price range and request offers be made in writing. Decide early on whether you want to keep all your furniture, curtains and white goods as many of these items may not suit your next home and can be used as effective bargaining tools.

Keep in weekly contact with your solicitor and estate agent so you know where the conveyancing is at and how your buyer feels about the progress of the transaction. The longer it takes to reach exchange of contracts, the higher the chances of the deal falling through or of the buyer dropping their price, so stay in the know.

www.sheffieldvibe.com

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MOVING ABROAD MOVING HOUSE

Pack up your troubles (and everything else) More than a million Brits have already made the decision to relocate abroad – but how easy is it to do? Molly McGreevy looks at what you need to consider before moving overseas.

MOVING ABROAD MOVING HOUSE ince the country’s decision to leave the EU in June, the number of Britons looking to move abroad has increased by 30 per cent, with Spain being top on the list for this new wave of wannabe expats.

More than a million Brits have already made the decision to live abroad, swapping their lives in the UK for new lifestyles in Europe and further afield. For those who have already made the move the most popular destinations for British expats is Australia, followed by the USA, Spain, Canada and Ireland.

But before you pack your bags and skip onto a plane set for sunnier climes there’s a lot to think about, our handy guide covers some of the most important things to remember before emigrating abroad.

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Don’t rush Don’t just spin a globe and decide your new home with a point of a finger.

Popular destinations will have expat forums, join up and connect with people already living in the area, they might tell you information you hadn’t even thought to ask about.

Forums are also a great place to start when it comes to researching local laws and customs, it’s important you do your homework to make sure your chosen destination is the best place for you and your family to set up home.

If you’re going to be job hunting in your new country have a look at what is on offer. Jobs in some destinations might be focused on certain industries, such as tourism, and the pay might be different what you get in the UK. So ensure that your destination has enough employment opportunities to support your family.

If you’re moving with kids check out local schools and colleges, there might be international or English-speaking schools nearby which you can enrol in, and you’ll need to find out what paperwork you need to apply for places.

Visit the area You wouldn’t move to a new city in the UK without visiting it first, so why would you do it abroad?

Visit the area at least a couple of times to get a feel for the place. Try and go at different times of year, a destination that’s also popular for tourists may be very different out of season than it is during the school holidays.

Take as much time as you need to make an informed decision, you may want to consider renting for six months to a year before making the move to buy property. By renting first you can see what day-to-day life will be like in your new location.

Your requirements on a holiday are very different to what you need to live happily in a place, if you discover your chosen area is not for you it’s much easier to move home if you’re renting than if you have bought a property.

“Don’t just spin a globe and decide your new home with a point of a finger. Popular destinations will have expat forums, join up and connect with people already living in the area, they might tell you information you hadn’t even thought to ask about.”

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You’ll need to pack much more than for your average holiday

Be part of the community Make an effort to learn the local language, not only will it help you settle into the community initially but it will make life in your new home much easier.

Learn key words, basic phrases and grammar to start with, you will be able to get by for the first few months and your new neighbours will appreciate your efforts. Once you’ve moved in try and use the native language as much as you can and you will soon see an improvement in your vocabulary.

Learn about local culture and traditions, there might be local events and festivals you can attend that will help you integrate into the community.

Consider your longterm financial requirements Find out how exchange rates and inflation will affect your income, pension and benefits, and calculate the cost of living.

You can still receive some benefits when you move abroad, depending on your circumstances, and it is worth checking your personal situation with

HMRC to ensure you receive what you are entitled to and to avoid unwillingly committing benefit fraud.

If you’re moving abroad after your retirement you may still be entitled to claim your state pension, again it is worth taking the time to notify HMRC of your plan to move to ensure your tax and benefits are in order and correct in time for you emigrating.

Seek independent legal advice Choose a legal advisor who understands the law in the country you are moving to, and ideally the language. Avoid using advisors recommended by estate agents in your new country, they may be bias towards certain agents. Instead try and use an independent legal advisor recommended to you by someone you trust, again expat forums are a great place to find such recommendations.

Make sure your advisor knows everything about your move, and is kept updated. Other countries have very different housing law to the UK, and something that may seem insignificant could have huge implications.

They might be expensive, but an independent, bilingual legal advisor can give you invaluable advice and make the house buying process much easier.

Notify all the important people Of course family and friends will know about your moving plans but there’s a host of people you need to inform you will be leaving the country.

HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions will need to know about your change of circumstances to adjust your tax and benefits accordingly, if you don’t do this you could end up with fines or have criminal charges brought against you.

Schools will need to be notified that children will be leaving, this will usually be at the end of a term. Before you leave make sure you have all the necessary documentation from your children’s UK schools to help secure places at schools in your new area.

Doctors, dentists and vets will also need to be told to take you off their registers, this can usually be done quickly on the telephone or via email.

Make sure you inform Royal Mail to redirect post from your old address to your new one, you can ask for your post to be sent to an address in the UK or overseas for a period of time of your choice, that way you won’t miss any important letters during your move. www.sheffieldvibe.com

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SELLING MOVING HOUSE

Quick FIX?

We’d all like a quick sale but is there anything we can do to speed up the process? Eleanor Hyde looks at ways of improving your home’s appeal.

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elling your house can be a frustrating time. Though the average time for a house to sell in our current market is 65 days, many of us find out the hard way that houses can sit on the market for months or even years before anyone takes much interest. Though there may be ten buyers for every home in London that certainly isn’t the case everywhere else.

It may be a job transfer, divorce or another emergency which means you need to get rid of your house quickly, but in a slow-moving house market this is something quite difficult to achieve.

Unless you’re lucky with a buyer, there’s no quick fix to getting your house to sell. Nevertheless, here are a few ways to help speed up the process.

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Quick house sale providers These companies offer to buy your house or find a third party buyer very quickly in exchange for cash, some even guaranteeing to “exchange within two days”, but is this all too good to be true?

Cavendish Elithorn, a senior director at the Office of Fair Trading, thinks so: “Businesses offering quick house sales may provide a useful service for home owners who need to unlock cash in a hurry. However, they are often used by consumers in vulnerable situations and therefore we are concerned about the risk of consumers being misled and losing out on large sums of money.”

If you’re using a quick house sale provider, it’s worth remembering that they don’t have a magic formula to sell houses. They work by making you an extremely low offer and trying to pressure you into accepting it.

Selling online Selling online is becoming an increasingly popular option with over 98 per cent of UK buyers searching online for a new house. eBay’s real estate market is especially popular with sellers, as it has the potential to expose your property to over 147 million potential buyers with

little risk, as the online auction is noncommittal. However, there is a small fee of around £100 to put your house on the website.

Online estate agents are also becoming a viable option as sellers tend to receive offers on their houses within days. However, as this is a relatively new market, the quality and price of these properties varies a lot.

Estate agent Estate agents are by far the most frequently used service when selling our homes, with over 90 per cent of the UK reported as choosing this option.

When looking for an estate agent you need someone who has knowledge of the local area, who has sold properties similar to yours and who can calculate the value of your property quickly. Remember you’ll be working closely with this agent, so you need to ask yourself which one is going to be most helpful in your particular case.

Their database of buyers allows them to match up your property with what possible buyers are looking for, allowing viewings and sales to be arranged very quickly.

Though you may have to splash out on a fee, a good agent can be worth their weight in gold and it’s very hard to find any other organisation that can

Top tips to get your house sold: I De-clutter. Buyers need to visualise what the property would look like if they were living there.

I Make small upgrades to your home. A new towel rack or rug could make all the difference.

I If you’re really struggling to sell, set the value of your house ten per cent lower than the asking price of similar properties in your neighbourhood to create some healthy competition.

I When selling online, make sure you use a high-traffic website to get your property noticed.

market your property quite like an experienced estate agent can.

Auction Selling by auction can be the perfect choice for certain types of property.

According to financial website Moneywise, those that are in need of renovation are actually in high demand and tend to do better in auctions than they would in the open market.

The main advantage of using an auction to sell your house is bidding wars. If your property is in high demand, the price will often soar above its initial value.

Auctioning is an incredibly fast process and completion can occur within 28 days. However, it is often more expensive than using an estate agent and there are certain fees which apply whether your house sells or not.

If you’re someone who likes your privacy, auctioning might not be for you as open viewings to the public are common and you’re obliged to allow any potential bidders and private surveyors to view your home.

Be unusual Something that’s proved to be a success in the US has been offering buyers a ‘test-drive.’ Buyers have the opportunity to stay overnight to find out more about the property and its neighbourhood.

Ian Usher put his “entire life up for sale on eBay” when his wife left him.

Included in the price of his property was his car, motorbike, jet-ski, parachute gear, an introduction to his friends and a trial at his job. This offer was so unusual that it made headlines around the world. Unfortunately, the £1million offered turned out to be a teenager from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, forcing Ian to sell his house by conventional means through an estate agent for a less exciting £200,000.

It is normal to include the fridge, carpets and light fixtures when selling your home, but it is the unusual inclusive items which will get your property attention. Properties have been known to include sheep, a medieval suit of armour and even sports cars.

www.sheffieldvibe.com

33

Home Safety Systems

HHG Security

Fire, smoke and gas detection alarms.

Panic watches, pendants and inactivity sensors to provide a safe and independent home environment for safety conscious people.

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Full domestic electrical safety inspection and certification from £120 For this and other offers please call us today

Electrical • Rewires • Sockets • Lights • Showers • Security Lights • Tests & inspections • Fault finding. Accredited by Elecsa

Home, Educational & Business Media Specialist installers of flat screen TV’s and interactive whiteboards.

For your peace of mind contact us now telephone 0114 286 9473 or e-mail enquiries@hhg-security.co.uk

For all of your financial needs.

RH Financial Consultants

At RH Financial Consultants we offer financial advice to corporate and private clients across the UK, based from our head office in Sheffield.

Our services include: I Life Insurance I Mortgages I Business Protection I General Insurance I Healthcare I Pensions† I Legal Services† I Estate Planning† I Investments† Having access to a wide range of products and providers, clients are offered truly unbiased advice with the secure knowledge that the advisors are backed by a leading financial services network and partnered with like minded quality assured solicitor firms.

Our Financial Advisors can guide you through the process and offer the best value for money quotes available.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

We normally charge a fee for mortgage advice, however this will be dependent on your circumstances. Our typical fee is £399.

Telephone: 0114 235 3332 Email: info@rhfinancialconsultants.co.uk www.rhfinancialconsultants.co.uk

RH Financial Consultants Limited CFC House, Acorn Business Park Woodseats Close, Sheffield, S8 0TB

RH Financial Consultants Ltd. is an Appointed Representative of Personal Touch Financial Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Estate Planning or Legal Services. † via a third party

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selling or letting your home?

Take the first step with Bloor & Co. The independent Sheffield Estate Agent with a personal approach and a ‘can-do’ attitude.

We have buyers eager to move.

Call Bllor & Co on 0114 2500 800 info@bloorandco.co.uk www.bloorandco.com

Expert knowledge and first class service

W

ith new and changing lifestyles the kitchen space has become one of

the most important areas within the home, serving both as the area for cooking skills and a meeting place for the family.

APPLIANCE WORLD

KITCHEN APPLIANCE SPECIALISTS Tel: 0114 250 1055

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