Posts tagged ‘property’
Valentine’s Day: do you avoid the clichés?
At this time of year the shops and media are flooded with Valentine’s Day specials. Tables for two, store-bought bouquets and teddy bears – but there’s something that lacks spontaneity, and the chocolates and champagne may be heavy in colour and calories but they’re often a bit light in creativity.
It doesn’t mean you have to buy into it, especially if you and your partner prefer not to outsource your emotions to Hallmark. Stay at home this Valentine’s Day instead, and make a gesture of appreciation that your significant other will remember long after the roses have wilted. Here are a few creative and romantic gestures to get your evening under way:
1. Create a nook
Many homes have a corner of underutilised space that can be converted into a reading or breakfast nook. A must-have for this space is comfortable seating, whether you opt for an armchair or neat breakfast bench. Designed as a place to unwind, a nook can be decorated however you like as long as you find it relaxing. If you’re short on space, create a temporary Valentine’s Day nook, add soft cushions and serve your favourite munchies.
2. Trip the light fantastic
One of the easiest ways to set the scene without spending a huge amount of cash is with lighting, which can make magical even the mundane spaces. Avoid messy candles and opt for a string of battery powered fairy lights, which you can use to illuminate a bouquet of flowers, a tree in the garden, a canopy in the bedroom, a mirror or a wine bottle in the dining room.
3. Home spa retreat
Pick up scented candles, bubble bath or salts, masks, wraps and even a fluffy bathrobe and slippers from your local health and beauty store. Give the bathroom a thorough scrub from top to bottom and fill the room with fresh flowers, music and a bottle of something fizzy. Much cheaper than booking a session at your local spa, this kind of pamper session requires a little bit of effort but it’s just as relaxing.
4. Revamp the room
It can be as simple as moving furniture around to create that perfect ambience, but perhaps it’s time for a grander gesture. That room you’ve been meaning to clear out but never get around to tackling? Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. That light fixture she loved but wouldn’t buy for herself? Install it before she gets home from work. Think lamps, lighted shelves, wall sconces or more temporarily, paper lanterns and string lights. Buy a new duvet and pillow set, frame and hang some photos that have long been languishing in your drawers or hunt down some vintage door handles.
5. Invest your time
Some of the most memorable gifts are those that are personalised – hand-written messages, home-cooked meals, gifts that may not be luxury but are certainly tailored for the individual rather than the masses. Even if it’s just a dinner or breakfast, made with favourite ingredients and served in a temporarily or permanently re-designed room, you have already separated yourself from the pack of usual Valentine’s gestures.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be a matter of spending money on anonymous trinkets. Just use your imagination, invest some time and be ready to transform your home with romance in mind. Do you have any creative ideas to share with us ahead of this Valentine’s Day?
Zoopla reveals where the ‘Knowsiest Neighbours’ live
As a nation we’re obsessed with property and property values. We want to know what prices people paid, current asking prices and we’re constantly keeping an eye out for our dream home. However, we’re spotting an increasing trend of homeowners not only tracking the market value of their own home but also keeping an eye on the value of their neighbours’ properties.
We firmly believe here at Zoopla that there is a clear advantage to staying ‘in the know’ when it comes to property. Knowing when to buy or sell and how much to pay or ask for is the key to a successful property transaction and can avoid the pitfalls of overpaying or being stuck for longer than expected.
Our latest research shows that homeowners’ obsession with house prices and monitoring the value of their homes shows no sign of waning. We give homeowners and buyers the tools to super charge their knowsey tendancies by providing free property value estimates on every UK home along with over 17 million sold prices. With information as a valuable commodity, those ‘in the know’ about local house prices and trends are likely to have a significant advantage when transacting in the property market.
The latest data reveals that homeowners in Harpenden, Pinner and Reigate are the ‘knowsiest neighbours’ in Britain (in other words, those most in the know about local property values) whilst residents in Aberystwyth, Birkenhead and Saltburn-by-the-Sea are the least ‘knowsey neighbours’ (least bothered about keeping track of local property prices).
We’ve also unearthed the ‘knowsiest street in Britain’, Newton Road Birmingham, B43, where residents regularly checked the value of their own homes and neighbouring properties on Zoopla.co.uk more frequently over the past 12 months than anywhere else in the country. The data from Zoopla also shows that ‘knowsiness’ increases with property values with most of the ‘knowsiest’ streets and areas having property values well above the national average.
Areas with ‘Knowsiest neighbours’ in Britain
| Rank | Location | Average Property Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harpenden, Hertfordshire | £577,848 |
| 2 | Pinner, London | £443,458 |
| 3 | Reigate, Surrey | £407,038 |
| 4 | Maidenhead, Berkshire | £380,142 |
| 5 | Farnham, Surrey | £423,457 |
| 6 | Caterham, Surrey | £342,423 |
| 7 | Stanmore, London | £441,084 |
| 8 | Teddington, London | £499,001 |
| 9 | Ascot, Berkshire | £598,767 |
| 10 | Weybridge, Surrey | £598,767 |
Source: Zoopla.co.uk (February 2012)
Areas with least ‘Knowsey neighbours’ in Britain
| Rank | Location | Average Property Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberystwyth, Ceredigion | £184,342 |
| 2 | Birkenhead, Merseyside | £94,804 |
| 3 | Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire | £128,561 |
| 4 | Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria | £110,291 |
| 5 | Wednesbury, West Midlands | £106,470 |
| 6 | Peterlee, Durham | £90,171 |
| 7 | Felixstowe, Suffolk | £183,272 |
| 8 | Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire | £115,258 |
| 9 | South Shields, Tyne & Wear | £116,972 |
| 10 | Salford, Greater Manchester | £120,491 |
Source: Zoopla.co.uk (February 2012)
‘Knowsiest neighbours’ in Britain
| Rank | Street | Average Property Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newton Road, Birmingham, B43 | £191,080 |
| 2 | Uxbridge Road, London, W5 | £413,219 |
| 3 | Burrells Wharf Square, London E14 | £310,682 |
| 4 | The Avenue, London, E4 | £292,044 |
| 5 | Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 | £335,213 |
| 6 | Torbay Road, Harrow, HA2 | £305,443 |
| 7 | Kingston Road, London, SW19 | £331,385 |
| 8 | Scarisbrick New Road, Southport, PR8 | £163,909 |
| 9 | Loughborough Road, Nottingham, NG2 | £194,330 |
| 10 | Chase Side, Enfield, EN2 | £280,486 |
Source: Zoopla.co.uk (February 2012)
As always, please feel free to share and use this research, all we ask is that you credit the source as Zoopla.co.uk and link to Zoopla.co.uk. Thank you.
Follow Zoopla on Twitter
Like Zoopla on Facebook
Where are the UK’s celebrity home hotspots?
Ever wondered why you didn’t end up an actor, musician or talented footballer. Part of the reason might be connected to the home you grew up in, or more precisely, where it was situated.
New research by FindaProperty.com looked at where Britain’s top celebrities were raised and found certain areas are hotspots for breeding celebrity success, with some specific regions producing some very particular talent.
Ever wondered why you're not David Beckham or Cheryl Cole? It might come down to the house you grew up in, or at least your home address, according to FindaProperty.com's new celebrity hotspot map
Those who grew up in homes in London are 80% more likely to find fame than people born anywhere else. Specifically, Hammersmith in West London is a hotspot for film stars, with Hollywood stars Alan Rickman, Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Grant all growing up in the area. Fans of soap operas could do worse than move to a home in Bury in Greater Manchester, which has produced a string of actors currently starring in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale.
Manchester also has a strong tradition of producing rock bands, with Oasis (Burnage), Joy Division (Salford), Elbow (Bury), The Smiths (Manchester) and the recently reunited Stone Roses just a few of the bands providing inspiration for aspiring rock stars across the city.
When it comes to current chart music, North London is the UK’s centre with Adele, Eliza Doolittle and X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos all hailing from the area. North London is also a good place to look for future X Factor winners, with Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke both spending their early lives in homes in Islington.
How to be on property TV: Get a fixer-upper
This is a legacy post from the findaproperty.com blog which is now maintained as an archive within the Zoopla blog. Links have been preserved.
Are you digging out your workman’s boots and hard hat while channelling your inner Sarah Beeny? Then presenter, actor and property renovator Simon O’Brien wants to hear from you.
From Brookside and Fraggle Rock to My Derelict Dream Home, Simon O’Brien will front the new UKTV property TV show
O’Brien will be the front man of the aptly named TV show about finding your new property called My Derelict Dream Home due to air on UKTV in 2012.
As you’d imagine, transforming a wreck into your ultimate house is likely to take time, which is why the producers need to find you now – they’ll presumably be following you (and your muddy boots) around for the next year or so to capture all the drama of taking on an unloved property as a renovating challenge.
Plus, you’ll no doubt also get to hang (or at least meet) Simon O’Brien who made his name on Brookside back in the 80s. O’Brien has since featured on Grange Hill, been a radio and TV presenter and was even part of the short-lived, but much loved UK version of Fraggle Rock.
For more details about My Derelict Dream Home contact Joe Forrest at True North Productions on 0113 394 5480 / jforrest@truenorth.tv
Sell my home blog: We’ve just appointed an estate agent
This is a legacy post from the findaproperty.com blog which is now maintained as an archive within the Zoopla blog. Links have been preserved.
Another exciting week. I’ve just appointed an agent and the photographer is coming around tomorrow. I’m hoping our home is on the web as soon as possible to tempt those looking for a new property in south west London.
We had been considering using an online estate agent: the fees are very low for what appears to be the same service, but we weren’t so sure after reading some mixed reviews. The one we were considering was on all the major property portals and would negotiate with the buyer and feedback to the solicitor when necessary. In the end we decided to go with a more traditional agent – we’re first-time sellers afterall and feel that we need some extra support.
Last weekend we also went to check out some potential areas to buy a new home in, although we know we can’t really view anything before we get our place on the market. The problem is that we know exactly what we want and how much we want to pay, which is making it hard because there doesn’t seem to be that much around at the moment.
I have a feeling that a juggling apprenticeship will make an excellent Christmas present.
