property – Chelmsford Property Blog

Just moved into your new Chelmsford home and want to save some money?

Here are a few things you can do to get started:

🏠 Turn your heating down: Dropping just one degree of heat could cut 10% off your heating bill!

🏠 Sell your unwanted items: Clear out your home and sell any unwanted items that are in good condition, from clothes to appliances, on eBay, Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace.

🏠 Use energy-saving lightbulbs: Energy saving bulbs last longer, are brighter and more energy efficient and can save you money over their extensive lifetime.

🏠 Adjust your television: Did you know that reducing the brightness and contrast on your television could save up to £100 per year?

🏠 Prepare your meals in advance: Save money and time by spending a few hours each week preparing your meals for the days ahead. The meals can then be frozen and reheated throughout the week for an easy dinner – and to save the temptation of eating out when you’re too tired to cook.

🏠 Quit the gym: Put that money back in your pocket by doing home workouts instead.

What are your money saving top tips? Tell us in the comments section below.

https://chrisallen.exp.uk.com

5 Ways To Save Energy And Cut Costs At Home

Saving energy and cutting costs at home can be as easy as making a few small changes to your routine. Here are five ways you can start saving today:

Make sure your home is properly insulated. Heat escapes through cracks and openings in your walls, ceilings, and floors, so make sure your home is properly insulated to keep the heat in. You can also install weatherstripping around doors and windows to keep the cold out in the winter and the hot out in the summer.

Adjust your thermostat. Turning down your thermostat by just a few degrees can save you a lot of money on your energy bill each month. If you’re not comfortable with turning it down too low, try installing a programmable thermostat so you can set it to automatically adjust the temperature at different times of the day.

Switch to LED light bulbs. LED light bulbs use up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs, and they last up to 25 times longer. So not only will you be saving energy, but you’ll also be saving money on bulb replacements.

Unplug electronics when not in use. Electronics like TVs, DVD players, and microwaves continue to use energy even when they’re turned off, so unplug them when not in use to save some extra electricity.

Giant green double plug socket on a building

Take shorter showers. A full shower can use up to 17 gallons of water, but taking a 5-minute shower instead can save more than 3,000 gallons of water per year.

What are your energy saving tips at home? I would love to find out so that we can all save together.

https://chrisallen.exp.uk.com

6 Ways to Make a Buyer Feel at Home

As soon as a potential buyer enters your house you want them to instantly feel at home. You want them to form an emotional connection with the property and allow themselves to visualise living there.

The last thing you want to do is put people off by not tending to a few simple projects. Here are 6 things you can do to help a buyer feel at home.

New Carpets and Fresh Paint

When selling a house it’s sometimes necessary to spend some money doing minor renovations that’ll help you get a quicker sale and for more money. Painting certain rooms and putting down new carpet are the two biggest things you can do to help your house sell faster.

Unclutter Your House

Get rid of all your clutter. Buyers might not appreciate your magazine collection or the dolls and teddy bears you keep in the guest bedroom. Tidy your home and give it a more minimal feel to allow buyers to see the home for what it is.

Make Sure it’s Clean

Please make sure your home is clean and tidy otherwise you’ll really put buyers off. That means making sure the bathrooms are spotless, your oven is sparkling and your carpets and upholstery have no stains on them.

Give All Your Rooms a Purpose

When staging your home for sale it’s important to make sure all your rooms have a purpose even if you just used a room in your house as a box room. If a room in your house is supposed to be a dining room for example then make sure you set it out like that.

Do Your Repairs

Preparing your house for sale unfortunately means doing those repairs that you’ve put off for years. If you’ve something in your house that’s broken then please get it fixed because buyers have an eye for this kind of thing.

Lighten Up Your Rooms

A well lit room can make all the difference when trying to make a buyer feel at home. Whether you have to buy a couple of new lamps or open up your blinds and curtains please take the time to make your rooms lighter as it’ll give off a warmer feel rather than a dark and dingy one.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money trying to make a buyer feel at home but doing a few simple things around your house can make a massive difference and get your home sold quicker.

Thinking of selling? Get in touch today for a FREE home valuation.

https://chrisallen.exp.uk.com

5 Mistakes Not to Make When Showing Your Home to Buyers

So your Estate Agent has asked if you will handle some viewings- now what? Giving a potential buyer a tour of your home can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming and really awkward.

When your house hits the market and viewers start to come into your home, the whole experience can take its toll on you mentally. It’s never easy having strangers walk through your home, pick things apart and rummage through your cupboards and drawers and then ask you: “How much do you want for it?”

As challenging as it may be though, here are the five things you should NEVER do when showing your home to potential buyers:

1. Leaving Personal Hygiene Items Out

Store all personal items out of sight. Some homeowners will leave toothbrushes, razors, trimmers and shampoo out in their bathrooms but this can make a buyer feel uncomfortable while walking through your home. These are intimate items after all and sometimes they’re not pleasing to the eye, so put them out of sight.

2. Leaving Valuable Items Out in Plain Sight

Valuable possessions should always be hidden away. Never give buyers the impression you are affluent as they may try to use this and negotiate a better deal for themselves if they think you can afford to make concessions, potentially leaving you worse off. You also have complete strangers walking through your home who you don’t know and will probably never see again, so it’s best to lock anything valuable away just to be on the safe side.

A small dish full of expensive jewellery

3. Allowing Controversial Items to Be Seen

Not everyone will share your political views or lifestyle choices so if you have fridge magnets, posters or magazines that could have viewers talking for all the wrong reasons, get rid of them. For example, if you’re a taxidermy collector, or have real animal skins and fur around your home, put these away until the viewers have left. The last thing you want to do is send viewers straight for the front door as soon as they’ve walked in.

A fridge dorr full of magnets from around the world

4. Cluttered Up Closets

As invasive as it sounds, potential buyers will always open up cupboards and closets while viewing a house- storage can be a big selling point after all. So, if you’ve shoved all your clutter in them with the aim of hiding it, you can give off the impression your home lacks storage. Plus, it just doesn’t look good.

Tidy closets are best when showing people around your home

5. Get Emotional

You may have lived in your home for a number of years and it’s understandable that you’re attached to it and all the memories that come with it. However, when your home hits the market, you need to get out of ‘homeowner mode’ and become more business-minded.

Always remember that everyone has their own taste in decor, so if a viewer makes a criticism about something in your home, please don’t get emotional or defensive. Remember, you’re a businessperson now.

Staging a home for sale is hugely important. If you’re unsure about how you should present your home to a potential buyer then please ask your Estate Agent for advice before listing your home for sale.

Thinking of selling, get in touch today for a FREE home valuation

https://chrisallen.exp.uk.com

4 Reasons To Sell Your Home In Autumn

If you’re wanting a quicker and smoother sale then Autumn is a good season to put your house on the market. Why? Well here are four reasons…

Less Competition: At this time of the year there are fewer houses hitting the market so that means your property will go up against less competition in the search for the perfect buyer and it will stand out on listings websites.

You Only Get Serious Buyers: With the year heading towards Christmas and New Year, a lot of people want to feel settled by this time so you’ll only get serious buyers looking to purchase a property. They want to get a deal done quickly to allow them time to get the keys before Santa comes.

Kerb Appeal Doesn’t have to be Perfect: Due to the changing weather you can get away with the front of your house not looking perfect. Also, at this time of year people get emotional when house hunting as they want a cosy, atmospheric property they want to spend Christmas in.

During Autumn You Might Have a Smoother Transaction: All parties involved in a house sale have less going on in the autumn; mortgage lenders don’t have as many loans to process, surveyors aren’t as busy and solicitors/ layers have fewer completions and exchanges to handle – you’re almost guaranteed a quicker and smoother sale.

So there you have it, 4 reasons why it could be a good idea to sell your home during Autumn.If you have any questions about getting your house ready for sale during Autumn then please get in touch as I’d be delighted to help you out. Get in touch today!

https://chrisallen.exp.uk.com

6 Home Updates To Make After A Decade

All homes need a bit of TLC after a while and there comes a time when you have to face up to the fact that, no matter how much you love where you live and no matter how much you think your decor looks great, your home needs freshened up after a while- especially if you’re looking to sell.

So, if you’ve lived in your house for a decade, chances are some things will need to be updated. Here are six things to freshen up after ten years:

Get Painting

This is the fastest and cheapest way to give your property a facelift and breathe new life into it. You may not be a fan of neutral colours, but creams, whites and grey will take years off the surface of your home. Plus, not only do neutral walls make a room look clean and fresh, but they also make it look bigger and brighter too. It’s a no-brainer.

Replace your Flooring

After a decade of walking all over it, it will definitely be time to change your floor coverings as they will no doubt be worn, stained and look a bit shabby.

Replacing the flooring in your home will increase its value

Redo Bathroom & Kitchen Sealant & Grouting

If you want a quick way of making your bathroom look fantastic, re-grout your tiles or clean or replace the sealant around your bath, sink and toilet.

Make sure to do this in your kitchen as well. A super-quick way to do this is by using a grout pen which literally allows you to quickly colour in discoloured grout.

Invest in a new Mattress

Ten years down the line, you’ll probably be in need of a new mattress for hygiene reasons as you don’t want to be sharing your bed with bed bugs.

After a while, your mattress will also become a bit lumpy and bumpy, something that can cause discomfort, body aches and interfere with your need for a good night’s sleep.

A fresh mattress on your bed is a great way to add a new feel to your bedroom

Get a new washing machine

Did you know that a washing machine can last up to ten years? After this, it’s highly recommended that you get a new one. You’ll know if you do need a new one if it leaks, there’s a bad smell from it that won’t go away or if it makes a lot of noise.

Older models are not always as energy-efficient as they are now, so definitely consider this if you’re looking to save water and bring your monthly bills down.

A good washing machine should last 10 years

Replace the Dishwasher

As with the washing machine, this is something else you might need to replace after every 10 years. You’ll know when your dishwasher is at the end of its life if the dishes are not getting cleaned properly or if the main control board is acting up.

As with a washing machine, it’s important to take saving water and energy into consideration when shopping around for a new model.

Just follow these simple tips every ten years or so and your home will always look as good as new – and be ready for viewers should you want to sell!

Thinking of moving? Get in touch today for your FREE home valuation.

Call Chris on 07540 174048.

https://chrisallen.exp.uk.com

Landscaping your garden to add value to the sale of your home

There is certainly one place that can help sell your home in no time, and that has to be having a very nice landscaped garden. Anytime I show someone around a property in Brentwood, if the garden looks like something out of a home gardening magazine. It will certainly make the potential purchaser stop in their tracks. A win win for you.

Now it doesn’t need to look like the Chelsea flower show, but by simply looking after your lawn on a regular basis. Or even better, hire a company to do all the maintenance for you so that you can spend more time on the things you love instead. If gardening is not for you that is. Then find yourself a good landscaping company to look after your prized lawn. I personally would recommend “Family Tree Gardens”

Family Tree Gardens is a family-run garden maintenance company giving busy professionals more time to do the things that really matter. While their customers are spending quality time with family & friends, going on holiday, or simply relaxing after a hard week at work, they’re maintaining your garden so it’s beautiful and healthy.

They operate throughout Essex with an office based in Billericay and strive to provide their customers with a high quality, professional, and reliable service.

They offer a wide range of services including: garden maintenance, estate maintenance, garden makeovers, garden design, lawn care, turfing, and patio & driveway cleaning.

So, if you don’t want to waste your weekends working in the garden, give them a call on 01277 656336.

Also, bare in mind that if you are planning on selling your property in the near future. I think its a great idea to get your garden looked at into how it can become one of the main selling points. An untidy, unsightly garden can put potential buyers off purchasing your home, especially if it very heavily overgrown and unloved.

Even something simple like having the garden levelled off and a nice new lawn laid, will make a huge difference to selling the property.

Photos courtesy of http://www.ftgardens.co.uk

What is your dream Bathroom?

After a long day, there’s nothing like the feeling of relaxing in a stylish comforting bath. And to unwind in beautiful surroundings. Do you have your perfect bathroom? Let’s take a look at these stunning ideas by Arthur Anthony Interiors.

Teuco inaugurates a brand new comprehensive range by imagining the “total look” of your bathroom. A matching suite designed by the same hand, devised to blend in with any setting thanks to the flexibility of the solutions available. Design plays the starring role and creates a strong styling identity that reaches far beyond the mere functionality of the fixtures. Hence the development of significant collections.

Duravit

Perfectly designed forms that are neither intrusive nor dominating, therefore leaving ample room for both individuality and design. Products that appear perfectly proportioned from every angle and can simultaneously fulfill individual ideas. ME by Starck is the result and the framework for your own personal style, whether it be pure, elegant, natural, or completely individualistic.

Hansgrohe

Want to create pamper and comfort zones in your home that all your senses can enjoy? Hansgrohe helps you transform your bathroom and kitchen into havens of well-being; for an exhilarating start to the day and a relaxing end to it. Because we are in love with water. Because we enjoy pampering people like you all around the world with a broad range of beautiful products. And because we strive to constantly become that little bit better.

Dornbracht

Thanks to unified design across all of its products, Dornbracht allows for a multi-design, multi-series interplay on a modular basis. Products from different series can be combined with one another and used universally. There are no limits to the combinations of function and design that can be achieved

Installed by Arthur Anthony Interiors.

http://www.arthuranthonyinteriors.com

What Is your dream kitchen?

The most important room in any home without a doubt has to be the kitchen. This is the heart of any home and it’s where we love to socialise and cook our favourite meals. I’m seeing so many people turning their separate dining rooms and kitchens into one large open space.

The ideas for your kitchen are endless. I’m always taken back by peoples creations and how they mix up their choice of ovens and hobs. Mixer taps that are unique and inspired work tops. A wine rack and beer fridge are also my favourites.

The possibilities are endless, I love this rounded style in a galley shaped kitchen. It really makes the feel almost seamless.

A kitchen island with bar stools can be great when socialising with friends, or just to sit in the morning enjoying breakfast. I love the added touches of the lights in this kitchen. It gives it great character. A great place to have party’s.

The brick wall really sets this kitchens feel, reminds me of the Master Chef kitchen on TV, a very airy space to put your culinary skills to the test, I also love the contrast of the Brown and white units on display here. What are your favourite colours? Will they work in the kitchen? I’d love to see your kitchens and what inspired you.

These chandelier type lights and studded bar stools add a touch of class. A lovely blend also of white and grey cabinet doors really set this kitchen off.

I hope that I have inspired you with a few of my favourite types of kitchens. It’s fair to say that the possibilities are simply endless. But creating the space you want is important. And it makes us feel good when we are socialising or just enjoying a nice cuppa.

Please fell free to get in touch about these kitchen ideas, these stunning kitchens were Installed by Arthur Anthony Interiors. A bespoke company based in Chelmsford, Essex.

http://www.arthuranthonyinteriors.com

Fireplaces Are The Centre Piece Of Any Living Room

If there’s one thing we love about the living room in our houses, it has to be a lovely warm homely fire place. On a cold day you can’t beat sitting in front of the fire with a hot drink or even a glass of wine. Take a look at these fire places and let me know which ones you like the best. Also I’d love to see your living room centre pieces.

Here is 6 fireplaces that all look great in the right environment. These all set off a living room and add that touch of class, certainly from a selling point of view it has to be said that everyone will notice these fine masterpieces. And will certainly add more value and more desire to your home.

A big thanks to Phoenix fire places in Battles bridge for the great photos.

https://www.phoenix-fireplaces.co.uk/