Granite is a great investment. Nothing can quite compare to natural materials around the home. There are manmade substitutes but just as reproduction furniture looks nice, you know it is not the real thing; the antique that would be worth many times more in monetary terms.

Over time wood and stone were the readymade materials that were commonly used in houses, large and small. In the modern home they are just as relevant to produce a house to be proud of and their presence is likely to add to the value compared to a similar build without the same quality finish.

 

Granite is hard but it is also absorbent. That is why it needs to be sealed and maintained. If you simply wanted to have something to wipe clean you could use laminates but you would not have the same quality.

Supply

When you consider granite worktops  you need to do some research to find a good supplier. There is plenty of information online using the popular search engines. Those companies that have built up a reputation for service and quality will have comprehensive websites with plenty of information. They will be available to answer any questions that are not answered by the website content and will quote without obligation.

Sealing

When the question arises about granite’s porosity then the answer will be sealing and maintenance. The granite will be sealed on delivery and installation but the job will then be yours to reseal as advised. It is worth the effort and sealants are readily available. It will just be a matter of a few squirts each time so anything you buy will last a very long time.

If the worst happens and your granite stains, the stain can be removed and specialist advice from suppliers will have you prepared just in case. So you need to be very careful with granite but that is the limit of it. On the really positive side it is a stone that adds so much to a kitchen or perhaps a smaller piece in a bathroom.

Property

Now that the property market has recovered many people can think seriously about home improvements as a good investment. Many more people seem to be thinking about moving home now that there are more potential buyers looking to view houses. Developers can once again look at projects in the expectation that there is good rental demand or potential buyers for conversions.

All of these people should consider how best to make their properties stand out from the crowd. One way to do that is certainly by using natural stone to help create a stunning kitchen. There are good companies out there that can show anyone how to do it.

Image courtesy of mapichai/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

posted by February 19, 2015 Home Improvement

Throughout the years natural marble has been synonymous with classic beauty in home decor. However, there are other amazing benefits inherent in marble which many people are not aware of. Whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing property, you may be interested to learn all the ways in which marble can be the best choice if available. Here are just four benefits of marble in home decor and if you look, you’ll surely find there are more as well.

Royalty free photo

Little Known Health Benefit

Many people don’t stop to think about their choice of materials used throughout the home. Quite often their final decision rests on cost, and in today’s economy, who can blame them? Yet even so, choosing marble over laminates for flooring and countertops, for example, is always a healthier option. Why? Because marble, often referred to as granite, is naturally germ resistant with its smooth polished surface. There are few cracks and crevices where germs can infiltrate to begin a breeding ground.

Easy to Clean

Here again, because of its smooth finish, marble is amongst the easiest materials to clean around the home. In fact, it may indeed be the easiest of all. This is one of the leading reasons why so many homebuilders and decorators use marble extensively in the construction of fireplaces. It can simply be wiped clean with a damp rag and there is no need for heavy, caustic cleansers. You can see many lovely marble fireplaces at Thornhill Galleries that epitomise classic beauty yet are so easy to care for.

Heat Resistant

Marble is also naturally heat resistant. It can withstand ultra high temperatures which makes it a perfect choice for countertops and fireplaces. Those who have set a boiling pot on a countertop only to have it melt and turn an ugly shade of brown could only wish they had used marble and not a cheap laminate. As for fireplaces and flooring, there is no better choice when it comes to the need for a fire-resistant material.

Amazing Longevity

Let’s take a moment to compare marble fireplaces to traditional cast iron inserts. Over time, cast iron tends to rust and will need to be professionally resurfaced to keep its beauty. This is not the case with marble. For as long as you own your home, that marble fireplace will remain as lustrous as it was on the day it was installed. If cost is an issue, it is better to spend a bit more at the outset than to need continual repair and resurfacing of a product that cost a bit less initially.

When it comes time to build or renovate a room that calls for a fireplace, countertop or heat resistant and easy to care for flooring, marble should be at the head of the class. Not only is this one of the most beautiful materials nature has to offer, it is easy to clean, inherently sanitary and of course, marble is inherently heat resistant up to extremely high temperatures. For classic beauty and amazing ‘fringe benefits,’ marble is what you are after.

posted by February 18, 2015 Home Education

When you become a landlord, your principal objective is likely to be one of generating and maintaining a steady income stream from the receipt of rent – that is the very nature of the landlord’s business after all.

In order to achieve that end, it is important to have a keen idea of your target market since this is likely to determine such basic factors as the rent you may charge, the standard of accommodation you strive to achieve, and the way in which you market your let property.

Since one of the target markets popular with a number of landlords is the student population, it might be worth taking a closer look at what your market pitch might involve and other considerations in letting to this type of tenant:

Before you begin

• before deciding whether to pitch your property towards students, you might want to check that they are the type of tenant approved by your insurers;

• it may seem odd, but some providers of landlord insurance might not offer cover for tenants who are students, benefits claimants, asylum seekers or some other particular group;

• on the other hand, some providers have no restrictions, such as let property insurance providers Cover4LetProperty;

Location

• there is little point in aiming for the student market, of course, if your property is well off the beaten track and far from the nearest college or university;

• these are the places most students will want easy access to and many will be relying on public transport – or their feet – to get to and from the classroom or lecture theatre;

• convenient access to college or university is likely to be a must therefore as might be the critical question of affordability;

Rent levels

• the cost of rent might be the single most important factor as far as many students are concerned – and this is a factor that appears to be borne out by estate agents Primelocation;

• functionality – and with it a lower rent – is likely to count for more to the average student than any fancy aesthetic or clever design;

• as with any letting, however, it is important to remember that tenants are typically looking for value for money – students are no different;

• it might be important to remember that students as tenants are not necessarily an easy touch, but may have demands which you have to work hard to meet whilst still offering value for money;

• despite the healthy excess of demand over supply of student accommodation, in other words, you might want to keep in mind that you are still in competition with other local landlords for this segment of the market;

Duration of tenancies

• as a landlord, you might be looking to ensure continuity of rental income;

• with students, however, any tenancy is likely to be relatively short-term – three years being a long time and tenancies more likely to run for a single academic year (from September to June);

• the turnover may in fact be an advantage since it means that you are unlikely to be stuck with more difficult tenants for any length of time – although this is no reason for omitting the need for proper screening and the scrutiny of references before any tenancy begins;

• a regular turnover of tenants may be made easier to manage since, in college towns and districts, demand is likely to exceed supply and you may find it relatively simple therefore to sign up successor tenants;

• in order to ease some of the strain to you in finding replacement tenants as terms end, you might include a clause in the tenancy agreement that if a tenant leaves before the end of the tenancy, they are responsible for finding or nominating a replacement;

References

• when letting to students you might encounter particular difficulties in taking up the kind of references you might normally expect;

• because of their young age and relative inexperience, for example, they might simply not have any employment, banking history or references from a previous landlord;

• in the absence of a meaningful credit check, you might want to consider asking for an independent guarantor to back up the legal and financial responsibilities that come with a tenancy agreement – in most cases, of course, this is likely to be a parent;

• as a further measure of security, you might also want to limit prospective tenants to those students who are able to produce a letter of recommendation from their college – if the good name of the college is at stake, the student may have a greater incentive for behaving as a responsible tenant;

Relationships

• a potential error made by landlords who may be new to a buy to let business is in the nature of the relationship between landlord and tenant;

• of course, you are likely to want a civil, cooperative and understanding relationship with your student tenants – but that does not mean going out of your way to be friends or bosom buddies with them;

• as a reminder published in the Telegraph newspaper in February 2015 points out, it is a business relationship and not a friendship;

• if you keep things firmly on such a footing, you might avoid the temptation of just dropping by as often as you feel like it and limiting what are essentially business calls to once every three to six months – and then after having given at least 24 hours notice of your intended visit;

• in this way, you are more likely to be able to hold a more business-like discussion about who is going to pay for a broken window or stains on the carpet.

Students already represent a significant proportion of the population. As more British students enter college or university and as the number of foreign students in this country grows, that population looks set to become even bigger.

With a little care and attention and appreciation of some of the particular aspects of student tenancies, this segment of the market may prove a valuable target for your buy to let business.

Further reading – Running a successful student let.

When buying a home in the UK there are always a number of considerations that will be at the forefront of your mind. Clearly price is a massive concern, as is location, transport links, schools and open space.

This all adds up to create a quality of life in a certain place. After all it’s not just your home that makes you feel happy. Your surroundings always have an effect. If this could be a “deal breaker” for you when moving home, take a look at the UK’s top locations for a better quality of life.

Hart

Located in the northeast of Hampshire, the district of Hart has been found to be the best place to live in the UK. According to a 2011 survey measuring the quality of life throughout Britain it was found that residents of Hart are healthier, better paid and better educated than our nation’s average.

Included in the region are the towns of Fleet and Yateley which continue to prosper amid a struggling British economy. The River Hart flows through the rural area which has 1,000 buildings that are listed as being of special architectural or historical interest, as well as having over 30 conservation areas.

Location is key here, with plenty of green space all around and being only an hour’s drive from both London and the South Coast you couldn’t be better placed.

Elmbridge

Topping the survey for the previous three years, Elmbridge in Surrey just missed out on top spot in 2011. Home to many Premier League stars due to the close proximity to the Chelsea training ground in Cobham, residents here benefit from some of the largest homes in the UK with 6.1 bedrooms being the average. School results are high and there’s supposedly two hours more sunshine enjoyed than the UK’s average – second place doesn’t sound too bad does it?

Shetland Islands

For those living north of the border, the Shetland Islands have been named as the best place to settle in a separate study focussing solely on Scotland.

The employment rate here is the highest in the country – close to 84% – with many residents earning weekly incomes above the nation’s average. Most who call the Shetlands home are fit and in good health with life expectancy over 77 years. Crime is low and education standards high, but perhaps the biggest difference with the top scorers in England is the house prices compared to residents earnings.

The average house price is 4.2 times average gross annual local earnings – below the average for Scotland of 4.7. Great quality of life – and affordable!

If you are considering a move that will result in a better quality of life but have a house to sell, contact webuyanyhouse.co.uk who offer a fast track house sale service. Don’t let the thought of a lengthy house sale get in your way, contact We Buy Any House today, they will help sell your house fast no matter what the reason.