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Many people buy a smaller property for its potential to extend but the traditional route is to go up – a two-storey extension or a loft conversion, for instance – but how about digging deep? With land at a premium, basements are gaining in popularity as an extension option.

If your home’s not selling and you’re thinking of changing estate agents, check out our great guide to making the move to a new agent as smooth as possible.

The number of those working for themselves broke through the 5 million barrier for the first time at the end of 2019, while the Institute for Fiscal Studies forecasts a record rise in solo self-employment in 2021. So why does this have a bearing on the lettings industry?

Our lives changed dramatically in 2020 with the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns forcing us to spend more time than ever in our homes. Here we explore how our lifestyles and professional priorities have shifted, and why this is influencing what we look for when buying a new home.

Open plan living has pretty much killed off the dining room, but in the last 17 months, the separate dining area has been brought back from the brink of extinction. Now is a great time to re-evaluate your approach to this most formal of spaces.

The admissions process for both primary and secondary places is based around a set criteria and although the distance from your home to the school gates isn’t at the top, it often counts when a school is oversubscribed. 

There’s nothing like a sunny day to put people in a great mood, which means they’re more likely to have a positive mindset when they’re viewing.
So, how can you best take advantage of the benefits of selling during the summer?

Curtains and blinds can often be an afterthought when furnishing a home but considering they play a role in privacy, retaining heat, blocking out light and keeping rooms cool, what you put up at your window deserves greater consideration.

With climate change in the media almost every day, is it time for homeowners to pay more attention to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings? We look at the increasingly-important role an EPC rating plays in the sales market – not only in attracting buyers but also in affecting a property’s value. 

While so much emphasis is placed on what a home looks like, those hosting viewings shouldn’t forget what it smells like either. In fact, it was only in May 2021 that a survey found as many as 95% of home buyers could be deterred from purchasing a property due to an unpleasant pong.

If you’re living in a rented property, it can be galling to think all your hard work digging, planting, pruning and perfecting has to be left behind when you move to a new property but that doesn’t have to be the case. It is possible to create a totally portable garden that can give you just as much pleasure in your next property.

If you love the look of marble, here’s how to incorporate it into your home, from wall-to-wall tiles and small pieces of the real thing to the best faux options and DIY hacks that won’t break the bank.