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View nowPlease can you give me advice on the most economic and effective outdoor lighting available at the moment.
—Claire Walmsley
Hi Claire,
The first option that springs to mind is to get some solar powered outdoor lighting – you’ll be not only benefiting the environment, but your wallet as there are zero running costs. You can get all kinds of different solar powered lights these days as their design has come on in leaps and bounds, and there is a great selection out there. A good places to start looking is Solar Illuminations. However, solar powered lights might not offer maximum brightness, so if you need a more powerful light, you might have to splash out a bit more money on some LED lights – they’re bright, and eco friendly but they do cost more – however their bulbs last for years and years. Try Lighting For Gardens.
Hello Amanda,
I have a small garden that I would like to tidy up. I am considering decking, please can you advise how much I should pay for this or send other suggestions in place of decking.
—Hamsa
Hello Hamsa,
Decking is a great way to tidy up garden space, but you might also consider paving slabs (either natural stone or concrete), cobbles (concrete or granite), poured concrete or brick. If you prefer a softer surface, you could experiment with bark chips, gravel or slate chippings. It really depends on what blends best with your surroundings. Lawns can be high maintenance and if you don’t have much time, the other options will make your garden hassle free! If you are hiring a contractor to do decking, it might cut costs for you to buy the materials yourself – builders’ merchants often give a discount and deliver free within a certain radius. Obviously the price depends according to the contractor you hire, but as a very rough estimate, I’d allow £80 – £100 per square metre of decking. Get three quotes to make sure you are getting the best value for your money.
Hi,
I am looking for a fireplace company which can come and provide a quote on fitting and installation. The chimney has been removed so we may need a flueless system. We are looking for something contemporary – can you suggest a few companies?
—Anjali Sharma
Hi Anjali,
Good news – flueless systems are much more environmentally friendly than conventional fireplaces because they use gas very efficiently and burn with a clean flame. There are hundreds of good-looking contemporary models on the market, so you can really shop around for a good deal. However a lot of companies just sell you the fire but don’t offer installation. So, it’s essential to get a CORGI-registered installer to fit it professionally – go to their website www.trustcorgi.com/findinstaller/findinstallerlanding.htmx to find one local to you. For flueless fires that are certified by the National Fireplace Association, go to Fireplace.co.uk.
What advice would Amanda give to first time buyers in the current climate?
—Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Shop around as it really is a buyers market. Get sound financial advice and get a mortgage offer in place before you start looking, make sure you can afford all your monthly outgoings and don’t be afraid to try cheeky offers. Some people are desperate to sell and as a first time buyer you are in a really strong position.
I’d like to build an extension onto my house in order to add value – but i’d like to know what will be most profitable – a garage, an office or a second bathroom?
—Mary Parnell
Hello Mary,
It depends on your living space. More and more people are into open plan living so if you have a small kitchen consider extending it to make a large open plan living/dining experience. Ask local estate agents to find out what the demand is for in your area. Contact a local architect who will also be able to give you advice.
Hi I have a mortgage from C&G and was thinking of renting it out to tenants. I was wondering how one would go about this and also what C&G or any other mortgage company would say regarding this?
—Kevin
Hi Kevin,
If you're planning on renting a property out you will need to check with your current lender as to whether or not you can do this. If your lender is unable to provide you with this service, it's best to shop around as there are some very competitive rates out there at the moment.
We have bought a new property in Spain. We believe we followed all the advice exactly i.e English speaking local solicitor, all the checks done etc but now have significant legal problems as the builder had a dispute with the local Town Council which we were unaware of. We seem unable to get independent legal advice on the best steps to take now. Please advise what is the best way to do this is.
—Helgar
Hello Helgar,
The single most important thing you can do is seek legal advice from an independent lawyer. There are lots of British based law firms (check the national association of lawyers). Try if you can to get personal recommendations.
I own a small house in Highgate, my girlfriend is going to move in later in the year. We plan to stay there for six months and then buy somewhere bigger. With the market as it is would you recommend putting the house on the market now as my girlfriend is worried if we wait 6 months I won’t get a good price for the house? What would you suggest?
—Ben
Hello Ben,
As you're planning on staying in your current property for at least 6 months and due to the current climate, I personally wouldn't put it on the market straight away. I'd stay put, get used to living together first and carry out any home improvements that will ultimately add value to your flat when you come to try and sell it. In the meantime start looking around other areas and the sort of properties you would like to move to so you get a good idea as to what your joint income can afford.