Restricted Access Shed
This was made for couple with very restricted access.
This was made for couple with very restricted access.
Taking care of your garden is not just a great way to show pride in your property and make it look as nice as possible, but it is also important to create a good relationship with your neighbour.
This is because recent research from GoCompare has found that having a garden in a poor condition is one of the most common reasons why homeowners fall out with the people they live next door to.
The findings showed nearly a third (28 per cent) have fallen out with their neighbour, and 16 per cent of these disputes are regarding rubbish or junk being placed in their garden. A further 13 per cent have argued about overgrown trees and hedges; 11 per cent have grievances about maintenance or repairs to hedges or fences; and nine per cent have got angry about their home or garden being damaged by a neighbouring property.
Ben Wilson, GoCompare’s home insurance spokesperson, said: “Most people get along well with their neighbours, however, not all neighbours are easy to live next to.”
He went on to suggest homeowners try to have a friendly chat with them at the first instance of a grievance “as they may be completely unaware of any upset they may be causing”.
The findings also revealed ten per cent of grievances between neighbours are regarding a boundary dispute. In this case, installing a bespoke wooden fence between the properties is a great way of resolving the issue, clearly marking who owns what.
A big reason why these problems escalate for those selling their house is because many homebuyers claim nuisance neighbours would put them off purchasing a property, with nearly half (48 per cent) saying they would avoid homes with neighbours that had rubbish in their garden.
Of course, one of the main selling points of a house is a looked-after garden. A recent report released by the insurance provider also revealed home security was essential, with 74 per cent claiming they would want secure windows and doors in their new house, City AM revealed.
It’s been a long, hot summer so far, you even if you’ve given your garden a makeover with new plants and bespoke wooden fences, you’ll have no doubt had a hard time keeping it healthy during the heatwave. Even worse is if you have to leave it while you’re go on holiday, so take a look at these tips from The Irish News on keeping your garden looking its best while you’re on vacation.
To ensure your garden gets watered, find a neighbour who is willing to pop in while you’re away, if they’re also a gardener then you’ll be able to return to favour when they’re next away on holiday.
If you can’t find anyone to water your plants, then make sure you really soak all containers just before you leave. Move all pots to a shaded area of your garden and place close together to increase humidity. Slow release water granules are also a great way to make sure your plants don’t go thirsty and making sure the position of your pots isn’t too near to your house, a brick wall or fence where they could lose out on rainfall, if it does occur.
Remove hanging baskets and place them on top of soil in a border so they can benefit from the moisture – they’re quick to dry out and usually require lots of watering in the peak of summer.
Don’t worry too much about your lawn as although it can look as though it has died when not watered in the heat, it will soon grow back when autumn comes. Established shrubs and trees was also be fine not watered as these takes water from deep down in the soil.
There are many features that people look for when they’re buying a home – and of course you can’t hope to make your property cater for all of them. However, the latest Gocompare Home Insurance home buyers survey may give you some ideas of places you could make improvements before putting your property on the market.
City AM highlighted the findings of the report, which found that after central heating and double glazing, the most important thing to prospective buyers was secure doors and windows.
In fact, this was cited by 74 per cent of respondents as something they’d be looking for in a new home.
Of course, this can also extend to the boundaries of your property, so you need to ensure that your fences and gates are up to scratch. It could be worth investing in wooden fences in Yorkshire to give your home’s exterior a bit of a facelift and make it look more appealing to prospective buyers.
A dedicated parking space or driveway was also on the wish list for home buyers, coming in as the eighth most important consideration. If you have a driveway, it therefore makes sense to keep it as secure as possible to protect your car – or cars – that you park here overnight. A new gate could be the ideal solution.
Having a garden, a reliable broadband connection, plenty of electrical sockets, a reliable mobile phone signal, a good energy efficiency rating and being close to local amenities and shops were also in the top ten things buyers are looking for.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics last month revealed that the average buyer in England needed to borrow up to 7.8 times their annual salary to buy a home, Property Industry Eye reported.
Being vigilant where home security is concerned is an absolute must, whether you’re in the property or planning to go on holiday at some point in the future. Bespoke driveway gates can prove invaluable in this regard as they’ll make it far harder for people to gain access to your property, but you should still take other precautions just in case as well.
New research from M&S Bank has just revealed that 31 per cent of holidaymakers have come back from their trip away to find that their homes have been broken into – and what’s more, 15 per cent have been burgled more than once.
Of those who had been broken into, seven per cent said a window had been smashed and six per cent said access was gained by picking a door lock. However, four per cent did admit that they had accidentally left a door unlocked, while three per cent said the same about a window.
“While many of us look forward to the summer holiday period, and rightly so, unfortunately so do opportunistic thieves. That’s why it’s important to ensure that securing the home by taking certain security precautions, such as moving expensive or desirable items out of sight and away from windows, becomes a routine part of every household’s holiday preparations, just as buying holiday money or that new swimsuit is,” head of products at M&S Bank Paul Stokes said.
Take a look at the Police.UK website to find more tips to help keep your home more secure. Installing good outside lighting, a visual burglar alarm and ensuring that side gates are locked to prevent rear entry to the house are all recommended steps.
Bespoke wooden fences are a great way to increase the curb appeal of your home.
By ensuring that you have the best possible fences and gates in front of your home you can add value, and better yet, enjoyment of your home for the following reasons:
It adds depth
Even if you have a very small space in front of or around your home, a good fence helps to make the home and garden look larger and as though it has more depth. If this is the situation for you then you should ensure you go for one of our more open designs so people can see though into your front garden.
It adds colour
A solid, new fence is a great way to uplift an area and offers an opportunity to add some colour. If you have a strong theme in your garden then go for something bold.
If you want something classic then go for white. Remember a white fence or gate will also reflect light back at your plants helping keep the amount of light and warmth in the garden as high as possible.
Adds character
If your home is one of many similar houses on the same street then a new fence or gate can help to set it apart from its neighbours, or at least make it look like one of the smarter homes in the area.
If you need any help when deciding on your net fence or gate then get in touch with us and we will do our best to help you find the right solution for you.
There are many features that people look for when they’re buying a home – and of course you can’t hope to make your property cater for all of them. However, the latest Gocompare Home Insurance home buyers survey may give you some ideas of places you could make improvements before putting your property on the market.
City AM highlighted the findings of the report, which found that after central heating and double glazing, the most important thing to prospective buyers was secure doors and windows.
In fact, this was cited by 74 per cent of respondents as something they’d be looking for in a new home.
Of course, this can also extend to the boundaries of your property, so you need to ensure that your fences and gates are up to scratch. It could be worth investing in wooden fences in Yorkshire to give your home’s exterior a bit of a facelift and make it look more appealing to prospective buyers.
A dedicated parking space or driveway was also on the wish list for home buyers, coming in as the eighth most important consideration. If you have a driveway, it therefore makes sense to keep it as secure as possible to protect your car – or cars – that you park here overnight. A new gate could be the ideal solution.
Having a garden, a reliable broadband connection, plenty of electrical sockets, a reliable mobile phone signal, a good energy efficiency rating and being close to local amenities and shops were also in the top ten things buyers are looking for.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics last month revealed that the average buyer in England needed to borrow up to 7.8 times their annual salary to buy a home, Property Industry Eye reported.
Investing in bespoke garden gates is the best way to put the finishing touch to your garden, but you do need to know how to care for them properly if they’re to stand the test of time. Bear in mind that wood and timber will always move and change, and you need to try to keep this to a minimum… so here’s what you can do.
Use stain and oil
It’s important to keep moisture out of the wood but also prevent it from drying out in hot weather – and this is where stain and oil really come into their own. Stain the wood in whatever colour you like, brushing with the grain as you go. Once this has been applied, you can use oil on the wood, allowing it to soak in. Apply another two or so coats of oil.
Oil regularly
It’s wise to use a wood oil on your gate to replace any natural oils that may have been lost over time. This will help prevent cracking, splitting and warping. And interestingly, wood oil can also help stop timber from bleaching in the sun thanks to UV filters it contains.
Keep an eye on the weather
Always see what the weather is likely to do over the next 48 hours before treating your new garden gate. If frost or rain is likely, put the job off and go and have a cup of tea instead.
Inspect the hinges and fittings
You need to check that these are in good working order, so if you see signs of rust make sure the parts are replaced. Otherwise you may suddenly find your garden gates don’t open or close as they should.
Millennials might have a reputation for being glued to their smartphones, but despite many older Brits believing that they’re hopeless when it comes to practical tasks new research has shown otherwise.
In fact, those aged 18 to 34 are using technology to their advantage, with 49 per cent of those surveyed by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) revealing that they’ve watched a DIY ‘how-to’ video online.
The FMB survey highlighted the top ten tasks that millennials have tackled around the home, with defrosting the freezer in at number one, while 66 per cent have hung a picture or frame on a wall, and 63 per cent have assembled flat-pack furniture.
Over half of those questioned have also hung curtains and painted a wall or piece of furniture, while 44 per cent have bled a radiator and 43 per cent have changed a fuse in a plug.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, commented: “It’s particularly impressive that half of young people have been proactive enough to watch a DIY ‘how-to’ online video rather than waiting for someone they know to show them or complete the task on their behalf.”
However, if you’re carrying out some home improvements – such as fitting new garden gates in Yorkshire – make sure you properly budget for the work.
The Mirror recently highlighted research by Direct Line Home Insurance, which found that homeowners often underestimate the cost of renovations, with households overspending by an average of £7,427 each.
Among those moving into a new home, the kitchen was cited as the most popular room to renovate first, with nearly one-third of buyers stating they’d start here.
Our vision is to create beautiful things for those who appreciate our art as much as we do, always working hard to keep prices affordable (because we all deserve the finer things in life).
