Too much rubbish to move?

Whether you are clearing out rubbish from that murky old garage that has been stacked up for years, or need a house clearance our team is here to help you. After you have been working all week, the last thing you need to do is come home and clear out an area that needs taking to the tip or to charity etc.

This is where our skilled team rise to the challenge. If your garden looks more like a rubbish dump with an old shed or greenhouse that needs to go, we can dismantle and remove before you fire up your evening barbecue. Keeping rubbish around is dangerous and during these hot summer months can encourage wildlife of the unsavoury variety to take up residence.

So, rather than delaying the inevitable as your stomach sinks when you think about the amount you have to clear, call in Cleared Away. We will have your garage, shed or garden back to a functional space you can use quickly. Then if you need a little more help getting the garden spick and span for guests our team of landscapers will have you looking like the green fingered king before you know it.

When you have rubbish to remove call Cleared Away – we have a range of services that will keep your property in tip top shape.

Bathroom

Is your bathroom floating your boat?

From invigorating morning showers to blissful soaks in the tub after a long day, our bathroom is the centre of wellness and relaxation within our homes. It’s therefore important to create a space that feels balanced for all our needs.

Designing a bathroom might seem a daunting task, but with some of the great bathroom ideas out there it should be fun. There are several essential elements to consider when you think about bathroom design – whether you want to know how to install a shower room or what bathroom suite will suit your space, go online and investigate gorgeous bathroom decorating ideas.

The first step is to set your budget. It will help you make smarter choices when you start looking at everything. Consider who uses the room, as this will have a big bearing on the scheme you finally choose. Is it to be an en-suite shower room for two? Or a family bathroom that will require a bath and plenty of storage for toys?

A spa-style sanctuary will require a long list of specifications and fittings that could include a bath, separate shower, double basins, and heaps of storage, while a guest bathroom may just require a shower and loo.

Next, ask yourself what sort of space you hope to achieve. Are you seeking a haven to escape to, or are you more of an invigorate-and-energise kind of person? This will affect the fixtures, fittings and colour scheme you choose.

A scale plan of your space is a good place to start. Measure carefully as accurate dimensions are key and include features that are likely to affect the design, including windows, radiators and doors.

If you are looking for a budget way of updating your current bathroom consider replacing fittings, flooring and tiles or repainting walls to get a quick refresh. If your layout isn’t quite right, think about the ways you might be able to make small but effective changes. Rehanging doors or fitting sliding ones is an excellent way to gain space, for instance.

There’s no point pining for his-and-her sinks, a statement walk-in shower or a double-ended roll top if they won’t fit. The truth of the matter is it isn’t going to be possible in the most UK bathrooms – apparently the average footprint is about the same as a king-size bed. Think about storage, ventilation and lighting when you are creating your plan too.

If you are ready to take the next steps then contact us as we can help you create a new bathroom space from scratch or just go down the budget conscious route and help you replace the flooring ad tiles.

Beautiful Garden

Is your garden letting you down?

We have had some sun over the last few days and many people have had their first guests round in ages. It’s all about the outside space right now, so is your garden letting you down?

It is easy for a garden to become unkempt. Rubbish in one corner, overgrown shubbery, non mown lawns, dirty conservatory roofs and dilapidated old sheds can ruin the overall look and fell of your garden. Even with all this it doesn’t take too much effort to pull an unappealing old outside space into a wonderful area to enjoy with your friends and family.

Start by clearing away the rubbish and planning what you want from a garden. Do you need a place to enjoy the sun? Is there already an area you can entertain in or do you need a patio or decked area. It is easy to pull a beautiful entertaining space together. Think about the position if you want to enjoy sun, think about looks if you want a pergola. These are beautiful focal points and can be decorated with solar lights for a loverly evening display.

Are you fences in need of a lick of paint? Choose a shade that brings them to life. There is so much choice out there now, you can literally transform a drab old garden into a stunning outdoor space. Add a few decorative pots and lively looking flowers and you will be prepared to party in no time.

Our outside space has become very important to us over the last year, so make the most of yours. If you don’t have time for all this, contact us.

new kitchen

Planning the perfect new kitchen

The kitchen has always been the heart of any home. It’s where families get together and friends come over for fun. When you are planning the perfect new kitchen, the only limit is your imagination and the space you are working with. Prue Leith recently wrote about her new kitchen and it contains 5 ovens!

If, like Prue you an avid baker and a social cook then make sure there are plenty of countertops for you to utilise. Think about where your company would be sitting whilst you were baking and how much storage you might need. Now we are emerging from lockdown, the last year has taught us how much we can enjoy being at home.

Does your current kitchen not work for you and your family? Planning a new kitchen can be fun for the whole family. You might need to create more space by combing the kitchen and dining areas into a functional open plan family room.

Consider what appliances you might need and remember in most cases here bigger is better for a family. Plot out your working area, does the sink need to be a few steps away from your prep area? How much surface top do you require? Have you considered adding an island – they are great for storage, seating and potentially for placing appliances.

Once you have considered all the things you need, then the fun starts. What colours and textures are you thinking about? Modern and contemporary or a classic shaker style with a modern twist. There are so many choices out there now, it is very easy to create a unique new kitchen for your property.

Of course, if you need help planning or with any construction our experienced team are here to help you seamlessly through the project. Contact us today.

property management

Managing your rental properties the easy way

Here at Cleared Away we work with Robinson Jackson in Gravesend and the rental properties they manage. The property managers here work with landlords to ensure hey have a ‘hassle-free’ investment.

There are reportedly over 500 laws and legislations governing the buy-to-let industry. The lettings staff and property managers at Robinson Jackson receive daily updates on rental rules and regulations, so they can keep you better informed. When new regulations are introduced they ensure you are compliant.

Based in two central Letting Centres, their Property Managers are qualified, experienced professionals, who are unflappable in an emergency.

The benefits of using an agent to manage your rental properties include:

  • Collecting rent and producing a monthly statement of accounts
  • Conducting regular property visits
  • Swift response to maintenance issues, obtaining quotes and overseeing the works
  • Annual gas and electricity checks
  • Providing the financial information needed for your tax return
  • The option of rent guarantee and legal cost protection

They will also offer a tailor-made lettings package to suit your individual circumstances as each landlord is an individual. If you would like to know more about becoming a landlord or if you would like to transfer your managed rental properties over contact Robinson-Jackson here.

garden

Does your garden need sprucing up?

We’ve had a wonderful few days over the last few weeks that make it feel like Spring is definitely on the way. With this is mind does your garden need sprucing up?

Some people are naturally green fingered and during this lockdown have been outside and made what was a good garden great. If you have been working throughout or are not gifted in the art of garden design or, you might not like getting out their and weeding etc, we may be the help you need.

This time of year is the perfect time to create the garden of your dreams so you can enjoy those longer and lighter evenings and as well as balmy summer days. You may just want a garden clear up with weeding, lawns mowed and shrubbery trimmed. If you are looking to create a more functional space outdoors why not think of a decked area where you can relax in the sun.

Perhaps you want your garden to be low maintenance so the grass needs removing and replacing with gravel, stones or paving. A smaller garden benefits from this look with stylish painted fences and pot plants to draw interest and add colour.

However big or small your outside space is we can help personalise it to your tastes and making sure it fits your needs. A play space for the kids, a vegetable patch, a place to entertain, maximising the sun spots, adding colour with paint and pots or even giving the old shed a new lease of life. Your outside space can be an extension of your home with a stunning gazebo or conservatory adding extra living or entertaining space.

There is no need to settle for a few shrubs and a lawn nowadays. If you are green fingered and just need help clearing the garden our team can help you there too. If it’s a modern or more classic design we are here with experience to help you.

Whatever you need, our team here at Cleared Away are experienced gardening professionals. We can provide maintenance services or a full garden re-design.

end of tenancy clean

Need an end of tenancy clean?

If you are a tenant and moving out of your rental, in order to get your deposit back you need to ensure your end of tenancy clean is up to the standards required.

As a landlord an end of tenancy clean is the bare minimum you need to do before a new tenant moves in. A rental property needs to be in tip top condition before it is rented out again. Renters are looking for clean, tidy and neutral properties to move in to.

Some landlords have to manage much more than a basic clean though, as some renters can leave a property in less than a charming condition. This might mean removal of rubbish, tidy up of garden, re-painting within the property and of course the end of tenancy clean itself.

This is where we come in as our expert team is used to transforming properties. From construction right the way through to cleaning we can make sure you investment stays in tip top condition in between rentals.

We work with real estate agents and property management agencies to handle cleaning of homes after tenants move out and before the new ones move in.

End of tenancy cleaning services are tailored to take one of the biggest stresses out of moving out of a rented property. Well, ours are, at least. We clean the property like never before. Whether you are a tenant, landlord or estate agent managing a portfolio of properties we are here to take the strain out of moving.

colour

How colour can transform a room

Whether you are furloughed or working from home right it is fair to say a chunk of the population are spending more time at home. It is amazing how colour can transform the look and feel of a room too. Does your home need an area that is more calming or relaxing? The right choice of colour can influence the whole way you feel about a space.

Taking care of our mental health is as important as ever right now and redecorating your home can be a great way to create tranquil spaces.

One of the best ways to create relaxing areas in your home is to choose a calming colour scheme and it’s the little changes that can make a big difference.

After all, the rooms in our homes are wearing many hats at the moment, so we want them to have as much personality as possible. Let’s take a look at two of the rooms we are supposed to relax in.

Your Bedroom

When we’re in our bedroom, we want it to be like a sanctuary of calm. Colour plays a big part in that. This is especially true of greens. People are looking for the soothing effect of this palette. Its earthiness brings the outside in, distracting us from our phones and devices in the process.

Blue has similarly positive effects on the mind and the body. As the colour of the sky, ocean and sleep, it invokes rest and can cause your body to produce chemicals that are calming and exude feelings of tranquillity.

Your Bathroom

Bathrooms were once a space used purely as somewhere clean, but they have evolved to become a place where we go to relax and feel rejuvenated, too.

Bringing the spa to your house, you could say. With this in mind, the way we decorate our bathrooms can have a huge impact on how we start and end our day.

Bold shades such as teal or red will definitely give you a much-needed caffeine boost in the morning whilst hues of yellow is one that will lift spirits and when teamed with accents of white or grey add a contemporary twist. Dusky pinks will generate a more restful vibe, and don’t need to be too feminine. Consider the amount of natural light your bathroom receives and pick a tone that enhances the cool or warm feeling you need to enhance.

If you are not comfortable updating the look and feel of these rooms why not call in the experts. We have your relaxation spaces spruced up in no time at all.

Extension

Benefits of an extension for business use

With more of us starting to work at home some are asking the question as to what the benefits of an extension to the home for business may be. In fairness there will be things you can claim back.

If you are a sole trader or managing director of a business and intend to convert or build an area in your home that will solely be for the use of the business then you may be able to claim VAT back from a business perspective as it will be the business that pays for the work to be undertaken.

As more and more people are comfortable and effectively working from home is this something you have personally considered. A prime space that is separate from the main area of the house where you could get your work done (including video calls) without the family noise and interruption.

If you are a higher level executive this may be all more important from your clients perspective from a confidentiality point of view.

Now when you look at your property where could any extension go? Is there space above the garage? Perhaps a double height extension could add an extra bedroom to your property. Perhaps a remodel of the interior ground floor could provide the space for your family and close off an area for business.

It does seem that we are staying at home for longer than all of us ever first considered. If you would like a chat about a construction project or conversion project our team will gladly talk you through the process.

Your imagination really is the key to this whole process starting. Imagine the best version of what you require and we will help you bring that vision to life. Consider colours, textures, shapes, what you need to achieve from the build and the picture will start to build.

Businesses and venues which can remain open

Other businesses and venues are permitted to stay open, following COVID-19 secure guidelines. Businesses providing essential goods and services can stay open. The full list of these businesses can be found in the guidance on closing certain businesses and venues in England, but includes:

  • essential retail such as food shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, garden centres, building merchants and suppliers of building products and off-licences
  • market stalls selling essential retail may also stay open
  • businesses providing repair services may also stay open, where they primarily offer repair services
  • petrol stations, automatic (but not manual) car washes, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, and taxi and vehicle hire businesses
  • banks, building societies, post offices, short-term loan providers and money transfer businesses
  • funeral directors
  • laundrettes and dry cleaners
  • medical and dental services
  • vets and retailers of products and food for the upkeep and welfare of animals
  • animal rescue centres, boarding facilities and animal groomers (may continue to be used for animal welfare, rather than aesthetic purposes)
  • agricultural supplies shops
  • mobility and disability support shops
  • storage and distribution facilities
  • car parks, public toilets and motorway service areas
  • outdoor playgrounds
  • outdoor parts of botanical gardens and heritage sites for exercise
  • places of worship
  • crematoriums and burial grounds

Public services

The majority of public services will continue and you will be able to leave home to visit them. These include:

  • the NHS and medical services like GPs and dentists. We are supporting the NHS to carry out urgent and non-urgent services safely, and it is vital anyone who thinks they need any kind of medical care comes forward and seeks help
  • Jobcentre Plus sites
  • courts and probation services
  • civil registrations offices
  • passport and visa services
  • services provided to victims
  • waste or recycling centres
  • getting an MOT, if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home
  • https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home