home office

Do you need a home office?

Posted by cristina on

If this year has shown us anything it could be the benefits of working from home. So do you need a home office? Many people have managed with make shift desks in the form of dining tables but this is not the best way to ensure you have a proper workspace.

Right where the family are running around, the TV might be on, people asking you questions all when you need to concentrate.

So, if you need a home office do you have the space for it? If not have you thought about extending your home or perhaps building above your garage?

What are the benefits:

Firstly you have a space dedicated to work, one where you will not be disturbed when the door is shut and one you can leave once your day is done.

It will make you much more organised and focussed. This means you can have the perfect creative and professional space for you to work. You can even create the perfect workspace for your conference calls and virtual meetings.

You’ll notice that your productivity will increase when you move from an area in the home to your own home office. This is because you are no longer surrounded by distractions. You won’t be sat near the TV so that temptation is avoided. You also won’t see the kids toys around you that need to be cleared away. You’ll be in your home office, away from all the distractions.

There are some huge tax savings and tax reductions available when you have a garage conversion or convert areas of your home into a home office.

If 2020 is anything to go by then it may be a good idea to start planning this now. Give one of our friendly team a call and let us help you create a calm and professional place to work.

Boiler

Is your boiler fit for winter?

Posted by cristina on

Whether you are a homeowner, property manager or landlord now is the time to starting thinking about the health of your boiler.

So what is the condition of your heating system?

Did you know over 50% of domestic boiler breakdowns occur between November and February, so consumers need to plan ahead to ensure that their heating systems are ready for the cold weather.

For boilers that are already suffering from wear and tear, the increased strain of daily use can cause components to fail and breakdown. 

The warning came from consumer advice firm, The Heating Hub.

Jo Alsop, founder of The Heating Hub, said: “It’s no great surprise that boiler breakdowns rise during the winter months when we rely on our heating systems more frequently, but faulty boilers can leave households without heating or hot water when they need it most.  

Most people are also spending much more time at home now due to lockdown and this in turns puts extra strain on the hating and hot water systems.

Boilers can be repaired of course but the inconvenience of having no heating or hot water for a few days, especially during a cold snap could cause all manner of problems. For you as a homeowner or landlord and of course to any tenants.

Regularly servicing or managing your boiler can save all manner of costs from spiralling. New boilers are expensive though that investment could be worth it if you could consider the scenario of the damage burst pipes can cause a property – commercial of domestic.

Don’t forget winter proofing your property all round. We have had our first cold snap of the year but post December the cold weather will move in as usual.

If you would like to hear more about our property maintenance services call one of the friendly team today. We can take care of your property so you can relax and enjoy the festive season.

Home

Does your home need a facelift?

Posted by cristina on

This year we have all been spending more time and home and this means all those niggling little things around the home you want to change become more obvious. So does your home need a facelift?

Now we understand that some of you have donned your overalls and got on with those jobs and indeed become more green fingered over this long year, but who hasn’t? Has life not slowed down at all for you in lockdown?

This is actually the case for a lot of people. Looking around your home right now what needs the most attention? Is a simple decorating job enough to give your property a facelift?

Problems sometimes go deeper than that. Have you been putting up with that tired old kitchen for too long or are those drab bathroom tiles ruining your relaxing bath times. If you don’t have the time or skills to fix these kinds of property related job yourself then it can be a real cause of stress.

Have no fear dear clients as the team here at Cleared Away are available to make that real difference to your home right now. We can manage full scale property renovations from a kitchen refurb to property extensions. Because our team is multi skilled we can take care of every aspect of the job from planning to clearing away rubbish and cleaning too.

As we approach the New Year, one we are all ready for, what are your plans? Most people dream of moving as statistics on Rightmove always show increased searches around the Christmas period.

What would you change?

If you are thinking of moving why not put together a list of pros and cons. Think about the changes that could be made within your property to turn it into your dream home.

Do you need more space? Is your home working for your family right now? Does your home need modernisation? Drill down further and list the jobs that need doing. It may not be as costly as you think to create a home that really works for you and your family.

Contact us today for a quote.

The Greener Homes Grant Scheme

The Greener Homes Grant Scheme

Posted by cristina on

Last week the government extended the Greener Homes Grant Scheme until March 2022, giving homeowners longer to make the most of the energy efficiency home improvement vouchers.

Homeowners in England, including landlords, can get up to £5,000 to pay part of the cost of energy saving measures like insulation using the Greener Homes Grant Scheme. Low income households can get 100% of the costs of work covered up to £10,000.

Considering making some ‘green’ transformations to your property to lower your household emissions and lower bills? Some things you could think about updating are: Cavity wall insulation; Solid wall insulation; Floor insulation; Loft and roof insulation; Draught proofing windows and doors with double glazing; Insulating tanks and pipes

To qualify for any financial support, you’ll need to install what the Government calls “primary” improvements. These are:

  • Insulation, including solid wall, cavity wall, underfloor, loft or roof insulation. Insulation for a park home is also included.
  • Low-carbon heating, including air-source, ground-source and hybrid heat pumps, solar thermal systems and biomass boilers, which provide renewable ways of heating your home.

You can then qualify for secondary improvements. Secondary improvements include:

  • Draughtproofing.
  • Double or triple glazing, or secondary glazing, but only if you currently have single glazing – it won’t cover replacement double glazing.
  • Energy efficient doors, where you’re replacing single-glazed or solid doors installed before 2002.
  • Heating controls and insulation, including appliance thermostats, hot water tank thermostats, hot water tank insulation, smart-heating controls, zone controls, delayed-start thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves.

Now it may be that your home is an older one and adding new more robust windows and doors would be the answer. These things apply to you as a landlord too to keep the costs down on your rental properties.

Thinking of transforming your home?

Making your property into an energy efficient home of your dreams doesn’t need to stop here. Should you find your home design and layout isn’t quite working for your growing or evolving family contact us today as we can suggest ways in which a building reform might help you.

Teenagers might need more space so converting the loft space could be ideal. Perhaps a play room for your little ones or a bathroom revamp that adds a spa-like feel to your bathroom. The possibilities are limited only to your imagination and budget. Our skilled team can manage the project from start to finish so call us today.

The benefits of planned maintenance

Posted by cristina on

When you run a commercial enterprise the worst thing that can happen is a problem in the building that either stops work from taking place or something that damages stock. These are some of the reasons that planned maintenance is something your business should be thinking about as part of its business continuity plan.
The main benefits of planned maintenance include any downtime is scheduled and the right parts and skilled trades are on site to check and update your equipment so that there is minimal downtime. If you schedule this planned maintenance with us at ClearedAway you can rest easy knowing that our skilled trades will keep your business running.
Compliance is the other reason so your business does not suffer fines. If you are a busy facilities manager the last thing you need to be dealing with is a leaking toilet or a cold office. Reactive maintenance is a part of everyday life and sometimes no amount of planned maintenance can account for a problem that could cause damage to your bottom line. Our team are on hand to attend your business quickly to sort out the problems.
Frozen pipes are another one of those problems that creeps up on us. Frozen pipes can lead to burst pipes and burst pipes can result in a small leak or a large flood. All of this is costly to the business. Looking at where you need to schedule planned maintenance will cause you less headaches in the long run. Making sure your business runs as smoothly as it can year- round.
Property maintenance in commercial or domestic properties is our speciality. Whether you are looking for regular or one-off maintenance you will find the skilled trades at our disposal will make looking after your property portfolio or commercial property easy saving you time and money.

Buy or rebuild?

Posted by cristina on

When you look around your home and see there are a few things you’d like to improve, is it best to rebuild or buy? Looking for a new property can be costly and time consuming, and there are probably many things you already love about your current property. It is best to weigh up the pros and cons.
Benefits of a Reform
If you choose to reform your property this can be as big or small as your imagination. Often clients update a kitchen or a bathroom, then there are those that choose much bigger reforms, knocking down walls and creating different spaces. Older properties benefit from a fabulous location but may need bringing up to date. If you want more space from extra bedrooms to creating an open plan living area this entails planning permissions. Our expertise in this field means we can create plans to reflect your dreams. In a society where it is better to recycle than throw away, why not look at your current property and imagine how it can be transformed.
Benefits of buying new
Most of the properties available would have many desirable aspects to them, but if you buy an older property there may still be changes you’ll want and even in a newer property things may not be just as you want them. Recent trends have been on Mediterranean living with large open plan shared spaces and seamlessly integrated indoor/outdoor spaces. In the UK this is probably going to be achieved by a rebuild.
It is all about weighing up the pros and cons of buying a new property or reforming the one you have. Here in Kent we are experts in handling reforms so we are a one stop shop for all your property requirements.
We provide a full spectrum of building services – from kitchen reforms right through to complete property construction. All our work is carried out to the highest standards by our team of qualified and experienced builders and contractors.

Preparing your property for winter

Posted by cristina on

As we switch shoes for boots and reach for the central heating dial it is the time of year to do a few checks on your property just to make sure it is winter ready. If you are a landlord this applies to all of your properties. Not checking some of these things could result in costly repairs. Ensuring correct property maintenance throughout the year means that your property remains in optimal health.
Clear the guttersAt this time of year gutters need to be cleared to be effective. Leaves are falling and often block the gutters. This will stop them being effective in draining and could cause damp in the home and overflowing dripping gutters if not looked after.
Check the roofMost homes are ok in this department but some of the older houses may need a little work come autumn. Take a look to see if there are any loose tiles and get any repaired before stormy and frosty winter hits.
Check the boilerThe good old boiler is something you rely on for heating and hot water but many forget it goes from ticking along to full speed in a matter of days when it gets colder. Like a car it needs to be maintained to ensure it operates optimally so get gas safe engineer to give it a thorough check before it needs to power those radiators throughout winter.
Test the heatingYes, it’s almost time if you haven’t weakened already…switching the heating on is something most of us try to stave off but check everything works after many months of non-use. Once the system is on make sure each one of the radiators works as they should and if not you may need to bleed them. Tenants with heating problems tend to pick up the phone rather than do these things so it is best to make sure yourself.
Sweep the chimneyIf you’re lucky enough to have a beautiful real fire in your home then now is the time to get those chimneys swept. Just in time for some of the first cosy log fires of the season.
OutsideIt is just about time for the last grass cut of the season. Trim back shrubs near path ways so that on damp dark nights it is easy to get to your front door. Check the bulbs in outdoor lighting and add a little decorative lighting to highlight pathways. If working on your outside space is something you don’t fancy, then our team is happy to help

Property Management – the hassle-free way to manage your rental property

Posted by cristina on

When you step into the world of becoming a landlord it can be an exciting venture, however your rental property needs to be run like a business as there are plenty of rules, regulations and legislation to ensure your tenant is housed in a fully compliant and safe home. The Right to Rent Immigration Checks, CP12 Gas Safety Checks, Legionella, Smoke and Fire Alarm Legislation to name but a few, means not doing these things correctly and on time could be costly.
As experienced property managers, we know that apart from the safety of the home, the day to day administration, sorting out problems and dealing with tenants professionally and in a timely manager can be very time consuming. When you add property maintenance into that mix your time is just taken over. This is where we come in with skilled trades and handymen at our disposal to deal with problems quickly.
As part of the service we make periodic visits to ensure your property is being looked after by the tenants. Keeping this good working relationship with the tenants is an important part of our service so when we get problems they can be sorted out quickly with minimum fuss. We have an in-house property maintenance service that means dealing with property problems can be done efficiently and effectively within a budget agreed by yourself as the landlord.
The aim of our service is to manage, maintain & protect what is normally your biggest financial asset.
Should your new asset need some superficial work to get it ready to receive tenants, we can make sure it has a deep clean with any other waste removed. A quick coat of paint and some new flooring can transform a shabby property into a desirable one in an instant. If the property needs more work like a like bathroom or kitchen, we can provide a cost-effective quote to ensure you get new tenants in there quickly for a ROI. Property maintenance is paramount as a landlord.
If you are thinking of investing in a buy to let property or you already have one or more properties then talk to us to see how our Property Services could benefit you.