If you’re looking to buy, you’re probably wondering whether to buy brand new – and who could blame you? New build properties are very appealing with their flawless brickwork, untouched kitchens and perfectly formed front lawns.

Yet underneath the obvious visual attractions, buying ‘new’ isn’t always a bed of roses. As with most things in life, buying a new build has its pros and cons and before you take the plunge and sign on the dotted line, you ought to weigh these up to decide if ‘new’ really is right for you.

The Bad

Value: while new builds tend to come affixed with very attractive sounding price tags, just as with buying a new car, buying a new house comes with a premium. Therefore in most cases, the minute you move into your new home, it will drop in value.

However, few people are in the housing market right now and as a result, many building companies are struggling to shift their finished properties. Needless to say, this leaves you a lot of room to haggle. Depending on the price you can secure the property for, buying new might just be worth it.

Build Quality: some new build homes are built to a great standard. Sadly, some aren’t. The problem is that unlike with older homes, the ‘newness’ tends to disguise any inherent issues.

Do your research before signing anything to ensure you don’t end up with an unstable and unsellable property a few years down the line.

In addition, ensure the property is covered by an NHBC warranty and insurance cover; this means you are insured against damage and defects caused by the build quality of the property.

Location: unfortunately, many new builds exist on purpose built estates that are usually some distance from the amenities of a town or city centre and the transport links to reach them.

Size: of course, this is a guideline rather than a rule but generally, new builds are much smaller than their period counterparts.

The truth is that we’re running short on space, so if you want a large new build, you’ll have to pay a premium for the privilege.

The Good

Energy Efficiency: new builds will almost always be built to be as energy efficient as possible. They will already have double glazing throughout, and will most likely have loft and cavity wall insulation along with an A-rated boiler.

Oh, and just to put a brighter note on the issue of size – smaller properties do tend to be more energy efficient since there is less space to heat.

Ease of the Move: in most cases, new builds will be ready to move into and often, if you buy at the right time, you will be able to choose the final specifications of your home.

Incentives: some developers desperate to free themselves from properties will offer ‘incentives’ to potential buyers.

This could be cash back, white goods or an offer to pay your stamp duty. You’re unlikely to get these sorts of incentives with an older property.

Thank you to Simon Howden for the image.

The reality is that increasing numbers of us are being forced to tighten the  purse strings.  While going out less and investing  in bill-slashing upgrades such as double glazed windows are obvious and common money-saving-moves to make, there’s something lots of us are doing each and every day while failing to realise its impact – wasting food.

According to The Guardian, the average British shopper throws away around 10% of their weekly shop; however, it’s probably safe to say that many shoppers are underestimating the amount of waste they create. Sadly, 8% of shoppers admitted to throwing away a massive quarter of all the food they buy.

These statistics mean that the average household could save around £50 a month, or £600 a year, simply through being more careful with their food shopping.

Plan Your Shop: 

The biggest mistake British shoppers make is going food shopping without a plan. This means we will get roped in by ‘241’ deals while buying more food than we need, or food that is likely to spoil before we get round to eating it.

Planning all your meals in advance, and then buying only the items needed for those meals will save you a great deal of money – not least because you won’t find yourself reaching for the takeaway menu upon realising you’ve got nothing left to make a decent meal from.

Don’t Go Shopping When You’re Hungry:

While you probably already know this, it’s a valuable rule and one you should always stick to. Going shopping when you’re hungry not only means you will probably buy far more food than you need; it’s also highly likely that you’ll end up with a cupboard full of junk.

Eat What Needs to Be Eaten:

Not what you want to eat. For starters, if you’ve planned your meals for the week, stick to the plan.

If you haven’t planned your meals, then look at what needs to be eaten soon and work your next meal around that.

This does take some discipline since it can be very tempting to eat what entices you. Yet if you choose to satisfy your cravings and order a takeaway or buy in something special for that night, other food items are going to go to waste instead.

You have then wasted the cost of the meal that’s been relegated to the bin, plus the cost of the meal you didn’t actually need to buy.

Don’t Waste Leftovers:

As well as buying too much food in the first place, another reason we waste so much food is that we cook far more than we can eat and the leftovers go in the bin.

If this happens, consider if the leftovers can be salvaged. Often, leftovers make a great lunch the next day; and a nice variation from the usual sandwiches and crisps. Alternatively, you can freeze them – ideal as a quick and easy ready meal when you’ve got no other food in.

Thanks to xedos4 for the photo

Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation

Easily the most cost-effective means to reduce your heating bills; loft and cavity wall insulation can save the average homeowner up to £145 a year.

Loft insulation is in fact easy enough to lay yourself and considering that an uninsulated house can lose around a quarter of its heat through the roof, there’s no excuse for not lining your loft!

Loft insulation starts at around £5 a roll. You can choose to get the work completed by a professional for a still relatively low cost (usually around £250). However, grants are available to some homeowners; the Energy Saving Trust can provide more information as to whether you qualify.

Windows

Needless to say, windows are a substantial source of heat loss. In fact, before central heating became commonplace many homes had limited and very small windows in order to reduce this loss.

If your home still has single glazing, you’re probably aware of the impact this has on both your heating bills and the comfort of your home (wintry drafts are never pleasant).

Of course, double glazing is expensive and it will take a number of years to recuperate the cost in reduced heating bills. However, double glazing will also make your home considerably warmer and more comfortable to be in during the winter months, while simultaneously reducing noise and increasing security.

If you do wish to invest in double glazing this winter, then our A rated windows will offer the maximum level of heat retention possible.

Alternatives

Secondary glazing involves fitting a second pane of glass (or plastic) inside the existing window frame.

This is cheaper than investing in double glazing (yet not substantially so) while also being less effective.

Secondary glazing is however an excellent option if you live in a conservation area or listed building and are unable to enjoy the benefits of double glazing.

Another, even cheaper option is to use a special plastic film that is fixed to the window. This can cost as little as £6 for three windows, yet needless to say, the price reflects the effectiveness.

In fact, plastic film will only really make a difference if you cover the entire frame of the window rather than just the glass. Evidently, this makes opening the windows very difficult.

Draught-Proofing

There are countless gaps in our homes that we usually never even think about. However, these are letting out the warmth from our homes, and letting the cold inside.

You can fill all the gaps and holes yourself for as little as £100, but if you want the peace of mind of employing a professional, expect to pay around £200.

Heating

An old or substandard boiler could be costing you a great deal in unnecessary heating bills.

Depending on how old or substandard your boiler is, a replacement should save around £225 each year. However, your replacement boiler will cost upwards of £2,500 meaning it will be a while before you see a return on your investment.

However, a new boiler should be safer and more effective too so, just as with investing in double glazing, financial savings shouldn’t be your only concern.

A popular topic in the House of Commons right now; Hove MP Mike Weatherley has called for squatting to become a criminal offence (currently it is only a civil offence), while many others back the idea that squatters should be left to their own devices.

Weatherley is currently backed by Lisa Dallimore, whose deceased mother’s home was ransacked by squatters following her death in June of this year.

The home was left empty whilst its sale was completed. In a mere 11 days the squatters managed to cause £10,000 of damage.

Mrs Dallimore was forced to go to court and attain an interim possession order before the squatters could be forced to leave the property.

Is this right? Disregarding the delicate subject of the death; is it ever right that a homeowner should have to resort to a court case in order to prove they are the rightful owners of their property?

Yet there is another side to the argument. Some in support of squatting claim the squatters do a valuable service by moving into uninhabitable properties and making them habitable again.

If this is indeed the case, perhaps an exception to the rule should be made. It’s not uncommon for wealthy landlords to buy properties yet leave them vacant for many months or even years. Is it right that these homes remain empty, when there are so many people living on the streets or on a friend’s sofa?

Many people say that criminalising squatting is criminalising the homeless; a vulnerable group that often rely on ‘squatting’ in order to remain safe from the dangers of the street. A group that is growing in size due to government cuts, redundancy and rising rents.

But can a line not be drawn somewhere? Does the issue have to be so black and white? It is undeniably a serious offence to break into and reside in someone’s home who may be on holiday or away shortly for another reason. If it is obvious the home is ‘lived in’, penalties should apply to those who choose to invade the homeowner’s space.

It should certainly not be necessary for the homeowner to resort to court in order to reclaim what is clearly theirs.

On the other hand, if squatters choose to put to use a property that is without doubt unlived in and neglected, then perhaps it isn’t such a crime to leave them in peace. So long of course, that they are looking after the property and the owner does not desire to make use of it.

There are five million people currently listed on local authority housing lists while an estimated 650,000 properties remain empty. If the government is not going to take steps to resume proper use of these derelict buildings (though granted, in some districts, they are), then why should those who do be criminalised?

In the case of Mrs Dallimore, it is clear that changes need to be made so that it is easier to remove squatters from that which is not theirs, yet at the same time, is it really necessary to tarnish all that are homeless with a brush of criminality?

Despite more of us than ever turning off lights, switching plugs off at the wall and generally taking steps to reduce our energy usage – many households are in fact using more than ever.

The Energy Saving Trust places the blame with our gadget obsession.

Extra-large fridge freezers, plasma televisions and wireless routers are just a few of the main offenders; the first and the latter taking the hardest hit of blame since they are rarely, if ever, switched off.

To put this into perspective; the number of gadgets and appliances situated within the average UK household has, between 1990 and 2009, more than trebled.

Between 1970 and 2009, our energy usage on account of these items has risen by over 600%, despite the fact that those items we do use are more energy-efficient than ever.

And the worrying thing is; there is little sign of this trend halting.

In fact, as science and technology progresses, the human race is becoming increasingly reliant on electrical items for both entertainment and convenience.

This is all taking place within a period of history wherein many of us are struggling financially. Do we really need two or three different makes of games console? Is it really necessary to own a towering fridge-freezer and enjoy the convenience of an ice machine?

Another contributing problem is our ‘want it all’ culture. We’re victims of advertising that ropes us into believing we need the latest and greatest gadget in order to enrich our lives and not fall behind our peers.

Yet shunning the latest mobile phone and refraining from investing in the newest gadget designed to improve the ‘gaming’ experience will save money in more ways than one. These gadgets are expensive in themselves, and expensive to run.

Establish what you really need and you should enjoy significant savings.

Thankfully there are other ways to reduce energy usage in the home, such as by investing in higher grade windows and installing loft insulation. Stormclad can supply A rated windows in Nottingham and the surrounding areas to those concerned with the energy efficiency of their home.

Recently, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne displayed a passionate yet inspiring outburst encouraging MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee to help reduce carbon emissions by offering financial incentives to the public.

The general idea is that eventually, every household throughout the UK will be ‘energy rated’ (as it stands, only homes sold since October 2008 have been ‘energy rated’). This means that homes which have not been properly insulated will receive higher council tax bills, whilst those with the most energy efficient homes will receive lower bills.

Currently, homes are rated from A through to G. An A rated home means a top score, but very few homes meet the needed criteria. Homes must be triple glazed, with heavily insulated walls and ceilings in addition to solar panels for heating water.

F rated homes include many old terraced properties, that have single glazed sash windows and boilers more than ten years old. G rated homes are usually detached, devoid of loft insulation and single glazed.

But is this fair?

Similar proposals have been discussed before, yet the general consensus is that those living in less insulated homes are often on lower incomes and are thus being penalised for their inability to afford A rated windows and other costly means of insulation.

However this impact is being offset to an extent by government grant schemes allowing poorer households and the elderly access to subsidised insulation. Yet these grants aren’t always enough to cover the entire cost meaning many households are still unable to afford the ‘luxury’ of a warmer home and lower gas bills. Consequently the schemes take-up has been low.

In addition, many lower income households reside in rented accommodation wherein they have no say in the energy rating of their home. Will they be subjected to higher council tax bills simply because their landlord is unwilling to shell out for the necessary upgrades? Or will the government penalise landlords accordingly should their properties fall short of the desired standards?

In fact, in 2009 the Energy Saving Trust proposed a ban on the sale of homes rated the least energy-efficient. While I’m sure this suggestion was made with the very best of intentions, such a ban would place those needing to sell their homes due to financial difficulties in a very difficult position.

However, despite the flawed nature of these ideas, the proposed plans (in their existing state) are still good news for those of us who have taken steps to insulate our homes, or those who plan to in the near future.

For those looking to upgrade their homes and improve the energy rating of their property, Stormclad are able to install A rated windows in Nottingham and the surrounding areas; get in touch if you want to find out more.

For many first-time buyers, purchasing a home is simply a means to getting on the property ladder. Yet at some point, we will reach the day

when we want to buy our ‘dream home’; the home in which, all being well, we will spend the rest of our lives.

Yet since we want to ensure that this home is ‘the one’; we need to be very careful before we sign on the dotted line and complete what may very well be, the most expensive purchase of our lives.

Don’t forget about the neighbourhood

The house might be perfect, but what are the neighbours like? Are there good local amenities and transport links? If you have children, is there a good school nearby?

Don’t rely on what the estate agent has to say; never forget that regardless of how lovely they may seem, their job is to sell the house.

Investigate yourself. Knock on the neighbours doors. Good neighbours will be happy to talk to you and should be able to answer most questions about the neighbourhood. If you get a bad feeling about a particular household, don’t ignore your instincts.

Does the house have everything you need?

While sometimes it may be necessary to make a small compromise on your dream home; be careful what you compromise on. If you love the outdoors, don’t let an estate agent persuade you that the garden is ‘quaint’ and will be easier to care for than a large outdoor space.

Similarly, if you might want to extend the home in the future, perhaps to add a conservatory or expand the kitchen, ensure that the house and land offers the space and scope to do so.

If you have any questions about the suitability of a conservatory to a potential property, Stormclad, the bespoke supplier of conservatories and windows in Nottingham, can help.

Inspect the house properly

Don’t rely on the word of the estate agents ‘recommended’ inspector – they will be on the agent’s side, not yours.

Instead, ensure to hire an independent inspector, who has no vested interest in the agent or the current homeowners. It might seem like an extra expense that could easily be avoided, but this inspection could reveal things about the property that otherwise, wouldn’t have been uncovered until the purchase and move was complete.

Don’t rush

If this is going to be your home for life, you can’t afford to be hasty. Visit the home and neighbourhood as many times as you feel fit; ensuring to do so at different times of the day.

Choosing the wrong home will be a very expensive mistake and unless you are happy to live with second best, you’ll soon be repeating this whole process once more.

Okay so we may seem biased but we’re not, honest! We do genuinely believe a conservatory is the best home extension anyone can choose to invest in. Here’s why:

It’s so versatile…

Yes, a conservatory can be almost anything you want it to be; a calm and tranquil oasis away from the rest of the home, a noisy playroom (away from the rest of the home!), an office or simply a second living room.

It’s also very easy to adapt the room, should you change your mind down the line.

It provides extra space without the need to move…

The truth is moving home is risky right now. That’s why making more of your existing home is both easier and safer.

In fact, it can even be cheaper. When moving into a bigger house not only do you have to consider the cost of the house itself, but you also have agent fees, moving fees, and the cost of time off work to take into account too.

They enable a feeling of being outdoors without the elements…

Conservatories are almost a halfway house. Yes, they are a sheltered room and you’re technically indoors, but they’re also made entirely of glass allowing for the feeling of being almost outside.

The conservatory then, essentially allows you to enjoy the great outdoors, when the weather means you don’t actually want to be outdoors.

And just to top it off; there isn’t much better than the sound of the rain pattering on your conservatory roof while you stay warm and dry!

They add value to your home…

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a conservatory will add around 5% onto the value of your home. That might not sound like much but if you use the extra space regularly, when the time comes to sell the extra value will at the very least, be a nice little bonus!

You can enjoy the benefits of natural light…

Few of us in the UK get enough natural sunlight. This is unsurprising since we get on average, a mere fifty days of sunshine a year! However, the amount of time we spend indoors does nothing to help.

Thankfully, spending time in the natural light of a conservatory is beneficial; albeit less so than sitting outside – but who wants to do that in December?!

If you’re looking for a company to install a conservatory in your home we have an experienced team who will install conservatories in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Loughborough and the surrounding areas.

With fuel prices on a seemingly never-ending incline the team at Stormclad decided to explore ways to boost the energy efficiency of the home, thereby decreasing the cost of the dreaded gas bill.

We have named the solution our ‘A rated windows’. The A rated window system seals all the heat inside your home. Yes; all of it.

A single paned window will emit around 84 per cent of a room’s heat into the cold air outside – that’s a lot of lost energy you’re paying for. Double glazing will cut this heat loss by around half. However, that still means you’re paying for approximately 40 per cent more heat than you’re using!

So how do our A rated windows work?

80 per cent of the heat lost through double glazed windows is not lost through the glass itself, but through the aluminium spacer bar which separates the window panes.

Our A rated windows have done away with this dated technology. In its place is a composite polymer material which is 950 times less conductive than aluminium, reducing the heat lost to almost zero. We call this ‘warm edge technology’.

In addition, our A rated windows are filled with Argon gas. In traditional double glazing, this gap is filled with dry air. This air does help to reduce heat loss, by creating an insulating barrier between the differing indoor and outdoor temperatures. It also reduces condensation and noise pollution.

However, Argon gas is much denser than air. This extra density makes the windows around 30 per cent more effective at retaining heat than traditional double glazing units.

But haven’t gas filled windows been around for many years?

Yes they have. Most commonly, they have been used in the construction of buildings made largely from glass; such as conservatories.

As so much of the buildings surface area is formed from glass, the structures are much more susceptible to heat loss and benefit greatly from the extra heat retention.

However, what sets our A rated windows apart from windows that are merely filled with Argon gas is the combination of warm edge technology and Argon filler.

When incorporated together, our windows become almost invincible to heat loss.