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Moving house doesn’t have to be a strenuous tasks. Follow up the guidelines I have compiled containing the ultimate moving guide featuring 12 tips to successfully move house, the main do's and don'ts to remember, and a room by room packing guide are simply below;

1. Declutter Your Belongings

Tidying is an essential task every now and then while considering moving house. Before even attempting to pack, you should decide what to sell, donate or throw out. By decluttering, you'll also keep your house removal costs down as there’ll be fewer boxes to move.

2. Book a Removal Company

Once you’ve tidy your physical possessions, you should book your removals company. You could attempt DIY if moving fewer belongings or moving within town but it would be a lot of added stress and time.

3. Create an Inventory

Creating an inventory helps to keep an eye on all your belongings to make sure nothing is lost throughout the process of packing.

4. Pack as Early as Possible

Once you compare surveyors, get conveyancing quotes, and set your moving date, then it's time to start packing.

5. Start By Packing Least Used Rooms

A good starting point will be rooms that are least used.The spare bedroom, garage  are usually easy places to start.

6. Arrange Your Utilities Early

It’s important to set up your utilities such as council tax, gas and home insurance early when moving house. Not only will this save you a lot of stress once you’re moved in, but you will have more time to settle in and relax in your new home.

7. Label Properly

You should label on boxes going to a particular room and a brief summary of what’s inside so there’s no confusion when you’re unpacking. If you don’t want to write a short novella on the boxes you can as well use tag to differentiate each boxes and where it belongs to.

8. Pack a Survival Box

Pack the things you need most every day and night in a separate bag and keep this with you at all times. Items such as medicine, face cream, toothbrush, toilet roll, change of clothes, phone chargers etc will all come in handy.

9. Visit Your New Area

You'll know your new home inside and out after you have carefully survey round the new environment, but what about the neighbourhood? Once the removal company is booked and you’ve started packing, go and spend the weekend in your new area, checking out the local pubs and shops.

10. Update Your Address

It’s a good idea to change your address with companies or organisations like the bank, the doctor’s surgery, car insurance company, local authority and post office 2 weeks before you move.

11. Check Council Tax Band

Many people will forget about taking care of their council tax when moving house. If you’re moving to a new area, there will be a need to set up new address. Check with your local authority for more details about your council tax band.

12. Register to Vote

Another important factor when moving house is staying on the electoral register. You will have to update your address and ensure you’re still able to vote. Luckily, it’s a fairly simple process and can be done through the government website.

How Much Is A Metal Front Door?

If you’re looking to get a front door, one of the things you’d want to consider before you proceed is the price of getting the door. As an exterior door, you’ll need something that’s close against weather as well as intrusion. And that’s exactly where steel comes in! It’s a popular choice for exterior door material due to the numerous qualities it possesses. However, the single and precise cost to get a metal front door can not be provided as it depends on a wide array of factors.

The cost to install an average metal front door will depend on the material and finish grade, structural preparation, size, unique needs, labour rate and lots more. Other things you’d have to put into consideration includes the following:

✓ A project to replace more than 2 doors are more likely to enjoy a unit price or bulk discount.

✓ During inspection to replace the existing door with a metal one, there may be some repair concerns like rot and also a need to adapt the existing door opening structure which will also tell on the price

✓ There may be local or national subsidy for energy efficiency improvements.

✓ Taxes and permit fees may also be applicable.

✓ DIY considerations. This project may be suitable for a DIYer with carpentry skills. So if you wish to carry out the installation by yourself that’ll also help you save some money.

Generally, the cost of a metal front door will range between £100 to about £10,000. However, before you purchase a steel door it’s very important to put into consideration what the door is being used for as well as what you’d prioritize between beauty and security - although, most steel doors can offer both at an affordable price.

We’ve all heard the common phrase that first impressions matter most. Well, this expression also applies to your home. When people arrive at your home, the door is the first thing they come in contact with and that speak volumes about the impression they’ll have about you. In modern times, there’s a large variety of choices when it comes to choosing a front door for your home in terms of style and design - from distinctive and alluring wood finish effect to elegant stained glass patterns. These are all important when it comes to choosing a front door, but one of the most significant factors is the material.

Both uPVC and composite doors have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing one may rest on the purpose of installing the door.

UPVC Doors:

Pros

• Cost - Although composite doors are certain to deliver a great value for money, the initial spending on uPVC is lower and doesn’t put much strain on your budget

• Little Maintenance - The maintenance of a uPVC door does not go beyond wiping any stains with a damp cloth. However, this should be done carefully and regularly as extended neglect can lead to discolouration over time

Cons

• Styles - When it comes to styles, uPVC doors has a considerable lower style options compared to composite doors.

Composite Doors:

Pros

• Finishes - Composite doors offer a wider range of finishes than uPVC doors and as such, deliver greater versatility in showcasing your home’s character.

• Energy Efficient - Made from various materials glued together under intense pressure, composite doors happen to be thicker than uPVC doors and hence, a bit more energy efficient.

• Improved Security - Although both doors offer a great level of security, composite doors (due to its robust construction) are a bit more superior in this area.

Cons

• Cost - Although composite doors offer an immense value for money, the fact still remains that they’ll also stretch your budget more than uPVC doors.

There are a range of locks that are available for doors. Look for ones accredited by Secured by Design and British Standards. The quality of the installation will also affect the security of the door. Additional security measures such as a double lock, security bolts and chains can support this.

• Washing up liquid
• Glass cleaner
• A lint-free cloth or rag
• A putty knife
• A paper plate
• Acetone

Why Do Roof Tiles Slip?

Despite being our first line of defence against the elements and covering the most valuable assets we possess, it’s shocking the reason why most roofs go unnoticed for years. However, when a damp patch suddenly appears on the ceiling or water starts to leak into our home, the condition of our roofing suddenly becomes of huge importance to homeowners.

In the UK, we get a fair share of harsh wind and heavy rainfall across the year which over time can lead to a plethora of roofing issues. One of the most obvious to identify is when roof tiles slip. If you’re also facing the same challenge, then you’ll most likely be interested in knowing the reason behind this occurrence. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the reasons why roof tiles slip.

Roof tiles can slip as a result of a corrosion of the nails that’s in place to secure your tiles to your roof. This happens especially during strong storms, whereby several roof tiles can be dislodged by rain and winds. If the affected tiles are just a few, then it may actually be a little issue to resolve. However, there are also times that the tiles slippage can be caused by a more serious issue. What’s more? You can also discover slipped roof tiles if the wood of your roof is corroded or weak. However, this applies a lot more to older homes than new or recent constructions. Any of the above reasons may be the main cause of your roof tiles slippage, but if you really want to know the exact cause for sure, you’ll have to call in a professional roof company to inspect your home.

If you’re planning to construct a kitchen extension on your property, one of the first things that comes to mind is whether or not you’ll require a planning permission before you proceed. Generally, kitchen extensions are normally classified as permitted development which allows you to carry out your project without any interruptions from the law or your local authority. In other words, if your extension is meets up with the guidelines of the permitted development rights, you won’t have to apply for a planning permission. However if otherwise, you’ll have to apply for a planning permission to your local council and may require additional reports. And regardless of your position, you’ll always need building regulations approval before you can carry out any kitchen extension project. It may also be required that you’ll have to issue a part wall notice if you’re to build on or close to the boundary with a neighbour.

If you don’t want to go through the hassle and stress involved in applying for a planning permission with your local council, then you must ensure the following:

✓ Your kitchen extension must not be over half of the area of land around your main house.

✓ The kitchen extension must not be side elevation onto a highway or forward of the principal elevation.

✓ The extension must not be taller than the highest part of the roof.

✓ The height of your kitchen extension must not go beyond four metres.

✓ Kitchen extension that’s more than one storey must not go exceed the rear wall of the main house by more than three metres.

✓ Two storey kitchen extensions must not be closer to rear boundary by anything less than seven metres.

✓ The kitchen extension must not include balconies, verandas or any raised platforms.

How To Paint Exterior Walls

Painting of exterior walls is a value adding task which can be done by any competent DIYer. So if you’re confident enough to pick up a brush and roller, then all you need to do is to follow the instruction in this step by step guide and you’d be glad you did. Painting your exterior walls yourself can save you lots of money that would rather have been spent on hiring the services of a professional painter and decorator. However, if you don’t feel confident enough to pull this off, then it’s advisable to call in a reliable painting specialist who can guarantee the best results for help. Here, we’ll take you through the needed steps to complete the painting of your exterior walls.

✓ Surface Preparation. This involves protecting all fencing and exterior wall component that’s not to be painted with a drop cloth or masking tape. You’ll also need to completely wipe out any dust before you start to paint a plaster surface. If it’s a previously painted wall, you’ll also need degrease it and remove or scrape off any loose areas of the plaster.

✓ Priming. This involves preparing the primer as instructed in the manufacturer’s guide. Then start to prime the surface by using a brush or a small paint roller to prime the corners, little items as well as all surfaces that are difficult to reach. Once done, then you can tackle the larger surfaces using a larger paint roller.

✓ Painting. To start painting your exterior walls, you’d have to prepare the product first by missing it thoroughly as instructed in the manual. Once done, you can repeat the same process as given in the priming stage above using your paint this time. Once done, you can decide to apply a second layer within a minimum of 4 hours after applying the first layer.