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As blinds become a more popular way of shielding prying eyes through the window many people find them easier to manage and cheaper to fit than traditional curtains. Some people have blinds in certain rooms such as the conservatory, bathroom, kitchen and study. Blinds are better suited to rooms that need more light such as a small box room or a home office, you can adjust the slats so that you can control how much light you want. They are also very handy when you have a lounge that is always sunny, if there is glare on a television you can adjust the blinds so that you can watch television comfortably without being in the dark completely, this would be the case if you had curtains. To watch television without the sun ruining the image you would need to draw the curtains on a sunny day then switch on the light.

How to clean blinds

Over time dust will build up over the blinds so you will need to clean them, if you have them in the kitchen then you will find that there is a layer of grease that comes from cooking. Dust is easier to clean off blinds than grease so here are a few options to consider.

• Hosing blinds in the garden whilst draped over the washing line, you can also use a light cleaning solution to spray on then wash off without damaging them.
• Wear gloves and then cover with a cloth or sock that has been drenched in cleaning fluid or rubbing alcohol and wipe over blinds, the dirt should come off easily
• If there is bad weather or it is winter then soak them in the bathtub using dishwashing liquid, rinse the dry with a towel
• Most vacuum cleaners come with an attachment you can use on blinds and curtains; they have a soft bristle brush, which works well on dusty blinds

I would check the blinds well before soaking them in water as most blinds have some parts that are metal, so by soaking them or wetting them it may cause rust. The best solution I have found are blind dusters, they can be used without a solution, wet or dry and cleans three slats at a time. The cloth used is microfibre so the dust just clings on, you can re-use it over and over again as it is also machine washable. For less than £5 you can save yourself lots of time when cleaning blinds without the need to take them down and hose them. If you have greasy blinds or blinds that have stubborn stains die to kitchen use then you will need to use a cleaning fluid, find one that will not damage the blinds or cause parts to rust.

This winter has caused much of the country to suffer from disruptions such as road travel, air travel and problems with public transport. It has also been said that it’s not been this cold since the 1930’s so places that don’t really see much snow on the UK have been hardest hot as they simply never have this extreme weather. On top of all the things we have had to contend with a major problem has been flagged with many of the nation’s central heating system. If you haven’t heard of the latest uproar then prepare yourself.

It has been 5 years since Labour approved and encouraged home owners to upgrade their boiler systems to condensing boilers and since 2005 it has been illegal to install anything but this. To date there are around eight million condensing boilers that have been fitted to upgrade previous boilers and every year more than a million are scrapped and upgraded. Condensing boilers are said to reduce carbon emissions and reduce fuel bills so as this as an incentive homeowners have been swayed to upgrade.

During this recent spell of bad weather a major flaw has been found with them with energy suppliers reporting an increase of house holders calling up with problems regarding their boilers. British Gas reported 60,000 visits in one area alone. During the seasonal holidays calling out a plumber can be as much as £300 not including VAT.

So what is the problem with condensing boilers in winter?

Simply put the waste pipe that carries waste water from the back of the boiler out of the property is freezing solid because of the extreme cold weather. As a result of this the boiler cannot function and will not heat radiators or provide hot water. It can cause permanent damage and shut down the system altogether, what’s even worse is the older style boiler doesn’t have this waste pipe and lasts much longer than condensing boilers.

In 2008 a scrappage scheme for boilers was introduced, it offered people around £400 towards the cost of a new boiler if they had the old one replaced, meaning perfectly good older style boilers were ripped out. Millions of home owners jumped at the chance as the government and salesmen made it sound too good to be true, along with the promise of saving money on bills and recuperating the cost in just a few years.

In reality if you put aside the freezing waste water pipe problem it doesn’t make good economical sense because a top of the range boiler costing in excess of £2000 will take ten years to pay for itself and they do not last that long! Condensing boilers are supposed to last at least 10 years but you’d be lucky if it lasted you half that time, the older boilers were still going strong at 20 years. It has been said by plumbers that if a condensing boiler was to break down after 4 years it would be better to get a new one than try to fix it as the parts are too expensive and don’t really justify a repair.

As a result of this finding it makes sense to keep your existing older style boiler and have it serviced yearly and as long as it continues to do its job well then there is no need to fork out up to £2000 for a new one. Until your old boiler breaks down completely it makes sense to keep using it as the condensing boiler is more trouble than its worth.

As we get further into the winter months many people will find that the jobs that they put off during summer months were a mistake and many easy DIY jobs will now make winter even more unbearable. Broken or old window seals, unlined curtains and doors with gaps should be maintained throughout the year as when the cold winter months arrive there is not much to do or fix as the cold makes us very lazy.

Here are some tips on keeping the home warm during the cold winter months

Make sure that curtains are lined, unlined curtains are cheaper but lining can be purchased and added to make it bulkier and thick. Having heavy curtains will keep draft out and keep the heat in when the heating is on.

Make sure there are no gaps around or under any doors, use an old towel or buy a draught excluder to make sure cold air cannot get in through under the door.

Check window seals to see if they are broken or missing, you can put temporary seals around the window that will last the winter until they are replaced properly.

Put up cling film or a clear shower curtain to retain heat around defective windows.

Keep all doors closed especially if not being used, just one door with a small draught can make the house cold and cause the heating to be ineffective.

Carpets and rugs are good insulators and will keep the house warmer for longer, if you have wooden or laminate flooring having even a small rug can make a difference.

Make sure the attic has been insulated and boarded this will make a difference as heat rises and will escape from the roof. By making sure it is boarded and insulated heat will take longer to leave and keep the upper floor warmer.

When the heating is not on use a blanket and drink warm beverages such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate. This will keep you warmer for longer.

Lighting even a small candle will emit heat and keep a small room warm; the same applies to appliances that retain heat such as the television, oven and cooker.

There are many little tips that can help keep you and your house warm during the winter months some may sound silly but they can work even if it is a short term solution. Share your tips if you have anything to add and help keep the nation warm.

The last five years has seen an increase in unoccupied housing being seized by squatters, unfortunately it would seem that squatters have more rights to a property than the home owner does. There is very little you can do to remove them without going to court and spending a small fortune in eviction notices. If you are successful you then have the financially draining task of having to re-decorate and furnish the property as most squatters will not bother to clean or keep the property in good shape.

The most worrying trend that seems to be sweeping across the UK is foreign settlers that ‘house watch’ when they find a house that is unoccupied they quickly move all their belongings in, change the locks and take over. Squatter’s rights only seem to cover those that move into a property that is vacant but worryingly houses have been seized when it is occupied. There have been reports of unsuspecting people going about their daily lives of working, going to the shops and going on holiday only to come back and find that people have moved in, changed the locks and claiming the house as theirs.

The police only usually get involved if they have broken in or caused criminal damage, if they managed to find a way in without causing any damage then you will need to have a backup plan. It is extremely disheartening to know that you could go to work in the morning and come back to find that your house has been taken over by low life. Usually squatters are those that cannot afford to pay rent, drug dealers, alcoholics and students are then most common squatters. Then there are tenants who stop paying rent and then claim squatter’s rights.

If you do find that you are a victim of squatters then seek advice immediately don’t let them get too comfortable. Most people will say burn the house down, threaten them or break in but if they were to call the police you would be in trouble not them as you would’ve been the one to make the first move. It’s unfortunate that at the moment there is no law in place to protect homeowners so here are a few things you can do to deter squatters:

• Have a timer that will switch on the lights automatically every now and then
• If you have a good neighbour ask them to go in and check the post and draw curtains etc
• Always make sure the windows and doors are locked, you may need additional security
• Install security cameras or an alarm you can get them at your local DIY store and do it yourself
• Put up signs saying ‘no trespassing allowed’ or ‘CCTV in action’ these can also deter squatters and thieves
• Instruct a security specialist to look after you property when vacant, they can also board up the property using steel rather than timber

Takes steps to look after your property whether it is your family home or a let property.

Ovens are one of the hardest of kitchen appliances to clean, you can easily spend a hundred pounds finding the perfect cleaning solution to solve your dirt and grease problems but in the end you may find that one is not enough to do the job. Most householders do not use their oven as often as their hobs but even if you do not use it that often grease and dried out food can still be left behind when cleaning. The hardest part of cleaning the oven is probably removing the grease build up on the outside and the inside of the oven.

All cleaning products offer to remove grease effortlessly and with one application but the reality is it needs a good scrub and even then you will need more solution. I for one have bought 6 different cleaning products to rid my oven of grease but so far none have come close to getting rid of this grime.

When all domestic cleaning products fail you there is only one solution, call in the professionals. In most cases ovens get so dirty to the point you don’t want to use it because of laziness, many people do not clean it straight after using and let it sit for days to come. This makes the problem worse as dried food will only be reluctant to budge and new grease will build up on whatever was there before. Sometimes a good clean is only needed once a year to help you kick start the cleaning routine, but in some cases you may find that it needs doing on a regular basis.

If you have a house that is being let to students or short term leases then you may find that after each tenant moves out the oven will need a thorough clean before being in an acceptable state to be let out again. In this case you will get your money back through rental income. If you are selling your house and have neglected your oven then once again professional cleaning can also help you make a sale by showing care and clean surroundings.

Professional oven cleaning

With so many companies promising affordable prices you will also need to check that the company is reputable and have a good client history. Some may charge less but not provide a thorough cleaning whereas some small companies will provide a good service. It’s worth asking your neighbours for a good reliable company and going on the internet to find reviews from other consumers before you accept a quote. Don’t be bullied into accepting your first quote and don’t fall for offers such as ‘this weekend only special value’ they want you to accept as soon as possible, get a few quotes and compare before agreeing.

There will come a time when you will look at the roof of your house and find that it doesn’t look so great and you may even find moss or algae on your driveway or patio. This is perfectly normal as the roof of a house is the most neglected when it comes to maintenance and cleaning, it’s hard to get to and dangerous to access if you don’t have the proper equipment and training. The last 5 years alone has seen requests for roof cleaning treble as many people try to regain the former glory of the exterior of their house.

The main reason a homeowner would choose to have their roof cleaned is to create the illusion that the roof has been maintained properly and in some cases making the roof look newer compared to the adjacent houses. It’s also a great cheat when it comes to selling a house as it makes the property look more appealing to the others on the same road. Make your property stand out and increase the chances of a quick sale by having your roof cleaned.

Roof cleaning problems

Over time the roof of a property will have a build up of algae, moss and lichen, properties that benefit from full sunlight in rural areas are most likely to have this problem but in the last 50 years it has spread to many inner city areas. Lichen, moss and algae can have roots that are stubborn to get rid of in some cases being as deep as 12mm. These penetrate the roof and surrounding areas and allow water to soak through. In time it can cause mould and damp to properties, the roof will also have to bear the weight of this and in time will deteriorate faster than roofs that have been cleaned.

Roof cleaning process

The solution to these pests is simple and having your roof cleaned will prolong the tiles and prevent damp, mould and drain blockage. Here is a step by step description of the process:

• All areas that are not to be treated will be covered, the pipes disconnected and rubber matting placed down
• The roof is now ready for cleaning, a high pressure power jet is used to removed all algae, moss, lichen fungi and dirt
• The gutters, pipes and drains will also get a thorough cleanout
• Some companies will also repair any minor damage to your roof such as broken, damaged or missing tiles, re-pointing or cement work (usually included in the price of the quote)
• Now that the roof is clean and repaired an environmentally friendly treatment wash is sprayed on, this will prevent any further growth of fungi, moss, lichen or algae
• Finally a clear solution is sprayed onto the roof to act as a protective layer against water and to prevent any further attacks. The clear solution is breathable and will also act as an insulator to keep heat from escaping

Not all roof cleaning companies will offer the same service; some may be cheaper because less work is carried out whereas others will be more expensive as all aspects of roof maintenance are performed. You should expect to pay around £800 for an average 3 bedroom property but the age and severity of cleaning may mean you might have to pay more.

As house prices continue to decline, a sneaky way for sellers to recuperate losses is to literally strip the house base of any essentials they can to take to their new home or sell on. When you are in the process of buying a house usually you (as a buyer) will be supplied with an inventory of what the house will be sold with such as fixtures and furnishings. Of course the seller will not be very thorough and list all light fittings or brass doorknobs from room A to Z so it is up to you to go over the inventory with a fine tooth comb to make sure that everything is included.

Homebuyers that have bought homes under the asking price have been shocked to find that silly things have been taken by the previous owners as a way of begrudging the new owners of the reduced sale price. These include light bulbs and light fittings, toilet seats, door knobs, grass and even light switches. It may seem funny to those who haven’t experienced this but after splashing out £500,000 on a detached property, you would expect the light bulbs and toilet seat to still be in place.

Unfortunately unless you have the time and money to take the previous owners to court there is little that can be done; this is why it is extremely important to make sure that no small item is left out when asking about the inventory.

The opposite has happened to many other homebuyers; they have moved into a house that still had rubbish left in such as unwanted furniture and junk. In some cases the buyer has had to shell out hundreds of pounds on skips to get rid of the previous owners junk.

As this has been happening from the 1990’s it was much worse back then as people use to rip out the radiators, boilers and brass fittings and sell as scrap metal to make a few extra pounds. In a way house stripping has gotten worse as people have gone to extreme lengths to recuperate their losses by ripping out the carpets, wooden flooring, all premium sockets and light switches such as those which are chrome plated. It looks like this problem will only get worse as the housing market continues to fluctuate and sellers look for alternative ways to make a profit.

Here are a few cases of extreme house stripping in the last few years:

• A seller who had to sell his £500,000 house at a 15% loss took with him his £20,000 log cabin as a way of recuperating his losses
• Another seller who sold his £3 million pound property with a golf course slashed the price by 15% so he could take all the lawn from the golf course with him
• A Victorian house seller took out all the original and antique toilet seats and brass door knobs
• And angry seller who did not make a profit stripped out all the light fittings and light bulbs leaving all the ceiling wires exposed

If this trend continues to grow, people may find that buying a house is more hassle than it’s worth and stick to selling or opt to buy new properties only. It’s a shame that the housing market has caused so much loss to the owners of properties that they have to resort to stripping a house bare to make a profit.

Grass is very strong and can survive harsh winters when there is severe frost and snow. Very rarely will you see that your lawn has patches where the grass has stopped growing or even vanished.  An example of having a patch where no grass grows is if you have left something on it that would suppress growth like a piece of wood or lid from the bin. You will also be left with a patch if you have a pond in the garden that you later remove, once you fill the hole the grass will not automatically grow back.

How can you patch lawn?

The best time to patch lawn is between spring and autumn but by doing it in autumn you can guarantee that it will have grown by the following summer as opposed to doing it in spring and waiting for it to grow.

If you decide to patch lawn then there are two easy ways to do so. Method one: using lawn seed. Sow seed into the patch that you would like new grass growth then rake over. You can aid germination by covering the area with a piece of polythene plastic.

Method two: using turf. Cut out the area of lawn to be patched and rake the soil until its even, add topsoil if required and cover with a piece of turf.

Depending on the size of the area that needs to be patched it shouldn’t take long to patch. Make sure you aid growth by watering regularly and use a good quality lawn food to ensure grass stays healthy. It is only worth patching lawn if a small percentage of it is affected, so if you 60% or more of lawn is affected then it’s better to re-do the whole area. If 40% or less of garden lawn is patchy then it’s worth re-patching.

As many parts of the country is experiencing a severe drought the use of lawn sprinklers are banned at the moment, but this doesn’t mean your lawn should suffer. You can still use lawn food and a watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler. Lawn food can also help parts of lawn that do not seem to be growing as well as other places. You can also use lawn food to encourage growth and healthier looking lawn.

Shake and rake gardening has become extremely popular recently due to the low cost, minimum required garden tools and the limited time it takes up to do. So if you have a full time job and want to use up as little as your spare time gardening or you have health problems or elderly then shake and rake gardening is the simplest and easiest way to make you garden look summery and colourful.

One of the advantages of shake and rake is the diverse range of flowers each box promises to give in return you can get up to 35 different varieties in one box. So you can save time shopping around for flower combinations as they have been selected for you. You will also help the pollination of flowers and encourage butterflies and bees to come out and reproduce. You may not know that butterflies and bees in the UK are in danger of becoming extinct due to illness, lack of habitat and finding a mate. You can help wildlife in your own back garden for as little as £1.19 for a box of seeds that can cover 50m².

What is shake and rake and how does it work?

This is a good product aimed for people of all ages and all types of gardens; whether you have a large garden a small garden or a little plot of land at the front of the house that needs some colour. For shake and rake all you need to do is prep the soil by removing weeds, stones and anything else that might interfere with flower growth. Then rake the area to a depth of at least 2.5 cm and shake the box so the seeds can scatter out evenly. The box says to shake the box over the area for at least 30 seconds but if you do this then you will have no seeds left for the rest of the garden (if you have a large area to cover). If you have only a small area to cover then you can afford to be generous and shake as much as you want. When you have covered the area you want flowers to grow with the seeds you just simply rake the seeds in and water. Always keep the soil moist to ensure that the flowering process is viable.

Where can I buy shake and rake seeds?

They can be found in most garden centres but I have found that they are much cheaper online and you can also get many different varieties that are not yet available in the shops. You can also find them in the most unlikely shops so always be on the lookout. The cheapest I found was £1.19 a box and the most expensive was £10 but they were both the same just different varieties of seeds and brand name.

Home Information Packs (HIP’s) were first introduced in August 2007; they were originally for houses with four bedrooms or more and were eventually required for houses with three bedrooms or more as of September 2007. The reason home information packs were brought in was to show clearly how energy efficient a property is, all previous planning permissions for changes made to the home, searches on the property i.e. sewerage and water. The idea was to show buyers a short summary of the property before committing themselves to buying a property.

Although this was introduced in 2007, not many people have actually ever seen a home information pack for a home they have bought or a home they have sold. In fact when I bought my property the estate agent said it was unnecessary to see it as my own solicitor would be making the same searches before I purchase the house. A home information pack was supposed to cost as little as £350 but in most places they are selling them from £500 – £1000 which is just another added expense homeowners do not need. At the beginning of the recession, many people were put off by the legal requirement to purchase a home information pack and as a result of this the amount of homes being put on the market was less. So due to the competition of too many buyers and not enough sellers, the housing market was booming and prices were rocketing to ridiculous asking prices. Estate agents then began to include a HIP for free as an incentive for homeowners to start selling again, but this was only short lived.

HIP’s suspended May 2010

Thankfully as of May 21st 2010 the legal requirement for home information packs have been suspended. So this means that all homeowners will now save an estimated £700 when they come to sell their home as they no longer need a home information pack. They will however need to have an energy performance certificate. An energy performance certificate is basically a report that shows how energy efficient a property is on a rate of A to G, things like age; size and location of the property are taken into consideration. There are also recommendations that are given so you can improve the energy efficiency of a home. If a house has very poor energy efficiency certificate, then this can give the buyer ground to further renegotiate the cost of the property to include the work that needs to be carried out to make it more energy friendly.