Category: General

Worst photo of the week

Worst photo of the week!
Why would you use such a glary picture? It doesn’t show the house off very well. Perhaps the estate agent had missed sunset?

terrible photo like search lights shining

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve not included the house listing as the house is quite nice and actually this photo really shouldn’t be on there.
Estate agents take note! People don’t like the look of a house that feels like it’s got search lights outside!

Bedrooms downstairs

What is a bedroom? When is a bedroom not a bedroom.
I won’t share the details of this property but it’s described as a

5 bedroom detached house.

Well let’s look closer at that.

This is the downstairs plan:
For me, these downstairs rooms are reception rooms. Otherwise there’s very few downstairs rooms that are not bedrooms.
Is it a bedroom or a reception room

 

 

Now you might think it doesn’t really matter.
But I read a story recently about a couple who lost out after a fire in their home as they’d not declared the right number of bedrooms. One in the loft they didn’t feel was really suitanle as a bedroom so they didn’t call it one or use it as one. So they insured their home for less bedrooms than they’d been sold it as.

This is a story – it may or may not be the one I’d heard about before but it came up on a quick google search
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-5550933/Our-house-burnt-insurer-refused-pay-said-7-bedrooms-not-five.html

The couple say: the other two are attic rooms used for storage and, as they do not comply with building regulations, cannot legally be classed as bedrooms.

Paul, a sales manager, had bought their home buildings and contents cover via a comparison website and paid £416 for an annual policy.

One of the first questions on the online form is how many bedrooms the property has, including any that now have another use, such as studies.

It also asks for the number of reception rooms, including living rooms and dining rooms, bathrooms and any ‘other rooms’ (not including kitchens, utilities and conservatories).

Read the rest of the story on the link above.

But – if an estate agent calls three downstairs rooms bedrooms, then how do you go on insuring this house. It’s five bedrooms according to the estate agent, but for me, it’d be the two upstairs rooms that were used as bedrooms, and everything downstairs would be a reception room.

Is this done purely because people are expected to pay more for a 5 bedroom hosue than a 2 bedroom house even if there’s more reception rooms?
After all the number of rooms doesn’t actually change, it’s just their designation.

“A spokeswoman for Ageas says: ‘The Financial Ombudsman Service agreed that their home had seven bedrooms, rather than the five they said they had when they bought their policy. ”

So, do you need to have this discussion with insurance companies before you take out a policy, which means probably ringing them up and getting them to clarify in writing what they will interpret as a bedroom.

 

 

 

Ice maker

If you love iced drinks then this could be the best gadget for you ever! An ice maker that’ll work really hard to give you ice cubes!

Ice Maker Machine – Counter Top Ice Machine – New Compact Model – No Plumbing Required – 15kg Ice In 24 Hours by ThinkGizmos (Trademark Protected)

  • Three ice size options: S/M/L (most competing models just have two) / Very compact dimensions: 37(h) x 29(w) x 36cm(d), fast ice production in just 10-15 minutes, large water storage, massive production capacity: 12-15kg in 24h, large storage for ice.
  • Stunning looking ice maker machine / Ideal for household or office or even professional use / Truly portable ice maker (no plumbing required) by ThinkGizmos (Trademark Protected).
  • Ice maker sits on countertop / Warns when ice basket full or water tank empty / Supplied with UK plug / Efficient compressor with very low noise level, includes a FREE ice scoop / 12 month warranty.
  • Convenient viewing window to check ice production progress / This brilliant ice machine has just been updated (2013) to make even greater quality ice.
  • Very easy to use; Just add water, select ice size you want, and the first batch of ice will be ready in a few minutes! Product demo at  – This is a ThinkGizmos branded product.

Ideal if you have parties and want to get lots of ice cubes made!  If there’s someone in your house who loves ice in their drink then this would be the perfect thing for them!

Never have to buy bags of ice cubes again, or run out of ice!

Stamp duty changes in the Chancellor’s speech

Will post more details shortly.
He says he’s cutting stamp duty for 98% of home buyers

In effect from midnight tonight. Each tax rate (and there are new ones) will apply only to the particular slice of the selling price to which they apply, not the whole value of the property (as at the moment).

Currently:
Purchase price of property Rate of SDLT (percentage of the total purchase price)
£0 – £125,000 0%
£125,001 – £250,000 1%
£250,001 – £500,000 3%
£500,001 – £1 million 4%
Over £1 million – £2 million 5%
Over £2 million 7%

12% rate for most expensive houses

Stamp duty rates Mr Osborne spelled out the new stamp duty rates.
No tax on the first £125,000 paid
2% on the portion up to £250,000
5% up to £925,000
10% up to £1.5 million
12% on everything above that.