Derbyshire is very fortunate to benefit from an enviable selection of period property, Derby particularly boasts some of the best examples of Georgian period property outside of Bath and London. There are some very good examples in the various market and small towns of Ashbourne, Matlock, Bakewell and Melbourne. When restoring a period property it is all about the details, these are the things that the untrained eye will miss but can make or break the overall quality of a period property renovation. There is little point getting the sash windows mouldings and glazing proportions to match perfectly and then fitting the wrongs style or period of window furniture or hardware. Even with the brick work it’s not just the correct type of brick and mortar it’s the bond and pointing. There is no point in laying a perfect row of the correct bricks in stretchers with 15mm weather strike pointing. When it should be brushed 5mm English bond, so ask yourself a question before you hand over your period property or renovation project to a building contractor are they really period property experts? You will only have one chance to get your renovation project right and leave a wonderful legacy for future generations to enjoy. So take the time to make sure you have the right renovation specialists managing your period property renovations.
Buy to let mortgages just got easier
January 23, 2012
Increased competition in the buy to let mortgage arena shows with looser lending criteria. The Yorkshire building society has expanded its range of mortgage products to include properties with a value of less than a £100,000 and for applicants with incomes of £20,000 rather than the £35,000 previous figure. Although house prices have stagnated the growth in rent inflation has encouraged both landlords and banks to place their funds back into the property sector. The Co-operative bank has also pledged to increase funds to the buy to let mortgage sector by another third. All this has lead to triple the number of buy to let mortgage products available to landlords.
£100,000 pounds lost in your garden?
January 22, 2012
Is your garden a potential development site? Could it be worth tens of thousands of pounds? If so how do you know? Well the answer to most people and even novice property developers is that they do not. So how do you liquidate that cash tied up in a side or rear garden the first step is to obtain the “planning gain”. This is the uplift in value of the site or property when planning permission is granted, the next pocket of cash is the developer’s profit. This is the profit obtained by the developer who takes the site to a saleable finished dwelling or other building. The planning gain can vary massively dependant on many variables. The developers profit can also vary greatly but most developers look to take profits between 12-18 percent dependant on the risk of the build and the saleability of the finished product. The profit is the gross development valve (GDV) minus the build costs, land value and soft costs. So how do you find the profit? You need to find a good planning consultant and a joint venture partner, they will take you through planning and offer you a profit share when the development is completed.
Restoring a period cottage
January 21, 2012
It is not just about the building to make the most of a period cottage you will need to pay attention to the garden, it makes such a difference to the overall feel of the project.
Make sure that you do your research, read plenty of books on the type and period of property knowledge is power in the world of restoration. Overlooking the correct paint sheen will destroy the appearance of those lovingly restored windows, so don’t be afraid to mayor in the minor!
Pay attention to local variations in the period and style of the property you should be able to find local enthusiasts groups who can share a wealth of knowledge.
Remember how ever passionate you are about period property you do not have to live in a museum, the people who built these wonderful properties would want to see them sympathetically modernised but most defiantly in everyday use, so the legacy of their toil lives on.
With that said please be aware of your legal obligations particularly where listings and the conservation department are involved.
Always go for reclaimed materials where possible and practical, it is so much easier to get the atmosphere of a period building right with well chosen reclaimed items.
Look for a nice mix of antiques and contemporary furniture to compliment your period property interior
Construction industry sees 5,000 firms go to the wall since 2010
January 20, 2012
The construction industry has seen over 5,000 firms go into liquidation since 2010 and Pwc are expecting 2012 to be a similarly tough year. 2011 saw a 6% rise in insolvencies from 2010 with the final quarter seeing 656 construction firms fail. Many firms have been hit by a double whammy of a massively reduced speculative development and new build demand coupled with a huge slow down in public sector building projects. Interestingly as the market stalls and construction firms suffer from a lack of new tenders arriving at their offices. Other fragments of the construction and property market are seeing some increase in activity. With planning consultants and architects seeing a growth in those sat on land and disused buildings looking to maximise their value or prepare site for sale through value engineering.
What are planning conditions?
January 15, 2012
Planning conditions vary greatly dependant on the size and nature of the building project. Planning conditions are usually used to allow planning permission to be granted while smaller details are still to be confirmed and agreed. Brick sample panels can often be conditions that effects smaller projects like barn conversions and home extensions. They can cover almost any consideration that the planning officers of planning committee have concerns about from drainage schemes through to details of window design. So what if you get a planning application granted and it has conditions attached? Well you need to make sure that these planning conditions are “discharged”, at an appropriate stage of the project. Essentially you need to make sure you mitigate your risk by not carrying out building works that could be affected if there are issues obtaining a discharge of the planning condition. This could be as simple as the planning officer visiting site and agreeing a sample panel of brickwork. If you build out and the conditions are not discharged you could be ultimately faced with demolishing and rebuild!
Underpinning specialists Derbyshire
January 13, 2012
Underpinning is a word that strikes fear into many home and property owners so why? Because in many cases it can be a slow and expensive process, this is because it requires repair, replacement and upgrading of the original footings. Some structural issues relating to foundation defects can now be resolved through the use of piles or mini piles. So how do you know if your property requires underpinning? Often the signs are bulges and leaning to the brickwork or cracks particularly around window and door openings. One very important consideration is like your own health certain issues and symptoms require more immediate attention. So if you have any concerns about the need for underpinning you should contact a reputable structural engineer or building contractor that specialises in structural issues.
Civil, commercial, and residential sectors of construction industry all see rises in activity
January 8, 2012
The purchasing manager’s index has see rises in activity in the three sectors together for the first time in nine months. The area to see the highest level of growth was the civil sector with residential construction seeing the second consecutive month of gains. There has also been a positive rise in construction output for the last 12months. Many in the construction industry have hopes that the government’s plans for large infrastructure project spending will have a positive influence on the civil sector. Will this increase in activity make it harder to find a good builder?
How to choose a builder for my home extension?
October 23, 2011
Many home owners are bombarded with sales letters when their planning application is passed. This is because building companies check on line and send out a standard letter asking to be considered to price up the home extension. The best way to find a reputable builder is through word of mouth from someone who has experienced their work. So what do you do if you cannot find a good builder for your house extension through word of mouth? Well it is easy to find a builder and easy to get them to price up the work. The most important thing on your wish list should be quality you are about to embark on a once in a life time project to your most valuable asset, your home. After you have paid the final bill the most important consideration is that you will have to live with the finish and quality forever. So ask your builder to provide you with photographs of home extension projects they completed. Ask for references from previous customers and industry professional. Good home extension builders will have good working relationships with structural engineers, surveyors and architects. These professionals are careful of who they recommend and will give you their honest opinion of a contractors performance.
Adverse structural survey scuppering your property sale or purchase?
October 22, 2011
Have you found your dream home only to find out it has some structural issues? Frightened by structural problems? Worried about underpinning? There are many issues that can affect properties but those affecting the structural integrity of a house or business premises are the ones that concern buyers and sellers the most. So what is the best course of action if the survey comes back with structural issues? There are two positive steps that can be taken dependant on the issues concerned. If it is a simple defect like a defective lintel most competent building contractors should be capable of pricing up a sensible structural solution. If the problems are more serious you need a good structural engineer who will be able to provide recommendations and the best value solutions. For just a couple of hundred pounds you could save thousands by avoiding unnecessary work or missing out on your dream property. Many people are very concerned about structural issues that can often be resolved for less than a year’s mortgage payments. Interestingly many people go ahead with property purchases only to find out later that structural problems exist that have been concealed. How often have we heard “we did not know anything about it until we took the render or plaster off”. Whatever the structural issue it is without a doubt sensible to get an expert opinion. Often there can be temporary fixes that might not last but can save thousands in the long term.
