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Details: Published: 26 April 2022; Hits: 370

A Guide to Removals Costs

There is a vast array of criteria to consider when budgeting for an upcoming house move.

Removal costs are often a forgotten expense. However, it is essential to account for them, preventing any nasty surprises.

How do Removal Companies Charge?

There are a variety of ways companies bill for their services. Most will charge hourly, which means the quantity of items you require moving is generally a good indicator of how much the job will cost.

Try to give the removals company the most accurate description of your home and belongings to obtain the best quote.

No two homes will look the same, and basing your move on the number of bedrooms can mean you estimate completely wrong. Underestimating the number of items you need moving will only lead to a larger than expected bill, a frustrated workforce, and a more stressful process.

Which day of the week you chose to move will affect the cost. Fridays and Saturdays are generally the busiest, and therefore the most expensive day to move to a new house.

Beware of simply choosing the company with the lowest rates. Remember, they are transporting your possessions, and the last thing you want is any hiccups on the final hurdle of the moving process.

Long Distance Moves

Most removal companies will charge a minimum fee, equating to their rate for two hours. However, this flat fee is generally not a cause for concern. Even the shortest of moves usually take longer than this when loading and unloading the van is considered.

Long-distance moves are generally much more expensive due to the time required to drive between properties. You may, therefore, be tempted to hire a van and move yourself. However, by doing so, you could be adding a great deal of unwanted and unnecessary stress to your day.

Packing Services

You may also choose to hire the removal company to pack and unpack your belongings. This can further help reduce stress in the lead up to the move.

However, this service comes at a cost. Expect to pay anywhere from £150 for a one-bedroom property towards the £500 mark for a three-bedroom home.

Although this is an extra expense to add to the process, it can be worth it if you lack the time or inclination to get involved with these tasks. You will be impressed with the efficiency with which the professionals work.

Be sure to discuss whether materials (packing tape, boxes, bubble wrap) will be provided by the team when calculating the expense.

Many removal companies will also offer a dismantling service. Perfect for any flat pack furniture that you wish to rebuild in your new home, helping with the logistics of moving between rooms. These services generally start from around £100, depending on the item and the company.

Special Care Items

If you have any particularly delicate or precious items you want to be handled with more care, you will pay more for the removal company to deal with them.

This may include using specially designed crates for expensive electronics such as televisions and computers or carefully wrapping any delicate art pieces.

Extra Equipment Required

The removal company might need to use extra equipment for any particularly heavy or challenging items you own. Some pieces may not fit up or down the stairs, meaning they have to be removed through windows. This process will undoubtedly add to the total bill.

Delays

Unfortunately, delays can occur when it comes to moving home. If your move is delayed by a matter of hours, there may be a waiting charge to pay to the removal company to cover the time they have lost.

If your move is delayed to a completely different day, there may be a cancellation fee payable. Consider other factors that may be included, such as the price of storing items or funding accommodation for yourself should the move become disjointed.

Insurance

Insurance is one of the most significant benefits of choosing a removal company over attempting the task yourself. Good companies will offer a range of insurance plans, starting from as little as £20, ranging up to insurance covering you for £50,000 worth of damages.

Insurance is always recommended to give you peace of mind during the moving process.

Final Thoughts on Removal Costs

It is tough to place an accurate figure on how much your move will cost. There are many factors that will need to be considered, including the number of items you have, the level of support you require and the distance you are moving. So it’s best to do your research and gain quotes from multiple companies.

Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts and are in contact with some fantastic, reliable removal companies.

Call us or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.

Details: Published: 22 April 2022; Hits: 341

4 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Office More Comfortable

Home offices are slowly becoming less of an ‘added bonus’ and more of a ‘must have’ for many properties on the market today.

With remote working on the rise and more people spending their days indoors, a home office needs to be a calm, constructive and comfortable space to work in.

In this article, we’ll share our top four easy ways to make your home office more comfortable when you’re working from home every day.

Invest in a Good Chair

This is so important! If you’re feeling uncomfortable in your home office, your choice of chair could be the issue. Investing in a high-quality, ergonomic chair can make a world of difference to how supported and relaxed you feel throughout your working day. It could even make you more productive!

Upgrade Your Desk

Space can be another reason why your home office doesn’t feel comfortable. If you have a small desk that makes everything feel cramped, this could be affecting how positive you feel when working in your office.

If you’ve got the space, upgrade to a bigger desk more suitable for your needs. Make sure you choose a style big enough to fit all your essential equipment on without feeling cramped.

Tailor the Lighting

Is your home office too dark? Or too bright?

A healthy dose of natural light is ideal for a home office to keep you feeling awake and productive. But too much sunlight can cause glare on your screen making it difficult to work without squinting!

If this sounds like a familiar issue, think of ways to make your home office comfortable all year round. Invest in a pair of light-filtering curtains, day and night blinds or a good lamp. Any of these things can help tailor the lighting in your home office to suit your needs and make you feel more comfortable.

Regulate Temperatures

Being too hot or too cold in your home office can undoubtedly affect how comfortable you feel. Regulating temperatures can be tricky, especially if your home office is in a small room that gets very hot, or is in an open-plan area that gets very cold! But an optimum temperature will make a huge difference to how comfortable you feel.

Final Thoughts

Making a home office more comfortable will mean different things for different people but our simple tips will give you a better idea of how to make your space more pleasant for you to work in.

If you’re interested in learning more about how a good home office can affect the resale value of your property, Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts, and we’d love to provide a valuation of your home.

Give us a call today or send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Details: Published: 19 April 2022; Hits: 312

Should You Renovate or Sell Your Home?

Unsurprisingly, most homeowners ask themselves this question at some point: “Should I renovate or sell my home?”.

The answer though depends on many factors including:

What renovations do you want to do?

How concerned are you about resale value?

Will the investment will be worth it.

Here are our top three questions you should ask yourself to help you decide whether to renovate your home or sell up.

Are You Happy in Your Home?

It’s may appear obvious, but you need to understand why you’re asking yourself the question, “Should I renovate or sell?”.

Is it because you’re unhappy with your current property?

Or is it because you need extra space?

Or is it for some other reason, like turning a profit?

If you’re unhappy with your home, consider whether renovating your property will actually make you feel happier living in it.

While renovating your property can make a huge difference to how it looks and feels, it might be time to sell if the issues you have with your home extend further than it’s appearance.

Do You Need Extra Space?

If you’re thinking about renovating to give yourself extra space, you may be considering extending or converting the loft into a bedroom. If so, it’s worth considering whether investing in an extension will be worth it in terms of added value.

It’s also good to think about how sustainable those changes will be. It may give you an extra bedroom, but if you’re planning on growing your family even further, will you still need to move in a few years anyway?

Sometimes, it can be more worthwhile, both financially and in terms of effort, to move to a larger property rather than extend.

To help you decide, it’s worth browsing properties for sale with your local estate agent to see what’s available and for what price.

What Value Will Home Improvements Add?

Ask yourself, “Is it worth it?”.

Renovating a property can be costly and take time. While it’s important to enjoy your home and not always think about resale value, some home renovations, like extensions, kitchen remodels or bathroom refits, can be expensive.

Depending on the area you live in, you may not make your money back on the property. And if you’re planning on moving in a couple of years, you may not get the full enjoyment from the renovations yourself.

The best thing to do is speak to a local estate agent about your plans. They will complete a valuation of your property and advise you on home renovations that will potentially add value. You can also ask whether it may be more financially beneficial to move to a larger home rather than renovate.

We Can Offer Expert Advice

At Warren Powell-Richards, we are your local property experts. If you’re thinking about selling your home, our friendly team are happy to help.

Give us a call today or send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to start the conversation.

Details: Published: 14 April 2022; Hits: 572

Selling a House at Auction vs Estate Agent: What Are The Pros and Cons?

So, you need to sell your property and you’re wondering which is the right path for you. Auctions have their benefits, but so does selling via an estate agent, so which is better for your situation?

If you’re wondering whether you should sell your home via auction vs an estate agent, here’s an overview of the pros and cons to help you decide.

Selling at Auction

What Are the Cons of Selling at Auction?

Let’s get some of the negatives out of the way first. Selling at auction may be quick, but it does come with some risks and downsides, including:

Added fees: There could be added fees when selling at auction that can make it a more expensive option. You’ll need to instruct a solicitor to prepare a legal pack before you sell. Plus, you’ll need to pay the auctioneer’s marketing and commission fees.

Limited buying pool: Buying a property at auction isn’t the traditional route, so your buying pool is already limited. Plus, auctions have a reputation for ‘hard to sell’ or fixer-upper properties, which can attract low-paying buyers looking for a great deal.

It doesn’t sell first time: A good auctioneer should drum up interest from the right kind of buyers. If they don’t market your property well enough, your property may not sell first-time around.

What Are the Pros of Selling at Auction?

Despite the cons, there are lots of benefits to selling your property at auction, including:

Quick turnaround: Auctions are renowned for their quick turnaround. Usually, they require completion just a month after the winning bid.

Low risk of fall-through: When the gavel hits, your buyer is committed. They pay a hefty deposit on the spot and immediately sign the contracts. Even though they could still pull out, it’s highly unlikely.

Inspires competition: An experienced auctioneer can inspire a healthy amount of competition for your property. If this happens, your property could sell for more than you think. However, getting a good deal isn’t guaranteed when selling at auction, so be wary of any auctioneer that promises such things!

Selling a Property Via an Estate Agent

What Are the Cons of Selling Via an Estate Agent?

Not cons exactly, but if you are considering the traditional method of sale, there are some things you’ll need to take into account:

Estate agent fees: Just like auctions have fees, you’ll still have to pay for the services provided by your estate agent.

Security of sale: Good estate agents take measures to prevent gazumping. But, since buyers aren’t charged an instant deposit like they are at an auction, there’s less security in the sale going through.

Time: Selling via an estate agent can be a quick process. But it’s highly unlikely it’ll ever be as quick as an auction house!

What Are the Pros of Selling via an Estate Agent?

It all depends on your situation. If you have time to work with an estate agent, it will mean:

Less admin: Estate agents make life easier. They prepare the property listing, take photos, market your home, organise viewings, answer countless enquiries on your behalf and ensure the sale progresses smoothly. Auctioneers can lend a hand, but it won’t be as in-depth as an estate agent.

Higher selling prices: Usually, you can get more value when you sell your home via an estate agent compared with an auction. Unlike auctions that have a limited buying pool, everyone’s at the table when selling via an estate agent!

More control: Even though you can set a reserve price at an auction, there’s no telling how much your property could sell for. Selling via an estate agent gives you full control over the price you get.

Need Help Deciding?

We’d love to have a chat with you. Here at Warren Powell-Richards, we’re your local property experts. We can help you decide which route is best for selling your property.

Give us a call today or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Details: Published: 12 April 2022; Hits: 317

Are You Ready to Downsize? 5 Signs It’s Time to Make the Move

Are you wondering if it’s time to downsize?

The term downsizing simply means selling your home to buy a smaller one. But while the definition is easy to understand, the decision certainly isn’t easy to make. Choosing to sell your home is a big decision. And downsizing can feel like an even bigger one.

People sell their homes in exchange for a smaller one for many different reasons. But it’s usually because the space isn’t right for them anymore.

If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to downsize, here are five signs it might be time to make the move.

It’s Hard to Maintain

The bigger the house, the harder it is to maintain – and that’s a fact. From general repair work to regular hoovering, there’s a lot that needs to be done to keep a house in check.

If you’re struggling to keep up with the maintenance of your home, because of changes in your mobility or just because your priorities are different, downsizing can make these things much more manageable.

You Have Too Much Empty Space

Do you have more empty bedrooms than you know what to do with? Many families need a lot of space in the early days. But, as the kids get older and move out into places of their own, it can leave parents with lots of empty bedrooms.

Some people enjoy the extra storage space or use the bedrooms to create a home gym or office. But if you don’t have any use for your empty space, that may be because there’s too much of it.

Health and Mobility Reasons

When daily life becomes a strain because of your home, it’s not a good sign. Many people prepare for older age by moving into a home that’s smaller with no stairs. Others choose to make adaptations to their homes to stay living in them for longer.

Just because your health and mobility have changed, it’s not an automatic sign that it’s time to downsize. But if you’re struggling to get by, even with adaptations, making the move could make life easier.

Your Bills Are Unsustainable

Finances are a big reason why many people choose to downsize. When you retire, reduce your working hours or you just have one less person around to help pay the bills, your outgoings can easily start outweighing your incomings.

If this happens, downsizing could be the solution you need. By moving to a smaller property, you could create a sustainable living situation with more manageable bills.

Your Home Makes You Emotional

Our homes should be places that make us feel happy and comfortable. But if you feel lonely, sad, or even scared when living in your house, it may not be the best place for you to live.

Moving home can feel like a fresh start for many reasons. While downsizing may not always be the solution, moving somewhere smaller or that’s in a different community could feel safer and more like home.

Are You Thinking About Downsizing?

Downsizing is a big decision that you shouldn’t feel pressured into making. The most important thing to do is to make sure it’s the right choice for you.

If you’re thinking about downsizing from your home, our friendly team at Warren Powell-Richards are happy to help talk through your options.

Give us a call today or send us an email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an informal chat.