home improvements Archives

7th November 201827th August 2021 by Bigger Homes

Rising Cost of Moving House — Why it’s Better to Extend Your Home

An unfortunate fact of life in the UK is that it’s getting more and more expensive to move house every year. From taxes and duties to the simple logistics of getting all your belongings from one place to another, there are plenty of hidden fees to trip you up if you’re not careful. Here is a partial list of things to look out for…

Stamp duty

Assuming you’re not a first time buyer, you’ll be paying a percentage in stamp duty on your new home, starting at a value of £125,000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or £145,000 if you’re in Scotland.

Valuation fee

This is charged by a mortgage broker before they assess how much they can lend you, and it can be anything up to £1,500, depending on the value of your property.

Legal fees

There’s a lot of paperwork involved in moving home, and you’ll need the services of a solicitor to ensure everything is in order. This can run you up to a maximum of £1,500.

Mortgage arrangement fee

This is a common charge in the process of getting your mortgage sorted. Expect to pay around £1,000 for the privilege, and if you’re unlucky, maybe even £2,000.

Land registry fee

In order to update the Government Land Registry and solidify your status as the new legal owner of your property, you’ll need to get this sorted. It can cost up to £1,000, depending on the value of your property.

Insurance

It’s important to get everything insured in case the worst should happen, but this will run you up a significant bill.

Estate agency fees

Selling one place to move into another? Well, you’ll be paying commission to your estate agent, potentially to the tune of more than £2,000.

New phone line/broadband

Got internet in the new place? Costs of installing a new line can go up to £75 or so.

Moving paraphernalia

You’ll be surprised how many things you realise you don’t have once you start the process of moving. Boxes? Bubble wrap? ‘Fragile’-marked sticky tape? It does add up! Then you’ve got to make sure you’ve got a way to transport it all, whether you’re driving it yourself or paying someone else to do it.

Maintenance and repairs

Unless your new home is brand-new, right off the shelf, then it’s an unfortunate fact that you’re likely going to have to do a little maintenance on it. Possibly more than you think — it’s estimated that the average repair bill for new homeowners is around £5,750!

VAT

Yeah… more bad news, we’re afraid. Lots of these costs are also going to have VAT slapped on top of them, at 20% of the cost.

If all this has got you a little alarmed, don’t panic. Moving home isn’t always the best solution, and if you’re finding the whole idea a little bit daunting, it may be best to explore other options. Are you planning on moving because you need more space, or you don’t like the look of your current home? Well, you can fix that without having to leave! Extending your home is a great way not only to improve its value, but also to make it a more pleasant place to live, spend time and make memories with your family. Give us a call today, and see what we can do to help keep you in your home and save you a thick bundle of cash.

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17th July 201827th September 2021 by Bigger Homes

10 Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Home

Is it time you had more space? We list ten ways to tell if your home isn’t suiting your needs any more

1. There’s clutter at every turn

Does it seem like every surface of your home is taken up with stuff? Your desk, your dining table, your floors, your bed, all covered with various bits and bobs that you can’t get rid of but don’t seem to have any place for. If this sounds like your home, then it’s a big red flag that you need more space.

2. You’re constantly tidying up

In a similar vein, there’s always something that needs putting away, isn’t there? Whether it’s that sagging clothes horse, that jumble of shoes or those fancy wine glasses that don’t properly fit in the cupboard, it always seems like there’s something you need to find a space for yet again.

3. You work from bed / the sofa / the kitchen table

Ideally, if you work from home, you should have a dedicated space to do so. It’s better for your mind, health and wellbeing. If you’re constantly finding yourself working from the same space where you eat dinner, watch telly or — god forbid — sleep, then it may be time to admit to yourself that you need more space.

4.More kids than bedrooms

This is a classic. Whether you’ve got little ones sharing a bunkbed or boomeranging uni graduates who are looking to crash, if the kids outnumber the rooms they can sleep in then it’s time to have a serious think about your space.

5. Little personal space

Everyone needs peace and quiet every so often. Are you finding it hard to get yours? Do you find yourself longing for a quiet room where you can read, relax and enjoy a little you-time?n If so, then it’s time to make that room a reality.

6. You don’t want to entertain

This one can sneak up on you. It’s easy to make excuses to yourself for why you don’t want your friends and family to come round — oh it’s always stressful, we don’t want to cook, it’s nicer when we go out — but is the truth simply that you don’t feel your home is up to the task of entertaining your loved ones?

7. Glastonbury toilet queues

Morning bathroom arrangements can be fraught at the best of times. If you’re noticing a Glastonbury-style queue regularly forming outside your house’s one toilet, then you might need to think about easing that burden.

8. Stubbed toes

Ow. Ow, ow, ow. Whether it’s on chairs, the clothes horse, boxes or furniture, always finding yourself stubbing your toes is a surefire sign that you’ve got less space in your home than you need.

9. “Creative” storage

Laundry in the car. Shoes on the dishwasher. Plates in the airing cupboard. Do these kind of makeshift, improvised storage arrangements sound familiar?

10. You’re constantly dreaming of improvements

Following more than a few interior design accounts on Instagram? Constantly updating your Pinterest mood board with items from your dream home? Finding yourself saving Ikea furniture on your lunch break? It’s time to face facts — you need more space to make your home into what you always wanted.