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LOCKDOWN LESSONS WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT OUR HOMES
WE could never really have envisaged a time when we would be incarcerated in our own homes for weeks and weeks, could we?
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As the lockdown days turned into weeks and then months, our four walls became a safe haven or a prison – depending on the individual and sometimes on the day.
So, we had plenty of time to examine our homes in minute detail and decide just how we wanted to change our surroundings. What many of us did discover is that our homes were sometimes not fit for purpose. They were too big or too small, too dark, too cluttered and just not suitable for the way we lived our lives.
The result has been a rush to estate agents to move to something more suitable or a willingness to re-think the homes in which we live and, finally, do something about them. The great thing about this latter decision is that these kinds of home improvements can actually add to the value of your property.
One of the most popular changes people are already making to the outside is for a fresh coat of paint to WALLS and the FRONT DOOR. It might even be time for a new front door now that we’re actually able to leave the house.
If you’re brightening up the property generally inside, opt for neutral shades as this allows for future plans when you might want to sell your home. A prospective buyer is better able to imaging their own lifestyle if you go for neutrality in room furnishings.
While we’re looking at neutral colours, another simple way to update your home is by painting both the exterior and interior WINDOWSILLS. Nothing says old-fashioned like wooden or stone sills and painting them gives your home a fresh look.
The HALLWAY is another area that may have become an irritant during lockdown. If it’s dark and dingy, or just simply cluttered, now is definitely the time to open it up and appreciate its real proportions. New carpets or wooden flooring, mirrors and a fresh coat of paint can make it a very welcome entrance to your home once more.
SPACE is something we’ve definitely come to appreciate during those months indoors: space to home-school children, lay out jigsaws, bake or just enjoy your favourite craft hobby. So rather than complain, do something about it.
Could you build an EXTENSION, an ORANGERIE or add on a CONSERVATORY? Organisations like rated people allow you to post the job, get up to three quotes and see how other people rated individual builders.Go to www.ratedpeople.com/local/builders
Try to see work your selected builder or supplier has carried out locally and talk to their customers if you can. The online world now allows all areas of opinion to be aired so you can easily find out more about what customers thought about any tradesman’s skills and value. One thing is certain: it’s always best to go to the experts for major work at home.
Can you re-purpose specific rooms to suit your new approach to your lifestyle? Is the way you currently have your FURNITURE in particular rooms making the most of space there?
Sometimes, decluttering needs to start with furniture rather than possessions. If you have realised that your old sofa is actually uncomfortable after you’ve spent long hours watching Netflix, or your dining room table and chairs are just too bulky, consider a change if you can.
Side tables, large furniture and awkward cupboards could be replaced with streamlined, more modern items and built-in units that make the most of existing space to suit your daily lifestyle. The bonus for charity organisations like Emmaus and the British Heart Foundation is that they will often collect your unwanted items free in order to help fund their vital work.
Light has become particularly important in our homes during lockdown, especially on grey days. So, is this time for new, more modern and more efficient WINDOWS? Today’s market offers a multiplicity of styles and sizes which keep warmth in and cold out better than ever and – perhaps most importantly now – bring light into many new areas of your home.
Look at brightening up previously dark areas including landings or attics with roof windows like Velux. These help create rooms from unused part of the home and give an illusion of space in cramped areas.
Are you now WORKING from home? If so, you may have outgrown the kitchen table and long for a real office space. The key here is to create a separate office environment that makes a clear distinction between home and work.
Find the best place for your new office – a spare room or even rarely-used bedroom, for example, or just a small space you like. Ensuring you get the most natural daylight and fresh air possible here is a must.
You’ll need enough plug sockets for your laptop and phone, drawers and/or a desk and a really good office chair. It’s worth getting the best, most ergonomic chair you can afford as you’ll be sitting in it for long periods.
Many successful home workers now have a purpose-built “shed” or separate building in the garden – it doesn’t have to be huge. Pop into stores like IKEA for home office furnishing ideas that won’t cripple your budget.
And while we’re looking at your property’s outside, GARDENS have proved really important to people’s mental and physical welfare in recent months so take a fresh look at yours.
Even the smallest outdoor space can be used well: jet-wash a garden patio to make it look bigger and brighter. Fill a bare space with big tubs of plants or quirky containers of flowers. Find cheap seating to allow you to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
There has also been a huge upsurge in hot tub sales in the last months to make the most of outdoor living. If this - or even installing a
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swimming pool – appeals to you, go to the website of the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association (BISHTA) at bishta.co.uk for general advice and suppliers.
And enjoy your new post-lockdown home!
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At Bowerfi eld House we provide a friendly, homely atmosphere over two fl oors. Our highly experienced, qualifi ed care and specialist nursing staff offer an exceptional level of care. We are committed to maintaining high standards of both personal and emotional care providing activities to suit each individual’s abilities, striving to improve a better quality of life. The home provides: • Dementia Nursing Care • Respite Care Why not contact Bowerfi eld House to fi nd out more.
10th Feb 2020
for caring, responsive, effectiveness and well led.
Bowerfi eld House Care Home
1 Broadwood Close, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire SK12 2NJ
T: 01663 721465 E: bowerfi eld.house@mmcg.co.uk W: www.mmcgcarehomes.co.uk
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PD Groundworks & Resin are a family run business and a leading installer of outdoor drives, patios and pathways.
“We install the full range of outdoor surface works and are so confident with our work we will provide a 10 Year Guarantee as standard.” Said Paul, “Our team has over 20 years experience in undertaking high quality projects throughout the North West and we cover from Liverpool to Hull and from Nottingham to Newcastle. Our teams of four in each team are highly skilled and work efficiently to ensure you get maximum value for money.”
As a company, PD Groundworks specialise in Resinbound paving which in comes in a vast range of colours...... 45 in total, which is the largest choice of any Installer In the UK. “We even have the option to have a bespoke colour mixed for you! We use a mixture of Superior aggregate stones and resin to pave driveways, footpaths, patios, etc. The materials we use are permeable which allows water to pass through which avoids pools of water building. It is the perfect paving solution to give your home the ultimate WOW finish. All our work is done to standards recognised by UK Building control organisations, insurers, local authorities and the construction Industry associations,” said Danny.
When it comes to the ultimate hard wearing driveway - resin is the perfect flexible surfacing material, it is resistant to cracking in all temperatures. Resin-bound paving is a fully permeable paving solution which allows water to freely drain through the surface. Their work meets the requirements of the Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) standards, this helps to prevent standing water and largely eliminates surface water to pool. “Our specialist experienced surveyors will discuss all aspects of the project from the outset before passing over to the project team leaders. We take great care to understand your requirements, listen to your concerns and only then will we provide an accurate cost that suits your budget” said Tony.
As a company - PD Groundworks are very proud of the excellent customer reviews they receive regularly from very happy customers;
“Excellent workmanship excellent service wish I had more work for Dan to do such a happy chap.” Steve Feather
“We cannot recommend PD Groundworks enough. From the very beginning when talking to Joanne on the phone, Tony who measured and priced up through to the completion of the job everything ran like clockwork. The workmen were extremely conscientious in their work and organised.” Jan Tuff
Their natural aggregates are also environmentally friendly and a full design, measurement and consultancy service is provided from start to finish.
STEVE HOWARTH'S TEST DRIVE
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 8
THE word icon is used an awful lot these days and very often with little or no justification - but in this case I think it is well deserved.
The VW Golf changed the car market forever when it was first introduced in the mid-1970s replacing the venerable rear engine, air cooled Beetle.
Front wheel drive and with a hatchback the Golf was ground-breaking and went straight to the top of the sales charts for family cars.
It has remained the benchmark motor for hatchbacks for 46 years, constantly upgraded and developed until we get to 2020 and the Golf 8, our latest test car.
Still good value at £23,900 our entry level Golf Life 1.5 TSi 130ps 6-speed manual came with a couple of extras including one I could certainly live without… a dazzling Lime Yellow metallic paint job (£625) and one I would say was worth the extra cash – a great sat nav/infotainment system on the 10” central touchscreen (£1,600).
For the eighth generation a lot of dashboard switches are replaced by that central touchscreen system, which is linked to a digital dashboard similar to VW’s Audi stablemates that can change at the flick of a switch to various different displays. You can switch between the more important menus via small shortcut ‘buttons’ underneath the screen and the setup is fairly easy to navigate – although it did take me a while to turn the AC fan down. The digital instruments are clear and provide useful additional warning and prompts without overloading the driver.
Another plus is adaptive cruise control and wireless phone connectivity and charging which are both standard fit, even at the lower trim level of our test car.
Other standard features include: keyless start, heated door mirrors with puddle lights plus exterior door handle lighting, electronic parking brake with hill hold, all round parking sensors and rear camera, auto lights and wipers, stop-start fuel saving technology and a whole raft of the safety features we have come to expect from VW.
Another clever trick the Golf can perform is shutting down two of its 4 cylinders when not required to give great mpg figures – up to 61.5. It is amazing just how seamless this is – in the old days you knew when your car was not firing on all cylinders but the only sign here is a message on that digital dashboard.
On a 250-mile round trip to a new car launch in Warwickshire I actually managed to better VW’s claimed mpg with the car showing an overall figure for the journey of around 66 which, from a 129bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged, non-hybrid petrol hatchback is impressive.
Possible VW’s aerodynamic body style revisions for the 8 contribute to this achievement. The car’s still recognisably a Golf from the side but at the back and front things are more cutting edge.
Engine wise petrol options range from a 108bhp 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder turbo, though several 1.5-litre TSI four-cylinder turbos and 2.0-litre TDI diesels with 113 and 148bhp. VW has added 48-volt mildhybrid technology although for now only on the higher spec 148bhp eTSi. VW say a 241bhp Golf GTE along with GTi, GTD and R models are to follow.
So will this latest Golf reclaim the top dog slot for VW in both UK and global sales? Well despite all the new stuff it sticks to what has always been the reason so many people drive a Golf – it does everything well in an understated way and should be a very easy car to live with.
For more details see ww.vw.co.uk
Kia has come a long way in the UK in just a few decades, and none of their models show this more that the popular Kia Niro Self-Charging Hybrid. At a recent Kia driving day, where all Kia UK models were on show, I was able to drive the latest Kia Niro Self-Charging Hybrid, which had a 1.6ltr petrol engine and electric motor to give mpg figures of over 60, with impressively low emissions. This means the Kia Niro Self-Charging Hybrid is a great choice for those looking to get the most from their motoring at the least cost, both to the pocket and planet. You would not know the car is a hybrid vehicle at first, as it handles just like a normal crossover/small SUV with the electric motor, seamlessly, cutting in and out. Performance is good with 0 to 60mph taking 11.1 seconds and a top speed of 101mph, thanks to 139bhp being on tap. The car decides on power delivery as circumstances dictate – there is no mode switch as in other cars – so it can cruise along in electric only until you put your foot down or at low speeds around town. The recent facelift has seen a few external changes, with different bumpers and a revised grille, plus re-designed headlights and tail lights. What hasn’t changed is the impressive range of specifications as standard. The latest Kia Niro Self-Charging Hybrid range starts from a ‘2’ spec, and includes 16-inch alloy wheels, black part cloth and leather upholstery, 8.0-inch infotainment screen (though no satellite navigation), reversing camera, rear parking sensors and a wireless phone charger, which works with certain phone models. Upgrade to the Kia Niro ‘3’ spec, which was the one I test drove, and you get 18- inch alloy wheels, LED front fog lights, full leather upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats and heated steering wheel, 10.25 inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and front parking sensors.
The Kia Niro ‘4’ spec features all that of the ‘3’ spec, but adds a sliding power sunroof, LED headlights, heated passenger seats and ventilated front seats.
KIA NIRO HYBRID
On the twisty Yorkshire B roads, and bypasses, the car proved pleasant and easy to drive; and at £27,100 for the Kia Niro ‘3’ spec, is certainly good value.
Also impressive is the Kia 7 year / 100,000 miles warranty, which means peace of mind for those looking for long-term ownership.
Kia already knows their Kia Niro is a winner as the all-electric version – the Kia e-Niro - is currently the Northern Car
Journalist’s Car of the Year. Members of the Northern Group of Motoring Writers (including yours truly) voted the compact crossover as its top car for 2019-20, beating strong competition. They judged the Kia e-Niro to be a truly practical electric vehicle, with a real world fully charged range of between 250 and 300 miles and excellent performance from its 201bhp electric motor.
Members also felt it was a more practical family car, compared to electric vehicles from other manufacturers as it can charge up to 80 per cent on a normal domestic UK socket in less than 10 hours, with a rapid charger possibly lowering charge time to less than one hour.
So, it is not hard to see why there are now so many Kia vehicles on our roads as the brand continues to deliver vehicles like the Kia Niro range, which are cutting edge, good value both to buy and own and easy to live with.
By Motoring Editor Steve Howarth
For more information see www.kia.co.uk/bolton.
FOR ALL THE LATEST CAR TESTS GO TO: www.50plusmagazine.co.uk/motors
A SECURE FUTURE WITH EQUITY RELEASE?
THESE days we have to look at a variety of ways to raise cash and ensure that our future will be secure and one popular way for anyone over 55 to do just that is via equity release, which offers the chance to access the cash – the equity – tied up in your home. It can be as a lump sum or in several small amounts, or a combination of both.
There are two equity release options: lifetime mortgage and home reversion.
The Money Advice Service explains that a LIFETIME MORTGAGE means that you take out a mortgage secured on your property, provided it is your main residence, while retaining ownership.
You can choose to ring-fence some of the value of your property as an inheritance for your family or you can choose to make repayments or let the interest roll-up. The loan amount and any accrued interest is paid back when you die or when you move into long-term care. Most people who take out equity release use a lifetime mortgage. Usually you don’t have to make any repayments while you’re alive and interest “rolls up” (unpaid interest is added to the loan), meaning the debt can increase quite quickly over a period of time. However, some lifetime mortgages do now offer the option to pay all or some of the interest. Some will let you pay off the interest and the capital.
In the same way ordinary mortgages vary from lender to lender, so do lifetime mortgages, and if you’re looking at this option it’s worth knowing that the minimum age for this is usually 55. As we’re now all living longer, the earlier you start the more this is likely to cost in the long run.
The average borrower in their late 60s can usually borrow around 35% of the value of their home, but how much can be released is dependent on your age and the value of your property. The percentage typically increases according to your age when you take out the lifetime mortgage, while some providers might offer larger sums to those with certain past or present medical conditions. Many lenders offer interest rates which are fixed or, if they are variable, have a “cap” or upper limit which is fixed for the loan’s duration.
Check whether the product has a “no negative equity guarantee” This means that, when your property is sold and agents’ and solicitors’ fees have been paid, even if the amount left is not enough to repay the outstanding loan to your provider neither you nor your estate will be liable to pay any more.
Consider whether you can pay none, some or all of the interest. If you can make repayments, the mortgage will be less costly. However, with a lifetime mortgage where you can make monthly payments, the amount you can repay might be based on your income. Providers will have to check you can afford these regular payments.
Look at whether you can withdraw the equity you’re releasing in small amounts, as and when you need it, or whether you have to take it as one lump sum. The advantage of being able to take money out in smaller amounts is you only pay the interest on the amount you’ve withdrawn. If you can take smaller lump sums, check if there is a minimum amount.
It’s also worth finding out if you have the right to move to another property, subject to the new property being acceptable to your product provider as continuing security for your equity release loan, as different lifetime mortgage providers might have slightly different thresholds.
A HOME REVERSION involves you selling part or all of your home to a home reversion provider in return for a lump sum or regular payments. You have the right to continue living in the property until you die, rent-free, but you have to agree to maintain and insure it.
You can ring-fence a percentage of your property for later use, possibly for inheritance - the percentage you retain will always remain the same, regardless of the change in property values, unless you decide to take further cash releases. At the end of the plan, your property is sold and the sale proceeds are shared according to the remaining proportions of ownership. You will get a lump sum or regular payments – normally between 20 per cent and 60 per cent of the market value of your home, or the part you sell.
With home reversions, it’s worth checking whether or not you can release equity in several payments or in one lump sum and the minimum age at which you can take out a home reversion plan. Some providers insist you’re at least 60 or 65 before you can apply.
Keep in mind the percentage of the market value you will receive. This will increase the older you are when you take out the plan but might vary from provider to provider. Also check whether you have the right to remain in your property for life or until you need to move to long-term care, provided the property remains your main residence and you abide by the terms and conditions of your contract.
Again, check whether you have the right to move to another property, subject to the new property being acceptable to your product provider as continuing security for your equity release loan and whether the product has a “no negative equity guarantee”. You will also need to know what level of maintenance you’ll be expected to carry out and how often your property will be inspected – this could be every few years.
Overall, equity release might seem like a good option if you want some extra money and don’t want to move house, but it’s worth bearing in mind that equity release can be more expensive in comparison to an ordinary mortgage. It’s also worth considering any additional changes taking out equity release could make to existing arrangements, with the potential to lose means-tested benefits being key among them. It’s also worth considering involving your family throughout the process, as any equity taken out of the home will impact their inheritance later down the line.
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Speak to one of our advisors for your free, no obligation quotation and to find out how much tax-free cash you can access to spend as you wish. They will explain how equity release could affect the amount of inheritance you can leave and if your entitlement to means-tested benefits could be affected now or in the future.
Equity release may involve a home reversion plan or a lifetime mortgage which is secured against your pr operty. To understand the features and risks ask for your personalised illustration. Equity release requires paying off any existing mortgage. Any money released, plus accrued interest, would be repaid upon death or moving into long-term care. Only if your case completes would a typical fee of 2.25% of the amount released be payable (minimum £1,695). 1 You only continue to own your own home with a lifetime mortgage. 2018 - Q1 2020. *UK’s No1, based on volume of plans, source: Touchstone data
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IDD THERAPY; A NEW INNOVATION IN THE TREATMENT OF BACK PAIN
For the first time since 2012, company director Andrew Stubbs is enjoying a life free from crushing daily headaches. He achieved this by undergoing a new treatment called IDD Therapy. This is a new targeted treatment which relieves pressure on specific spinal discs and gently restores mobility.
Treatments like osteopathy, physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture and visits to a chiropractor had not succeeded in addressing that Andrew’s issue which traces back to a traumatic injury after a heavy-duty gardening session in 2012
“I had been doing a lot of work, clearing trees and sawing up logs by hand,” he says. “At first, I thought I had cricked my neck, but then it turned into headaches – and it’s been much worse for the past three or four years.
“The headaches were really debilitating – sometimes it felt like my head was going to burst. It seemed to be worse in the evenings, when I got home from work. It was making me really irritable.”
A series of tests, including X-rays, a CT scan and finally an MRI scan diagnosed two protruding discs in his neck at C3-C4 and C5-C6
Andrew had been taking anti-inflammatory and analgesics to help relief the pain for several years: “It did help with the pain, but you aren’t supposed to stay on it for very long. My doctor said maybe it was time to go to a specialist and look at surgery.”
Fortunately, around this time, his wife Emma had been researching possible alternatives on the internet and discovered IDD - Intervertebral Differential Dynamics – therapy offered at the Buxton Osteopathy Clinic.
Offering an alternative to surgery, IDD works by applying computer-controlled forces at precise angles to draw targeted spinal segments apart, relieving pressure on discs and trapped nerves and easing muscles and ligaments.
The doctor hadn’t heard of it and Andrew was sceptical. However, IDD Therapy is well supported by clinical evidence and anecdotally by the many patients who benefitted from the process using the network of 40 clinics nationwide. AVIVA healthcare, one of the UK’s major health Keen to avoid an operation, Andrew decided it was worth trying and made an appointment with Phil Heler at Buxton Osteopathy Clinic.
“After the first treatment I didn’t feel it had made any difference, so I was still sceptical,” says Andrew. “But I went back for the second treatment and the next day I didn’t have a headache – for the first time in a long, long time.
“Although it did come back, I went for the third treatment and I haven’t had a headache since.”
Andrew travelled to Buxton from his Swadlincote home, a distance of 50 miles one-way to complete a series of 10 treatments over 5 weeks. Despite this he says it was well worth the drive: “I feel like a new man. I would definitely recommend IDD – it has made a massive difference.”
The clinic is the only centre in Derbyshire to offer the therapy and has been providing effective relief for several years: “It’s very rewarding to be able to help people who are in serious difficulty,” says Phil.
“IDD won’t cure every back problem, but where appropriate it can be very effective. It really is a genuine, non-invasive alternative to surgery - avoiding the risk of postoperative infections and bleeding.”
