Pest Cover - A new incentive for home insurance companies?

Alongside the recession, the insurance sector continues to hit the headlines as more of us start cancelling our policies in order to cut back on monthly spend, and insurance companies compete to entice us back. At the end of 2008 it seemed that many were offering online comparison services, whilst earlier this year a new trend among car insurance companies emerged as many of the biggest names began offering cash back after customers had taken out policies.

Whether this has worked for the companies in question remains to be seen, but the offers were certainly subject to some criticism from newspapers and commentators who claimed they might mislead prospective customers. However, as we move into spring new opportunities for insurance companies to set themselves apart from their peers are certainly on the horizon.

According to an article in The Independent (March 29th), reported problems of pest infestations are on the increase in the UK, with rodents proving to be a big issue for homeowners. Rats, mice and even moles are increasing in numbers and are not only an annoyance due to the diseases they carry (such as salmonella via parasites and faeces) but also because of the damage they can and do cause. “Their main destructive power is in their teeth,” The Independent states, “mice and rats must wear down their ever-growing incisors, and this need to gnaw drives them to chew through anything – electrical wires, plastic pipes and more.”

But it is not just furry critters who are causing homeowners and home insurance companies to consider pest control prices. Insects and bugs are also responsible for damage to home interiors. The menacingly named “Carpet Beetle” (which is carried by birds, transported to their nests and commonly gets into homes through our lofts) is not only fond of carpets and rugs, but will devour other furnishings such as curtains and sofas.

Subsequently, this increasing problem is influencing some insurance companies to offer pest control cover as an addition to house cover, and even as a standalone policy in its own right. Therefore, akin to the comparison sites and cash back trends that are still on-going, I wonder if the home insurance sector might see this increase in pest infestations as a method to make their offers more appealing – particularly as private exterminators are popular and, according to The Guardian, often in too great demand.

How to shop for a handmade leather sofa

I was tired of Ikea. Wherever you go, you will find the same handfull of designs. And they all have funny names. I wasn't looking for a Jörg or Kävlavik, I was looking for a handmade leather sofa that fitted exactly where it was suppose to fit. And guess what? It wasn't more expensive than a top-of-the-range model from Ikea. I also didn't have to drive two hours to pick it up because mine got delivered. If you are also tired of Ikea, here are two solutions: Buy a used leather sofa (that's NOT from Ikea) from Ebay - Or buy a new one from Sofaworkshop.com. There are a lot of free classifieds for sofas, check it out.

Cash in the Attic - Confused.com’s Guide to Loft Conversions

A guide to loft conversions. Here are some tips of what to do if thinking about converting your loft.


Add space and value to your property with a loft conversion

It might be an understatement to proclaim the property market’s in a bit of a pickle at the moment, but there is a positive behind the doom and gloom – it has never been easier, or cheaper, to renovate your home.

Now might well be the time to convert that forgotten space, which is currently being held hostage by bags and boxes of family keepsakes - the loft....you’ll add space and value to your property in no time.

Why you should improve - not move

With the current economic climate as tumultuous as it is, a loft conversion makes sense. If you’re going to have to stay put, you might as well look for ways to improve your property and create more space for you and the family.

It’s relatively cost-effective too. The VAT rate is down, there are builders desperate for work and new planning laws introduced in 2008 mean that certain loft conversions no longer need to be approved by the council, which saves you further red tape, time and expense.

So what are the new rules?

When it comes to the new planning laws, there are still some complex rules. But in general, as far as loft conversions go, there’s no need to apply for planning permission if alterations don’t affect the appearance of a house from the street.

3 key points to consider are:

1. Loft conversions don’t need planning permission as long as the volume added to the house is less than 50 cubic metres for a detached house, or 40 cubic metres for a terrace house.
   
   
2. On the side of the house facing the street, only skylights lying flat on the roof are allowed.
   
   
3. At the back, a dormer (an extension with a window at the front) will be allowed, as long as it’s no higher than the existing roof and is set back at least 20cm from the eaves.

Any works beyond these three points will probably need planning permission, so play it safe and make sure you’re not infringing any laws before you book the builders.

More information on loft conversions can be found at www.planningportal.gov.uk. And again, before booking the builders, make sure you read Got the Builders In? Make Sure you Don’t Invalidate your Home Insurance.

Be practical

Unlike the heady days before the property slump, when gold-plated finishes and designer-laden rooms were the name of the game, these penny-pinching times mean you’ve got to think practically.

An extra bedroom or office space are popular options. Get it right and you’ll add a lot of value to your home at the same time. Furnishing the new room-cum-loft shouldn’t take too much out of your savings either.

Ask lots of questions

Before you do anything, arm yourself with a torch and tape measure and get up into the loft to see what kind of space you’re dealing with.

Ask yourself lots of questions such as how sound-proof is the room, is there enough light, how do the proportions of the loft work, where will electrical points go, do you have a party wall agreement with your neighbours? This will save time and money in the long run.

Cover yourself

Even in its simplest form, a loft conversion can prove an immense under-taking, so check first to see if your home insurance will cover all eventualities.

And although it works out cheaper to carry out conversions these days, don’t get carried away. It’s possible to have too much space and the end result could mean a house that’s top heavy with too many bedrooms for the amount of living rooms beneath.

Finally, it’s important to know that once you’ve added size and value to the property, you’ll probably need to upgrade your home insurance to cover the new rebuild cost and any contents contained within the extension. For an idea of what this figure is for the newly extended property, read How to Find the Rebuild Cost of your home.

Original Source [Confused.com Guide to Loft Conversions]

Messy Neighbours Affect House Value

About 40% of people claim that the poor state of homes in their neighbourhood drives down the value of their own property, according to a new report.

Research by insurance firm LV= found that common problems included broken windows, old furniture dumped outside and overgrown gardens.

Of the 2,000 adults surveyed, one in three said their homes had been "damaged" by issues emanating from an adjacent home, such as flooding, damp, pest infestations or broken fences - leading to disputes over whose home insurance would be liable for the costs.

The insurer also said that loud music from a nearby house could knock thousands of pounds off the value of a property.

Managing director John O'Roarke said: "This research shows that the financial price of living nearby an untidy neighbour could have dire consequences, not only on your lifestyle but also on a home's value and maintenance costs.

"Our research also found that unkempt properties have caused 7% of homeowners to fall out with their neighbours, so ensuring good neighbourly relations is always sensible - that way unpleasant situations can often be prevented."

Easter 2009 - DIY Explosion Predicted

The Easter weekend is often a time for spring cleaning and getting round to the odd DIY jobs that have been ignored through the winter. This year, with more of us eager to save money, it seems that we could be set to see something of a DIY boom this April – as we plan to stick around in our current homes instead of moving, and decide to take on jobs ourselves over hiring a professional.

This has been reiterated by two surveys from M&S Money and Halifax respectively. In an article at aboutproperty.co.uk, they highlight that 64 percent of people are likely to attempt DIY this year, instead of paying the extra cost for a tradesman. Despite this recession-influenced confidence, Halifax found that almost half of the people they asked (43 percent) admitted that they weren’t as sufficient with odd jobs around the home as their parents. “Fitting a new kitchen or bathroom, and tiling, were the jobs most people were most reluctant to do.”

Such attitudes regarding our parent’s generation are justified. The concept of DIY was really kick-started during the 60s and 70s – amidst the well-documented trend of social liberation and independence. Philosophers, thinkers, and writers such as Alan Watts and Stewart Brand who were dissatisfied with the impractical nature of the education system and the increasing dependence on consumables and “professionals” championed the financial, physical, and mental worth of taking practical jobs into our own hands.

Although the notion of DIY has always been there since (and even permeated into other aspects of culture such as music and mail-order business), it seems we are still to see a rebirth of some description, leading a similar wave of DIY promotion in the British press as seen in the 60s from Watts and Brand.

The Telegraph is one such publication that is eager to highlight the fiscal savings made from Doing it Yourself – and they add some intriguing advice in order to save even more. They advise to search around before buying tools, and to make note of Easter deals and offers likely to be given by superstores such as B & Q and Homebase – these will be advertised on their websites.

Aside from promoting DIY outright, the one thing that seems to be connecting the online and offline press, and the banks, is the essential need to confirm what is covered by your home insurance – and some point out the tasks such as wiring and plumbing may invalidate insurance policies. Additional accidental damage cover may need to be considered – just to be on the safe side.