Right Estate Agents Cuffley and Goffs Oak

There’s so much to think about when you’re moving home.
We, at Right Estate Agents have brought together a list of people you must inform of your new address to ensure you have alerted everyone who needs to know!




1. Utilities
You can take your old provider with you when you move, or you can use this as an opportunity to change suppliers and reduce your bills. Whatever you decide to do, contact your supplier at least 48 hours before your move.

2. Water Suppliers
You need to find out who supplies water and sewerage to your current home, settle the bill and determine who your new water provide will be. It’s just a matter of information; unlike gas and electricity, you have no say over who your water supplier is.

3. The Post Office
Remember to get your post re-directed to your new address. You can do this by downloading a form from the Post Office website. Do this in advance, as it can take up to 10 days to set up. There is a charge for re-directing your post.

4. The Bank
Let your bank know your change of address and think about transferring your account to a branch closer to your new home. And don’t forget any items that are held by your bank for safe-keeping. Think about other companies that you may have standing orders or credit cards with, as you will need to tell them too.

5. Providers
For your landline and broadband, contact your suppliers and let them know your moving date. Moving home is also your chance to compare quotes for both TV and broadband to find a better deal. Don’t forget to let your mobile phone provider know your change of address too.

6. Electoral Register
The Electoral Register is updated every month and you need to be included on it to vote. A form is available from the Electoral Commission’s About my vote website. You can complete the form online, or download and send it to the Electoral Registration Office which is based at your local council.

7. Home insurers
In addition to notifying your buildings and contents insurance company that you’re moving, check that your current policy covers your possessions during the move.  Find out if your change of address means a change in premium and make sure you have adequate buildings cover on your new home.

8. Car insurance provider
Notify your car insurance company of your change of address. Your premium is likely to change with your new postcode and if there is any change to your parking arrangements. You may also be charged for updating your existing policy so it’s worth shopping around for a cheaper quote before you commit to staying with your current car insurer.

9. DVLA
You need to update your driving licence and your Vehicle Registration Document. Failure to inform the DVLA with your change of address within a reasonable period of time can result in a £1,000 fine so make sure you don’t leave it until the last minute!

10. Friends and Family
Finally, don’t forget those people closest to you! There’s no need to buy expensive “change of address” cards. Most people have access to the Internet so send an email, or you can find a good range of “change of address” e-cards online.

If you would like some assistance to sell or let your property, please contact Right Estate Agents on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website.

The best thing about the walls in your home is that they can completely transform your space and style in a quick and easy way. Using paint or wallpaper, you can easily spice up a boring room just by changing up the colours and textures.




There are many different pros and cons when it comes to deciding whether to decorate your walls using paint or wallpaper, including the price, the level of difficulty and the versatility. So check out Right Estate Agents guide below before making your decision:

Kids and Pets
Believe it or not, this may be the best place to start when deciding between the two, as both can cause damage in a home and ultimately end up leaving marks on your walls. Many young children like to demonstrate their more artistic side by drawing on newly decorated walls, and muddy pets can often fall asleep against them leaving a dirty dog-shaped mark.
Paint is not very easy to clean once it is on your walls – you can of course re-paint over any marks and dirt, but that can be a bit of an effort to do regularly. If you want wallpaper, then it is best to choose a vinyl material, as it does not damage as easily as other materials and is also easier to clean.

Preparation
You need to take into account how long it will take to decorate using either paint or wallpaper, although starting from scratch on a bare wall means they may take around the same amount of time.
If you are going to be using wallpaper, you need to make sure the walls are completely clean, flat and undamaged before you start. When it comes to redecorating, wallpaper can be quite hard to get off as well, so this is something to consider. Paint usually takes a couple of coats and simply requires a level of primer underneath, and it also tends to be very easy to cover up.

Choice
If you are incredibly arty, then you can create whatever designs you want on your walls using paint, but for the majority of us any swirls and intricate detail can only be added with the use of wallpaper.
Paint comes in a huge selection of colours and finishes, but wallpaper can create a range of different surface and texture too. It comes down to a matter of preference, but if you are looking for a large stylish print, then you will almost certainly need to use pre-designed wallpaper.

Costs
Both wallpaper and paint come in a large range of prices, but in general wallpaper costs more. Paint requires very few supplies, whereas wallpaper will usually require the rolls, the paste to stick it to the walls with, and a table to prepare it on.
Many people will also hire a specialist to put wallpaper up as it can be quite tricky to do on your own, but if this is not the case then you could easily save some money by doing it yourself.

The Big Decision
Deciding between wallpaper and paint is really a decision that needs to be made based on a range of factors including those above. The great thing about walls is that they provide you with a great decorating canvas and are easily changed and customisable.
Whether you choose to go with the easy option of paint, or the more customisable option of wallpaper, both are sure to give your room a splash of colour and transform your interior design. If you fancy a bit of both, then there is always the option of paintable wallpaper – this provides you with a way to create a painted but textured effect and have the best of both worlds.

If you would like some assistance to sell or let your property, please contact Right Estate Agents on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website.

The bathroom can be one of the most expensive rooms to renovate in a property, but it is also one of the rooms that yield the greatest return on investment. You may consider renovating your bathroom for a number of reasons, maybe you want to sell your home and realise you will get a better price if you renovate your bathroom, or you may want to buy a home but the bathroom is outdated and tired looking.


Renovating your bathroom doesn’t have to cost a fortune, in this article Right Estate Agents will provide you with a number of tips that will help you to renovate your bathroom on a tight budget.

Refurbish bathroom cabinets rather than replace them 
If your current bathroom cabinets are damaged or looking tired, sand the wood down and then stain it. Alternatively you could sand the cabinet and repaint it a colour that matches the rest of the bathroom. White is usually the best colour choice for a bathroom cabinet, but if you want to create a quirky look, go ahead and use a bolder colour. Before painting or staining your cabinets, make sure you fix any dents or broken parts. Dents can often be fixed by the simple use of wood putty, which is then painted over.

Use paint rather than wall tiles
If your walls are looking tired and your budget can’t stretch to wall tiles, don’t panic, you can make a huge difference to the appearance of your bathroom by painting the walls. It’s surprising how much a fresh coat of paint transforms a bathroom. If your walls are wallpapered, use a steamer to remove the wallpaper, these aren’t too expensive to buy, or can be rented for a small charge. Before painting the wall, be sure to remove all lumpy and dirty areas by lightly sanding over them and then giving them a quick clean. Painting your walls can turn the most expensive part of a bathroom renovation, into the cheapest.

Compliment your existing bathroom with new accessories 
It’s surprising how much of a difference new accessories can make to the look and feel of a bathroom. Replace your curtains, rugs, and shower curtains with fresh alternatives. This doesn’t have to be expensive, you can purchase the accessories separately, make sure they match though. Adding art work or pictures to the walls can make a difference (but be careful not to overdo it). New accessories can give your bathroom a new look even if you don’t replace or refurbish the walls, cabinet or flooring.

Fix your floor tiles or replace them with antislip alternatives
Tired looking, broken or cracked tiles can really affect the look of a bathroom. It is one of the first things that people notice about a bathroom and it says a great deal about the overall maintenance of a home. If your tiles are in a fixable state, fix them and you will be amazed by the difference it makes to your bathroom. If the floor tiles are too damaged to fix, it’s definitely worth replacing them, there are some fantastic flooring tiles available for bathrooms at the moment.

The antislip tile range from Direct Tile Warehouse  is a prime example of how cost effective flooring can be aesthetic yet practical. Moroccan floor tiles are another popular choice of flooring for bathrooms and have become synonymous with contemporary bathroom decor. Tiling a bathroom floor is a complex task and not something that should be rushed, so it’s important to have patience and place extra emphasis on accuracy.

Replace lighting fixtures
Lighting fixtures are an integral part of a bathrooms appearance and usability. Old lighting fixtures can really get a bathroom down at times. Consider replacing your tired lighting with new lighting fixtures, this is a quick fix that can make a considerable difference. Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient alternatives, it may not save you a huge amount initially, but in the long run it will be worth it. It’s recommended that you shop for lighting fixtures in person, as bathroom light fixtures can look a lot different in a picture.

If you would like some assistance to sell or let your property, please contact Right Estate Agents on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website.

At Right Estate Agents, we all know that being a landlord these days is no easy job. Actually it can be a very stressful job, especially if your new tenants are always complaining about something, always demanding to fix things or to provide them with new stuff. All of this will not only drive you crazy but will also empty your bank account.


Even though moments like these can be frustrating, the most important thing is to stay calm because here we will provide you with several frugal ways to make your tenants very happy.

• Creating your strategy

Before even thinking of letting someone in your property, you should think about what you expect from those people and what can you really offer them. That way you can be honest with them from the start, avoiding any future problems and confrontations. When presenting your conditions to the candidates try to be honest, friendly but most of all, try to make them understand the landlord's point of view. Also, it might be a good idea to try and create flexible leasing with more favourable terms for your tenants to encourage them to stay for long.

• Search for permanent tenants

The whole idea of trying to switch tenants is very annoying not only for you but for your tenants as well. Just think about the fortune you will spend fixing stuff, cleaning, not to mention the tedious process of finding and interviewing new people and preparing the new lease. So why not just try to keep your current tenants happy enough to stay? Just think about all the money and time you will save doing something for yourself?

• Maintain your property

The real estate market changes every day but one thing stays the same – it is always expensive to maintain your property. When you have tenants the responsibility of keeping your house in good shape still remains mostly yours. It is important to try and preserve your property well-maintained by fixing every issue as quickly as possible. The longer you wait, the more difficult and probably expensive will be to repair the items. If there`s a problem with the plumbing or the electricity and you can`t deal with it on time, then try to compensate your tenants somehow for the inconvenience.

Cleaning is another essential part of the maintenance of your real estate property. Once you let your tenants in, that will mostly be their responsibility but sometimes you might have to do it. Some property owners prefer to hire professional help but that is completely unnecessary, considering that you can do it yourself and it will cost you nothing. Some items, however, might be a little tricky to clean and you might prefer to hire Clean Carpet London. If you have a leather sofa, for example, you should use a saddle soap or leather drew and a slightly damp piece of fabric to achieve maximum effect.

• Cheap home improvements

If want to do a complete transformation of your property before letting the tenants in, there are some frugal ways you can do it. The repainting of the inside or the outside of your house is probably the most low-cost home renovation you can do. The installation of a new kitchen or bathroom units is another way to go. For the kitchen a couple of worktops can really transform the place. With a little vinyl wrap your kitchen cabinets will become like new and it will cost you a lot less than buying new ones.

There are many ways to make your tenants happy but the most important one is for you to be happy first. As a landlord you have the responsibility to create the best possible conditions for other people to live in and you have to treat them like they are a priority in your life. And most of all, try to communicate with your tenants everyday so that they know you really care.

If you would like some assistance to sell or let your property, please contact Right Estate Agents on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website.