Budget friendly garden ideas

As summer approaches and the weather starts to get warmer, we can’t wait to get outside and spend more time in the garden, can you?

Whether you’re planning a big family BBQ or just looking for somewhere to relax in the sunshine, here are some of our favourite budget friendly garden ideas to transform your outdoor space, without breaking the bank!

• Garden furniture can be expensive and if you can’t afford to invest why not turn your hand to a bit of DIY? You can easily create a garden bench or outdoor seating area using cheap decking or recycled palettes and, because it’s homemade, you can make it fit to whatever space you have available. Just don’t forget to sand it down first!  
• Rather than spending a fortune on plants, be resourceful and ask family and friends for cuttings. If you’ve got thriving plants of your own you could even trade!
• Make your own stepping stones using old bricks, recycled wood or pebbles. Not only will this protect your grass, it also adds some style to your garden.
• Use old jam jars and tea lights to make DIY lamps for your garden, so you can enjoy the space even after the sun goes down.
• Invest in the future and plant bulbs and seeds rather than buying mature plants. It's not too late to plant Marigolds, Candytuft, Godetia or Larkspur for a show of flowers later this summer.
• Even better, if you fill your garden with perennials (plants that return year on year) you won’t have to keep planting. Try Allium, Coneflower or Kangaroo Paw for a colourful mix.
• If you can’t wait, save some money on planters and use an eclectic mix of old clay pots. Paint them in a variety of bright colours and fill with cheap and cheerful plants. Or, add colour all year round and paint your fence instead!
• Upcycle an old set of ladders to use as a flower plant or herb planter, or use the steps as storage for potted plants and gardening accessories. You’ll save space and it looks great!
• Hanging baskets look great, no matter how big or small your garden is, but don’t restrict yourself. Why not use an old watering can or bucket instead? Just make sure you secure it properly.

Remember, maintenance is key to keeping your garden in tip top condition, if you need some advice on how to look after your new garden, take a look at the useful information section on our website here.

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How to buy: Part Exchange

Here’s the latest instalment in our How to Buy blog, where we look at the different options available when you buy new with St. Modwen Homes. This month, we’re talking about Part Exchange and taking the stress out of buying.

If you’ve found your dream home but are struggling to find a buyer for your existing property, our Part Exchange scheme could make all the difference.

With Part Exchange there’s:

-       No hassle

-       No estate agent fees

-       No risk of broken chains

-       But most importantly… a guaranteed buyer so you don’t need to worry about finding one

So how does it work?
First of all, you need to be pre-qualified (if you’re not sure what that means you can read our previous How to Buy blog to find out more) and you need to make sure your new home offers Part Exchange – not all of our new homes are available under the scheme, only selected plots.

You then need to speak to a member of our Sales Team, who will talk you through the process and ask a couple of questions about your existing property, for example location and approximate value, to make sure you qualify.

At this point, we arrange the valuation of your property, we get two independent valuations, from trusted local estate agents, so we can agree a fair price and you don’t lose out by using Part Exchange.

By selling your existing property to us, rather than putting it on the market, the sales process becomes a lot less stressful. There are no delays and no risk of the sale falling through so you can move in as soon as you’re ready.

Not only is it hassle-free but by using Part Exchange you won’t pay any estate agent fees, leaving you with more money to spend on making your new house a home (check out our interior design blogs if you need some inspiration).


If you want to know more, or to see if you qualify for Part Exchange, get in touch with our Sales Team, who are always on hand and happy to help. 

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A star studded service

Fantastic news! We have recently been accredited with a four star rating from the House Builders Federation (HBF) customer service survey.

During the period between 1^st October 2014 and 30^th September 2015 an independent customer satisfaction form was given to every purchaser of one of our properties. The results reveal that over 85% of our purchasers would recommend us to a friend, as well as being highly satisfied with the quality of their new home.

The results of the survey, operated by the National House Building Council (NHBC), is completely independent of any builder group or developer so you are safe in the knowledge that the information is from real-life home buyers and not edited in any way.

We’re really pleased to have achieved a four star rating in the first year of participating in the survey. Even better, we’re well on our way to achieving five stars in the next 12 months.

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How to buy: Jargon-busting

As part of our How to Buy series, we’re back jargon-busting those words and phrases that are commonly used throughout the home buying process so you can understand what everyone is talking about. If you haven’t already, take a look at the first part of this blog here.

Appraisal

This is the process to determine the value of your home, either your existing property, the one you are planning to buy, or both.

Chain

This is a number of linked property sales where exchange of contracts must take place simultaneously.

Deeds

The legal documents that assign the ownership of a property.

Deposit

The amount of money paid by the buyer to the seller on exchange of contracts in order to secure a property, also known as the Down Payment.

Equity

This is the difference between the value of a property and the amount of mortgage owed. For example, a house valued at £150,000 bought with a £100,000 mortgage has £50,000 equity.

Freehold

The absolute ownership of both a property and the land on which it stands indefinitely.

Independent Financial Advisor (IFA)

A qualified person who uses specialist knowledge of the marketplace to select financial products, like mortgages, to suit you.

Leasehold

The ownership and right to occupy a property by way of a lease agreement for a given period of time subject to an annual payment of rent to the owner of the freehold.

Types of mortgage:

Fixed rate

The interest you pay stays the same for a specified period of time, typically two to five years, regardless of interest rates in the wider market.

Variable rate

The interest you pay can change at any time, so make sure you’re prepared and have savings set aside so you’re covered if your payments do increase.

Interest only mortgage

This is where you only pay the interest on the amount you borrow. Savings or other assets are used to pay off the total amount borrowed at the end of the mortgage term, so it’s important to plan ahead.

Early repayment charge

This is a charge made by the lender if the borrower terminates a mortgage in advance of the terms of the mortgage. This is normally because the borrower has benefited from reduced payments of cash back in the early period of a mortgage.

Don’t forget our friendly Sales Teams are always on hand to answer your questions and help you through the buying process, just pop into the Sales and Marketing suite or give them a call. 

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Stay safe this half term

Spring is upon us! As the evenings get lighter and the weather gets warmer, we know your little ones will be raring to get outside and play, especially during the Easter holidays.

Living near a building site can be very exciting, especially for young children who want to explore, but it’s important that they know it’s not a playground. At St. Modwen Homes we regularly visit local schools to keep pupils safe by raising the awareness of potential hazards, including heavy machinery, scaffolding and falling objects.

Just as important is knowing the dangers at the end of your drive and the associated risks of young children playing in or around parked cars. To make sure your children stay safe this half term here are some top tips from the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents’ driveway safety campaign:

·         Be aware of the risks of children running out to greet or wave goodbye to guests while vehicles are still manoeuvring.

·         When you are reversing off a driveway, your view is limited and you may not be able to see small children in your mirrors. Whenever possible, reverse onto a driveway, and drive off forwards to reduce the risk. If you can’t do that, just be aware of your surroundings – wind down your windows and, being mindful of your blind spots, take it slow as you reverse.

·         Always make sure the handbrake is applied when you’re parked and if your driveway is on a slope, park in gear with the wheel turned so if the brakes fail the car won’t roll back and cause an accident.

·         Remember that drivers in larger vehicles, such as 4x4's and pick-up trucks, may not be able to see small children who are close to the vehicle's bumpers.

Take a look at this handy guide from the full driveway safety guide here to find out more. You can also find out more about building site safety here. 

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Tick Tock...Time to choose your perfect clock!

With the clocks going forward this Sunday, we thought it only right that we give some attention to the humble clock; a mechanism that has graced our mantelpieces since the 17^th Century. Here, Samantha Simmonds from Interior design agency, Killer 5, gives us an insight into her favourite clocks…

“Clocks do more than tell the time, they can often be a unique piece of art and create a real statement in a room. What’s more, there’s a clock for every interior trend (and budget) so, however you’re designing your new home, there really will be a clock to suit you.

“Whilst it is unknown who made the first one and where it originated from, the cuckoo clock has passed through the generations and still remains a firm favourite today. Whether you want a traditional wooden cuckoo clock like this one from Notonthehighstreet.com, a patterned mustard and grey version such as this from Habitat or a much more simplistic cuckoo clock (ok, it might not actually be a cuckoo clock but we liked the idea), there’s plenty to choose from. Personally, I love the bright red used in this statement clock and wall sticker and think it would look fantastic as a feature in a living room or child’s bedroom.

“The cuckoo clock wouldn’t suit every home though. Many people opt for a more simplistic interior design and there are some stunning clocks to suit this style too. One of my favourites is this slate and copper clock from Made which, when placed on a white wall, would create a real elegance to any room. You could also adopt a more industrial look with either this oversized clock from Cox & Cox or this intricate metal Cogsworth clock from House of Fraser. Alternatively, this wooden sundial clock would add a modern finish to a more traditional home whilst this wooden and white clock would look great on a brightly coloured feature wall.

“In fact, why not use your clock to add a bit of colour to a room? Here’s a retro teal and orange clock from Etsy, or you could opt for this unusual multi-coloured clock from Habitat.

“There really is a clock to suit every theme. Here’s an ice-cream clock from Asda, a personalised clock showing a map of your new home and a recycled PlayStation Clock. With so much choice out there it’s going to be hard to decide which will suit your home best.

“Just one last thing though, don’t forget to move all your beautiful new clocks forward by an hour this Sunday!”

N.B. The information supplied in this blog is the opinion of the individual quoted and not necessarily that of St. Modwen Homes. St. Modwen Homes recognises that many companies offer similar products and the Company is not endorsing any particular items. 

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Win a hamper for Valentine's Day

As Valentine's Day approaches, we're giving people the chance to win a delicious hamper from Central England Co-operative over on our development Facebook pages.

To enter, all you have do is guess the number of butterflies shown in the picture taken from one of our stunning Show Homes. The nearest guess wins!

You’ll find the picture on all of the Facebook pages listed below (just click on the link to go to your chosen page) so take a look and start guessing.

Branston Leas Facebook Page
Edison Place Facebook Page

Glan Llyn Facebook Page

Gregorys Bank Facebook Page

Manorfields Facebook Page

Radley Park Facebook Page

Trentham Manor Facebook Page

Woodlands Reach Facebook Page

The competition closes at midnight on 14 February 2016 and you can find full terms and conditions here. Good luck!

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