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Reviews

The Many Uses For An Outbuilding

If you don’t have much living space, whether you have a growing family, or you require a home working area, it’s wise to think about an outbuilding. They are less expensive and faster than installing an extension and there is no requirement for planning permission. Perhaps you’ve already had an extension but still require that bit of additional space. It’s not as easy to move home today as it once was, so an ideal solution is a useful outbuilding, such as a summerhouse, shepherds hut or shed to give you that much-needed space at a fraction of a price. Here are some ideas for what you could use an outbuilding for: A nice addition to your property is an outbuilding used as a summerhouse. This is perfect if you don’t currently have a sunroom or conservatory. You can make the most of your garden on those warm, sunny days and furnish with wicker seating with soft, plush cushions, rugs and curtains in light, summer fabrics. Alternatively, consider a new Oak Orangery from https://www.timberpride.co.uk/oak-orangery Image credit If you need a space for working from home, shepherd huts or upmarket sheds can make the perfect home office. It’s good to have a separate space for working that’s not inside the home as this helps productivity and lessens possible distractions. Inviting guests to stay over will become a lot less stressful and cramped when you have a comfortable room at the end of your garden to put them up in. Guests will appreciate the personal, private space and will undoubtedly enjoy a much better stay and night’s sleep. Image credit Tired of having children’s toys all over your home? If you struggle to find a special place for your children to spread out and play, then a garden room can become the perfect den. It can be a casual and fun space for drawing, painting and other messy play. Create a nook for reading and fill a bookcase with all their favourite reads. This way you’ll rediscover your home interior and might even get some peace and quiet for a while! Another useful way an outbuilding can be used is in the form of a laundry room. If the noise of the washing machine drives you mad and you hate hanging washing around the house in winter, imagine how convenient it would be to have a dedicated space for dealing with laundry. Perhaps you’d benefit from a separate space for any pets you have. A shed or outbuilding is the ideal spot for many pets, such as chickens, ducks and dogs. Maybe your dog would enjoy a dedicated space for them to relax in and to stop them continually getting under your feet inside the house. If you need a space for working from home, shepherd huts or upmarket sheds can make the perfect home office. It’s good to have a separate space for working that’s not inside the home as this helps productivity and lessens possible distractions. Inviting guests to stay over will become a lot less stressful and cramped when you have a comfortable room at the end of your garden to put them up in. Guests will appreciate the personal, private space and will undoubtedly enjoy a much better stay and night’s sleep. Tired of having children’s toys all over your home? If you struggle to find a special place for your children to spread out and play, then a garden room can become the perfect den. It can be a casual and fun space for drawing, painting and other messy play. Another useful way an outbuilding can be used is in the form of a laundry room. If the noise of the washing machine drives you mad and you hate hanging washing around the house in winter, imagine how convenient it would be to have a dedicated space for dealing with laundry. Perhaps you’d benefit from a separate space for any pets you have. A shed or outbuilding is the ideal spot for many pets, such as chickens, ducks and dogs. Maybe your dog would enjoy a dedicated space for them to relax in and to stop them continually getting under your feet inside the house.

Reviews

What can a drain survey identify?

If you are experiencing drainage issues at your home or business premises, a drain survey is a simple way to identify the root cause. Often there is a temptation to simply rod the drains to try and clear the blockage, but without knowing what is blocking your drains, where the blockage is occurring or whether there is existing damage to the sewage infrastructure, it is likely that the blockage will occur again, costing more money and taking longer to resolve.

Reviews

Keeping a Manufacturing Workplace Safe from Slips

Manufacturing is an area where health and safety is paramount. In order to work effectively, it is important to ensure that you are following guidelines and that staff are trained correctly to enable them to be able to do their job safely. Image Credit Slips are a common risk in manufacturing. Accidents do happen, but there are lots of things that you can do in the workplace to reduce the risk of someone slipping and injuring themselves. Here are some tips for avoiding slips… Use Signs – If there has been a spill, or there is an area of the floor that is wet or slippery, then make sure that you have a sign that can be put next to it to warn people of this. People might not necessarily see an area on the floor that has a spillage, but a sign is much easier to spot! Image Credit Clean up with the Right Equipment – When something has been split it needs to be cleaned up correctly to keep the area safe. Make sure that you have a supply of suitable spill kits like this https://hydepark-environmental.com/spill-response/spill-kits that can be used if a substance spills. PPE – Personal protective equipment is very helpful when it comes to keeping safe, especially in a manufacturing environment where there may be dangerous substances around. Ensure that all staff have the correct PPE for the job that they are doing and that they are well trained on using it in the right way.

Reviews

Average house price in Watford falls by over Ł2k

According to data from the Land Registry, property prices in Watford have fallen by an average of over Ł2,000 in September. The most recent figures from the government department show that in September 2022, the cost of an average property in Watford was Ł394,417. This fell from Ł396,613 in July, which represents a decrease of 1.0 per cent. It had risen by 6.7 per cent in the previous twelve months. This is the latest sign to indicate the property market is slowing down due to the cost-of-living crisis and ever-increasing mortgage rates. Many are wondering whether the latest drop could be the start of a crash. Image Credit Could this be a sign of things to come? It is not unreasonable to expect property prices to continue to fall over the next few months. Buyers will find it more and more difficult to borrow money or will consider rising mortgage rates far too expensive. This will force sellers to list their property at a lower price. Martin Beck, chief economic advisor said “October’s fall could likely be a sign of things to come. Although mortgage rates have retreated from the highs seen just after the mini-budget, they’re still elevated compared to early-mid September. For example, the current standard variable rate on a Nationwide mortgage is 5.24%, compared to 3.74% pre-mini-budget. Cost of living pressures remain challenging and face being exacerbated by tax rises and public spending restraint in November’s Autumn Statement, and consumer confidence is notably depressed.” Image Credit How much have house prices in Watford fallen? All types of housing saw a decrease in price. Detached houses were down to Ł959,992 from Ł964,925 in July. Semi-detached houses, on the other hand, were down to Ł538,465 from Ł539,095 in July. Terraced houses fell to Ł426,350 from a high of Ł426,918 and average flat prices were down to Ł274,697 from Ł278,665. How do Watford house prices compare to the UK average? Despite the fall in prices this month, Watford is still well above the UK average, with a typical property value in the UK reaching Ł294,559 in September. One of the reasons for this is because it is one of the first major towns outside of London. Watford has also seen considerable regeneration over the past ten years, including the development of the Atria shopping centre which is home to over 140 businesses and the Warner Bros Studio and the Making of Harry Potter experience. Anyone considering purchasing a property should seek legal advice from a reputable firm such as Sam Conveyancing, who can assist with conveyancing and a building survey Watford. According to analysis by research consultancy Dataloft, Watford is the best commuter town for investment. More information on this can be read on the Property Investment Today website. The town achieved this top ranking as a reflection of the excellent lifestyle it has to offer, strong employment opportunities, the high quality education available as well as its extensive open green spaces and transport links. It seems likely that house prices will continue to fall whilst we weather the economic storm, but Watford is flourishing as a place to live and there is every indication that house prices here may well fare better than in other parts of the UK.

Social Media

Will Twitter survive the latest wave of resignations?

The recent sale of Twitter to Elon Musk has hit the headlines for all kinds of reasons. Unusually, for something to do with popular culture, one of the main aspects of the deal which has caught the attention of the wider public is the HR fallout after the apparent breakdown in relations between the existing staff and their new CEO. With a global workforce, there will be some staff involved in this who are governed by UK and/or European employment laws. So what are the potential implications of this for Twitter’s new owner? Image Credit Due process According to numerous reports, staff were told that they had to decide whether to commit to Twitter’s new working hours and regime (in essence, more hours and more work to do within them) or take three months’ severance pay and look for new employment. Clearly, this is not an acceptable way to manage redundancies, although it would appear that this situation persists in Twitter’s global subsidiaries, with no regard for the proper consultation process. It is likely that UK-based staff would be able to explore a constructive dismissal claim, if, for example, they were unable to work the new hours but were given no alternative option. ACAS has produced a thorough guide to this area of employment law. Further advice can also be found at www.employmentlawfriend.co.uk/constructive-dismissal. European Working Time rules also state that employees should not be expected to work excessive hours, and protections exist for any employee who has been directed to break this agreement without their express consent. Changes in flexible working arrangements, where staff are now expected to attend their offices rather than honouring previously agreed work-from-home arrangements, is another risky policy that could lead to tribunal claims being made. Twitter, as we know it? So with the potential avalanche of employment tribunal cases that could result from such wholesale and unilateral changes to employees’ terms and conditions, there are clearly negative financial implications for the company. Since these jobs that staff have left do not all appear to be redundant by any means, will the loss of knowledge and experience from these teams also hamper Twitter going forward? Almost certainly. The negative media coverage of employee relations at Twitter will likely make it hard to recruit replacement staff, certainly experienced ones who will no doubt have other options available to them. The loss of experienced staff may well impact the functionality of the site and this will not do anything to retain users. Fewer users, of course, means reduced advertising revenue, although it should be noted that some major brands have resumed purchasing advertising space on the platform in recent days. Image Credit Overall, the recent resignations could have a major impact on Twitter for two reasons. Firstly the potential for constructive dismissal claim and other possible breaches of UK employment law for those employees based in the UK. The financial impact of this on such a huge company is likely to be negligible but the loss of experienced and knowledgeable staff, and the difficulties in finding new talent willing to replace them, could be far more problematic. The reputational damage of having employment practices called into question can be severe for any company, and this should always be considered when making any substantial changes in the workplace.

Reviews

Why Having an Accountant is Crucial for Your Business Success

Owning and running your own business is something that is hard to do on your own. Having the right help and support around you is crucial if you want to make your business a success.  It is not possible to be able to do everything well in business, as well as have the time to take care of your own needs and time for yourself too.

Technology Reviews

The protection required for space

When you see the international space station floating in the upper atmosphere, it can look like a relatively fragile piece of machinery. This is partly true. It’s not the most robust of creations because, in many cases, it just doesn’t need to be. The upper atmosphere does not contain much chance of collision with a passing spaceship, and it’s too high for the satellites and assorted “space junk” orbiting around us. One thing about it that is worrying, especially for those astronauts on it, is that it is slowly decaying in its orbit. This means that if the Russians, NASA or the European Space Agency don’t send a rocket up to push it higher, it will fall to earth. So the developing Chinese space program may have to be called upon at some point if things continue. Image credit Solar winds and radiation are constantly bombarding the astronauts. Without the Earth’s atmosphere to protect them, they run the risk of getting various cancers. In addition, getting a good workout at zero gravity is impossible, and muscle atrophy is also widespread. The casing of the station is toughened and designed to absorb most of these harmful elements, but it can never be as effective as the planet itself. Image credit The life support systems that make up the station’s food, water, and oxygen providers also protect the astronauts. The other systems that allow the crew to do their experiments and monitor conditions on board and on earth also need to be protected. Making sure that these lifesaving diodes resistors and sensors are still in tip-top shape is a vital part of the operation. For such components to work, they need to be created in perfect conditions and sealed afterwards.  It’s why when making them, the best material to coat them in is Nickel. Nickel rarely rusts, doesn’t tarnish, doesn’t conduct heat so as to become too hot, and it’s excellent at resisting dust and debris, making it easy to clean. So it’s why Electroless Nickel Coating, like that from poeton.co.uk/standard-treatments/electroless-nickel-plating/, is the perfect place to ensure it is done correctly. Once the nickel is in place, it affords a massive level of protection and performance from the components for years. This is also a great advantage as changing them can be costly and complex.  

Reviews

Tips on How to Live Sustainably

Changing your lifestyle to live sustainably may seem difficult to begin with, but it can actually be quite easy by simply learning some new habits. By adopting sustainable living practices, you will help the environment and reduce emissions. This way of life is also healthier, reducing toxic chemicals in the body and promoting mindful movement. If you want to live sustainably, here are some easy tips you can start today. To make a difference in the world around you, start with small changes and build up to bigger ones over time.

Reviews

What could be lurking in your carpet?

If you have just bought a new home with the assistance of businesses like No Sale No Fee Conveyancing Sam Conveyancing, chances are one of the first things you’ll want to change is the carpets. Image Credit We are all well removed from the germs and dirt that seem to end up in our carpets and considering the amount of shoes and bare feet that pass over it on a regular basis, it is no surprise that there are numerous items that can be found underneath our feet. It is recommended that you regularly clean your carpets to ensure that all the nasty little bugs and germs that may lie deep within the fibres of your carpets are removed and a Carpet Cleaning company could help you out with this. You may want to look at completing this on an annual basis or after a big party, particularly if you are unfortunate enough to have any spillages happen. Image credit To avoid these germs and dirt items from being carried around your house, it is necessary for carpets to have fibres that trap particles such as dust and dirt. This includes trapping pollen, chemicals, bacteria, and other residues that are tracked on our feet and bodies into the home. Only a certain number of particles can be held by these fibres until they can no longer operate properly. It is frequent cleaning that helps to extract these contaminants from the fibres so that the elements that come into the house can be removed. On a weekly basis, vacuuming is a perfect way to do this, but a carpet cleaning company can work deeper down into the lower layers of the fabrics which gives it a much more hygienic clean.  

Reviews

Important financial documents to file

When you own or manage a business, there will be a number of financial documents that you will need to file on a regular basis. Some of these will be filed annually and others on a more frequent basis. An Accountants Bath way such as chippendaleandclark.com/accountant-in-bath/ will be able to support you with filing all of these documents and with other aspects of your business finances such as bookkeeping and debt chasing. Image credit VAT returns – VAT or value-added tax is essentially a consumer tax. It is passed through an entire supply chain down to the end-user. Returns relating to VAT need to be filed on a quarterly basis, and there are strict conditions around what items you can claim VAT on and those that you can charge VAT on. Corporation Tax – if you have a limited company, you will need to file an annual corporation tax report. This will detail all the income and expenditures in the business, along with the assets and liabilities that your company currently has. Image credit Self Assessment Tax – this is another form of tax that is filed on an annual basis. It is the tax that is paid by individuals that are self-employed or work as a director. It operates in a similar way to tax paid by employees, and individuals receive the same basic tax-free income allowance. Tax is then paid, along with national insurance on the amounts over and above this basic allowance.

Reviews

How to Care For Your TV

When you are looking at taking care of your TV, you have to think about the type of display unit that you have and also the material that the TV is made from. If you have a plasma screen television, then you will want to make sure that you use special screen cleaners that are made especially for these types of screens. Many people don’t realise how much dirt that is on their screen until it is too late. Image credit You may notice that when someone else tries to wipe their screen with a cloth they end up leaving streaks in the screen that just can’t be wiped off no matter how hard they try. This is where it becomes very important that you find the best microfiber cloths to use in order to remove the streaks from your screen. The only way to effectively clean your screen is to make sure that there is no water on the surface, no soap residue, and that you don’t use anything that is abrasive on the screen. Image credit After you have done all of this cleaning, you can now begin to actually take care of the screen. First off, you will want to remove any and all debris from the screen. To do this you should use a soft microfiber cloth and gently rub the screen. You don’t want to use too much pressure on the screen because you don’t want to scratch it. If you find that your picture quality is still grain or blurred after you have cleaned the screen it may be time to call someone like this TV aerials repair Gloucester based company company https://steveunettaerials.co.uk to come in and check your aerial quality for you.  

Web Design

Why Website Copy Is So Important

Writing compelling copy for your website is essential. It can drive more traffic, answer users’ questions, and provide essential information. When users are searching online for a specific product or service, they want to see more information about it before they make a purchase. When you write copy for your website, you’re giving them exactly what they’re looking for. Here are some tips for writing compelling website copy:

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