Smart thermostats are a way of controlling your heating usage by using an app on your smartphone or tablet. They are especially beneficial if you are away from home during the day and so do not need your home to be heated then but want the home to be warm when you return. You can program the heating using a traditional programmable thermostat but if circumstances change and you are later home than usual, or the weather is not as predicted you may be heating your home unnecessarily. This flexibility is one of the major selling points for smart thermostats in the UK.

Smart thermostats are easy to use and set up yourself, but some models are better installed by a professional unless you are tech savvy. They are relatively cheap to buy and undoubtedly save the householder money through the year.

Most smart thermostats come with features that can help you to reduce your energy usage at home such as weather responsiveness, GPS tracking that detects when you leave the house and even a feature that detects if there is a sudden drop in temperature for instance if a window is open. So, if you want to save money and reduce energy usage in your home a smart thermostat could be the answer.

House prices have risen phenomenally this year and it is definitely a sellers’ market because as soon as a house becomes available it is sold within a few days, but for those thinking of selling it is still important to make the most of your property so that you get the best possible price.

Adding extra rooms or making it appear that there are extra rooms is a worthwhile investment as this will always boost the value of your property. A loft conversion is a good choice if your property is suitable. As long as the height inside your loft is high enough that allows you to stand upright in a large proportion of It, it is probably feasible. A competent builder will be able to advice you on regulations and permissions that will be needed should you proceed.

If you have the outside space many people put a conservatory on the house. Smaller conservatories can often be built without the need for planning permission although building regulations will need to be sought in some cases such as if you want internal doors in the conservatory to be normal doors not exterior doors.

Converting the garage into a playroom, office or even a utility room is a simple way to extend the living space of the property and can be done quite cheaply.

If you are find that you are struggling for space in your home but do not have the option to extend or don’t want to move then you need to try and find cleaver ways in which you can make the most of the room you have available.

When you start to look around your home, you may start to notice areas that are essentially wasted. It may be that you have a spare room that has become a bit of a dumping ground or you may have two bathrooms, when you only ever use the one. If this is the case then you may be able to add that much needed room to your home with just a bit of sorting out and basic DIY. Some bigger changes such as removing a bathroom may require a qualified tradesman to help ensure that it is done correctly.

Before you make any big chances to the house, you need to consider if it will have an effect on the value of the home. If you are not planning on moving for a long time, then this may not be a concern for you, but it is worth investigation as removing a bedroom or bathroom could knock thousands off your sale price.

If you are currently considering buying your first home then you may be shocked to see how much money you need upfront just to get your foot on the ladder. Most couples look to buy a two or three bedroom home ready for if they want to start a family but this can cost in excess of two hundred thousand pounds. It may be that although you can pay the rent, on paper you do not earn that much so although you know you could afford a mortgage, they simply will not lend you the money. If this is the case then you may need to start looking in to other options.

One of these options is to buy a shared ownership house. A shared ownership property allows you to purchase a percentage of it and rent the rest. It is often owned by a housing association or private company. You will pay your rent to them and they remained will go towards your mortgage. Buying part of a property allows you to get your foot on the ladder as you will not need to borrow as much or will you need as big a deposit as you would if you were buying normally off the open market.

So many of us are going to be hit by huge hikes in energy prices in October and possibly again in April. These rises could cost the average household around one hundred and fifty pounds up to two hundred pounds extra per year.

For many people who still also may be recovering due to loss of income following Covid, this could not of come at a worse time.

It is important to try and cut down on your energy usage to try and reduce the amount you will need to pay as for many companies it is the energy kilowatt cost that is going up not the standing charges. Just making a few small changes every day can help to slash your bills.

Whenever possible, try and hang your clothes out on the line to dry. Fresh air is free but using your tumble dry may cost around fifty pence per hour.

Turning all lights off when leaving a room again is a very small change but over the course of a year could see money knocked of your bill. If you have gas central heating then try and avoid putting it on too early and drop the thermostat down a degree or two.