Property Today

A Gazette supplement Thursday, February 5, 2009

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22 www.propertytoday.co.uknneewwssThursday, February 5, 2009propertytoday

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Property team SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Michelle Disley 2735TELEPHONE SALES: Darren Stacey 2748

COPY PROCESSOR: Tracy McCormaic 2759Advertising: 01253 361810Editorial: 01253 400888

EDITOR :Steve Singleton 2244

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HELP! We are moving house - we have fourkids and a dog and so much stuff. I haveorganised for the Salvation Army to collectour old furniture and for professional clean-ers to come after we have cleared out of thehouse - but how do I pack all the stuff andsort it? What is a good way to do it? Wheredo I get all the boxes and stuff?

You start collecting newspapers and boxes themoment you are thinking about it. Most removal com-panies will sell/hire you boxes to pack your stuff in. Ifyou are moving yourself, you can buy boxes frommovers, storage places and some couriers.

Basically, you pack like with like. It is a good time tosort your things out, but do not pack too much into abox as someone has to lift it, usually 20kg max. Useitems like pillows, cushions, towels to fill up the boxeswith plates etc to keep the weight down.

Crockery is generally wrapped in layers of paperindividually, stuff cups with paper then wrap andplates stack from the bottom the up. We have usuallydone it horizontally, bowls, pad with scrunched upnewspaper balls, cups on the side with lots of padding.

Seal all boxes with packing tape. Make sure you sealthe bottom first before you put anything in it andmake sure you carry boxes underneath, not on theirsides. Clearly label contents of each box, pack towels,sheets, loosely inside plastic shopping bags to helpkeep them clean inside boxes and start packing earlywith the things you use least. If necessary, plan thelast week’s menu to require the least cooking so youcan get 99 per cent of cookery related stuff packed.

If your fridge or freezer is iced up, do not forget toturn it off a couple of days or more beforehand toallow it to de-ice. Pack everything by rooms; label allsides of the boxes as to what room it goes in.

What is Blackpool’s Care and Repair scheme?Blackpool Care & Repair provide a wide range ofservices to older and disabled residents in Blackpool,aimed at helping you to live independently in yourown home in comfort, warmth and security.

The Care & Repair Scheme can offer help to:● Anyone over 60 living in their own home. Privatelyrented tenants and in some cases council tenants canalso benefit from some of our services.● Anyone under 60 years of age living in their ownhome who is getting income Support AND DisabilityLiving Allowance

Care & Repair may be able to help you access finan-cial assistance in the form of a small grant or loan tohelp you to solve your home repair problems.

AAnn aaggeenntt’’ssvviieewwJustin Allitt, of AllittEstate Agency,answers readers’property questions

In association with Allitt Estate AgencySend your queries to Justin Allitt at 12 WoodStreet, St Annes, or email [email protected]

New homes a third of targetTHE number of new homes to be com-pleted in the coming 12 months could bearound 80,000 – less than half the level ofrecent years.

The estimated figure will be barely athird of the target set by Gordon Brownwhen he called for an extra three millionnew homes by 2020, says a new survey.

The latest Housing Market Report(HMR) from the Home BuildersFederation (HBF) which represents mostdevelopers, also warns it is no longerviable to build on many sites because somany regulations, including energy sav-ing requirements, could push up costsbeyond a level which buyers will pay.

The HMR says: “By mid-2007, policy andregulatory demands were having such anonerous impact on land values that manysites were not viable.

“However, the escalating additional bur-den planned for the next eight years - zerocarbon, Community Infrastructure Levy,Lifetime Homes, revisions to six BuildingRegulations – set against the sharp fall inland values in the slump, mean very fewresidential development sites will be viable.

“A recovery in housebuilding willrequire the cumulative burden to be dras-tically reduced, either by finding alterna-tive sources of funding for policydemands, or by delaying and scaling backmany of these burdens.’’

The HMR, compiled by HBF EconomicDirector John Stewart, says net newhome prices, allowing for perks and incen-tives have been falling for 15 months.

It also admits many new homes built inthe boom years are the wrong sort and inthe wrong place!

“It is now clear that apartment building(in urban centres) in many locations wereexcessive,’’ says the HMR, “while the sup-ply of family housing was inadequate.The housing mix and densities thatevolved in the boom are unlikely to beappropriate in the next upswing.

“Builders are going to be far morefocussed on a product mix and densitieswhich accurately meet local demand.’’

John Stewart says builders bouncedback from the last big slump in 1992- part-ly because the regulatory framework wasmuch lighter.

This time, he suggests, local authoritiesmight have a key role to play in breakingthe deadlock - by adjusting agreementswhich compel builders to contributetowards public infrastructure projects inreturn for planning permission.

THE Law Society is warningbenevolent parents to seekadvice from a solicitor beforestumping up tens of thousandsof pounds to get their offspringon the property ladder.

With first-time buyers findingit increasingly difficult to enterthe property market, as banksare lending less and demanding20 to 40 per cent deposits, par-ents are stepping in to help.

Almost eight out of 10 first-time buyers in London are beingforced to ask their parents tostep in and help with finance fordeposits as loan options disap-pear, according to the latestresearch.

The Law Society is warningthat parents who are stumpingup extra cash to help their fami-ly members to get their foot on the hous-ing ladder must consider the legal aspectsand seek advice from a solicitor to protecttheir own interests.

Law Society President Paul Marsh said:“Despite the fact house prices have fallenalmost 15 per cent in the past year, firsttime buyers are facing an average house

price of £250,000 requiring a £50,000deposit.

“Parents should use a solicitor to drawup a loan agreement with their childbefore lending this kind of money.

“Whilst their family are unlikely torun away with the money, life can getmore complicated when children look toset up home with their partners or

decide to get married.“If things go wrong and the

couple decide to separate, theparents could lose out.”

Paul Marsh adds: “There areseveral issues to consider inthese circumstances. Theposition of the loan should becovered in the parents’ will,particularly if there areseveral children in thefamily.

“There are important taxissues to bear in mind and inmost cases it will be necessaryto tell any bank or buildingsociety lending on the proper-ty about the loan.”

Before handing over your lifesavings, it is crucial to obtainexpert legal advice in order toavoid potential problems and

to protect your best interests at everystep.

Solicitors are trained experts and arehighly experienced in navigating themaze of paper work and dealings withhouse purchases. Not only will a solicitoroffer the best advice and service, theywill help to avoid some unforeseen haz-ards that my occur down the line.

Thursday, February 5, 2009 3www.propertytoday.co.uk

Thursday, February 5, 20094 www.propertytoday.co.uk











CCoottttaaggee hhaass cchhaarraacctteerrBy JULIA BENNETT

BEAMED ceilings are a feature of thislovely two-bedroomed cottage of immensecharacter.

Situated close to Blackpool’s Stanley Parkand close to bus routes and a main road, thewhite-fronted property comprises a largelounge which doubles as a dining room,double glazed conservatory, fitted kitchen,two bedrooms and a shower room.

The spacious and comfortable lounge has atraditional cottage feel, with a woodenbeamed ceiling.

The room boasts a living flame fire inattractive surround.

There is a TV plinth, central heatingradiator, plus double glazed French doorswhich lead to the rear garden.

The neat kitchen has a one and a half bowlsink unit. Fitted wall and base units, tiledfloor and central heating radiator.

There is plenty of storage space and room

for cooking, as well as space for a small tableand appliances.

Looking out onto the rear garden is adouble glazed conservatory with a tiled floor.

Stairs and landing lead to two bedrooms.The main bedroom has built in wardrobes,

dressing table, beamed ceilings, centralheating radiator,and double glazed window.

A second bedroom also has built inwardrobes, central heating radiator anddouble glazed window.

There is a half tiled shower room with lowflush toilet, pedestal wash hand basin, stepin tiled shower, double glazed window.

The conservatory gives the property addi-tional downstairs living space and provides acontrast with the low beamed ceiling of thelounge diner.

The extension features a tiled floor.The property has a garage opposite the

Boars Head pub. It is fitted with gas centralheating and double glazing and there are gar-dens, to the front, side and rear.

DETAILSSummary: Traditional two bedroomedcottageAddress: Preston Old Road, MartonPrice: £159,950Agent: Oystons, Clifton Street,Blackpool, (01253) 622225

1155www.propertytoday.co.uk Thursday, February 5, 2009hhoouussee ccaallll propertytoday

1166 www.propertytoday.co.ukaaddvveerrttiisseerr ffooccuussThursday,February 5, 2009propertytoday

AAuuccttiioonnss ddeeffyy sslluummppMETCALF’S were established in the 1960sand during their long reign as one ofBlackpool’s most popular independent estateagents they have witnessed many ups anddowns in the property market.

Through their years of experience theyhave found that during difficult timesauction sales always come out on top.

Director, Hamze Ballout says: “In the cur-rent climate we are finding that auctions arethe way to sell property.

“Due to the credit crunch a lot of estateagents are struggling but at Metcalf’s we areas busy as always attracting a lot of clientswho are ready and willing to buy at auc-tion.”

In 2008 Metcalfs had a very successful yearselling over 50 per cent of their auction prop-erties and are now looking forward to theyear ahead.

If you are thinking of selling by auctionbut are not sure if it is the right path foryou, below are some answers to Metcalf’smost commonly asked questions:

Frequent questions about auction

● How much? Metcalf’s commission for sell-ing at auction is two per cent + VAT (mini-mum £1,500) and they have a competitiveauction entry fee of £300 + VAT.● Why auction? It offers maximum advertis-ing for your property and a quick secure saleto a buyer who has the funds available and isready to exchange.● How long? Once contracts have beensigned it takes 28 days for completion.● What happens if the property doesn’t

sell? They usually get post sale interest.However, if this isn’t the case, then there arethree options.

1. You can withdraw the property.2. You can put the property for sale on the

normal market.3. You can put it into our next auction for

half price (£150 + VAT)● How frequent are they? Metcalf’s is hold-ing seven auctions this year and they takeplace approximately every two months.● What is the first step? You would need tobook a valuation. They are free of chargeand you are under no obligation to sell yourproperty with Metcalf’s.● Can the buyer pull out of the sale? Oncethe buyer has signed the contract and paidthe 10 per cent deposit, they are committedto the sale. If they pull out for any reason,they will forfeit their deposit and could facelegal action from the seller.● Will there be a reserve on the property?Yes. However this is usually discussed near-er the auction. The property will be adver-tised with a guide price. The reserve isconfidential between Metcalf’s and theseller.

Entries are now being taken for the Marchauction so don’t miss the deadline, guaran-tee your property a place and enter beforeFebruary 13.

If you want to book a free valuation or ifyou have any further questions regardingauction, you can call Metcalf’s on 01253624047, or pop in and see them at 73 ToppingStreet, Blackpool.

There has never been a better time to con-sider auctioning your property and seeing itsold!

MILESTONE: At the opening of new premises on Topping Street last year are sales negotiator Ashley Dribben, Mayoress Ms Julia Massey, Mayor Coun Mary Smith, director Hamze Balloutand principal John Metcalf





2211www.propertytoday.co.uk Thursday, February 5, 2009aaddvveerrttiisseerr ffooccuuss propertytoday

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PDM LETTINGS, the friendly andprofessional letting agent serving theFylde coast and beyond from theirmodern St Annes and Freckletonoffices, are pleased to announce spe-cial offers to assist landlords duringthe current financial crisis.

Offer 1PDM Lettings fully-managed serv-

ice is available to all properties witha PR postcode for only eight per centper month.

Offer 2Free Energy Performance

Certificate and Bond Holding for allproperties with an FY postcode.

Offer 3Available for properties in all

areas. Transfer your properties toPDM Lettings from any other agentand they will reduce your monthlycommission payments.

Offer 4Guarantee your monthly rental

payments with their low cost rentguarantee insurance from only £50for six months.

This guarantees that should yourtenant not pay the rent, you will stillget paid through the insurance com-pany.

■ All offers are subject to termsand conditions and are availableimmediately.

PDM Lettings have two modern,warm and inviting offices.

The head office at 109Headroomgate Road, St Annes offersample off road parking, and is situat-ed on a main road in a parade ofshops leading into St Annes withplenty of passing traffic, and a busstop located opposite the shopentrance.

The Freckleton office is located onthe main road running through

Freckleton, at a pedestrian crossingopposite the Co-op.

It is ideally located for British

Aerospace employees to browse thePDM shop window and pop in forinformation.

So why pick PDM as your lettingagent?

There are several reasons.

Not only are they local with friend-ly, efficient staff, but they deal withlettings only on a daily basis there-fore guaranteeing you the landlordthat all legislations are being han-dled correctly and supplying youwith up-to-date, accurate informa-tion.

They also have client money pro-tection insurance in place offeringyou and the tenants assurance intoday’s climate that monies are safe.

PDM are members of NALS(National Approved Letting Scheme),a government-backed governingbody, to ensure that everything theydo is correct.

They advertise in all the localpapers along with having their ownbespoke website, and utilising otherweb portals such as Rightmove.

PDM cover the whole of the Fyldecoast from their St Annes office andall of Preston and the surroundingareas from the Freckleton office.

So why pick another agent, whenPDM have the lot? One call reallywill sort it all.

Telephone 01253 788588 or 01773635353.

FRIENDLY SERVICE: Staff at the St Annes office and (inset) the office in Freckleton

2222 www.propertytoday.co.ukaaddvveerrttiisseerr ffooccuussThursday, February 5, 2009propertytoday

LLeettttiinnggaaggeennttssyyoouu ccaannttrruussttMCDONALD Property Rentals is the Fylde’s leading lettingagency, an independent company you can trust who havemanaged property on the Fylde Coast since 1973.

McDonalds Property Rentals specialise in letting

McDonalds offer a full property manage-ment service or let only service.

The charge for each is very competitive.It’s worth getting more than one quote to

compare services and fees, as many lettingagents charge a number additional fees,which can be much more expensive.

It’s important that the property is offeredat the correct market rental value.

If the rental asked is too high, it will taketoo long to let, and rental income will be lost.If the rental is too low, then a landlord willalso lose income.

A good letting and managing agencyshould, when offering a property to let, spendtime, energy and money in promoting yourproperty by taking prominent newspaperadvertisements, erecting a clear modern “ToLet” sign, and providing an easily accessibleweb page where the properties on offer canbe viewed.

McDonalds invest in considerable advertis-ing in Local Directories to encourageenquiries.

Over 100 prospective clients visit their webpage every day.

McDonalds advertise your property onRightMove and PropertyFinder, the two lead-ing property portals in the UK andPropertyLive, a new portal developed by The

National Association of Estate Agents andThe National Association of LettingAgents.

When letting a property, it’s important toensure it is presented to a standard that willattract and encourage a prospective tenant toproceed.

Something quite small can make a differ-ence.

McDonalds carry out hundreds of accompa-nied viewings every month.

Prospective tenants must complete adetailed application form and give formalphotographic evidence of identification.

A minimum of three qualifying referencesmust be supplied.

Details are given to the landlord for consid-eration, and if a landlord wants to meet theapplicant, this is arranged.

If the landlord accepts the applicant,McDonalds arrange for a full tenant refer-ence check to be carried out.

If a guarantor is recommended, a creditcheck is also required.

Should either credit check show anythingadverse, the landlord is advised, and decidesif the application is to proceed.

Before anyone moves in, a detailed invento-ry of the furnishings and condition of theproperty is prepared, photographs taken, and

all defects noted. This is signed by both land-lord and tenant.

A comprehensive Assured ShortholdTenancy Lease is prepared which willinclude clauses required by the landlord.

The first month’s rent has to be paid inadvance, and McDonald Property Rentals asstakeholder under the Tenancy DepositScheme hold a bond equal to one month’srent.

McDonalds take meter readings and informall the services that the tenancy has started.

Statements showing all income and expen-diture are sent out on a monthly basis to alllandlords.

Quotations from reliable tradesmen will beobtained for any work required to a property.If a landlord wants his own tradesmen to dothe work, this is not a problem.

During the term of the tenancy, a propertymanager will call at the property on a regu-lar basis and carry out an inspection. Areport is then prepared and sent to the land-lord.

Any legal notices to terminate a tenancywill be prepared and served on the tenant.

McDonald Property Rentals work on a NoLet No Fee basis.

Call one of their three offices and find outmore about our friendly, professional servicethat you can trust.

It’s the best move you’ll make.www.blackpoollettingagents.co.uk -

[email protected]

A truly professional renting serviceresidential properties and are proud of theprofessional service offered to both landlordsand tenants

The company have three prominent lettingcentres, at Blackpool, Cleveleys andFleetwood.

The staff of 12 receive ongoing professionaltraining from the Association of ResidentialLetting Agents, now part of the NationalFederation of Property Professionals, who arecommitted to raising the standards within theletting and property management profession.

Additionally, in-house training is given oncustomer service.

McDonalds offer one of the largest selectionof rental properties on the Fylde coast, witheven more properites becoming available.

They also manage properties in Preston andLancaster.

It’s very important for landlords to investi-gate a company before they instruct an agent.There are agents who don’t have any qualifica-tions whatsoever.

These companies are not members of anyprofessional organisation, and thereforethere’s no control over rents or bonds received.

Some may only have a PO Box address, or noaddress visible address at all, in some casesonly an e–mail address.

Anyone who wants to ensure that their prop-erty, and their interests are looked after is welladvised to contact an established company, notjust an individual who could be treating prop-erty management as a part-time job.

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2266 www.propertytoday.co.ukaaddvveerrttiisseerr ffooccuussThursday, February 5, 2009propertytoday

TThhee kkeeyy ttoo ssuucccceessssPLACE2LET strongly believe that one ofthe ways to rent properties speedily andefficiently is through effective advertis-ing.

That is why the company has ear-marked a substantial amount of expendi-ture for a high profile advertising cam-paign over the coming year in TheGazette with their two-page and some-times three-page advertisements.

Additionally, they have recently spon-sored The Gazette Business CommunityDirectory which went out to over 38,000households, with Place2let prominentlysituated on the front and back covers andinside the publication.

Place2let have also just recentlylaunched their new state-of-the-art web-site www.place2let.co.uk which compris-es all their properties with detaileddescriptions and photographs.

It also features maps, aerial views,landlords’ and tenants’ frequently askedquestions, terms and conditions and thefacility for prospective tenants to emailand book viewings and landlords todownload information packs and muchmore.

The site took three months to con-struct and has become an instant successwith both tenants and landlords alikebecause of its content and user friendlyqualities.

Place2let believe the key to a success-ful business is strongly linked with bothimaginative and creative advertisingwhich they will continue to do.

EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING: Place2Let staff are ready to help with property rental and (left) the office in Highfield Road, South Shore



EExxtteenndd ffllaattlleeaasseess nnoowwTHE Law Society is advisingflat owners with long leases totake advantage of lower prop-erty values and extend theirleases.

The society says that leasesshould be extended now, as theproperty value is a very signif-icant factor in determining thecost of extending the lease orbuying the freehold.

Law Society President PaulMarsh, explained: “Flatowners could actually benefitfrom the lower prices in themarket.

“Most leases run for 99 years,but once they have less than 80years left to run, the cost ofbuying a lease extensionincreases significantly.

“However, it is possible toextend the lease and it ischeaper to do so when themarket values are low, as the

cost of extending is partlydetermined by the value of theproperty.

“Extending the lease couldmake it more saleable, soleaseholders should contacttheir solicitors and look intoextending their term, even ifthey are not planning on sell-ing straight away.

“Delaying it could hit flatowners with a double wham-my. When property prices goup and the length of time lefton the lease has gone down, itwill be more expensive toextend it.”

Once a leaseholder has beenin the property for two yearsthey have a right to extend theterm.

However, there are circum-stances whereby extending theleasehold might not be possi-ble.

The Law Society says that aproperty solicitor will be ableto advise on this.

As banks and other lenderscontinue to restrict lending,anyone wishing to sell theirleasehold will find buyersharder to come by. Extendingthe lease is likely to help theircause.

Mr Marsh added: “Lendersare reluctant to lend to abuyer purchasing a shortlease, as mortgages tend torequire the lease to be at leasttwo-and-a-half times thelength of the loan.

“A lender is unlikely to offera 25-year loan on a lease thathas 35 years to run. Sellerswith longer leaseholds couldsee more interest from poten-tial buyers who stand a muchgreater chance of obtaining aloan.”

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2299www.propertytoday.co.uk Thursday, February 5, 2009iinntteerriioorrss propertytoday

TRUE romantics will argue thatValentine’s Day, while fun, is not themost romantic day of the year.

They believe the real “aaah”moments are the spontaneous onesthat make you realise you’re trulywith your soul mate.

It’s usually when the person youlove has done something touching,quirky, sweet or funny, rather thanhanding over a predictable bunch offlowers and a soppy card.

That said, there’s surely nothingwrong with making your home aplace where – if love comes knock-ing – it’s welcomed by indulging insome heart-warming touches.

You could add a heart-shapedcushion here or there, some prettychina decorated with pink hearts, orperhaps an attention grabbingLOVE wall print to send out themessage loud and clear.

Who knows, it might even encour-age those adorable spur-of-themoment romantic gestures – fromcompliments through to declara-tions of affection or undying love.

Even if you’re not celebrating“V” day, some romantically inclinedhome goodies will help to turn yourrooms into the cosy, lift-your-spiritssanctuaries that they should be.

Take your pick from our “set yourheart fluttering” treats for thehome.

FUN & FLIRTYIf you’re just taking your first

steps into a relationship, be carefulto use a light touch with thoseromantic home gestures – a roomdripping with hearts could be tooheavy at this stage!

Drop tiny hints about your feel-ings by popping a cushion embla-zoned with the word LOVE on yoursofa. Next’s square red one withwhite letters is £10, while Coffee &Cream’s chic brown leather cushionwith Love on it is £68.

Or just let the heart shape do thetalking with the red or creamValentine cushion, £30 from Not OnThe High Street.

If you’re planning the “why don’tyou come in for coffee?” moment,set out a few sweet treats on aheart-shaped hammered silver dish,£32 from Debenhams.

But they’re really not getting themessage, designer EmmaBridgewater has come to the rescue.

What could be more appropriatethan her mug bearing the message IHad A Really Nice Dream LastNight? The punchline on the base ofthe mug reads: Of You.

Don’t forget to turn the lightsdown low and woo by candlelight.Heart & Parcel has a selection ofpretty tea-light holders, which startat around £6.50 each.

WOOING AND DATINGKeep true love on track by sur-

prising him with seductive surpris-es every now and then.

He’ll know that you love his callsif you receive them on a super sexytelephone shaped like a pair of lus-cious red lips. The Lips phone is£34.25 from Graham & Green. (Andit could also make sitting staring atthe phone waiting for his calls a lotmore appealing too!)

You could spell out your feelingsby arranging gorgeous gold ceramicLOVE letters on a mantelpiece, or ifyou’re confident love is here to stay,display a red LOVE wall sticker, £25.Both are from Next.

Pretty heart-shaped features areperfect for a feminine bedroom. Agilded heart in gold or silver fromGraham & Green is £7.83, while awooden heart-shaped mirror is £179from Barker & Stonehouse.

Choose from a pink and whiteHearts Teapot, £39.95 from EmmaBridgwater (matching cups andsaucers available), or a Red Heartsset from T&G’s Dotty Designs col-lection at Amaroni (teapot, £14.95and mugs, £8.99 for a set of two).Either could be ideal for those cosybreakfasts together.

If you think it’s time for things toget a little more serious, a carved

walnut key bear-ing the words:“This is the key tomy heart” won’t leavehim in any doubt aboutyour commitment. It’s byRob Ryan and costs £29 atLiberty.

SERIOUS SEDUCINGIf you’re totally head-over-

heels about him or her, or are sim-ply in love with romance, you’ll findit hard to resist fabulous pieces thatcelebrate seduction.

Set pulses racing – even if it doesdent your bank balance – with ashow-stopping red Vitra heart-shaped chair, £1,551, or opt for themore affordable Kiss Chair. Its back-rest is decorated with red lips andthe word Kiss, £299 from Digetex.

Hang up a red and white LOVEprint, £45, from Bodie & Fou, andperch on a heart-shaped BerlinTall Heart Pouf, £480 from myde-co.

Get up close and personal andimmortalise your lips on a KISS por-trait. Simply use a lip-print collec-tion kit, which includes a MAC lip-stick and sheets of paper that you“kiss” and then send back to mak-ers DNA 11. There’s a huge vari-ety of colour combinations tochoose from for a canvas thatstarts at £200 for 51x51cm size(20x20“).

ROMANTIC SOURCES■ Amaroni: 01285 260 384/www.ama-roni.com■ Barker & Stonehouse: 01642 230988/www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk■ Bodie & Fou: 0117 9714011/www.bodieandfou.com■ Emma Bridgewater: 020 73715489/www.emmabridgewater.co.uk■ Coffee & Cream: 08456 447 681/www.coffeeandcream.co.uk■ Debenhams: 08445 616161/www.debenhams.com■ Digetex: www.digetex.com■ DNA 11: www.dna11.co.ukGraham & Green: 0845 1306622/www.grahamandgreen.co.uk■ Heart & Parcel: 01252 621145/www.heartandparcel.co.uk■ Liberty: 020 7734 123/www.liber-ty.co.uk■ My Deco: www.mydeco.comNext: www.next.co.uk■ Not On The High Street:www.notonthehighstreet.com

SITTING PRETTY: Red Vitra heart-shapedchair, £1,551, or opt for the moreaffordable Kiss Chair. Its backrest isdecorated with red lips and the wordKiss, £299 from Digetex

LOOKING GLASS: Mirror £179, console £399and chair £849, from Barker & Stone

TEA FOR TWO: Ceramic Red Hearts rangefrom the T&G Woodware Dotty Designscollection at Amaroni

LIP SMACKER: Phone is £34.25 from Graham & GreenLOVE CANDY: Art print, £45 fromBodie & Fou


BBrruusshh uupp oonncchheeaapp ppaaiinnttGET HANDYWe all like a bargain, especiallyin these economically toughtimes, and here’s one forDIYers.

Homebase is offering threefor two (buy any three tins andget the cheapest free) on allDulux paints in store until 17March this year. The offerexcludes testers, Pure BrilliantWhite, discounted lines, paintmixing and PaintPod paint, butis still good value if you havedecorating to do and yourheart’s set on a Dulux shade.See www.homebase.co.uk foryour nearest store.

ASK THE EXPERT...

Q I’m trying to put a clock upin my living room, but the

wall’s too hard to bang a pic-ture hook into. Any ideas?

ATry a reasonably sized nail,a more substantial alterna-

tive to the picture hook pins. Ifthis doesn’t work, try a screw(and Rawlplug) and drive it in

with a good electric screwdriv-er, which should be powerfulenough to penetrate the wall.Remember to use a cable andpipe detector on the wall firstso you don’t accidentally bangor screw through any wires orpipes.

SEASONAL TASK...The weather’s gone Siberian, socheck that your radiators areworking properly and warm allover when turned on. If a radi-ator’s cold at the top, this usual-ly means there’s air inside thatneeds expelling by bleeding theradiator with a small screw-driver or radiator key, depend-ing on the type of bleed valve.If other parts of the radiatorare cold, look up the problemonline or in a good DIY bookand if you can’t solve it your-self, get a reputable plumber in.TOP TIPS FOR... paintingradiators■ Most metal paints can beused on radiators, but you

should ideally use special heat-proof radiator paint, otherwiseyou may have problems withthe colour changing over timedue to the heat, especiallywhite and off-white, which tendto yellow.■ Spray paints are a good ideabecause they dry quickly andmake getting a good finish onconventional panel-style radia-tors relatively easy. They’realso good for touching up radia-tors (providing the colour is thesame), but you could end upgetting through a lot of cans ifyou’re painting radiators fromscratch.■ You should also paint theradiator pipes when the radia-tors are turned off. Again, useheatproof radiator paint toavoid discolouration.Remember to use masking tapearound the holes in the floor orwall and be careful about thepaint splattering as you workaround the pipe with yourpaintbrush.

ddiiyy


FFiinndd yyoouurr ddrreeaamm hhoommee

Kenilworth Gardens,South Shore

Little Poulton Gardens,Poulton

BBrroooommhheeaaddss ((0011225533)) 229922222222

Five bedroom detached

AAlllliitttt ((0011225533)) 889900669900

Modern family home

££338844,,995500cciirrccaa

££330000,,000000

Stonemasons Court,Talbot Road, Blackpool

MMccDDoonnaalldd aanndd CCoommppaannyy ((0011225533)) 339988449988

Superb first floor flat

££6611,,995500 North Park Drive,Blackpool

EEnnttwwiissttllee GGrreeeenn ((0011225533)) 662233551111

Detached with golf club views££667744,,995500

A substantial detached house in a convenient loca-tion, close to transport links, schools, shops andamenities. It has a lounge, dining room, third recep-tion room/bedroom, wc, conservatory, hydrotherapyroom, five further bedrooms and a family bathroom.There is ample off road parking space and a garage.The large rear garden is mainly laid to lawn with bor-ders and a patio.

An imposing, modern detached family home situatedon a sought-after development, within easy reach ofPoulton centre. There is a hallway, wc, lounge,kitchen open to a conservatory, utility room, fourbedrooms, bathroom and en-suite shower room.There is an open plan front garden with a lawn andshrubs. The rear garden is landscaped and has apatio.

This superbly presented first floor flat is being sold ona 50 per cent shared ownership. A communal entrancehall and staircase lead to a private entrance into theflat which benefits from Economy Seven heating anddouble glazing and has accomodation briefly compris-ing: hallway, lounge, dining kitchen, bedroom andbathroom. There is a private parking space and com-munal garden areas.

A well presented substantial detached house boastingviews over Blackpool Golf Club. Approached throughelectric gates and a low maintenance front gardenwith a driveway to the a double garage, there is avestibule, hallway, wc, lounge, dining room, kitchenwith utility space, shower room and five bedrooms,two with en-suite facilities. To the side of the propertythere is a lawned garden and there is a flagged yard tothe rear.

3322 www.propertytoday.co.ukpprrooppeerrttyy ffooccuussThursday, February 5, 2009propertytoday

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