Latest news with #JonathanRolande
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The 12 ways you're slashing £100,000 off the value of your home – and what you can do to boost price by £20,000
HOMEOWNERS could be wiping more than £100k off the value of their property by failing to spot buyer turn-offs. Garden gnomes may seem harmless but can bring down property prices by £12,000, according to Churchill Home Insurance. 11 Property expert Jonathan Rolande says: 'You can accidentally reduce the price of your home by tens of thousands with seemingly innocent improvements or garden features. 'Before making any changes to your home, remember they can significantly impact value. 'Always bear in mind the everlasting truth about the housing market: First impressions are non-negotiable.' Here, the property valuer and former estate agent, who has 25 years' experience, reveals the shocking ways homeowners are accidentally sabotaging their own sales by knocking off more than £100,000 in value . . . BOLD COLOURS - £8,000 Exterior paint represents one of the most significant value destroyers of your home and could devalue your pad by £8,000. Properties painted in bold, unconventional colours consistently struggle to sell as buyers factor in repainting costs and question the owner's overall decision making. Buyers want move-in-ready properties that need no immediate work. With more than 95 per cent of home searches beginning online, appearance will make the difference between a buzz of interest and a property flop. OVERGROWN ANIMAL TOPIARY – £6,000 11 Overgrown hedges shaped like animals may seem charming but they trim property values too. The topiary displays suggest high maintenance for a new buyer and can indicate an eccentric character who may not appeal to mainstream buyers as they will wonder what quirks will be revealed inside the home. Add £20k to your house value with these budget hacks FAKE GRASS – £7,500 11 Gardens filled with a faux lawn or plastic plants may seem a good idea but devalue homes by up to £7,500. Although artificial landscaping eliminates maintenance, it raises questions about property upkeep standards. Buyers could find it off-putting as more people seek environmentally friendlier homes. Fake grass comes with a significant carbon footprint plus it has been proven to cause microplastic shedding. DRIVEWAY DISASTERS – £4,000 The driveway is one of the first things a potential buyer will see. If it doesn't look sleek, tidy and easy to maintain, this can be ruinous for your selling price. Driveways covered in artificial turf present practical concerns of how to park a vehicle, alongside aesthetic concerns, typically reducing values by £4,000. Driveways that are covered with oil stains and strewn with spare car parts will also trigger a value cut. Mess will ruin estate agent photos and surveyors might alert the buyer to ground-contamination issues and the fact there are likely to be neighbour disputes. TINSEL TIMING – £10,000 11 Still got a life-size Santa or Rudolph on your roof? Get Father Christmas farther away, as year-round decorations potentially wipe off £10,000. Tinsel in July suggests poor property maintenance, or a home that has been sitting on the market since December. Anything that raises questions like this needs to be given a festive fling into the tip. DON'T BE A LOO-SER – £15,000 For a property to reach its top asking price, you need to make it appealing to every buyer who sees it on your estate agent's books. To do this, it needs to have no quirks — and the top one that will leave the seller far from flush is a Portaloo or outdoor toilet. A lav in the garden can create such a strong buyer reaction that it could slash £12,000 to £15,000. PLAYGROUND PITFALL – £15,000 11 You want your little ones to have a fun place to play. But with my knowledge of the property market, I would warn you not to turn outside spaces into a kiddy kingdom. Front gardens converted into play areas typically reduce property values by £15,000. While family-friendly features sell, front garden play equipment creates an impression of overcrowding and a lack of space. 5 Tips to Get on The Property Ladder Saving for your first property is tough, but it is possible. Here are a few steps for first-time buyers. 1. Cut back on luxuries and start saving Consistent monthly saving is the best way to accumulate enough money to get on the ladder, for a deposit and purchase fees. To do this, you need to take a look at your monthly outgoings and think about what can be cut out - holidays, new clothes, weekly takeaway. Using a savings calculator can help you to establish how long you will need to save for a deposit. Based on your income, you can figure out a realistic amount to save each month. 2. Have a realistic property search Set a budget for the property price you would like to buy, and think realistically about the location and size of your property. While we all may want that house with a view or extra bedroom, can you afford it? 3. Research Help To Buy and Shared Ownership schemes The government has introduced a few ways to help first-time-buyers get on the property ladder and they're great for those on lower incomes or to buy a property in more expensive areas like London. 4. Consider buying with another person Investing with somebody else you know is a sure way to get onto the property ladder. You only need to save half the amount you would otherwise, so you can work towards getting your property sooner. You can invest with a friend, family or partner. Naturally, it is a big step and a huge commitment so be open and honest about what you expect from living together — if you haven't already. 5. Talk to a mortgage broker and get your documents in order A mortgage broker can tell you exactly how much you can borrow for a mortgage, what you will need to pay monthly and in upfront costs. GRAVE ERROR – £15,000 11 Many Brits have graves for beloved pets in their gardens, but this is a huge no-no. While Fido's final resting place is poignant to you, to others it screams creepiness — think author Stephen King's bone-chilling novel Pet Sematary. Animal graveyards in gardens could wipe off £15,000, as buyers will not want your sad memories ruining their new start. Also, burial plots should never be in contact with any water sources and must be a minimum of three feet deep. An improperly dug pet burial can land you a fine of £5,000. DRAB DOORS – £4,000 When it comes to kerb appeal, your front door does the talking. So as you reach for that paintbrush, consider colours. Entrances swathed in unappealing hues like muted brown typically cost £4,000 in lost value. Conversely, the property website found blue is the most valuable front door shade and can add a whopping £4,000 to your house price. HOUSE NUMBER HAVOC – £3,500 Having a house number is essential for legal and practical reasons. While you have no control over your door number (some can be perceived as more desirable than others by certain buyers for superstitious reasons), you can choose how to optimally present it. Something as simple as the house number being displayed in glittery fairy lights can reduce prices by £3,500 as people do not want the hassle of replacing something that is not to their taste. SHED SHOW-OFF – £5,500 Filling your garden shed with personal things is a given and not an issue value-wise, just don't add your personality to the outside. Garden sheds decorated artistically, with graffiti-style art, will typically devalue properties by £5,500. The market consistently proves that difference doesn't sell. Buyers like what is considered the norm. GARDEN GNO GO – £12,000 Neighbours who put gnomes in their front garden reduce the prices of surrounding houses by £12,000 — while placing the ornaments in your own garden has the same effect. Anything that detracts from the size and tidiness of the garden is directly reflected in a lowering of price. It is not just the fantasy statues that bring sales down. The same goes for decrepit sheds or summer houses, a broken lawn mower in view or even a tatty kids' swing. My top advice is: If you are selling, then tidy that yard. TOTAL LOSS: £105,500 ....How to get back in profit BOOST your property value in hours with these great tips from Jonathan . . . MOW THE LAWN – adds £3,000 CUTTING grass, trimming hedges and cleaning weeds from paths makes your home look loved from the moment a potential buyer sets eyes on it. JET WASH DRIVEWAY – adds £2,000 IN just an hour, you can remove years of household grime with a borrowed pressure washer. It will give that all-important first impression of a home that is ready to move into. HANGING BASKETS or PLANT POTS – adds £2,000 HOMES along a street often look similar, but by splashing £20 out on a couple of brightly coloured hanging baskets or pots filled with hydrangeas, your house will stand out from the rest. FRESHEN WALLS – adds £4,000 HOUSES can look scruffy to new eyes, so paint high foot-traffic areas like halls, stairs and landings to smarten them up. Remove stickers and remnants of Blu Tac from kids' bedrooms. RESEAL/SCRUB GROUT – adds £2,000 THERE may be nothing wrong with your bathroom and kitchen – from your point of view. But tiny dots of mould and grime jump out at buyers and it's a simple job to fix them. NEW LIGHT SWITCHES – adds £600 YOU can buy light switches for less than a fiver from DIY stores and they can lift a room hugely. If you don't want to fork out for an electrician, just add some clip-on covers that can cost as little as £2. UP THE ECO ANTE – adds £6,000 LOW energy bulbs and loft insulation add value by boosting your Energy Performance Certificate rating. This is the measure of a building's energy efficiency and knowing it's low is a win for new owners. WASH WINDOWS – adds £400 CLEAN windows allow natural light to flood your home, making it appear brighter and more spacious to potential buyers. There is also a huge amount of kerb appeal to a house that literally sparkles.
The Irish Sun
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I built a hobbit house on wheels for £200 & now have zero bills – it's only 13ft long & my roof comes from an old pigsty
A SAVVY man has built himself a hobbit house on wheels for just £200. And now, the bargain hunter who is on a mission to 2 A DIY fan has shared how he built himself a hobbit house for just £200 Credit: 2 The man, who lives an off-grid lifestyle and doesn't pay any rent or bills, explained that he used bits from an old pigsty and a stable to create his tiny pad Credit: Eager to show off his off-grid lifestyle, the content creator who posts online under the username 'The Grow Co', gave his followers a close-up look at his home, which he made using bits from an old pigsty and a stable. In a bid to He described his home as 'possibly one of the smallest trailers you would have seen' and revealed that he has spent the last six months living inside this trailer, whilst travelling around the UK and through Wales. While the main section of the trailer is 8ft long by 4ft wide, in total, the small home is just 13ft long, which he claims is 'absolutely tiny for a house.' Read more on tiny homes He even made a large storage box on the back of the hobbit house, which he uses as a shed to store his tools. But he isn't bothered by the size of his pad, as he shared: 'I've spent the last six months living inside of that The DIY fan then explained how he made the Not only this, but he then confirmed: 'The roofing sheets are really thick, the big industrial sort of ones, these were from an old pigsty. Most read in Fabulous 'The glass in the window used to be a shelf from an old glass display unit.' The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ World's Tiniest Home It's also amassed 2,777 likes and 224 comments. Social media users were left stunned by the man's The rise of tiny homes By Jonathan Rolande Property expert : The reason we are seeing more creative ways of finding a home: super-high property prices and rents. Younger people are remaining in the family home later in life to avoid paying high prices and to save for a deposit. With increasingly busy lives, staying within a larger family group makes sense, chores such as gardening and housework can be shared. Garages are rarely used for their intended purpose as cars are far more reliable and less prone to rust and so are perfectly happy outside. On the other hand, the amount of property space per person has been shrinking – converting a garage can make great sense. Things to consider. (the boring stuff) Usually easier than building from scratch but still a lot to do to turn a garage in to a habitable space. You'll need to check if you need planning (more likely to be required if the garage is detached). Building Regulations stipulate many things to make homes safe and secure. Consider Walls, are they cavity? Roof height Windows How will you get plumbing, electrics and drainage connected Insulation – it will be cold! Fire safety Damp proofing Also consider if, by converting, you are adding or deducting value from the main home. Garages can add value in busy urban areas where parking is limited. One person said: 'Wow this is fantastic, well done you. I wish all the homeless people could have one.' Another added: 'Looks amazing!' Good for you! I thought it was a chicken coop at first! TikTok user A third commented: 'Well done! This is the way forward.' At the same time, one user wrote: 'Love it, really love to see inside.' Meanwhile, someone else penned: 'Good for you! I thought it was a chicken coop at first!' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Mega posh tent is being sold for £36K that makes the perfect, tiny home – it comes with a hot tub, cinema & pizza oven
WE all know that getting on the property ladder isn't an easy task. It's led to an increase in people seeking alternative lifestyles, from converting vans to living in sheds, and now there's another option available. 3 3 Even tents can be turned into a luxury living space, and the Redberth Gardens holiday site has proven it. Currently, there is a posh tent on sale at the camping site which costs an eye-watering £36,000. And while the price may seem high for a tent, a closer look reveals why it costs so much. The glamorous tent comes with a hot tub, outdoor cinema and an al fresco pizza oven. The moonlight dome tent is located near the seaside resort of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, and takes glamping"to a completely different level." The incredible tent is fully kitted out inside with a fully working kitchen and giant bathroom with a waterfall shower. The tent has been decorated in a sleek and modern design, using natural wood and black finishes to add a touch of understated glam. And outside is just as impressive, the tent features a patio equipped with a large hot tub to enjoy summer evenings. There's also an outdoor kitchen with lots of storage space and a pizza oven for entertaining guests. Sean Roper, of South Wales-based Paul Fosh Auctions, is selling the tent. 3 Charlotte's Budget DIY Spare Room Transformation He said: "Accommodating a maximum of four guests, with one double bed and a sofa bed, the dome has a private shower room and a fully fitted kitchen. "It's served by an enclosed external decking area with outdoor furniture and sunken seating area with projector screen and swing. "There's also an ice barrel and a very useful al fresco pizza oven. "This turnkey investment is being sold with all internal and external furniture and fittings, including a quite awesome sunken hot tub. "It also has a gorgeous seating area with a fire pit and BBQ for guests to enjoy. "The property is fully managed and what's more there are onward bookings. "As an example of what can be achieved with bookings for the moonlight dome tent last year generated £51,426." And when you don't have guests, you can also stay in the tent and turn it into the perfect tiny home. Most campsites do not offer residential living so you will have to have a permanent address elsewhere and vacate the tent every few months or so (depending on that particular camp's regulations). The tent is listed for sale at Paul Fosh Auctions from 12pm on May 20 to 5pm on May 22. The rise of tiny homes By Jonathan Rolande Property expert Jonathan Rolande told Fabulous: The reason we are seeing more creative ways of finding a home: super-high property prices and rents. Younger people are remaining in the family home later in life to avoid paying high prices and to save for a deposit. With increasingly busy lives, staying within a larger family group makes sense, chores such as gardening and housework can be shared. Garages are rarely used for their intended purpose as cars are far more reliable and less prone to rust and so are perfectly happy outside. On the other hand, the amount of property space per person has been shrinking – converting a garage can make great sense. Things to consider. (the boring stuff) Usually easier than building from scratch but still a lot to do to turn a garage in to a habitable space. You'll need to check if you need planning (more likely to be required if the garage is detached). Building Regulations stipulate many things to make homes safe and secure. Consider Walls, are they cavity? Roof height Windows How will you get plumbing, electrics and drainage connected Insulation – it will be cold! Fire safety Damp proofing Also consider if, by converting, you are adding or deducting value from the main home. Garages can add value in busy urban areas where parking is limited.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I moved out of my mum's basement to live in my car – it's helped me save £45k in six months because I work in here too
A MAN has revealed how he ditched his parent's house to live in a car instead. Michael Hickey, from the US, took to social media to reveal he was spreading his wings to make his own way in life. 2 The 24-year-old revealed he had moved out of his mum's basement as he was 'too old' to be doing that anymore and decided to live in his tiny car. While living in the tiny car, he also took on a job as delivery man, meaning he works, lives and sleeps in the tiny space. He used a large sleeping bag to keep himself warm and had a fan to cool him down. Taking to TikTok he said: "I'm living in my car trying to save $60,000 in six months. "It's day 143 and so far I've saved $57,300, (£45,000). After waking up in his car and taking off his window covers it was time to start work. "After I take my window covers down and get my car driveable, it's straight to doing deliveries," he explained. He first went to do an Instacart delivery and he also works for DoorDash and Uber Eats. Michael revealed he was spending his day constantly working, as well as earning money through social media, so that he could buy himself a tiny home. He also revealed he planned to buy his mum a new car once he got his tiny home. *SINGLE USE* Watch as couple living in a tent reveal they've saved thousands "I've decided for my next money-saving challenge, I'm going to buy my mum a car by DoorDashing every day and living in my car," he added. "Once I'm done with the tiny home build it's right back to the grind." The clip posted to his TikTok account @ themichaelhickey has since gone viral with over 7 million views and people were quick to support him in his journey. The rise of tiny homes By Jonathan Rolande Property expert Jonathan Rolande told Fabulous: The reason we are seeing more creative ways of finding a home: super-high property prices and rents. Younger people are remaining in the family home later in life to avoid paying high prices and to save for a deposit. With increasingly busy lives, staying within a larger family group makes sense, chores such as gardening and housework can be shared. Garages are rarely used for their intended purpose as cars are far more reliable and less prone to rust and so are perfectly happy outside. On the other hand, the amount of property space per person has been shrinking – converting a garage can make great sense. Things to consider. (the boring stuff) Usually easier than building from scratch but still a lot to do to turn a garage in to a habitable space. You'll need to check if you need planning (more likely to be required if the garage is detached). Building Regulations stipulate many things to make homes safe and secure. Consider Walls, are they cavity? Roof height Windows How will you get plumbing, electrics and drainage connected Insulation – it will be cold! Fire safety Damp proofing Also consider if, by converting, you are adding or deducting value from the main home. Garages can add value in busy urban areas where parking is limited. Another commented: 'doordashing sucks so bad I can barely make it 3 hours a time, 12 hours is insane." "Commenting so you make money," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Seriously, I showed this to my son. He's 11, but we talk all the time about the importance of working for what you want. You are killing it!! I'm hanging on till I can see the tiny home!!" "I'm so mad that I didn't think to do this before I had a kid man. I coulda been making so much loot if I just got over my pride,' claimed a fifth. power to save."
The Sun
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
I live in one of the world's smallest cars – I couldn't afford to retire if not… but toilet situation is a disaster
THE trend of people ditching traditional homes for van life is skyrocketing. With freedom, minimalism, and serious cash savings on offer, it's no wonder more are hitting the road. 4 4 Savvy pensioner Kai has sidestepped the housing crisis by converting her Smart car into a unique home on wheels. She explained her reasoning for stuffing her belongings into the cramped motor and living life in the driver's seat. "I wanted to retire at 65 and I couldn't afford it," she revealed to CheapRVLiving. "I need to wait until I'm 70 to have social security. "I discovered that I actually could lie flat in here and took everything that I needed. "I already had the car and she gets 55 miles a gallon." Kai gets her 40 winks by reclining the passenger seat with her head almost against the windshield. She packed in two small air mattresses while assuring skeptics that the unorthodox approach is comfortable. However, there is no kitchen and no bathroom. Kai utilises a packed tub of pine-scented cat litter to do her business. I saved $60k to buy my 'dream' home in less than 5 months - I slept in my car and spent just $2 each day And when the pensioner gets peckish, a modest-sized storage space is easily accessible in the boot, where kitchen staples are kept. That's everything from kitchen utensils and a tiny stove to food, clothes, and car parts. There's a three-gallon water tank in front of the passenger seat, and Kai keeps some personal hygiene products there as well. "You have to be a little bit agile to do this," Kai admitted. Am I legally allowed to live in my car in the UK? The simple answer is yes, you can. In the UK, you are legally allowed to live in your c ar — just so long as you follow a few rules. The only requirement is that your car has passed its MOT and is entirely road-legal. If legally parked, there aren't rules against sleeping or living in a car. When would I not be allowed to live in my car? There are certain circumstances in which it's not legal to sleep in a car in the UK. Firstly, you must be in a safe parking spot, not in violation of any parking restrictions. Certain car parks, lay-bys, and national parks and forests have restrictions on overnight parking, which means you can't sleep there in a vehicle. If restrictions are broken, you could be fined or even have your vehicle towed. Secondly, you must not be above the legal drink-drive limit or under the influence of any drugs, if you intend to sleep in your car. If over the limit, you could be charged with being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle in a public place, even if you're not driving. The ban on sleeping in your car when you're drunk comes under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The rule says you can be found guilty of an offence if in charge of a vehicle on a road or public place 'after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit'. 4 4 The rise of tiny homes By Jonathan Rolande Property expert Jonathan Rolande told Fabulous: The reason we are seeing more creative ways of finding a home: super-high property prices and rents. Younger people are remaining in the family home later in life to avoid paying high prices and to save for a deposit. With increasingly busy lives, staying within a larger family group makes sense, chores such as gardening and housework can be shared. Garages are rarely used for their intended purpose as cars are far more reliable and less prone to rust and so are perfectly happy outside. On the other hand, the amount of property space per person has been shrinking – converting a garage can make great sense. Things to consider. (the boring stuff) Usually easier than building from scratch but still a lot to do to turn a garage in to a habitable space. You'll need to check if you need planning (more likely to be required if the garage is detached). Building Regulations stipulate many things to make homes safe and secure. Consider Walls, are they cavity? Roof height Windows How will you get plumbing, electrics and drainage connected Insulation – it will be cold! Fire safety Damp proofing Also consider if, by converting, you are adding or deducting value from the main home. Garages can add value in busy urban areas where parking is limited.
