Deciding to buy a brand new home is an exciting time. But as with any home purchase, there is a lot to think about. Here at Hot Property we get to meet a variety of experts who can offer a wealth of advice on a range of topics concerning your new home.
How to furnish your home
Helen Bygraves and Jenny Weiss of Hill House Interiors.
Don’t skimp on the curtain lining. It is worth spending that bit extra for quality lining.
Think of imaginative ways to add extra storage. For example, cubed boxed seats look great – but get them made or buy them so the lid opens up. Glass effect in the bathroom looks stunning but use sparingly because it is very expensive. Carry a folder of all the colours and material samples you have used. That way when you are out shopping you can perfectly match the different tones. If you have small or unusually shaped windows, it’s better to use shutters or Roman blinds rather than curtains. Never use long sweeping curtains in the hall – they will get trodden on and end up looking very messy. Use mirrors to make a room look bigger; with the lights out and candles lit, it will also give the room a lovely soft glow. If you reserve your new home at an early stage, work out where you think you will want your plug sockets and tell your builder. This will save on having to have wires on display.
What’s hot in interior design?
Carol Gearing, managing director of Inside Design Company.
There are a number of key trends to look out for in 2002, inspired by many diverse influences. We will see a more directional approach to urban living with sleek, graphic interiors juxtaposed against a growing interest in organic natural materials. As modern architecture becomes more environmentally aware and building practices continue to focus on green issues, so too continues a general interest in contemporary crafts. Think texture not colour when it comes to fabrics. For example raw linen, patchwork, hessian, felt, mohair and suede, all with soft fluid lines in calming neutral colours. Prominent tones will be dusky pinks, duck egg blue and silver grey. A strong sense of fashion will be felt as we move towards sophisticated couture fabrics and men’s suiting, (think the smart City-tailored looks of Terence Conran) in subtle pastels, olive green and taupe – forget black, we did that last year. The hard-edge of retro futurism will also make a welcome return featuring monochrome palettes, Latino reds and tangerine orange. Materials such as chrome, vinyl and plastic will also feature strongly.
How to create your perfect garden
Dave Clarke of Dave Clarke Landscapes prepares the gardens for Bellway Homes.
The most common mistake people make is rushing things. Before you lift a spade, decide on some important factors. Firstly, how much time do you want to spend looking after it? What do you want to use your garden for – eating out, a children’s play area or growing plants? And what is your overall design theme – traditional or modern? Having answered some of these questions, you will then have some idea where to start. If you wish to have a place to eat, you may want a patio. This is perhaps the most expensive item you will put into your garden, so position it carefully to catch the sun and make the most of the privacy available. I would advise putting down a patio with a concrete base as this gives it a solid surface and prevents shifting and lessens the chance of weeds creeping through. As an alternative to a lawn, you might want to consider a low-maintenance garden such as decking, gravel or stone chips. If you already have a lawn laid, look after it and avoid walking on it until it has rooted – which at some times of year could be up to six weeks. The lawn should be watered well when it is new – in the early morning or evening is best as watering in hot sun can damage the leaves. When designing a flowerbed, go for curves rather than straight lines and don’t get too fussy in a small space. Always plant tall plants at the back and smaller at the front. Read the labels closely and remember: just because a plant is small when you buy it, it doesn’t mean it will stay that way. All gardens should have a feature to act as a focal point: a specimen tree, a bench, birdbath, pond, pergola or something similar. Don’t make the mistake of having too many features because this will make the garden appear cluttered.
How to buy off-plan
Chris Crook, managing director of Countryside Residential North Thames.
You have to be very persistent with agents and developers and let them know exactly what you are looking for. Developers want to be assured that once you have found your home, you are in a position to proceed very quickly so have some evidence of this. As soon as you can, ask the developers for plans and drawings of the development and decide what plots you want to go for. But don’t let your heart rule your head and make sure you can definitely afford it – otherwise you will be wasting everyone’s time. Before you proceed, make sure that the information meets all your requirements. Think about what is important to you and don’t be afraid to ask questions. For example, if you have a car, where will you park it, and is it secure? Are the common parts privately managed and is the home north or south facing? Remember, when you buy off-plan you may have to live with building work. So if you have bought plot one of a 2000-unit site, make sure you find out about the developer’s safety record because building sites are potentially dangerous. This may seem like a lot to take on, but there are many advantages of buying off-plan. In a time of rapidly rising prices it’s a way of ‘freezing’ the asking price – the cost of a home tends to increase during the life of a development. Also you often get some degree of choice in the fixtures and fittings and some developers also offer a bespoke service.