New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions
January 13, 2022

Fancy a change? Want to leave 2021 behind? We do too. What are some of your New Year’s resolutions for 2022?

Have your Home Revalued

A great way to start is to get your home revalued.

Sell your home with an agent you can trust - Us ;).

We know selling your property can be complex and we want to give you the best service possible with the minimum amount of fuss.

Our experienced and supportive team can help guide you through the sale and secure the right buyer.

Maximise Energy Performance (EPC)

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document that details the energy performance of a building. By making improvements and making your house more efficient you will end up saving money. 

If you are selling or renting out your property in Scotland, then you need an EPC. This is a legal requirement under the European Building Directive, and it is illegal to sell or rent property without one. Your Energy Performance Certificate will remain valid for a period of 10 years.

Consider a Maintenance Programme

Taking care of your home requires regular maintenance. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Check boiler pressure
  • Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Submit your gas and electric meter reading to avoid unexpected bills
  • Do a little garden maintenance
  • Repair as you go

Keep an eye out for our extensive Home Maintenance Checklist soon!

Do the little jobs 

  • Clear out your cupboards

Re-stock all your staples – flour, sugar, condiments and tinned goods – but as you do so clear out all the items you know you aren't going to use until next Christmas. The New Year is not the time to be hoarding half-opened jars of cranberry sauce or mincemeat so use it up now or lose it. If there are food items or other non-perishables that are still in date and you no longer use, donate them at your local food bank.

  • Get your Recycling in order

Make this the year when you really get to grips with recycling. Place bins and bags in a spot where they are easily reached, and if collection facilities are not readily available, try your local recycling centre.

  • Make Cleaning easy

It's easier to clean the bathroom, for instance, if cleaning materials are to hand, so keep a basic kit in every part of the home: bathroom, kitchen, etc. This will also save you time and effort and make an ongoing domestic routine much less of an overbearing burden.

Consider a Home Office 

There are a lot of advantages to working from home, not the least of which is a 30-second commute. And while many people think working from home means you can work on the couch, in the backyard, or even from your bed, in the end, you may find that you’re most productive at home when you work at a “proper” workstation.You know, the kind with a desk and a chair.

Setting up your home office means you’ve got a lot of choice and freedom. Want a purple and orange chair? Go for it! Want striped walls? Be our guest! But, no matter how you decorate, furnish, or set up your home office, we’ve got some tips that will help you create a space that contributes to your work from home success.

  • Find a good location

For some people, choosing a spot for their home office is easy. They’ve got an empty room that they use as dedicated office space. It can be an actual “office,” but many people use an empty bedroom or even the basement. However, not everyone has that kind of free space in their home. When space is tight, you must think creatively about your “office space.”

You can always use part of the kitchen table as your office space—if you don’t mind packing up your office before every meal. But resetting your office after every meal may not appeal to you. In that case, you may have to think about using what space you do have creatively. Check out unused corners in larger rooms, large (but empty) closets, or even under the stairs! There are plenty of spaces that can convert into a home office with a little bit of creativity.

  • Organisation is a must

If paperwork and important documents terrify you, don't make it too complicated this year. Simply take a pack of card document wallets and mark each one with categories, for example – 'gas', 'electricity', 'broadband', 'school'. Pop each letter or bill into the relevant file and find an accessible place to keep them all. Better still, opt for paperless billing whenever possible.

Because more of us are working from home, it wouldn't be too surprising if you've also built up a stash of work documents. Keep what you truly need, file alphabetically, and colour code documents if possible.

Dedicated storage options aren’t just good for the rest of your household items. They can also be used in your home office to house files, papers, stationery, and more. It doesn’t have to be large filing cabinets or huge desks and drawers. A simple cubby system with small bins could work. So could plastic storage tubs if you need to pack up your office at the end of the day. Even if you just clear a small area in an existing shelving unit and dedicate it to work items, you’ll immediately feel more organized.

It is important to invest in lockable file and storage cabinets if any information you are dealing with is sensitive. These don’t need to be boring and grey, there is still room for style and personality when picking out work furniture. 

  • Invest in the right furniture

A comfortable chair is the heart of a productive home office. You’ll spend nearly half your day on it. Investing in a good one will make a notable difference to your work life.

To find the right fit, pay attention to back, thigh and arm support. Also consider the material options and warranties offered, if any.

Why not consider a standing desk? A standing desk is exactly what you think: a tall desk where you work standing up. Most of these desks are height adjustable (i.e. you can lower/raise the height as needed). Some more expensive versions can even be converted into conventional sit-down desks on the fly.

A standing desk won’t magically transform your health, but it will improve productivity, focus, and heart health.

If you think your house has enough furniture or you’re not inclined to buy a standing desk, consider trying a standing desk extender. These desk extenders can also be adjusted by height and are often cheaper. They also allow you to turn any surface into a standing desk. It’s quite convenient when creating a home office for the first time: you can try different places to find the one that works best for you.

  • Plants

A few green plants will not only add some colour to your office space but also increase happiness and reduce stress. In fact, even a few plants can increase productivity by as much as 15%

Instead of choosing just any green plants, pick something that is easy to maintain and helps improve air quality. The spider plant, dracaena, Ficus and Boston fern are particularly well known for their air filtering qualities.

"I'd just like to add on behalf of the family....thanks very much to all of you at the Property Store for managing the rental really well over the last 3 years. You've made it all such an easy experience for us. I'll definitely recommend your services to others in the future"

  • - Gina Warrender

"I have been a client with The Property Store for over 10 years, in that time I have got to know them well and value the service they deliver. The team have great tradesmen (Jim in particular) who are available at short notice. The office girls are so friendly, knowledgeable and above all helpful. You will be happy to be one of their landlords."

  • Susan Rooney

My experience with The Property Store, East Kilbride : Right from the beginning of my tenancy The staff at The Property Store have been so helpful and always attended to any issue promptly and efficiently. Every member of Staff I dealt with was highly professional, knew their job inside out and were friendly. I would like to mention Rachel in particular who I dealt with the majority of times. She is excellent at her job and I would not hesitate to recommend The Property Store to anyone looking for reliable Estate Agents.

 

  • Karen
  • - - Tenant

"Can you pass thanks on to the landlord. I've enjoyed living in the house it's just unfortunate my hip condition has deteriorated and caused me to move. I hope the new tenants enjoy their new home. Thank you to property store for all the help and support. A very professional team. I would highly recommend you to others."

  • Helen
  • - Tenant

"I would highly recommend The Property Store, Lorraine and her team are highly professional and efficient. The can-do approach that nothing is too much trouble is exceptional. Managing all our properties remotely was a great help and enabled us to carry on with smooth project running. The team took the stress out of the process but with a personal touch."

  • Simon Brown
  • - Operations Manager at Global Wind Service

"The Property Store was fantastic in finding me a property. They really took such a personal approach to finding me a suitable flat and take great care to ensure its the right fit. The staff are very friendly and will do everything they can to help in anyway they can. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a property."

  • Debbie Fraser

"For some time I had been looking at further property development opportunities on a buy to let basis. As a landlord I had already been working successfully with the Property Store for a number of years and I took the opportunity to discuss this with them. Living remote from East Kilbride and having talked through my requirements it was clear that the most suitable option was for the Property Store to source, develop and let on a fully managed basis.

I have been very impressed with the speed that things have moved particularly how quickly the properties are upgraded and prepared for letting to the point where we have had tenants in advance of completion of works. As a result I have now added three properties in a matter of a few months.

As a remote landlord it is essential that you build confidence in the agents you are dealing with and the team at the Property Store have been excellent to deal with. They are a well-trained motivated team who know what they are doing.

The Property Store utilises the services of a number of key contractors with whom they have has a business relationship for many years. The contractors know the exacting requirements of owner Lorraine Robb and can be trusted to provide competitive quotes as well as completing works to a high standard. The Property Store fully inspect all works and provide regular feedback and are quick to take care of those small details that make all the difference.

I have no hesitation in recommending the Property Store to anyone considering a fully managed service from sourcing to redevelopment to letting."

  • Landlord and Investor

"From the time of meeting Lorraine and working with the team at The Property Store the customer service has been excellent and extremely professional."

  • - Fiona Kirk Landlord

"All of the staff are great, very professional, helpful and welcoming.
Made our journey very easy and stress free, would highly recommend them!!!
From viewing the property to handover of our keys everything was smooth, no issues and now have a very happy household
Thank you all for your help."

  • - Allyson

"Having previously rented accommodation with other letting agents in the area, The Property Store are miles ahead of the rest. Lovely maintained properties and professional and courteous staff. Highly recommend!"

  • Letting agents
  • - Claire Moran