Increase your curb appeal with these driveway tips

Increase your curb appeal with these driveway tips

If you’re trying to up the value of your home, the first place that you should look is upgrading your curb appeal. This is not about making sure that the exterior of your home looks good, but increasing curb appeal so that when people approach your house for a viewing, they immediately want to buy it.

Understanding how to increase your curb appeal, whether it’s with permeable pavers on your driveway or beautifully maintained shrubbery in your front yard, is going to help you to sell your home for a price that you’re seeking.

With that in mind, let’s look at how you can increase your curb appeal with these driveway tips that will make the front of your property stand out as an attractive one on the street.

  • Look at the edging. One of the best ways that you can ensure that your driveway looks great is by adding a curb and paver edging stones. Not only are these accessories as stylish as they come, but they can really add that finishing touch that makes it unique. Curb and paver edging stones come in a variety of materials, so you can use sandstone or limestone for that pale, lighter look, or you can use concrete for something with a little more depth. You can get these in a range of colours, too, so they can match the exterior of your home.
  • Let there be light. If you truly want to showcase your driveway, think about the lighting choices you have. Lights don’t just help to make your home look more attractive, they can help you to add that extra layer of security you’ve been looking for. If you’re coming home at nighttime, having your driveway illuminated and ready for you to see is also helpful so that you don’t end up crashing into your house. There are so many different styles and designs that you can choose from when it comes to driveway lighting, but brighter lighting is a great solution. This way, you can bring a qualified electrician to your home to make sure that the wiring and your lighting is safe.
  • Pick a pattern. Do you really want to make a good statement on your driveway? Establishing a pattern with paving installations can really help you to do that. Not only will you draw the eye, but you’ll add value, and that value could end up making sure that your home sells for a lot more. There are plenty of supplies out there who offer flags and pavers in eye-catching patterns, so choose someone who can come and lay that flat driveway for you in one piece.
  • Add a little greenery. For an eye-catching driveway that increases your curb appeal, think about how much greenery your current driveway has and add some more. If you don’t have decent trees, plants or hedging, it’s not going to be as attractive as it could be.

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Property spotlight: Smallholdings

Trewaddon Ganol, Blaenffos, Boncath SA37 0JS

When considering domestic property, it’s all about location, location, location. In the case of smallholdings, the size of the plot also matters. In this country, a smallholding can range from about an acre upwards in area. Living on one is often a lifestyle choice, taking the form of a hobby farm or a business providing glamping holidays offering accommodation in yurts, cabins or shepherd’s huts. In Scotland, this type of domestic building with bundled land is historically referred to as a croft.

Smallholdings are quite plentiful in the area of West Wales where we live – and are very affordable. Two of the three properties we’re featuring today are located here. If we were ever to move again, a smallholding would be my preferred choice of property; a few chickens, a pond, an acre or so that can be given over to fruit trees and a manageable veg plot is all I would require.

I’ve fallen in love with Penfeidr Cwm (below) and can see myself happily pottering about there!

Trewaddon Ganol, Blaenffos, Boncath SA37 0JS

Trewaddon Ganol, Blaenffos, Boncath SA37 0JS

Trewaddon Ganol, Blaenffos, Boncath SA37 0JS

£360,000 – Trewaddon Ganol, Blaenffos, Boncath SA37 0JS

Trewaddon Ganol is an attractive 2/3 bedroom stone house with no immediate neighbours, superb views over open countryside, huge future potential to extend into the attached barn (subject to any consents required) all set in just over half an acre of land and being very near to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

• Old world character & charm
• Set in just over half an acre
• Secluded and not overlooked
• Countryside views near Preseli Hills
• Huge future potential
• Attached two bay barn
• Near Pembs. Coast National Park

Penfeidr Cwm, Pontfaen, Fishguard SA65 9TY

Penfeidr Cwm, Pontfaen, Fishguard SA65 9TY

Penfeidr Cwm, Pontfaen, Fishguard SA65 9TY

Penfeidr Cwm, Pontfaen, Fishguard SA65 9TY

£845,000 – Penfeidr Cwm, Pontfaen, Fishguard SA65 9TY

Penfeidr Cwm stands in a delightful rural location in the Gwaun Valley and is within 3 miles or so of the popular coastal town of Newport… The property stands at the foot of Carningli Mountain and the Preseli Hills which provide excellent walking, rambling, hacking and pony trekking facilities.

• A 2.5 acre residential holding in the picturesque Gwaun Valley
• Well appointed detached 2 storey character farmhouse residence
• 2 reception rooms, 3 bedrooms and 2 bath/shower room accommodation
• Self contained cottage known as Bwthyn Ingli adjoins the main residence
• Bwthyn Ingli has open plan kitchen/living room, bedroom and shower room accommodation
• Both properties are double glazed and benefit from air source heat pumps
• Ample off road parking and turning space
• Established gardens and grounds inc lawned areas, flowering shrubs and a large boating/fishing lake

Willowhyrst Farm, Golden Cross, Hailsham BN27 4AJ

Willowhyrst Farm, Golden Cross, Hailsham BN27 4AJ

Willowhyrst Farm, Golden Cross, Hailsham BN27 4AJ

Willowhyrst Farm, Golden Cross, Hailsham BN27 4AJ

£1,200,000 – Willowhyrst Farm, Golden Cross, Hailsham BN27 4AJ

Willowhyrst Farm is a spacious and characterful semi-detached residence that offers flexible, light-filled accommodation arranged over two floors overlooking the garden and fields and stunning views beyond

• Entrance porch | reception hall | sitting room
• Study/office | kitchen/breakfast room | cloakroom
• 5 bedrooms | family bathroom
• Annexe
• Garden and land extending to 10.19 acres
• 3 stable block with utility and tack room
• Hay barn metal barn
• Greenhouse

How many watts do I need for a tiny house?

How many watts do I need for a tiny house?

Living in a tiny house is becoming more and more popular. People like the idea of downsizing and living a simpler life. However, before you can downsize, you need to figure out how many watts you need for your tiny house. In this post, we’ll discuss how to calculate your wattage needs and discuss some of the most popular tiny house appliances.

How much power does a tiny house use?

A tiny house usually needs between 100 and 300 watts of power. This is a small amount in comparison to the quantity of power needed for a traditional house, which can use up to 10,000 watts. Tiny houses usually have very efficient appliances and light fixtures, which helps reduce the overall power usage.

The difference between watts and kilowatts is that watts are a measure of power, while kilowatts are a measure of energy. Watts are the rate at which energy is used, while kilowatts are the amount of energy used over time. For example, if you have a device that uses 500 watts, it means that the device will use 500 joules of energy per second. If you have a device that uses 1,000 watts, it means that the device will use 1000 joules of energy per second.

When measuring your home power needs, you’ll need to consider how many watts your appliances use. You can find this information on the appliance’s energy label. To find out how many watts your house uses in total, add up the wattages of all of the appliances in your house. This is the total amount of power that your home needs.

How many light bulbs does a tiny house need?

It depends on the size of the house and the wattage of the light bulbs. In general, you’ll need fewer watts for a tiny house than a traditional home. For example, LED light bulbs use about one-sixth of the power of traditional incandescent bulbs. To figure out how many watts you need for your tiny house, start by estimating the number of light fixtures you will have and the type of bulbs you will use.

What kind of heating and cooling does a tiny house use?

Most tiny houses use electric heating and cooling, although there are a few that use propane (LPG). If you’re building or buying a tiny house, you’ll need to decide what kind of heating and cooling system you want. In Style Solar can help you figure out the right system for your needs.

How to use appliances and television in tiny homes?

Designing and living in a tiny home comes with its own set of concerns, chief among them is how to fit everything you need into a limited amount of space. In addition to figuring out the best way to organise your belongings, you’ll also need to consider how to power them.

How many solar panels do you need to power a tiny house?

There’s no definitive answer to this question. The number of watts you need for your tiny house will depend on a number of factors, including the size and layout of your home, the appliances you use and the climate where you live.

How many gallons of propane does tiny house use?

A tiny house can use between 1 and 5 gallons of propane per day, depending on the size and features of the house. If you’re using a generator to power your tiny house, you’ll need about 1 gallon of propane for every 7 hours of use.

How tiny are a tiny house and its cost?

A tiny house is typically defined as a dwelling under 500 square feet. They’re often built on trailers, so they can be easily moved. But even if you’re not interested in taking your house with you when you move, tiny houses are popular because of their low cost and eco-friendly features.

Bottom line

Living in a small dwelling is becoming increasingly popular, as people are looking for simpler and more sustainable ways of living. If you’re thinking of downsizing and moving into a tiny house, one of the first things you’ll need to figure out is how many watts you’ll need to power your home. Hopefully, the information we shared above has helped you to calculate the number of watts you need to run your tiny house.

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The pros & cons of new-build homes

If you’re planning on moving house, you’ll probably see lots of options on the market. These days, there are so many new housing developments offering loads of new-build homes. So, your options are more diverse than ever before.

The question we want to tackle is; should you buy a new-build home, or go for an older one? There’s no definitive answer, but we can look at the pros and cons of new-builds:

Upside-down facade on a house

Pro: Modern designs

Obviously, new housing developments have the benefit of being modern. Everything is designed to be on-trend, so you get a house with excellent interior and exterior design. With pre-owned homes, you may inherit some interior design from the 80s, meaning you have a big job on your hands making it look modern.

Cladding on a new-build house

Pro: More energy efficient

Another critical advantage of new-builds is that they’re built to current energy standards. As a result, you get a home that’s more energy efficient than a lot of old-builds. It retains more heat, meaning your spending on energy bills will be lower.

Wood-clad modern houses

Pro: Less effort involved in moving

The downside of older homes that have been sold by someone else is that it takes longer to move in. You have to get all your stuff ready, then the previous owners have to move everything they own out as well. With a lot of new-build homes, the companies behind them make life easier for you. You can find Redrow Housing Developments with properties that are ready for you to move straight into. So, it’s just a case of getting your belongings together and moving in. Instead of the process taking a few months, it could take only a couple of days!

New-build house with for sale signage outside

Con: More expensive

Perhaps the key disadvantage of new homes is that they’ll be more expensive than their older counterparts. This is simply because they’re more modern, and no one has lived in them before. So, if you’re buying a house on a strict budget, it can sometimes be hard to find a new development that fits your requirements and your budget.

Purpose-built, multi-storey flats

Con: Harder to get a mortgage

The fact that a lot of new builds are more expensive than older properties means it’s harder for you to get mortgages for them. Usually, lenders ask for larger deposits because the house price is so high. As such, you might not be able to pass the application requirements to get the loan you need.

Wooden framed house being built

Con: Homes aren’t always built

While some new properties are already built and ready for you to move into, some might not be. You could buy a house, then have to wait for it to be constructed and prepared for you. Of course, this all depends on the specific home you’re buying. If you only look for new-builds that are ready to move into, then it won’t be an issue.

New housing developments have their fair share of pros and cons. Ultimately, it comes down to your budget, where you want to move, and how fast you’re hoping to move.

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