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Details: Published: 27 June 2023; Hits: 390

If you’re enjoying the glorious summer weather we’re having and want to take your garden up a notch with a perfectly pruned oasis that takes minimal effort and is easy on the environment, then read on.

Studies have shown that gardening is known to have significant mental health benefits, but let’s face it, it can feel like a bit of a chore at times. It can also be harmful to the environment in some ways if you don’t follow sustainable gardening methods.

It’s easy to extend your eco-friendly practices to your gardening habits without much effort, so our team at Warren Powell-Richards has rounded up some of our favourite eco-friendly gardening tips. Not only are they easy to implement, but they’re as good for the rest of our planet as they are for your garden in Grayshott! It’s a win-win.

Plant your own produce

Ever eaten anything that you grew yourself? Trust us, you’ll get a kick out of it. Our number one eco-friendly gardening tip is to grow your own vegetable patch and herb garden. On top of the feel-good factor of watching your plants grow, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint by not buying fresh supermarket produce, which often takes a lot more energy to produce than you may think!

The good news? You don’t need vast amounts of land to grow your own veg. You can even start with an easy-to-care-for little veg patch on a small balcony if that’s all the space you have. We’d recommend kicking things off with a low maintenance herb garden before moving on to vegetables. Or, just dive straight in and start planting courgettes!

Make your own compost

Hear us out before you write this one off for being too complicated.

Setting up your own compost is a lot simpler than it sounds. It’s an excellent sustainable gardening practice too, as it means you can get rid of waste without adding to landfill. Bonus: your compost will also produce lots of nutrient-rich soil for your plants.

So, how do you make your own compost? First, find a sunny corner in your garden, grab a garden fork, a mix of nitrogen and carbon-rich waste and a compost bin. Then follow the steps below:

Set your compost bin up directly on the soil
Add in an equal mix of green and brown materials to be composted
Mix around with a garden fork to aerate it
Cover your compost bin to keep any rain out
As soon as the mixture turns crumbly and brown, the composting process is complete!

Keep water usage to a minimum

Want to know the easiest way to make your gardening practices more eco-friendly?

Limit your water usage.

Here’s how:

Feed your plants with rainwater by installing a rain barrel or a water butt. We have enough rain to go around in the UK, so why not put it to good use?
Water your plants and soil directly with a hose instead of getting a sprinkler. Admittedly, sprinklers are more fun and effortless. But they do end up wasting quite a lot of water unless they’re on a timer.
Choose plants that don’t require frequent watering. Popular options include poppies, lavender and verbena.
Start the mulching process by covering soil with a porous material. Not only will this produce more moisture for soil, but it also provides nutrients and stops weeds.

Plant native plants and trees

Want a garden that’s truly low maintenance?

Opt for plants and trees that are native to your region. It’ll be a lot easier to maintain them as they’re designed to thrive naturally in their local habitat and climate. Which also makes tending to them more eco-friendly, as they’re suited to their environment.

A quick Google search will give you some ideas as to which plants native to your country you should choose.

Use natural alternatives to pesticides

Help the environment by never using chemical-laden pesticides to maintain your garden. Unfortunately though, that rules out most of the popular pesticide products on the market!

Luckily, many natural alternatives work just as well at preventing pests. Unexpected solutions include a mixture of garlic and chilli or a splash of beer with salt. Yes, you read that right. You can spray a mix of flat beer and salt to keep pests away from your garden.

Another pesticide hack is applying petroleum jelly around your plant pots. It makes it difficult for pests to climb up inside them, keeping your precious plants well protected.

Now is the ideal time to transform your garden while remaining eco-friendly and you’ll add extra appeal to your property at the same time!

If you are thinking of selling your property, please contact our friendly and helpful team at Warren Powell-Richards at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Details: Published: 16 June 2023; Hits: 354

Downsizing to a smaller property was previously only considered by those entering retirement once their children had flown the nest. Downsizing allowed those at the end of their career to free up a little cash and remove the stresses of managing a large property.

However, with the rising cost of mortgages and more of us wanting to live a more flexible lifestyle, many are now considering downsizing much younger.

What is Downsizing?

Downsizing is the process of moving to a smaller home than the one that you currently live in. People choose to downsize for various reasons, some financial and others to benefit their lifestyle.

There is no right answer as to whether downsizing is the right option or at what point in your life it is best. However, before making such an enormous decision, all of the possibilities must be considered.

What are the Advantages of Downsizing?

It Enables You to Live in a Better Area

Moving to a smaller property may mean you can afford to live in an area you have always lusted after. While it might not be the four-bedroom detached property you imagined initially, there are many lifestyle benefits to living in a more affluent neighbourhood.

It Gives You Financial Freedom

If you have lived in your current home for a while, the price has likely appreciated.

Smaller houses are generally less expensive, so downsizing may enable you to pay off your mortgage much faster, pay lower monthly instalments, or even allow you to enjoy a mortgage-free life.

Additionally, a smaller property generally attracts less financial upkeep. This might mean your energy bills are less, alongside your council tax. Whilst these individual monthly savings may seem insignificant at first, they will quickly add up annually.

You’ll be Forced to Declutter!

Moving to a smaller home makes you have a thorough declutter.

Although we all have many precious items that we will treasure forever, most of us also hang onto boxes of things that have not seen the light of day in years. When you physically do not have the space, you are forced to examine the belongings you are choosing to hang onto.

This might even enable you to make some money selling unwanted items in the process. Getting rid of such a large number of items can cause a shift in your mindset, moving away from a life focusing on accumulating things to one concentrating on collecting memories.

Are There any Disadvantages to Downsizing?

It’s a Big Adjustment

One of the most significant issues when moving to a smaller property is that you have spent years living in a much larger house. In all likelihood, when you moved to your current home, you probably never imagined that you would fill all of the rooms. With the place now bursting at the seams, it can be challenging to imagine yourself in a space significantly smaller.

There will be an Impact on Your Lifestyle

The lack of space might be more profound than merely having to cull some of your belongings.

It could mean that you lose a guest room or two, making it difficult for friends or family to stay over at your home. At this point, it is essential to consider how this might impact your life daily. Many of us have guest rooms with the best intentions, which end up being used for storage rather than actually housing any visitors.

You’ll Have Emotional Attachments

Emotional attachment to your home can be a huge stumbling block. You will likely have grown to love your current property, the beautiful parts, and the imperfections. You probably have close bonds with your neighbours, which may be lost through the process of relocating.

There’s the Cost of Moving Home

Although your new, smaller home will probably cost considerably less. You must consider the cost of moving.

Moving home in the UK can be an expensive and time-consuming process. You will need to think about the financial and emotional expense of moving before committing to anything.

How to Decide Whether to Downsize

It is essential to evaluate why you are considering downsizing.

Think about what is important to you and what is going to make your life more fulfilled. Although moving to a smaller house can seem like a great idea initially, it is not always the wisest move in the long run.

Consider a short term rental property of a similar size to the one you are thinking of moving to. Airbnb is an excellent option for this. Allowing you to get a feel for the property’s size over a few nights, evaluating whether it is right for your current circumstances.

Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts for the local area. Call in to one of our offices to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.

Details: Published: 16 June 2023; Hits: 490

Although you may think of rainforests and Caribbean beaches when you talk about humidity levels, in fact, it’s always present in the atmosphere, even here in the South of England! But did you know that humidity in your home can cause some significant issues, whether it’s too humid or not humid enough? So, how humid should your property actually be?

Humidity – What Is It?

In the simplest terms, humidity levels are a measurement of the amount of water vapour in the air. Generated through evaporation before being distributed effectively by condensation, humidity occurs naturally and is essential to the Earth’s ecosystem. When the air temperature is high, it can hold more moisture, but with improved home insulation and central heating, it isn’t just tropical settings that are humid these days – we’ve created indoor microclimates in our homes that cause multiple health issues, not to mention potential damage to the structures of buildings that we inhabit.

What Is A UK Home’s Optimal Humidity Level?

There is a fairly broad range of optimal humidity levels for UK homes. Anywhere from 30% to 60% is ideal, but maintaining those levels isn’t always easy so it’s wise to monitor the levels in your home constantly by using a hygrometer.

As you’d imagine, when the seasons change, the humidity level changes too, but the differences are fairly slight. The ideal indoor humidity level in the summer is between 40% and 60%, while in winter, it lies between 30% and 50%.

A very high reading is anything over 70%, while a low reading is below 25%. If you discover readings at either end of that scale you should address them, whatever season it is.

What Is The Cause Of High Humidity Levels Indoors?

High humidity levels inside the home are generally down to the people who live there! Everyday activities can generate a surprising amount of moisture, with sleeping producing 40 grams of water every hour through exhalation and perspiration, drying clothing indoors producing 1500 grams of water each day, using a dishwasher generating 400 grams of water per day, and cooking on gas, producing as much as 3000 grams a day.

There is, however, another cause of high humidity levels indoors – leaking pipes.

What Is The Cause Of Low Humidity Levels Indoors?

It’s fairly rare to have low indoor humidity levels, but it does occur from time to time. The most common cause is using an air conditioner or dehumidifier excessively, or when the property is overheated on cold days. Heating takes some moisture from the air, and since cold air already carries minimal water vapour, it’s easy for low levels of indoor humidity to occur quite quickly.

How Do I Know If The Humidity Level In My Home Is Too Low Or Too High?

Investing in a hygrometer is the best way to determine your indoor humidity level. However, there are also some key signs the humidity level in your home is too low or too high.

If you’re struggling to breathe, sleep poorly, and find it hard to regulate your body temperature, humidity levels could be the cause.

How Can I Manage My Indoor Humidity Levels?

Ventilation is the key to maintaining indoor humidity levels correctly. Circulating air indoors is essential to minimising condensation so you need to open your windows in all seasons for just 10 to 15 minutes to create a through-draft.

If you’re looking at ways to manage humidity in a property you intend to sell or rent, look no further than our team at Warren Powell-Richards. We can list your property on the market and help you find the ideal buyer or tenant.

Details: Published: 05 June 2023; Hits: 374

You may think this is a strange topic, but lots of homeowners remain unaware of the laws regarding garden fences until they find themselves embroiled in a frustrating and costly boundary dispute. With fences being central to many neighbourhood conflicts, we believe that everyone who owns a property should have a better understanding of the law. So, here you’ll find some expert advice to help you stay well-informed about your property rights and obligations as a homeowner.

Establishing Fence Ownership

When trying to determine which fence is yours, the best place to begin is your deeds. You’ll find a scale plan of your property highlighting your boundary lines with a T-mark (a symbol that looks like the letter “T”) to represent the wall or fence ownership.

Sometimes, adjacent properties have joint ownership over a fence or wall (something that is referred to commonly as a party fence or wall). If that is the case, you’ll see two T symbols joined together making an H-mark (which looks like an elongated letter “H”).

Virtually every modern property deed will have clear markings for boundary ownership, but if you’re living in one of the older properties, you may find that the boundaries are less obvious. In such cases, something known as “presumptions” will come into play. It is presumed that fence posts are placed on the land belonging to the owner of the fence so the rear of the fence which has the posts showing will face their property.

Although it has been traditionally believed that you own the fence on the left-hand side of your property, you can’t guarantee that will always be the case. Checking the deeds is always the first port of call.

Who Takes Responsibility For Garden Fence Maintenance?

As you’d expect, the owner of the fence will usually be responsible for fence maintenance, while party fences and walls are both neighbours’ joint responsibility to maintain. It can get a little confusing if the deeds don’t indicate ownership clearly, or if they include covenants relating to the repair of the wall or fence in question. In a few cases, even documents held by the Land Registry may be misleading. If one neighbour has taken responsibility for maintaining a fence for an extended period of time, they may have become legally responsible for its upkeep.

Am I Legally Allowed To Force My Neighbour To Make Repairs To The Fence?

There are no laws that require anyone to repair fences, even when they’re in extremely poor condition, so essentially, you can’t legally force your neighbour to carry out repairs. You may find it best to leave the fence in place and simply erect another for yourself on your own land in such a situation.

What Do I Need To Know If I’m Erecting A Fence?

If the property deeds indicate that a fence is your responsibility, then you are responsible for erecting a new fence. If it is a party fence, both neighbours must take responsibility. A garden fence height may be determined by your local authority, but in most cases, it must be no more than 2 metres high to be permitted with no planning permission required. If the property is a listed building, planning permission will probably be needed, as will any fence that is over 1m in height and adjoining a public road. Restrictions will typically apply to any property with a front open to public paths or highways. Therefore, consulting with the local authority before commencing work is a good idea.

Details: Published: 05 June 2023; Hits: 353

Ensuring Prospective Tenants Or Buyers Get The Right First Impression Is Key

Whether you’re selling your property or are looking for a reliable tenant, kerb appeal couldn’t be more important. Ensuring a prospective tenant or buyer gets the right first impression of your property is key, and growing plants will certainly help you achieve this goal.

You won’t want to leave expensive flowers and shrubbery behind if you’re relocating, though, and if you’re attracting tenants, you can’t always rely on them to care for your garden in the same way that you would. With this in mind, our team at Warren Powell-Richards have five top ideas for gardeners on the move.

Create Vertical Interest

Plant pots can be taken with you when you move home, and they can be used to create a cheerful and positive first impression of your property. Sweet peas can easily be planted inside a pot, and when given a bamboo wigwam to grow up, they can add perfume, colour, and height effortlessly. Even better, sweet peas make an excellent choice for cut flowers too, so pop a few into a vase before each viewing and connect your outdoor and indoor spaces perfectly.

Self-sufficient Daylilies

If you’re a landlord in Grayshott looking for an attractive plant to make your property look beautiful but without giving your prospective tenants onerous gardening tasks, daylilies could be just what you’re looking for. Reliable, low-maintenance, resistant to disease, and tolerant of inclement weather, daylilies come in many colours and look perfect along pathways since they perform well in all high-traffic areas.

Relaxing Lavender

Thanks to its calming perfume, lavender is a great choice for planting in pots close to the front door. Incredibly tough and resilient, this hardy perennial adds a beautiful splash of colour while putting tenants and buyers at ease during their viewing, thanks to its relaxing aroma.

Quick Colour In Baskets

Hanging baskets represent a great way to turn any garden into a lively, colourful spot, and, as a bonus, you can take them with you when you move! Choose easy to care for, bright blooms like lobelias, begonias and petunias for a vibrant first impression.

Follow The Spiller, Filler, Thriller Rules

Mixed planted containers are a great way to brighten up your home’s entrance, and the secret to success is to follow the three rules of “spiller”, “filler”, and “thriller”. Choose a trailing plant such as ivy to cascade over the pot’s edge as the “spiller”, and low-lying annuals like petunias or lobelias that covers the soil between as the “filler”. When it comes to the “thriller”, you need something tall and dramatic, like ornamental grasses or canna lilies that give a tropical aesthetic.

If you’re ready to sell your house or you’re looking for a reliable tenant for your rental property, you can rely on the Warren Powell-Richards team.

As experts in the Grayshott property market, we’re on hand to make your property transaction easier and smoother.