Latest news with #homeimprovement
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Aldi's powerful multi-tool's £60 cheaper than Bosch version – it's a must-have for tackling all DIY tasks in minutes
DIY fans are racing to Aldi to snap up a powerful multi-tool that's £60 cheaper than a similar version by Bosch. The budget-friendly gadget is being hailed as a must-have for tackling all sorts of jobs around the house. 2 The Compact Cordless 12V Multifunction Tool is packed with features that make DIY a breeze. From sawing and sanding to scraping – this cordless multi-tool promises to power through DIY tasks in minutes. Just grab it out of the box and get cracking. PRODUCT DETAILS With adjustable oscillation speeds from 8,000 to 18,000 rpm and a 3.2° oscillation angle, it's perfect for tackling jobs in wood, metal or plastic. Thanks to its ergonomic soft-grip handle and compact design, it's comfy to use even during longer tasks. Plus, the handy clamping lever means swapping accessories is quick and tool-free. It also comes with a built-in lithium-ion battery, USB charging cable and even an adapter for dust extraction – keeping your workspace tidy as you go. But take note – it's sold as a bare tool, so Aldi shoppers will need to buy the battery separately. Aldi rolls out 'INSANE' shelf change to all 2,550 locations - and it means 33% more savings for shoppers BOSCH VERSION Meanwhile, a similar version from Bosch will set you back a hefty £85 at B&Q. It does come with a few extras Aldi's doesn't – including a sanding plate, plunge-cut blade, segment saw, sanding sheets and a handy depth stop. The Bosch model also boasts a built-in LED work light, 6-speed settings and a battery level indicator. But, with Aldi's £25 price tag, it's a tough deal to beat. 10 DIY hacks for under £1 each These simple and affordable DIY hacks can help you get creative while saving money Homemade Air Freshener: Mix baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Place it in a small jar with a perforated lid to keep your home smelling fresh. Upcycled Tin Can Planters: Clean and paint empty tin cans to use as stylish planters for herbs or small plants. Custom Phone Stand: Use a sturdy piece of cardboard or an old plastic credit card to create a custom phone stand. Decorate it with washi tape or paint. DIY Lip Scrub: Combine sugar and a bit of honey or coconut oil to make a natural lip scrub. Store in a small container. Personalised Bookmarks: Use old greeting cards or decorative paper to create unique bookmarks. Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for a finishing touch. Decorative Mason Jars: Paint or decoupage old mason jars to use as decorative vases, storage containers, or candle holders. Easy Cable Organiser: Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize cables and cords. Decorate the rolls with colorful paper or tape. Magnetic Spice Jars: Attach small magnets to the lids of small jars and stick them to a metal board or fridge for easy-access spice storage. Handmade Coasters: Cut out squares from old corkboard or felt and decorate them with paint or fabric to create custom coasters. Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Use it to clean surfaces around your home. OTHER ALDI BARGAINS Aldi is launching a £15 NutriBullet dupe in just days, and it's £55 cheaper than the branded version. Whether you're aiming to be healthier by making a delicious morning smoothie, or fancy trying your hand at a hearty soup, blenders can be a great addition to any kitchen. It's ideal for blending smoothies, juices and dips, and you can customise it with three different cup sizes. Landing on Thursday, July 31, the Ambiano High Speed Blending Set is sure to be another offering that will impress Aldi fans. Aldi is also launching an Olaplex haircare dupe range for £24 cheaper. If you would rather not fork out £28 for the bonded haircare range, you may be in luck, as Aldi is bringing out a new £3.99 dupe. Launching 31st July, Aldi's Lacura Bonded Haircare Collection is aiming to rival Olaplex, but for 86 per cent cheaper.
Times
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Times
We turned an English cottage into a hidden Spanish-style villa
To walk down Cleasby Road in the village of Menston, West Yorkshire, is to be gently reassured by the stone façades and stoic calm of traditional English cottages. But one house, No 75, hides a secret. From the street, it appears to be a charming period cottage, yet behind its modest exterior lies a sprawling extension that could be lifted straight from the hillsides of Andalusia. This is a house with a split personality, combining the serenity of an old gardener's cottage attached to an orchard with the airy grandeur of a modern villa. It is a home of glass, clean lines, secret doors and cinematic surprises — and one that, due to planning constraints, is unlikely to ever be replicated. • Read more expert advice on property, interiors and home improvement 'We lost planning permission at one stage because we've got protected trees, and we stored some of our stuff under them,' says Martin Flack, 55, who owns the house with his partner, Jill Austerberry, 51. 'But getting the actual planning initially went smoothly.' The key was that the site already had a rear extension when the couple bought it, which made obtaining planning permission easier than it might have been elsewhere. The footprint of the house was only modestly altered, thanks to clever excavation and a build that expanded down as much as out. 'The downstairs is probably three to four times the size compared with when we bought it, and upstairs is probably two to three times the size,' Austerberry says. When they found the house, the couple had been living in a flat in Menston for four years and had fallen for the community feel of the village. The area, a fixture in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list, is on the edge of the scenic Yorkshire Dales and has fast transport links into Leeds and Bradford. Looking for a larger space to make their own, Flack and Austerberry bought 75 Cleasby Road for £340,000 in 2014. At that point, it was a hodgepodge of poor-quality additions, including a ground-floor basement with a ceiling barely higher than 6ft. The vision for the house was inspired by Flack's childhood visits to his aunt and uncle's home in Devon — a very 'social house', he says, that was frequently used to host family get-togethers. The goal was to create a similarly sociable open-plan layout, with a large downstairs table and an elevated patio for gatherings. What began as a fairly simple plan to raise the basement ceiling turned into a wholesale demolition and rebuild, reusing the original stone from the front and removing more than 100 tonnes of earth and clay. Three years, £450,000 and hundreds of design decisions later, they have created a one-of-a-kind concept home. The sleek, expansive interior opens out onto a wide sun terrace and a garden bordered by mature trees and a meandering stream. There are three storeys, all linked by a floating staircase, and a private cinema and utility rooms hidden behind high-gloss kitchen doors. Designing it was a personal mission for Flack, who runs a 24-hour fitness centre with Austerberry, but had always harboured dreams of becoming an architect. 'I used to build houses out of Lego,' he says. 'I ended up in the fitness industry but I think if I had followed my talent I'd have been an architect.' They got a little help and inspiration at a Grand Designs exhibition in London, which connects fans of the TV show with the experts behind the builds. They finished sketching the layout on the train back to West Yorkshire. 'The top floor was the stumbling block,' Flack explains. 'We didn't want a conventional dormer window. We met an architect [at the exhibition] who suggested a big arch because we didn't know what to do to bring it together externally.' That arch now frames the upper floors at the back of the house. From the rear patio, the house is scarcely recognisable as the same one you can see from the front. Triple-sliding anthracite doors stretch across the lower level. Upstairs, the master bedroom opens onto a Juliet balcony that overlooks the back garden. There's underfloor heating on all levels, a bespoke German kitchen by In-toto, Porcelanosa bathrooms and a wired Sonos sound system that extends to the garden. The house has a high EPC (energy performance certificate) rating of B (A is best) — a natural outcome of new-build construction rather than a specific goal for the couple. • Our £1,500 hallway renovation got 13 million views on TikTok 'I love the element of surprise when carrying out viewings, especially at dusk,' says Lesley Shakeshaft, branch manager at Dacre, Son & Hartley, the estate agents selling the home for £950,000. 'I've been in the property industry for 41 years and it's definitely one of the most remarkable dream homes I've brought to market.' The hidden cinema room was a late-stage indulgence, born out of the dark, enclosed nature of the room. It quickly became a snug space for movie nights with surround-sound escapism. Other features include a room divider made of driftwood — sourced from a display at Redbrick mill in Batley — and ornate reclaimed doors believed to be Moroccan, found at a reclamation site near Ripley Castle. Even the lion statue above the front door has a story (more of an urban myth), which originated from a neighbour who has lived in Menston for decades. 'He knows everything about the village,' Flack says of the neighbour. 'He once said that before there was a fire service, you subscribed to the private fire service locally, and the lion meant you had subscribed. If they saw the lion [above the door] they'd come and put the fire out. I don't know anybody else who's got a lion, though, so I think he might be winding me up.' • A £4m house for £25 — are Omaze raffles too good to be true? Flack and Austerberry are now preparing for a new adventure. They are selling both the house and the fitness business to travel before settling in Harrogate, a town they've grown fond of. Their departure is an opportunity for someone else to own this unusual hybrid property, a blend of English tradition and Mediterranean flair. A walk down Cleasby Road may still feel like a trip back in time — until you reach No 75, where the past and present collide in one house, hidden in plain sight.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
The cost of home renovations has become a lot cheaper
Analysis by the Checkatrade Home Improvement Index reveals that the typical costs for various home renovations have decreased in recent months. Significant price drops have been observed for bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom fittings, with average costs falling in the second quarter of this year. Other home improvement services, including painting and decorating, window and door fitting, and plastering, have also seen price reductions. Checkatrade attributes these falling prices primarily to a reduction in material costs, indicating a return to more typical market levels. Air conditioning prices have also recently fallen, with data suggesting that installing air conditioning could increase a property 's value.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
How to boost your home's value by £30k by spending just £1k in the garden – and the mistakes sabotaging your sale
YOU may think your garden is charming, but it could be secretly slashing the value of your home by up to £100k. Thankfully, it's easy to fix - and here we reveal how investing as little as £1,000 can boost the value by £58,200 in 10 fail-safe ways. 10 Robin Edwards, property buying agent from Curetons, tells Fabulous: 'In urban areas where outdoor space is limited, a beautifully presented garden can be a major selling point. 'A simple, well-kept lawn with defined seating areas often appeals to buyers more than an overcomplicated or high-maintenance design. 'Investing as little as £1,000 to £2,500 in tidying up green spaces and adding attractive features can add between 5 per cent and 20 per cent to a home's value, depending on its size, location and quality of design. 'That means with the average UK house price being £291,000, you could add as much as £58,200 with a garden refresh.' Here's how your outdoor space can not only be a source of zen, but also a source of big profit…. A lick of outside paint - £13k-26k increase Cost to you: from £10 10 10 By sprucing up your front door and window frames with a lick of paint, at a small cost from only £10 per tin, you can transform the front of your home. Luke Saywell, partner at Nottinghamshire family estate agents Gascoines, said: 'A fresh look to the outside of your home can add thousands through enhancing its kerb appeal. Meanwhile, if your garden is currently overrun with old furniture and clutter, it's time to have a good clear out before getting your property valued. Experts at Space Station shared: 'If your outdoor space has a garden shed, this is a great place to start; empty out the shed and remove, donate, sell or store unused items to help free up needed space.' Improving storage – £4k increase Cost to you: £500 Storage throughout a property is essential for many buyers but it's important not to neglect the exterior space too. When adding storage, making sure it is proportionate to your space is important. The property expert advised: 'Not everyone will have lots of gardening tools to store in a large shed, but having somewhere to store extra times makes buyers feel like they have the full package – a great garden and somewhere to store the accessories. 'Sheds come in many shapes and sizes, including slimline for those smaller outdoor spaces, or outdoor utility chests are an equally cheap and effective solution. 'If your household bins need to be kept in your garden, a bin store also helps to make it more aesthetically appealing.' Add £20k to your house value with these budget hacks Well-tidied gardens – £3k increase Cost to you: Free A well-kept garden is appealing to buyers as they don't see it as another job to be responsible for when they move in on top of the house. 10 A garden is a place for many to retreat in the sunshine and un-mowed lawns, overgrown weeds and general clutter you've been meaning to take to the tip can all leave a buyer looking to knock off money. Luke reassured: 'Fortunately, these jobs are nice and cheap for homeowners to rectify. "Registering at your local tip is free, pulling out the weeds just needs some elbow grease, and a general tidy only requires a bit of time and a broom.' Install an all weather pergola - £10k increase Cost to you: from £300 10 Modern buyers love outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed all year round. An aluminium pergola with electric louvres and side screens creates a stylish, flexible area for entertaining and relaxing, whatever the weather. It also doesn't need to break the bank to install, and we previously shared how one woman did it for £300 with one from Ikea. Luke Newnes, new build gardening specialist, added that it's a standout feature that adds both practicality and wow factor. And the bigger jobs for anyone feeling ambitious.... Removing large trees - £5k increase Cost to you: £1,500 10 Not all large trees need to be removed as some provide essential privacy and others offer nice shade. However, depending on the size of the outdoor space, removing large trees can showcase just how much garden is on offer. The property developer shared: 'Many buyers are put off by the maintenance required in large trees, and fruit trees in particular aren't appealing as the dropped fruit can go mouldy and requires cleaning up. 'While investing in a tree surgeon to do the job properly isn't cheap, the larger space can increase the price people are willing to pay significantly. 'Equally, removing trees outside helps to open up the space inside as it's brighter and lighter.' Replacing low fences – £3k increase Cost to you: £1,800 10 Privacy is a huge factor for many homebuyers and that doesn't just mean location. Having an outdoor space that isn't overlooked by immediate neighbours on any side is important, especially for families who like to spend a lot of time outside. Luke explained: 'Fencing at the rear of a property can be a maximum of 6.5 feet but often homeowners have fences as low as three or four feet meaning you're much more likely to feel overlooked. 'If you already have the fence posts installed, replacing the panels for taller ones can be as cheap at £30-40 at DIY stores but can make the difference between securing a higher price from a buyer.' WAYS TO LOWER THE VALUE Artificial lawn – £7.5k decrease We previously shared how gardens filled with a faux lawn or plastic plants may seem like a time-saving idea but devalue homes by up to £7,500. Luke agreed, saying: 'Artificial lawns can really divide opinion among buyers. 'Some people see them as a low maintenance option while others prefer a traditional lawn that invites nature into the garden. 'On balance, we wouldn't recommend that anyone considering selling their property invests in an artificial lawn to attract buyers, and instead spends on other improvements to encourage a sale. However, if a seller already has an artificial lawn, it can be considered a bonus among certain buyer groups, such as families, as they often find it more practical with children.' Elaborate water features - £8k decrease 10 Water features can be appealing if they are simple and easy to maintain, but overly elaborate installations may deter buyers. Despite them helping to attract bees, butterflies and birds, some see water features as more work to maintain. John Graham, owner of Dwell Estate and Letting Agents, advised that they can even negatively affect your property value by between £2,000 and £8,000. High maintenance features – £2k-10k decrease Every home is unique and it's great to add features to a house that you enjoy as an owner, but when it comes to selling a property, buyers have to be able to see themselves living in it. One way that sellers can devalue their home is by having high maintenance features that can really turn a buyer off. Luke advised how this could include ponds, swimming pools, agas, thatched roofs or other period features. He explained: 'If people believe a certain feature will require long-term maintenance and it's not something particularly desirable to them, they may want to reduce the price as maintenance often means money.' Shared private drive: £2k-10k decrease A shared private drive can create indecision for buyers who may not be familiar with using one and what is required on their part in terms of maintenance. Luke shared: 'A poor condition shared drive could be extra off-putting if the responsibilities to maintain it aren't clear and you don't have strong relationships with the neighbours included, leading to a more reluctant bid being placed.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
There's a Massive Stock Market Opportunity Right Now, and It Isn't AI: Here Are 3 Great Ways to Play It
Key Points Homeowners in the United States are sitting on $35 trillion in home equity, the highest level ever. Banks and mortgage originators could be big winners, as they were during the last low-rate environment. Home improvement retailers and building suppliers could see sales rise as people borrow for big projects. 10 stocks we like better than Home Depot › Most of the trillion-dollar investment opportunity headlines have to do with artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things, or other tech trends. And there's certainly a good reason they're getting so much attention. However, there could be an even larger market opportunity hiding in plain sight. Homeowners in the United States are sitting on an all-time high $35 trillion in home equity right now, and most aren't willing to tap into it while interest rates remain stubbornly high. In recent quarters, Home Depot's (NYSE: HD) management has specifically cited homeowners holding off on big projects as a drag on sales, and these are often financed through home equity, just to name one example. While there's no way to know for sure when the Federal Reserve might finally start lowering interest rates once again, most experts agree that the most likely direction for interest rates over the next few years will be lower. And this could lead to a multitrillion-dollar surge in homeowners' tapping into their home equity. What stocks could be the biggest winners? If Americans start borrowing against the value of their homes again, there are several types of stocks that could win. Here are two categories of home equity winners and some of the top players in each space. Banks and loan originators The most obvious beneficiary of a surge in homeowners' tapping into their equity is the financial services companies who originate home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is one of the largest HELOCs lenders and could be a particularly big winner as rates fall and this type of financing surges in popularity. Plus, residential mortgage loans make up $118 billion on Bank of America's loan book, and this could surge if we see a refinancing boom. Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT) is another one to watch, as it offers HELOCs but standard refinancing loans (which can also be used to pull cash out of your home equity) have historically been its bread-and-butter, especially when rates were low. It offers a seamless, online experience that resonates with today's borrowers and has made Rocket the leading mortgage originator. Home improvement retailers I already mentioned Home Depot, and just as the massive home improvement retailer is seeing customers delaying big projects right now. Of course, many people pay for home renovations and other major projects -- such as installing a swimming pool -- with cash, but HELOCs are a solid alternative for those who aren't cash-rich. So, as interest rates fall, we could see the pent-up demand for major projects coming back into the market. Home Depot and fellow home improvement retail giant Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) could both see sales, especially to contractors, spike higher during a refinancing boom. It isn't just the retailers that can benefit. Companies like Trex (NYSE: TREX) that produce building materials could be big winners. Trex is the clear leader in composite decking materials and sells its products through third-party retailers. But there was a clear influx of demand during the low-interest era, and we could certainly see that once again. The bottom line A falling-rate environment could create a massive opportunity for companies that are involved with home equity loans and lines of credit, cash-out refinancing loans, and even the retailers who are most likely to benefit from a surge in home equity activity. Should you invest $1,000 in Home Depot right now? Before you buy stock in Home Depot, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Home Depot wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Matt Frankel has positions in Bank of America and Rocket Companies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Home Depot and Trex. The Motley Fool recommends Lowe's Companies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. There's a Massive Stock Market Opportunity Right Now, and It Isn't AI: Here Are 3 Great Ways to Play It was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
