Step aside Hyacinth Bucket. Turning stereotypes on their head, research reveals that 18-24 year olds are turning into a nation of CHAPS…that’s Cautious Hosts Against Party Stress.

Twenty-six per cent of the house-proud and overly cautious young hosts, make guests remove their shoes to safeguard their floors, almost double that of those aged 65+ (14%) who may have been expected to be the most mishap-minded.

The survey of 2,014 adults from Greenbee Home Insurance (part of the John Lewis Partnership) finds almost a quarter (23%) of 18-24 year olds, don’t like entertaining at home, for fear of potential party accidents - almost three times more than those aged 65+, with just 8% worrying about damage, and more than double 55-64 year olds (10%).

Across the UK it appears people don’t trust their friends not to damage their property, with 14% on average saying they don’t like hosting parties at home, as they fear something will get damaged or broken if they do.

Almost one in five (19%) is so keen to keep their houses spic-and-span, they’ll ensure guests remain shoe-less, to avoid muddy carpets or high-heels scuffing their wooden floors.

However the seeming paranoia around home dramas may well be justified, as 14% reveal they’re more worried about household accidents or breakages than ever before, as in the current economic climate they can’t afford to replace any damaged items - rising to one in five (20%) of 45-54 year olds and 17% of women (compared to 11% of men).

With just 23% of those surveyed believing they’re covered for any home accidents through insurance (yet only 13% of products on the market offer this cover as standard) and industry data revealing a significant increase in related claims this year, it’s clear that the financial implications of a potential sofa spillage, or kitchen calamity should be kept in mind.

James Furse, managing director, greenbee.com said, “While those without cover are understandably concerned about the cost of an unfortunate accident while entertaining, even those with home insurance may want to consider checking their policy small print, to make sure they’re covered for all eventualities.”
For further information please visit:

Web: http://www.greenbee.com
Tel: (0800) 916 6800.

Did you know you could be making money from the electricity generated by your renewable technology installation?

If you have installed, or are thinking about installing, a renewable technology, which produces electricity, such as a Solar Electricity (PV) system, you may be able to receive payment for the electricity produced.

The most common way to do this, is to sign up to a buy back scheme with an energy supplier. There are two main tariffs available to do this:

Export tariffs: You are only paid for the electricity that is exported back to the electricity network.
Generation tariffs: You are paid for all of the electricity that your system has generated, even if you use it in your own home.

There are also some Set Price Tariffs available, where the energy supplier, based on the type or capacity of your installation, pays you a fixed amount.

You can also use the Energy Saving Trust’s ‘buy back tariff search tool’, to help you find the right tariff more easily.

Using this tool will allow you to see details of all the tariffs currently being offered by the energy suppliers.

Advice regarding choosing the right tariff is available on the website:

Web: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy

Tel: (0800) 512 012

Valerie Singleton OBE, Nigel Houghton (Managing Director) and a small group of colleagues, have launched www.discount-age.co.uk, a new money saving website for all the 60-pluses in the UK.

With the UK economy on its way into recession, 60-pluses are likely to be badly hit; not only because they are living on fixed pensions, but also the drop in share prices has actually cut the value of many pensions by up to 25%.

With over 12 million people in the UK over 60, many already suffering the effects of the downturn, the new website offers a one-stop shop for this diverse and growing market, offering hundreds of ways to save money through information, advice, discounts and comment.

Some of the many topics covered on the website include, Mind and Body, Travel, Hotels, Holidays, Insurance, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Home and Garden, Money and Work.

Valerie welcomes visitors to the new website, with her monthly webcast on the homepage.

The website is free to all - however, for an annual fee of just £10, visitors can become members and enjoy a growing number of exclusive additional benefits and discounts, negotiated especially for discount-age members with international, national and regional organisations.

The cost of membership can be easily recovered from these discounts.

Launch discounts include holidays, wine, a car club, food, flowers and even spectacles.

All members will receive a monthly e-newsletter, to keep them up to date with new offers, discounts and developments; the aim for the year is to find and negotiate up to £2,500 of discounts for members.

The first crop of discounts is worth about £350.

60-pluses, discover how to get the best deals here:

Web: http://www.discount-age.co.uk.

According to new research from Legal & General, 93% of people in Britain are making major financial cutbacks in the home, in order to survive the current economic turmoil.

At a time of market uncertainty, when UK homes have been hit by a string of major cost of living hikes, the new research suggests that the majority of British families are responding, by taking practical action to combat the financial pressures.

Legal & General’s ‘Changing Face of British Homes research’, points to widespread action being taken to tackle the market downturn head on, across all age groups and all regions.

The survey of over 4,200 people, asked Brits what steps they are taking to keep home and living costs down.

The top 10 ways being taken to beat the downturn across the UK:

• 1. Buying cheaper food – 65%.
  2. Initiatives to keep fuel bills down – 65%.
  3. Cutting down on takeaways / eating out / ready meals – 50%.
  4. Switching to cheaper utility/energy provider – 39%.
  5. Shopping around for cheaper home insurance – 32%.
  6. Walking or cycling more – 29%.
  7. Putting off home improvement projects – 27%.
  8. Having a car boot/ eBay sale – 22%.
  9. Making energy saving/ home improvements – 22%.
  10. Growing own fruit and vegetables – 20%

Legal & General has developed an online calculator, www.legalandgeneral.com/contentscalculator to help people determine the amount of household insurance cover they should consider having in place.

It is hoped that by using this service, customers will be able to place a more accurate valuation on their contents, to ensure they have a realistic and cost effective level of household contents insurance cover in place.

Web: http://www.legalandgeneral.com
Tel: (0800) 02 77 156

http://www.changingfaceofbritishhomes.co.uk

The main difference between a self-build mortgage and a house purchase mortgage is that with a self-build mortgage, money is released in stages as the build progresses, rather than as a single amount.
Some lenders will lend you money to purchase land, typically 75% of the purchase price or value, which ever is lowest.

During the build you can borrow typically 75% of the cost of the value of the house as the project progresses, depending on the chosen lender.

There are two methods by which the money can be released during the build, known as arrears stage payments and advance stage payments respectively.

In the arrears stage payment method, the money is released after the stage has been completed and a valuer has visited the site; this can cause cash flow difficulties.

BuildStore developed the advance stage payment method, so that the money required is released, at the start of the stage before work begins.

This advance payment mortgage has become very popular, as it gives positive cash flow during the build.

Also the high percentage lending of 95% of the cost of the build with BuildStore’s Accelerator Self Build Mortgage, makes it is easier to stay in your current house, while the build progresses.

You can borrow up to 95% of land costs, up to 95% of build costs and up to 95% of the end value of your new home

To give self-builders the sort of choice available to house purchasers, a range of different mortgages are available through the Accelerator Self Build Mortgage.

For more detailed information visit:

Web: http://www.buildstore.co.uk/finance

Legal & General’s general insurance business annual online survey, ‘Safe as Houses’, which asks people for feedback and their views on home security and safety, is now live.

The survey aims to provide an understanding of home-owner’s security and safety concerns and what, if any, precautions they are taking.

The survey is running for a month until Friday 10 October 2008 and those people who complete the survey will be entered into a draw, to win John Lewis vouchers up to the value of £500.

Why not complete the short online survey today and you could win £500 John Lewis vouchers?

Research from L&G’s Changing Face of British Homes report, revealed that 34% of Brits said that they wouldn’t open a door to strangers, 37% have security lighting and 20% rely on a dog for their home security.

The company wants to know what you think, as your views and experience will help them to get a clearer picture of ‘home life’ and to understand customer needs for the future.

Your answer will be treated in confidence and the answers only used collectively, not individually to ensure your response is anonymous.

Elaine Parkes, Head of technical services for Legal & General’s general insurance business said: “As a household insurer who is concerned that our customers understand their insurance cover, we believe it is important to improve consumer awareness of home safety and security measures.”

Web: http://www.legalandgeneral.com/safeashouses
Tel: (0800) 02 77 156

BuildStore is the UK’s leading specialist at the heart of the self build and renovation market, with a bespoke end-to-end offering of products and services, specifically designed to help self builders and renovators throughout their projects.

The Company is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its exclusive Accelerator mortgage, the first mortgage to offer advance stage payments for self-builders.

Before the pioneering Accelerator was developed, mainstream mortgage lenders would only release funds in arrears for self-builders, despite the substantial upfront cost involved in building a house.

The award-winning Accelerator mortgage, releases funds (up to 95%) in advance for land purchase and at the beginning of each stage of the build process, thus allowing positive cash flow.

This exclusive concept allowed many self-builders to get their projects off the ground, without the need to sell their existing homes to release equity, and ten years on, BuildStore is still the only provider of this type of mortgage for self-builders, and renovators.

Mortgages are sold direct to the public and via intermediaries and BuildStore currently arranges over £500 million in mortgages each year.

http://www.buildstore.co.uk/finance

Tradition states that ‘an Englishman’s home is his castle’, a place to feel safe and secure, but it’s also becoming the social hub for many people across the UK - as staying in, is beginning to rival the traditional night out… unless you’re Welsh it seems.

Greenbee.com - the financial and leisure services arm of the John Lewis Partnership, reveals that almost a third (31 per cent) felt their home was an entertainment centre, with one in five (20 per cent), saying it was a place where they socialise and entertain friends and family.

Those in East England, are most likely to invite guests over for a friendly get together 28 per cent, compared to just 12 per cent of those in Wales.

However, Greenbee.com warns that many people may well be left disappointed, if they have to make a claim on their home insurance, for accidental mishaps, when entertaining at home:

Just 28 out of 259 home contents products currently on offer include accidental damage, such as a red wine spillage on the sofa, as standard.

With approximately eight out of 10 people believed to be under-insured by around 80 per cent, and four in 10 claims on Greenbee Home insurance being for accidental damage/accidental loss, it is vital people are aware of what level of protection they actually have.

However, research from greenbee.com has shown that the majority of UK adults believe mishaps, such as a party accident during an evening’s entertaining, will be covered as standard, when more often than not, this won’t be the case.

It is very important therefore that people ensure the things they care about are accurately covered by their household insurance.

Greenbee.com analysed research from GFK Roper Reports Worldwide.

Web: http://www.greenbee.com
Tel: (0800) 916 0300.

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre is to host its second Self Build & Renovation Show at the Renovation Centre, just off Junction 16 of the M4 next month, (Thursday 6th – Sunday 9th March 2008).

The show is offering a unique practical learning experience for anyone interested in building their dream home.

With a shortage of the right kind of affordable homes and uncertainty in the existing property market, ‘doing it yourself’, whether self building or renovating, to create a home that is compatible with individual lifestyles’ is becoming more appealing and is a very realistic option for many people looking to get on, or move up, the property ladder.

• This year’s show offers visitors:
  Lots of instructive seminars; product demonstrations, and presentations.
• Visitors can get to grips with a selection of the newest technical gadgets, professional tools and accessories from leading suppliers, including Festool, ITW and Skil.
• Sample the latest in kitchen cooking ranges and appliances from AGA and Britannia.
• Learn about finding land, arranging finance and buying materials from self build and renovation experts.
• Book one-to-one sessions with CAD designers and take part in practical skills workshops in plastering, bricklaying and tiling, with Trade Skills 4U.
• There will also be an exclusive launch of ‘Tommy’s House by Potton Homes; a new eco-friendly timber frame package range, inspired by Tommy Walsh’s eco house, which he built for £60,000 in 60 days.

The Self Build & Renovation Show will run between Thursday 6th and Sunday 9th March, at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon. Entry cost £10 per adult, or £15 per couple.

Buildstore Ltd has kindly arranged a generous ½ price ticket discount for UK Home Ideas readers, who are invited to log on to the website to book their tickets and enter this code - SBMUKH005, for the discount, on any of the four days of the Show.

Web: http://www.mykindofhome.co.uk/show

Tel: (01506) 409 616

If you are interested in increasing the value of your current home, saving up to 30% on a new home, or simply looking for ideas to get you started, a visit to The Homebuilding & Renovating Show is a must.

The event takes place over two days at the Newbury Showground on 23 and 24 June and there are lots of good reasons to encourage you to visit:

Over 120 exhibitors will attend, providing a real opportuiity to gain expert advice and view all the best products, innovations and the latest services.

Finding a suitable plot of land or a suitable renovation project is usually the first hurdle; so you can consult with Plotfinder and Plotsearch both of whom have databases with thousands of plots and projects for sale.

Smart Homes are becoming more popular as people are now installing state of the art technology to make their living environment as labour-free and safe as possible; therefore home automation will be well represented with systems on show from hi-tech sound to advanced security.

For those keen to get their hands dirty and save more money, there will be a number of useful and interesting demonstrations from exhibitors, including the latest in internal walling systems, paving and home security.

Tickets are £5 in advance or £8 on the door.

For more information and tickets, visit:

Web: http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk
Tel: (0870) 906 2002.