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.

Speed Building is a new concept in housing developed by the UK self build experts Potton Ltd, as a fast and easy way of creating the perfect home to suit your lifestyle.

The company brings all the services you need to design and build your home under one roof, starting with research and finishing with your completed dream home.
 
The Speed Building experience starts with Potton’s new Self Build Forum, the fastest way to find out about the self build process; meet both self build experts and other self builders at the same time.

Held free of charge, every fortnight at Potton’s conference and leisure centre, Wyboston Lakes, the Self Build Forum begins with a one hour introduction to self build, which covers each stage of the process from finding land to claiming the VAT back.

Guests then spend 15 minutes at a workshop with each of five different experts, to put their own specific questions.

At the end goodie bags are given out, packed with complimentary copies of self build magazines, a portfolio of Potton’s 76 standard house designs and an introduction to land sourcing specialists Plotsearch.

Guests are then invited to visit the UK’s only Self Build Show Centre nearby, where there are three magnificent examples of homes for self build:

The Caxton and the Gransden - two beautiful Tudor style homes, featuring exposed post and beams and inglenook fireplaces;

Plus the elegant Queen Ann style Milchester from Potton’s Rectory range.

To reserve a place on Potton’s new Self Build Forum and Workshop visit:

Web: http://www.potton.co.uk/forum
Tel:  (01767) 676476
 

The Property Investor Show, The UK’s largest dedicated property investment exhibition - will make its Birmingham debut at the NEC from 23rd to 25th March 2007, following 5 years of consecutive growth at ExCeL London.

The show is co-locating at the NEC at the same time as the comprehensive Homebuilding & Renovation show, making this a most important weekend for Midlands-based property investors during 2007.

The show brings together the very best in the property investment world, as the 100 plus exhibitors attending, will cover every aspect of making money from property and offer expertise from the UK and overseas, for both residential and commercial investments.

Mortgage and financial advice will also be available from specialist organisations for local, national and international investment.

The show is an excellent source of information and inspiration for people who want to make money from property, bringing together buyers, sellers and professional services that aim to make investing in property as profitable and as painless as possible.

The Property Investor Show also features a programme of seminars, at a cost of £5 per place to help in making the route to property investment easier and more profitable for everyone.

The Property Investor Show provides a real opportunity for investors to arm themselves with as much information as they can, in order to develop the insight that builds successful property portfolios that can finance a lifestyle and last a lifetime!

Entry is free and online registration for the show and the 60 seminars is at:

Web: http://www.propertyinvestor.co.uk/birmingham
Tel: (020) 8877 3636

A major new centre opened on 9 February 2007, dedicated to helping people build their dream homes, or undertake renovation projects; the Swindon based Centre is the brainchild of BuildStore the pioneering self build and renovation experts.

The 67,000 sq ft National Self Build and Renovation Centre, brings together under one roof for the first time all the products, services inspiration and advice required for self build or renovation.

The centre will cater for the booming market in self build and renovation, with over 20,000 people building their homes and an estimated 300,000 more undertaking major renovation work every year.

More and more people are building their own homes for two principle reasons:

You can design the home that best suits your lifestyle.

With lower costs plus a VAT exemption, savings can be up to 30% on the cost of buying a similar property.

It is an ideal way to move up the property ladder and people are catching on quickly.

The new centre is within an easy 2 hour drive of over 25 million people and it is packed with features to help visitors through every stage of their project:
            Inspiration for your design
            Learning how it’s done
            Finding a plot or renovation project
            Securing the right finance
            Getting the right advice from the experts
            Finding the right tradesmen
            The best products and services
            The Trade Village features the products of over 220 companies.

The Centre is open to the public five days a week.  Tickets cost from £8 for a full day.

Demand is expected to be high and customers are encouraged to pre-book online at:

Web: http://www.mykindofhome.co.uk/
Tel: (0870) 870 9991

According to a recent survey carried out by Nationwide the average family home contents are now worth more than £45,000.

Despite this, according to the survey many of us are not only failing to adequately cover our valuable contents but our houses too.

More than a third of those questioned, didn’t have buildings insurance and one in four respondents had no contents cover, leaving themselves liable in the event of a disaster, for the horrendous cost of rebuilding their home, or replacing their valuable possessions- a financial nightmare!

Just a few pounds per month for insurance premiums can give you the reassurance and peace of mind, provided by high quality financial protection.

Home Contents Insurance policies are very comprehensive in the range of protection they offer and provide cover for all your household goods, apart from fixtures and fittings.

Home Buildings Insurance policies are designed to cover the existing structure, including the fixtures and fittings in your home and protect what is likely to be your largest and most expensive asset in life.

A comprehensive home buildings insurance policy will cover the cost of any damage, or if needs be, the complete rebuilding of your property.
 
When reviewing your buildings and contents cover, it is essential to get the sum insured right, as being under insured in the event of a claim can prove to be very costly.

Do it now - Shop around and consult the various insurance companies and brokers for further advice and quotes by telephone, or on the Internet, to find the right policy at the best price, to protect your home and possessions.

The articles on this site are for information purposes only. None of the content of UK Home Ideas should be construed as advice under the Financial Services Act 1986.

For further information visit:

Web: http://www.home-security-action.co.uk/home-insurance-uk.html

Research by IFA Promotion, the organisation promoting the benefits of independent financial advice, shows that UK adults may have wasted a massive £1.6 billion through poor inheritance tax planning last year.

David Elms, Chief Executive of IFA Promotion, commented, “People need to be aware that the IHT threshold has failed to rise in line with soaring property prices over the last few years and that you don’t have to be rich to be subject to inheritance tax. It’s vital that people seek out advice from an independent financial adviser, so they can make informed decisions when it comes to IHT planning and avoid wasting their precious inheritance unnecessarily.”

With this in mind, IFAP has produced a free brochure which covers the following areas:

• What exactly is Inheritance Tax?
• Inheritance Tax Planning, including writing a will and alternative investments
• How an estate is distributed.

For a free copy of the brochure, and details of specialist independent financial advisers who can advise on your Inheritance Tax planning options, call the IFA Promotion consumer hotline or visit their website.

web: http://www.taketaxaction.co.uk
tel: (0800) 085 3250

Offset mortgages allow borrowers to combine their savings and their mortgage and save money by paying less mortgage interest.

Coventry Building Society have just added a new offset mortgage to their range, which also offers an interest rate of 4.99% fixed until 31st Dec 2007.

The key features of this latest offset mortgage from Coventry Building Society are:

• 4.99% fixed until 31 December 2007
• Followed by +0.75% above Bank of England Base Rate for the term
• Free valuation
• Free legal fees for remortgagors
• Daily interest
• £199 booking fee
• £350 arrangement fee
• Early redemption charges of 2.50% of balance repaid to 31 December 2007
• Option to pay 5.00% per annum without penalty

web: http://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk
tel: (0845) 766 5522

Inheritance tax was once only a concern for the wealthy - but now many homeowners are having to plan for Inheritance Tax for the first time.

According to new research from the Halifax, rising house prices mean 31% of detached property sales in the UK are now above the Inheritance Tax threshold of £275,000.

Five years ago, only 13% of detached property sales were above the Inheritance Tax threshold.

From 1997 to 2004, the Inheritance Tax threshold has increased by 22% - broadly similar to inflation - but completely out of step with house prices which have risen by 129% - leading to a boom in revenue from Inheritance Tax.

The government now raises as much revenue from Inheritance Tax as it does from Beer and Cider duties - £3.4bn.

web: http://www.hbosplc.com