Hazelwood, an exclusive new development of 17 detached luxury homes, has come to the market through selling agents Knight Frank. Set in the idyllic South Staffordshire village of Great Wyrley, nestled in seven acres of beautiful countryside, Hazelwood offers privacy and tranquility just minutes from major transport links.

The secure gated development comprises 14 detached houses on approximately one-third acre plots and 3 detached bungalows, each on their own private land. The thoughtfully designed 5-bedroom homes feature Porcelanosa tiling, German Nobilia kitchens with integrated Neff appliances, air sourced heat pumps, underfloor heating and CCTV security systems.

Residents can enjoy countryside views from their balconies and patios. The properties also come fully networked for home automation systems and each home has a detached garage and an electric vehicle charging point.

“Hazelwood offers a rare opportunity to own an exceptionally appointed new home in a peaceful rural setting,” said Kate Horton, Associate at Knight Frank’s Birmingham New Homes team. “With an attractive village location and easy access to major towns and cities, these homes appeal to commuters, families and professionals alike.”

The village of Great Wyrley offers a traditional English country lifestyle just 12 miles from Wolverhampton and Birmingham city centres. The Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is within a 5-mile drive.

Hazelwood is now ready for occupation with prices starting from £1,500,000.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, contact Knight Frank’s Birmingham New Homes team newhomesbirmingham@knightfrank.com Tel: 0121 233 6495.

www.knightfrank.com

In the realm of property ownership, routine maintenance is often viewed through the lens of necessity rather than as a strategic investment. Among the critical, yet frequently overlooked aspects of property maintenance, gutter cleaning emerges as a silent guardian of property value. 

This article delves into how regular gutter maintenance can significantly enhance the value and longevity of your property, turning a routine task into a pivotal investment in your home’s future.

The Importance of Gutter Maintenance

Gutters serve a fundamental purpose in directing rainwater away from your property to protect its structural integrity. However, when neglected, gutters can become clogged with leaves, moss, and debris, leading to a host of problems that can compromise your property’s value and safety.

Preventing Water Damage

One of the most critical roles of gutters is to prevent water from damaging your property. Clogged or malfunctioning gutters can lead to water overflow, seeping into the foundations, walls, and basement of your home. Over time, this can cause extensive structural damage, damp, and mould, which are costly to repair and can significantly decrease your property’s value.

Protecting the Roof

Regular gutter maintenance is also crucial in protecting the roof. When gutters are blocked, water can back up onto the roof, leading to rot in roof materials and, eventually, leaks. Keeping gutters clean helps ensure that water is efficiently drained away, safeguarding the longevity and integrity of your roof.

Enhancing Aesthetic Appeal

The external appearance of a property significantly impacts its value. Gutters filled with debris can sag or detach, detracting from the aesthetic appeal of your home. Regular cleaning and maintenance not only ensure that your gutters are functioning correctly but also maintain your property’s curb appeal.

Avoiding Pest Infestations

Clogged gutters can become breeding grounds for pests such as rodents, birds, and insects, which can infest your property and lead to health hazards. Regular gutter maintenance helps prevent such infestations, contributing to a healthier living environment.

Increasing Lifespan of Gutters

Regular maintenance extends the life of your gutters, saving you money in the long run. Replacing gutters can be expensive, but regular cleaning can prevent rust and corrosion, ensuring that your gutters remain in optimal condition for longer.

Compliance with Insurance

Some home insurance policies require homeowners to conduct regular maintenance, including gutter cleaning, to remain compliant. Failure to do so can lead to denied claims should your property suffer damage as a result of poorly maintained gutters.

The Process of Gutter Maintenance

Gutter maintenance involves several steps, starting from inspection to cleaning and repairs. Professionals typically conduct a thorough inspection of the gutters to identify any issues, followed by the removal of debris, flushing of the gutters and downspouts with water, and making necessary repairs.

DIY Vs Professional Cleaning

While some homeowners may opt for DIY gutter cleaning, hiring professionals can ensure a thorough job and prevent potential accidents. Professionals have the necessary equipment and expertise to efficiently clean and repair gutters, providing peace of mind and saving time.

Periodicity of Gutter Maintenance

The frequency of gutter maintenance depends on various factors, including the type of gutters, the surrounding environment, and weather conditions. It’s generally recommended to clean gutters at least twice a year, in spring and autumn, to prepare for the rainy seasons. However, properties surrounded by trees may require more frequent cleaning.

The Impact on Property Value

Regular gutter maintenance contributes to the overall health of your property. By preventing water damage, enhancing aesthetic appeal, and ensuring structural integrity, well-maintained gutters positively influence your home’s market value. Potential buyers are more likely to invest in a property that shows evidence of thorough maintenance, viewing it as a safer and more valuable investment.

Conclusion

Neglecting gutter maintenance can lead to significant damage and devaluation of your property. Regular gutter cleaning not only prevents costly repairs but also boosts your property’s value by maintaining its aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. 

As a seemingly mundane task, gutter maintenance emerges as a critical investment in the longevity and prosperity of your home. By incorporating regular gutter cleaning into your property maintenance routine, you safeguard your most significant investment, ensuring its value continues to grow over time.

For the eighth year running, top 10 UK housebuilder Keepmoat is contributing to the future proofing of the housebuilding and construction sectors by developing a robust talent pipeline of highly skilled workers via its sought after higher apprenticeships. 

As the housebuilding and construction sectors battle an unprecedented shortfall in skilled workers, with 30,000 extra construction professionals needed by 2026, Keepmoat has announced its commitment to developing young people and creating career opportunities across the UK via apprenticeships and training schemes.

In 2024, Keepmoat will deliver at least 51 apprenticeships as the business continues to hire apprentices throughout the year. As it stands six of these will be delivered as higher apprenticeships, in which the trainee will gain a qualification that is equivalent to a degree.

Zain Shafi, 20, started his Level 6 Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship last September and chose the route over studying full time at university. He explains: “Construction was always of interest to me and I particularly wanted to explore an option with hands-on learning. 

“I gained employment with Keepmoat through the Government funded Kickstart Scheme, where I  worked for 25 hours per week for six months.  When I successful completed the Kickstart Scheme, I was offered a full-time role which gave me the opportunity to explore and enrol on my apprenticeship.”

“My favourite aspects include gaining practical skills in the building industry, meeting people and learning from mentors to increase my knowledge. I also enjoy the days I go into university to also improve my skillset from the classroom.”

Keepmoat has been delivering higher apprenticeships since 2016, and as part of these schemes the housebuilder offers qualifications in Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Engineering and HR in partnership with multiple universities including The University of Salford, Leeds Beckett University, the University of Sheffield and Liverpool John Moores.

Tim Beale, CEO at Keepmoat added: “The UK needs 30,000 extra construction professionals by 2026 to meet growing demand across the sector. As a specialist in providing local employment opportunities and training to inspire careers in construction, we’re addressing the skills shortage head-on by educating young people on the exciting opportunities available via our school outreach and apprenticeship programmes.

“The UK is also experiencing the ripples of an ageing population and the construction sector is set to see more skills leave the industry than any other area. By championing training and development and understanding that we have a clear responsibility to help deliver a sustainable future, we are prioritising education and training to inspire the next generation of employees. We have several initiatives in place to support the next generation of construction workers.”

To find out more, please visit: www.keepmoat.com/careers/apprenticeships

Take a look at this Birmingham home coming up at Bond Wolfe’s next auction and you might think that a sledge hammer has been at work in the side passage.

Pop round the back and the vista hardly improves, with the garden of 73 Ivy House Road on the border of West Heath and Kings Norton looking like an unofficial landfill.

Peek inside the three-bedroomed, end-terraced house and these first impressions continue, with a collapsed kitchen ceiling, stripped walls in the bathroom, sitting room and one of the bedrooms.

But the truth behind these chaotic scenes is simply a property halfway through renovations that now needs a bit of tender loving care and investment to become a decent family home once again. 

Gurpreet Bassi, chief executive at Bond Wolfe, explained that the need for “complete refurbishment” was reflected in the guide price* of just £69,000+ that the lot will carry in the livestreamed auction on 8 February.

Mr Bassi said: “This is the kind of property that regularly catches the eyes of keen bidders attending our auctions because they know you can’t always tell a book by its cover.

“Yes, the side passage and some walls in the front garden have been dismantled and the bricks and rubble needs removing.

“But once this been taken care of, the end-terraced garden is actually quite a large space wrapping round the front, side and rear of the house.

“The state of affairs inside is simply what happens when people start a big decorating job, with various tired plaster and tiles in what I’d describe as the first stage of removal.

“Any potential new owner will of course want to come and check the property for themselves, and already we’re dealing with multiple enquiries from first-time buyers with DIY skills and landlords looking to extend their portfolios.”

The property on Ivy House Road has an open plan kitchen and reception room on the ground floor, with a landing, three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.

The viewing schedule for interested bidders, with no need to book in prior to attending, is:

• Wednesday 24 January 2 to 2.15pm
• Monday 29 January 11am to 11.15pm
• Thursday 1 February 2 to 2.15pm, and
• Tuesday 6 February 11 to 11.15am.

The Birmingham property is just one of 192 lots that are appearing in Bond Wolfe’s next auction, which will start at the earlier time of 8.30am on Thursday 8 February. 

If you have a property you are considering selling, visit https://www.bondwolfe.com/free-property-appraisal/ email auctions@bondwolfe.com or call 0121 312 1212 or 01902 928 510 for advice or to arrange a free no obligation valuation.

Touchstone Education celebrates a century of its most popular course by giving away prizes worth over £100,000

The business grew by almost a third in 2023

Touchstone Education, a leading property investment education firm based in Doncaster, is celebrating the start of the year with a major milestone, having delivered its 100^th Wealth Through Property event. 

The milestone comes off the back of what has been a very successful year for the business, which grew by almost a third (30%) in 2023. Built on the founders’ 42 years of property investment experience, this is the business’ 9^th consecutive year of growth during its 9-year history, as more and more people seek support and education around investment in a difficult socio-economic climate.

Touchstone Education’s ever-popular Wealth Through Property (WTP) programme is a two-day event designed to empower individuals to achieve financial freedom and has become a cornerstone in Touchstone’s commitment to providing expert guidance and strategies for property investment success. 

Last year alone, the WTP event welcomed over 7,000 individuals, more than a tenth (14%) of which went on to become permanent members of Touchstone’s Wealth Academy programme. 

In celebration of this remarkable achievement, more than £100,000 worth of fabulous prizes were given away to seven lucky attendees during the two-day event. The first five of these lucky winners received a Golden Ticket for a one-on-one coaching session with Co-Founder, Aniko Smith, renowned for her insights into mindset and wealth creation. Two additional attendees received the exceptional grand prize, which included a mentoring session with both of the founders Paul Smith and Aniko Smith, plus an unforgettable all-expenses-paid private jet trip to Monaco. 

Paul Smith and Aniko Smith, co-founders of Touchstone Education, commented: “Despite the urban myth that 2023 was a challenging year in property investment, we successfully showed thousands of people that building real wealth through property is not only possible but that many of our Wealth Academy members are doing just that. We know that building wealth is a choice because we both started from very modest backgrounds. Enabling people to create a life for themselves and their loved ones, irrespective of their background, class, or race, is something we are incredibly proud of. The fact that we’ve just reached this milestone is testament to the value and impact of our offering. Critical to our success in helping others build wealth are our amazing coaches who have all done it themselves. Here’s to our next 100 events and continuing to support our community!” 

One of Touchstone Education’s first students, key speaker, and now a successful entrepreneur herself, Abi Hookway also adds: “The success stories are a testament to the Wealth Through Property event. Celebrating 100 events is a remarkable achievement, marking moments of reclaiming lives and redirecting individuals toward their true callings.” 

For more information on Touchstone Education, head to https://touchstoneeducation.com/