Kirstie Allsopp’s tips

Improving rather than moving? Property expert Kirstie Allsopp is working with mydeco to help people make the right decisions when it comes to redecorating and renovating their properties.

• Seek valuation advice: If you want to increase the value of your property ask two or three local agents to come and value its worth. Ask them how you could increase your house price with specific work and sharpen up your space.
• Plan carefully: Make an accurate floor plan then spend time researching the best-priced furniture for your home, which can often result in saving a massive amount when redecorating.
• Utilise every inch of space: Space means money so make the most of every inch. Look into utilising both indoor and outdoor space. Gardens are a great place for Home Offices and can be cost effective.
• Draw up a timeline so that you know when everything will be completed: This will save any miscommunication with trades people and a lot of stress. Download a free contract from www.findabuilder.co.uk. Get quotes from various local builders to ensure you get the best deal.
• Improve exteriors: Revive tired looking exteriors by washing away dirt and grease with a detergent solution. Rinse off with clean water and allow to dry, then cover with a fresh lick of paint. It’s not easy but you’ll reap the rewards.
• Paint efficiently: When painting any room start with the ceiling, then the walls and finally the woodwork and metalwork such as radiators and pipes. Always plan your work and work systematically, that way you will not miss bits, which will show up when the paint is dry.
• Makeover tired rooms: Update a tired-looking kitchen or bathroom. Invest in new cupboard handles. Use matt paint to disguise surface imperfections.
• Research finishing touches: Investing in your home doesn’t always mean making hefty structural changes. Think carefully about the other elements that make up a room such as furniture and personal touches, from kitchen fittings to artwork. Use interiors magazines for inspiration.

www.mydeco.com/property

Buying your freehold

Mary-Anne Bowring, Managing Director of the Ringley Group gives 10 reasons why buying the freehold is a good investment:

• More say over the running of the block
• Guarantees a 999 year lease (subject to passing resolution to authorise)
• The block either manage the property themselves or outsource to a managing agent of their choice
• Place insurance and demand any commission that would normally be paid to the Freeholder to be paid to the Freehold Company
• Set service charge levels at an affordable rate (this could help combat service charge arrears)
• Ability to set up a healthy reserve fund for large structural works
• Appoint best value contractors, for example, gardeners and cleaners
• Investment income (i.e. ground rent becomes receivable from non-participating flats
• Future financial windfalls from selling lease extensions to non-participating flats.
• Flats with share of freehold are more valuable and easier to sell than flats without

Buying the freehold can only be achieved if you have enough qualifying leaseholders. For more information visit www.leaseholdguidance.co.uk.

Inside tip: Minimise the cost by naming just 50% of the lessee’s on your Section 13 Notice, you can still do a private deal for others to share in the price (buy a share later) but that way you only pay marriage value on the 50% of flats that participate.

Better still serve your Section 13 Notice naming long lease flats are participants to reduce the price further.

Daquiri know how

Ed Viita, Bar Manager at Artesian at The Langham shares the secrets of creating the perfect daiquiri.

The daiquiri is the original rum cocktail: a combination of just three ingredients: rum, lime and sugar shaken with ice. Because of its simplicity, the quality is all in the ingredients. The daiquiri is an ideal showcase for a quality rum. It grasps the flavours of the rum while still allowing its essential characteristics to shine through.

• Pick a rum to suit your taste. Whether it be a spicy Trinidadian, a fiery Jamaican, or a subtle, smooth Cuban; the rum at the base of your daiquiri is what it’s all about.
• There’s no perfect daiquiri recipe as all rums are different. It’s essential to get the balance of sweet and sour correct so vary the amount of sugar according to the sweetness of your chosen rum.
• Serve in a chilled martini glass or even better a traditional coupette. A chilled glass will keep your daiquiri cold longer.
• Experiment with not only different rums but different ingredients. Try adding a dash of Angostura bitters or a sprinkle of nutmeg. Try a Hemingway Daiquiri with grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur. The fun is in searching for your favourite recipe.

Ed’s Favourite Daiquiri
50ml Aged Demerara Rum (preferably El Dorado 12yr)
25ml Lime Juice
15ml Sugar Syrup

Shake hard with ice cubes and a little crushed ice and strain into a chilled coupette. Garnish with a twist of lime.

Visit Artesian at The Langham, London (www.artesian-bar.co.uk) and try one of the six cocktail grazing menus consisting of taster servings of a range of four different cocktails (from £30). Or, alternatively, book a ‘Daiquiri Master Class” with one of their top mixologists (£45pp – call 020 7636 1000 to make a reservation).

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