Despite the political and economic uncertainty of the past year as a result of Brexit, HMRC recently released figures that showed house sales as of October 2018 had increased year on year by 3.92%, rather than dropping as many industry experts had predicted.

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Not only did house sales increase year on year, but they also increased month on month, with the number of completed home sale transactions going from 98,360 in September 2018 to 111,950 in October 2018, an increase of 12%. If this growth continues as it is expected to through November and December, total UK house sales for 2018 will be similar to those in both 2017 and 2016, standing at around 1.2 million homes.

Growing Confidence in the Sector

HMRC’s report has led the sector to grow in confidence as such positive figures were not expected. Some experts urge caution, however, as not all parts of the UK were as buoyant as others when it came to home sales. London and the South East, for example, saw slower growth than might be expected, while Rye on the Isle of Wight, Diss in Norfolk and the West Midlands town of Smethwick saw the highest levels of property growth (up to 10% compared to a national average of 1.02%).

First-Time Buyers

Many of these sales were to first-time home buyers who were taking advantage of Help to Buy and helped along by a reduced number of landlords buying rental properties This is good news for the industry, with experts such as conveyancing solicitors Guildford based https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/conveyancing-solicitors/conveyancing-solicitors-Guildford feeling that 2019 could be an even better year for house sales.

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Expert Opinion

Haart’s, the UK’s biggest independent estate agent, said they thought the market could be supercharged next year, for example, believing that many people are holding off buying or selling a property while they wait for the outcome of Brexit. Their belief is back up by a 37% increase in the number of people registering interest in new homes with them. Whether this will be the case has yet to be seen. We will likely know more after the Brexit vote due in early January. However, if estimates from agencies such as Haart’s are to be believed, it could end up being a bumper year for the sector.

There is a reason why moving to a new house in the winter is cheaper – fewer people want to make such a move with the cold, the ever-present risk of snow and ice, and Christmas smack bang in the middle. This does not mean it is an impossible task, but it does take some extra thought and planning. Here are our top tips for anyone planning to move home in the winter.

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Pack things in sturdy, weather-resistant materials

Old-fashioned tea chests – once the top choice for moving home – are invaluable for bad weather moves; however, sturdy, thick cardboard boxes with fully closable lids will do. Avoid banana boxes and anything made of flimsy cardboard. Check the mover has tarps to protect your carpet and your furniture before it is taken outside.

Time things carefully

There are fewer daylight hours in winter, so an early start on loading is a good idea, especially if you are not moving too far away and can arrive, unload and start unpacking the essentials while it is still light enough to see. Always carry a torch in case there are any issues with utilities at your new place. If possible, arrange to have these turned on a couple of days before you move in – you could even have the new place heated for your arrival.

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Check the weather forecast

If ice is expected, it is helpful to have some rock salt handy to grit the paths at both ends of the move.

Keep an emergency bag separate

Apart from the usual things you need to hand at all times, include a couple of changes of clothes in case you get wet on the day.

Use a local company

Local companies drive around and beyond the local area every day, so there is nobody better for knowing the roads and particularly which are safest in bad weather; for example, for the best moving experience in Bristol, choose a Bristol removals company such as imoveremovals.co.uk.

Moving to a new house in the winter may not be as straightforward as doing the same thing in other seasons; however, with a little advance planning, it can be just as easy and is generally cheaper. You also get to enjoy cosy evenings in your new home without having to tackle chores such as gardening.

Christmas time and the New Year can be a time for people to enjoy an alcoholic drink or two, but that doesn’t mean that non-drinkers should have to miss out. There are many drinks that can be enjoyed at Christmas that do not involve alcohol and there are also so many great mocktails that you should definitely have a look at. Even if you are having a party that is going to be catered for by Mobile Bar Hire Gloucestershire company www.wearethemoversandshakers.com/mobile-bar-hire-gloucestershire/ you can still enjoy some tee-total delights.

Why not start the festive season off with some alcohol-free eggnog?

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Made from the following ingredients this drink is a popular one around Christmas time and is relatively easy to make:

Milk

Cloves

Cinnamon

Condensed Milk

Egg Yolks

Sugar

Whipping Cream

Nutmeg

Vanilla Extract

You essentially combine all of the ingredients in a pan over a moderate heat to create this beautiful smooth drink. Dusting with some nutmeg is a must. If you are looking for a step by step recipe then take a look here.

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Another seasonal favourite is the Blackberry mocktail made from a selection of blackberries mixed with orange juice and lemon juice with a small dash of cinnamon syrup to give it that Christmassy flavour. It is one drink that smells incredible and will have you wanting to drink it over and over again whilst you enjoy your Christmas meal. It is also a great option to prepare in advance for New Year’s Eve. If you find it difficult to find cinnamon syrup you can make your own by infusing cinnamon with water and white sugar. You should have equal parts water to sugar in order to make a syrup of any kind. You boil all the ingredients together and then strain to get a smooth, bit free syrup.

A favourite of mine to have with the evening food on Christmas day is the Cranberry Spice. This drink is incredibly easy to make and has a wonderfully fresh flavour that gives me a much-needed pick me up towards the end of the day at Christmas. The ingredients include cranberry juice, water, a bitter or tonic of some description, fizzy apple juice, fresh cranberries and an orange wedge to garnish. You simply place all of the ingredients in a glass including the fresh cranberries, stir it around and then decorate with a nice wedge of orange and enjoy.

Silicone – we have all heard of it, but what actually is it, where is it, and what does it do?

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In brief, silicones are specialised materials that include silicone polymers, silicone fluids and reactive silanes. They are super-high performance materials that can be found in all kinds of places, from aerospace to health care, personal care and cosmetics, construction, transportation and electronics. Let’s take a look at the most common uses and benefits of silicone.

Why is silicone used in so many things?

Silicone can add many useful properties to a material. It enhances moisture and flexibility and increases resistance to cold, heat and ultraviolet light. Silicone can be liquid, solid, semi-viscous, rubber, oil or grease. Where might we find this amazing material?

Personal care and cosmetics.

Ask any makeup artist about primers and you can be sure that they will mention silicone. Silicone helps products to spread more easily and retain their colour. Silicone imparts shine on your hair and builds good SPF into skin care.

Electronics

Sturdy silicone makes up the outer casing on many phones, laptops and home entertainment gadgets. The interiors of these electronics also consist of silicone – the high thermal stability and dielectric properties make silicone perfect for electrical transmission.

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Construction

Silicones are key to the construction of buildings large and small and are essential for energy efficiency. Silicone sealants and mouldings from companies such as http://www.meadex.co.uk prevent moisture getting where it should not.

Energy

Because silicones are so heat resistant, they are perfect for solar panels and photovoltaics. Being so durable, using silicones makes solar energy more cost-effective.

Kitchen kit

Silicone offers flexible, easy to clean, non-wearing kitchen equipment, from baking trays to cake cases. The silicone moulding does not impart any flavour to the food and is safe to use in freezers, microwaves and ovens.

Aviation industry

Silicones can withstand intense heat and also stress, making them perfect for the aviation industry. Silicones seal doors and windows and are used for wings, hydraulic switches, fuel tanks, landing gears and black boxes.

We are sure that silicone and developments in materials will continue to improve the world around us, from tiny chips in our smart technology to wondrous skyscrapers in the cities of the future.