Western Mail

Countryside Classic

Welsh Cities Tops for Lodgers

EVERYONE remembers the boom years of housing, when investing in properties for renting was the first step to success and the market was filled with opportunities. During the recession it seemed like buy-to-let was a forbidden phrase, with landlords getting spooked from taking on new projects and rental prices going up to maintain capital growth for property owners.

Inside

Helpful Housing Hints From Tv's Mr Homes ; Expert Advice On Property Is Priceless - Which Is Why Homes Under the Hammer Presenter Martin Roberts Is Worth His Weight in Gold

AS the presenter of a programme viewed by more than two million people a day, it's fair to say that Martin Roberts is a man whose name has become synonymous with property. Homes Under The Hammer has been offering advice to property buyers and sellers on BBC One for 10 years and, Martin confirms, there's no end in sight, with the channel recently commissioning 160 more programmes.

Retirement Properties Coin Royal Wedding Fever

GETTING prospective buyers in the door can be tricky, but one Cardiff company has come up with a unique way to tempt visitors to their developments. Pegasus Retirement Homes is offering a limited number of potential buyers one of the Royal Mint's Royal Wedding coins as a keepsake to mark the impending nuptials between Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The Property Doctor

Q. Three years ago my mother, who is now 79, put my name on the deeds to her bungalow so that we owned it in joint names. If Mum needed to go into residential care, would she have to sell it to fund her care and what happens to my half? A. There is excellent guidance available on the Age UK website with regard to whether or not such a gift into joint names three years prior to entering into residential care would amount to a dissipation of assets. In other words, would it be a transaction tha...

Truly Unsurpassed Serenity in the Heart of Rural Monmouthshire

IN the deep Monmouthshire countryside where the roads hug the lush rolling hillsides, a grand white farmhouse sits with one foot in the practical and one in the architecturally stunning. White House Farm is an oasis amid green farmland in Lydart, just a few miles south west of Monmouth. A traditional stone farmhouse dating back to the 18th century, the residence has had the benefit of recent extensions and refurbishment giving it the spectacular modernity of a new build with the character of ...

Clutter Chic ; Wm Interiors Editor Rin Simpson Shows You How You Can Create a Stylish Look by Seeing Beauty in Your Everyday Possessions - and Learn How to Display Them to Their Very Best Effect

CLUTTER, in these days of home-spun crafty wholesomeness, is not the bad thing it once was. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and a place for hiding all your junk behind closed doors. But some things are just too pretty to shut away from admiring eyes. Take crockery, for example.

Party in Your Own Park This Summer! ; Advertisement Feature

As winter gives way to spring, our thoughts turn to warmer weather and lighter nights - and spending some longed for time in the great outdoors. Emma Leeke, pictured, Managing Director at Leekes, shares her tips for hosting a fun summer party in your very own garden this year. "If an invitation to this year's royal garden party seems like an unlikely prospect, as it is for me, then help is at hand to create your own sophisticated al fresco soiree in the comfort of your own garden this summer,...

Ride Out the Housing Market Doldrums with Some Canny Moves

WITH the housing market still sluggish, many people are deciding to stay put rather than move - investing money in making improvements to their current home instead. But the depressed nature of the housing sector has resulted in an unexpected turn of events - buy-to-let appears to be making a comeback.

Nicola Wilkes a Question of Design Www.Walesathome.Co.Uk

Q. I've got a gorgeous country-chic style home but I need to give my plain bathroom a quick update. Any ideas? A. I've been waiting for half a chance to recommend this lovely new luxury vinyl flooring from Cath Kidston! Available exclusively from online flooring specialist Harveymaria, www.harveymaria.co.uk, this 'Rose Sprig' design shows that vinyl is fast earning itself a designer reputation and will certainly perk up your bathroom in no time. Not only is it a great way to add colour, print...

Music Fan Simon's Got a Whole Lotta Love for His Bloke Rock Haven ; Kirstie Mccrum Favourite Room

For some men, sharing a house with four women - and a female dog - might send them potty. But for Simon Goldsworthy, it's been a chance to carve out his own space. At home in Maesteg, company director Simon lives with his wife Tracy and three teenage daughters in what he describes as a 'relatively new' four-bedroom detached house.

Diy News

Keen to brush up on your DIY and gardening skills? From April 16, all 330 B&Q stores will be offering a series of free project demonstrations to help you do just that. The easy-to-follow one- hour demos will cover DIY and gardening jobs that can be completed in a weekend, focussing on the tools and skills needed to get them done. The courses take place on Saturdays and Sundays and cover the following topics: laying a laminate floor (April 16-17), making a hanging basket (April 23-24), growing...

Banish That Stain ; Got a Mark That Keeps Reappearing? Julia Gray Offers Her Top Tips for Using Stain Block

If you're not sure how to stop wall and ceiling stains coming back for good, read on. If you've noticed marks on your home's walls and ceilings and however much you scrub and paint over them, they never go away for long, there's nothing for it but stain block. This special paint is designed to cover up marks, even water ones, for good.

Before the Brush - Some Painting Tips ; You Can Do It with Property Solutions

"All that is necessary to paint well is to be sincere," is a quote by French painter and writer Maurice Denis which, while not altogether untrue, leaves out all the tips and tricks that will help you paint your home to a professional finish. Below is a list of helpful pointers to spruce up your home for spring. Buy the best tools and equipment you can afford, especially paint brushes as there's nothing worse than painting a wall and finding half the bristles dried onto your wall. Buy good qu...

Take3 What Can You Get for Your Money Across Wales Right Now?

Under pounds 200,000 WHERE? Hayes Apartments, Cardiff city centre WHAT? The two bedroom apartment is one of 304 new homes at Hayes Apartments located high above St David's shopping centre and is finished to a high specification. Located on the ninth floor with its own Juliet balcony, as a resident, you will have access to Hayes Apartments' unique and private rooftop gardens, with magnificent views overlooking The Hayes and across the city centre including Cardiff Castle and Caerphilly Mountai...

Pounds 255,000 Where? Hazelmere, Crescent Road [ ... ]

pounds 255,000 WHERE? Hazelmere, Crescent Road WHAT'S IT GOT? This beautifully presented bay window semi-detached house features a pretty balcony on which you can really appreciate the prime location of the property and take in the stunning views towards the castle. WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT IT? The well-proportioned accommodation has been improved to a very high standard by the current owners. A particularly attractive feature is the garden which extends to the side and rear of the house and is e...

Small Can Be Beautiful, Says Titchmarsh ; Gardening Guru Alan Titchmarsh Offers Tips to Help You Transform a Small Garden Into a Haven to Escape the City Grind

EVEN the smallest outside space can be made into an oasis of calm, where you can unwind after a hard day at work or entertain during the summer. If you have a small garden, you need to plan carefully to ensure it meets your needs, says TV gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh, whose new book, Small Gardens, offers lots of tips.

Garden Design Proves a Challenge

This weekend sees the seventh year of the Royal Horticultural Society's first flower show of the season at Bute Park, Cardiff, and my third appearance there. At the time of writing, me and Paul Melvin's team of landscapers are putting the finishing touches to our 'West meets East' garden before the judges see it in the afternoon. By the time you read this article, I will already know how well we've all done. This show garden has been a challenge for all of us in many ways. First of all, the g...

Beautiful Homes with Benefits ; New-Build Houses Snapped Up in Desirable Area Close to Cardiff

WITH a picturesque location and situated in the catchment area of some of the best schools in Radyr near Cardiff, it's no surprise that the exclusive Lychgate Gardens development is selling more than one home a week. From two-bedroom coach houses to five-bedroom executive family homes, the Taylor Wimpey development offers buyers a fantastic choice of high quality homes to suit a variety of house hunters.