64 INTERIORS; LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS
wildlife gardens (17%), raised bedding areas (15%) and bird baths (14%) are what house buyers are most likely to look for, followed by new driveways (14%), bin storage (13%) and privacy screening (12%).
And in an age when social media and image are driving so many buying decisions, it’s perhaps unsurprising to fi nd that kerb appeal is playing a role in property sales too. More than two-fi fths (43%) said they care more about the appearance of the front of their home
now – including their garden, driveway and features like the front door – than two years ago. Why? Reasons vary, from people simply wanting to improve their home’s appearance from the outside (44%) or increase its value (29%), to wanting to keep up with neighbours (10%). The savviest of housebuilders will use this knowledge to their advantage, using clever designs to show just how to achieve that perfect exterior fi nish to improve their sales. Castlethorpe Homes is one developer
which has seen a strong connection between buyers’ reactions to the exterior of their developments’ properties and subsequent buying decisions. Chris Warner, managing director at the fi rm, said: “The exterior of our properties and the wider development are undeniably important in the buying journey, because the quality of how they look on the outside puts faith in the quality of the interior. The feedback from our customers is that they’ve bought a home because the specifi cation from the landscaping and externals to the internal fi nish and look, are all as one. But people often see the outside before they see the inside, so when we set the bar high with the external aesthetics, they feel reassured that they are buying a quality home. From our experience, if you don’t do that, you’re less likely to get the sale.” When the commercial opportunities from creating thoughtful garden landscapes are so abundantly clear, housebuilders and developers should begin rethinking their approach to new builds’ gardens today, to secure a competitive advantage in what predictions say will be a tricky market for months to come.
Ben Warren is managing director of landscape products at Marshalls
Stylish Evolve decorative light switches and sockets from BG Electrical
The Evolve range of decorative switches and sockets from BG Electrical is proving a winner for electrical installers as they combine end user demand for style and value with easy, quick fitting and ‘no-return’ reliability. This award- winning range is suitable for both domestic and commercial applications and the range is the perfect way to ensure all essential power points enhance décor rather than detract from it. Aesthetically attractive, the slimline switches and sockets are designed with screwless face plates which easily clip on and off to make decorating easier. Launched by leading lighting and electrical brand Luceco under its specialist wiring and accessories brand BG Electrical, the Evolve range boasts eight different colours including brushed steel, black chrome, and matt blue as well as satin brass, polished copper, matt black, matt grey, and pearlescent white. The range includes switches, sockets and power points including fast charge USB sockets, Wi-Fi range extenders, cooker controls, shaver sockets, dimmer switches as well as Grid range extension and Euro module range extension combining power, data, TV, telephone, and audio. There are 25-year warranties, and the range design ensures a ‘right first time’ approach to any wiring installation. BG Electrical is part of the Luceco Group, which also includes the Luceco Lighting and Masterplug brands.
01952 238 100
luceco.com/uk HBD04_Luceco_Interiors - Lighting &
Electrical_DPR.indd 1 Wykamol launches ultra-thin ISO-THERM retrofit insulation 10/04/2024 11:06
Wykamol has launched an innovative, patented textile-based thermal wall insulation which is ideal for creating dry and warm walls, primarily in retrofit situations, with the potential to save energy and protect properties from penetrating damp. ISO-THERM is an ultra-thin – approximately 4 mm thick – specially woven polyester-based material which, due to its flexibility and ease of use, can quickly be cut around light switches, sockets, radiator brackets, architraves, skirting boards and even complex shaped decorative mouldings. This therefore avoids the disruption and cost of employing additional trades such as electricians, plumbers or carpenters. The ISO-THERM membrane is secured to the brick or block substrate with Wykamol’s unique ISO-THERM Adhesive, applied at a thickness of approximately 5 mm using a notched trowel. The ISO-THERM is then simply rolled into the glue before receiving a plaster skim coat, affording an overall finish of approximately 10 mm. The ISO-THERM material is both waterproof and vapour permeable, so resists lateral damp transference to prevent natural surface nitrates and chlorides forming as efflorescence and therefore does not support the growth of surface mould, instead allowing the wall to breathe. Available in 1 x 7.5 metre-long rolls, ISO- THERM is stable enough to accommodate a multitude of wall finishes and can even be applied to sound plasterboard.
01282 473 100
www.wykamol.com
HBD04_Wykamol_Interiors -
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WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
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